Marley, the Slumdog and Me

The lull between Christmas and New Year is perfect for movie-watching. A lot of potentially award-winning films come out with hopes of staying fresh in the viewers minds when it's time to vote for the Golden Globes and the Oscars. Of course, they have to compete for box office money against some lighter, family-friendly fare.

On my viewing plate are: The Wrestler, The Reader, The Tale of Despereaux, Slumdog Millionaire, Marley and Me. Left on the buffet table are movies with Tom Cruise (Valkyrie), Brad Pitt, (Benjamin Button) Will Smith (Seven Pounds)and Jim Carey (Yes Man). They don't need any more money from me..

So far, I've seen a movie about a dog being treated like a human, and another about a human being treated like a dog:

Slumdog Millionaire.

It's an intriguing title, and because it's directed by Danny Boyle of Trainspotting, and because it has 4 Golden Globe nominations, it was definitely on my must-see list this season.

It starts with a question: how does a poor, uneducated tea boy from the slums of Mumbai come to know the correct answers in “Who wants to be a millionaire?” and win 20 million rupees?

How the protagonist, Jamal, has the answers seared into his brain because of his life experiences is the journey the movie takes us through. The cameras take us through the slums of Mumbai before the plush condominiums took over, and there are no shots of the regal Taj Mahal hotel. There is a scene at the actual Taj Mahal, but the movie does not get sidetracked by beautiful scenery.

In fact, Slumdog reminded me very much of one made a long, long time ago by Filipino movie master Lino Brocka: “Maynila sa mga Kuko ng Liwanag”. While “Maynila” was primarily social commentary, “Slumdog” is a fairy tale. In the end, you expect a “happily ever after” (or in this case a Bollywood) ending, which Slumdog does deliver. But not before it drags you through some very dark places.

There are some very evil characters in this story and you will believe that any moment the hero can lose his life or get seriously hurt. But what keeps you watching is the hope that his honesty and purity remain intact.

Slumdog Millionaire was the People's Choice in the Toronto International Film Festival and it is easy to see why.

Marley and Me.

Choosing to watch this movie on Christmas Day was a no-brainer for me. My sister and I love our dogs and if only the theater allowed canine movie-goers, we would have brought our four-footed friends.

I've read John Grogan's book about what it was like to have “the world's worst dog” and I enjoyed it. The challenge, in translating this book into a movie, was not whether it was going to be faithful. There were a lot of slapstick moments in the book, and it was natural to put them in the movie for some easy laughs. But would the movie have the same heart?

Let me just say that if you love dogs, you should bring a box of tissues with you. Owen Wilson looked very natural when talking to the dog. The dog looked really cute even if it didn't have s speaking part. And Jennifer Aniston, who kept her clothes on, looked really comfortable playing third fiddle.

For people with small children, be warned this is not Beethoven or 1001 Dalmatians. It's a movie about a real dog, and we all know what happens to real dogs in real life.

Athens Bakery: from the people who gave us the Olympics

It's only fitting to visit a Greek bakery on the opening day of the Olympics. Aside from giving us a once-every-four-years spectacle, the Greeks also invented loukomades! These are fried dough balls soaked in honey and sprinkled with cinnamon. And they serve them fresh every half-hour at the Athens bakery on the Danforth. I find that the best beverage to enjoy them with is unsweetened tea, otherwise the sweetness could be cloying. Athens bakery also serves spanakopita, or Greek pastries with cheese or spinach filling, as well as a choice of coffees.

Caffe Demetre: great desserts and more!

A friend of mine was raving about Caffe Demetre: "You just have to go there! Whenever they serve my order, I feel like crying because I'm so happy!". I've never seen anyone so passionate about their desserts before, so I thought I'd give Caffe Demetre a shot. It's just a few steps away from the Chester station, right in the heart of Greektown. If you''ve never been there before, it might take a while to swim through the menu. But, if you want to make it simple, all you need to decide is: do you want 1, 2 or 3 scoops of ice cream? Next, do you want it in a waffle, a crepe or a split? On a hot summer day, dessert shouldn't be too complicated. And it isn't at Caffe Demetre. They also have a cake selection if you're not into frozen calories. Once you've given your order, the next best thing to do is to lay back and enjoy the funky decor and do what people do in Greektown: watch people go by on the sidewalk.

The city's best coffee: Mercury Organic Espresso Bar

I was there at the beginning, around 2006, when Mercury Organic Espresso Bar had just opened on Queen st. East at Morse (near Carlaw). I had just returned from vacation in Italy and was missing the coffee. For me, the best cappuccino I've ever had was at the termini in Rome, and I was resigned to the fact that it would be an unrepeatable experience. I walked into Mercury because I was impressed by their serious-looking cappuccino machine, exactly the kind I saw around Italy, and was hopeful that at last, I can have a real cup of cappuccino here in Toronto. The barista was gracious and he knew his beans. And the cappuccino was great, as expected. A few months later, a Starbucks opened nearby at Queen and Logan and I was worried that Mercury might get muscled out. It did not only survive the competition with Starbucks, it flourished. It's no surprise if you consider that money you spend at Mercury goes into buying organic fair-trade coffee instead of marketing. Now, Mercury has it's own blog, a My Space site and a loyal crowd of coffee-lovers from around the world.

The best street car ride in town: the 501 Queen Streetcar

The 501 streetcar is the longest street car route in Toronto and the most interesting. It passes by The Beach area, Leslieville, Eaton Centre, City Hall, the old CHUM building, the new Canadian Opera Company, the fashionable shops on Queen West and goes all the way to the edge of Mississauga. It's almost always packed and can be uncomfortable in the summer because it has no air conditioning. But it's a great way for a first-timer, or even an old-timer, to see the some interesting city landmarks.

Let's go to the Beach!

A friend of mine came in from The Beach
one day and breathlessly reported that there was a woman in a thong. I said, "You're not referring to flip-flops, I assume". And she motioned to her rear and said "No, she was wearing a thong! That's not right, there were kids around".

At which point there ensued a discussion regarding proper beach attire in Toronto. Granted this isn't the Cannes or even Copacabana, but it is legal for women to go topless here. Not that many do outside of the Pride Parade.

For the most part, most women wear regular bikinis and mean wear beach shorts. And everyone has a good time.

10 ways to have fun for $10 or less

Summers in Toronto are short so why waste it vegetating around the house? Get out there and have fun! Here are some suggestions:

1. Watch a matinee movie ($9.95 at Famous Players, $6 at Rainbow Cinemas)
2. Buy 3 Toonie Tuesdays at KFC and have a picnic at the park with your best friends
3. Go to the dollar store and splurge
4. Go bird watching at the Leslie spit
5. Play volleyball at Woodbine beach
6. Go fruit-shopping at Spadina (sometimes you can get 7 sweet mangoes for $5)
7. Go to your nearest library
8. Enjoy a bird's eye view of Toronto at the Panorama for the price of a beer at the bar.
9. Go to Value Village and enhance your wardrobe with interesting finds.
10. Check out the shops at Kensington Market.

Enjoy the great indoors: The Eaton Centre

It's hard to miss the Toronto Eaton Centre because it's right in the heart of the downtown core. As malls go, it has long been overtaken by others in terms of size and spectacle. It used to have a cineplex but it no longer has that attraction. What it does offer is this huge indoor space with a skylight that gives one the feeling of being outdoors, complete with flying geese overhead. In the winter, it's a great place to escape the cold and in the summer, it's a terrific shelter from the heat and UV rays.

Toronto's own flatiron building

One of the most photographed structures in Toronto is the Flatiron building on Wellington at the corner where Front and Church streets meet. It probably reminds most people of the more famous Flatiron in New York, although according to one website, Toronto's version was built 10 years earlier.

How to figure out Toronto's subway system

Anyone who's been to Tokyo, Paris or New York takes some time to figure out the subway system. There are so many lines! And in Tokyo, if you miss the 3:23 train and take the 3:30 train instead, you might find yourself going in the wrong direction.

But not in Toronto! All you need to do is figure out if you're going North or South, East or West. There are only 2 lines (make that 2.5 including the Sheppard line). And thanks to the newly-installed automated announcements, you can now hear when you're arriving at your stop.

One other cool thing: if you need accurate directions to a specific address covered by the Toronto Transit Commission, call 416-393-4636 during office hours on weekdays. When you hear the automated voice, press "0" and you'll get a live person to tell you how to get there. It's way better than asking a stranger at the bus shelter.

Must-go destination for foodies: St. Lawrence Market

The first time I went to St. Lawrence Market, I didn't know where to start: there were all kinds and cuts of meat, fresh seafood and even baked goodies, just on the main floor. I got down to the lower level and there was caviar, gourmet coffee, Japanese, Chinese and Greek take-out, even a Ukrainian deli. What to do?

I always say, when in doubt, eat. So I went to the Chinese take-out and got lunch for about eight dollars, found a spot to sit down and enjoyed my noodles and barbecue pork. Afterwards, I had a cappuccino and a brownie from the gourmet coffee shop. On the way out, I bought a pound of freshly made pasta to cook at home. I was inspired to make something great for our dinner table and I knew I had found the right stuff.

Toronto's Secret Pathways

Imagine living in a major North American city where you can hop on your bike, access a trail behind your apartment, and pedal your way downtown without being threatened or intimidated by cars. That city is Toronto. It has a network of tree-lined trails and pathways, a lot of it populated by flowering plants and a variety of birds. It is patrolled by policemen on bikes and has well-maintained paths. You are well-advised to bring your own food and drinks because there are no convenience stores here. Washrooms are also few and far between. But do avail of the park benches and listen to the birds. Out here, it's easy to forget that minutes away is a bustling concrete jungle with thousands of cars rushing everywhere.

Eating well on a fast food budget

Why settle for fast food when Toronto has a wealth of healthier, more flavorful food choices? I have personally enjoyed eating at the places listed below. Prices might have changed since my last visit, but they would still be comparable to a combo meal at your favorite fast food place:

• Jumbo Empanadas at Kensington Market. Your choice of beef, chicken or vegetable empanada. The place was put up by a couple of Chilean sisters who started out with a food cart. Get the salsa, it will double your enjoyment.

• Lucky Star Chinese restaurant on Queen Street East. Probably the best deal in that neighborhood. Ask for the Peanut Butter chicken when it's available.

• Big Fat Burrito at Kensington Market. Your first thought when you see your order might be: "how am I going to stuff that into my face?" Just take one bite at a time and you can do it. Extremely informal ambiance. You can park your bicycle outside and watch it while you eat.

• King's Noodle House on Spadina. If you're eating alone, you'll be asked to sit at a round table with other customers. Don't be intimidated. Tea is free and a single order of noodles with soup will leave you satisfied.

• Pho Hung Vietnamese restaurant on Spadina. It's so popular they expanded the place and took over the patio. There's always a crowd and that's a good thing. That means the food is always fresh!
  

Good, fast, no-fuss Korean barbeque

I've had good experiences with Korean food. Maybe it's because it was meant to be enjoyed communally, in the company of friends and family.

My favorite kind of Korean food is the barbeque. The table usually has a built-in stove with a built-in round grill in the middle. The waiter brings the raw, marinated beef, pork, chicken or seafood to the table and you do the cooking yourself. It reminds of me of that scene in the movie “Lost in Translation” when the Bill Murray character says: “What kind of restaurant makes you cook your own food?”.

The thing is, cooking your own food can be fun and gives you something to do while enjoying company. Just be prepared to come out of the restaurant reeking of cooked meat.

But what if you want to enjoy Korean food without all the fuss?

That is the simple appeal of Yummy Bar-B-Q Restaurant. If you need a fix of Korean food and you don't have much time, this is the place. You don't need to cook the food yourself. They'll bring it to your table within minutes, along with the obligatory kimchi.

If you're dining alone, you can watch Korean music videos on the flat screen tvs on the wall. Or you can chat with the gracious Korean servers and get more information about the food.

Last time I was there, I ordered the bulgogi. For eight dollars, I got a huge plate of tender marinated beef, two scoops of steamed rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, and three kinds of kimchi. It was enough food for two people, but I was hungry. And it was great!

Yummy Bar-B-Q restaurant is at 552 Yonge street, near the Wellesley station.

My favorite Canadian beer

It was my first time going out with my office mates and we went to a sports bar. There were peanut shells on the floor, arcade games in one corner, and several TV monitors showing various sports.

The waitress came to get our orders and I wasn't sure what to get. One of the great things about being in Canada is having so many choices of beer to drink. I think the average Canadian beer drinker rotates among 5 different brands, with Molson Canadian or Labatt Blue being the staples, with several other brands competing for attention.

The last time I went to a beer store, which they call The Beer Store, they had at least 60 kinds of beer. And before going to the bar, I tried a few other Canadian beers: Moosehead, Upper Canada, Steamwhistle, Molson Canadian.

And because I was with my new Canadian friends, I didn't want to order a Corona or a Coors. I wanted a Canadian beer!

So I told the waitress that I wanted a Canadian beer. But I also wanted something that was close to what I had back in the old country: a light, refreshing pilsen-type beer.

She smiled, her eyes widened as if a light-bulb went on in her head, touched my arm and said: “I have just the beer for you! You'll like it, I promise!”

She came back with a frosted mug that was filled with the light-amber drink, just enough head to make it picture-pretty. I took a sip as she waited expectantly. I guess the smile on my face said it all for her.

She said, “It's good, eh?”

I asked her what beer it was. And she said “Keith's”.

Keith's. More formally known as Alexander Keith's Premium India Pale Ale from Nova Scotia.

Sure, it's not from Toronto. But close enough.

Bicycle Culture

In the summer, the bicycle becomes ubiquitous in Toronto. It is a relatively cheap means of transportation, eco-friendly and fun!

How cheap are they? You can get them for free from friends who want to upgrade, or from Craig's List. My first bike came from a friend of a friend who had used it during a transit strike and didn't have the energy or inclination to bring it back home from her workplace. She gave us the key to the lock and we brought it to a bike shop for a tune up. It was an 18-speed Raleigh, probably from a department store, but it brought me to places I would never have seen if I didn't have it.

Once you get serious, or get tired of being passed by people on serious bikes, there are several shops that sell everything from alloy to carbon fiber bikes. Be prepared to spend anywhere between five hundred to several thousand dollars.

I've been on the Don Valley trail, the Martin Goodman trail, Elizabeth Seton Park, Edward Gardens, the Leslie Spit and Cherry Beach. On these trails, you will encounter a variety of bike enthusiasts: families on department store bikes, commuters with back packs or panniers, serious cyclists in full racing regalia and lollygaggers like myself.

Bicycle culture is very egalitarian: the haves and the have nots all share the same experience. Just because a person is on a bike doesn't mean he or she can't afford more expensive transportation. It's simply a great way to see the city or go to work and get some exercise on the way.

One of my favorite sights when going home, sometimes late at night, is the sight of bicyclists with their firefly headlights rolling single file on the bike lanes. I don't know why the sight of them makes me feel good. Maybe it's just the thought that one doesn't need four wheels and gasoline to get around this city. And that's a wonderful thing!