Starting in 2007 with the ever unpopular Bloor Street watermain replacement project, then the much hated Bloor Street Transformation project, the exclusive neighbourhood known as the ‘mink mile’ celebrates the renovated street during the Sunday, June 19, 2011 street festival. The festival, sponsored by the Bloor-Yorkville BIA, shut down Bloor Street between Avenue and Church to vehicular traffic, put down an enormous red carpet and threw a party.
Platinum Blonde rocks the crowd
The party included food and free musical performances by Keshia Chante, Shawn Desman, Royal Wood and Platinum Blonde.
To make things interesting there were a lot of beautiful ladies from the Miss Universe competition. Also on the carpet were ladies passing out information on the area and dressed in black with big, black hats and white rimmed sunglasses – I thought I was at the Kentucky Derby! Award winning Canadian writer and director Paul Haggis also dropped by – he started the charity ‘Artists for Peace and Justice’ and they recently focused on relief for Haiti.
There were also great displays of bodypaint where people became the canvas as they were painted like famous artworks – groovy baby, walking art. The Yorkville Exotic Car Show was also held in the area, just in case you needed new wheels. Speaking of wheels, there were a couple of big wheels attached to an IndyCar in front of William Ashley China – the race car was supported by bone china cups, on top of a spectacular dining room table. That reminds me; the Honda Indy Toronto is coming in early July! I think they will be happy that the race does not take place on Bloor Street.
Okay, time to start shopping again.
Posted by Joe Hamilton. More photos after the jump.
Shawn Desman
Models in bodypaint
Honda Indy Toronto and William Ashley
Some of the Miss Universe ladies
Miss Universe Canada 2010 - Elena Semikina
Paul Haggis
More Platinum Blonde.
