If, unlike me, clowns and stilt walkers don’t strike fear into your little heart why not swing on down to Harbourfront Centre (located at 235 Queens Quay East) from the 22^nd to the 24^th between 11am and 5pm for the Toronto International Circus Festival! Other attractions promised include world-class acrobats, fire-eaters, side-splitting comedy, mind-bending daredevil stunts, balloon animals and much more. It’s all free and there will be workshops for kids so take the whole family!

Southeast, the Distillery District (55 Mill Street, near King Street East and Parliament) is hosting their Artisans Spring Craft Show from the 22^nd to the 24^th between 11am and 6pm, rain or shine. Shows like this have a very outdoor flea market setup but the wares for sale are all Canadian made. The exhibitors display hand crafted jewelry, ceramics, soaps, dolls, hats, leather, clothing, gourmet food, textiles, wood furniture, as well as photography, art and sculpture. If you’re in the market for something unique, this will be just the place to find it!

Don’t forget about Ontario Place (955 Lake Shore Boulevard West) which opens for the season with rides, children’s entertainment and fireworks. The park opens on the 22^nd and Victoria Day celebrations will run until the 24th. Weather permitting; fireworks will light up the sky only on Sunday the 23rd at 9:30pm. Admission to and hours for the park are as follows:

Admission:

Adult/Youth – $16.90 + tax

Child/Senior – $11.19 + tax

Prices listed are for Ground Admission which provides access to park wide events and entertainment. Upgrade to a Toronto Star Play All Day Pass to access Ontario Place rides and attractions.

Hours:

Saturday, May 22nd     10am to 6pm

Sunday, May 23rd        10am to 10pm (Remember, fireworks begin at 9:30pm!)

Monday, May 24th       10am to 6pm

You don’t have to pay to see fireworks though if you head down to the Beaches! Fireworks at Ashbridge’s Bay (Lakeshore Boulevard East, just east of Coxwell Avenue) start after 9:30pm on Monday the 24^th but it’s advised on their site to head down much earlier and I can attest to that. I went with friends one year only to be disappointed in learning that they set the skies ablaze a half hour ahead of schedule due to the weather. There’s other benefits to going earlier too. Take a stroll along the sandy beach, do a little shopping or pop in to the restaurants on Queen’s eastern strip. The Beaches are full of hidden gems! A couple of tips: Take the TTC and avoid the traffic or the long search for a parking spot and bring a blanket or sweater because despite the warm weather it can get a bit chilly at night still, especially down by the water!

Well, that’s it for me folks! Have yourselves a lovely Victoria Day long weekend. I’m off to La Métropole! Salut!

If you’re looking an escape, set your sights South of the equator. I say this for a couple of reasons: First of all, our Winter is their Summer so it is hot hot hot! Second, it’s far less expensive than anywhere in Europe, the US or Mexico. And third, it’s way cooler than going to the Dominican or Cuba (which are fine choices, but don’t offer much in the way of an adventure).

I would return to South America in a heartbeat. Our trip kicked off in Rio, which delivered an instant infusion of Brazilian culture: warm, beautiful and passionate.  It is a city that loves good food, loud music and vibrant parties. From Rio, we took a bus trip to Paraty (pronounced Par-a-chy), a small village surrounded by lush mountains and five interconnected beaches. The cobblestone streets of Paraty are lined with restaurants, tourist shops and outdoor markets. During the day, tourists take a short bus ride through the mountains to the beaches, rent boats, or charter a private tour of the surrounding islands. When the sun sets, they wander the streets, entertained by buskers and filled with cake from passing carts. It is truly a great escape. Our last stop in Brazil was Iguassu Falls. This is the site with the most waterfalls in one spot, with upwards of 275 drops . I wouldn’t recommend spending more than a day or two here, because aside from the falls visit there isn’t a whole lot to do or see.

Buenos Aires, known as ‘The Paris of the South’, was the first and only location we visited in Argentina. I’m a true city girl.  I love getting lost wandering among unfamiliar streets lined with architectural masterpieces. I felt instantly at home in Buenos Aires and wish I had been able to spend more than 1 night. Like Brazil, they love their beef buffets. I had never seen more meat lined up and ready to devour. Needless to say, I spent my only night there eating, drinking and comparing travel notes. The next morning, I walked along their pedestrian only street, Calle Florida, picking up trinkets for friends and family at home. I was surprised at how inexpensive the shops were.

If you’re thinking of heading down South, here are some tips:

1. The sun down there is intense. Make sure you take lots of high SPF sunscreen and reapply like mad.

2. GAP guides often have deals worked out with a lot of the local restaurants. This is both good and bad. Good in that they know with places to take you to that serve quality food. Bad in that they are often expensive, touristy and not really indicative of authentic dishes.

3. Hit at least 1 proper Brazilian or Argentinian buffet. If you like meat, you won’t be disappointed (cheese and wine infused beef = died and gone to heaven).

4. Brazil’s national drink is called the Caprihina. It is made with their national liquor cachaca and lots of lime and sugar. If made properly, it is delicious and extremely potent. Drink with caution.

5. Buy your Haviana sandals from the markets and make sure you bring your best bargaining skills!

I am definitely no wine connoisseur, but I do know what I like when it hits my pallet. Throughout the evening we tried four wines from the series and listened as Marketing Director, Scott Starra, regaled us with stories of Inniskillin’s past and present accolades.

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We started the tasting with a 2008 Two Vineyard Riesling. Unlike most Rieslings this particular blend was not overly sweet, but instead had strong notes of citrus, leaving a refreshed feeling in your mouth. If you like your Rieslings dry with higher acidity levels this is a great choice. It is also highly versatile for food pairings, going well with Asian, Thai and Indian dishes as well as squash soups.  Scott explained that if you are ever unsure of what to pair with a particular meal, a dry Riesling is a good choice as they often accent most flavours and foods.

Our second wine was a 2008 Three Vineyard Chardonnay, oaked in both French and American oak for a full robust bodied taste.  As with the Riesling, this Chardonnay was high in acidity, which is a common element in 2008 white wines because of the long, warm nights that summer was blessed with. I usually prefer an unoaked Chardonnay, however, found this one to be really tasty when paired a strong cheese  like the Roaring Forties Blue from Australia. You can also pair it with buttery foods like lobster, seafood, buttered popcorn (with truffle oil if you’re feeling swanky), and even turkey.

It was finally time to move onto the reds. While I enjoy my whites, I am a red wine girl at heart. I was thrilled to learn our first selection was a Pinot Noir. Maybe it stems from the scene from Sideways in which Miles gives a full description of the delicacy, sensitivity and temperament of the Pinot grape, or maybe its just because i have good taste, but Pinot has been high on my list of favourites for some time.

The 2007 Three Vineyard Pinot Noir owes its full body and distinguished tastes to the hot summer we had in 2007. If you’re looking for a mild Pinot, this is not for you. On the other hand, if you like your wines to have a little bit of attitude and be able to stand on their own this is a great choice.  In terms of pairings, Scott suggested anything with earthy mushroom flavours, pork, duck, or a good brie. I also liked it with the Blackburn cheese from Quebec that we sampled last night.

Our final vino of the soiree was a 2007 Cabernet Franc from Inniskillin’s Reserve Series. As with all wines from 2007, the Cab Franc was very full bodied, without being too strong or intrusive on the pallet.  I liked this wine a lot and since it is the only one we tried last night currently on the stands in the LCBO will definitely be picking some up for the holidays. Priced at $16.95 you’re getting a lot of value at a low cost. This wine is well paired with lamb, steak and grilled chicken as well as a strong well-aged cheese.

The first three wines featured will be hitting the shelves in the near future. If you’re not already familiar with the different wines Inniskillin and other Niagara region wineries have to offer, its high time you get acquainted. For more information on Inniskillin check out their Facebook page, including videos, interviews and recipes.

There is only one problem with this method: I’m not supporting my local vendors. This year, my mission is to incorporate more vendors from the GTA who also have online stores.  Below are some I have found so far:

Duration of Ownership: 2.5 hours. Chocolate Lover? Check. Human? Check.

Neslo Chocolates: Neslo is owned and operated  by two cousins who hand make every batch of delicious, high quality Belgian chocolate. They experiment with unconventional flavours like Banana Brandy, Salted Caramel and Strawberry Wasabi. These chocolates are melt in your mouth. If you don’t finish the box in the first couple of hours  not only are you not a chocolate lover, you may not be human either.  These are a perfect gift for anyone in your life, just make sure you pick up a box or two for yourself while you’re at it.

You cant get much cooler than having a Star Wars and Computer combo!

Orange Fish: This online-only store caters to the knick-knack lover. Products range from characterized USB keys, to belt buckles, to artisan undies and magnets. I particularly love their cuff links, many of which are made out of  pieces of real items like hockey pucks, working compasses,  footballs and Madison Square Gardens flooring.  Everything on OrangeFish.ca is unique in either creation or design and range in price from as little as 4 or 5 dollars through to around 200. Their items would be great stocking  stuffers or Secret Santa gifts.

Warning: Owners may also experiment with copping a feel

Clothing Brand Experiment (CBE for short): CBE hoodies are a Toronto based company offering some funky and colourful hoodies for men and women. The hooded sweatshirt was the first “experiment” CBE went after.  Their goal was to make a locally produced, hooded sweatshirt with all the features they loved. Looks like they did a pretty decent job and don’t have to charge their clients an arm and a leg. Check out their online store – good gift for anyone hoping to stay warm this winter in style.

Simply splendid and simply de-lic-ious (num num num num num)

Simply Splendid: OK, so this one you cant order online, however, you can just pick up the phone and place your order that way. And since you can still accomplish this from the comfort of your couch, it still counts. Simply splendid owner and baker extraordinaire, Marilyn Mirabelli, specializes in making the most delicious shortbread cookies I have ever tasted. I have tried her vanilla and chilli chocolate which were both good enough to make me go back for seconds, but the real show stopper was her curry flavoured shortbread. I know it sounds kind of weird but its amazing. Her teas and cookies can be purchased separately or as sets. Definitely a good gift for any sweet tooth in your life. She will also come to your house and put on a full British-style Victorian Afternoon Tea.  A great gift idea for moms, grandparents, Brits and any cookie lover in your life.

Where have you been doing your online shopping this year? Any great Toronto vendors to share?