Can you Park Here or Not?

Nov 26 2015

I genuinely didn’t know what to do when parking in downtown Toronto recently.

Possible Outcomes:

– there is no No Parking sign, and that’s my Jeep parked directly behind the meter, it’s ok

– but this is a Canadian thing to do, take a moment to warn others of a ticket, staying could be a $50 mistake

– or is this a trick, to keep that space open and available, hmmm

Went with Canadians being Canadian, and moved.

Found at Peter & Adelaide West, here’s a map.

If you know the answer, please advise in the comments.

I’m Fascinated with Cathedraltown

Apr 15 2015

Just discovered this place – Cathedraltown – built in 2006, population 3,000.

It’s an odd little suburban area located 30 km north of Toronto, off the 404 at Elgin Mills Road.

1,200 houses, all virtually identical lined up in exact rows. When you drive through it feels like a ghost town, even though it’s fully occupied. And not cheap – according to MLS.ca, a tiny row house with a 6×24 lot is $660,000.

Here’s where it gets real weird.

The entire town was built around
the Cathedral of the Transfiguration,
which is abandoned.

The strange history of the cathedral

Building started in 1984, and is designed to hold 1,000 Slovak Roman Catholics worshipers.

It was the dream of Mr. Stephen Boleslav Roman, a rich mining guy. Mr. Roman spared no expense – the 20-story dome is real gold, it features the world’s largest bells, mosaics made of 5 million pieces, and the architect was the guy who renovated Westminster Abby. So ya, the original $13 million budget was exceeded.

In 1984 the Pope blesses the cornerstone of the place! That makes it the first church in North America to be consecrated by a Pope.

Then sadness.

Mr. Roman dies in 1988 and 1,600 people attend his funeral, in what would be the structure’s largest event. Because then the fighting started, construction was never completed, and in 2006 the place was shut down. Priests were suspended permission from celebrating Mass here, and along with the alter, the blessed cornerstone was removed!

It was opened again once in 2009, to celebrate a 25-metre mosaic being completed, and that’s it.

Above is a photo of inside about 6 weeks ago that I uh, found on the internet.

Now the cathedral belongs to the town.

It’s just… I don’t… where’s the logic… why complete the massive mosaic 3 years after it closed? Why isn’t the place covered in graffiti and squatters? Whose watching the cameras, the ones that are pointed away from the doors, and down? Then my mind goes to “hiding in plain sight….”

Go visit the place and let me know what you think.

5 Years of the Honda Indy in Toronto

Jul 21 2014

2014 marks 5 consecutive years, thanks Honda!

Cheered hard for James Hinchcliffe, Honda’s driver and only Canadian in the race. Felt for you on those 2 setbacks. Your time is coming, don’t be worried.

(great shot eh, it’s Kanishka’s)

I asked James about how he’s able to concentrate deeply for so long, that’s the topic for this week’s column.

That part is so interesting to me, because really, every single thing, all the tech, design, money and math that are poured into this car, are all superfluous if the driver’s focus wavers.

New headers.

As close as you can get, to the fastest point,
with the most noise. Earplugs out always.

This is just before turn 3, the carnage corner.

Most crashes happen on this ridiculousness, are you kidding this turn.

I got this scarf printed in the paper HAHA.

It’s the photo for a column, one of my new favourites: The Mystery of the Checkered Flag

5 Year Highlights include:

1 – the 2012 Backstage Tour of the Indy here
2 – in 2011, I attended both days here & here (ask me about this entrance IRL)
3 – security at the Indy here
4 – the steering wheel, and what $20,000 in tires looks like
5 – five years of this sound…

Forever a ‘Top 3 Favourite Sound’

The original Civic was on display!

1973 – 40 years old now.

Here’s some history of this car; I wrote a ‘then & now’, and used it to illustrate – When the Side Mirror was Optional

And then there was a 4th Generation Civic, a forever favourite, it gets its own post.

Here’s something kinda neat – 2 of the last 5 Indy’s, I’ve driven the display car, literally. (this year at Mosport, and the year the HFPs came out, at an airport)