davemerrill

Anime North is coming up and I know that a few of my pals are coming up for the con, so here are some tips about visiting Toronto!

You will have to cross an international border. You need a passport, and you need a plausible reason to visit, and you will need that passport to get back home, and you'll need a plausible explanation for what you did in Canada, and you shouldn't mention weed, or how their questions are stupid and you shouldn't have to answer them. Customs and Immigration on both sides of the border can pretty much do whatever they want with you, so be polite.


"Tim Horton's" is a donut shop. Lots of them are open 24 hours. Also called "Timmy's". More or less Dunkin' Donuts. There are a few Krispy Kremes here, one out Mavis Rd. and one on Harbord in the Annex.

"Poutine" is french fries with cheese and gravy and occasionally other toppings. There's plenty of it about if you should want some.

We have McDonalds and Wendys and KFC and Subway and Burger King and Five Guys. We also have Harvey's and Acme Burger and Swiss Chalet, which you don't have. There are plenty of overpriced Applebee's places like Montana's or Kelsey's (think O'Charleys or Ruby Tuesday's), and there's generally never any reason to eat there. There are also Applebee's. Also tons of great non-chain restaurants, please.

We have Wal-Marts, don't worry. The Zellers chain is being replaced by Targets, and you're not missing much, Zellers was more or less K-mart.

The big drugstore chain is Shopper's Drug Mart. Grocery chains are Loblaws, Metro, Sobey's, No Frills, and Price Chopper.

You buy your beer at the Beer Store and your liquor at the LCBO. The Beer Store is a monopoly owned by the brewers and the LCBO is the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, a province-owned business. Most of them close by 9 but some are open until 10, 5 on Sundays. If you want to buy beer in the corner store, drive to Quebec.

Stuff costs more. Toronto is one of the more expensive places to live in the world, and sales tax adds up to %15 on things. Deal with it, you're on vacation.

There isn't really any Ontario version of Waffle House. On the other hand, there are 2 locations of Fran's. If you need late night food while at Anime North, go to Zet's down Airport Road and watch the planes land.

The closest IHOP is in St. Catherine's, and the only time you'll be in St. Catherines is when you are passing through on your way to Niagara Falls. So you're not likely to stop.

Toronto has three Chinatowns. One is the old one on Gerrard across the river from downtown, one is on Spadina downtown and there's neat stuff and good restaurants. One is way out in Scarborough/Markham and that's where the Pacific Mall is, a huge mall with lots of everything Chinese/Asian, some of it even legitimate merchandise.

Toronto has the largest population of Italians outside Italy. Also lots of Portugese, Chinese, Koreans, Tibetans. You name the nationality, Toronto has it and the food to go along with it.

The Annex is a neighborhood over by the University Of Toronto. That's where Honest Ed's is, where The Beguiling is, where Sonic Boom is, and lots of other restaurants and shops.

Yonge Street is Toronto's main drag. The longest street in the world, they say. It divides downtown, locations are described as either "East of Yonge" or "West of Yonge". It dead-ends into the lake and goes as far as you want in the other direction. If you get to Richmond Hill, you've gone too far. The Silver Snail is on Yonge St. now. TCAF is held at the Main Branch library just north of Yonge & Bloor. Yonge & Dundas has the Eaton Centre mall, a movie theater, and Yonge Dundas Square, which is kinda like Times Square in that there's a lot of advertising and you will get panhandled.

The 401 is a big Canadian freeway that goes from Montreal in the East to Windsor/Detroit in the West. The parts that go through the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) are pretty much a traffic jam most afternoons. Avoid if you can.

The QEW (Queen Elizabeth Way) is the freeway that runs from Niagara Falls/Buffalo to downtown Toronto. Once you get close to downtown, the name of the freeway changes to the Gardiner Expressway. On the east side of downtown, the Gardiner takes a turn north and becomes the Don Valley Parkway, which heads north, crosses the 401, and stops dead just south of Lake Simcoe. If you are in Newmarket you've gone too far.

The 427 is the highway that gets you from the QEW to the 401 and the airport. Very important.

Nobody says "eh" or talks like the McKenzie brothers. People are friendly, but there are jerks here just like anywhere else. You won't see any mounties unless you plan on travelling with the Hells Angels while you're here. You will, however, encounter skunks if you plan on being out late at night. Give them a wide berth.

The streetcars downtown don't care and they WILL smack your car, or you. Your car might survive, but you won't. Look both ways and cross at the crosswalks. Taxis are everywhere, whether you want them to be there or not. If you are driving and thinking about changing lanes, chances are a taxi will be in your blind spot.

The TTC operates buses, streetcars, and the subway. There's a bus that goes out to the main Toronto airport (Pearson), no train (yet). A cab ride from the airport to downtown will run you about $40, not including tip.

There is another, smaller airport on the Toronto Islands downtown, it's called Billy Bishop Airport. Make sure you know which airport you're flying in and out of.

The Loonie is the $1 coin and the Toonie is the $2 coin. They don't have cute names for the $5 or the $10 or the $20.

Your ATM card may or may not work in stores, but will probably work at bank ATMs. Your Visa or Mastercard probably will work most places. Warn your bank and your credit card company beforehand that you're travelling to another country. The money exchange places at the airport or on Yonge St are for suckers. Just go to the bank and use their ATM.

You probably don't need to go to the top of the CN Tower.

The weather in late May can range from really pleasant to cold and rainy to hot and muggy. Bring a jacket, just in case.

Apparently there is a comic book convention in Buffalo tomorrow, a one day thing. Well, no way I'm going to be sniffling and sneezing my way down there right now.

http://www.upcomingcons.com/upcomingcons/5478-Buffalo-New-York-Comicon

There was one in March called "Powercon" - if they have another one it might be worth a trip.

Vibrations Record Show
October 14, 2012
Capitol Banquet Centre 6435 Dixie Road, Mississauga, ON
Admission Price: $5

Canadian Toy Collector's Society Show
Sunday October 21, 9-3
Etobicoke Olympium
590 Rathburn Rd Etobicoke
This one is $10. That's a lot of money!

Toronto Downtown Record Show
Nov 4, 2012
11-4
Estonian Banquet Hall 958 Broadview
$5

Nov 10 - Nov 11 2012 Oakville, ON
Gadsden's Oakville Fall Antique Show at St Volodymyr Cultural Centre, 1280 Dundas St W., Sat. 10 - 5, Sun. 11 - 4.


Toronto Toy & Doll Collector's Show
Nov 18, 2012
(possibly at) Hall 4 The International Centre,
6900 Airport Rd., Mississauga, ON

The next Toronto Comic-con is March 9-10 2013

We picked up this metal sign last Sunday at the antique show at the Brick Works. Some amazing stuff at that show, most priced beyond my reach. This sign was cheap - it's not in great shape, but that's OK.



Have that fagged feeling? Try SPUR!

Today I had a hankerin' to go find a particular book, so we walked over to Parkdale and visited The River Trading Company, a locally owned used bookstore that opened last winter and still has a big blank piece of wood up where its signage ought to be. This place is great; a really interesting selection at reasonable prices and they had the book I was looking for. And a friendly store cat. Can't beat that! If you're in the neighborhood you should check 'em out.

There is actually quite a bit of things going on in the area that is of attractive nature to such as myself. Right now I haven't the disposable income to waste on junk, but maybe I can save some pennies. Anyway, it's nice to see all these events happening, always something to do.

Aug 27 through 29 - Lakefield
Lakefield Antique Show & Sale, Lakefield Fairgrounds, Friday, 2 p.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Info: e-mail LakefieldFleaMarket@cogeco.com
we went to this one last year and it was kinda cool. WAY up there in the cottage country, though.

Aug 28 - Aug 29 2010 Woodstock, ON
Ontario Toy Show and Auction Special 25th Anniversary Auction: Saturday - 9 am to 4 pm Show: Sunday - 10 am to 3 pm Quality Inn Hotel and Convention Centre Hwy 59 & 401 (exit 232 N) 519 537-5586 or 519 537-3753

The 4th Annual Friends of the Merril Collection Flea Market will take place on September 11, 2010 in the Beeton Auditorium of the Toronto Reference Library at 789 Yonge St., 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Phone 416-393-7748 for more information.
We will have a table at this show and will totally be selling a bunch of stuff, not just the junk that didn't sell last year, but more LPs, comics, books, DVDs, CDs, magazines, toys, you name it. COME AND SPEND MONEY.

AWA 16 will be held September 17 - 19 2010, at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel and Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia.
Of course I will be at AWA, and Thursday night is the Super Happy Fun Sell. Tables are still available so get a table and sell your old junk. I will have a table and there's a box full of anime VHS and DVD already down there already ready for me to sell to YOU so bring money!!

10 - October
Kitchener Toy And Collectibles Show, Bingemans Ballroom, 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Adm: $3. Info: Ian, 519-426-8875, e-mail toyshow@kwic.com or visit kitchenershow.blogspot.com

Musical Collectables Record Show & Sale Sunday October 17
Capitol Banquet Centre
6435 Dixie Rd, Mississauga

Oct 16 2010 Milton, ON
Flamboro Antique Shows at the Milton Fairgrounds. Antiques and collectibles dealers in a beautiful outdoor setting. Dawn to 4pm. Admission $5. Free admission after 2pm. 905-685-1225

Oct 17 2010 Toronto, ON
38th Annual Canadian Toy Collectors Society Toy Show and Sale at the 'New Location'- Studio 3 at Downsview Park, 75 Carl Hall Road, Toronto (south of Sheppard between Keele & Allan Rd),9am-3pm. 905-820-2697

Record Show
Oct 24, 2010 Barrie, ON
Super 8 Motel 441 Bryne Dr
10:30 AM - 4 PM
$3.50 Early bird - $20

October 30 - Markham
Meister Markt Collector Show, Markham Fairgrounds, 10801 McCowan Road. Adm: $5, children under 12 free with an adult. Special $20 early bird admission, 6 a.m. to 8 a.m. Info: Call 416-427-8379, e-mail meistermarkt@hotmail.com or visit meistermarkt.com
went to this last year and it was kinda neat.

SpeakEasy’s Annual
Comic Book Show
Thursday November 4th
http://www.blttogo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=31
We hit this a few years back. Some great talent in this city, worth checking out.


THE RECORD GUYS http://www.therecordguys.com/show.html
SUNDAY November 7, 2010 (11:00am until 4:00pm)
LOCATION: 958 Broadview Ave
The Estonian House Banquet Hall
(near the DVP, just North of Danforth)
$5
the dealers at this show need to knock about twenty-five to fifty percent off their prices. I'm just sayin'.

Record Show
Nov 14, 2010 Oshawa ON
Oshawa Legion 471 Simcoe St. S
10 am - 4 pm $3.00 General

Record Show
Nov 28, 2010 Burlington, ON
Burlington Seniors' Centre 2285 New St.
10:30 AM - 4 PM