Planning for Toronto Nuit Blanche 2022

One of the few nights where Toronto comes to life throughout the whole life is fast approaching as Nuit Blanche returns October 1st. The event takes place in Etobicoke, Downtown, Scarborough and North York from sunset to sunrise of the next day. Giant crowds will fill the sidewalks and around any art installation from early in the night until after three or four o'clock when the visitors start to thin out, so if you don't want to join the crowds plan to go later in the event.

From the City's website (screenshot at top), "Nuit Blanche, Toronto’s all-night celebration of contemporary art, returns from sunset on October 1 to sunrise on October 2 for its biggest event ever. Expanding to include exhibitions in Etobicoke and North York, in addition to downtown and Scarborough, the long-awaited event features more than 150 artworks by local, national and international artists. Led by inaugural Artistic Director Dr. Julie Nagam, Nuit Blanche’s curatorial theme, The Space Between Us, invites artists to transform the city by creatively sharing stories about their connection to place while bridging cultures and connecting with communities and the environment."

While the downtown core has the highest concentration of projects it would be difficult to see many by just walking around, so take a bike or public transit to expand your horizons - keep away from trying to drive and park for this event.

In Etobicoke the works will be at Humber College Campus, Downtown will also feature works at Yonge-Dundas Square, the waterfront and Fort York, in North York they will be shown at York University, Mel Lastman Square, Concord Park Place and Ethennonnhawahstihnen' Park and finally in Scarborough you can check out the Scarborough Town Centre. There are also virtual projects and some will need you to download apps to be part of an interactive experience.

A quick check of the many installations provides a short list of projects that I hope to experience including; the Occupation (#102), RATs (#92), those that watch over us (#112), I am Hine, I am Moana (#91-c), A God Amongst Us (#83), Piñatas bring people together (#157) and Global Vision (#125). Take a look at the projects and choose based on your own shortlist, or keep to a specific geographic location. Let the night take you as it sees fit.

I will be bringing my light bike, joined by a few friends so I hope to see other lights during the night.

Some other important information from the City.

1. MAPS: Event goers can collect a map at Event Centres located at 160 Yonge St., 88 Queens Quay W., 11 Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr., Mel Lastman Square and Albert Campbell Square or from other information centres where volunteers can help.

2. PUBLIC TRANSIT TTC: In addition to the regular all-night Blue Night Network service, the TTC will run subway service all night on Line 1 Yonge-University, Line 2 Bloor-Danforth, Line 3 Scarborough and Line 4 Sheppard. Day passes purchased on October 1 will be valid until 7 a.m. on October 2. Free entry is available at North York Centre Station and Scarborough Centre Station from 7 p.m. October 1 to 7 a.m. October 2. Customers will need to pick up a paper transfer from these stations as proof of payment.

3. EVENT ROAD CLOSURES: Partial and full road closures will be in effect all weekend. Major downtown roads impacted will include parts of Bay Street, Queen Street, Yonge Street and the eastbound Yonge Street off-ramp from the Gardiner Expressway. This is due to expected event attendance and to improve free-flowing access to the art projects, giving pedestrians safe and easy access. The following road restrictions will be in place:

Thursday, September 29 at 9 p.m. to Sunday, October 2 at 2 p.m.:
• Temperance Street between Yonge Street and Bay Street and Colborne Street between Yonge Street and Scott Street will have local traffic only along a portion of the roadways.

Friday, September 30 at 9 p.m. to Sunday, October 2 at 11 a.m.:
• Yonge Street will be closed between Dundas Street and Queens Quay. East-west traffic will be maintained at major intersections along the stretch
• Queen Street will be closed between York Street and Bay Street and between Bay Street and Victoria Street

Friday, September 30 at 6 p.m. to Sunday, October 2 at 11 a.m.:
• Westbound Gardiner Expressway exit 154 to Yonge Street will be closed
• Esplanade Street will be closed between Yonge Street and Scott Street, with local traffic only along a portion of the road

Saturday, October 1 at 10 a.m. to Sunday, October 2 at 10 a.m.:
• Road closures and restrictions will be in place on Bay Street between Dundas Street West and Richmond Street West, including Albert Street and James Street. Hagerman Street will also be closed
• Queens Quay West will be closed between York Street and Bay Street, with local traffic only along a portion of the road

Autumn Equinox in Toronto is fast approaching

Typical Fall activities are fast passing including the Canadian National Exhibition, the return to school and small town fall fairs have already started. Next up is the actual Autumn Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere which is on Thursday, September 23, 2022.

Splashes of colour have already started in the forests, parks and trees around the GTA. You can track the changing leaves by going to the Ontario Parks Fall Colours report website. In Toronto the strand of birch trees along the west side of Nathan Phillips Square at Toronto City Hall are already showing yellow.

tiff street festival ends, tiff endures

Toronto's 47th festival of movies has touched down in Toronto once again, centered around the Entertainment District and on King Street West where the festival played out from September 8-11, 2022. King Street was closed from University Avenue to Peter Street, full of stages, vendors and promotions with a touch of art and a few tiff signs. Tiff continues until September 18 with the first week usually the busiest.

Mirror Moment art installation

From the City of Toronto, "Event road closures accommodating the Toronto International Film Festival, the following roads will be closed to vehicle traffic from 5 a.m. on Thursday, September 8, until 5 a.m. on Monday, September 12: King Street West between University Avenue and Peter Street, Simcoe Street between Wellington Street West and Pearl Street, Duncan Street between King Street West and Pearl Street along with John Street between Wellington Street West and Pearl Street."

The excitement is always waiting for the movie stars to show up for photos and autographs. Good luck with those crowds!

See more of the street festival after the jump.

Illumi A Dazzling World of Lights is coming Sept 14

Illumi is a massive light festival which is billed as the largest light, sound and multimedia show in the world and it comes to Mississauga starting September 14, 2022. Photo at top provided by Illumi.

From the Illumi media release, "Kids and adults alike will be captivated as they embark on a spectacular outdoor journey on foot through 13 magical worlds across a 600,000-sq-ft site (equivalent to ten football fields!) located near the intersection of the 407 and Hurontario Street. Brought to life by cutting-edge programming technologies, the immersive illumi universe features high-definition projections, jaw-dropping, state-of-the-art animatronic creatures, thousands of light structures, and over 20 million brilliant LED bulbs."

“We are incredibly excited to call Mississauga the new home of illumi and spark the imagination, curiosity, and emotions of people of all ages across Ontario and beyond,” said Normand Latourelle, Creator and Artistic Director, Cavalia. “We are deeply proud of the immersive worlds we have created – all with the intent to bring people together to experience joy and wonderment in a unique, magical, and mesmerizing setting.”

The show is at 7174 Derry Crest Drive (near Derry and Huronatio Streets) and continues until January 8, 2023.

Fun things to do in Toronto November & December 2022

I hope that Santa is keeping relaxed Covid precautions as crowds have returned to events around Toronto with a passion. You can't keep a good party down for long. You can check out the current weather and wind flows on this cool site.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and the Royal Horse Show Fri to Sun, Nov 4-13

Remembrance Day Ceremony Fri, Nov 11.

Aurora Winter Festival Thurs to Sun, Nov TBD-Jan TBD. In Ontario Place.

Brainfreeze Polar Bear Dip at Cherry Beach Sat, Nov TBD. Gone Virtual?
Toronto Christmas Market in the Distillery District Thurs, Nov 17 - Sat, Dec 31.

Canadians having fun while freezing in the winter at the Speedo Run!

Toronto Santa Speedo Run Sat Dec TBD. The run took time off in 2016 but it came back for 2017 as well as 2018 and 2019!
Toronto Santa Claus Parade Sun, Nov 20.

Cavalcade of Lights Sat, Nov 26 TBC. Music and the City lights up Nathan Phillips Square and sets off some fireworks.

CP Holiday Train Nov TBD

Union Holiday at Union Station Nov 29- Jan 2

Toronto Comicon Fan Days Holiday Show Sat, Dec TBD. At the MTCC.

Kensington Winter Solstice/Festival of Lights Wed, Dec 21. A parade and a fire show.

The Bentway Polar Bear Skate Sat, Dec 31. It's an underwear skate event
New Years Eve Celebration Sat, Dec 31 from 8 pm to midnight with Toronto's largest dance and skating party - with some exciting fireworks and live bands.

And the next day is the Toronto Polar Bear Dip Sun, Jan 1, otherwise known as the Sunnyside swim.

Moved to October

Toronto Everything to do with Sex Show Fri to Sun, Oct 14-16.

It's a jungle in Toronto

Especially at the ttc bus stop at Yonge and Dundas in front of the Toronto Eaton Centre. A large gorilla reaches out to pedestrians, hidden behind foilage while the roof of the shelter is in full blown jungle vegetation.

The horror, the horror

Toronto Air Show 2022

Sunday's Canadian International Air Show was cancelled due to bad weather. The show on Labour Day is a go, however it will be a low show as the cloud cover doesn't provide much of a vertical ceiling.

From CIAS Twitter account, "Air show time! Keep your eyes peeled to the skies for performances this afternoon. Remember, things are subject to change as conditions do change quickly. Enjoy!" And "11:50 AM Update: Conditions are looking favourable for a low show today. Meaning maneuvers will be done below the cloud ceiling. Like yesterday, we will do our best to fit as many performances as we can in safely."

2022 Schedule 

PERFORMER ON STAGE

C-130/Skyhawks – Streamers 11:50
C-130/Skyhawks – Opening 12:00
CF-18 Demo 12:14
CC-130 Hercules 12:37
Northern Stars Demo 12:45
SWS Surfboard Demo 1:00
Long EZ / Kyle Fowler 1:05
CH-146 Griffon SAR Demo 1:20
Yak 50 / Gord Price 1:33
SWS Fly Board Demo 1:46
Pitts S-2 / Brent Handy 1:58
CT-155 Hawk 2:10
P-51/Louis Horschel 2:18
CC-150 Polaris 2:30
F-35 Demo 2:37

Toronto Buskerfest 2022

The fun starts Friday, September 2nd at noon in Woodbine Park on seven stages and throughout the park as performers put on shows over the Labour Day long weekend festival.

The Busking Ballerina 

The Fire Guy Show

Don't forget to bring some cash to tip the performers with professional buskers like The Fire Guy, Bex in Motion and The Construction Guys work hard to bring top notch entertainment to Toronto.

From the Festival's website, "The Toronto International BuskerFest is one of the biggest street performer festivals in North America, and is the largest epilepsy event on the planet!"

Friday, September 2, Noon – 11pm
Saturday, September 3, 11am – 11pm
Sunday, September 4, 11am – 10pm
Monday, September 5, 11am – 8pm

Festival Map 2022

Friday's stage schedule 

See more photos after the jump.

Toronto Dragon Festival 2022

A dragon sits in pieces at the entrance to Toronto City Hall waiting for what I believe to be a wizard to magically assemble the fantastic beast, hopefully without loss of life!

Event schedule 2022

Labour Day long weekend features the festival which celebrates Chinese culture and multiculturalism in Nathan Phillips Square from Friday to Sunday, September 2 to 4, 2022.

From the Festival's website, "2022 Toronto Dragon Festival Returns to Nathan Phillips Square with Dragons, Foods & Dazzling Water Show Extravaganza. With the announcement of the 2022 Toronto Dragon Festival, the first-ever The Reflection Water Show will land on Toronto’s iconic Reflecting Pool in Nathan Phillips Square in a much more spectacular fashion.

Prepare to dazzle Toronto and the world, Canadian Association of Chinese Performing Arts will present to you the 3rd Toronto Dragon Festival, featuring the unprecedented water show extravaganza performed in Nathan Phillips Square from September 2nd to 4th.

Paused for two challenging years in the pandemic, 2022 Toronto Dragon Festival will re-introduce the legend of the dragon, unfold a dynamic story of the dragon’s descendants, take over the stage by performing your favourite Kung Fu, traditional fashion show, acrobatics, and dance."

Toronto's art public pay phones

While most pay phones have been slowly removed over the years there seem to be more art phones going up around Toronto. I have found one on Queen Street West and two in Graffiti Alley. One of the new phones I found has a Terminator type metal hand holding a handset. I think someone will be back to pick up that hand later.

Another phone in the alley has multiple coloured handsets which I saw some time ago (see my post here).

Then there is the crisis phone along Queen Street West which has been undergoing graffiti and sticker modifications since it has been installed.

The Crisis has been removed and a sticker of a beaver has been placed on the dial.

Imma sucker for Toronto

This suggestive sticker of someone handling the CN Tower is pasted onto a traffic signal walkway crossing button. Alleys along Queen Street West are so full of graffiti that they named the small road Graffiti Alley. And here are some of the newer murals that I found during a recent exploration of the alley.

Lion King

See more graffiti after the jump.