Thursday, January 31, 2013

Strut the catwalk for Wellspring

Celebs and executives will help raise funds during the 2nd annual Well Dressed for Spring event at Holt Renfrew which will be hosted by Dragon's Den money lady Arlene Dickinson. The Wellspring Cancer Support Foundation is a charity purpose is the provide support for individuals, families and professional caregivers who are battling cancer.

Wellspring was founded in 1992 and helps over 3,000 people every year and receives no government funding. "Living with cancer requires more than medical care," said Christina Smith, Wellspring Chief Executive Officer. "It helps tremendously to speak with someone who understands, first hand, the emotional, psychological, and practical consequences of cancer and its treatment. We are so grateful to the wonderful sponsors and models whose lives have been directly impacted by this disease, and who have now chosen to help others face cancer with dignity." You can also volunteer for the event or make a donation on their website.

Wellspring, working in collaboration with Women in Capital Markets and Holt Renfrew, brings together the models with host Arlene who, in addition to her role in Dragon's Den, is also the CEO of Venture Communications. The glitz and glamour of the night begins at 7 pm on February 25, 2013 at the Toronto Fashion Mile's Holt Renfrew located at 50 Bloor Street West at a cost of $200 per ticket. This includes a $100 gift card to Canada's fashion specialty store for both sexes where you can enjoy an exclusive private shopping experience.

Models include Laura Gainey - senior vice president RBC Insurance, Martha Fell - CEO Women in Capital Markets, Paul Henderson - 1972 Summit Series alumnus, Mary Ito Host of CBC Radio's Fresh Air, Lynda Morrison - past CEO of Wellspring, Diane Osak - associate director Quality & Risk Management of Ernst & Young, Sandie Rinaldo - anchor of CTV National News, Dr. Marla Shapiro - Medical Contributor to CTV’s Canada AM and Medical Consultant for CTV News and CTV News Channel with Host Dr. Marla and Friends, Mark Standish - president and co-CEO of RBC Capital Markets and co-head of Investor and Treasury Services.

Other leading sponsors of the the fashion event include BMO Financial Group, Royal Bank of Canada, Scotiabank, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, PwC, McMillan LLP, Aird & Berlis LLP and ELLE Canada Magazine.

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Superbowl Sunday in #Toronto

Brought to you by Roman Emperors and the number XLVII. The two teams playing the 2013 famous NFL Superbowl Sunday pigskin championship game to be held in New Orleans are the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers. Tailgate parties are a little chilly in the northern Canada part of the United States of North America most of our parties are indoor and you can go to your local pub or check out the official party at the Sound Academy or maybe the Office Pub with Bud Girls and cheerleaders.

Quite a few people enjoy the commercials shown during the game, more than the game itself. A number of proposed commercials get rejected by the network, for many reasons, and apparently one of them is that CBS won't accept porn related advertising. Pornhub had their commercial rejected. You can catch the SFW and really dull commercial on YouTube - I would have rejected it for being so boring.

“The Super Bowl is the Holy Grail of ad spots and given our website’s huge following in the US, we developed a G-rated commercial that we felt would meet the network’s advertising standards,” stated Corey Price, Vice President of Pornhub. “We would understand their decision if the commercial contained sexually explicit or offensive content that wasn’t safe for the family-friendly telecast. But there is nothing controversial about it, so we’ve released the commercial online to let the people of America voice their opinions.”

#Toronto International Motorcycle Springshow

March showers can be ignored when you are inside the International Centre at the March 16-17 Motorcycle Springshow which will officially launch the 2013 motorcycle riding season. Officially! Your choice of bikes to see include all the usual varieties (vintage, touring, street bikes, offroad, used) as well as the the supermodels of motorcycles - the custom bikes
"The Showbike Builders Competition features top customs competing for over $20,000 in cash and awards. From vintage and touring bikes, to street bikes and wild customs there are over 30 classes in the competition with $5,000 going to the "Best Bike in Show". The Builders Class entries have been consistently stepping up their game each year since new judging standards have been set by chief judge, Bob McKay and his team. Wild creations from some of Canada's top builders and shops will be vying for the top prize."
Leather fashion shows and autograph sessions are some of the options when you want a break from bike shopping, accessory buying and drooling at all the motorcycle eye candy. You can find a downloadable discount coupon on their website. These photos are from the Motorcycle SuperShow.

Winter Music Festival #Toronto 2013

Come to Echo Beach @BrrrrrTO this weekend as crazy ass fans forget it is the middle of winter and instead listen to cutting edge dance music in the Ontario Place venue. With two stages of artists the festivities presented by electronic/nation will be non- stop for two days of music and visual entertainment that will make it easy to “celebrate winter with the coolest thing to hit Toronto since snow!” It’s probably the best way to break out of the cold February blahs. They suggest you dress hot and snowsuits are optional. The stages are curated by MOBY, EMBRACE and electronic/nation.

Starting on Friday Feb 1 with MOBY, Mord Fustang, Moguai and Jokers of The Scene, Osunlade, Miss Kittin, Deniz Kurtel, Nitin and Jeff Button and continuing on Saturday Feb 2 with Dubfire, Chus + Ceballos, Magda, Justin Martin, addy+, Dinzkoyu, Danny Avila, Dzeko & Torres, DBerrie and Mikael Weerments. The hours of operation are from 4:30pm to 11 pm and two days general admission tickets start at $40, two day VIP passes start at $99. Booze is available so you have to be 19 or over to get into the event.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Canada's Ultimate Racing Show @CMEtoronto

Roaring into town on the February 8-9-10, 2013 weekend is the Inside Track Canadian Motorsports Expo (CME) at the #Toronto International Centre. Featuring NASCAR drivers Kyle Busch and Michael Waltrip along with The Trailer Park Boys (JP Tremblay, Mike Smith and Robb Wells). Check their show schedule for updates and times for the drivers, celebrities and all the other action planned for the event. You can also find discount codes for money off the show entrance.
See some of the 2012 show here: http://torontogp.blogspot.ca/2012/01/cme-and-honda-indy-toronto-2012.html , http://torontogp.blogspot.ca/2012/02/nascar-star-carl-edwards-at-cme-2012.html and the 2011 show here: http://torontogp.blogspot.ca/2011/01/brad-keselowski-at-canadian-motorsports.html .
To get you in the mood for race cars, here are some old beasts that I saw this year at Ashbridges Bay.

World Domination

#Toronto Rap battle number 3, organized by King of the Dot, is painted on the wall in graffiti alley. The 2012 battle for global hip hop supremacy brought together 50 rappers from 7 Countries around the world during the August 10-12 competition at Club XS. It's a battle rap league of epic proportions with millions of YouTube views and tens of thousands of fans.
"Over the last year, battle rap has seen its stature in popular culture grow, thanks in large part to Canada-based battle league King Of The Dot’s ability to bring positive media coverage and mainstream artists into the fold of the burgeoning subculture. Since World Domination 2, events have been co-hosted by the likes of Drake and Raekwon (of the Wu-Tang Clan) and the size and stature of live battle rap has grown, recently reaching new heights with the most widely-publicized event in modern battle rap history, which pitted rap icon Canibus against one of battle rap’s most prominent stars, Dizaster."



Monday, January 28, 2013

Special Event at Yonge-Dundas Square

Oh, I am so excited. There is a special event that will take place in #Toronto from January 29 to 31, 2013. What can it be? I don't know because they haven't update their website and google search has tragically let me down. I do know that it involves a geodome with 'OFFICE' in large letters written on the dome.
Richard Pietro let me know that MicroSoft Office 2013 is launching January 29th. Thanks Richard.



And speaking of special events I see that on Saturday, February 2, 2013 a torontoBIEBERbuyout is scheduled for 2 pm. Meeting at Y-D Square the group will proceed to the HMV Superstore and attempt to buy all the Bieber merchandise that they can get their hands on. The CDs will then be donated to Sick Kids Hospital. This is a special celebration of the Bieb's new 'Believe Acoustic' album which drops tomorrow.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

Motorcycle Ice Racing

Knobby tires full of studs grip the ice as motorcycles rip up the white stuff on the frozen surface of Rice Lake. The Oshawa Competition Motorcycle Club (OCMC) had a George Jones Race Number 1 on Saturday, January 27, 2013 and the sudden warming caused a pressure ridge crack that filled about a third of the course with freezing cold water. The series runs from January to March.


Held in Bewdley, Ontario the ice racing course has two tracks; one for youth and one for adults, with the adult track being considerably more challenging and a lot more corners. The tires have an inner tire to provide depth for the double flat, slotted head screws which are used as ice studs. The orientation of the screws provide outside angle studs for corners and the middle studs are used for braking.



Posted by Joe Hamilton. See more of ice racing after the jump.

Saturday, January 26, 2013

Reporter Cynthia Mulligan at the Gardens

CityNEWS #Toronto reporter @CityCynthia reports from Carlton Street in front of Maple Leaf Gardens as thousands of demonstrators marched to Maple Leaf Gardens on Saturday, January 26, 2013. The Liberal leadership convention taking place inside becomes the focal point of teacher's anger over Bill 115 which set aside union negotiations and replaced them with imposed contracts. You can see more of the protest on my blog post here.
While delegates inside pick a new party leader and Provincial Premier, the unions and their supporters flood the area and the police closed down several streets within the downtown core.

Update 15 November 2016: my posts on Cynthia Mulligan have had a lot of traffic after comic and host Mike Bullard was charged with criminal harassment of the reporter. Mike left his Newstalk 1010 gig on October 5th after he was charged. He is reported to have said that he didn't stalk or harass Cynthia whom he dad dated in the past.

Check out the various places we have seen the media personality work her broadcast magic as she keeps the city informed: http://torontogp.blogspot.ca/2011/10/television-news-reporters-and-anchors.htmlhttp://torontogp.blogspot.ca/2009/12/cynthia-mulligan-reporting-for-citytv.html and http://torontogp.blogspot.ca/2012/08/cynthia-mulligan-at-aloha-toronto.html.

Protest at #Toronto Maple Leaf Gardens

Ha, it wasn't a protest about the long NHL lockout, it was a protest against the Ontario Liberal Party and their Bill 115 as the delegate met to elect a new provincial leader at the Liberal leadership convention held inside the old home of the NHL Maple Leafs. Police brought their horses, protesters brought their flags and signs (and an elephant) while the media flew in some choppers for a birds eye view. Teachers schooled the politicians and asked them to write lines on the chalkboard after class - detention was served.

See CityNews reporter Cynthia Mulligan as she covers the event on my blog post here.
 A paper mache Premier Dalton McGuinty caricature is hoisted high in the air

The 1:00 pm mass rally was organized by the Ontario Federation of Labour as part of a campaign to defend democratic and economic rights of workers and citizens. Long lines of buses,some of them even school buses, filled both sides of many nearby streets as many were bused in to participate in the event. The Saturday January 26, 2013 gathering outside the Liberal leadership convention quickly lost steam when the bell rang 3 pm.
Police horses were stationed on Yonge Street and Church Streets
An elephant marches away from the Gardens
A small group of Anarchists joined the protest: "Austerity is class war, eat the rich, feed the poor". Sounds plausible for a soylent green society of the future.
Police and temporary fences separated the demonstration from the delegates
The "My work here is done" poster showing Dwight with a forest of wind turbines in the devastated wasteland that I presume is a representation of Ontario.

See more signs after the jump.

Interior Design Show 2013 #Toronto

#IDS13 is a designers paradise with over 300 exhibitors showcasing new and innovation products and trends for decorating your living space, "Connecting the right people, with the right products, in the hottest spaces". The show is presented by National Bank and finishes January 27 (House and Home Sunday) from 10 am - 6 pm in the north building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Artist and Modallion rug and carpet designer Robyn Waffle stands in front of the 'Frida Kahlo', pictured above.
Standing in the 'Stone Garden' by nendo, presented by caesarstone

The main KRUPS stage had chats hosted by House & Home leaders Lynda Reeves Mark Challen and Suzanne Dimma with Hudson Bay President Bonnie Brooks, designer Brian Gluckstein and HGTV personality and designer Tommy Smythe. Industry experts John Gidding, Christiane Lemieux and Douglas Coupland provided advice and hot tips.
Metropolis has way cool stuff on display
A balloon display by multimedia artist Willy Chyr of Chicago called 'As Luck Would Have It' hung above the escalators that took visitors up to the show. The first thing that attendees saw when they got off the elevator were the KIA cars wrapped by several designers like Karim Rashid and Douglas Coupeland. 

The Blu Dot Auction in support of ONEXONE was back with several one-of-a-kind chairs that were re-imagined by various designers and artists.
A visitor takes a bathtub out for a spin
Troy Smith at his exhibit

See more of the designs after the jump.

Manulife Walk for Memories

#Toronto's underground PATH system got a different kind of pedestrian traffic today as the 2013 Walk began and ended in the Brookfield Place Allen Lambert Galleria. The day started early with music on stage at 8:30 am on Saturday, January 26 and continued with entertainment and the opening ceremony with Master of Ceremonies Tom Harrington. A yellow shoelace tying ceremony and warm up preceded the walk which, at 10:30 am headed along the underground pedestrian tunnels and retail spaces linking many of the downtown buildings.
Cheering on the walkers are members of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers as well as the World famous Toronto Batman and Spiderman (he was stuck somewhere else because his spidy sense was tingling) the Toronto Deadpool, Gambit and Rogue. Although I think the guy in red is Bane (just kidding). Other entertainment planned by Manulife included Top Hat, Marilyn, Lucy and the Joker. While a stilt walker and the Twisted Ones Balloon Artists also provided fun at the charity event.
Purple boa team

See more of the walk after the jump.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Erin sings Little Things

A beautiful love song

Rob Ford - Still Mayor on Appeal

#Toronto Rob Ford learned today that his appeal in the conflict of interest case was successful and he will remain in the Mayor's position. Toronto Council would have had sixty days to decide to either appoint someone - including Rob Ford, to take over as Mayor, or they could call an by-election to fill the role which is expected to cost many millions of dollars if Rob had lost. You can see the Divisional Court Notice of Appeal of Judgement for Magder v. Ford, 2013 ONSC 263 results online after 10:30 am on Friday, January 25, 2013. the Appeal was heard on January 7, 2013 for the case of Paul Magder vs Robert Ford. Because Rob Ford did not have a pecuniary interest in the matter he voted on, which led to the conflict of interest case, he was not in conflict. The Court also noted that the City was ultra Vires, or outside their authority, when they imposed a sanction against the Mayor for repayment of monies he did not personally receive.
The Mayor awaits questions from the media at a previous event

From http://www.canlii.org/en/on/onscdc/doc/2013/2013onsc263/2013onsc263.html Canadian Legal Information Institute


"Accordingly, the application judge erred in failing to find that Decision CC 52.1 was ultra vires by imposing a sanction not authorized by the COTA.

In addition, Decision CC 52.1 went beyond the “Other Actions” contemplated by the Code, because it required Mr. Ford to reimburse funds which he never received personally. The “Other Actions” set out in the Code include reimbursement of monies “received”. Here, the evidence is clear that Mr. Ford never personally received any of the money donated for the football foundation. All funds were received by an arm’s length entity, the Toronto Community Foundation. Therefore, the sanction was not authorized by the Code nor by the COTA.

Given that the imposition of the financial sanction under Decision CC 52.1 was a nullity because Council did not have the jurisdiction to impose such a penalty, Mr. Ford had no pecuniary interest in the matter on which he voted at Council on February 7, 2012 - namely, the revocation of the Decision CC 52.1.

Conclusion [96] In light of our conclusion that Decision CC 52.1 was a nullity because of the nature of the financial sanction it imposed, the appellant has not contravened s. 5(1) of the MCIA. Therefore, the appeal is allowed, the judgment of the application judge is set aside and the application under the MCIA is dismissed."

Ford and Harper on a red garbage bin

The NOPE Ford poster




Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation