More from the folks at Porter on flight diversion...Tall ships leave Toronto...

Further to my weekend column on the June 27 flight I had with Porter Airlines, I got a note today from p.r. guy Brad Cicero to say that Porter is looking at reimbursing folks who got stranded in Ottawa the same night I did.

"We are in the process of contacting passengers involved to notify them that they will be reimbursed using the go forward policy," he wrote in an email. "Details are being finalized and there isn't a specific implementation date at this time, but it will be dealt with quickly."

Cicero said that would apply to both the people on my flight to Toronto from Newark as well as folks who got diverted from Toronto on a flight from Montreal.

I tried to find out if folks will get reimbursed if they opted to drive to Toronto, as one fellow did at a cost of $300-plus dollars. Porter doesn't have the details yet, but they seem to "get it" and, as I wrote on the weekend, they've committed to begin a program of reimbursing people who get diverted to other airports and have to spend the night. So that's good progress. Now, we'll have to see how things go.

FAREWELL TO THE TALL SHIPS

Had a chance to check out the Roald Amundsen again on Saturday night at the tall ships festival at Harbourfront. I didn't see where the HMS Bounty was docked so I guess I'll have to try that another time. But there was a nice reception on the Amundsen, along with a decent view of the fireworks at Ontario Place. So thanks for the invite, guys, and we'll see you next year.

There was a sail-past in Toronto harbour on Sunday that I didn't get to. But a contact of mine, Laura Fairweather, sent me one of her shotsm which is quite good and only furthers my desire to spend a couple days on one of these beauties, one of these days. Thanks, Laura!

HAZELTON HOTEL

Got to spend Friday night at the Hazelton Hotel in Toronto. Very nice night for the patio amidst the pretty  people. How I ended up there I'm not quite sure, bah-dah-boom.

The art at the hotel is pretty cool, and the rooms were quite spacious. I had a small balcony overlooking Hazelton Avenue that was quite enjoyable, as were the drinks on the patio at One restaurant after dinner. Shannon, my server, might be the best waitress I've ever met; knowledgeable and helpful as all get out. And I loved the suitcase sculpture in the entry way, which I've included in photo form at right. They're all stacked up from the floor to the ceiling, and it makes for a very cool effect.

I don't care about Yorkville as a destination as I think there are much more interesting neighourhoods in Toronto, including Leslieville and West Queen West. But I enjoyed walking about on Hazelton and on Scollard Street on a quiet Saturday morning, admiring the architecture and the leafy streets. I can only imagine what it must cost to buy a single-family home a block from Hazelton Lanes.