Monday, October 31, 2011

Halloween 2011 Pumpkin and Mask

Happy Halloween Toronto! May your costumes be fun and scary and thousands of kids come by your house for candy. Up top is a pumkin with a candle and below is a photo of me in a INGEN BIO Corporation Infection Hazard  mask that I picked up at the Action Figure Expo. And nothing says Halloween likes some more zombies from the 2011 Toronto Zombie Walk.

One of the funniest zombies was the mime with the brick in his head

Red hair and white top hat zombie 

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Toronto ZoomerShow

Teens are out running amok for Devil's Night (Day before Halloween) while Nana and Papa are out at the Toronto ZoomerShow doing the opposite, maybe walking briskly like they were in a mall, shopping, and maybe even shopping briskly. The Direct Energy Centre in the CNE grounds were home to the weekend consumer and lifestyle show meant to cater to the 45 and older crowd. It was a chance to sample, enter contests, pick up a few pens and get brochures for everything from scooters and golf carts to travel and condominium ownership.
Health, vacations and tourism were a large part of the show and several towns, provinces, states and countries were represented such as the Town of Amherstburg billing itself as a War of 1812 Community (uniform at top), Wasaga Beach and several booths that featured Costa Rica.

There was also a full schedule of seminars and entertainment and it was exciting to catch gorgeous Canadian singing star Sass Jordan on the main stage on Sunday, October 30, 2011.
Sass Jordan and her band take to the main stage
Sass Jordan and James (photo by Joe Fresh)

See more Zooming after the jump.

Toronto Action Figure Expo

Plastic bendy toys and toys that transformed from one shape to another beckoned to fan boys and girls at the 2011 Toronto Action Figure Expo at the Hilton Hotel near the Toronto Airport. Ann and I had to buy some cool Star War Potato Heads - there was Darth Tater,  Artoo-Potatoo and my favourite, Spudtrooper.
There were several people dressed in cosplay costumes, including the ever popular Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion.
Captain Americas and their shield

See more photos after the jump.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Cold Little Hell

In Toronto's Greek town during the 2011 Taste of the Danforth street festival I came upon a poster taped to a pole, and that poster said 'cold little hell'. I remember it was warm that day my friends. Well today, it is not so warm. I ventured outside and noticed that the grass seemed to be a little white and crispy. The answer was either zombie grass or the onset of winter!

Today, as on that day, I could still use a cold little beer.

Friday, October 28, 2011

BOO! Shrunken Head Graffiti

Behind the Henry's Queen Street East Camera store lies a shrunken head graffiti posted to the shipping bay doors. Boo! It's just perfect for Halloween weekend (Monday October 31 is the true Halloween night). It's right beside the 'sanctioned drug dealing zone' which seems legit, probably granted by some obscure City Hall department soon to be cut by Rob Ford as he tries to save taxpayer money.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Occupy Toronto enters annoying phase

The tents remain in St James Park as Occupy Toronto continues it's camp out and sign making workshops. The group of protesters occasionally stir and today they were out marching and clogging up the streets during afternoon rush hour. Talk from the City of Toronto has started to change from casual indifference to watchful indifference tinged with implied threats of reduced indifference.
Solidarity with the people of Occupy Wall St

Protesters are waiting for Santa Claus to deliver the perfect protest platform, hopefully besides full scale communism or anarchy, and barring that, maybe they hope that the police will soon start to throw people out of the park and into people's hearts.
The park remains remarkably clean and peaceful and some older ladies in purple hats were singing, badly it turned out, to try to cheer up the remaining masses of protesters that hadn't gone on the days march and traffic disruptions. Someone had dropped off a bunch of mannequin heads and they soon became a protest installation - 'See no evil' at top.
I see that some of the Occupy Toronto group actually went into a TD Canada Trust bank branch building at the King and Bay Toronto-Dominion Centre, sat on the floor while security stared at them like they were elephants about to depart the zoo - sort of a combination sad and outraged look that I think the elephant handlers probably had. See more photos after the jump.

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas

A shabby living room setup, a plastic snowman and a large Christmas tree full of snacks and munchies were surrounded by posters and signs for the upcoming film A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas in Yonge-Dundas Square. The clear Toronto air was soon filled with rolling clouds of smoke as a special machine, ridden by the head of a fox, chugged out smoke from a large flexible hose. Knowing Harold & Kumar this smoke would suggest something to do with certain plant, maybe a weed.
A tree lighting was part of this promotion taking place at, wouldn't you know it, 4:20pm on Thursday, October 27, 2011.
From Warner Brothers; "Toronto – October 25th, 2011 – Warner Bros. Pictures Canada today announced its plan to kick off the holiday season ‘Harold & Kumar’ style with a special tree lighting ceremony in Toronto. To celebrate the November 4th theatrical release of “A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas,” Torontonians are invited to ‘get lit’ at 4:20 PM on Thursday, October 27 at Yonge & Dundas Square and help spark some holiday magic at the lighting of a uniquely decorated, giant ‘munchies’ Christmas tree.

And; It would not be a “Harold & Kumar” film without Neil Patrick Harris, who returns along with Paula Garcés, Danneel Harris, Eddie Kaye Thomas, David Krumholtz and Bobby Lee. Joining the ensemble are Tom Lennon, Danny Trejo, Elias Koteas, Amir Blumenfeld, Patton Oswalt, Richard Riehle, Jordan Hinson, John Hoogenakker, Jake Johnson, Yasen Payankov and David Burtka." See more photos after the jump.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

More cool Toronto Zombies

The annual Toronto Zombie Walk brings out more and more people who enjoy the chance to dress up, pour gallons of blood on themselves and have hundreds of photographers snap their pictures. Some of the efforts produce really cool looking zombies. See my original 2011 posts here - zombie wedding and zombies on the streets. It's an interesting genre of the cosplay movement. Sometimes it's not the most gory or horrifying that makes the coolest zombie, but instead it is the sexy, the bold and the unusual - they make great pictures as well. Here are lots of pictures from the Saturday, October 22, 2011 walk.
zombie with knife through the head

green and blue hair zombie with piercings

See more zombies after the jump.

Toronto Roller Derby at the Everything to do with Sex Show

It was great to see some of the fantastic ladies from the Toronto Roller Derby at the 2011 Toronto Everything to do with Sex Show. They were all suited up and wearing skates and rolled on the red carpet throughout the show. They always practice safe derby and use protection.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Super Grover Graffiti

The fuzzy blue Muppet flies faster than a speeding bullet and leaves a trail of spray paint everywhere he goes. Grover is flying alongside the Tommy's Gifts and Variety wall at Dundas and Sorauren Streets.
Check out the artist's fantastic work at things graffiti blog. Thanks for the shout out!

He knows when you're awake

I turned up my furnace as I thought of the message that The Bay is sending by starting to put up advertisements of their upcoming Christmas window displays; Christmas means winter! The posters cover the windows which will soon display the tiny holiday creations that fill the large windows along Queen Street West and which will be unveiled November 1st, 2011.

The Three Musketeers 3D Bus Stop Advertisement

Swashbuckling 3D Musketeers join forces to stop something or other, waving swords, firing pistols, riding on floating airships (where the heck did they come from?) and I think there were three of them plus one wannabe. Orlando Bloom and Milla Jovovich join the fight as evil villains.
The promotion for the movie featured large posters plastered on a bus stop at Dundas and Yonge Streets. The posters were translucent so you could see forms and figures through the faces of the stars which I thought really looked cool.

Monday, October 24, 2011

Shark Fin Ban Protest at City Hall

Some people were upset about the proposed banning of Shark Fins within Toronto and protested today at City Hall. The protesters said that is 'an unfair and irresponsible act'. Shark fin soup is probably a good idea because otherwise there would be sharks out protesting in support of the ban.
I am always surprised when local municipalities work to regulate and ban things that they shouldn't be involved in. Maybe the politicians won't like vegetables next year - so out come the bylaw officers looking for your illegal broccoli. It was a good thing that the Nathan Phillips Square pond has been drained otherwise there would be Jaws music in the air and fins poking out of the water!

False Fire Alarm at the Toronto Eaton Centre

Members of the Toronto Fire Department exit the Toronto Eaton Centre after investigating a false fire alarm that sounded during lunch time on Monday, October 24, 2011. Dressed in emergency response bunker uniforms and loaded with equipment the personnel head back to the fire truck parked along Yonge Street.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Toronto Fall Toy Show

The 39th annual fall toy show and sale filled the bunker in Downsview Park (new home of the Toronto Roller Derby). Old and new toys filled tables and cabinets while toy buyers and collectors looked for their acquisitions during the Canadian Toy Collector's Society October 23, 2011 show. The Flash Gordon Rocket Fighter tin toy is shown at top.
I saw a pair of giant Hulk foam fists like the type Sheldon wore in the Big Bang Family and I really wanted to buy them but I backed off because I am trying to control my temper.

See more toys after the jump.

Bazaar of the Bizarre - Fall 2011

The October 22, 2011 Bazaar of the Bizarre is a little slice of weird and beautiful in the City, which is just perfect for the Toronto Zombie Walk weekend and the approaching Halloween. The unusual market place was set up at 6 Noble Street, sharing the building with some little dancers, and filled several of the rooms with some great vendors like Roxy Swing Creations, vintagelove, some punksteam sellers (above) and Sick on Sin.
My Ghoul Friday

See more bazaar photos after the jump.

Toronto Zombie Wedding in Trinity Bellwoods Park

The undead gathered in the bowl at Trinity Bellwoods Park to watch two zombies marry, till life do they part, prior to the start of the 2011 Toronto Zombie Walk. Beautiful Zombie bride Thea Munster is pictured above.
 Ahhh, there was love in the air. Here are some pictures of the marriage and the zombies in the park.

The Toronto Zombie Walk website says "ZOMBIE WEDDING at 2pm The Undead are cordially invited to join Adam Invader and Thea Munster in Unholy Matrimony at 2pm in Trinity Bellwoods Park."



See more of the horror after the jump.

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation