Happy Days back in Nathan Phillips Square

The construction underway in Toronto City Hall's Nathan Phillips Square kind of hindered the fun that you could have in the open space. But summer has brought back a couple of days that make the concrete square fun again - makes you think of something besides the pond, arches and the curved City Hall buildings. The recurring special days are Fresh Wednesdays (July 13-Aug 31, 2011) and Tasty Thursdays (July 14-Sept 1, 2011). For those close to Mel Lastman Square in North York you can take in Sunday Serenades (from 7:30 pm to 9 pm, July 10-Aug 21, 2011).

Fresh Wednesdays feature a Farmers' Market from 10 am to 2 pm and Fresh Concerts from noon to 2 pm. Tasty Thursdays have Tasty Food from 11 am to 2 pm (each meal is available for $7 or less) and Tasty Concerts from noon to 2 pm. When lunch hour hits the lines up grow pretty long so get there early.

A mounted Toronto Police Officer meets the tourists at City Hall.

Rainbow Flag raised at Toronto City Hall 2011

The LGBTQ community and their many supporters gathered today in Nathan Phillips Square for the official reading of the City of Toronto’s Pride Week Proclamation and the raising of the rainbow flag at City Hall today. Absent was the current Mayor of Toronto and many in the square were booing whenever Rob Ford’s name came up in the speeches. Master of Ceremonies Kristyn Wong-Tam asked for and received calm to allow the ceremony to continue and for Councillor Frances Nunziata to read the proclamation on the Mayor’s behalf.

On hand was one ex-Mayor of Toronto (and current Chief Commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission) – Barbara Hall, who was loudly cheered by those in attendance. Pride week began June 24^th and continues until July 3^rd, 2011 with some pretty amazing parties and parades and hopefully they can continue to build on the acceptance and support of the LGBTQ communities within Toronto.

My picture of the City’s Pride proclamation shows that it was indeed signed by Mayor Rob Ford. The flag can be found flying on the outdoor garden level, close to Bay Street. 

See more pictures after the jump.

Barbara Hall

Beautiful week & Ride for Heart

UPDATE: To see photos of the 2011 Becel Bike for Heart check out my blog post here.

Update: photo taken June 6, 2011 - remember, no wading!

Spring held a 'nice week' event but that ended Friday and the thundershowers took over Saturday. I was ready to bike around downtown Toronto but I will wait and see what tomorrow will be like. To remember beautiful weather I have included a partly cloudy sky photo at top. I also happened to notice that the Nathan Phillip Square pond repairs have been completed and the pond has been filled and the water jets are working again (an older shot of the pond follows). With the water fountain in Yonge-Dundas Square also working I think that we can unofficially celebrate summer.

The Becel Ride for Heart will fill the Gardiner Expressway and the DVP tomorrow on Sunday, June 5, 2011 starting at 6am with the highway closed from 2am to 2pm.

2010 Ride for Heart photos

Toronto Bike Month 2011

I showed up at Toronto City Hall today because it was Bike Month and I thought that meant that I would get a free bike. In the interests of the environment (my middle name is green) I would take an electric bike over some burly, exhaust spewing, carbon consuming motorcycle (because sacrifice is my other middle name).  For some reason the City and I had different meanings associated with Bike Month and I left without a free bicycle or even leather chaps. They did offer a free organic t-shirt but all they had left were size small, which would be just perfect for my right arm, so I had to regretfully decline.

Toronto Bike Month 2011 runs from May 26 30 to June 21 30 and today was Bike to Work Day (Monday, May 30, 2011). It was a hassle getting my bike on the GO Train this morning but the hassle was nothing compared to trying to ride the thing within the train as it travelled down the track towards Union Station. Commuters get awful peeved when you run over their toes in the train – even when I used the bell and proper hand signals. The stairs were a little hard to handle as well and I am sorry that I caused a lot of people to spill their early morning coffee, but in Bike Month we all have to make sacrifices.

I arrived early enough today to witness part of the setup in Nathan Phillips Square (the part that is not under construction at this particular time) as they started warming up the free breakfast that Bike to Work cyclists could get. Suddenly the City Street was full of hundreds of bikers coming from Albert Street and across Bay into the concrete courtyard of the Square. They even had police bicycle escorts.

Some interesting things seem to happen with Bike Month and I see that the Toronto World Naked Bike Ride (WNBR) is on Saturday, June 11 (ride starts out at 1pm from Coronation Park near the waterfront and the CNE Princes’ Gates). So get your tight bike shorts ready and, oh right – scratch that, so that leaves bodypaint and a cute, eco-proclamation ready. There is also something called the Bike Pirates event on June 17. These pirates must be a lawless band of bikers, flouting convention and probably riding without a bell. If you are riding along and minding your own business on the 17^th and all of a sudden there is the Jolly Roger flag flying and you are forcibly boarded and made to walk a plank, don’t say I didn’t warn you.

It's so hot - I miss winter!

Oh man, so untrue. Welcome summer (at least for one day) because the rain continues, starting tomorrow. Here is an ornamental stair case at Queens Park topped with some of the that white stuff - snow. Enjoy the weather and feel bad for Australia who are going into winter now - suckers.

Skating at Nathan Phillips Square

PS don't forget about Toronto's clothing optional Hanlans Beach on the Islands. More nasty winter pics after the jump.

Brought to you by the letter R

Nathan Phillips Square construction continues: The washroom/skate rental/elevator building has been ripped down and its replacement is going up and the Peace Garden/Eternal Flame have also been removed, apparently the flame was just temporary. Here is a shot of the Peace Garden dismantling going on during winter. You can check out the winning design here.

The flags along Bay Street are still up.

Toronto Clean Up Day - 20 Minute Makeover

Toronto’s annual community clean up day is this Friday, April 15 at 2:00pm. The 20 minute makeover helps to get rid of the winter garbage, long dormant under a bed of clean, white, then grey and finally black snow and it is a nice way to welcome Spring back into our lives. You can visit the City’s website to review the information but the date to register is passed.

I like the big yellow caution sign they have placed on Queen Street West just in front of City Hall – the mop they are will have to use must be gigantic!

Flock of Seagulls

At first I ran away from the flock of seagulls, but then when I survived the winged fury I decided to stay and watch the airborne antics of the noisy white birds.

They are a thing of beauty, whether they are flying or begging for food in front of you. These guys were being fed in Nathan Phillips Square at City Hall. People started feeding them on the ground and then they started throwing food up into the air and the birds caught the food mid flight.

PS the outdoor rink at Toronto's City Hall has been shut down for the season. Here are a father and son walking on the remaining ice that won't be around for much longer. The round part of council chambers combined with the curves of the Freedom Arches over the rink/reflecting pool make it look like there is an immense spider ready to do battle with the city.

Christmas is for kids and pandas

Christmas is tomorrow and all through the house we cleaned and cooked. Friends and family gather together to enjoy the holidays and as an excuse to meet, sometimes only for this one day a year. The excitement and wonder of Christmas is best enjoyed by the young and pandas. These kids were helping to welcome everyone to the Doors Open 2010 event on top of the new green deck at City Hall.

Actually, I am not really sure if pandas celebrate Christmas, but hang loose and enjoy the season. I also hope yesterday's Festivus for the Rest of Us was all that it could have been; airing of grievances, feats of strengths and that someone ended up getting pinned. That Seinfeld was a Festivus Miracle.

Hanukkah - Festival of Lights

Sad occasions mean it is even more important to gather around your loved ones during this holiday season. The Menorah in Nathan Phillips Square helps to light the way for Hanukkah.

Freedom Arches and the skating rink

I was so impressed that the City got the skating rink in Nathan Phillips Square ready in time for the Cavalcade of Lights that I went back to take a picture of it during the day. It was definitely less busy in the square than the previous night. The Freedom Arches hold the holiday lights and stars above the ice.

2010 Cavalcade of Lights

The annual celebration of cold stuff and the interesting building that is the "new" City Hall provides plenty of sparkling lights and fireworks, although due to the proximity of all those windows and buildings the fireworks aren't like the big, exploding starbursts - more like giant streamers of fire.

Fireworks signal the lighting of the Christmas Tree.

Starting way back in 1967 this, the 44th annual event, is squeezed into the areas that are still in one piece around all the construction in Nathan Phillips Square. The stage is set up right in front of the entrance to City Hall.

They got the skating rink ready for the nights party.

Jam packed Nathan Phillips Square.

Debbie Travis poses for pictures with fans.

Debbie Travis will start off the night from 5:30 to 7:00pm, then the lighting the Christmas Tree, followed by concerts, fireworks and finally the skating party. Debbie Travis was sponsored by Canadian Tire who gave out free hats and scarves while Debbie posed for photos with fans (the pictures were printed and given to the fans). Musical guests are Shawn Desman, Divine Brown and Sarah Slean. There was also a really cool trampoline performance by Haut-Vol see my YouTube video here.

You can see more pictures of the night's fun after the jump.

The Fire Guy does a great show after the concert and fireworks.

The Toronto Star was giving out free newspapers - most of which ended up scattered on the ground.

You can see my pictures of the 2009 celebration here.