One-Tank Trip for
Jan. 25/14
(c) By Jim Fox
Yuk it up in
Huntsville, enjoy hockey on the pond in Gravenhurst, watch a furry rodent
predict the fate of winter in Wiarton or hang out with a great author in
Toronto for seasonal fun activities.
Laughs and cool fun
Saturday Night Live
alumnus Jim Belushi headlines Huntsville’s Winter Comedy Carnival weekend at
Deerhurst Resort.
The event from Jan.
31 to Feb. 2 includes winter fest activities in the Muskoka town including more
laughs with Brent Butt of CTV’s Corner Gas fame.
 |
| Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Ontario (Jim Fox photo) |
“Deerhurst, along
with the town of Huntsville, are making winter a laughing matter,” said Katie Thomas,
public relations manager for Skyline Hotels & Resorts.
Belushi and the
Board of Comedy Improv show on Feb. 1 also features Robert Belushi, Larry Joe
Campbell, Joshua Funk and Brad Morris.
 |
| Jim Belushi and the Board of Comedy Improv show headlines the Huntsville’s Winter Comedy Carnival at Deerhurst Resort. From left: Robert Belushi, Larry Joe Campbell, Jim Belushi, Joshua Funk and Brad Morris. |
“Laughter is the
best medicine for the winter blues,” said Deerhurst general manager Chris Lund,
whose resort hosts the Saturday night show in the expanded carnival weekend.
Guests can also enjoy
Deerhurst’s winter wonderland at the historic 117-year-old, 400-room year-round
resort.
Options include snowshoeing,
cross-country skiing, skating, snowmobiling, dog sledding, sleigh rides and
ice-carving demonstrations along with the Shizen Spa.
Huntsville’s
downtown will be transformed into a “snow-covered playground” for Nordic skiing,
snowshoeing, live music, an ice bar and outdoor
adventure sports demonstrations by Algonquin
Outfitters.
Visitors can also take a “fat
bike” for a spin, build an igloo, warm up at bonfire and enjoy something tasty
from food vendors.
Butt launches the
weekend on Jan. 31 with his “Almost a
Movie Star” stand-up tour at the Algonquin Theatre.
 |
| Horse-drawn sleigh rides are among the activities at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville. |
Deerhurst’s
Winter Comedy package is from $234 a night per room (based on a two-night
stay and double occupancy with two adults per room). It includes a breakfast,
pre-show dinner and Belushi show tickets.
The optional Friday
night show with Brent Butt is an additional $44.55 a person. deerhurstresort.com/winter-comedy;
1-855-462-5164; wintercomedycarnival.com
Pond hockey is back
The Original Pond
Hockey Classic returns to Gravenhurst from Feb 7 to 9 featuring ex-NHLer Kris
King.
This huge tourney
has a four-on-four format in five divisions, including one for the ladies,
competing for the North American Cup.
 |
| Teams play for the North American Cup at the Original Pond Hockey Classic in Gravenhurst. (Photo credit: Explorers’ Edge) |
“The tournament is at
the Muskoka Wharf and is a beautiful setting for the games,” said publicist
Kate Monk.
Things begin with
an NHL alumni game played under the lights on Friday night, followed by a
gathering at an indoor beer tent, and live entertainment on Saturday night. onthepondcanada.com; (705) 313-6702
All eyes on Willie
When will this
“real” winter end?
That’s a question
that folklore says will be told by wily groundhog prognosticator Wiarton
Willie.
 |
| There’s lots of pomp and ceremony when Wiarton Willie gives his prediction on when winter will end. |
Thousands will
gather on Feb. 2 at 7 a.m. for a pancake breakfast in Bluewater Park awaiting
Willie’s official prediction at 8:07 a.m.
Willie will be roused
from his hibernation for the ritual that says if he sees his shadow we endure
another six weeks of wintry weather. No shadow means spring’s just around the
corner.
This is the
highlight of the winter festival packed with activities from Jan. 30 to Feb. 2.
visitwiarton.ca; (519) 534-4545
Write on
Sixty of Canada’s
top authors will mingle with some 600 guests at the Book Lover’s Ball on Feb. 6
in Toronto.
The “black-tie”
gala to support the Toronto Public Library system takes place at the Fairmont
Royal York hotel.
 |
| Novel-inspired entertainment is a feature of the Book Lover’s Ball in Toronto. (Photo by George Pimentel) |
Presented by Sun
Life Financial, featured authors include former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff
(Fire and Ashes); former ceo and president of Maple Leaf Sports and
Entertainment, Richard Peddie (Dream Job); musician and author Dave Bidini (Keon
and Me); and erotic literature’s L. Marie Adeline (S.E.C.R.E.T.
Shared.
Also there will be international
bestselling novelist Steven Galloway (The Cellist of Sarajevo);
Member of Parliament Olivia Chow (My Journey); and Neil Pasricha
(The Book of Awesome).
A “culinary
extravaganza” will be designed by Food Network’s Lynn Crawford and there
will be a “sparkling reception, dazzling silent auction,
‘Adopt-a-Branch’ fundraiser and five chapters of entertainment,” said publicist
Andrea McLoughlin.
Each chapter is based
on a novel by best-selling authors Jason Mott, Steven Galloway, Kamal
Al-Solaylee, Eva Stachniak and Suzanne Collins.
Individual tickets are $750. The ball raised $530,000
last year to help with enhanced library collections, programs, services and
community spaces. bookloversball.ca;
(416) 393-7237
-30-
Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com
For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca
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