10,000 tastes, 10 billion reasons

10,000 tastes, 10 billion reasons was a vegan food offering at Yonge-Dundas Square. Vegans, I think they are close to the planet Vulcan - home of Spock. The event ran from noon to 6pm and people could get free veggie dogs with celebrities that are vegans. There was also a Vegan Bake off, hmm, sounds yummy.

Unveiling the Myths: Take a stand against human trafficking

I wandered through a display for Unveiling the Myths which is a human trafficking awareness campaign at Yonge-Dundas Square. I found it interesting that they used barbie type dolls posed as humans in a number of potential trafficking activities like the massage parlour, micro-brothel and exotic dancer.

They hope that people will be "inspired by all the heroic work already being done to abolish this crime, including survivor stories, local and international counter-trafficking initiatives and organizations, and most importantly, how Canadians can join the fight."

Human trafficking is when people are exploited and involves recruiting, transporting or harbouring victims which violates basic human rights by individuals or criminal organizations.

Citytv Viewer Appreciation Day in the Square

Citytv was broadcasting out of Yonge-Dundas Square on Thursday, July 14, 2011 as part of Citytv Viewer Appreciation Day. The early morning started with Breakfast Television and hosts Kevin Frankish and Dina Pugliese continued the hosting duties for the event after BT wrapped up. If you were lucky you could look up to the large broadcast building they have across the street and see yourself up on their huge screen.

There were a few booths set up with contests and games and they had an ice cream truck giving out free ice cream cones. The Square was so crowded that it was hard to tell which lineup was for what.

Kevin and Dina introduced Canadian singer Suzie McNeil, above, during the City in the Square celebrations running from noon to 1pm. Suzie entertained the crowds that were standing at the stage and those in line ups. CityNews is scheduled for 6-7pm and they promise games, free food and lots of entertainment.

Dina Pugliese

citychase 2011

I saw a pair of runners on Yonge Street and as I watched them I realized they were taking part in the weekends citychase event which ended at Yonge-Dundas Square.

The website says "The Mitsubishi City Chase Powered by GoodLife Fitness is a unique urban adventure that requires participants to exhibit teamwork, resourcefulness, determination and the ability to make decisions on the fly as they search for ChasePoints scattered in unknown locations throughout the city. ChasePoints are designed to test teams with a variety of physical, intellectual, adventurous and humorous challenges. 

To conquer this 4-6 hour urban event, 2-person teams will run, walk and use public transit to navigate their way throughout the city, while calling family and friends for help, accessing the Internet, and even employing assistance of total strangers. The first team to complete the required ChasePoints and cross the finish line WINS "

Feet don't even touch the ground

Aboriginal History Month

June is National Aboriginal History Month and June 21 is National Aboriginal Day and to celebrate there was an event at Yonge-Dundas Square and also at Bell Trinity Park.

There were vendors, songs, throat singing, dances, story telling, fashion shows, native martial arts demo and drumming.

See more pictures after the jump.

NXNE: I love a girl in uniform

Both the Luminato Festival and the NXNE Festival ends today - but I am left with happiness of the Monster Energy drink girls with their cool hats at Yonge-Dundas Square. I also took a picture of a young lady who wanted a reminder of the NXNE Festival.

Hula Hoop Flash Mob Toronto

The lunch hour brought out a large flash mob at the intersection of Yonge and Dundas Streets in Toronto on Friday, June 17, 2011. Starting at each corner the mob started spinning their hoops, then when the pedestrian scramble came on (all way pedestrian crossings) the individual groups joined together in a large circle and ran around the intersection. People like the flash mobs but I think the people involved in the mob have the most fun.

When the road returned to vehicular traffic the flash mob ended their altogether brief entertainment for so many busy workers and tourists in the heart of downtown Toronto. Swiss Naturals then passed out t-shirts to the participants and fast forward to a later time and we see the hula hoops raised high above the milling pedestrians walking across the road or along the sidewalks in front of Yonge-Dundas Square.

See more of the flash mob after the jump.

NXNE Rocks the Square

The zombie rabbit, or more likely the drunken rabbit, celebrates another year of the Toronto NXNE Music Festival and there are days of fun scheduled in Yonge-Dundas Square. The sponsors and stage are being setup right now and there is even a beer garden at the Square. I thought I saw a relatively sober rabbit there, without crosses for eyes but if you see him later he will probably be tanked and the eyes will be crossed then.

Monster Energy Drinks is on site and for a very small donation you can pick up a drink or a water bottle. 9KG presents the Party Naked Contest (go to facebook and enter to win www.facebook.com/NICEPKG) and I got a picture with a deer guy and a rep for the company. Are you ready to go faster? I can’t hear you! Sorry, that’s for the CNE. Are you ready to rock Toronto?

From the NXNE website (http://www.nxne.com/) “Here’s the full info on our four night run of shows at Yonge Dundas Square, starting tomorrow June 16th until Sunday 19th. We’ve a mix of legendary acts, current favourites and rising stars and, as befitting a free all ages event, there should be something for everybody.

We’re proud to call hardcore’s most influential Descendents, indie royalty Stars, iconic new wavers DEVO and legendary rap group Pharcyde our headliners for the four nights. Supporting them will be Fucked Up, Cults, OFF!, Dirty Beaches, Men Without Hats and Diamond Rings. If that isn’t quite enough we’ve Toronto youngsters the Burning Boyz; Richard Duguay of Personality Crisis; Nightbox; Cobourg, Ontario’s Gentlemen Husbands; festival faves DD/MM/YYYY; Montreal’s Land of Talk; soul-diva Mamabolo; Reema Major; R&B sensations Tanika Charles & The Wonderfuls and prolific Canadian rapper D-Sisive to help the party get started from the early afternoon. We’re even closing a section of Yonge Street, part of the longest road in the world, to make more room for the party on Saturday.”

See more pictures after the jump.

Jack Daniels

CityTV News - Kathryn Humphreys

Kathryn Humphreys sports anchor and reporter of the CityTV show CityNEWS was in the Square reporting on Piazza Italia.

Piazza Italia - 150th Anniversary of Italy

Toronto is joining in the celebration of the 150^th Anniversary of Italy and Yonge-Dundas Square has been transformed into Piazza Italia. The entertainment and Italian food mini festival started at noon and runs until late this evening (till 11pm June 2, 2011), so come down, try an espresso and buy a brand new Fiat motorcar. Yes, Fiat has some beautiful models downtown in the Square – and the cars looked pretty nice as well.

I just wished they could have hooked up one of the construction cranes to the CN Tower and pulled it over a few degrees – then we would have a leaning tower of our own.

Ciao Bella! See more photos after the jump.

Madskills soccer demonstration

enjoying the sun and the fun

Punch Buggy

Saturday, May 22, 2011 saw a gathering of VW bugs for the Toronto Volkswagon Beetle Invasion to raise money in support of Sick Kids Hospital. The event is called the Punch Buggy 4 Sick Kids.

For an inexpensive mode of transportation that was manufactured in the thousands it is interesting to see that they really have become individual, traveling art exhibitions.

Posted by Joe Hamilton.

Beavers in Toronto

Parks Canada celebrated it's 100th birthday by bringing a couple of beavers into Toronto.

Spring was in full force today with a shining sun and the Yonge-Dundas Square fountains shooting out their dancing waters. It was a time to enjoy a patio, wear t-shirts, shorts and skirts and just enjoy the warmth and the furry beavers - yea, what can I say.