Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Pitch Talks VIP event

(News Release)

ST. MARYS, Ontario -- We are excited to announce that 2012 Hall of Famer and current Toronto Blue Jays first base coach Tim Leiper will be joining the panel on stage  in Toronto for Pitch Talks on June 14 (2018).

 Tim has been the Blue Jays first base coach since 2014, but prior to that he coached and managed with the Marlins, Pirates, Orioles, Red Sox, Expos and Mets organizations between 1996-2012. Tim also worked with Baseball Canada from 2004-17 during the Olympics, World Baseball Classic, World Cups and Pan-American Games. Prior to coaching Tim enjoyed a 12 year playing career from 1985-96 including 7 seasons in Triple A.


The Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum proudly presents the Pitch Talks VIP event, an exclusive event to launch the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame Induction weekend.

Guelph Arts Council launches Historical Walking Tours season (2018)

News Release

Guelph, ON – April 20, 2018 – On the same weekend as Doors Open Guelph, Guelph Arts Council launches its 2018 season of Historical Walking Tours. The tours began on Sunday April 22 at 2 pm with Where Guelph Began, which left from Juice Inc., 25 Waterloo Ave., at the corner of Dublin Street. Cost was $5/person.

For over 30 years, Guelph Arts Council has promoted the cultural heritage of Guelph by offering six different walking tours on selected Sundays from April to October (excluding July). Delivered by a dedicated group of volunteer heritage enthusiasts, the tours are an opportunity for tourists and locals to learn about Guelph’s history while taking in the beautiful architectural and natural features of the city. 

Available on each tour, and at Guelph Arts Council, The Bookshelf, and Guelph Civic Museum are tour-specific booklets of historical information and architectural drawings, perfect for self-guided tours and keepsakes. The booklets are $5 each. Downloadable booklets are also available.

Double bill solo performances at Stratford’s Revival House spotlights contrasting Canadian singers-songwriters

NEWS RELEASE  

 

Oh Susanna + Sunparlour Players = unforgettable music

 

Stratford, ON (April 24, 2018) – String Bone Presents! another exceptional double bill concert at Revival House on May 4, 2018. Canadian singers-songwriters Oh Susanna and the Sunparlour Players have quite contrasting musical styles, but both produce unforgettable music. This will certainly be a concert to remember.

With eight critically acclaimed albums, numerous awards and nominations, as well as mountains of international critical acclaim, Canadian singer-songwriter Suzanne Ungerleider, who writes and performs under the name Oh Susanna, represents the pinnacle of great signwriting.

This rootsy Toronto-based songstress has been described as having “a voice that can pierce a heart of stone.” Her superbly crafted songs often tell stories of “troubled souls, longing and love, small town joys and pains, and of our simple feelings and strong passions – tales that look into our beautifully flawed human hearts.”

She is the recipient of a Genie Award for Best Original Song and a Canadian Folk Music Award for English Songwriter of the Year. She has been twice nominated for a Juno Award for Best Roots and Traditional Album of the Year, as well as two Canadian Folk Music Awards for Best Solo Performer and for Best Contemporary Singer of the Year. Her CD, entitled A Girl in Teen City, has earned high critical acclaim and collected three Canadian Folk Music Award nominations: English Songwriter of the Year, Contemporary Singer of the Year and Producer of the Year. 

Spring has sprung in Ontario's provincial parks

   One-Tank Trip for April 21/18

   By Jim Fox

   Whatever surprises “Mother Nature” and lingering “Old Man Winter” throw at us, Ontario Parks are moving into their spring mode.

   Once the remnants of that mid-April freezing rain, ice pellets, sleet and snow melt away, Ontario’s provincial flower, the white trillium, will burst into bloom in the parks and campers will return after a long, cold winter.

Fields of trilliums will soon be blooming in Ontario Parks. (Jim Fox photo)

   Along with gas prices at near record highs, things look good for a busy season for “staycations” as the provincial parks mark their 125th year.

   The welcome mat will soon be out at the parks not open year-round, with the 330 parks attracting 10-million visitors yearly.

   Ontario’s oldest park is Algonquin, since 1893, and the land mass of all the parks at 82,000 square kilometres is larger than Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island combined.

Stratford Festival performances begin with first preview of Music Man

(News Release)

April 17, 2018… The Stratford Festival’s 66th season is off to an exhilarating start with Meredith Willson’s Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Music Man. Previews began today at the Festival Theatre, marking the first performance of the season. 

The Music Man follows a charming but fraudulent salesman who arrives in River City, Iowa, to work his usual scam – only to find that a bill of goods can be the real deal. Directed and choreographed by Donna Feore, the production features a colossal cast of 40 performers, showcasing Ms Feore’s original choreography in spectacular dance numbers, and a live 19-piece orchestra, led by Music Director Franklin Brasz, playing such hits as “Shipoopi,” “Till There Was You” and the show-stopping “Seventy-Six Trombones.”

“This musical has so many beautiful elements,” says Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino. “Donna has made it a massive dance show, which injects an infectious vibrancy throughout, but with an irresistible love story at its heart – and not just for the main characters, but for the whole River City community whose hearts are opened by the power of music. It’s an enduring master work, perfect for the entire family, and just itching to be shared with the next generation.” 

Detroit Metro CVB launches new restaurant-focused YouTube show

(News Release)

Detroit, Mich. – The Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (DMCVB) has debuted its new YouTube series Eats in The D. The five minute show focuses on the food, drinks and people in metro Detroit that are making headlines around the world.

“We want this new show to entice visitors to come to Detroit and try out these restaurants for themselves,” said Larry Alexander, DMCVB President & CEO. “The episodes are short, fun and informative, to give visitors a taste of Detroit’s diverse and unique dining scene, which is earning accolades from media and visitors around the world.”

The first season of Eats in The D includes 10 episodes featuring 20 popular foodie destinations throughout metro Detroit. The first three episodes can be viewed now on YouTube and Facebook. To watch Eats in The D, go to: http://bit.ly/eats-in-the-d-media.

Don't despair, spring is coming to Ontario Parks

(News Release)

 Learn to Camp

Many Ontarians have always wanted to go camping, but don’t know where to start. This is where Ontario Parks’ Learn to Camp program comes in. Reservations for this year’s program open on May 7.

Learn to Camp is a popular guided overnight camping experience with all equipment provided. By the end of the program, new campers learn all the do’s and don’ts of a successful camping trip, including how to pitch a tent, cook outside, and even make the perfect s’more! The memories made while camping will stay with families forever. 

Sights and sounds of spring

Spring breathes new life to the outdoors. As the weather warms up, we see Ontario’s iconic wildflower, the trillium, popping up. Ontario Parks has several ideal spots for seeing the trilliums as they bloom.

Open up! Doors swing open for public visits during Doors Open Ontario 2018

   One-Tank Trip for April 14/18

   (c) By Jim Fox

  “Knock, knock. Who or what’s there? Open the door and find out.”

   Learn about the secrets, stories and treasures lurking behind doors often closed to the public.

   It happens at Doors Open, an Ontario Heritage Trust event in 35 communities.

   There are about 800 sites to discover the historic gems and modern marvels with themed activities, tours, exhibitions and demonstrations offered at no charge.

Don’t step on Elvis’ white-and-blue patent loafers at the Bata museum worn at his Las Vegas shows. (Jim Fox photo)

   Things get under way with Doors Open Guelph on April 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the “Royal City” with its historic limestone architecture.

   Doors are open at 15 sites that include the city’s “finest buildings, creative spaces and artistically or architecturally relevant sites,” said Patti Broughton of the sponsoring Guelph Arts Council.

   Among the highlights is the Petrie Building, called an incredible restoration of a Guelph landmark.

   It was designed in 1882 by John Day as a pharmacy for Alexander Bain Petrie who wanted the tallest building on Wyndham Street so he added an up-top empty shell that’s now an elegant showroom for the Modern Bride.

The Petrie building, a Guelph landmark built for a pharmacist who wanted the tallest building on Wyndham Street, will be open for tours. (Ontario Heritage Trust – Photo by Dean Palmer)

    10C Shared Space, a thriving collaborative workspace and community hub, began as a seed warehouse from the 1860s and later Massey-Ferguson Farm Supply and Ackers Furniture.

   A fire in 1955 caused a huge safe to fall through the first floor to the basement where it remains today.

Tulip Legacy just keeps on blooming in Canada's capital city; Fox trots

   One-Tank Trip for April 7/18

  

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Everything’s coming up tulips – one million of them – in Canada’s capital.

   Go ahead, count them at the 66th annual Canadian Tulip Festival, May 11 to 21, paying homage to an ongoing gift from the Netherlands after the Second World War.

   Tulips became Ottawa’s official flower after the Dutch Royal Family took refuge there and Canadian troops played a pivotal role in the liberation of the Netherlands.

Tulips bloom on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

   When the war ended and the family returned to Europe, they sent a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa.

   This lasting gift continues and is known as the “Tulip Legacy.”

   New is the Tulip Trail linking Commissioners Park and Lansdowne, a 20-minute stroll by “beautiful residential and city gardens, with interpretation markers, animation and entertainment along the way.”

Eat & Drink Norfolk – Get a taste of the best 2018

(News Release)

SIMCOE, Ontario – The Norfolk County Agricultural Society is excited to announce that “Eat & Drink Norfolk” is back for its ninth consecutive year. Dates for this year’s event are Thursday, April 5th from 5:00 pm to 10pm, Friday, April 6th from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm and again on Saturday April 7th from 1:00pm to 10:00 pm.

Continuing to ride the wave of success, “Eat & Drink Norfolk” was recently named one of Ontario’s Top 100 Festivals & Events for the fourth year in a row.

“We are very proud to receive this provincial designation from Festivals & Events Ontario. The success of the event is a reflection of the high level of quality of the participating local restaurants, wineries, breweries and food producers as well the community that continues to support us year after year. The dedication of our vendors, staff, volunteers and sponsor partners has resulted in an outstanding event that continues to grow in popularity!” says Special Events Manager Chantal Zorad.

Mastermind Toys expands in Hamilton, Ontario

 Canada’s Largest Specialty Toy Retailer Opens 62^nd Canadian Store

TORONTO, ON – March 27, 2018… Mastermind Toys continues in growth mode and is targeting to open 10+ new stores in 2018 including a new Hamilton location.  Canada’s largest specialty toy and children’s books retailer announced its second store in the market will open today. The spacious 5,005 sq. ft. store is situated in Stoney Creek, at 2180 Rymal Road E. (at Upper Centennial Pkwy). Mastermind Toys currently operates stores in Burlington and St. Catharines. The first Hamilton-area store opened in Ancaster in 2015.

Mastermind Toys Hamilton is the final of three stores to open in quick succession this month. Stores in St. Albert (Edmonton), AB and Saskatoon South, SK are now open, totalling 62 Canadian stores. Additional stores will be announced in the coming months.

“Building on the success of our Ancaster store, we are thrilled to bring a second Mastermind Toys location to Hamilton,” said Jon Levy, Toy Merchant, CEO and Co-Founder, Mastermind Toys.  “We look forward to offering our customers in Stoney Creek and its surrounding areas with convenient access to our unparalleled mix of the best hand-picked specialty toys and an awesome children’s book selection in a fun and friendly shopping environment.”