How Blue Rodeo veteran Jim Cuddy would spend a perfect Saturday in Riverdale

How Blue Rodeo veteran Jim Cuddy would spend a perfect Saturday in Riverdale

The day would start with coffee at the Rooster (479 Broadview Ave.). I get a quad decaf macchiato and my wife, Rena, gets a latte. We’d take our coffees outside and sit and chat with friends from the neighbourhood. Then we’d get on our bikes, head for the trail near Victor Avenue and ride up to Sunnybrook Park and back again. After that, we’d go for breakfast at the Detroit Eatery (389 Danforth Ave.)—a family-owned diner with great home-cooked food. The vegetable soup is my favourite. We’d visit Book City (348 Danforth Ave.) to buy a novel and the National Post and Star for the crosswords. If I’m feeling ambitious, maybe the New York Times, too. Our next stop would be the Big Carrot (348 Danforth Ave.) for organic fruit and vegetables, then back home to sit on the porch and do one of the crosswords. Later on I’d go to Queen and Logan to get some ribeyes from Rowe Farms (912 Queen St. E.) and visit the Leslieville Cheese Market (891 Queen St. E.), where I always get the five-year aged cheddar. On a perfect day I’d also stop in to Nasser Vies Shoes (93 Lewis St.) to check on the new custom boots he’s making for me. Next, Rena and I would walk through Riverdale Park to Cabbagetown and go for a sushi lunch at Omi (243 Carlton St.). We love the sashimi and the crispy salmon rolls. Later, we’d hang out at home and I’d do my second crossword, then cook the steaks on the barbecue for whatever family is around. After dinner, I’d play ball hockey with the local league at Withrow Park. That would be a pretty good day.

“I pick up the latest crosswords. If I’m ambitious, that includes the New York Times

Cuddy at Nasser Vies Shoes.
Reading material at Book City.
Fresh produce at the Big Carrot.

(Images: Book City and the Big Carrot by Anna Lisa Sang)