Clean Toronto Together 2015

Dust clouds raised high above North America's fourth largest city as the annual 20-minute makeover kicked off on Friday, April 17 at City Hall. Celebrity Michael "Pinball" Clemons came down to Nathan Phillips Square to help promote the litter cleanup campaign. Community clean-up days continue over the weekend.

Pinball poses with his wife and some school children at the clean-up

The Toronto Argonauts came out with several Argo cheerleaders and team mascot Jason to help ramp up the excitement and cheer on participants in several of the pre-clean games. 

"Hey Toronto. It's time for some spring cleaning! The city's annual spring clean-up is back! Led by the City of Toronto's Live Green Toronto team, the Clean Toronto Together campaign is a weekend celebration that brings together thousands of Toronto residents, students, businesses, organizations and community groups to remove litter and keep our city clean and green.You can do your part by getting together with friends, family, co-workers and classmates to clean a park, or any other space that needs your help."

Twitpic part 13

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

#Toronto Argonaut Cheerleaders

The ladies in blue were handing out vouchers for two for one Argo tickets valid for any home game between October 10 and November 7, 2014.  Meeting fans and posing for pictures at the corner of Yonge and Dundas kept the cheerleaders busy as they ripped off the vouchers for soccer fans.

The hometown team is having some fantastic seat sales so check out their website

NFL Football Festival

#BillsinTO brings the fan experience into #Toronto during the first of six Buffalo Bills games in the Rogers Centre. Playing on the first of December against the Atlanta Falcons the party can be found at Yonge-Dundas Square and at a Street Festival on Front Street outside the former Skydome.

The free events include the lovely Buffalo Bills cheerleaders the Jills.

At YD Square the football games provide a chance for amateur athletes to try their hand at skills needed for the field although the curling game does seem a little out of place. Sponsors are also on hand with giveaways and a photo booth. The Buffalo team's mascot Billy was also meeting with fans and posing for photos.

On Front Street the street festival has many of the same activities, plus booze. It is a way to enjoy the tailgate experience without involving vehicles. Live music will be provided by Fathead (R&B) and Rob Carnegie (Country/Rock). Taking place from 11 am to 3:30 pm, the party raps up in time for the beginning of the game between the Bills and the Falcons.

See more of the fun gridiron activities after the jump.

#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.

Jills and the Bud Light NFL Pre-game Festival

@BillsInToronto means the #Toronto version of the famous NFL tailgate stadium parties. In our version they throw up a fence around a couple of streets, put in a confusing mishmash of exits and two stinking entrances and then keep the porta-porties just outside the do-not-exit! They did have the Bud Light ladies and the Buffalo Jills Cheerleaders so it wasn't all that bad. Seahawks ended up kicking ass with a 50-17 win over da Bills.

The Buffalo Bills were matched against the Seattle Seahawks playing in the Rogers Centre on Sunday, December 16, 2012, with a kick-off time of 4 pm. The Hyundai Halftime show featured PSY the South Korean phenom of "Gangnam Style" fame.

A Bud Light Pre-game Street Festival began at 11 am and ended at 3:30 pm on Blue Jays Way and John Street. Live music was provided by Everest and the R&B band Fathead and DJ Clymaxx spun some tunes on the main stage. NFL Interactive games brought lots of footballs into play and I picked up stuff like a big, blue foam hand, Hyundai sunglasses and Bud Light hand warmers and beer cozies.

Inflatable field goal kicking game

Bud Light ladies

The Buffalo Jills Cheerleaders pose with some fans

See more of the cheerleaders and the street festival after the jump.

Festival of Cheerleaders

Football fans from around Canada are making their way into Nathan Phillips Square at #Toronto City Hall as the 100th Grey Cup Festival builds up steam leading into the weekend Championship Game. The various CFL cheerleading teams are making their presence know with waving pom-poms and group cheer routines. Fans from all the teams are sporting jerseys and way out costumes as they lend their excitement to the pre-game festivities.

A free Calgary Pancake Breakfast is being prepared by Calgary supporters and the lineups to taste the flapjacks are long while on the main stage providing entertainment to the large crowd is the band “High Steppin’ Daddy”.

Grey Cup Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square

Footballs, @ArgosCheer and an afternoon of sports events and entertainment brought out @CFL fans for the @100thGreyCup Festival in downtown #Toronto. Yonge-Dundas Square became the Nissan Family Zone with fun activities for children and parents running everyday until Saturday, November 24, 2012.

Cavalcade fireworks at City Hall

The Grey Cup will move from Nathan Phillips Square to Yonge-Dundas Square on Sunday, November 18, 2012.

 

The festival also help to sponsor the 2012 Cavalcade of Lights in Nathan Phillips Square. In addition to the activities at Young-Dundas the festival also has a ton of activites at City Hall. The Zip Line is setup high above the ground and the reflecting pool is now a temporary football field.

 

While back in the Square beside the Eaton Centre the entertainment continues.

The Moon Runners Dance Crew on the main stage

\Giant Panda mascots from the Toronto Zoo

 

Some of the events and attractions included a Stilt Walker, Vanier Cup Trivia, interactive games on the gridiron and music by D\J Floh Back. Sunday's edition of the festival will feature the Beagles Band, Burning Boyz and more gridiron games and will be open from 11am to 6pm.

CP 24 reporter Jackie Crandles on the scene

 

Upcoming daily themes are Art of the Game on Monday, November 19, Bullying Prevention Day on Tuesday and Cheer Dance Day on Wednesday. See more after the jump. Posted by James and Joe Hamilton.

Argonauts Win in #Toronto

The @TorontoArgos started behind the eight ball before beating the Edmonton Eskimoes 42-26 during the @CFL Eastern Semi-final. It was a fun night of throws and tackles in the Rogers Centre on Sunday, November 11, 2012 and I think the Argo Cheerleaders put the team in a winning mode.

Eskimoe Cary Koch made the first touchdown very early in the afternoon game which started at 1 pm But the Double Blue couldn't be held back in the second quarter as they score the most points (31) in one quarter - making playoff history . They would continue their lead coming into the second half 31-7. After every Argo touchdown fireworks were set off into the top of the old skydome.

Argo Rogers Centre panorama

Eskimoe quarterback Matt Nichols was "forced from the game with a gruesome leg injury. He would be carted off the field after he was chased down from behind by DE Ronald Flemons.

Kerry Joseph would check back in at quarterback for the Eskimos."

Chad Kackert provided the last Toronto touchdown finishing the game at 42-26.

Game Superfan on the left

more superfans

The Boatmen will travel to and face Montreal in the East Final on November 18. The winner of this final will play in the 100th Grey Cup.

Halftime entertainment included the Argo Cheerleaders and singers Lil Jaxe and Jarvis Church. See more photos after the jump.

Go #Toronto Go!

@ArgosCheer dressed in blue make everything better. The ladies are available to help promote community events - just apply and see if you make the cut. The team mascot Jason is also available for appearances. I can tell you that they don't seem to care about cheering on guys when they do the dishes or clean up around the house so it should be for a good cause if you want them to show up.

The football cheerleaders look for events that interact with kids within community and charitable efforts. You can also arrange for corporate paid appearances. Just don't try to book them for November 25, 2012 as they will be busy with the 100th Grey Cup game which takes place at Rogers Centre.

The Grey Cup Telus Street Festival happens before the game starting at 11am and will feature the 'largest tailgate party' and free and ticketed events will take place on Front Street - Simcoe to John Streets. See more cheerleaders and links to the November 25 Grey Cup festivities after the jump.

#Toronto Ukrainian Festival

The Bloor West Village held their 16th annual Ukrainian Festival (@TorUkrFestival) Parade on Saturday September 15, 2012 - starting from High Park and ending at a street fair.

"In 1995, Toronto was twinned with Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, and to mark this occasion, the Toronto Ukrainian Festival was established under the umbrella of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Toronto Branch. Originally known as the Bloor West Village Ukrainian Festival, it was meant to be a showcase of the most widely identifiable aspects of Ukrainian culture in Canada – music, dance, food, visual arts and community. It was an instant hit, establishing itself as one of the premier Ukrainian festivals in North America and growing to attract audiences well in excess of 500,000 from across Canada, the US and abroad."

See more of the parade after the jump.

Taste of the Danforth 2012

The annual Pilaros @TOtheDanforth is in #Toronto Greek Town from Friday to Sunday, August 10-12. The cultural and culinary event takes place on a pedestrian only Danforth Avenue between Jones and Broadview. I got there just in time for the rain to start so the umbrellas started to come out as the many visitors tried to stay dry. Some got free yellow umbrellas and some just went to a patio and had something to eat or drink under the restaurants patio umbrellas.

Hand held and patio umbrellas

Hopefully Sunday will be a better weather day

Giant Foosball table

Argo Cheerleaders

See more after the jump.