Wild West Queen St West

Heading West on Queen Street West you pass Much Music and the famous truck installation as well as the Hug Me Tree. You find colourful graffiti on alley walls. Between Bathurst and Gladstone is an Art and Design District full of curiosity and fun - "It's wild here" proclaim their street banners.

I find the occasional public phone. They no longer come in their own aluminum and plexiglass cubicles but instead are small boxes on poles, clustered usually in groups of three for some reason. They remain like western era street furniture where you tied up your horse, waiting for the automobile to pass them by. Now they seem to be a public notice board indicating the latest upcoming party and DJ. As I was taking pictures of these non mobile devices I noticed that someone had placed small risque cartoons or joke photos on many of the phones along the street.




In the windows of MissBehav'N glorious models or live mannequins proudly wave to passerbys as they promote the specialty shop at 650 Queen Street on Saturdays. I overhear one person say this was the best part of their walk.



I can see why the artistic expression finds ways to escape the boundaries of the asphalt and metal rails and the tight braiding of the overhead power lines and streetcar wires.

NXME 2009 Kickoff - Rock On my peoples

The 2009 Toronto NXNE music and film festival was officially launched at Yonge-Dundas Square by Much Music’s Matt Wells and Sketchy the rabbit playing an electric guitar.

 

Ride the Razor

There will be a large Schick 6 x 6 foot razor at the corner of Bay and Dundas on Thursday, June 18 (7am-2pm) that people can try to ride. The razor "spins, flexes and pivots like nothing else you will see this summer", sounds like what happens when women shave their legs. Hopefully there will be no blades in the razor or it will get pretty messy.

Indycar legend Michael Andretti will be on hand from 11am till 12:45pm to sign autographs and judge a special media challenge so I will try to get pictures of him. Michael and his partners in Andretti Green Canada operate the new Honda Indy Toronto.

Update: I missed him riding the razor but I did shake his hand and thank him for bringing the Indy to Toronto. I also picked up a free Schick Quattro razor. Schick has become an associate sponsor for the race.



A volunteer takes on the Schick Quattro razor ride.



The crowds start to gather in the misty rain at the site of the event.

Honda Indy Toronto - events, attractions and race schedule

Update: For the 2010 Honda Indy Events check out my blog post here. For some great pictures of some of the drivers, including 2009 winner Dario Franchitti and Danica Patrick check out my blog post here.

The 2009 Honda Indy Toronto is a full weekend of supercharged fun from Friday, June 10th to Sunday, June 12th. It's time to pick out your vantage point to watch the race and get your tickets ordered. While we missed one race last year, it's time to get the momentum going again. Don't wait for next year; this is the return of open wheel racing to the streets of Toronto. Peak attendance is estimated at 75,000.

For as little as $60 you can get 3 days access to a full weekend of entertainment, where else can you get a deal like this?

In the days before the race you can take in these events:

Two Days of IndyCar Fun to Fill Yonge-Dundas Square.
Yonge-Dundas Square in downtown will be the centre of motorsports activity on Tuesday, July 7 and Wednesday, July 8 as organizers from the Honda Indy Toronto stage two days of interactive fan activities in advance of the debut of the IndyCar Series in Toronto. Planned events for Tuesday, July 7 include a media tire change challenge and an evening screening of the classic auto racing film Le Mans shown as part of the “City Cinema” series in downtown. Wednesday, July 8, brings the Honda Indy Toronto Kick-off Party with planned appearances by select drivers competing in this year's race.

Honda Indy Toronto has released their weekend schedule.

Friday, July 10
8:00 a.m. Gates Open
8:01 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. Acura Sports Car Challenge CTC Practice
8:50 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. Firestone Indy Lights Practice
10:10 a.m. – 11:55 p.m. IndyCar Series Practice
11:45 a.m. – 1:45 a.m. Live music on the OLG Stage
12:00 p.m. – 12:40 p.m. Firestone Indy Lights Practice
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Vintage GT Practice
1:50 p.m. – 2:50 p.m. IndyCar Series Practice
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Live music on the OLG Stage
3:10 p.m. – 3:55 p.m. Firestone Indy Lights Qualifying
4:15 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. Acura Sports Car Challenge CTC Qualifying
4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. Honda Motorcycle Demonstration
5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. VIP Pit Walk-Through

Saturday, July 11

8:00 a.m. Gates Open
8:01 a.m. -- 8:30 a.m. Vintage GT Qualifying
8:50 a.m. – 9:20 a.m. Firestone Indy Lights Practice
9:40 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. IndyCar Series Practice
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Vintage GT Qualifying
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Live music on the OLG Stage
11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Pace Car Rides
12:15 p.m. – 12:30 p.m. Firestone Indy Lights Pre-Race
12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Firestone Indy Lights Race
2:05 p.m. - 3:35 p.m. IndyCar Series Qualifying
3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Live music on the OLG Stage
3:50 p.m. – 4:20 p.m. Honda Motorcycle Demonstration
4:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. IndyCar Series Driver Autograph Session
4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Acura Sports Car Challenge CTC Race #1
5:15 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. VIP Pit Walk-Through


Sunday, July 12

8:00 a.m. Gates Open
9:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. IndyCar Series Warm-Up
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Acura Sports Car Challenge CTC Race #2
10:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. VIP Pit Walk-Through
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. Live music on the OLG Stage
11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Pace Car Rides
12:30 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Honda Motorcycle Demonstration
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. IndyCar Series Pre-Race
1:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. Honda Indy Toronto IndyCar Series Race
3:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. IndyCar Series Post-Race Ceremonies
4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Vintage GT Race
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Live music on the OLG Stage

There will also be tons of fun away from the asphalt track. I will try to track and list these events here as I find out about them.

1. Budweiser is organizing the Bud Pit Crew Girl search on Facebook and will have the Bud Winners Circle VIP Party.
2. Hooters will have the Owl's Nest trackside. Hooters says they will have "your favourite things; chicken wings, cold beer, Hooters girls and fast cars."
3. Pizza Pizza Family Zone.
4. The Auto Expo.
5. Live music on the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Stage.

I was allergic to the Reactine van

You could get a free allergy test, courtesy of Reactine, down at the square today. They even had the tiny little Reactine van. I didn't want to get to close to the van because it always brought bad luck and disasters onto the people as it drove by. Plus, with the horns on top you thought it might be an ice cream truck but they fooled you.

For the price of a donation to the Childrens Miracle Network you could also get a 3 tablet sample of the allergy medicine.

More Woofstock

Yeah, those dogs are cute and so here are a few more from Woofstock and surrouding areas. I loved the one with the sunglasses and the ones in the baby carriage so I have included some bonus pics. You can see my earlier Woofstock post here.

Ride the wave

Toronto has been "revitalizing the waterfront for everyone" with the new blue edge from WATERFRONToronto. They have recently revealed the Simcoe (pictured) and Spadina Wave Decks. The Simcoe Wave Deck is wavier than it's flatter cousin Spadina. Kids have more fun sliding on the Simcoe Wave Deck and so I vote for Simcoe as my favourite source of mucho public funds. Here it was when it was still under construction.

Just because I love being naked

Starting Saturdays from June 13, why? I am not really sure. Still, after the recent naked bike ride maybe it's just time.

Redhead green with envy

Walking around Toronto it is easy to forget that Lake Ontario is at the foot of Yonge Street, just behind the Gardiner and all the new condos. And when you happen to be down near all that water you tend to see boats - some of them pretty big, as Toronto does still have St Lawrence Seaway System ships put into port to load and unload cargo.

This big green boat is owned by Canfornav Inc. which "Canfornav, today, is one of the largest ocean-going carriers calling the Great Lakes on a regular basis."

NASCAR at Mosport

The weather held up as the Dickies 200 - NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Race (NCATS) was held at Mosport on Sunday, June 14, 2009. In first place was Andrew Ranger of the #27 car.



In second was Anthony Simone of the #95 car.



And in third place was J.R. Fitzpatrick (right) of the #84 car.



Some NCATS girls were on hand to give away some Canadian Tire sponsored driver photos and ear plugs.



Andrew and Scott Steckly of the #22 car had a battle and Scott's car later ended the race with car problems. Pictures: Andrew leads Scott in turn 5, Scott stands beside his ride and finally his car heads back to the pits the hard way.





And in the spirit of Luminato here is a psychedelic self portrait of me reflected in the polished aluminum doors of a racing car hauler.



And here are some more of the girls, girls, girls including the Coke NOS (nitrous oxide) energy drink and also the Hype energy drink.






It's great to meet the drivers and see their cars during the autograph session right before the race.




Jason White of the A&W car #21 started at the 21st position and ended up finishing 15th. I think he might have been carrying a couple cases of that delicious A&W Root Beer in his car that slowed him down.

Bitch Salad

Since its inception in the summer of 2007, Bitch Salad has quickly become the hottest live comedy show in Toronto's queer community and beyond.

This year, Bitch Salad will mount its first ever charity gala! "Bitch Salad Gives Back" on Friday, June 19, 2009 at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, with proceeds going to the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT) and Buddies in Bad Times Theatre.

Tickets are $15 and available at the Buddies in Bad Times Box Office at 416-975-8555 or online at http://artsexy.ca/box_office.cfm.

Odwalla Fruit Juices

Saturday was a hectic day as I rode my bike around Toronto trying to catch as much of the action as I could. I was feeling parched and stopped at the Rogers Centre where I received a drink sample from the Odwalla Fruit Juices reps. This photo was taken with my camera by one of the reps.

Honda Indy street course starts to take shape

Work has begun on setting up the racetrack for the upcoming Honda Indy (July 10th to the 12th, 2009). The concrete blocks and protective fence have been placed near the pits, along turn one and starting on Lakeshore Boulevard. The bleachers at the pits have also started to take shape. The picture shows turn 1 at the Princes' Gates.

Ryan Brisco is the current series champ - can he win the Toronto event?

Redball at Queen St West

The Redball was in danger of getting tagged by graffiti artists as the large, red ball was wedged into an alley off Queen Street West. The alley was full of street art, tags and colourful graffiti - including the racehorse and it's jockey rider. The Redball seemed like it was in it's natural elements in this area of Toronto.




You can see pictures of Redball in a few other locations in my earlier posts.