Toronto Mounted Police

Every so often you get to see the Toronto Mounted Police trotting along downtown streets, usually in pairs, sometimes in small groups. Mostly they look cool and get a lot of stares and provide a lot of photo opportunities.

You tend to forget they are also formidable for crowd control purposes - like at riots and protests. I imagine you will see lots of them during upcoming G20 conference to be held in Toronto on June 26 and 27, 2010.

I have watched them perform as a group during the Toronto Doors Open event down at the CNE grounds. The horses wear protective shields over the eyes, just like their riders.



They are based out of the Horse Palace in the CNE.

Art, art everywhere

Toronto is full of art and there is a lot of it out in the streets, in public spaces and private locations open to view. Sometimes, just walking around I trip over some statue or installation, there is just so much of it.

I've talked about the toy soldiers, the immigrant family, the freaky sculptures in the Historic Distillery District and the watertable under the Gardiner Expressway but I haven't talked about the family of plastic, headless elephants along the Don Valley Parkway.



Well, they aren't really headless elephants - they are planters in an installation called "elevated wetlands" by Noel Harding. This green installation uses recycled plastics to help clean the water and each planter supplies water into the next lower planter until it empties into a small wetland at the base of the sculpture.

You can find more art around the city from these links: City of Toronto Public Art, the City of Toronto Art Walk, Toronto Sculpture Garden and Outdoor Art in Toronto.

Performance World Custom Car & Truck Show

Check out my coverage and photos of the lovely ladies at the 2011 Performance Custom Car and Truck Show on my post here.

The Toronto International Centre was once again full of cars and trucks during the 2010 Performance World Custom Car and Truck Show. The snake pictured above was from an antique automobile, it is the horn from a 1911 Locomobile 48 Touring car. You squeeze the buld at the end of the hose and the snake would make a sound. It would be hard to get a good case of road rage squeezing on that horn.




There was a number of halls full of various race, hot rod and classic cars as well as some tricked out tuner cars and critters from Zoo Too You. In addition to all the metal and chrome there were a number of beautiful ladies like Tania Amazon a curves centerfold and calendar model.





NASCAR had a few Canadian Tire Series (NCTS) drivers including Mark Dilley (pictured below), Scott Steckly (Scott's #22 car was also at the show), Kerry Micks and J.R. Fitzpatrick courtesy of Sunset Speedway and Wide Open Motorsports.

Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres

Workers recently finished some renovations to the outside of the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres on Yonge Street just across from the Eaton Centre. I never really noticed the "and" on the sign as well as the two theatres; Elgin (downstairs) and Winter Garden (upstairs). Apparently the historically significant structure, built in 1913, is the only remaining working double decker theatre complex (two separate theaters) in the world.



You can rent the theatre out for private events, take a tour of the National Historic site owned by the Ontario Heratage Trust or even go to see some live theatre. I am going to wait for Cats to come back.

Nathan Phillips Square rink finished for season

The outdoor rink under the "Freedom Arches" in Nathan Phillips Square just recently shut down for the season on the 5th of March and a small amount of ice remained at the edges. Bye bye winter.

The rink gets a lot of use during the day and night and tons of people rent skates on site. During winter special events they will usually have a DJ play some music to skate to.

Guest Blog: The Toronto Music Garden

The Toronto Music Garden: Musically Inspired, Beautifully Inspirational. A guest blog by writer Steven Rosen. Photos by James Hamilton.

The Toronto Music Garden waterfront park spans over two acres of pristine landscaping, artistically inspired from J.S. Bach's "First Suite for the Unaccompanied Cello". From the moment of arrival, guests are transported to an aesthetic blending of classical culture made manifest with carefully crafted garden suites, each representative of the many phases of the Bach musical masterpiece.

Overlooking the sparkling waters of Lake Ontario and hedged among the city's skyline, the Toronto Music Garden is a haven for rest, relaxation and living harmony with nature. Nestled between the water's Edge Promenade and Queen's Quay West, the Toronto Music Garden is divided into six organically grown courtyards to include the Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Menuett and Gigue, each section abounding in unique greenery and foliage arranged like a work of art. The senses are awakened to colour and aroma with a natural canvas of colourful plant life, birds, butterflies and a crackling river to wash away the cares of the day.



The Toronto Music Garden was carefully crafted in artistic arrangement of Canada's finest botanicals. Stroll through river birch trees, Swiss stone pine, rocky mountain fir, Russian ash and more as they are perfectly adorned by colourful specimens of golden azalea, roses lilac and over sixty luminous and scented species of plant life which would make any Toronto florist drool. Take a leisurely stroll or find your secluded garden spot for pondering and meditation.



The communion with nature and taking time to appreciate life is a dynamic stress reliever that refreshes and renews one's creative energies. Beauty and culture has inspired some of the greatest minds to capture a vision and make it happen. The J.S. Bach inspired Toronto Music Garden sets your mind free and rejuvenates, opening up a world of rich culture, tranquility and endless possibilities.



The Toronto Music Garden presents some of the best symphony talent and ensembles for cultural enrichment in a peaceful, park like setting. Guests may enjoy the works of Bach, his contemporaries, and the best from the classical era in the spectacular ambience of nature's sights and sounds. Whether you have been a lifelong patron of the fine arts or wish to introduce yourself to this richly rewarding world, the Toronto Music Garden has something for everyone of all ages.

The generous gifts and donations from the friends of the Toronto Music Garden make this nature lover's sanctuary a free gift for guests to enjoy year-round from sunrise to sunset. Guided tours are available and wheelchair access is provided.




Steven Rosen has been a Toronto resident for the past year (he is a former Montrealer) and has been lucky to experience being a tourist while living here. As a "tourist" he is interested in providing an insider/outsider view of some of the city's best attractions. An overhead view of the Music Garden is shown in this screen shot from Google Maps.

IndyCar - Looking at new car designs

The IZOD IndyCar Series is looking at redesigning their racecars and are getting some public input into their proposals and because they valued my opinion (thanks guys) I got a chance to review some of the models. One of the new concept vehicles (pictured above) reminds me of an F22 Raptor - it would be interesting to see these cars screaming around the CNE in Toronto's annual Honda Indy races.

The following pictures are some of the race cars at the 2009 Toronto Honda Indy.




This is why they are thinking of changes "The Indy Racing League recently announced objectives for its next generation of the IZOD IndyCar Series chassis - safe, raceable, cost-effective, domestically-built, less mass/more efficient, relevant technology, modern look, and green. We believe these attributes define the sanctioning body's goals in developing the next iconic car as part of the bright future of our sport."

Enjoying the weather around Toronto

The warm sunny weekend got a lot of people out on bikes and walking around their favourite areas around Toronto. I checked out Cherry Beach and it was full of dogs playing in the surf and sand as well as a few wind surfers braving the chilly waters of Lake Ontario.


Meanwhile downtown along Queen Street West the bars and patios were full of people soaking up the rays while enjoying some tasty beverages.

And Cameron House was still being attacked by ants as people walked by, unaware of the horror just above their heads.

Toronto International Bicycle Show

The bike show (bicycles not motorcycles) came into Toronto just in time for the weather that makes you think of getting the bikes out of the garage. The Better Living Centre Building in the CNE was crammed full of bikes and bikers. It really was a big bike sales event with a few exciting BMX riding events going on at a few locations. The riders, both male and female, really go all out and there were quite a few hard landings.







In addition to the bikes there was plenty of bike clothing wear - you know about those tight bicycle shorts? Now you can get a full body outfit of the stuff. And you thought bikers wearing assless chaps and body paint was a little risque. Looking at some of the high prices and futuristic designs you forget about the humble kids bike with a banana seat, big handle bars and a hockey card in the spokes.



Parking was full as their was another big show going on in the Direct Energy Centre Building and their was a bizarre and crazy bathroom monitor in the east side men's bathroom in the Better Living Centre.

Photo Vault - Brookfield Place Art

Every time I walk by Brookfield Place on Bay Street I look in their long arched gallery and check to see if they have any art installations hanging from the ceiling. They are big supporters of Luminato and other Toronto events.

I wish they could squeeze in some of the New York Macy's Day Parade giant balloons into the space as I would love to see some of those characters like Spider-Man and Snoopy in Toronto.

You can click on the Brookfield label below to see some of my pictures of their other art installations.

Sunny days are here again

Sunshine has broken out of the gloom of winter and the temperatures have been climbing above freezing. It has been easy to think that spring is here but this is Canada so we have more of the white stuff to come.

I checked out some creeks and ponds to see how much ice was left on the water and to catch some rays. What a nice weekend.

It's time to remember what the city looks like in the warmth of summer, when the patios are full and the events are happening. Speaking of remembrance here is a parade marching down Queen Street at Bay Street in front of old City Hall for a past Nov 11 Remembrance Day ceremony.

Photo Vault - Toronto Zoo

Every couple of years I get a hankering to visit the Toronto Zoo. I missed the Polar Bears the last time as the zoo was rebuilding their pool and they moved them to some other town during construction. The Toronto Zoo is open every day except for Christmas so check out their hours and drop by. During March Break you can see the new baby Gorilla.

A visit to the zoo is a full day experience as the property is immense - it is one of the largest zoos in the world, and it is a good idea to get tickets to their shuttle the zoomobile, it makes the journey a little easier. During the hot summer days a lot of the animals hide away from the sun and get some serious sleep time so spring and fall are some of the best times to visit.

It costs $21 for the entrance fee, $10 for parking, $7 for the zoomobile and a small mortgage if you take the family.






And don't forget the zoo right in the heart of Toronto - the High Park Zoo. You can see some more of my pictures in a previous post.

Take your pants off

Hilarious, Take your pants off for Prostate Cancer. I was about to run around town naked when I found out that it is for a special event fundraiser on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at Trevor Kitchen and Bar @ 38 Wellington Street East in Toronto. I had a flashback thinking about the Underwear Affair.

From their website "Pants Off for Prostate will raise funds for prostate cancer research, as well as important awareness for this disease affecting many men and their families. Corporate sponsorships, silent auction proceeds, and a major portion of ticket and drink sales will go directly to Prostate Cancer Canada."

Unzip your pants and buy some tickets.

Olympic GM vehicles for sale

You might not be able to win an Olympic medal but you could buy one of the vehicles that GM, the official vehicle supplier to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics, used to support the games.

GM says "Canadian customers across the country are encouraged to contact their local dealer for details. All fleet vehicles will be specially-priced and permanently marked with a commemorative Vancouver 2010 medallion adorned with the iconic inukshuk symbol and Olympic rings." The car maker also offered a $1000 credit to the 46 000 Olympic volunteers towards the purchase of one of the vehicles.

It's also great to see that GM of Canada is also helping with the Paralympic games "As the Official Vehicle Partner of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, GM of Canada is proudly providing 1,500 vehicles for the Paralympic Winter Games. The Paralympic vehicles will be made available to Canadians in April."

Photo Vault - Silver Elvis

It's almost time for the streets of Toronto to fill with buskers. Sometimes you have to push your way through hordes of buskers. Busking, that's what they are doing, practicing for Buskerfest.

Some of the usual buskers that hang around downtown TO include Copper Cowboy and Silver Elvis. You see Elvis (Peter Jarvis) around quite a few places and I believe I just saw him in a commercial.

Okay Blue Jays, Let's Play Ball

Now that the Winter Olympics have finished there are some people that are wishing that the round the clock CTV coverage of sports could go on. Ball fans know that the Toronto Blue Jays begin their spring training matches on Wednesday, March 3, 2010 in Dunedin Florida and in just a short time they will be back in their regular season schedule. Woo hoo, take me out to the ball game - tickets are on sale starting March 3.



Monday, April 5 will see the Blue Jays at Texas in their first game. Then the next Monday they are back in hogtown for their first home game.



I like the big turtle now called the Rogers Centre sitting near the lake. It is an impressive, hulking structure with a cool retractable roof - perfect for a nice summer day of watching baseball. Besides the cost of parking and beer and snacks the actual tickets to the games are very reasonable and it can be a nice family event. Even the nosebleeds provide good views of the field for a cost of $14.



Don't forget about other pro sports teams: Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Marlies (hockey), Toronto Raptors (NBA basketball), Toronto FC (soccer), Toronto Argonauts (football), Toronto Rock and Toronto Nationals (lacrosse).

Another cute puppy

Another friend has got a new puppy. This one is a combination Golden Retriever and Newfoundland. It is very cute and I think it will grow up to be a giant of a dog. I mean, look at the size of his paws!