Sunday, November 30, 2014

Eaton Centre on Black Friday

Black Friday has spread like wild fire from the United States and great sales over the American Thanksgiving weekend culminates in Cyber Monday. This year the sales roll from Friday, November 28 to Monday, December 1, 2014.
Early morning lineups and busy stores on Friday can be avoided by getting on your computer and surfing the web for online deals on Monday. Check out Red Flag Deals for their links to Cyber Monday deals.


These photos are of Toronto's premiere mall during lunchtime on Black Friday, between the morning lineups for the rare doorcrasher items and the evenings wholesale invasion by eager shoppers. The unusual green, aluminum Christmas tree and the fancy deer and star installations have been put up and they alone are worth the price of admission into the Eaton Centre, which of course, is free to enter.

Twitpic part 10

So anyways, Twitpic shut down but the photos will continue to live on in Twitter. But here continues the blasts from the past.

Saturday, November 29, 2014

Twitpic part 9

So anyways, Twitpic shut down but the photos will continue to live on in Twitter. But here continues the blasts from the past.

Friday, November 28, 2014

Twitpic part 8

So anyways, Twitpic shut down but the photos will continue to live on in Twitter. But here continues the blasts from the past.

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Twitpic part 7

So anyways, Twitpic shut down but the photos will continue to live on in Twitter. But here continues the blasts from the past.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Snowfall: Frost in @ArtsBrookfield Place

Santa Claus is coming to town and he is bringing Christmas decorations to the @MyTOFD #Toronto Financial District. The Christmas tree is up around the fountain in Sam Pollock Square and in and around the Allen Lambert Galleria there are some big, blue snowflakes by Studio F Minus.
The 20 foot snowflake in the centre of the hall was inspired by creating Y shaped patterns, repeated and rotated to provide the shape of a snowflake crystal. Smaller snowflakes hang from the ceilings, spreading their blue light in a holiday greeting.



Twitpic part 6

So anyways, Twitpic shut down but the photos will continue to live on in Twitter. But here continues the blasts from the past.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

Twitpic part 5

So anyways, Twitpic shut down but the photos will continue to live on in Twitter. But here continues the blasts from the past.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Twitpic part 4

So anyways, Twitpic shut down but the photos will continue to live on in Twitter. But here continues the blasts from the past.

Sunday, November 23, 2014

Twitpic part 3

So anyways, Twitpic shut down but the photos will continue to live on in Twitter. But here continues the blasts from the past.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

Twitpic part 2

So anyways, Twitpic shut down but the photos will continue to live on in Twitter. But here continues the blasts from the past.

Friday, November 21, 2014

The unending of Twitpic

We were told that the photo and video sharing service that posted the content to Twitter would end in September of 2014 and that if we wanted the photos we would have to download them before they disappeared forever. Twitter ended up with the photo archives as Twitpic shut down without a buyer, but I downloaded the photos before I knew they were to be spared. Here then are some blasts from the past (photos from the past -part 1).

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Fashion of Politics

Or the Politics of Fashion at the #Toronto Design Exchange guest curated by the legendary Jeanne Beker. The exhibition studies the use of fashion as a tool in communication and politics by such famous designers as Vivienne Westwood, Jean Paul Gaultier and Stella McCartney.
"Spanning 1960 to present day and presenting over 200 works – including Jeremy Scott’s leopard print burqa, promotional paper campaign dresses featuring the faces of Robert Kennedy, Richard Nixon and Pierre Trudeau and Rad Hourani’s slick Unisex Haute Couture collection – the exhibition spotlights the numerous ways fashion has helped ignite political awareness and how politics have dictated style through the decades. Exploring such themes as activism, consumerism, campaign and power dressing, gender and sexuality, and appropriation, the exhibition provokes visitors to examine how fashion contributes to social progress."
The fashionable show runs from September 18 to January 25, 2015.

Monday, November 17, 2014

Waiting for Macy's Parade in #Toronto

One of Santa's Elves sits on Royal Bank Plaza waiting for the famous New York Parade of giant, inflatable balloons to pass by. The elf has a present in his hands and his shoes curl upwards as he patiently waits for Christmas. I found out his name is Evan and he is a Walmart Holiday Helper.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

Acton Santa Claus Parade 2014

Christmas floats full of families and fuzzy characters waved to the crowds of eager children and their parents along Mill Street in Acton. The Saturday morning parade started at 1 pm and moved through the downtown core of the small town of Acton on November 15, 2014.
Santa and Mrs. Claus brought up the rear in a horse drawn carriage

See more of the parade after the jump.

Friday, November 14, 2014

Window Cleaners in NYC rescued

Cutting a hole in the window allowed the fire department to rescue two cleaners who were trapped outside the 69th floor of One World Trade Center. The platform was suspended at a 75 degree angle and they hung out for an hour and half until they were brought inside.
Window cleaning platforms wrap around the Toronto-Dominion Centre
Cleaning office towers, condos and apartments is a massive job in Toronto as more and more high rise buildings are constructed with the popular glass facade. Making the job even more necessary is that many of them are built along the Gardiner Expressway and winter salt can travel hundreds of metres when high speed traffic (hey, don't laugh, it can happen in Toronto) zips along just metres from the elevated highway.

Condos along the lakefront and the highway
Instead of platforms these guys hang from ropes

Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Remembrance Day 2014

Ceremonies begin at 10:45 am on Tuesday, November 11 at the Cenotaph #Toronto at Old City Hall. The annual gathering at the five Toronto Civic Centres in Toronto - East York, Etobicoke, North York, Scarborough and York and also including Fort York and Ontario's Queens Park, honours those that served and sacrificed for their country.
Wreaths at Old City Hall
This year will also be especially poignant as the recent deadly attack on the honour guards at the Ottawa Cenotaph touched all of Canada.  Members of the Canadian military stand guard in Ottawa in these pictures.
Standing guard in Ottawa

Monday, November 10, 2014

Seasons Christmas Show

Kick off the holiday buying season with Canada's fastest growing Seasons Christmas Show from Nov 21 to 23, 2014. The 10th annual holly, jolly show is in Hall Five at the Toronto International Centre beginning next Friday at 10 am. "The Christmas season is one of the most magical times of the year. Snow gently falls on the towering 25 foot real Christmas tree as you are transformed into the season. Nothing reminds us of the joys of the season like the scent of fresh pine and the twinkle of Christmas lights."
To get ready next weekend's Seasons Christmas Show you can actually watch Santa ride through town during the Toronto Santa Claus Parade which starts at Christie Pits at 12:30 pm this coming Sunday, November 16. Check the website for the route of HoHo - Happiness.

Season's Show Hours and features: 
Friday, November 21 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., 
Saturday, November 22 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., 
Sunday, November 23 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

©       Our newest feature, Festive Firsts is where entrepreneurs join us for the first time. Find unique one of a kind gifts for those hard to buy for people on your list.
©       Purdy’s Chocolate Bar, a Chocoholics dream will be returning again this year, this interactive lounge area complete with sampling is always a crowd pleaser. Show goers will be able purchase chocolates to take home! Perhaps a “to me from me early Christmas gift”?  
©        Specialty sections Savour the Flavours and Fashion Finds are back again this year. Your inner Diva or Foodie will not be denied!
©       Back by popular demand, The Dairy Farmers of Canada have always been a fan favorite with their fascinating seminars and delicious array of cheeses. Watch for their new holiday inspired demonstrations
©       How to Workshops; Join self-proclaimed Christmas ‘junky’, Kate Seaver of Kate’s Garden daily as she teaches visitors the ins and outs of how to whip up some amazing seasonal décor. 

Sunday, November 09, 2014

Motorcycle Shows in #Toronto 2015

Mount your choppers and ride my friends as the motorcycle expos are scheduled to return bright and early in January 2015, beginning with the January Supershow.
North American International Motorcycle Supershow Jan 2-4 at the International Centre


  •  The Supershow has entertainment and everything for motorcycle enthusiasts. And if you didn't get what you wanted for Christmas, this is the time to pick up a shiny, chrome covered bike. 
  • "A true shopping extravaganza, the Motorcycle SUPERSHOW hosts hundreds of exhibits. In addition to the unveiling of the new Motorcycles the Motorcycle SUPERSHOW has the largest display of Motorcycles, Non-current and Pre-owned Bikes, Aftermarket Parts and Accessories, Rider Apparel and Helmets, Performance Equipment, Trailers, Travel Destinations, Custom Bike Builders, and a full range of Leather Fashions. The Motorcycle SUPERSHOW offers the largest marketplace in North America for Everything in Motorcycling."


Motorcycle Show Toronto Feb 22-25 at the Direct Energy Centre in Exhibition Place
  • All major manufacturers will take part at this show. "As the riding season winds down preparations are well underway to kick-start next year’s season with the 2015 Motorcycle Show- Toronto presented by Dalton Timmis Insurance, which returns to the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, February 20 – 22." Beat the February Blahs at this show.
International Spring Motorcycle Show March 21-22 at the International Centre

  • From show bikes to used bikes, this event even has special guests and fashion shows. You can feel the snow melting and the call of the open road.

Toronto National Motorcycle and Tattoo Show has now retired. Now you can't get a tattoo blasting down the road on a hog.

Port Dover Friday the 13th Motorcycle Rallies 2015: Feb 13, Mar 13 and Nov 13.
  • Part street festival, part rally, this major Ontario Tourism event in Southwest Ontario fills the small Lake Erie town of Port Dover every Friday the 13, winter, spring summer or fall. 2015 sees three of these Fridays. They will be a little chilly this year!

Tuesday, November 04, 2014

Halloween over, time for Christmas

Trick or Treat candy is selling at 50% and before it flies off the shelf Santa has already started putting up Xmas decorations. Commerce Court at Bay and King Street has their illuminated metal trees lit up like, well like Christmas trees.


The elephants march towards the light

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation