Toronto Free For All

Winter is here so skate for your Life

torontofreeforall — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:35:21 +0000

Let’s face it …it may be close to 20 degrees tomorrow but by the end of November it will be lousy with cold in the City so you might as well make the most of it. Weather permitting the rinks could be open in 12 days!

Go ice skating. It is completely free if you have your own skates and a lot less free but still cheap (approx. $7) if you have to rent them.

Nathan Phillips square is a great place to go skating at the foot of City Hall on Queen street just west of Yonge street.

Harbourfront Centre at Queens Quay just west of Bay is also a lovely spot and is pictured here. There is a lake view which is lovely and then there are winds off of the lake which are not as great and may be why the subjects in the photo are potentially grimacing. Easy TTC access (509 Union and 510 Union/Spadina streetcars)

Dress warm and you will not have any problems. This is a great way to spend an evening, a very cool date idea or really good family fun.

Mt. Pleasant Cemetary

torontofreeforall — Mon, 03 Sep 2007 03:17:03 +0000

Maybe not the 1st thing that springs to mind when planning a day outside but this large urban cemetary is definitely worth a visit. It is practically a park, decades of tree dedications and extensive maintenenace have made this cemetary probably one of the best places to go to in the City to seek refuge within a vast array of mature, beautiful trees.

Some of the more exotic or impressive trees have been identified with a small tag making this cemetary a great place to easily identify a vast number different trees. The fall is an absolutely exquisite time to visit when the leaves begin to change as is the spring when all of the flowering trees and shrubs located here burst into bloom.

There are also some notable people and historical figures that have been buried here and a map of the specific gravesites of interest can be obtained at the cemetary office during regular business hours. http://www.mountpleasantgroupofcemeteries.ca/images/photos_inside/2006%20MP%20Office%20Directions.pdf

Bring a few crayons and some sheets of plain white paper for gravestone rubbings, this type of thing could be lots of fun for young kids. All in all a wonderful place to stroll, run, cycle or just wander through. Maybe it does not seem like the best picnic area but hey…why not…you’re not dead so just live a little!

The cemetary can be easily reached by bike, especially by the Beltline trail which intersects with the northwestern part of the cemetary. You can also access Mount Pleasant cemetary on foot from either Yonge Street, Mount Pleasant Ave. or Bayview Ave. (this place is big) and by TTC by walking north from the St. Clair subway station. Joggers are fond of the cemetary but rollerbladers and dogs are not welcome. You can also drive here and park basically anywhere on the sides of the many paths during business hours.

Mount Pleasant Cemetery
375 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, Ontario M4T 2V8
416-485-9129

Critical Mass – Last Friday of every Month – 6pm at Bloor and Spadina

torontofreeforall — Sun, 27 May 2007 16:18:27 +0000

Critical mass rides happen on the last Friday of every month in cities around the world. In Toronto hundreds of cyclists (during the warmer months) gather to meet at the S/E corner of Bloor and Spadina at 6pm and then proceed to cycle through the city with no set route in one elastic, fluid mass at 6:30 pm.

Critical mass is a celebration of cycling, a statement about bicycle riders’ rights to freedom of movement, and a great opportunity to meet other cyclists in an affirmative action setting. The movement is defined by the ideology of “ We are not blocking traffic, we are traffic” and this, according to the Highway Traffic Act of Ontario is accurate, bicycles are indeed legal vehicles on the road and are therefore traffic!

These rides are a lot of fun and they are very entertaining. There are many colourful and noisy characters and plenty of odd bikes and other vehicles to look at and at the heart of it all there is a strong feeling of friendly solidarity among the group. All too often most cyclists just battle through traffic alone and usually pushed up against the side of the road. To have the freedom to leisurely ride through city streets with dozens of other like minded individuals is a great feeling and a fun way to see the city and some of its more colourful residents. If you have young kids you should definitely bring them along as well, the pace is quite relaxed and they will love the parade feel of the event.

Most motorists and pedestrians are quite friendly to the “mass” but there are a few who refuse to “get it” but luckily without any serious consequences.

Riverdale Art Walk – June 2nd and 3rd

torontofreeforall — Sat, 26 May 2007 17:44:45 +0000

The Riverdale Art Walk takes place June 2 & 3, 2007.

Look for the full colour catalogue in the NOW Magazine issue dated May 24^th

The Riverdale Art Walk is an annual, juried fine art exhibition and celebration that takes place in Toronto’s Queen East neighbourhood (Riverdale and Leslieville). The Riverdale Art Walk showcases 100+ artists, organizations, galleries, and businesses and attracts thousands. It is arranged by a non-profit based group dedicated to promoting and encouraging artists.

The Riverdale Art Walk is on Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3, 2007 from 11am to 6pm in Jimmie Simpson Park located in the heart of Riverdale, and in galleries, studios, and retail venues from the DVP on Queen Street East to Leslie Avenue, and on Carlaw Avenue between Queen East and Dundas East. The park is located at 870 Queen Street East at the midway point between Broadview Street and Carlaw Avenue.

Best bet for TTC would be the Queen Streetcar but if you can…ride your bike!

Manhunt – Urban Hide and Seek – every Wednesday at 8:30pm

torontofreeforall — Mon, 21 May 2007 18:39:18 +0000

Manhunt is an urban version of hide-and-seek variant. Never played it but always wanted to. I will go next time for sure. The description below taken from the website, be sure to check the website for details and location!
If you do go, let us know how it is!

“The game starts out with one person, known as the MANHUNTER, who is “it”. After the manhunter has been selected, the FUGITIVES have 120 seconds to hide.

If a FUGITIVE is tagged by a MANHUNTER, she or he is BRAINWASHED and forced to join the side of the MANHUNTERS. At the end of the designated time limit, all FUGITIVES who have not been arrested are declared the winners.

Play occurs within predetermined boundaries. If a FUGITIVE exits these boundaries for any reason, she/he joins the MANHUNTERS. Players are identified as being distinct from the general civilian population by means of a HIGHLY-VISIBLE ARMBAND”

*MEET AT 8:30 pm.
*GAME STARTS AT 9:00 pm SHARP!
*BRING A VISIBLE ARMBAND!

http://www.manhunt-toronto.com/

email manhunt: manhunt.toronto@gmail.com

Shakespeare in the Park – June 27 – Sept. 3 Tuesday-Sunday st 8pm

torontofreeforall — Mon, 21 May 2007 14:50:50 +0000

The Comedy of Errors is a Shakespeare play about long-lost twin brothers and their twin servants who unknowingly end up in the same place at the same time. It is a comedic journey through mistaken identities and the delicate balance between chaos and insanity. Sounds like a “Three’s Company” episode doesn’t it….

This is his funniest and shortest play so if you are loathe to try Shakespeare then this may be your best option (it is the shortest one).

Having been to the last 4 productions I can personally say that this is a great, fun evening for a group of people. I would suggest that you pack a nice cooler full of cheese, wine, bread, grapes, etc and show up an hour early with plenty of blankets and cushions.
You will have your pick of the choicest seating and lots of time to get through your picnic basket full of goodies. So far the theatre staff has been totally cool about the wine and food. Soon enough the concession stands will appear which might ruin this atmosphere but for now take advantage of the absence of commercialization to enjoy yourself with your own choice drinks and food!

Do get there early as all of the seating does get taken!

The setting is lovely, a totally charming stage set at the bottom of a small hill with an amphitheatre made of large stones set in a horseshoe pattern. As the play begins it gets darker and darker and the whole experience becomes just a bit more magical.

THE COMEDY OF ERRORS

June 27 to Sept 3
CanStage High Park
Tuesday to Sunday at 8 p.m.
All performances are pay-what-you-can.

High Park is located in Toronto’s west end and runs from from Bloor Street west in the north to The Queensway in the south and from Parkside Drive in the east to Ellis Avenue in the west. The Dream In High Park site is located just east of the Grenadier Restaurant, almost in the centre of the park. Parking within the park is available at the Grenadier Restaurant.

Take the subway west and get off at the High Park stop. From the main entrance, go east to get to High Park Avenue and go south to the lights at Bloor Street and High Park Avenue. Walk through the park keeping on the sidewalk to the left. It’s about a 20 minute walk to the site.

You can also get to the site from the College 506 streetcar, which enters the park at the junction of Howard Park Avenue and Parkside Drive or from the Queen 505 streetcar which runs along the south end of the park.

One of the best ways to get there is by bike! You can take the Martin Goodman trail along the lake to Parkside drive and then just head up into the park.

“Luminato” – Toronto Festival of Arts and Creativity June 1 – 10, 2007

torontofreeforall — Mon, 21 May 2007 00:47:07 +0000

A little bit of everything for everyone, this festival is taking place in various parts of the city. Although there are some events that require admission, there are many events that are free of charge and that are definitely worth checking out! The free events range from architectural, sculptural “Robotic Chair” exhibitions to live performances like “Muhtadi Drumming” and European Cabaret. There are many family events that the whole family will enjoy including “Summer of Love” where the Yorkville area travels back to the hippie days of the sixties, or take a walking tour to various key buildings to enjoy the display of floating artworks or if you just want to relax your feet you can enjoy a show of world music at Harbourfront Centre.

It’s best to check out the official Luminato website to plan the events you want to see for dates, times and locations.

www.luminato.com

The free events take place in various parts of downtown Toronto like Harbourfront Centre, Distillery District, Yorkville, etc. All locations are TTC accessible, if you are checking out many events in one day, it may be ideal to purchase a TTC day pass which allows you to hop on and off the TTC for the day. Even better would be to cycle to the various events for free!

Toronto Sculpture Garden

torontofreeforall — Thu, 17 May 2007 02:46:47 +0000

The Toronto Sculpture Garden is a small pocket park located just off of the busy rumblings of King Street. The focus of the sculpture garden is to provide a space for a new and emerging artists to show their work or to implement their 1^st, large public installation. Typically there are between 2-3 pieces on display each year and no matter what you think of them the sculpture garden always retains a sense of being an urban oasis with high ivy covered walls, elegant plantings and a soothing, modern water feature that mutes the traffic noise. It is a great place to relax, to eat lunch or to even contemplate art.

Many artists such as Brian Scott, Mark Gomes, John McKinnon, Carlo Cesta, Stephen Cruise, Reinhard and Warren Quigley, have found success with their first public commissions after exhibiting in the Toronto Sculpture Garden.

The Sculpture Garden is located at 115 King Street East, near Church Street and opposite St. James’ Cathedral. Although it is a small space it is certainly worth a visit and it is close enough to the distillery district or St. Lawrence Market to be part of a multi-faceted “free day”!

The current exhibition (pictured below) is by
Ludwika Ogorzelec and is entitled:
Mist: from the Space Crystallization Cycle

It is quite a breathtaking display; it seems to have a life of its own. On my last visit it had just rained and the whole installation was 3 feet closer to the ground giving the visitor an increased sense of intimacy.

More information about the artist and the installation can be found at the site.
May 9th – September 15, 2007

Scarborough Bluffs

torontofreeforall — Sun, 06 May 2007 22:15:45 +0000

A great place to come to when you are looking for a quiet secluded area along the waterfront of east Toronto.Scarborough Bluffs or Bluffers Park is located at the foot of Brimley Road in
Scarborough. The bluffs are actually quite impressive visually and there is a nice walking trail below the bluffs that lead through the park as well as some of the naturalized areas in between the cliffs and the park.

This park is a great alternative to Ashbridges Bay as a family picnic spot and the competition for seating is most likely a lot less intense. It was named after Scarborough, England by Elizabeth Simcoe, the wife of John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. The bluffs along Scarborough’s Lake Ontario shores reminded her of the limestone cliffs in
Scarborough, England. If this is not nerdy enough then how about the fact that this area is a bird watching hotspot with Red-necked Grebes in April and early May, Carolina and Winter Wrens in April, Orchard Orioles and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers in May and June.

Open year round from dawn till dusk with free parking.TTC access is via Kingston Rd 12 to Kingston & Brimley, followed by a 15 minute walk south along Brimley to the base of the bluffs.

Doors Open Toronto May 26 -27, 2007

torontofreeforall — Sun, 06 May 2007 21:54:07 +0000

Once a year Torontonians get the chance to tour many of the unusual and unique buildings and grounds located within the City.

This year on May 26th and May 27th over 150 buildings throughout the City are participating in Doors Open Toronto. Check the link below for the list of locations and descriptions or look to the Toronto Star to provide a guide later on in the month.

Choose your destinations carefully, some have very long line-ups ie: the Carlu Ballroom at College Park is very popular whereas the Toronto Archives is usually open all-week long anyways and it may not be the most exciting destination for the kids.

The 150 builidngs available include some of the oldest structures in the City to the new, ultra modern LEED certified SAS building on King St or Jack Diamond’s new car dealership at University and Queen St. (I think they have Opera there too).

Highlights would have to be the afore mentioned Carlu ballroom, the Casa Loma Estate Gardens and some of the many areas within the Distillery District that are not typically open to the Public.

If you are at all an architecture buff or a local history nut then chances are you are very well aware of the many fantastic opportunities for urban exploration that await you this end of May weekend.

http://www.toronto.ca/doorsopen/index.htm