Here's the pitch: Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum scores

   One-Tank Trip for May 27-17

   (c) By Jim Fox

   An historic stone farmhouse jam-packed with artifacts in St. Marys is Canada’s shrine to baseball in an area linked to the first game ever played.

   Despite American claims that the call “play ball” originated a year earlier at Cooperstown,

N.Y., Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum archivists cried foul when the museum opened there in 1998 after moving from Toronto.

A replica 1940’s Girls Professional Baseball league uniform and historic bats can be seen at the museum. (Jim Fox photo)

   They chronicled the origin to 1838 when a game closely resembling that of today’s was played in nearby Beachville.

   The museum is among the sport’s area heritage sites including Beachville and London’s Labatt Park, the world’s oldest baseball grounds from 1877.

   The ball hall is a definitive repository of the game’s treasures, offering aficionados an insight into the “Field of Dreams.”

Camping options when Ontario Parks fill up quickly, including B&Bs nearby

   One-Tank Trip for May 20-17

   (c) By Jim Fox

   If you find a “no vacancy” sign posted for your favourite Ontario Provincial Park, don’t despair, there are other options.

   Heading toward the Victoria Day long weekend and the traditional opening for many parks after the winter hibernation, it was not unusual to find things super busy.

Drop me a line. Heading out to fish at Bass Lake Provincial Park. (Jim Fox photo)

   This is especially true at the five most popular parks – Algonquin, Bon Echo, Killbear, Pinery and Sandbanks.

   Parks’ bloggers have suggestions “we’re sure you’ll love” for alternate getaway locations.

   Another option is to skip roughing it in the wilds and stay at a cozy bed-and-breakfast and use it as a home base for exploring the parks.

   Switch it up

   When Pinery’s full, try Inverhuron Provincial Park near Tiverton, south of Owen Sound.

   Inverhuron is “prized for its sandy beach, dunes and sunsets” and has outstanding swimming and well-treed campsites.

This perfect campsite, just steps from the lake, will soon be taken for the season at Ontario Provincial Parks. (Barbara Fox photo)

A stitch in time for the New Hamburg Mennonite Relief Sale's quilt auction

   One-Tank Trip for May 13-17

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Anytime is stitchin' time for these “material girls” for the 51st anniversary of the Mennonite Relief Sale’s quilt auction.

"Won't Ask for Directions," donated by Mary Martin.

   The sale of multi-coloured quilts happens May 26 and 27 at the New Hamburg Fairgrounds, between Stratford and Kitchener-Waterloo.

   Volunteers and donors have worked long and lovingly to create the some 200 works of art for this old-fashioned quilt auction.

The “Wild Rose” quilt was made for the first auction in 1967, Canada’s 100th birthday, and donated back for the 150th.

   The event began as a way to raise much-needed financial support for Mennonite humanitarian missions around the world.

   It’s a way of “bringing help and hope to those in need,” with organizers calling the 40 venues supported by 2,000 volunteers “a remarkable community event and a beautiful expression of community compassion.”

The Waterfront Artisan Market returns to Toronto's HTO Park this summer (2017)

(News Release)

DISCOVER UNIQUE ARTISANAL GIFTS AND ENJOY FRESH CULINARY DELIGHTS

Saturdays 11 am – 8 pm | May 20 until October 7 | Rain or Shine

Toronto, ON – The Waterfront Artisan Market (WAM) presented by The Waterfront Business Improvement Area (BIA) and operated by Scadding Court Community Centre, returns to HTO Park this summer.

Located at 339 Queens Quay West (between Rees Street and Lower Spadina Avenue), WAM will take place every Saturday from May 20 through Thanksgiving weekend, 11 am to 8 pm, rain or shine.

 Toronto’s own Waterfront open-air market features a carefully-curated mix of 75 local, up-and-coming artisans, crafters, chefs and bakers. Visit waterfrontbia.com for more information.

 

La Fiesta

“We heard from last year’s attendees, and the feedback was loud and clear”, states Carol Jolly, Executive Director, The Waterfront BIA. “We’re excited to announce that due to popular demand, we’ve made The Waterfront Artisan Market a weekly event, extended the hours and brought even more vendors to the park. The Waterfront is a vibrant community and makes for a perfect getaway - just a short walk from the Downtown Core.”

The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame is open for its 20th season

(News Release)

ST. MARYS, Ontario -- The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, which will host more than 900 events in 2017, has opened for another season.

It is open on weekends in May (Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and on Victoria Day from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Starting on June 1 through August 31, the Hall will be open daily (Monday through Saturday) from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. Then from September 1 through October 7 we will be open Thursday to Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The heavy event schedule is because it is the home to the Ontario Nationals, Ontario Expos, Ontario Outlaws, St. Marys Minor Ball, St. Marys Slo-pitch, plus host games from the Great Lake Canadians, London Mens League and many other top quality baseball teams.

This year we also welcome back teams from Quebec and Ottawa. Baseball tournaments are being held on our site May 6-7, July 7-8, August 3-6 and Slo-pitch tournaments July 1-2, September 9 and 22-24.

Spring has sprung at Ontario Parks

(News Release)

After a long winter, spring is a season of celebration at Ontario Parks.Forests are a rainbow of green. Wildflowers carpet park woods. Songbirds are back.

Creatures bear young and lake ice has all but disappeared. It's an exciting time to reconnect with nature.

Opening dates for seasonal parks vary, so be sure to check park operating dates before you go at https://www.ontarioparks.com/operatingdates/2017.

Songbirds (Ontario Parks photo)

Here are five fun ways to celebrate Mother Earth this spring:

Get to know your songbirds

Provincial parks along Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Huron host songbird festivals every spring. If you're a budding birder, this is an opportunity to learn your birds through the eyes of expert birders and park naturalists. Join morning bird walks, guided night hikes and workshops with birdbanding demonstrations and nature photography. Here are this year's festivals and dates, http://www.ontarioparks.com/parksblog/spring-birding-festivals/. 

Muskoka's three breweries brewing up maple fun

(News Release)

 HUNTSVILLE, Ontario --In celebration of the Muskoka Maple Trail & Festival, Lake of Bays Brewing Company, Muskoka Brewery and Sawdust City Brewing Company have teamed up to create their first collaboration beer, and it has been an instant hit.

The collaboration brew – Pancake Breakfast Specialty Maple Ale – is a toasted golden brown ale that is inspired by a perfectly flipped pancake. 

With a doughy malt centre, aromas of cinnamon and vanilla lead the way while the maple syrup provides a rich body and lingering sweet finish. 

The maple ale will remind you of sitting around the table enjoying a warm plate of pancakes drizzled with Canada’s favourite syrup.

KISS, Kenny Rogers, Frankie Valli to rock Casino Rama this summer

New concerts added to the 2017 event line-up at Casino Rama Resort

(News Release)

RAMA, ON ^-- Casino Rama Resort provides a unique kind of northern fun that can only be experienced indoors; it’s what makes it a place pretty much exactly like nowhere else.

KISS is coming to Rama this summer

Today’s announcement gives fans even more reason to come explore the Great Indoors, as new concerts have  been added to the already hot summer event line-up at the award-winning Entertainment Centre:

KISS

Freedom to Rock Tour

Friday, August 18

SHOWTIME: 9 PM, DOORS OPEN: 8 PM

Tickets are $110.62/$119.47/$150.44

“I Was Made for Lovin’ You”, “Rock and Roll All Nite”, “Detroit Rock City” & “Shout It Out Loud”.

No facial make-up/masks will be permitted.

Spending Mother's Day around Waterloo Region

  

(News Release)

   KITCHENER-WATERLOO, Ontario -- There are several events and attractions across Waterloo Region to fill your Mother’s Day, including:

• Where else to start for Mom but to spoil and pamper her with a spa retreat? Check out the opitons for a massage, facial, skin treatment, manicure or pedicure at Langdon Hall, The Puddicombe House or The Rock Spa.
• There is no shopping experience quite like that in Waterloo. The shops and boutiques of St. Jacobs Village offer wares you are unlikely to find anywhere else in the world. Or check out the historic Southworks Mall, an old factory converted into a truly unique experience or take a stroll through the Conestoga Mall for a more traditional shopping trip.

"Curd nerds" head for Oxford County's Big Cheese Days

   One-Tank Trip for May 6/17

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Postmedia News Network/Sun Media

   Say “cheese!”

   Many people will be doing just that today and the next three Saturdays at Oxford County’s Big Cheese Days.

   The year’s event in and around Woodstock is “bigger, better and cheesier,” organizers say with a month-long event, up from one day last year.

   After all, this is known as Canada’s Dairy Capital and is the place for “curd nerds.”

   Visitors are invited to tour and taste their way along the Oxford County Cheese Trail.

   There they can learn all about cheese-making, snack on creative cuisine featuring local cheeses, shop for cheese, related accessories and antiques or learn about the region’s more than 150 years of cheese history, said publicist Virginia Lewis for Oxford County Tourism.