The Pour House might not blow you away, but it's a nice place for a pint or a burger in the neighbourhood of Dupont station. With a view of Casa Loma on the hill to the North, and dark, pub-classic atmosphere within, there's really nothing to complain about here, but nothing really stands out either... with one exception:

The back patio!

The Pour House has a great patio! Really. I actually went there for YEARS before I even realized the patio existed. It's tucked away in the back. You have to walk right to the rear of the pub, then slip out a side door that's not all that clearly marked to find it. Then... patio paradise! Lovely old Annex trees surround the double level deck. The vibe is more Toronto backyard than anything else. It's really comforting. It takes you away from the noise of Dupont and makes you feel like you're somewhere much more interesting than a generic pub. I love going there with my softball team after a summer game. Give me leaves above, warm air all around, and a pint of cider and I'm happy. And that's just what the Pour House does.

Pour House Irish Pub
182 Dupont Street
Toronto, ON M5R 2E6
(416) 967-7687

*Photo by Dragan Sasic from Stock Xchng.

I went to O'Connor Bowl recently as a sort of joke. A friend requested a bowling birthday party. He's pushing 30.

Fact: Other than a few supervising parents, we were the most geriatric group in attendance. The lanes were packed (Glo Bowl on one side, fully-lit on the other) with packs of overly made-up and rowdy tweens and young families with little ones. There were two massive twelfth birthday parties going on. There was also blaring pop dance music and lots of bumper bowl. (Think: banging. Loud banging.)

Even so, we had a great time. These places get busy with parties on weekend evenings, so it's worth it to make a reservation. Be prepared to see a lot of seventh grade social drama, but fear not: you can still drink! (Trust me when I say the domestic beers for $3.50 were VERY WELCOME.) Other than beer, the bar also serves coolers, and some hard stuff too.

Five pin is fabulous. As a woman with thin wrists, I appreciate the lightness of the balls. It's just as fun as ten pin, I think, and easier on your body.

The kiddies cleared out by around 10:30, and the music (magically) switched from the Pussy Cat Dolls style stuff to Mouldy (Wonderful) Oldies.

The biggest downside of this place is that it's way the hell out in the East end. We had rides both ways, but without a car, it's not accessible.

O'Connor Bowl
1401 O'connor Drive
East York, ON M4B 2V5
(416) 755-1231

*Photo by Bas Driessen from Stock Xchng.

Certain things go together. Just naturally. Certain things merge in the universe in an obvious sort of way. Chocolate and caramel, for example. Peas and carrots. Shoes and ... wigs.

(Shoes and wigs?)

Yes. Shoes and wigs. That's what's on offer on Yonge Street's Shoe Time.

This is one of those places that always has a "closing" or "inventory clearance" sign in the window, but never seems to close. Shoes are cheap, and not hideous. In the summer, imported sandals go for as little as $5. Nicer pairs go for $10 to $20 (or more, depending, but most are highly affordable).

Sure, these ain't no Louboutin's, but they're not bad either. Man made materials? Yes. But that's okay. Most of Shoe Time's stock is of the "fashion" or "fad" variety, so it's not like you're going to wear it forever even if it did last that long. If you're looking for club wear, or novelty shoes, or just some foot fun, this is a good place to try.

Staff are nice enough, and do ask if you can't find your size. They have all manner of stock hidden away in the back.

As for the wigs (of which there are many), ignore them. OR, if you're brave, buy a super long blond one and bust it with some neon purple plastic ankle boots. (Sometimes, if you're going to do a look, you might as well do it all the way.)

Shoe Time
718 Yonge St.
Toronto, ON M4Y 2B3

*Shoe photo by Josep Altarriba from Stock Xchng, wigs photo by Nathan Sudds from Stock Xchng.

All things tea carries (you guessed it)... all things tea. And they do a good job of it too.

This little spot is a welcome addition to the Annex, as others have said. Simple, open concept decor, nice chairs up by the window (for people watching and sipping) and internet access are all on offer.

Best of all, there's a WALL of tea on the East side of the room, featuring maybe as many as 100 varieties of brewable leaves.

I recently bought a selection of small bags for a pregnant friend (all different types of raspberry) and she was delighted. The only downside is that these little bags of loose added up and ended up costing a fair bit. With tax and the cheapest strainer/ball they had, I ended up spending over $40. That said, I think it was worth it for what ended up turning into a very nice (if smallish) gift basket.

Organics are available, and unlike most shops, with All Things Tea you really know what you're getting. Think: country of origin, growing conditions, etc.

The guy working the counter (who I actually think was the owner) was lovely. Really polite, personable, knowledgeable and helpful. This place is great.

All Things Tea
476 Bloor St W
Toronto, ON M5S 1X8
(416) 850-2950

*Photo by anya-anya from Stock Xchng.

My partner and I rented (or so we thought) this Wasaga Beach cottage for a weekend ski trip for ourselves and another couple last winter. All seemed legit and well. We sent a deposit cheque, corresponded via email and phone (with bdpike@rogers.com) and were looking forward to our trip, which was set to commence this weekend.

A couple of days before the trip I called to double confirm and to find out details in regards to key pick up, etc., and was shocked to find that the couple who rent the cottage - the Pikes - had "double booked" us (or so they claimed).

APPARENTLY, they had another group in for over a week, and that group had already arrived. Yes, they did have our deposit cheque, but they were still canceling on us (rather nonchalantly, I thought).

The husband - Bruce Pike - claimed this had never happened before (not in "six years" of operation), but if that's true, why weren't they more apologetic?

They said they'd try to look into other rentals for us, but frankly, neither he nor wife Dorothy Pike seemed fussed about it. We were supposed to go up there this coming Friday and finally heard today that we were out of luck.

Supposedly, they said they'd be returning our deposit cheque via mail. (What can I say? I should HOPE so.)

I don't know what to say about this except that I'm fairly disgusted. These people were not embarrassed about their "mistake" at all, which makes me wonder if it wasn't just a scam. Perhaps they had an offer for a longer and more lucrative booking and just bumped our weekend deliberately as a result? Regardless, we should have been informed. We heard nothing until we called them. And had we not called, we would have driven up there totally unaware of the problem.

They certainly didn't seem to value us as customers, which is really too bad because had the experience been good, we would certainly have recommended them and given them repeat business.

I know this is a bourgeois complaint, but as busy city people with jobs, this trip wasn't easy to plan. I have almost no vacation time and opportunity to travel, and it's so disappointing to see our reservation ignored in such a blatant way.

I guess with private owners you really never know what you're going to get. I'd advise anyone who is thinking of a Wasaga / Georgian Bay / Collingwood rental to steer clear of the Pikes and their "best kept secret" cottage. Secret's out: they're unreliable.

Best Kept Secret Cottage
Wasaga Beach
Wasaga Beach, ON L9Z
(705) 429-6043

*Photo by Mike Thorn from Stock Xchng.

Over Easy is one of my favorite breakfast/brunch places in the city for the following reasons:

1. Huge Portions
Three eggs instead of the usual two? I'll take it.

2. The Big Coffee Caraffe
Order a single coffee? Get a whole pot! They charge by the mug, but you refill from your own pot as much as you want. I like the control.

3. Comfort Foods
Not feelin' on incredible, edible eggs? No worries. Have a massive mac and cheese or something equally tasty and carb-filled instead. There are plenty of options.

Alas, if only it were that simple. There are downsides, including:

1. Long Lines, Long Waits
And no real vestibule! It's inevitable that you're going to have to wait if you hit up Over Easy on a weekend. The waits aren't excessively long, but generally, you have to wait outside. This is CANADA, people. It's cold out there.

2. Hey Big Spender
Prices are kind of high. Yes, you can get a big ol' breakfast (remember the three egg thing) but it costs $10. This ain't no $2.99 diner.

3. Tourists in Cramped Quarters
Being located across from the ROM and near a lot of hotels must be great for business, but I find the clientele that rolls in as a result to be pretty irritating. And tables are fairly close together, so you'll inevitably be subjected to conversations about the most inane, touristy things. Maybe I'm a snob, but this bugs me a bit. I like to devour my eggs in privacy. (Or at least, without someone yelling my ear about the "weird glass crystal stuff" poking into the sky across the street.)

I still give Over Easy four stars because I think the food is exceptionally good. They never overcook an egg, and they really focus on making stuff properly, and to whatever specifications you'd like, but if you want to pay less and you don't wait to wait, this place might not be for you.

Over East
208 Bloor Street W.
Toronto, ON M5S 3B4
(416) 922-2345

*Photo by Alicia Solario from Stock Xchng.

Finally hit up Ginger recently. (I was a virgin first-timer, yo!) Verdict: meh. Nothing special.

Ginger is : Cheap, fast, filling.

Ginger is: A little ghetto, ultra-casual, and kinda bland.

The truth is, I think I'm just not that into Vietnamese food. I ALWAYS find it to be boring/bland. And I don't like it when hot noodles mix with cold lettuce. That just doesn't work for me. But that's not a fair comment on Ginger, because you may well love this kind of food, which would solve the bland problem entirely.

On the side chili-garlic sauce saved the day for me, and frankly, I'd go back because friends like the place, but I was not wowed. Still, for less than $6, I didn't really expect to be wowed.

This place is what it is. I give it an "F" for fast, filling and fine. (So not a real "F" if you know what I mean.)

Ginger
695 Yonge St
Toronto, ON M4Y 2B2
(416) 966-2424

*Photo by  Su Yin Khoo from Stock Xchng.

Acme was a surprising let down. The space is sleek and modern and the toppings looked no less than amazing - lots of choice, lots of gourmet options. But man. Let down!

My burger was overcooked and dry. And not "this still seems like meat" dry. It was more like, "this has to be 50% cardboard" dry. It was "there's not enough water in the world to make this go down" dry. Seriously. Even an abundance of juicy toppings couldn't save it. And considering how much they trot out their "angus beef" rep, I expected a hell of a lot better.

The service was pretty slow. The combo was expensive. The fries were okay (not crispy, but not soggy, and they WERE fresh) but nothing made up for that dry-as-a-bone burger. I felt like I was eating sawdust.

It's really too bad. On a strip overstocked with sushi options, a burger joint seemed like a welcome addition. Alas. I won't be heading back. Sorry, Acme.

Acme Burger Company
500 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1Y3
(416) 850-8499

*Photo by Rob Owen-Wahl from Stock Xchng.

I'm a fan of Ten Thousand Villages (and their Annex location) because it fills a void. I have many grad-school era friends with "stuff white people like" bourgeois feelings about ethical giving and have many a time found myself hunting frantically at the last moment for a gift to please one of these friends as a result.

Enter the Villages. With ethnic and often ethical gifts from around the world from jewelery to scarves to music, there's a little something here for everybody. Particularly when the everybody in question doesn't want their decorative candles to come from a candle sweat shop.

Knick knackery isn't for everyone, but Ten Thousand Villages also features so-called practical gifts. For a recent baby-shower, I found a "lullabies from around the world" CD that went over particularly well.

What I like ultimately about Ten Thousand Villages aside from the pretty, cozy interior, choices and good service, is that it features plenty of the same sort of slightly impersonal gift options as a traditional gift or card shop, but they don't FEEL like impersonal gift options. And since a lot of it is fair trade friendly and other ethical in other ways, you can feel good about it. Or at least a little better than you might otherwise.

Ten Thousand Villages
474 Bloor Street W.
Toronto, ON M5S 1X8
(416) 533-8476

*photo by Alicia Solario from Stock Xchng.

So. This review-blogging thing. What's it all about?

Hard to say really. I've been blogging for several years now, and in my job as a journalist, I wrote reviews. But they were always biased reviews. Reviews really depend on who you're writing for, you see. Don't let journalists tell you different. They're lying.

So post the whole journalism thing, I started out writing my own online reviews using Yelp, and I enjoyed it, but even Yelp's advertising affiliations concerned me (though they seemed legit). Eventually, I deleted my account. I decided to forget social networking, forget services and communities and just write reviews on my own blog.

And here we are.

There's nothing to these reviews, really. I just write about the things I do, and how they were. If I like what I did/say/ate/heard, I say so and I explain why. If we were friends, this is the sort of stuff I'd tell you. I'll be posting on Tuesdays and Thursdays as much as possible, so check back often for new reviews.