It's beginning to look like an icicle covered Christmas

Some years the winter snow waits for Christmas, this year Santa has brought snow in by the sleigh full and he has decided to cover it with a thick layer of ice. The freezing rain alert continues for Toronto from Friday into Sunday, December 22, 2013. So even though it is too early for February Blahs, I now have the December Blahs. So here is some greenery from Allan Gardens. The danger of driving in slippery weather should hopefully keep most people at home and safe, but don't forget that weakened, ice-covered trees have the potential to knock down power lines and cut the electricity. Try to plan ahead for these types of emergencies.

This is the last weekend to see the Conservatory by candlelight, but the Christmas Show will be on until January 15. Allan Gardens is open every day (including Christmas) from 10 am to 5 pm. Free.

Freezing Rain Warning Issued at 3:42 PM EST Saturday 21 December 2013:
:Major ice storm forecast this evening into Sunday morning. A significant frontal boundary from near Windsor to near Hamilton eastwards across Lake Ontario is expected to slowly move southwards this evening as a slightly colder northerly flow starts to establish itself. Areas from Peterborough to Kingston received freezing rain all day today. Areas near Toronto and Hamilton reported mainly rain however as the front slides southward this will change over to freezing rain late this afternoon or during the evening hours. A Texas low continues to track towards the Lower Great Lakes this evening and will generate substantial moisture over the area. As a result a major freezing rain storm is expected for portions of Southern and Eastern Ontario. Additional freezing rainfall amounts on the order of 20 to 30 mm are possible by Sunday morning. As a result, ice accumulation on trees and power lines could potentially create widespread power outages and downed trees or tree limbs. Driving conditions on untreated roads could become very hazardous. Motorists and pedestrians should exercise caution and adjust travel plans accordingly."

See more photos on my post here.

Wings and Wheels tickets for Christmas

@HondaIndy, @CTMPOfficial, @ThunderOverMI and the North American International Motorcycle Supershow 2014 . Little boys wish for toy cars, motorcycles and planes, big boys want the thunder and excitement of the real thing. Christmas makes a perfect time for Santa's wish list to include tickets to some great entertainment events while prices are right.

Honda Indy Toronto 2inTO brings two full-length IndyCar races to Exhibition Place on July 18-20, 2014. Tickets are on sale at special introductory pricing which will increase in the new year. "On-site attractions include elements of a Craft Beerfest, Motorfest, Adrenalinefest, Tastefest, Celebrationfest and Indyfest, each enhancing the level of spectacle and excitement of the three-day event."

Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (Mosport) has tickets on sale just in time for the holiday season for the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Chevrolet Silverado 250 running August 29-31, 2014. The 2014 season schedule has been released for the motorsport park which also features the TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, the Victoria Day SpeedFest Weekend with NASCAR Canadian Tire Series, the SCCA Pro Racing Trans-Am Series, the return of the Pirelli World Challenge Championship after a one year absence (Touring and B-Spec), Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Michelin, Canadian Touring Car Championship and the Toyo Tires F1600 Championship.

For overhead fun you can buy discount tickets on sale until December 25, 2013 (discount code: TOMINSIDER) for the 2014 Thunder Over Michigan Air Show. Flying over the Willow Run Airport on August 9-10, 2014, the show will be headlined by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds red, white and blue F-16 jet demonstration team.

And don't forget to get your online tickets for the January 3-5, 2014 North American International Motorcycle Supershow at the International Centre in Toronto. Save $3 off the price of admission with the online discount tickets.

A Guide to Buying the Perfect Bike Rack

When Fresh Joe and I ride around #Toronto we carry our bikes on Joe's trailer-hitch mounted rack which proves invaluable for getting us into the city. BikeRackshops has provided an infographic on how to pick your bike rack.

guide to buying the perfect bicycle racks for cars

Hobbit's Unexpected LEGO Journey begins in Toronto

Middle Earth runs through the Eaton Centre as @WBPicturesCan #HobbitHouseTEC lies right beside Sears. The Shire and Bag End is a lot closer than I had imagined and the dwarves are taking advantage of Bilbo Baggins as they pile the table high with food. The LEGO version of Bilbo’s home measures over 10 feet tall and 20 feet wide and was constructed from thousands of tiny bricks by Warner Brothers Pictures Canada and The LEGO Group.

The masterpiece of LEGO construction marks the release on DVD and Blu-Ray of Hobbit, Unexpected Journey and the recent film release of the second of three Hobbit movies – Hobbit, The Desolation of Smaug. The creation was unveiled on December 16 and will remain near Sears in Trinity Way until December 23, 2013.

Deadly dinosaurs in Eaton Centre

A hungry T-Rex at the @TOeatonCentre eyes a young lady in a pith helmet, the creatures mouth widens and sharp teeth stand ready to rip the prey to pieces. Walking with Dinosaurs 3D is a movie that comes out on December 20, 2013 and the mall had a promotion that included free dinosaur eggs for children to discover.

Winter wonderland at Yonge-Dundas Square

Santa and an Elf were just hanging at the square, standing at the base of the Christmas ball tree, while nearby @Indie88Toronto hoisted a ball of mistletoe. The winter blast of snow over the weekend slows down the busy intersection, but it doesn't come close to keeping shoppers away from the Toronto Eaton Centre as we approach Christmas. 

Fresh Joe is almost lost in a heavy snowfall

Canadian Forces Combat Camera Best Photos of 2013

The Canadian Forces Combat Camera has chosen their top photos of 2013 and you can find them on their website:http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca. Here are several photos that I really liked, photos and descriptions by the Canadian Forces. At top: A Royal Canadian Air Force CC-177 Globemaster aircraft sits on the tarmac of Iloilo city airport during Operation RENAISSANCE, in Iloilo city, on November 17, 2013. Photo: MCpl Marc-Andre Gaudreault, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

Master Corporal Joe Wilson assists a member of the Armée de Terre (French Army) as they take aim with the C9 machine gun during a coalition training session at Kabul Military Training Centre in Kabul, Afghanistan on August 3, 2013 during Operation ATTENTION. Photo: MCpl Frieda Van Putten

A CF-18 Hornet in flight during an air combat training exercise for Squadron 425 pilots from Bagotville. Photo: Corporal Pierre Habib, 3 Wing Bagotville © 2013 DND-MDN Canada

A CC-150 Polaris Airbus from 437 Transport Squadron in Trenton provides air-to-air refueling to CF-18 Hornet fighter aircraft from 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron on their transit from Cold Lake, Alberta to Elmendorf, Alaska in preparation for Exercise VIGILANT EAGLE 13 on August 25, 2013. Photo: Cpl Vicky Lefrancois, DAirPA

Search and Rescue Technicians conduct a free fall jump from a CC-130 Hercules aircraft over 14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia as part of parachute training on August 21, 2013. Photo: Corporal Don Kirkwood, 14 AMS, Wing Imaging

Search and Rescue technician, Master Corporal Jeff Connors is hoisted by a CH-149 helicopter during a search and rescue exercise in Miramachi, New Brunswick on October 9, 2013. Photo: Cpl Crystal Roche, 14 Wing Imaging, Greenwood

After jumping into the Pacific Ocean near the shores of Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt British Columbia, Leading Seaman Gabriel Mercier, a member from the Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic) Clearance Divers places his weapon on his rucksac prior to his swim to the shore on May 7, 2013 to conduct a beach landing site reconnaissance during Exercise TRIDENT FURY 13. Photo: Sgt Norm McLean, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship TORONTO (left) and the United States Ship STOCKDALE (right) are hooked up to the United States Ship CESAR CHAVEZ (centre) for a fuel replenishment in the Gulf of Oman during Operation ARTEMIS on August 16, 2013. Photo: Master Corporal David Singleton-Browne, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

During calm seas the wake produced by Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship TORONTO and the United States Ship RAINIER, during an underway replenishment, collide to produce high waves and spray during Operation ARTEMIS on August 24, 2013. Photo: Master Corporal David Singleton-Browne, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

A US Navy Sea Hawk helicopter lands on Her Majesty’s Canadian Ship TORONTO as part of coalition flight operations during Operation ARTEMIS on August 27, 2013. Photo: Master Corporal David Singleton-Browne, Canadian Forces Combat Camera

Toronto rally for the Ukraine

Blue and yellow flags were part of a peaceful Euromaidan protest on Sunday, December 15, 2013 at Yonge-Dundas Square. The 3 pm rally was in support of pro-democracy and for the anti-government protests in the Ukraine.

Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton. More of the demonstration after the jump.

Christmas Comicon in Toronto

Comics and cosplay were on display in the South Building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre during the December 15, 2013 combined @FanExpoCanada ComiCon and AnimeCON shows. Update: more photos added!

Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton. More cosplay after the jump.