Surprise! Didn’t expect to see me today? I thought I would throw in a fun what i spent in a week. Like the ones you see on Refinery29 but it’s giving more Grub Street.
I surpassed Canada’s recommended weekly alcohol intake of two drinks per week, that week. At 7 drinks or more, I am at risk of cancer, heart disease and a stroke. It’s pride, so LGBTQ+ people get a pass. I am not a doctor.
Follow along what I spent during Pride as someone who doesn’t celebrate, celebrates. A lot of food and enough alcohol to kill a baby elephant. And yes, I apologized to my liver every single day.
Tuesday June 20
Went to the dollar store to pick up some cleaning supplies. I also just needed to go for a walk. I pick up some paper towels, wipes and garbage bags. $10.
After work, Daniel and I decide to go for an after work walk. It was very hot and when you’re going for a walk, you always have to ask the question: should we get a drink on a patio? It’s a Tuesday. First we say no. Then we say yes. Then no again. Then we’re like, whatever, it’s summer! We stop by Sweaty Betty’s. I order a Sapporo for myself and a hard seltzer can for Daniel. All of this can be avoided if we just have outdoor space! $24.
Total: $34
Wednesday June 21
I head to the office for noon and didn’t have time to eat beforehand. I am not a fan of breakfast generally or eating before 11AM. I grab a breakfast sandwich from Sorry I’ve Got Plants. It’s probably about the size of an adult fist and should satisfy me until dinner. $9.
The boygenius concert is in the evening and some friends want to stop at The Local. There aren’t any vegan options and their offerings are overpriced. I stop by Harvey’s for a burger combo. $12. For those not in the know, it’s a Canadian fast food chain once referenced by Robin in HIMYM.
At The Local, the drinks are reasonably priced and I order two pints of Bellwood’s Jelly King. The Local is very cis het energy where all the servers are women sporting revealing clothing and caked on makeup. The patrons themselves are two extremes because I see, what I assume, are boygenius fans mixed in with muscle bros and basic bitches. The server is very very nice. Would not go again. Also the music is really loud. $23.
We head to Budweiser Stage and I scope the scene to calculate the median age. boygenius is big on TikTok so….. Broken Social Scene opened for them and their demographic is millennial/gen x so I believe the median age to be around 25. I order a Mill St Organic because it was the cheapest beer but the tip option brought it to $18. My heart sank. Not because I am cheap, but out of principle. A mediocre beer should not cost that much. Turns out my friend Maegan went for the custom tip of 10%. I end up getting a second beer which I felt platonic about. It was just slightly cold like someone had just put it in the fridge an hour before. I went for the custom tip option of 10% and came out to $15. The purchase was a result of the high of the moment which I regret a few seconds after purchasing.
Total: $77
Thursday June 22
I should be working but I am 2/10 hungover and just generally tired from standing last night. I purchased seats to sit down people!
We decide to head to The 519 to check out the scene. The drink menu honestly feels like a bargain compared to Budweiser Stage. I couldn’t decide between a shitty beer (Heineken) or a shitty hard seltzer (Topo Chico Margarita). I got a marg and so did Daniel. It was about $28 with no tip option. All the funds go towards The 519 community centre for 2SLGBTQ+ people. Gay rights! Daniel purchases a round and I ran into a friend, who purchases a round. Shout out to Michael!
We left around 11PM and I want a snack before the bike ride home. Soy Boys has phenomenal burgers and their house sauce is truly drinkable (though I suggest you shouldn’t?). I wasn’t hungry enough for a burger so I opt for the waffle fries which I was truly petitioning against for a very long time but now I am pro waffle fries. $7.
Total: $35
Friday June 23
It’s Friday and I begrudgingly check my emails. I don’t really feel like working today. I should have taken today off honestly. The whole week for that matter.
I contemplate if I even want to do anything today. I was invited to the Trans March and I tell myself I have to go even though I am extremely tired. But I am a believer in never canceling on plans and need to show support to the trans community. The march was great! It was actually very casual and when we pass Chick-fil-A we all put our middle fingers up.
After the march, we were deciding where to go and what to do. Considering it’s Friday, any place serving alcohol would have huge line ups along Church. We decide to go to the LCBO and I pick up 2 hard seltzers for myself and 2 for Daniel. It came to $12. We end up walking to Allen Gardens and drinking there. There were rats everywhere, but we were unbothered. The friend group splits in half and I considered just going home but Daniel was invested in the night.
We end up at New Ho Queen at Wellesley Stage. We order four drink tickets. Pride needs to get better beer sponsors. $40. We stand around and dance for a bit. We run into a few people and make some small talk.
Finishing off the night again at Soy Boys for waffle fries and house sauce! No regrets. $7.
Total: $59
Saturday June 24
Walk to No Frills (too lazy to walk to Queen Fresh) to pick up some food as there is nothing in the house. I purchase mostly items to make salads and a bunch of coconut water and gatorade. $32.
In the afternoon, I take a quick nap before socializing. There’s a group chat and I get a bunch of texts asking what out ETA is. Brush my teeth and put on an obligatory gay outfit: a white tank top. We meet at The 519 and I immediately head to the bar. A shitty Heineken for myself and Topo Chico Margarita for Daniel. $24.
We decide to head over to Wellesley Stage as some friends are over there. But then I get a text not go because the event is over. Then another text to go back. I order a Stella Artois there and a hard seltzer Daniel. $20. The venue is transitioning to Latin music but the transition is slow and nothing is happening, but we’re enjoying the quiet. We leave and head to a friend’s backyard.
I pick up some cans of Rey Azul Tequila and Soda at the LCBO to drink in the backyard. $24. I am also starving so across the street is Oddburger - a vegan fast food joint - and order the poutine and chicken burger. I’ve been there a few times and it’s generally always good. Not groundbreaking. $19.
After the backyard, we head to Handlebar. I’ve actually never been to the bar before. It’s a queer womxn event. There’s two bartenders and one free pours while the other measures. I get the free pour bartender and order two tequila sodas. We head out on to the patio. And then dance for a bit before heading home for the night. $18.
Total: $137
Sunday June 25
My body is craving a salad but there is no protein in the house so I head to Rise Up Foods (previously Fresh Fields) to pick up some organic Soyarie tofu. They have a much better flavour and smell profile than ones you get at major grocery chains. I get four blocks to last about a week, more or less. $16.
I purchased tickets to Circus a few weeks ago and by today, I am physically sick of celebrating gay people. Love them to death, but I can literally not handle any more socializing or drinking. I take a nap and decide to go anyway as the friend I am going with is also tired, but is persevering. Ugh. 20-somethings, right?
We head to the friends house for a pre-drink. Nobody has alcohol so someone ends up ordering a bottle from Uber and I decide to also order a bottle or rose. Why??? I didn’t drink it all. Shared it with everyone. $23
The scene is pretty cool. Very queer. Lots of great outfits. The venue is a food hall and a friend said this is the first year that it’s open and it’s very very sweaty. I run into a lot of people. People I know and people I personally don’t know, but have seen their faces. I order two drinks even though I told myself I wouldn’t order any. $25. Maybe an hour later I order one more, but I pointed to the strawberry margarita and I only finish half.
It rains the whole time when I am inside the event. But by 1AM, the time I am ready to leave, it stops raining. Daniel and I drop the friend off at home and we planned on taking the streetcar, but we ended up missing it. We walk home for an hour and it was actually a very peaceful walk.
Total: $74
Monday June 26
My body is sore from dancing and the walk home.
Too tired to cook today. Or work for that matter. I am thinking Buddhas and Daniel was thinking of falafels for lunch. We decide on falafels because it’s a quick walk from where we live. $18. I don’t leave the house for the rest of the day.
Total: $18
GRAND TOTAL: $434
Thanks for following along! My liver is doing just fine (I think)! See you in two weeks for Homosexual Agenda!
Perry
For Sunday, I forgot to add $10 to the final Marg!!!!