On my second installment introducing farmer’s markets around Toronto, I’d like to introduce the little one on Borden, one block west of Brunswick (where Future’s Bakery is) since it’s really close to campus. In want of something healthier than the stuff they serve at residence? Drop by this market every Wednesday for some fresh fruit, vegetables, baked goods, honey, cheese and meat. Although the market is relatively small compared to Brick Works and the famous St. Lawrence Farmer’s Market, it’s still a lovely source of food from the Ontario greenbelt. (Not to mention the organizers like handing out free samples pretty often!) So here is the information you need if you ever want to visit:

MyMarket Bloor-Borden

Where?

The farmer’s market can be found in the parking lot on the corner of Bloor and Borden, 1 block west of Brunswick Avenue where Future’s Bakery is. It is between the intersections of Bloor and Bathurst (its closest intersection) and Bloor and Spadina.

When?

Every Wednesday from 3PM to 7PM, rain or shine from June 3rd to October 28.

Is there anything to do there?

• Sample food
• Buy food if you want
• Do something fun on or off campus

Just as a sidenote…

Ontario peaches, at this moment, are absolutely lovely at this time of year. They’re sweet and slightly tart and full of colour, just as peaches should be.

I didn’t take too many pictures but I really like this one:

Tomatoes of all sorts of shapes and colours!

Pictures by Jess.

I went to the Taste of the Danforth on Saturday afternoon. Unfortunately it was raining when I got there so there was a lot umbrella clashing and mugginess in addition to the crowdedness that always comes with street festivals.

What I was looking forward to — loukoumades! They are deep fried balls of dough soaked in honey.

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There is only less than a month left before the beginning of the new school year. Here is what you must do to make the most of it before you are cooped up in your room studying while there’s a blizzard outside:

a) spend lots of time outside
b) wear sandals with shorts on every possible occasion
c) eat lots of frozen desserts
d) attend some of these events below

Taste of the Danforth
I hear there are free samples, and beer (but not free).
When: Aug 7 – 9
Cost: Free
Where: Along the Danforth, of course
Website: tasteofthedanforth.com

Toronto Festival of Beer
For those beer connoisseurs.
When: Aug 7 – 9
Cost: $45 – $50
Where: Exhibition Place
Website: beerfestival.ca

Outdoor screening of Gladiator
This movie won 5 Oscars, apparently.
When: Aug 11 @ 8:30pm
Cost: Free
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square
Website: ydsquare.ca

Toronto After Dark Film Festival
An awesome film festival of horror and sci-fi movies. Check out my reviews from last year: Home Movie and Let the Right One In. The latter is actually being remade in English!
When: Aug 14 – 21
Cost: $10 – $15
Where: Bloor Cinema
Website: torontoafterdark.com

Outdoor screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl
Arrrrr (pirate sound)…. Bring a blanket and some snacks.
When: Aug 18 @ 8:30pm
Cost: Free
Where: Yonge-Dundas Square
Website: ydsquare.ca

The CNE
I discovered that watching people play games is as fun as playing them yourself, with the added bonus of not losing tons of money.
When: Aug 21 – Sep 7
Cost: $15 for General Admission (but $1.75 on opening day!)
Where: Exhibition Place
Website: theex.com

Buskerfest
Street performance at its best, plus the money they raise goes to Epilepsy Toronto.
When: Aug 27 – 30
Cost: Donate what you can
Where: St. Lawrence Market
Website: torontobuskerfest.com

Farmer’s markets are a wonderful way to get fresh, organic and local food. Although not all farmer’s markets will have all organic food, many of them provide local produce, which means that your food will take less distance to get from field to table, making them fresher (and have little or no preservatives), taste better and use less fuel to get to your local market. During the summer and early fall months, many farmer’s markets will be filled with lovely summer and fall fruits and vegetables and therefore, will be a lively affair. As a result, I’ve decided to write a few articles on a few of these markets in the city.

A Real Gem: The Evergreen Brick Works Farmer’s Market

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This being opening night of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, I could not help but be completely excited since I, as most fans are, am an avid reader of the books. I have my own favourite movies as I do favourite books and I understand that my opinion will be torn apart and picked on or be received with a certain amount of agreement. That is, of course, assuming that you’ve already seen the movie. If you haven’t, then feel free to partake in whatever I express in this review of mine, although, if you are a fan like me, I don’t think my opinions would affect whether or not you will watch it. (more…)

Oh summer, how wonderful you are… if you aren’t in summer school and have essays or exams to write. If you’re one of the fortunate souls that have free time this or next week/weekend, here are some events going on in the city that sound pretty exciting!

Worldwide Short Film Festival

295 short films from 46 countries! Short attention span? No worries, you get to see 5 to 22 films at each 90-minute screening.

Where: Various places around Toronto
When: June 16 – 21
Website: http://www.worldwideshortfilmfest.com

21st Telus Toronto International Dragon Boat Festival

Two full days of Dragon boat races by teams from all around the world, including some from the various clubs at U of T! Go and cheer them on!

Where: Toronto Centre Island
When: June 20 – 21 (Races generally happen in the morning and early afternoon)
Note: Watching the races is free, but you have to pay the small fee for the ferry to the Island
Website: http://www.dragonboats.com

11th Annual Taste of Little Italy

A lovely little festival celebrating Italian culture in Toronto!

Where: College St., between Bathurst and Shaw
When: June 19 – 21 (see site for opening and closing times)
Website: http://www.tasteoflittleitaly.ca

Beach Ribfest

Yum… Ribs…

Where: Woodbine Park
When: June 20-21
Website: http://www.beachribfest.com/

Toronto’s 29th Annual Pride Parade

Last, but not least is the annual and vibrant Pride Parade! Pride Week is from June 19 to June 28 and the Parade is but one of the various events happening to celebrate Pride in Toronto. Please see the website for more details.

Where: The Parade travels west from Bloor St. between Church and Yonge, south on Yonge St. from Bloor to Gerrard, and east on Gerrard St. to church.
When: The Parade begins at 2PM on June 28th
Website: http://www.pridetoronto.com

 

One of the first things I usually end up eating here are oyster noodles; in Taiwanese, they are called “Oh ah me suah”. They are basically noodles made of some sort of wheat in a very thick bonito and pork stock soup topped with oysters, pork, some bamboo shoots, red vinegar and coriander (which I don’t like so the vendor didn’t put any in my bowl).

The little bun-like things in the picture are called “pepper pastries” when translated into English. Pork, seasoned with salt, tons of pepper and green onions wrapped in a pastry that’s stuck on the side of a special oven, making the outside slighlty flaky and crunchy and the inside super hot, soft and delicious. If the pastry is made especially well, a lot of juices made from the water content in the onions and meat are trapped inside, making it even more delicious and succulent. (more…)