I-Spy game at City Hall Podium Green Roof

 A fun away to explore Toronto's green roof 

This weekend (June 1, 2013), I took some photos of the Spring display on the Podium Green Roof up the ramp of City Hall in Nathan Phillips Square and created this I-Spy game.

I suggest you print it and take the kids to the green roof to spot what I saw. Let them run around the .5 km circuit (they can even ride their bike on this carless path). It's open on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.

Don't forget to visit inside City Hall to admire the nail mural, the model of the city and the giant podium in the middle of the futuristic building.

As a bonus, Nathan Phillips Square now has water fountains spurting from the ground, near the reflecting pool. Add to this some fries from the chip truck and you've got a great little family outing. 

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Skating on Christmas Day at Nathan Phillips Square rink

Yesterday, I took some photos of the rink at Nathan Phillips Square to complement my blog on the great combo for December 25.

The combo includes: admiring The Bay Christmas windows, checking Eaton Centre's decoration, skating at Nathan Phillips Square and hot chocolate at Starbucks across the street.

I checked with the City and there is supposed to be rental service by the rink on December 25 (the rink will be open from 9 am to 10 pm). But note that rental is CASH ONLY. A valid Photo ID is required. It is $10 for adults and $5 for 12 years and under for two hours rental, but it is free to skate on the rink.

If there's no snow by Christmas... kids can always climb up the "snow mount" made from the layers of the white stuff scriped off the ice by the zamboni's.

The Bay Christmas windows

Tonight, I walked by The Bay at Yonge and Queen and had a chance to admire once again the beautiful Christmas windows of The Bay (look for the windows with red awnings).
Soooo pretty! And to put us in the mood, they come with speakers playing Christmas music.

A few years ago, when we could not visit our family in Montreal for Christmas, we went downtown on December 25, expecting to find it empty. It was not! 

I found out:
1) that there were many families hanging between The Bay and Nathan Phillips Square
2) that the Eaton Centre remains open even when the stores are closed to allow those riding the subway to get out (so we got to admire the centre's decorations on December 25)
3) that the skating rink of Nathan Phillips Square is open on December 25, rental booth included 
4) that we could get a hot chocolate near the square.

There used to be a Timothy's at Bay and Yonge, it's been replaced by the restaurant Bannock, with a casual café counter. There's also a Starbuck's on the south-west side of that corner.

More Christmas-related posts from Nathalie Prezeau.