Toronto Broad

No Cold Front

// July 30th, 2005 // No Comments » // Events, Just Stuff

So I guess the weather channel made a liar out of me. There was no cold front, there was not even any big rain storm.

I guess that’s a good thing since Caribana is going on this weekend.

There are other things happening too this weekend, according to The Toronto Star, consisting of music, food and fun as follows:

“Hotter Than a Chulha” family picnic: Get the party started north of the city tomorrow at the Woodbridge Fair Grounds, at Highway 7 and Kipling Ave. From noon until 9 p.m. enjoy this non-alcoholic party with performers like Rikki Jai and Adesh Samaroo, a variety of food and activities for the kids. This is a fundraiser to help critically ill Caribbean children access Canadian medical support. Admission $10 per adult, $5 for kids under 12 and kids under 5 are free. Call 416-898-3535 or http://www.djriad.com for details.

Hot & Spicy Food Festival: Sample sumptuous Caribbean food while grooving to music by the Last Poets and Charanga Cakewalk at the Harbourfront Centre until Monday. 235 Queens Quay W. Call 416-973-4000 or http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com for details.

Irie Music Festival: Spend the weekend dancing to the hottest sounds in the city as live performers, including The Sattalites and Brinsley Forde, keeping the party hopping at Nathan Phillips Square and Ontario Place. Festival runs until Monday night, with most entertainment starting late morning or early afternoon. http://www.iriemusicfestival.com

Pedestrian Sundays: Scrap the ride tomorrow and head down to Kensington Market, near College and Spadina Aves., for a car-free day of water games, waiter races and a dunking booth. Events start at noon and run until 6 p.m. (or 10 p.m. on north Augusta Ave.). Call 416-531-5409 for details.

Ribfest: Get out the bib and join world-class ribbers as they cook up a feast for the weekend at Brimley Memorial Park, at Brimley Rd. and Lawrence Ave. E., in Scarborough. Entertainment includes rock bands, dancers and karaoke, all to benefit the Rotary Club of Scarborough. Runs 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. today and tomorrow and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. http://www.scarboroughribfest.com.

Simcoe Days: Tour a farmhouse from 1851 and a historic cookery at Gibson House, 5172 Yonge St., from noon to 5 p.m. for free. For more information email gibsonhouse@toronto.ca. Or celebrate Upper Canada’s first lieutenant governor with musketry and cannons at Fort York, 100 Garrison Rd., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Event is free with admission Call 416-392-6907 for details. Both events run Monday.

History Walk: Take a free, guided stroll through historic Mt. Pleasant Cemetery tomorrow at 2 p.m. Meet at entrance near Yonge St. and St. Clair Ave.

So, get out there and do something, there’s lots to choose from.

Cold Front

// July 26th, 2005 // No Comments » // Just Stuff

Well, supposedly a big cold front is coming to Toronto. I assume it’s going to start with this evening’s rain storm, which you can see is already on its way.

We had rain earlier today, but it only served to make things even muggier than it has been. So let’s hope that the storm we’ll get will get all that water out of the air.

Our high is predicted at 15C (which is about 60F for those non-Canadians).

Homelessness

// July 23rd, 2005 // No Comments » // Neighbourhoods

The Globe & Mail decided to do a feature on the homeless.

Who do I see staring me in the face? This is the drunk who’s always hanging outside the beer store in my neighbourhood.

This is a guy who spends all his time hanging around the beer store, begging people for money so he can go in and buy some beer.

He seems to always be there. And he seems to always be drunk.

So now he gets to be featured on the front page of a section in the newspaper. Oh they’ve got the sob story about him… car accident years ago, split up from wife and 5 kids, no longer a renovator.

You’re right he’s no longer anything. And apparently he was living on the streets for years, but has now taken part in some initiative that gets housing for the street people.

How about this… stop drinking. Stop being drunk all the time and get a job. Stop bothering me for money because your welfare cheque is mostly used up for your rent.

I guess I’m pissed off that “my city” creates so many initiatives to look after people who are too damned lazy or drunk to work, and yet does nothing for the rest of us who are just out there working every day, and trying to pay our exorbitant rent and bills.

Get the drunks’ pictures off the newspapers and show me somebody who’s accomplishing something.