About.com Toronto, Canada

What Do You Think of the ROM Crystal?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:05:08 +0000

The ROM Crystal - ugly or awesome?
Photo © Marilyn Campbell

Last week there were numerous reports about the ROM's Michael Lee-Chin Crystal making a list of the world's ugliest buildings, as compiled by the website VirtualTourist.com. VirtualTourist supported the inclusion of the ROM addition to the list by saying that "while many praise the glass structure, just as many are troubled by the incongruity to the original, more traditional museum that still sits directly beside it."

But then last night Adam Miller at the National Post wrote a short piece about the ROM Crystal being listed as one of the "world's modern architectural marvels" in the book Off the Tourist Trail: 1,000 Unexpected Travel Alternatives.

So which list do you think the updated ROM belongs on? Is it a thing of beauty, or a monster to behold?

Further Reading:

"Finally ROM Crystal gets a little love" from the National Post
"ROM's Crystal ranked Number 8 among world's 10 ugliest buildings" from the Toronto Star
"2nd Annual "World's Ugliest Buildings" List on VirtualTourist.com

What Do You Think of the ROM Crystal? originally appeared on About.com Toronto, Canada on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 00:05:08.

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Tickets are the New Tokens

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 01:09:45 +0000

After first limiting token sales to try to prevent hoarding in the lead up to a January fare hike, the TTC switched gears on Sunday. It seems the new plan - starting today - is to stop selling tokens in bulk altogether and instead go back to selling paper tickets to adult riders. These tickets will only be good at face value until the fare increase goes into effect on January 3rd. Anyone who still has paper tickets left after that date will need to pay an additional quarter to use the tickets, and after January 31st the temporary ticket won't be accepted at all.

During that time you can still use tokens if you have them, you just won't be able to buy any more in bulk. You will however be able to buy them one at a time from the in-station vending machines (presumably for the single-fare price).

While this should help with the lineup at the ticket booth to buy fares (since you'll be able to buy as many paper fares as you want at a time), my first thought upon hearing this news was that it will make automated entrances and turnstiles inaccessible to anyone without a metropass (or a few tokens left in their pocket). Is the TTC really just replacing one frustrating situation with another for many riders?

Is a Riders' Union the Better Way?
On an ever-more-related note, the Toronto Star had an interesting article this weekend on the possibility of a transit riders' union in Toronto, "Riled Red Rocket riders ready to unite". I'm not sure if this ticket plan will be taken as an indication that the TTC is trying to listen to riders, or just add fuel to the already angry fire. I imagine it will depend on who you ask...

Further Reading:

For all the details, see the official TTC Press Release, "TTC introduces temporary adult ticket. Token sales halted until new year".
For an already robust discussion in the comments section, see "TTC Suspends Token Sales, Introduces Temporary Tickets in Advance of Fare Hike" on BlogTO.com.

Tickets are the New Tokens originally appeared on About.com Toronto, Canada on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 01:09:45.

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Things to Do in Toronto This Weekend: Friday November 20th - Sunday November 22nd

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:05:20 +0000

The OCAD Mystery Art Sale is on this weekend, with public previews now available onsite and online, and the sale itself on Saturday from 10am - 4pm.

The annual "Christmas Remembered" programming begins at Black Creek Pioneer Village this weekend.

The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo is on from the 19th to the 22nd at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The Everything to do with Sex Show is on at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place from Friday to Sunday.

On Saturday afternoon The Rivoli will be the place for another free Cafe Scientifique discussion, this time on the question "Is Technology Ruining Our Lives?.

From Toronto's city museums, Colborne Lodge begins Christmas Wreath-Making Workshops this weekend and Todmorden Mills continues the Cast Iron Chef Historic Cooking Series with Victorian Curries on Sunday.

From the organization Rethink Breast Cancer comes the second Breast Fest Film Festival from Friday to Sunday at the ROM.

Although the big opening festivities in Nathan Phillips Square aren't until next weekend, many communities taking part in this year's Cavalcade of Lights are kicking off local lighting displays this weekend (click the "Lighting Displays" link on the city webpage for details).

It's the last weekend to see the National Ballet of Canada's current production "The Sleeping Beauty"

On Sunday Toronto ComiCON is on at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

And among this weekend's entries from the User-Posted November Event Calendar comes a PetCentric Yard Sale at PawsWay, ongoing festive window displays as part of the Downtown Yonge BIA's Winter Magic programming, and the start of Necessary Angel's Hamlet as part of Harbourfront's World Stage programming.

If you're an event planner hosting something this weekend, feel free to tell us about it in the comments section below. For later events, add them to the November User-Posted Event Listings (or the user posted events for December).

Things to Do in Toronto This Weekend: Friday November 20th - Sunday November 22nd originally appeared on About.com Toronto, Canada on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 00:05:20.

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New Website for The Motts

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:54:12 +0000

Apparently, people love Paul and Carol Mott.

Back in August I wrote a blog post about Michael Coren, The Motts and More Leav(ing) CFRB in which I mentioned that "I always loved the husband-and-wife team effort created by the Motts". It seems I'm not the only one, as that blog post has generated 75 comments to date with more than half specifically expressing disappointment about the Motts going off the air, and many more expressing displeasure with CFRB's changes overall.

If you're one of the many wondering what is to become of the Motts now... well, there still don't seem to be any answers, but they have put up a website to keep people up-to-date. (Michael Coren has had his own website for a long time and of course still has his show on CTS television).

Visit the Motts and Michael Coren online at:

www.themotts.ca (Twitter @mottstalk)
www.michaelcoren.com (Twitter @michaelcoren)

New Website for The Motts originally appeared on About.com Toronto, Canada on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 14:54:12.

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H1N1 Vaccination Clinics Reopen, Kids Up to 13 Welcome

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:05:07 +0000

After being closed on Sunday, the city's 10 H1N1 vaccination clinics reopen today with the plan that from here on in they'll all be open 7 days a week, 1pm - 9pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 4pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

The clinics are still only making the shots available to members of priority groups, but the definition of those groups recently expanded to include kids from 6 months up to 13 years old and anyone with a chronic health condition (but some medical conditions, illnesses and allergies will prevent you from getting the shot, so be sure to read all the eligibility details in advance).

The city has also opened three Flu Assessment Centres, with two more scheduled to open by Wednesday. Here's the Toronto Public Health website's description of the role filled by these centres:

"Most people who get sick with the flu recover fully without medical treatment. However, anyone who thinks they have H1N1 and feels they need medical treatment should first make an appointment with a doctor. If they don't have a doctor or access to a walk-in clinic, then the flu assessment centres can provide treatment and referral services. Flu Assessment Centres do not take the place of emergency rooms, and do not treat people with severe illness."

Note that flu shots are NOT available at Flu Assessment Centres.

To get all the details on the City of Toronto's H1N1 vaccination clinics and Flu Assessment Centres and to stay abreast of any updated information visit the Toronto Public Health website at http://www.toronto.ca/health/.

Things to Do in Toronto This Weekend: Friday November 13th - Sunday November 15th

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:24:44 +0000

The big Santa Claus Parade is on Sunday afternoon, preceded by a free breakfast at Yonge-Dundas Square.

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair continues until Sunday at The Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.

The National Postage Stamp Show is on from Friday to Sunday in the Queen Elizabeth Building, Exhibition Place.

Three Toronto Film Festivals continue into this weekend.

Up From the Roots presents another installment of the spoken word series "When Brothers Speak" at the St. Lawrence Centre for the Arts on Friday and Saturday.

From Friday to Sunday the Bata Shoe Museum is hosting the handmade craft show and sale "Craftique" and on Friday kick off their annual "Warm the Sole Sock Drive".

On Saturday night the Downtown Yonge BIA is holding the free "holiday lighting spectacular" Illuminite at Yonge-Dundas Square as part of their Winter Magic programming.

On Sunday evening Red Bull is holding the National Finals for their "Street Style" freestyle soccer competition in the atrium of the CBC building.

From the Green Toronto Calendar, the Charles Sauriol Environmental Dinner for the Living City is on Thursday night in Markham while CCFEW leads a free guided Bird Walk in Humber Bay Park on Saturday.

Todmorden Mills also offers a guided outdoor walk this weekend with "Autumn in the Valley" on Sunday afternoon.

And from the User-Posted Events for November, this weekend there's a Pet First Aid course at the PawsWay Pet Discovery Centre (but to participate you'll need to have registered with Lifesruff.ca).

Things to Do in Toronto This Weekend: Friday November 13th - Sunday November 15th originally appeared on About.com Toronto, Canada on Thursday, November 12th, 2009 at 00:24:44.

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TTC Token Limit and a Friday Riders' Strike

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:01:31 +0000

Will there be empty seats on the TTC this Friday?
Photo © Marilyn Campbell

With proposed fare hikes soon to be voted on, the TTC announced on Monday that a large demand for tokens has caused them to limit the number of tokens that can be purchased from TTC collector booths. To deter hoarding, riders will only be able to buy a maximum of five tokens at a time and, if no more are available, they'll need to pay the cash fare instead. The TTC had already announced a ten-token limit, which made sense as a standard amount which many people purchase anyway. But only being able to buy five tokens at a time means many riders will need to head to the booth twice a week. While that may not sound like a big deal to casual or non-transit users, many TTC trips begin and end on streetcars and buses, requiring an extra stop or even an out-of-the-way detour to reach an actual collector booth. Of course other vendors such as convenience stores have no reason to limit sales, so if you're usually a ten-plus token buyer you should still be able to get your regular amount somewhere local - until they run out, that is!

Along with people tying to buy extra tokens at the current price, the announcement of the probable fare hike has caused one Toronto woman to organize a TTC rider's strike on Friday. Although it's now been covered elsewhere I first saw the news of Nicole Winchester's campaign in the Torontoist entry, "Rising TTC Fares Trigger a Riders' Strike". It seems Winchester is using a Facebook event to recruit people who are willing to NOT take the TTC this Friday, to remind the powers that be "that without the riders, there would be no TTC". There are mixed reactions to the idea in article comment sections, but at time of writing 3,682 people were "confirmed guests" on the Facebook event (although agreeing to something on Facebook is far from binding).

I need to get to work on Friday, and I'm pretty sure I'll still be using the TTC to do it. In fact, my only real response to the news of the likely fare hike has been a heavy sigh before resigning my bank balance to the inevitable. How have you been responding to the fare hike news? Looking for a Friday carpool? Becoming one of the token-hoarders the TTC dreads? Or is it all just transit-riding business as usual?

TTC Token Limit and a Friday Riders' Strike originally appeared on About.com Toronto, Canada on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 10:01:31.

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Remembrance Day Ceremonies in the City

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:14:01 +0000

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day in Canada and there are numerous services taking place around the city where the public can gather to honour Canada's veterans and those who continue to serve. Of course with Remembrance Day on a Wednesday this year, many Torontonians will be at work during the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. If you find yourself trying to mark the day on your own, a visit to the Historica-Dominion Institute's online Memory Project will allow you to sign-up for the "2 Minutes to Remember" pledge and explore first-hand stories from veterans in Ontario and across Canada.

Remembrance Day Ceremonies in the City originally appeared on About.com Toronto, Canada on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009 at 01:14:01.

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Weston Youth Innovation Award Accepting Submissions

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:21:07 +0000

Earlier this year the Ontario Science Centre awarded its first Weston Youth Innovation Award to Eden Full for developing a device to increase the efficiency of solar panels by allowing them to track the sun's movement. Now submissions are being accepted for the 2010 award which will once again honor a Canadian student or students between the ages of 14 and 18 who "have used science and/or technology as the basis for developing creative and innovative ideas aimed at solving real-world problems" and have put their ideas into action, resulting in "a positive impact either in their own community or on a broader scale".

Do you know a student who should be up for the award? Or think you might be eligible yourself? Submissions are being accepted until January 31st, 2010 with the winner to be announced in April. A group of up to 8 people can submit a project together, as long as they are all Canadian residents and meet the age requirements. The prize for the award includes $2000 (to be divided amongst any group members), one-year student membership(s) to the Ontario Science Centre, and recognition both on the website and through a display in the Weston Family Innovation Centre.

To learn more about the Ontario Science Centre's Weston Youth Innovation Award and to access the full rules and entry forms visit www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/innovationaward

Weston Youth Innovation Award Accepting Submissions originally appeared on About.com Toronto, Canada on Monday, November 9th, 2009 at 00:21:07.

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Things to Do in Toronto This Weekend: Friday November 6th - Sunday November 8th

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:07:40 +0000

The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair kicks off on Friday at Exhibition Place, where it will continue until November 15th. Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, will be on hand to officially open the event on Friday morning and if you arrive between 8:30am and 9:45am on Friday you can see the ceremony and enjoy the rest of your day at the fair for free.

It's the St. Lawrence Market's 205th Anniversary with a few events Friday night and the bulk of the festivities on Saturday.

Harbourfront Centre is having a free Day of the Dead Festival on Saturday and Sunday.

It's a big weekend for Film Festivals in Toronto with the Diaspora Film Festival, the Regent Park Film Festival, the Toronto Hispano-American Film Festival, the KinoArt Festival and the Rendezvous with Madness Film Festival all on now or over the next few days.

On Friday and Saturday The Children's Trunk Show, a sale of "fashion, jewellery and art made by moms and geared exclusively towards kids and families", will be on in the Fermenting Cellar in the Distillery District.

Looking to dress up and do some good? On Saturday night the annual Fireball gala will raise funds for Sheena's Place, which provides support for those with eating disorders.

On Saturday night the Amadeus Choir presents a Remembrance concert, "Greater Love Hath No Man", at Yorkminster Park Baptist Church.

There's an early Remembrance Day Ceremony at the Scarborough Civic Centre on Sunday at 2pm.

On Sunday afternoon the Air Canada Centre hosts Canada vs. World in the Hockey Hall of Fame Legends Classic.

And from the User-Posted Events for November, winter window displays are up in the Dowtown Yonge area and there's a Battle Strikers Battling Top showdown at the CN Tower on Saturday.

Things to Do in Toronto This Weekend: Friday November 6th - Sunday November 8th originally appeared on About.com Toronto, Canada on Thursday, November 5th, 2009 at 01:07:40.

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