Kate Mior: Wings of an Angel

I have seen Kate Mior busking as an Angel many times at Yonge and Dundas, right outside the Toronto Eaton Centre. Her costume is interesting and I like how she interacts with the people who pass by but I am concerned about the size of her wings - they should be almost as big as the Virgin Mobile Angel wings.

Besides Kate, the buskers that I like the most that regularly show up at this popular spot are Silver Elvis, Batman, Copper Cowboy and Charlie Chaplin. I am hoping that with the opening of Victoria's Secret in the Eaton Centre that we would see more Angel buskers.

Balancing Act

A street performer balances rocks and concrete blocks on Queen Street West. The stone sculptures or stackers are curious and people glance over as they walk by.

Silver Elvis on black velvet

Silver Elvis was on station outside the Eaton Centre, shaking the pelvis and being all reflecty. At the same time - the same time I say, there was an artist painting Silver Elvis on a what could only resemble black velvet (I don't know if this is the artist of the famous dogs playing poker painting) using Silver Elvis' silver guitar - the paintbrush was attached to the end of the guitar.

Even Angels do paperwork

Beautiful busker Kate Mior dressed up as Angelina (Toronto's own lovely Angel) stops to do some paperwork. Every time an Angel gets her wings, they have to fill out a couple of forms! She might have gotten a fine because her wings were smaller than heaven allows, or maybe she was checking this guys application for heaven, he looked a little devilish so maybe he will be taking a trip to the sunny south.

Then Angelina slowly ascended skywards. I am not really sure but she may have climbed atop a small box.

Don't forget to look for and support the hard working street performers and mark your calendar for the Scotiabank Buskerfest, scheduled for August 25th to the 28th, 2011 in the St Lawrence Market neighbourhood.

Yonge Street - fun along the strip

Yonge Street cuts through downtown Toronto and at very centre of the universe, which would be at Dundas Street, life was booming with people shopping and having fun in the city. The festivals and marches helped to fill the streets of the Big Smoke (that name was really appropriate yesterday) and at the entrance to the Eaton Centre people pressed close together to watch the buskers (Charlie Chaplin, Silver Elvis, balloon guys and the drummers were performing) or move along to the their shopping, dining or entertainment destination.

See more excitement on the street after the jump.

Silver Elvis was in the house

9/11 was an inside job

Walking along Yonge Street with a large stuffed bear

Judgement Day continues it's relentless march. If you go to Port Dover for Friday the 13th have extra fun because these guys think that May 21, 2011 is the big one.

Some yoga ladies formed a human pyramid in the midst of  thousands of people 

Black history passed out literature

Now I need a pair of boots like this so I can see over the crowds

The Square across from the Eaton Centre was jammed with people waiting to hear Kardinal Offishall sing as part of the 125th anniversary celebrations of Coca-Cola.

Saturday at Buskerfest

The fun continues at the Scotiabank Buskerfest and I watched some exciting shows and performers including the Russian Bar Trio (above) and their aerial show pictured below.

The fest is extremely popular and like many events in Toronto the event is always jam packed, especially if the weather cooperates which it has this year.

Sprinkled throughout the streets are large boards showing the schedule and locations of the acts. You check out what you want to see and head to the area early if you want to see the show. Usually the first row sits on the ground and the rest gather round, after three or four people deep you usually can not see the act so you have to look for another. 

There are quite a few artists, like Silver Elvis and Kate Mior, that set up at one location and stay there for quite awhile.

Some of the performers wander around and spread joy and sometimes mayhem as they make their way through the crowd. I really liked the group called Saurus from the Netherlands which is three large dinosaurs with heads that extend high above heads and large claws that could rip you to pieces if they were real. The sounds of the dinosaurs as they pass by is another great touch.

Another group that was fun to watch was the Calypso Tumblers from the US their banter and athletics was exciting, especially during the finale when they jump over a large group of young kids pulled from the audience.

Don't forget to bring some money to donate to Epilepsy Toronto and to give to the performers who work hard to earn tips.

See more photos after the jump.

Buskerfest 2010

The buskers are in full buskering mode at the St Lawrence Market neighbourhood so grab some money and head on down and let them busk you at the 2010 Scotia Buskerfest in support of Epilepsy Toronto. The fun lasts until this Sunday and the streets are also full of venders and there is even a beer garden on one of the side streets. Here is my post with photos taken during Saturday's performances.

2010 Toronto Buskerfest - Aug 26-29

Update: You can see my photos of the Buskerfest from Thursday here and from Saturday here.

Get ready for amazing tricks and fun, fun, fun as we fast approach the 2010 Scotiabank Toronto Buskerfest during the 26th to the 29th in the St Lawrence Market area. I found Silver Elvis in a small town warming up for his work in the buskerfest, posing in front of a beautiful red, classic, Falcon convertible. I told Elvis that he was on the poster for the event and he was surprised.

I also found a winged vampire - she was promoting Screamfest which is coming to Acton in October.

Kate Mior: Transformation into an Angel

On the weekend I watched as Kate Mior applied white makeup to transform into the angel Angelina during the Waterfront Festival along Queens Quay (I have previously taken a picture of her in full costume and makeup here as Marie Antoinette) and I have to say that it felt like I was watching Clark Kent change into Superman. Her wings were on the ground, waiting for her.

Copper Cowboy

Happy May 2-4 weekend Toronto. It's time to have fun and enjoy life in the city, especially if you don't have a cottage by a lake. Enjoy the fireworks, the Circus Festival or go see a play, musical or concert. If it doesn't rain you could always hit the links and get some exercise at a local golf course.



Keep an eye out for some street performers like the Copper Cowboy out to provide entertainment for all.

Batman Returns

A busker dressed as Batman spreads his cape at Yonge and Dundas on Saturday May 1, 2010. This would have been a good day to be in costume as it was Free Comic Book Day!

Their website says "Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores."

Biffs went Bam

During the recent Buskerfest there was one act consisting of three women from HerciniArts Collective who wandered around the St Lawrence Market area climbing on things. They were climbing around Biff's Bistro when management decided that the women couldn't climb on there stuff. I thought the Biff's lady was Sandra Bullock in town for the TIFF festival. Here they found some other stuff to climb.

Buskerfest in August

Summer doesn't want to come out full blast in Toronto yet, start small is a good idea and then get into toasty warm temperatures. One of the interesting festivals to hit Toronto in summer is Buskerfest which takes over the St Lawrence Market August 27th to the 30th. The streets are filled with performers drawing large crowds, colourful makeup and costumes and plenty of vendors.