Brucesters!

People are often saying I’m a funny guy. I’ve even been told that by people I admire in the comedy world, seriously, to my surprise. I think it’s safe to say most people think they’re funny. I think I have my moments, but I honestly don’t know if I could ever brave up and do stand up. The idea of being up there on your own with people just waiting for you to make them laugh. To literally alter the mood of an entire room or even a stadium seems like the scariest business transaction ever signed. I was invited to a restaurant/club Thursday night for a comedy show and I had nothing overly pressing to do so I took John with me and decided with an open mind that I would be ready to laugh my balls off. Between ball jokes and pot jokes and the Jew telling Jew jokes, most of the night was awkward and uncomfortable at best. There were some high moments for sure but only a couple of comedians honestly made me laugh out loud for all to hear. I’m going to share the bios of those fellows with you over the month! I mean it is May Madness! Some of these boys were definitely mad! I just seriously think that people need to laugh more; at themselves, at each other, and certainly at our genitalia. How can we take ourselves that seriously with body parts that act like that?

Ladies and Fellows this is Che!

Che Durena was born and raised in British Columbia. He decided to make the trip to Toronto when he discovered his love for stand up comedy.

Since then he’s been hustling the GTA comedy scene to become one of the city’s best up and comers. I think his Instagram says it all! Tornado Jizz! If that doesn’t make you want to laugh, swallow, gag, sniff, inhale, or wipe I’m not sure you’re looking to laugh at all!

He came runner up in Sirius XM’s Next Top Comic, had headlining shows at JFL42, and has appeared on JFL All Access on Comedy Central.

His comedy touches on his ridiculous life living abroad and his perception of more serious matters like race, relationship, and drugs. Always finding an absurd angle to create a fresh and hilarious perspective.

Certainly his good looks and self confidence doesn’t hurt him either, but he’s got the goods and aside from that cocky demeanour he’s a realist and gracious to be sure.

It’s important to connect with people as a stand up comic. You’ve got only fleeting moments to hook, line, and sinker and that’s some hard core truth. As much as the audience is hoping to enjoy some shits and giggles, they’re secretly edging for a cliff walk.

Che balances that cliff like a tight rope walker and left us all hanging for more!

Check him out on Instagram for @tornadojizz near you!

4 kisses out of 5

B.I.T.C

A note from the Editor:  I love comedy. David and I went to a few late night comedy shows when we went on our anniversary cruise and I was crying, laughing so hard!

Mary Ellen Monk

Hey Brucesters!

The sun is shining! The grass is green! The maples and evergreens sway! It’s such a perfectly gay day just before the month of May! Ok, ok. I ripped that off of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas!
If only everything was perfectly perfect. Well it is getting close. John and I are all a tizzy with the prospects of him getting a new church to direct. It’s been some time since he has been full time on an organ bench and it feels like this could be the one. I know one shouldn’t count their chickens before they’re hatched but I’d really love for him to get this. He’s directed there the last two weeks and I don’t know, call me impartial, but I thought he was brilliant and the congregation is really great. We decided after his service today that we would hit a little hot spot for some much needed substance. Of course, I mean food, not like substance. John suggested this little Gastro Pub on Carlton called The Irv. Honestly, at first glance, there almost seemed a glowing Epiphany star leading us to this non-descript spot. Humble and beckoning from the outside yet so trendy on the inside and barely a seat to be had. Clearly many had followed the same star.  Jacklyne greeted us and showed us a perfectly perfect spot in the rear end of the eatery. The decor was trendy bistro chic and the tunes today were early 80’s. There was a cute couple beside us who I chatted with for a moment about it being a little on the warm side in there, but apparently the landlord went off to Greece and left the heat blasting so not their fault. Our server was really amazing and we learned that the pub was in fact a family affair. They’ve been open about four years now and their story is a very special one. I’ll let Regan tell it in his own special way.

“After losing my Dad to ALS in January of 2013, my wife Jackie and I wanted to open a place of our own to pay tribute to the man they called Irv. With the support of my mother Tina our dream became a reality. Just over a year later on March 1st 2014, we opened our doors, trying our best to provide great service, a comfortable atmosphere and delicious homemade food.”
Cheers from our family to yours,
– Regan Irvine

I never cut and paste but honestly, I couldn’t have shared that any better. What an incredible story of hope and strength, family and community! Just an extra bit of info I thought was amazing they in their first year raised over $100,000 for ALS. Visit their official website at the end of this article for more fabulous facts about this wonderful pub!

We had the eggs benedict traditional and smoked salmon. Lovely hollandaise sauce with sweet potato and traditional home fries. Super yum! I had a cider (Pommies Cider from Caledon On) which is only $5.50 a pint on a Sunday and John had the house white. Both enjoyable! We chatted over the prospects of his new post and we hoped a little and prayed a lot. I personally hope he gets the position because it would mean more reasons to visit Irvs again and again! And who knows, John may even convince me to join the choir!

www.theirv.ca

5 kisses out of 5

B.I.T.C

edited by Mary Ellen Monk

Hey B.I.T.C readers!

I gotta say I’m a bit concerned with what I see going on around my city. Permit after permit for the allowance of condo development in the heart of local Toronto villages. It’s spookier than Halloween.
I love progress but it’s totally out of control. I love all the villages in my great city but I’m going to take this opportunity to keep my focus on the gay village. It’s literally getting pillaged with obsorbant rents giving way for major condo developers to swoop in and build their massive structures. The government makes their gold through taxes and we get stuck with corporate coffee shops and drug marts. We lose all the heart and heritage that makes a city a place where people want to mingle and mix and be. The crap truth is that these condos are getting bought up by foreign investors that’s don’t even live in the places. It’s a flip property in many cases driving up the cost of living for everyday Torontonians. So before our very special landmark village is raped into the condo jungle that our crap government is allowing, I’ve got more sexy hot spots you gotta check out before, heaven forbid, they become Shoppers Drug Marts.

The Drink!!! Sexy sassy and full of local hotties. Grab a coffee by day and club it out with great cocktails by night.

I went on Halloween with some buddies of mine thanks to a cute fellow down at the door inviting guests in. I think the real highlight of this cute coffee house/cocktail lounge is its great view of the village street below where all the gouls were out in full force this hollows eve.
It seems this local trend of mixing coffee house and pub seems to be a crowd pleaser. I know I love it! Of course there is alway so much more to tell but alas, I’ll have to save it for another blog. After the long night that was Halloween it was most appropriate to vanish to the north lands to relax at my buddy’s cottage. Made for a perfect Halloween detox. By the way this property is available for summer and fall renting so if you’re looking for a fabulous escape from you’re crazy busy life get in touch with me at bruceinthecity@hotmail.com and I’ll point you in the right direction!

The Drink 4 kisses out of 5. (Keeping the gay village alive)

Badass B.I.T.C Beard of the Week…. This hot bearded bro has got a nice big one! A beard of course.
Geoffrey is a Toronto local who works with costumes for small and large theatre productions in the city. He is also an entrepreneur and has his own kilt making business among other things. Look for a feature blog on this talented fellow later this month! Hey boys! I do believe this bearded bear is available!

B.I.T.C

Editor: Mary Ellen Monk

photos by Bruce Christopher and The Drink

Hey B.I.T.C readers! Wow, well Fall finally arrived in the City I think. Just in time for Halloween next week. Before I begin my little blog this week it’s been a while since I’ve had my B.I.T.C session so here are some moments to write home about.
So I was heading to The Lodge the other day, my first time checking it out. My mode of transportation in the city is either cab or TTC. This day it was the TTC. The weirdest things happen to me on the TTC. There are so many I could seriously write a separate blog just for that! I was looking all bearded and ready to hit The Lodge for the first time and I was relaxing minding my own bear business in the lower landing of the bus just below the stairs that lead to the upper level of the bus. Someone hit the bell to get off. Not unusual, however what happened next was well, asinine! A lovely voluptuous woman steps into the landing, one step away from my shoulder, again not unusual, but then proceeded to rest her ass onto my shoulder! I’m not kidding! Her bottom was so busy beautiful she seemed to have trouble keeping control of it and in standing in the landing her butt protruded out enough that it rested itself right on my shoulder blade. I was in shock. I couldn’t even speak as her bottom waited comfortably on me for it’s next stop. My god where was it going to land next??? I’ll never know.
I arrived at The Lodge not long after and I was definitely in need of a drink or tranquilizer. The Lodge is this cool little pub in the village. I’d never been but had heard a lot about it. It is above O’Grady’s another bar I like during non-Pride season. Their security during pride are always assholes so I choose not to go. So I quickly found a corner seat with a good view of the pub and it’s bears. I wanted to study these bears in their natural habitat. I wasn’t really sure whether there was a possibility of getting mauled or bitten. It was wonderfully unpretentious. The works between Twink, Jocks, Cubs and Bears can be worlds apart not unlike an episode of Degrassi High.
It’s remarkable to me how unwelcoming these neesh groups can be to each other. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns in the village. I remember when I first moved here and went to another local queer spot this very Queenly Dude actually laughed at my shoes because they weren’t designer. I was pretty soft back then and I actually sank in my seat with embarrassment. Oh, how things have change. Today I’d just B.I.T.C slap him! Verbally of course. No violence, just love. So I’m sitting there watching the bears down their beers. A very cute little cub bartender helps me decide on a beer.
I wanted to feel just like those other bears and not drink my usual wine. His name was Sam and he was very sweet. The bears played gossip chain and talked Will and Grace. Suddenly you appeared. A mature fellow with a warm and welcoming smile and offered to buy me a drink. I had received a welcome shot from the bears in the corner moments before. I felt like the bear of the ball. The music was very retro: Carpenters, Ann Murray, Joni Mitchell, Kenny Rogers. I loved it. I was literally on bear planet. I was home. It was so cozy and cute. Just like me. If you are a local bear or a bear enthusiast I highly recommend you stopping by. I recommend abstaining from feeding them unless you want them to follow you home.

5 kisses out of 5

B.I.T.C

It’s that time we all wait for…. Badass B.I.T.C Beard of the Week. This weeks Badass B.I.T.C Beard belongs to…

Rick!

“ I don’t know if there are any important facts about me at all, but I do cut hair for a living and I’m a karaoke rockstar.. but other than that I’m pretty average. Oh and I’m covered in hair from head to toe if that’s notable and relevant. LOL. All of my childhood and early 20’s I spent nearly 100 pounds overweight so even though I’m nearly 50, I still don’t necessarily see what others see. My partner is amazing, believe me I’m the lucky one. He’s a doll and one of the kindest, and thank God for my sake, one of the most understanding people ever!”

Awe!!! This dude sounds incredible right? Humble! Stunning! Taken!! Damn, eh beards? Rick you’re now entered in the year end contest! Stay cool and keep reading Bruce in the City!

B.I.T.C

Edited by Mary Ellen Monk

There’s never any excuse not to check out a hot jazz ensemble. That’s why when I was visiting my family in Peterborough this week for some serious R and R I had to stop into this swag little place that’s infamous for its great live jazz music. The place is called The Black Horse. When I walked in I was a little taken back. I expected what I would normally see in Toronto, people dressed to the nines. Clean shaven men tapping their toes and ladies all a glow with the latest drink trend enjoying some Jazz before the reality of high rise office life found them in the morning. When I entered The Black Horse I was like, “I’m home”. The bar was lined with beards best in show. The guys looked like they easily new every song from Led Zepplin or Metallica and the ladies… there was one. Not including the wicked vocalist performing on the stage to my left. I was torn, do I gaze euphorically at the beard buffet to my right or do I sip my Corona, mind my own business, and fall under the spell of Ms. Marsala Lukianchuk? Being a man of notable ability I quite easily decided on both. Marsala was swag personified. Her chops were undeniable scatting out some of the best vocals I’ve heard in a while. Her audience of sexy bearded fellows were captivated by her and for the first time ever in a pub I can honestly say I don’t think the boys were there for the beer. Even the incredible trumpet player was sporting a badass beard (Cleber Cardoso Bittencourt) Those bears were cubs that night and Marsala was the jazz hot! To my shock a few of the fellows actually got up as she graciously shared the stage with other local talent including a wicked base player. She did a duet with a male vocalist and knocked everybody’s work socks off and even that one lady patron got up and sang Blues Skies. Marsala Lukianchuk was really incredible. Rob Phillips is the bands keyboard and musical director. He has performed in several locally successful ensembles. Marsala  has also done a tonne of work and there are many great clips of her on YouTube. I can’t wait to catch her with Rob Phillips the next time I’m in town.

The pubs get 3 kisses out of 5

Marsala and ensemble 4 kisses out of 5

B.I.T.C

Edited by Mary Ellen Monk

As promised Badass B.I.T.C  Beard of the Week is…..

This weeks hot beard belongs to Matt! His girlfriend submitted his pic to bruceinthecity@hotmail.com and when asked why she submitted his stunning beard pic she simply said

“Other than the fact that he’s incredibly yummy?! Lol, He’s lived with his beard longer than he’s lived without it. He has had it for more than half his life.”

He is certainly yummy!

I think that justifies Matt being Badass B.I.T.C Beard of the Week! Congrats Matt you have been added to the year end draw!

What was that anyway? Was that really summer. My ass it was! I can’t believe that it pretty much rained every God forsaken day in this bloody city. One trip to the beach this year. It couldn’t have happened however at the right time. My good buds came from New Hampshire for a little get away. Or what we Canadians refer to as The Great Escape from The Trumps! I keep asking them to move here but I guess they enjoy the torture. The summer was weird at best but as you may recall from a few blogs back I said don’t rule out summer yet! Well in one week sweep I ended up crushing months of summer fun into 120 hours. It was Summerathon!

My buds arrived last weekend on Air Canada. They upgraded to business class and said the trip was excellent. Apparently there were only two crazy Asians that refused to sit down. How fun is that. Eventually they did and the flight was zipping through the sky.

Since I am “Bruce in the City” they left it in my capable hands to show them the city. Which was actually a little stressful but I had my plans in motion. It was decided that we would surprise a predominant Music Director and Organist in the city up near St Clair York Minister Park Baptist church. Some of the very influential attend that church. It would be very indiscrete of me to name names but anyone hear of Loblaws? Needless to say they weren’t in the house but you could feel their high end aura’s none the less. William Maddox has been ministering through music for many years. I won’t say how many, that would be indiscrete also. Let’s just say it is possible The Beatles hadn’t even gotten together yet. Of course I joke but he’s definitely a sample to an already well known church ministry.

But I’m not in the business to promote local churches. I’ve been burned by too many. But as churches go that’s a pretty good one. William, or to us better known as Bill, was surprised at our arrival and that was very cool indeed. And I never combusted into a ball of flames which was a nice surprise for me too! There were so many gays in attendance I was certain there was going to be a revival. But alas God was gentlemanly to us gaggle of Gays. No wrath. At least not this evening.

Now the real church began shortly after the service was over. I took everyone to one of my favourite watering holes. Drinks all around! I can’t resist nachos with extra everything and they were fabulous! Look it up! Midtown Gastro Pub!!! It’s up St Clair and Yonge. I’m certain I’ve talked about them before. Sadly the server moved at a glacier pace so that was annoying. Especially because the night was getting on and we had other troubles to get ourselves into. Alas is was Sunday night and even in Toronto there isn’t much trouble boys can get into so it ended up being a pretty early eve.

Monday and it was all about Centerville! I hadn’t been there in years and sometimes you’ve just got to give your inner child a much needed therapy session!
It’s a bitter sweet year for Centerville. Toronto had a very strange winter and spring leaving the island flooded for most of the summer season. The island lost millions in revenue so more than just being big silly boys this was really a farewell to one of the oldest carousels. It’s leaving us for the states to help pay for the loss Centerville experienced due to the floods. We all got on and my guests and I took our last trip around the merry go round. The memories of my youth came flooding back to me and I couldn’t help but get choked up at the thought of the loss. It was still just as fun as I remembered!

There was a first for me. I went on the sky ride! Heights and a glacier pace, my two favourite things… Not! But one of my buds talked me into it and off we went. I was doing great until we started going over a river. No one told me there was going to be a river! I just looked at my buddy. He knew he was on my hit list. That little smirk came with a calm “Oh, you’ll be fine.” Fine my ass! But I was and I quickly got over the fear and felt a little sense of achievement. Who knew I’d find that at a kids theme park! You just never know when you are going to get that light bulb moment.

Then I went on this zip around dark room spinning thing and got punched in the face! Life has got that way of keeping pride in check. I went to put my arm around my partner to hold tight and then he went to return the gesture but the speed of the ride pulled his elbow into my nose. All I could say was, “Oh my, you broke my nose”. Was it broken? No, but I got my revenge on the bumper cars! Damn that ride is fun! We all targeted this really cute guy and just rammed him from every direction.

Tuesday was Kensington Market! A wonderfully bohemian part of the city where time has stood still after 1960’s. It’s rich in Hipster culture, great places to eat and close on the cheap. Tie dye is still in fashion and the scent of pot and patchouli fill the air. We decided on Amadeus, a quaint Portuguese restaurant. We had a fabulous wine called Gazella that our server Cassandra suggested. It was divine. The boys found the brand later at the LCBO and brought it over for dinner on the Friday. We had Seafood linguine, Chicken Fettuccini and Chicken Caesar. It was all really tasty. Of course a little bread to start us off is always a welcome addition. And well I got hammered on Portuguese wine! Not a bad afternoon.

I took the next day away from site seeing for self recovery while the boys went off with my partner to Casa Loma. I was beat. I just couldn’t pull myself together. They had a great time though. It’s always a place I recommend. Apparently the organ is getting taken out of there for some political reason. Not getting used? I got the down low on it but I didn’t really listen so I missed the bottom line but it’s sad it is going up the road. Two out of the three fellows are organists so that was of interest to them. I was nursing a hangover.

What better way to celebrate friends but to bring your other friends together. We met up with our city buddies on Thursday and made our way to Bumpkin’s! An incredible restaurant on Gloucester just off the village. I’ve been there a couple of times before and have never been let down. Oysters! Seafood Linguine! Chicken Parmesan! Caesar Salad! All just delicious! I again enjoyed some fabulous wine! As did the others. Then it was off to watch Sausage Party! Our first of a few sausage parties that week! Wink!

I of course put on a wonderful roast dinner Friday evening and enjoyed the company of Maddox along with our guests from across the boarder. A very nice dinner if I do say so myself.

Saturday. Our last night together. Well just say what happens in Toronto stays in Toronto but we all had a marvelous time!

We will miss you guys! Until next year!

B.I.T.C

Edited by Mary Ellen Monk

Photos by Bruce in the City

Wow! What a month it has been! From my ridiculous crush to the rubbing of shoulders with people truly deserving of my affection! I have to admit, having a chance to chat with different artists, be them songwriters, actors or those who grace the theater, I can’t begin to tell you how inspired I find myself after I have been in their presence. It is not easy being out there giving the world something so personal like your own talents. I was pondering this as I sat at a hip and iconic pub called The Opera House. Of course it shares its name with one of the most iconic concert venues in the city. Built in a time when live performance and music worship were at an all time high. The Opera House is one of the city’s most historic performing venues, opening in 1909. It has also been a cinema and a live theatre venue. I sat pondering the great acts that must have graced that stage and stories it could tell if those walls could speak. I ordered myself a Caesar and a club sandwich seemed to be a good idea too. The pub was filled with patrons dressed in their stylish yet bohemian threads. A vibe of yesteryear with the speed of the day. My Caesar was great; garnished to the nines and the perfect balance of spice. It was at that moment I decided that it was the Caesars of Caesars in Toronto!!! I’d been looking for the best Caesar in the city and just when I wasn’t even thinking about it, there it was in all its garnished glory. The sun was shining but it was still a little cool on that Opera House patio but the Caesars were sizzling!

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B.I.T.C

Edited by Mary Ellen Monk

I have been working at my shop for just about three years now and have been loving it and all the people I hired. We’ve had the best time but just like every good thing, like the seasons, it is all about to change. My travel to work daily is just over an hour but still difficult to make decisions to move because I’ve made some wonderful acquaintances and friends. I was just north of Lawrence Ave and the community there is amazing. The people in this neighborhood have such a wonderfully friendly, small town hospitality. I know we will both miss each other.

I was even invited to some local get togethers during my time at the shop which were so lovely. I won’t ever forget them. My team was so great too. I hired all of them. They were awesome if I do say so myself and I hope they continue to be their fabulous selves.

I loved the area too. I frequented many shops during my stay. I wrote about a few of them. The Abbott was one of my favourite watering holes. The ladies there were so wonderful. They do make some fabulous Caesars that is for sure! The head bartender is pretty cool too and has an Elvis/Blue Rodeo look about him and he’s funny.

Oh, and Bobbette & Belle! They had the best treats. Did I write about them? I’ve written about so many places I can’t keep track. I really liked the one manager that unfortunately left. She was very outgoing but I don’t think she was very happy. Retail places have a mad record of being able to hold onto good people. Of course I’m only guessing but I’m usually correct about these things. I’ve been around and back baby!

Don’t even get me started on Yonge Street Sushi! Super slow service but their sushi is fabulous. I went there way too many times. I will miss their terrible service and their great sushi! Okay, maybe they weren’t that bad but ya they were not great at customer service. But let’s keep our eyes on the sushi shall we!?

I have to give a shout out to a few other places that knocked my sox off while working in the neighborhood. The Sushi Bar, Aroma Espresso Bar, McCoy Burger (from my home town of Oshawa), The Friendly Butcher (Cute guys slapping meat on a patio grill? Hello!), Salt Cave, Patisserie Sebastian, Pistachio, Valentina’s Body Bakery!! All fabulous places to try out when in the Lawrence Village!!

Do you remember growing up with your local corner store? Well the family that runs the corner store just up the street from my shop are so great. I mean they never gave me a break on a nickel but who can blame them. Money makes the world go around. They did give me some flowers once. That was very sweet. Toronto is such a cold ass city! It’s so nice to make a friend or two along the way. Okay “friend” might be pushing it, but at the very least politeness does go a long way in this burnt toast town.

My clients were the best, which truly makes it so difficult to go. Everyone, for the most part, was just as sweet as anything. It’s truly not easy to go. But you know when your customers are closer to you than your own friends are, it’s important to make some healthy work life balance decisions.

Plus, I’m super excited to get to meet all the new people and the store itself is busier, and you all know how I need to keep myself busy. A good business move I think. Personal happiness and some healthy challenges? It’s a good thing. With being closer to home too I’ll be able to get out to more fabulous places to write about.

Well everyone I knew, and even some that relationships will continue, it was amazing serving you these past several years. I’ll miss you guys and hope we bump into each other again.

B.I.T.C!

Editor Mary Ellen Monk

Thoughts from the Editor: Good luck on your new adventure! Are you close enough now to walk to work? I know you are on the weight loss journey, just like the rest of us, so wondered if extra walking to work might help. I walk 4-5 kms every day on my lunch hour. It’s the only free time I get away from my boys because they are in school, so I take advantage of it.

Love you!

ME

It was Yorkville’s yearly Ice Festival that had me at that end of town recently. I do love a good ice sculpture. This year the weather was a little dicey but chilled off enough to keep everything nice and frozen. It’s been a while since I have been to Yorkville. It’s not usually my scene but once in a while I like to see how the other half lives.

The rich are so odd! I want to be rich and odd. When you’re odd and you are poor people just think you’re nuts, but when you have money people think you’re creative, eccentric and even talented. Who else can get away with their shenanigans like the rich? They can post nudie pics all over the place and everyone cheers them on. I posted my butt on instagram once and my friends almost wrote me off for crazy. I don’t know why. I want people to get to know the many sides of me. That happens to be one of my better sides.
I found out another crazy thing the young and rich get up to, “Silent Disco”. I stopped at Hemingway’s with some pals for a few drinks. It was my first time at Hemingway’s and I really wished I could give it a stellar review! It was slow. The service I mean. Painfully slow. We were just ordering drinks and a few appetizers and the person tending bar was slowwwwwwwwwww! I felt bad for our server who was very nice and an actress apparently. How very Rachael Berry! I even had to check on our drinks right at the bar to help move things along. I think the worst part was that one person at the table waited for her meal for an hour and a half. I didn’t realize this was happening to her until she mentioned it. She was at the other end of the table.
Well, when I caught word of this I couldn’t let that go. I mentioned it to the server but she didn’t recall the order happening at all. Now you ask, why would my acquaintance wait so long for the meal in the first place? But to me that’s not the point. Maybe she is shy. Maybe she doesn’t like to complain. All I know is when someone begins to share their concerns, people should take it seriously and do what they can to help. I wasn’t getting the vibe that this was happening so I asked for the manger.
The manager did arrive and I shared the concern about the missing meal and this is were it got interesting. He began to tell me his story about being in the military and how he is so disciplined and that his team is just as disciplined. Now don’t get me wrong, I love myself a good man in the military, but I wasn’t sure how this was relating to the missing sandwich. Was he on sandwich detail during his time protecting our country?
With my most respectful voice I repeated, “But the sandwich still hasn’t arrived”. He was very intense. I felt like saying, “Sir, yes sir”. In the end the sandwich finally arrived at the two hour mark and didn’t appear on a bill so that was a good thing.
OMG! Then the place went silent. The rooftop patio filled with young and old of all backgrounds. Apparently it was time for “Silent Disco”. So for $35 each for a set of headphones apparently people can party together with the DJ spinning tunes directly into their head. It was like a scene out of some zombie apocalypse. We unfortunately did not have the fabulous $35 headphones, so we were treated to a room full of a hundred people all singing the latest tune, out of key, dancing in a room filled with nothing but their creepy voices. There were couples on dates not communicating to each other at all. Just singing with deaf ears because of the headphone pumped in music and were completely unaware that when you are unable to hear yourself sing the ability to sing in tune reduces by like 1000! It felt like one very perverse social experiment gone really wrong! I knew for the first time in my life what Hell might be like. Creepy! Maybe I’ll check them out on a live music night instead!

B.I.T.C

Hemingway’s

http://hemingways.to/

2 kisses out of 5

Edited by Mary Ellen Monk

It’s no secret I am a pub lover.  I just love the feel of a good pub.  And, oh yes, I have been to a few while living in this city called Toronto.  The city I hate to love but one thing is for sure it’s got a lot of great watering holes and I just can’t get enough of them.  Yesterday, being Halloween, I just had to stop by for a tasty cider and some nibbles.
This pub is called The Abbott.  It’s got that small town feel that I love and the attitude of the big city.  They have these really cool ball things that are hard to describe.  I think they’re just called Scottish balls.  I do love me some Scottish balls.  So salty, so big!  The first time I had them I was a little taken back.  They’re not like anything I’ve tried before but before long they were rolling around in my mouth and I just had to share them with my buddy.  I thought he could used some Scottish balls in his mouth too.
He wasn’t too keen on them, but balls are not for everyone.  He seemed to prefer the Scottish sausage which I just couldn’t seem to get my mouth around.  Between the sausage and balls we were a glow in the eve of Halloween.  Add some of my favourite cider to that “Somersby” and a shot or two of the perfect spirit and we were off to the pumpkin patch!
The ladies at the pub are so great!  I seriously enjoy their customer service.  I wish there was a fellow or two on staff but a roamer like me can’t have everything. This pub does offer a special menu almost daily it seems.  I think they just make it up as they go but it is always very good.  The only thing I didn’t love was their potato soup, it was a bit drab.
They have a constant menu of course and the price is right.  The streets were bustling with kids by now and I was amazed at how many were out and about.  Kids of all ages were dressed in their finest spectacular costumes and I was right there with them.
 I just can’t get enough of Halloween and some of my favourite specials are of course “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” & “Dracula Dead & Loving it”.  As we finished enjoying our Halloween Scottish sausage and balls fest we knew the night was calling and like witches of old we dashed out into the night.
Happy Halloween to all and to all a spooky night!
http://theabbot.ca/
B.I.T.C

Edited by Mary Ellen Monk