Car Modern 2011

At first I ran away from the flock of seagulls, but then when I survived the winged fury I decided to stay and watch the airborne antics of the noisy white birds.
They are a thing of beauty, whether they are flying or begging for food in front of you. These guys were being fed in Nathan Phillips Square at City Hall. People started feeding them on the ground and then they started throwing food up into the air and the birds caught the food mid flight.

PS the outdoor rink at Toronto's City Hall has been shut down for the season. Here are a father and son walking on the remaining ice that won't be around for much longer. The round part of council chambers combined with the curves of the Freedom Arches over the rink/reflecting pool make it look like there is an immense spider ready to do battle with the city.

Christmas is tomorrow and all through the house we cleaned and cooked. Friends and family gather together to enjoy the holidays and as an excuse to meet, sometimes only for this one day a year. The excitement and wonder of Christmas is best enjoyed by the young and pandas. These kids were helping to welcome everyone to the Doors Open 2010 event on top of the new green deck at City Hall.

Sad occasions mean it is even more important to gather around your loved ones during this holiday season. The Menorah in Nathan Phillips Square helps to light the way for Hanukkah.

I was so impressed that the City got the skating rink in Nathan Phillips Square ready in time for the Cavalcade of Lights that I went back to take a picture of it during the day. It was definitely less busy in the square than the previous night. The Freedom Arches hold the holiday lights and stars above the ice.

The annual celebration of cold stuff and the interesting building that is the "new" City Hall provides plenty of sparkling lights and fireworks, although due to the proximity of all those windows and buildings the fireworks aren't like the big, exploding starbursts - more like giant streamers of fire.
Starting way back in 1967 this, the 44th annual event, is squeezed into the areas that are still in one piece around all the construction in Nathan Phillips Square. The stage is set up right in front of the entrance to City Hall.
Debbie Travis will start off the night from 5:30 to 7:00pm, then the lighting the Christmas Tree, followed by concerts, fireworks and finally the skating party. Debbie Travis was sponsored by Canadian Tire who gave out free hats and scarves while Debbie posed for photos with fans (the pictures were printed and given to the fans). Musical guests are Shawn Desman, Divine Brown and Sarah Slean. There was also a really cool trampoline performance by Haut-Vol see my YouTube video here.









You can see my pictures of the 2009 celebration here.

With December just around the corner, Thanksgiving just a brief memory, the Santa Claus Parade a Shrek  photo op from last weekend and the Cavalcade of Lights this weekend it's now time to embrace Christmas. You can't get away from it so you might as well tune your car radio to all Christmas Song stations and start to stock up on some booze. Just try to forget about all that white stuff that is coming our way.
The 2010 Cavalcade of Lights is scheduled for Saturday, November 27 from 7 to 10pm and a big part of the night, besides the concerts and fireworks, is supposed to be a skate party but I don't know if they will be ready with the ice. Ongoing construction has seen the replacement of a big chunk of their freezing system. Yesterday the rink was still concrete and they looked like they were testing the system to see if it works before they can even get started on the ice making. You may have to bring your roller blades if you want to do some skating.

The good folks at the North Pole are finishing off the latest toys and Santa is gone off cookies and milk in anticipation of all the treats he gets on Christmas Eve. Around Toronto we see that the traditional signs of the holiday season are starting to go appear. Santa and his Reindeer are in the Eaton Centre near Sears, a large evergreen has show up in Nathan Phillips Square and in Yonge-Dundas Square there is a large silver ball tree from the magical silver ball forest.

Toronto City Hall's Nathan Phillips Square remains in a state of undress as the reconstruction of the public space continues. While the layout for the upcoming Cavalcade of Lights has changed from previous years it doesn't seem to be slowing down the preparation work. The Christmas Tree (or holiday shrubbery for the politically correct) has been erected and topped with a large star and curtains of light bulbs are being placed around the columns.
The Cavalcade of Lights is scheduled for Saturday November 27, 2010 starting at 7pm (fireworks at 8pm) and is sponsored by Scotiabank.

Movie crews spent all day setting up at City Hall to shoot in Nathan Phillips Square on September 24. It is always surprising how much stuff is necessary to make movies. From snacks to makeup, film dollies and rails, lights and reflectors and all the people needed to staff and act - it's like a small army. I think the director was using a small lens to frame the upcoming scene while the camera gear was being readied for the new location.

The movie business is a lot like the army, hurry up and wait, and I think the boredom must get to the actors sometimes. Though the interest of the people who pass by is intense, people stop, look and continue on their way. Speaking of films my Youtube Channel is almost at 1 million views!

I think they must have pulled miles of cables under the raised floor of the square. This worker was dressed for getting in the crowded and messy underground space.

When seagulls aren't dive bombing you and trying to steal your food they often chill in the water, thinking of ways to steal more food off you. These birds are in the pond at Nathan Phillips Square.

The Square is in a little bit of a mess as construction continues on the makeover. Even the Peace Garden is being stripped down.

The approach of Fall means that soon the pond will be emptied and made ready for ice skating.

A large group of students joined together to offer Free Hugs at Toronto City Hall's Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday, July 3, 2010. I have always liked this movement (today's event was organized by an improv group) and am pleased to see people offering free hugs on many occasions and locations. It just makes you feel good - if you have the courage to get a hug from a stranger.
Even when I was covering the G20 protest at Queens Park there was someone in the protest crowd with the sign and offering the hugs. I told him I liked his sign and he offered me a hug. I wish the police had Free Hugs signs that weekend.