I was invited to a little beach party on Ward’s Island, in the eastern part of the island cluster just a short ferry ride away from the city. It was my first time on Lake Ontario, and the evening could not have been more fresh and clear and rosy.

Looking over the lake, there were rogue ducks waddling everywhere and a whole lot of other birds screaming from the next island over. And a party cruise playing music from 2005. It was still lovely.

When the sun set, we could see lights from the United States twinkling on the horizon.

Full of beer and giggles and cookies, we caught the last ferry back to the city. The CN tower was all dolled up, as usual.