Friday, January 31, 2014

Frozen people can rejoice, awesome motorcycles return with new models, new features and a new home during the February 21-23 Motorcycle Show at the Direct Energy Centre.  Motorcycle enthusiasts can see the top brands showcase their new machines within Exhibition Place in less than a month at the 27th annual show. 

"This Show is Ontario’s biggest motorcycle manufacturers’ event of the year, and much like its four-wheeled automotive equivalent, this will be the first opportunity for bike fans to see the new 2014 motorcycle, ATV, side-by-side and scooter models that will be on sale at dealerships when the spring riding season rolls around.  In addition to the 400+ bikes on display, there’s a wide-range of new and exciting features, plus the latest in apparel, accessories and touring destinations, all under one roof in a space equal to three-and-a-half football fields." 

Visitors can check out the 25-foot, 1,000 horsepower Castrol Rocket with pilot Jason DiSalvo (who will soon attempt to set the motorcycle world land speed record), the Team Empire Freestyle Stunt Team, the Ontario Provincial Police Golden Helmets motorcycle precision team, Yamaha's how to demonstrations and the Yamaha Riding Academy for Kids. 

Opening night on Friday, February 21 will be She Rides Nite with free parking and ladies get half price admission to the show after 5pm. 

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Those hardy adventurers that scale cliffs made of waterfalls, frozen in place were back at Tiffany Falls in Ancaster, Hamilton today.  Teams of climbers worked together to safely scale the 21 metre cascade waterfall.  Long ropes hung were attached at the top of the falls and one end was tied to the climber, the other end to the a person acting as the safety anchor allowing vertical movement while providing support if someone falls. 

Their gear is relatively simple in this climb.  Hardy ice climbing boots with soles of metal teeth made to bite into the ice, two ice hammers that find purchase in nooks and crannies and a safety belt that holds the lifeline. 

The vertical climb is quite a challenge for muscles

"While ice climbing may be in its formative stages in other Ontario locations, climbers have been enjoying the sport at Hamilton Conservation Authority crags for almost 25 years.  The Alpine Club of Canada (ACCess Committee) and the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA) have reached an understanding on access to ice climbing on lands administered by the HCA.  Signed waivers to permit climbing are mandatory.  Climbing is currently limited to one HCA area, Tiffany Falls Conservation Area." 

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Canadian Tire and cleansheet communications is helping to launch the world's biggest Team Photo Project with Canadian hockey superstar Jonathan Toews.  The project brings the proud Maple Leaf, which, besides the beaver, is the symbol of Canada brought to life on the ice and stands of a hockey arena.  Jonathon Toews is an Olympic Gold Medal winner, Team Canada member and two time Stanley Cup winner while the Captain of the NHL Chicago Blackhawks.  The photo at top is the amazing photo that was produced by the project at We All Play for Canada. 

The 300 members of Jonathan's local community joined him to create the Maple Leaf, wearing red jerseys in anticipation of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games. 

"There has always been the classic definition of a team photo, that being the players and the coaches," says Neil McOstrich, Creative Director and founding partner at cleansheet. " What we were trying to accomplish was the real team photo!  The one that includes the people in the community who helped get the athlete where he is today.  Every athlete in the world has one, this one is unique to Jonathan Toews."  Inspiration for the campaign concept: "The game may be hockey, but the people who make it work, the coaches and carpoolers and rink flooders, they speak to the importance of community," says Catherine Frank, Chief Operating Officer and cleansheet's other founding partner. " So we brought Jonathan's community together to express a sentiment everybody has felt, but in a surprising way that nobody has ever seen before." 

If you so desire you can head to their website and tell your story about people who make play possible

Blue as in ice cold blue, freeze your butt off blue.  Freezing temperatures with wind-chills between 20 and 30 degrees below zero, Celsius, over the next few days.  Pack it up, grab some extra blankets and go into hibernation because everything toasty is still to come as the heart of winter plays out in the GTA. 

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

After getting hit with ice and snow, #Toronto had a brief warm spell that melted a lot of the frozen precipitation.  In Coronation Park the melting water cut channels through the thick ice that covered the ground and left large ponds in some places.  The inner harbour of Lake Ontario still had plenty of ice cover but I would be too scared to walk on it now. 

Lil monsters stare up from a #Toronto bus stop advertisement for the movie Hotel Transylvania.  They scare me like the thought of more winter.  Try not to think that we are now in the dead of winter (Jan 10 - Feb 10)!  Well at least we are getting some warmth from an early January thaw. 

Monday, January 13, 2014

Spiderman, Spiderman, Does whatever a spider can.  Spins a web, any size, Catches thieves just like flies.  Look Out!  Here comes the Spiderman.  The reality was a little different than I imagined.  Spiderman took his spool of spiderweb and threw it into the air, wrapping the strands around traffic poles at the busy intersection. 

You can see the strands starting to take the shape of a web

The superhero wasn't there for long, maybe they made him take his web down - which I am sure Hobglobin and Doctor Octopus surely appreciated. 

Frozen lakes become popular destinations for those that enjoy the sport of ice fishing.  Off Big Bay Point in Innisfil the scattered ice huts include wooden structures and the ever increasing use of fabric ice huts.  Once you have picked your location the only thing you need, besides fishing gear, is an auger to drill through the thick ice. 

Doors Open

Scarborough Bluffs

Pride

Redball

Beaches

Graffiti

Lake Ontario

Nathan Phillips Square

Transportation

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Covering the adventure and excitement of life, sports, entertainment and more in Canada's largest city - with over 41 million content views and over 1.7 million YouTube views ... Join me as I explore the streets and venues that are found in our beautiful metropolitan community.