Looking back at Silver Elvis

Cold, wet weather is delaying the return of the city buskers. Staples like Silver Elvis, Kate Mior and Toronto Batman are probably together in the Batcave, drinking hot toddies and dreaming of tourists making it rain into their donation bins.

Silver Elvis at Buskerfest

The big street performer festival is the Toronto International BuskerFest which is scheduled for August 25-28, 2016. Thankfully it looks like the extremely popular community event will continue, at least for this year, after losing its title sponsor Scotiabank, last year. Here are some more pictures from BuskerFest.

April snow delays cherry blossoms

A blast of winter weather has hit the Toronto area and the fabulous Sakura cherry blossoms are now expected to peak in early to mid May 2016. In High Park the trees are showing buds in the early stages of growth with some delay due to the cold. The blossoms have typically come out in April or May depending on the lasting affects of winter. I was hoping that the warmer than usual winter season would have given us early signs of Spring. These are some blossoms from previous years.

Besides the famous High Park cherry blossoms, you will also be able to find fruit trees when they bloom in many areas of Toronto, including Queen's Park, Exhibition Place, Old City Hall, Osgoode Hall, Ryerson University, the University of Toronto and along the centre boulevard of University Avenue.

"Nothing symbolizes spring like the beauty of a blooming cherry tree. Each year thousands of people visit High Park to take part in the century old Japanese tradition of Sakura Hanami, or “cherry blossom flower viewing.” The City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department notes that the Japanese ambassador to Canada presented 2,000 Somei-Yoshino Sakura trees to Toronto in 1959. The trees were a gift from the citizens of Tokyo.

Toronto Old City Hall

Osgoode Hall panorama

A little of this, a little of that

It's time for a little bit of variety for the upcoming spring warmup. All photos by Joe Hamilton.

Toronto Pillow Fight 2016

The International Day of Pillow Fighting brings close, fluffy combat to Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday, April 2nd from 3-6 p.m. Brought to the city by the group at Newmindspace, the organization does all sorts of wacky events like the light swords battle and the bubble battle.

"Pillows fly and teddies soar as you converge for a giant urban pillow fight! Swing and whack as you evade pillow-wielding assailants. Bring a soft pillow and wait for the signal. Pillow fight! Rules: Please follow these guidelines to ensure a safe and fun pillow fight for everybody!
+ Soft, feather-free pillows only!
+ Swing lightly, many people will be swinging at once.
+ Do not swing at people without pillows or with cameras.
+ Remove glasses beforehand!
+ Deposit pillows in donation boxes or take them with you.
+ Pajamas welcome."

Play fights will happen all over the world during this, the 7th annual International Pillow Fight Day as over 100 cities will erupt in joyous swinging of the pillows. These are photos from the 2015 Pillow Fight.

#WNBR 2016 coming June 11

Less Gas, More Ass on the protest against oil dependence at the upcoming Toronto World Naked Bike Ride. Riders will gather from 10am to 1pm on Saturday at Coronation Park and take to two wheels at 1pm for a jaunty ride through downtown Toronto. Bare as you dare, clothing is optional; "wear your clothes if you want, just show up and ride!"

Coronation Park is just south of the CNE Princes' Gate along Lake Shore Boulevard. Ride organizer Gene Dare, above, is usually at the War Memorial early, greeting bikers as they show up and prepare for the ride. Some of the bikers get body painted and there are usually a few volunteer artists that show up, as well as a few enthusiastic amateurs with paintbrushes.

The typical route starts by heading north on Strachan Avenue and turning east on Queen Street West, although sometimes they have gone through Trinity Bellwood's Park and continuing into such popular tourist destinations as Kensington Market, University of Toronto, Queen's Park, Yorkville, Ryerson University, past Yonge-Dundas Square on Yonge Street and the Toronto Eaton Centre before taking a long break at City Hall for some individual and group photo opportunities which sometimes includes the reflecting pond. After City Hall the WNBR heads south on Bay Street and officially end the ride at the Jack Layton Memorial Ferry Docks. While most of the riders disperse at the Toronto Island Ferry landing, some head back to Coronation Park, or some take the ferry over to the Islands and head to the clothing optional beach at Hanlan's Beach.

Passing by the Toronto Eaton Centre and Yonge-Dundas Square

Several media organizations cover the Toronto biking event and Naked News is supposed to return once again to this year's event.

Embrace This Space

EMBRACE? Love it.

Here are some other spaces that have been embraced by graffiti paint.

Back at the Brickworks

It's been some time since they cranked out 25 million bricks a day at the Don Valley Brickworks, now Evergreen is a community cultural and environmental centre.

High quality clay from the site was used to produce bricks since 1889 and the production of the rectangular building material continued for almost 100 years.

Besides saving a lot of the brick facade, they also kept some of the old equipment, the long line of kilns and some of the old graffiti. It is a nice place to visit where you can walk the trails around the three ponds, come into several of the buildings open to the public, check out the market and it looks like they have art shows quite often.

Visit the old Brickworks on the following posts:
http://www.torontograndprixtourist.com/2011/04/evergreen-brickworks-look-back-at.html
http://www.torontograndprixtourist.com/2010/04/photo-vault-don-valley-brickworks.html
http://www.torontograndprixtourist.com/2010/05/evergreen-brickworks.html

Michael Pinball Clemons

Vice-Chair of the CFL Toronto Argonaut football team, former record setting player and Head Coach, all around great guy, Pinball was down at City Hall to film a promotion for the team and he brought some players and the lovely Argo Cheerleaders.

"In the rich 138-year history of the Toronto Argonauts, there are many football heroes who have brought pride to the city of Toronto and the Double Blue but it is difficult to find a more popular name in team history than Michael Clemons. Born and raised in Florida, the William and Mary economics graduate began his career in the CFL in 1989 after a brief stint in the National Football League. As a player, Clemons compiled a brilliant CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts, including a pro-football record for most career combined yards with 25,396. On September 15, 2000, Pinball hung up his Double Blue jersey after 12 brilliant seasons to move directly into the position of Head Coach. He retired with 12 all-time team records to his credit, including career receptions (682)."

Rob Ford loses battle with cancer

UPDATE: Councillor Rob Ford will lie in repose in the main floor rotunda at City Hall 100 Queen St W March 28-29. The hours are Monday, March 28 - 10am to 6pm and Tuesday, March 29 - 7:30am to 9pm. Access to City Hall will be restricted to the western main door on Monday, March 28.

Toronto Mounted Police Honour Guard at the entrance to City Hall

The ex Mayor of Toronto fought against a rare form of cancer and in the last few days word got out that he wasn't in a good place. Still, it was a shock when it was announced that he died today. The City lowered flags to half mast and made books of condolence available at City Hall and the Municipal Civic Centres. The flags will remain lowered until Rob Ford's funeral and you can sign an online book of condolence at the City's website: cityoftorontocondolences.ca

In line to sign the book of condolence for Rob Ford at Toronto City Hall

He life publicly imploded and was broadcast over the airwaves for all to see. Discovering cancer he dropped out of the race for re-election as Mayor and switched to running for Ward 2 Councillor, which he won handily. He was Mayor from 2010 to 2014 and was originally Ward 2 Councillor for Etobicoke North starting in the year 2000 and was re-elected twice before winning the Mayor's Chain of Office.

Media vans outside City Hall

Councillor Rob Ford's signs lean against the window of his office

"On behalf of the members of Toronto City Council, I extend our deepest condolences to Rob's wife, Renata, his children Stephanie and Doug, and all members of his family," said Mayor John Tory. "His time in City Hall included moments of kindness, of generosity to his council colleagues and real efforts to do what he thought was best for Toronto. He was, above all else, a profoundly human guy whose presence in our city will be missed.”

Track changes at the Honda Indy Toronto

I was hoping that they would run the IndyCar track right through the new hotel, but apparently they do need a lobby. The modifications to the Honda Indy Toronto street course are the third since the race began in 1986 and the big change for 2016 is the re-location of pit lane; like the chicken, it crossed the road. Pit Lane will start on the north side of turn 9 and exit onto Princes' Boulevard past turn 11.

Cars come out of the old pit lane - that is so 2015

Some other changes to the Exhibition Place HIT festival grounds include hospitality suite and grandstand revisions, along with a new pedestrian and wheelchair track crossing at turn 9. As the new urban hotel rose from the parking lot and former marine museum location, it impacted the land available for both the pit and exit lane. Because the hotel was probably embarrassed by the slight takeover of the race track, they called themselves Hotel X. We may never know the real name of the hotel and it should cover itself in a giant mask, much like a Toronto raccoon. Later, someone might see the hotel sneak into a phone booth and change into SuperHotel.

An exclusive ticket sales special was also introduced by the race organizers Green Savoree Racing Promotions for Weekend Grandstand ticket holders from 2015: "Renewal customers will have access to a new program, the Champions Club, offering many exciting benefits, including Paddock Passes, access to the Verizon IndyCar Series pre-race grid walk and an opportunity to sign the start/finish line for the 2016 Honda Indy Toronto. Ticket sales for the general public will begin April 12." 

IndyCar drivers in the old pits (Conor Daly, above). They will probably be better drivers in the new pits

Josef Newgarden

And don't forget free Fan Friday sponsored by Ontario Honda Dealers in support of Make A Wish Foundation. "On Fan Friday, your Ontario Honda Dealers will cover the cost of admission for everyone to check out the spectacle and excitement of the Honda Indy Toronto, in exchange for a donation to Make-A-Wish® Canada. With generous support from fans, Honda Canada and the Ontario Honda Dealers have raised more than $443,000 for Make-A-Wish®, helping to make the wishes of children who are living with a life-threatening medical condition come true."

The weekend motorsports festival runs July 15-17, 2016 and includes several race series from SPEED Stadium Super Trucks, Porche GT3 Cup Challenge, the Mazda Road to Indy and the stock cars of the NASCAR Pinty's Series.

“This year marks the 30th year of racing in Toronto,” said Jeff Atkinson, president of the Honda Indy Toronto. “We are thrilled to be able to provide a double feature to help mark the occasion, with the NASCAR Pinty’s Series headlining on Saturday and the Verizon IndyCar Series on Sunday. Fans are in for an exciting weekend of racing at the Honda Indy Toronto this summer.”