Cat on the street

The cat was pretty relaxed on the blanket until the screaming red fire truck tore up Yonge Street. His owner kept him under control and covered his ears so he didn't freak out too much.

NXNE 2014

June 13-22 in #Toronto: Music, Film, Interactive, Comedy and Art blows into town with a hula hoop and some tangy tunes. Canada's awesome music festival, NXNE is the north's frozen answer to SXSW (disclaimer, ice only included in the drinks).

Band interviews

Ice, Ice Baby

'Ice was here' - in #Toronto, baby. Stickers fill some type of construction sign at Nathan Phillips Square.

GAE has graduated to stickers of the yellow heart, happy face

Down by the lake

Forget about the cottage, head down to the #Toronto harbour and enjoy everything without the several hours long drive in stop and go traffic. Art installation Sundial Folly is a fun detour along the harbourfront trail.

Enjoy the flowers and views in the Music Garden

More of the harbourfront after the jump.

Yamaha Search for Canada's Top Technician

@YamahaMotorCa Top Ten finalists competed in the TECH GP 2014 to win the Canadian Technician Grand Prix Champion title and to represent Canada in the global contest to be held in Japan in October. The Canadian competitors were Yamaha Technical Academy service technicians, bronze certified and above.

"The contest was organized as part of the Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. global service education plan that YMCA continues to promote under the theme “One to One Service — We create a good relationship with each customer.” The primary goal is to help increase customer satisfaction by improving the skills of Yamaha service personnel and build a stronger consciousness of the global Yamaha group.  The contest was created to recognize and reward technicians for their product knowledge and expertise in the YTA. The Canadian champion will be awarded an all-expense paid trip to Japan where he/she will compete in the 2014 World Technician Grand Prix."

The finalists

Rob Daye, Riverside Yamaha St-Albert, Alberta

Greg J. Zeniuk, Riverside Yamaha St-Albert, Alberta

Brett TR Hart, Blackfoot Motorsports Calgary, Alberta

Adam Gregory, Cycle Works Foothills Okotoks, Alberta

Nick King, Kelowna Yamaha Kelowna, British Columbia

Stuart Lumgair, Schultz Motorsports Kamloops, British Columbia

Jimmy Subranni, Gregoire Sport Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes, Québec

Mathieu Talbot, RPM Rive Sud Lévis, Québec

Luke Pakkala, Oakville Yamaha Oakville, Ontario

John Attewell, Play Powersports Sudbury, Ontario

Honda Indy #Toronto - Festivus for the rest of us

#2inTO @HondaIndy is fast approaching and the July 18-20, 2014 race weekend has the Motor Fest, Taste Fest, Craft Beer Fest, Adrenaline Fest, Celebration Fest and the Indy Fest. George Costanza's father would be so proud of the many festivals and would raise an aluminum pole in celebration of the double header IndyCar races taking place Saturday and Sunday.

The work crews have been busy and the track barriers, fencing and grandstands have started to be installed in Exhibition Place. Meanwhile the City of Toronto is quickly paving the length of Lake Shore Boulevard West ahead of the race and the Pan Am Games. Honda Indy Toronto will actually hold off work on Lake Shore Boulevard until July 2nd to reduce the impact to the already snarly traffic conditions while both the Lake Shore and Gardiner Expressway have municipal construction happening.

"We pledge to do three things to help alleviate traffic, especially along Lake Shore Boulevard where the Verizon IndyCar Series will be run on Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20," said Charlie Johnstone, President of the Honda Indy Toronto. "First, we will only do track work at night, long after the major traffic of the day has dissipated and Torontonians have made their way home. Second, we normally begin our work on Lake Shore Boulevard in June, but this year we won’t start until July when there is less traffic on the roads because of summer holidays. And third, we will not fully close any arteries in and around Lake Shore Boulevard while we work; there will be partial lane closures only and we guarantee that when a lane is blocked it will be for used essential track work."

During the track build starting in July there will be two lanes in each direction will be closed nightly between Strachan Avenue and Ontario Drive. Finally, from July 17-21 Lake Shore Boulevard will be completely closed.

The Pit Lane Grandstands under construction

The Toronto Sun Grid Girl contest will return to the Indy weekend with several appearances and the final competition on Sunday, July 20. The winner will receive cash, a crown and a feature in the Sunshine Girl Calendar.

NYC Foulton Street Subway in #Toronto

This American subway entrance goes nowhere, it sits as a prop for a Hollywood North filming of Adam Sandler's movie 'Pixels'. The rusty, green metal stairway was at the intersection of Bay and Adelaide Streets in the financial district. The Sony picture production stars Adam along with Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad as they defend 'New York City', or the Big Apple, from hostile aliens.

Several other iconic USA props are placed nearby - still waiting for the US Postal carrier. Take a tour of New York after the jump.

World Naked Bike Ride 2014

#Toronto #WNBR celebrated it's 10th anniversary with a couple hundred nude cyclists passing by famous city landmarks like the Princes' Gates and Queen's Park while people lined the routes, cheering and taking pictures. The healthy, clothes free, two-wheeled protest against the dependence on oil and urban pollution took place on Saturday, June 14 and started from Coronation Park at approximately 1pm. It was another fantastic ride and I look forward to next year's event.

The park, located just outside the CNE, is a perfect place to gather, disrobe and get some body-paint so people started showing up early in the morning to join organizer Gene Dare. The cool June weather broke at noon and warmed up considerably.

Gene Dare

'Less Gas, More Ass'

Curious onlookers and WNBR participants met within the outline of a ship's hull in the WWII naval memorial adjacent to Lake Ontario. Many of the bikers love posing for photographers and happy fans so don't hesitate to ask, you can even get close for an interesting selfie picture.

Reporting live.....and naked. 

Oasis Aqualounge showed again this year up to help support and promote the event and media coverage included Naked News anchor Melissa.

See more of the riders after the jump.

IFBB Women's Physique at the @TOProSuperShow 2014

The ladies brought some well defined muscle to the #Toronto ProSuperShow during the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Physique competition.

Canada's largest fitness and health exposition had quite a few IFBB events including: Pro Men's Bodybuilding, Pro Men's 212 Bodybuilding, Pro Men's Physique, MGL presents: IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding, Pro Women's Fitness, Pro Women's Figure, Pro Women's Bikini and the Pro Women's Physique competitions.

See more muscle after the jump.

The goose goes honk

I looked for baby ducks and geese but all I couldn't find any, so I said hello to a Canada Goose.

IFBB Women's Figure @TOProSuperShow 2014

Pro Figure competitors met on the Expo Stage during the #Toronto ProSuperShow's International Federation of BodyBuilding and Fitness series of events. Canada's largest fitness expo was held May 31 to June 1 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The IFBB is the governing body for bodybuilding and fitness founded by the Weider brothers in Canada shortly after WWII.

Also at the show was the Fitness Magazine cover model search where the winner would appear on the cover of Canada's top fitness publication.

See more of the figure competition after the jump.

IFBB Women's Bikini @TOProSuperShow 2014

The Expo stage was busy at the annual #Toronto ProSuperShow and the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness bikini judging took place on Saturday, May 31, 2014 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Canada's largest health and fitness show also featured the Inside Fitness Magazine model search contests, including men's fitness and women's fitness and bikini competitions. See more of the competition after the jump.

Reduce your risk at the World Cup in Brazil

iJET has some tips to help keep you safe and reduce your risks when you travel to Brazil for the Soccer World Cup. Remember to avoid protests.

IFBB Women's Fitness at @TOProSuperShow 2014

The recent GNC Live Well #Toronto ProSupershow featured 100 booths full of the latest sports equipment, accessories, fashion and nutrition as Canada's largest health and fitness exposition took place in the north building of Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Sports like arm-wrestling, weightlifting and power lifting were well represented at the show.

Judging of several events took place at the Expo Stage on Saturday, May 31 including the International Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness (IFBB) Women's Fitness competition. 

Continue after the jump to see more of the Fitness contestants.

Return of the MMVAs

The long process of setting up several stages in the parking lot and streets around the Much Music building continues ahead of next week's video awards show taking place Sunday, June 15, 2014. The show will be co-hosted by Kendall and Kylie Jenner and performers like Hedley, Ed Sheeran and the Sam Roberts Band will be at the event.

Pretty soon the hard hats and safety vests will be replaced with glitter and glam

Luminato: Cardboard Beach

The Joy of Festival makes #Toronto a more artistic city as @Luminato brings a mixture of free and paid events from June 6 to 15, 2014. A weekend in summer is always better around a beach and we found one down at the Festival Hub in Peacut Square - only it wasn't a typical sandy beach, this one was made from cardboard.

There was a lifeguard station, just missing Pamela Anderson, umbrellas, reclining chairs and unusual shapes that would be at home on a french beach during D-Day. The urban square between Metro Hall and Roy Thomson Hall is often a host to some great events and concerts and the large Luminato stage set up right now will bring several concerts to the arts festival.

Arriving in the early afternoon on Sunday, June 8 we realized that the days entertainment was not to start until later in the afternoon. With several hours to kill until we could spin the OLG prize wheel we took time to look up the festival schedule. And here are my picks of stuff I would like to see - Green Porno Live on Stage (conceived and performed by Isabella Rossellini), Cardboard Beach (free - Los Carpinteros transform the Festival Hub), Buffy Sainte-Marie (8pm June 10 at the Festival Hub) and that's it for this year. Take a look at their extensive schedule and look for some performances that peak your interest.

“Luminato began as a dream that each year Toronto would invite the world to join us in celebrating creativity. A dream where the best artists in the world and the best artists in Canada fill the stage that is Toronto with new and wonderful creations. A dream that we could create in Toronto a festival that would become renowned the world over for its excellence, its originality and its accessibility to all people regardless of background or experience.

Flying with the Canadian Harvard Aircraft Association

The unique sound of the yellow WWII era aircraft from @CdnHarvards continues to be heard over the skies of Tillsonburg and at many airshows throughout North America. "The Harvard flies today as a symbol and reminder of all who served to preserve our freedom, and as a living memorial to those who made the supreme sacrifice." Less than 50 of the aircraft are flying in Canada and at this living museum you can not only see the planes up close - you can also ride one of them as they head into the wild blue yonder. Fresh Joe took the opportunity and joined pilot Andrea Kuciak for a flight on Saturday, June 7, 2014.

Six Harvard planes built from 1941 to 1952 are joined by a Tiger Moth and a Yale at the CHAA facility located between Lake Erie and Highway 401. “The Mission of the organization is to acquire, preserve, restore, maintain, display and demonstrate the Harvard and all other aircraft associated with the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan and the Royal Canadian Air Force”

With membership in the association you can qualify for the back seat rides - additional fees apply. "The experience of donning a parachute and climbing into the rear seat is thrilling enough. Once seated by our Service Crew your adventure begins with that little ‘whir’ as the starter winds up and you anticipate that moment of engine start. Hearing, seeing and feeling that engine breathe to life is unimaginable!! After taxiing get ready for the engine run-up, where you hear and feel the thunder coming from that Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine."

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

Cabana Pool Bar heats up the city

And lovely ladies from @CabanaPoolBar handed out bottles of water to let people cool off while promoting the upcoming launch of the Polson Pier venue on Saturday, June 15, 2014.

"It could be in a swish hotel on Miami’s South Beach or wrapped around a casino on the Las Vegas Strip, but this Cabana Pool Bar combines the very best of the world’s most popular playgrounds into an all-Canadian-by-the-lakeside wonderland with enough space to accommodate 2,500 sun-worshippers and seating for 850. Add in 12 elevated and private cabanas, another 42 oversized deluxe chaise lounges and an alluring 50,000 sq. foot enclosed patio area and this latest incarnation from lifestyle guru Charles Khabouth is “Tojito”-ready for Torontonians and visitors to the city."