Toronto Grand Prix Tourist: A Toronto Blog

#Toronto Ultimate Travel Show

2012-01-29T00:10:00.000-05:00

Wanting to discover and explore the world I made my way down to the south hall of the MTCC to see if this was really the Ultimate Travel Show. The event was almost half the cost of IDS12 and I guess for right now, in the middle of a toronto winter, it was kind of ultimate. It could have used some cosplay to spice things up a bit!

The large room was full of colourful posters of far away exotic lands - like Hamilton International Airport and Montreal. I was all giddy with excitement.

Of course I am joking, almost all the sandy, warm beaches were represented in the show. I wanted to catch a flight right away but I forgot my swimsuit.

IDS12 Interior Design Show 2012

2012-01-28T23:56:00.000-05:00

The north hall of the Metro #Toronto Convention Centre was the place to be for the interior designer set during IDS12. The cost of $22 was pretty steep to see a lot of fancy bathrooms and fireplaces that companies are trying to sell to you!

I did like the ice sculptures out on the Front Street entrance; there were chairs and even a winter parka embedded in ice.

Inside, the hanging tapestry installation was interesting, especially when used as a projection screen. Then there were the silver balloons hanging from the ceilings. Now that's my kind of interior design.

Happy happy fun time

2012-01-27T23:37:00.000-05:00

Some fun toys smile and say hi. Winter is taking it easy on us in the Toronto area. I think there is a travel show and a wedding show on tomorrow so go out an have fun. Grab some toys and play with something.

Lego men

toy motorcycles

Ladder and bike

2012-01-26T21:43:00.000-05:00

In many countries the bicycle becomes a staple of personal and commercial transportation. Pictures abound with bikes loaded down with immense piles of stuff. In Toronto you get used to seeing them alone, maybe with a child carrier, or carrying small packages with the weaving bicycle couriers. I recently saw one biker carrying a large ladder, riding up Church Street. It was pretty impressive.

Trump Tower in Toronto just days away

2012-01-26T21:24:00.000-05:00

The countdown is winding down to the opening of the Trump International Hotel and Tower #Toronto. Construction workers still are working at getting the building ready. As January 31st, or the big night in this case, approaches I keep a sharp lookout for blowing hair and the sounds of people being fired - but no where do I find Mr Donald Trump. I think his new building is nice and I am very happy that it is not grey concrete and I think that might be a comb-over on top, although they say it is a spire. Instead it is lovely shade of money, I mean green, which the skyline can most certainly use. This is the view of the top of the tower from Queen Street West.

Here is their press release.

Crowned by an articulated spire 900-feet above the Toronto’s financial and entertainment districts, luxurious accommodations, exclusive amenities and the signature services of Trump Attaché™ unite along the city’s unmistakable skyline. Located at the corner of Bay and Adelaide, Trump Toronto places guests in the heart of Canada’s most cosmopolitan city. At 65 stories, Trump Toronto will hold the title of Canada’s tallest residential building and second tallest structure overall. Its stone, steel and glass façade will serve as a beacon on the Toronto skyline and will deliver a superior level of modern convenience including two floors of spectacular meeting and event facilities. Read more after the jump.

Staying true to Trump’s unmatched reputation for excellence, every aspect of the tower at the Toronto hotel has been designed to showcase stunning views of Toronto’s skyline, and each of the 261 hotel rooms and suites are exquisitely furnished in elegant, cosmopolitan style. The spectacularly designed lobby features high-speed elevators and the sophisticatedSUITS™ Lobby Lounge. Located on the 31st floor, the vibrant signature restaurant, STOCK™ Restaurant & Bar, will serve its in-room menu beginning January 31, 2012, while daily breakfast, lunch and dinner service will begin shortly thereafter.

Further distinguishing this icon of opulence from other hotels in Toronto are two levels devoted to Toronto’s most luxurious spa and wellness facility. Quartz Crystal Spa™ will begin catering to discriminating guests soon after the hotel opening and will offer: an impressive array of signature treatments and therapies based on the healing properties of quartz mineral; a fully-equipped fitness centre with state of the art equipment; a movement studio; an indoor, heated, salt-water infinity lap pool and Spa Concierges to guide each guest through the experience.

For room and event reservations at Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto, call416.306.5800, 855.88.TRUMP (87867) or visit www.trumptorontohotel.com. For residential condominium sales information, call 416.214.2800 or visit www.trumptoronto.ca.

Launched in October 2007, TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION™ is the next generation of luxury hospitality – one that is raising the bar in the top-tier travel experience with a level of customized service unrivaled in the market today. Presided over by Donald J. Trump and his three grown children – Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric – the prestigious portfolio includes the highly acclaimed Trump International Hotel & Tower® New York, Trump International Hotel & Tower® Chicago, Trump International Hotel™ Las Vegas, Trump International Hotel™ Waikiki Beach Walk®, Trump SoHo® New York and the newly opened Trump Ocean Club®International Hotel & Tower Panama. Joining TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION on Jan. 31, 2012 will be Trump International Hotel & Tower Toronto®. Reservations can be made atwww.TRUMPHOTELCOLLECTION.com or by calling (855) TRUMP-00 (878-6700). TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION is headquartered at Trump Tower, 725 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10022. Connect with TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION on its social media pages.

Fun things to do in #Toronto March & April 2012

2012-01-25T22:10:00.000-05:00

Cripes, winter might end soon and spring tends to bring April showers, so stop being depressed and get out and fun in Toronto. The sun will be out tomorrow, tomorrow, bet your bottom dollar (does Toronto have it's casino yet?). Yosemite Sam fills the air with hot lead on a mural in the Queen Street West Graffiti Alley in the photo at top.

Cosplay

International Bicycle Show Fri to Sun, Mar 2-4.
Toronto Rock Lacrosse
Canadian Music Fest Wed to Sun, Mar 21-25.

Megaspeed Custom Car & Truck Show Fri to Sun, Mar 9-11.
Spring Fling March Break Fri to Fri, Mar 12-16.
Toronto Roller Derby League
St Patricks Day Parade Sun Mar 11.
Canada Blooms Tue to Sun, Mar 16-25.

Toronto ComicCON and Toronto AnimeCON Sat to Sun, Mar 10-11. Come for the costumes, read a few comics.

Toronto Wine and Cheese Show Fri to Sun, Mar 16-18.
Earth Hour Sat Mar 31 at 8:30pm.
Toronto FC Home Opener Sat Mar 7.
Monster Energy AMA Supercross Sat Mar 24.
National Motorcycle Show Sat to Sun, Mar 17-18.

Toronto Roller Derby League: Quad City Chaos Sat to Sun, Mar 31- April 1.
LG Fashion Week Mon to Sat, Mar 12-17.

Toronto Blue Jays: Home Opener Mon Apr 9.
LG Fashion Week Mon to Sat, Mar 17-18,

Toronto Roller Derby League

Wizard World Toronto ComicCon Sat to Sun, Apr 14-15.

If we are lucky it will be an early spring and the Cherry Blossoms with fill the trees and the air with their scent at places like High Park, above.

Don't Worry

2012-01-25T21:18:00.000-05:00

No, don't be happy. Large orange posters at #Toronto @HarbourfrontTO Power Plant which say "Don't Worry What Happens Mostly Happens Without You." Okay, you can be happy.

Rearview Mirror

Have I mentioned that Queens Quay is one of my favourite parts of Toronto? Well it is. The Power Plant is a contemporary art gallery along the shores of Lake Ontario.

Deadboy at Old City Hall

2012-01-25T21:01:00.000-05:00

Deadboy's stuff is everywhere, I think he might be part of CityNews. I found a sticker with the Deadboy skull on a light pole in front of #Toronto Old City Hall at Queen St West and Bay Street. It was very early and I was finishing my commute to work, walking north on Bay Street when I caught sight of the scary skull and I was afraid.

Protests at City Hall

2012-01-24T21:18:00.000-05:00

It was a land of reflective clothes as the #Toronto Paramedics were uniting at City Hall to protest the man. They first responders wanted the man to recognize EMS personnel as an essential service. Around lunch they packed it in and stacked their protest signs against a column near the front entrance.

Just across the square the Occupy Toronto tents remain, their protest against the 1% man might be over because I saw no protesters around, just some tents. The news was that they had received written eviction notices from the Province and departed, and forgot their tents?

Free Your Milk

2012-01-24T20:33:00.000-05:00

“Smell the cheese often so you know when it is getting old.” - Spencer Johnson, Who Moved My Cheese? I think this milk was so old it started to turn into cheese. Long ago it went into the pen, a young table cream, then matured into the 2 percent we know so well while in solitary confinement. I would have got a little closer but I think I saw a shiv.

The free your milk people say we pay more than double the average world price and that the Canadian government's dairy policy drives up costs to consumers. That's not Gooda!

#Toronto Roller Derby Season Opener 2012 Coming Soon

2012-01-24T19:28:00.000-05:00

Downsview Park's Bunker will be setting up their bleacher seating, putting stripes on the Zebra Mafia, bringing in the beer and coolers, and laying out the flat track for the of the 2012 Season Opener of the Toronto Roller Derby Double Header on Saturday, Feb 4. The action is fast paced, the ladies have personality plus and the crashes and falls are hard enough that you will feel them in the audience. Besides bleacher seating you can bring in cushions, blankets or chairs in the floor areas.

Real Women, Real Hits. Real Heart at 40 Carl Hall Road, Studio 3. Doors open at 5pm, bout starts at 6pm. Pre-bout introduces the D-VAS: Deadly Viper Assassination Squad (Red team against Black team), followed by the main battle between the Gore-Gore Rollergirls and the Chicks Ahoy!

From TORD "The 2012 season will begin with a shortened exposition bout - pitting rookie versus rookie, as skaters on Toronto’s farm team the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad face off and show their skills.

The headlining bout is a grudge match that pits rivals the Chicks Ahoy! against the Gore-Gore Rollergirls. The Chicks Ahoy! surprised Toronto fans with their decisive victory in the 2011 Championship bout; a major upset over the previous year’s Boot Championship winners, the Gores.

The Gores are hungry to reclaim the title as an undefeated dynasty. Both teams are home to highly decorated top tier players, many of whom comprise the roster of Toronto’s all-star travel team, CN Power."
The growing attendance and support of the fans has seen an increase in teams which now include: Chicks Ahoy!, CN Power (Toronto's All Star Team), Death Track Dolls, Gore-Gore Rollergirls, Smoke City Betties and the D-VAS.

The game has players circling the track following each team's pivots (wear striped helmet cover) who set the pace of the pack. Each team has a Jammer (wear stars on the helmet cover) who try to get through the pack as they are blocked by the opposing team, to end up as lead Jammer. As the lead Jammer laps opponents they score points. Each game is comprised of two periods of 30 minute periods with five girls per team on the track at any time.

Toronto Roller Derby’s 2012 Home Season Schedule:
(H) ToRD House Teams, (I) Interleague All-Star Bouts

February 4: Season Opener: (H) D-VAS vs D-VAS, Gore-Gore Rollergirls vs Chicks Ahoy!

March 3: (H) Death Track Dolls vs Smoke City Betties, (I) CN Power vs. Roc City Roc Stars (Rochester, NY)

March 31 - April 1: Quad City Chaos - (I) All-star Tournament

April 14: (H) Gore-Gore Rollergirls vs Death Track Dolls, (I) CN Power vs. Queen City Rollergirls (Buffalo, NY)

May 12: (H) D-VAS vs. TBA, (H) Chicks Ahoy! vs Smoke City Betties

June 9 : (H) Death Track Dolls vs. Chicks Ahoy!, (H) Gore-Gore Rollergirls vs. Smoke City Betties

August 25: (H) Toronto Roller Derby Semi-Final

September 22: (H) Battle for the Boot! Toronto Roller Derby Championship Final

Double Header events Doors Open 5:00pm, Bouts Begin 6:00 pm
Single-bill events Doors Open 6:30 pm, Bout Begins 7:30 pm

Happy Chinese New Year 2012

2012-01-23T19:19:00.000-05:00

The Dragon has been released as the Lunar New Year, or Chinese New Year happens tonight - January 23, 2012! Kung Hei Fat Choi, Happy New Year and if you can't release a fire breathing dragon try to shoot off some fireworks. The fireworks in the photo above were taken at the Cavalcade of Lights at Toronto City Hall.

Red Chinese lanterns from LunarFest

Dragons from San Francisco Chinatown

Inuit Master Carver Paul Malliki in TO

2012-01-23T14:40:00.001-05:00

I had the pleasure of taking renowned artist and sculpture Paul Malliki on a whirl wind tour of downtown #Toronto as he heads from Repulse Bay, Nunavut to Switzerland for a gallery tour and Inuit carving demonstration. He had left the cold -62 degrees Celsius temperatures of the north to the balmy weekend that we are having in the GTA and loved seeing the CN Tower and having a hot dog at Yonge-Dundas Square outside the Eaton Centre. Paul is on the shores of Lake Ontario in front of Toronto's skyline.

At the CN Tower at night

Paul, Goretti and Ann Hamilton

Paul likes to work in stone and is famous for animal carvings, especially the Polar Bear. He started carving at 5 years old and you can see some of his carvings here.

You can check out carvings at the Museum of Inuit Art in Queens Quay Terminal Building at Front and York Streets. Here are some of the carvings by other artists in the Museum, they have had Paul's carvings before but nothing at this time.

See more carvings after the jump.

CN Tower light show

2012-01-23T12:40:00.000-05:00

At night the #Toronto CN Tower comes alive with intelligent LED lighting that can be programmed to create an infinite variety of light shows. There are typical shows made at certain times and special shows which can also be requested by the public. On Sunday, January 22, 2012 the lights were quite exciting - it was like being in a disco.

Pawsway - cute doggies and snowsuits

2012-01-22T22:20:00.000-05:00

It was small dog leash free day at @Pawsway #Toronto and the cuteness was ramped up several degrees with the addition of animal snowsuits and dog boots. If you have a dog check out the various events that Pawsway puts on as well as downloading their monthly calendar.

This dog handled the upside down bootie installation pretty well.

In a fashionable dog sweater

Wearing a warm, fuzzy jacket with a hood

I am amazed at the amount of dog clothes that have been showing up on the streets of Toronto over the past year or two. I think the impact of Woofstock is really accelerating the pet clothing line. These dogs were seen in the St Lawrence Market area - home of summer Woofstock.

This guy just looks sad in his green boots

This dog was just adorable in his winter outfit in Europe Bound Travel Outfitters on Front Street

LunarFest Chinese New Year

2012-01-22T21:44:00.001-05:00

#Toronto @HarbourfrontTO is celebrating the Lunar New Year with the CIBC LunarFest and a big part of the fun is the lantern aquarium. The free Spring Festival is on from Jan 20-24, 2012 so head down to Queens Quay. Chinese New Year is on Monday, January 23, 2012 and ushers in the Year of the Water Dragon. I hope I see some fireworks during the Lantern Festival excitement around the city tomorrow as the New Years celebration lasts fifteen days.

The Harbourfront Centre lantern aquarium is supposed to be the world's first, and was full of floating paper fish, large fabric fish and a giant shark kids could climb into. The large sea creatures used lights inside and black lights outside to showcase the lanterns in the dark room.

From the Harbourfront Centre's website "For thousands of years, people have celebrated the arrival of the Lunar New Year; the celebrations become part of the ritual and the traditions become part of their lives. While many traditions are being challenged in today’s social context, one needs to find deeper strength to rationalize those celebrations. What are we celebrating? Is it awakening of our own existence? Is it rediscovery of our past? Or is it the new chapter of this ancient celebration? What does Lunar New Year mean to you?

CIBC LunarFest is Canada’s premier presenter of contemporary expression in Asian arts and culture. It endeavors to share in the diversity of our country with Canadians both new and old. It also encourages and fosters the collaboration of Canadian and international cultural presenters to create new forms of artistic expressions. CIBC LunarFest is a festival that brings together soul, art and life on one stage."

As Mandarin Restaurant says "Kung Hei Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year!" See more photos after the jump.

Darth Vader by the Eaton Centre

2012-01-21T23:11:00.000-05:00

The loud hiss of Darth Vader's breath filled the air with dread around the #Toronto Eaton Centre as the evil genius looked for where he had parked his Death Star. His stormtroopers must have been searching high and low and thinking that the giant mall might have been the planet destroying space vehicle. Left undefended the tall black sith lord, in helmet and cape, sought to influence the mind of people passing by and unsuccessfully he then posed with happy tourists.

Instead of saying "The force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet" he says "tip me well my young Jedi". I had to leave when the light sabers slashed through the air, cleaving limbs and severing toes. Thank god he wasn't my dad.

National Hug Day January 21

2012-01-21T21:33:00.000-05:00

Wow, today is National Hug Day which is celebrated annually on January 21st. The idea is to show more emotion in public - we aren't robots people, shake it up with some happiness and a few old fashioned hugs. Some of the TORD derby girls share hugs after a hard fought battle on the flat track in the photo at top.

Lingerie hugs on the streets of Toronto during the Pride Festival

I always love seeing the groups of people hanging out at places like the Eaton Centre with signs that say "Free Hugs". While many are too shy to share in the hugs, I always try to get one, it makes me feel better.

Hugs with Sunshine Girls at the Everything to do with Sex Show

The Streakin' Speedsters hug before the Toronto Santa Speedo Run

Kiss me you fool

2012-01-21T21:06:00.001-05:00

These lips were made for kissing, just ignore the mustache - it must be from Movember! Speaking of facial hair watch out for problem brows.

Aspen Ridge Homes Studio Advertising poster

It's not 2012 B.C. says the poster. Get those brows shaped.

Another set of lips with a mustache

Jean-Luc Picard, Make it So at Fan Expo

2012-01-20T20:26:00.000-05:00

Patrick Stewart, X-Man and Captain of the Star Trek Enterprise will be at the 2012 Fan ExpoCanada ComicCON Aug 23-26 at the Metro #Toronto Convention Centre. The ginormous show will feature crowds, lineups and major television and movie stars as well as plenty of fantastic cosplay. Everybody loves the costumes.

Of course no fan can wait for the fall show, unless you have a time machine, so there will be a number of shows throughout the year including the March 10-11 Toronto ComicCON.

Anime North 2012 is May 25-27, 2012 at the Toronto Congress Centre. This is a really fun event because the parking lot fills with anime costumes - it's like being at a fantasy masquerade ball in outer space. There is no excuse now, start getting your costumes and wigs together.

Occupy Toronto Jan 2012 at City Hall

2012-01-19T18:21:00.000-05:00

The Occupy #Toronto movement is once again active with a small encampment of approximately ten tents just to the west of #Toronto City Hall near Osgoode Hall and the Courthouse (Provincial lands, not municipal property). They had started setting up the protest location on Tuesday and I thought they might have been forced out when I heard plenty of sirens in the area, but they were still there, enjoying the small amount of snow that was starting to turn the ground white.

I had seen the picture of the group and noticed Gregory Alan Elliott’s blue covered wagon in the group of tents. It is still there, long lasting and sturdy because it was built with election signs which are designed to last longer than the reign of a politician that ordered the signs. No police are visible in the area and the protesters seem to be in a good mood, patiently waiting for the system to change and also trying to keep warm. Approximately ten of them were out and about over the lunch hour, politely greeting pedestrians as they walked between the tents.

A local rag reports that the group have been given a verbal warning to leave they are apparently awaiting written notice of eviction. The group had decided to support the other protesters that were upset over Mayor Rob Ford’s proposed budget cuts and have now outlived that demonstration. I certainly did not think that they would be out in the cold unless they were protesting the cold (which I may do anyway), but Canadians can be very determined.

Power Plant Smoke Plume

2012-01-18T21:13:00.000-05:00

The TransCanada-Halton Hills Generating Station uses natural gas to fuel generators that supply power to the Golden Horseshoe and the recent drop in temperatures has plumes of cooled exhaust smoke shooting out of the plant's 6.1 metre diameter twin stacks which rise 61m above ground. When the generators start up they can produce high NOx (Nitrogen Oxides) concentrations which makes yellow smoke.

644MW of capacity are ready to be spun from the combined cycle facility which uses two 182 MW gas turbine generators with two heat recovery steam generators and one 280 MW steam turbine and generator. Running at about 63% of capacity they produced 405 MW on January 18 to provide electricity to the GTA West area. The electricity is converted to 230 kV and connected to the Hydro One Transmission system which runs along the south side of Highway 401 (info from the draft environmental review and IESO generator reports).

CME and the Honda Indy Toronto 2012

2012-01-18T19:46:00.001-05:00

The Canadian Motorsports Expo is coming back to the #Toronto International Centre" on the Feb 10-12, 2012 weekend. The show is presented by Inside Track Magazine and will feature the Canadian debut of the new IndyCar body which is designated the DW12 by Dallara, in honour of Dan Wheldon who died in the last race of the 2011 IndyCar season.

Dario Franchitti, 2011 Honda Indy Toronto winner and the 2011 IndyCar Champion

“Canadian Motorsports Expo visitors are going to be the first in Canada to get a firsthand look at the new road course version of the Dallara DW12 IZOD IndyCar Series car, identical to the ones that will be in action on the streets of Toronto in July,” said the CME’s David Weber. “The Honda Indy Toronto is one of Canada’s biggest sports and entertainment events and we’re excited to be working the organizers to promote both the event and Canadian motorsports at the CME.” Paul Tracy in the cockpit of a racecar at top.

The checkered flag is so important in racing

Get your discount coupons to the show on their website here for the 6th annual weekend full of cars, seminars, forums, autograph sessions and a CASCAR stock car reunion on the Sunday. CASCAR was founded in 1981 and was the forerunner to the expansion of NASCAR into Canada with their NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCTS).

NASCAR will have Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s #88 Diet Mountain Dew / National Guard Chevrolet Impala and Jeff Gordon's #24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet Impala show car.

Glenn Butt CME founder and roundtable host as well as Mosport Speedway Manager

One of my favourite parts of the weekend is meeting both the superstars of motorsport racing and the media during their separate question and answer round-tables.

Does the Honda Indy Toronto come with snow tires?

2012-01-17T20:09:00.000-05:00

Danica's GoDaddy car lifts a wheel around a corner

The tragic 2011 season ending of the IZOD IndyCar series with the death of driver Dan Wheldon was shocking. The loss of life on the track which was filled with smoke, fires and cars flying in all directions made it seem a miracle that no one else died in the chaos that filled the track that day. Hopefully lessons will be learned of the issues which contributed to the accident and that the race series will continue in a safe and exciting manner. The annual Honda Indy Toronto will return, with new DW12 car bodies, to the Exhibition Place CNE grounds on July 6-8, 2012 (and will continue with the Free Friday promotion from the Ontario Honda Dealers Association).

Also former CHAMP / Toronto Grand Prix car driver Katherine Legge returns to open wheel racing in Toronto. Here is a link to Katherine looking at a photo of herself on the front pages of the Toronto Sun in 2006.

James Hinchcliffe

Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe who won the Sunoco Rookie of the Year title in 2011 will continue in the open wheel IndyCar series riding the Go Dady Andretti #27 car, replacing Danica Patrick who now races full time in NASCAR.

Andretti Dr Pepper #26 Marco Andretti car

The Andretti race team which last year included the re-branded Marco Andretti Dr Pepper #26 car. I also hope the Dr Pepper crew will be back with some samples at the track again for much needed refreshment during the long, hot days of summer in the city by the track.

For fellow Canadians Alex Tagliani and Paul Tracy the season may be bitter sweet or not at all. Alex had to step aside from the Sam Schmidt Autosport's #77 car last year to allow Dan Wheldon to race the final in Las Vegas. Dan previously won the 2011 Indianapolis 500, his only run in the regular season, and had he won the the last race while starting in last place he would have split a special $5 million dollar reward with a lucky fan. Instead Dan's car joined a 15 car pileup and landed upside down on the track wall very early in the race ending the life of the 33 year old driver. The high banked oval in Vegas allowed for little room for error with it's high speeds and cars in such close proximity that even NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson had said that IndyCar belonged on road courses and not the ovals. Alex went over to the Bryan Herta Autosport team and will continue with them during 2012. Paul Tracy seems to want to put the part time racing behind and move to full time IndyCar participation in an all or nothing situation - I hope that he gets the wheels he needs for 2012.

In other IndyCar news the City of Detroit will once again have the IndyCar race running through Belle Isle Park (that's the gorgeous fountain above) during the Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix with the event scheduled for June 1-3, 2012. Chevrolet and Penske have teamed up to return the road course race to the beautiful park setting. The Las Vegas track has been dropped in 2012.

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCTS) stock cars seem to be off the Honda Indy Toronto race weekend, although they have an open weekend during the Toronto IndyCar event and Toronto is promising announcements of additional race series at a future date. Maybe they are still negotiating? We can only hope. Who knows, there might even be some more beautiful Budweiser girls this year; it makes me glad they don't run the Honda Indy Toronto in winter - maybe we don't need those snow tires.

Toronto's Ball

2012-01-16T20:53:00.000-05:00

We couldn't get two, so #Toronto just has the one ball, located on the south end of the City. I have often found it fascinating so I thought it was time to revisit the large round sculpture that sits on the edge of Lake Ontario. It's time to hit the Google.

The metal and concrete structure is called 'Sundial Folly' and rests in a pool of water. The water feeds a small waterfall that tumbles a few feet into Lake Ontario on the east side of the pier in Harbour Square Park. The 1995 art work is by John Fung and Paul Figueiredo. Coming in from the backside you can take a walk on the platform that leads into the sphere.

Inside the ball, looking out. It really is peaceful inside the ball.

You can see the ball by looking across from Queens Quay Terminal, located conveniently at Queens Quay and York Street.

Highway to the gods

2012-01-16T20:04:00.000-05:00

Often the sky turns grey and the night fills will flashes and heavy noise which I will call thunder and lightning. There are no known explanations for these phenomenon, or even a meaning for this word phenomenon, so I can only presume that the gods are angry.

This must have come up before because I found evidence of a mighty structure built to transport people up to the gods. Large pillars of a stone like substance support a flat, black surface that seems to head up into the heavens, gathering positive energy as it spirals upwards.

I found no gods on the curving fortress of stone, only slow moving, smoke-belching chariots of plastic and steel. Maybe the stairs to the stars aren't high enough?

Jumping backflip into Lake Ontario

2012-01-15T20:35:00.000-05:00

I remember summer in #Toronto. It was a golden time, warm with sunshine and a cold beer felt refreshing. Along the shores of Lake Ontario people frolicked along the boardwalks, bike paths and parks that run along much of Toronto's shoreline. A group of friends join together at H2O Park at Queens Quay and one brave soul does a backflip into the harbour as a familiar tall ship in the background heads back to dock. I think the swimmers were in their tighty whities which is how most Torontonians swim in the water, or walk downtown for that matter. Toronto isn't know as T-Bone for nothing people!

Toronto International Boat Show

2012-01-14T22:07:00.002-05:00

Never let it be said that there weren't any boats at the #Toronto International Boat Show - there were halls and halls filled with all manner of boating craft and a little slice of heaven in the area called Cottage Country. Just like Bubba Gump Shrimp there were paddle boats, sail boats, party float boats, pontoon boats, cruisers, yachts, sea-doos, speed boats, swan boats, houseboats, etc. The Great Canadian Fish Tank was pretty impressive and highlighted one of the main activities that people do on the water - fish. The show runs until January 22, 2012 at the CNE's Direct Energy Centre. A wakeboarder creates some big splashes on the world's biggest indoor lake in the photo at top.

Mercury outboard motor

More boats, boats, boats after the jump.

Sutphen racing boat

Line ups to get onto the big boats

Swan paddle boat

Coins and shiny gold from Mel Fisher's Treasure

Kid's indoor lake called the Boating Zone with tiny, yellow paddle boats

Muskoka beer samples and draft tap with Muskoka chairs

An enclosed hammock

Colourful kayaks

NASCAR driver and champion Andrew Ranger signs autographs

Brass diving helmet

Sailboats

The World's largest indoor lake in the Ricoh Centre full of over 1 million gallons of cold Lake Ontario water. "Put some summer in your winter" was the indoor body of water's catchphrase which was perfect I guess, unless you had to swim in it. Besides seminars and tutorials they had professional wakeboarders and wakeskaters doing some exciting demonstrations of the strength, skills and guts to do the acrobatics off the ramps.

Friday the 13th - 3 times a charm

2012-01-13T18:28:00.000-05:00

Lucky or unlucky, it is the start of the weekend. May the Port Dover bikers have a lot of fun, may the flashing being generous.

These are more pictures of a previous motorcycle rally in Port Dover.

Toronto Buried in Snow

2012-01-13T18:20:00.000-05:00

The snow was so high in #Toronto today that I had a hard time looking for the army, which surely must be around!

Fun things to do in #Toronto January & February 2012

2012-01-12T21:42:00.002-05:00

Fight back against the winter and find some fun things to do in Toronto in January and February 2012. We started out strong with the No Pants! Subway Ride and the Motorcycle Supershow and I predict great adventures in the coming weeks, plus some snow. I also think it will be a little too cold for protesters but we could have an Occupy Snow Fort in Yonge-Dundas Square.

Psychic and card reader shop

Don't forget that even though the years first Friday the 13th, which is tomorrow people, is supposed to be bad luck, anytime you can ride a motorcycle to Port Dover, flash your stuff in winter with a bunch of friends, well that is the start of a good year.

A warmer rally

Toronto Rock Lacrosse starts in January.
Toronto International Boat Show Sat to Sun, Jan 14-22.
Monster Jam Sat to Sun, Jan 21-22.
Winterlicious Jan 27 to Feb 9.
Hey, it's Groundhog Day on Feb 2.

Toronto Roller Derby League Sat Feb 4 - Season Opener. Great sport with beautiful women and lingerie.
Canadian Motorsports Expo (CME) Fri to Sun, Feb 10-12 . Great winter show for race fans. "The Canadian Motorsports Expo Powered by Inside Track Motorsport News is a three-day celebration of Canadian racing that runs February 10, 11 & 12, 2012 at the International Centre (6900 Airport Road in Mississauga, Ontario (Canada)). In addition to booths and racing vehicles representing the entire spectrum of Canadian motorsports, the show is loaded with seminars and forums to entertain and inform racers and fans alike. Celebrity drivers will be at the CME to sign autographs and meet the fans. One of the special themes of this year’s CME is the CASCAR Reunion. Please check the show’s website for news, updates, schedule information and more."
Winterfolk Festival Fri to Sun, Feb 17-19.
Canadian International AutoShow Fri to Sun, Feb 17-26.

Sexapalooza Fri to Sun, Feb 24-26.
Bloor-Yorkville Icefest Festival Sat to Sun, Feb 25-26.

Love Pink - I'd Slap That

2012-01-12T20:09:00.001-05:00

You gotta love advertising. The #Toronto Eaton Centre will see the opening of Victoria Secrets' PINK in spring of this year. I see a lot of girls wearing clothes that say PINK or LOVE PINK.

Also in the same downtown shopping mall I found a sales sign saying "I'd Slap That". Everything seems to have double meanings that involve sex and it shocks me. Time Science had a study that girls were biologically programmed to prefer pink, and guys seem to like it too - you know what I am saying, wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more. Anyways I like to keep it classy and wouldn't stoop to their level, except for that part.

Going counterclockwise at Nathan Phillips Square

2012-01-12T19:50:00.000-05:00

They strap on their skates and go round and round in a counterclockwise fashion, always moving, never getting anywhere on the rink at #Toronto Nathan Phillips Square. The lights are still up for Cavalcade of Lights even as the giant Christmas tree at City Hall comes down.

The view from the snack and skate rental building

Under the Freedom Arches

Relaxing with some friends

Hypnotic eye graffiti

2012-01-11T22:09:00.000-05:00

#Toronto, you are getting sleepy, you will take your pants off and ride on the subway. When I clap you will remove your clothes and go for a naked bike ride. What, no one was hypnotized when they did those things? Oh Toronto, you crazy city!

These boxes were lying in the Queen Street West Graffiti Alley, just minding their own business, maybe getting up to no good. From a distance it looked like eyes trying to hypnotize me, so I flipped the picture so it looks like a face now, staring at you and getting all busy in your mind.

Then there was the pink fish with humongous eyes. I had fish before. They tend to eat and poop a lot and I didn't see them go to school either.

TIEd Together Exhibition at Brookfield Place

2012-01-11T20:01:00.000-05:00

A display of photos at #Toronto Brookfield Place showcases the human toll of people affected by prostate cancer - which is the most common male cancer. The images and stories comprising PhotoSensitive's TIEd Together exhibit will stay in the great hall from Jan 10 to 21, 2012 on it's multi-city tour in partnership with Prostate Cancer Canada.

"The exhibition is a Canadian-first community awareness initiative exposing the devastating physical, emotional and mental impact of living with prostate cancer. It includes portraits of real people with real stories including notables such as Jack Layton, Pierre Trudeau, Alex Baumann, Brett Wilson and Preston Manning. In addition, the exhibition also has a touch screen unit displaying 10 personal video interviews with prostate cancer survivors and their loved ones from across Canada."

See images of the display after the jump.

Former Prime Minister (PM) Pierre Elliot Trudeau (PET) had prostate cancer

Never ending subway

2012-01-10T21:34:00.000-05:00

During the recent #Toronto No Pants! Subway Ride the group moved initially into one of the TTC's brand spanking new subway cars. These babies are linked together and being inside them is like being swallowed by a giant snake - you can look down the long aisles. Not like down the old smaller cars. Hmmmmrrphhh, I think I will only ride on the new subway cars, unless an old one shows up first.

The old subway car

Actress Megan Park in Toronto for PETA

2012-01-10T13:28:00.000-05:00

Happy fans and media gathered around actress Megan Park as she unveiled the new PETA advertisement at the #Toronto Eaton Centre today. The bustling crowd surrounded the Canadian star of the ABC series ‘the Secret Life of the American Teenage’ where she plays cheerleader Grace Bowman.

Smiling fans got to pose with the star as she stood beside the PETA poster with her quote “If you wouldn’t wear your dog, please down wear any fur or fur trim.’

The group made a nice addition to the usual characters that you can find down at one of Canada’s busiest intersections – Yonge and Dundas Streets.

SPUD, SPUD, BANG: grenade graffiti

2012-01-09T21:28:00.000-05:00

Wandering around the alleys of Toronto it is hard not to see graffiti along any surface within reach and sometimes impossibly out of reach. SPUD, who may or may not be a group of people (and may have been arrested mid tag), have lots of the ugly SPUD tags, some small and some giant, but he/she/they also do some interesting murals featuring grenades and various incantations of Mayor Rob Ford. The Robs are pretty creepy but I find the grenades to be pretty cool - some are happy, some sad and some look like they will eat you.

See more grenades after the jump - if you dare.

Lucy, you got some 'sploding to do

Bird watching in Toronto

2012-01-09T20:38:00.000-05:00

The variety of wildlife in the big city of #Toronto is immense. I see many people hiding behind urban blinds, or camouflage, looking through big binoculars and looking for feathery type animals that fill the skies. I search for the tell tale signs of winged beasts in the asphalt jungle, signs like feathers and poop.

With stealthy, ninja like sneakiness I creep upon a gathering of stately birds of prey, gathered together in what must only be the end of a group hunt and feast, they are so efficient that no evidence of their prey remains. I believe that they consider the Eaton Centre to be like a cliff that mirrors life in the badlands away from the GTA. The cliff serves to herd prey out in the open and allows them to swoop down at full speed and hit their food before they even know something is afoot.

The viscous and temperamental birds are sure to be either dwarf eagles or some type of hawk. Bird books are relatively unhelpful in identifying the creatures and I fear they maybe a new species of carnivorous raptors. When I strayed too long I could feel their eyes roaming my luscious body but their hunger had been slaked and they were too lazy to attack. The preferred food seems to be bankers in this part of heaven they call Bay Street and groups of tellers have been snatched by swarms of the winged species. Many times you can find those funny bowler hats and briefcases in a pile and know that a few more financial workers have been lost to the horror of the birds. It's probably why you don't see many children on the street during the weekday - too many to count have been carried off in the tiny talons.

No Pants! Subway Ride

2012-01-08T10:48:00.003-05:00

The #Toronto 5th Annual No Pants! Subway Ride took place today at 3pm. What a great event to get Toronto laughing. Improv in Toronto say you only need two things to join in the fun: 1) Willing to take pants off in the ttc subway and 2) keep a straight face while doing it. You can see pictures from last year's underground event on Joe's post here. The worldwide phenomenon which started in 2002 takes place in 60 major cities and about 100 local participants gathered in Toronto at Queens Park near the horse statue, while fully clothed, to receive instructions and information regarding the event.

"Details: When: Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 3:00 PM, Sharp! (Over by around 5:30)
Where: Meet at the giant horseman statue in the middle of Queen's Park (to subway there, walk directly south from Museum Station. Bring: A backpack and a metropass/tokens. Do not bring: A camera (don’t worry we are taking pictures). Wear: NORMAL winter clothes (hat, gloves, etc), please do not dress to try and get attention. That completely defeats the purpose of the event."

TTC The Better Way sticker

After splitting into smaller groups they learned the rules of the game and then headed off to the north towards the Museum subway stop where they waited for appropriate trains and also doffed their pants to enter the underground train cars. Travelers waiting on the platform were surprised and confused by the activity and all the photographers. The No Pants people weren't supposed to give away the reason why they were wearing their skivvies and one of the reasons given out were 'it's a normal way to travel after work'.

See more pants off photos after the jump.

Typical activities were playing on smart phones and tablets, listening to mp3 players, reading and like the lady above is doing: knitting. The players, sometimes alone, sometimes with a friend, or in larger groups got in and out of the trains, waited for the next train sometimes, while moving up and down the cars trying not to look out of the ordinary while photographers are snapping pictures all the while. They traveled from Museum Station to Eglinton Station, hopped on train traveling the other way, then traveled back to Museum where they celebrated their courage, group hugged and posed for photos.

The day ended up being almost perfect for a winter expedition with less than the appropriate amount of clothes. The adventures enjoyed being part of the secret group within Toronto's subway riding citizens. And those citizens remained polite and seem to really enjoy the fun that the improv members were generating. Some people asked others what was going on, but most seemed to just accept the undie wearing travelers with open minds and with a sense of humour.

Initial meetup and briefing at Queens Park

This couple from Ireland wanted to participate but were too shy and she said her 2nd cousin Bono probably wouldn't approve

Citytv reporters join lots of other photographers documenting the event

This lady made me laugh. She came on the subway with her boyfriend not knowing about the event. He dropped his pants and gave them to her to hold. While he was acting normal in his underwear she asked us what was going on. She took it very well. Here is the happy couple below.

The lady in the middle is dressed for the arctic, the other two for No Pants! Subway Riding

The snow monster and penguin hats

Cole Banning of Improv in Toronto

Toronto Motorcycle Supershow 2012

2012-01-07T19:38:00.004-05:00

The bikes filled quite a few halls in the #Toronto International Centre for the 2012 edition of the North American International Motorcycle Supershow. Outside the cars filled the parking lot and inside wandering around the halls took patience as the crowds were out in force. Skulls and pretty girls were prevalent themes because bikers are either thinking of death or sex.

GoLo Racing models, one wears thigh high boots

Superhero Leathers have some cool jackets - here is the Captain American model

A Ducati motorcycle painted up as a snake

The multiple halls displayed new bikes, custom choppers, new and used motorcycles and parts for sale, with lots of leather, helmets and chains also available. My brother ended up getting chaps and will probably wear them tonite. There were plenty of motorcycle clubs and groups represented in booths and attending the show.

See more Supershow bikes and girls after the jump.

The custom choppers art and chrome were amazing

Sarah-Nicole and Supershow promotional models

A beautiful blonde on the Spiderman Chopper

Hooters girls from the Toronto Airport location

GoLo Racing models

There were a lot of patches in the halls - including some Hells Angels MC of Ontario

A Triumph classic bike

A flat black Indian motorcycle

Mantha Insurance model

Racks and racks of motorcycle helmets

Chronic #60 from the Gore-Gore Rollergirls of the Toronto Roller Derby (TORD). Remember skate fans the season opener starts Feb 4, 2012 at the Downsview Park Bunker

The booth where skaters met fans, sold Chrome Divas and TORD calendars from the Chrome Divas and TORD to raise money for charity and awareness for Prostate Cancer. Chronic is joined by Laryssa above

In the classic motorcycle hall

Canadian Motorsports Expo 2012 coming soon

2012-01-06T20:18:00.000-05:00

The motorcycles are getting me ready for the 2012 edition of the Inside Track Canadian Motorsports Expo running from Feb 10, 11 and 12 - also at the #Toronto International Centre.

Motorcycle Supershow - C U TO

2012-01-06T20:03:00.002-05:00

Update: See photos of the Supershow 2012 here.

That's code for see you tomorrow #Toronto at the 2012 Toronto International Motorcycle Supershow at the International Centre. I think Joe Fresh and I will wear our viking helmets again and our bro John, our wives and Kevin will also be there. See the bikes and the girls starting today and running Saturday and Sunday, Jan 6 to 8.

An army motorcycle

Here are some shots from the 2012 Supershow

The Amsoil ladies

See more photos after the jump.

Arctic Air ice sculpture

2012-01-06T14:44:00.002-05:00

Large blocks of ice are being sculpted right now in #Toronto’s Nathan Phillips Square. At first I thought that they might be signaling the upcoming WinterCity celebrations, which include Winterlicious and their famous prix fixe meals, but it turned out that it was a promotion for the new television show ‘Arctic Air’. The blocks are being put together and sculpted to form an airplane by a team of dedicated and slightly cold artists. Island airport activists will soon picket the sculpture in anticipation of excessive ice noise and potential ice plane flights which will disrupt their enjoyment of the island.

The sculpture base is laid out early in the morning

Blocks of ice wander looking for a cocktail

The one hour television show is about a ‘maverick airline and the unconventional family that runs it’ and features such actresses as Krista who is a pilot and natural leader while also being smoking hot. She is joined by Krista from Sweden and a few other people. Seems a lot like the reality show called Ice Pilots NWT with the group from Buffalo Airways or the other flying reality show Flying Wild Alaska. The Artic Air will surely be joined by other series built around pawnbrokers and the unconventional family that runs it and later by a show about storage facilities and the unconventional and ornery group that bids on the lockers – one of the characters will probably bid by saying Yyyyyyyyyyuuuuuuuuuuuppppppppp in a really annoying way. Later the CBC will try to predict what happens in 2009!

The plane really starts to take shape

This plane will only cost $5 to ride but taxes run at $25,000

See more of the plane - even when it's completed, after the jump.

Winterlicious and WinterCity run from Jan 27 to Feb 9, 2012 and will feature events and cuisine from 175 restaurants taking part in the fixed price offerings which are now 10 years old – Happy Anniversary. The lunches run from $15-25 and the dinners run from $25-45. Both lunch and dinner include a starter, entrée and a dessert.

I caught the completed work of ice art on Sunday Jan 8, 2012. The sunlight highlighted the fuselage just perfectly.

Air hosts provide contest entrance information

Bus Terminal Family Restaurant mural

2012-01-05T22:12:00.000-05:00

There is a Family Restaurant near a bus terminal in #Toronto, with a mural on the outside wall, and the restaurant name is, surprisingly, 'Bus Terminal Family Restaurant'. I think that the mural information should also have gone on the sign as the name of the restaurant. It just rolls off the tongue and falls in the gutter. It's like Wikipedia was raided to provide a name.

I think the lady in the painting is modeled after Madonna.

Roller Derby back in TO Feb 4

2012-01-05T21:54:00.000-05:00

It's quiet and dark on the @TOrollerDerby track in the Bunker right now. The ladies are probably outside rolling down the winter streets of Toronto with skates fitted with small snow wheels or maybe even snow chains - tiny little snow chains over the little urethane wheels.

Gore Gore Dust Bunny gets slammed by the Chicks' Robber Blind

TORD fans will soon fill Downsview Park, home of the wheeled Goddesses of War, as the Toronto Roller Derby (TORD) 2012 season opener on February 4 features a double header with DVAS in the opener and the Gore Gore Rollergirls vs Chicks Ahoy finishing the night.

The initial 2012 schedule:
04/FEB – DVAS vs. DVAS AND Gore Gore Rollergirls vs. Chicks Ahoy
03/MAR – Death Track Dolls vs. Smoke City Betties AND CN Power vs. Roc City
14/APR – Gore Gore Rollergirls vs. Death Track Dolls AND CN Power vs QCRG
12/MAY – Chicks Ahoy vs. Smoke City Betties
09/JUN – Smoke City Betties vs. Gore Gore Rollergirls AND Chicks Ahoy vs. Death Track Dolls

The DVAS show the colours, then they assassinated a viper

Yonge and Gone

2012-01-04T19:23:00.000-05:00

Fire and development have taken the buildings on either side of Yonge and Gould Street. The old Sam the Record Man was demolished to make way for another expansion of the Ryerson University Campus, while the historic building located to the south of the intersection was already falling apart when it later was extensively damaged during a fire. The building could not be saved and it too came down.

Scorch marks along the adjacent building

The lots are cleared and covered over in gravel awaiting the start of new construction.

Sign over Yonge Street

2012-01-04T18:53:00.000-05:00

Signworks Inc had two ladder trucks installing an American Apparel sign above the store on Yonge Street. The large sign is really a vinyl poster pulled tight between a rigid frame, sitting right next to Sunrise Records' Coldplay graffiti sign MYLO XYLOTO.

See people working high in the air and some poster cleavage after the jump.

Happy Face and No Bicycles

2012-01-03T19:49:00.000-05:00

The Eaton Centre is a magnet for weird and wonderful things found in our fair city, things that are sometimes pedestrian and sometimes fantastic. The cold weather keeps away a lot of the buskers who must surely be on the streets at some warmer location but I managed to find a chalk happy face drawn on the base of a light standard along Queen Street West. It definitely wouldn't make it as Yorkville graffiti but I smiled when I saw it.

This was joined by a slightly askew tree guard, guarding a tree that no longer existed, filled to the brim with garbage that likely accumulated during the New Years Eve extravaganza at Nathan Phillips Square. The iron guard had a sign that said 'No Bicycles Allowed. Will Be Removed, Management.' The sign also had a sticker of a Native American.

Extreme Cold Weather Alert Jan 2012

2012-01-03T19:20:00.000-05:00

The City of #Toronto issued an Extreme Cold Weather Alert on Jan 2, 2012 and asked that homeless people seek warm places to go. The frosty weather is hitting the low -20's with the infamous cold chill factored in to the mix. Downtown was definitely less busy on the streets with the combination cold weather and end of Christmas and Boxing Week sales. I only saw a couple of homeless people out panhandling and one was asleep under a sleeping bag on Bay Street.

The Alerts are issued by Toronto when Environment Canada calls for temperatures below -15 degrees Celsius or sudden drops in temperature, issues a wind chill warning for Toronto or predicts blizzards, ice storms or other extreme weather conditions. People can call 311 to find available shelter and resources.

Steam grates are favourites spots for the homeless

The City advises that "During an Extreme Cold Weather Alert, street outreach workers continue to urge people to go inside and provide transportation to shelters or overnight respite. In addition to ongoing outreach, during an alert:
• Shelters relax any existing service restrictions.
• Street outreach is increased, focusing solely on warning clients of danger and transporting them to warm places.
• TTC tokens are available at a number of drop-ins so people have transportation to shelters.
• More than 100 agencies are advised of the impending extreme weather, asked to relax any service restrictions they may have, and are reminded of the danger this poses to vulnerable clients.
• 172 shelter spaces are added."

From mid December 2011

It only seemed like yesterday that the last heat alert was called by Toronto's Medical Officer of Health (actually it was August 1, 2011). It was called off the next day by Dr. David McKeown.

"During a Heat Alert, the public is encouraged to call or visit family, friends and neighbours, especially isolated adults and seniors who are at greater risk of suffering from heat-related illness, to make sure they are cool and drinking plenty of fluids. Other groups at risk include people with chronic and pre-existing illnesses, infants and young children, people on certain medications and those who are marginally housed or homeless.

The public is advised to "Beat the Heat" by taking these precautions:
- Drink lots of water or natural fruit juices; do not wait to feel thirsty.
- Go to air-conditioned places, including shopping malls or one of many local libraries or community centres located in each neighbourhood.
- Wear loose fitting, light coloured clothing made of breathable fabric.
- Stay out of the sun.
- Reduce strenuous physical outdoor activity, especially between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.
- Never leave the elderly, children or pets unattended in a car."

Sunflowers and Butterfly painting in Yorkville

2012-01-02T18:43:00.000-05:00

Classy Yorkville has graffiti in the streets like a lot of #Toronto, but it is very upper crust, like it should be hung on a mansion wall or in a museum. I gazed at the oil painting of a sunflower field with butterfly that is on the sidewalk side of the Bell switching box on Cumberland Street just to the west of Bellair Street and right beside the Village of Yorkville Park. I would have stayed longer because it was a nice painting but security asked if I had a entrance ticket or a receipt from one of the stores, I didn't so they asked me to move it along. Yorkville also has litter problem but it is all crumpled up $20 bills (minimum) blowing in the wind.

An actual field of sunflowers

Hair of the Dog New Years Day 9k

2012-01-01T18:45:00.000-05:00

If you didn't want to join the Polar Bear swimmers you could also get wet today doing the #Toronto Hair of the Dog New Years Day 9k marathon (or 3k if you wanted, walk or run). The wet driving rain ensured that if you weren't sweating on January 1, 2012 you would be soaked by the elements during the Balmy Beach Canoe Club Fun Run event. Hair of the Dog is a great name for the marathon as it follows immediately after the partying that goes on during New Years Eve. Some people have a little snort of booze to try to help them endure their hangovers.

Polar Bear Dip: Sunnyside 2012

2012-01-01T17:28:00.003-05:00

The 7th annual #Toronto Polar Bear Dip at Sunnyside Park expected over 400 brave swimmers to hit the waters in support of Habitat for Humanity on January 1, 2012. The swim included a bagpiper and live bands which made it easier for the Polar Bears to enjoy the experience that not everyone has the heart to try and they also raised approximately $40,000 at this year's event. I also checked out the Sears Great Canadian Chill Polar Swim at Woodbine Beach - see the pictures here.

Habitat for Humanity Toronto uses the money to support the construction of affordable housing for low income families. See more photos after the jump.

Some of the Toronto Triumph Lingerie Football League (LFL) were on hand to support the event

The participants get their paperwork done

A Canadian hockey cowboy

Polar Swim: Great Canadian Chill

2012-01-01T09:17:00.005-05:00

Shiver me timbers #Toronto - today is the day for Polar Bear Swims in Lake Ontario. I will be wearing my viking helmet with my brother Joe as we photograph the January 1st Sears Great Canadian Chill at Ashbridges Bay/Woodbine Beach. Stay frosty in 2012 my friend. The driving rain did not slow down the swimmers but it was nice to prepare in the heated tent. Money raised is used to support Sears Charitable Foundation which funds 17 pediatric oncology centres 'Stopping Kids Cancer Cold.'

It takes some courage to run into the cold waters of Lake Ontario, you can see the determination on peoples faces.

Then you experience the frigid waters and realize how cold it will be.

The DJ plays some great tunes while people get their costumes ready

Some vikings enjoy the warm temperatures of Ontario's lakes in the winter

See more Polar Swim pictures after the jump.

Penguins with top hats

'Survivor I believe in Sick Kids'

The Great Canadian Chill Bear

Friends don't let friends Polar Swim alone

Families wait along the sidelines, trying to keep warm in their winter wear

The first group lines up outside the tent, ready for their sprint into the water

The swimmers go in groups, trying to keep their flip flops on and not fall before they are ready

Others are going out as the front group heads back to shore

Gathering up her stray ~~flip flops~~ crocs

Families wait on shore

Falling into the water just feet from the shore while blue barrel guy keeps upright

A penguin with a yellow nose and facepaint

I stayed in the water, thigh deep, taking pictures during each wave of swimmers. I was very cold when I came in after the dippers were done.

The rescue people wore complete cold weather wet suits

The very first swimmer left splashes when he ran into the water

It was a great family event

Penguins, Hawaiian grass skirts and colourful wigs

The next wave heads in to the water

Great Canadian girls bikinis and thermal underwear

Cooking smores over an open fire after the swim

Out with the old, in with the New Years 2012

2012-01-01T02:44:00.001-05:00

Happy New Years everyone, especially you Tiny Tim, God bless you. Work hard, play hard and have fun! December 31, 2011 has come and gone, along with a few beverages, and so we enter 2012.

Lady Gaga hosted the massive event in Times Square in that little city known as New York, I would have gone but it is too busy in the Big Apple for New Years Rockin' Eve. Instead I partied in Acton with my wife and a great crowd at the Acton Curling Club where I met Nancy, Canadian superstar and all around media celebrity, who helped us welcome the new year in style. Nancy is well known in Canada and appears often on television and on the YouTube (see her in pink in the photo below). I thought she might not want to have her picture taken by the paparazzi but I was wrong, she was so friendly and even told her bodyguards to only rough me up a little after I took her photo - just how I imagine Julia Roberts to be like.

This was one of her best roles that I can remember her in, it may have also be filmed during the Olympics (I will have to check on that). I cried with the passion of her sweeping; hurry hard Nancy, hurry hard.

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford Graffiti and 911 Calls

2011-12-31T20:14:00.000-05:00

The #Toronto Mayor certainly takes it on the chin from all sides. There are the NOPE posters of him around the downtown core, wearing the big Mussolini hat with the bird spreading it's wings. Well I added his New Year's Resolution to the picture: NOPE, not gonna do it, not gonna call 911 this year. Actually it should be a resolution for a few of his family members.

DEADBOY also has a large number of artworks dedicated to the Mayor of Canada's largest city.

Happy New Years Eve #Toronto

2011-12-31T13:26:00.001-05:00

December 31, 2011 is a special time in a Year's life. Oh, he started out as a wee lad in winter, grew into a strong summer and now he has passed fall and didn't even get a chance to retire before he has to go. The old heave ho, out with the old, in with the new. I think 2012 will be a girl's year. This Year will also start off in diapers, grow into full bodied summer, take a little time to enjoy milf status, then watch out, her comes cougar Year!

Tomorrow brings Mayor Levees, Polar Swims and hangovers and bad decisions for some. But tonite we party like its still 2011! Cheers to you! I hope your year came with a happy ending - bazinga!

Thanks to all my new visitors this year, along with the great people that make a visit to the Toronto Grand Prix Tourist Blog a habit. I plan on having more caffeine and more addictive photos to rope you in. I trust that Toronto will continue to have interesting graffiti, stories, events and adventures that I can use my camera on. Thanks to my wife for letting me go out to cover Toronto with my cameras. Thanks also to Joe Hamilton (Fresh Joe) for helping me update the blog with some fantastic pictures.

Here is Reality TV Star Jessie Sulidis signing autographs for fans at the Honda Indy Toronto event at Yonge-Dundas Square in 2010. Here's to the Honda Indy Toronto, may it be a lot of fun for all those that attend.

Motorcycle Show 2012 and Port Dover Friday the 13th

2011-12-30T23:26:00.001-05:00

Well, excuse the falling snow and freezing rain and the forecast which surely calls for more of the same because your ride is calling out for you at next weekends North American International Motorcycle Supershow 2012. Rev up your choppers for the January 6, 7 and 8 at the International Centre for the 'Big ShowOne'. Following closely on the heels of the show will be the Friday the 13th motorcycle pilgramage to Canada's holy roller of two wheeled destinations - Port Dover.

Mandy Monroe will return in 2012

The giant show will be held in 5 halls in the centre by the airport will be full of chopper and custom bikes, Motorcycle MAX Awards, racing performance, touring, cruiser, vintage and classic, new and used bikes for sale and an industry showcase. The MC Supershow will also have showbike competitions from the US and Canada with $50,000 cash and awards. See last years show photos here.

The Adult entrance is $18 and you can find a $3 off coupon for Friday or Saturday Evening (5pm-10pm) at the link. Hours are Friday from 10am to 10pm on Friday and Saturday, 10am to 6pm on Sunday.

Now at least the motorcycle show is indoors, the Port Dover run must pose some difficulties for bikers as Friday the 13 approaches quickly along with the depth of snow on the route. In 2012 there will be three Friday rally events - January 13, April 13 and July 13. I don't know how many will make the winter rally but there will probably be a few less bikes and a lot more clothes for this event as compared to a summer rally. I guess most will leave the bikes at home and come for the party. Photos on this post and also here.

The jackalope helmet girl

Row after row of bikes line the streets

green screen bikini girl

Countdown to New Years Eve - 1 Nights plus Polar Swim

2011-12-30T20:59:00.003-05:00

It's Friday night and tomorrow the bells will ring out the end of 2011 and the start of 2012. Parties are planned with crackers (with prizes), canapes and hors d'oeuvres while James Bond gets his martini glasses chilled for Pussy Galore. Somewhere the fireworks are getting planned for a night of bangs and booms.

Tomorrow the celebrations start at noon at Yonge-Dundas Square with Citytv NYE in the Square. The event will run till 8pm and features free giveaways, face painting and xbox playing. Later the party moves to Nathan Phillips Square for the Citytv's New Years Eve Bash 2012 at Toronto City Hall starting at 10pm.

I think it is part of the streakin' speadsters plus the Stanley Cup is in the water

Countdown to New Years Eve - 2 Nights plus Polar Swim

2011-12-29T20:41:00.001-05:00

Oh man, excitement approaches as the baby New Years is almost here. Get your party hats and cocktails ready for the rockin' Saturday night - the last day of the year. It makes me cry. If I still wrote checks I would worry about signing the wrong year on the check, but I don't even remember what a check is. Santa and his sexy elves dash into the water in the Polar Swim photo above.

The snow is falling and it is cold out so there might even be some ice on Lake Ontario. Maybe not enough to slow down the Polar Bear swimmers that will brave the New Years Day dip. Many places have costume contests for those that join in the charity dunks so get yours ready. My brother and I will try to photograph the Ashbridges Bay (at The Beach) swim and we will be wearing our viking helmets.

Sunnyside had some polar bears protesting

We used to go to both the Sunnyside and the Ashbridges Bay New Years Day (January 1) swims as the start times were staggered. Now they both go at noon. The Ashbridges Bay swim has the advantage of a heated tent for opening ceremonies, plenty of coffee and hot chocolate for the participants, a costume contest and the swimmers go out in waves and not all at once - so it lasts longer. My plan is to bring shorts and sandals and take pictures from the water, the only problem is staying on your feet in the slippery rocks as I don't want my cameras to take a polar swim of their own.

Raptors' Tailgate Party at the ACC

2011-12-29T14:07:00.001-05:00

The Raptors Dance Pak were hiding inside but there was a party outside the #Toronto Air Canada Centre for the pregame excitement. I think only the Raptors red velociraptor mascot was warm while everyone else tried to beat the cold by dancing to the DJ's music. The mascot was trying to eat another girl whole, but he only got a little chomp in. The Raptors lost to the Indiana Pacers in their first home game of the season 90-85.

Ice sculpture with basketballs

Organizers provided free food with tiny hot dogs with mac cheese on top, hot poutine and chili (I think that's why the Toronto Fire Department were on hand - to put out the chili fires).

Posted by Joe Hamilton. See more of the Tailgate Party after the jump.

news reporter shooting from the scene

Andria Case of CFTO dances to the music

Kat Stefankiewicz and David Amber during the pregame show

Chefs surround the giant pot of chili

DJ spins a few tunes

Countdown to New Years Eve - 3 Nights plus Polar Swim

2011-12-28T21:04:00.001-05:00

New Years Eve falls on a Saturday this year, which is a great night for a party. In three more nights the sky will light up with fireworks while the sound of noisemakers will annoy anyone close enough to have to endure the shrill sounds. The next day you can take your hangover and give it a splash of cold Lake Ontario water in the annual Polar Bear swims taking place on at a beach near you on New Years Day at noon.

Maple Leafs doing ok

2011-12-28T20:42:00.000-05:00

Falling almost in the middle of the National Hockey League (NHL) standings our very own #Toronto Maple Leafs are doing ok and have won 18 of their 36 games. Unfortunately there are 11 other teams within one point either side of the Leafs' point total so it is a precarious time for the team. It's a good thing that they play into summer with the regular season games ending in April 2012. These pictures are from the Hockey Hall of Fame in the Brookfield Place lobby entrance.

The old face mask of Mike Palmateer

Stanley Cup replica

You can see my pictures of old Maple Leaf Gardens which now is a Loblaws grocery store and Ryerson University sports centre. They now take their skates to the Air Canada Centre.

A Stonehenge in #Toronto

2011-12-27T13:53:00.001-05:00

The excavation of an almost completed Stonehenge in Toronto rises above Bay Street adjacent to the Royal Bank Plaza. It consists of multiple black, monolithic structures that seem to be missing it's top members and the balance of the circle of stones. The monoliths would also be perfect for monkeys to touch, which they probably did back in 2001 during a previous odyssey.

The site must have been brimming with Druids during our recent Winter Solstice on December 21st, practicing their nudist rituals (I hope) as they flung flowers into the air. Early in it's history the site fell into disrepair during the OS (Occupy Stonehenge) period. The site was only discovered in modern times when rich Bay Street financial types needed to add to their underground wine cellars.

Both the sunrise and the sunset of the solstice are magnified by the gold windows of the building that is situated across the street from Brookfield Place on Bay Street and Union Station on Front Street.

See more photos of gold and monoliths after the jump.

Boxing Day; We who are about to buy salute you

2011-12-26T12:57:00.000-05:00

The bastion of consumer sales beckons the customers into the malls of #Toronto. #BoxingDay salutes you! Actually I like sales too and the day after Christmas sale is always on your mind when you are buying presents before Santa comes to visit. Arrgghh, will the present be half off after you have bought it?

I would buy more but I find it hard to shop with all the rest of the the giant, pulsating crowds that hope to get wicked good deals. Wicked good, ugh! Here is some CEMO graffiti found in Toronto's alleys around Queen Street West. The one above features a zombie like skull with boxing gloves, it's graffiti boxing day. The blue eyed skull creature has a boxing helmet and big blue gloves and he stands ready to take on high prices!

This CEMO skull guy just looks angry - he realizes his present is now on sale.

Online sales are a good alternative, avoid the crowds and get a good deal. Shipping is included with a lot of deals and you can get it so fast after you order.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Toronto

2011-12-25T12:12:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year #Toronto. This Star Wars Santatrooper looked friendly just before he tried to shoot me with his blaster. Luckily he was a crappy shot and missed me every time. Try not to miss your favourite gift, that you missed getting, so get out there with some Boxing Day and Boxing Week sales.

You can also look forward to the New Years Party and the next day ice cold swims in Lake Ontario with the Polar Bear Dips at Sunnyside Beach and Ashbridges Bay (Great Canadian Chill) at noon on January 1st, 2012.

The Island of Unwanted Christmas Toys

2011-12-24T13:45:00.000-05:00

On the beginning of Christmas Eve I think about all the movies and shows that come out every year - like The Little Drummer Boy and Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer. It was always sad to see the Island of Unwanted Christmas Toys full of sad toys which the gang rescued and later Santa gave parachuted them out to children around the world.

I found an 'UNWANTED' graffiti in downtown Toronto and underneath was a painting of a face and it made me sad. I hope your Christmas and Holidays are truly happy! Have fun Toronto and also think of those who may be unwanted and unloved and help make them happy.

Salvation Army Brass Band plays Christmas music

2011-12-23T21:59:00.000-05:00

A group of Salvation Army musicians play brass instruments as shoppers and commuters pass by on a busy street in Toronto. Their Christmas Kettle fills with money as people donate to the charity fundraising campaign.

Bay Street sunshine

2011-12-23T21:48:00.000-05:00

Looking south on Bay Street towards Queen Street West as beautiful sunshine tries to beat the cold into submission on the last day of the week before the Christmas weekend. At lunchtime there were sun snowers (like sun showers but with snow) even as the sky was clear blue and the light was brilliant. Old City Hall Court House is on the left and City Hall is to the right. The towers of Bay street rise like a mountain made of money in the background.

@CityNYE 2012 stage rising

2011-12-22T22:02:00.000-05:00

With the number of events going on in #Toronto City Hall's Nathan Phillips Square the metal scaffolding goes up and down so often that they should just leave it there. The construction crews fit the metal tubes and plywood sheets up directly in front of City Halls flying ship and round bookmark buildings in preparation for NYE 2012.

Wow NYE 2012. LOL, I had to check because I thought it was about New York. My in depth online research allowed me to deduce, much like Sherlock Holmes (yes I love the movies), that the tall tubing structure resembling a giant Meccano set will probably be used for the Citytv New Years Eve Bash 2012.

Kevin Frankish and Dina Pugliese are joined by Gord Martineau and Tracy Moore as hosts of the free concert that takes place on New Years Eve, which I thinks is December 31, 2011 this year (which is good because I remember one year it was late and they held it in February), and the fun starts at 10pm. Man, that's awful late, they should start earlier so that we can get to bed before midnite.

There will be live performances by Howie D, JDRN, Karl Wolf, Anjulie, Aleesia, Neverest and others during the night which will also feature fireworks.

As I recall there were a lot of glow sticks, a skating dance party, thousands of people and cold, yes cold.

Winter Solstice Dec 21

2011-12-21T18:08:00.000-05:00

The day certainly looked dark as I gazed upon #Toronto’s Yonge Street on December 21 at noon and the Menorah at City Hall was a beacon of light in the early morning commute. Today is the Winter Solstice which is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

If you can’t bear to let this day pass without celebration then you have to go to Kensington Market and join in with many others to enjoy an evening with some unusual fun. The upside of the solstice is that the days get longer as we head further into winter.

Kensington Market once again becomes home to hundreds of people participating in the 22nd annual Winter Solstice Parade where you can “unite to ignite the longest, darkest night…celebrate the solstice community-style in a luminescent lantern-lit procession through Toronto’s Kensington Market. Wednesday, December 21, 2011 – 6:30 to 8:00pm.” Everyone fills the street as they start to gather at the Oxford and Augusta area, then the parade heads out towards Alexandra Park at Dundas St West and Bathurst St for the finale.

It’s fun to get to the market early and watch many of the participants get into elaborate and really cool costumes. Lanterns, flashlights and flames fill the night as the parade starts out and music from large and small bands follow in with the crowd. Young and old participate in the musical and well lit march through the narrow streets towards the ultimate destination deep within the park. The finale usually happens at the baseball field where the inner bases are roped off to keep people safe and allow room for the performers to work their magic.

Members in costumes and the bands enter the field to show off their outfits. Later the flames come out to play as performers start juggling, throwing and blowing fire and the rhythmic musical continues to accent the performance in front of the jammed crowd (this is another event where they could use a raised area so that more people can watch the exciting show – at least the crowds can help to keep you warm). At the end of the celebration a tall, cardboard structure is lit on fire and allowed to burn to the ground. It goes up pretty fast. I haven’t seen a sacrifice yet so don’t feel threatened about attending the event.

You can see my pictures of the 2010 Kensington Market Winter Solstice Parade here.

#Toronto Holt Renfrew Christmas Windows and Soldiers

2011-12-20T21:40:00.000-05:00

The Bloor Yorkville Holt Renfrew store celebrates the holiday season with Christmas windows and soldiers in toy soldier uniforms at the doors welcoming you to ritzy shopping. This years theme is 12 days of Christmas.

Soldiers bang their drums while the window says 'Happy Christmas' along Toronto's Mink Mile

Flags fly above the Holt Renfrew sign

A shopping salute welcomes you to the store

Gregory Alan Elliott - artist and poet

2011-12-20T20:43:00.001-05:00

'Just because it only beats for you doesn't mean it's broken'

Graffiti doesn't have to be gigantic and squiggly, sometimes it is a quote with many meanings. I find Gregory's work to be very interesting. My favourite is the people sucking when they are mean quote. He also did the covered wagon for Occupy Toronto and the LOVE hydro pole sign at Cherry Beach.

'Honesty is the best poetry' and 'Nice people suck when they're mean'

I read that Gregory likes Snoetry which is writing in the snow, taking his small signs into considerably larger territory. He will have to wait for the cold weather to bring the white stuff back into the city before he can begin his graffiti in the fresh snow of winter.

Quartz Crystal Spa at Trump #Toronto Tower

2011-12-19T22:09:00.001-05:00

I often walk by the Trump International Hotel and Tower that has been under construction at the Bay and Adelaide intersection in Toronto and I noticed that they have started to remove the scaffolding along the streets which held the construction trailer, now more scaffolding is in place.

The 65-storey building was designed by Zeidler Partnership Architects and it looks like the building features a mix of hotel, residential and luxurious amenities that you would expect from the Trump, or the Donald, brand. If I walk to close to the building it even tells me that I am fired. The opening is scheduled to take place on January 31, 2012, which I predict will be a very cold evening in the middle of our Canadian winter.

Luckily Canada's tallest residential tower (the hotel is on the lower floors) will feature the Quartz Crystal Spa full of infrared saunas and a indoor heated salt-water infinity lap pool to take away the blues, especially the blues of cold fingers, in a two level facility for both men and women. I was impressed that not only can you take part in traditional spa activities like massage, fitness workouts, facial treatments, manicure and pedicures you can also get your hair styled, enjoy healthy lunch and/or dinner and have a personal spa concierge.

"Quartz Crystal Spa™ was designed with true passion and a vision to create a timeless experience of calm, balance and revitalization through the healing properties of the quartz mineral," said Inna Levitan, owner, Quartz Crystal Spa™." Open 7 days a week from 8am to 9pm (8am to 6pm on Sundays). Artist renderings provided by Aerial Communications.

The Marilyn Denis Show tapes live at CTV

2011-12-19T19:37:00.000-05:00

Julia Keilty joined host Marilyn Denis to present ideas on how to be a fab hostess during Monday, December 19, 2011 taping at the #Toronto studio of the Much Music/CTV Building on Queen Street West.

Julia Keilty on the left and Marilyn Denis on the right

The Marilyn Denis Show tapes live in front of a studio audience at 10am from Monday to Friday and keeps the host hoping after her early morning radio show - Roger, Darren and Marilyn on 104.5 Chum FM.

Menorah almost ready at Old City Hall Courthouse

2011-12-19T19:07:00.001-05:00

Workers with a crane were busy putting in a large Menorah near the Queen Street West and Bay Street intersection at #Toronto's Old City Hall. Joining the one in Nathan Phillips Square these beacons of light will provide illumination on Dec 21, 2011 as the Jewish Hanukkah holiday begins.

And here it is wishing you a Happy Chanukah from Chabad Lubavitch

Sears brings Santa back to the Eaton Centre

2011-12-19T18:52:00.000-05:00

#Toronto children get a chance to meet Santa on the 3rd floor of Sears, next to the toy section, from noon to 6pm from December 17 to December 23 and on Christmas Eve December 24 from noon to 4pm. HO HO HOld the Skype and forget the reservations to story time because Santa is back in town. Go sit on his lap and bring your camera because the big guy in red is there for you. Here is Santa during the start of his Monday, December 19, 2011 visit.

He brought some of his furniture from the North Pole

The crystal Christmas tree and giant reindeer were some of the only signs of the holiday season in the downtown mall

Toronto at Night

2011-12-18T20:50:00.002-05:00

The twinkling lights of #Toronto fill the skyline with some amazing views of the large Canadian city at night time. The bright glow creates a fake twilight that keeps the city in constant state of illumination and draws the eyes from many tens of kilometres away. The blue highlight of the Rogers Centre taken from under the Gardiner Expressway in the photo above.

Yonge and Dundas lighting hotspot

A construction site with it's cranes

See more photos of night scenes after the jump.

City Hall and the rink at Nathan Phillips Square

Overlooking the Gardiner towards the Rogers Centre

Metro Toronto Convention Centre

A ship of lights at Harbourfront Centre on the Pedestrian Bridge over the boat slips

CN Tower

Betty White Poster

2011-12-18T11:33:00.000-05:00

Betty White stares out from a poster, her hands make a rock sign, as she promotes a concert series in #Toronto at 460 Spadina Avenue. Heavy metal rock chick, is there anything that she cannot do? Especially when she probably doesn't know about it?

Highway 401 car crash

2011-12-17T11:09:00.000-05:00

A car gets pitted by a large transport trailer and careens into the concrete barrier, smashes into the wall and ends up heading the wrong way on Highway 401 coming into Toronto. The car takes the punishment in the brutal crash and the front crumples, everyone avoids the car and debris and the driver walks away from the crash with bruises. Here is the anatomy of a car crash - from 100 km/h to 0 in a few short seconds. I have blurred parts of the pictures to keep the identity of the driver private.

A concerned lady comforts the driver as the crumpled and exposed front end reveals the violence of the impact.

We were heading into Toronto following a couple of car lengths in the middle lane of a three lane 400 series highway. A truck was in the fast lane to the left and wanted to get into the middle lane. The truck went to turn into the lane but hesitated, we thought he had seen the car, but apparently not, because after the initial hesitation he moved into the middle lane - where the other car drove along merrily, unknowing of the danger that fast approached her carefree commute. Imagine that, driving along, one moment chugging along, peaceful, music probably playing, sun shining. The next minute you are turned 90 degrees and are headed into a concrete barrier that approaches in slow motion, maybe you see the truck that caused the accident flash by to your side. The crash that slams your body into the airbag and your knees into the dashboard area.

Police, fire, ambulance and tow trucks on scene

The truck had grazed the back drivers' side bumper, leaving minor scratches we see afterwards, but it is enough to send the car on a path towards the concrete barrier which separates the east bound lanes of the multi-lane expressway. Surprisingly the car misses the truck as it crosses the large vehicles' path and hurtles toward the barrier. The truck had given the car a certain spin that placed the impact of the car at a slight angle which allowed the car to make contact with the wall at the passenger side front corner. This angle caused the car to slam into the wall and the force kept it pressed against the wall, facing the wrong direction to the flow of traffic, and continue for a short while shredding car pieces as the car violently shook free anything that was torn loose during the impact. Thank goodness the car rested in the shoulder and no tire or anything else with large mass continued into the path of oncoming cars

The OPP police officer investigates the crash and takes witness statements

Miraculously the cars around the accident, including us, managed to avoid the wreckage and debris and no secondary crashes compounded the damage that spread along the paved shoulder adjacent to the barrier. We pull over to check on the driver where we find that she seems to be sore but otherwise okay. The smoking air bag was collapsed and there was no fire or other immediate danger so my brother calls 911 and asks for help while we all try to comfort the upset driver (a kind lady had stopped to see if she could render assistance as well) and I also move some of the debris away from the road. The truck continues on while witnesses call in reports of the trucks identity.

First on the seen was a tow truck, man those guys are fast, next came an OPP officer who came from the other side of the highway, followed by fire and ambulance. Lanes were quickly shut down and traffic forced into the other lanes as the wreckage is quickly cleaned up and the towed away to the first exit. My brother makes a witness statement and we see that the driver stayed with the tow truck. All told from car crash to witness statement we are talking about an hour.

Tow truck drivers get ready as the fire department arrives and begin to shut down lanes

Traffic continues to flow passing by the damaged car which faces the wrong direction in a photo taken immediately after the crash and access the damage and request an emergency response.

I find it truly amazing that the safety features that have been built into cars allow the vehicle to take the damage while keeping it's passengers relatively safe. Remember that when buying your next car. The highway safety feature also kept the car from crossing several lanes of high speed traffic in a direction that could not be anticipated by the other drivers - this concrete safety barrier really helped to keep the driver safe. It is also great to see people who care enough to get involved in helping others in times of need. That lady that stopped to help was out in the cold, cold winter wind, not concerned with being late, and instead helped someone that was very emotional after such a dramatic turn of events that saw her car demolished.

Pacific Mall - Chinese Indoor Mall

2011-12-16T23:58:00.001-05:00

Billed as the largest Chinese indoor Mall in North America this was the first time that I visited the mall which is located at Steeles and Kennedy. The large structure is filled with aisles of restaurants and small stores full of clothing, toys, electronics and housewares. Hello Miss Kitty and shiny bejeweled objects are very popular, especially when they are combined. There were also a lot of cat statues waving their paw at visitors.

Blue and White Christmas ready for Santa

Pacific Mall sign. The mall is open 365 days a year, so if you need a gift on Christmas this is the place to go.

See more of the mall after the jump.

Toys, toys and more toys

Terra Cotta Warriors on display

bronze and gold statues

The GRID Dating Diaries

2011-12-15T22:36:00.000-05:00

I was reading a #Toronto newspaper called @TheGridTO and the final page had an article called 'Dating Diaries' with an episode featuring contestants Julia & Vic. What a horror story; girl has trust issues, after months of unrelenting pressure Julia agrees to go out with Vic. Vic uses fake picture and grosses out Julia when they meet in person, unhappiness ensues!

She reinforces how ugly this guy is with a quaint turn of phrase "He was grotesque, like a science experiment gone horribly wrong." Not just wrong, "horribly wrong". Julia didn't want to be seen with this ugly, lying bastard and quickly dumps him with a fake-out non-entrance at the restaurant and peels out of the parking lot in her car, leaving him alone in the restaurant. Ha ha, ugly guy be gone!

OMG, she probably had nightmares for weeks about this almost date with quasimodo which began over the internet (I found some graffiti that only attempts to represent the man she met and the despair she felt). Her trust, built up like the slow work of befriending a wild cat, is suddenly torn asunder once again. She laments that "I had never met anyone online before," she says, "and probably never will again." Sad, sad, sad.

Julia then rates her date. I was thinking zero out of ten, or maybe into the negatives. No, Julia rates her date 2 out of 10. You're kidding me, a two out of ten, where the hell did that number come from? That is almost an okay date, close to average. Where did he pick up his game to rate a two out of ten? I am still laughing at that score. I think if she gets a good looking guy in a coma we could be looking at a 7 out of 10 rating!

The issue is December 15-21, 2011 so go out and pick up your free copy or read it on the web, whatevs my peeps.

Mild Weather in Toronto in December melts ice, skaters sad!

2011-12-15T20:42:00.001-05:00

The unusually mild temperatures in #Toronto are great for visitors and commuters but it is playing havoc with the City's outdoor rinks. In Nathan Phillips Square the skaters and the Zamboni have to contend with a layer of water on top of the remaining ice surface. Reminds me of the YouTube video I took in January of 2010 when balmy weather left a lot more water on the rink.

It is a good time to be get out on the ice without all those other skaters giving you the elbow and a possible concussion or two. Just don't trip.

Update: The weather has remained very nice but the coolant has managed to keep the ice solid. The skaters fill the rink as even school children are bused in to enjoy the outdoor winter exercise.

School buses line Queen Street West

See more of the rink area after the jump.

The large doors of the snack bar seem to make it cold and windy for the workers

The skate rental lineup

Menorah ready at City Hall

2011-12-15T20:27:00.000-05:00

A giant Menorah sits in #Toronto City Hall at the corner of Nathan Phillips Square near Bay and Queen Street West. The candelabrum with nine candles is used for the Jewish Holiday of Hanukkah and is ready for the first day of the holiday which starts on December 21, 2011.

Flatiron Building sold to Commercial Realty Group

2011-12-15T19:49:00.000-05:00

A big $15.29 million dollars later and the famous #Toronto landmark goes to the Commercial Realty Group in a deal brokered by Brookfield Financial Realty Group. I love this building located at 49 Wellington Street and find it hard not to take pictures of it whenever I am in the area. Clayton Smith's group now owns six properties in Toronto's downtown core.

The buildings' rounded edges, deep red bricks, the unusual mural on the western wall, the park in the back (Berczy Park) and the tight thong and bikini top it wears in the summer makes this a primo postcard view. If they could get a nickel from everyone taking a picture of the building they would be rich, well richer than they already are.

From the Marketwire news release "Located at the junction of Front and Wellington Streets, the sandstone building is in a Romanesque and Gothic revival-style with a circular tower at its apex.

The property comprises a total commercial rentable area of 19,193 square feet throughout its 5-storeys and raised basement. The interior of the Flatiron Building is known for its uniquely shaped offices which feature exceptional views that look directly upon Toronto's St. Lawrence Market District and the downtown office towers. The property was completely restored in the late 1990's, and today features some of the finest office space in Toronto's Financial Core, blending functional, trend-setting work space within a "brick and beam" setting."

Canadian Forces Combat Camera Best Photos of 2011

2011-12-15T19:11:00.002-05:00

The Canadian Forces Combat Camera has chosen their top photos of 2011 and you can find them on their website:http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca. I picked four really cool shots of our forces in action to post here, all photos from the DND. Take a look at all they stuff these guys and gals get involved in. In the water, pictured at top: Deployed on Operation NANOOK 11, Leading Seaman Aaron Page and Marc Andre Ouimet dive on the wreckage of a C-54 Skymaster (a.k.a DC-4) that crashed in 1951. Photo Credit: Master Corporal Peter Reed.

On the beach: Nine hundred reservists from the 35th Canadian Brigade Group (35 CBG) take part in Exercise Franchissement Audacieux on October 1, 2011 in Les Éboulements and Île-aux-Coudres municipalities, in the region of Charlevoix, QC. Photo by: Sgt Jean-François Néron.

On the chopper in Afghanistan : Canadian Forces Door Gunner, Sergeant Chad Zopf, leans out of the CH-146 Griffon helicopter to obtain positive identification on a target and engage it using his GAU-21 50-caliber machine gun during a training exercise. Photo by: Sergeant Matthew McGregor.

In the air: A CF-18 in flight during Exercise Combat Archer, which was held in Tyndall, Florida. Photo: Corporal Pierre Habib.

Those military photographers take some fine pictures.

National Cupcake Day Dec 15

2011-12-15T19:03:00.000-05:00

Hey cupcake, with cool sprinkles and sweet, sweet frosting. National Cupcake Day comes around only once a century, I mean once a year and this year that is December 15, 2011. Cupcake bakeries are popping up everywhere now, I even see a new one in Toronto's PATH system. I found these babies in the Historic Distillery District. While the cake like deserts are nice, they really have become all about the massive icing that tops the cake part.

I think in America it is even a holiday!