The Toronto Zoo has found a great way to captivate kids of all ages. They have a fabulous new exhibit called “Dinosaurs Alive!” and it’s running until October 8^th. There are 16 different animatronic dinosaurs on display including everyone’s favourites – the Tyrannosaurus Rex and the Stegosaurus. The exhibit is interactive and the kids are encouraged to touch the dinosaurs. They can even make them move and speak by touching buttons. All of the dinosaurs and skeletons are life size.

You’ll have the rare opportunity to take a step way back in history to the Mesozoic Era complete with sights, sounds, and very special effects. This exhibit is absolutely FREE with your regular admission to the Toronto Zoo. The Zoo is located 361 A Old Finch Avenue in Scarborough. From May 19^th – September 3^rd the Zoo is open from 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM and from September 4^th – October 8^th the Zoo is open from 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM. For more information follow the link below.

http://www.torontozoo.com/specialevents/

Did you know that there are still smoking rooms inside federal buildings? I was shocked when I heard that there were smoking rooms in the CBC and wondered how they were getting away with it. It seems that there is a loophole in the law and that federal buildings have been exempt.

Shouldn’t the feds have been leading the anti-smoking charge? Doesn’t it strike you as absurd that the very people making and enacting non-smoking legislation are the only ones still smoking in their office buildings? There are 25,740 federally regulated buildings where smoking rooms are still permitted. The banks, although federally regulated banned smoking long ago. They didn’t need a law to show good judgment.

Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Blackburn said that he’s now going to move to prohibit smoking in federal buildings. I’m sure that embarrassment has a lot to do with this sudden action. Until the CBC story broke some weeks ago most of us had no idea that this was going on. Leave it to the feds to always leave themselves a loophole in the law.

Since the city of Toronto has no luck selling commuters on the idea of carpooling, in their infinite wisdom they have decided to repackage the idea and try to sell it to the public under a different name – Hoverport. When I first heard the name I thought that they had proposed a new hovercraft system for the water to take the place of a ferry. But, I was wrong. The Hoverport System is a subscription-based carpool.

An annual membership would cost approximately $250.00. A commuter would drive to a parking lot where he/she would either pick up other passengers or leave the car and be picked up. There is no mention of the parking fees for the commuters who leave their cars in the parking lot. Free parking is probably not in the cards, so in addition to the membership fee, the non-drivers will also be paying a daily rate parking fee. This doesn’t sound like a very good deal to me. What do you think? Would you try the Hoverport System?

Congratulations to Barry Avrich, Toronto film maker and advertising executive who had the idea to open a movie theater in Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. One million dollars in donations made it all happen. There is now a real honest to goodness 230 seat movie theatre at the hospital. This should bring a welcome relief and diversion to the patients and their families who will have a brief respite from illness and slip into normal life for a few hours. There is even a popcorn machine in the theatre.

The inaugural film was Shrek the Third. The new movie theatre features a state-of-the-art digital and 35 mm projection system with Dolby surround sound. For those patients who cannot come to the theatre, all movies will be broadcast into their rooms via close circuit television. In addition to new releases the theatre will also show family films. All of this is at no cost to the patients and their families. What a wonderful way to brighten up the life of a sick child. Bravo!

From new media to new music, summer time in Toronto is party time. North by Northeast (NXNE) our fabulous music and film festival and conference is right around the corner. June 7 – 10 is when it’s all happening. Now in its 13^th year, this is Canada’s leading festival for the best in new music and film. Over 450 bands will be showcased at over 30 live music venues located in downtown Toronto. The film festival and the music festival run concurrently with the film festival showing music related films, shorts, and documentaries.

For those of you who are just dying to be part of the music and film biz there are many volunteer positions available for you to get a taste of the real thing. Follow the link below if you are interested in volunteering.

http://www.nxne.com/page.cfm/Volunteers

The best deal in town is the $28.00 wristband. And they are now on sale. For a mere $28.00 you have priority access to all of the bands as well as entry into every screening of the NXNE Film Fest. For the whole scoop follow the link below.

http://www.nxne.com/

Since you are taking the time to read this blog, then clearly you are interested in new media. There is an event coming up that you won’t want to miss. The Canadian New Media Awards Gala is taking place on Monday, May 28^th at The Carlu, conveniently located at 444 Yonge St. near College St. on the 4^th Floor. The VIP reception begins at 6:00 PM, followed by the Awards Show at 8:00 PM. A Post-Awards Reception will take place at 9:00 PM.

Tickets are going fast as this is THE new media event of the season. Business or evening wear are appropriate for the event. But, dress to impress always works. Come out and celebrate with the best and brightest in the industry.

To learn more about the Canadian New Media Awards and to order your tickets follow the link below.

http://www.cnma.ca/index_e/

The City of Toronto is stepping up to the plate and trying to do something constructive about homelessness. They have launched a pilot project called Transition to Work for shelter residents. With $300,000 in funding, the program is designed to give shelter residents a viable means of supporting themselves by giving them the necessary career skills. Twelve men have begun apprenticeships as chefs, plumbers, sheet metal workers, electricians, and millwrights. The funding pays for their tuition to George Brown and books and tools, in addition to providing ongoing job coaching and employment counselling. Staff will also be trained to teach life skills at employment resource centres.

The program is already showing great signs of success. Of the 12 men enrolled in the program, 10 of them have already completed at least 1 eight-week course of their apprenticeship education. Some of them have already secured fulltime work as apprentices, have moved out of shelters, are living on their own, and supporting themselves. The others are working while looking for apprenticeships.

To read more about this interesting program follow the link below.

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/191540

It may be a small step, but it is a step never-the-less. I say bravo! What do you say?

Have you heard about Kizmeet.com yet? It’s a new twist on a dating service and it recently launched in Toronto. Plans to expand to other cities are already in the works. Instead of placing your profile and photo on a website and hoping to hook up with the “right person” this website operates on the premise that you’ve already seen the right person but don’t know how to find them. Or, you may not even know their name. All over the world the rallying cry of singles is that they don’t know how to meet other single people. Or if they see someone that appeals to them, they don’t know how to approach them. It becomes a lost opportunity.

Kizmeet.com has different categories where you may have met someone – bars, clubs, & dining, coffee shops, gyms, markets & shopping, concerts & stadiums, outdoors, on the move, college campus, miscellaneous – and gives you the ability to post a message to that person in the hopes that they will recognize themselves and reply to you.

 To learn more about the service follow the link below.

http://www.kizmeet.com/missed-connections/toronto/

 Aren’t you curious enough to have a look? Will you post? Would you answer?

I wonder what the people living next door to a home in York region where 40 million dollars worth of ecstasy and drug making equipment was found are saying. This ordinary looking suburban home was an ecstasy lab. In the seizure were 214 kilograms of ecstasy powder, 140,000 tablets, four tablet presses, tablet dies, and a cutting agent. The pills were dyed with turquoise, yellow, pink and orange food colouring and pressed into shapes such as Tweety Bird, dolphins, and Coca-Cola labels, and packaged in heavy duty plastic zipper-lock bags. The pills are dyed to make them more attractive to teenagers and usually sell for $20.00 a pill. Parents should be aware if they notice their teenagers in possession of these drugs that they are potentially very harmful. The real tragedy is that 2 children were found in the home – an 8 year old and a 5 year old – who have been turned over to the Children’s Aid Society. To read more about this follow the link below.

 http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070312/ecstasy_lab_070312/20070312?hub=CTVNewsAt11

What is the answer to these ecstasy labs? How do we protect our children from dangerous drugs that look cute and harmless?

Toronto’s Distillery District is dedicated to promoting arts, culture, and entertainment. The area is defined as Mill Street from Parliament to Cherry Street. No cars are allowed as this is a pedestrian only walkway. However, there is plenty of on street metered parking and parking lots in the area. The only drawback in terms of location is that the Distillery District is not right on a subway line. If you are coming by public transit you will have to take a street car and walk a few blocks. You’ll certainly find it well worth it. The Gooderham & Worts Distillery is one of 40 buildings in the Victorian Industrial Architecture style that have all been lovingly preserved. The shops, galleries, and restaurants are all originals. You won’t find any neon signs or chain stores here. Take advantage of the site tours at the Distillery Visitor Centre and learn more about the area. The beautiful architecture makes it a natural for film shoots and you may notice scenery from Chicago and the X-Men. The 3^rd annual Distillery Blues Festival will be taking place from June 15^th – June 17^th. To learn more about this great event follow the link below.

http://www.distilleryblues.com/

There is a Farmer’s Market every Sunday from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM from June – October and a host of exciting events throughout the year.

To learn more about the Distillery District follow the link below.

http://www.thedistillerydistrict.com/frameset.html
Do you frequent the area? Tell us about your favourite restaurant or event.