Some years ago I was asked for directions downtown by a couple of New Yorkers. After thanking me, one of them said, "Have to tell you, we're so impressed by how CLEAN Toronto is! We haven't seen any garbage on the streets anywhere." And maybe you've heard the story of how a U.S. film crew had their intentionally garbage-strewn street cleaned up by Toronto sanitation workers.

These days, however, people don't seem to have as many qualms about tossing their garbage into the street. Also, city cutbacks will mean less street cleaning.

When I saw someone picking up garbage from the street near Queen and John late this afternoon, I was surprised until I read his sign. As I handed him some money, he thanked me and said that he was trying to earn enough to get off the streets.

Out of curiosity, I Googled "The Litter Guy" when I got home and discovered that Marc the Litter Guy is collecting garbage because he doesn't want to panhandle. According to this blog post, Marc has been picking up about 80 bags of garbage a day for over a year now. Apparently he's even talking to faculty at the University of Toronto about a project where panhandlers could meet at the university then head off to different areas with garbage bags.

Great idea, of course, but I think we could all help out. The City of Toronto has a special call-in line for reporting "litter hot spots" (overflowing bin or basket, unusually dirty street or sidewalk): 39-CLEAN (392-5326). But more importantly, don't be a lazy slob...put your trash where it belongs. This includes chewing gum and cigarette butts; the latter can take up to 12 years to break down.

And if you see Marc around, do consider giving him some money.

Looking for a quick lunch near Yonge and Eg, I am intrigued by the name "Salad Spa" and decide to investigate. Happily, the place has nothing to do with romaine facials or radicchio body wraps, and is perfect for those of us who try to eat healthy but get really, really tired of green.

Read the full review for Salad Spa in the Restaurants section.

This morning in his 8000 Words post, Roger commented on the unfortunate timing of Nuit Blanche and Word On The Street. I'll chime in and wish that both events hadn't been on the same weekend as the CIBC Run For The Cure. I had to skip Nuit Blanche to get up in the morning for the run, and only caught part of Word On The Street.

My friend and I have been having lunch at Queen Mother Cafe for years now. The ritual remains the same each time, as does our order: Ping Gai. The menu also offers a wide range of options for vegetarians, including The Queen Mother Cosmic Burger (with a name like that, how could it not be good?).

You can read the full review of Queen Mother Cafe in the Restaurants section.

If you're craving a fast and inexpensive sushi fix, Kaiseki Yu-Zen Hashimoto is probably not the restaurant for you. If you're looking for an unforgettable and authentic Japanese kaiseki experience, however, Hashimoto definitely fits the bill.

Read the full review for Hashimoto in the Restaurant section.

A good sandwich is underrated as a meal, in my opinion. I'm not talking about the sad-looking imitations wrapped in cellophane that have been sitting for lord knows how long in the display cases of your local corner grocery store.

No, I'm talking about a REALLY GOOD SANDWICH, like the Amazing Turkey Sandwich at Jake's. More about Jake's Sandwiches in the Restaurants section.