Happy New Year!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season, and I want to wish everyone a happy start to 2011.  I'm looking forward to starting an exciting new year of new experiences in Toronto.  I'll be back to more regular postings starting next week.

Niagara Wines

While Canada has been known for its ice wine for a while, I think most people outside Ontario, me included, would turn-up their nose at any other Ontario wine before even giving it a shot.  But, I always try what is local and try to find at least a few local favorites.  Many of the restaurants in Toronto carry Ontario wines so I've tried a few and found one that was pretty good (Flat Rock Pinot Noir).  So after months of talking about it, we finally made it to Niagara to taste some wines.  I've put together some general resources and information to share here, and will give the best and worst of our weekend itinerary in the next post.

Is Target Coming to Canada?

Is Target coming to Canada?  It looks like they're trying!  But, it looks like they've been trying for 10 years with no success.   Apparently someone else has rights to the Target name in Canada, but Target continues to fight.  I'm going to keep hoping, because there is just something about Target that I haven't found a replacement for (maybe it is the Minnesota girl in me?).  I can find almost anything I need there, and I find it actually to be a therapeutic experience.  I can't walk into one without spending $100, but I guess that is ok now that I only get to one on occasion.  I know I'm a bit crazy about my need for Target, but apparently I'm not alone as I know that many Canadians drive to Buffalo to shop and always make it to Target! 

Where to Shop TO - Groceries: Karma Co-op

Since I moved to Toronto I've had more spare time to do things I've always wanted to do.  I've been interested for the last couple years in local and real/slow food.  I've had a little time to read some books on the subject and figure out what things are important to me.  I can recommend a few:  In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan, Real Food by Nina Planck, and The Jungle Effect by Daphne Miller.

In New York it was fairly easy to find this type of food since the Farmer's Markets were so extensive, and though I believe the only requirement is to sell your own food, it was almost impossible to find a farmer who wasn't growing food the way I think it should be grown.  Here in Toronto, you have to look a little harder to find grass-fed beef, eggs from pastured chickens, oils that you're ok with eating, etc.  So I've done some research and tried out a host of places, and then I found Karma.  It doesn't look like much, but when we went for a tour, we were immediately surprised:  eggs from pastured-raised chickens, organic everything, pasture-raised beef, expeller-pressed sunflower oil, unpasteurized honey, un-homogenized milk....all under the same roof. 

My First Caesar

My First Caesar

It looks like a normal Bloody Mary, right?!  Well, it is actually a Caesar, but that is why I decided to go for it (well and a friend reassured me I wouldn't be able to taste the clam juice).  I've been disappointed since we moved to Toronto that I can't seem to find a good Bloody Mary anywhere.  When I order one, I get plain tomato juice with vodka, and if I'm lucky a bit of spice.  But, what I want is the Bloody so popular at every brunch spot in NYC- spicy, a little horseradish, maybe Worcestershire, some celery salt, pickles, olives, and celery (am I asking for too much?)!  Yet I see people ordering Caesars everywhere I go, and they look fantastic.  But, clam juice, really?!  

Postal vs Zip Codes

Every time I have to tell my Toronto address to someone in the US, they ALWAYS question the postal code (unless they do extensive international shipping).  The format is quite different here in Canada.  In the US, the zip code is a 5 digit numerical number (no spaces).  In Canada however, the postal code is a 6 digit alpha-numerical code that identifies your location very specifically.  It is in the format of L#L  #L#.  I'm always surprised how much people here know about me just by stating the first three characters of our postal code (Go M5S!).

Holiday Preparations in Toronto

Our 1st Tree in 5 Years!  All lit up!

We got our first Christmas tree in 5 years last night!  I'm very excited that we have enough space to fit one since we didn't in NYC.  Living space is a definite benefit of moving to Toronto.

I'm still not positive where the best places are to buy a tree in Toronto.  In NYC, there is a person selling them on what feels like every corner so you can't possibly miss it.  Here I saw the Metro by us carried some and found out that Home Depot did too, but you always hear about how those die so early.  Then, we found a lot behind a church by Bloor and Markham, and that is where we got our tree.  We ended up with a fraser fir which is kind of special - it has scoliosis like me!  But I like it!  They cost $8/foot, which seemed reasonable to me.

A Canadian Institution

Tim Hortons, eh. It is truly an institution in Canada.  If you don't know what Timmy's is that means you probably haven't spent much time in Canada or in Michigan, Maine, Connecticut, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York areas where there are Tim Hortons locations.

Tim Horton was a Canadian hockey player who started a doughnut and coffee shop in 1964.  (See Wikipedia for lots of information:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Hortons)  The chain has grown and morphed over the years into what I would consider a cross between McDonald's and Dunkin' Doughnuts.  There are locations everywhere here (more than 3000 in Canada), and they are constantly busy.  In the US, there are hundreds of locations, but they've recently closed 50 stores.  It doesn't seem like Timmy's is quite as successful breaking into the US market as it has been expanding in Canada.

We ended up driving to the US for the US Thanksgiving holiday so I made my first stop at a Tim Hortons on the road.  I thought the coffee was ok, maybe the same as McDonald's or Dunkin' Doughnuts.  But, as of 2006 Tim Horton's had 62% of the Canadian coffee market.  At least for coffee, I'm not planning to convert anytime soon - I'm still a Starbucks (or Caribou when available) girl!  

Cell Phone Options in Toronto

If you are moving to Toronto you're likely going to want to get a cell phone, but you'll find it isn't quite as easy as it sounds, and there are many things to consider before deciding which route to take.  

The main debate you'll have is around how you are going to communicate with people in the US and Canada, which leads to the debate about whether you want to keep your US number or get a Canadian one.  Below are some considerations for both:

1. If you have a US number, you can get an international plan (+$20 for voice/text only) so the calls you make will not cost extra above and beyond the increased price of your plan.  However, people in Canada will likely (depending on their phone plan) be charged long distance to call or text you.  I worried about this since I'm going to live in Canada, I didn't feel right making it difficult for people here to reach me.
2. If you get a Canadian cell phone plan, then the calls you make from Toronto will not be affected, but your friends/family from the US will likely pay extra to call/text you.  If you're going to travel to the US frequently, you'll want to consider having an international/North American plan so you can use your phone.  Additionally this option requires you to change your number, communicate that to your contacts, and lose your US number (only matters if you're ever moving back) - not insurmountable, but a bit annoying.

Where to Shop TO: Sundries, etc

Toronto is similar to New York in the way people shop for sundries (love that word!) like toilet paper, shampoo, etc. in that we generally buy them at smaller stores like drug stores (or even the grocery store) versus going to a place like Wal-Mart.  This is because stores like Wal-Mart are farther out in the city making it a big trip to visit one versus somewhere you stop on your way home from work.  In Toronto there are two main drug store chains - Rexall and Shoppers Drug Mart - as well as many independent stores.  We live right down the block from a Shoppers so that is where we go most often for everyday necessities and prescriptions.  It is open until midnight and has a Canada Post location inside making it very convenient to buy stamps and mail letters. 

Flying In and Out of Toronto

In honor of flying to Minnesota tomorrow for my parents' anniversary and US Thanksgiving, I thought it was appropriate to write about flying in and out of Toronto.  There are two airports you can use in Toronto. One is Toronto's Pearson Airport (YYZ) which is a huge international airport with several terminals west of the city.  You can take a subway to a city bus, or a chartered-type bus, but in my opinion driving is your best option to get to the airport.  You can fly anywhere you want from there, and prices are generally reasonable.  The one route I find completely unreasonable is of course from Toronto to Minneapolis, and this was a serious consideration for us when deciding to move to Toronto.  There are several direct flights each day on three major carriers, but it must be primarily a business route.

Restaurant Tipping in Toronto

How much are you supposed to tip in Toronto?  Well, I think the take home message for me is that if you tip how you would in the US, you'll be more than covered.  Other than that there is a lot of debate on how much you should tip in different circumstances.

Exploring TO: St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market South Building

St. Lawrence Market is a fantastic place to spend a Saturday in Toronto.  The neighborhood around there is cute on its own merit, but then bring in the market and it is worth the trek down.  In the north building, there is a farmer's market every Saturday which runs year round and some craft-type vendors around the perimeter.  It is similar to the rest of the markets in the city so no need to make it on Saturday just for that.  The south building is amazing though!  I'm not sure I've been anywhere quite like it - maybe the market in Barcelona?  I think my husband would strongly consider moving down to the area just so he could stop there to pick up food to cook every day. 

TV Service in Toronto

We didn't have cable or satellite in NYC, and I didn't miss it at all.  When we moved to Toronto we got a new TV, now that we have more space and spot to hang it on the wall, so we decided it was worth the investment.  We ended up getting Rogers cable partially because we didn't really feel like we had any other good option (funny how Rogers seems to do that in internet, phone, cell-phones, etc.).  In our neighborhood, Bell just started offering service about a week ago so it wasn't an option when we moved.  We debated getting US satellite service, but decided it sounded like too much of a pain and we worried that we wouldn't have customer service here, not to mention it is illegal.  To my knowledge there is no Fios type option in Toronto as of now.  I know one company is available in Alberta and BC but not here yet.

Eco-Concious Toronto

One thing that has been really fun since we moved to Toronto is that they are much more supportive of environmental issues than anywhere I've ever lived.  In the Midwest, I knew some people who composted, but here the city collects organic waste separately from trash and recycling so even if you don't/can't compost at home, you can still utilize this waste and keep it out of landfills.  It is funny how much we realized that we don't create much garbage after food waste and recycling is removed.  We collect food scraps in a container on our counter and bring it out to the "Green Bin" every few days.  This is picked up weekly by the city.  Trash cans on the street and even in some restaurants have a separate place for recycling and organic waste than trash.  Here, they make it easier to do something good for the environment and make you conscious of how you are managing your waste. 

Did You Know?: Driving in Ontario

If you'll be driving in Ontario, and plan to use your phone, make sure you are set-up for hands-free talking.  No texting or emailing or messing with your GPS is allowed either.  http://news.ontario.ca/mto/en/2009/09/ontarios-new-rules-for-hand-held-wireless-and-entertainment-devices.html

Where to Shop TO - Fish: Pisces

When I go to buy fish (or basically anything really) I want there to be a good selection of sustainably raised options, I want the selections to be fresh, and I want the person working to be knowledgeable on the options.  Pisces Gourmet has this and much more!  This is a fantastic fish shop on Yonge at the Shops of Summerhill, in Rosedale, and so far is the best place I've found to buy fish in Toronto. 

Exploring TO - Attractions: CN Tower

The CN Tower is growing on me.  When we first moved here I wasn't too impressed (the fact that it was the tallest free-standing structure until 2007 is interesting though).  We have a pretty good view of the tower (which lights up at night) from our deck, but it doesn't have the same magical feeling as the Eiffel Tower or looking up at the Empire State Building and wondering what the colors mean on a given night.

Random Observations About Canadians

I think Canadians are funny, and while I'm still observing and learning I thought I would share a few observations that I find humorous so far.  (Yes of course these are generalizations and are not meant to be in anyway demeaning - just observations!)

First, Canadians are rule followers, which I think I've mentioned before.  I think my favorite illustration of this is that when walking around town, they never disobey street lights.  In New York, everyone waits for the cars to pass and then crosses the road regardless of what the lights tell you to do which makes sense since you walk so much you'd never get anywhere otherwise.  But here where you also walk a lot (of course less than NYC), if the light says don't cross, NO ONE and I mean NO ONE will cross the street no matter how dead the street or the traffic is.  Funny what they will do however is cross in the middle of the street, not at a light, when the traffic has ceased - I guess this way they aren't actually disobeying a light?

Fall Back!

Toronto has daylight savings time, which follows the same calendar as the US.  Much of Canada also follows some sort of daylight savings time, though it varies by province/territory.  So, this first Sunday in November at 2 am(November 7th) we will set our clocks back one hour.  I've always looked forward to this day - one extra hour of sleep can feel like you've conquered the world - or if you're in college, you get one extra hour at the bar!  We are in dire need of this change here in Toronto - right now the sun rises basically at 8 am.  It is hard to get moving in the morning when it isn't light until 8 - that is about half hour behind what I'm used to in NYC.  Here comes lighter mornings and darker evenings until the second Sunday in March!

Do You Speak Canadian?

Since I've moved to Canada I've learned that a lot of things are different here than I expected them to be.  So, I'm not sure why I am always surprised when they use a different language.  And, I'm not referring to the French which is one of the official languages, I mean the English.  I'm sure you know there is quite the accent here - an accent cluttered with eh and sounding similar to the movie Fargo.  But, did you also know:

They use different words than we do for certain things:

• Restroom = washroom
• Check = bill  (when you ask for the check at a restuarant the server always hesitates)
• College = university (college here refers more to a technical school while university is what we would call a 4-year degree)
• Rapini = broccoli rabe
• Podiatrist = chiropodist
• Toque = a winter hat (this comes from the French influence)

Canadians use the British spelling of many words like:

• Center = Centre
• Flavor = Flavour
• Organization = Organisation
• Defense = Defence (though at a sports game, makes for good fan signage: a D in one hand and a picture of a fence in the other - get it?!  Unfortunately I can't take credit for that one - saw it at the Argos game.)

They pronounce things differently: 

• Process has a long O
• Herb (erb) = Herb (herb)
• Again (agen) is more like the actual spelling of the word a - gain (gane).

You'll definitely find the British influence in the language is noticeable - if you don't adapt they'll know you are a foreigner, but there could be worse things.

Applying for Ontario Health Insurance (OHIP)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah, the joys of socialized health care!  Don't worry, this post is just about the process of applying for OHIP, though I'm sure there will be plenty to comment on regarding health care in Canada in the future.

Once you move to Ontario and make it your permanent place of residence, you have to wait three months before you'll be covered by OHIP.  You can apply for OHIP during that time so you'll receive your card right when you are eligible, but your eligibility starts 3 months from the date you move.  In that three months, you'll likely want to purchase private insurance in the event something happens before OHIP kicks in.  Here are the other eligibility requirements:  http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/ohip/.  If you are here on an open work permit (not tied to a specific employer), you must have a full-time job and a letter from your employer to qualify.

Exploring TO - Sports: Toronto Argonauts

I went to my first CFL game on Friday night, and it was a fun Canadian experience!  The Toronto Argonauts were playing the Montreal Alouettes.  Do you know what an Argonaut is?  Check out Wikipedia's definition.  How about an alouette (skylark) for that matter  - I'm sure you learned the song growing up?  The Argos play at the Rogers Centre, and we went dressed for the roof to be open in the middle of a cold snap.  But, luckily the roof was closed - which would have been nice to know ahead of time!  The arena is also the baseball stadium so the set-up of the field works, but they get a bit creative. We had good seats, on the 30 yard line, and they only cost about $55 compared to the arm and leg you'll pay to go to an NFL game.

Happy Halloween!

Canadian Halloween is the same day as US Halloween, and I hope you all got out and enjoyed it!  Halloween here seems to be celebrated basically the same here as in the US - with pumpkins and candy and costumes, trick-or-treating and parties.  Since it is on a Sunday this year, most "adults" celebrated over the weekend though there are still plenty of parties Sunday.  I dressed up for the first time since college - I was Cher, Matt Sonny.  Saturday night we were out down east of Spadina, between Queen and King, and it was CRAZY out!

Ontario Driver License

When you move to Toronto, you're going to want to get a driver license if you plan to drive, and it can also be a source of Canadian ID with proof of address (which is useful when getting things like a cell phone).  In theory if you've had a license in a state in the US (or Canadian province or one of several other countries) for at least two years, getting a driver license in Ontario shouldn't be difficult.  You need to provide proof of name, date of birth, and signature (check here to see what documents can be used), proof of address, and proof of a two year driving history.  If your license is at least 2 years old and still valid, that would be enough proof of the 2 years.  In most cases you'll need to turn over your current license.

TO Restaurants: The Harbord Room

As I mentioned on Monday, we decided to celebrate the beautiful fall day with dinner at The Harbord Room.  It is a very small space, and since I still haven't adjusted to having to make dinner reservations, we usually can't get in when we try.  On Monday they didn't have a table available but had plenty of room at the bar so we took it.  What I love about The Harbord Room is that they create the perfect combination of atmosphere plus fantastic fresh, seasonal, local food, good wine, and great cocktails.

Where to Shop TO: Grocery Chains

I decided to broach the subject of shopping in Toronto.  For me, knowing where to go to buy what I need is critical to feeling settled in a new place.  It was tough when we first moved to NYC finding out that there was no place like Target to buy everything I needed, and in fact no large grocery stores in our neighborhood where I knew I could find what I needed (like red hots - I searched for those things for two years before I finally resorted to importing from my mom in Minnesota).

Registering Your Car in Ontario

Look at those Ontario plates!

Our experience registering our car in Ontario wasn't the best part of our move, in fact it was so painful it deserved a picture.  Since we were moving to Toronto on work permits (temporary) we did not have to technically import the car (thank goodness!), though we will have to when we become permanent residents.  When we drove the car into Canada, we had to stop at customs at the border and they gave us a form showing we brought the car with us, which started the 45 day period to get the car registered in Ontario.

New Facebook Page

I've started a new Facebook page so people can better connect with Learning Toronto.  This new page replaces our earlier Facebook group.  With this change, the Facebook "Like" button has also been directed to our page which means if you previously "Liked" Learning Toronto (Thank you!), it will still show on your Facebook news feed, but you'll have to re-Like the page for it to show in the blog count.  On a positive note, it will now show under your "Likes" on your Facebook profile. I apologize for the inconvenience.

Fall in Toronto

I flew to Texas for my cousin's wedding on Friday, and when I left for the airport, it was almost freezing (1 C). It felt like the end of fall coming all too quickly.  Living in Minnesota, it always seemed the last day of summer was Labor Day, but having lived in NY where fall starts much later, I was hoping the cool weather in Toronto would hold off.  Unfortunately, following our hot summer, fall started abruptly and immediately after Labor Day (high around 62F on 9/8), and each day has brought more bright colors, bare trees, and Uggs.

Do You Need a Car in Toronto?

Everyone asks me if you need a car when you move to Toronto.  If you live downtown Toronto, I think the clear answer is no.  There are plenty of transportation alternatives (public transportation, taxis, bikes, walking) that it isn’t a necessity.  If you do want to drive and don’t own a car, both Zipcar and AutoShare are available which are basically car sharing programs or short-term car rentals however you want to look at it.  I haven’t used AutoShare, but Zipcar is fantastic.  I used it all of the time in New York, and I think it is one of the best innovations for those who want a car but not the hassle of owning one.

Did You Know?: Canada Post

Logo from Canada Post website

While I’m sure this will not make or break your decision to move to Toronto, you should know that the mail is only delivered Monday through Friday in Canada.  Since most things are electronic these days, it isn’t such a big deal for us.  And, FedEx is open if you need to ship something urgently.  A stamp for a regular letter mailed to an address within Canada costs $0.57, and Canada Post says it takes 2 to 4 business days to deliver.  To the US, a stamp costs $1.00, and it takes 4-6 business days.  I’m definitely learning to plan ahead better for birthdays and holidays.  Prices will go up even a few cents more next year - maybe I should have included this in my post on how expensive things are in Canada, but the take home message is really just that most things are more expensive here.  I guess if USPS charged these prices and closed on Saturdays, it might not have so many financial problems? 

Exploring TO - Sports: Toronto FC

We went to see the Toronto FC play the San Jose Earthquakes at Bank of Montreal Field (BMO – pronounced “bee – mo”) right when I first started writing the blog.  It didn’t feel like it fit in on those first couple posts, but I wanted to comment on it before their season is over.  The last game is this weekend though the season started at the end of March.  It’s a good thing it is ending soon, because it can get cold in Toronto now (imagine March, ouch!) - even when we went to the game a few weeks back,  it was uncomfortably cold.  Our seats were in the second row from the top of the lower level so the wind was strong (don't worry they sell scarves and there is a lot of beer!).

Getting Around: Bikes

I think Toronto has done a good job making biking possible for commuting, fun, or exercise (at least with no snow – I’ll have to comment in the winter on how things look) since many of the main streets have bike lanes, there are places to chain your bike everywhere, and there are bike paths around the city.  The city’s website  is comprehensive providing a handy tool to plan your bike trip, information on taking your bike on public transit, as well as information on the new bike boxes intended to make lights safer for bikers.  

TO Restaurants: Loire

I went to dinner Saturday night at Loire (one of the best new restaurants in Toronto in 2009).  Loire is one of the restaurants on Harbord Street that drew us choose our neighborhood to live in.  Before we ever ate there, it seemed like a restaurant I would really enjoy with great food, wine, service, and atmosphere but an unpretentious attitude (what my husband would call a “good vibe”).  After two visits now I can say it competes with our favorite restaurants from New York on all of these fronts.  Both times we’ve been there the employees have been knowledgeable and attentive, and everything we ate was presented beautifully.  In the summer the terrace is fantastic.

Canadian Sports

Do you know what the national sport of Canada is?  If you guessed hockey, and I bet 90% of you did, you’d be partially right.  Canada actually has two national sports - lacrosse in the summer and hockey in the winter.  They just want to be different!

Alcohol in Ontario

Canadians sure like their beer and whiskey - my kind of people.  I caught a great quote from my husband on my iPhone when we went to the Toronto FC game & were surrounded by some good drinkers.  It seems to be pretty applicable here, and it makes me laugh.

The drinking age in Canada depends on the province – either 18 or 19.  In Ontario it is 19.  While this would have been nice in college, it doesn’t help me much now – except I really don’t get carded that much here which I guess means I at least look over 19.  I’m moving up in the world (or getting more wrinkles)!

In Ontario, liquor is sold by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO).  There are retail locations all over that sell virtually every kind of liquor, beer, and wine - just like most liquor stores in the US.  They are open 7 days a week with reasonable hours, which is an improvement for those of us who lived in MN where liquor isn’t sold on Sundays or after 8 on weekdays.  These are owned by the province, and they regulate the prices (which as I mentioned in my post on costs in Toronto,  are pretty high).  I haven't found the employees to be very knowledgeable about the products, but the stores are clean and have a good selection.  You’ll also find stores that sell only beer, though a wide variety, under the Beer Store name that are separate from the LCBO.  These stores are privately owned by a cooperative of large brewers.  There are also wine stores independent of the LCBO, but as far as I’ve ever seen they only sell local Ontario wine.  While I look forward to exploring the wine regions in Ontario – especially the Niagara region - I would like to see more variety & stores that are walking distance from my house.  

There is a separate organization that issues liquor licences to bars, restaurants, and individuals.  It used to be known as the LLBO so if you see a restaurant with LLBO on the sign it just means that they are advertising the fact that they have a liquor license.  You’ll see this often with Thai restaurants, etc that may not typically have a license.  In Toronto, last call is at 2 am.

We’ve had a tough time finding a full-flavor beer.  Many of the beers just taste like Molson.  I like a good Canadian (that is what they call Molson here – better get it right or they will know you’re a foreigner – kind of like Houston Street in NYC) or Labatt every once in a while but it is nice to have more taste variety.  Be careful if you order an IPA here as you may be sorely disappointed (unless you wanted a beer that tastes like Canadian, in which case why not just order a Canadian).  One exception we’ve found is #9 by Duggan’s (a local brewer).  There are several other local brewers that are popular here including Mill Street which has an organic line, and their Tankhouse Pale Ale is pretty tasty - similar to a Brooklyn Lager.  I’m also going to make a trip to Steam Whistle, Amsterdam, and Granite Brewery to test out their local brews.  I’ll keep you posted on those trips!

I’m in search of a good Bloody Mary here as well.  I’ve ordered a few but have always been disappointed – just tomato juice with vodka – no horseradish, celery, pickles, olives, Tabasco – not a real Bloody Mary if you ask me (business idea?).  Though they do have a popular drink here called a Caesar – which is basically like a Bloody Mary with clam juice and/or clams.  Now every time I’ve seen one of these, they look like a really good Bloody Mary, but unfortunately I can’t get over the fact that there is clam juice in it.  The search goes on for good beer, cheaper good red wine, and a good Bloody Mary.

What's in Your Wallet?

There are a few things I’ve learned about paying for things in Canada that differ from the US, and I thought were worth sharing.  

Cash:  Regarding the currency, you know a Canadian dollar (CAD) is different than a US dollar (USD), right? (I'm not being facetious, some people don't.)  And though my nephew questions whether bills with so many colors are REAL money, the exchange rate is around 98 cents/dollar.  Yes, for those of you stuck in 2001, the CAD is almost one for one with the USD (see converter on the side of the blog for up-to-date exchange rates as this is changing all the time).  One difference that I find a bit annoying is that the smallest bill is $5 so they have $2(toonies) and $1 (loonies) coins that you have to carry around.  Keep in mind that some merchants, not many and usually small, only accept cash so be prepared. 

Getting Around: Public Transportation

As I mentioned in the second post, the transportation system here in Toronto is good, but not as extensive as New York.  It consists of subway, street cars, and buses operated by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC), GO Transit, and taxi service.

Two Thanksgivings!

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I don’t eat turkey, but I love the rest of the food (ooh pecan pie – my aunt Sherry makes the best!), and I love just spending time with family and friends (plus football!) without the pressure of gifts.  So, when I realized this moving to Canada thing was going to get me TWO Thanksgivings, my ears perked up!  Thanksgiving here takes place on the second Monday of October.  And from my current understanding it seems to have a lot of similarities to Thanksgiving in the US.  Most people have the day off from work.  It is often celebrated with a large family meal where they eat turkey and other similar food.  The “American” football league (versus soccer), if you can call the CFL that, plays a special double header on Monday.  But, as many similarities as there are, there are also some differences.  First, it seems to be widely celebrated in churches that weekend whereas in the US modern day Thanksgiving is virtually a secular holiday - with thankful prayers.  Second, there is no “black Friday” or other start to the holiday shopping season that comes with it (makes sense since it is so early).  

The Nexus Dilemma

To join Nexus or not is not much of a dilemma from my POV, but for one of a few reasons many people (even the expats) still don't have it.  I think Nexus(a joint US/Canada system for low risk frequent travelers between the two countries) is a must-have if you are traveling between the two countries.  It can save you TONS of time at the border, and I’d definitely recommend it.  Applying is a bit of a process, but well worth it for the time savings.  I made sure to take care of this right away since I knew I’d be traveling between the two countries fairly often to see family and friends, and I don`t like to spend extra time at the airport.

What's up with the Internet?

Before I moved here, I used the internet for everything.  If I didn’t like the website of a certain business or couldn’t perform the function I wanted, like online reservations, I often chose another business that had a website with the capability that I was looking for.  I also did a lot of my shopping online.  However, I’ve found that many businesses in Canada don’t even have websites or if they do, they aren’t as advanced as I’m used to.  Here is an example to illustrate my point:

Compare the following websites for Wal-Mart Canada http://www.walmart.ca/home and Wal-Mart US http://www.walmart.com/. To me, one website is substantially easier to use and readily provides the functions I want (guess which one?) such as online shopping. 

French (and English) Connection

Canada has two official languages – French and English.  However, in Ontario the defacto official language is English.  The only significant time I spent in Canada prior to moving here was in Montreal.  From my limited exposure I thought Toronto, though English speaking, would be significantly influenced by French.  I haven't found that.  Living in Toronto you'll be aware of the French influence, but English is the main language used.  All signs and laws will be posted and official announcements made in both languages.  Almost anything you buy at the store will be labeled in both English and French (from my former life I can tell you this is a pain for consumer products companies!).   

First Things First - SIN

One of the first things (in a pretty long list of things that I`ll write about in upcoming posts) you need to do when you arrive here is get your Social Insurance Number (SIN).  The SIN is the equivalent of the Social Security number in the US.  It is a nine-digit number you need in order to work in Canada or have access to government programs and benefits.  If you are moving here for an employer, I’m sure they will insist that you get it quickly because they will need it.  If not, you still don’t want to put this off – I needed it in order to get a cell phone here in Canada (Note:  Service Canada says this should not be required by the cell phone company so feel free to push back if they ask for it.  However, I didn`t have a local ID yet so this was something to show I would be living in Canada). 

Exploring TO - Events: Nuit Blanche

Saturday night was the 5^th annual Nuit Blanche (White Night) in Toronto.  It is a collection of hundreds of free contemporary art exhibits spread through the city in 3 zones.  They open around sunset and run all night long.  The TTC extends their service and has an all-you-can-ride card for $10.  It is amazing how many people came out to check it out.

Get Used to the Metric System

Yes, Canada generally uses the metric system.  Gas is sold by the liter (L), distances are posted in kilometers (km), speeds are posted in kilometers/hour (km/h), and temperature is in Celsius (C).  However, you’ll find many Canadians still know the English units since the conversion to metric started in 1970 in Canada and was slowly adopted.  What can I say; it takes some getting used to.  Get an app for your phone, and that will ease the transition.  One note of caution: you will find a mix of measurements at the grocery stores.  Be careful when you buy anything by weight because some places post prices per pound, some per 100g, and others by kilogram. 

Exploring TO - Sports: Blue Jays

I decided to switch gears today and provide some input on things to do in Toronto.  As I try a new restaurant or event or store, I’ll write about it when it is fresh.  Then I can jump back to the other key Toronto learnings in between.

Last night I went to my first Blue Jays game (vs the NY Yankees!) at the Rogers Centre (formerly the SkyDome).  I bought the tickets on Stub Hub for $40, while the Blue Jays website wanted $52 for essentially the same tickets.  Keep in mind when buying tickets some games are more expensive than others depending on the opponent.  I think this type of pricing is pretty common now.  

When we first arrived, we went to gate 5 because that is what our tickets said, but the line to get into gate 5 was incredibly long!  We didn’t think it could possibly be people waiting to get into the game because it stretched so far down Bremner Blvd, but it was.  So we just went in gate 6 next door because there wasn’t really a line.  I have no idea why so many people just sat in line waiting to get into the game (at game time) when there were other open gates.  Maybe this is another example of “peace and order”.  Definitely don’t do that; go to a gate that isn’t as busy and you can get in just fine!

Turns out we picked the perfect game.  I’ve heard there can be very low attendance at Blue Jays games, but that was not the case last night.  The crowd was great.  The stadium was packed because it was the last home game of the season and Cito Gaston’s last home game as Manager.  They did a nice ceremony for him and then the game started pretty late.  The weather was perfect so the roof was open.  Blue Jays won so depending on who you were rooting for, that could be a good thing!

Some of the reviews on Yelp said that the food was terrible and the lines were long.  After my experience last night my question to them was “Have you ever been to a baseball stadium besides Rogers Centre before?”  I’m no stadium connoisseur, but it was pretty much just like every other one I’ve been too on those two fronts.  Yes we had to wait in line a little for food, beer, bathrooms but that is normal.  And no, the food isn’t top chef, but for stadium food it was fine.  In fact, I thought they had a good selection of different foods available (stir fry, gyros, sushi, chicken fingers, sweet potato fries).  In true Canadian style, the beer selection is really great – Bud, Bud Light, Bud Light Lime, Stella, Alexander Keith’s, Labatt).  Plus have you seen the beer cups they have?  Lids are fantastic!

We were on the first baseline just past first base, and I thought our seats were awesome.  We could see everything.  But, I think it would have been cool to be on the 3^rd baseline instead because I’m pretty sure you could see the CN Tower above the stadium.  We couldn’t see it from our seats, but I did get a great picture of the sunset (above).  There is a hotel in the Rogers Centre that has some hotel rooms that overlook the stadium.  Sounds pretty cool as long as it isn’t another Standard Hotel situation (people behind us said it is actually illegal here).

Only negative is many of the beer stands ran out of beer around the 6^th inning.  I found that odd, but maybe they weren’t prepared for such a large crowd?  I’d definitely recommend checking out a game if you’re a baseball fan.  And, maybe next year they’ll even be contenders for the playoffs!