Thursday, October 31, 2013

City of #Toronto's safety tips for a wet Halloween

A wet doggy dressed up as a lion

"With the current wet weather and more of it anticipated for Halloween tonight, the City of Toronto is advising everyone to take extra caution when travelling and trick-or-treating tonight.

Heavy rain and high winds are forecast, and with shorter daylight hours at this time of the year, visibility will be limited while children are out later today. Drivers will need to drive slowly and with extra caution throughout the day and evening. Motorists should also drive slowly through any areas of ponding, especially near sidewalks where pedestrians are present.

Transportation Services staff are working today to keep catch basins clear, particularly where there have been problems in the past. Residents are asked to assist in cleaning catch basins on their streets if possible. With leaves falling at this time of year, catch basins can become clogged, resulting in street flooding.

People should stay away from rivers today and exercise caution around all bodies of water.

Toronto's paramedics and firefighters also want everyone to enjoy a safe and happy Halloween tonight, and offer parents and guardians the following tips to help prevent fires and injuries:

• Check labels to ensure that costumes are flame resistant.
• Children should wear bright and reflective costumes, preferably without a mask or hood that can impair vision. Carrying a flashlight is recommended.
• Avoid costumes that have baggy pants and billowing skirts, which can come in contact with lit candles and, combined with shoes that are too big, can make it easier for trick-or-treaters to trip and fall.
• Teach children the following sequence to put out a fire: STOP immediately, DROP to the ground covering the face, and ROLL over and over to extinguish flames.
• Teach children to call 911 if they experience a fire or medical emergency and to always look both ways before crossing the street.
• Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children. Use battery-powered electric candles to decorate pumpkins.
• Have fun decorating but don't overload electrical outlets. Keep exit doors clear and check to make sure extension cords are not a trip hazard.
• At the end of the night, check labels on candy brought home for any ingredients that may cause an allergic reaction to someone in the house, and dispose of any such items.

Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week."

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

#Toronto's newest tourist attraction: Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

Dangerous Lagoon is part of the underwater lure of Canada's largest indoor aquarium located at the base of the CN Tower - the fishies are real and they are spectacular. Opening on October 16, 2013 to massive interest the demand for tickets even crashed their online order site. Over 5 million litres of water holds over 16,000 marine animals including the biggest shark collection in North America and will be open 365 days a year. Touch pools also allow visitors to Ripley's Aquarium of Canada to touch sharks and crabs.


"From the heart-pounding experience of Dangerous Lagoon, a football-field length glass viewing tunnel with moving glide-path sidewalk through sharks, green sea turtles, sawfish and moray eels; to the hypnotic dance of Pacific sea nettle jelly fish which illuminate an array of breathtaking colours from within the world's largest kreisel tank at Planet Jellies, Ripley's Aquarium ofCanada will captivate Torontonians as well as guests from around the world and is expected to draw over 2 million visitors per year."
Touch tanks



Posted by Joe Hamilton and Ann Hamilton. See information from the Aquarium's press release after the jump.

Forever Bicycles - nothing lasts forever in #Toronto

Down come the 3,144 Chinese bikes that made up world famous artist Ai Weiwei's nuit blanche 2013 installation titled Forever Bicycles. Workers showed up in Nathan Phillips Square and started removing and putting the bikes into their shipping crates, ready for a journey to another exhibition. You can see photos of the installation on my post here.
Coming down

Going up

Monday, October 28, 2013

2inTO Honda Indy #Toronto Returns in 2014

Scott Dixon took home the 2013 IZOD IndyCar Series Championship as part of the Target Chip Ganassi Racing team. "I still can’t believe we’ve won the championship. I guess the five-year thing played out," said Dixon, who was competing in his 220th Indy car race. Scott won both IndyCar races in Toronto and had four first-place finishes this year and he must be looking forward to coming back July 18-20, 2014 to the Streets of Toronto double header.
The #22 Valspar car passes in front of the Direct Energy Centre and the Princes' Gates
Two full length, full points races will happen on the weekend race - one on Saturday and one on Sunday during the weekend festival at Exhibition Place. "The on-site attractions include elements of a Craft Beerfest, Motorfest, Adrenalinefest, Tastefest, Celebrationfest and Indyfest, each enhancing the level of spectacle and excitement of the three-day event."

Honest Ed's SOLD

The sprawling complex that makes up the Honest Ed's discount store has been sold to a Vancouver developer Westbank Properties which also built the Shrangri-La Hotel in Toronto. Listed at a cool $100 million since July the large chunk of property didn't take long to sell. The site will be leased back to Mirvish for the next 2-3 years during the planning and approval stage.


The Vegas light show is a beacon of garish beauty at night

Honest Ed's Alley

Saturday, October 26, 2013

@TOzombieWalk 2013

Bright red blood splattered against the concrete in Nathan Phillips Square during the annual #Toronto Zombie Walk and Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 26. The hordes headed out onto the streets around 3 pm looking for brains.



Biting the ear of a cute little puppy


More of the undead after the jump.

@ArtToronto 2013

Otherwise known as the #Toronto International Art Fair puts an impressive display of contemporary art in the north hall of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre Oct 25-27, 2013. Paintings, photographs and sculptures provide both traditional and modern art in original and limited edition formats. With such a large and varied exhibition there are many pieces that you can find that will nicely fit into your home or office, unless the prices shock you too much. Evan Penny's self portrait in pigmented silicone and metal is shockingly realistic and larger than life, pictured above - at a mere $180,000.
Fresh Joe takes a picture of me beside the work to show the scale of the piece
Part of Eric Dupont's oil on canvas $7,950
Expression by Johan Thunell
HOPE by Robert Indiana at US $250,000

Struggle for balance by Kent Monkman, from the urban landscape series

See more art after the jump.

ZoomerShow Toronto 2013

Back again for the sixth year is the consumer and lifestyle expo for the older crowd 45+ at the Direct Energy Centre in Exhibition Place. The 6th annual ZoomerShow continues from October 26-27 and Sunday doors open at 10 am and close at 5 pm. Singer Beverley Mahood, pictured above, performed at the show.
There was a cool looking advertisement using smoke and a projected image. Fresh Joe moves his hand through the smoke and the image is disrupted.
A Silent Auction closed every hour on the hour
A string quartet was the first thing that welcomed visitors into the show
A pet zone also featured such cute and tiny little dancers dressed up as Dalmantions
Spock Vegas was in the Sci-Fi Zone along with models of Silver Elvis

Friday, October 25, 2013

October 26-27 weekend fun in #Toronto

The weekend is here, it just doesn't know it yet! Party with the Zombies on Saturday at Nathan Phillips Square. The Zombie Walk and Halloween Parade crowd will gather at noon and march at 3 pm. Darkness will bring the Night of Dread at Dufferin Grove Park with the parade leaving at 6 pm - the dress code is black & white and dreadful.
The zombies are spreading with the Zombie Run Toronto on October 27. The zombie infected will stagger 5k in an obstacle course run in Riverdale Park East.

The 2013 Toronto International Art Fair, or Art Toronto, starts today and goes the whole weekend. And for Boomers there is the Zoomer Show at the Direct Energy Centre in Exhibition Place.

You can also explore the Delicious Food ShowFort York After Dark: Lantern Tours and the Toronto International Snowmobile ATV and Powersports Show. Ann and I will be going to see I Love Lucy on Sunday.

Monday, October 21, 2013

#Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show

The show that will hopefully show up before the actual snow starts falling in the GTA. Check out the winter play exhibition that will get some of Canada's favourite recreational machines putting on exciting demonstrations during freestyle events at the International Centre from October 25-27, 2013. The largest snowmobile show in the world will also feature Manufacturer displays, info on the Cain's Quest, Custom Sled Village, a used snowmobile and ATV market as well as used parts and races. Kimberly Matte who appeared in Maxim, Playboy and is a Reef Bikini Model will bring the Winter Heat as she signs autographs at the show.
"Cain's Quest announced a new 3,300 kilometre route through Labrador’s rugged wilderness for the 2014 Cain’s Quest Snowmobile Endurance Race, making it the longest adventure of its kind in the world. Cain’s Quest Snowmobile Endurance Race has been described as the ULTIMATE in extreme racing, a true northern adventure that gives racers the experience of a life time. Racers push body and machine to the limits in an all out race to the finish for a shot at a hefty prize purse Teams of two leave the start line pumped with adrenaline and an eye on the prize. Some, with a “take no prisoners” attitude may quickly learn that when the tough get going…sportsmanship and help from a competing team is often what it takes to make it through. The race runs day and night guided by GPS and gut instinct to get teams from checkpoint to checkpoint. This event requires a solid strategy, top gun riding skills, the will to keep going, a tough, dependable snowmobile and a whole lot of luck!"
All photos supplied

Catch a nap in the Pod Hotel

@Breathe_Right Canada has just set up a tube hotel in the #Toronto Financial District (@MyTOFD). The big blue pipes were stacked on top of each other and each held a mattress and pillow. It looks like it should be a bachelor condo and Smart Car parking spot in a primo location at Bay and Wellington Streets - probably set you back $1.2mil.

The hotel will be on site at the Royal Bank Plaza this week and open for 20 minute naps from 11am to 7pm.
Breathe Right strips open your nasal passage and help you stop snoring so you can get a more restful sleep. They ask 'can you increase your productivity with the power of sleep?' I guess if you don't get enough sleep you will need a nap during the day, thus the pod hotel idea was borrowed from Japan and used to illustrate the benefit of Breathe Right. Plus you can pick up a free sample of the nasal strip.

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation