#Toronto shoppers start your engines

Eaton Centre shoppers got a chance to look at a @HondaIndy car when it was plunked down right in the downtown super-mall. The track was hard to find but I think it went right through Sears and ended up going around the spray fountain. Race fans could sign up for a chance to win a pair of tickets to the 2inTO doubleheader race which is coming to town next weekend - July 12-14, 2013. I see that the Toronto Sun has prepared a special tribute to the upcoming Honda Indy Toronto with a photo shoot featuring the always beautiful Theresa Longo - check out her blog for the photos.

The race weekend has become a weekend of festivals in Exhibition Place with Craft Beerfest, Motorfest, Adrenalinefest, Tastefest, Celebrationfest and Indyfest. I am also looking forward to the Stadium Super Trucks, which will perfrom jumps and tricks with the off-road trucks and the RedHot BMX Stunt Show.

“If you haven’t been to the event in years, or have never been, this is the year to join us,” said Charlie Johnstone, President of Honda Indy Toronto. “There is something for everyone, both on and off the track. At the Honda Indy Toronto, the races and the entertainment go hand-in-hand to provide our guests with one of the most memorable and energy-packed sporting experiences in Canada.”

Driver Ryan Briscoe

Free Friday has become Fan Friday. Free entrance with a donation to Make-A-Wish Foundation

Summer brings FanExpo

Spock and Bones from the new Star Trek movies are just some of the stars coming to @FanExpoCanada in #Toronto, August 22-25, 2013. Set autograph opportunities to high and meet Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban as they wow the crowds at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Fans of the original Star Trek television series can also meet Nichelle Nichols and George Takei.

The show features genres such as comics, sci-fi, horror, anime, gaming and sports so you can find vendors, guests and cosplay from all these groups. Featured guests include actors from The Walking Dead, Star Wars, Doctor Who and the Terminator along with list of many other celebrities.

Wearing masks on the streets of #Toronto

You don't often see people wearing surgical masks while out in public around the Big Smoke, after all the air is pretty clean most of the time. There were a few more masks worn during the SARS issue, but otherwise they are very rare. I saw this lady in Yonge-Dundas Square earlier this year.

The air quality in Toronto right now is moderate AQI 44 - "Reason: Fine Particulate Matter (PM2.5). Health Effects: People with respiratory disease at some risk." The good news is air quality has improved over the last 10 years - good job Toronto.

Canada Day Fireworks 2013

Happy Birthday Oh Canada! Enjoy the celebrations and the many firework displays throughout the GTA and around the country. Here are some photos from the Acton Firefighters Association show in Prospect Park, Halton Hills.

Porter Airlines #Toronto to Ottawa

I took an overnight trip to Ottawa and flew from the Toronto Island Airport (Billy Bishop) with Porter Airlines for the first time, and I like it. The Nation's capital city is a great place to do some sightseeing and I squeezed in as much as I could in the short time I was there. Troopers provide an honour guard at the National War Memorial by the Fairmont Chateau Laurier hotel. They can't speak while on duty but you can pose beside them.

The Rideau Canal empties into the Ottawa River

I caught the Airport's free shuttle from Front and York Streets and arrived at the ferry terminal where we were transported across the harbour by one of the world's shortest ferry rides. The ferry will soon be supplemented by an underground pedestrian tunnel which is being built right now. Across the water you enter the airport terminal which features an excellent

Airport Shuttle runs approximately every 15 minutes between the Royal York/Union Station area to the hourbourfront airport location. It has moved from the SW corner of Front and York Streets more to the west (in front of Starbucks) because of the recent road construction. Once dropped off it is a very short walk into the ferry terminal where you join a lineup to get on the free ferry. UPDATE: The Pedestrian tunnel is open now (July 30, 2015) so with a set of elevators and a couple of escalators you are at the airport - no boat trip required.

The new tunnel to the Island Airport

WWI biplane greets you as you head up the escalators

On the ferry

A view of the airport facility

An aerial view of Ontario Place and Exhibition Place

Wheels down in Ottawa

Flying back on the Porter DASH twin engine turbo prop airplane. The staff and facilities are first class and they offer free snacks, coffee, water and on plane free alcohol.

Coming back to the mainland on the ferry

The Ottawa gates of Chinatown

See more of Ottawa and Porter Airlines after the jump.

#Toronto Motorexpo 2013 at Brookfield Place

The stockbrokers and bankers were in a shopping frenzy as luxury cars were squeezed into Allen Lambert Galleria, Sam Pollock Square, the bank and the main level concourse. The Motorexpo show ran from June 24-28 and is headed to New York in September.

The cars included Porsche, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, BMW, Ferrari, Jaguar and Rolls Royce. They were sweet to look at.

An F1 race car on display

See more cars after the jump.

@HondaIndy #Toronto 2013 Grandstands and Sponsors

UPDATE: See photos from Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and the pretty Grid Girls of the 2013 Honda Indy Toronto.

The Indy street race track continues to take shape in Exhibition Place and workers have also been busy building the five grandstands and three hospitality suites, concentrated along the start/finish straightaway (pictured above looking towards turn 1 from the start/finish line). The big change is the hotel construction currently underway in the southeast corner of the grounds, it has forced the removal of the Thunder Alley grandstands. Here is a copy of the Honda Indy Toronto festival map.

The turn one hospitality suites is gone, the grandstand at the pit in location is gone while the turn 9/10 grandstand has been moved to turn 10. Hey, the Dr Pepper grandstand is back again, so that is pretty cool. Overall there are fewer grandstands, but most of the remaining grandstands have been made significantly larger and termed 'super-structure grandstands'.

Race organizers have recently brought new sponsors into the fold with WIND Mobile/Samsung Galaxy 4, RUSH, Porter Airlines and Hyatt Regency Toronto. RUSH is a new film, directed by Ron Howard, which features Chris Hemsworth (Thor) and is about the F1 champion Niki Lauda. Ron will be providing a message during the opening ceremonies of the 2013 race.

“We are committed to providing a first-class experience for our fans and securing a role for top-tier sponsors is an important part of that goal,” said Charlie Johnstone, President of the Honda Indy Toronto. “We are thrilled to welcome these four partners and are confident that they will contribute to the hospitality and festival atmosphere of the event.”

Much of the main concrete wall and safety fence has been installed. Looking from turn 1 to Lakeshore Blvd turn 2

The start/finish grandstand along the Direct Energy Centre and across from pit lane. I found out the at the trees are held in concrete boxes that are plucked out of the ground and relocated for the upcoming race.

The pit land grandstands and covered pit lane hospitality suites

Looking into pit lane

Looking towards the Honda pedestrian bridge. Pit lane is on the left, Dr Pepper grandstand is on the right.

Dr Pepper grandstand at turn 11, across from the entrance to pit lane

Turn 10 grandstand

The Honda pedestrian bridge looking towards the pits

Turn 3 grandstand - always a great place to see overshoots and crashes

Remembering some of the on-track excitement from previous races

See more of the festival layout after the jump.