Jim Metcalfe - Our Home Toronto

Archive for the 'Neighbourhood Events' Category

5 Great Toronto Halloween Activities

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year.

Below are 5 great ways to explore Toronto and enjoy Halloween with family and friends.

1) Casa Loma

Casa Loma is offering a number of festive events this halloween season. Activities include scavenger hunts, pumpkin carving competitions and many others. The Canadian Castle has created a destination in Forest Hill this fall.

The pumpkin carving contest is open to children 13 years of age and younger. It runs Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. until noon. Admission is $15 for children (plus tax) and $18.19 (plus tax) for adults. All carving participants must be accompanied by an adult. (Carving tools and pumpkins provided!)

Pre-register by calling (416) 923-1171 ext. 205 or ext. 215.

2) The Haunted Walk

Haunted walks are always a exhilarating way to learn about the spooky history of your neighborhood. Below are a few suggestions;

I) The Haunted High Park, Colborne Lodge Drive.
This Family-oriented tour is organized by the city and runs Oct. 23 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 30 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Pre-registration and pre-payment are required. Cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children (plus tax). Period refreshments are included. The walk is not recommended for children under 8.
For more information call
Colborne Lodge
416-392-6916
clodge@toronto.ca

II) Muddy York Walking Tour
Muddy York Walking Tours offers a number haunted walks around the city. I would recommend “The Haunted Streets of Downtown Toronto” tour. There are a number of other walking tours available through Muddy York.

Tours are available from Oct. 8 to Oct. 31 every night at 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Recommended for children aged 8 and older. The cost is $10 for ages 17 and up, $8 for children under 17.
For information on other tours offered by Muddy York follow the link below
http://www.muddyyorktours.com/

3) Screemers at Exhibition Place

Since 1992 Sceemers has been scaring people silly! The event consists of 6 walkthrough haunted features, carnival rides and a theater presentation, all included in the price of admission.
Screemers located at Queen Elizabeth Building and is open evenings from Oct. 16 to Oct. 31. Not recommended for children under 10. Admission is $28.50 (plus tax).

For more information follow the link below
http://www.screemers.ca/

4) Pumpkinland at Whittamore’s Farm

A short drive from downtown Toronto, Pumpkin land offers families a great way to spend the day! Pick your own pumpkin, go on wagon rides, watch the pumpkin cannon show, climb the two storey tree fort and don’t forget to pick up a pumpkin pie!

Pumpkinland is located at 8100 Steeles Avenue, East Markham and is open daily from September to Oct. 31 (including holidays); from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cost is $10 (plus tax) on weekends and holidays. On weekends, a family of 4 costs $36 (plus tax). On weekdays, admission is $6 per person age 2 and up.

For more information follow the link below
http://www.whittamoresfarm.com/pumpkinland.htm

5) Boo at the Zoo and Halloween Howl at the Toronto Zoo

Boo at the Zoo is an annual event aimed at children under 12 (who get in free) and features the Kids Zoo, storytelling, a creepy walk, magic and more.

Halloween Howl is a sundown event that educates visitors on the ways of wolves and First Nations culture.

Oct. 20 to 24, 30 and 31. Event is free with Zoo admission. Children under 12 wearing costumes are free.

For more information follow the link below

http://www.torontozoo.com/Events/

-E.A.M Consulting & James Metcalfe  REALTOR® BROKER

Tags: casa loma, exhibition place, halloween, Halloween in OurHomeToronto, toronto

Foodies Unite!!!

 

Last month was the innugural launch of The Toronto Underground Market (TUM) Located in at the Evergreen Brick Works, it featured a gathering of foodies, who strut their skills in cuisine and taste testing.

“The Toronto Underground Market (TUM) is a social food market for the community to sample the food of Toronto home cooks. It is a venue for budding entrepreneurs to showcase their products. These vendors are not necessarily chefs, although some will be. This is a new kind of community market; not a farmer’s market, or a food festival, but something completely unique and new to Toronto.”

The next event is scheduled for October 22.

 For more information about upcoming events follow this link  http://yumtum.ca

 

 

 

-E.A.M Consulting & James Metcalfe  REALTOR® BROKER

Tags: Food, Toronto Underground Market, TUM, YumTum

Toronto Harbourfront … You don’t have to be a tourist to Enjoy this Treasure

Visit our Harbourfront day or night. There are a multitude of events, vendors, activities all year round. Visit our Cafe’s, Take a Tour on a Double Decker Bus, Chill with a book … Made in The Shade, BBQ – Boating or Bust, Mom and I … a place to Chill, Towering over Our Toronto Harbourfront, Boating of Many Colours, New Beginings … A Pause for the Delicious … OurHomeToronto  … Photos taken by James Metcalfe

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tags: Harbourfront Activities, Toronto Harbourfront, Tourists #1 Choice

Cabbagetown Festival 2010 … THE Go To Site!

 WELCOME  CabbagetownFestival.org: 

Wednesday September 8th to Sunday September 12th

This web site is your road map to the busy schedule of events for the Cabbagetown Festival weekend. The links listed below will guide you into the activities that you want to know about.

This website is hosted by Cabbagetown Art & Crafts as a public service.Any activity involved in the Cabbagetown Festival may request that its website and activities be listed here. Please contact web@cabbagetownfestival.org to submit your request.If you are interested in being an exhibitor/vendor/etc. in the festival, please check the listings below for contact information. If you are unsure as to whom to contact, please get in touch with the Cabbagetown BIA, cabbagetownbia@gmail.com, or call 416-921-0857.

Locations in Cabbagetown:    

• Riverdale Park: Arts & Crafts in the Park and the Riverdale Farm Fall Harvest Festival
•  Parliament Street: Grand Parade, Pub Crawl, Wine Route and weekend street events
• Winchester Street Dance Theatre: Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival
• Homes in the Don Vale, Cabbagetown area: Garage sales and walking tours of historic houses·    
•  Sumach Street at Carlton and at Winchester: arts and crafts vendor displays.

Cabbagetown Art & Crafts Sale: a juried art and crafts show held in Riverdale Park. Open from Friday, September 10, to Sunday, September 12, 2010. For visitor information check the sales’ web site: www.cabbagetownartandcrafts.org.

Cabbagetown Festival: General information and photos of the Parliament Street activities including stage entertainment, the Grand Parade, pubs and patio entertainers, and street vendors. September 10 to September 12, 2010. http://cabbagetownfestival.blogspot.com/.

Cabbagetown Short Film & Video Festival: 2010 submission applications (deadline July 31), the 2010 line-up (online August 15), and a catalogue of past films and videos. Friday, September 10, 2010. www.cabbagetownshortfilmandvideofestival.com.

Blair’s Run: A 3km mini-marathon to support the Cabbagetown Youth Centre held on Saturday, September 11, 2010

The Pub Crawl: One of Toronto’s oldest pub events, the Crawl visits a dozen unique Cabbagetown watering holes. Good food, entertainment, and brews.

The Wine Route: Fabulous pairings of the best Ontario wines and great food from the leading fine dining restaurants in Cabbagetown

The Riverdale Farm Fall Harvest Festival: From a day-long corn roast to a big city barn dance, enjoy the delights of the Riverdale Farm on Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, September 12, 2010.
www.toronto.ca/parks/riverdalefarm.htm.

Walking Tours of Historic Cabbagetown: 45-minute walking tours conducted by knowledgeable local residents. Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, September 12, 2010

Cabbagetown Theatre Company: Live theatre for families of all ages staged in the beautiful chapel at the Necropolis, on Winchester Street across from Riverdale Park. http://cabbagetowntheatre.com/.

Vendor opportunities:

Cabbagetown Art and Crafts Sale: a juried art and crafts show held in Riverdale Park. Open from Friday, September 10, to Sunday, September 12, 2010. For information and application procedures, check the sale’s web site: www.cabbagetownartandcrafts.org.

Sprucecourt School: arts and crafts booths located in a more informal space at the corner of Carlton and Sumach Streets. Saturday, September 11 and Sunday, September 12. Information and applications from elizharr@rogers.com.

Parliament Street: Vendors (not-for-profit and private, but no food vendors) are invited to sell their wares on Saturday, September 11, and Sunday, September 12, 2010, on Parliament Street between Wellesley and Gerrard streets. For more info visit http://cabbagetownfestival.blogspot.com/, e-mail CabbagetownBIA@Gmail.com, or call 416-921-0857.

 

Tags: Cabbagetown, Cabbagetown Festival, Events in Cabbagetown

Green Organic Farmers Markets … Brick Works & Riverdale Farm

  How many of you are shopping for your veggies at these two organic farmers markets?

The Evergreen Brick Works (off the Bayview Extension but don’t drive … take the shuttle bus from the Broadview Subway Station) is on Saturdays 8:00 am to  1:00pm. There is sooo much happening here so come out and take in the Blueberry Festival, Yoga & Meditation, The Stewardship Event, Crafts and Busker Festival as well as Garden Group Events. … The Riverdale Farm Farmers Market  (In Cabbagetown) is on Tuesdays from 3:00 to 7:00 pm. This Park and Farm are a must for everyone especially children who will love the farm animals and wading pool. Bottom line … organic is healthier and tastes better. Support your neighbourhood farmers market and make it an outing for your family , you neighbours and your four legged friends too. I started back in May going every week and bought seedling tomato plants, basil, dill and chives. I have lots of other herbs as I love to cook. The tomatoes are ripe and were delicious today alongside my home made chicken salad. The Peaches last week were heavenly. Almost everything is coming to harvest so get there, shop fresh & eat healthy.     Take Note:If you need help getting your produce home and want to support a terrific local green initiative … See Laurie Featherstone of  TwoWheelsGreenDelivery.com she will deliver with her bicycle from either market. Visit her website and blog and call her at 647-205-6496.

So you have all switched to Bullfrog Power and are buying organic and using Laurie to deliver with her bycicle. More next time about a recipe or two and how to keep your vegies fresh.

Enjoying Life, Everyday, Everywhere!

Jim

 

Tags: Brick Works, Cabbagetown, Evergreen, Farmers Markets, Organic, Riverdale Farm, Rosedale

Do you support bike lanes on Jarvis St … will cycilist need full armour to avoid hospitalization?

 Bike Lanes on Jarvis … In OurHomeToronto

OurHomeToronto has started the process of converting Jarvis Street into a bike corridor marking the first tangible sign of one of city cycling advocates’ biggest victories.
While the installation will cause a few partial lane restrictions over the next week, the road will remain open for all but a day or two of the work. Today, workers will remove parking machines and, once rush hour is finished, the reversible centre lane will be closed to traffic. Over the next week, signs and signals for the centre lane will be taken down. Next Saturday, July 25, crews will paint the bike lanes along Jarvis between Bloor and Queen streets, closing down short sections of the road for a few hours. Sidewalks will stay open. “They should be able to get it done in one day, weather permitting,” said Daniel Egan, the city’s manager of cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. There will be some lane restrictions over the following week as workers install signs and paint diamonds along the bike route. The installation of bike lanes on the street, which is heavily used at rush hour by drivers heading to and from the core, is a major point of contention between municipal politicians and advocacy groups on both sides of the issue.
Cycling advocates argue adding the bike lanes will help bike commuters by connecting to east-west bike lanes on Gerrard and Wellesley, allow residents of the dense neighbourhood along the street to cycle more easily and make it easier for students at schools on Jarvis to cycle. “It’s nice to see a large project moving forward,” said Yvonne Bambrick, executive director of the Toronto Cyclists Union. “It’s been a goal of this city to return Jarvis, which was once a grand boulevard and cultural corridor, to a more liveable street, rather than what it’s become, which is sort of an urban highway.”
Residents of Rosedale and other neighbourhoods to the north, meanwhile, opposed the plan on the basis that it would jam the street at rush hour. A traffic study by external consultants concluded that the bike lanes would add two minutes to rush hour travel time for cars on Jarvis. City council voted 28 to 16 in favour of the plan in May of 2009. In the months since, cycling advocates have had mixed success in getting the city to improve infrastructure for bikes. While council has approved a bike-sharing program to launch next year, it also nixed a pilot project to install curb-separated bike lanes on University Avenue when Councillor Paula Fletcher mistakenly voted against the proposal. The city has also added fewer kilometres of bike lanes overall this year than in past years, Ms. Bambrick said. The issue, however, may not be done for good. Mayoral candidate Rocco Rossi has pledged to remove the bike lanes if elected in the fall. Rob Ford has also been a frequent opponent of bike lanes.
Adrian Morrow … with comments from James Metcalfe
Toronto — Globe and Mail Update

Tags: Bike Lanes, Jarvis Bike Lanes, Toronto Bike Lanes