Bears without borders: 2012

Sunday, December 9, 2012

December Events 2012

Can't believe it's almost the end of this year! Wow... this blog is almost one year old!

In Toront/Greater Toronto Area
- Toronto Christmas Market (November 30-December 16)
- City of Craft (December 8-9)
- Winter Solstice Festival (December 15)

- Burlington Festival of Lights (November 30- January 9)
- New Year's Eve in Toronto (December 31)

Mid-distance to Toronto
- Christmas Magic in Cobourg Lights Display (November 23-January 2)
- First Light @ Sainte-Marie among the Hurons (November 29-December 1)
- Victorian Christmas at Dundurn National Historic Site (November 24-December 30)
- Frost Fenzy Fireworks @ Blue Mountain Village (December 1-31)
- Wonders of Winter: A Festival of Lights (December 1-31)
- Christkindl Market (December 6-9)
- Bakersville in Port Perry (December 8-29)
- Niagara Falls New Years Eve (December 31)

Far from Toronto
- Victorian Christmas Trail @ Stratford (November 15-December 19)
- River Lights Winter Festival (November 16-January 1)

- Festival of Northern Lights @ Owen Sound (November 16-January 3)
- Alight at Night Festival at Upper Canada Village (November 30-January 5)
- Simcoe Christmas Panorama (December 1-January 6)

- Victorian Holiday Festival @ Fort Henry (December 2-18)

There are also many winter lights and new year's eve celebration (December 31) in every little town.

I wish everyone a happy holidays with their loved ones... see you in the new year :)

Waterloo's Wonders of Winter: A Festival of Lights

First Light @ Sainte-Marie among the Hurons

Burlington Festival of Lights

Simcoe Christmas Panorama

Burlington Festival of Lights

Niagara Falls New Years Eve

Alight at Night Festival at Upper Canada Village

Toronto Christmas Market

Christkindl Market

Toronto Christmas Market

Simcoe Christmas Panorama

Monday, November 5, 2012

November Events 2012

The days are getting colder and darker :( Still, nothing is going to stop me from exploring out :P

In Toront/Greater Toronto Area
- Beautylicious (October 25-November 4)
- Cirque Éloize's iD Circus Show (November 1-3)
- International Home Show (November 1-4)
- SpeakEasy's Fall Art Fair (November 1-7)
- The Everything to do with Sex Show (November 2-4)
- The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (November 2-11)
- Oakville World of Threads Festival (November 2-18)
- Burlington Studio Tour (November 3-4)
- Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival (November 6-17)
- Toronto World of Threads Festival (November 9-December 2)
- Luxury Chocolate Show (November 4)
- Ajax Santa Claus Parade - Santa's Magical Parade of Lights (November 10)
- The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo (November 15-18)
- Oakville Tree Lighting Ceremony and Santa Claus Parade (November 16-17)
- Seasons Christmas Show (November 16-18)
- Santa's Parade of Lights Oshawa (November 17)
- Vaughan of a Kind Art & Craft Show (November 17)
- Holiday Magic at Bloor-Yorkville (November 17 - December)
- Cavalcade of Lights (November 17-December 31)
- Toronto Santa Claus Parade (November 18)
- One of a Kind Christmas Show & Sale (November 22-December 2)
- Richmond Hill Santa Claus Parade (November 25)

Mid-distance to Toronto
- Stratford's Victorian Christmas Trail (November 3-December 20)
- Orillia Christmas Artisan's Tour (November 9-10)
- Burlington/Hamilton Holiday House Tour of Distinctive Homes (November 9-11)
- Hamilton Santa Claus Parade (November 10)
- Port Perry Tree Lighting (November 16) and Santa Claus Parade (November 24)
- Niagara Falls Santa Claus Parade (November 17)
- Christmas Magic at Cobourg (November 23-January 2)

Far from Toronto
- Wassail Prince Edward County Winery Event (November 17-December 2)
- Amherstburg River Lights Festival (November 16-January 1)
- Kingville Fantasy of Lights (November 17-January 6)
- Poinsettia Christmas & Candlelight Event (November 22-25)
- Christmas in the County (November 23-25)

Cambridge Night Santa Claus Parade

Christmas in the County

Downtown Torotno Winter Magic Ice Sculptures

Christmas in the County

Toronto Santa Claus Parade

Waterloo Santa Claus Parade

Holiday Homes Tour (No photos can be taken inside)

Calvacade of Lights

Luxury Chocolate Show

Downtown Toronto Winter Magic Windows Decorating Competition

Seasons Christmas Show

Gourmet Food and Wine Expo

Poinsettia Christmas & Candlelight Event

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

October Events 2012

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving long weekend!

Here's what happening in and out of town this month:

In Toront/Greater Toronto Area
- Grindhouse Ghoulies (October 12)
- Chinese Canadian for the Environment - Action Matters (October 13)
- Creativ Festival (October 12-14)
- Show & Sale of Fine Miniatures (October 13-14)
- Stouffville Studio Tour (October 13-14)
- Richmond Hill Studio Tour & Art Sale (October 13-14)
- Fall Into Nature (October 6, 7, 8, 13, 14)
- Downey's Farm Pumpkinfest (October 1-31)
- Powerhouse of Terror (October 11-30)
- Halloween Haunt (October 12-28)
- Screemers (October 12-31)
- Camp Spooky (October 13-28)
- Toronto After Dark Film Festival (October 18-26)
- Toronto Zombie Walk (October 20)
- Mississauga Artisan Studio Tour (October 20-21)
- Soupstock (October 21)
- Fall Cottage Life Show (October 26-28)
- Art Toronto Focus Asia 2012 (October 26-29)
- TEDx Toronto (October 26)
- Made By Hand Show (October 27)
- Street Closing Block Party (October 31)
- Corn Mazes in the GTA (October 1-31)
- Cirque du Soleil's Amaluna (October 9-November 4)
- Yonge Lawrence Village Artwalk (October 11-November 1)

- Toronto Chocolate Festival (October 13-November 4)
- Casa Loma Events: Boo-Tastic Trick or Treat; Ghost Tracking; Dracula - A Love Story (various dates in October and November)

Mid-distance to Toronto
- Guelph Studio Tour (October 12-14)
- Waterford Pumpkin Festival (October 12-14)
- Hamilton Fall Garden & Mom Show (October 19-28)
- Birtch Farms Pumpkin Festival (October 20-21)
- Haunted Harbour (October 25-27)
- Halloween Marsh Monster Mystery (October 27)
- Howells Pumpkin Farm (October 1-31)

Far from Toronto
- Saunders Farm: Days of Fall-tastic Fun or Nights of Terror (October 1-31)

Howells Farm Pumpkinfest

Fall Into Nature: Scavenger Hunt at Hilton Falls

Fall Into Nature: Cable Car Ride Up the Hill at Kelso Conservation Area

Pumpkin Patch at Birtch Farms

Corn Maze Fun

Halloween Street Block Party at Church Street

Sunday, September 30, 2012

1 month of school has passed!

So far so good. I like my new role as a librarian.
But I'm feeling so sick today.... hopefully I will feel better tmr when I return to school...

Thursday, September 20, 2012

I love noodles, especially ramen. So happy to see more ramen outlets opening in Toronto lately. The comments below are based on my taste preference, so you may have a different opinion. The best way is to go try it for yourself!

If you are bored with the usual ramen at Ajisen, Kenzo, or even the latest addition Kinton by Guu, you may want to try the following!

Momofuku Noodle Bar
http://momofuku.com/toronto/noodle-bar-to/

Comment:
Tried the momofuku ramen ($14), with pork belly & shoulder, fish cake, poached egg, seaweed and pickled cabbage. I really like the meat, both the texture and the flavour are really good. The noodles I find are quite firm, not chewy enough (I personally would like them to be less firm). I wish there's more choice of broth as well (I think this one is soya sauce based). I don't really like the pickled cabbage and poached egg either but the couple beside me seems to like it. I would like to try their signature hoisin pork buns ($10 for 2 buns) next time. Although the portion is ok, it's quite pricy to eat a meal here (afterall, this is a restaurant in the Shangari-la hotel!).

Sansotei Ramen
http://www.yelp.ca/biz/sansotei-ramen-toronto-2

http://www.postcity.com/Eat-Shop-Do/Eat/September-2012/First-Look-Sansotei-Ramen-the-latest-player-in-Torontos-Japanese-noodle-scene/

Comment:
Tried the Tonkotsu, Miso and Tonkotsu Shoyu ramen (range from $8.5-$9.5). Personally preferred the Tonkotsu soup base. Again I like the cha siu which is melt in your mouth texture and flavour. I like their egg too because it's partly raw/cooked. The noodles I find are too thin for my liking, but again, that's personal preference. I wish the portions can be more as well. Want to try the Shio ramen next time.