Construction

Maybe it's because last week it was the call of the loons waking me up, but the jackhammering on Bathurst that begins at 7 am is a bit much, frankly.
And the construction around Spadina and Kendal is making negotiating the side streets a lesson in perserverance and ingenuity.
What's the old joke? Toronto has two seasons: winter and construction.
Grump.
Vanessa
As an addendum, you also can't cross Bathurst anywhere north of Bloor until Vermont Ave., and even that's if you're on a bike/foot and very careful. Leave yourself extra time to get where you're going today, or take an alternate route.

Things To Do

Kensington Market Festival of Lights
We blogged about this earlier so that people could go to lantern-making workshops if they wished, so, as a reminder, on December 21 you can "join the sensational Samba Squad and a cavalcade of costumed characters, giant puppets, stilt-walkers and fire-breathers in a luminescent lantern-lit carnival parade in Toronto's legendary Kensington Market."

The Bloor Cinema thanks its members by screening White Christmas for free tomorrow night at 7 pm. There's also complimentary refreshments (!) and if you bring a donation for the food drive you can enter to win free movies for a year. As well, you can buy a $3 membership at the door.

Today is the last day to book tickets for Chinese and a Movie Christmas Eve at the Miles Nadal JCC at Bloor and Spadina. Across the Universe screens at 8:30 preceded by dinner at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $36 or $20 for students. You can buy them at the front desk and a limited number will be available at the door for $40.

A tiny bit out of the area, but still within (brisk) walking distance, Spadina Museum sits in the shadow of Casa Loma but has a lovely grandeur all its own. Tomorrow night, the Winter Solstice, it plays host to an evening of traditional Japanese music and storytelling. And we quote: "The Katari Storytellers will entertain guests with stories and songs, while James Thompson provides musical accompaniment on the flute. Seating is limited. Pre-registration is required." Tickets are $15 and $20. For more information, or to register, call: 416.392.6910.

While we're in that neck of the woods, so to speak, Casa Loma has a host of activities going on this weekend and throughout the Holidays. "Zany" theatre troupe Men In Tights performs A Christmas Carol: It's Dickens With A Difference, the swimming pool area's been turned into a Ghostly Grotto and there's something called a Scrooginator in action on the second floor, just to name a few attractions. Of course, the biggest draw is always making your way through the "secret tunnel" to the stables. Admission is $15 for adults, $8 for children and the play costs extra.

Me? Well besides the usual family stuff, I'll be going to see A Twisted Christmas Carol, which I blogged about before and which ends its run this weekend.
Cheers, Vanessa

A & C Games

DH noticed a little hole-in-the wall gaming store on Spadina south of Bloor. Intrepid Christmas shopper (me) quickly checked it out and copped some great Xmas gifts for the niblets, albeit used. It's called A & C games and it's at 706 Spadina Avenue, 416.923.3066. The business card reads: "Buy-Sell-Trade." Even better! They also specialize in rare & vintage games, so if you've been pining for your teen years lately and remembering the many hours you (happily) wasted on... well, there's too many possible games to mention! Anyway, it's worth a visit.
Vanessa