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What does your National Day holiday mean to
you? For many its a day of celebration with family and friends irrespective of where you live. This past week we celebrated Australia Day (January 26th), and if you lived in Australia you'd be celebrating around the BBQ enjoying the summer warmth, but not so much here in Toronto...brrr!
For some of us who have settled in other
countries our National Day is still and will always be a special day, which we
undoubtedly celebrate no matter where we find ourselves.
So what better way to celebrate Australia
Day this year than at a local and iconic watering hole. As an ex-pat living overseas
(yes, I still see myself as Australian) important cultural days like this are
often an opportunity to connect and in some cases reconnect with your community
and friends.
Those new to Toronto will have undoubtedly
heard through the grapevine or via their network that we have a strong Australian and New Zealand ex-pat community, along with many of the comforts of home… Here are just a couple of my favourites:
Indelible
Tip 1: Hemingway’s
(142 Cumberland Street) has been a mainstay in
Toronto’s trendy and upscale Yorkville neighborhood for more than 35
years. As you can imagine, that is some feat,
especially given that traditionally the bar and restaurant game can be a fickle
business and sometimes tend to turn over rather quickly.
Before our big
Australia Day bash this week I met with co-owner Daimin Bodnar to find
our why Hemingway’s had been so successful.
Daimin said that he and his co-owner, Martin have always been focused on creating a "home away from home" atmosphere for those ex-pat
Australians and New Zealanders traveling the world and who visit Toronto…whether its for a few days, a few years or a lifetime. A place you feel
welcomed immediately. I must admit its nice to feel at home when you're traveling, nothing
is more satisfying that a friendly face, a familiar accent and some local food - seriously what could be better when your away from home?
The second important point that Daimin made, and I think speaks to Hemingway’s longevity in that its long been considered as a Australian/New Zealand cultural center for local Torontonians as well, thus providing them with a glimpse
into the people, culture and traditions from those downunder for over 35 years. Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians have always felt at home in each others company, and its certainly evident with the eclectic mix of patrons that I met while sipping my cold beer and celebrating Australia day.
As an additional bonus, Hemingway's always televise large sporting events such as the Australian Football League grand final and the recent
Rugby World Cup. Not surprisingly, Hemingway’s became the
unofficial home of the Rugby world cup in Toronto, and not just for the Australian and New Zealand fans. Daimin told me the story that during the Rugby world cup France was playing in a game and out of the blue over 200 French fans decided to descend on the bar to watch the game, which would have been fabulous if it hadn't been for the other 100 fans already there - apparently it was quite a raucous and fun filled day. Nice!
For those of you who are local in Toronto, next up is New Zealand’s National Day
celebrations (Waitangi Day) on February 6th. You’ll need to call ahead to reserve a
spot…yep its going to be huge! :-)
Indelible
2: Familiar Foods As I said Toronto has a strong and
surprisingly vibrant ex-pat community, and with that influx
has come some of the traditional fare from back home, including Vegemite (not
my fav personally), Milo, Tim-Tams, Golden Syrup and meat pies to name but a
few…
Strangely many of these are now openly
available in local supermarkets (Loblaw, Longos), whereas in the past we’d
often be begging our families to ship us food parcels on a regular basis.
In addition, Toronto has finally discovered
the beauty of the Australian meat pie!
There are a number of wonderful little pie shops now operating very
successfully in the city – The Pie Commission (935
Queensway), Kanga Australian Meat Pies (65
Duncan St) and the up and comer Wiseys Pies and Bakehouse (874
Eglinton Ave E).
As an aside, a couple of years ago I was in
Marietta, Georgia (USA) and discovered to my complete surprise the Australian Bakery Cafe in the towns square. The food was amazing and just like being at
home. Definitely try the Bundaberg Ginger Beer (real old fashioned ginger beer that almost takes your breath away) - I was in heaven - so delicious!
Indelible
Tip 3: Familiar sports
and activities. A little know
fact is that Toronto is home to the largest Australian Rules football league
outside Australia and has a men’s first and second division league competition,
women’s league and youth program. The vast majority of players now being Canadian,
with the original league starting in 1989 of which I am proud to say that I was one of its founders. :-)
This is the main competitive Australian Rules football league in
Canada for men and women, and thus provides the majority of the Canadian National
Team (Northwind) that competes at the Australian Rules International Cup for
both men and women held every three years. Not surprising, the Canadian women’s team are the current International Cup holders; the
next International Cup is scheduled for 2017 in Melbourne at which more than 20
countries will compete for the title.
If Aussie Rules isn’t your cup of tea, of
course there’s Rugby! Hemingway’s has
been a big supporter and sponsor of Rugby Canada
and the Nomads Junior Rugby club for many years as well - so lots of physical pursuits to get involved in.
I retired many years ago after my body had taken enough physical abuse playing football, but to this day I still find it impossible to watch without thinking I could still play...well, my mind thinks it can but then my body laughs uncontrollably! :-p
There is no question that coming to a new country and has been an amazingly rich experience, but I still crave the things from my childhood and I guess there is no getting around the fact that Toronto now has it all!
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“Hanoi Posting”
A series of fictional micro-stories by Terence Wallis
Episode 30: Reunited
Phuong waited at the Star the next morning at the usual time, but there was no sign of Bill. He made his way to the office and waited but there was no word from Bill and by 10:00 am he began to worry.
Parking his scooter in front of Bill's apartment complex on Cát Linh đường phố, he sensed something was amiss as the hair on the back of his neck began to tingle as he dismounted his scooter. All of his training now kicked in as he flattened himself against the wall of the complex and stealthily made his way toward Bill's apartment. Even from a his vantage point at the corner of open corridor he could see that Bill's apartment door was slightly ajar...
He now regretted not telling Bill about what he learned about Anh and the enquiries that Trung had been making about him during his absence. Time stood still as he crept along the wall, pausing to listen after each few steps. He slowly pushed the door with his fingers, keeping concealed against the wall incase there was someone inside. The door slowly swung open, he peeked into the semi dark room and noticed the body on the floor.
There was a pool of blood on the floor next to Bill, he crouched and slipped into the room softly. His ears tuned to the slightest sound, she noted that the blood seemed to come from a superficial head wound on the back of his skull He carefully rolled the unconscious body over to see if there were any other wounds, checking his vitals he surveyed the body but he seemed to be uninjured except for the deep gash in his head.
He noted Bill's eye lids begin to flicker and slowly open, and in a croaky voice ask where he was. Phuong peered into his face, until the glimmer of recognition passed over his face.
It was then that Phuong noticed the slogan painted and smeared across the walls "leave our country you imperialist dog" in dripping red paint.
So this was the tactic they were using Phuong thought..."
nghiệp
dư "(amateurs) he thought to himself with a dismissive sigh.
Next week: Episode 31: Unexpected
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This week's selection of photos is from a couple of recent photo shoots here in Toronto.
Enjoy!
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| Welcome to my neighbourhood... |
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| Friends walking to the subway at Broadview |
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| The "red rocket" as the Toronto streetcars are affectionately known as |
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| An interesting little store in my neighbourhood... |
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| Always an eclectic mix at the Danforth Music Hall |
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| TW walking the city in search of great shots |
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| The iconic Christmas tree on Danforth Avenue |
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| Pretty lights on the tree |
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| The remnants of the Pan Am Games at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square |
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| Afternoon skate at Nathan Phillips Square - Queen & Bay Street |
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| Toronto's ever cool City Hall building - as seen in the Star Trek movies |
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| The Diner on Yonge Street |
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| Atrium view |
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| Winter sky from the inside |
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| The Flatiron building in monochrome - Toronto's downtown |
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| Painted sky with the Gooderham Building |
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| Memory of a distant past now in a parking lot in Toronto's east end |
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| "Seen better days" - Distillery District |
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Toronto's go-to place for spectacular authentic Mexican fare
Distillery District |
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| "Rivets and girders" - Queen Street East bridge over the Don River |
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| The winter without snow - Toronto in January |
