With every passing year, I become more and more convinced that no one but me actually reads this blog. And I say this with no rancor – it’s a lot, and if you really wanted to know, you could just ask. And if you were to ask me “Hey, what have you been up to?”, you’d get a paragraph, not a month-by-month breakdown that included most times I left the house. Still, I like to do it, if only as a reference guide for myself, someone who’s terrible at remembering when things happened!
But thinking that no one was actually waiting for it isn’t the only reason these 2025 posts have taken so long. The big one is I have another outlet to put my good writing and thoughts into the world: uppingthetempo.ca! I trust you’re all already subscribed, but if you’re not, get on that!
And a minor reason is I’ve also started a Letterboxd account: https://letterboxd.com/danhershfield/ Which takes care of my need to track when I saw what movie here. Though I suppose I might want to note who I saw it with… but surely my memory can track MOST of that, right?
And lastly, I now have the time to get through my backlog of things to do… though that’s a story for 2026! For now, let’s look at 2025!
January
According to my calendar, my first social event of the year was “Drinks with Jess.” That certainly checks out!
Then, this is where I normally would tell you I saw The Count of Monte Cristo with Myles… but remember, I have that Letterboxd account! So instead, I’ll tell you that through Facebook, I got a used IKEA Kitchen Island. Adulting!
I try Bobbie Sue’s Mac and Cheese at Ian’s. We were both a bit underwhelmed by the food… but the company was undoubtedly delightful.
I learn a very German phrase that I’m sure I’ll find occasion to use at some point:
Monica Wright Rogers is named the Tempo’s first GM. I won’t include all the Tempo news here… but that was a big one.
And at the end of the month, I go see Taylor Tomlinson live. I go alone, which ends up being kind of an odd choice for a comedy show, but she’s an emerging great, and I’m happy to be a fan, so no regrets!
February
Okay, now’s the time to REALLY check out my Letterboxd diary, because I did another month-long movie marathon to promote my Coldest Night of the Year walk. (And yes, for my own amusement.) This time, the theme (and hashtag) was ColdOldMovies, the idea being that every movie I watched had to be older than me. Saw some good classics, and yes, there was a movie night at Robin’s in there too.
Surprisingly, I also managed to get out from time to time.
Evan, Jen and I saw Kumail Nanjiani. There was a trivia banquet, back when I was still doing that. (Spoiler alert: I’ve stopped.) I went to Ian’s to watch the SNL 50th hoopla. I went to see the Four Nations final with work/neighbour Ian at the Queen’s Head. And I went with Evan to watch the Raptors play the Celtics.
Oh, and I actually DID that Coldest Night of the Year charity walk. For charity, in case you missed that part.
March
A relatively lowkey month, given that I had a birthday in there. But some movies were seen, and apparently, Jess and I drink at the Only Café. AND I managed to cross something off my “something a person should do before they die” list – I fired a gun. Several, in fact.
Yes, for my birthday, I got Evan to take me to a shooting gallery. As mentioned before, it just felt like an experience I should have… though given the times we’re living in, I also had the thought, “Well, if I should ever NEED to defend myself at some point, guess it would be better if I’d at least held one before!” Now, I’ve decided not to list the guns I tried, lest that make me show up in some weird searches… but I guess I’ll share this:
Consider yourself warned. And this is not a comment on what came before, but Duolingo provided me with another useful phrase:
And we closed the month out at work with some funny Easter-related gaslighting. But what the hell, let’s end on something funny and SELF-deprecating!
April
I see Laura Bailey for the first time in forever. A nice catchup… though she makes me less excited about the possibility of Germany as a sanctuary country. Thankfully, we probably have at least a few years left…
I forget where the rest of the Hershfield clan is, but I attend a seder on my own for the first time. A nice time is had by all, but it feels odd being there “alone.” Too grown-up? Too “after”? Best not to think about it too much, I suppose…
Anyhoo, I go to the show where Craig and Andrew are taping their comedy specials. As per usual at these events, I’m inspired to try it and intimidated by the prospect. Guess we’ll see which wins out in the end!
The fact I get this Connections category first feels telling… but I like to think it’s just the Canadian in me. So to speak.
Jason comes to town and the Film Club (trademark pending but almost certain to be rejected) goes to dinner. At The Wood Owl… fancy! A nice picture is taken, one which can also be used for the world’s easiest round of Spot the Jew!
Then a little later, Myles takes me to see the Marlies play. A chance to spend some time at my future home-away-from-home, the Coca-Cola Coliseum… and to see a Stanley Cup winner, Matt Murray! In Toronto, that’s a rare sighting!
April 27th seems to be the first time tennis appears in my calendar. Which I’m sure at the time felt late.
And the month ends seeing VarieTOURpia with Paul F. Tompkins (and Evan). Probably my least favourite time seeing Paul F. Tompkins perform… and the others were off the charts, and this one was still good, just on the charts.
May
For Mothers’ Day – and yes, I put the apostrophe there intentionally, as it’s a day for multiple mothers – we get Mom out to United Bakers. In retrospect, I’m pretty impressed with us… though I guess I was also impressed at the time, since I took a picture.
I wouldn’t say Duolingo always gets it right… but this is a phrase I absolutely needed to know…
We presumably did a dinner for Larry, but who can remember? I do know around that time my friend Andy Furz (stage name, but close enough) takes lyrics I’d sent them and turns them into a song. A beautiful song, if I’m any judge… you’ll get to hear it at some point, no doubt!
And I see my Blue Jays game for the season with Neil and Greenstein. Versus the cityless Athletics, which could be an interesting historical footnote to recount to bored youths some decades hence.
June
I go to see Dwayne Gretzky and Choir Choir Choir in Trinity-Bellwoods. Turns out a park is not an ideal venue for that kind of thing, but it does give me a funny idea that might get used at some point…
Work Ian has his annual BBQ. I should’ve taken better notes, but if memory serves, a good time was had, though no eggs were tossed.
New phone, who dis? But seriously, I get a new phone. I also make a trip to the Reference Library, for purposes I’ll save for the reading list post, and then head to Ian’s for a visit. Big day!
I probably don’t need to mention EVERY time I see Jess… but we got Hakka this time, and it was tasty, and I should really go back there, with or without her!
Another year, another Aries Fest! (Yes, in June.)
And on back-to-back-to-back days, a Trivia Night with work people (we won, thanks to some youtes), the NBA Draft at Matt and Margaret’s (we’ve lived to appreciate CMB), and a long overdue coffee-and-walk with Andrew Bush. And that was June.
July
A backyard BBQ at Ian and Jen’s, with Tom and Lindsay. Now THAT’s how you do Canada Day!
Then, a big birthday dinner for Mom. Big enough that Ian and Shawn came in, and we went to Hy’s Steakhouse. Fun fact about me: for years, I thought we used “High Seasoning Salt”, and only embarrassingly recently discovered it was “Hy’s Seasoning Salt.” And that made me want to go there, since we’ve been using that stuff for ages… and a very nice steak dinner was had by all!
Then, Toronto Fringe and various related activities. I saw Laura Anne Harris’ show and then later met up for coffee. I saw Joanne O’Sullivan’s “Something to Look Forward To” and had some improv world reunions. (Sandy and Kylie! Meagan and Jana!) And I saw the sketch show with Matt et al. A brief Fringe, but not an ignored Fringe.
Also this month, I start my Learn Doubles course. I still need a serve if I’m ever going to do this for real, and I’ve forgotten a lot of it. But in theory, something for my golden years!
After seeing Superman with Ian at Yonge-Eglinton, we go for a walk, and we end up doing a loop around Northern. Just in case I find myself wondering how long it’s been since I’ve seen those old stomping grounds.
On the 11th, ANOTHER interesting Connections with a possibly telling first solve.
I go to the newly-opened Biidaasige Park for the first time. Assuming I stay in my current neighbourhood, it should get a lot of visits… and it’s only going to get better!
And the Hershfield men went to the Argos-Bombers game with Dory, Dave, and the kids. So many sporting options in this city!
Speaking of which…
August
Fiona and I go to the Maple Leafs game! Baseball at Christie Pits, that is.
And then the month took a turn for the strange. Maybe I jinxed us by insisting we stop in at a cemetery on our way to the cottage… but it really was on the way to this particular cottage, and I had THREE graves to visit!
Anyway, this cottage was a rental we hadn’t really been to before, and it was nice, though a little closer to the highway than anticipated, so you could hear it. And for a variety of reasons, which I’m going to be a little cagey about because it’s not really my story to tell, it wasn’t a great time. My personal highlight and the most cottagey thing I did was transporting the kayak by kayaking for several hours.
And to continue the caginess a little – but if you know, you know – this supposed vacation was followed by a month or so of hospital visits.
September
It wasn’t 24-7 hospital time… for me, at any rate. It was a stressful time, yes, but some fun was had.
For instance, I went to see John Mulaney: Mister Whatever at Massey Hall. I was behind an aisle and ushers were passing constantly throughout for some reason… and there was someone who yelled something out and gave the evening a weird vibe. (I won’t link to it, but a Google search will lead you to a discussion about it.) So I was slightly embittered by the experience… but Mulaney is still Mulaney, i.e. great.
There’s an AGO Party for Jen and Sam and their many wonderful accomplishments happening at once. Remember earlier, when I joked about the world’s easiest round of Spot the Jew? Well, enjoy a slightly more challenging round of Spot the Non-Jew!
I see two movies at TIFF: Project Y… and another best left unmentioned. Don’t know that I’ll be recommending either, but sort of nice to get back out there.
A.I., the existential threat to humanity in general and writers in particular, continues to amuse with its badness. At least at this point in history.
I take my first seat selection meeting for the Tempo, though I know this won’t be the REAL meeting. This is just for the Premium seating, which is intended for the likes of Drake and Superfan. Still, it’s neat to talk about, and the real meeting is that much closer. And later that night, I have that to talk about during Rosh Hashanah at Lori and Joel’s.
And late in the month, a nice journey home from Sunnybrook.
October
This may not seem that noteworthy… but a Ramona’s Kitchen opens in my neighborhood, and they give away free fish sandwiches. I got one, and it was very tasty. And that night, I met Ian for pho, so a big day for big city eating!
At some point, we celebrate Evan’s birthday. I don’t remember how… or why, for that matter!
A few days later, a trip to Bandit Brewery with Jess, Calum, and a wee one whose name I feel odd putting on the internet, even though it’s very much already there.
Our cousin David and his wife Renee come in from Minneapolis, and we celebrate the best way we know how – far too much food at Fat Pasha! Okay, we don’t go there a lot, but we get there on occasion, and it’s excellent. But also, we ordered WAY too much food!
Perhaps my biggest moment of the year… drum roll here… I officially buy my Tempo season tickets! It’s a bit of an indulgence for sure, and will seem more so come 2026, but my enthusiasm will not be contained, damn it! And because I got on the list quite early, my seats are, IMHO, silly-good!
Speaking of Toronto sports, the Blue Jays are in the World Series. That’s pretty fun!
And this will undoubtedly be touched on more in the ‘what I’ve read’ post… but Becky’s book is prominently displayed in my local library. I’m a person who knows people!
November
I get my flu and covid shots, and then meet up with Dave (who’s in town for the World Series) et al for Chinese food. Pretty tasty!
I’ll make an exception to my “not bothering with movies” rule, because this was E.T. in Concert! Good time had by all, the relevant subset of that ‘all’ being Ian, Robin, and myself.
Queen Bee doesn’t allow the word PAVLOVIAN… and a significant number of people, myself included, are upset about it! STILL!
One of the most rewarding things I do this year is launch Upping the Tempo. It’s fairly inconceivable that anyone who’d be reading this isn’t already subscribed, but just in case, uppingthetempo.ca. Every Saturday, I add a new article about the Tempo and Tempo-related matters… and considering everything that was going on with the CBA at that point, it was quite a leap of faith on my part. But I’m very glad it exists, and that there’s a record of my thoughts and my writing. We’ll see what happens with it!
I go see Christian’s last show at Second City. Unless I return to improv, that could be the last person on Mainstage who knew me as a performer, though I might still have a few years of people knowing me as an old basketball man. Not to make it all about me!
I don’t go see Lauren Ash in concert, even though I wanted to. It’s the start of a stretch of me not going to things… I choose to blame SAD.
But I do get out of the house for a few things… including a Slammie Sammies chicken parm! Worth mentioning because the restaurant lost its home shortly thereafter, so it’s good I got in when I could.
I also get out to see Brad compete in a Battle of the Bands. It’s for firefighters, so I don’t have to feel bad that he didn’t ask us. And they’re the real heroes, etc.
AND I try to see “The Anatomy of a World: The Making of Frankenstein”, with tickets generously given to me by Pete… but I have a classic TTC nightmare trying to get there, and after an hour or so, I have to give up and head home. Toronto in November!
December
Evan and I go to see Team Canada play in the FIBA World Cup Americas Qualifiers against Bahamas. We win!
Another year, another Burrito Monday. I started observing out of love for Matt Craig, I continue observing out of love for burritos!
I go to the Raptors game with Ivimey and Mike on the 9th. We lose to the Knicks… which if you look back at this year, you’ll realize it’s a thing we do a lot!
On the 11th, the Tempo announce that season tickets are sold out. Meaning I’m one of the chosen few! NOT U.S.A.! NOT U.S.A.!
A gathering at Tom and Lindsay’s along with Ian and Jen for hot cocoa and far too many cookies. December has its perks.
At this point, I’m very quiet on social media. But on one day, I make replies to Nell Scovell and Clare Blackwood that earn enthusiastic Yeses from them. Clare’s has seven S, Nell’s has four exclamation points!
A gathering of Northern folk at Wok Theory. In practice!
A Food Trucks jam on the 30th. ‘Tis the season!
And New Year’s is spent watching the Dwayne Gretzky livestream, which I won from Little Canada. And am now karmically obliged to visit at some point!
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And that’s the year that was. 2025, I hardly knew ye… or I knew ye just fine and have forgotten, because it was a while ago. Still, you can’t say some things didn’t happen! If nothing else, it feels like I saw a lot of sports… though not nearly as many as I’m seeing in 2026. Did I remember to mention Upping the Tempo?!