Yesterday I met up with some friends for some free coffee at Sam James Coffee Bar. It was their 1 year anniversary and all day they were giving out free coffee!
We also enjoyed some Russian candy that my friend Natalie brought – it had the most awesome packaging!
A little local shop is closing quietly on Saturday. I first visited Finn a few years ago after missing a flight to Paris. And it made me feel a bit better. Owner, Amalie Bruun, was having a sample sale for some Scandinavian designers and I picked up a white collarless pinstripe shirt with unusual detailing by Resteröds.
This week I had to visit and say goodbye, and couldn’t leave without this amazing yellow hand-printed silk tank from California-based designer Jesse Kamm. It is so beautiful in person and is perfect for this weather. With a cardigan it will easily take me through to next season.
When I complimented Amalie on the white bird earring stand in the shop, she took the earrings off and gave it to me. Isn’t it sweet?
Amalie was also the one to tell me about Dessert Lady, who in addition to making beautiful cakes (and selling gorgeous sugar-based orchids – upcoming wedding cakes anyone?), make lovely all natural ice creams – including honey lavender.
If you’re in the neighborhood on Saturday, stop by Finn to wish Amalie luck in her new ventures, and if you’re feeling sad about discovering this special shop too late, then you can always drown your sorrows with ice cream a few steps away at Dessert Lady!
Whenever I visit Ottawa, I always go out for coffee with my dad.
Bridgehead is nice if you can find a spot to sit – very popular. Personally, I always love Ideal. It’s way more relaxed.
Had a delicious brunch on the weekend, and yes, there was food – I just had to document the Ayala champagne properly, as well as the white sangria with cinnamon and mint…alongside these, we had lots of berries and mangoes with maple syrup on crepes made with an interesting pancake pan from Iceland.
Then it was off to Jonathan+Olivia for the Top Shop opening, and then along Queen to Preloved and Heel Boy (serious audio on the site). A really nice and sunny day to be out!
My first visit to the newly renovated Big Chill in Little Italy (and the flowers I encountered on the way home).
It’s nice that there is an indoor space now, and no longer the awkward doorway, though I still think pre-reno spot was charming.
This great weekend of homemade pizzas and crème brulée (thanks K&P!), cake, and karaoke, ended with a lovely picnic in the park. As you can tell from the pictures, it was overcast most of the day, but at least it didn’t rain!
We tasted a variety of different lemonades, almost every fancy cupcake Whole Foods bakery makes, and my lovely friend Willa MADE macarons! They were so amazing!
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I was almost reluctant to share this one believe it or not! Black Camel is one of my favorite neighborhood spots for lunch. This is a place I walked by for years, kept meaning to visit, and this spring it finally happened! They make delicious sandwiches, and I get the roasted vegetable with pesto mayo. I find the sandwich to be comforting in that it kind of reminds me of school lunches packed by mom – not too fancy gourmet, but still really tasty. I also quite like their hot chocolate.
Black Camel is just around the corner from this Drake General Store. And they tweet if they run out during the day.
Manic was the last destination on my Coffee Disloyalty card adventure. And I would say that their latte art was definitely the most creative. I have since claimed my free coffee at Blondie’s, where they told me I had been the first they had seen to complete the card – and all before the first Toronto Coffee Conspiracy event last week at Mercury!
I think it is now time for a break from coffee…
