Albion Falls in the winter

The sun was shining and temperatures were a little higher than the arctic chill that we have been experiencing lately so it was off to waterfall city to check out Albion Falls. The escarpment that cuts Hamilton in half has a lot of waterfalls with varying levels of difficulty in getting to the base of the falls. The trail that goes to the falls has always been a little tricky but we noticed that the official trail has been permanently closed.

From the city of waterfalls site, "Albion Falls is a Complex Classic Cascade waterfall 19 metres in height. Located at the southernmost tip of King's Forest Park in Hamilton, its source is Red Hill Creek. Albion Falls enjoys year-round flow. Albion Falls is the premier waterfall in Hamilton's east end."

The band of red in the layers of limestone and shale is really striking among the grey of the exposed cliffs

World MasterCard Fashion Week 2014 coming in March

IMG Fashion will be presenting the Fall/Winter 2014 Season Collections at David Peacut Square from March 17-21. The preliminary calendar was recently announced and includes the Mercedes-Benz Start Up Show. The event highlights both established and emerging Canadian fashion designers featuring a runway venue and an intimate studio space and has over 30,000 guests watching the collections during the week.

Heavy duty sponsors of the annual show are Maybelline New York, Joe Fresh®, Mercedes-Benz Canada, Redken 5th Avenue NYC, DHL, Rowenta Garment Care, PANDORA Jewellery, NeoStrata®, Kim Crawford, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Town Shoes and The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto.

“We have an outstanding lineup of established and emerging Canadian designers showing at World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto this March. The event continues to grow into Canada’s top fashion showcase and be a key platform for Canadian talent to premiere their latest designs to the national and international fashion industry,” said Jarrad Clark, VP and Global Creative Director, IMG Fashion Events and Properties. Designers include: Anu Raina, Brit Wacher, Beaufille, Bustle, Christopher Bates, David Dixon,Farley Chatto, gsus, HD HOMME, Hilary MacMillan, Joe Fresh, Klaxon Howl,Krane, Laura Siegel, LINE Knitwear, Mackage, Madame Moje, Matthew Gallagher, Mélissa Nepton, Mikhael Kale, NARCES, Pink Tartan, Rachel Sin,RUDSAK, Sid Neigum, Soia & Kyo, Stephan Caras, Thomas Bálint, TRIARCHY,VAWK as well as the Mercedes-Benz Start Up show featuring 2013 Awarded Designers Malorie Urbanovitch and Matière Noire."

You can check out some photos from a previous show on my post here.

The @BudCanada Red Zeppelin will fly in #Toronto

The World's largest goal light has moved from the Superbowl to T.O. to help celebrate Canadian Men's and Women's hockey at the 2014 Sochi Russian winter Olympics. On Thursday, February 13, 2014 the two story, 70 foot long dirigible with over 75,000 LED lights and a special sound system will provide some extra excitement for the winter games.

Flying over historic Fort York from 8 am to 4 pm, the Red Zeppelin debuts when the Canadian Men's team battles Norway. Able to fly up to 500 feet, the lighter than air ship will light up and sound a horn when Canada scores a goal. Something many people in Toronto will be able to see when the ship climbs high in the sky.

"This year, the Red Lights and the Red Zeppelin are synced to all Canadian goals including those on the world stage. This means that while the zeppelin is afloat, every time Canada scores a goal it will light up in tandem with the individual red lights and the horn will sound ringing in the moment of celebration every fan anticipates during the game. Let the Goals Begin Toronto!!!"

Update: the Red Zeppelin took to the skies for a couple hours until the winds became a concern and the flying machine had to come down. The zeppelin did the trick anyways because Canada won its first game of the Olympics with a score of 3-1 against Norway. Photos provided.

Richard Petty at Canadian Motorsports Expo

The King of NASCAR wowed the crowds at @CMEtoronto as he held court in #Toronto on Sunday, February 9, 2014. The King doesn't wear a crown, but his cowboy hat is pretty damn spectacular! Fans had a chance for a VIP meet and greet, preferred seating at the Inside Track stage, or lined up from one side of the International Centre to the other to get an autograph from the friendly racing champion. His best race? The last one he won!

Richard answered questions from the host and members of the audience. He talked about a negotian with STP for a $250,000 sponsorship many years ago. Just when he thought it was all wrapped up he finds that STP's contract required Richard's car to be coloured day-glow red instead of his regular blue scheme. He wouldn't sign the contract and this started an around the clock talks with STP offering a compromise - half blue and half red, plus a bonus of $50,000 if he made the switch to red. Richard turned down that bonus, which could keep his team racing for quite some time.

Three time NASCAR Canadian Tire Series Champion Scott Steckly provides a Champion Sponsor trophy to Matthew Coorsh of Canadian Tire. C.T. has signed Scott for the upcoming 2014 season as well as continuing as the series sponsor.

Backwoods Girls were back

NASCAR Canadian Tire Series NCTS drivers were heavily involved in the Canadian Motorsports Expo. Several autograph sessions, announcements and a driver Q & A panel hosted by Dave Bradley got Canada's only national racing series stars out in front of their many fans. The 2014 season starts May 18 at Canadian Tire Motorsport Park and runs until September 20 at Kawartha Speedway. The 11 races of 2014 will see the cars in Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia. The stock car challenges come with racing on both ovals and road courses, sometimes the drivers have a performance difference in the variety of tracks.

The NCTS panel discussed some of the track changes going into 2014, including going into a smaller Edmonton track. 2013 series champion Scott Steckly noted that the competition increases every year - especially with Andrew Ranger and Alex Tagliani planning to race a full series this year. The key will be in consistancy in getting to the podium. Mark Dilley noted that NCTS is like football on wheels with a lot of contact, but also a lot of fun. Alex Nagy of NCTS says that carting has improved the talent pool and brought in a lot of young drivers into the series.

TDC Entertainment were also back at the show helping to promote Targa Newfoundland

Angie and Mike Skinner held a Q & A session. Angie is the host of SiriusXM's NASCAR Radio program and Mike 'The Gunslinger' Skinner is a NASCAR Truck Series champion (he won the first truck race along with the inaugural season). He warned the crowd that his beautiful wife is taken, so I asked Angie if he says that every time. She said no, this was the first time that he has made this announcement at a show, so there must have been a lot of handsome Canadian drivers in the crowds. Angie is also Mike's manager and the team had some great stories.

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

Saturday at the Canadian Motorsports Expo 2014

No rubber was burned on the concrete floor of the @CMEtoronto show at the International Centre, but the race cars drivers probably wished they could do some donuts and head right into the 2014 racing season. As we can't escape winter in Toronto, the next best things for race fans is to head to Canada's Ultimate Racing Show. Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton.

Hall five of the International Centre is full of drag, stock, antique and a large variety of other race cars and the CME continues from Friday, February 7 to Sunday February 9. NASCAR Sprint Cup Star Ryan Newman was the star attraction on Saturday, February 8 and on Sunday NASCAR legend Richard Petty will headline the show.

NASCAR driver Ryan Newman, right, laughs after signing the shirt of a baby fan

Long lines of fans wait for their turn to meet Ryan who is a NASCAR Sprint Cup star hoping to win his second Daytona 500

Canadian track stars from the NASCAR Canadian Tire Series (NCTS) will also have a major presence at the Sunday edition of the CME with a 30 minute Q&A session on the Inside Track stage.

Promotional models from Backwoods Girls had their own meet and greet

See more of the car show and Sunday's schedule after the jump.

Start of the February Blahs

It might just be my imagination but it seems like winter is hitting us with almost everything its got. A deep freeze coupled with lots of the white stuff makes for great skiing and snowboarding, but depressing for many who have to walk, drive and shovel the snow. Well February has some time to go, so time to think of warmer activities to beat those winter blahs.

Beat the blahs after the jump.

Canadian Motorsports Expo in town this weekend

Race cars and drivers are coming to the #Toronto for the annual @CME_Racing show February 7-9, 2014 in Hall 5 of the International Centre near the airport. The event is produced by Inside Track Motorsport News and they bring NASCAR's superstar Richard Petty to the expo on Sunday.

On "February 9th when NASCAR’s all-time winningest driver, Richard Petty, takes to the CME Stage courtesy of Pinty’s Delicious Foods. Known simply as ‘The King,’ Petty is one of two, seven-time champions of NASCAR’s top-tier Sprint Cup Series (the other is the late Dale Earnhardt Sr.). Petty’s 200 career victories and his seven wins in the sport’s biggest race – the Daytona 500 – are records that will likely never be surpassed."

You can buy tickets online to save money and also download coupons for all three days of the show. Hours are Friday (Feb. 7) 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. // Saturday (Feb. 8) 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. // Sunday (Feb. 9) 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Check out the stage schedule after the jump.

Winter day in Kensington Market

The cold doesn't stop the colour in the famous market located to the north west of Dundas and Spadina in #Toronto. Graffiti comes and goes and so too, does the stores that populate the narrow streets. Shops, groceries and restaurants dot the area, drawing in thousands of visitors on weekends - but the pace is a lot slower in winter.

The big change in the cold is the lack of patio's and exposed fruits and vegetables

Foods of the world spin around the globe marking the edge of the market

Waiting for the return of summer and Pedestrian Sundays

So Walmart is tough ....

A lazy bird slowly disintegrates in a mural

Chinese New Year #Toronto 2014

Chinatown welcomed the Year of the Horse with celebrations of the Chinese Lunar New Year with traditional Lion Dances along Spadina and Dundas streets. Gung Hei Fat Choy!

The Lunar New Year began on Friday, January 31 and ends with a Lantern Festival on the 14th of February. In Toronto's Chinatown, the BIA launched activities with an opening ceremony on Saturday of the Feb 1-2 weekend as the annual festival continues with family entertainment such as Martial Arts Demonstrations, Chinese Dance and Opera.

Saturday's snow storm might have thrown a dragon wrench into the celebrations but Sunday was perfect for dancing lions. A lot of the activities happened indoors at the Chinatown Centre at 222 Spadina Avenue and the Dragon City Mall at 280 Spadina Avenue from noon until 5 pm. The Chinese Freemasons of Canada and the Chinatown BIA provided the Lion Dance.

Posted by James Hamilton and Joe Hamilton. See more of the Lion Dance after the jump.

Toronto Polar Bear Dip at Colonel Sam Smith Park

The middle of winter is the perfect time to jump into the cold, cold waters of Lake Ontario as the February 2, 2014 mini Polar Bear Dip took place at the east end of the city. Only four lonely swimmers gathered at the end of Colonel Sam Smith Park Drive, performed some warm-ups, then one by one dropped off the ledge of thick ice along the shore and waded into the clear waters of the lake.

Wading deeper into the stone filled water, watched by a pair of swans, they finally dove deep into the icy water, surprisingly without screaming out in pain, and calmly returned back to shore to change out of their wet bathing suits.

The dip is part of a weekly tradition that Natan Gendelman helps improve blood flow and metabolism and to promote good health and well-being. Most events start small so maybe in the coming years more people will join in and be as popular as the New Year's Day Polar Bear Dip.

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

Motorcycle Show #Toronto coming Feb 2014

Frozen people can rejoice, awesome motorcycles return with new models, new features and a new home during the February 21-23 Motorcycle Show at the Direct Energy Centre. Motorcycle enthusiasts can see the top brands showcase their new machines within Exhibition Place in less than a month at the 27th annual show.

"This Show is Ontario’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers’ event of the year, and much like its four-wheeled automotive equivalent, this will be the first opportunity for bike fans to see the new 2014 motorcycle, ATV, side-by-side and scooter models that will be on sale at dealerships when the spring riding season rolls around. In addition to the 400+ bikes on display, there’s a wide-range of new and exciting features, plus the latest in apparel, accessories and touring destinations, all under one roof in a space equal to three-and-a-half football fields."

Visitors can check out the 25-foot, 1,000 horsepower Castrol Rocket with pilot Jason DiSalvo (who will soon attempt to set the motorcycle world land speed record), the Team Empire Freestyle Stunt Team, the Ontario Provincial Police Golden Helmets motorcycle precision team, Yamaha's how to demonstrations and the Yamaha Riding Academy for Kids.

Opening night on Friday, February 21 will be She Rides Nite with free parking and ladies get half price admission to the show after 5pm.

"Produced by Power Sport Services, the Motorcycle Show-Toronto boasts an impressive line-up of manufacturers and their corporate displays, including Aprilia, Arctic Cat, BMW Motorrad, Can-Am BRP, Deeley Harley-Davidson, Ducati, Honda, Husaberg, Husqvarna, Indian, Kawasaki, KTM, Moto Guzzi, Norton, Piaggio, Polaris, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph, Vespa, Victory and Yamaha."