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Shoe Museum and Honest Eds

Saturday, Stephanie and I hopped on the Subway and went West on Bloor to see the Shoe Museum. Yes, a whole museum just dedicated to the history of footwear.

Shoe Museum

It was fun, but I wish there were some exhibits on modern styles of shoes, instead of how each culture’s footwear evolved. There were totally no Manolo’s or Jimmy Choo’s. We couldn’t go through and say “These shoes rock!” and “these shoes suck!” at all.

The museum was also hosting a exhibition on Portuguese dancing – nice because they gave us free ethnic food we otherwise would never have tried; bad because it was super crowded and hard to visit the galleries.

After that, we went a few stops further west and visited Honest Ed’s – a local bargain shopping institution in Toronto. Ed Mervish opened the 160,000 square foot bargain store in 1948 and put his experience as a theater producer to work on the branding and advertising on the store – big, gaudy filled-with-puns signs are displayed both outside and in.

Honest Ed's

Honest Ed's

The merchandise is pretty much like a gigantic Big Lots or Dollar Store – remaindered and highly-discounted cheap stuff. Fun for about 1/2 an hour while you photograph, but then it gets old.

Honest Ed's

We ate at an Italian restaurant nearby called Rocco’s Plum Tomatoes and then headed back to the city center to try to see Sex and the City, but the shows were all sold out. So we bought tickets for yesterday morning instead, and spent the morning seeing the movie and the afternoon walking around the Church-Wellesley area shopping and eating.

We’ve had a low-key last couple of days because I’m pretty tired after doing a lot more walking than I’m used to. Today we’re headed home in early afternoon, so I don’t know if we’ll get any more site-seeing in. I love Toronto, but we’re missing our pets.

Photo Set: Our Honeymoon Day 6 – Toronto, 2008

Photo Collection: Wedding and Honeymoon Photos

Continue ReadingShoe Museum and Honest Eds

Our Toronto Honeymoon – Day 2

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Today we took the subway to Union Station and took photos of the station, then visited the CN tower, where we hung out for half the day and had a leisurely lunch and shopped in the gift shop. The tower is worth a trip: tallest man-made structure in the world, with awesome views. There are two places to eat in the CN tower; a pricey restaurant that many people go to for romantic evenings, and a cafe. We ate lunch at the cafe; I had a truly delicious salmon dish. Also, definitely visit the “Skypod” level of the tower – the highest point you can go. Very cool.

We then took a tour of the Steam Whistle Brewery at the base of the tower. Steam Whistle is a relatively new microbrewery occupying the historic train roundhouse. It’s run by a very progressive group of young entrepreneurs and employs some young, hip and artsy folks. Lots of fun to visit and sample their tasty Pilsner.

After the tour, we headed back to the hotel and had dinner at the Peach Garden Vietnamese restaurant across from the hotel.

Photo Collection: Wedding and Honeymoon Photos

Continue ReadingOur Toronto Honeymoon – Day 2

Our Toronto Honeymoon – Day 1

We’re staying on Carleton Street near Yonge Street, which is in downtown Toronto. We got out today and did some walking on Yonge Street south of our hotel.

People seem much thinner here in Toronto than Indianapolis. In fact, I think I was the largest person I saw all day, which is not the case in Indiana. But it’s a much more pedestrian/cycling city, so that makes sense. It’s very easy to get around without a car right around where we’re staying; there’s a subway and lots of bike paths.

People are very stylish, which may also be about the part of town we’re in. The sartorialist would have a great time here in Toronto; there are tons of well-dressed, creatively-styled people to look at. I didn’t get too snap-happy with the camera because I didn’t want to be rude, but there were quite a few people rocking their look.

What we did today:

  1. Ate breaksfast at Fran’s Diner – a great 1940’s diner on College Street.
  2. Changed money at CIBC bank — do this in Indianapolis instead, and save a few dollars. We didn’t have the free time to do it home.
  3. shopped at Winners – like a TJ Maxx, only better clothes and PACKED, with lines to get into fitting rooms. People seemed very serious about their shopping – possibly because they were on their lunch hour from work.
  4. Sat in Barbara Ann Scott Park near skating rink.
  5. Walked south down Yonge Street through Dundas Square, where there’s lots of shopping.
  6. Visited a souvenir shop & bought a royal canadian mountie moose.
  7. Shopped at American Apparel
  8. Shopped at LaChateau
  9. Saw Dundas Square, which is like Toronto’s version of Times Square.
  10. Visited Eaton Center Mall – Shopped at Roots, Indigo Books
  11. Too photos of The Church of the Holy Trinity, Trinity Square Park & the meditation labyrinth. This was a beautiful little square tucked in behind the mall. Toronto has lots of lovely public spaces.
  12. Ate at the Elephant and Castle Pub for dinner. It’s a chain; we didn’t realize until we went in. But it was decent dinner.
  13. Back to hotel & saw Baby Mama at the Cineplex Odeon near the hotel.

Photo Set: our first day in Toronto.

Photo Collection: Wedding and Honeymoon Photos

I love traveling with Stephanie; she’s so much fun to go on a trip with, because I love talking to her and sharing things with her. I realized a couple things after looking at photos from Day 1 – we need to get people to snap pictures of us together, and we need to do goofy things in photos, because we really are having a good time, but in a few of the pictures Stephanie looks so posed.

Breakfast at Fran's

Barbara Ann Scott Park & Ice Rink

Sam the Record Man

Dundas Square

Trinity Square

Labyrinth in Trinity Park

Sergeant RC Moose at your service

Continue ReadingOur Toronto Honeymoon – Day 1

On the Tarmac for 6 hours for SXSWi

Yesterday we had one of those nightmarish plane trips you hear about on the news every so often. Our American Airlines flight to Austin, Texas had a (supposed to be) short stop in Dallas/Fort Worth airport. The first leg from Indianapolis to Dallas went smoothly, and we got on the plane 1717 for the 36ish minute flight from Dallas to Austin.

As we got to the runway, they made the pilot turn back to de-ice the plane. The airport had known the storm was coming in, but the didn’t have the de-icers prepared near take off, so the captain had to turn around and taxi back to where they were located, which took an hour and a half. I’m paraphrasing what the captain was telling us here; I don’t really know beans about plane de-icers.

Note that this wasn’t a very big storm by northern standards; less than an inch of snow and some sleet. Something that Indianapolis airport handles regularly and Chicago and New York do in their sleep. Six inches of snow, according to the news. And Dallas doesn’t get snow often, so I guess I should allow them to act like big babies about it.

In the process of waiting behind the other planes that had arrived at the de-icers first (planes that were taking off after ours) our plane ran out of fuel, and had to return to a gate to refuel. It took two hours to clear a gate for us to pull in and refuel, and in the meantime, 50 other planes got in line for the de-icer ahead of us.

We waited two and a half more hours for the traffic jam at the de-icers to clear, and then American Airlines canceled all their flights out. They told us over the intercom that the whole airport canceled flights, but we found out later that wasn’t true. All through the process of sitting on the plane, the airport would tell captain one thing and then another; he was obviously pretty frustrated with them when he was making announcements of the intercom, and he appeared to think we were getting the shaft. At one time, after saying “I’m sorry, I don’t know anything.” for the hundredth time, he joked “I do know I’m the captain of this plane. That’s one thing I do know.”

In the last hour of the trip, passengers behind us opened a betting pool on when we would actually take off. None of them won.

We decided to get a rental car and drive (3 and a half hours) to Austin. American wouldn’t release our luggage to us though; they’re putting it on a plane this morning. They say.

On the shuttle from the airport to the car rental, we heard that only American canceled flights and all the other airlines continued. I’ll have to check on that on the news this morning. So we got to the hotel about 10 p.m. – 9 hours after we originally were supposed to arrive. — updated: all the flights were canceled, not just American.

Needless to say; I’m not flying American ever again, and I’ll definitely never fly into Dallas, where they’re too big weenies to deal with a bit of snow. I’ll give them the snow. I wish they’d done a better job of managing the planes, because ours really got shafted.

Somewhere in the confusion of packing I put my iPhone charger in my checked luggage, which frustrating. I can charge it by tethering it to my laptop, but that’s pretty inconvenient.

What’s even less convenient is that I put my CPAP machine in my checked luggage; something that the airlines advised to do because TSA is too stupid to recognize what it is and tends to pull people out of security lines for them, thinking they’re improvised explosive devices.

Fortunately, I did not die of sleep apnea last night. I did have a pretty rough night though, and feel like crap, which is of course the way I want to start out our trip. Also, I’m wearing the clothes from yesterday, which is lovely.

Continue ReadingOn the Tarmac for 6 hours for SXSWi

SXSW Interactive 2008

I’m getting final stuff prepped to take off for SXSW Interactive 2008 in Austin, Texas tomorrow. I’m going with three of my design team co-workers; one from here in Indianapolis and two from Upper Saddle River, New Jersey.

We’re staying in the Courtyard Marriott right next to the Austin Convention Center, so we’re in the heart of everything, which is pretty keen.

I went to the city-county building this morning and voted absentee for Carson for the special election next week, since I won’t be back until late Tuesday.

Attending this event last year was a huge learning experience for me when it came to site design work on the job. Over the last year I’ve had the chance to create some designs that I’m really happy with based on some design principles that I learned last year, so I’m excited to be able to go again and see what new things I pick up.

Ironworks BBQ

Photoset of SXSW Interactive 2007

Continue ReadingSXSW Interactive 2008

Travel Adventure

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I’ve always wondered this myself – why is it more interesting that Sir Edmund Hillary climbed Everest than the sherpas who guided him up the mountain? Interesting article on adventure travel:

I stayed on at the Lotus Guesthouse and struggled with my article for the Major American Adventure-Travel Magazine. Every time I researched some upscale mountain trek in the Nepal Himalayas or two-week scuba diving excursion off the coast of Papua New Guinea, I couldn’t help but ponder how pointless it all was. I began to e-mail my editor pointed questions about how one should define the “extremes of human experience.” How was kayaking a remote Chinese river, I asked, more notable than surviving on its shores for a lifetime? How did risking frostbite on a helicopter-supported journey to arctic Siberia constitute more of an “adventure” than risking frostbite on a winter road-crew in Upper Peninsula Michigan? Did anyone else think it was telling that bored British aristocrats — not the peoples of the Himalayas — were the ones who first deemed it important to climb Mount Everest? My editor’s replies were understandably terse.

For those seeking a deeper understanding of adventure beyond the glossy veneer, there’s a wealth of resources available like this blog called Right Between Us. From thought-provoking articles to insightful travel guides and more, these platforms offer a nuanced perspective on the multifaceted nature of exploration. They invite us to venture beyond the beaten path and engage with diverse cultures and landscapes on a deeper level. So, as we navigate the vast landscape of adventure travel, let’s remember to honor not only the bold pioneers but also the unsung heroes and resilient communities who enrich our journeys in ways both big and small.

For those truly seeking to immerse themselves in the essence of adventure, renting a scooter can transform your travel experience. This immersive approach to travel allows you to appreciate the intricate tapestry of life on Oahu, making your adventure not just a journey through stunning locales, but also a heartfelt exploration of the island’s spirit and resilience. As you weave through the lush scenery and bustling towns, you’ll find yourself engaging with the local community in meaningful ways, from stopping at roadside stands to chat with artisans to sharing smiles and stories with fellow travelers. For even more inspiration on how to make the most of these connections, the Allworld Travel blog offers invaluable tips and heartfelt stories that will enrich your journey and encourage you to see travel through a more connected and vibrant lens. Travelers may also visit the Palace on Wheels luxury train tours, one of the best experiences for those looking to explore the rich cultural heritage of India in style.

In a world where adventure often seems defined by feats of conquest or exotic escapades, it’s easy to overlook the everyday adventures that shape the lives of individuals around the globe. Similarly, the allure of climbing Mount Everest may capture headlines, but it’s the stories of resilience and ingenuity from those who call the Himalayas home, like the Sherpas, that truly embody the spirit of human perseverance. In much the same way, while Miami’s glitzy reputation may draw attention, it’s the vibrant communities and diverse cultures that make it a truly fascinating destination. Websites such as exprealty.com/us/fl/miami/houses/ offer a glimpse into the real Miami, showcasing not just luxurious properties, but also the vibrant neighborhoods and beachfront lifestyles that define the city.

Exploring Miami isn’t just about finding the perfect beachfront villa or luxury condo; it’s about immersing oneself in a tapestry of cultures, from the colorful streets of Little Havana to the chic art galleries of Wynwood. Whether you’re in search of a waterfront retreat or simply looking to experience the pulsating energy of the city, Miami offers an adventure unlike any other.

Continue ReadingTravel Adventure