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Saturday, March 31, 2018

Double bill solo performances at Stratford’s Revival House April 6 (2018)

NEWS RELEASE
 
Globe-trotting troubadour Irish Mythen and 
Harrow Fair, dynamic duo of Miranda Mulholland (Great Lake Swimmers)
and Andrew Penner (Sunparlour Players)
  
Stratford, ON (March 28, 2018) – String Bone Presents! another exceptional double bill concert April 6, 2018, featuring Irish Mythen, an Irish-born, Canadian globe-trotting troubadour, and Harrow Fair, the dynamic duo of Miranda Mulholland (Great Lake Swimmers) and Andrew Penner (Sunparlour Players). The concert starts at 8:00 pm.
 
Irish Mythen
An impressive tour-de-force on stage, Mythen combines her contemporary and catchy anthems with traditional tunes borrowed from her homeland which all are woven together with a signature blend of edgy humour and heartfelt storytelling.

Says Mythen, “It’s the people I’ve met, the colour and shape of the land, the fact that you spend much of this life alone on the road. All these things have crept into my songs.”

Mythen, who now resides in Charlottetown, PEI, has performed across Europe, Australia, the Middle East and United Kingdom. In recent years, she has performed with Rod Stewart, Gordon Lightfoot and Lucinda Williams.

Irish music phenomenon Celtic Thunder to return to Casino Rama Resort

Celtic Thunder X tour makes a stop at the Great Indoors
 (News Release)
 
RAMA, ON – Casino Rama Resort is excited to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day a little early with the announce of Celtic Thunder returning to the Great Indoors with the Celtic Thunder X tour, celebrating the groups 10th anniversary. The multi-platinum Irish performers are set to play the award-winning Entertainment Centre this fall, Friday, October 5 (9 PM).

Backed by the amazing Celtic Thunder Band, the singers (Damian McGinty, Ryan Kelly, Michael ODwyer, Emmet Cahill & Neil Byrne) deliver new ensemble numbers including “Sons of Light”, “Toora, Loora, Lay”, “The Wild Rover”, “Right all Right”, and “Castle on the Hill” followed in the second act by nostalgic fun songs like “Celebration”, “I’m a Believer”, “Seasons in the Sun” and “Rise Again”.

No Celtic Thunder show would be complete without an encore of their rousing anthem “Ireland’s Call”, the only song in CELTIC THUNDER X that isn’t new but which never fails to bring the audience to its feet. 

Stratford Festival posts solid surplus for 2017; curtain rises on new initiatives: Annual meeting

  • MEDIA RELEASE
March 24, 2018… There were many reasons to celebrate at the Stratford Festival in 2017. Its 65th season, commemorated during Canada 150, was an artistic and financial success – ending solidly in the black – and the year also marked a new beginning for the Festival as it embarked on a $100-million project to build a landmark theatre honouring its founder, Tom Patterson.

“2017 was a year of remarkable achievement,” said Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. “We presented an extraordinary range of plays – from the ancient Greeks through to new works – which earned international recognition. We enlarged the identity of our company, bringing in new talents and forging new connections. We even had a visit from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But as exciting as all of this was, our crowning achievement was the unveiling of Siamak Hariri’s breathtaking design for a new Tom Patterson Theatre.”

At its annual general meeting on Saturday, the Festival reported a surplus of $232,765 on revenue of $60.7 million. Attendance was 456,905 and donations to the Festival increased to a record $14.3 million. 

The Elgin County Museum presents the 8th annual Vimy Lecture

(News Release)


Vimy Lecture: 2 p.m., Monday, April 9, 2018
Elgin County Heritage Centre
460 Sunset Drive, St. Thomas

Of the 600 Elgin County men present at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, one played a role that has become part of our community’s history and lore. Lance-Sergeant Ellis Sifton, a Wallacetown native, on April 9th, the first day of the battle, single-handedly eliminated a German machine gun emplacement at the cost of his own life. He was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross, one of four presented to Canadians for actions during the battle.

Monster Jam motors into Hamilton, Ontario, April 14 and 15 (2018)


2018 Mega Line-Up Announced:
7 New Trucks plus Father/Daughter Drivers Make their Hamilton Debut

HAMILTON, ON – Feld Entertainment, the worldwide leader in live family entertainment, has announced the 2018 lineup* for the Hamilton Monster Jam shows with seven of the eight Monster Jam trucks making their debut at FirstOntario Centre.

Monster Mutt, Storm Damage, Hurricane Force, Stinger Unleashed, Master of Disaster, Nitro Menace and Jailbird, along with fan-favourite Grave Digger will all be vying for the Hamilton champion title. Fans will also have the opportunity to see a father and daughter compete against one another: Nitro Menace/Darren Migues, and Jailbird/Kaylyn Migues.

Monster Jam will be performing at FirstOntario Centre April 14 & 15, 2018 for two shows.

What’s Up in Ottawa – Tulip time --Spring 2018

(News Release)

It's Almost Tulip Time in Canada's Capital


OTTAWA -- Springtime in Ottawa is synonymous with the Canadian Tulip Festival (May 11-21, 2018).

The tulip is Ottawa’s official flower, stemming from World War II, when the Dutch Royal Family took refuge in Ottawa and Princess Margriet—the younger sister of the recently retired Queen Beatrix—was born during their stay.

Canadian troops played a pivotal role in the liberation of the Netherlands, so when the war ended and the Royal Family returned to Europe, they sent a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa. The gift of tulips continues to this day.

Food, glorious food highlights road trips


   One-Tank Trip for March 31/18

   “Food, glorious food!"  From Oliver!

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Any road trip can be enhanced and made more memorable by food.
   Discovering new taste sensations and quirky eateries along with outrageous indulgences blend the meals with the destination.
Writer Jim Fox prepares to tackle the monstrous Holy Cow Burger that’s a handful and a mouthful at the Simcoe Yard House at Casino Rama. (Barbara Fox photo)

   Sample what’s great, new and retro in the Simcoe-Port Dover area at Eat & Drink Norfolk next Thursday through Saturday (April 5-7) at the Simcoe Fairgrounds Aud (172 South Drive).
   That’s where you will find “Norfolk County’s best restaurants, wineries, breweries and food producers all under one roof,” said publicist Wendy Brick.

Monday, March 26, 2018

For a fun time, check out Ontario's Top 100 festivals and events


   One-Tank Trip for March 24/18
  
   (c) By Jim Fox

   There’s never a shortage of fun things to do across Ontario as the province holds some 3,000 festivals and events each year.
   Determining the best is a tough job but Festivals and Events Ontario has to do it.
   The Kitchener-based association has again come up with its list of the Top 100 festivals and events that “excel,” said Nichole Fogarty, marketing and communications coordinator.
Celebrating New Orleans’ Mardi Gras with a parade at the Canadian National Exhibition. (Jim Fox photo)
   Included is a “select group” of well-known and distinctive celebrations that draw an international and domestic audience, she added.
   Province-wide, Doors Open Ontario, the annual event by the Ontario Heritage Trust that offers tours of facilities not normally open to the public, was among the esteemed group.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Is cottage life for you? Find out at the Spring Cottage Life Show


   One-Tank Trip for March 17/18

   (c) By Jim Fox

   There’s something in the Canadian psyche that draws us to the great outdoors and cottaging.
   Not just people, but pets, too, are mysteriously attracted to spending as much time as possible by the lake, river, stream and immersed in the woods.
   “The lifestyle of a home surrounded by the striking beauty of lakes, forests or mountains enjoyed with loved ones is an irreplaceable experience and one that remains part of the Canadian dream for many,” said Kevin Somers of Royal LePage Real Estate Services Ltd.
Cottagers can enjoy colourful dockside sunsets over the lake. (Jim Fox photo)
   And why not, with about 250,000 fresh-water lakes and 100,000 kilometres of rivers in Ontario?
   Find out if you are a “dreamer or doer” at the Spring Cottage Life Show from next Thursday to Sunday (March 22 to 25) at the International Centre (6900 Airport Rd.) in Mississauga.
   The Canadian recreational property market had “healthy increases in both sales activity and pricing” last year, Somers said.
   Dream properties can be hard to find as retiring baby boomers, millennials and Gen Xers escaping high house prices in the cities, and investors are in the market to buy or rent.
   The 2017 LePage price summary for lakeside recreational properties ranged from $160,000 around Lake Huron to $594,200 in southwestern Ontario, $464,400 in the Bruce Peninsula and $1.5 million in Muskoka.
   A Cottage Life study with the Ontario Real Estate Association of 1,100 cottage owners found the “most-predominant trend” is year-round cottaging.
   Some 64 per cent of owners attributed four-season’s use for buying, with 56 per cent planning to convert to year-round use.
   It found 44 percent of cottage owners plan to retire or live at the cottage part-time within the next 10 years.

   One more day at the cottage (show)
Whooo are you asks this owl along with birds of prey from Wild Ontario. (Jim Fox photo)
   Due to popular demand, they’re making it a “four-day weekend” to check out the Cottage Life show this year.
   “This will give visitors even more opportunity to explore and discover all that the show has to offer,” said Rebecca De Silva, manager.
   Highlights include meeting the Brojects’ brothers Andrew and Kevin Buckles, and contractors Marshall Black and Simon Hirsh of Cottage Life TV’s new series, Lake Docks and Decks.
   Calling it the “largest, premier, one-stop destination to get ready for summer,” visitors can check out 600 exhibitors offering the latest in boats, docks and water toys.
A vast selection of cottage “toys” and items fills the International Centre. (Barbara Fox photo)
   There’s also information about builders, innovative products, green solutions, furniture and decor, arts and crafts, food and entertaining, and more.

   Find out about prices and deals from more than 500 cottage realtors representing 36 regions in Ontario.
   Learn about cottage real estate from realtor Rob Serediuk, host of What’s For Sale, who will discuss mortgages and best practices for financing a dream recreation property.
   Bonneville Homes has a walk-through model cottage and there’s beverage sampling at the Dock Party and cooking demos on the kitchen stage.
   Planning a cottage wedding? From renting porta-potties to creating rustic dockside decorations, Lynzie Kent, host of Crazy Beautiful Weddings, and Cottage Life editor-in-chief Michelle Kelly give tips.
Log furniture and more are among the 600 exhibitors at the cottage show.
   Other topics are conservation, container gardening, staining decks, chainsaw safety, design ideas, building an outdoor bar cart, cottage games, outdoor activities and cottage country critters.

   If you go
   Show hours are March 22, noon to 8 p.m.; March 23, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; March 24, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and March 25, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
   Admission is $20; $25 on March 24; $10, ages 13 to 17; free, to age 12; $30, weekend pass; $15, age 65 plus, March 22 and 23. Save $4 on adult admission after 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. Free parking. Details: cottagelife.com/shows

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

Saturday, March 10, 2018

This March Break, discover your inner hero at all-new Disney On Ice Show in Hamilton, Ontario



Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream

Featuring Disney’s Smash Hits Moana and Beauty and the Beast



HAMILTON, ON – March 2018… Disney’s Moana voyages onto the ice for the first time as Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream, produced by Feld Entertainment Inc., brings courage and adventure to Hamilton this March Break.

Hosts Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse bring audiences on an expedition across raging seas and snow-covered mountains in this action-packed extravaganza with beloved characters from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, Tangled and Cinderella. The show performs at FirstOntario Centre, March 15-18 for 9 performances.

 Celebrate what’s possible as five Disney heroines spark the courage inside us all in Disney On Ice presents Dare To Dream! In her Disney On Ice debut, see how far Moana will go in an epic adventure with demigod, Maui, to save her island and discover her true identity. Join Belle as she fearlessly befriends the enchanted castle staff and reveals the Beast’s gentleness.

What's new and happening in Toronto (2018)



TORONTO
– Re-connect with Toronto, Canada’s Downtown, as the ever-changing city gears up to add new hotel and restaurant openings, new tours and experiences to its winter line-up.

Read through our latest What’s New for a full list of updates and happenings around Toronto.  

HOTELS

Hotel X Toronto will open March 1st. Hotel X Toronto, the only property in Exhibition Place; will be a unique lakefront urban resort bringing a cutting edge mix of hospitality, sports and entertainment. Located just inside the iconic Princes’ Gates and opposite the Enercare Centre, Hotel X Toronto is divided into three buildings: the 30-story Hotel Tower, TEN X TORONTO, and the historic Stanley Barracks. The property’s sports and entertainment concept along with a garden setting and lake views create an unparalleled environment for visitors and locals alike.

In late 2018 the luxury-boutique Adelaide Hotel Toronto will become Canada’s very first St. Regis Hotel following a brand-focused enhancement program. Soaring 65-stories in the heart of downtown Toronto, this AAA Five-Diamond Award winning hotel places guests moments from the city’s premier attractions, landmarks, theaters, prestigious shopping, and renowned festivals such as The Toronto International Film Festival. Later this year, the Starwood Preferred Guest hotel will unveil a bold new era of exquisite luxury and style with reimagined public areas, spa, and food and beverage outlets. The redesign will reflect the St. Regis brand’s enduring legacy while infusing the timeless allure, which has defined the hotel collection since its founding by John Jacob Astor IV over a century ago.   

March Break week is upon us; have fun



   One-Tank Trip for March 10/18

   (c) By Jim Fox
  Sun Media newspapers/websites (Postmedia Network)

   If you’re not able to escape to the sunny south, there’s plenty of fun to be had close to home for this March Break week.
   “Syrup sap, gossipy clothing, entomophagy and more make it a wild-and-crazy holiday,” says Helen Lovekin of Ontario Tourism.
Flapjacks doused in maple syrup along with sausages are popular treats at Shaw’s pancake house near Orillia. (Barbara Fox photo)
   Entomophagy – the eating of insects – is possible as “kids seem to love this idea,” she added.
   It’s part of Bugfest at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory’s entomologically inclined event now through March 18 with “yummy ants, mealworms and crickets that get the chocolate treatment.”
   Inside this hot-and-humid enclave are some 2,000 butterflies and moths, and honey bee hives.
   Ontario Tourism suggests these and the following events in a “March Break Sampler.”

   Sappy getaways
   The sap is flowing in the sugar bushes including Aylmer’s Springwater Forest with the traditional wagon rides, maple syrup-making demonstrations and a pancake house.

Wednesday, March 7, 2018

The "Ides of March" are looming for the school break



   One-Tank Trip for March 3/18

   (c ) By Jim Fox
   Sun Media newspapers/websites (Postmedia Network)
 
   Just in time for March break, two harbingers of spring are in the air at big annual shows.
   Calling all sportsmen, women and kids for the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show returning to the International Centre (6900 Airport Rd.) in Mississauga from March 14 to 18.
Coming up roses at Canada Blooms.
   And, everything’s coming up roses and more for Canada Blooms, the flower and garden festival at the Enercare Centre, Exhibition Place, March 9 to18.
   If fishing, hunting, boating, camping, travel, outdoor adventure and more are your thing, then this sporty show is for you.

   Attracting 300 exhibitors, the show has a “diverse range of products and services all promoting the great outdoors.”
   Last year, almost 70,000 people visited the show that began in 1948 under the leadership of outdoorsman, author and conservationist Frank Kortright.
   Encouraging visitors to come and “be inspired by everything the great Canadian wilderness has to offer,” is show president Peter Lockhart.
   It offers everything from canine entertainers and Canadian wildlife superstars, to axe throwing and chainsaw carving, with exhibits to “amaze and inspire the whole family,” he added.

Chainsaw artist Kevin Lewis will be chipping away daily at the sportsmen’s show.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Bryan Adams The Ultimate Tour 2018 Set to Rock at the Great Indoors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Canadian Music Superstar Kicks off the Summer Line-Up at Casino Rama Resort
RAMA, ON – Casino Rama Resort is thrilled to announce that multi-million selling recording artist Bryan Adams will make his Entertainment Centre debut this summer with The Ultimate Tour 2018


Bryan Adams
The Ultimate Tour 2018
Wednesday, July 4
SHOWTIME: 8 PM, DOORS OPEN: 7 PM
Tickets are $99.50/$120/$139.50
“Summer of ‘69”, “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You” & “Run to You”.

As one of the most exciting live musicians, his energetic performance, effortless stage presence and incredible vocals will excite and entertain audiences.

Bryan Adams The Ultimate Tour will see the showman perform a rip-roaring set of materials from his new album Ultimate, which features a mix of new tracks and enormous hits from an incredible back-catalogue including “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You”, “Can’t Stop This Thing We’ve Started”, “Summer of 69”, “Heaven” and more.

Sarah MacDougall and Megan Bonnell in double-bill solo performances March 2 (2018) at Stratford’s Revival House

NEWS RELEASE
  
Stratford, ON (February 20, 2018) – String Bone Presents! another fantastic double bill concert March 2, 2018, featuring Swedish-Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McDougall and Toronto-based singer/songwriter Megan Bonnell. The spotlight will shine on each musician during solo sets in the intimate confines of Stratford’s Revival House. The concert starts at 8:00 pm.


Sarah MacDougall is a Swedish-Canadian singer-songwriter currently living in Whitehorse, Yukon. Belgium’s Rootstime Magazine describes her as “One of the greatest talents of our era.” This two-time Western Canadian Music Award-winning artist is well known for her honest, poetic and well-crafted songs, as well as her arresting voice. Her most recent album, entitled Grand Canyon, was nominated for the 2016 Best Solo Roots Album of the Year at the Western Canadian Music Awards.

Stepping outside of traditional folk, MacDougall likes to flirt with sounds from other genres, creating a sonic mix of acoustic guitar with heavier drums and richly textured strings and synthesizers.