Big Smoke Dreams

 

It’s the middle of the afternoon on the second Friday in May.

 I’ve just been wheeled through Union Station after a four-and-a-half hour train ride from Ottawa to Toronto. The attendant graciously hails me a cab and after some quick pleasantries with the driver, we’re off.

 A relatively short drive, and I’m at my hotel. It looks as bright and posh as usual, with the market next door. I approach the front desk, share the appropriate information, get my key, and go to my room.

 Inside, I’m alone. I’m facing another full weekend of the Toronto Comics Art Fest. I’m ecstatic beyond words!

 After unpacking and some lounging, I decide to go out, explore, and prepare for the coming festivities. Outside, it’s a warm, sunny, Spring day. The streets and sidewalks are bustling with activity. It’s a little bit noisy and the air smells faintly of food and smoke.

 I walk the short block from my hotel to the library where TCAF is being held. Inside, I get a program for the event and browse through Page and Panel, TCAF’s store, where I treat myself to a couple trades or graphic novels and some of the year’s official merchandise.  

 By this point, I’m kind of hungry, so next I look for something for dinner. Since this is a dream, and I can write whatever I want, the really good burger joint I stopped at several years ago has magically returned to that part of Toronto! I order a burger and rings, sit down, and enjoy.

 I stop in at the nearby Starbucks and buy a couple Frappuccinos, then go to the market for snacks and some random cold items (fruit, cheese, hard-boiled eggs), all of which will make up some decent meals throughout the weekend.

 Later, I chill and get some sleep.

 Saturday’s the big day! After a quick breakfast, I make my way to TCAF.

The library is packed as usual, but it doesn’t deter me. I take one final look at the event map and start winding my way through the crowd to the different vendors.  A free novel, some more trades, maybe even a hardcover collection. I attend a panel or two, then call it a day.

 I get some sushi and a carbonated beverage from the market, go back to my hotel room, read, indulge, and furiously write the point-form of a couple of blog posts, while a marathon of something good on the Sci-fi Channel plays in the background. Later, dinner and one last walk before the sun sets. That night, I read a little more, snack a little more, pack my bags, and just enjoy the time I have left.

 Sunday morning I finish my breakfast items, get to the station, and catch my train home to Ottawa.
 

This has been one of my big adventures off and on since 2013, and I’d like to think that somewhere out there, in some alternate, COVID-free reality, I took this trip again in 2020, and would be planning for another this Spring. Well, 2020 never happened and I have my doubts about 2022 as well, but I’m hoping, dreaming, praying even!, to attend TCAF again, some day in the near-ish future.

Cheers!