Taste of the Danforth

Pilaros Taste of the Danforth is a gigantic street festival and features Greek food and music as well as some carnival rides and plenty of vendors.

Someone tries to taste the Danforth.

Their website says "Toronto's favourite street festival has a whole new way to celebrate the fun flavours of Greece and summer in the city. Every year in August, the city of Toronto flocks to GreekTown on the Danforth. Celebrating its 18th year, the Pilaros Taste of the Danforth is Canada's largest street festival, welcoming over 1.3 million visitors. This year's festival begins on Friday, August 5th at 6:00pm and runs through to Sunday, August 7th at 8:00pm.

A Decima Research poll indicated that 90% of respondents identified "The Taste" as their favourite GTA festival event -- beating out such iconic events as the Toronto International Film Festival, Caribana and Pride Week. The Pilaros Taste of the Danforth won two Toronto Sun Reader's Choice Awards: a Gold for Favourite Community Festival and a Silver for Favourite Summer Festival.

The GTA lays claim to more than 200,000 residents of Greek ancestry, the third largest Hellenic community outside of Greece, and between August 5th and 7th, 2011, everyone who comes to the Danforth gets to be "Greek for the day".

There are a number of stages such as Broadview stage, Celebrity Stage and the Immortals Greek stage with singers, dancers and sword fights scheduled throughout the weekend.

Greek Stormtrooper

Don't be Afraid of the Dark free haunted house.

Another haunted house attraction.

See more photos after the jump.

Prizes at the water gun booth.

Beautiful Parrots.

Newstalk Radio 1010 with Mike Bullard

CIBC bubble machines

Things to do in Toronto Aug 6-7, 2011

The dog days of summer settle in and the temperatures battle it out for the hottest days - who will win, July or August?

August to me means the onset of fall and eventually winter so you better enjoy the weather while you can - especially if you like to be outside tanning your body and enjoying the beach.

Friday Aug 5: Toronto Festival of Beer at the CNE Bandshell, Hmmm, beer. PS that's the bar at Steam Whistle Brewery above.

2011 Taste of the Danforth street festival

Friday Aug 5 to Sunday Aug 7: Taste of the Danforth, it's all Greek to me.

Saturday Aug 6 to Sunday Aug 14: Rogers Cup Womens Tennis, the world's best.
Saturday Aug 6 to Sunday Aug 7: Filipino's Making Waves Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square.

Toronto Roller Derby comes back in September

August means the return of the the CNE (19th), the St Lawrence Market's Buskerfest, picture at top, (25th) and FanExpo (25th). It also signals the approaching start of school so get ready to buy your books.

Things to do in Toronto July 8-10, 2011

The Pride Toronto Festival events have finished for another year - I trust everyone attended and ran, at least partially nude, through the streets of Toronto. Leather, body paint and water pistols would certainly change even conservative parades like the Santa Claus parade. The weather has finally turned toasty so unless you are heading out to the cottage it is time to find exciting and fun things to do in Metro Toronto. Sadly there will be no Toronto Just for Laughs Festival. Damn, I really liked the Just for Laughs street festival and shows including the free shows in Yonge-Dundas Square.

Wednesday July 6 to Sunday July 17: Toronto Fringe Festival. Toronto's Theatre Festival.

Friday July 8 to Sunday July 10: Honda Indy Toronto. Fast cars, concerts and beautiful women, including Ms. Budweiser. Friday entrance is free!!! Click here for a chance to win Dr Pepper Grandstand tickets for the 2011 Honda Indy Toronto.

Friday July 8 to Sunday July 10: Toronto Outdoor Art Exhibition at Nathan Phillips Square.

Friday July 8 to Sunday July 10: Corazon De Mexico at Harbourfront Centre.

Friday July 8 to Sunday July 24: Summerlicious 2011. Prix Fix lunch and dinner menus at 150 restaurants.

Saturday July 9 to Sunday July 10: Salsa on St Clair street festival. Latino style summer celebration - so good it's almost forbidden.
Saturday July 9: Edgefest. Concerts at Downsview Park.

Later on in July we have the start of the Toronto Caribbean Carnival Festival (launches July 12).

Do svidaniya!

More Miss Chin Bikini 2011

Because you can never get enough bathing suits in summer time here are some more of the ladies in the Miss Chin Bikini 2011 contest at Exhibition Place. Don't forget Mr Chin Bikini is Sunday, July 3, 2011 at 6:30pm. You can see my earlier post of the contest here. Besides the Chin Picnic the Corso Italia Summer Street Festival is also finishes tonite.

See more photos after the jump.

Pride Toronto Street Festival 2011

The final three days of 2011 Pride Week includes a Street Festival on Church Street from July 1st to the 3rd and today also had the Dyke March, tomorrow is the Pride Parade. LGBTQ Proud. There were a lot of buff bods, pride flags and some great costumes.

 See more pictures of Pride after the jump.