A little ice in the harbour

Toronto has been locked into an extended period of extreme cold which has broken records and slowly turned the inner harbour into a big ice cube. January 5 beat out 1959 with a temp of -23 C and wind chills have made the cold feel like -35 or -40 C. The cold has been so widespread that already 28% of the Great Lakes now have a solid ice cover as compared to the almost 5% the same time last year.

The ferries to the islands have been down to passengers on will possibly return to service on Sunday, January 8, 2018. Fire boats and ferries still churn through the harbour trying to keep the pathways open so that they are ready for a return to service. Travel to islands by the residents and business is through the Toronto Airport ferry during this period. What with the cool summer, flooding and ice it has been a trifle hard to really enjoy the island. Hopefully next year will be a little warmer, a little less damp.

#TOwaterfront

The WM Lyon Mackenzie fire boat/ice breaker

The sun sets on HTO park

The polar vortex which usually locks the cold weather where it belongs - at Santa's North Pole, and let it wander down south and cool the Six down. A high pressure arctic ridge brings the NW winds and cold temperatures to us. Ice cover and high wind chills even ended up cancelling the annual New Years Day Polar Bear Dips.

The new Toronto Bentway Skate Trail

A Zamboni now cleans the ice surface that lies directly underneath the Gardiner Expressway, keeping it clean for skaters that are braving the recent streak of extreme cold. The new park, a mix of art and sports is adjacent to Old Fort York, has a skating path that winds around the elevated highways concrete pillars. It is phase one of a 1.75km pathway and park system that opened on January 6, 2018 and had a Mayor's Skate Party on the 7th.

"Get out of hibernation and reimagine winter with a full weekend of FREE fun activities and events, including musical performances from Charmie Deller, Carmen Braden, demonstrations of Ice Breaking a unique hybrid of breakdancing and freestyle ice skating by the Toronto Ice Skate Group, DJ sets from Skratch Bastid and Nino Brown, food and drink, pop-up curling, our inaugural public art exhibition “Constructions of the Everyday,” and more."

Ice houses and the CN Tower

The winter season lasts until mid-March depending on the weather to keep the outdoor rink in a non-liquid state. Activities include free skate rentals on Mondays and skate parties on Fridays.

"The initial phase, a 1.1km trail and series of public spaces, from Strachan Avenue to Bathurst Street, knits together seven local neighbourhoods with over 70,000 residents, becoming a gateway to the waterfront, while providing access to important attractions and destinations – from Fort York National Historic Site, Ontario Place and Exhibition Place to Harbourfront Centre and the CN Tower. The Bentway offers year-round activities and events, including gardens, a skating rink, recreational amenities, public markets, public art, special exhibitions, festivals, theatre and musical performances and more."

Motorcycle SUPERSHOW 2018

Bikers are pouring into the International Centre for the latest installment of the 'big one by the airport.' It's one way of forgetting how cold it really is in Toronto this week. You can see the show schedule on my post here.

Five halls of the centre were divided into 1) touring and cruisers, 2) industry showcase and drag alley, 3) restaurant and the century of bikes, 4) performance and racing and the 5) choppers and custom bikes. Autographs and the main stage was in Hall 5.

The North American Motorcycle SUPERSHOW runs from Friday to Sunday, January 5-7 and it features the stars of Orange County Choppers Paul Teutul Sr and Mikey meeting fans. The chopper designers and builders brought some of their custom bikes and met fans and signed autographs on Friday and Saturday.

The history of motorcycles on the red carpet

Hall 5 also had a live Stunt Show demonstration by Team Empire all three days of the show. After the demo you could wander the centre looking at old bikes, new bikes, actually they are generally someone else's motorcycles but you could buy one at the show and make it yours. Or if you already have a bike you could join a club like the Durham Divas.

Sinful Delight Boutique out of Barrie

"Check out the new 2018 Harley Davidsons, watch some of the biggest names in bike builders compete for $50,000 in Cash and Prizes at The Canada Cup Championship Custom Bike competition. You'll see over 500 Exhibitors and meet over 100 Clubs, Rides & Rallies. You can Purchase your Bike at the Show, discover the Best Shopping Bargains, and explore how to get in to the sport of Motorcycling. Visit the Century of Motorcycles Exhibition, enjoy live bands and fashion shows, meet industry celebrities. It's the 'BIG ONE by the AIRPORT', and you won't want to miss it!"

See more photos after the jump.

Catching a good view of the stunt demo show

John Belushi at the National Service Dogs booth

Light up the Hills

The Tree of Hope in Georgetown is covered in Christmas lights and is just one of the light installations in the Dominion Seed Garden. Tree lighting started December 1 and the park will continue to be illuminated till January 3. The lights started in Georgetown and have expanded to Acton and Glen Williams.

"Embracing the essence of Joy, the spirit of Giving & the season of Hope, by contributing to HALTON HILLS’ reputation as a friendly, family community." The memory trees stand beside the big Christmas Tree and are full of memory balls hanging in celebration of loved ones passed away.

Santa Claus waves hi

North American International Motorcycle SUPERSHOW 2018 Schedule

Update: See photos of the 2018 show on my post here.

Orange County Choppers stars Paul Sr and Mikey will be signing autographs Friday and Saturday at the International Centre. The famous custom motorcycle designer and builders, founder of the hit series OCC will be at the show January 5 and 6, 2018 with signings at the following times.

Friday January 5th- : 12:30PM • 3:00PM • 6:00PM
Saturday January 6th: 10:30AM • 1:00PM • 3:30PM

"Paul Sr. has starred in the reality TV series American Chopper (2003-2010), American Chopper Junior. VS. Senior (2010-2012) Orange County Choppers (OCC) a world famous custom motorcycle manufacturer founded in 1999 by Paul Teutul Sr. At their facility based in Newburgh, NY, Paul Sr. and his team of custom fabricators design, engineer and manufacture unique forward-thinking motorcycles. The OCC brand hit the mainstream when a Discovery Channel reality TV series American Choppers brought them into the spotlight, which debuted in September 2002. A much anticipated return to the Discovery Channel scheduled for 2018, Orange County Choppers continues to thrive around the world."

The 42nd annual Motorcycle SUPERSHOW, known as the Big One by the Airport, will have over 1,000 bikes, music, fashion and prizes for some of the best motorcycles and will continue over the January 5-7, 2018 weekend with the following hours.

Friday, January 5: 12 pm – 10pm
Saturday, January 6: 10 am – 9 pm
Sunday, January 7: 10 am – 5 pm
Parking: Free Parking

"Check out the new 2018 Harley Davidsons, watch some of the biggest names in bike builders compete for $50,000 in Cash and Prizes at The Canada Cup Championship Custom Bike competition. You'll see over 500 Exhibitors and meet over 100 Clubs, Rides & Rallies. You can Purchase your Bike at the Show, discover the Best Shopping Bargains, and explore how to get in to the sport of Motorcycling. Visit the Century of Motorcycles Exhibition, enjoy live bands and fashion shows, meet industry celebrities. For those who love vintage we have a hall dedicated to over 100 years of motorcycling. Come and meet those in the racing circuit or watch Nick Apex and Ernie Vigil from Empire Freestyle perform incredible heart stopping tricks on their motorcycles."

Toronto No Pants Subway Ride 2018

No Pants Society returns with another zany adventure held around the world - wherever there is a willing subway, on Sunday, January 7, 2018. As they say - "pants are just a fancy word for leg jail." Photo at top by Joe Hamilton.

The 16th anniversary of this event starts at Finch Station Designated Waiting Area (DWA) at 3pm. Then at 3:20pm the pants come off and the journey begins. At 4pm there is a pantless and no doubt cold walk to the after party location departing from Osgoode Station at 3:50pm. Check their facebook page to keep up to date on the specific meet locations.

"And don't forget your plaid shirts and velvet chokers, we're throwing it down after the ride with a '90s No Pants Dance Afterparty incl dance offs and prizes for the raddest no pants and 90s gear." The Afterparty will be at the Office Pub (117 John Street).

"Happening simultaneously in 50+ cities around the world, the No Pants Subway Ride is a celebration of silliness to bring a smile to commuter's faces. Ain't no subway ride like a pantsless subway ride. As always, we'll be throwin' it down on the dancefloor for a ragin' after party and pantsless parade to the venue."

You can see photos from the 2012 no pants subway ride here and the 2015 no pants subway ride here.

Gage Park Christmas Lights and Skating

Brampton's downtown park is full of beautiful holiday lights and light displays with a skating path that winds through the park. The large grounds sit just south of City Hall and the lighting displays extend into the town square and include gold and silver stars.

The gazebo and many of the large light displays are in the centre of the skating rink

The public ice rink is free and offers skate and helmet rentals for those that want to speed along the pathway in wintertime. Parking is available in the underground of cityhall - it is free on weekends, holidays and after 7pm on weekdays.

A polar bear and Christmas ornament light

A lit moose

"Join us on Friday and Saturday evenings, as well as Sunday afternoons, and skate to the sounds of a DJ and warm up at the fire pit! Skate/Helmet Rentals and a Food Trailer are operational Thursdays to Sundays."

Location: Main St. South and Wellington St. West in Downtown Brampton
Hours of Operation
Sunday to Thursday, 10am – 10pm
Friday and Saturday, 10am – 11pm
Skate and helmet rentals and a food trailer are onsite Thursday to Sunday

See more photos after the jump.

Fun things to do in Toronto 2018

There is always something going on in Canada's largest and North America's four largest city and you can find them here. The list is on the right sidebar but as a lot of people now use smartphones to browse the internet it is time for a separate post on the Toronto Grand Prix Tourist blog.

I have organized the events and attractions in two month blocks so you can find things to do faster that going through a yearly list and posted photos for many of the events. If you want a break from boredom, a little excitement or want to try something new this is where it's at. Some events are annual festivals, some are parades, some are one offs that come into Toronto and never return and many are favourites that you never want to miss. It is time for a little adventure in your life.

Fun things to do in Toronto January and February 2018
Fun things to do in Toronto March and April 2018

Fun things to do in Toronto May and June 2018

Fun things to do in Toronto July and August 2018
Fun things to do in Toronto September and October 2018
Fun things to do in Toronto November and December 2018

You can also search the following categories for things to do.

Car Shows and Races in Toronto 2018

Motorcycle Shows in Toronto 2018

NASCAR Pinty's Series Races 2018

Beer and Spirit Festivals in Toronto 2018

Toronto Runs 2018