Monday, February 28, 2011

Reflection of Justice

After some rain in the morning the sun decided to come out today and blue sky provided some welcome sunshine on the last day of February 2011. Old City Hall, which is now a courthouse that turned 100 years old in 1999, is reflected like a fun house mirror in the Simpson Tower windows.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

A February Roller Derby Double Header

It was a fantastic night of Toronto Roller Derby (ToRD) with two bouts starting at six on Saturday, February 26, 2011 at the Downsview Park Hanger. First up was Toronto D-VAS vs Sister Slag from Nickel City Roller Derby out of Sudbury. Second was the Toronto All Star team CN Power against Killamazoo Derby Darlins from Michagan, US of kickin' A. Toronto decided to stomp both of their competitors.





CN Power Captain Brim Stone #218
Brim Stone holds back the Killamazoo Jammer

See more pictures of the bruising, bone crushing action after the jump.

Toronto Sexapalooza 2011

Update: Sexapalooza 2012 photos here. And The Everything to do with Sex Show coming to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from October 21 to the 23, 2011.

Of all the paloozas this one is The Palooza - the 2011 Toronto Sexapalooza show this February 25-27 at the International Centre. This was my first Sexapalooza and I was impressed by the show and the attendance in Hall Six of the Centre, just the right size for this year's show. Some beautiful models were on hand to help show off some of the sexy fashions available.
The people attending the show were a great mix of couples and groups of friends who dropped by to see all the show had to offer, which included a lot of sex toys and boudoir wear. I must admit that some of the super hot visitors rivaled some of the professional models - like the gorgeous lady pictured above.
There was a main stage with all sorts of demonstrations including Burlesque, pole dancing demonstrations and a lingerie show. Also included in the show were videos, a BDSM dungeon and a small sex museum. For the artistic touch you could get some body painting done.
Body painting by Joshua Mayhem.

See more exciting pictures after the jump.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Little Red Tugboat

I wanted to remember what the water looked like when it wasn't full of ice: The cute little tugboat the M.R. Kane rests on Lake Ontario at Queens Quay during summer. I was surprised to know there is a Tugboat Festival called Tugfest (no not a rub and tug fest) that happens annually in Georgian Bay, Lake Huron. Across the harbour is the Cherry Street lift bridge all green and strong metal.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Kit Kat and other sights

I think that we are on the good side of winter now, heading slowly into spring as the days get longer and hopefully warmer. Our streets remain quite with none of the massive protests that fill so many cities around the world, in fact the cows continue to hang out at Kit Kat overlooking King Street West. Of course the cows (or maybe just one cow cut in half) are not real.

Speaking of protests the last protests I remember, besides the recent gatherings in support of the Arab awakening, were the mildly violent G20 protests and the much more mellow hash protest (or the G-420 march and later snack protest) which took place at the Yonge-Dundas Square.

The old Toronto Stock Exchange building on Bay Street now holds the Design Exchange and maybe they should hang a few cows off the Art Deco facade, or maybe just chip in a new name on their large sign.
The old Toronto Stock Exchange Building.

I started listening to CHUM radio when I was growing up and I occasionally listen to it in the car, but I miss the old Roger, Rick and Marilyn combo in the morning. At the end of their run I think they were all mad at each other, now Rick has left and Darren fills his spot.
Chum Building.


Tuesday, February 22, 2011

V is for INXS


Canadian singer J.D. Fortune rejoins rock group INXS as they begin the Original Sin tour starting in Toronto on March 2, 2011. In the illustration above J.D. (right) is joined by sax-guitarist Kirk Bengilly who I think looks remarkably like the V is for Vendetta guy. It looks like he is ready to protest right now so I added his hat.
From Facebook "Toronto! INXS will be playing a show in Toronto at the Sound Academy on March 2, 2011. It’s their first show in Canada in over three years! INXS and JD Fortune will be playing songs from the new album ‘Original Sin’. Pre-sale tickets are available now and you better hurry because this is an event you do not want to miss! Pre-order your tickets here: http://bit.ly/fIM5yT".

Reality Show: PRINCE$$

Frantic Films is looking for demanding divas and dudes for a new reality show they are now casting called PRINCE$$. Host Gail Vaz-Oxlade will show some tough love - but you can't handle the love, you sniveling diva.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Ice on the Water

While taking pictures of Toronto's skyline from Burlington Beach I had a chance to walk on the buildup of ice that had been pushed toward shore, full of beach sand as it grinds along the bottom. The ice extends pretty far out into the water and seems to be shaped like frozen waves. The beach grass below is just above the beach sand which is surprisingly still visible, uncovered by snow, which then heads out onto the ice field.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Niagara Falls in Winter

When you go to waterfalls you can't forget about the big boy - Niagara Falls. The water freezes at the base of the massive falls and the ice grows tall. The recent warmer weather - and today had some more sunshine and warm temperatures, has melted some of the icebergs and the fast flowing river has some clear spots downriver of the falls. The mist looks fun and provides some nice rainbows in the sunshine but the mist falls heavy like rain close to the Horeshoe Falls, thank goodness it wasn't too cold today.
Horseshoe Falls
American Falls
The view from the SkyWheel

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Waterfalls in Winter

Well if you are going to freeze your ass off, you may as well do it in front of some waterfalls. The Niagara Escarpment through Hamilton has some great waterfalls. The water was flowing today after the recent above freezing temperatures that ended Friday (which was a nice break from the February blahs by the way). I went to Devil's Punchbowl and also to Tiffany Falls. Luckily I wore ice cleats because it was very slippery and I also got a little bit wet (that's what she said).
A ice volcano still survives at the base of the Devil's Punchbowl waterfall (picture at top) and looking down the escarpment onto Hamilton, framed by a tree on the left that survives on it's precarious perch, and a tall cross on the right which lights up at night, in the photo below.
The mist from the falls gather on the branches and freeze, the ice grows larger and larger looking for a cocktail to jump into. The water even started freezing on my camera.
They were supposed to be ice climbing on the frozen water at Tiffany Falls, below, but I think the premature spring thaw kind of put the kibosh on that plan.


Toronto: Ghost City

A far away view of the City of Toronto from Hamilton Harbour looking over Lake Ontario to the most recognizable Canadian landmark. The hazy skyline seems unreal and ghost like.

Friday, February 18, 2011

Snow in Berczy Park

Well, really big plastic snow, which comes in handy as the wonderful spell of warm weather in the middle of winter has melted much of the real stuff. There is even a big shiny Christmas tree sticking out of the fountain.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Untamed Queen Street West

The lush texture of Queen Street West begins with the high end clothing and shoe stores and a crazy mix of some wild and wonderful stores like Condom Shack and the Cannabis Culture Shop and is followed, and always overshadowed, by the old CityTV/Much Music building with that SUV blasting out of the side of the wall, high above the parking lot. Stars and celebrities still wander through out the studios and people wait to catch glimpses of the famous. Wonder Woman engages in a wild fight with evil, phallic shaped MAC cosmetics in the store window above.

There is always colour and a vibrancy about the street coming from the area's desire to be something other than a staid business strip of typical merchants. That and the constant posters and graffiti everywhere.

Roommate wanted posters
"This wall looked better with graffiti" - I'm pretty sure it still has graffiti.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Is it time for the Honda Indy Toronto yet?

I can feel it, so close, CNE and race cars. Be there this July 8-10 for the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto (Dario Franchitti above, Alex Tagliani in the gif below). For your winter car fix you should head to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to see the Canadian International AutoShow starting this Friday from the 18th - 27th of February.

Milka Duno #18

Much Music: New Music Live

My daughter, Erin Hamilton, went to Much Music for the Feb 16, 2011 edition of New Music Live where she watched the punk rocker band Cancer Bats (pictured above) perform.
Erin also saw Ben Mulroney and later the American Civic Rights leader Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. walking through the control room (pictured above, walking away on the right side of the photo). The Reverend was in Canada as part of We Day celebrations in Kitchener. These are all Erin's pictures, seen below in stripes.

This post is supported by .... Concerts in Toronto.

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation