To begin with, I completely missed Halloween. My hemorrhagic fever (I cut myself shaving) not only cost me my opportunity for cheap chocolate, but I didn’t even get to see my brobro’s costume. I asked my younger sis to send me a pic but that may or may not come to pass. May lady Fate smile on us.

Next came that Daylight Saving Time fiasco.

Today when I stepped out for a much-needed haircut, I was met with stark darkness:

I thought the entire point of D.S.T. was to save our daylight hours, not destroy them completely! Thanks a lot, Mr. Hudson. (shifty Kiwi, of course!)

And now, with the half-price Halloween candies still hanging around on shelves, all manner of Christmas gaudiness is blasting everyone in the face. Don’t we still have Rememberance Day? And what about U.S. Thanksgiving? I mean, it’s in the wrong month, but I say live and let eat turkey. Where’s the harm? Why you gotta get people all worked up and credit cardy?

I know, I know; it’s nothing new, but it still manages to somehow surprise me every year. This year the shock was somewhat mitigated by the general classiness that some retailers chose to adopt. For example, the Hudson’s Bay Company (no relation), chose to forgo the neon, abstract, tree-like constructs they’ve been sporting since the eighties in favour of more classic window displays:

Isn’t that nice? I figure if it’s going to be cold outside and I’m being forced to spend my non-existent money on garbage (gifts) I wouldn’t buy at any other time of the year, I don’t need to stare at the Bay’s rendition of a profitable holiday season. I believe they’re on my wavelength because not a thing in these displays is for sale; just for gawkin’:

The couplets that accompany the windows talk mostly about some fat guy with a remote shop where he forces slave labourers to produce “gifts” for his own self-aggrandizement; not my idea of yuletide joy. Guess that’s a corporate Christmas for ya!

Despite the dictatorial overtones, however, I’m glad that the Bay is trying to take Christmas back to something a bit more soulful. Earlier this year they re-opened up The Room on the third floor of the store to sell couture women’s clothing, once again in a style that’s reminiscent of something a bit grander:

People questioned the logic behind this move in the middle of the current financial storm, but I think it has more to do with looking forward, giving hope, and at least getting people to stand in front of the windows. Hopefully, when they have some cash, they’ll come and spend it here. With my own current financial micro-climate, I’m glad that the penny-pinching miser appears to be gaining some traction with retailers. I’ll remember them when I make my millions.

Tomorrow I’m taking a trip to the east end to meet with my RRSP guy; I get to find out how much my only investment’s tanked. I probably won’t be doing any shopping at the Bay any time soon, but at least I get to stare at the windows. From the cold, dark street. *shiver*

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It’s also been an unusually traumatic week, what with Bill Carroll switching time slots and all. You can smell change in the air. And musty autumn leaves. And urine. Why’s it always urine?

But no matter. The proper urban rat knows all the warmest holes in the ground. In Toronto it happens to be a long-ish path known as, umm, PATH. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be an acronym or what; not that it would jazz it up any.

Today, instead of writing a long post describing what’s there and blah blah blah, I thought I’d just invite you along for the walk. I am so thoughtful!

Just a couple of things before we get going. First, you’ll need the latest version of Adobe Flash Player installed. If you don’t have it: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ (no cost, no sign-up/strings, 100% legit — I promise!) But you might not even need to. If look below and you see the photo of Metro Hall with the big play button on it, you’re golden. Otherwise install and reload. Shouldn’t take more than a few seconds.

Second, you’re along for the walk! I think it runs about five minutes (about a quarter of the actual walk), and it’s a sort of flip-book animation, so give the pages some time to load. Grab a coffee and put on some cool music. (Hey I slapped this together in an evening; whaddya want?!)

Finally, if you must stop, you can just click on the movie to pause / unpause it. And right-click for extra options and creative ways to screw up the interface. But try to keep up, okay? I gotta write that TCL post tonight!

Oh, I almost forgot! We’re starting off at Metro Hall (heading east), veering north by Roy Thomson Hall, through St. Andrew Subway Station, slightly south through Standard Life and Toronto-Dominion, then north through First Canadian Place, up to the Sheraton Centre Hotel, across to The Hudson’s Bay Company, over Queen Street to the Eaton Centre, and finally ducking under Dundas Subway Station to come up in Toronto Life Square on the north side of Yonge-Dundas Square. Here’s a map: http://www.toronto.ca/path/pdf/path_brochure.pdf

Haha! Screw you, cold!

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