January 14, 2011
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Walking around my ‘hood
I decided to spoil myself recently as I was working from home and checked out a new coffee shop that opened in my neighbourhood. Dark Horse Espresso popped up in the location of a long time neighbourhood grocery store. It caused a fuss (link here) when that store closed. I’m not sure why they opened a coffee shop here. There are easily a dozen coffee shops within walking distance from my condo (4 of them are Starbucks). Since I watch my money a bit more carefully now (I watch it leave my wallet a lot) I try not to spend too much time on coffee shops. The atmosphere was nice and the staff was friendly. I had a large French Press (they tell you when 4 minutes is up) with a sandwich. The large communal table was packed so I just sat on a small table for 1. It’s sort of like a half table with a stool and it reminded me of an old school desk. The coffee was flavourful and not too acidic. The panini seemed a bit under done. But the smoked turkey inside was fine. The total was around $12 which was a bit too pricey. It was the equivalent of about 2 1/2 mugs of coffee though.
It was a good way to spend a long lunch and I got a bit of fresh air. I think if I was a writer, I could get used to this lifestyle. Wake up whenever I want to, jot down ideas and notes where ever I can park my butt and then spend a quiet afternoon composing my stories. But I’m not sure if I have the discipline to do that. Although it would be a nice fantasy.
Speaking of fantasy, I just love this design. It’s an interesting development that came online in my neighborhood a year or two ago. I think the previous homeowners made a nice profit on their homes when they sold it to the developers. It’s called Richmond Town Manors and they are decent size units (1,700 sq ft to 1,800 sq. ft). I read somewhere that the units were around $860k to $930k. It’s way out of my price range and it would take me another lifetime of savings to purchase them. Sorry for the bad composition of the pictures. I wanted to shoot from the other side but someone from inside the end unit was staring at me when I took my camera out. So I snuck around to this side.
I could use a bit more colour in my life.
Comments (25)
I’d like you to get used to that lifestyle Matt, and start writing the great novel I’m expecting from you. =D
Neat looking place.
i don’t drink coffee so whenever friends invite me at starbucks, i order…. the sandwiches. hehehe. btw, the last pic. what’s that?
your neighborhood sounds a little like ours — we have maybe half a dozen hair salons, and more keep popping up. i can’t possibly imagine that people need their hair done that often.
I like the architecture of that building…
Matt, I love the photo of the building and the neighborhood but really $12 for lunch – not unless someone else is paying the bill. lol – yes when will the great novel appear
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@kunhuo42 - Aaron as you know from your visit here I find no need of hair salons but they seem to be popping up around here too..
what is that glass?
sure is a pretty neat building!
i like the building!! and the colors are pretty… ooo….. xD
your day sounds delightful. i go back and forth between wanting to be a psychologist, a writer or a broadway star. great design on that building. if ever i win the lottery and dont have to watch my money leave my wallet too, it is yours.
@christao408 - I need to do a lot more work to turn that fantasy into a reality.
@Bricker59 - it is, a far cry from some of the older houses in that area.
@Renatojr3 - that colour thing is a close up of an round glass ornament (sort of like those Christmas ornaments that you hang on the Christmas tree). I got it from a local artist in a craft show.
@kunhuo42 - there are also a few more stores for kids and pets; a clear sign of the gentrification that has happened.
@oxyGENE_08 - you should check the link, I think you’ll like the floor plans. It’s a bit narrow but very open.
@Fatcat723 - it was an expensive lunch and the bill sort of spoiled the mood. Yeah, I need to do some homework to turn that fantasy into a reality.
@Babyboomerjill - it’s a glass ornament, similar to the ornaments you hang on a Christmas tree. It’s almost like a multi-coloured cyrstal ball. I got it from an arts / crafts fair.
@onmovement - yeah, you should check out the floor plans in the link and some of the pictures. I would take an end unit to get more light. It’s a great neighbourhood, lots of restaurants, bars, galleries, coffee shops, retail stores in the area. But it still has some rough edges.
@bengozen - I could almost see myself living in one of the end units.
@caki730 - wow, that’s 3 very different fields! I have a funny feeling you need a strong & creative hobby to counter your stressful profession.
yeah, that would be a nice fantasy indeed. a line of work i wouldn’t mind doing at all. not to mention i love being in coffee shops. well, if i ever get any good in writing at all
i like that condo … the Star showcased something similar this morning – Trinity-Bellwoods Town & Home
It’s nice that you can take a leisure walk from you place around the neighborhood! The nearest coffee shop for me is a 5 minute drive, and they serve very plain tasting coffee. Those townhouses are quite pricey indeed!
Oh it’s an ornament… I thought you tried to photograph ( very cleverly of course ) a kaleidoscope. lol.
Thats an interesting design… but damn that’s pricey. The coffee seems pricey too, but that’s coming from a non-coffee-drinker. It does sound like a nice and relaxing lifestyle though, so although you may not have the discipline to sit down and write all the time, perhaps it’s a nice way to treat yourself from time to time
I definitely think that I could get used to the writer’s lifestyle as well!
Maybe I should go to my nearby Starbuck to sit there and focus on writing my blogs again. Matt, wish you happy new year.
I’ve been to the Darkhorse on Spadina. Kind of a rip off. :P I don’t spend money on coffee or tea anymore. I normally drink whatever the office supplies.
Perhaps I should walk into the local coffee joints and scan for you! Hahaha!
I can’t believe those units can still fetch that much money in this economy!
I would actually pay that much if the company would remove that annoying cool jazz from their website. LOL
Nice color picture…what is it?
@rudyhou - I like reading in coffee shops, people watching and just generally pretending to be doing something important.
@AppsScraps - yeah, I saw that – it looks very nice.
@CurryPuffy - well, I’m lucky that I live in the downtown area so everything is close by.
@ZSA_MD - yeah, I was trying to be a bit artsy.
@AzureRecollections - the condos are pricey – I’m not sure I can ever afford something like that.
@TheCheshireGrins - we’ll hang out at coffee shops all day!
@brooklyn2028 - hahaha… I was off that week so I was able to hang out in the neighbourhood. Usually I just work at night (or try and clean my always messy condo).
@CareyGLY - oh that music got a bit annoying after 5 seconds. That is a glass ornament, sort of like those you hang on Christmas trees. Some local artist made it and I got it at an arts fair.
how much of that novel did you start on in that coffee shop? ;]
ask for the price for a unit of the Richmond Town Manor.. dang! That’s expensive. Imagine how much it would cost once the economy picks up.
@Devilzgaysianboi - You would look good in that unit.
for some reason, i can’t watch people. i prefer to go to a secluded corner, making no eye contacts with anyone, and do my own thing with no distractions. guess i’m terrify in the idea of finding someone watching me in return. that would make me feel real uncomfortable. so i don’t do the same to others when i’m in a coffee shop.