This is an ad-free premiere of a vlog that will be posted tomorrow on YouTube. If you prefer, you can watch it on my YouTube channel (with ad interruptions) here.
There’s something about the first street festival of the season that feels like a collective exhale. Toronto’s Due West Festival didn’t just open its streets—it opened the floodgates to summer energy, vibrant colors, and shared joy. And we were there for all of it.
It was hot. Loud. Beautifully chaotic. The kind of day that reminds you how good it feels to be among people again. Music in the background, laughter spilling out of packed patios, and the unmistakable scent of street food wafting through the air. That mix of overstimulation and giddy excitement? It’s summer’s opening act.
We kicked it off the best way we know how: food first. A familiar Mexican spot in Little Portugal welcomed us back with tacos, nachos, and the kind of salsa that makes your eyes water and your heart sing. There’s something magical about sitting in a bustling restaurant with your favorite person, clinking Sol beers and debating which pepper will hurt more. (Spoiler: I survived.)
The tacos were everything—barbacoa rich and comforting, chingada spicy and layered. And like any perfect meal, it wasn’t just about the food—it was about the moment. The laughter. The shared glances. The reminder that ordinary dates become extraordinary when you’re fully present.
Festival streets never disappoint. We wandered, sampled, discovered strange Neymar merch (still a mystery), and even scored a sad little hibiscus plant that I immediately decided to love back to life. Because sometimes, the plants that need you the most end up blooming the brightest.
The day ended the way summer days should: picking up steaks and limes for weekend caipirinhas, gently arguing over the last drops of water in the car, and finally sitting down to dinner on the balcony. The city lights our backdrop, the warm breeze our soundtrack.
It’s these little rituals—food, conversation, shared spaces—that build the season, one memory at a time.
This wasn’t just the first festival of the season. It was a reminder that joy lives in the moments we choose to savor.
What was your first "summer moment" this year?
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