Getting High in Toronto

Can a city with over 5 million residents seem open and uncrowded? It can if it’s Toronto. Canada’s largest metropolitan area is without a doubt urban, yet the feel is neither hectic nor claustrophobic. Toronto’s city planners were careful to include open and green spaces in the waterfront and surrounding business district, lending the city it’s unique feel.
In keeping with this unconfined spirit, Toronto is remarkably bicycle friendly. The city has about three hundred miles of bike paths… CONTINUE READING >>

Can a city with over 5 million residents seem open and uncrowded? It can if it’s Toronto. Canada’s largest metropolitan area is without a doubt urban, yet the feel is neither hectic nor claustrophobic. Toronto’s city planners were careful to include open and green spaces in the waterfront and surrounding business district, lending the city it’s unique feel.
In keeping with this unconfined spirit, Toronto is remarkably bicycle friendly. The city has about three hundred miles of bike paths… CONTINUE READING >>

Rockin’ and Rollin’ Down Route 66

It is the Mother of all Roads. The escape route from the dust bowl. It is the 1950s American Dream come true. Inspiration for songs and shows. It is legend. It is Route 66. She served as America’s Main Street from 1926 until 1985, then was sadly… CONTINUE READING >>

It is the Mother of all Roads. The escape route from the dust bowl. It is the 1950s American Dream come true. Inspiration for songs and shows. It is legend. It is Route 66. She served as America’s Main Street from 1926 until 1985, then was sadly… CONTINUE READING >>

Kalamazoo Appy Crawl

As the tee shirts say, “Yes, There Really IS a Kalamazoo!” It’s the kind of name that makes you want to stop and see what’s going on. Kalamazoo is an Algonquian Indian word meaning “boiling pot” and the city has gained fame through celery, taxi cab production, Gibson guitars, the Upjohn “friable pill” and the Kalamazoo stove. With all of this going for it, we had to drop by and try an appy crawl in this tidy little Michigan college town, proving that appy crawls can be done in anyone’s hometown.

All roads led downtown, which boasts the first pedestrian mall in the United States. Since 1959 it has hosted fun little… CONTINUE READING >>

As the tee shirts say, “Yes, There Really IS a Kalamazoo!” It’s the kind of name that makes you want to stop and see what’s going on. Kalamazoo is an Algonquian Indian word meaning “boiling pot” and the city has gained fame through celery, taxi cab production, Gibson guitars, the Upjohn “friable pill” and the Kalamazoo stove. With all of this going for it, we had to drop by and try an appy crawl in this tidy little Michigan college town, proving that appy crawls can be done in anyone’s hometown.

All roads led downtown, which boasts the first pedestrian mall in the United States. Since 1959 it has hosted fun little… CONTINUE READING >>

Traveling as a “Meat Avoider”

Like all the girls of my generation, I can recite the basic principals of virtually any eating lifestyle — from the Cabbage Soup Diet to Adkins and all the crazy messed-up fads in between. And, chances are, I’ve tried it (fifteen years ago I dropped three dress sizes eating cream cheese and lunchmeat stuffed celery rolled in crushed pork rinds). David, though generally supportive of my dieting adventures, rarely fails to find the humor in it. He’s one of those “high metabolism” people. Don’t get me started. No really, don’t.

In reference to my current dietary quest, my son has dubbed me a “Meat Avoider.” I suppose the title is apt. I would love to be a Vegetarian–or better yet… CONTINUE READING >>

Like all the girls of my generation, I can recite the basic principals of virtually any eating lifestyle — from the Cabbage Soup Diet to Adkins and all the crazy messed-up fads in between. And, chances are, I’ve tried it (fifteen years ago I dropped three dress sizes eating cream cheese and lunchmeat stuffed celery rolled in crushed pork rinds). David, though generally supportive of my dieting adventures, rarely fails to find the humor in it. He’s one of those “high metabolism” people. Don’t get me started. No really, don’t.

In reference to my current dietary quest, my son has dubbed me a “Meat Avoider.” I suppose the title is apt. I would love to be a Vegetarian–or better yet… CONTINUE READING >>

The Appy Crawl Philosophy

We take making meals out of appetizers very seriously. Having them at multiple restaurants is even better. For one thing, it forces us to walk off some of the food between stops, for another, we get to try several different places without destroying our credit rating. We’ve dubbed this bopping from eatery to eatery the “Appy Crawl.”

The most successful Appy Crawls involve three or more restaurants. The trick for the novice is to stay relaxed and not plan too much. It’s even better if there is something fun going on–a street fair, a music festival or just a hectic area of town with lots of goings on. Don’t worry about reservations–most busy restaurants will allow the ordering of appys in the cocktail area–a splendid place to be–the people watching abounds! Try to finish up with dessert and coffee–but not ever ever in the same place you had appetizers.

At every establishment…CONTINUE READING >>

We take making meals out of appetizers very seriously. Having them at multiple restaurants is even better. For one thing, it forces us to walk off some of the food between stops, for another, we get to try several different places without destroying our credit rating. We’ve dubbed this bopping from eatery to eatery the “Appy Crawl.”

The most successful Appy Crawls involve three or more restaurants. The trick for the novice is to stay relaxed and not plan too much. It’s even better if there is something fun going on–a street fair, a music festival or just a hectic area of town with lots of goings on. Don’t worry about reservations–most busy restaurants will allow the ordering of appys in the cocktail area–a splendid place to be–the people watching abounds! Try to finish up with dessert and coffee–but not ever ever in the same place you had appetizers.

At every establishment…CONTINUE READING >>