Spring a month away, but fun can still be had this weekend

Good news: spring is around a month away. Bad news: you have to wait another month for the season of rejuvenation to arrive.

While we wait for it to arrive, there is no reason to stay inside. Plenty of things are taking place this weekend to help lift your spirits while helping the community.

While you are having fun, keep in mind that a portion of Line 1 will be closed on Saturday for TTC and Metrolinx work.

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Events

Yogathon to help SickKids
February is heart month, and a special event is being held on Sunday to help children to live with heart with heart disease. The Hope for Hearts Yogathon, which takes place at the Mattamy Athletic Centre on Carlton Street, features two hours of yoga practice led by instructors. Money raised from the event will go towards the SickKids Exercise Medicine Program. The program is the first dedicated pediatric one in Canada that provides physical activity and fitness recommendations to children with heart disease. The event runs from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and doors open at noon.

Team Dog Rescue charity gala
Dogs are lovable and loving, but sadly, not everyone treats them this way. That’s where Team Dog Rescue comes in. It has helped rescue hundreds of abused and homeless dogs. This Friday, a charity gala will be held to help the organization continue its work. The event takes place at Steam Whistle on Bremner Boulevard at 7:30 p.m. The ticket price includes appetizers, gourmet chef-attended food stations, a sweet table, complimentary wine, and live entertainment.

Polar Bear Fest
If bears are your thing, why not spend part of your weekend chilling with some polar bears at the Toronto Zoo. This Saturday is international Polar Bear Day, and to celebrate, the zoo will be hosting Polar Bear Fest. Visitors can take part in fun and educational activities that will help raise awareness and support this threatened Canadian species. There will be two special presentations, one at 10 a.m. and the other at 1 p.m., that will allow guests to meet the people who work up close and personal with polar bears. The zoo will also host a silent auction and kids activities. There is also a 1k and 5k walk/run to support polar bears. That gets underway at 8:15 a.m. at the front entrance bridge at the Toronto Zoo.

 

Icefest
Lovers of winter won’t want to miss this years Icefest in Yorkville this weekend. The annual event will be celebrating the Middle Ages this year. More than 70,000 pounds of crystal clear ice sculpted into huge displays, including an 11th Century-styled castle, knights and a giant throne built for two. And if that isn’t enough history for you, Icefest will also feature Knight tournaments all weekend. The festival runs from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in Village of Yorkville Park. Just make sure you keep an eye on the weather.

Future Cities #3
Waterfront Toronto will be hosting its third installment of its Future Cities talk this Sunday, with a special focus on Toronto’s housing issues. It will be hosted in collaboration with author and ‘placemaker’ Jay Pitter. She will transform the Toronto Reference Library’s Bram and Bluma Appel Salon into a “public living room,” to help push the conversation of the city’s housing challenges. The talk is on from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Toronto Reference Library.

TTC closure

Subway disruption
Crews will be working on the Eglinton Crosstown LRT at Yonge Street and Eglinton Avenue on Saturday, which means trains won’t be running on Line 1 between Sheppard-Yonge and St. Clair stations. The TTC will also be conducting track work in the area. The closure was initially scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, but it has since been cancelled for Sunday.

Shuttle buses won’t be provided north-south, so riders are being asked to use the University section of Line 1 and buses on existing routes to get around. Express buses will also run frequently on the following routes: 32 Eglinton West, 52 Lawrence West, 84 Sheppard West, and 96 Wilson.

For those driving in the area, on-street parking on Pleasant Boulevard, and on St. Clair Avenue between Yonge Street and Ferndale Avenue, will be restricted, to allow for the smooth flow of traffic.