Not Far From the Tree

 

Not Far From the Tree (NFFTT) is an organization that is helping Toronto make the most of its existing food resources by tapping an under-utilized resource - the fruit and nut-bearing trees and shrubs in the city's yards and green spaces. Almost 150,000 pounds of fruit have been picked since they started in 2008. Their system is structured to provide wins all around.

• Homeowners get their fruit picked by volunteers at the peak of ripeness, saving them time and labour. They also get to keep 1/3 of the yield and have the satisfaction of knowing that the other 2/3 won't go to waste.

• Volunteers get to spend their time enjoying the outdoors, putting their picking skills to use, and meeting other like-minded people. They also get to take home a share of 1/3 of the yield. These pears that I received on a pick were enough to make jam.

• Local community groups which partner with NFFTT, like shelters and community kitchens, receive deliveries of fresh, nutritious fruit, equal to 1/3 of the yield from each pick. 

• As an added plus, the environment benefits from the group's commitment to using cargo bicycles for deliveries.

If you have a fruit tree on your property that you aren't able to take full advantage of, consider registering with NFFTT. They currently only operate in the most central wards in the city, but knowing where accessible fruit lives will help to guide their expansion plans. Their website also has a handy fruit guide which can help you determine if your fruit is ripe. 

If you want to get in on the fruit action, you can sign up to become a volunteer. Once you register and tell them what parts of the city you'd like to pick in, you'll start receiving notifications of when picks are happening. Then it's up to you to sign up. Picks, especially for things like pears and apples, are extremely popular and it can take a while before you're successful. Having a flexible schedule and willingness to travel helps. 

If you're intrigued by this whole concept, follow them on Twitter @NFFTT. They post about all kinds of neat stuff like urban gardening, sustainability, and beekeeping, and of course you'll also find great recipes and kitchen tips. 

Thanks to Not Far From the Tree for providing the following images and permission to use them: logo and bike image

Mount Pleasant Cemetery

Mount Pleasant Cemetery, though built to serve as the final resting place for Torontonians of all faiths (it was one of Toronto’s earliest non-denominational cemeteries), was, from the first, envisioned as much more than just a place for the dead. It was planned to also function as a place of recreation for the living, and was designed by landscape gardener H.A. Englehardt. Its varied topography is augmented by special plantings and the inclusion of winding pathways. Wandering through this space can be a lovely experience, especially in the spring when some of the many flowering trees and shrubs are in bloom. If you feel a little weird taking your exercise in a cemetery, don’t. The Mount Pleasant Group, which manages the cemetery, encourages it. They even offer 1, 3 and 5 km suggested route maps for walkers and runners on their website.

The variety of plantings in the cemetery is of special note to anyone with an interest in trees. Over the years, the number of plantings has increased and now the cemetery is said to be one of the finest arboretums in North America. If you’re interested in learning more, on May 26th arborist Jack Radecki is presenting a guided tree walk starting at 2 pm at the Yonge Street gates. The walk is free.

Other free programming is also available at the cemetery. Starting in July, students of the Royal Conservatory perform every Saturday at 5 pm in the Visitation Centre. Special memorials are held throughout the year, tied to events or burials within the cemetery. For example, on May 26th they are having a 99th anniversary memorial in remembrance of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland.

The cemetery runs as a not-for-profit business and like all cemeteries in Canada must put aside a portion of revenues to a Perpetual Care Trust Fund which ensures that the grounds will forever be looked after. According to their website, Mount Pleasant’s fund has the highest balance per developed acre of any cemetery in North America, which means that not only are they able to keep the grounds beautiful and well-maintained, but they will likely always be so.

Ghostly Walking Tours

October is a great month for getting out and walking. The leaves are turning, it's cool but not usually bitterly cold, and there are lots of opportunities to take haunted walking tours to get you in the mood for Halloween. I was actually surprised at the number of options available. I haven't taken one in a few years, having been a bit disappointed in the off-the-cuff nature of the last tour I took - generally, I prefer a well-researched tour which brings in the history of the buildings and area, rather than just relying on stories told by the guide's friends and neighbours. Also, I find that a smaller tour size makes for a much better evening - it's worth asking your guide before you book what the maximum group size is.

From my browsing, here are a few of the walk options that seemed most appealing:

The Toronto Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society have put together a self-guided ghost walk of Toronto and offer it for free on their website. This means you can take the tour at your own pace, and without fear of crowds spoiling the mood. It provides some basic history on the building or location, along with the types of ghostly disturbances that have been reported on site. It doesn't tend to go in to a lot of detail about what or who the ghosts are thought to represent, but I think it's a good starter walk, especially because it's free.

Exhibition Place is said to be the home of many ghosts, and every Friday evening in the fall they offer haunted walking tours of the grounds. They start at 7 pm and cost $20 per person.

One of the consistently well-reviewed walking tour companies is Muddy York Walking Tours, and their tours aim to make Toronto's history interesting. They offer a Haunted Streets of Downtown Toronto tour and a Ghosts of the University of Toronto tour, as well as some other ghoulish sounding tours including Bloody York: Crime and Punishment, and Historic Cemetery Walk. Prices are $20 per person, but this goes down if multiple people book together ($15 each for 2 or 3 people, $10 each for four or more).

And finally, a relative newcomer on the scene, is the Haunted Walk of Old Toronto. This tour focuses on the area around the Distillery District and the St. Lawrence Market, and runs throughout the year. Cost is $18.75 for adults.

If you'd rather not get out there yourself but are interested in what buildings or spaces in Toronto might be haunted, check out this 2008 article from Toronto.com on Haunted Toronto.

UPDATE: While searching for events for the What's On page, I've come across a few more family-friendly Halloween-themed walking tours and I've listed them below.

Fort York After Dark Lantern Tours. Fort York, 250 Fort York Blvd. 7:30 - 9:30 pm. $12.50 plus tax, pre-registration required. Oct 23, 24, 25, 26, 27

Family Nature Walk: Halloween Howl. Walk led by staff of the High Park Nature Centre. Costumes recommended! Meet at the High Park Nature Centre, 440 Parkside Dr. 6:30 - 8:30 pm. $2 suggested donation. October 27

Spirit Walk. Ghost walk of some downtown laneways, ending at Mackenzie House with mulled cider and biscuits. Mackenzie House, 82 Bond St. 6:30, 7 & 7:30 pm. $12.50 plus tax, pre-registration required. October 27

If anyone tries out a ghost walk this fall, leave a comment and tell us what you thought!

Fall Festivals 2012

Harvest festivals are a long-standing tradition in Southern Ontario, and while Toronto isn't exactly rural, there are lots of festivals going on this month to get you out and enjoying the gorgeous fall weather.

If you're hankering for a good old fashioned fall fair but can't get yourself out of the city, check out Riverdale Farm's Annual Fall Festival. It's taking place September 8 & 9 and features lots of traditional farm-style events, like a corn roast and chances to meet and talk with the farmers. Sunday morning there will also be a pancake breakfast from 9:30 to 11:30. $5 will get you 2 pancakes, 2 sausages and your choice of beverage, with all proceeds going to support the farm.

 

The Riverdale Farm Festival is happening in conjunction with the larger Cabbagetown Festival. Parliament Street from Wellesley to Gerrard, and Carlton Street from Parliament to Berkeley will both be closed for both days of the festival allowing for lots of entertainment, activities and vendors. There will also be arts and crafts in Riverdale Park, and apparently over 200 garage sales in the surrounding streets.

Many other neighbourhoods and cultural groups are taking advantage of the friendly fall weather to host similar street festivals. A partial list is included below, so pick a weekend, get out there and mingle with your fellow Torontonians.

Sep 7, 8 & 9
Taste of the Kingsway Festival. Fall festival with live entertainment, over 200 exhibitors, beer and wine gardens and more. Bloor St. W. between Prince Edward Drive and Montgomery Rd.

Sep 8 & 9
Cabbagetown Festival & Riverdale Farm's Fall Festival

Sep 8 & 9
Toronto Chinatown Festival. Food, entertainment, kids activities. Spadina between Dundas and College. Noon - 11 pm.

Sep 8 & 9
Romanian Festival. Folk music, dances, food, art, exhibitors and live performances. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St. 11 am - 8pm.

Sep 9
The Beach Celtic Festival. Kew Gardens, Queen St. E. 9 am - 7 pm.

Sep 14, 15 & 16
Toronto Ukrainian Festival.  Bloor West Village, between Jane St. and Glendowynne Rd.  

Sep 15 & 16
Roncesvalles Village Polish Festival. Roncesvalle Ave from Queen to Dundas.

Sep 22
Far Enough Farm's Fall Fair. Parade, activities, BBQ food and corn roast, beer garden and free live entertainment. Far Enough Farm, Centre Island. 11 am - 9 pm.

Sep 22
Lakeshore Villages Shop the Shore Event. Entertainment, special sales, kids activities and more. Lakeshore from 1st - 10th Streets. 10 am - 6 pm. 

Sep 22 & 23
Uptown Yonge 2012 Fall Fest. Sidewalk sale, entertainment and activities for kids. 11 am - 5 pm. 

Sep 22
The Junction Music Festival. Free public concerts. Starts at noon.  
     
Sep 29
Harvest Day. Annual autumn celebration. Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence Ave E. 12 - 4 pm.  

Oct 13
Parkdale Harvest Bazaar. Face painting plus art and vintage vendors. Queen St W & Cowan. 11 am - 5 pm. 

Canadian National Exhibition

When you live in Toronto, it's not cooler nights that warn you that summer is coming to an end, it's the start of the CNE. So, it's time to cram in those last few patio drinks and backyard barbecues, because the Ex has opened once again.

The Canadian National Exhibition has been signalling the end of summer for over 130 years now. In addition to the Midway with all its noise and smells and lights that brighten the sky each night, there are shows and concerts, shopping and food, animals and all the unusual add-ons you expect from an exhibition - like the sand sculptures which are part of the International Sand Sculpting Competition.

New this year on the Midway is a zip line, the Nitro, a new roller coaster, and the ride I'm looking forward to - the Sky Ride. A little sedate if you're a thrill seeker perhaps but for those of us who loved and remember the Alpine Way, this will be a must for its aerial views of not only the excitement of the CNE grounds, but the beauty of the Toronto Islands, and the city skyline.

While most of what's offered on the Midway costs extra, there's lots to enjoy that's included in the price of admission. In addition to the line-up of concerts at the bandshell and the bands at the Midway Stage, there are lots of other shows to keep you entertained. There's the always amazing Super Dogs (with 3 shows a day), an illusionist, a hypnotist, ice shows, international performers, and lots more, including a whole raft of culinary celebrities including Anna Olson, David Rocco and Marc Thuet.

Food this year includes all the old favourites (Tiny Tom donuts with icing sugar and cinnamon please!) plus 17 food trucks, some disgusting treats like the Krispy Kreme burger and deep fried butter, and a Wine Bar in the Garden Show featuring Ontario wines, craft beers and local cheeses.

Admission to the Ex is $16 for adults, $12 for kids and seniors, and kids under 4 are free. Family passes are also available. General admission gets you access to all shows and buildings, but this year there is no entrance to Ontario Place as it is now closed. Midway ride tickets are extra. There are a few options for a cheaper visit if your schedule is flexible however:

• Admission after 5 pm on Monday thru Thursday is only $5.
• On Monday August 20 & 27, kids 13 and under get in for only $2 when accompanied by a paying adult, and there's a related deal on coupons for the Kiddie Midway.
• Thursday August 28, the day 30H!3 is playing the bandshell, those 19 and under get in free until 3 pm, courtesy of Pizza Nova. And there are discounts for Midway tickets that day as well.

If you plan to go, save yourself some money on parking and take public transit. GO has a stop right at Exhibition on the Lakeshore line, and TTC offers 4 routes to the park including the 193 Exhibition Rocket from Dundas West subway station.

Come on everybody, let's go to the Ex!

Movies Under the Stars 2012

It would seem, based on the number of offerings, that Torontonians love to watch movies under the stars. This summer, there are at least 4 regular programs offering free outdoor movie viewing. Plus hosting films in the local park seems to be taking off as a great community builder for local organizations and even politicians. Here's a list of the offerings for some of the regular programs, and keep an eye on the What's On page for those one-off events.

Tuesday Night: City Cinema at Yonge-Dundas Square. 
Shows start at sunset. Some seating is provided but you are encouraged to bring your own chair.
Theme: Cult Classics

• July 24: The Big Lebowski
• July 31: Do The Right Thing
• August 14: Double Bill - The Princess Bride & Labyrinth
• August 21: Brazil
• August 28: Hush..Hush, Sweet Charlotte

Wednesday Night: Free Flicks at the West Jet Stage, Harbourfront Centre
Shows start at sunset. Bench seating is provided.
Theme: Rise of the Underdog

• July 25: Napoleon Dynamite
• August 1: The Social Network
• August 8: Whip It
• August 15: Whale Rider
• August 22: Moneyball
• August 29: Audience Choice

Wednesday Night: TIFF in the Park at David Pecault Square (formerly Metro Square)
Some seating provided.
Theme: Classic screwball comedies

• July 25: His Girl Friday
• August 1: Mr. and Mrs. Smith (1941)
• August 8: The Philadelphia Story
• August 15: What's Up, Doc?
• August 22: The Lady Eve
• August 29: It Happened One Night

 Friday Night: Cultura Festival at Mel Lastman Square

• July 20: One Week
• July 27: Life in a Day
• August 3: Rio
• August 10: The Artist

Toronto Islands

An absolute must for any visitor to Toronto, and a great way for those of us who live here to reconnect with our city, is to see the city from the water. While there are several options for accomplishing this, I highly recommend a visit to the Toronto Islands. While the islands offer many different things, here's my favourite way to experience it. Note that I don't usually have kids in tow when I head over there, so if you're taking your little ones, this may not be the best itinerary.

Start by getting yourself to the Toronto Islands Ferry Docks at the foot of Bay Street. The ferries switched to their summer schedule at the end of May so service is pretty frequent. A round-trip ticket costs $7 for adults, with reduced rates for students, seniors and children. On weekends in the summer the wait time for ferries, especially if there is an event on the island, can be over an hour, so if you can go during the week, you'll find the wait a lot shorter and the island far less busy. Plus evenings are a lovely time to go, so if it's a choice between 6 pm on Thursday and 1 pm on Saturday, go on Thursday. The ferries run quite late so getting back won't be an issue and you'll have the added bonus of seeing the city all lit up. If you really do want to go during the peak weekend time and the lines are crazy, consider taking a water taxi. Toronto Water Taxi operates from York Street Slip, which is just a short walk west from the ferry terminal. They charge $10 per adult each way, $5 per child, but have a $30 minimum per boat per trip (not usually a problem on busy weekends). As you are not required to show a ticket when boarding the ferries on the island, you can save yourself the return taxi fare by hopping on the ferry.

At the terminal, there are 3 different ferries, going to different parts of the island (although off-season they will sometimes combine service to Hanlan's Point and Ward's Island). I recommend taking the Hanlan's Point ferry, then walking the length of the island and taking the Ward's Island ferry home. This provides two main advantages: 1) as Hanlan's Point is the furthest west, it gives you a nice long ride along the harbour providing you with the best views of the city, plus as the dock at Hanlan's Point is very close to the island airport, you get an up-close view of the planes taking-off and landing, and 2) walking the length of the island is a great way to see it. The distance, depending on how much you meander and explore, is just over 5 km.

Each section of the islands has a different personality. I love the tranquility of Hanlan's Point. There are big green spaces for picnics, playing ball or just relaxing, and as most families flock to Centre Island, it's usually pretty quiet. The main path offers lovely views of water and wild, as well as some great glimpses of the city. Many of the trees, including the lilac bushes (my favourite!), are huge and if you're interested in trees, you can pick up a brochure for a self-guided tour to trees across the island, or print out a copy from The Canadian Tree Tours website.

The most lively part of Hanlan's Point are the beaches. There is both a clothing optional and clothing mandatory beach and they are big gorgeous stretches of sand, with the bonus of a view of the city. If you have concerns about the water quality, you should know that Toronto takes part in the international Blue Flag program, which is administered by the Foundation for Environmental Education in Denmark and which sets international standards for clean, safe beaches. The City had to be evaluated against 27 criteria and Hanlan's Point beach, as well as Gibraltar Point, Centre Island and Ward's beaches were all granted Blue Flag status (plus some other city beaches not on the islands). Water samples are taken daily at each beach to ensure continued safety, and results are posted online - so check the site, then go ahead and jump in!

As you get closer to the middle of the island, it starts to get more built up. You'll pass the Gibraltar Point lighthouse, the oldest surviving lighthouse on the Great Lakes, as well as the Gibraltar Point Centre for the Arts, the water filtration plant, and the island school. On your right, sticking out on the lake side, is the Pier, which I just love. If you have the time and the energy, you can detour inland and cross over to Centre Island. Centreville, the amusement park, is the big draw here, especially if you have kids. Even if you don't, I highly recommend taking the Sky Ride. It gives you a bird's-eye view of a small sliver of the park and it's relaxing and fun. Right next door to Centreville is Far Enough Farm, one of my favourite places on the island. There is a limited number of animals here but it's a great space. Like Riverdale Farm and High Park Zoo, it was facing closure due to budget cuts, but acceptance of a recent donation by the operator of Centreville will keep it open awhile longer. There has also been an offer to match funds from private donations, so if you'd like to make a tax-deductible donation, visit the Parks and Recreation website. If you happened to bring a picnic along, Centre Island has some of the best spots for picnicking with a view of the city. 

If you want to continue your trek to Ward's Island, you'll have to retrace your steps back to the lake side of the island, as there is no connection between Centre Island and Ward's Island (or, if you're tired, you can always head for the Centre Island ferry dock and return to the city). If you continue your walk, you will soon have a choice to take the main paved path to Ward's Island, or veer off to the boardwalk. While both have their appeal, I generally prefer the boardwalk, especially on hot days - there's lots of shade and usually a wonderful breeze off the water. You'll know you're getting close to the end of your walk when you begin to see houses - Ward's Island has a small but vibrant residential community.

If you have some time to kill before the ferry, consider stopping in to the Island Cafe, just steps from the dock. They now have a liquor license so you can celebrate your visit to the island with a nice cold drink.

High Park Zoo

When I visited High Park recently to take in the beauty of the cherry trees in bloom, I also made a point of visiting the High Park Zoo, which is located almost in the middle of the park. It is free to visit and is open from 7 am until dusk every day of the week. Contained within are an interesting collection of, for the most part, large ungulates, some native to Canada, others not, although there are some odd exceptions to this. I was most excited about seeing the West Highland Cattle - I had no idea there were any to be seen in Toronto! Here are pictures of some of my favourite animals from the day:

To increase the educational value of your visit, take a moment to read the Who's Who panel on each enclosure and learn a little bit about the animal inside. For example, did you know that a group of West Highland cattle is called a fold, not a herd? I don't know who designed these signs, but I think they're wonderful!

And if you like your animals cute, small and fuzzy, you might want to attend the free Sunday Walking Tour in High Park on Sunday June 3 as it will focus on the new animal babies at the Zoo.

The zoo made headlines recently when the City of Toronto announced that it was eliminating the zoo's operating funds from the budget, leading to fears that the Zoo would close in mid-June when their current funds run out. Friends and fans of the Zoo immediately went into fund-raising mode, and then in mid-April, it was announced that the Honey Family Foundation had come forward and would match funds raised up to $50,000 to help keep the attraction going. If you would like to help, you can either donate on-site, or online. Donations made by June 15, 2012 will be matched by the Foundation, although they have also indicated that they will match donations again in 2013 and 2014. While this doesn't solve the problem of funding in the long term (or help Far Enough Farm, located on Centre Island, which is also losing its funding and has yet to find a corporate or charitable benefactor), it does buy the High Park Zoo some time to come up with a feasible long-term plan.

If you do visit the High Park Zoo, please avoid the temptation to feed the animals. While it might seem like a great way for you or your kids to interact with these creatures, your kindness may make the animals sick. 

High Park - Cherry Blossoms

If you feel up for a walk this weekend, you might want to consider heading over to High Park to take part in the Japanese tradition of Sakura Hanami, or viewing the cherry trees in bloom.

High Park has an extensive collection of flowering cherry trees which usually bloom in late April or early May, but which, due to our remarkably warm weather so far this year, are flowering a bit early. The collection of trees, which are not native to the area, began with a donation of 2000 Sakura trees (Japanese flowering cherry), a gift from the citizens of Tokyo back in 1959. They were a gift to the city in appreciation of Toronto accepting re-located Japanese -Canadians following World War II. This planting was followed by others of other varieties in 1984, 2001 and 2006.

Many of the trees were planted in the Hillside Garden and along the east side of Grenadier Pond. I suggest walking down to the Pond from the Grenadier Restaurant - it's spectacular. And very popular. We went on an early Thursday afternoon, and we had lots of company!

For more information about the history of the trees, and about the tradition of Sakura Hanami, visit the High Park website. The staff of the High Park Nature Centre also posts regular updates on the state of the blooms, so you can check how well along they are before you leave home. Keep in mind that the Grenadier Restaurant opens at 7 am, and offers a weekday early bird breakfast special. If you plan to go on the weekend, and like me, enjoy a later start, they also offer an all-day breakfast which is still really reasonable.

Skating

For those of you who like to get out and do stuff, even once the temperature has dipped, Toronto has lots of places to indulge in at least one favourite winter activity: skating.

The City itself runs 51 different outdoor ice surfaces scattered throughout the city. As of time of writing, all rinks were open for business, including the very popular Nathan Phillips Square rink. This year it sports a brand new rink-side building with change room facilities and a snack bar, and skate rentals are available from 10 am to 10 pm. This rink is fairly unusual among the city-owned rinks in that it is designated for pleasure skating only, which means no stick sports allowed. If you want to be sure you won't have to avoid stray pucks while gliding around, check the City's website to see if your location sports a dual pad - generally that's one rink for shinny, and another, usually smaller one, for pleasure skating only. You can also visit the very detailed City Rinks site, which posts schedules for each rink showing hours set aside for pleasure skating only. As well as lists of what activities are allowed when, the City Rinks site also includes detailed descriptions of the rink, including how well the ice is maintained, how many staff are on duty, and the facilities available. Their Rink Diaries include much more detailed experiential information for each rink, and the site also includes a map to help you quickly and easily find the rink closest to you.

The City Rinks site also includes skating rinks not operated by the City. These include the large and beautifully situated Natrel Rink at Harbourfront. Skating is free, accessible 24 hours a day and skate rentals are available. There is also a licensed lounge attached, and DJ Skate Nights are hosted most Saturday nights from 8 to 11 pm. Check their site for a list of upcoming DJs. And if you're just curious to see people skating, check out their webcam.

Another non-city skating area is the Brickworks Skating Trail, in the Don Valley. It's also free but their hours are more limited, they're closed over the Christmas holidays, and you should bring your own skates - only limited sizes and pairs are available. If you have skates you've outgrown, or no longer use, you can donate them to their skate library. To get there, consider taking the free shuttle from just north of the Broadview subway station.

The skating experience that may tempt me to dig out my skates from deep, deep within my storage locker, is the Colonel Sam Smith Skating Trail in Etobicoke. It's the first of the city-run skate sites to be built not as a rink, but as a 250 m ice trail, roughly in the shape of a figure 8. To top off the experience, the skate house is a beautifully restored 1888 red brick heating plant, with 10-metre cathedral ceilings and 3-storey windows. The trail is staffed from 9 am to 10 pm, but as the trail isn't enclosed by fencing, there's nothing but a lack of light to stop you from skating. As City Rinks puts it, "it's open for skating by moonlight". How can you resist that?