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Showing posts with label Places to Eat. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Places to Eat. Show all posts

Monday 20 June 2022

Kick-Ass In Hamilton

Capri Pizza Hamilton Ontario

 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Address: 25 John St N
Date: May 2015
Website: capriristorante.ca

    The Capri Restaurant in downtown Hamilton has been there since the early 1960s. We have visited several times through the years and it has undergone some changes.  We were once allowed to take a peek at the famous Blue Grotto room upstairs which is designed like a blue cave.  We have also been lucky enough to visit the site of a historic ass kicking in the parking lot out back.  Sadly, this appears to have been turned into a construction site building new condominiums.

Capri Pizza Old Look Hamilton Ontario

    When we first visited Capri it still had its original look.  A mural on the wall, round tables and bright colours with dim lighting.  It has since been renovated with a more modern look.  Change is always inevitable. 

Capri Pizza & Spaghetti Sign Hamilton Ontario

     The wall at the back of the building was painted to read Capri Pizza & Spaghetti.  In the movie Kick-Ass, this is where Kick-Ass comes across a couple of car thieves and makes his first attempt to be a hero.

Capri Pizza Parking Lot Hamilton

     Unfortunately, Kick-Ass and his baton are no match for the two thieves.  Kick-Ass ends up getting stabbed in the stomach.

Capri Pizza Parking Lot Hamilton.

    As his attackers run away, an injured Kick-Ass stumbles out into the street.  Now for a bit of movie magic.  Note the interlocking brick roadway.  A car hits Kick-Ass and he flies up over the roof.

Mary Street As Seen In Kick-Ass In Hamilton

    Kick-Ass lands with a thud on the ground.  Not only is he now lying on an asphalt road, but he is also two blocks over on Mary Street.  The car that hit him speeds away past the Hamilton Vision Centre.  The movies mix a bit of reality with fantasy.  You can visit what is left of the Capri Pizza parking lot and area, but be sure to come inside and enjoy a very real meal.


Map of Our World
Kick-Ass In The Street , Capri Pizza Parking Lot
Capri Family Restaurant

Post # 312

Wednesday 20 April 2022

A Weekend In Paris

Paris Ontario Over The Grand River

 Location: Paris, Ontario, Canada
Address: 106 Grand River St N.
Date: March 2022
Website: www.brant.ca

    Even though travelling is a little harder these days, we still managed to get away for a weekend in Paris. Paris, Ontario that is. Paris was not named after the city in France, but named for the nearby deposits of gypsum which were used to make plaster of Paris.  Paris has often been referred to as the prettiest little town in Canada. The restaurants and other businesses on the main street look out over the Grand River. We visited on a cold weekend in the off season and still found a lot to keep us entertained.

Paris or Toronto Road Sign.

    Paris, Ontario is only about an hour and a half drive from Toronto.  As we approached the town even the street signs wanted to remind us that we were not really that far away.

Arlington Hotel in Paris Ontario

      We stayed in the Arlington Hotel which was built in the 1850s and is now a boutique hotel with themed rooms.  The hotel stands tall and proud at the corner of William Street and Grand River Street.

Mona Lisa Hangs Over Bed In Paris Ontario Arlington Hotel.
The Da Vinci Suite At The Arlington Hotel in Paris Ontario.

   Each room of the Arlington is themed for a different artist.  We stayed in the most Parisian room of them all, the da Vinci suite.  Why not have the Mona Lisa hanging directly over your bed?

TARDIS elevator Arlington Hotel Paris Ontario

    The elevator of the hotel was decorated like a TARDIS time machine from the Doctor Who television shows.  TARDIS stands for Time And Relative Dimension In Space.

The Grand River Flows Past Paris Ontario.

    The Grand River that flows past Paris is almost 290 kilometres long and ends its journey at Lake Erie.

Paris Ontario from The Grand RIver

   Despite the cold, we decided to walk from town and check out Penman's Dam.  We could feel the warmth of Paris calling us back.

Penman's Dam Paris Ontario

  Penman's Dam was created to run one of the mills for Penmans Limited Clothing Company.

Welcome To Paris Grand River

   The area around the dam is a launching point for some of the canoe and kayak groups in the town.

Snow Over Penman's Dam Paris Ontario

    As we were leaving the dam, it started to snow. Snow in Paris, France is a rare occurrence, but in Paris, Ontario it is quite common.

Two Dogs Walk Beside The Grand RIver In Paris Ontario

  The only other travellers we saw near the dam were a pair of dogs all by themselves.  We headed back to the warmth of our hotel.

Hiram Capron Founder Of Paris Mural

  We ventured out again to explore the town.  At the north end of town is a mural showing Hiram Capron.  Hiram was the founder of Paris and lived and died in the town he helped incorporate in 1849.

Lest We Forget Clock Great War Monument.

   At the south end of town is a clock and a war memorial.  "Lest We Forget" the men and women of Paris who were lost during war. 

Cobblestone Common Paris Ontario

  Paris is also known for its use of cobblestone in the construction of many buildings around the town.  Cobblestone Common is the name of a park located beside the river.

Charles Mitchell House

  Charles Mitchell house is a good example of cobblestone used in construction.  If you look closely you can see all the little stones mixed into the front wall.

Cobblestone Restaurant & Pub Paris

  A local pub is even called The Cobblestone in honour of all the stones used in town.  We'll drink to that!

Paris Public Library Ontario

  The rest of town has some interesting places to visit and more interesting architecture.  You can also tell stories of your trip and dream of being in Paris, France.  "I read the most interesting book in a library in Paris".

Paris Baptist Church Ontario.

    There are many different churches to see in Paris.  Nothing quite compares to Notre Dame Cathedral.

Paris Jewellers Eiffel Tower Ontario

  The Paris Jewellers had an Eiffel Tower in their window to further make you feel like you are in a different Paris.

Chocolate Sensations Paris Ontario Frog

  Frog legs have long been a delicacy in Paris, France.  Chocolate Sensations offered many sweet treats including chocolate frogs.  They are just solid milk chocolate in case you were wondering.

Paris Ontario Home Hardware.

  Just as we started to feel as if we were somewhere in Europe, we spotted a Canadian hardware chain.  The local Paris Home Hardware reminded us where we were.  Not a bad place to be.  We enjoyed great food, interesting architecture, a quirky hotel and more.  We were told we need to come back in the summertime when the city is filled with flowers and at the peak of its beauty. 


Map of Our World
Paris, Ontario
Post # 310

Wednesday 20 October 2021

Elephants of Toronto

Toronto Zoo Elephant

   In 2013 the last African elephants left the Toronto Zoo. They were headed to California to live out their days in a larger space away from cold Canadian winters. We miss the elephants when we visit the zoo.  But don't worry, if you know where to look you can still find elephants hidden around Toronto.  Below is a list of places to include on your search. If you know of any more, please let us know.

1 ) Toronto Zoo

Three Little Elephants Toronto Zoo

   A good place to start your search for elephants is at the Toronto Zoo.  The big elephants may be gone, but these three little ones still remain.  They are near the African Pavilion looking towards the old elephant exhibit.  The exhibit is now home to the zoo's Masai giraffes.

Savanna Snacks

  We also spotted a couple of elephants on the roof of the Savanna Snacks store.  This store is located near the African Zoomobile stop and the old home of the Masai giraffes.

2)  Commerce Court
Tembo Mother of Elephants Commerce Court Toronto

    If you are looking for bigger elephants around the city then Tembo is for you.  Tembo, Mother of Elephants stands in Commerce Court just north of Bay & Wellington. She is over nine feet tall.

Tembo Elephant Calves Toronto

  Behind Tembo are two little elephant calves following their mother.

Tembo Elephants Commerce Court Toronto

  These bronze sculptures bring some extra life and fun to Toronto's financial district.

Tembo Elephants Commerce Court Toronto

    Tembo is small compared to the towers of Toronto's downtown.  If you don't know where to look, you might just miss her.


3)  Toronto Police Museum

Elmer The Safety Elephant

  Elmer the elephant has been around since 1947 teaching school children about safety.  He has been helping keep children safe in playgrounds and on the roads.  This little Elmer (above) can be found in the Toronto Police Museum.  

Elmer Flag On A School In Toronto Canada

  Many schools around the city still fly the flag and participate in the Elmer school program today.

4)  Elephant & Castle

Elephant & Castle Logo

    The Elephant & Castle is the name of a group of pubs.  There used to be a couple of locations in the Toronto area.  The location at Yonge & Gerrard closed. This one (above) is located on King Street West near Roy Thomson Hall.

Elephant & Castle Logo

   The pub is named after an area of London, England.  The logo has an elephant with the turret of a castle on its back.

5)  Yarmouth Road

Elephant Yarmouth Road Toronto

   This next elephant stands on the front lawn of a private house on Yarmouth Road in Toronto.  When we visited it was hiding behind a tree.

6)  My Roti Place
My Roti Place Elephant Toronto

   The elephant painted on the wall of My Roti Place on Queen Street West looks ready to pull the crown right off of your head.  While you are there why not build your own meal served on Indian flatbread?

7)  Starbucks
Starbucks Kenyan Elephant

     A lot of people inside Starbucks don't notice anything besides their cellphone and their coffee.  We noticed this Kenyan elephant on the wall of a location near Leslie & Sheppard.  It was there to show where the different coffee beans come from.  There was also a Sumatran tiger and Guatemalan parrots.


  8)  Utility Boxes


Seaforth Road Utility Box With Elephants

   At the east end of Seaforth Avenue you can find this pair of pachyderms.  More and more utility boxes around the city are being painted by artists.  We liked the colours and style of this elephant pair.

Animal Covered Utility Box Sewells Road Scarborough

   Up on Sewells Road in Scarborough is a utility box that is just full of animals.  And yes, there is an elephant included.

9 ) Pearson Airport

Elephant Deicing Truck At Pearson Airport Toronto

   If you have ever found yourself departing from Toronto's Pearson International Airport in the winter, you may have been in the presence of another Toronto elephant.  These trucks are called elephants after the hoses that are mounted on a crane.  They are used to spray a glycol / water mix that looks like orange Kool-Aid.  The orange spray is de-icer.  Thanks to these elephants, planes are able to take off safely in even the coldest conditions.

10 ) York Cemetery

York Cemetery Elephant Toronto


     In the far back corner of York Cemetery in North York, we found another elephant.

Asian Sculptures In York Cemetery North York

   The elephant was in a section with dragons, sheep, birds and more.  It appeared they were still waiting for the humans that would eventually join them.

11 ) Beechwood Cemetery

Beechwood Cemetery Elephants

    Our last elephants can be found at Beechwood Cemetery.  This mother and baby are located a little bit outside of Toronto just north of Jane & Steeles.   We could have stopped our list at ten but we thought it should go to elephan.


Map of Our World
Post # 304