Sunday, July 20, 2008

Buzzword: Staycation

You know how the NY Times (and every other media outlet) is all on about how oil prices and an American recession are sounding the death-knell of summer travel? You know how they're referring to that new trend, the staycation? (That's where you hang out in your own town, preferrably your uber-private landscaped backyard, and drink G&Ts flavoured with slow-food limes and spearmint while BBQing with your hepcat friends who are saving money in precisely the same, stylin' manner.)


Well, in the spirit of this - more in the spirit of having dispensed with all the away-cating I'm likely going to do for the foreseeable future - I decided to pretend TO is Mtl. And, then, when I realized that seemed pathetic, that it didn't quite do justice to this sophisticated city in which I live and which some people actually enjoy, I decided to pretend TO is fun. Not a word most people associate with this industrious bastien of commerce.


Cut to our Sunday lunch at Terroni on Queen St., a restaurant staple that is both uniquely TO and the real deal. 80-year old moms touch shoulders with tv personalities. First dates intermingle with harried (but hip) new parents and tiny tots.


And, though I didn't get a photo, we managed to dine today with the (not exactly warm and fuzzy) food-god himself, Susur Lee. Um, you know you're not eating crappy-style when Susur's at the table to your right.


Here are a few candid photos:




In case you're wondering if Mr. Lee was comped his meal en famille, the answer is a succinct "no". (I sneakily checked out the bill on his table as we were leaving. Don't judge: It was research.)

7 comments:

  1. so. How was the food?

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  2. Funny you should mention him. I know his co-author.

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  3. Y: The food is always good. Very consistent and super authentic southern italian food. You should check it out but I only recommend the Queen West location. I don't much like the others...

    Miss C: Bizarre. Any interesting stories to tell? (I know you're too discreet to say anything too interesting!)

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  4. Gorgeous. I love the last photo best!

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  5. cute photos
    looks fun
    thanks for coming to my blog
    don't worry about ny times they are biased.

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  6. You have to PRETEND Toronto is fun????

    You have no idea just how much fun it actually is. I recommend a sojourn in Saudi Arabia to get your head straight.

    Sandra

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  7. Thanks E. I'm partial to that one too!

    Thanks Jen. I love your blog. I'm always very impressed by how detailed all your posts are. Hope you're feeling better after the tooth surgery...

    Sandra: Whenever I feel all meh about TO, I think of you in the desert and it puts it all into perspective. It's easy to be complacent about someplace when you know it so intimately. I recognize I need to stop bitching about this town and start enjoying it. It raises interesting questions about whether I would feel ambivalent about Mtl. if I actually lived there and had responsibilities...

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