Toronto

January 31st is the beginning of the Lunar New Year according to the Chinese Zodiac Calendar and gallops on until February 18th, 2015. It is the Year of the Horse. This celebration of the New Year has always been special for me. For many years, I was fortunate to be able to help the children in the Toronto Chinatown community prepare for the celebration - through my work. Many celebrations and preparations take place for this occasion in Canada, especially where there are large Chinese communities. ...

On January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament announced that on the second Monday in October, Thanksgiving would be “a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.” For some of us, Thanksgiving is a big celebration with friends, family, and the traditional turkey dinner. For others, it’s a time of reflection or just another holiday to enjoy in our own way. Whichever way we spend it, we have all been out and seen the beautiful colors that Nature provides at this time of year. ...

The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases. ~ Carl Jung Starting early this summer, I had to think about shoes quite a bit. There were three weddings to attend and I also needed a pair of comfortable sandals. When I was young, I loved buying shoes, and, in fact, had a passion for nice footwear. At this time of life, though, it is definitely more of a chore. I still admire beautiful shoes but it definitely isn’t about how beautiful they look on me. The number one criteria is that they have to feel comfortable. ...

My childhood may be over, but that doesn’t mean playtime is. ~Ron Olson [caption id=“attachment_1230” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] Cotton Candy Vendor[/caption] The CNE has come and gone as it does every year - bringing with it entertainment, international foods and exhibits, horse shows, and lots of other thrills. Many like me fondly speak of it as the “Ex.” Torontonians, out-of-towners, and tourists alike enjoy the fun of a big fair. **"**The CNE is held at Exhibition Place, which is a 192-acre site located along Toronto’s waterfront on the shores of Lake Ontario and just west of downtown Toronto. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) and GO Transit provide easy transportation to the CNE with stops at Exhibition Place. The site features several buildings—many of which have been named significant under the Ontario Heritage Act—roads named after the Canadian provinces and territories, parks, fountains, plazas, a rose garden, statues and parking lots. The fair itself consists of a variety of pavilions, exhibits, shows, concerts, a working farm, horse show, casino, and a large carnival midway with rides, games and food. What used to be an exhibition just for agriculture and technology has now turned into an event for families and people of all ages to enjoy. Entertainment, thrills, and the wide variety of international foods are just some of the attractions that the CNE has to offer. To many people in the Greater Toronto Area and the surroundings communities, the CNE is an annual family tradition." ...

 “In the end, the character of a civilization is encased in its structures.” (FrankGehry) Doors Open was held in Toronto last weekend. Many buildings noted for their historical, architectural, cultural, and social significance were open free of charge so that Torontonians and tourists alike could visit. All the images in this post are from my visit to the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres in Toronto. I’ve been to shows in many other theatres in Toronto but never to this one. ...

 [caption id=“attachment_953” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures. (Francis Bacon)[/caption] “The many great gardens of the world, of literature and poetry, of painting and music, of religion and architecture, all make the point as clear as possible: The soul cannot thrive in the absence of a garden. If you don’t want paradise, you are not human; and if you are not human, you don’t have a soul.” (Thomas Moore) ...

Culture relates to objects and is a phenomenon of the world; entertainment relates to people and is a phenomenon of life. (Hannah Arendt) Downton Abbey Fashion [caption id=“attachment_930” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] Ashley’s Fine China - Toronto[/caption] We all enjoy watching certain television shows and Downton Abbey is a British series that is very popular with many people. Ashley’s in Toronto hosted a magnificent Downton Abbey Day yesterday at their store in the Manulife Centre and I was lucky enough to stop by and get these wonderful images. ...

[caption id=“attachment_873” align=“aligncenter” width=“584”] Rachel Persaud - Vocalist and Composer[/caption] “Music is the purest form of art…therefore true poets, they who are seers, seek to express the universe in terms of music…The singer has everything within him/her. The notes come out from his/her very life. They are not materials gathered from outside.” (Rabindranath Tagore) There is nothing that brightens my spirit like music. Last Saturday, I was treated to a concert experience that was uplifting for both soul and spirit and provided an avenue for healing as well. The vocalist was Rachel Persaud and her accompanists were a guitarist and an accordian player. Rachel was at peak performance as this concert was sung in memory of her grandmother who died a few weeks ago. The images in this collage were all taken at St. Matthias Church in Toronto, which was the venue for the concert. ...

**"**The Nutcracker Suite opened in St. Petersburg on December 17, 1892. It is the tale of a girl named Clara who is given a nutcracker doll for Christmas by her godfather, Drosselmaier. That night she falls asleep and is disturbed by an attack of mice led by the Mouse King, who wishes to take her away to his kingdom. She is rescued by soldiers and the Nutcracker who, as a prince, takes her to his land, a country full of sugarplums and waltzing flowers. She awakens the next morning with only the nutcracker doll and memories of her Christmas adventure." (The World Encyclopedia of Christmas) ...

[caption id=“attachment_335” align=“aligncenter” width=“584” caption=“Taste of Thailand”][/caption] We went to one of the summer events at Nathan Philips Square in Toronto last weekend. In this multicultural City of Toronto, there are many such wonderful open-air festivals taking place. Although it was called “Taste of Thailand,” it wasn’t just about tasting Thai food. Getting a “taste” of a people or a country involves all the aspects of the people and their culture that it is possible to represent. We did have some nice Thai food to eat, and on an open stage, we saw some beautiful tango dancing. There was also a demonstration of Muay Thai Boxing. Many Thai arts and crafts were on display and available to buy. There was also a Thai fruit carver demonstrating her skill and showing off some carvings she made. ...