It’s that time of year when things start to get really overwhelming. I have learned that this is only exacerbated in fourth year, when you have the stress of figuring out what you’re going to do with your life piled…
I don't know about you, but my to-do list right now seems never-ending. With final assignments piling up, I feel like I don't have a spare minute. That's why I always feel a twinge of annoyance when I see this e-mail…
Lettuce delve into the wonderful world of vegetarian food on campus! Olive these radishing meals are sure to beet your hunger pains and squash your bad mood. If you carrot all for what I’m dishing out, peas continue reading!Phew! Okay, now that I have reached my self-imposed pun quota for the day, let’s begin!
Veda
There are two Veda locations on campus; there’s one in the Multifaith Centre and one in Sandford Fleming. This is by far one of my favourite places to grab a bite between classes. They’re dedicated to serving healthy and delicious Indian food. All of their curries are nut-free and gluten-free, and they have a good variety of vegetarian and vegan options.Last time I went, I had a small curry bowl combo, which costs $10.25. I got to choose two curries and one type of rice, I got three pakoras on the side, and I got an apple juice. The portions are huge—definitely enough to take some home and eat later—and I really love the taste. They’re one of the only places in the city that I know of that serves butter tofu, which is SO DELICIOUS!
The Green Beet
This adorable gem is located in the basement of Gerstein. It gets quite crowded at peak times, but it is definitely worth it. They have a great variety of all-vegetarian fare, and lots of vegan options too. Last time I went, I got a delicious veggie lasagna. It was creamy and cheesy and just generally yummy and it came with a side salad tossed in sweet balsamic vinaigrette. My meal cost $6.66.
It seems like spring is finally springing! Sure, there’s been a lot of rain, but we’ve also had a few beautiful, sunny days. Last weekend, I took advantage of the balmy 12-degree temperatures and went on a day trip. What better place to fill yourself with the joys of spring than at the beautiful Toronto Zoo?It’s actually pretty simple to get there on the TTC; just take the Bloor-Danforth subway line all the way East to Kennedy Station and then transfer onto the East 86A Scarborough, which will drop you off right at the front entrance. The trip usually takes just under an hour and a half, but it’s worth it to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city.General admission is $23, but if you’re going to be around Toronto for the next year, I’d recommend getting a student membership for $60. The zoo is open every day of the year, except for Christmas Day, but I think it’s especially nice at this time of year because it tends to be less busy and the warm-but-not-hot weather is perfect for wandering and exploring.I certainly did a lot of wandering!I don’t know about you, but sometimes the urban jungle gets a bit overwhelming for me. The zoo is a great place to get some fresh air, take in some sights, and learn something new! It’s the largest zoo in Canada, covering 287 hectares, and it is home to over 5000 animals. There’s always something going on and there are a ton of conservation initiatives to get involved with too!Of course, there’s another draw this springtime. You may have heard by now that the Toronto Zoo recently welcomed two not-so-giant-yet panda cubs! Their names are Jia Panpan (Canadian Hope) and Jia Yueyue, (Canadian Joy). These two fuzzy little stars already have friends in high places.OMG!!!! (Picture credit: cbc.ca)Well, those three are not the only majestic bundles of joy who have been hanging around the zoo lately.
Some classes are like meringues: light and simple. Some are more like chocolate cake: dense and rich, but very satisfying. Some are like sweet and refreshing ice cream that goes down oh-so-smoothly. Like custard, some classes are heavy and decadent. Others are like chocolate chip cookies, appreciated for their classic appeal. Classes that are like toffee are a lot to chew on, but still very pleasant.Can you tell I'm hungry? Picture Credit: 4-designer.comSome classes, however, are like the bran muffin. The bran muffin is an affront to delicious things everywhere; it is utterly dull and a waste of time and calories. To make matters worse, it sometimes has nasty little shrivelled-up raisins lurking inside. No one likes a bran muffin.Sometimes, you have to eat bran muffins though, don’t you? Perhaps when your sweet old Granny makes them for you, or when your local Timmies runs out of everything else, or when you feel like inflicting pain on those nasty little raisins. Sometimes, you just don’t have a choice when it comes to bran muffins.The same goes for bran muffin classes. You will have at least one over the course of your university career; everybody does. Maybe you’ll need it as a breadth requirement, it will be a prerequisite for something else you want to take, or it will be the only thing that fits into your schedule. There will be no escaping it. That’s how you’ll end up in a bran muffin class, in spite of its snooze-worthy subject matter, never-ending readings, miserable locale—OISE auditorium anyone?—and its professor’s annoying goat-like voice. March 13th is the last day to drop an S section course, so it's high time to decide if you want to stick it out or not. If you want or need to persevere, stick with me! I’ll try to show you how to turn a yucky bran muffin into a beautiful cupcake.Yuck. Picture Credit: sini.co.ukOkay, maybe not a cupcake, but at least a slightly-less-terrible bran muffin:
I think it was on that satirical Stats Canada Twitter account that I read: "90% of Canadians watch the Oscars just so they can point out who is Canadian." Funny? Yes. True? Most likely. We've got that patriotism thing down pat here in Canada, and why not? There are some mega talented people rising from far and wide out of the True North strong and free. We, with glowing hearts, claim them as our patriots.When I watched the Oscars this weekend, you can bet I was on Canada watch... And Toronto watch... And UofT watch. No, I don't think there were any UofT alumni accepting awards that night, but UofT itself is connected to the night's big winner. That's right! Parts of Spotlight were filmed right here on our stomping ground! Specifically, Liev Schreiber's character attended a meeting in the beautiful Oak Room at the Newman Centre and Mark Ruffalo's character hung out at St. Basil's during one of the film's most poignant moments.Picture credit: http://torontoist.com/2016/01/reel-toronto-spotlight/Over the years, UofT has played host to a ton of great films. David Fleischer wrote an article for UofT Magazine listing some of the most popular, including Mean Girls, Good Will Hunting, Cocktail, Pacific Rim, Resident Evil: Afterlife, andTotal Recall, among others. Do you recall a car getting flipped over during the filming of Total Recall? I decided, in honour of UofT being put in the spotlight by Spotlight, I would list some more of our lovely university's star turns.
I have always thought of myself as a bit of an explorer, a daring wanderer, a seeker of new adventures... ...When it comes to cafés. I LOVE cafés. I love the smell of coffee grounds, the smooth jazz, the barista's…
Oh, Reading Week, that glorious, majestic, magical gift. It started off with such promise; you had such high hopes. Tasks would be accomplished, fun would be had, naps would be napped. All of a sudden, it’s Thursday. If you’re anything…
My alarm goes off. I sit up and my head is spinning. I reach for my alarm and miss it the first two times. I finally get it to switch off, lie back down, and assess the situation. I’m drenched in sweat. My head is pounding. My throat is really sore; it hurts to swallow. I feel too cold and too hot at the same time. Memories of my dreams start to trickle back: flying donuts, green skies, canoeing on a chocolate river. I start to put the pieces together.This fever dream is brought to you by Wonka’s Chocolate Factory™ and Pure Imagination™ Picture courtesy of http://www.frenchtoastsunday.comYep. I’m sick. Now what?
I recently finished my very last stage production at UofT. It was a play called “Rope,” which is about two university students who kill one of their friends for “philosophical reasons” and put his body in a chest. They host…
Last time I went, I had a small curry bowl combo, which costs $10.25. I got to choose two curries and one type of rice, I got three pakoras on the side, and I got an apple juice. The portions are huge—definitely enough to take some home and eat later—and I really love the taste. They’re one of the only places in the city that I know of that serves butter tofu, which is SO DELICIOUS!
Last time I went, I had a small curry bowl combo, which costs $10.25. I got to choose two curries and one type of rice, I got three pakoras on the side, and I got an apple juice. The portions are huge—definitely enough to take some home and eat later—and I really love the taste. They’re one of the only places in the city that I know of that serves butter tofu, which is SO DELICIOUS!
