Niagara-on-the-Lake blossoms

Ontario's wine country is also famous for fruits and in spite of the polar vortex the trees are starting to blossom. Bright pink flowers are filling some of the orchards with beautiful colours while many of the other trees are just starting to bud, so peak bloom should be within a week I would think. This is from our trip on May 3, 2020.

The Niagara-on-the-Lake area is one of our favourite destinations for day trips. We head to the Lakeshore just short of Port Dalhousie, run up the Welland Canal to look for Great Lake Steamers and then go into NOTL to check out the blossoms and a winery or two.

Baby Geese, or goslings, stick close to the protective parents

One of Algoma Central Shipping lines boats passes under a lift bridge as it heads from Lake Ontario to Lake Erie. This bridge is just beside the Garden City Skyway (QEW)

Woofstock 2019

Puppys and pooches played fetch and sniffed some butt at the 16th annual Woofstock dog festival located in the Beach. The largest festival for dogs was in Woodbine Park May 25 and 26 and the cost for entrance to the event was $17.

I passed by the event and yelled fetch.

From the Woofstock festival; "Woofstock was the first festival to allow people to celebrate their dogs, indulge them, party with them and let them show off their special talents in fun and wacky contests and fashion shows. Woofstock is world famous, drawing Exhibitors and Attendees from all over North America. There isn’t a toy, fashion line, accessory, type of treat or exclusive service for Dogs that you can’t find at Woofstock." 

Budweiser Clydesdale team in Toronto

The majestic draft horses of the Budweiser brewery are in Toronto over the weekend, part of a promotion for their new beer - Copper Lager. On Friday they were at Union Station and along King Street, today they were at the LCBO Queen's Quay and tomorrow they will be at the Historic Distillery District (noon to 2pm).

The pilots were dressed in suits of green and their copilot was a cute dalmatian puppy.

Grimsby Painted Ladies

Cottages along the edge of Lake Ontario, born from a old, bankrupt Methodist summer church camp look like they have appeared right out of a fairy tale. Many of the cute cottages which were built in the late 1800s have been spruced up with bright, beautiful colours, framed with gingerbread and whimsical decorations.

The bright, fanciful cottages are located beside Grimsby Beach Park near Lake Street and Park Street, with a large contingent around Auditorium Circle. The streets are tiny and there is not a lot of parking in the area so be careful driving around the area.

See more gingerbread after the jump.

#LetterkennyPopup Store in Toronto

Dogs and their agents, or owners, lined up at 277 Queen Street West to get their dogs photo on the fine premium brew called Puppers The pup-up, hosted by CraveTV for the Canadian television sitcom Letterkenny, is on from May 17-19, 2018. As the sign said in the window: Pitter Patter, let's get at 'er. You can also meet the cast and enjoy some samples of Gus N' Bruno while your dog takes a chance to appear on one of the five beer labels that will be sold in select LCBO stores. Each doggy will also get their photo on a beer right at the event. It's a 19+ event, which I am unsure of in dog years.

"Take a break from chorin' and come to CraveTV's Letterkenny Pop-Up Shop in Toronto! Merchandise, personalized jerseys, and more. Saturday from noon – 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., Dylan Playfair and Andrew Herr, aka “Reilly and Jonesy” will be signing autographs for lucky fans" from their facebook page.

A good boy patiently waiting for his turn to go in

Wiener Dog Races

Woof, and they're off. They say that on this field of tiny dogs, there are no losers, only wieners! And they were right. Three qualifying heats took place on the Grand River Raceway horse track, three spirited battles between canine athletes so fast, they were hard to see as some pooches weaved from one end of the 20m course to the other, while the fastest made a beeline to the finish line.

The top three dogs from each heat made it into the final race where the top dogs took home prizes and the overall winner a trophy and over $300 dollars in prizes. Wiener Dog Racing started approximately 8pm on Friday, July 8, 2016 (just after the fifth race) with the final race taking place just before 9pm, interspersed between 10 horse races at the Elora OLG slot and race track.

It definitely was crowded as the annual event returned with about thirty dogs taking part in the races. Free parking, free admission and other attractions

Dozer the pig was also interested in the dog racing

Toronto Woofstock 2016

Cause, cute dogs.

It has a big sign

And some big dogs

The annual dog-mania celebration continues out in the east end of the city at Woodbine Park and finishes Sunday, May 29 (10 am to 6 pm).

North America's largest festival for dogs even has a beer tent, but those furry canines can't drink the Steam Whistle brews, there are plenty of water bowls for man's best friends.

Woofstock this weekend

Woof, woof, bark, drool. Four legged friends of man have their own festival in the Beaches area of Toronto this weekend. Woofstock is on from September 26-27, 2015 in Woodbine Park, 10am to 6pm.

It's not just smelling butts and peeing on trees, there are plenty of activities and contests for doggies. The weekend schedule is after the jump.

I heart the Distillery District

Locks of loves continue to mount on the LOVE sign in Toronto's historic cobblestone and condo neighbourhood - its really filled out since the last time I saw it. And a new art installation of a big heart stands at the entrance of Gristmill Lane, just off of Parliament Street, south of Mill Street. The tell-tale heart beats for the guilty and the tourist alike, especially when hearts come close to the monster sculpture.

How can this place get any cuter? Well add a big, black Newfoundland puppy to the mix and this is heaven for wedding photos.

He has a little part of his tongue sticking out

Speaking of weddings, their was a large party in the hood taking photos against the great backdrop of the neighbourhood well know for British Empire booze. The bride was in white, groom in black tuxedos and the bridegrooms in some type of purpley number. They ended up at the love-locks.

Service dog at work

An adorable Jack Russel service dog carrying a @TimHortons bag in downtown Toronto. Poor little guy couldn't carry his double double at the same time.

I saw him walking south on Bay Street, on duty but still cute

Kitten with cone on head

This cute little kitten has a cone of shame to keep his teeth away from recent surgery stitches. It doesn't slow him down very much. The plastic protector reminds me of a Renaissance fashion when people wore those gigantic medieval collars

Time for some more cats and a few birds and bunnies after the jump.

Himalayan kittens and hedgehogs

The cute little balls of fluff attacked each other because they looked like play toys.

Hedgehogs gather together for warmth and companionship