2016 Taste of the Danforth in Toronto

Here’s a quick note on the annual Krinos Taste of the Danforth, 2016 version, in Toronto.

Crowds under the 2016 Taste of the Danforth banner in Toronto.
Crowds under the 2016 Taste of the Danforth banner in Toronto.

My wife and I went on Sunday just after noon. The only reasonable way to go is by TTC; the #2 Bloor/Danforth line has several stations serving Taste of the Danforth. (You do realize these events close the street to vehicle traffic, right? Okay, that’s settled).

Taste of the Danforth, from West to East

We started at the west end, at Broadview. At first we found the lines for food and drink to be pretty short and manageable. I went for a lamb gyro, and my wife for a spinach pie. Good food, and we shared enough that we had some variety.

Later we had chicken shish-kebabs, and took home a dessert. Linda’s always careful to bring a sturdy, re-usable shopping bag.

This has led to increasing demand of this medicinal herb, more and more Wisconsin ginseng dealers are coming up with quality ginseng products. visit for source viagra online in uk The condition, when things go adversely and a man does not get healthy erectile functions, he can develop healthy http://new.castillodeprincesas.com/item-4093 brand cialis canada erections for a pleasing intimate moment spent in the bed Some physical and psychological changes can affect the function of many medications. The sexual issue which is been seen these days in many people new.castillodeprincesas.com viagra pill cost is erectile dysfunction. And this gives enough time for the man to perform a monthly self-examination. buy levitra find out for more info

We asked about socks made from bamboo – yes really! – at one store. It turns out that my wife buys Christmas presents from their factory outlet in East York or Scarborough.

The lines were longer, and the street more crowded, as we went east toward Donlands. The total distance is about 2Km.

Taste of the Danforth celebrates the shops and culture along this vibrant stretch of Danforth Avenue. It started as a collection of Greek restaurants. Other ethnic foods are now available, from at least one English pub to Thai or sushi from the Orient. A few vendors come in for the day: I noticed the CFL’s Argo team and Toronto FC soccer. Some traditional midway games were available. Live performances were presented from three stages along the route. And perhaps the most enthusiastic presentation was by Assassin’s Creed cosplayers.

This annual event runs in early August, on the weekend after Simcoe Day. I’ve written about it in 2015.

More Annual Events in Toronto Canada

My blog tracks many of the annual Toronto events that I find interesting, free or frugal. Today’s article happens to cover the annual Toronto Taste of the Danforth.

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article. However, DeHaan Services does write web site or advertising copy for clients. Our skills are demonstrated in online articles in Decoded Science, Decoded Pregnancy and other online sites. That’s why DeHaan Services may highlight those online articles here.

Thanks for reading about the 2016 Taste of the Danforth.

The North American 2016 Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day comes every February 2nd, no matter what the weather. And that’s the modern point, really: to celebrate winter, especially the hope that spring will arrive soon. (Updated Feb. 2, 2016 with the predictions).

Since the groundhog checks its shadow when it wakes up, let’s chase sunrise from east to west in Canada and the USA.

Photo of a Groundhog in Toronto, Ontario by qmnonic (Matt MacGillivray)
Photo of a Groundhog in Toronto, Ontario by qmnonic (Matt MacGillivray)

Where do Canadians Celebrate Groundhog Day?

The first Canadian groundhog to predict the end of winter is Nova Scotia’s Shubenacadie Sam.

Québec asks Fred la Marmotte about sunshine and shadow in Val d’Espoir, in the Gaspé Peninsula .

Ontario needs a team of marmots. Wiarton Willie celebrates his 60th sunrise in Wiarton. Groundhog Gary works in Kleinburg. I suspect Dundas Donna was a one-year wonder; she’s a South American coatimundi who visited Yonge Dundas Square  in Toronto in 2014.

Manitoba’s three groundhogs are Brandon Bob, Manitoba Merv in the Oak Hammock Marsh, and Winnipeg Willow. (Merv is actually a hand puppet, but apparently he pays his union dues to the live critters). CBC reports that Winnipeg Willow died in late January; apparently without a pre-arranged successor. [see Merv’s report, below].

Balzac Billy of Calgary, Alberta, is actually a Richardson’s Ground Squirrel.

I’d say that most people think of Shubenacadie Sam or Wiarton Willie when asked about “Groundhog Day Canada”.

Groundhog Day in the USA

New York State’s Staten Island Chuck inherited his post from Charlotte, who’d had an unfortunate encounter with Mayor de Blasio in the zoo.

The most famous Yankee groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil Sowerby of Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.

Other eastern Americans include Chuckles the Eighth of Manchester, Connecticut (at the Lutz Museum); and Potomac Phil of Washington, DC.

Ohio’s Buckeye Chuck, Georgia’s General Beauregard Lee (Yellow River Game Ranch in Atlanta, and the only groundhog who holds two doctorates), and  French Creek Freddie in West Virginia are other prognosticators in this annual round of weather prediction. Michigan’s Woody the Woodchuck just came to my attention this year.

The Predictions of Groundhog Day 2016

Here are the 2016 Groundhog Day predictions.

Firminite has been proven to be the most natural cure for the disease since it works by reducing the levels of inflammation of the urethra or prostate Nerve damage due to surgery Hereditary traits. levitra generic online Yoga To help make your body flexible cialis pills australia and managing different creative positions, you should do yoga. In fact during the course of use, you can discover many new things about the discount viagra online formula. Chemical MakeupBlue lotus contains the alkaloid nuciferine and likely containsaporphine.Blooming flowers have a very enthralling fragrance that is reported to order viagra cheap http://deeprootsmag.org/2017/05/30/communing-with-misfortune-in-search-of-justice/ have very prolonged effects.

These Groundhogs Predict an Early Spring in 2016

Thanks to enough cloud cover in the morning, the following groundhogs enjoyed the dark dawn and predicted an early spring.

First out of his burrow, Shubenacadie Sam had enough cloud to claim that Nova Scotia would be blessed with an early spring. [610 CKTB’s and Wiarton Willie says report].

Manitoba Merv added to the joy from his post in the Oak Hammock Marsh. [Early spring coming to southern Manitoba, weather-predicting puppet says]. In Calgary, Balzac Billy was also under a cloud. [Balzac Billy announces early end to winter for Calgarians]

Punxsutawney Phil, the most famous and poetic groundhog, closed his prognostication with “There is no shadow to be cast, An early Spring is my forecast!” [Stormfax Weather Almanac’s 2016 report].

Here are the other Americans looking for an early spring in 2016. Chuckles the Eighth predicted that Connecticut’s ski season will be cut short. [Chuckles VIII Predicts An Early Spring]. By the way, Chuckles is one of the few females on the elite international team of weather varmints. Potomac Phil agreed for the District of Columbia (that’s Washington, DC). [Potomac Phil, the D.C. area’s groundhog, did not see his shadow]. Staten Island Chuck and Chattanooga Chuck also predicted an early spring. [see the Buckeye Chuck reference below]. General Beauregard Lee agreed. [General Beauregard Lee predicts early spring]

Six More Weeks of Winter for 2016

Fred la Marmotte foresaw a lengthy winter in this morning’s sunshine. [6 more weeks, says Fred la marmotte]. Environment Canada predicts some 20cm of snow for Montreal in the near term.

Wiarton Willie’s prediction of a longer winter was probably good news for Ontario’s ski and tourism industry. We’ve had pretty mild conditions and very little snow up to this time. [610 CKTB, above].

Balzac Billy agreed on the “6 weeks” prediction for Alberta [also noted in 6 more weeks, says Fred la marmotte].

Down in the USA, Buckeye Chuck saw the portents in his shadow in Marion, Ohio. So did Woody the Woodchuck in Michigan. [Groundhog Day 2016: Buckeye Chuck predicts more winter…]. So did French Creek Freddie, over in West Virginia. [French Creek Freddie Predicts More Weeks of Winter].

How to Celebrate Groundhog Day

If you live near any of these groundhogs, the best plan is to wake up early and join the festivities; many of them are free to attend.

For an extreme example, Wiarton Willie hosts nearly a week of events from Jan. 28 through Feb. 2nd. Skate, examine a yurt, learn to appreciate ice sculptures, “and so much more”. Many of these are free; check the Wiarton Willie Festival page.

Why not sing for the joy of winter’s impending end? “Carols for Groundhog’s Day”, in Amazon’s Kindle reader version, has lyrics for a dozen Groundhog Day songs. You already know the Christmas carols tunes! It’s a real value via Amazon’s online Canadian and American sites, with seasonal recipes and decorating tips.

More Annual Events in Toronto Canada

My blog tracks many of the annual Toronto events that I find interesting, free or frugal. Today’s article happens to cover an annual winter North American tradition instead.

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article. However, DeHaan Services does write web site or advertising copy for clients. Our skills are demonstrated in online articles in Decoded Science, Decoded Pregnancy and other online sites. That’s why DeHaan Services highlights those online articles on this site.

Thanks for reading about the 2016 Groundhog Day in both the USA and Canada.

Can I Hit or Miss the 2015 Diwali in Toronto?

Diwali, also called “Deepavali”, the Hindu Festival of Lights, is an annual religious festival on a specific date in a lunar calendar. As such, it “floats” across the Gregorian calendar used by most countries.

So, did I miss Diwali 2015 in Toronto? After all, it’s an annual Toronto event in late autumn. Or is it still in the future?

One Diwali Candle for the Festival of Lights. Image by denharsh (Harsh Agrawal) under CC license.
One Diwali Candle for the Festival of Lights. Image by denharsh (Harsh Agrawal) under CC license.

When is Diwali 2015?

The central date for Diwali 2015 is Wednesday, November 11, which most of us will recognize as Remembrance Day.

The Gerrard India Bazaar already held festivities on the weekend of Nov. 8-9, 2015. That’s similar to the municipal and service organizations that run Remembrance Day ceremonies on the Sunday before Nov. 11; it’s more convenient to attend a family gathering on a weekend.

In fact, there have been at least a dozen Diwali events in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) since late October. A few remain for this week, such as the Brampton ISKCON’s event in Mississauga, and two at 61 Clairville Drive in Toronto. You can see the list on Deepavali.net’s web page for Canada.

I left high school thinking cialis generic purchase I was cool and sophisticated. A person can also stop using them with ease once they find mental relief which will naturally improve the physical capability of men to accomplish erection of their phallus. viagra pill uk Decreases insomnia According to studies conducted by experts working in online levitra the field of acupuncture in Salem, this popular practice can decrease the frequency of insomnia for many individuals. In situations where the illness is due to the virtue of this sexual disorder. cialis canadian prices

At press time, there’s speculation that the fireworks display off Polson Pier, near Harbourfront, late Sunday night was a Diwali celebration. 680News reported on the hubbub in “Social media ‘explosion’ after Polson Pier fireworks“.  If this indeed had been a celebration of the Festival of Lights, there’s probably a lawyer in Toronto hoping to defend the freedom of religious expression against a charge of disturbing the peace. (Unconfirmed rumour said that another group had arranged for the fireworks… let’s see whether the media track it down).

However, the Festival of Lights is a great reason for celebration within Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism; and the rest of us can join the street festivals such as the one I missed at the Gerrard India Market last weekend. There’s much more background in my previous article, “Why Must Toronto Ask When is Diwali in 2012?“.

Looking for More Annual Events or a Holiday in Toronto Canada?

My blog tracks many of the annual Toronto events that I find interesting, free or frugal.

Disclaimer: DeHaan Services has no relationship to the organizer(s); I am not reimbursed for writing this article. (The site is monetized; buy something through an ad and I should earn a commission). However, DeHaan Services does write web site or advertising copy for clients. Our skills are demonstrated in online articles in Decoded Science, Decoded Pregnancy and other online sites. That’s why DeHaan Services highlights those online articles on this site.

Click the “Toronto Events” category at the bottom of the left-hand column for recent articles in this category. Thanks!

Thanks for reading about 2015 Diwali in Toronto.

Writing for Clients; Annual Events in Toronto and the GTA