The Hanukkah Party!

This year's party started a year in advance when I decided to host a Hallmark Hannukah Movie Bingo watching party.  

HALLMARK HANNUKAH MOVIE WATCHING BINGO!

 I had planned to write this post about my Annual Hallmark Movie watching party, where I vary the theme slightly every year with decor, gifts, and food.  I invite about 6 people once a year in November, before everyone gets really busy.

I started gathering decor items before my last party last year partly because I had to buy stuff for my work, and then I decided, since I got a lot of things and the anti semitism started to rise in the city and around the world so I thought it was a good idea to put out positivity about a Jewish Holiday and educated while having fun.

This is what I do for my work.  When I plan monthly social events, I try to add purpose and make it about something more than a fun event so that it has more meaning.

Little did I know that a year later, after I hosted my party and on the 1st night of Hanukkah that there would be a mass tragedy at Bondi Beach in Australia while people were on the beach celebrating the 1st Night of Hanukkah.   It's unbelievable that people would destroy so many families over a religion or a race-based hatred.  It really saddens me to see how hate has spread throughout the world, and its only getting worse.

I am sending love and light to the families affected by the horrible anti-semitic behaviours of a couple of people who want to eliminate the Jewish people.  If it were reversed, there would be outrage.  But nothing changes.  I pray that one day these terrorists understand that their behaviours have destroyed generations of people who could possibly save the life of someone in their own family or invent something that changes the world.

So while I am horrified, I want to put some good out about the successful party that I was able to have a couple of weeks ago.

A couple of my friends who usually come to my annual party were unable to come, one because of surgery, and the other one, I'm not quite sure why, and hope that it's not because I changed the theme to a Hanukkah theme.  It wasn't meant to preach or be religious, but to share some customs like the food and the games.

This year, I invited my best friend, who was the only other Jewish person, so he was a bit of a teacher, which he is in real life, so he was able to answer questions and demonstrate a few things.

I could not have hosted this party without him this year.  It literally started last year when he took me to his dollar store, where we were able to get all kinds of Hanukkah things.  It's in a predominantly Jewish area, where my area is now changed to mostly Asian.  I have been picking up things along the way over the year, and we got more stuff from the same dollar store this year.

He also offered to pick up the best bagels from Bagel House on Avenue Road.  These bagels are one of the best in Toronto and for sure in the area.  He also offered to bring and make fresh Latkes so that he could show my friend Julie, who was really interested in learning, because her son loves Latkes.  She isn't much of a cook and isn't Jewish, but she was eager to learn everything and experience everything we did.

My friend Adam brought everything to make the latkes, even eggs.   

When everyone arrived, we first set up the Bagel Bar in the kitchen with all the schmears, bagels, and other toppings.   My friend Joanne picked up a huge amount of Smoked Salmon from Diana's seafood in Scarborough.  It was so good.  Once we finished with the bagels, which everyone devoured, and left me with one lonely bagel for my breakfast the next day.  We had a dozen and 6 people.  My friend Joanne had a bit of a stomach virus, so she had to take it easy; otherwise, she would have loaded up on the bagels for sure.

    

After the bagels, we had the Matzo Ball soup I made.  Joanne was very happy about that for her stomach.

That was simmering on the stove so they could go for refills if they wanted.  I had a huge amount left, so I think they were saving their appetites for the bagels and latkes.

Once the kitchen counter was cleared, Adam set up the latke factory.   Julie was his student and assistant, and I left them to it to make many batches of latkes.  We didn't have applesauce, but I made sure I got sour cream.   Adam likes to have them with sugar.

While they were in the kitchen frying up the latkes, we started decorating some stars and dreidel shortbread cookies that I had made.  I had blue and white icing and blue and white sprinkles, and sugar.

While we were decorating, Adam was frying up the last batch, so we decorated some latkes for him with some Blue sanding sugar.  We all laughed, and he loved it.

We then did our Gift Exchange, and it seemed like everyone got the perfect gift for the person that received it.  It was chosen by questions they pulled from a bag.  I asked everyone to either get something funny or food-related.  Some were both.  

We hardly watched the Hallmark movie because we were so busy.  Unfortunately, there weren't any Hanukkah movies on that day.  We tried to set up the Night before Christmas when we started, but that never got finished.

The last thing we did was Hanukkah Bingo.  A game Adam found at his dollar store.  Usually we do it based on the movies, but it takes longer that way.  This was a quick game, so we played twice.  It was educational at the same time.

My friend Lisa brought her brother, who lives in Elmira, and was visiting for the weekend.  He was so excited to come.  So instead of a girls' day, it was more mixed this year.  Everyone got on like a house on fire, and even Lisa's brother Grant only met me once and didn't know the rest of them, but he got along great with everyone.

This is how I want to see the world.  Like a Hallmark Movie Party with different themes every year, that is inclusive and full of light and fun.

The real world is a scary place these days, so I was glad that I could literally light it up for a few hours on a Sunday afternoon.

Some of the extra things I added for this year's party were Hanukkah fuzzy socks with menorahs on them for everyone.  Everyone also got a clear dreidel with Hanukkah gelt in it.  And they got to pick a spinning mini dreidel to keep.  I also had the option to get a cashmere scarf because I couldn't get t-shirts this year.  Only a couple of them chose the scarves for our photo.  And they got to take home the cookies that they decorated in a blue snowflake tin that I gave everyone at the start of the party. A couple of other little things and a Hanukkah card were added to the sparkly blue gift bag.

My friend Norma was still rehabilitating in a hospital, so Julie brought her a gift bag and some of the cookies everyone had decorated. 

It wasn't a cheap party and turned out to be a lot more than I originally planned because when I thought of it, I thought we could go to What a Bagel and have lunch, then come over for the movie afterward, but sadly, they closed down.  And a year later, a new Denny's opened in its place this weekend.  So that possibility was off the table, and that's where the Bagel buffet came into play.

All in all, because we skipped the cookie exchange and added the fun gifts, and had to clean up as we went to make space so the clean up afterward was easier than usual.  I still had things to clean the next day.  The pot from the soup, and I also had apple cider simmering on the stove.  I had made my fruit waters.  One was blueberry and lemon, and the other was blood orange.  I put a big silver bowl outside with all the soft drinks to keep cool, and keep the space in the fridge for the bagel stuff.

I had loads of snacks, but they were so full they didn't really touch any.

Adam also brought 2 kinds of Sufganyot, which are Hanukkah donuts stuffed with jelly or chocolate.  He also made some rugelach, which were like cinnamon buns.  So he pretty much brought most of the food everyone ate.  He likes to go overboard, but everyone appreciated it.

Julie and Lisa forgot stuff at my house, so I brought Lisa to work the day after, and Julie came back to pick hers up, and I gave her the leftover donuts for her ride back downtown.

Other than Adam, my friends are not Jewish, and they had so much fun this year.  I think even more than we usually have because there was no time to get bored.

So I hope this story inspires you to host something different and incorporate things like I did for my party.

I decided the theme last year, but the more the year went on, the more important it was to cancel all the hatred that had increased toward Jewish people in this city.  There are only about 1% of Jewish people, but here they receive the most amount of anti-semitic violence.  It makes me really sad to see how much it has increased since COVID, and I hope something changes because it's not acceptable in a Country like Canada.

This is a long post, but it turned into more than a story about my annual Hallmark party, and I hope that it means something to you while you read it.

I don't know what the theme will be next year.  My first thought was Gingerbread, but I'm going to wait and see what's happening in the world next year and decide then.  

It's about fun and not trying to cancel out hatred in the world.

OY TO THE WORLD!

10 plus reasons why people are going to restaurants less in Canada

SAME SAME

A new report out today:

Canadians are snacking more, drinking less and looking for more  value for their shrinking dollar: 2025 Foodservice Facts Report

Three in four Canadians (75%) are eating out less often due to the rising cost of living,  according to Restaurants Canada’s 2025 Foodservice Facts report released today.  That share rises to 81% for those aged 18 to 34.

BNN BLOOMBERG ARTICLE:  Canadians dine out less, look for value: report

Here's why my friends and I go out a lot less than we did before the lockdowns.

1. Overall Increase Since 2020

• Menu prices for food away from home rose by 8.8% at their peak in March 2023, the fastest pace in over two decades.

• As of 2025, prices continue to rise steadily—about 0.3% per month, with a year-over-year increase of 3.9%.

• In Canada, food prices overall have surged more than 27% since 2020

2. Many Good Restaurants Closed

• By late 2020, over 140 bars and restaurants had already shut down due to financial strain and lack of rent relief.
• In 2025 alone, at least 9 more notable restaurants and bars have permanently closed, including Pink Sky and Greta Solomon’s

3. Food Quality has gone down

• During Tiff, my friends and I used to go to the Elephant and Castle on King St. West.  We used to get amazing Sheppard's Pie, Mac and Cheese, Burgers, fries, and other stuff.  The Sheppard's pie tasted homemade, and it was a substantial portion, and you could get a slice of cheddar on top.  That was one of my favourite dishes.   Since the pandemic, the menu and food quality have changed.   The Sheppard's Pie is half the size,  has more sodium, and less flavour, while costing more.
• This year, they gave TIFF Volunteers a discount.  I went with one of my friends 1 time, as we aren't as able to go as a group as we used to.   I ordered the Chicken sliders.  They were very underwhelming.  We did get a discount, but I wouldn't say I loved it.  If it were on the old menu, I am sure it would have been a lot better.  In order to keep up with rising restaurant costs, they are having to lower food quality to make their payroll and rent.   I totally understand, but I don't want to waste my money on underwhelming food.

4. Service has gone down

• While there are still restaurants with excellent service, most of the time, they are really high-end restaurants that can afford to provide better service because they charge more.
• In general, I find there is a big veil of apathy over the city and its servers.  They don't enjoy their jobs, and they don't get paid enough to sustain a good life anymore.  You would give up caring if you were treated the way they are by some customers, but at the same time, sometimes they are just exhausted and don't care anymore.

5. The same old everywhere

• In my area, there are so many Korean restaurants and Sushi restaurants.  They can't all be great, so there are a lot of pretty much the same thing in the same area, but most of them aren't very good.

6. Food isn't freshly made.

• A lot of restaurants purchase frozen, pre-prepared food to cut down on labour costs.  A big bag of frozen French fries will never taste as good as freshly cut twice-fried at the correct temperature.

7. Lack of creativity and variety

• Where I live and work, you can almost cut and paste the same kind of food to both areas.  I live uptown but work downtown.  But it's the same kind of stuff.  Korean restaurant, Sushi restaurant, Pizza, Shawarma, lots of things with rice.  So many similar Asian food places.  Toronto is craving something new, so when a new restaurant called Nakwon Kisa opened in North York there were so many people that they had to reduce the number of seatings allowed in the restaurant.  There were lineups outside.  I think it's because their concept was different than what is in the area.  I haven't been yet, so I can't comment on the food, just the desire to find something different and new, reasonably priced and delicious.

8. Getting to the Restaurants

• I don't think people realize how difficult it is to get to some restaurants around Toronto these days.  My friend picked a restaurant on King St. E. for her birthday, and we had to maneuver around streetcar track construction and traffic to get there, and then found that their air conditioning wasn't working.
• My friend had to drive down the DVP during rush hour to get there.  If you know, you know.  Another friend had to take the GO from Ajax.  None of us live or work near there, so we had to factor in getting delayed getting there.

9. Lack of staff

• I heard restaurant entrepreneur Trevor Lui say that when he does interviews for his restaurants, people just ghost him.  They ghost the interview or don't show up for the job.  How can you run a restaurant like that?

10. It's just not worth the time and effort anymore.

• I used to go out to food events or restaurants a couple of days a week.  Now I hesitate, and it has to be something I want to try, a birthday, or it's free or easy to go to.
• I used to get invited to tastings;  it was a nice way to try restaurants you might not know about or go to.
• Now, if I am downtown at my office, I just want to go home as fast as I can after work to get out of the downtown area and avoid the crowded subway ride home.  Also, trying to get to specific restaurants at 6-6:30 is becoming extremely difficult.  Subway delays, traffic, and construction.

During TIFF I went to the Ritz Carlton to the Epoch bar by myself because my friends were still on shifts.  I was starving and wanted real food.  I ordered some Tuna Nachos, which were delicious, and also had a non alcoholic beverage, and spent $50.  I enjoyed it and it hit the spot, but I can't afford to pay that for nachos and a drink all the time.  I was sick of having hot dogs and croissants because they were fast, cheap, and portable.

Shrinkflation is real!

The week before TIFF, I went to SAME SAME across from the lightbox.  The restaurant was empty, but there were people on the patio, and they had a Happy Hour.  They had amazing oysters for $3 each.  I got 4 and shrimp toast.  Not cheap but reasonable and amazing.

I went back during TIFF while on a break with my friend.  I ordered 3 oysters.  They took the Happy Hour away during the festival, so the same oysters were $4 each, which is their regular price.  This was my dinner break so I needed more food.  I ordered a pomello shrimp thing that was pretty small, and I was still hungry, so I got 2 beef bao buns.  The buns and the pomello shrimp were excellent, but when you added it all up, it was over $60, and they were appetizers.

Now these are thoughts on single dining, so when you add a family trying to go out to a restaurant with or without kids, you can add even more inconvenience to the mix and a lot more $$$$.

So as you can see, it's not just ONE thing that has changed in this city to make the dollars go down, but the solution of making Public Service Workers go back to the office isn't going to solve it unless the TTC breaks down and they are forced to go to a restaurant because they can't get home.

Sending people back to the office 5 days a week will reduce their take-home pay, thus reducing their disposable income to be able to afford to go to restaurants.

I don't make minimum wage, but going back to the office and having to change my actual job to a lower level will leave me no extra disposable income, so I will be eating cheap takeout more and making my own food.

I was going to go to a restaurant before going home but it was my coworker's idea, and he didn't stay to go, so we cancelled going and left it for another day.  Personally, I was happy to go home and eat my leftovers from the marathon Sunday cook I did yesterday. 

Giving me time to write these thoughts about the change in Restaurant dining in Toronto.

TIFF50- Butterfly on a Wheel- short film

 

Butterfly on a Wheel

Short film: 36min - TIFF Market Screening

Director: Trevor Morris

Starring: Curran Walters

SynopSet against Toronto’s vibrant urban landscape, Butterfly on a Wheel tells the story of Jacen Davis (Curran Walters), a gifted young jazz musician at the Royal Conservatory of Music, whose immense talent is shadowed by struggles with OCD and anxiety. With the support of his brother Dylan (Michael Provost) and an unexpected connection with Sorrel (Brielle Robillard), Jacen embarks on a journey of resilience, self-acceptance, and creative freedom.

This film perfectly demonstrates what it's like living with his OCD/Anxiety struggles while trying to manage a career and relationships. It's both sweet and sad.   The cinematography is thoughtful and gorgeously lit, which I really appreciate.  The small cast performs with a lot of emotion that translates very well on screen.  I especially love the visuals of Toronto, from the chaotic city life to the Skyline views, and then to the serene and clean Royal Conservatory room.  The music is woven throughout the film to showcase the depth of the lead character's talent.  I was very impressed by all of the work that Trevor Morris did on this film, a lot of attention to detail, and you can see it all in the production value on screen and you can tell he put his heart into this film.

I sent my friend Gerald Dykstra to see the film because he works at the Royal Conservatory.  Here is his review:

Butterfly on the Wheel is a great short film. Wonderfully shot around Toronto and at the Royal Conservatory of Music.  Sound is a big part of this movie and you really feel it when the character Jacen (Curran Waters) is overwhelmed with the sounds of the city. He can retreat into his music but his anxiety prevents him from performing. The acting is superb and you really follow Jacen on his journey to overcoming his anxiety.  Supporting actors are great at doing just that supporting Jacen on his journey.  The ending is wonderful.  The score of the movie along with piano playing is fantastic.  The writer/director (Trevor Morris) also composed the music for the film and he clearly knows what he is doing.  What a great uplifting film.

Official Site: butterflythefilm.com

Trevor Morris: trevormorris.com | IMDb | Instagram

60 Foot Sushi Bar at #Tiff50

 STILL SINGLE:  

A Documentary About Chef Masaki Saito, Toronto’s Only Two-Michelin-Star Chef  

After the Premiere at TIFF Lightbox, a 60-foot sushi bar was set up in front of TIFF Lightbox 

on September 5th. Starting at 5:00 PM.  

Members of the public can experience complimentary Omakase prepared by chefs from MSSM, 

offering festival-goers a rare taste of Toronto’s only two-star Michelin dining experience.

MSSM Sushi Chef

Luckily, I got invited to get a VIP token, so I didn't have to wait in the long lineup.  I received 3 pieces of Omakase Sushi, salmon, and tuna.  It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Def stands above most of the Sushi you get around town.  It's art the way the sushi is assembled and just the perfect combination of seasoned rice and precisely cut fish, and a brush of soy or other flavourings.

You can read my review on my Film Food Stuff Blog for the Film.  I really wanted to acknowledge the feat of executing a 60 Foot Sushi bar in the middle of a huge Film Festival and Street Festival.  The logistics, the set up and the cost must have been insane.  I saw 2 Tiff friends managing the beginning and the end of the line, but it was tricky trying to figure out where you go in the lineup maze.

Rhombus Media Instagram: Instagram

Where to eat at #TIFF50?

 I'M HUNGRY!!  Where can I get food?

The whole area around King St. W. will be flooded with people from around the World for the Toronto International Film Festival #Tiff50.   50 Years of many incarnations of the Festival, to where it's a leading festival around the World.

With all the already existing condos and people working in the area, and then add stars, journalists, fans, and people working in the Film Industry or even the Festival.  One thing everyone has in common is where and what they are going to eat during the festival.

Some of my friends live on hot dogs, burgers, popcorn, and snacks.   I can't do that anymore.  After the 4th day, I just want to run home and go to bed.

So, I am putting this list of all kinds of options from street meat to Happy Hour treats.

This list is mostly within walking distance of the Theatres around King St. and Richmond Street.  

There are a few new ones and some just great, consistent restaurants.

I will break it down by Theatres.

2025 RESTAURANT LIST

TIFF LIGHTBOX - 350 King St. W.   (King and John St.)

*New - SAME SAME - (Happy Hour) - 303 King St. West. (right across from Lightbox)

This is a new Thai restaurant that is sleek, clean and huge.  Headed by a Chef from Vancouver who has a Michelin Bib recognition.

I went for Happy Hour before a film at the Lightbox.   I had the Shrimp Toast and 3 Oysters.  They were both fantastic.  The Shrimp toast comes with a cucumber relish, and you can add a peanut sauce. I recommend the sauce.  The Oysters were amazing.  It has a chili jam, and the fried, crunchy shallots added an extra crunch.  I will be going back for those during Tiff for sure.

Cheap Eats

• 
  Hot dogs at the southeast corner of King and John.  Always seems to be open.
• A&W Hamburgers- 60 John Street, south of King.  There's always some kind of deal available, but sadly, they've removed the Pret section, so you can't grab some other fresh items.
  
  
• Wendy's -110 Blue Jays Way- It's at the corner of King and Blue Jays way.  Pretty standard cheap eats, but at least you can get a salad to go.
• Shelby's Shawarma- 297 King St. W. - they just opened last year.    I haven't been yet but their menu looks very interesting with a Shawarma poutine and even mac & cheese.  
  
• Gabby's- 309 King St. W. - My friends like going here because they have a nice patio and it's close and fairly reasonable. It's pretty standard pub fare though.
  
  
  
  
  
• TIFF Lightbox - 350 King St. W.  - There are a few places to eat inside the lightbox.   On the main floor is the Canteen with inside and outside seating.  They have show day deals, but I don't know if that will be on during the festival.   There is also Luma on the second floor, which is a bit more upscale and sometimes booked for parties.  Also on the same floor is the Founders Lounge, where you can sometimes get a drink and small bites.  Also, sometimes booked for events.  On the 3rd Floor, you have Varda, which was renovated last year.  It's a lounge with small bites and drinks.  It gets hectic in there.  I had the chocolate cheesecake last week, and that hit the spot. You get a discount if you are a Tiff member.  There are also concessions on the 2nd Floor and an Event space way at the top.

If you want a fun place, you can try Tulum, a Mexican Restaurant.  291 King St. W.  I walked in once, and they had music and a Mexican dancer.  Sadly, they didn't have room for dinner.  Pick a slow day.

ROYAL ALEXANDRA THEATRE

PAI- 18 Duncan Street- Celeb favourite Thai food.  Good luck trying to get in but you can prob do one of the deliveries and pick-ups yourself.  Known for their Pad Thai.  They also have a new late-night fun place on Adelaide that opened recently.

PRINCESS OF WALES THEATRE

Figo- 295 Adelaide St. W. - This place has been renovated and reopened not that long ago.  They have Happy Hour, Brunch, lunch, and dinner.  They have wood oven pizzas, and my favourite thing is these fried zucchini slices.  They are addictive.  This has been on my list in the past, but bringing it back because they reopened.

SCOTIABANK THEATRE

*New - Bestco Fresh Foods- 102 Peter Street - This just opened, and I did a walkabout and checked it out.  I only got some fried dim sum for $5.  They have a hot table and prepared sushi so you can grab snacks, bubble tea or some hot food.  This place is especially great if you live close by and can grab something frozen to cook up fast.

Salus Fresh Foods- 101 Peter Street - I don't usually go that far looking for food, but if you are at the Hyatt or Scotiabank, it's great if you are craving healthy food to go.

ONE EYED JACK- 287 Richmond St. W. - If you want to meet up with friends after a film to discuss it over drinks this is close to Scotiabank and has an outdoor patio.  Also busy.  We tried to get in one night and couldn't.

*NEW - Lucky House Chinese- 304 Richmond Street West.  - This is directly across from the Scotiabank Theatre and I just saw it when I was scoping out the area.  I did a quick look at the menu and it looks like they have a good lunch special.  I will try it on my Scotiabank days.

MIZZICA Gelateria- 307 Queen Street West- If you watch an Italian movie and you crave some Gelato, then this is the place to go.  Be prepared for insane lineups.  Choose your flavour wisely.  Some are better than others, but it's always busy there and only a block from Scotiabank.

*New -Nord Lyon - 250 Queen St. W. - This location is fairly new.  This used to be a very busy Starbucks because it's across the street from City TV.   If you have an early morning screening and need a croissant and coffee this is the place to go to.

Aux Merveilleux de Fred- 224 Queen Street West. - Just a little bit closer to University Ave. - They also have croissants, cakes, and French Pastries. They have locations all over the world.

Ginger - 212 Queen Street West- This place has been around forever and still thrived during the pandemic.  It's cheap,  filling, and always good.  I love the banh mi sandwiches.   If it's cold, you might want to get a big bowl of soup.

ROY THOMPSON HALL

Oklahoma Burgers - 214 King St. West. - They opened last year as well.  You can't really eat in because they only have a small stand-up counter.  I wouldn't consider them a cheap fast eat because it took me a while to get a burger, and it's about $8.

MORE TO COME

There were so many places that were around a year ago that are gone, and new places are springing up.  I will make a note of anything new that I spot during the festival this year and will post all my food adventures on my Instagram accounts.

I skipped some that I have listed in the past, and some places I think you probably won't be able to get into during the festival.

Let me know if I missed any hidden gems.  I tried to give you a wide range of places for locals and for people only in town for the festival.

I hope you like some of my choices.

Loblaws out and T&T in at Empress Walk

 

Things are changing fast in North York.   The changes have really sparked a lot of thoughts on where Toronto is going very soon.

There has been a drastic market shift in the past 3 or 4 years in this city.

Some of this may change again, but there's a lot of information on Social Media about the upcoming changes to the grocery store landscape around Yonge and Sheppard.

Another large retail grocery store in North York will be replaced in October.

From a post I read on Urban Toronto, it seems as though the Loblaws at Empress Walk will be closing in October and will be replaced by a T&T Supermarket sometime around 2026.

I saw on Social Media that T&T was going to open on the lower level of North York City Centre, but they seem to have bailed on this  because:

- It would be expensive to repair (water damage), retrofit (light retail/office to supermarket), and transfer goods from loading docks.
- lots of new mid-block retail space coming online (Ellie Condo & 90K-sqft at Pearl Place),...
- Loblaws & Shoppers Drug Mart across the street at Empress Walk - but this has now changed too, but at the time they thought  T&T would reduce market share from the Loblaws,... 

-  Food Basics also opened in October 2021 at Emerald Park, south of Sheppard 

-  Longos in the Yonge Sheppard Centre in July 2019) and 

-Whole Foods Market (Sept 2014) opened at Yonge & Sheppard but closed on August 22nd. 

I went to the opening of the T&T supermarket at Fairview Mall a couple of days after that opened a couple of years ago.  There was a tiny line-up when I went.  It's a massive store. What I like about the T&T markets is the large selection of reasonably priced vegetables and the massive choice of imported products from all over Asia.

The Loblaws Empress Walk is about 75,000-80,000 sq ft plus another 6,000 sq ft in P1 Parking level. 

T&T needs about 50,000sqft, so about 30,000sqft left over to divide/sublet for other retail usage.

I moved into this area in 2011, and at the time, there was the Loblaws, P.A.T. Market, the Metro, which I don't normally go to, and an M2M tiny market.

Galleria Supermarket opened in about 2024 at the Madison Centre.

When I moved here, it seemed there were fewer grocery stores but a more diverse array of restaurants in the area.

Now it seems everything has been changing to Asia North York with the Loblaws and Whole Foods going and being replaced by T&T supermarket.

This is what will be available in a year or so:

• Galleria Supermarket
• Food Basics
• Metro
• H Mart
• P.A.T. Mart
• Longos
• and T&T coming

I support diversity because I love to have different foods, but I am not happy about the area being totally been taken over by all Asian Foods.  

I want to be able to have Italian one day and Thai the next, and Greek after that, and so on.

I am finding the food in the area is mostly sub par with a lot of cheap ingredients, very heavy on the rice and noodles.

I am dying to see the following in this area:

• An Italian Deli/Bakery
• A Jewish Deli restaurant
• A fun Mexican restaurant
• A high-quality Greek restaurant
• A Gelato cafe
• A Montreal Bagel House
• A place to get great Banh Mi's
• A high-quality Chinese restaurant
• A Mediterranean restaurant
• A comfort food restaurant

All of the recent restaurant openings have been Thai, Vietnamese, Korean, and lots of bubble tea places.  That's fine, but there's an over-saturation of the same with about 3 or 4 Sushi places within the same block, and similar with some Korean places. 

I would prefer to see 1 or 2 of the highest quality that add value to the area and have this area become a destination to get great food, the way people flock to certain areas downtown just for the food.

Other than Street festivals and the odd concert at Lee Leifson Park and maybe seeing a movie at Empress Walk or some sort of show at Meridien, there's really only restaurants and grocery shopping in the area.  It's not even a fashion district.

I would like to see more great cafes and places to hang out and do fun things, more than just 2 months in the summer.

Don't get me started on the food vendors at some of the Mel Lastman Square festivals..  Some get it right, but some horribly wrong.  But that's a story for another blog post.

Will see if the pendulum swings back to where there was more diversity.  I moved here for the many options in the first place.

Whole Foods Store Closing shopping part 2

 

Whole Foods BIG SALE 

I wasn't planning on shopping at Whole Foods today, but 2 of my friends messaged me about it, and one came from St. Lawrence Market area to go and messaged me when I got back home.  So I decided to go since I changed my mind on what I was going to do today.  Thought we could catch up while in line and talk Tiff things before we run by each other in passing.

I think she was already there almost an hour before I went back.   I had time to pick up some other groceries and go home and do the part 1 post before I headed back.

Because we were just wandering around talking and comparing and looking for interesting things, I spent way more time than I usually do when I go there, and bought more to try since I won't be able to go back to try it another day.  Also, I got things to try before, during, and after TIFF.

Right now I am eating some Chicken Schnitzel that I heated up and put on some white bread I got there.  That's my dinner.  We spent hours looking at food but didn't eat or drink, so I'm hungry, thirsty, and tired. 

So you can see my shopping cart after like half the day spent trying to shop.  I spent under $200 for 4 bags of food at 50% off.  I don't know how much will be left tomorrow, but I don't want to go tomorrow.  It was fun being there with my friend Ada.  We have the same shopping habits it seems.  We have never grocery shopped together before.  Film watching, yes, but not grocery shopping since we live at opposite ends of the city.

You can see beside the 50% off sign the things I consider impulse buys.  Stuff I want to try before TiFF... get rid of the bags under my eyes,  hydrate, sleep better, and stay calm.

I was there when it opened, and I can say I was there just before it closed.   

I feel really bad for the staff who were crazy busy today and will have no job after next week.  They don't deserve that.

Really, is a sign of the times.  But, interestingly, they are building a bigger store at King and Portland and cashing in on the young professionals that live in the condos.