December 28: Winter cycling

I swap ski wear for cycling gear.  Contrary to forecast, the sun made its appearance on Christmas Day in Vancouver.  What better way to work off Christmas lunch than with a bike ride along Richmond’s dike to Terra Nova?  The birds fly west towards the setting sun.  All is quiet in the UBC boathouse as is the Richmond Oval.  I would have expected some avid skaters working off their holiday meals in this Olympic venue.   Instead, action is more apparent outdoors.  Cameras are snapping.  Oohs and aahs are heard.  The snow-capped Cascades and the Lions at twilight stun.  I ride to the westernmost point to watch the sun dip behind Vancouver Island.  A Christmas gift from nature.

December 21: Let it snow, let it snow

I unwrap my brand new skis.  My last pair, purchased in 1989, continue to function.  The second pair will function well in my Montreal home with its proximity to Parc Mont Royal.  I take the classic waxless skis out to Kemuel Lake.  I will have to make my own trail.  Weeds poke out of the thin snow layer.  Icy patches dot the small hills.  Yet, my first time out this winter exhilarates.  I even look forward to a long winter.  I might feel differently in a month…

December 14: Reminder: winter is coming!

Wintry blasts greet me upon my return.  I cannot procrastinate—I need to find my way around the extensive subterranean network, le "Reseau".  I am not alone.  Multiple groups on a scavenger hunt.  Are they on a team building exercise?

I discover an 18^th century sculpture of Amphithitris by Dieudonné Barthélemy Guibal, moved here from Saint Mihiel, France, to mark Montreal’s 350^th. 

December 7: Lofty

I make my annual trek to Canoe.  Lofty view, perched atop the barstool, atop the building.  I see progress:  a new pedestrian bridge extends south towards Queens Quay, the new Ice towers, the Southcore financial buildings nearing completion.  The restaurant is perched on the 54^th floor of Mies Van Der Rohe’s TD Centre.  Appropriately, Van Der Rohe’s Barcelona chairs are scattered around. TD Bank’s headquarters is next door with its stunning table, transported to its location by a crane.  What a feat that must have been in 1967.

November 30: In the Big Apple

Oh what a fabulous week! 

Here are some of the highlights (in semi-chronological order):

• Buffalo “chicken” sandwich at Champs vegan diner
• Louboutins and more at the Killer Shoes exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum
• Comparing margherita pizzas at Lombardi’s and Roberta’s
• Watching the huge balloons go by at the Macy’s parade (my favourite: Snoopy)
• Eating the most sublime grilled cheese I’ve ever put in my mouth at Bouchon, followed by their take on the Oreo cookie—I’d be a happy soul if I could eat like this every day!
• (American) Thanksgiving dinner at “home” with cousins including a tasting session of Vosges exotic truffles
• Watching the kitchen staff concentrating on noodle prep at Cocoron
• Trying pies next door at newly opened Petee’s Pies, with Bellocq’s Etoile de l’Inde tea as chaser
• Seeing funk icon George Clinton perform at B.B. King’s
• Walking the newly extended High Line
• Sipping hot chocolate at Jacques Torres
• Meandering through Greenwich Village
• Finding on sale the Marimekko duvet cover I’ve been coveting
• Savouring the orange blossom cream hazelnut doughnut from Doughnut Plant, followed by a hot-out-of-the-oven bialys from Kossar’s next door
• Brunch at Locanda Verde—this meal will go down as one of the most memorable brunches—fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes, apple cider doughnut, baked eggs
• Dinner at Toloache with my New York friends along with a very yummy chocolate cake—they counted wrong and put only 3 candles on top…
• Wandering through the Met’s Madame Cezanne exhibit and more

What a wonderful way to celebrate life and this milestone.  Of course, what made it most special were the friends and family who were able to join me in New York along with the many well wishes received. 

Thank you all for making this such a memorable occasion.

November 23: Signed, sealed, and delivered

Item on my bucket list:  see Stevie Wonder in concert.  When I received notice of his 6-city tour, I did some scheduling acrobatics to ensure that he and I were in the same city for one of the dates. 

It was a treat to see him in person.  But like other evening shows of late, I managed to sleep through a good part of the show.  No fault of Mr. Wonder…  I have managed to sleep through some pretty loud concerts and gripping storylines of late. 

I did wake up for the 15 minute finale, which was the best part of the show (at least for me—couldn’t really give details of the other 3 hours).