Monday, March 31, 2014

Reif Estates Winery Niagara-on-the-Lake

As a stand-alone destination the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is a popular place to wander the main street checking out the live theatre, shops, bakeries and restaurants of the original Capital of Upper Canada. Looking across the Niagara River to the American's Old Fort Niagara the area is also a hub for the extensive winery region that brings in millions of fermented grape lovers. Historic attractions like Fort George and Brock's Monument can be visited in between winery tours.
While standing at the Whirlpool Aero Car attraction in Niagara Falls we met a tour bus driver whom we asked to recommend a local winery - his answer was Reif Estates Winery.

"Reif Estate Winery is home to Niagara-on-the-Lake’s only Wine Sensory Garden, where carefully selected herb and floral plantings reflect the colours, aromas and flavours of the many grape varieties in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Set against the backdrop of an original 1870’s Coach House building, the Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling section of the garden features light foliage and flowers and aromatics such as honeysuckle, grapefruit mint and coriander. The Red section of the garden captures the robust nature of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot with lush floral displays and the scents of chocolate mint and oregano. Meticulously kept, the gardens provide the perfect oasis for a leisurely stroll while enjoying a glass of award-winning Reif Estate wine."
For $5 we received a sampling of three wines, we picked three reds - Cabernet Merlot, Baco Noir and Gamay Cabernet, which were very enjoyable. And on that special Saturday, March 29, 2014 we stumbled into Reif Estates Mardi Gras celebration. Meeting new friends we tasted special pairings of food and wine and had a great time.

The grape vines are also waiting for spring

Back in Niagara-on-the-Lake we found the horse drawn carriages waiting for passengers by the impressive Prince of Wales Hotel. Then the candy apples in the windows made us head to a bakery for some late night treats.

Steinmetz: Desert Air at Brookfield Place

#Toronto @ArtsBrookfield presents a collection of aerial photos of stunning desert scenes in the Allen Lambert Galleria. Award-winning photographer George Steinmetz took the photos over 15 years using a paraglider flying over remote and barren landscapes. Large scale pictures from his collection 'Desert Air' have been seen in New York City and Los Angeles and will continue on tour in Toronto at First Canadian Place and Bay Adelaide Centre later this spring.
"This enormously ambitious project took the photographer to 27 different countries and Antarctica to discover surreal landscapes that have been shaped by natural forces into unique patterns and designs."


Sunday, March 30, 2014

Niagara Falls in Spring

The season has officially changed, but the weather refuses to cooperate. The day started out pleasantly in the honeymoon capital of the world, then the snow started and when a new day dawned, about an inch of snow had fallen on the ground. This is the view from the 38th floor of the Hilton Niagara Falls.
And now everything is white

Hilton upgraded us to a two bedroom deluxe suite with a fantastic whirlpool bath and a premium view of both falls. I bought some bubble bath in the gift shop and enjoyed a soak in the large, jet filled bathtub. We had bought the package which included a $50 coupon, a meal voucher for one of the hotel's restaurants and a free breakfast buffet. When we checked in they had a spin the wheel prize draw and we won free self-check parking. The hotel is an easy walk to the falls, not too far from Clifton Hill and is directly connected to the Casino by a glass enclosed, elevated walkway. Totally recommend the hotel, but if you get a whirlpool bath remember not add too much bubbles to your bath!

I did find a little bit of spring in the Floral Showhouse with several greenhouses chock full of flowers.


Posted by Ann and James Hamilton. See more photos after the jump.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

MTV Canada's Phoebe Dykstra

TV personality @phoebedykstra was filming in the #Toronto @toEatonCentre today. The MTV News spot featured a little cloud so she might have been doing a weather forecast.

Phoebe has a fascinating hairstyle - the side cut. One side of the head is buzzed and the other side is long. It would be like rotating the mullet 90 degrees and saying that it's army on the right and hippy on the left. She was covering up most of her tattoos with a thick lumberjack shirt.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Mon Ferris Wheel is kaput

The wheel sits upright and inviting but it lacks a certain something, or many things, like seats and probably a motor. Located at the Front 9 Golf Store on Paris Road just north of Powerline Road in Brantford, the ferris wheel is like a humongous garden gnome, a rusting, hulking garden gnome that will eventually crumble and drop onto the golf store.
The I thought to myself, self, if I wanted wind power when everyone hates wind turbines in their backyard - hello NIMBY, where could I put it and make everyone happy? The answer, hide it in plain sight in your front yard as a midway attraction. All's fair in Fall Fairs.

Sunday, March 23, 2014

Miss Megaspeed Bikini Contest 2014

Shortly after the got ass? Best Bottom contest the annual Megaspeed Bikini contest took over main stage at the Toronto International Centre. And this is a mega-post to recap the excitement of the competition.
Let me take a selfie
Miss Megaspeed 2014

Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton. See more of the contest after the jump.

Best Bottom at 2014 Megaspeed

Got ass? sponsored the World's Best Bottom contest at the Megaspeed Custom Car and Truck Show starting at 5pm on March 22nd. Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton.


See more photos after the jump.

Girls of Megaspeed 2014

Model Theresa Longo at the GLA booth at the International Centre poses for photos during the March 21-23 show, above. In addition to the lovely ladies helping to promote exotic cars and automotive vendors there was also the Best Bottom contest and the Megaspeed Bikini Contest.
Model Sharlyn Dizon will also be at Importfest


See more of the lovely ladies after the jump.

Toronto Megaspeed Custom Car & Truck Show 2014

Elbow grease and shiny chrome competed with ladies in bikinis at the March 21-23 Megaspeed Show at the International Centre.  Long lineups of fans patiently waited to meet celebrities Coco, Rick and Kelly from American Restoration and Danny 'The Count' from Counts Kustoms.


Model Sharlyn Dizon


Rick of American Restoration poses with a fan
Rick and wife Kelly
Danny 'The Count' Koker of Count's Kustoms
Kevin Mack of Counts Kustoms

Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton. See more photos after the jump.

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Coco Austin at Megaspeed

The lovely @cocosworld came to #Toronto to meet fans at the custom car and truck show. I told her I like the shot of her balancing a can on her butt and she said her mother suggested the pose. Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton.
James and Coco

"Was headliner of PeepShow, IceLovesCoco on E! Swimsuit,Playboy & Fitness Model.Wife of IceT, a shoe freak that loves to clean & a proud mama to my bulldogs". More after the jump.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Signs of Spring: roaming Ryerson Engineering students

Students in coveralls fled their labs studies and gathered in Toronto Yonge-Dundas Square. Meeting in a quick circle they cheered and broke out in a burst of speed, running for something, then soon the frenzy was done and they headed back to school.



Wednesday, March 19, 2014

IndyCar goes Verizon

March 30th begins the 2014 racing season for the newly branded Verizon IndyCar Series. The former IZOD IndyCar finished up 2013 and welcomed the new sponsor to the upcoming 18-race season.
Florida begins the open wheel racing season as "a convoy heads down I-75 early next week to St. Petersburg, Fla., and the season-opening Firestone Grand Prix of St. Petersburg on March 28-30. If you can't attend, watch the race at 3 p.m. (ET) March 30 on ABC."

When Toronto starts baking in the sun we will have our double header July 19-20, with each race starting at 3 pm. The Honda Indy Toronto is a great mix of on and off track events, all ending in FEST!

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation