Midi

Here are a couple of photos of my fave work lunch spot. It's a bistro, quel surprise. It serves the best quiche in the city - made with crumbly buttery crust and lots of cream (as it should be). And you can choose between a lovely, huge salad on the side or frites - or both. I get the salad so that I can feel virtuous!

Last time I was in, reading a magazine to clear my head of work matters, the proprietor brought me an unexpected chocolat chaud, just because I am sweet (says he)! Talk about a high tip quotient :-) I love the French.

Beautiful Lady

I took this at the AGO opening. It's part of the permanent exhibit. Do you know that the Art Gallery of Ontario has the largest public collection of Henry Moore sculpture anywhere in the world? I've been looking at it all for 30 years now and I never tire of this piece.

It encapsulates the steely strength and elegant grace which coexist in so many women.

Here's What I Walked 3 Miles in the Freakin' Cold For

And on the heels of Sal's post, it's rather scandalous.

I'm having friends for dinner tomorrow and the TV commercial (in which subliminal messages compel me to want this vat of calories and sugar) has finally worked its magic. I submit.

I'm usually a "make your own dessert" girl. I'm a good cook in a 1970's saturated fat kind of way. You will always find whipping cream in this house (and some berries to pour it on). I serve red meat and things with melted brie. (Portion controlled, natch :-))

Label this food architecture (in keeping with the theme week) or food porn - your call. But on a gorgeous winter table, it's gonna be art.

(Please big box food gods, let it taste as good as it looks!)

Up in Arms

A few times a year, and especially in the miserable, freezing winter, I try to get to afternoon tea at the famed boutique hotel, the Windsor Arms. This chic and elegant bastion of Toronto the Good is a pleasant reminder of my youthful affluence, and a place I can pull out all the anachronistic mannerisms I so rarely have a chance to flaunt.

I lunched, with my great, long time childhood friend Hilary, on delightful spiral sandwiches topped with coral-hued caviar and amazing scones, clotted cream and pastries. It was a veritable festival of carbohydrates (though I did manage to eat my body weight in various permutations of cream).

Hilly, who arrived first, was shown into the fireplace room, to a choice table in the fray. But, with the wisdom that comes from being the mother (of a preschooler and a toddler) liberated from parenting for 3 short hours, she requested instead another table just as far away from a two-year old as we could possibly get! And when that Burberry-dressed little scamp started screaming, well, we were at the best table in the house.

The conversation wandered - as it does with old friends - to family and shared history. But we hit on the high-points of feminist parenting, the things we've managed to accomplish and the ways in which we continue to strive, the challenges and joys of daily life. I am so grateful to have her as my friend. She is a stalwart constant amongst shifting markers and tides and priorities. She is the object of my great affection and love and respect.

But, a propos of great design - this week's theme, here are a couple of photos of the tea salon:

These lovely teapots held aromatic lavender and rose blends.

Turns out, the Dupuis people were having a little diamond auction in the main restaurant next door to the tea salon:

At one point, I considered sneaking my way in, picking up a paddle and bidding 32 grand on a jewel. But then I remember I need to get WendyB that little Brigid Berlin pillow for her bday so I really should maintain a smidge of liquidity. Man, the recession is such a bore! :-)

Here's a shot of the hotel cocktail bar. This photo doesn't do justice but it's a silvery lavender colour.

And finally, here's a shot of Hilly on the street ouside the entrance. Not only does she look lovely, but it's a great shot of a very elegant coat her mother (perhaps the chicest woman in the world) recently bought for her as a gift. It's cashmere, vintage and Italian. Biggen up the picture to see it's gorgeous lines.

It's Geh-reat

I spend a lot of time talking about how I'd love to live in Montreal or New York. About how nothing much exciting is going on around me. About the relative joylessness of Toronto - a city associated with commerce, order and the middle of the road.

Then recently, it occured to me that, in lieu of complaining, I should (perhaps) attend some of the big deal events that are free to everyone. We are, after all, a people of street festivals and "grand openings", new buildings and artists.

When Belette suggested that she loves Frank Gehry and that she envied my opportunity to see his new add-on at the AGO, I was all "I hate additions." and "I hate the new facade." (which, rather interestingly, I've been able to watch go up because it's on my walking route to work) and "I hate November. Why didn't they open in August?"

How snivelly.

But jury duty dispersed at 3:30 p.m. on Friday and the free, open-to-the-public AGO reopening was scheduled for 4:00 p.m. I was walking right by. There were reporters and news trucks and large TV screens displaying intriguing details about the project. I would have been stupid not to join on in.

Now, I didn't expect the line to end 2 miles from the front doors. I didn't expect to wait 90 minutes on the queue. Old, cynical Krissie would have said "Um, excuse me. I'm from Toronto. I don't wait on lines! I make reservations. (And if you choose to keep me standing there because of your wretched planning, I will bestow upon you long, whithering looks before huffily walking away.)"

However, the new me made friends with a little old lady who knew a lot about British crime fiction and Rothko and the time went by. At 4:30 still a mile from the entrance, dismayed, I thought I'd have to leave in order pick up M from daycare. Then I noticed a message on my cell phone from a mom-friend inviting M over to her house for dinner and a sleepover. Egad, responsibility absolved! I mean, seriously, the art gods wanted me to see this thing.

Finally the time came. I made it inside and thought - I'm like a big city journalist with my camera and my notepad. (Of course the real journalists saw it last week and they didn't wait.) That's till the security guy told me no photos were allowed. So I just pretended I was talking on the phone while surrepticiously snapping away.

For starters, the line up:

Here's a gloomy pre-dusk shot of the facade. Yes, that's TO in November at 4:15...:

On entering the building I was presented with this guide:

Which I didn't really need because it's much the same inside - except for the big, new, fancy glass part:

In truth, the wood (all douglas fir) is beautiful. Cool glass and warm, soft wood are delightfully juxtaposed...

Here's a shot of the cool new winding staircase:

And another of this wood branch sculpture suspended high up the wall. Note the different wood tones and the light where the glass meets the rafters...

Interesting Canadiana sculpture:

And view from the North facing windows:

So, Belette: Though it's not the same as being here, ceci est pour toi! xo

We, The People

As you may know, last week I had the intriguing opportunity to perform everyone's most inconvenient civil responsibility - jury duty. In the end, 3 of the 4 panels into which we summoned citizens were segmented, got called to court at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, the culmination of a week of sitting and waiting in the lounge. Amazingly, mine was the unchosen panel that got released shortly after. In brief: I am liberated from the call for 3 years more and I will not have to return to act on a jury next week.

This is useful from the perspective of living my life and performing my job.

Alas, I didn't have that Law & Order moment I have secretly imagined lo these many years.

How does this relate to Art & Design Theme Week?

Well, here's a photo of a rather interesting sculpture in front of the court house steps. I like the way 12 jurors make up the pillars (get it?) of the structure. (You'd think, given how important this function is, the court might have supplied us with a free coffee in the morning...)

Anyway, I got these shots while waiting on the daily 10 minute line up to go through security (you know, like at the airport):

Three Lamps I Want and One I Already Have

I used to have a lamp like this one (above) only it was from Ikea and probably cost 12 bucks. It lasted a decade at least, and it cast starry shadows on the wall...

I do enjoy shadow-casting column lamps, apparently. This one reminds me of an office tower.

Alas, don't get too excited by this one. It's still in the prototype phase. Honestly, I have no idea how I'd work this into my minimalist home but I would find a way. Because it's hilarious. (The kid might have to use it as her bedside lamp. Is that questionable parenting??)

This lamp, by Pablo, is happily mine. Except I have the clear plexi base and white shade. The quality of light it casts (on very cool dimmer) is unparalleled. It's chic, clean and it works anywhere.

Oh, and it's affordable (for "design", you understand, not abstractly). In Canada, where I bought mine, it was $140.00 CDN. I've seen the same one online, on sale, for $100.00 USD (for the small one). Of course, intl. shipping to Canada being what it is, between the exchange rate, shipping cost and customs, the online lamp would have cost me at least $140.00 by the time it got here. So I've got to be grateful to have found it at a store down the street.

Top 3 photos are courtesy of Freshome.com.

It's Like Clothing for Your City...

This week, in deference to the (re)opening of a premier architectural landmark (the Gehry AGO addition), I thought I'd focus a bit on spaces and interiors that appeal. Please stay tuned for Art and Design Theme Week, sure to appeal if only for my decidedly unsavvy (read: "real layperson's") perspective.

I didn't do architecture at university and I don't know much about interior design - unless my natural flair and fierce opinion count for knowing something, that is. And I'm gonna hedge that, since it is my blog after all, they do! :-)

PS: I've been tagged with a few great awards and fun games over the past couple of weeks, super lucky me! Just want to let my generous tagging friends know that I haven't forgotten and I am intending to post and send the love along to others soon.