Tue, Feb 2 2010 - Midweek Skate: 80s Music at the WinterCity Festival (View Original Event Details)
|  |
You know it is going to be a good evening when it begins with a bottle of free hot sauce!
Yes! As we walked from our gathering place, at Queen subway station, to our event location at Nathan Phillips Square, we ran into a group of workers giving out free sample bottles of Frank's Red Hot Buffalo Wings sauce. Delighted, we snapped them up, added them to our bags, and continued along our way.
Once at the Square, after we got the rental lockers take our quarters, and after we laced up, and we got going. We even ran into the Volunteer Coordinator, Victor, who was in the area and who dropped by to say hello (but not to skate).
Skating to 80s music was good fun. It brought us to "back in the day"! Some sang along or offered memories of how old they were when they heard a particular song for the first time.
Everyone was at very different skating levels and abilities. Robert, at one point, helpfully offered a brief lesson for those who wanted it.
It was snowing lightly, and not too cold; it had the feel of a nice, wintery evening. Midweek, the ice wasn't nearly as crowded as on a weekend. Also, since it was during WinterCity, there were other things happening at the Square: the art installation, Angel of the Apocalypse, meant that there were periodic -- but controlled! -- large bursts of fire from close by to where we were skating.
In all, we skated for just under 2 hours, with lots of good conversations and laughter. After changing back into our regular shoes, the group (minus two, who had to head home after skating in preparation for an early work day) headed over to Tim Horton's across the street for coffee, and conversation. After an hour or so of chatting, we headed out, filled with warmth and after an energizing evening.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.