How about a Toronto get together!
 

How about getting together in TOronto for a lunch or dinner.

I've been thinking about this for awhile, and think it would be a great idea.
Any interest?

I work during the week, so it would have to be in the evening for me, or a weekend.

I'd like that too, kodi -- great idea! I know how I can get in touch with muskoka, in case she doesn't see this. She's just come back from Italy, so she'll have plenty to tell us.

I work during the week too, so evenings and weekends are best. What would you think of a Saturday or Sunday brunch?

Who else is it that comes from Toronto or surrounds?

Yes, a weekend brunch sounds good... or an evening.
I can only think of Wow and Bak.
But I think many people only go on this forum once they get to work on Monday morning. So, I'm not expecting too much of a response today.

For starters, I guess we should say when we are NOT available.
I'm away for the August long weekend. I'm going to Minneapolis from Aug 2 to 7th... an extra long , long weekend!
And I'm busy on Sept 16 with another luncheon. Other than that, I'm free.

I'll be very anxious to hear all about Muskoka's trip.

I'm away in NOTL on August 7/8. If a few people are interested, maybe we can share email and make some decisions that way.

I just read about your upcoming trip to Argentina -- way to go, kodi!!!

"Who else is it that comes from Toronto or surrounds?"

Halifax. Have flight pass, will travel.

Anselm

hdm and kodi, I'm going to out a link in the Europe forum, too.

AA

excellent!

I'm on the europe forum for an upcoming trip, but live in Newmarket. I'll keep a watch on this thread...

Awesome,Anselm!! You win a free dessert for coming the futhest!

Tropicalkerry, yes, please watch this post. The more the merrier!

My email address is [email protected]

Hdm, I don't go to Argentina til next April, but I'm so excited!
And Barbados in Oct...a deal too good to pass up. Lucky me!

I'm not a local, but I'll be in Toronto between August 27 and 31 on my own and would love to have a "social night."

We are up at the cottage near Parry Sound, but we do get to Mississauga periodically. Depends on the timing...

I'm definitely interested and can provide a meeting place downtown with discount parking if that works for everyone.

Anselme, if you come all the way from Halifax, my birthplace, you can even use our guestroom.

There are a few more Toronto people that haven't seen this yet.

It would be great if we could do it the week toedtoes was in town. She could be our honourary Canadian!

That week works for me. As long as we don't meet too early. Just give me time to drive in from Burlington.. and I'm good to go.
Any night is good.

Moolyn, discount parking sounds good.
Any ideas on where to eat.
Please, nothing too weird... I'm fussy. No Dim Sum please...

I'm pretty sure I'm ok for any night but Wednesday that week. Even if it's Wednesday, I can pretty much be anywhere by about 7:30. Earlier on other days.

Moolyn, whereabouts is your discount parking.

We can always choose a place with a general sort of menu, something like Milestones. I'd suggest something with a patio but what if it's rainy. Are we safer to chose an inside place.

Other than 'nothing too weird' are there any other food constraints?

not seafood please.

Hi kodi,

I'm going to send you an e-mail in a few minutes with my co-ordinates. Look for something that says "AnselmAdorne" in the subject and it will be from a very different last name than Adorne.

moolyn, I hadn't realized you were born here, and what a very kind offer! I have a nephew in Toronto I was thinking I'd visit, but if that doesn't work out I'll let you know. Many, many thanks.

Dates: I suspect we'll have some trouble finding something that works for all of us. The week of August 27th is unfortunately blacked out for me, but do go ahead and choose whatever works for most people. If I can make it, I'd love to attend.

By the way, I'm going to bump that thread on the Europe forum early tomorrow morning. I think there are several others who might be interested. I think Michel_Paris, for example, may be within attending distance.

Anselm

I would be interested but that last week of Aug. is bad for me too.

An "Honorary Canadian"!!! Really?? That would be a dream come true - I'm the biggest Canadian Wannabe there is. :-d

Any of those nights will work for me.

I'm a vegetarian, but can find something at almost any restaurant except a steakhouse (there just isn't much left once you take the steak off the plate).

If more folks can make it on another week, please go ahead and make it for then - I think getting as many folks as possible together is the main goal.

Toedtoes where are you from?

Thinking about it, the last week in August might be bad for many people. Anselm saying it's blacked out for him made me realize it's the end of summer and lots of folks are getting back from vacation.

Having said that, maybe we could have a mini dinner out for our Honourary Canadian and have our GTG later (or earlier?). Toedtoes, I'll have the steak off your plate, and you can have all my veggies!!!!
Let's see what responses we get tomorrow.

Hdm, something like Milestones sounds good. Do they have a patio ? Then we could always change our minds and go inside.I don't get downtown that often, so I'm not familiar with what's there.

I'm thrilled with all the responses.

My daughter is a server at the Milestones in the Entertainment District downtown. There is a patio. I will ask her if there are rooms groups can "reserve" as well. The patio has several small tables, I would say they seat 4 at most, but maybe they sometimes make bigger setups. She's at work right now...I'll ask next time we speak.

but also, where exactly is the place moolyn mentioned providing that had discount parking?

Kodi - I'm from California (Bay Area and Sacramento Valley)... but, my Grandmother was born in Edmonton and her family was in Brookfield, NS so I do have Canadian blood.

Yes, you can have the steak off my plate - but I claim ALL mashed potatoes!!

A mini-do would work for me.

My condo is in Market Square at Church and Front. I can leave a list of visitors with the concierge so that people can buy a parking card and park underground here for $5.

There are lots of good restaurants in my neighbourhood but the Hothouse Restaurant downstairs is well equipped for handling groups. It offers a nice, reasonable buffet on Wednesday evenings and for Sunday brunch.

Early comers or late stayers can GTG in my condo.

The Hot House is great -- I had a big birthday party there last year and we go there often before the theatre. The food is good and reasonably priced and there's definitely enough variety to cover everyone's palate. Also, if we have so many people that we need our own space, and assuming it's not booked, they have a little off to the side area as well as the room I had my party in. Plus it's in a fun area of the city.

Not to discount your offer of discount (ha) parking, moolyn, but isn't it always $5 under Market Square. It has been every time I'm there but that's usually in the evening. I envy you, moolyn -- that's where I want to live when I buy a condo.

I'm flexible on dates re except for Aug 7 & 8, I'm in the city till December.

Toedtoes, oh no, all bets are off if I have to give up my mashed potatoes. They aren't really veggies , are they???? My mother told me they weren't!!

Moolyn, I want to live there too.... Hdm, I'm coming with you!! As soon as I win the lottery..

The Hot HOuse sounds great. Do you think the Sunday brunch would be better than an evening for out of towners to get there? What's best for everyone. I'm easy with either.

If you folks are considering doing this in September, I'm going to be in town for about a week. I have a couple of days that are already blocked off, but if you can post once you've decided on dates, I'll see if I can manage to join you!

hdm, you are absolutely correct, parking is only $5 evenings and weekends for everyone. But if people want to arrive before 6:00, even hours ahead, I can arrange a guest card for them.

I'm glad you and kodi are familliar with the HotHouse and like it.

Kodi - if there's garlic in the mashed potatoes it's ABSOLUTELY considered a vegetable. :-d

Toedtoes, NO, say it isn't so!!! All these years and I didn't know they were good for me.. now about the garlic! I knew that was good for me, but love it anyway!! LOL
(I'm getting hungry).

Meesthare!!!!!! When in Sept are you coming? That would be so great if you could make it.
Stay tuned.

Hi, Everybody! Great, wonderful idea for a To GTG! How about Saturday, Sept 15? Dinner @ HotHouse.

Hi, Moolyn: We used to live @ Market Square @ 35 Church & then moved to 80 Front!! Am in the process of possibly moving back to 80 Front so we will be neighbours! ;)

That might be OK for me but I have to talk it over with SO. My birthday's on Sept 13 and the 15th might be our birthday celebration night out. Or maybe we can do it the Saturday before. If the 15th is the absolute only night we can have the GTG, I'll work it out but if I can save that date for my birthday dinner, I'd like to try to do that.

wow, small world! If you move back you can join the Market Square book club. I've gotten to know more other residents in the two years since it formed than in my eight previous years here. We're going to have a Toronto Dollar Book Club dinner party with Joy Kogawa at the HotHouse, probably the third Monday in October.

Robjame will be in France in mid September so I know September 15 is out for him.

Kodi - I'm in Toronto from September 18 to 25th. I have stuff to do on the 18th and 20th but could possibly meet on one of the other days. Not sure how much time I will realistically have available but when I find out when you are all getting together, I'll see if I can work something out!

About the HOthouse CAfe... I used to eat there so often I had my own tabnle (electricity nearby for my computer)

Don't get there much anymore, but it is still good, and a menu that should work for everyone, at reasonable prices, too.

BAK

So let's try to pinpoint a date.

Have we eliminated the last week of August (although that's the week toed will be here and it would be nice to have her as our honourary Canadian)?

Have we eliminated the first half of September for any reason (other than me possibly not being available on the 15th).

Re the last half of September, that's the period which includes the Jewish High Holidays. Rosh Hashona begins on the evening of the 11th and Yom Kippur begins on the evening of the 20th (if I can believe my non-Jewish calendar). Some people will be attending synagogue or, like myself, family dinners.

Are we OK for a) the last week of August; b) the first half of Sept, or c) last week of Sept, or d) into October?

hdm and kodi,

a) the last week of August: unfortunately, no

b) September: any time

c) October: any time

I noticed that Michel_Paris posted on the GTG thread on the Europe forum and said he'd be interested in attending:

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35037180

Anselm

Best time for me would be September after the 24th (but not daytime the 29th) and anytime in October (except the 26th).

Remember that October 8th is Thanksgiving.

Ooh, I just saw this and I want to come, too...this thread includes some of my favourite alltime posters (I never knew the TO connection). Am I gathering it will be after the end of August?