Fort York Frost Fair

Soldiers of the 10th Royal Veterans Battalion perform for visitors to the winter festival at Old Fort York in #Toronto. The 8-9 December, 2012 weekend Frost Fair (10 am to 5 pm) featured period costumes and activities as well as the military exercises and musket firing.

The black powder of the muskets explode with smoke and a loud bang, while the rest of the city rises in condos and office buildings behind the soldiers, undisturbed by the demonstrations.

The Frost Fair brings the festive season to the parade grounds and Upper Canada fort buildings with reenactments of life around 200 years ago. There was a Christmas Market where you could see and buy period clothing and wares from local merchants. You could also make a Frost Fair souvenir on the Mackenzie House proof press. Some of the friendly vendors included Cyrus Wakefield Inc, Frontier Popcorn, Joseph the Chandler, Linda's Early Fashions and Spencer's Mercantile. Hot Choclote demonstrations and samples were provided by the Historic Division of Mars Inc.

Sugar candies and the official candy of the War of 1812

York Regency Dancers perform 1800's old style line-dancing demonstrations

The fort lies beside the elevated Gardiner Expressway, which was moved to allow the fort to remain, and provides an enjoyable escape from the bustle of the large urban surroundings.

"Feel the excitement and charm of the festive season in Upper Canada some 200 years ago when the local Christmas Market was one of the social and shopping highlights of the year. Wander through the historic buildings of Fort York where merchants in period dress will be selling quality goods inspired by the 18th and 19th century. Try your hand at one of the many activities scheduled throughout the day, including printing your own Frost Fair souvenir. Warm yourself by the bonfire or in the cheerful glow of the Officers’ Mess kitchen. On Saturday, visit with the Royal Veteran Battalion and watch them practice their exercises and musket firing!"

Pottery

Everyone seemed to wear hats - without any sports team logos

Some of the hats did have fancy logos

Posted by Joe Hamilton. More after the jump.

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Memories of Summer in #Toronto

It was a trifle cold and damp today and the weekend brings the end of Daylight Savings Time so we might as well break out the winter parkas and skiis and wait for snow. On Sunday November 4, 2012 at 2 AM remember to turn back your clocks 1 hour. Darn winter, darn resetting your clocks - they are everywhere. I wish it was Spring already. Two girls in bikinis riding bikes on the Islands pause in front of the Toronto skyline in the photo at top.

Honda Indy Toronto

Checking out the graffiti

and pink bikes

Colourful uniforms in Old Fort York

Kite Festival on the beach

Bikini contests

Pro SuperShow

Sunnyside swimming pool

Tall Ships in the harbour

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#Toronto Distillery District Segway

The historic @DistilleryTO cobblestone neighbourhood is perfect for @segwayontario tours and on a beautiful fall day we mounted up and enjoyed the two wheeled adventure. The segway tours are open year round and the company brings the offroad models from Horseshoe Valley Resort into the city during the off season and they use them if the winter weather calls for a heavy duty unit.

We showed up early on Sunday October 21, 2012, filled out our paperwork and were quickly trained on the segways - including a quick obstacle course, and then we were off for the Segway Distillery Spin. You can take the longer tour or even go on a Ghost Tour of the District.

Pedestrian traffic was light so it made the driving easy and as we made our way along the red brick roadways we would stop and the guides would present tidbits of history regarding the early years of the house that spirits built - such as the contribution of child labour in the production of booze. I did notice that the speed of these segways is less than that of the Horseshoe Valley Resort segways.

Segway Ontario also rents bicycles for short and long terms and the walking Haunted Tour of Old Toronto is run out of their storefront at 20 Gristmill Lane. If you have never been to the Distillery District - you have to go, if you haven't ridden a segway then now is the time. Founded in 1832 the area is now full of shops, cafes, condos, restaurants and galleries and many times their is something interesting going on. We have even seen the Oprah Winfrey Network and a President's Choice commercial being filmed and it is always fun to look at the funky art installations and sculptures (like IT, above) that draw so much attention from new visitors.

See Joe's video of the segway tour and more of the Distillery District after the jump.

Gooderham & Worts Distillery was the largest in the world in the late 1800s

Bike rentals

Segway of Ontario

Initial training

Peak fall colours in area have come and the leaves are going

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Battle of Queenston Heights

Historic Lewiston in New York called out the big guns for the Bicentennial commemoration and a reenactment of  the first major battle of the War of 1812. The night came alive with flashes of gunpowder and the bang of artillery for the reenactment of the Battle of Queenston Heights in Academy Park in the United States of America on October 12-14, 2012.

On Friday October 13 the Town of Lewiston celebrated their brave troops as they prepared for the invasion of Canada - their purpose to "drive the British out of North America once and for all!"  Later that night they had fireworks and began a bombardment of Canada from the river front along Water Street. The reenactment was promoted as the largest assembled period cannon bombardment for the commemoration of the War of 1812. Makes you think of the Star-Spangled Banner's "rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air" which was written after a bombardment witnessed in the War of 1812.

15 stars on the flag; most businesses took down the current flag one and used the period flag on their stores

Posted by Joe Hamilton. Thanks to HistoricLewiston.org and Lisa Ohanessian for their help! See more photos after the jump.

Reenactors play James and Dolley Madison, president of the United States of America and his wife

Youtube video of the Cannonade

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