Archive for the ‘events’ Category

Greek Independence Day Parade

Posted: March 25, 2019 in events, locations, people
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Greek Independence Day is March 25, commemorating the start of the War of Greek Independence in 1821. Prior to that, they had been part of the Ottoman Empire for almost 400 years, since 1453. Yesterday there was a parade along the Danforth to mark the occasion.

a man in traditional Greek clothing carries a flag in a parade, he is in front of a group carrying a banner

There were people with banners representing many groups including the Cultural Society of Kilkis and Suburbs,

a man in a blue parka carries a banner in a parade, a small flag-like banner for the Cultural Society of Kilkis

the Thessalon Federation of Ontario, and many more,

women in traditional Greek costume carry a banner of the Thessalon Federation of Ontario, a blue banner, in a parade, while others walk behind the banner

a woman in a brown coat and maroon scarf wrapped around her head, holds a Greek flag. Behind her is a boy in traditional greek clothing in a parade

a woman with dark sunglasses and blue coat holds three small flags, two Greek and one Canadian

the crowd cheers and claps as a parade passes by

3 girls posing with a banner, the younger girl holds a Greek flag, they are with a banner representing the Daughters of Penelope

a group of people, older men with kids, Greek Independence day parade

below: There was only one float in the parade. It was a memorial to those who died in the Greek genocide during and after WW1 when the Christian Ottoman Greeks living in Anatolia (now part of Turkey) were killed or driven out.

people in costume on a float commemorating the genocide of Pontos

a girl in red jacket and cap, dark sunglasses, and holding a Greek flag, walks in a parade, with people on the sidewalk watching in the background.

a police man in yellow jacket directs a group of marchers in the Greek Independence Day parade on the Danforth. The group is walking with a large banner with words written in Greek

two kids in traditional Greek costume pose for a picture. The young girl is not amused.

in a parade, people (mostly young boys) carrying a banner for the Knossos society (of Crete), along the Danforth, Greek flags, other people watching

a man in traditional Athenian clothing with pompoms on the toes of his shoes walks in a parade while holding a very large Greek flag

Winter Stations 2019

Posted: February 19, 2019 in events, waterfront
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panorama of Woodbine Beach on a February day, art installation in yellows and oranges, lots of people, snow on the ground, winter clothes, Lake Ontario, blue sky with one wispy cloud

This year there were five installations at Woodbine Beach for the annual ‘Winter Stations’ event.   Yesterday, February 18th, was the opening day.  It was also a holiday Monday, Family Day, and lots of people were at the beach.

below: Forest of Butterflies by Luis Enrique Hernandez of Mexico.

close up of orange and yellow shapes that make Firest of Butterflies

part of 'Forest of Butterflies' sculpture in the foreground, along with two boys who are looking at it In the background, standing on a hill of snow, is a man taking a selfie with his golden lab dog

below: The lake was very wavy and rough on Family Day. There was lots of water spraying onto the piles of snow and ice as the waves crashed against the shore.

standing on the snow and ice covered beach in February, wavy day, waves crashing against shore producing spray , people standing and watching

below: ‘Above the Wall’ designed by Americans Joshua Carel and Adelle York.  Climb the stairs and meet people on the platform at the top.

two wooden staircases meet at the top, above an old rusty corrugated metal wall, platform at the top for people to meet

below: ‘Chairavan’ by a team from Sheridan College.

red metal chairs that look like lifeguard stations, part of Winter Stations 2019 at Woodbine Beach,

a woman in a red parka is climbing onto an elevated red metal seat

a young woman in pink snow pants is kneeling on a red metal structure, outdoors, snow,

below: ‘Mind Station’, designed by Tomasz Piotrowski and Łukasz Chaberka from Poland.

the circular art installation 'Mind Station', wood, on the beach beside Lake Ontario on a winter day, two men walking towards it, trees in the distance

below: Interior view – stand on the stumps to look out holes in the roof.

three wood stumps stand upright on the ground, interior of art installation

below: One of the views from the roof.

looking out of a hole in the roof of 'Mind Station' art installation, towards Lake Ontario, other circular holes in the roof

a woman in a tartan scarf walks past 'Mind Station', an art installation at Woodbine Beach made of plywood

below: ‘Cavalcade’, designed by a group from Toronto: Victor Perez-Amado, John Nguyen, Anton Skorishchenko, Abubaker Bajaman + Stephen Seunwon Baik

cavalcadde art installation at Woodbine beach, cutouts of people walking

a man and his shadow and many life size cut out figures of people in bright colours

below: The construction phase

constructing an art installation on the beach in the winter, Woodbine Beach, Winter Stations, colourful life size plywood cutouts of people

man riding on a small machine that digs holes in the ground

 

Apparently, this was the 5th year for ‘Winter Stations’.  Previous years ‘Winter Stations’ blog posts:

Flotsam and Jetsam and others (2017)

Warming with everyone and their dog – almost (2018)

 

snow and ice accumulations along the shore of Lake Ontario, waves crashing into the shore

admit one… and a few more

Posted: February 10, 2019 in events, people
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ice sculpture that says, in blue, Bloor Yorkville Icefest, and then above it another sculpture that looks like a ticket, says admit one

The theme of this year’s Icefest was ‘Hollywood North’.

Shooting on location at Yorkville Village Park on Cumberland Ave
during the weekend of 9th and 10th February

Featuring: Lots of ice sculptures (over 70,000 pounds of the stuff!)

using a power sander, a man is creating a sculpture out of a block of ice

a man in black jacket and bare hands is feeling the edges of an ice sculpture

In the Director’s chair

a woman in blue sunglasses poses

Starring

a woman with long reddish hair poses behind a cutout of a star in an ice sculpture

and a cast of thousands.

a child ina striped jacket and mouth open wide poses beside an ice sculpture

a woman's face as she looks through a block of ice

a little girl in pink looks out from behind a man an ice sculpture

a young girl in ear muffs has her face close to an ice sculpture as someone takes her picture from the other side

a woman in a white parka with a black handbag poses beside an ice sculpture

Somewhere on instagram there is probably a dog….

a man in short black hair and a black Canada Goose parka holds up a dog in front of an ice sculpture that is an instagram frame.

a pug wearing a sheep skin lined jacket

It says, “Say cheese”, so of course we do!

an ice sculpture of a photographer, a person with a camera to his or her eye

two women pose beside an ice sculpture that says Say Cheese. One woman is wearing a grey toque and scarf and the other woman is wearing a white parka with a fur lined hood

An Oscar winning performance!

ice sculpture of an oscar

LightFest 2019

Posted: February 8, 2019 in events, locations, public art
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Once again, the Distillery District is lighting up the cold winter nights with their LightFest featuring a number of lit art installations.

 

blue lights shine against an exterior brick wall of a restaurant, window - looking in the window you can seen people sitting at a table. A large art installation of a woman's face outline in blue light hovers above the window.

below: The LOVE locks have been enhanced with a cursive band of colour.

a band of blue light writes the word love in cursive, laid on top of a LOVE sign that is covered with locks.

below: There is no fire breathing dragon like there was last year, but there is an enormous 35 foot polar bear standing outside Balzacs.  Apparently it gets lit up later in the evening (or any other time except when I was there?).   He is made from the hoods of old cars and is the creation of Don Kennel.

a sculpture of a very large polar bear standing on its hind feet, in white, with black claws and facial features, distillery district, evening

below: Well, duh, of course it is!  LOL.  There is no context to this picture so you can’t tell that it’s like a large hockey puck, about 4 feet (about 1.2 metres) high if my memory is correct (i.e. it could be a bit higher).

a round white light with words written on it in capital letters, black, Centre of the Universe

below: Some of the installations are just for show (like the rods here) but some are more interactive.  For instance, the ring of orange and yellow lights that you can see in the background are large enough for people to walk through.

below: Another interactive installation is this little stained glass and acrylic enclosure by Taylor Dean Harrison.  When you are inside it looks like you are surrounded by stained glass.  Or, as I overheard one boy call it, lizard skin.

light art installation at Distillery District, like a small tent or hut that you can go inside, tiny triangle of colour, by artist Taylor Dean Harrison, looks like stained glass

artwork featuring tiny triangle of colour, by artist Taylor Dean Harrison, looks like stained glass. Close up detail shot

As usual, this is only a taste of what it there.  You can explore the works of 30 different artists at the Distillery District until the 3rd of March.

 

bringing in the pig

Posted: February 5, 2019 in events, people
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Happy New Year!
Lunar New Year that is, as we usher out the year of the dog and welcome in the year of the pig.

A few scenes from Scarborough Town Centre today.

decorations for lunar new year

Write your wish on a ribbon and tie it to archway – maybe your wish will come true.

three women writing on pink ribbons

tying pink ribbons to an arch

a middle aged muslim couple takes a selfie in front of a lunar new year decoration at Scarborough Town Centre

posing in front of a ribbon filled arch

Lions dance to ward off the evil spirits

kids cheer and laugh as a purple lion (costume) dance in front of them

people in the audience reach out to touch a white lion costume with two people under it, part of a new year celebration

Here Comes Santa Claus!

Posted: November 19, 2018 in events, people
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Santa Claus Parade 2018

a girl with a red hat with red reindeer ears stands on the street on a parade route, a group of policemen is in the background.

The 114th annual Santa Claus parade filled the streets with lots of fun and excitement.

two young boys on the sidewalk enthusiastic cheering for the parade

Floats, clowns, and hundreds of characters in costumes.

a clown in red polka dot clothes and bright red wig, smiles as she stands beside a float at Santa Claus parade with a large Carlton Bear, the Toronto Maple Leafs mascot

And people, lots of people!

a clown with bright orange hair and a multi coloured outfit, in front of a crowd outside

a man poses in an instagram frame that is being held by two clowns with bright orange hair

a father holds a toddler son in his arms, outside, beside the street, with crowds watching parade, winter, warm coats and hats

a clown in polka dot outfit and red wig bends down to high five with kids on the sidewalk who are watching the parade

a clown with a bright red nose walks in a parade, in front of people dressed as snowmen with red scarves and black belts, clown has a chequered outfit on, in primary colours plus green

three people involved with the Santa Claus parade pose for a picture. A woman in a red cardinal costume, a girl with a light blue wig holding an oversized gingerbread cookie with white icing, and another girl in a shiny blue and orange outfit

a man in a fuzzy grey animal costume waves to the crowd on the sidewalk at the Santa Claus parade

two girls sitting together on a float at the Santa Claus parade, shiny green and purple costumes

a group of people on the sidewalk watching a parade, kids in front on chairs and under blankets, parents behind standing.

young woman with rainbow wig, and bright coloured clothes, clown in a parade

3 girls dressed as clowns with rainbow wigs, and big red noses.

girl with hat with shiny red reindeer ears, also sunglasses

a girl in red and white striped hat and outfit, and red mitts, sits on a float in the Santa Claus parade and waves to the crowd

a man dressed as a tin soldier walks in a parade, waving to the crowd wearing white gloves & red uniform

three kids sitting on the kerb reach out a hand to shake the hands of a clown wearing white gloves

two women are dressed as flowers in terra cotta flower pots, walking down the street in a parade, followed by some people dressed in black and yellow bumble bee costumes

a woman leans back in a golf cart, marshall & crowd control, before the start of a parade,

a kid's head is in the middle of a red petal flower

two girls waving to the crowd as they walk in a parade, white gloves, turquoise outfits, shiny star shaped crowns on their heads

a child in red glasses is inside a bacon costume.

man in straw cowboy hat, red and white bandana, yellow shirt and cow print vest, smiles and holds hand up at shoulder level

a young girl in a red and white outfit holds a pole that is part of a large Chines dragon, she is watching the others with poles

clowns in purple and green outfits and many colours in their wigs, walking in Santa Claus parade

a male clown in pink wig and pink and yellow ruffle collar, large floppy blue hat and lots of make-up on his face

two girls on a float at the Santa Claus parade, dressed in shiny blue clothes with fuzzy white furry trim, smiling and looking at the camera

two camera men with large video cameras filming the Santa Claus parade

older man with grey hair, beard & moustache, and slightly balding, talks to another clown in a bright yellow wig

man's face, wearing sunglasses in the middle of an orange and yellow flower, part of Santa Claus parade

woman with long black hair, smiling, in a parade, wearing a red and white costume with ivy on the hat and a cape

a woman with long black hair stands waiting for her turn in the parade, wearing a shiny blue and gold costume and holding an oversized replica of a gingerbread cookie shaped like a Christmas tree with green frosting and red frosting

man dressed as Santa Claus in a parade

And of course, Santa Claus at the end of the parade sitting in his sleigh with toys and Christmas surprises.  The star of the parade, the person everyone came to see.

Santa Claus stands in his sleigh that is being pulled by reindeer on the top of a float in the Santa Claus parade.

Halloween on Church, 2018

Posted: November 2, 2018 in events, people
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It was the last night of October, the rain had stopped earlier in the evening, and Church Street was closed between Gloucester and Wood streets.  It was ‘Halloween on Church’, an annual street party filled with costumes on display wanting to be seen and other people wanting to see and take pictures.   These photos represent only a small selection of what there was to be seen that night (obviously!).

below: A one night stand to remember

a person at a Halloween costume dressed as a one night stand, table up to neck, a clock, and a picture on a frame on the table, or rather, the night stand

below: Glowing red and green

two women pose with three people wearing oversized skulls on their heads, with lights inside that make the eyes appear bright, two red eyed skulls and one with green eyes

below: Japanese ghouls, dressed to kill?

two women in elaborate embroidered red silk kimonos, one with a parasol too, one with a make up gash on her cheek

below: White man on keyboard.

man in black tux with white cloth overhis face plays a keyboard that he has around his neck

man dressed in a dress that is made of yellow police caution tape, also wearing a police cap. Posing with a woman who is also wearing a poilce hat

below: A group of people went as the 3D Toronto sign.

a group of people pose for a photo. Each is holding a 3D letter and together they spell Toronto, a miniature copy of the 3D Toronto sign at Nathan Phillips Square.

below: More playing with lights, this time as stick people.

two people in jogging suits with hoods, with lights down the front so it looks like stick people

Church Street, Halloween party, a couple in costumes suitable for day of the dead celebrations, juxtapositioned with a man holding a baby

a man in an elaborate gold embellished old fashioned scuba diving mask with glittery gold coloured rays emanating from it

two people standing under a clear umbrella with little lights dangling from it, one person has a black mask on and a costume like the invincible movie character

couple posing for pictures at the corner of Church and Wood, both are dressed in Halloween costumes, night time,

below: Looking at instagram in a new light, from a different point of view.

a photographer has made it look like he's a live instagram photo

below: With a doll and a lit candle

a man in a black and white striped shirt is holding a doll and a lit candle

below: With a doll and a dog.

A woman in long braids holds a green fabric doll and a small dog in her arms. Her face is covered with makeup that makes her look like a skull with large black eyes, a black nose and a mouth with notches (stitches?)

below: This one is for Jude, something about wanting to take this one home with her…..

a topless man leans against a concrete pole to pose for a photo. He has a large tattoo that covers most of his right arm. He is wearing a rubber mask with rabbit ears and a bandana over his face as well as large goggles.

below: With pale pink hair, a shimmering dress, and a big smile

a person with a pale pink wig and shimmering fabric dress

three people in big long haired wigs, one red head and two blondes

below: Crossing light sabres with Darth Vader.

a woman crosses light sabres with darth vader, hallowwen party on Church St. in Toronto

below: Kermit only has eyes for Miss Piggy….. or else!

two people in costume, one as a life sized Kermit the Frog and the other as Miss Piggy, both from The Muppets

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