Results tagged “torontoislands”

A dazzling view of the Toronto skyline welcomed visiting flyers like this Royal Canadian Air Force pilot throughout World War II. The glimmer of city lights, the Royal York Hotel, and other pre-war skyscrapers as he approached Port George VI Airfield (as the island airport was officially named upon opening in 1939) was a far more welcoming sight than enemy fire.

Want to pack it all in and move to the islands? Someone's written about that already. Want to pack it all in and move to the Toronto Islands? We can write about that. All you need is luck, patience, and money.

WALKING TOUR: Looking for a new spin on the merits of Yonge Street's "gaudy" appeal? Perhaps a reasoned argument detailing the connections between the work of Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry and singer/pop-phenom Christina Aguilera? Then "Chicken Fat Perambulation #2" might be your type of historical walking tour. Hosted by Adam Sobolak (author of Pioneers Of Modern Design: From Britney Spears to Christina Aguilera and executive member of the Toronto Architectural Conservancy), this walkabout is billed as "metatouristic linear street theatre" and will be more of an "'arts performance' in the guise of a guided walk." The walk will start at the northwest corner of Yonge and Front streets and proceed north every two hours until they hit Steeles Avenue (definitely not for the couch-potato set). Northwest corner of Yonge and Front streets, 4–6 p.m., pay-what-you-can ($5 or $10 suggested).

Are you suffering ill effects from the temporary disruption of your yearly prescription of trips to the Toronto Islands via the Sam McBride or the other ferries? Do you miss riding your bicycle from Hanlan’s Point to Ward’s Island, hearing the sound of children playing at Centreville, or other island-centric activities? True, you can hop on a water taxi or find your own means of crossing the harbour, but those methods of transport cannot handle the crowds the islands are accustomed to seeing at this time of year. Fear not if you are suffering withdrawal symptoms (or feel, as the blood-red headline in yesterday’s Sun shouted, that CUPE killed your summer)—cultural archivist Retrontario provides you with a minute’s glimpse of how the islands normally look at this time of year. This provincial ad first aired around 1980 and enticed visitors from all corners of the province to check out, in the narrator’s words, “a walk on the grass kind of place.”

Every Saturday morning, Historicist looks back at the events, places, and characters—good and bad—that have shaped Toronto into the city we know today.

Scientists and doctors have long warned the public about the dangers of staying out in the sun for too long. Relaxing as sunbathing is, the effects of forgetting to slap on the sunscreen may be felt long afterwards. One sun-worshipper at Hanlan's Point beach discovered the worst-case scenario yesterday, staying out so long that they fused with the sand. Despite this mishap, their patriotic fervour remained undimmed.

Every weekday morning, bright and early, we feature a photo (or two) from a photographer in the Torontoist Flickr Pool. It's our way of giving the many excellent photographers in our pool the attention that they deserve.

Waves eroding the tip of the Toronto Islands. A project to keep it from eroding will cost around $14 million, thus reminding us all once again that attempting to combat the effects of Mother Nature is a horribly costly experience, as anybody who has ever bought a jar of Oil of Olay knows full well.

Who's up for a trip through time?

Bill Graham retires. The MP for Toronto Centre hopes that the by-election is called promptly so that Bob Rae can run for his seat. Torontoist's reaction at losing Bill Graham and getting Bob Rae can mostly be described as a vaguely displeased-sounding "oh, goody."

Photo by Shaun Merritt

Every weekday for the last two weeks, Torontoist faced off local memes and blog drama in a tournament-style ladder and our readers decided the outcome. This weekend is the final match.

Every weekday, Torontoist is facing off local memes and blog drama in a tournament-style ladder and you, the reader, decide the outcome. View the full ladder here. Today's matches, Finals:

Kensington Market vs. The Environment
ROM Crystal vs. Toronto Islands

Every weekday, Torontoist is facing off local memes and blog drama in a tournament-style ladder and you, the reader, decide the outcome. View the full ladder here. Today's matches, Region III + IV, Quarterfinals:

ROM Crystal vs. 416
CN Tower Ice vs. Toronto Islands

Every weekday, Torontoist is facing off local memes and blog drama in a tournament-style ladder and you, the reader, decide the outcome. View the full ladder here. Some highlights: Kensington Market turns out the lights on Nuit Blanche (118 - 95): Dizzy from the smell of fish, Nuit Blanche stumbles in this epic battle of nocturnal versus somnambulant. Al Waxman named MVP of Kensington for numerous slam dunks. IllegalSigns.ca revokes Dufferin Grove's permit (109 - 106): In yesterday's closest match, Dufferin Grove's bonfires, farmer's market and cob thing are not enough to tackle IllegalSigns.ca, who points out the gaudiness of the Dufferin Mall across the street to distract the park and score a tie-breaking three pointer with just seconds left on the clock. Today's matches, Region I + II, Quarterfinals:

St. Clair ROW vs. CN Tower Ice
Toronto Islands vs. Jane Jacobs
Condo Boom vs. 416
Anagram Map vs. ROM Crystal

Every weekday, Torontoist is facing off local memes and blog drama in a tournament-style ladder and you, the reader, decide the outcome. View the full ladder here. Some highlights: ROM Crystal's sharp edges cut Miller's Hair (104 - 101): In the closest and most depressing match of the tournament so far, a napkin sketch gone wild shears the mayor's golden locks from atop his head. The late game upset may qualify for a recount on suspicions of steroid use, yes? Toronto Islands sink The Beaches (95 - 91): The ultimate NIMBY showdown sees the neighbourhood with an identity crisis get denied like a cross-harbour bridge. Today's matches, Region III + IV, 3rd Round:

The Annex vs. Island Airport
Leafs Fans vs. Bike Lanes
Taste of the Danforth vs. Turnitin.com
Nuit Blanche vs. Kensington Market
Congestion Charge vs. The Environment
Dufferin Grove vs. IllegalSigns.ca
Lower Bay vs. IKEA North York
Spadina North Station vs. 501 Queen Streetcar

Each weekday for the next two weeks, Torontoist is facing off local memes and blog drama in a tournament-style ladder and you, the reader, decide the outcome. View the full ladder here. Today's matches, Region I + II, 2nd Round:

The Giambroney vs. St. Clair ROW
CN Tower Ice vs. Parkdale
The Beaches vs. Toronto Islands
Jane Jacobs vs. Gas-Fired Power Plant
West Side Lofts vs. Condo Boom
416 vs. Queen West
Yonge Street vs. Anagram Map
Miller's Hair vs. ROM Crystal

Each weekday for the next two weeks, Torontoist is facing off local memes and blog drama in a tournament-style ladder and you, the reader, decide the outcome. March Madness begins today! View the current ladder here. Suggestions for next year will be recorded! Today's matches, Region I, 1st Round:

The Giambroney vs. One Cent Now
St. Clair ROW vs. York Subway
The Gardiner vs. CN Tower Ice
Starbucks vs. Parkdale
The Beach vs. The Beaches
Toronto Islands vs. The Docks
Dundas Square vs. Jane Jacobs
Megabins vs. Gas Power Plant

Because there are only a handful of Canadians in the NCAA, (and who really cares about college basketball, anyway?) we thought we'd cook up a little March Madness of our own - Toronto style. We have created a tournament ladder of recent memes, blog drama and local news and for the next two weeks, you will decide the winner of each match. Sure beats betting on Kansas State.

Torontonians are, to say the least, an opinionated bunch. So instead of a simple "Best Of" list to cap 2006 off, the Torontoist staffers have racked their brains about everything (books, songs, restaurants, people, places, stores, newspapers, politicians, musicians, and a lot more) to bring you their choices for the very best and the very worst of our city this past year. It's Torontoist Love/Hate 2006, and you can find a new one every day at noon from December 26th until January 1st.

Looking to check out some live music this week? Here's your listing of what's happening around the city between August 7-13.

Three hit and runs in Etobicoke over the weekend has killed one and injured five others. Two of the hit and runs were possibly sparked by earlier disputes.

The Docks has had its liquor license pulled due to a stream of noise complaints from Toronto Islands residents. They're appealing the decision so we hope it's not premature to say good riddance. We personally can't stand the Docks and think it's one of the most poorly planned live venues in the city. It's hard to get to using public transit, overpriced, has terrible sightlines and acoustics. We're not going to miss it one bit.

Just about one year after the last major Toronto (areaish) concert, Richard Branson announced that the Toronto Islands will host the Virgin Festival over a weekend in early September. This is the first time the Virgin Festival crosses the pond outside the UK. Note that this is the first time that Centre Island will be closed to the public.

A relatively light upcoming week in shows still has some fine musical happenings to help you kill time while waiting for the apocalypse. And curiously, all on the waterfront.

This weekend you've got two big to-do's vying for your attention - on the mainland, Pride Toronto wraps up a week of festivities with party after party and loads of live music. The full list of performers is too expansive to get into, but it includes David Usher, Carole Pope and Rough Trade, Lesbians On Ecstasy and Gentleman Reg. More detailed schedules of performances and locations available here.

What kind of pervert puts a picture of a bikini clad wakeboarder on his medium-sized city group blog, you ask? Well, Torontoist does. And for good reason. Wakestock 2005 is coming to Toronto. The international wakeboarding festival was banned in its previous home of Wasaga Beach and now is coming in August to the Toronto Islands. The 4-day event, which draws an average of 40,000 wakers, will most likely be banned by irritable Island residents after this summer too. Wakestock 2005 also includes a bikini contest and pop-emo-punk music.