Celebrate the grape harvest in style

Perfect time of year to put Niagara on your travel itinerary

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. — As Niagara’s winemakers turn their attention to harvesting the grapes that will become the 2011 vintage, the time is perfect to plan a visit to the picturesque vineyards of the Niagara Peninsula.

The 2011 vintage promises to be a good one, the latest in a run of several strong years that have produced some outstanding award-winning Ontario wines. There is a special ambiance among the vines during harvest time, adding a new dimension to the tourism experience in Niagara.
“Niagara’s wineries are special places, offering excellent wines that are difficult to find anywhere else but at the winery,” said Anthony Annunziata, Vice-President of Marketing at the Marriott Gateway on the Falls and Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa. “Wine tours take you right to the source, hearing directly from the winemaker how to best enjoy particular wines. A visit to a winery puts you in a unique setting, a vineyard backdrop you can only find in a select few places around the world.”
Winery tour packages not only take you to several different wineries to sample some of the wide variety offered in Niagara, but they also save you the worry of having to drive. Bicycle tours are a unique way to travel Niagara’s idyllic rural roads between wineries. Winery visits also enable you to learn how to properly store your wines, when and if they should be aged and what foods they will match best with.
Niagara Falls, one of Canada’s leading tourism destinations, is only a short drive from the wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake and is the base for many winery tour packages offered through local hotels. It also offers restaurants, shows, concerts, clubs, attractions and casinos, not to mention the Niagara Falls themselves, to add some diversity to your trip.
“Swirling and sipping in a vineyard is a great way to spend your afternoon, but it is really just the beginning of what Niagara has to offer,” says Annunziata. “A chef-prepared dinner using local ingredients is a perfect cap to a day spent among the vines. After dinner, there are literally limitless options available to ensure your is a truly memorable one.”
Niagara also happens to be the home of Ontario’s grape wine harvest celebration. The 60th Niagara Wine Festival, based at historic Montebello Park in downtown St. Catharines, features more than 100 events between Sept. 16th and 25th, including winery tours, tastings, concerts, Niagara cuisine, wine seminars,live entertainment and one of the largest street parades in the country.
Admission to the park is free, where wine will be available by the sample, glass or bottle and matched with some of the finest food Niagara has to offer.

St Jacobs Farmers' Market

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-It is an unusual experience to visit St. Jacobs Farmers' Market. It is just seventy minutes from Toronto in the beautiful city of St. Jacobs. It opens in all seasons, every THURSDAY and SATURDAY, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It is Canada's largest farmers' market with almost everything available there from fresh produce to most modern items for your needs. It is the best place to shop and enjoy the weekend.


For details visit: http://www.stjacobs.com/html/shopping-farmersmarkets.html

A very special Culinary Event at St. Jacobs! Right on the banks of the beautiful Conestoga River

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Join  Foodlink's 8th Annual Taste Local! Taste Fresh! event  
on Sunday, September 18, 2-5 pm  
at St. Jacobs,  
right on the
banks of the Conestoga River.  

Featuring a sampling of the region's best from local farmers and chefs.

Each farmer/chef team prepares a tasty food item for you to enjoy as you stroll the picturesque grounds while listening to the Tim Louis Jazz Trio and chatting with our local food producers and culinary talent.

Enjoy othe unique silent auction and your very own,one-of-a kind pottery plate to take home.

To purchase tickets online, click here

For details, call 519-513-8998 or email  info@foodlink.ca 
Click here for more details

We Are More by Shane Koyczan - A Poem on Canada

Slam poet Shane Koyczan shares his Canada

Slam poet Shane Koyczan performed his "We Are more poem" at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games Opening Ceremony and created a big buzz. It all began a few years ago, when he was commissioned by the Canadian Tourism Commission to create a piece that reflected the essence of Canada, what makes us Canadians. Here it is.

Source here
StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Toronto - Capital of Province of Ontario, Canada

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Savour Stratford Culinary Festival Reveals 2011 Poster at Launch Party

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Monday, August 15^th, 2011  STRATFORD, ON -Savour Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival, awarded “Ontario’s Best Culinary Experience” in 2010 by Ontario Tourism, will be even better in 2011. This two day celebration of farmers, artisans, chefs, musicians and food lovers takes place in the heart of Stratford’s heritage garden district and historic Market Square September 24 & 25.

The 2011 festival poster, designed by Stratford native Jack Dylan, was revealed at a community launch in City Hall Auditorium, August 15. Posters were presented to MPP John Wilkinson and Councillor Paul Nickel, City of Stratford, both strong supporters of the culinary festival.

A call was extended to Stratford and area artists requesting examples of their work along with their vision of a poster celebrating our award winning culinary festival. Finalists were reviewed and Jack Dylan, international illustrator, was awarded the commission. The idea originated with restaurant owners Susan Dunfield and Bronwyn Linley who each offered dinner for two at their respective restaurants to accompany an honorarium to the winning artist.

Jack Dylan expressed his inspiration in creating the festival poster. “I grew up in Stratford and lived along the Avon River, on William Street,” said Jack in a recent interview. “I wanted to show York Street – a view of that bank that shows the downtown – and I was also thinking about Tom Patterson Island and the wonderful willow trees. Even the chef in the poster was inspired by a friend of mine who’s now a chef here in Stratford.” A limited edition of 50 posters signed and numbered by Mr. Dylan are available for sale at $50 each. Additional posters will also be available for sale ($10) at Stratford Tourism Alliance with proceeds supporting the festival.

Danielle Brodhagen, Director of the Culinary Festival, presented the new website www.savourstratford.com and the 2011 culinary festival highlights.

·        The Festival expands into the historic Market Square with a culinary stage and entertainment Saturday and Sunday.

·        Montréal chef Chuck Hughes, winner of Iron Chef America and host of the popular Food Network show, Chuck’s Day Off, is coming to Stratford.  “Chuck’s Night Out,” a cocktail party on Friday, September 23^rd will launch the culinary festival at the Stone Maiden Inn. Chuck will be participating in the festival throughout the weekend.

·        Chef Connie DeSousa, Top Chef Canada finalist and chef/owner of CHARCUT Roast House, Calgary, comes to Stratford’s Culinary Festival where she will host “Breakfast with Connie”, Celebrating Women in Food at the Stratford Country Club on Sunday, September 25^th as well as leading a charcuterie tasting workshop.

·        A Southern-style BBQ dinner “Ribs in the Square” barbecued by Boss Hogs, awarded the best Canadian Rib team in 2010, takes place on Saturday, September 24.

·        Saturday night’s BBQ, Blues and Brews is a party you won’t want to miss as beer tastings and street food from Stratford restaurateurs combine with the music of Monkey Junk!, winner of Best Blues Artist at the Canadian Independent Music Awards and Winner of the 2010 Blues Music Award for Best New Artist’s Debut.

·        The highlight of the weekend is the Savour Stratford Tasting on Sunday, September 25.  The ultimate culinary garden party features innovative creations from over 30 farmer-chef pairings competing to win culinary awards judged by celebrity chef judges along with VQA wines and craft beers for an afternoon of unforgettable delights.

Full event details are available at www.savourstratford.com. Tickets can be purchased online, by phone 1-800-561-7926 or 519-271-5140 and in person at the Stratford Tourism Alliance, 47 Downie Street, Stratford.

Visit STRATFORD - Canada's Premier Arts Town, a StarBuzz Presentation

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Experiencing a dream vacation in the dream city of Stratford in Ontario.



Shakespearean Gardens in Stratford, Ontario



 Costume warehouse for theatre



Stratford Summer Music



City Hall, the architectural pleasure



StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Glorious sunshine of the summer and the beautiful lush green landscapes surrounding the Avon River welcomed us at Stratford,  Ontario.

All of us are familiar with Mary Poppins and her journey to a beautiful dreamland when she pops and goes inside a painting with some children.  It was the same experience arriving at Stratford which is one of the most beautiful parts of Ontario, nay, the world. I felt as if I also popped into the painting of Stratford.

 “Unofficial ambassadors of Stratford”

the Swans on Avon river 

Arts and theatre have always been my intense passions but after reaching there I realised that this city offered much more than just the theatre which was my prime focus for coming here.

Tango Cafe & Grill

My first destination was the sprawling Shakespearean Gardens on the river side with beautiful flower beds and gazebos. A bust of Shakespeare in the centre of the garden gives it a distinctive character. From here we walked to the famous ‘Festival Theatre” to watch the “Merry Wives of Windsor” by Shakespeare.  The walk along the river side was most relaxing with feeding the the “unofficial ambassadors of Stratford” the Swans and also the ducks. The feed is available at the information centre of Stratford tourism. Information centre is located right on the corner of the river with all the readily available information about Stratford and its activities.

"Merry Wives of Windsor" was a phenomenal experience not only from the point of view of acting, scripting and direction but also for its unique stage and stagecraft.  “Festival Theatre” happens to be the largest and the oldest one and is built up in the style of an amphitheatre.  Later, on a guided tour of the theatre, of its back stage and the stagecraft, our guide Kathy told us that no single seat in the theatre is a bad seat and the experience is great from every corner of the theatre. Is it not something very special?

A guided tour to the Costume warehouse was indeed a bonus. This gave us an insight and knowledge of one of the largest collections of props and costumes in North America, which are being catalogued now and are stored here.

The second play that we saw was “Grapes of Wrath” at Avon Theatre which is from one of my favourite authors, John Steinbeck.  Experience was again overwhelming and amazing. Again world class stagecraft was on display. Imagine, in one of the scenes a full actual river was on the stage in which characters even dove in. This city is offering some 12 plays this year spread over four theatres and would be on till the end of October.

City was also full of musical evenings in the gardens and on the riverside making our stay even more enjoyable.

The Church Restaurant

Another forth coming high light of Stratford is in September 24 & 25, 2011, which is the award winning 4th annual “Stratford Perth County Culinary Festival 2011”.  It would be just an ideal time to visit Stratford during this time. The festival includes a two-day outdoor Farmers and Artisans’ Market, Concerts in the park, an old-fashion Pork Roast, a Beer and Wine Pavilion, Children’s Area, Perth County BBQ’s, Stratford Chefs School Learning Centre, BBQ Blues and Brews on Saturday night, followed by the Savour Stratford Tasting on Sunday. It all happens in Stratford’s historic downtown shopping and garden district. 

The Church Restaurant



BEST WESTERN The Parlour Historic Inn & Suites



Stratford also offers many exotic eating joints catering to every taste and palate. There are two South Asian restaurants, Raja and Taj in down town offering South Asian Cuisine. I had memorable breakfast at Tango Cafe and Foster’s Inn. Foster’s Inn is also a exquisite place to stay and is located right in the heart of down town area and has about nine rooms . My dinner at The Church Restaurant was a unique experience. This restaurant has a huge capacity and also holds shows in the night. Another place that I would love to recommend for dining is “The Parlour”. The helpings are generous and sumptuous. It is one of the oldest in Stratford in a historical building and a favourite of both the visitors and the residents. Ambiance is out of a western saloon which is extremely pleasing. It also is a  2010 winner for overall design for best western hotel in North America. It is an excellent place to stay as well.  Another place I could recommend for dinner is Bijou, the culinary jem of Stratford which is inspired by the neighbourhood bistros of France.

I stayed at Festival Inn. Although it is little away from down town on Ontario Street but the rooms were very comfortable, convenient and stylish. The place had many amenities. I enjoyed a morning swim and dry sauna every day during my stay there before l left for down town for my sightseeing and theatres trips.

Victorian architecture in Stratford of some of the buildings is very fascinating specially the city hall and the Court House. These are visible from far as soon as you enter the city.

There is a chocolate trail in downtown area for all to enjoy and savour the tastes of locally made Chocolate Martini and Chocolate, Mint bath salts  and much more. It has been a huge hit, especially with women!  

Festival Inn

Every Sunday in front of the City hall ‘Slow Food Perth Country Market’ puts up their stalls for the promotion of locally made food and related items. I had a chance of meeting one of the well known potters Chris Lass of Wild Pottery here. She had showcased some fascinating pieces of pottery which were practical for day to day use as well.

Another thrilling part of this visit was meeting with one of the well known poets of Canada, Charles Mountford and his photographer wife Ruth Mountford and also knowing them personally. The couple lives in Stratford for past 30 years since the time they fell in love with this lovely city for its beauty. Since then this talented couple has contributed a lot to the art and cultural scene of Stratford in many ways.

The ever helpful and friendly staff of Stratford Tourism is a bonus in this  city.

It seems to me Stratford will become a regular destination for me every year from now on. This is for the revival and nurturing of my spirits. Also I would love to explore this city even more. It is just about 90 minutes away from Toronto by car. Who knows one day I may want to shift here with my bag and baggage and make it my home forever.

http://www.visitstratford.ca

By Meena Chopra

Tia's choice: Ottawa by Night - by StarBuzz Weekly

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

MISSISSAUGA - The City of the Future.

Newly built 'CELEBRATION SQUARE' in the heart of Mississauga. Where celebrating never ends.



'Marilyn Monroe' buildings.  Mississauga's new landmark.




 

Mouth watering food from Bollywood Unlimited at Mosaic Festival.



Enjoying Mosaic festivities

 StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-

Tia's Choice: Ottawa, A Magical Experience for Travellers

The exotic nightlife at ByWard Market in Ottawa


Shopping at ByWard Market

 

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto -When the sun goes down the spirits are up in Ottawa even on a tiring day of sight seeing the city, then its exotic nightlife spreads over the city. The name that comes first to the mind is the very special "ByWard Market". 

It  is one of Ottawa's oldest neighbourhoods and also functions as its entertainment district. While visiting Ottawa one would never want miss the unique experience that this entertainment district offers  with its warm and welcoming  over 100 food and drink options in just a four-block-square area. Whether it's fine dining, a good diner, a cosy bistro, or a romantic cafe, one can find it in "this very special market." One could walk around and choose to explore the various options. With world class live music and a glass of your favourite wine followed by tantalising food makes your evening just perfect and refreshing.

Established by Lt-Col. John By in 1826, the ByWard Market is one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets. The legendary builder of the Rideau Canal, Colonel By laid out the street plan of the Market, designating George Street and York Street to be extra wide to accommodate the public market and gathering place.

With an area roughly four blocks square, you'll find museums, cafés, specialty food shops, boutiques, galleries, restaurants, pubs, hair & aesthetics salons and more! Easily accessible on foot, by transit or by car, the ByWard Market offers a unique experience for all.




Bar in Le Cafe



Le Cafe could be another wonderful choice to dine with its many specialities. I loved the blue glasses and the blue light matching the interiors. It is just next to the Rideau Canal and located by the side of National Arts Centre. An evening out with a music concert at National Arts Centre and a dinner at Le Cafe makes your evening just perfect and relaxing. http://www.nac-cna.ca/en/lecafe/lecafe/


Chad one of the staff members at the bar of 'play FOOD & WINE'



The best place for wine and cheese with a wholesome evening meal is "play FOOD & WINE", a creation of Stephen Beckta and Chef Michael Moffatt of the renowned Beckta dining & wine. Service is excellent and the food is the best. It is situated at 1 York Street. It is a must eating joint for the one who wants to have the real taste of Ottawa and a complete travel experience. http://www.playfood.ca/

Do not miss out the old fashioned rickshaw ride by Ottawa Rickshaws who are there to take you around this glamour stricken nightlife of this most exotic nightlife district of this city.This experience is a bonus at a very reasonable price for some one who is visiting Ottawa.



Adam Slight Owner/Manager - Ottawa Rickshaws
http://www.rickshaws.ca/



Elgin Street is another popular nightlife area, with a selection of bars, restaurants and cafes in just a few blocks. Bank Street offers three or four distinct areas along its length, including a popular area known as the Glebe.




Tia & Meena enjoying dinner at Le Cafe

Visit:  http://www.ottawatourism.ca/