It's Grey Cup Weekend, reportedly the biggest weekend of the year for tourism in Toronto. It's also the 100th anniversary of the Grey Cup, and Toronto is playing. Go Argos! Stampeders fans attempted to recreate a 1948 stunt this morning - riding a horse through the lobby of the Royal York - but hotel management wasn't up for that kind of hijinx.
Supposedly my great-grandfather's name is on the Grey Cup, from when it was a university cup and he was the captain for Queen's Golden Gaels - in 1923 perhaps?
My brother, Michael was born December 1st, 1962 during Foggy Grey Cup. I believe it was the only time in the Cup's history that the game was cancelled, as the players, much less the spectators and the television cameras, couldn't see the ball. My parents' plans to go to a Grey Cup party were similarly cancelled when Mom told Dad that they were going to the hospital instead.
My favourite Grey Cup memory was when they came to Toronto for what just happened to be Grey Cup Weekend. Mom had won the trip - by filling out some entry or survey at the grocery store - which included Via Rail tickets from Kingston, a couple of nights at the Sheraton Centre, and some show tickets - can't remember what. We were on University Avenue when the Grey Cup Parade passed by, and we ended up following the last marching band up the street to the U of T campus. I took them to the cafeteria at Hart House where Dad and I ate egg salad sandwiches. That night after whatever show it was they saw they went to George's - their old jazz haunt - and Moe Kaufman was playing.
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