Piano Man Billy Joel returns to #Toronto

Joining tens of thousands of fans at the Air Canada Centre on Sunday I watched Billy Joel once again pound out songs on the keys of his rotating piano. After seeing Billy perform with Elton John in 2009 we couldn't wait for the New York City native to return to the Big Smoke and quickly snatched up some tickets to the March 9, 2014 show.

At first they kept the crowds away from the stage, but after close to an hour they let people move close to the star

His set list included: Miami 2017 (Seen the Lights Go Out on Broadway), Pressure, The Entertainer, Vienna, Zanzibar, And So It Goes, Allentown, The Downeaster Alexa, New York State of Mind, Sometimes a Fantasy, Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song), She’s Always a Woman, Don’t Ask Me Why, River Of Dreams/Hard Days Night, Scenes From an Italian Restaurant and Piano Man (his first hit song, released in 1973). His encore featured We Didn’t Start The Fire, Uptown Girl, It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me, You May Be Right and Only the Good Die Young. Billy had hits from the 1970s into the 1990s and many of us had grown up listening to his songs on the radio.

The 64 year old star joked that most people retired at 65, yet he was still out singing on the road - looking like his father. He played a lot of songs that weren't hits at the beginning of his set, but quickly moved into his chart topping hits that got the crowd moving.

Billy is a multi-talented musician and can play the piano, keyboard, guitar, harmonica and accordion. It was hilarious when he halted We Didn't Start the Fire after screwing up the words to the fast paced song. He was willing to go right to another song, but after getting back in the rhythm he finished the song - saying it was one of his worst melodies he has written.
Jon McLaughlin and his band from Indiana, USA opened for Billy Joel.

Jon McLaughlin on Billy's piano

Canadian Screen Awards

A fleet of chauffeur driven SUVs ferried celebrities to the #Toronto Sony Centre for the 2nd annual
@Academy_NET Award Broadcast on Sunday, March 9, 2014. The two hour gala was hosted by comedian Martin Short in the St Lawrence Market area with the red carpet entrance off of Scott Street.

Katheryn Winnick stars in the TV series Vikings and was nominated for Best Actress

The Canadian Screen Awards was created by merging the Gemini and Genie Awards and this year marked the 65th anniversary of the Canadian Film Awards. The awards are for excellence in Canadian film, television and digital media productions, given by the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television.

Actress and Producer Maria Bello has been in films like Payback and The Mummy 

The entrance to the show's red carpet

Missy Peregrym appeared in TV series Rookie Blue and Reaper

Mr D, Gerry Dee heads away from the red carpet before the show

Director Denis Villeneuve. His film Enemy won several awards including Achievement in Direction, Achievement in Editing and also had the best Supporting Actress

#Toronto ComiCon 2104

Brought out fan boys and girls for the @FanExpoCanada show March 7-9 in the south building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton.

Long lineups funneled into only a few manned ticket booths at the show entrance, while extra staff manned advance ticket booths - advance tickets that you couldn't buy for Saturday. Once you paid your $25 fee you could slap on the wrist band and head into the food truck area, where for about 8 bucks you could buy a hot dog. Okay, that is the worst part, the rest is all fine. Comic book dealers and artists shared space with celebrities and vendors.

Not everyone dressed in costume but there was still a lot of people that put on some interesting and fantastic cosplay and most happily posed for photos.

Star Trek and Superman

Star Wars Stormtroopers and a lovely R2D2

See more cosplay after the jump.

Motorcycle SPRINGSHOW launches the 2014 Riding Season

You don't see a lot of choppers on the road right now, running fast on over-sized snow tires, so like most Canadians tired of winter we must look forward to the March 15-16 Motorcycle Springshow at the International Centre before actual spring weather comes to Toronto. The weekend event gives you a chance to shop for gear, accessories and new wheels. Download a $3 discount coupon on their website and when you go Saturday night after 5 pm it's half price and parking is always free a the International Centre.

"Bring your walking shoes because the latest expansion means larger displays of the New 2014 model motorcycles including touring and cruising bikes, street bikes, offroad bikes, scooters, production customs and more.There will be great deals on non-current models too. The giant Used Bike Clearance Sale is bigger and better this year for those who are looking to upgrade or shopping for their first bike." The hours are 10 am to 9 pm Saturday, 10 am to 5 pm on Sunday.

Bikes of the Century and the Historical Motorcycle Exhibit feature the Bar Hodgson 1951 Egli Vincent "Black Panther"  and other motorcycles from 1913 to present in Hall 3, sponsored by Dalton Timmis Insurance.

I love seeing the showbikes and this year the top customs are competing for over $20,000 in prizes. There will also be some lovely ladies at the show - Khloe Terae - 7 time Playboy model, and calendar models Mandy Monroe and Alisha Lynn.

Mandy Monroe

#YourBillion in #Toronto

Bill Gates must have lost some of his petty cash because there was a large block of money in @YDSquare. The money was fake, but it sure looked tempting.

Film crews were on hand asking what you would do with one billion dollars. The reason for the cash is not readily apparent so it has to be a political statement. Probably illustrating the cost of a billion dollar boondoggle, or something along that line, maybe even something about cancelled gas plants. Fresh Joe says it is probably about tax returns and not getting all the deductions and returns due to you.

This is your money

Rick Mercer Report on CBC

Canadian comedian Rick Mercer is the star of the CBC with his weekly comedy show about current events featuring his famous Queen Street Graffiti Alley Rants. Broadcast on Tuesdays at 8 pm the Rick Mercer Report (RMR) is taped in front of a live audience and tickets are free - just darn near impossible to get and the 2013-2014 season is already sold out.

With four people trying to get tickets, Fresh Joe was the only one who managed to score some seats. Our live taping happened on Friday, February 28, 2014 in the studios of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on Front Street West in Toronto.

Rick looks towards Bob, the stage director

Cool blue and green set

Teleprompter in case Rick forgets his name

"Tickets are limited to 4 per person, at 1 taping per season. Due to high demand for tickets we do not book groups for the tapings. Tickets are available for pickup only on the night of performance. We ask that you arrive between 6:45 – 7:15 PM, the doors will close sharply at 7:15 PM. The taping will last approximately 1 hour."

Down in the Atrium

With ticket email confirmation in hand you can go into the CBC building at 25 John Street and wait in line in the green atrium. When they start the line moving you confirm your identity on their list, receive your official RMR tickets and then you go up to the 10th in the two elevators. In the wheelchair accessible studio you let them know how many in your party and the Audience Assistants show you to your seats, then you wait for the large television cameras to come out and Rick Mercer to make his first appearance.

Rick at his glass desk

Many of the show components are filmed at an earlier time such as his on site interviews and adventures, the Rant and his comedy commercials. In the studio he ties it altogether with several new bits and the audience watches and reacts to the taped segments. Rick immediately tells the audience that he loves photography - just no flash photos during taping.

It was great fun watching the show being put together and Rick is extremely funny so it was a great night of entertainment. At the end of the show Rick stays and meets everyone that wants a photo or autograph.

Grey Goose Pre-Oscar celebrations

The World's Best Tasting Vodka has been busy hosting parties for the cast of 12 Years a Slave and other film celebrities at Sunset Tower Hotel in Los Angeles in the lead up to the 86th annual Academy Awards.

(L-R) Actors Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and Lupita Nyong'o

On March 1 "a glittering guest list including Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o and Chiwetel Ejifor celebrated the achievements of those rare individuals who truly fly beyond and enjoyed GREY GOOSE specialty Awards Season cocktails: L’Amour Moderne, inspired by ‘Unconditional Love’ and the ultimate celebratory cocktail, the sparkling GREY GOOSE Le Fizz."

Actors Lupita Nyong'o (L) and Chiwetel Ejiofor

On March 2, 2014 Grey Goose also hosted a Pre-Oscar Celebration hosted by Michael Sugar, Warren Zavala, Doug Wald and Marc Webb.

Actresses Anna Faris (L) and Emmanuelle Chriqui

"A star-studded guest list including Zoe Deschanel, Sienna Miller, Benedict Cumberbatch, Poppy Delevigne, Chris Pratt and Anna Faris celebrated the achievements of those rare individuals who truly fly beyond and enjoyed specially created GREY GOOSE Awards Season cocktails: L’Amour Moderne, inspired by ‘Unconditional Love’; Lower East Side, inspired by ‘Return to Retro’; The Cosmonaut, inspired by ‘Futurism’ and in addition, the ultimate celebratory cocktail, the sparkling GREY GOOSE Le Fizz."

Actor Benedict Cumberbatch

Model Poppy Delevingne (L) and actress Sienna Miller

Photos supplied by Grey Goose.

Sexapalooza #Toronto 2014

Lights were dim and the mood was romantic in the International Centre for the weekend adult consumer show "Sexapalooza offers a safe yet titillating environment dedicated to entertaining and educating you on all aspects of sex and sexuality." The excitement continues Feb 28 to Mar 2, 2014 in Hall 6 with Sunday's hours 12 pm to 6 pm. Join the ladies of sexypartywear.com, pictured above and below, at booth #361 where you can pick up a coupon for free shipping from the Canadian company.

Crowds of eager couples and groups of young women checked out the main stage entertainment hosted by mc Scarlett Bobo, adult vendors and seminars and lived the tagline "explore. excite. enjoy."

Jana Matthews, left, owner of Oasis Aqualounge

Miss Kitty in the Oasis hot tub

Belly Dancer demonstration by Shellise

Other attractions were the body painting demonstrations, the Kai dance group and the Alley of Fantasy.

Posted by Joe Hamilton and James Hamilton. See more photos after the jump.