Things changed a bit in downtown Toronto. Dundas Square is all done up nice now with flashy colourful billboards and that site on the NE corner is finally being built up. The Eaton Center got an updated look... I think it's trying to be a cramped version of Times square.
Inside the Eaton Center was a giant Swarovski tree! This photo doesn't do it justice as it was quite sparkly.
I blocked off time to spend with my family and eat my home-cooked meals, one of which was congee and noodles!
Mmmm so yummy!
For lunch on the 24th, my parents took JJ and I to a Viet/Thai buffet restaurant in Scarborough. It was great! After enjoying that, the first people we met up with were Lillian and Mike who came back from Philly for a few days (Mike had never had a Toronto streetdog before so we all encouraged him to get one as a pre-dinner snack. Lillian looked shocked at all the toppings he put on it!
Note that JJ is carrying bubbletea. That one was 2 of 4 (we had bbtea the night before - yes, we miss it!).
After that, JJ and I wandered around downtown a bit. Nathan Phillips Square's skating rink was quite crowded. There's a rather sad Christmas tree in the background - nothing like Rockefeller Center or even the Daley Center here in Chicago.
Christmas day lunch was at my favourite Chinese restaurant with my family, JJ, and auntie Connie's family. Everyone enjoyed that wonderful meal; JJ actually noticed that they arrange their signature dish in the shape of a turtle!
On the 26th, Tiffany held her famous food party; she is always so kind to organize it every time I come home so everyone can get together. Thanks Tiff! I got to play some xbox 360 (the boxing game),
got to eat a lot of food as well.
On the 27th, I had a good catch-up lunch with Hongsa and JJ's parents invited me over there for dinner. Yay authentic Korean home-cooked food! I also got to meet JJ's friends after dinner: Tim and Brian came to see Borat with us and we later had bbtea with James (3 of 4).
Justin and I went to lunch at the next day at Far Niente. It was a nice restaurant that I always wanted to go and I, for some ridiculous reason, decided to get the fancy lobster grilled cheese. It was fantastic but it was $26! Justin got a really good teriyaki steak, also for $26. Justin's birthday was on the 26th. Happy birthday Justin! (why so many 26's?)
Justin at Nathan Phillips Sq with his new camera
JJ came over Thursday night for dinner and then we went for our last bbtea of the week at Kotos (where else?) with my friends.
Friday was another catch-up lunch with Iris and Eric at Oliver and Bonacini at Bayview Village. Later that day, we went to have dinner with Lynne, Derrick, Julie, and Chris, most of whom had never been to a Korean bbq before! Derrick was a pro - leave it to guys and their bbq'ed meat.
They seemed to have a lot of fun and we got some Ben & Jerry's for dessert!
Too bad we missed you Sue! Happy birthday and thanks for the chocolates!
We managed to squeeze in one last fantastic meal before we left for the airport at Hello! Saigon (formerly Miss Saigon) for my favourite Vietnamese restaurant. It was quite crowded so we were feeling a bit rushed. Food was excellent though. After that, it was off to the airport and back to Chicago for a relaxing two days before working late hours again. Happy new year!
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