May 29, 2011

New Toronto Rocket - Video Uploaded!

Went to the opening of the new Toronto Rocket before heading out today.  Please excuse the the video -- it was taken from the camera, but I think you get a pretty good idea of the expanse of the new look! 
The New Rocket

May 26, 2011

New Toronto Rocket!

Toronto Rocket is finally here!











It's finally here!! As promised the New Toronto Rocket will be arriving at the Davisville Subway Station, on the southbound platform : on  
SUNDAY MAY 29TH BETWEEN 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM


The new trains will have all kinds of neat features:

  • Open design- one long car with no poles in the middle!
  • More accessibility for strollers and wheelchairs
  • Vertical hand rails containing anti-bacterial holds
  • Onsite cameras
  • Audio and Visual info system

They will be replacing the old junkers over the next 3 years!

May 25, 2011

Garrison Venue

My friend at work won 2 tickets from a radio station , 98.1FM! I agreed to go along and check out Matt Nathanson! There is only one song he does I have heard playing a few times on the radio, "Come on Get Higher".

The venue was at "The Garrison" which I had never been to.  Their website is here if you're interested in checking out some eclectic local talent. 
The Garrison

The Garrison is very casual, almost to the point of shabby and the actual stage room is pretty dark.  It took about an hour before Matt appeared on stage.  By that time the room was full and we were all sweating.  

Matt Nathanson totally blew me away!  His personality would easily sell tickets alone for his quirky sense of humour in between self composed/written songs.  His style is a lot like John Mayer.  You get the sense that you just want to root for this young guy making it big because he's just so damn likeable.


I've got some pretty bad pictures to share (because the venue was so dark) and if you can catch some of the video at all, you're welcomed to listen to it, even if you can't see anything.
My silly introduction

and the one song I knew from him: 
Come on Get Higher <-- This is a Youtube video, my video was just too large to upload and inaudible :)



Riverdale Park and Zoo

Off of Broadview Avenue down through the Riverdale East Park and west on the footbridge over the Don Valley, lives the the Riverdale Park and Zoo.  


Riverdale Park, Toronto

Footbridge
Never before have I been there that I can recollect; although my parents tell me I went there as a little girl, I don't remember any of it. The Riverdale Zoo was originally established in 1856 when the City of Toronto had bought 119 acres of land to establish a park and a 'jail farm'.  Ten years later the jail was moved away from the parklands.  I found it rather odd that one should visit a Park and a Jail within the same place.  The Riverdale Park was opened officially about 20 years later. In 1894, the Riverdale Zoo had opened as
Toronto's first zoo.  Its collection of exotic animals included ocelots, camels, a dromedary, monkeys, a Siberian bear, a hippopotamus and some lions.  Donations of money and animals continued and although a typical zoo for its period, the animals were really just displayed in cramped cages and were not allowed to roam freely.  It took many years, but thankfully in 1974, the Riverdale Zoo closed its doors.  A committee was formed to build a major modern styled zoo for the animals to run free in a mock natural habitat.  This proved to be far more beneficial as the people could experience a much broader view of the animals in their natural behaviors.  Glen Rouge was the site for that zoo and still exists today as one of the largest, most beautiful zoos in the world, known as the Metropolitan Toronto Zoo.

Today, the Riverdale Zoo is known as Riverdale Farm and is home to many farm animals and birds like cows, goats, sheeps, pigs, poultry and horses. The Donnybrook and the Island House buildings are the only original structures that remain from the original park.  New additions are the Simpson house which was built as an exact replica of the original. 


 

May 23, 2011

Oak Ridges Moraine

The  confused 'Mishy Tree'
Patches of Clover, Violets and Ferns
Within the town of Whitby, there is a community called Brooklin.  Brooklin is still very unspoiled although thousands of homes are being built every year.  Surrounding the central core of Brooklin are the hills and forests that make up part of the Oak Ridges Moraine.  The forest trees are mostly pine as well as oak and birch.  We found some dense forest areas which contained patches of fern plants, violets and clovers.  
Camping or Tramping?

I love these remote areas to discover, always hoping to find some clues to mysteries of the past or some hidden treasure.  Brooklin was once completely dominated by farmland before becoming increasingly inhabited by people in areas to the south and east of the forests.  I still hope to see much of this woodland preserved.  I was saddened to see that we found residue of trespassers who left their soiled blankets, dirty pillows and filty bottles behind. 

Oh and I also found a "Mishy Tree" confused by the changing seasons. We had a great time.  Now that the warmer weather is upon us again I plan to do a lot more exploring. 

May 2, 2011

The Old Mill Inn and Spa- Wedding Bells ring again

Springtime is the special time of year when everyone feels the need to clean up, clean out, re-arrange and change the present.  

Reception Room
The Old Mill Inn and Spa
Open Bar
Recently, we revisited the Old Mill Inn and Spa.  This is the first place I went to in 2010 that actually started my interest in blogging.  I remember I was looking out the window of the subway when I saw this beautiful park (Old Mill Park) and decided to get off at the station.  I spent the afternoon taking pictures and visiting the 'Old Mill Inn and Spa'.  I wasn't really dressed for the surroundings (in my jeans) but decided to go inside anyways.  This experience lead me to believe that there must be so many other amazing things to see in Toronto, just steps away from each and every subway station, and that is how I ended up blogging 'the subways'.  Somehow I knew this would be a special place for me someday..

We arrived at the Old Mill to view the reception facilities.  What I like about this for the wedding reception is that everything you could possibly think of is all in one place.  Floral arrangements, music, invitations, centerpieces, catering, bed rooms, restaurants and beauty salons (spa).  

Washroom facilities

A very popular venue, the Old Mill Inn and Spa is an English-style Inn and restaurant.  It was originally a saw mill built in 1793.  In 1914, it was owned by R. Home Smith who opened it as "the Old Mill Tea Garden".  Following that the Inn was used as a dance hall for during the Big Band era in the 20's.  More recently in 1983 it was designated as a 'Heritage Property' by the City of Etobicoke (now Toronto).  Currently it is owned by the Kalmar family.  The Spa opened in 2001 with over 47 rooms and 13 suites. The property over looks 2.5 hectacres of parkland surrounding the Humber River making it a perfect spot for weddings, business conventions or a romantic getaway.