Ladies of the Honda Indy #Toronto 2014

James Hincliffe has a team of UFD girls with him at the Honda Indy. 

IndyCar driver James Hinchcliffe's girlfriend Kirsten Dee

Friday at the races - @HondaIndy 2014

Exhibition Place buzzed like a bee hive as high performance race cars took to the Streets of #Toronto. This is a case where if you don't want to drive long distances to go to the races, the races come to the city. The annual festival of wheels and off track entertainment comes this year in mid summer - July 18-20 and the first day is FAN FRIDAY with free entrance provided by the Honda Dealers of Ontario in support of the Make A Wish Foundation.

Exhibition Place, located near the lake shore, becomes a street course over the course of about a month. One of the last things they do is close down the public street road allowance running from Strachan to BC Place which becomes the Thunder Alley straight-away. Overall the 1.75 mile track has 11 turns, opened in 1986, and the 80 laps, 140 mile double-header race scheduled for Saturday and Sunday (2inTO) are number 13 and 14 of 18 Verizon IndyCar Series 2014 races. Michael Andretti has the record for most wins at the track with seven while Scott Dixon was the winner of both races in 2013 and became the Series Champion for the year.

IndyCars come into turn one from the start/finish line in front of the Direct Energy Centre. Practice #1 went green at 10:03 am and finished at 10:49 am under clear skies with fastest speeds from #67 Josef Newgarden, #12 Will Power and #27 James Hinchcliffe. Top speed was 104.883 mph.

The gates open for the weekend events daily from 7:30 to 8:00 am and the on track schedule is full of practices and qualifications on the Friday opening day with Formula 1600, USF2000, Pirelli World Challenge, Verizon IndyCar Series, Porsche GT, Stadium Super Trucks and Indy Lights series.

Entrance to the race is possible from just two places - just north of Princes' Gates and into the Direct Energy Centre and also from the Ontario Place bride int he middle of Lake Shore Boulevard.

@HondaIndy #Toronto 2014 ready for racing

Equipment sits ready on pit row, the barriers and bleachers are waiting for the opening of the gates and the cars are sitting in the paddocks for the July 18-20 Verizon IndyCar double header race weekend. The big change this year is the extensive construction of the hotel between Lake Shore Boulevard and the Direct Energy Centre. It has reduced the size of pit out and scuttled one of the grandstands, but one day guests of the hotel are going to have a great view of action at the Exhibition Place street course.

Looking across the finish line to the hotel being built

Charlie Johnstone recommends using public transit to get to the site. "Under the circumstances, we would encourage all our guests visiting the Honda Indy Toronto this summer to continue using public transit. The track is very well serviced by both TTC and GO Transit, each of which have stops directly at Exhibition Place. These will certainly be the most convenient ways to get to and from the track."

The Direct Energy Centre contains Motorfest which includes the Accura Sports Car Challenge and support series paddocks. There are some pretty sweet sports cars ready to hit the track inside.

Friday, July 18 on track action has practice sessions and some later in the day qualifications, which are free to watch as part of FAN FRIDAY courtesy of the Honda Dealers of Ontario, start at 8:05 in the morning with the Formula 1600 cars and continues up till 6:20pm with the USF2000 cars. In between will be drivers in the Pireli World Challenge, Verizon IndyCar Series, Porsche GT, Stadium Super Trucks and Indy Lights.

@ContactPhoto at Berczy Park

'Looking Through Outside' from the Scotiabank Contact Photography Festival's public installation in the park has a photo of a tiny bird seen from a windowpane. Several other pieces are spread around the green space so you can enjoy the green tables and chairs, watch the bubbling fountain and get your culture on.

"Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival is an annual event in May with well over 1500 Canadian and international artists and photographers exhibiting at more than 175 venues throughout the Greater Toronto Area. Founded as a not-for-profit organization in 1997 and now a charitable organization, the Festival is devoted to celebrating, and fostering the art and profession of photography, through a diverse range of programmes."

'Flock of a Feather'

The art mural on the backside of the Gooderham flatiron building

Honda Indy Toronto 2014 this weekend

Final preparations for the racetrack, grandstands and festivals are coming down to the wire as the Verizon IndyCar double header 2inTO which takes place July 18-20. Ryan Merchant, Sebu Simonia and Tim Warmels have been announced as Grand Marshals for the race.

"We are honoured to have Capital Cities and Tim Warmels as the grand marshals for our event," said Charlie Johnstone, President of the Honda Indy Toronto. "Each member of talent our roster enjoys international recognition and respect, and we are thrilled to have them involved in Ontario's largest sporting event to make the famous call."

The Canadian National Anthem will we sung by Danny Fernandes on Saturday and opera singer Douglas Tranquada on Sunday. Danny is a multi-MMVA winner. Opening ceremonies will start at 3 pm for both days and will include a parade lap with Nazem Kadri of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Natalie Spooner & Meaghan Mikkelson from the Women's Canadian Olympic Hockey Team and current competitors on the Amazing Race Canada.

FAN FRIDAY continues in 2014 as the Ontario Honda Dealers, in support of Make-A-Wish Canada will cover the admission cost on Friday, July 18 for people to check out the action on the track, stunt shows, contests, autograph sessions and other entertainment. The off track excitement includes motor fest, taste fest, craft beer fest, adrenalin fest, celebration fest and indy fest.

Other Honda Indy Toronto events include the introduction of the driver Scott Dixon, winner of the both the 2013 races, will attend the unveiling of the Waterford Crystal championship trophies at William Ashley at 55 Bloor St West between 5-7 pm on Wednesday, July 16. The trophies were designed and produced in Ireland for the Toronto races. On Thursday, July 17 Canadian driver James Hinchcliffe will visit the Hospital for Sick Children with Racing For Kids reps and Cooper Tires USF2000 driver Scott Hargrove to spend time with young patients. The Official Drivers' Party is open to the public and will be held at Hunter's Landing at 82 Fort York Blvd on Friday, July 18 beginning at 6 pm and with the red carpet introductions at 8 pm followed with partying with drivers, sponsors and special guests. Satuday, July 19 brings a photo op from 12:30 to 1pm with Sarah Fisher, former Degrassi TV star and, driver and owner of the Sarah Fisher Hartman Racing.

2014 Festival map

The City of Toronto has released information regarding the road closures associated with the race course setup during the Honda Indy weekend: "On Wednesday, July 16 at noon, Strachan Avenue from Lake Shore Boulevard to Fleet Street will be closed. Later that same day, as of 9 p.m., Lake Shore Boulevard from Strachan Avenue to British Columbia Drive will be closed. Both closures are in effect until Sunday, July 20 at 11:59 p.m. There will be no eastbound or westbound traffic during this closure. The only available access to Ontario Place will be from Lake Shore Boulevard at the foot of Strachan Avenue."

Thunder Over Michigan Aug 9-10 2014

I've got my passport application in so I can go to the Baltia Air Lines airshow at the Willow Run Airport in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Thunder fans are waiting for the Saturday-Sunday show in August with the highlight of the show being the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds and their F-16 Fighting Falcons, the World War II air parades and the European war reenactments.

"Did you realize we are now just a little over three weeks away from hearing and seeing the U.S.Air Force Thunderbirds roar through the skies over Willow Run? The Thunderbirds will headline an awesome lineup of classic military aircraft, the U.S. Army Golden Knights, the Screamin' Sasquatch Jet Waco, and much more August 9-10. Fighter Club tickets for Saturday are now SOLD OUT but there are limited numbers of premium seating remaining in other areas. Visit http://www.yankeeairmuseum.org/airshow/purchase-tickets/ to reserve your seat and get discounted tickets today."

The proposed schedule for the two days, subject to change, is as follows.

Saturday, August 9, 2014
8:00 AM - Admission/Ticketing Points Open
9:00 AM - Air Show Grounds Open
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
• WWII European Ground Battle (Featuring Five M5 Stuart Tanks)
11:30 PM - 4:30 PM
• T-6 Texan Takeover (29 aircraft)
• U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
• F-86 Sabre Demo
• P-51 Mustang Demo
• WWII AAF Victory Flight (B-17; P-38;P-47; P-51; P-40)
• WWII AAF Parade (B-17; B-25 (3); P-38;P-47; P-51 (3); P-63; P-40; F-6; C-46; C-47; C-60; AT-11)
• P-63 Kingcobra Demo
• WWII European Air & Ground Battle Reenactment (L-5)
• Screamin' Sasquatch Jet WACO
• Liberator & Privateer Dual (B-24; PB4Y-2)
• U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds Demo
5:00 PM - Air Show Grounds Close

Sunday, August 10, 2014
8:00 AM - Admission/Ticketing Points Open
9:00 AM - Air Show Grounds Open
10:30a.m. - 11:00a.m.
WWII European Ground Battle (Featuring Five M5 Stuart Tanks)11:30a.m. - 4:30p.m.
Texan Takeover (T-6 (29))
U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
F-86 Sabre Demo
P-51 Mustang Demo
WWII AAF Victory Flight (B-17; P-38;P-47; P-51; P-40)
WWII AAF Parade (B-17; B-25 (3); P-38;P-47; P-51 (3); P-63; P-40; F-6;
C-46; C-47; C-60; AT-11)
P-63 Kingcobra Demo
WWII European Air & Ground Battle Reenactment (L-5)
Screamin Sasquatch WACO
B-24 Liberator Demo
U.S.A.F. Thunderbirds Demo5:00 PM - Air Show Grounds Close

See photos of my previous Thunder Over Michigan airshow on my posts here.

2013 Thunder Over Michigan
2012 Thunder Over Michigan info
2011 Thunder Over Michigan
2011 Thunder Over Michigan war reenactment
2010 Thunder Over Michigan

Festival of India 2014

The 42nd annual #festivalofindiaTO parade down #Toronto's Yonge Street was surrealistic as a caravan of giant wagons were pulled down the street by an army of marchers. The hare krishna festival takes place July 12-13 and will continue with a free vegetarian feast on Centre Island.

Colourful costumes and interesting makeup were overshadowed by the giant, red peaked wagons that could be lowered to pass under overhead wires. The wagons held several people with some of the best seats in the house, covered in flowers and with wheels that featured tiny elephant symbols. What would be really great is if this turned into a chariot style race. The drivers would whip their human powered pullers and the four wagons would hurtle past the crowds towards the finish line as pedestrians placed bets on their favourite wagon. Look out Ben Hur! The excitement would also build up the crowd into a fever of anticipation until the yoga meltdown occurs (which was cancelled for 2014 due to unforeseen circumstances), which sounds very violent for a peaceful exercise like yoga.

The turnout, while large, was not as big as it could be if it was embraced by more Indian people. I think it still remains the creation of the Hare Krishna religious organization. Regardless, it is a parade that is really interesting to watch as it rolls down the road towards the lake front.

The parrot on the head guy

Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games - one year to go

A large digital clock unveiled at #Toronto City Hall shows the time remaining before next year's summer games. In addition to the clock there was a ton of activities and displays in Nathan Phillips Square during the two day We are Pan Am festival. "Toronto is proud to be the Host City of the 2015 Games and this one-year countdown event is just a preview of what the celebrations will be like during the Games," said Mayor Rob Ford. "The Games are on track to deliver a great legacy of new and improved sport and recreation facilities and community programming in neighbourhoods across Toronto. Now it's time for everyone to join in the fun, get involved and celebrate the TORONTO 2015 Games."

My favourite display was the human foosball game played out in the middle of the square. Popular activities included ball hockey and soccer on the covered over pond under the freedom arches. "The exhibit also features facility investments and celebration programs that are being funded by the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada and other stakeholders and sponsors. Together, these investments will transform the city, help make the TORONTO 2015 Games the best Pan Am Games ever and leave behind an outstanding legacy of benefits for Toronto residents and businesses."

Bay Street was closed on Saturday, July 12, 2014 to provide more room for the free entertainment and gathering of visitors as musical groups, dancers, flames and fireworks were scheduled.

Pachi the games mascot

#Toronto Slutwalk 2014

Protesters march in the @SlutWalkTO because victim blaming and sexual violence still continues. Bringing their collective voices to the streets has made the home grown movement grow into a global protest. Originating in response to a Toronto Police officer who stated in 2011 that in order to avoid becoming a victim, women should not dress like sluts. The comment blew up and the reaction has been to counter that rape myth with a title for the walk that specifically addresses that misconception.

Some other walks around the world have re-branded the name from slutwalk to titles like strutwalk, consentfest and walk of no shame, however the Toronto walk still embraces the original reason for the protest.

"The first SlutWalk rally in Toronto three years ago lit the spark for grassroots action in over 200 countries worldwide, where organizers have rallied communities for marches against victim-blaming. Some of these marches have been called SlutWalks, others have taken locally-driven names; all have been a part of international, collective action against victim-blaming in support of survivors of sexual violence. SlutWalk Toronto continues because survivors of sexual violence deserve our support, not our scrutiny."

Beginning on the edges of Nathan Phillips Square the marchers first met and prepared for the July 12, 3 pm walk along Queen Street West, north on University Avenue to Queen's Park.

See more of the protest after the jump.