Silvercreek in Fall

The beauty of Ontario in Autumn has to be second to no other place on our lonely blue planet. The pace of colour changes in our forests is starting to slow and gusts of winds blow many of the leaves to the ground.

Silvercreek is a tributary of the Credit River. It begins in Erin and flows through Halton Hills before joining the Credit in Norval. As the small creek cuts through the escarpment it drops in grade along a path that includes a number of small waterfalls.

This area is accessible east of Trafalgar Road on Sideroad 27 in the middle of the Silvercreek Conservation Area. A loop off the Bruce Trail leads along the top of the valley walls and you can venture down into the creek to get some great pictures. I wore shorts and sandals and my feet were very cold after a couple hours in the flowing waters.

Drums in the Square

Keurig was brewing some free coffee and they brought a drum group who made some beautiful music at Yonge-Dundas Square.

They gave out coffee cups and spoons so the crowds could join in with the booming drums

Catch the Feva

@FevaTV set up a red couch on the streets of #Toronto and lav-wa-la, a television shoot was underway.

Frost brings the colour

October's long, cool nights have brought a lot of colour into the Greater Toronto Area. Forests of green have quickly started to show more yellow, orange, red and purple and this is the time to get out into nature before the leaves are all on the ground and blah becomes the colour of the day.

#Toronto @KehillaRP sukkahville 2014

It's all about Affordable Housing! Eight structures are being built in Nathan Phillips Square in a competition to build a temporary Sukkah for the joyous Jewish Festival of Sukkot. The annual architectural battle hopes to draw attention to the problems of providing affordable housing and of the work of the non-profit housing agency; Kelhilla Residential Programme.

There are a number of constraints required for the contest entrants and sustainability is an important consideration as minimize waste and disposal of the construction materials. The temporary Sukkahs can be seen outside City Hall from 9 am to 5 pm, with the awards happening just after 12 noon.

#WMCFW #Toronto Fashion Week 2014

MasterCard FSHN WK will return to David Peacut Square from October 20 - 25 presenting top Canadian designers and their collections for Spring/Summer 2015. The week of fashion shows that will be viewed by over 30,000 attendees will feature such designers as Bustle, Joe Fresh and Pink Tartan.

“We're very excited for the Spring/Summer 2015 season of World MasterCard Fashion Week, and continuing to host Canada’s top fashion week. We have some incredibly talented new designers showing this year and our special Fashion Saturday event is back, offering the public an insider’s look at fashion and trends for spring 2015,” says Carolyn Quinn, director, IMG Fashion Canada."

"Mackage will show its Spring/Summer 2015 collection at World MasterCard Fashion Week on Wednesday, October 22 at 8 p.m. As always, the crisp, clean lines that the label is known for will be prominent throughout, with a bright colour palette to amp up the jackets and bags for the upcoming season. As avid travellers themselves, Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy, co-creative directors of Mackage, drew this season’s inspiration from a bustling metropolis, evoking the feeling of strength and excitement that runs through the veins of a world class city."

Actor Lauren Collins and Cityline celebrity Tracey Moore will host the BMO Fashion Saturday event on October 25 with three sessions of runway shows. There will be trend presentations, parties, pop-up markets, hair and makeup installations and VIP food and drinks.

The global online shopping destination Gilt will offer flash sales of Canadian Fashion in celebration of Fashion Week from October 20-26 where members can check out five top brands. The limited collections from Sid Neigum, Biko, Laura Siegel, SOIA& KYO and Beaufille.

"Sid Neigum (Mon. Oct. 20) – Designer Sid Neigum holds stockists in New York, L.A., Hong Kong, Seoul and his home-base, Toronto. His hard-edged collections are known for angular and sculptured pieces producing a look of tailored perfection.

Biko (Tues. Oct. 21) – Toronto-based designer Corrine Anestopoulos draws inspiration from priceless heirlooms and voyaged vintage to create her “modern nostalgic” line of jewelry. Her use of mixed metals, natural stones and pendants translates into a narrative of eclectic treasures.

Laura Siegel (Wed. Oct. 22) – All pieces by award-winning fashion designer Laura Siegel incorporate ethically gathered materials and touch on the global experience. The designer’s textures and layers are aimed at women seeking comfort and quality in an easy-to-wear wardrobe.

SOIA & KYO (Thurs. Oct. 23) – The Montreal-based brand is known for its sophisticated and utilitarian designs. Creative director and founder, Ilan Elfassy effortlessly fuses classic silhouettes with modern detailing to create a perfectly tailored aesthetic.

Beaufille (Fri. Oct. 24) – The refined and contemporary stylings of Toronto-based sister design duo Chloé and Parris Gordon are a harmonious blend of masculine and feminine. The hard and soft fusion imbues both their ready-to-wear and accessories line."

“We’re excited to celebrate Canadian fashion with this exclusive flash sale series,” said Marshall Porter, SVP and GM of International and Business Development, Gilt. “The Canadian fashion industry is ever-evolving and we are thrilled to partner with such a talented group of designers, offering our members an exciting shopping experience.”

The Toronto Eaton Centre is a sponsor of Fashion Week and from October 13-24 will present runway fashion shows from Canadian retailers on the level 3 at Trinity Way (outside the old Sears location), photos at top

"World MasterCard Fashion Week brings top Canadian designers to the forefront of the fashion spotlight and all eyes are on Toronto for a week of design, style and trends. It's very exciting to see Toronto Eaton Centre activate and drive business to retail by bringing the spirit of fashion week to stylish consumers and giving them access to their favourite brands," says Carolyn Quinn, director, IMG Fashion Canada."

Advance voting in #Toronto

Early @torontovotes for the municipal elections began Tuesday, October 14, 2014 and will continue for six days from 10 am to 7 pm, ending October 19. Each of the city's 44 wards will have one advance voting location. Residents of Toronto can vote at City Hall from October 14-17.

The regular voting day is October 27.

Fun things to do in #Toronto November & December 2014

Time to head underground to the #Toronto PATH system and avoid all that cold temperatures and blowing snow that is sure to come. You can find plenty of things to do to keep you busy inside or you can be a brave Canadian and also enjoy outdoor winter activities.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair Fri to Sun, Nov 7-16.

Remembrance Day Ceremony Tue, Nov 11.

Winter Magic Illuminite at Y-D Square Fri to Sat, Nov 14-15.
Toronto Santa Claus Parade Sun, Nov 16.
Leslieville Flea Sun Nov 16.
Seasons Christmas Show Fri to Sun, Nov 21-23.
Winter Woofstock Sat to Sun, Nov ? Still cute, now indoors - cancelled for 2013, returning in 2014.

Cavalcade of Lights Sat Nov 29. Music and the City lights up Nathan Phillips Square and sets off some fireworks, photo at top.

Toronto Santa Speedo Run Sat Dec?
Toronto Comicon Sun, Dec 14.
Lowes Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District Fri Nov 28 - Sun Dec 21.

Kensington Winter Solstice/Festival of Lights Sun, Dec 21. A parade and a fire show.

New Years Eve Celebration Wed Dec 31 from 8 pm to midnight.

And the next day is the Toronto Polar Bear Dip Tue, Jan 1, otherwise known as the Sunnyside swim.

Remember, after a cold Canadian winter the beauty of spring blossoms and the coming heat of summer.

When is the next motorcycle and car show anyway?

Riding the South Simcoe Railway

With cool temperatures in the air and fall colours in the trees it is time for a journey on a steam train through the countryside of New Tecumseth. The South Simcoe Railway station is located on Mill Street off County Road 10 in the town of Tottenham which is just an hour north of Toronto. Fall colour excursions continue until October 19, 2014.

"You'll travel in restored 1920's coaches over the rails of a century-old branchline that once connected Hamilton with Barrie and Collingwood. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the vintage locomotive as you travel through the rolling countryside. The return trip from Tottenham to Beeton takes just under an hour, highlighted by the Conductor's friendly and informative commentary. Experience travel as our ancestors did, and learn about the history of the railways that made Canada what it is today!"

See more of the train after the jump.

Evil Dead - The Musical returns on Halloween

The singing undead are coming back to #Toronto from October 31 to November 9 for an amazing unlucky number of performances (13). The North American tour from Starvox Entertainment will play at the Randolph Theatre (736 Bathurst Street) and bring an old fashioned boy meets girl story that includes a small glitch when they unleash and ancient evil force (photo supplied at top).

“This is really a story about the little Canadian show that could. It all started 11 years ago, and with over 20 stops, our North American tour proves audiences are still hungry for more,” said Corey Ross, president of Starvox Entertainment. “Toronto audiences have been especially mad about this show – we’ve even had people get married on stage covered in blood! As a special thank you to all the fans, we just had to bring the show home to Toronto for Halloween.”

Keep out of the first 4 rows of the theatre during Evil Dead unless you want to experience the splatter zone with fake blood dousing the audience.

The Breakfast Table is full of Dragons

Business people and cast members of Dragons Den, Arlene Dickinson, Jim Treliving and David Chilton, are having an early morning event on Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Arcadian Court in Toronto. Bringing together Dragons and other entrepreneurs, such as Christine Magee, together from 7 am to 9:30 am to celebrate and share secrets to success for small businesses in Canada.

"The Breakfast Table is designed to inspire, engage and inform established and aspiring entrepreneurs. Guests will have an opportunity to learn the keys to business success from some of Canada’s top entrepreneurs. Dickinson along with Robert Deluce (Porter Airlines) and Christine Magee (Sleep Country) will share their expert experiences and insights on running a successful business and the entrepreneurial lifestyle in an intimate and interactive forum."

Darlene and her company YouInc will not only celebrate small businesses on October 15, they will also launch the 9th season of CBC's Dragon Den which airs at 8 pm. During the Breakfast Table attendees will get a sneak peek into the Dragon's new season and take part in a special question and answer session.

NHL Face-Off 2014

Hockey town #Toronto enjoys a good hockey game - win or lose, and some former NHL Maple Leafs like Darryl Sittler, above, and Wendel Clark came down to Yonge Street to take part in the season opening hockey and music festival. Tragically Hip was scheduled to perform on the Molson Canadian stage at 6:30 pm during the full day of events on Wednesday, October 8.

Furry kitty wears a tiny hockey jersey

"The free and public festivities begin at 12:00 p.m. ET, rain or shine, through the conclusion of the Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game, which will be shown on giant outdoor video screens at Yonge-Dundas Square."

Looking south on Yonge Street beside the Toronto Eaton Centre

8th Wonder of the World - The Tympanum!

The social sculpture by Michael Oatman and Brian Kane made me think that some type of M.U.T.O. (Massive Unidentified Terrestrial Organism) had found its way into the Great Hall of Union Station from the nearby subway. The large beast looked aquatic in nature, with a giant eyeball held high in the air by a thick column jutting up from the body, originating from the body which was composed of multiple appendages.

Jutting slabs of arms, or legs, or feelers seemed barely contained within a partial cage, ready to strike nearby travelers unfortunate to pass close by the installation. I have a strong feeling the creature was wakened by the long construction that has been taking part within this giant hub for Toronto's commuters. Toxic hot dog juices had long seeped into the cracks in the sidewalks and percolated deep down into the crust and further down into earth's mantle until only horror survived.

A Nuit Blanche 2014 hold out left alive by pumps which keep the monstrosity inflated and provides "a colossus for a new age and a love letter to the great North American huckster, P.T. Barnum." The project still asks "what is it?", much like the majority of works in the all-night contemporary art event.

#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