C.N.E.

Yesterday, I headed downtown to the C.N.E., an annual summer tradition for Toronto and my family. My sister and I had some fun enjoying Korean tacos, shopping the booths at the crafts building and running around the famous midway.

I wore a colourful cotton dress by Necessary Objects to suit the midway’s pastel cotton candy, bright lights and neon stuffed animals.

I love the ring I bought at the Arts, Crafts & Hobbies building at the EX. It matches my Forever XXI bangle perfectly! The ring is made from semi-precious stone and copper wire, for a totally unique accessory.

The midway featured a striking view of Toronto’s skyline as the sun set. It was a beautiful evening, and I was happy to take advantage of the EX’s $5 after 5 p.m. deal.

Of course, what would the CNE be without food? This booth featured a Krispy Kreme donut burger (yes, it exists), chicken waffles and grilled cheese steak sandwhiches. You can achieve cardiac arrest ina one-stop booth! I went for the Korean taco stall, Far East Tacos, which featured a savoury gluten-free taco, but measly portion sizes for over $8. Vie was a raw, vegan and gluten-free stall that I wish I ate at last night! Their kale chips and chickpea salads looked wholesome amongst a sea of shawarmas!

I couldn’t help but laugh at this Dutch food stall…featuring some Dutch pub food favourites – even the dubious FEBO fried things. Nothing could compare to my beloved Mannekinpis fries, so I passed.

Some new attractions at the CNE included a chairlift ride (see photos above and below), and wine/beer gardens sprinkled throughout the grounds. I like the idea of giving the adults space to sit down, enjoy a brew and take in the energy of summer at the Exhibition.

At the Queen Elizabeth Exhibition Hall, or the Arts & Crafts & Hobbies building, my sister got her name printed on a grain of rice! Such tedious work, but it’s such a cool personalized accesssory.

The CNE runs from now until September 3, so make sure to check out the halls, the skating and aerial show (featuring my dream-team Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir and later, Elvis Stojko) and the adorable Superdogs! You can enjoy the latter even if you’re a cat lover. Until next year, I’ll be dreaming of candy apples on clouds of cotton candy. Mmm.