24 Hours With
August 2006
Lisa Ray
How the star of Water and Quarter Life Crisis would spend a single perfect day. Toronto on an unlimited budget By Denise Balkissoon

I’m really fanatical about ashtanga, and would start the day
with a class at Breathe Yoga (2253 Bloor St. W., 416-
926-9642, $16). It’s one of the nicest studios around.
Afterward, I’d grab a breakfast of tapenade, Sante Fe
breads and organic kielbasa ($10) at Max’s Market
(2299 Bloor St. W., 416-766-6362), which has an incredible
variety of prepared food. I’d replace my old bike,
which has been sitting in my parents’ garage for eight
years, with a Rocky Mountain Trailhead bike ($1,049) from
Brown’s Sports and Cycle (2447 Bloor St. W., 416-763-4176), then take a nice ride
through High Park with my boyfriend, Paolo Zambaldi. He’s a fashion photographer
based in Paris—we normally meet in New York. We’d double back through
James Gardens and bike all the way to Royal York Road to Magoo’s (4242 Dundas
St. W., 416-234-1148) for one of their super Magoo burgers with the works,
plus onion rings and fries ($10.95). I could probably afford a little pampering,
so I’d head down to Body Blitz (471 Adelaide St. W., 416-364-0400) and partake
of the hot-cold water circuit ($45). I went there recently and it’s fabulous.
Then Paolo and I would go to Holt Renfrew (50 Bloor St. W., 416-922-2333) so
I could stock up on my Kiehl’s; I love the Cryste Marine face cream ($60) and
the anti-wrinkle serum ($75), which is vitamin C to the max. I’m researching
a role right now, and the character is a real trophy wife, so a stroll on Bloor
would help me get in the mood. My current obsession is dogs. I was in
Dharamsala recently, and there were a lot of Lhasa Apsos running around; I just
fell in love with them. I’d go to PJ’s Pet Centre (Yorkdale Mall, 3401 Dufferin St.,
416-785-9991) and get a Lhasa Apso ($1,500)
for Paolo and a pug ($2,300) for me. We’d head to The
Big Carrot (348 Danforth Ave., 416-466-2129) to get
my potions: flaxseed oil ($13), Greens Plus ($21.79)
and soy protein powder ($24.99). I travel with them
so I know I’m getting some essential nutrients. Then
I’d have a long, leisurely dinner with my parents and
Paolo at Christina’s (492 Danforth Ave., 416-463-4418),
which was my teenage haunt. We’d order a huge meal
of hummus, pita, spanakopita and all the hearty
main courses ($140), and everyone would just dig
in. Paolo and I would end the night at the bar at the
Windsor Arms Hotel (18 St. Thomas St., 416-
971-9666), where we’d have bellinis ($24).
It’s a great place for people-watching.








