Sunday, October 27, 2013

Girls wanna have fun, Bowie bash and fall in wine country



   One-Tank Trip for Oct. 26/13

   (c) By Jim Fox

   The girls want to rock at Deerhurst, there’s a David Bowie bash at the AGO and day-trippers can fall for wine country tours.

   Get down up north
   Calling all “girlfriends.”
   It’s time to plan that exclusive getaway to Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville and hang out with special guests Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
The historic Deerhurst Resort will host the Girlfriends’ Getaway in November. (Jim Fox photo)
   Girlfriends’ Getaway returns from Nov. 8 to 10 at the Skyline Resort property with activities including shopping, dining and music.
   “Deerhurst is hopping and it’s the perfect opportunity to get away and let loose before the stress of the holiday season takes over,” said general manager Chris Lund.
   The fun begins with a “Girls’ Rock” Friday welcome stand-up dinner and dance that includes a silent auction, the Deerhurst Show Band and contest for the “coolest rocker-chick outfits.”
   There’s a Saturday breakfast buffet, fitness and yoga sessions, lifestyle and decor workshops, onsite shopping and a shuttle into town to shop.
   Featured in concert are Grammy winner Benatar and her guitarist-husband sGiraldo at the Canada Summit Centre.
   Guests can enhance their stay with add-ons such as an optional buffet or three-course dinner on Saturday evening prior to the concert and Sunday brunch in Eclipse before leaving.
   The Shizen Spa also offers additional pampering with facials and skin-refreshing body treatments.
   The 117-year-old storied Deerhurst Resort encompasses 760 acres overlooking picturesque Peninsula Lake where “girlfriends have plenty of opportunity get a head start on holiday shopping discovering unique finds at nearby Huntsville, where the entire town ‘goes pink’ for the weekend.”
   The two-night getaway package is priced from $299 nightly (double occupancy). deerhurstresort.com/girlfriends; 1-877-686-5076

   Glitter and glam
   Attention David Bowie fans.
   Glam rock and philanthropy collide at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), 317 Dundas St. W., in Toronto on Nov. 23 from 6:30 p.m. for the Bowie Bash.
The striped bodysuit for the Aladdin Sane Tour in 1973 on view at the AGO. (Photo by Masayoshi Sukita)
   “Having shattered attendance records in London (England), I'm pretty sure Ontario audiences will be just as receptive to this one-of-a-kind Bowie exhibit,” said publicist Tran Nguyen.
   The glittering exhibit for the “pop culture influencer, musical pioneer and style icon” continues in its North American debut until Nov. 27.
   The bash is a gala fundraiser in support of exhibitions, with tickets priced at $1,000.
   It includes an exclusive viewing of the exhibition, signature cocktails and food stations created by AGO Executive Chef Jeff Dueck and “spectacular Bowie-inspired live entertainment” and art installations.
   The first Family Sunday of the season is tomorrow (Oct. 27) from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. with a Bowie-inspired event.
   There will be costume-making stations, a dance party, family karaoke and musical tour of the AGO collections with families encouraged to wear Bowie-themed attire.
  David Bowie from the Aladdin Sane Tour in 1973, part of the AGO exhibit. (Photo by Brian Duffy)
   The exhibition has more than 300 objects, spanning five decades of Bowie’s career from his personal archive and explores his influence by movements in art, design, fashion and contemporary culture.
   There are handwritten set lists, lyrics, diary entries, instruments, music videos, sketches and highlights of the many artists who have collaborated with him.
   Timed-entry tickets are $30; $26.50, seniors; and $21.50, to age 17. http:ago.net/david-bowie-is; (416) 979-6655

   Sip and savour
   Escape the hustle and bustle of the city to enjoy the beauty of fall in Niagara’s Wine Country.
   “A vacation or day trip is truly an escape to a quaint place where the people are friendly and the liquid fare is exquisite,” said Heidi Fielding of Fielding Estate Winery in Beamsville.
   She offers these tips to make the trip more enjoyable:
   - Bring a Wine Route map, available in print and online.
   - Plan to visit three to five wineries a day and call ahead to at least one of them to book a tour of the winemaking facilities.
   - Scout out local cuisine. Ask winery staff for recommendations of local eateries with chef-prepared menus.
   - Explore and taste. Every winemaker has a “unique style and approach” to the craft, so wines such as Rieslings may vary between wineries.
   - Prepare for your purchases by bringing along a cooler in the warmer months or ask for a box at the first winery visit to safely stow the purchases.
   - Check out local festivals or events to add another dimension to the trip and double check winery hours. fieldingwines.com

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

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