Oxford Summer Arts Festival Art Show and Sale on July 24 at Elm Hurst Inn & Spa

(News Release)

Woodstock, ON – This summer Oxford Creative Connections is hosting the “Oxford Summer Arts Festival” featuring contemporary fine art, music and literature at the Elm Hurst Inn & Spa in Ingersoll. This event is free to the public and takes place on Sunday, July 24th, 2011 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enjoy live music as you wander among the artists on the beautiful grounds of the Elm Hurst Inn.

Many Canadians are making a run to the U.S. border to Great Lakes Crossing in Michigan

   (c) By Jim Fox

   AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - When Great Lakes Crossing opened in 1998 in suburban Detroit, the shopping centre was a trendsetter.

   And, it's still on the leading edge with an innovative design and concept that blend values with entertainment.

Great Lakes Crossing, a 160-outlet shopping centre in Michigan, is adding new stores in a makeover that will attract many Canadian shoppers. (Jim Fox photo)

   Mall owner, Taubman Centers Inc., soon realized the outlet prices and amenities were a big draw for Canadians who make a run for the border for a shop 'til they drop and fun getaway.

   Now, 12 years later we found it's getting a makeover with new stores launching on the past Canadian Thanksgiving weekend.

   "Great Lakes Crossing has become a most-popular destination for Canadians and at times make up to 40 per cent of our visitors," said Karen Mac Donald, Taubman's communications director.

48 Hours in "The D"

    One-Tank Trip column

   (c) By Jim Fox

   It's "not your father's Oldsmobile" any longer or just the "Motor City" as the revitalized Metro Detroit has much to offer visitors.

The Detroit RiverWalk is a new promenade along the Detroit River linking parks, parks, restaurants, retail shops and includes a carousel at Rivard Plaza

   Getting our motor running, we headed out on the highway (401) to "rediscover the D," as they like to call it these days.

   Once you run out of highway in Canada at Windsor, head north -- that's right, north -- to the "D" through the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel or across the Ambassador Bridge.

   The "D" represents "cars, culture, gaming, music and sports," a winning combination for tourists.

   "We want people to rediscover Detroit and especially those gems that keep visitors coming back and back," said Renee Monforton of the Detroit Metro Convention and Visitors Bureau.

   Cars drive the Motor City: The grill from a 1933 Lincoln Phaeton at the Concours d'Elegance. (Photo by Jim Fox)

   It had been a few years since we explored some of these "gems," so we buckled up and headed to "Destination D." www.visitdetroit.com

Good summer things happening in Ontario

   One-Tank Trips travel column for July 2-3/2011

   (c) By Jim Fox

   With so many great things to see and do, terrific weather and the high price for gasoline, this could be the summer of the “stay-cation.”

   Explore your own backyard or “be a tour guide in your home province and invite friends and family for a visit,” suggests Ontario Tourism.

   “With many exciting options to choose from, residents and visitors alike can enjoy the province’s natural beauty, outdoor adventures, unique festivals and events, wine and culinary experiences, cosmopolitan cities, and cultural and heritage attractions,” said publicist Luanne Walker.

   The tourism promoters have prepared a “wish list for your kids,” and another for getaway packages.

Everyone loves Marineland and the dolphins put on quite a show.

Parkbus Introduces Express Bus Service to Algonquin Park
Go camping without a car this summer

TORONTO. June 21, 2011. Tickets are now on sale for Parkbus, a new non-profit initiative introducing express bus service from Toronto to Algonquin Provincial Park on summer weekends. As a sustainable alternative to car travel, it is set to help over one million GTA residents without a vehicle to visit Ontario's most popular outdoor destination. The program is creating a model that aims to connect urban residents with parks across the province.

VIA Bike Trains return for the summer with more departures, more destinations to explore

MONTREAL – June 7, 2011 – VIA Rail Canada is pleased to announce that as in previous summers, its bike trains are back!  With more departures and more destinations to choose from there are thousands of kilometers of cycling paths waiting to be enjoyed.

From Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal, Quebec City, London, Windsor to Jonquière or Senneterre, VIA’s Bike trains make it a simple and worry-free travel experience. 

Tirgan Iranian Festival (July 21-24)
presented by Liberty Development

Experience Iranian culture through dance, theatre, film, visual arts and more

TORONTO, ON (Monday, June 27, 2011) - Harbourfront Centre, along with its lead summer partner The Toronto Port Authority, proudly presents Tirgan Iranian Festival, a multi-disciplinary artistic and cultural festival that focuses on Visions of Eternity, asking artists, writers, and poets all over the world, "What do you deem eternal?" In a country yearning for change such as Iran, artists and writers transform old beliefs, understandings and representations through their artistic and literary creations by continually challenging them.

FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON GATINEAU-OTTAWA

UNVEILS A REFRESHED LOOK

Fresh new look for the hotel and celebratory rates available this summer!

Gatineau, QC. (June 28, 2011) – The Four Points by Sheraton Hotel & Conference Centre Gatineau-Ottawa boasts a new look, after completing a multi-million dollar renovation. Managed by Atlific Hotels, the hotel has unveiled a new guest room design, a refreshed pool and fitness area, a revamped lobby with complimentary morning coffee service and L’Ardoise; the hotel’s innovative new open concept restaurant.

The redesign of the hotel includes a transformation of the hotel’s 201 guest rooms with a focus on guest comfort. Guest rooms now feature flat screen televisions and free Wi-Fi and wired high speed Internet. The new walk-in showers and increased desk space provide the perfect balance between work and relaxation. All rooms feature the signature Four Points by Sheraton Four Comfort Bed™ with a luxurious duvet.

THE FAIRMONT ROYAL YORK’S EXCLUSIVE 

MUCH MORE TORONTO EXPERIENCE

For Immediate Release:

Toronto, Ont., June 28, 2011– The Fairmont Royal York is sharing a luxury travel deal with guests seeking to discover or rediscover Toronto. The hotel has grouped a variety of value-added local attractions, dining experiences and touring activities under a Much More Toronto offer. Much More Toronto rates start at only $159 (CDN) and are available for booking now through to September 5, 2011.

Summer Theatre at Fanshawe Pioneer Village

The Miller and His Men, A Musical Melodrama by Isaac Pocock

Experience this recreated musical melodrama originally performed by the Officers of the Garrison in 1842, when London was a frontier town. An old miller's beautiful daughter is pursued by two suitors: one aging, but rich; another young but poor. To win her hand, the young man makes a secret pledge: to rid the land of the banditti, and restore the fortunes of the old miller. Little does he know but someone has darker plans for them all. Cheer the heroes! Boo the villains!

Shakespeare’s Will starts previews

Popular show has Seana McKenna revisit the role of Anne Hathaway

June 30, 2011…Seana McKenna plays Anne Hathaway in the one-woman show Shakespeare’s Will, an imaginative portrait of one of history’s most famous women. First staged at the Festival in 2007, this revival begins previews on Thursday, June 30, at the Studio Theatre.

Directed by Miles Potter, Shakespeare’s Will tells the enthralling life story of Shakespeare’s widow, as imagined by Canadian playwright Vern Thiessen.

Tom's stompin' board brings in $15,000 at Casino Rama on Canada Day

Rare Piece of Canadian Music Memorabilia goes to Toronto Man
Stompin’ Tom’s legendary Stompin’ Board raises $15,000 after Canada Day concert

The man who once knew what it was like to be in a sense homeless himself helped

those who are just that in the Orillia area last night.

Legendary Canadian performer Stompin' Tom Connors hands over his 
Stompin' Board to auction winner Rob Burgess, Toronto backstage at Casino Rama 
on Canada Day. Burgess won the Board in an auction that raised $15,000 for the 
Key Program in Orillia.

Canada’s iconic troubadour – Stompin’ Tom Connors, had generously donated

his most-famous stage accessory, his Stompin’ Board for auction

following his Canada Day concert at Casino Rama with the funds earmarked

to assist the Orillia and Areas, “Key Program”.