Tulip in the Twilight

Flowers for the Missus (in living colour)

I showed the B&W version of this last week, and even though I'm a B&W guy at heart, after some thought, I have to admit this colour version works better. Hope you enjoy it!

Mies' Masterpiece

I know I've mentioned him here before, but Ludwig Mies van der Rohe is my favourite modern architect. From Germany's Bauhaus School, he moved to the US in the late thirties, where his buildings dot Chicago, Detroit and New York among many other places.

Here in Canada we're fortunate to have two of his masterpieces, Montreal's Westmount Square and Toronto's Toronto Dominion Centre, the latter being perhaps his most grandiose and majestic work.

When I was a messenger on stand by (between calls) I used to love lying down on my back on the grass to watch the changing shadows and reflections play on the buildings, much as they are in this photo.

Flowers for the Missus

Decisions, decisions, decisions...

The Training Ride

Yonge and Soudan, Walking the Dog

Still Life on Bayview

Found in a bakery/cafe on Bayview Avenue in Toronto.

Ask Me

Taken last September at Toronto's Royal Ontario Museum, the young girl is looking at a monarch caterpillar transforming itself into a chrysalis right before her eyes.

Talking to Peggy?

On the cell at TD Centre.

The Ice Bear

Since Pappy mentioned the messenger race Global Gutz yesterday (in which Critical Path racers did very well), I thought today might be a good time to show the winner, one Jim (the Ice Bear) Kuz. Here's a guy in his '40's who regularly wins races against kids half his age.

Amazing.

Here's to ya, Jim!

The Psychic

I went to see a psychic the other day. She wasn't in.

If she could really see into the future, I figure she'd have known I was coming and would have been there waiting for me.

I'm not going to see her again. I'm skeptical that she can really solve all life's problems...

Shane

The Cigarette Girl

The title's not PC to be sure, but that's what they were called, back in the 30's and 40's. I've always thought things would have been cooler back then. Smokey bars, floor shows, dancing girls...

Of course, I'm sure real life never looked so good as these places looked in the movies. Whatever the case may be, this young lady would not have looked out of place walking from table to table at places with names like Kon-Tiki Lounge, The Coconut Grove or The Cotton Club.

On an unrelated note, Passover starts tomorrow at sundown. Le-shanah ha-ba-a b'Yerushalayim!

A Moment of Shameless Self-Promotion

You've seen them both before, but when you pick up the next issue of Momentum magazine, you'll see these two photos (Tofu and Brooks, above and Kiki, below) again. Yes, Knarf has been published!

I don't know when it'll be out, but it's sold at bike shops and print media outlets across Canada and in some part of the US. The photos in question will be used in an article on CMWC.

Cool, no?

Watching the World Go By

The subway emerged from the tunnel just above Bloor, and this young man and his mother enjoyed the passing view.

Cheesecake

I know, I'm shameless. Why change now?

We were at a fundraiser for the arts (actually, a fundraiser for an artist - more on it later in the week). Lots of camp and fun - and some serious stuff, too.

In the "camp" department, this young lady was doing her best Marlene Dietrich, and doing it very well!

The Look

I don't believe he was serious when he said, "Put the camera down, or I'll break it and your face!"

I didn't stick around to find out...





PS: just joking. I know the fellow (but not by name); he's a regular at the Jet Fuel, and we laughed about his scowl as we looked at it together on the LCD screen on the back of my camera.

Spoke Cards

When messengers have a race, they get these registration cards, which are placed in the spokes as souvenirs of the race. As you can see, this bike's been in a few races...

We Don't Need No Stinking Carbon Fibre

I love cranks, spiders, rings and chains.

In another time, in another context, I could probably have been arrested for making such an utterance in public...

Hot Babes on Trackbikes

Leah

























Maija

Italian Weapons

At the CMWC photo shoot on the weekend, most people had their favourite steeds on display. Here, a Cinelli, Bianchi and (my) Fondriest rest in the late-afternoon sun, next to the Toronto Dominion Centre.

One Pretty Bike

Another photo shoot yesterday for CMWC (only two months away!). A bunch of messengers showed up for their chance at glory (or at least notoriety, or at least a bit of free publicity), including yours truly, who took a few pix, and who had a few pix taken of.

I think I have a lovely bike, but Dennis had the prettiest bike of all...

The Urban Oasis

I suppose that some thirty or thirty-five years ago, when this little resting spot was constructed, it seemed like a nice idea: a place where passing pedestrians could rest their weary feet for a few minutes.

The years haven't been kind and maintenance has been non-existant. The school that it's in front of is slated for demolition, making way for yet another high-rise condo.

Progress...

Art

It can make you think.

Or does it make you feel?

Or can it do both? Or neither?

My Bike

She needs a cleaning, but she's still lovely, no?

Sweet Sixteen

I was at the Jet Fuel for the first time in many months on the weekend. As you can see, not much has changed.

I was reminded that April 1st is the annual Jet Fuel Birthday Party. It started on the first anniversary of its opening, with a free keg of beer. Each year he adds another free keg. This year Johnny Jet Fuel (in the pic, on the only phone in the coffeeshop) will be providing 16 kegs.

In a break from tradition, the shindig will be starting at 4 in the afternoon, rather than the usual 8pm. Every year, no matter how many kegs, they always run out of beer at around midnight. I wonder what time they'll finish this year?

I won't know, as I won't be here. I was a stalwart over the years, but being older, wiser and "married", I'm just not up to this sort of stuff anymore. I'll leave it to the young kids to indulge.

I'm guessing there may be more than a few hung-over messengers on the road tomorrow morning. That, or half my crew will book off "sick"...

;-)

Classical Music Consort

They had a concert last night, however we were unable to attend.

There will be others, and we will go - you should too, as they're a wonderful chambre orchestra!

Inside the Peloton

(of messengers, that is...)

Gliding Along

Yet another shot, same guy, same location as yesterday. I took a bunch of him - something about him caught my eye...

Nathan Phillips Square Toronto

Stairway to the Stars?

I'm working on a better title, but I was just listening to some old Ella Fitzgerald songs on the weekend and that's one of my favourite songs by her. I guess the title stuck in my head.

Better than Stairway to Heaven, I suppose...

;-)

The Chocolateer

Genius at work!

In Traffic

Messengers actually think this sort of thing is fun...

Here's Pete, jamming with traffic along Yonge Street in Toronto.

By the way, today, in the Jewish tradition, is the Fast of Esther and tomorrow and Saturday are Purim. Any holiday where adherants are "commanded" to "eat drink and be merry" sounds pretty good to me!

We are also coming up to the Easter Weekend. There's lots to celebrate. Hopefully your long weekend will be as enjoyable as I know mine will be. Have a good one!

Box, Needs a Car

That's what bike messengers tell their dispatcher if a package is too big to carry. Unlike those who might use a breadbox as a standard ("Is it bigger than a breadbox?"), couriers measure boxes against a case of beer - to be more precise, the "two-four".

So, the usual cry is, "it's a box, the size of a two-four, too big for a bike, needs a car!"

Next time I hear that, I'll show them this photo of Sam, happily carting two dozen beer on his back.

'Nuff said...

The Grin

Riding a bike on a sunny late-winter day does that to a person: it's hard to suppress a smile...

Cool Commute

Yesterday there was a CMWC publicity photo shoot. Loads of pix to process, but this one was an initial fave.

Gorgeous weekend with sun and mildish temps. Unbelievably, a week after a pretty good dumping of snow, enough has melted that I felt comfortable riding to work today - the first ride to the new office in Mississauga, out past the airport. -8C made for a chilly ride, but it'll be much milder (around freezing) for the ride home.

Nice to be back at it again!

Desperation

I've always thought smokers huddled outside buildings in inclement weather indulging in their addiction to be somewhat pathetic. Maybe that's because I used to smoke, and I've been there...

No Entry/Entrance

Parking garage, City Hall, Toronto

The Man with the Handtruck

It's blurry, it's out of focus, body parts are cut off.

It must be art!

;-)

Stepping out for Chinese

In Toronto's Chinatown during Saturday's snowstorm.

The Tour de Toronto

Stage racing, Canadian style.

Go with the Snow

Another 10 cm. of the fluffy white stuff is on it's way, starting this afternoon into tomorrow. Winter's last hurrah?

Who knows.

Like the driver of the bus I took to work on Wednesday (our last snowfall), all we can do is go with the flow...

Cat's Eye

I've always thought that Patches has gorgeous eyes, and the narrow depth of field of the lens used accentuates this feature.

Cats are great: sitting around with camera in hand, wanting to take a photo of something (anything!), cats are always willing subjects. At least Patches is...

Queen Car in the Snow

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Finding a Sunspot

When my eldest was little, I read to her every night. For a time, among her favourite books was Nate the Great. Nate had a friend/nemesis named Rosamund, who was a bit weird. She named her cat named Super Hex.

When my daughter took a cat into her life, she named her Rosamund and then shortened it to Rosie, who can be seen here warming herself in the sun on a cool winter day.

Winnie

Many things about the man that I despise, many things that I admire.

I need his courage right now...