Feeling at home in the city

This week, I needed to take a little break from Regent Park. Sure, I'm still working on my Fashion in Regent Park feature, but I needed to do write about something else for a change. One of my favourite things to do in Toronto in November is attend the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. Last Friday marked the opening of the 85th annual fair, and I was there to experience it. While some people go to the fair specifically for the horse show or to see the Iams Superdogs, to go to the cooking demonstrations or see this year's spectacular butter sculptures, I go because it makes me feel closer to home. I grew up in the country, just outside Hamilton, Ontario, down the street from a horse farm and across the street from a field of hay. The sights, the sounds and even the smell of the Royal make me feel more at home.

This year, I went to the Superdogs show for the first time. From what I've heard, the stands are usually full with spectators, and often people are turned away. The 7PM show, however was not near from full. A couple of the highlights from the show I attended were when the host asked a young girl, who was celebrating her eleventh birthday at the fair, to lie beneath a jump, as the dogs were jumping over it, and when Canadian Idol judge, Jake Gold was asked to come out of the audience and throw Frisbees for the dogs to catch.

The shows aren't the only thing that attracts visitors to the Royal, the vendors, with their unique products like name plaques, western apparel and cappuccinos made with pure maple syrup draw crowds as well.

After enjoying my favourite Royal Winter Fair treats, Rosti potatoes and an apple dumpling, I stepped out of the country and onto the streetcar, heading back to my home in the city.