PETER's Good Morning Toronto

All for One.. One for All.. :p , Toronto Formula 1 : Honda Indy Racing Jul 8 2011

2011-07-11T20:38:00.000-04:00

summer time at the harbour, Harbour Front Toronto Jul 3 2011

2011-07-04T17:17:00.002-04:00

Cafe 'Merchants of Green Coffee', Matilda Rd. Toronto Jun 22 2011

2011-06-24T16:17:00.000-04:00

the yellows in the middle of town.. :p , Downtown Toronto Jun 8 2011

2011-06-10T16:32:00.000-04:00

some towers in town.. , Downtown Toronto Feb 9 2011

2011-05-30T09:30:00.000-04:00

사랑과 평화..어머니의 자장가

Festivity.., High Park Bloor St. Toronto May 9 2011

2011-05-27T17:18:00.000-04:00

도처에서 솟아나오는 생명은 경이로움 그 자체다.

겨울이 아무리 길었어도, 아무리 많은 눈이 온 대지를 덮었어도
때가 오면 어김없이 신록이 돋아나고 꽃이 피고, 새들이 돌아와
기쁨에 겨운 생명의 찬가가 넘친다..

겨울 내내 무채색의 쓸쓸함으로 괜히 더 옷깃을 여미게 했던 호숫가 反影에도
연록색 생명의 기운이 피어오르며 따스함으로 반짝이기 시작한다.

Valleri, Alfredo and Alex for Latinada Trio, 'Latinada' Bloor St. Toronto May 4 2011

2011-05-27T17:14:00.002-04:00

full blossoming :-) , High Park Toronto May 9 2011

2011-05-27T17:13:00.000-04:00

season has come! , around High Park Toronto May 4 2011

2011-05-27T17:11:00.002-04:00

Running on the highway in the morning listening to Verdi's La Traviata Fantasy for flute
was so seasonal for spring.. :p

As the soft sunshine started warming up my left cheek I felt like I was a butterfly.

Hawking's Time and Space on top of Guinness :p , Irish Pub 'Dora Keogh' Danforth St. Toronto Apr 7 2010

2011-04-20T11:25:00.002-04:00

What is time?
Is it an ever-rolling stream that bears all our dreams away, as the old hymn says?
Or is it a railroad track? Maybe it has loops and branched, so you can keep going forward and yet return to an earlier station on the line..

'Einstein's general relativity gives time a shape.
How this can be reconciled with quantum theory.'

.. 'The shape of Time' Chap 2. A Brief History of Time.. Stephen Hawking

Kim Doolittle.. , 'Dora Keogh' Danforth St. May 26 2010

2011-04-20T11:10:00.000-04:00

recently i have been having such good concerts

almost everytime when i get there, Dora Keogh,

to my delight. :-)

Kim Doolittle who's from frigid Nova Scotia

was a sing-a-song writer for root-music of country song

with her powerful voice & spirit.

it was very nice..

lights, colors, materials and their space.., Sandra Ainsley Gallery: the Distillery Mill Street Toronto

2011-04-20T09:09:00.001-04:00

At the Building 32 in the Distillery District in Mill Street,
there was a gallery 'Sandra Ainseley' of gorgeous layout of the exhibition halls
with the awesome selection of the great contemporary art works.

I was so fascinated by the all the combination of layout, colors & textiles, lighting
and all the art works displayed that I took a couple of rounds of tour in the gallery.

This place should be my regular site of visit at least once a month. Bravo!!

작품 하나 하나를 감상하는 것도 너무 즐거운 일이지만
난 이런 전시관의 전체적 레이아웃과 조명 그리고 작품들의 배치를 보는 것 자체를 더 즐긴다.
즉, 큐레이터의 작품을 더 감상하고 싶은거다. :-)

물론 좋은 작가들의 작품이 없다면 작품의 기획과 창조적 배치는 무의미 한거다.
하지만, 그러한 좋은 작가들, 특히 젊은 작가들의 발굴 또한 큐레이터의 몫인거다.

19세기 후반 한때 북미지역에서 가장 큰 양조장이었던 이곳 Distillery District는
이제 토론토에서 둘째 가라면 서러울 격조 높은 문화 예술 공간이 되었다.

10여개가 넘는 고급 갤러리들과 예술 공방, 포토 스튜디오, 상설 연극관, 고급 와인 바,
각종 고급 레스토랑 그리고 내가 좋아하는 Cafe Balzac등 문화 예술을 위한 공간들이 가득 들어서 있다.

Roasted beef, stuffed in bread.. Yorkshir, Elephant & Castle Yonge Downtown Toronto Dec 2 2009

2011-04-19T21:52:00.000-04:00

just so classic..
with smashed potato at the bottom
with lots of green beans..

taste healthy though.. :p

Restaurant Elephant & Catle, Downtown Yonge Toronto Feb 3 2010

2011-04-19T21:36:00.000-04:00

Knight in Downtown- Peregrine Falcon, U.of Toronto Collge Street Nov 8 2008

2011-04-19T17:45:00.001-04:00

MegaloPolitan Architecture, Downtown Toronto Oct 2008

2011-04-19T15:17:00.000-04:00

Esthetics over Pinnacles, University of Toronto College Street Toronto Nov 8 2008

2011-04-19T15:01:00.000-04:00

Ivy Festivity, Univsity of Toronto College Street Toronto Nov 8 2008

2011-04-19T14:52:00.000-04:00

Leslie L. Dan Pharmacy Building: University of Toronto, College Street Downtown Toronto Dec 2 2009

2011-04-19T13:17:00.001-04:00

a Tribute to Streetcar.. :p , Toronto 2008 ~ 2010

2011-04-18T20:35:00.002-04:00

When it comes to rain

it's good time to start a journey in the city riding a streetcar

retrospecting those by gone days of sweet, sour or bittering memories..

Spadina Avenue..

One of the oldest street of Toronto .

At the area of crossing street of Dundas & Spadina

there is a Chinatown neither huge nor small

with several grocery stores, restaurants and souvenir shops.

Nearby there is another area called Kensington Market

which is popular to visitors to Toronto as well as Torontonians

with lots old shops selling cheese, meats, fresh fishes, hand-made chocolates and vintage clothings..

비바람이 몰아치거나 눈폭풍이 몰아치거나 바깥이 사나우면 사나울수록
조용하고 아늑하고 또 무자게 튼튼하기도 한 전차안에서 바라보는 바깥 세상은
그저 아름답기만 하다..

아주 오래된 구 도심 College Street의 구불 구불한 전차길을 통해 바라본 정경.

왼쪽의 저 시계탑은 워낙 오래전에 만들어 진 것이라서

이 사진을 본 토론토 시민들은 이곳이 어느 거리인지 금새 알아차렸다.

청명한 날의 스파다이나.

토론토 대학의 Art & Science 대학 건물을 배경으로 이 귀여운 전차들은 그 앞을 왔다 갔다 한다.

전차 유람이 꼭 바깥 날씨가 궂을 때만 하는 건 당근 아니다. ㅎ

햇살이 유난히 밝기로 유명한 토론토의 햇살을 가득 받으며
에비앙 물병을 앞 세우며 전차를 타는 기분 역시 참 좋다..

유서깊은 토론토의 구 시청 건물을 배경으로한 전차 정거장 표지판..
시내를 걸어 다니다 저 표지판을 보면 왠지 정다운 느낌이 들면서 전차를 타고 싶어 진다.

이제 막 가로수의 싹들이 돋아나는 초봄에 다운타운의 유서깊은 도로 King 스트리트 에서 담은

이 504 전차의 사진은 이곳 토론토 사람들도 많이 좋아하고 내가 가장 아끼는 전차 사진 중 하나다.

시내에서 가장 오래된 도로 중 하나인 King Street에서의 종점.
Roundabout.. 완벽한 원을 그리며 돌아 나가는 곳.

웬지 많은 추억이 서려있을 것 같은 낭만적 모습이 또 좋다..

King Station의 지하 전차역..

아름다운 호반의 하버프론트 길을 따라 다운타운으로 꺽어지면서
마치 놀이동산의 굴속으로 들어가듯 전차는 컴컴한 지하 굴속으로 빨려내려간다.
정말 놀이 동산으로 들어가는 기분.. ㅎ

Wolfrey Stop..

깨끗한 비가 내리는 울프리 정거장의 밤.

벌써 4년째 울프리 정거장을 오가는 전차들을 본다.

무더운 여름날 한두차례의 소나기가 지나고

아름다운 무지개가 핀 높지 않은 언덕을 천천히 올라오는 전차는 참 이쁘다.

비가 오나 눈이 오나.. 밤이나 낮이나..

언제나 비슷한 속도로 오가는 빨간 電車..

변함없는 네가 새삼 고맙고

너처럼.. 한결같은 살아오고 있는 좋은 사람들도 생각이 나니

더 흐믓하다..

가끔 우리 빨간 전차는 화려하고 스타일리쉬한 옷으로 갈아입기도 하는데
그러면서 이렇게 외치곤 한다.

Spirit is Everything!! :p

도시의 아이덴터티는 생동감이다.

바쁘고 역동적으로 돌아가는 라이프 스타일..

그것이 골치 아프고 싫으면.. 조용히 전원 생활에 잠길 밖에..

캐나다에서 가장 큰 도시, 가장 다이내믹한 도시 토론토.

우리의 빨간 전차들을 빼놓고 토론토를 이야기할 수 없다.

일단 전차가 정차를 하면,
사람들이 오르내리는 오른쪽 사이드의 길은 다른 차들이 통과할 수 없다.

가끔 통과해 가는 이들이 있는데, 전차 기사한테 야단을 맞거나 주변 사람들에게 비난을 받는다.

토론토에 처음 온 사람들이겠거니.. 하기도 한다. ㅎ

비오는 밤..

깨끗하게 씻겨진 빨간 전차가 가로등 불 아래서 쏜살같이 올라올때는 앙증맞기도 하다.

그리곤 번개처럼 잔흔만 남기곤 내 앞을 스쳐 지나간다. ㅋ

사실 TTC 라고 불리는 토론토의 대중교통공사는 나름 로킷 이라고 이 전차의 별명을 붙였는데
혼잡한 시내 상황상 거북이 걸음으로 운행하는 것이 보통이라 로킷이란 별명이 무색한 때가 많다. ㅎ

2008년 겨울 미국발 금융위기의 한파는 그해 겨울을 더울 춥게 만들었는데..

성탄절 즈음해서 눈을 나렸고 늦은 밤..

어깨를 움츠리고 전차에 막 타려고 하는 한 시민의 모습이 당시의 어려운 상황을 대변하는 듯 했다.

마치 성탄 이브날, 스쿠루지의 가게에서 일을 마치고

빈손으로 집으로 돌아가는 가장을 보는듯 했는데..

캐나다는 워낙에 보수적인 나라고 사회주의적 자본주의의 성향이 강해

미국과 같은 사기성 금융 시스템이 존재할 수 없지만

그래도 법망을 피해 제식대로 요리해 먹는 bad & ugly guys 들은 항상 있는 법.

지난 달 이곳의 한 대형 은행에서 신용도를 조작한

초대형 대출 사기 사건이 적발되 수사를 받고 있다.

하지만, 기본적으로 이러한 사기가 아니고서는 미국과 같은 황당한 식의 일은

벌어지기 힘든 바, 미국의 금융위기 후 캐나다의 여러 은행들은 그 건전성을 바탕으로

단숨에 세계 랭킹 1, 2위로 올랐는데 유럽의 여러 나라에서 캐나다의 금융 시스템을

벤치마킹해서 도입해야한다고 주장하기도 했다..

미국에 비해 너무 보수적인 시스템이라 채택은 되지 않았지만..

갚을 능력이 없는 사람에게 무차별적으로 돈을 빌려주고 나선 결국 나자빠져버린

서브 프라임 모기지는 여기선 존재하기도 않는 금융 시스템이다.

신용이 막강한 직장인들 조차도 모기지 대출을 받기 위해서는 갚을 능력을 증명할 수 있는

온갖 서류들을 변호사를 통해 제출한 후 엄정한 심사를 거쳐야 가능하다.

high risk, high return을 추구하는 미국의 자본시장의 잣대로는

캐나다 은행들은 제대로 장사를 할 줄 모르는 바보들 처럼 여겨졌을 것인데..

.. 우량고객들에게만 돈을 빌려줘서 언제 성장하고.. 언제 보너스 챙기겠니?.. 하며..

결국 그 잘난 월스트리트는 금융위기로 끝없는 추락을 한 끝에,

이제는 방금 미 상원에서 통과된 법안대로 방만하고도 온갖 교묘한 방법으로

자신들의 배만 불리는 술책을 시스템적으로 더이상 쓸 수 없게 된다.

오바마가 그 모든 난관을 극복해 가면서 의료보험 시스템에 이어 금융 시스템 개혁까지

성공을 시키고 있는 역사적 아젠다들을 볼때 정말 오바마라는 리더가

미국에 절실히 필요한 때라서 하늘이 돕는구나.. 라는 생각도 든다.

As it came to a night,
the snowstorm from the North Pole
started to blow everything away..

Just in the midst of the white turmoil
the red engine slid swiftly down to Hogwart..
having only a couple of future wizards on board.. :p

이 곳 브로드뷰 거리에 북극의 눈폭풍인 블리져드가 불어 닥치면..
마법학교 호그와트로 떠나는 붉은 전차가 쏜살같이 내 앞을 지난다..
마치 토론토 시내들 돌아오는 보통의 전차인양..

올 겨울엔 아직 blizzard는 고사하고 눈다운 눈 조차 아직 내리지 않고 있어서
겨울 특강을 통해 코코넛 속 껍질로 눈을 만들어 내는 마법을 배워야하는
우리 어린 wizard 들이 아직 떠나지 못하고 있었는데..

느닷없이 향기가 밤하늘에 진동하더니

눈폭풍인양 새하얀 코코넛 가루가 흩날리기 시작했고..

muggle들 보기엔 눈폭풍이나 다름없었던 바... ㅋ

아니나 다들까.. 우리의 505 전차가 슝~~ 하고 내 달려 사라졌는데..

바쁜 통보 때문이었는지.. 우리 예비 마법사 친구들은 몇명 밖에 보이지 않았다.

Richard Clayderman.. Harry Potter Melody

퇴근 시간 시내 중심가의 한 정거장..

맹세하건데.. 이 고전적 디자인의 철마는 많은 토론토 시민들의 안전한 마차로 절대 손색이 없다. ㅋ

내년부터는 새로운 디자인의 정말 로킷 처럼 생긴 신형 전차가 등장한다고 하는데

난 아직 이 정직해 보이는 디자인과 색상이 마음에 든다.

See you later...

The Pool, Alliance Cinema Cumberland Street Bay-Bloor Toronto Apr 8 2009

2011-04-18T18:19:00.000-04:00

Well done!

No violence, no fast & furious, no gorgeous girls or boys, no blind patriotism, no extravaganza, no graphics, no noise, no blood.. but it was on true communication.. the most vital factor in life..

The content of dialogue in the movie was so trivial & private that it took some time for me till I realized that I've almost forgotten the real power of healing through sharing small talks everyday.. :-)

Year End Mood.., Cumberland Street Toronto Nov 25 2009

2011-04-18T18:11:00.000-04:00

four glasses of wine & cheese under the rain.., Winebar 'Carens' Cumberland Toronto Jun 2 2010

2011-04-18T18:09:00.000-04:00

Rainy Day at the Old Fort, Fort York Bathurst Street Toronto Jun 18 2009

2011-04-07T09:59:00.000-04:00

I remained in this side of Fort York which was built in year 1813.
And I was soaked into a mood of those-days-war through the Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture
with which the composer depicted so well on the fatal war between Napoleon and Wellington.

Now I see the misty skyline of the metropolitan city standing in the boundary of the huge time-lag of 200 years though a couple of hundreds years is almost nothing compared to hundreds millions years of life scale on earth..

thriving in together, Harborfront Toronto Jul 18 2010

2011-04-07T09:36:00.000-04:00

le promenade, Harborfront Toronto Jul 18 2010

2011-04-07T09:33:00.002-04:00

people at the Exhibition.. :-) , the Exhibition Ontario Place Toronto Sep 1 2010

2011-04-04T10:45:00.000-04:00

Neighborhood Maverick, Harbourfront Center Toronto Feb 16 2011

2011-04-03T18:29:00.000-04:00

New Kids on the Block :p , Wolfrey Reunion Party Toronto Jun 6 2009

2011-03-14T10:56:00.000-04:00

David Hamblen and his Grand-kids, Wolfrey Block Party Jun 6 2009

2011-03-14T10:53:00.000-04:00

Red Maple Canada, Block Party Wolfrey Ave 50 Years Anniv. Jun 6 2009

2011-03-14T10:50:00.000-04:00

Life is soooo hilarious.. for the Angels. :-) :-), Block Party 50 anniversary of Wolfrey Avenue Jun 6 2009

2011-03-14T10:43:00.000-04:00

Tres Amigas, Wolfrey Block Party Jun 6 2009

2011-03-14T10:40:00.000-04:00

Leave me alone please.. a little prince , Wolfrey Street Party 50 Anniv. Jun 6 2009

2011-03-14T10:38:00.000-04:00

Safety Bug: Toroto Police :-) , Wolfrey Street Party Jun 9 2009

2011-03-14T10:34:00.000-04:00

Happy Faces of Good Neighbors, 50th Annivery of Wolfrey Avenue 1959-2009, Jun 6 2009

2011-03-14T10:32:00.000-04:00

Cute Girl, Robin !!

I love Green Man, Old City Hall King Toronto

2011-03-13T18:43:00.001-04:00

I love to see green man one by one in detail.
What a variety of faces they show..
It looks like that the sculptor liked to express typical stages of our life.
Pain, Happiness, Anger, Desire, Grief. etc..
Crying, Laughing, Teasing, Frowning, Surprising, Discouraging etc..
But most of all, crying and angry faces are dominent.. just as our life does..

Statistics say that we laugh less than 20 days only out of whole 70 years, i.e., 25,550 available days..

The Green Men sculptured on the Old City Hall looked very much sophiscated and have great artistic value as well I am sure. Really nice to invest time to take a look at the all the details.

A Green Man is a sculpture, drawing, or other representation of a face surrounded by or made from leaves. Branches or vines may sprout from the nose, mouth, nostrils or other parts of the face and these shoots may bear flowers or fruit.

- Commonly used as a decorative architectural ornament, Green Men are frequently found on carvings in churches and other buildings.

- "The Green Man" is also a popular name for British public houses and various interpretations of the name appear on inn signs, which sometimes show a full figure rather than just the head.
- The Green Man motif has many variations. Found in many cultures around the world, the Green Man is often related to natural vegetative deities springing up in different cultures throughout the ages.

- Primarily it is interpreted as a symbol of rebirth, or "renaissance," representing the cycle of growth each spring.

- Some speculate that the mythology of the Green Man developed independently in the traditions of separate ancient cultures and evolved into the wide variety of examples found throughout history.

Hi, Peter~~ : Kids in Motion..,Couldn't be more Lively.. Montcrest Kids Riverdale Park Broadview Toronto May 15 2009

2011-03-12T17:37:00.001-05:00

Bryn found me sitting on the hill taking photos for them with telescopic lense and said hi from that distance. What a good sight she had!! All the students from Montcrest Private Shool of more than three hundreds were flying kites in the park..

Happy People at the Concert, Riverdale Share Concert St. Barnabas Church Danforth Toronto Dec 12 2009

2011-03-12T17:22:00.001-05:00

Being asked to be a voluntary photographer
for their annual event of charity concert
i was there in the beautiful old church
full of people with their family members
from the extended community of Riverdale.

I love to be in this kind of community event
planned and run by all those voluntary people
with good & lively spirit.

The event was bigger than I initially thought
and there were many good musicians participating..

Hopefully there were lots of money
donated for the people in need..

for more photos..
http://peterastorontonian.blogspot.com/2009/12/killer-smilie-p-riverdale-concert-st.html

for more photos..
http://peterastorontonian.blogspot.com/2009/12/happy-people-at-concert-riverdale-share.html

for more photos..

http://peterastorontonian.blogspot.com/2009/12/cuties-for-local-sponsors-hands-up-high.html

for more photos..

http://peterastorontonian.blogspot.com/2009/12/participation-riverdale-share-concert.html

for more photos..
http://peterastorontonian.blogspot.com/2009/12/red-green-nymphs-as-collectors.html

for more..
http://peterastorontonian.blogspot.com/2009/12/chorus-of-red-angels-riverdale-concert.html

Don River Trail with Ryan in Rainy Spring, Don River Toronto May 18 2008

2011-03-01T20:35:00.000-05:00

thank you for the space! , Exhibition Hall Harbourfront Center Toronto Feb 16 2011

2011-03-01T16:44:00.002-05:00

I don't know how much I love this space.

The space is not spacious at all nor with fancy set of lighting system.
All but different thing is the content with which I could taste the spirit, energy, passion and agony in life of the fresh artists mostly who I've been never heard about before.

What I appreciate more is their wide OPENNESS for the space.
They never be shy in sharing their effort of the display as curators or project managers.
And they never be restrictive in sharing their creativity as artists by proclaiming their intellectual property right too much, e.g., by prohibiting taking any photos.

It's just like the feeling of the good spirit of Internet of sharing freely as much as possible
though we need to be more smart in discerning good things out of garbages. :p

still winter time.. , Queens Quay Toronto Feb 16 2011

2011-03-01T16:42:00.000-05:00

spring as the most powerful icebreaker will come soon.. :-)

Missisauga Big Band Jazz Emsemble, Toronto International Jazz Fesitival 2008 Queen Street East Toronto Jul 25 2008

2011-02-22T14:15:00.000-05:00

Surf Rock - The Calrizians, Kensington Toronto Jun 9 2008

2011-02-22T14:08:00.000-05:00

City in the Twilight, Yonge-Bloor Street Downtown Toronto May 20 2009

2011-02-20T17:50:00.001-05:00

Dusk just casts its warmth over the tip of the cranes and the shape of the wonder woman or superman.. City gives me only this kind of twilight scenes than panoramic views over the horizon in the Pacific projected by mother nature.

But I love this as well... not too bad actually..

quality of sun light in our life , Unionville Ontario Sep 15 2010

2011-02-20T17:45:00.001-05:00

crispy sunlight in the afternoon.. , Unionville Ontario Sep 15 2010

2011-02-20T17:32:00.001-05:00

was full of glory & blessing..
in this very old village of more than 200 years
built by German immigrants..

Mozart : Piano Sonata No.11 K. 331 Andante grazioso II　

Plein Soleil, Lake Ontario, Toronto Island Jun 21 2009

2011-02-19T10:19:00.001-05:00

When I saw the pacific horizon under the hot bright sun with white clouds above, it reminded me of the old french movie.. Plein Soleil starred by Alain Delon.

His eyes of agony and fear were as deep blue as the ocean...

lunch time Jazz.. :p , 'Dora Keogh' Dandorth Toronto May 8 2010

2011-02-12T17:35:00.002-05:00

as i just start drinking my Guinness
a bunch of musicians stormed into the stage

what a luck to have the nice & mature jazz band
for my lonely luncheon session.. :p

soup was quite fit for my taste

as Tony, the cook, recommended..

and it went well with the multi-grain bread..

Peter for Don River Expedition, Don Valley River Toronto Summer 2008

2011-02-10T18:54:00.001-05:00

Mountain bike is Peter's companion at all time for the expedition which has been tried once a week on Friday afternoon from May until now.
I love to be with all the living or non-living things around the Don River.
Someday I would prepare a report on the Ecology of Don River which has been being rehabilitated month by month and of course year by year...
.

Cormorant is really a marvelous hunter. They dive deep for a long time to search and catch fishes and they are excellet flyers as well. I can frequently see the birds hunting fishes in the river and I happily assume that there are enough fishes for them to feed.

On my way returning home, I saw the falcon hovering high above me. It is always amazing to have the beautiful bird gliding with elegance high in the sky..

I know there is one herron which is an habitant of the river side and whenever I go down to the river, she flies down to me for greeting and takes a wonderful pose for me.

Smoked Salmon Salad with the Premium Ale of light blond, '3 Brewers' Yonge-Dundas Street Toronto Oct 21 2009

2011-02-09T14:28:00.000-05:00

..of course with Orhan Pamuk's 'Snow'..

I really liked the 'Smoked Salmon & Shrimp Salad'..

lovely half cut boiled egg,
good pieces of avocado,
fresh onion rings,
chunks of tomato,
overwhelmingly dark green cucumber,
and not quite greasy dressing..
for the nice slices of well smoked salmon..
though a couple of shrimp were too small to pick them up.. ^,~

at almost midnight in the park, Riverdale Park Broadview Toronto Feb 5 2011

2011-02-06T16:57:00.002-05:00

the Yellow house, Queen St. Feb 11 2009

2011-02-06T14:19:00.001-05:00

it was persistently rainy, lot windy and cold.. though still beautiful.., Rolling Hills Golf Stouffville Ontario Oct 14 2010

2011-02-04T21:59:00.001-05:00

it was not only red which was beautiful.. :-), Rolling Hills Golf Stouffville Oct 6 2010

2011-02-04T21:53:00.000-05:00

What others could try to assimilate the glorious golden colors of the season.. ? Nature is just beautiful in itself.. actually all the combination of temperature, light, colors, shape and scents.

Walking with these good friends talking & laughing over any trivial episode gave me lots of feeling of happiness. Though I've been known these gentlemen for a couple of months only in here Toronto, I felt like they were my blood shared brothers. How lucky guy I am..

YK narrowly missed his birdie within an inch.. 'Don't move! Freeze!' I shouted and took some photos for the very moment.. though the scene was not quite dramatic as I initially expected.. :p

Biological Fun for the Gargolyes, West & North sides of Old City Hall of Toronto Nov 2008

2011-02-04T19:13:00.003-05:00

Gargee: "You think I am a stone? "
Peter : "..."
Gargee: "Daytime only!!"
Peter : " !! "

Gargoyles are neither mammals, nor reptiles, nor birds.

They are part of a biological class called "gargates,"

presumably descended from the great reptiles of the Mesozoic Era or the late Paleozoic Era.

The only other known species in this group is the gargoyle beasts,

which were domesticated by gargoyles as companions millennia ago.
The most prominent biological feature of gargoyles is that

they turn to "stone" in the daytime and they are known as "stone sleep".

Suffice it to say that at sunrise gargoyles (and gargoyle beasts) turn to stone or,

to be more accurate, an organic substance similar to stone and remain that way until sunset. During this time, gargoyles sleep and dream, injuries sustained during the night heal, and they apparently absorb thermal energy from the sun's rays that gives them most of their energy.

Doctor Sevariusausom has hypothesized that without this last feature, a gargoyle would have to eat the equivalent of three cows a night in order to get airborne.
Gargoyles have a greater resistance to the cold than humans do, possibly due to a thicker skin, or hide.

Gargoyles are probably at least partly warm-blooded, especially considering their activity level in cold weather. However, because they obtain most of their energy from heat and sunlight during their sleep, they could be considered partially cold-blooded as well. Believe it or not..
Like most animals, but unlike most mammals, they lay eggs. Female gargoyles nurse their young with breastmilk.

Gargoyles do not age during their stone sleep, so they age only half as quickly as humans do. Thus, a 30-year-old gargoyle would be biologically equivalent to a 15-year-old human. A gargoyle can theoretically live to close to 200, but for centuries most gargoyles died premature deaths through being slain in battle or smashed in their stone sleep.

Gargoyles such as Hudsonsaurgyle who lived to a ripe old age were rare indeed. In modern times however, when most clans live in hiding and most humans regard them as nothing but stone statues, far fewer gargoyles die by the sword or the hammer and some - like Old Pof of the London Clan- are reaching their 190s.

Gargoyle appearance varies from clan to clan, and even gargoyles within the same clan look very different, and are usually easily told apart. Some sort of overall gargoyle anatomical norm does seem to exist, however, judging from the Scottish, Guatemalan, and Japanese clans. And many gargoyles depart from this "norm" dramatically. The London gargoyles, for example, resemble heraldic animals with feathered wings, and Zafiro of the Mayan Clan looks very much like a winged serpent, with no visible (external) hind legs. The Loch Ness gargoyles are semi-amphibious, though the details of their appearance is unknown.

Besides their shared trait of stone sleep, the most prominent gargoyle feature is the number of limbs they possess. Gargoyles are the only (living) vertebrates with more than four limbs. There are individuals like Zafiro who appear to have only four limbs, but it is possible that x-rays of Zafiro would reveal vestigial legs not visible on the exterior of his body. Gargoyles are bipedal, although they can easily run on all fours if they need to, and more or less humanoid in shape. Their wings are usually leathery, most commonly bat-like with the digits dividing the wing membrane into multiple segments , but sometimes pterodactyl-like with one continuous membrane and the digits forming a small hand atop the wing (as with Brooklyn) or web-like in the manner of a flying squirrel (as with Lexinton). However, most of the gargoyles in the London Clan, and some members of the Mayan Clan, have covering on their wings that resembles feathers.

Some gargoyles have human-like faces, such as Goliath, Demona, and Angela, while others have long snouts or beaks such as Brooklyn, and still others seem to have a sort of rounded muzzle, more simian in appearance like Broadway or Lexington. Some gargoyles have hair, while others, such as Lexington and Broadway, are bald. Hairlessness or thin hair seems to hold no significant influence on Gargoyle society or relations. Hudson's hair is gray and thinner, and has likely (if Brooklyn is any indication) always been gray. Hudson is the only living gargoyle of the Wyvern clan to exhibit facial hair, so body-hair may not be common amongst gargoyles. None of the gargoyles have been seen to shave, or indeed even groom, so the growth may take a tremendous amount of time and effort on their part.

Most if not all gargoyles have some sort of brow-ridge above the eyes in place of eyebrows, and/or horns upon their foreheads. These seem to be genetic, but they also suggest a certain amount of individual distinction. No two gargoyles have identical brow-ridges, and the ridges move with their expression, which seems to suggest they are not bone, or are covered in thick soft tissue.

Gargoyle skin color varies noticeably within a clan; for example, Goliath and Angela are both lavender, Demona sky-blue, Hudson a tan color, Brooklyn red, Lexington a sort of khaki, and Broadway turquoise. Other observed colors are teal, green, golden, tawny, orange, pink, white, pale green, and grey. Hair may be brown, white, black, yellow, or red.

All gargoyles, even web-winged types like Lexington, possess a complicated and highly refined set of additional musculature and skeletal structures above what humans identify as lateral muscles on their dorsal (back) side allowing use of their powerful wings. Their tails are prehensile, they possess enlarged canines like those of big cats, and typically have four digits adorning each limb (including their wings), though this too seems to have a degree of variance. Their major hinge joints often feature a type of spike or horn-like growth, particularly protruding from their elbows and knees, and some gargoyles' wings are adorned with these bony ornaments.

Gargoyles' arms end in hands with three clawed fingers and a fully opposable clawed thumb. Their legs are digitigrade, with hip, knee, and ankle joints fully flexible like that of a cat; they walk upright on their toes. Gargoyles refer to their feet and hands as "talons," and accurately so considering the strength they possess. In the case of their feet, they are roughly talon shaped, with three arched toes each ending in a powerful claw, and a fourth toe on each heel that points backward like that of a bird of prey, perhaps in order to provide the gargoyles with superior grip and balance even in the precarious environs of their preferred habitats.
Their wings typically feature the same configuration as their hands, with the phalanges/fingers in the wings operating similar to that of large bats, with a thumb-like structure they use to "cape" their wings, or to grip at a rough surface. Some gargoyles, such as Lexington, have no digits in the wing limb, while others, like Brooklyn, have only one digit to support the wing membrane while the others stick out somewhat like fingers of the hand. Further variances exist between particular individual gargoyles, but physical characteristics tend to share some commonality across individuals from the same clan.

Gargoyles seem to be omnivorous, but like some humans they prefer a general diet focusing on meat or fish as a primary food source. It can only be inferred from their evidence and physical appearance that gargoyles are descendants of a highly efficient, specialized group of predators. Hunting from the air would require superb eyesight (quite possibly enhanced by whatever biochemical reaction causes the glow of their eyes), sophisticated reaction times, and excellent hearing. Visual evidence suggests these attributes as well; their ears are pointed and seem to be deeper than human or simian ears, giving them greater reception of noise.
Goliath demonstrates his attenuation to his senses during his first trip through Central Park with Elisa, when he heard the subtle movements of a highly trained, highly coordinated group of special-operations mercenaries, clues that even Elisa with her police background missed. Gargoyles also seem to have a highly developed sense of smell, often using it to verify an unknown or to initially inspect an area, as Brooklyn did when first meeting Elisa; he gave two quick sniffs and then immediately questioned Goliath as to whether she was a new friend (or potentially an enemy). They seem to also use their sense of smell to steady themselves when surprised. Gargoyles will frequently inhale deeply via their noses when in deep thought, an observable trait across all gargoyles, though because of his philosophical nature, Goliath does this more often.

When gargoyles are awakening from their stone sleep or are angry, their eyes glow. In general, male gargoyles' eyes glow white, and female gargoyles' eyes glow red. Gargoyle eyes have visible irises and whites; a feature which they share with humans, but which most animals lack.
Gargoyles are immensely strong, and can actually scale stone walls, digging their claws into the stone to provide footholds for themselves. However, despite their wings, they are not capable of actual flight. They can only glide upon air currents. When gargoyles are not gliding and are on the ground, they can "cape" their wings about their shoulders which allows the beings to avoid being hindered by them as well as for the cosmetic value (with the exception of such gargoyles as Lexington, whose wings are attached to their arms). It should also be noted that, while incapable of flight per se, gargoyle wings are extremely nimble and powerful. Gargoyles on the ground use their wings as a projection of their size, often flaring their wings outward to do battle, even in confined spaces. This serves two purposes: a perceived increase in size, and an extra weapon, as gargoyles will frequently slap their enemies with their wings, or use the back of the wings as a sort of shield. They also use their wings as we use our arms, tapping objects (as Goliath did when he tapped on the camera lens in Macbeth's house) or pointing with them when it is more convenient.
Naturally, gargoyles are biologically very different from humans. Although both species are sentient and native to Earth, they cannot produce children together, short of scientific or magical intervention. Indeed, gargoyle-human pairings are almost non-existent; Goliath and Elisan's own relationship is probably one of a very few throughout the course of history.
Gargoyles are strongly in tune with the natural cycles of Earth, and there is some evidence that due to the nature of their stone sleep, they may not be capable of living off of the planet.

The funny source is from "Gargolyes Wiki"

Evaristo for Cuban Son & Bolero.., 'Latinada' Bloor W. Toronto Jun 17 2010

2011-02-04T14:29:00.001-05:00

Evaristo.. Siempre que llueve

Jennifer: Wolfrey Singer for Canada, Concert for Wolfrey Block Party Toronto Jun 6 2009

2011-02-04T14:13:00.000-05:00

Jay Clark and the Jones, Graffiti's Kensington Market Toronto May 2 2009

2011-02-04T14:08:00.000-05:00

Carrie Chesnutt- a Matured Diva, The Old Nick Danforth Toronto Feb 15 2009

2011-02-04T13:58:00.000-05:00

We were just about to try couple of beers and we didn't expect much for the music. But what a luck, we found a real entertainer! Her voice was quite cool and she played tenor saxophone and flute together with saxophone. She said she stayed 6 years in Mexico so she was good at singing Spanish song. Good for her. She has been performing every Sunday at the bar.

the Space aLive, Graffiti Bar Kensington Market Toronto Feb 7 2009

2011-02-04T13:55:00.000-05:00

Just a good enough space to have lively fun with the performers.. over couple of draft beers!

a promenade.. :p , High Park Bloor W. St. Toronto Jan 26 2011

2011-02-04T11:18:00.000-05:00

Legends of the fall, High Park Bloor W. Toronto Nov 8 2010

2011-02-04T11:15:00.002-05:00

I look up the trees still possessing tremendous number of yellowish leaves and I see the countless number of fallen leaves on earth returning to their origin of mother nature..

Although nobody can count all the colorful memories of each leaf, a good ecological harmony of the forest as a whole has been being well maintained this year as well. And it goes as an another new page of the glorious legends of the fall.. in this High Park.

Legends of the fall.. the Ludlows

Bennny Lozano and the Trumpeter from Eastern Europe, 10:40pm Young and Bloor TTC Station Toronto 2008

2011-02-04T10:53:00.000-05:00

Un Homme et Une Femme, Toronto International Jazz Festival Queen Street Toronto 2008

2011-02-04T10:46:00.000-05:00

Bass Girl for Dr. Draw, Int. Beach Jazz Festival Queen Street Toronto 2008

2011-02-04T10:43:00.000-05:00

Jeanine Machie Band, Toronto Intl Jazz Festival 2008 Queen East Toronto Jul 25 2008

2011-02-04T10:41:00.000-05:00