Theresa Longo and the Ring of Fire

Mining Minute videos featuring marketing strategist, actress and model Theresa Longo have created quite a firestorm in the news as media outlets are crying out about her wearing a bikini during one of the videos. Maclean's, CTV, Huffington Post, local newspapers and other outlets have all carried articles specifically about the 'Interesting Facts about the Ring of Fire' YouTube video below.

The Toronto Star proclaims "Canadian mining company defends racy promo video slammed for being archaic" while the Toronto Sun suggests "Bikini-clad Ring of Fire video blasted as 'archaic'". Interesting enough, archaic means out of date or behind the times - using sex to sell, ironic indeed for the Toronto Sun which still maintains their Sunshine Girl and has featured Theresa as a Sunshine Girl on numerous occasions. Luckily it gives the papers a chance to show pictures of the girls. Her friend Ashley is also in the video and she has been a Sunshine Girl as well.

Theresa has made a number of the videos promoting KWG Resources where she interviews participants in the mining industry. They made the Ring of Fire fact video while up on vacation at a cottage and she refers to the uproar over the video on her twitter account: ‏"@TheresaLongo : Um @womenwhorockWWR why is everyone sexualizing it? We were @ the cottage (100 degrees)want us in coats? We were NOT trying to "be sexy" SMH"

I was lucky enough to photograph Theresa down at Toronto's Harbourfront area when she was being sexy and include some of the photos here, Otherwise you can check out the Mining Minute videos and learn about the geology, investment opportunities and job creation among the many topics explored in the series which are produced and hosted by Theresa.

Wheels on the Danforth this weekend

Cars and bikes come to Toronto where Danforth Avenue meets Danforth Road. Friday is Movie night and the street festival is Saturday, August 13, 2016. Billed as one of Toronto's top 20 festivals, the free Wheels on the Danforth provides a mix of classic and tuner cars along with other entertainment along the streets and in Oakridge Park. Saturday's festival runs from 11am to 11pm.

"Looking for something fun to do this weekend, why not come out to the 7th annual Wheels on the Danforth. Of course we have fabulous cars from every era from the classics to tuners. Oh don’t forget racing alley at Warden Avenue and Danforth Road.. Check out our Lowrider Hop with the crazy heraldic cars!"

Ferris Bueller's Day Off will be this year's movie, starting at 8:30pm in Oakridge Park with kids activities starting at 6pm. On Saturday there will be fun for bicycle lovers with a bike rodeo, a Bikefest and Krusher Extreme BMX shows. You can also bring your bike as East Toronto will hold bike clinics.

Throw in food vendors, live music on two stages featuring the bands Little Peter and the Elegants, Triple X and Foresaken Empire in addition to food vendors and a kids zone with a bouncy castle. Plus as I recall there is a Dairy Queen right there!

Kayaking for the summer

The wife thought we could use water transportation and so we got a matched set of Pelican Maxim X100 Kayaks from Canadian Tire. These babies were on sale when we picked them up and we also needed the roof racks and J-hooks to get them on our car. Also to keep them safe I found some perfect locks that had a straight cable that you can feed through the canoes and lock them to the rack.

We were a little ambitious and decided to combine a day of roller blading and kayaking with a trip down to Hamilton/Burlington Beach where the parking, beach and asphalt pathway are all very accessible by car. First we bladed and I do love the extra wide path and how smooth it is, the City even sends the sweeper around the path every now and then.

Pulled up on Burlington Beach along the Hydro towers

The day was windy and the water was a little choppy. It turned out to be too choppy when we passed the canal to the inner harbour and a speedboat didn't slow down and sent up some big waves that sent me down into Lake Ontario. I couldn't get back in the kayak so Ann started pulling me and the kayak back to shore which was difficult with the waves and the wind. Helpful guys on the canal put down their fishing rods and tried to help us and found some rope, however by that time they had attracted a passing boat that came by and helped me get back in my kayak. Kayaks are not the most stable boating platform so you do need to practice and wear all safety gear and keep to shallower water when you are just learning. Remember to tie things down and use waterproof containers and cases for valuables like smartphones or cameras.

We took the boats up north to the Dorset area for our annual cottage stay and enjoyed the waters of Kawagama Lake.

The Pelican Maxim X100 sit in kayak

Today we went to Rockwood Conservation Area with their reservoir created by damming the Grand River. The water is full of nooks amd crannies along with a few small islands. Herons fish along the banks and the geese float around pooping over everything they can.

Kayaks are a great addition to keep yourself active in the great Canadian outdoors. There are a lot of lakes and rivers just made for exploring on a kayak.

Taste of the Danforth 2016

Toronto closes the Danforth to allow people to frolic among the vendors in places normally off limits for pedestrians. BlogTO asks the question - "how did some Toronto street festivals get so boring" and I have to admit I was wondering the same thing. Writer Phil Villeneuve's point was that the festivals were generic and boring "they've all become part of what seems to be a machine. Same rides, similar food, commercial vendors that don't even exist on that street - many of them have become one in the same."

Now, I love the 'be Greek for a day' Krinos Taste of the Danforth from August 5th to the 7th, which is one long street festival with a lot of culture thrown into the mix, so you can take in some entertainment that you typically don't see in the Big on Bloor Festival, like ancient Greek soldiers. But one year the Big on Bloor Festival had a dunk tank and that was pretty cool.

Yonge Street closed for a youth festival

Toronto Festival of Beer

One weekend I went to a few festivals and I never even posted the photos. Luckily I went to the Toronto Festival of Beer and it WAS a great festival - good food, good music and plenty of flowing beer ready for sampling, so I know that festivals can be fun.

Wanderoot Craft Cider was giving out free samples at the Big on Bloor Festival

I must admit that local street festivals, usually put on by Business Improvement Areas (BIA), can be enjoyable if you live in the area. You can wander out, see what's up, do some browsing, eat some food, head back inside for some refreshing beverages, rest up and go out looking for some entertainment. You don't worry about parking and can enjoy the ebb and flow of the festival. Most have the usual people selling churros and jewelry and it just isn't worth spending a lot of time and trouble getting to if you don't live close. Speaking of festivals, we have the Acton Leathertown Festival coming up on Sunday, August 14. Acton has a pet contest, car show and buskers along with several stages of entertainment and because, well, 'it's worth the drive to Acton'.

The key is variety. Having some music, buskers, contests, some interesting games, adult beverages then add in some local talent and cultural contributions and wham, you got a good festival. Plus plenty of port-a-potties and free samples.

See more street festival photos after the jump.

2016 TIFF Rising Stars

@HudsonsBay announced Jared Abrahamson, Grace Glowicki, Mylene MacKay and Sophie Nelisse as the four Canadians who will participate in the 2016 TIFF intensive professional development programme. Hudson's Bay is the Official Fashion Retailer of the Toronto International Film Festival and they dressed the Rising Stars in anticipation of the upcoming World Class film festival. Photo at top by George Pimentel: Stars left to right: Jared, Grace, Mylene and Sophie.

“We are honoured to dress the talented group of actors selected for the 2016 tiff Rising Stars programme,” said Suzanne Timmins, Senior Vice President and Fashion Director at Hudson’s Bay. “Great style goes a long way in the early stages of building a career, and we are so proud to help these artists make that first impression, a lasting one.” Outfits were chosen from fashion brands H Halston and 1670 which are available in Canada only at Hudson's Bay.

Toronto's annual film festival begins Sept 8 and ends Sept 18, 2016. The opening film will be The Magnificent Seven, directed by Antoine Fuqua and starring Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt and Eathan Hawke.

"TIFF Rising Stars immerses four chosen actors in a series of public events and private industry meetings during the Festival. They undertake intensive professional development with international casting directors, filmmakers, producers and development executives. Moreover, the Stars will be front row centre at some of the biggest red-carpet events at the Festival."

Learn more about the Rising Stars after the jump.

Importfest 2016 this weekend

Coming back to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on Saturday, August 6, 2016 is the largest after-market automotive event in Canada. Plus girls, girls, girls. Importfest runs from 11am to 11pm in the north building. Hundreds of modified cars along with performance and tuning exhibitors with live entertainment and a DJ Battle.

Special guests include cover models Tianna Gregory and Dannie Riel while Karli Cakes will host the Importfest Bikini Contest. "ImportFest has the largest gathering of “Industry Models” under one roof! Don’t miss your chance to see Miss ImportFest 2016." The schedule follows after the jump.

Carnival Grand Parade 2016

Toronto Caribbean Carnival brings the bold colours of Masquerade to Exhibition Place and Lake Shore Boulevard on Saturday, July 30 from 10am to 8pm. Fences along the parade route have been lowered from 10 to 4 feet so it should be easier to take photos of the dancers and floats.

"The Grand Parade continues to attract local, regional, national, and international attention by visitors and media as it is the highlight of the three-week Festival. This event continues to draw millions from all over the world to see the live performing street art year after year and on live streaming. After months of preparation, masqueraders in colourful and striking costumes wind their way from the assembly area at Exhibition Place along Lake Shore Boulevard. Admission applies to Exhibition Place where patrons have the opportunity to enjoy the parade of the Mas Bands. Masquerade bands end up in Exhibition Place where masqueraders can party until 8:00 pm. Guest bands, cultural bands and steel bands also participate in the parade. Guest bands start from the staging area within Exhibition Place and wind their way along Lakeshore Boulevard to disperse west of the Boulevard Club. Steel bands stage on Lakeshore Boulevard south of the All Stream Centre and also proceed along Lakeshore Boulevard to the Boulevard Club."

This is the first year without the sponsorship of Scotiabank (they really did bankroll quite a few community events in Toronto) and it was reported that they have a $2 million shortfall when the bank dropped out. The parade will still go on as they continue to scout out corporate sponsorship.

Celebrate Simcoe Day 2016 in Toronto

City of Toronto attractions like outdoor pools and Riverdale Farm will remain open during the long weekend - Simcoe Day is Monday, August 1. You can also take a bike cab, escape to the Toronto Islands or enjoy the harbourfront. Try to keep off the highways going north because I will be heading up to the Dorset area for the annual Band cottage visit and I want the 400 to myself.

See the city's press release after the jump for the attractions that will be open over the weekend.

Surprised Kitty

And other graffiti from around Toronto.

Honda Indy Toronto 2016 tear down

The roar by the lakeshore is almost a memory as the last of the barriers, fences and grandstands are being taken down in Exhibition Stadium. It has only been two weeks and the removals are going smoothly, remember it takes over a month to put up the track and all the associated stuff.

Traffic barriers are up in turn 5, the corner where a lot of fuss was made regarding the state of the corner's surface. Looking closely you can see where a temporary thin layer of asphalt was spread over the concrete curbs to make a hump and it couldn't take the pounding of a normal roadway.

The roadway in Exhibition Place is a mixture of surfaces, partly because of the concrete foundations that were placed in the middle of the road for the Sky Ride which takes visitors 12.2m high above the CNE grounds, and partly because it is a typical Canadian road. You could repave the thing today and they would have to cut it tomorrow for some reason - repair watermains, install new underground services, you name it, they will cut it. This is the biggest issue for the drivers - accommodating the changing road surface takes some skill, which they do have! 

IndyCar races on Ovals, Road Courses and Street Courses and streets contain manholes, catchbasins, curbs, streetlights and other municipal plant, both above and below ground. In Toronto even the trees along the main the start line are in planters and are removed every year for the running of the Honda Indy. If they want to make it pretty they could always coat the road with some new tar but this is no reason to move the race out of Toronto.

The bridge is still standing

It takes a lot of steel and concrete to setup the Honda Indy Toronto

See more race photos after the jump.

Toronto Festival of Beer 2016

#BeerLove is back in the Big Smoke! 333 beautiful brews return to Bandshell Park in Exhibition Place July 22-24. The annual festival dedicated to local and international breweries provides the ultimate sampling experience for the thousands that take in the weekend event in the heart of summer.

I have my camera and my commemorative 8oz  sample beer stein so I just had to track down some tokens, which wasn't hard, they were selling them at the entrance to the festival (20 for $20). Next track down the beer which also wasn't hard, the Beer Store is making this easy! A 4oz sample is one token, a full 8oz sample is two tokens. Vendors are in small booths or large camps and everything in between. The servers were friendly and helpful as they suggested beers for all tastes and the beer prices were very reasonable, especially when you consider that it is really a music and food festival, with plenty of beer.

This place isn't only beer, they have tasty food and a fantastic lineup of entertainment on the main stage and throughout the park. Sweden is highlighted this year and you can catch top chefs at the Club House LA Grille Grilling Tent.

"Come to Toronto's Festival of Beer for the beer, but stay for the food!" said Les Murray, President of Intelivents, operator of TFOB. "2016 will see more food options than ever before and the Grilling Tent experience will showcase grilling with beer and so much more!"

Couples and groups of friends wandered the large festival area, playing games, socializing or enjoying the many bands playing in several areas of the park. I loved one of the earlier bands Abbamania as they sang some of Sweden's favourite export and the crowd gathered around the main stage at the Bandshell.

Keep tuned as I check out the breweries and keep my eyes out for balls from wayward beer pong games during "Canada's largest summer beer celebration". See more photos after the jump and if summer comes back next year, keep this event in mind.