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Friday, February 28, 2014

It's time to "Tap Into Maple" in Ontario's Lake Country

For Immediate Release       February 2014

ORILLIA, Ontario --Local residents and visitors are encouraged to experience all things maple this spring on what just might be the sweetest route through one of the prettiest parts of the province.

“Last year, we changed the Flavours of Lake Country event where area restaurants featured maple-themed meals during maple syrup season,” said Jennifer Whitley, marketing manager of Ontario’s Lake Country.

Tom Shaw shows the traditional method of tapping maple trees. (Jim Fox photo)
“That went really well and encouraged us to continue working with Donna Hewitt (Director of Corporate and Strategic Initiatives for Oro-Medonte Township), Tom and Terri-Lynn Shaw (owners of Shaw’s Maple Syrup Sugar Bush) and some of our other partners to expand the initiative.”

The ambitious new venture has evolved into a tour of the region’s most popular eateries, resorts, sugar bushes, museums and shops, where every destination – all 23 of them – will have something to do with maple, the quintessential Canadian flavour.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Spring's first Home and Garden Show at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre

(News Release)

TORONTO -- Do-it-yourselfers will have a chance to rub elbows with plenty of celebrity experts when the 2014 International Home & Garden Show rolls into the Metro Toronto Convention Centre starting Thursday, March 6, 2014.

“We now have two unique shows for the first time ever at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, featuring more than 400 exhibitors and over 30 celebrity speakers for people to learn home and gardening tips and tricks from,” says show manager Paul Newdick. “It really will allow people to channel their inner green thumb or home maker/renovator."

Celebrity experts who’ll be on hand to offer free seminars include: Kimberley Seldon, Karl Lohnes, Owen Reeves, Frankie Ferragine, Paul LaFrance, Albert Graves, Denis Flanagan, Marc Atiyolil, Robert Koci, Mary Dobson, Nicholas Rosaci, Lynn Spence, and many more.

The Lung Association presents the 2014 Stratford Garden Festival


February 27– March 2, 2014 The Stratford Rotary Complex

“Beyond the Garden Gate”
Few things are as enticing as an open gate.  The image is an invitation to enter the space beyond and explore what surprises might await.

The image created for the 2014 Stratford Garden Festival by artist Lasha Mutual conveys that sense of anticipation and discovery that people will experience as they wonder through beautiful display gardens inspired by the theme, “Beyond the Garden Gate”.

Presented by The Lung Association and sponsored by Orr Insurance and Investment, The Stratford Garden Festival is now in its 14th year.

Since its beginning in 2001, a net of more than $750,000 has been raised through this event to support The Lung Association in its medical research commitments and lung health initiatives around asthma and COPD, such as the Asthma Action Program, BreathWorks and Your Healthy Home.

With as many as one in five people in the province living with some kind of breathing problem, the work of The Lung Association is more important than ever. 

The Gardens
Eight garden designers will interpret the theme “Beyond the Garden Gate” in a variety of ways, but all will convey the sense of discovery inherent to the theme.

Not only will visitors be delighted with the taste of spring the gardens deliver, they will also take away ideas to apply to their own gardens -  from water features to the use of colour and form, from designing a quiet green oasis to creating a modern setting for outdoor entertaining.
The Sebringville Garden Centre display last year. This year features a fairy garden.

Trace Adkins reschedules upcoming performance at Seneca Niagara Casino


NIAGARA FALLS, NY – Seneca Niagara Casino & Hotel regrets to announce that the March 22 show with country superstar Trace Adkins at the Seneca Niagara Events Center is postponed. A rescheduled date for the show has been set for Friday, June 13, 2014, at 8 p.m.

Guests wishing to attend the rescheduled June 13 performance simply need to keep their existing tickets. Refunds for tickets purchased at a Seneca Casino store must be returned to that specific location. Refunds for tickets purchased through Ticketmaster may be returned to any Ticketmaster location, online at Ticketmaster.com or by phone at 800-745-3000.

Disney Live! Mickey's Rockin' Road Show is touring Canada

   The Disney gang hits the road in an old jalopy at the Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show.
HAMILTON, ON – Disney Live! is on a Canadian tour with stops in 11 cities including Hamilton, Ontario.

Hit the road with Mickey Mouse and your favourite Disney friends for a hilarious talent search in Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show.
Featuring classic characters in an original storyline, this fun-filled stage production from Feld Entertainment, the producers of Disney On Ice, plays Copps Coliseum in Hamilton March 20/14. Tickets are on sale now.
Get your bounce on with Tigger
Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy set out on a zany road trip where audiences join in and help find the coolest acts around. Along the way, hit a high note with Cinderella; get your bounce on with Tigger; and shout out your loudest “yee-haw” at a hoedown with Woody, Jessie and Buzz Lightyear from Disney Pixar’s Toy Story!

Grab your family for a fun-filled getaway at this live, show-stopping adventure jam-packed with unexpected twists, turns and hijinks —right in your hometown!

Hamilton Ticket Prices & Showtimes:                                                                                                   
$67 / $47 / $30 / $23 (Additional fees may apply).
March 20/14 – 3pm & 6pm
Tickets available at www.ticketmaster.ca or 1-855-872-5000

Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show kicked off in Vancouver February 21.
Upcoming performances of this live stage production are in:

REGINA – Brandt Centre: March 1/14
SASKATOON – Credit Union Centre: March 2/14
WINDSOR – WFCU Centre: March 7-8/14
OTTAWA – National Arts Centre: March 9/14
OSHAWA – GM Centre: March 15/14
LONDON – Budweiser Gardens: March 16/14
HAMILTON – FirstOntario Centre: March 20/14
TORONTO – Sony Centre: March 21-23/14
MONTREAL – St. Denis Theatre: March 27-30/14
KINGSTON – Rogers K-Rock Centre: April 5/14

To learn more about Disney Live!, visit www.disneylive.ca or visit us on Facebook or YouTube.
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About Feld Entertainment
Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!

Celebrating International Polar Bear Day at the Toronto Zoo



The Toronto Zoo in celebrating International Polar Bear Day, Feb. 27, by "Bundling Up For Polar Bears"! The Zoo’s "Bundle Up For Polar Bears" initiative is where we invite families, individuals, schools and businesses to join the Zoo in bundling up by putting on your favourite sweater, hoodie, or jacket and turning down your thermostat by two degrees this week
 
Register by emailing us at bundleup@torontozoo.ca so we can log your participation.
 
Keep it cool this February and Bundle Up For Polar Bears!
 
The Toronto Zoo has so much to offer, including six warm tropical pavilions full of exotic animals at every turn, daily keeper talks and 10 km of scenic trails. The Toronto Zoo is open 364 days a year and is the destination for winter adventure! PLUS visit Horticulture's Orchid Extravaganza in the Malayan Woods Pavilion! Spring is in the air!


Presented By Coca-Cola  
 
 The Toronto Zoo needs YOUR help in naming our male polar bear cub!
Voting closes on Monday, March 3, 2014 at noon.
 
Toronto Zoo Staff have selected their top six names, and you get to vote for your favorite and help name Hudson's little brother. Once the votes have been tallied, the cub's official new name will be announced in early March.
 
CLICK HERE for more contest information and to submit your vote today!

Ontario Parks suggests summer campers book now; March Break suggestions

Family camping at Ontario Parks (Photo: Ontario Parks)
(News Release -- Feb. 27/14)

Ontario Parks is suggesting campers take advantage of its five month booking window and book their summer camping vacations now.

Over 12,000 park campsites were booked by the end of January. Numbers continue to rise steadily with over 35,000 reservations processed at the time of this update.

According to park officials, campgrounds at popular provincial parks like Sandbanks, Killbear and Pinery fill up quickly for summer holiday weekends.

Staff offer suggestions for getting a campsite in popular parks or for alternate locations with availability in this Park Blog post, http://www.parkreports.com/parksblog/?p=3265.

Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes at Hamilton's FirstOntario Centre

   It “A Whole New World” as Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes.

HAMILTON, ON – Believing is just the beginning in Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes!  Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Tiana, Jasmine, Aurora and Snow White all make their wishes come true in this collection of celebrated tales wonderfully told through artistic skating and acrobatics.

This March Break, the show plays in Hamilton from March 13 to March 16/14 for 9 performances. Tickets are on sale now.


Performing at FirstOntario Centre (formerly Copps Coliseum) for the first time, audiences will be transported to a world where imaginations soar and anything can happen if they just believe.

With the help of the magical pixie Tinker Bell, the Disney Princesses embark on the adventure of a lifetime.

   Disney On Ice presents Princesses & Heroes.

Hollerado and Rebel Emergency join Horseshoe Open, Ontario's largest ski and snowboard festival

BARRIE, ONTARIO, February 25, 2014Horseshoe, a Skyline Resort is gearing up to kick-off the fourth annual Horseshoe Open, Ontario’s largest ski and snowboard festival, March 7-9.

The three-day event, hosted by radio personality Todd Shapiro, will see Horseshoe Resort play host to some of North America’s best skiers and snowboarders alongside DJ showcases and concerts from celebrated Canadian indie rock band, Hollerado, Rebel Emergency and Anna Cyzon.

“This year Horseshoe Open is set to be our biggest and best yet,” said director of partnerships and events, Jonathan Reid. “With the inclusion of Slopestyle in this year’s Olympic Games we’re really looking forward to seeing what the athletes have in store for the Open.”
Throughout the weekend, skiers and snowboarders will compete in several events spanning the resort’s 29 ski runs and popular terrain park.

Get "winter active" in Orillia: Winter Carnival time

(News Release)

Saturday, March 1 – Sunday, March 2, 2014
 

Don’t let the harsh winter win; get up, go out and get Winter Active with the City of Orillia this weekend.

The City’s annual Winter Active events run from Saturday, March 1 to Sunday, March 2 and coincides with the Orillia Winter Carnival and the Ontario Winter Games.


“Although picturesque from the window, this winter has certainly been challenging for all Orillians, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get outside and make the most of it,” said Mayor Angelo Orsi.


“Winter Active is a great weekend for the entire family and showcases just how fun winter can be.”
All events associated with Winter Active are free.

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Disney On Ice presents "Let's Party!" in Toronto for March Break



Very Merry Unbirthday Party

Rogers Centre is Your March Break Destination

TORONTO, ON – Disney On Ice presents Let’s Party! is bringing a colossal party on ice to Toronto this March Break! This all-new show plays Rogers Centre from  March 12-16/14 for 9 performances. Tickets are now on sale.

Audiences are invited to make an ordinary day extraordinary and enjoy some of the world’s most popular festivities, including a winter wonderland with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains, a Hawaiian luau with Lilo and Stitch, a Royal Ball with the Disney Princesses, a Very Merry Unbirthday Party and more in one action-packed and positively unforgettable celebration!
 
Hawaiian luau with Lilo and Stitch

Disney On Ice presents Let’s Party! features more than 50 characters from 16 Disney stories live on ice, including Tiana from Walt Disney Pictures’ The Princess and the Frog

Tickets for Disney On Ice presents Let’s Party! are available at www.disneyonice.com, www.ticketmaster.ca,  Rogers Centre Box Office or by calling (855) 985-5000.

Ticket Prices: $93 (Rinkside), $68 (VIP), $43,  $28.  Additional fees may apply.


To learn more about Disney On Ice, go to www.disneyonice.com, or visit us on Facebook and YouTube.
 

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About Feld Entertainment


Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that lift the human spirit and create indelible memories, with 30 million people in attendance at its shows each year. Feld Entertainment's productions have appeared in more than 70 countries on six continents and include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey®, Feld Motor Sports, Disney On Ice and Disney Live!.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Shipwrecks, pirates and treasures at the Waterloo Region Museum; rare artifacts from China's Forbidden City at the ROM



   One-Tank Trip for Feb. 22/14
 
   (c) By Jim Fox

   Ahoy mateys – be on the lookout for pirates and treasure recovered from the depths of the oceans.
   And, check out some 250 treasures that were part of imperial life from China’s Forbidden City.
   They are featured in two special exhibitions being shown for the first time in Canada at the Waterloo Region Museum in Kitchener and the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) in Toronto.
Visitors can learn about shipwrecks and the recovery of their valuable cargoes at the Waterloo Region Museum.
   Shiver me timbers
   “Shipwreck! Pirates and Treasure” is an exhibit containing hundreds of shipwreck artifacts collected from beneath the surface of the oceans.
   The exhibit, created by Florida-based Odyssey Marine Exploration, is on daily through April 30 at the Waterloo Region Museum.
   It includes an interactive gallery and activities to “immerse visitors with the lore, legends and facts of pirates” from the Caribbean, Barbary corsairs from North Africa, privateers and buccaneers.
   Visitors can find out what it’s like to be a shipwreck explorer, captain of a sinking ship or a pirate on the run along with hands-on activities such as a robotic arm to pick up treasure and a hurricane simulator to challenge storms.
Hundreds of shipwreck artifacts are on display at an exhibition at the Waterloo Region Museum.
   There are some “500 priceless artifacts” recovered from famous shipwrecks including gold and silver treasures from thousands of leagues under the seas.
   Interactive games and challenges “allow visitors to experience the thrill of shipwreck exploration while investigating some of the world’s greatest maritime stories,” said James Jensen, curator of exhibits.
   Tracing some 2,000 years of seafaring history, the exhibit showcases Odyssey Marine Exploration’s archeological work.
   It presents the “stories of shipwrecks, passengers and artifacts once lost to the deep and now recovered and shared with the public,” said Mark Gordon, president and chief operating officer.
   There’s a full-size replica of ZEUS, Odyssey's remotely operated vehicle that acts as the archaeologist’s hands and eyes in the deep ocean.
Treasures recovered from shipwrecks, including Second World War silver from the SS Gairsoppa, are on exhibit at the Waterloo Region Museum.
   Odyssey’s discoveries include the SS Republic, HMS Victory, lost in 1744 in the Channel Island, and SS Gairsoppa, sunk in 1941 by a German U-boat’s torpedo.
   Deep in the Atlantic Ocean, Odyssey discovered the Republic, called the greatest shipwreck of the 1860’s American Civil War era, recovering 51,000 rare coins and 14,000 artifacts.
   On display are gold bars, silver bullion and coins from the ships.
   Explore pirate lore, legend and facts, including the infamous Blackbeard and Captain Kidd, and see a 1700’s pirate cannon. 10 Huron Rd., Kitchener; waterlooregionmuseum.com; (519) 748-1914

   Forbidden treasures
   The Royal Ontario Museum is opening the gates of China’s Forbidden City on March 8.
   Called “The Forbidden City: Inside the Court of China’s Emperors,” it runs until Sept. 1 and launches the ROM’s year-long centennial celebrations.
A portrait of Emperor Yongzheng in his study will be shown at the Royal Ontario Museum’s Forbidden City exhibition. (The Palace Museum photo)
   “Canadians will see 250 treasures that were part of imperial life with these incredibly rare artifacts being seen outside China for first time,” said publicist Marilynne Friedman.
   Many of the objects, including textiles, calligraphy, paintings and armour, have never before travelled outside China.
   “The ROM’s exhibition takes visitors on a remarkable journey to the heart of the Forbidden City – once off limits to all but a privileged few,” said Janet Carding, ROM director and chief executive officer.
   Presented in collaboration with Beijing’s Palace Museum, the items are complemented by artifacts from the ROM’s collections that “tell captivating stories and reveal the fascinating characters” that made the Forbidden City the centre of an immense empire for more than 500 years.
This imperial throne set is part of the ROM’s China’s Forbidden City exhibition. (The Palace Museum)
   There will be an extensive rotation of objects half way through the exhibition’s engagement due to a significant number of light-sensitive textiles and paintings.
   In the exhibition’s “climatic section,” there’s a look inside the emperor’s personal spaces that were once forbidden to all but the ruler.
    It showcases exquisite objects including jades, calligraphies and ceramics and an exceedingly rare porcelain “chicken” cup, commissioned by Emperor Chenghua for his mother. 100 Queens Park, Toronto; rom.on.ca; (416) 586-8000

   The great outdoors
   The Outdoor Adventure Show, presented by Ontario Tourism, continues through Sunday at the International Centre (6900 Airport Rd.) in Mississauga.
   It’s a “must-attend” event for the passionate outdoor adventurer, said publicist Helen Lovekin.
   There are more than 300 exhibitors with everything for the outdoors from camping and paddling excursions to zip lining, climbing rock walls and scuba diving.
   Pros demonstrate canoe, kayak and stand-up paddleboard along with “awe-inspiring” travel presentations and children’s activities. OutdoorAdventureShow.ca

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca