You know when you get to the stage in your life when you no longer have friends because they’ve shacked up with some riff raff and can’t be bother to hang out with their single friends anymore? That stage where you’re stuck at home every Saturday night, and find yourself noticing that those eHarmony commercials are beginning to look more and more appealing with every passing low key weekend? Yeah, I’m in that stage. My friends have coupled off and left me behind in the dust – F-them! The only time I’m having fun these days is when I’m on the road for the latest hockey misadventure –alone. At times, I look forward to what’s on the agenda the night before the game, than I do the actual hockey! I’m a big “foodie.” So, I’m always excited about trying a new restaurant the night before my games.
Sometimes I feel like the hockey chick version of Anthony Bourdain. I’ve had some amazing meals at various restaurants in ports around the league. But then I come home to Toronto, a city of endless dining experiences, and don’t get to gobble them up because everyone I know has become entangled with some guy or gal. I started to wonder why I was happy to be independent on the road, but not when I’m at home. Why couldn’t I treat a Leafs game as a road game experience? I decided I would change things when the Coyotes were in town, and set myself up for some standard road trip activities.
I gave a lot of thought to where I wanted to go for dinner the night before the game. My only stipulation was that I couldn’t go somewhere I’ve already been. I’m usually the one in my circle of friends that introduces everyone to the gems around the city. My picks are always a big hit, so much so that my friends want to go back over, and over, and over again, which sucks because I rarely get to try new places. Anyway, I selected Bymark, a financial district hotspot with a reputation for being one of the best restaurants in the city. They are most famous for their Bymark burger. A $35 hamburger that practically taunts you into ordering it just to see if it’s really worth the price. My mission was clear.
As if I were on the road, I planned to make a day of it. I had some Christmas shopping to do, so I was hoping to make one last push and kill off the rest of my shopping list and coast into the holidays. I HATE shopping! Naturally, I couldn’t have a hockey free day. I ran into several Coyotes during my gift purchasing frenzy. They seemed bored and cold even though it wasn’t THAT chilly out. It’s funny how quickly a hot desert climate can make these guys forget the cold winters of their youth which were ultimately responsible for fine tuning their craft.
Bymark was disappointing. I was already feeling a bit ill when I got there so I can’t be sure if it was that, the champagne cocktail, or the fact that my burger was drenched in blood, but I was not feeling well when I left that place at all. I remember the burger tasting pretty good before I got sick, and the fries were amazing. They were served in a paper printout of the TSE stock list – cute. Actually, maybe I shouldn’t have tried to squeeze in that dessert (passion fruit crème brule) at the last minute. So, was the burger worth it? Considering that it probably poisoned me, I would say not. Even though it did taste pretty good at first, I’d still say it wasn’t $35 good.
Luckily, on game day, I didn’t feel quite so shitty. My aunt came to the game with me. It was her first Platinum Club experience at the ACC, and I think her second game EVER! Not many people in my family actually like sports, but she thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance in the Platinum Club and found that it made the game day experience for her and similar lot more bearable. There are not many arenas in the league that give you the option of enjoying fine wine and champagne with a steak dinner before or during the game. Whether you’re of the attitude that this is a nice feature or completely ridiculous is up to you. I personally love these Air Canada Centre “special features,” and it’s definitely the reason why I rank it the #1 arena I’ve yet visited in the National Hockey League.
As usual, the Coyotes gave me an “interesting” performance, but I was nevertheless disappointed that the Leafs didn’t bother to show up and defend my honour as It were. Unfortunately, it will likely be the last show I will ever see the Coyotes put on. I already changed what was to be my next Phoenix game to a Ducks game in Chicago instead. So, boys, thanks for the adventures, and thanks for the memories, even though they were more painful than fun.
I had a couple friends in attendance that night for the spectacle as well, not to mention all the people from around the league watching via Center Ice and texting me their commentary. My buddy, Jeff, was sitting a couple rows behind me and RIGHT next to the visiting team’s tunnel. I’m sure he’s kicking himself for not bringing his jersey to the game to FINALLY get signed! Apart from my friends, I saw Nick Kypreos and son running around – off duty, of course.
Nick Kypreos wasn’t the only P-I-M-P in attendance. The Ice Edge Group was said to be at the game to see their potential new foster children, the Coyotes. If you don’t know who the Ice Edge Group is, they are the group of Toronto-based moneybags interested in purchasing the Coyotes and keeping the team in Glendale. Rumour has it the league promised that if they purchased the team and kept it in Arizona, they will be rewarded with an expansion team in North Toronto. For the first time in my Coyotes adventures, I actually saw the Yotes draw a full house on the road that night. You see, no one seems to be bothered to want to support their team on nights the Coyotes come to town. It was almost as though the citizens of the GTA were showing up to the ACC is mass to make one finally appeal for relocation. So, on their behalf, I dedicate the credits to both the league and the Phoenix Coyotes hockey club.
Roll the credits…
(Hahaha! I love these ladies! P.S. Bet you thought it was going to be Fall Out Boy!)
Awesome and very well written post. Being a San Jose native, I obviously a Sharks fan. But I have a special place in my heart for the Leafs. A few seasons ago I even took a trip to the Great White North to watch San Jose take on Toronto at the ACC -Beautiful arena by the way. Fittingly, the game ended in a tie.
Anyways, keep it up. I’m a newcomer to your blog.
Nicely put. An odd stage of life to say the least. Wait until they all start having children!
Unfortunately it was a stinker of a performance, but hey, it was a hockey game and that’s never all bad.
A few Toronto dinner spots high on my recommends list:
Red Violin, 95 Danforth Ave
- Brazilian, live entertainment Thurs-Sat
Sultan’s Tent/Berber Lounge, 49 Front St E
- Morrocan, great atmosphere, esp in lounge
Sotto Sotto, 116A Avenue Rd or
Sotto In The Village, 425 Spadina Rd
- Italian, cozy & romantic
El Fogon, 543 St Clair W
- Peruvian, worth the visit for the Inca Kola alone!
great post and the Leafs performance vs the Coyotes was not at all shocking to me as I anticipated they would throw up a stinker and let the Yotes look good in front of their ne Foster parents. I’m not to fond of the ACC Platinum Club, too many snobs for my liking
Entertaining per usual. I’ve never been to Toronto and your description of the ACC makes me want to go. But even more, I felt like I was there with you. That’s how detail oriented this was. I absolutely love the song choice. Heart rocks and so do you!