Posts Tagged ‘kids’

you better watch out

Posted: November 22, 2016 in events, people
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You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I’m telling you why
Santa Claus is comin’ to town

… and he arrived on Saturday amidst the gusty winds and light snow.   Winter arrived on the same day!

Before the parade there was the Holly Jolly Fun Race, a 5 km race along the Santa Claus parade route.

Holly Jolly Fun Run, before the Santa Claus parade, runners getting ready to start the race - group shot, woman in Mrs. Santa outfit, man in ho ho ho toque and red Santa jacket, woman in blue and another woman in a white Toronto hoodie

Holly Jolly Fun Run, before the Santa Claus parade, runners getting ready to start the race - a boy with black scarf over most of his face, wearing red gloves, gives a two thumbs up

Santa Claus parade - two clowns in fuzzy hair wigs mingle amongst the crowd before the parade starts, lots of smiling faces.

Santa Claus parade - two kids in shiny orange, green, red and yellow costumes, sitting on a float in the parade, they have their hands in mitts covering their mouths and chins trying to keep warm.

Santa Claus parade - Toronto mayor JOhn Tory poses with two kids at the start of the parade

Santa Claus parade - people walking in the parade dressed in large blue and white rabbit costumes, all carrying large stuffed carrots.

Santa Claus parade - a girl is looking cold, sitting on a float in chef's jacket and hat and large orange scarf. She is sitting beside a large sculpture of a woman sitting on a wood chair with an orange cup in her hand

- a boy is sitting on a float in a white chicken costume, two fake but real looking chickens are beside him

Santa Claus parade -

Santa Claus parade - a float with a very large replica of Thomas The Tank Engine with three kids sitting beside it.

Santa Claus parade - two kids wearing Toronto Maple Leafs sweatshirts and toques sitting on a float with a loarge replica of Carlton the Leafs mascot. The skate and end of the stick of a large statue of a hockey player is also in the picture.

Santa Claus parade - a young boy stands with his back to the camera. He is in front of people sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the parade to start. It is snowing and people are all bundled up. In this case, a mother and her daughter are dressed in white jackets and have a white blanket over their knees.

Santa Claus Parade - a young woman with a gold crown decorated with little red hearts, wearing a pale yellow dress, walking in the parade, waves at the camera

Santa Claus parade - the mascot for the Toronto Raptors basketball team is standing on the back of a golf cart driven by two people, others in costume walk behind, people standing on the sidewalks watching the parade go by

Santa Claus Parade - a man dressed as a clown with frizzy orange hair and a polka dot outfit laughs as the wind tries to blow his wig off

Santa Claus Parade - a black woman in a red jacket and brown scarf poses with a man in a clown costume with bright red hair.

Santa Claus parade, pokemon float, with a large yellow pikachu in front

Santa Claus parade - many people dressed like raggedy Ann dolls in pink, orange and yellow with bright red hair.

Santa Claus Parade - a young Asian boy stands beside a float featuring large sized characters from the Peppa Pig story books.

Santa Claus parade - three people walking in the parade with costumes that make it look like they are clowns that are walking on their hands, people on the sidewalk watching the parade.

Santa Claus parade, along the beginning of the parade, off to the side, a character in a Chase costume (a character from the TV program Paw Patrol) is posing with two little kids and their father

Santa Claus parade - a young woman in a clown costume with large fuzzy white wig, waves, she is wearing white gloves

two kids dresses as Christmas elves in green, red and white wave to passersby as they sit on a float with a large Grinch reading a book, Santa Claus parade

Santa Claus parade - a woman in hat and plaid shirt has a puppet of a long necked white goose on her hand and arm

boys cheering and watching floats in the Santa Claus parade, some people dressed in costumes like gold and blue toy soldiers, a fox on a float.

Santa Claus parade - at the end of the parade, Santa arrives on his sled being pulled by reindeer

people standing on the sidewalk cheering and waving at the Santa Claus parade

Santa Claus parade - two girls huddle under blankets and parkas while sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the parade to start

#TOsanta | #TOsantaparade

new neighbours at Underpass Park

Posted: October 15, 2016 in graffiti and street art, locations
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I first blogged about the murals and street art in Underpass Park last summer after the pillars and bents on the east side of Lower River Street (at the skate park) were painted.   The newest paintings are on the west side of the street.

painting of a toddler on a concrete support, street art

Street artists Troy Lovegates and Labrona are in the midst of painting 16 portraits of 16 east end residents – one on each face of four pillars that help support the Eastern/Adelaide/Richmond overpass.

street art murals on 4 bents holding up the ramp of a highway, underpass park, the paintings are of people, in the foreground is a woman with a yellow T-shirt and a hat with little flowers

mural of people on a bent of an underpass

a man stands on a lift as he paints a mural, in the foreground is a man in a shirt with red triangles all over it that has already been painted.

a mural of a group of people linked together with their arms.

a street artist (Troy Lovegates) is on a lift and painting a mural on the concrete supports on an underpass. Other supports are in the picture, they have already been painted.

paintings on a bent holding up a ramp. Two men standing on the pillar, and a group of people with telescopes looking upward and pointing.

The pillars on the east side of Lower River street were painted as part of the Pan Am Path and were completed before the Pan Am Games started last summer.

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below: From inside the skate park, looking westward.   Lots of people!

elicser painting of a basketball player in a red hoodie on a pillar in underpass park, other pillars and bents are in the background, all of which have been painted with pictures of people, painted by different street artists.

below: Looking beyond the park and out over Bayview Avenue, train tracks,  and the Don River. Two faces by anser.

two line drawings of faces by anser on posts holding up a road

The murals on the pillars in the park are part of the StreetARToronto initiative.

Beltline murals at Eglinton

Posted: October 11, 2016 in graffiti and street art
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A beautiful Thanksgiving day, sunshine and autumn temperatures – what better time to get outside and enjoy a walk with friends?  Today’s walk included the Beltline from Mt Pleasant cemetery to the Allan Expressway.  Along the way we saw a couple of murals so I stopped to take a few pictures. These murals were under the bridge over the Beltline at Eglinton West.   Both were part of the StART (StreetARToronto) program and were painted in 2013 by artists Viviana Astudillo and Logan Miller.

below: On one side of the underpass are scenes from the days when a railway ran along the Beltline.

part of a mural under a bridge on the Beltline path, by StART, in brown tones of the hhistory of the railroad in the area (scenes from), an older man in a brown cap

part of a mural under a bridge on the Beltline path, by StART, in brown tones of the hhistory of the railroad in the area (scenes from), a large locomotive with a man standing by the front of it.

part of a mural under a bridge on the Beltline path, by StART, in brown tones of the hhistory of the railroad in the area (scenes from), kids in different coloured caps playing beside a train

part of a mural under a bridge on the Beltline path, by StART, in brown tones of the hhistory of the railroad in the area (scenes from) a young man in a brown cap

below: The mural on the other side of the underpass depicts scenes of the modern day path including hawks, people, joggers, cyclists, walkers and dogs.

part of a mural under a bridge on the Beltline path, by StART, two hawks on the ground.

part of a mural under a bridge on the Beltline path, by StART, people walking on a path through the woods including a jogger, a woman walking a dog, and a cyclist.

part of a mural under a bridge on the Beltline path, by StART, of nature scenes, a large dog is sitting beside a tree

below: Someone has left there mark here too.

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evening Oblivion

Posted: October 7, 2016 in events, locations
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I missed Nuit Blanch this year.  While I was away, I heard lots of good things about the installations at Nathan Phillips Square, including the fact that they will remain until the 10th of October.

Silly me went during the day.  It didn’t look too impressive then!
There were lots of tourists taking pictures.

a man is taking a picture of his wife and young son in front of the water and 3D toronto sign in Nathan Phillips Square, a girl in a stroller watches.

and schoolkids hanging out by the 3D Toronto sign.

a group of teenagers, school kids, after school, hanging out behind the letters of the 3D Toronto sign.

Oh right, it’s a night time, after dark sort of thing.  Come back after 7 p.m.

So last night I went back at 7 p.m.  …. but last night was also the first game of the Blue Jays playoff series against Texas and it was playing on a large screen in the square.  I watched the end of the game.  There wasn’t a very large turnout, but the atmosphere was great.  Everybody was in a good mood as the Blue Jays won 10 – 1.

people watching the Blue Jays baseball team playing a game on a large TV screen outside.

Shortly after the end of the game, the large 14 metre globe that represents the sun lit up.  “Death of the Sun” by Director X (Julien Lutz) began.

The sun starts as a swirling orange and yellow globe.

looking through the O of the Toronto sign to the yellow and orange projections on the large globe in front of City Hall, art installation from Nuit Blanch

It then turns orange before the colours die out and fade to nothing.

the 3D toronto sign lit up in white, city hall behind it in purple lights, and a large globe representing the sun glows orange as part of an art installation, night time photo.

At one point the sun lets off steam, gas, fog (whatever you want to call it) before it goes silent.

large white globe lets off steam or fog in Nathan Phillips square.

The end of the sun signals the start of “Pneuma”.  Images by Floria Sigismondi were projected onto a wall of water under the arches in the square in what appears to be a short film full of  symbols.

people standing around with their backs to the camera in the foreground, with a picture projected onto a wall of water under the arches at Nathan Phillips square in the background. The picture is of a blue woman on a red background.

images of people in triangular shapes projected onto a wall of water as part of an art installation, night time, lights of buildings in the background.

‘Oblivion’ is the name given to the collection of installations at City Hall.  Both of the artists come from the world of video.  Sigismondi has previously made videos for the like of Rihanna, David Bowie and Marilyn Manson while Director X has worked with Rihanna and Drake.

It was an interesting installation….  well done technically and fascinating to watch.

two hands silhouetted on a large yellow globe representing the sun, night time.

We tried to push the sun back into the sky, but we failed.

#nbTO2016 | #DirectorX | #pneuma | #floriasigismondi

Labour Day parade 2016

Posted: September 6, 2016 in events, people
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Labour Day parade 2016
Monday, September 5th,

a group of people walking in a Labout Day parade, wearing orange T-shirts and holding orange signs protesting for fifteen dollars per hour minimum wage

The parade started at Queen and University and moved westward to Dufferin Street.

looking east on Queen Street West towards the Labour Day parade. A large truck is in the middle of the road, and people waving flags are walking in front of it. Lots of people walking beside it and behind it. Stores on Queen Street to the sides, taller buildings in the background.

women walking in a Labour Day parade carrying placards in red background with white lettering that say, 1. Retirement dignity for everyone, 2. Pay equity now, 3. Good full-time jobs for all.

a group of people walking in a labour day parade, two banners, one for Hammerheads and one for Central Ontario building trades.

a group of women walking in a labour day parade. One has a red heart with the number 75 inthe middle of it painted on her cheek. She is also holding a circular sign that says Work It! End job discrimination. Unite here.

large sign covering the back of a van that says We Won't shut the f*** up, in a parade, with people walking on both of it, walking away from the camera

a group of people in grey t-shirts walk behind a black pick up truck in a parade, carrying a banner that says IATSE LOcal 873 union, Toronto Motion Picture Technicians.

Two kids sitting in the back of a pick up truck, with red and white unifor (union) flags. Two men in the cab of the truck

members of the actra union walking in a parade, a woman looking at the camera and holding a sign above her head, two boys walking beside her. One in sunglasses and with hands in his pockets.

members of the actra union walking in a parade, two women and a girl blowing bubbles

a young girl rests her arms and head on a metal railing as she rides on a float in a parade

men in light blue T-shirts and wearing baseball caps, pass by in a parade, one is holding a small union flag (amalgamated transit union) and one is giving a thumbs up

According to the ‘Toronto Star’ newspaper, there were 25,000 people walking this year.

steelworkers march in a labour day parade on Queen St. West with their yellow banner

a group of people from the Power Workers Union wear grey t-shirts and and hold flags while they walk in the parade including three smiling young women at the front of the group

two people are carrying a banner for the Labour Council of Metropolitan Toronto and York Region in a parade. others are walking beside and behind them

below: The parade ended at the Dufferin Gates of the Canadian National Exhibition.  Labour Day weekend is also when the CNE Air Show is on and as a result, many of the planes taking part in the show also flew over the parade.

people walk down a street, no cars, police directing traffic, airplanes in formation and with white trails fly over the street part of the CNE air show flying over part of the Labour Day parade

a man with a large beard, wearing a straw hat and an orange bandana around his neck, carries a sign that says $15/hour minimum wage now, in a parade. behind him is a banner protesting the cost of university education and demanding free university education

pipe band, bagpipes and drums, marches through the intersection of King and Dufferin in the annual Labour Day parade, people watching on the sidewalks, a TTC streetcar waiting for the parade to pass

two men sitting in the back of a pick up truck as well as a boy sitting on the tailgate, in a parade, wearing white t-shirts that say Proud to be Union

a woman in a pink top and a black wide brimmed hat leans down to talk to her son who is sitting in a stroller. He's pointing down the sidewalk. They are watching a parade go by.

a camera woman has her camera on the ground and she is kneeling behind it and trying to take a picture. She is bare footed. There is a police car parked behind her. She is on the street, photographing a parade

iatse 58, union members walk in a labour day parade with their banner that says Behind the Scenes since 1898

a male cyclist rides past men marching in a labour day parade all carrying white Liuna union flags

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below: You know the parade is over when the street sweepers come around the corner.

a man walks his bike on a sidewalk, walking away from the camera, a large street sweeper is right beside him as it starts to clean up the street, the last part of a parade with firemen and fire trucks is in the distance

buskerfest 2016

Posted: September 4, 2016 in events, people
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Buskerfest 2016,
Woodbine Park, Sept 2 – 5

a woman white painted white face, yellow cheeks and red lips, wearing a costume in blue with padded shoulders and a fringe around the shoulders, top hat with but white feather and a big red heart

below: Making their Toronto debut, Cirque No Problem (i.e Noa and Uri Weiss from Israel) perform the acrobatic part of their show while lip synching ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’ by Bonnie Tyler.

acrobatics - a woman upside known hanging from a trapeze by her knees, holds onto a man

busker show, men holding up a trapeze frame while and couple perform on it.

below: Fire Guy juggling three flaming torches as he moves through the middle of the crowd.

fire guy is moving around on motorized skateboard while juggling three llit torches, fire

below: The Privy People. A wonderful idea – porta potties as suites, each decorated with a different artist. I had the privilege to use the Frida Kahlo suite. An added bonus – the man in the lobby held my bag for me thereby solving another problem.   And those three women swimming past?  They are ‘Money Fish‘ , silent synchronized swimmers.

three women dressed in flippers, bathing suits and bathing caps pass by The Privy People, an act that is also very functional, porta potties decorated with artists work on the inside, personal service by people

below: Bex in Motion with two flaming hula hoops .

woman standing on a stool with two hula hoops around her middle, both of which have 5 or 6 spots that are on fire, in front of a crowd of people sitting on the grass

below: Chalk Master Dave gets a little help.

man is drawing a picture with chalk on the sidewalk. A little girl is squatting beside him and watching him work

below: There were a few small amusement park type rides including this ferris wheel.

a boy is waving to the camera as he sits on a ferris wheel

below: Gaia, a character performed by The Mistress of Madness .

a woman is dressed as Gaia with flowers in her hair, balancing and juggling three glass balls

below: It’s big enough to swallow a whole family!

a large monster made of purple, red and green balloons is manned by a man, an Asian family is having their picture taken in front of the monster

below: One of many shows with balancing and juggling, Kobbler Jay and his three knives.

a man stands on top of three stools as he juggles three knives

below: Dr. Bubblito and his bubbles… and lots of kids (and adults) chasing those bubbles.

very large bubbles being made in front of a crowd of children and adults, kids chasing and trying to catch and burst the bubbles, small girl with her arms outstretched

very large bubbles being made in front of a crowd of children and adults, kids chasing and trying to catch and burst the bubbles, just at the moment that the bubble breaks

very large bubbles being made in front of a crowd of children and adults, kids chasing and trying to catch and burst the bubbles

very large bubbles being made in front of a crowd of children and adults, kids chasing and trying to catch and burst the bubbles, young boy being held up by his mother to reach the bubbles

a young boy with bright yellow rimmed sunglasses stands on a large chess board contemplating his next move in the game of chess.

#buskerfestto | #buskersatthebeach

The Ex!

Posted: August 30, 2016 in events
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Hey you!
Been to the Ex yet?

a man dressed in costume, white face, bobby hat, white gloves and a red and white striped shirt

An end of summer tradition since 1879… although a lot has changed since then!

below: The midway, 1937 (photo source: history section, CNE website)

an old black and white photo of the midway at the CNE taken in 1937, lots of people in period clothes, an olf tilt-a-whirl ride also in the picture.

below:  Part of the midway this year.  Rides, games and food! … oh, and people!

looking down the CNE midway towards the CN tower in the late afternoon as the sun gets low, riders overhead on the Skyline ride, lots of people walking, lots of signs for games and food.

midway game, shoot out, early evening, lights on, people walking in front, ferris wheel in the distance.

Games of skill

many people playing a midway game at the Ex involving rolling a bowling ball up a short alley. Prizes hand all around them.

And games of chance (gambling, if you will)

two young men in blue shirts working at one of the midway gambling games, with another man standing behind the counter

a young boy pokes his around his mother to watch her as she plays a gambling game on the midway at the Ex

Rides that turn you upside down,

young women upside down on the Fire Ball midway ride, their long hair hanging down.

make you scream,

two people upside down on a ride at the CNE,

swing you around,

a young couple kissing on a swing that is up high

drop you,

people wait in line for a ride that takes up up in the air and then drops you. A group has just begun their trip upwards.

jostle you around,

a mother and daughter enjoying a ride, like a roller coaster, as it comes around a corner.

and let you laugh with friends. 

two girls coming down a large, multi lane, slide, holding hands and laughing

below: And, hey look, the pink and blue ride in the background, that’s a tilt-a-whirl ride.  It’s a bit different from the 1937 version pictured above but the concept is still the same.

a couple ride on a midway ride at the Canadian Exhibition, behind them is the blue and pink tilt-a-whirl ride

Food… deep fried almost anything you want!

people standing in front of food vendors that ate brightly lit up, selling deep fried food such as deep fried oreos, deep fried pickles, as well as chicken and corn dogs.

The Ex…  The CNE…  call it what you will.
Have fun!

lots of people in swings suspended by chains, about to twirl around at the CNE

late evening on the midway at the Canadian National Exhibition, water game at the ex, piled high with stuffed prizes, and some people playing the game and some people watching the game

Two young Asian men on a ride, they are lying on their stomachs and appear to be flying, in circles, with the ex midway behind them

a young woman is screaming as a ride takes her around in circles, she is slightly blurry because of the speed of the ride

a young black man wearing a turd hat and talking into a microphone as he tries to get people interested in playing the game he's working at. A wall of stuffed prizes is behind him including yellow pokemons

a group of young people around a counter playing a game of chance outdoors, at a fair, the cne

a very large inflatable yellow ducky with bright red beak and black sunglasses, standing beside a pick-a-duck game with a wall of stuffed yellow ducks behind it

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Olympian parade

Posted: August 29, 2016 in events, people
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a man's back is turned to the camera, view of his head and shoulders, he's wearing a red T-shirt that has All for one written across the shoulders. He's also wearing a red baseball cap with two little Canadian flags stuck into the back of it.

As I’m sure you all know, the 2016 summer Olympics in Rio have just finished recently.  Canadian athletes won a total of 22 medals, almost a record number for a summer Olympics (tied with the Atlanta games in 1996).  A celebratory ‘homecoming’ parade was held today to honour some current, and some former, Canadian athletes who call Toronto home.

people watching a parade including a young child is holding up a red and white hand written sign that says We like you Penny. It also has a red maple leaf on it and a red heart. Another girl is holding a home made sign with the Olympics rings on it as well as a Canadian flag in a heart shape.

below: Lots of people of all ages and dressed in red, or red and white, lined the Danforth from East Lynn park to Woodbine for the start of the parade.  There were lots of Canadian flags!

a group of kids wearing red and white Canada T-shirts with Canadian flags on them, also one girl holding a large Canadian flag, she has a little red maple leaf painted on her cheek. She is looking serious

a mother and father are squatting down beside his young daughter who is standing beside a street waiting for a parade to start, amongst other people, little girl is wearing a red Canada T-shirt.

below: Also pre-parade, Arda Zakarian from CP24 interviewed the crowd waiting on the sidewalk on the shady side of the Danforth.

woman reporter interviewing the crowd waiting for a parade

below: Ontario Premier, Kathleen Wynne, made an appearance at the beginning of the parade.  She didn’t walk in the parade, instead she met with the crowd who were waiting for the parade to begin.

Ontario premier Kathleen Wynne stands amongst some people on a sidewalk who are waiting for a parade to start

below: The sound of bagpipes meant the start of the parade!

Backs of bagpipers in a marching band as they walk past a crowd of people lining the sidewalk to watch the parade. Lots of people waving Canadian flags and looking down the street in anticipation of the rest of the parade

below: Riding in a vintage red and white pick-up truck were members of the women’s athletics team: Crystal Emmanuel, Nikkita Holder, Alicia Brown, Phylicia George, and Eseroghene (Ese) Omene

a man and a boy hold a banner in a parade, banner says ward 32 olympic parade. And then it lists the athletes that are riding in the old red and white pick-up truck behind the banner, Crystal Emmanuel, Alicia Brown, Nikkita Holder, Philicia George and Eseroghene Omene

below:  Women’s beach volleyball players, Kristina Valjas, and Jamie Broder, sit on either side of their coach John May.

three people sitting in the back of a light blue VW convertible in a parade. They are wearing Canada T-shirts. Man in the middle with a woman on either side. Man is wearing Canada hat.

below: There was a giant Canadian flag held aloft by a group of people.

a group of young adults holding up a giant Canadian flag, lying horizontal, above their heads as they walk down the street in a parade.

looking under a giant Canadian flag being held up by people, looking across to the other side of the street where some families are watching a parade, and waving Canadian flags.

below: Name that athlete.

Two men in a red convertible sports car driving slowly down Woodbine Ave in a parade

below:  Rose Cossar, rhythmic gymnastics (2012).

A woman Canadian athlete, Rose Cossar, rides in a red convertible in a parade. She is holding up a small Canadian flag.

below: Penny Olesiak and Michelle Williams, both medal winning swimmers, rode in a red convertible.  Here they are being interviewed as the parade moved slowly down Woodbine Ave.

Penny Olesiak and Michelle Williams, two Canadian swimmers who won medals in swimming in the 2016 olympics, ride in the back of a red convertible, a TV camera is on one side of the car and a man interviewing Michelle is on the other side of the car. The car is moving in a parade.

below: Closer up, Penny and Michelle.

Penny Olesiak and Michelle WIlliams riding in the back of a red convertible in a parade

a middle age man leans against the back of a pickup truck that is parked beside a sidewalk where three older men are talking. One of them is sitting on a bench and facing the camera.

The parade continued down Woodbine Avenue to Queen Street East where it end at Kew Garden.  I didn’t walk that far with them.  Apparently there was a very good turnout – lots of people went to show their support and/or their appreciation including the mayor, John Tory.

below: And last, a few more crowd shots!  More red, more flags and more signs.

A girl sits on her father's shoulders as they show a sign that they've made to other people who have come to watch a parade. The sign says Penny you are the greatest. Canada's number 1.

4 girls holding standing beside the road as a parade goes by. Two of them have hand written signs.

a young girl in a t shirt with yellow and red maple leafs on it, also wearing large sunglasses, holds a small Canadian flag in front of her mouth

 

Camera man with TV camera is in focus, with his back to the camera, Kathleen Wynne is in the background and is slightly out of focus.

summer in the city, July edition

Posted: July 29, 2016 in general Toronto, people
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July is almost over – yes, summer is flying by.
So far, it’s been a good one!

below: Staying cool and having fun in the Yonge Dundas square fountains

young children play in the fountains at dundas square

below: A giant bite from a giant watermelon slice

a woman attempts to take a bite out of another woman who is wearing a giant watermelon costume

below: A Bay Street hug and kiss.

a photo shoot on Bay St., downtown Toronto. The bride and groom are kissing on the crosswalk in the middle of the intersection. People turning to look.

below: An impromptu serenade

a young man plays a guitar for a mother and daughter, sitting on the edge of a planter outside. Another woman is watching

below: Watching the entertainment at the waterfront – it’s magical

a magician entertains a crowd on the waterfront, many people are watching, men, women and kids

below: Making comfort at Afrofest, Woodbine Park

a couple are lounging on a large light blue foamy thing, amongst a crowd at an outdoor music festival

below: A Canada Day kiss.

A man in a red cowboy hat in the foreground on the right, a couple kissing on the left. People watching a show on a stage in the background with Canadian flags and a banner that says Happy Canada Day

below: Leave your message by the outdoor facilities!

Two lines of Johnny on the spots, facing each other, in the middle is a small message board on a metal pole, outdoors, green leaves above

below: A mother and daughter stroll on the waterfront

A mother and daughter in sarees walk hand in hand along the waterfront. Paddle wheeler boat for scenic tours behind them, mother on a phone

below: Posing, Pride fun

Pride weekend, two policemen with rainbow sunglasses and small rainbow flags pose with two men in drag, wearing green dresses, one in a curly blond wig and the other in a black wig

below: Blowing bubbles by the lake.

A family sits by the lake, two young sons in matching fedoras. Mother is yawning, father and one son have backs to camera, other son is blowing bubbles towards the camera

Happy August everyone!

Many legs and feet on a red carpet outdoors. People dressed for hot weather, only face in the picture, a young girl looks bored as she looks at the camera

Festival of India parade

Posted: July 18, 2016 in events
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Many people walked and danced, clapped and chanted, as they paraded down Yonge Street on Saturday to start the annual Festival of India weekend.

The parade is similar to an annual procession (Ratha Yatra) that has occurred for centuries in the city of Puri, India as part of a Hindu festival associated with the god Jagannath.  Here in Toronto, as in Puri,  three chariots constructed to look like temples are pulled through the streets in a procession from one temple to another.    Each chariot carries a richly decorated representation of a god, first is  Jagannatha (another name for Krishna or God) and then his brother Baladeva and his sister Subhadra.   The chariots are pulled by people and the procession symbolizes the pulling of the Lord into our hearts.

In Puri, this Ratha-Yatra procession continues to attract over a million people every year.  In Toronto, the numbers aren’t quite that high!

a police car drives slowly in front of a parade as it makes its way down Yonge Street

people walk behind a yellow horizontal banner that reads Festival of India, Join us at Centre Island.

two women in sarees are pulling on a large rope in a parade. In the foreground, a man is pulling on another rope.

a group of young South Asian women walking in a parade. One of them has her face decorated with paint. In front of them is a group of young men in yellow tops and white bottoms, one has a drum.

South Asian, Indian, women, in long colourful sarees dancing as they move down Yonge Street in a parade

some older people dressed in white riding high in the chariot float in the Festival of India parade, others walking in front and pulling ropes to make the chariot move.

South Asian, Indian, women, in long colourful sarees dancing as they move down Yonge Street in a parade, lifting their skirts a little bit as they move

people walking in front of one of the chariots in the Festival of India parade in Toronto

a large blue wheel that is holding up a chariot float in the Festival of India parade, people walking beside and behind it as they walk down Yonge Street

lifting the red rope that separates the parade from the traffic, women dancing and clapping and walking as well as other people, pulling ropes to pull the chariot in the parade

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