This year I learned a new trick to gain unique vantage points of Toronto - taking a canoe out onto Lake Ontario.

Being a photographer and residing right here in the city, I am constantly in pursuit of sights unseen through the lens of a camera. This pursuit often requires me to be constantly driving or riding the Red Rocket across this expansive city, typically accompanied with extensive walking over unfriendly terrain. But not anymore.

Daredevil Joseph D. Bauer is back at the CNE, showing off the original Wheel of Thrills aerial stunt.

Bauer, 41, performed at The Ex, back in 1981 with his parents and sister Lisa under the name The Fabulous Fearless Bauers. He's an eighth-generation circus performer, his family originally from Switzerland.

Bauer's act features him walking and running inside and outside of a 45-foot long wheel that rotates on a beam at 360 degrees. It's kind of scary to watch... there's no safety net to catch him if he falls.

Toronto may be a relatively flat city, but that doesn't mean that there isn't quite the collection of tough hills for cyclists to climb. As an avid rider I often masochistically ascend these roads to test my fitness and prove myself a man (full spandex and all!). But, truth be told, going down them is almost always more fun. And, as a commuter on a single speed, I avoid them like the plague.

So in a gesture to the arrival of the Tour de France to the Alps, I've compiled a list of some of the ones I alternately love and fear. I'd be happy to add more to the map at the bottom if readers can think of some that I've missed!

The Honda Indy Toronto IndyCar Series Race on Sunday afternoon was an exhilarating 85 laps with 11 turns around the streets of Toronto by Lakeshore Blvd. W. near the BMO Field.

This being my first Indy, I didn't quite know what to expect, except for the noise. The fumes were worse than the noise, but then I had earplugs in the entire time I was down by the race course.

I hung out at Turn 3, also known as the Budweiser Winner's Circle. From King's Corner, I got to observe the race mostly through two chain-link fences.

Alex Rios is having a bad year and on Thursday night it just got worse. Coming out of a charity event at the ROM, Rios couldn't hold back from unleashing a string of profanities on a group nearby, one of whom initially took the Blue Jays right fielder to task for not signing an autograph for a young fan.



Rios, who hasn't come close to delivering on the huge contract he signed a couple of years ago, just can't seem to hold it together these days on or off the field. He struck out five times on Thursday before the ROM event and is 1 for 7 since.

Shamrock Bowl has been my favourite venue so far at the 2009 edition of Door's Open Toronto. Found up a flight of stairs from a new Goodlife Fitness near Gerrard and Coxwell, this five pin bowling alley dates back to the 1950s. Shuttered for half a decade it has just re-opened and for Doors Open the bowling (including shoe "rental") is free so we grabbed a lane and tried to avoid the gutters.

And what gutters! The bowling alley has been impeccably restored. In stark contrast to the suburban strip mall of a facade that houses it, the entire space features original and vintage floors, lighting and seats....it's almost like stepping into a time-warp (in a good way) to the century past save for the bottles of Mill St. that hint to its impending liquour license. Sadly though the bowling alley won't be open to the public for long. Today is the last day to throw some free strikes. Starting next month it will only be open for corporate and event bookings.