Things You Cannot Say Out Loud

Israel’s opinion of Iran was clear Dec. 4, when Israeli officials disagreed with the U.S. and said that they believe Iran is still in the pursuit of nuclear weapons.

In an article by the New York Times, Ehud Barak, the Israeli Defense Minister, said that although he believes that Iran may have briefly halted its production of weaponry, it resumed the pursuit shortly after. As a result, Barak made it clear that Israel will not rest its observation of Iran simply because of one report.

As a follow up to Israel’s rejection of the American assessment of Iran, The New York Times reporter that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Mullen, traveled to Israel to hear its less optimistic take on the Iranian nuclear weaponry issue.

According to the New York Times, in contrast with the U.S. opinion that Iran stopped pursuing nuclear weapons as a result of international pressure, Israel believes that still under this pressure, Iran continued to pursue nuclear weapons, despite a 2 year pause in that pursuit from 2003 to 2005.

Israel’s position on the issue is clear and is no-doubt influenced by the rocky relationship that has existed between the 2 countries for years. It is unlikely that Israel will ever rest its investigation of Iran’s nuclear weapon pursuit as Iranian government officials have made their views on Israel’s existence quite clear.

Although the adult entertainment industry continues to garner success, difficulties have been posed by the availability of free and inexpensive pornography causing major companies to expand themselves further in media.

Well known adult entertainment company, Penthouse, recently told the New York Times that they purchased a collection of social networking sites operated by an umbrella company called Various Inc.

Marc H. Bell, chief executive of Penthouse media, told the New York Times that $500 million was invested for this project as Various Inc. is a promising venture with a paying consumer base of 1.2 million people. The combined revenue of this sale is estimated, according to Bell, at $340 million as of 2007.

In addition to the expansion of their online market with Various Inc., whose most popular Web site is www.adultfriendfinder.com, Penthouse also struck a deal with New Frontier Media Dec. 11 in order to launch PenthouseTV Video-On-Demand.

According to an article from CNN, the launch of PenthouseTV’s VOD program is expected in February 2008, and will be available in nearly 9 million homes, whereas PenthouseHD VOD service is expected to serve over 2 million U.S. homes.

Penthouse’s expansion proves that adult entertainment is still in-demand and that instead of being washed out of public eye, its availability is growing as are the options of platforms to view the material in.

‘Tis the season of giving and receiving and in such spirit I’ve compiled a top 10 list of 10 gifts under $30 perfect for any recipient!

1. Stores like Urban Outfitters sell tiny little novelty gifts that are great as stocking stuffers or just as tiny trinkets to show you care. My favorite are the little USB gadgets or novelty ornaments. They also many cute little key fobs that are cute and work for both women and men.

2. A picture says 1,000 words, right? Well, if you’re like most college students with plenty of facebook albums full of pictures, you probably know that facebook is linked with a Web site that can take those prints directly from your albums and publish them into prints or other cool gifts like mugs or photobooks! Most items are less than $20 (not including shipping). What says happy holidays better than a personalized mug with a picture of you and your best friend or boyfriend? Not a member of facebook? No worries, other popular stores like Target, CostCo and CVS sport similar features on their web pages.

3. Shopping for a boyfriend? Although I will never promote sex, why not be cute and get him something special that’s really for you at the same time. A picture may speak 1,000 words but a nice camisole set or slip speaks about 1 million. If lingerie is not your scene, perhaps buy a cute picture frame with a picture of the both of you (or even just you) in the frame? Stores like Bed Bath and Beyond and Anthropologie have lots of nice options for displaying photos.

4. Having lots of close friends may be a problem when it comes to gift shopping. Try buying something that already comes in bulk. For example, if you have friends who are caffeine enthusiasts, buy a set of espresso cups (available at house supplies stores like Bed Bath and Beyond) and then buy each friend a gift card to a coffee shop that has enough money on it for one specialty coffee drink. This way, you spend no more than $7-10 per friend while still giving a cute and personalized gift.

5. Unsure of what to get your parents? If you have parents like mine, they will complain that you’re spending your money (which in turn may really be theirs) on them. Instead of spending money, maybe just write them a thank-you note for all they’ve done for you this year. If you want to get them a gift, opt for one of those corny, “MSU Mom” or “MSU Dad” shirts. They’re always a hit.

6. Bed Bath and Beyond truly is a great outlet for buying gifts. If you have friends who are gourmet enthusiasts or simply enjoy a good meal, Bed Bath and Beyond has a great deal of gift sets and other really interesting gadgets that have gift potential for anyone who is comfortable in the kitchen.

7. Any movie buff friends? Purchase a gift certificate to a movie theater and a movie from Barnes and Noble’s DVD section. Most of their movies (perhaps opt for a holiday movie or this friend’s favorite) are reasonably priced and if you’re a member you automatically save 10 percent! Pair the G.C. with the movie and perhaps a package of microwavable popcorn (100 cal. pack mini bags) for a cute gift set.

8. If you have friends who are enjoy bath and body products, venture to Bath and Body Works for one of their popular gift baskets or make one of your own! These stores generally have great deals on individual store-brand products, try combining the same scent of soap, moisturizer, and room spray. Or mix and match based on your friend’s personality. Feeling seasonal? Opt for something with cinnamon or peppermint!

9. Holiday season means final exam season for college students. Comfort food is most comforting at this time of year but no student wants to pack on the extra pounds this close to the end of the semester. Create a care package full of healthful comfort foods for a good friend to help them cope with that last-minute cram session. Try pairing Lean Cuisine Macaroni and Cheese, sherbert or frozen yogurt, or perhaps Snackwell cookies. Remember though, just because it’s not awful for you doesn’t mean you should consume it in excess. You could even take a re-sealable jar and fill it with layers of ingredients for a healthy cookie recipe and close it with a piece of colorful ribbon and attach the recipe and a cookie cutter (an idea like this was featured in the January issue of Cosmo).

10. The most cost effective gift known to a college student is the mix CD. Chances are you already have a fairly extensive library on iTunes, so take this music and make personalized mix CDs for each of your friends. Some bands/people to consider are A Fine Frenzy, Sara Bareilles, Lisa Loeb, Wilco, Beula, Colbie Caillat, and Ingrid Michaelson.

Remember, a good gift shouldn’t cost a fortune. Make sure to add as many personal touches to store-bought gifts as possible so people know the thought that went into it. When all else fails, a nice greeting card can take the place of a big gift any day!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

It has taken 19 years of being a practicing Jew for me to feel like a minority. Before this year, I knew I was different from my peers, but it never really hurt me. Beyond which, I grew up in Oakland County, Michigan, an area that has a fairly high concentration of Jewish people and where Jewish holidays were not only acknowledged, but were given as much public spotlight as Christian holidays. As I would hope most of my readers are aware, two nights ago marked the first night of Hanukkah. Hanukkah is definitely not the holiest holiday on the Jewish calendar, however, it still merits celebration. As a citizen of the residence halls, I assumed some sort of recognition for my holiday would be available. Not so. On the first night of Hanukkah, I entered the cafeteria to see a large, forest green, Christmas tree. Those who work in the cafeteria were audacious enough to call it a “holiday” tree. Correct me if I’m wrong, but does Kwanzaa have a tree? Hanukkah certainly does not. So then if no other holiday during this season has a tree, how can it possibly be covering all three holidays? Plain and simple, it’s a Christmas tree. More offensively, on the second night of Hanukkah (Wednesday), a holiday feast was served for dinner. Again, they are bold enough to call it a holiday feast…since when did the colors green and red symbolize the holiday season? My colors are blue and white. The food they served, the decorations they displayed–each and every effort to disassociate their celebration from being unique to Christmas only further cemented the fact that that was exactly what was happening. Outside of my respective dorm, I cannot escape the fact that I am not the majority–everywhere I look there are Christmas decorations and on most radio stations Christmas songs are being favored. Even at Meijer, an employee had the balls to tell me, “Well, we have a box in front of the Christmas cards for the Jews.” In this “box for the Jews”, which was placed in front of four or five isles of Christmas decorations, were a few (mostly broken) light-up dreidels and two stuffed animals. How cute. Because Hanukkah is simply a holiday where a bunch of Jews gather and play with spinning tops while cuddling with a stuffed animal? Not bloody likely.

Given that only one person in the cafeteria understood me, I thought at least my friends would. Instead, however, they accused me of being overly sensitive. I found this more offensive than the university’s openly Christian stance. A good friend of mine essentially told me I had to get used to living in a Christian world. Another friend told me that if I was uncomfortable, I should have eaten dinner in the complex’s other dining hall that was left undecorated. Does this mean, that A) as a Jew I’m not entitled to a nicely decorating cafeteria during MY holiday, and that Hanukkah is plain-Jane? and that B) I have to leave my own respective comfort zone to be accepted/truly comfortable as a Jew? Both things are, pardon my English, bullshit.

I of all people understand that winter is a gloomy season and that the goal is to make it as happy as possible. I would never want to take the joy away from people, but it saddens me greatly that so many people on this campus are religiously ignorant. My Christian friends have never had the opportunity (for lack of a better word) to feel like a minority so how dare they tell me I have to leave my own dorm… Beyond which, while accusing me of trying to take away their joy, they haven’t even afforded me the opportunity to have my own joy.

I am committed to ensuring that the residence halls and the university as a whole learns its lesson. I propose that they practice an “all or nothing” philosophy so as not to further encounter these types of offenses with other religions or holidays. I am proud to be a Jew and enjoy the Hanukkah festivities, but my celebration shouldn’t be exiled to my dorm room while the majority has the campus.

Lately, it seems as though I’ve been an emotional wreck. Some would attribute these uncontrollable emotions to recent unmanageable stress; however, I would claim otherwise. I feel as though I need a mantra. On Seinfeld, George’s father chanted many a mantra to get him through otherwise awful moments and I feel as though one’s own “serenity now!” or “hoochie mama” mantra may really help me. When I’m as upset as I am now, I find myself sitting in bed and listening to Lisa Loeb songs (on repeat) on iTunes and hoping for an answer in her man-eating lyrics. I found the answer…”I’m only human, living, dying. Just like any fool who has ever lived…;” I think mantras are the answer to anyone’s problems. If you make yourself believe something than maybe you can make everything be okay through that belief…maybe.

Contrary to the beautiful weather that has been gracing East Lansing as of late, summer is o-v-e-r. My summer was filled with many great experiences but there were certain things that really solidified my awesome summer:

1. New York City: I spent a month of my summer working as an intern for Newmarket Press in the heart of Manhattan (Newmarket Press is a small independent trade publishing firm). Being away from Michigan for a month was exactly what I needed (at the time I just finished a summer course at OCC and was on the verge of breaking up with my then boyfriend). My apartment was in the highly desired Beekman area of Manhattan and was only a 10 minute walk to work (my job was in the Diamond District). There was nothing I loved more than starting off my mornings with a run to Mangia (which has been referenced on Sex and the City) to pick up an iced coffee, conversing with my dry-cleaner (I mastered the stop-and-chat), and doing my stop-and-gaze before entering the building on 48th between Madison and 5th that was home to Newmarket Press. On the way to work I often encountered United Nations consulates, the Orthodox Jewish men who essentially rule the diamond district, and a variety of busy-body Manhattanites dressed in high-fashion business attire. Even though my internship consisted of lots of leg work, it was an incredible experience that made my pursuit of a career in publishing feel a little more legit. I’d say overall there were three parts of my month in the city that I’ll never forget. Firstly, I was able to attend the NYC premiere of The Simpson’s Movie. The movie was hilarious (and coming from someone who didn’t follow the show religiously by any means, that’s a pretty great review) and the premiere was intimate. I’d estimate that only about 70 people attended. After the screening at the DGA (Director’s Guild of America) Theater, I was able to go to the party hosted by the creators at Remi (145 West 53rd Street). Again, although I was never a real follower of the show, it was neat to meet the voices behind the cartoons. One of the best parts of that night was meeting James Lipton from Inside the Actor’s Studio. A similar but arguably superior experience was being able to see a screening for the movie Superbad and then being told that our company may make the movie book. My cousin and two other co-workers and I put together a proposal that may be used for the book! Lastly, on my last day in the city, I went to lunch with a friend of mine who lives in Greenwich Village and when we were walking back from lunch (at Bread and Olive, an incredible take-out style Middle Eastern/Mediterranean restaurant off of 47th and 5th) we ran into the actress Blake Lively from the upcoming show on the CW called Gossip Girl. The show was filming outside my office and Lively was on her lunch break. It’s exciting to think that I’ll recognize the buildings when the show finally airs. The office was really special in that Newmarket is only made up of like 12 employees, all of whom are extremely unique. My boss, head of publicity, Harry Burton, was a true gem. I like to complain but he’d turn ever complaint into something positive and for that, I was truly grateful.

2. Israel: Although I originally would have disagreed, I now stand firmly by the statement that every Jewish person should go to Israel at least once. Hell, even if you’re not Jewish, Israel is an incredible country and a holy land for many religions. I began the excursion as part of a trip called Birthright. Every Jewish person between 18 and 26 years of age is gifted a free* trip to Israel as part of the Taglit Birthright program. The small part not covered by the gift is the individual’s airfare from their state to which ever major airport the trip leaves from. For me, for example, I was responsible for the plane ticket to Newark from Detroit (~$150). Beyond the plane ticket, each Birthright participant is responsible for their spending money for gifts, one meal per day, and tips for the tour guide and bus driver. The trip lasted for 10 days and guided participants all over the country from Tel Aviv to Haifa. I could go on for hours discussing the mouth-watering Middle Eastern food, the gorgeous beaches, the historical/religious sights, and random Israeli celebrity encounters. In Tel Aviv I was able to meet up with my Israeli friends Tali and Liraz, who reside in the suburbs of the bustling city. Tel Aviv is much like New York in that it really never sleeps. Full of shops and clubs, it’s quite a hip-hop-happening place. Jerusalem was another great place to see because it holds so much more than religious history. The Kotel, or rather, the Western Wall provoked a great wealth of emotion. When visiting the wall, it’s a custom to write a prayer on a piece of paper and stuff it in the open space between the stones. I was so afraid that I wouldn’t know what to write because I don’t consider myself religious, however, the second my pen hit the paper, my paper was filled. Beyond the Kotel, Jerusalem also hosts a hip area called Ben Yehuda Street. Ben Yehuda is filled with clubs, cafes, and shops and becomes especially full at night. During the day, down the street from the cafes, is an outdoor market (referred to as the shuk (Hebrew for market)) filled with a wide array of spices, breads, liquors, and fabrics for sale at really reasonable prices. Despite my love for hip cities, I fell deeply in love with Northern Israel, most specifically Haifa. Haifa is home to the Bahai Gardens, an amazingly well maintain Botanical Garden. After the 10-day trip, my brother and I took the train from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv and stayed there for two days with our cousin Meni. Meni was a dedicated host and made it his mission to educate us in all things Israeli. We walked with him up and down the streets of Tel Aviv, even at one point taking a four-mile walk to the pier, where we lounged around at the beach cafes. On the way back from our trek, we saw a famous Israeli comic named Adi Ashkenazi. A few weeks later my brother saw the Israeli singer Shlomo Artzi at the same spot. While in Tel Aviv we dined at many European-style cafes for lunch while eating really heavy Israeli breakfasts. An Israeli breakfast differs greatly from an American one. Most Middle Eastern meals contain lots of fresh produce and breads with hummus and za’atar (an incredibly delicious/healthy spice) as well as lots of fresh yogurts and cheeses (after all, Israel is the land of milk and honey). When not at work, Meni drove us all around Israel to see the beaches of Hertzeliya, Natanya, Haifa, Akko, and Naharia. We ended our journey of Israel in Haifa, where we visited for two days with Meni’s parents and older brother. Meni’s older brother Moshe was a true treat to hang around because even at 35, he still knows how to have a good time. The cherry on the sundae was Moshe and Meni’s mother, Ettie. She was such a sweet lady but simply would not accept the fact that my brother Aaron and I do not eat meat. After the long car trip from Tel Aviv, we stopped on the way for dinner in Haifa. When we arrived at Ettie’s condo, she had this huge array of vegetables, yogurts, and hummus waiting for us. Having just had a huge snack, we weren’t hungry but she wouldn’t take no for an answer. One of the dishes she forced upon us was Okra but there were chunks of meat swimming along side the veggie. As my brother and I forked around the meat, avoiding ingestion, Ettie simply flashed us a few sheepish smirks. Rich in both flavor and culture, traveling to Israel was the best trip I’ve ever taken.

Now that my well-traveled summer is over, it’s time to crack the books and become more involved in all things MSU so that I can disperse some of the knowledge and culture I gained..

For your enjoyment, here are some pictures of both my experiences in NYC and Israel…

Midtown Manhattan

My brother and me on top of Mount Masada

The Western Wall

My personal favorite, the Baha’i Gardens in Haifa.

A lot of random and, well, unfair things have been happening to me lately (whether or not they have been provoked); this past week has arguably been the most inconvenient week of my college career thus far and I have endured what I consider to be a series of unfortunately humorous yet still quite unfortunate events.

Event One: Bad Apple

Now, do not misunderstand me, I love Apple computers, I love the corporation as a whole, and I fully endorse (well, sadly, I’m not being paid) buying an Apple, however, mine has some “I hate Alex Kirsch” defect and continues to break on me. It’s not that I’m not technologically savvy, I am, and I hardly ever download things, I am just having an awful bout of bad luck. My history with Apple began when I owned a Sony computer that was on a death-trip and needed to be replaced. I had experienced too much awfulness with Microsoft products so I decided to buy an iBook, even though my parents made me vow to keep it for college. Then, during finals of this past semester, BAM, my screen turned black. It was the first problem I had ever encountered with my iBook. From there though, it was a downward spiral, a cyclone if you will. They had to replace my motherboard (essentially, the brains of the computer), which would have cost my parents $800, but thankfully, we purchased the warranty when I bought the computer. Anyways, I was completely screwed for finals week, but pulled through with an overall GPA of 3.8675. I was certain my computer would be sturdy, and resist breaking again. Well, my certainty was clearly disposable as just two days ago, my computer broke. Although it is fixed, and in good working condition (only after driving out of my way to 12 Oaks because I don’t trust college computer store employees), it ignited what was to be an awful week.

Event Two: Chip off the old block

After returning from the gym, I decided to grab dinner with my friend in my dorm’s cafeteria. Dinner was rocky because we were forced to sit with someone who, although he is our friend, is quite hard to handle, especially when the day/week has already been bad. After an uncomfortable dinner, I retreated to my room to partake in a piece of gum and to watch some quality television. Instead, when I popped the piece of gum into my mouth, I found that it was tougher than normal to break into a gum-like consistency. I disposed of the gum, only to discover that the toughness was not the gum’s shell-coating, but a piece of my tooth. It is important to understand that I live at the dentist and I worked for him, so it’s not like my teeth are in bad condition. The only bad thing is that I habitually clench my jaw/teeth and so apparently that makes the susceptible to damage. Anyways, now, due to a bad habit and some Dentyne Ice, I have a square centimeter chunk missing from my last molar. I crown myself Alexandra, queen of the chipped-tooth wonders.

Okay, so two events doesn’t quite constitute a series, however, they were enough to drive me significantly bonkers. The only things/people that kept me from going truly, commit-to-an-asylum insane were:

-Coffee, lots and lots of coffee (grande latte with a shot of sugar-free vanilla syrup)

-My neighbors (they were all nice enough to let me use their computers to send e-mails to professors…and check facebook)

-My Hebrew professor (who didn’t mind that I was 40 minutes late to a 50 minute class so that I could deal with my computer issues)

-Woody Allen (for making amazing films (I recommend Manhattan) that always cheer me up)

-A kind parent (my mom drove me to the Apple store at 12 Oaks and then back to MSU; she didn’t even get to go home after work, she came right to pick me up)

If you’re experiencing an unnatural amount of stress that you can’t control, find some way of balancing it out. Personally, my anxiety is what drives me, without it, I have no equilibrium and with it, I don’t either, so I figure, why get rid of it? If you do need help though, I’m told that they have great counseling centers here on campus, or, just talk to a neighbor. My neighbors know enough about me and my problems to right an unauthorized biography on my life. If possible, try to avoid stressing out as finals are soon approaching and studying and stress generally don’t equate to something productive.

When flipping through the channels, I almost never stop to watch the news. I read
The New York Times every weekday and get my fix from the Arts, Business, and Thursday Styles sections. This week, as all are aware, was a crazy week in respect to headlines. By now, almost everyone is talking about the Virginia Tech massacre, and I would like to express my condolences to everyone who was involved in one way or another. It was not until last night, however, when I was browsing a friend’s blog, did I find that one of the heroes, who lost his life in the situation, was a Holocaust survivor. With the massacre being awful enough, finding this out caused me to get quite emotional.

Professor Liviu Librescu, originally from Romania, was an Israeli citizen (he and his wife made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) in 1978) and Holocaust survivor. Monday, April 16th, was Holocaust Remembrance Day, and with sad irony, the day Librescu, and 31 others, were brutally killed. Librescu is survived by his two sons (currently in Israel) and his wife of 42 years. Librescu will go down in history as a hero, and I wish his family, and the family of the other victims, a great deal of strength in their futures, for no one should ever have to face this kind of pain. According to several TV broadcasts, Librescu’s family plans to bury him Israel.

After watching several reports, and finding out what I did, I sit here, wondering what I can do to help. And really, it appears that in times like these, support is the greatest form of assistance that anyone can offer. In addition to lending a hand, it helps to talk about the issue so that what happened at Virginia Tech is history that does not get repeated. My theater and Hebrew classes both discussed the tragedy and I suggest that you do the same in your classes to raise awareness, because in this case, ignorance is not bliss.

Mother Nature and I have a highly dysfunctional relationship; basically, I hate her. At the same time, however, I’m always grateful when the seasons change and the snow melts. The fact that spring has finally, well, sprung, makes me quite happy and slightly less pessimistic.

I’m not one for gardening, nor do I really enjoy the sun; for me, spring represents a small grouping of important things in my life: Oscar-award winning movie releases, sun dresses, sunglasses, cold drinks, fresh fruit, and positive attitudes.

Although movies are released all year long, the best time of year to buy/rent movies is in spring. Award season has passed and the public has been informed on which films are noteworthy enough to see. These films generally are released following award season, making this the best time to get a hold of the winning picks. I personally recommend The Departed. Casino Royale, was not up for any nominations, however, it was still an amazing film and I recommend it, too.

As for fashion, spring is a fun season because there’s a slight breeze but it’s warm enough to go without sleeves. Beyond which, with the sun out, it’s acceptable to splurge on sunglasses. If you don’t feel like splurging, you can make a little amount go a long way by buying sunglasses at your favorite store. Urban Outfitters has a great selection of aviators and bug-eyed frames that suit many different face shapes. If you want more expensive frames, Nordstrom has a really great selection of Chanel frames (I love mine!) and other brands like Lacoste, Fendi, Kate Spade, and Dior. Beyond sunglasses, sun dresses are also a fun trend to pick up. Stores like Anthropologie, Nordstrom, and Urban Outfitters have a wide variety of dresses to fit most budgets and styles.

Now that spring has sprung, so has the wide variety of fruit that’s available locally; spring is the season to consume fresh fruits and vegetables because they can finally be harvested locally! I personally could live off of berries and melon all year and so when restaurants start carrying local fruit and it happens to be my favorite, I always leave satisfied.

Lastly, when the weather is pleasant, so are the people. I would argue that there is nothing better than a campus full of happy students; no one is fighting and while walking to class most of the stressed out faces are sporting some sort of smile, however fake it may be.

Spring has sprung, so let joy commence!

Toronto is one of my favorite (favourite) cities to travel to because there is a variety of things to do on any budget. I’ve never traveled to Toronto alone before so I’ve compiled a list of suggestions that apply to travelers headed to any destination.

Hotel Tips

If you’re not a hotel snob like me (I won’t stay at any one of the following: a hotel with an “inn” in the title, any hotel less than 4-stars, any hotel with an “express” in the title, any hotel with an “airport” in the title), you’ll find that there’s really no point in paying a bank-breaking price when you’ll be out of your room for the majority of the day.

1. Do your research; go online a month or two before your trip and go on sites like travelocity and compare prices. I do not, however, recommend booking online. Although it may seem easier, you’d be surprised by the plethora of deals you can get directly over the phone while talking to the hotel representatives.

2. Utilize the concierge, they’re there to serve you. Even though there’s a slight convenience in eating at the hotel restaurant and hanging around the hotel bar, it is much more important to experience the city. The concierge will be able to assist you with reservations and recommendations with restaurants, plays, concerts, and more.

3. If you have the opportunity, join the hotels preferred membership programs. Even though it may not benefit your current visit, you’ll earn points toward a nice stay the next time you visit.

Restaurant Tips

1. Ask around. Even though a concierge can assist you with reservations, ask the locals about where to go; it’s their city!

2. Try ethnic places, don’t stick to American style food. Toronto has a variety of great restaurants that offer a wide selection of flavors!

3. Buying drinks gets expensive, go to the areas like Little Italy or College Street, they’re filled with cool bars that offer live music and great deals on cocktails.

Personal Recommendations

1. Almost directly outside the Eaton Center, there is a restaurant called Eggspectation. They have an amazing array of egg dishes and lunch options. For the portion sizes and fresh ingredients, it’s totally worth the price.

2. If you like vegetarian food, go to Fressen, it’s a vegan restaurant that serves amazing tapas. Everything is really fresh and really healthy and it’s set in a hip environment.

3. See a show! If you’re not into theater, check out Second City. I haven’t laughed so hard and so long in quite a while! It’s a really affordable show and they serve cocktails and dinner. I recommend getting their Sex on the Beach, it’s a great fruity cocktail and available in a pitcher so you can split it between friends!

4. Check your bank’s international fee. When you use your debit card or credit card, there’s generally a small fee on each purchase. National city charges 2% per transaction.

5. If you’re traveling with a large amount of luggage and have more than 2 people, take two separate taxis. If you opt to take a van, you’ll probably get charged upwards of 20 CAD (Canadian Dollars).

6. When exchanging money, go to the hotel or banks, stores won’t give you the proper exchange rate. Also, ask for small bills so that you have the right amount of change for taxis and tips.

7. Don’t go to a shopping mall; we have a majority of the stores in the states that they have in Canada except we don’t have the 15% tax.

8. Set aside around $20 for each dinner (if you don’t drink, if you do, $30) and between $10-$15 for each lunch. Toronto is not cheap.

9. Don’t travel with maps and notes, it makes you a target.

10. Be nice to waiters and cab drivers, they can help recommend things for you to do.

11. Check out the variety of museums Toronto has to offer. The ROM (The Royal Ontario Museum) is getting a radical makeover and is within moments from the Bata Shoe Museum.

12. Check out the flea markets and the districts. Little Italy is awesome but that’s not all there is to offer! The entertainment, garment, financial and other ethnic districts are worth the visit. China town has some great deals on souvenirs.

Toronto’s looking pretty sweet, eh?