Elephant & Castle, Toronto, ON

I had supper at Elephant & Castle (King Street W/Simcoe Street) this evening.

I ordered Fried Chicken Tenders (buttermilk brined, hand breaded chicken tenderloins served with plum sauce & golden fried chips). The fries were tasty. The chicken was overdone as they were dry and tasted a bit burnt.

The Good Son, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had supper this evening at The Good Son (Queen Street W/Dovercourt Road).

Gord had Steak Tartare (Grilled Sourdough, Grainy Dijon, Chives, Pickled Shallots, Confit Garlic Aioli). He said it was good.

Hooters, Toronto, ON

Gord and I had a late lunch this afternoon at Hooters at Adelaide Street W/John Street. It was surprisingly quiet considering it was a Saturday afternoon.

I ordered wings with a medium sauce and curly fries ... there was lots of food and they were good. There was lots of sauce on the wings and I used lots of paper towel! 

Gord had a grilled chicken sandwich and a salad (with ranch dressing on the side) and he said it was good.

Coco was our server ... she was friendly and took good care of us.

Mr. Souvlaki, Etobicoke, ON

I had lunch today at Mr. Souvlaki on North Queen Street in Etobicoke. 

It has recently become a corporate-run restaurant and there have been some changes … the order board has been updated, you order from the opposite end and when you order a dinner (as I do), you get a choice of 2 sides (rice, potatoes, salad, French fries, etc.) along with your protein rather than the previous rice, potatoes and salad. 

I always passed on the salad and got extra potatoes and rice so no difference for me today … I ordered what I always ordered with 2 skewers of chicken souvlaki so I’ll have leftovers for supper tonight. Yum! 

Twisted Hat

I finished knitting another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove.

I found the pattern here.

Directions are for size small; changes for size large are in parentheses.

Hat circumference at bottom edge: 16 (18)" [41 (46)cm]; Hat stretches to fit 20 (22)” [51 (56)cm]

I used 4.5mm [US 7] and 5.5mm [US 9] needles and 4 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles.

With smaller needles, cast on 90 (102) sts. Divide sts evenly around double pointed needles. Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beginning of round.

Ribbing Round: 

[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round until piece measures 1½" [4cm] from beginning.

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 90 (102) sts.
Repeat round 2 until piece measures 8 (8½)" [20 (22) cm] from beginning.

Shape Crown

• Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 75 (85) sts.
• Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 75 (85) sts.
• Decrease round 2: *K1, yo, [k2tog] twice; repeat from * around – 60 (68) sts
• Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] around – 60 (68) sts.
• Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 45 (51) sts.
• Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] around – 30 (34) sts.
• Decrease round 5: [K2tog] around – 15 (17) sts.
• Decrease round 6: [K2tog, k1] 5 times, k2tog 0 (1) time – 10 (11) sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit

k2tog = knit 2 sts together

p = purl

St st = Stockinette stitch

st(s) = stitch(es)

yo = yarn over

“Murder with No Mystery: A Murder Mystery”, Theatre Centre, Toronto

Gord and I saw Murder with No Mystery: A Murder Mystery this evening at the Theatre Centre, which is in our ‘hood. 

Two party guests. One murdered host. Zero mystery.

A party at a remote cottage, only accessible by boat. A storm. A power outage. A murder! The twist? Only two guests showed up. With the host dead, it should be pretty obvious pretty quickly who the killer is.

Still, for some reason, a full-fledged investigation ensues. Both guests had the means and opportunity to commit murder – but did either of them have a motive?

The Suspects:

Frankie: A dog park enthusiast oddly obsessed with murder mysteries finally has the chance to be part of a real one. Will this dogged investigator solve the case or wind up in the pound?

Sandy: A dental hygienist who is more solitary than socialite has her first brush with murder. Will she go back to searching for cavities or is her next stop a cavity search – in jail?

As the storm rages on with no way out until morning, the race to solve the mystery (although, once again, there kind of is no mystery …) begins!

It was cute and funny with lots of twists! So nice to support local theatre.

Book ~ "The 24th Hour" (2024) James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

From Goodreads ~ Sergeant Lindsay Boxer, Medical Examiner Claire Washburn, Assistant District Attorney Yuki Castellano, and crime writer Cindy Thomas are celebrating at San Francisco's finest restaurant.

But before they can raise their glasses to both a birthday and a wedding, a violent assault interrupts their festivities.

Claire examines the victim. Lindsay makes an arrest. Yuki takes the case. Cindy covers it.

The case is complicated by the plaintiff's unreliable version of events - and the shocking reason behind her ever-changing memory.

As Yuki argues the toughest case of her career, Lindsay chases down a high-society killer whose target practice may leave the Women's Murder Club short a bridesmaid ... or two.

This is the 24th in the Women's Murder Club series (I've read them all but #23). Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone.  There are four members of the Women's Murder Club who have been friends for years ... police officer Lindsay, reporter Cindy, medical examiner Claire and prosecutor Yuki.

Six months ago friends Lindsay, Cindy, Claire and Yuki were settling in for lunch at a nice restaurant when they heard a scream from upstairs. Lindsay rushed up and found a woman who had just been beaten and raped and a half-naked man hiding. She arrested him and that set up Yuki's storyline as she is the lead prosecutor during his trial in present day. The closure to this was lame.

Six months ago, Holly, the wife of a wealthy man, was gunned down and her killer hasn't been found. Jamie, her husband, is killed in the same way in present day and Lindsay is the lead in the case. This storyline was convoluted and ridiculous as was the "whodunnit" which came together quickly at the end.

Claire and Cindy don't have a lot to offer in either storylines.

Joe, Lindsay's husband, is former FBI and now a freelance "consultant". He gets called in to help find out who is downloading malware at hospitals and demanding large amounts of crypto to stop. This was boring a storyline and there was way too much time devoted to it as it had nothing to do with the other two storylines involving the "Women's Murder Club".

The only thing I liked about this book was the short choppy chapters.  The point of view shifted ... it was first person perspective when the focus was on Lindsay and third person perspective when the focus was on others such as Joe and Yuki.  I found this story long, draggy and drawn out. This is the end of the series for me.

Twisted Hat

I finished knitting another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove.

I found the pattern here.

Directions are for size small; changes for size large are in parentheses.

Hat circumference at bottom edge: 16 (18)" [41 (46)cm]; Hat stretches to fit 20 (22)” [51 (56)cm]

I used 4.5mm [US 7] and 5.5mm [US 9] needles and 4 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles.

With smaller needles, cast on 90 (102) sts. Divide sts evenly around double pointed needles. Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beginning of round.

Ribbing Round: 

[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round until piece measures 1½" [4cm] from beginning.

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 90 (102) sts.
Repeat round 2 until piece measures 8 (8½)" [20 (22) cm] from beginning.

Shape Crown

• Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 75 (85) sts.
• Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 75 (85) sts.
• Decrease round 2: *K1, yo, [k2tog] twice; repeat from * around – 60 (68) sts
• Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] around – 60 (68) sts.
• Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 45 (51) sts.
• Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] around – 30 (34) sts.
• Decrease round 5: [K2tog] around – 15 (17) sts.
• Decrease round 6: [K2tog, k1] 5 times, k2tog 0 (1) time – 10 (11) sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit

k2tog = knit 2 sts together

p = purl

St st = Stockinette stitch

st(s) = stitch(es)

yo = yarn over

Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House, Toronto, ON

I had lunch today at Stacked Pancake & Breakfast House (on Queen Street W at Spadina) … they just opened in the fall. 

I ordered blueberry pancakes and milk for lunch. They were good and it was a big serving and I couldn’t finish them. They were good but the brushing of cinnamon was an odd touch and I could have done without it (I don’t know if it was intentional). 

Brianna was friendly and took good care of me.

Book ~ "The Lost Husband" (2013) Katherine Center

From Goodreads ~ "Dear Libby, It occurs to me that you and your two children have been living with your mother for -- Dear Lord! -- two whole years, and I'm writing to see if you'd like to be rescued." 

The letter comes out of the blue and just in time for Libby Moran, who, after the sudden death of her husband, Danny, went to stay with her hypercritical mother. Now her crazy Aunt Jean has offered Libby an escape, a job and a place to live on her farm in the Texas Hill Country. Before she can talk herself out of it, Libby is packing the minivan, grabbing the kids and hitting the road. 

Life on Aunt Jean's goat farm is both more wonderful and more mysterious than Libby could have imagined. Beyond the animals and the strenuous work, there is quiet, deep, country quiet. But there is also a shaggy, gruff (though purportedly handsome, under all that hair) farm manager with a tragic home life, a formerly famous feed-store clerk who claims she can contact Danny "on the other side" and the eccentric aunt Libby never really knew but who turns out to be exactly what she's been looking for. And despite everything she's lost, Libby soon realizes how much more she's found. Libby hasn't just traded one kind of crazy for another; she may actually have found the place to bring her little family, and herself, back to life.

Libby was widowed a couple years ago when her husband, Danny, was killed in a car accident. He left her with a surprising amount of debt so she and their two young children, Abby and Tank, had to move in with her mother. Her mother is not a nice person ... she's critical and self-absorbed. But Libby had no other options until she receives a letter from Aunt Jean, her mother's estranged sister, inviting her to move to her farm. Room and board would be provided in exchange for helping out on the farm. Looking for a change, Libby jumps at the chance. 

At the farm, Libby discovers life is much different than living in the city but it's soothing once she got used to it. She gets to know Aunt Jean, who is still a hippy in some ways, and makes friends with Sunshine, who wants to help Libby get "in touch" with Danny, and O'Connor, who shows her the ropes on the farm and she develops a crush on.

I thought this story was predictable but okay. It is written in first person perspective in Libby's voice. I'm not usually a fan of children in stories but Abby and Tank were entertaining and not annoying. The ending wraps up rather quickly. I found it odd that this story takes place about ten years ago but there is no mention of cell phones or the Internet (Aunt Jean doesn't even have a TV). As a head's up, there is some swearing.

Twisted Hat

I finished knitting another twisted hat. It’s a fun and easy pattern once you get into the repetitive groove.

I found the pattern here.

Directions are for size small; changes for size large are in parentheses.

Hat circumference at bottom edge: 16 (18)" [41 (46)cm]; Hat stretches to fit 20 (22)” [51 (56)cm]

I used 4.5mm [US 7] and 5.5mm [US 9] needles and 4 ply yarn. 

Hat is worked in the round on double pointed needles.

With smaller needles, cast on 90 (102) sts. Divide sts evenly around double pointed needles. Join to work in rounds, taking care not to twist sts. Place marker for beginning of round.

Ribbing Round: 

[K1 through the back loop, p1] around. Repeat ribbing round until piece measures 1½" [4cm] from beginning.

Round 1: Change to larger needles and knit.
Round 2: [K2, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 90 (102) sts.
Repeat round 2 until piece measures 8 (8½)" [20 (22) cm] from beginning.

Shape Crown

• Decrease round 1: [K2tog, yo, k2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 75 (85) sts.
• Next round: [K1, yo, k2, k2tog] around – 75 (85) sts.
• Decrease round 2: *K1, yo, [k2tog] twice; repeat from * around – 60 (68) sts
• Next round: [K1, yo, k1, k2tog] around – 60 (68) sts.
• Decrease round 3: [K2, k2tog] 15 (17) times – 45 (51) sts.
• Decrease round 4: [K1, k2tog] around – 30 (34) sts.
• Decrease round 5: [K2tog] around – 15 (17) sts.
• Decrease round 6: [K2tog, k1] 5 times, k2tog 0 (1) time – 10 (11) sts.

Cut yarn, leaving a long tail. Thread yarn through remaining sts and pull to gather. Secure end. Weave in ends.

ABBREVIATIONS
k = knit

k2tog = knit 2 sts together

p = purl

St st = Stockinette stitch

st(s) = stitch(es)

yo = yarn over

Hooters, Toronto, ON

I had supper this evening at Hooters at Adelaide Street W/John Street ... I was downtown and hungry so stopped in. It was a busy spot!

I ordered wings with a medium sauce and curly fries ... and they were good. There was lots of sauce on the wings so it's a good thing there is a big roll of paper towel on the table!

Ten was my server ... she was friendly and took good care of me.

Varda, TIFF Lightbox, Toronto, ON

When I volunteered last Sunday at the Images Festival, I was at the theatre next to Varda, which is a new lounge on the third level at TIFF.

I was downtown so stopped in for a glass of Riesling and read for a while as I thought it looked like a cute spot.