Best Winter Skating

New Years was a week ago and the kids still have a whole weekend before they head back to school.    If you're like me, you've been trying to find things for your kids to do this week.   One thing you might like to do is try out some of the local arena's and take yourself or your family for a little skate.
In Burlington, Tim Horton's has sponsored free skate days during the Christmas Break.   Admission during the Tim Horton's Holiday Recreational Skating is free, but has limited space and based on first come first served.    Normally, if you do not have a Burlington address, there is an extra $8 fee for non-Burlington Residents on top of normal fees.    This is a great chance to explore the Burlington arenas free of charge.   Skate times this weekend are:

Appleby Ice Centre Arena B:  

• Sat. Jan 7th from 630p-730p, 730p-830p, 830-930p                    
• Sun Jan. 8th from 12p-1p and 1p-2p

Nelson Arena:  Sun Jan 8th from 1p-2p and 2p-3p.

Locally right in and near Waterdown we are blessed with many arenas.     There is North Wentworth Arena in Waterdown, Carlisle Arena in Carlisle and Beverly Arena in Rockton.    Please visit the City of Hamilton website to learn more about what is offered at these arenas...  

http://www.hamilton.ca/CultureandRecreation/Recreation/CentresPoolsArenas/

Below is  what you can expect to pay if you are a resident of the Greater City of Hamilton which services these facilities...

Arena and Rink Admission Fees

	Youth	Adult	Senior	Family	Parent & Tot
Daily	2.80	4.10	2.80	7.90	3.15
Yearly Skate Pass*	34.00	53.75	34.00	74.75	----
Daily Shinny**	----	6.40	----	----	----

(*) Note: If your home address is not within the official City of Hamilton boundary, a $11.25 non-resident surcharge plus applicable taxes will be charged on each clip card, monthly pass and yearly pass that you purchase.

(**) Note: Yearly Skate Pass does not include Shinny.

Fee Descriptions

Youth = under 18 years old
Adult = 18 to 54 years old
Senior = 55+ years old
Family = 1 or 2 adults with dependent children, under 18 years of age, living at the same address

Best Ride Home on New Years Eve

Another year almost over and done.    At the end of the year, most people like to look back and think of all the things they feel blessed about, and take stock in things they'd like to change.    For many, the passage of another year is spent celebrating the New Year drinking with friends and family.

It's New Year's Eve Eve, and as I think about how blessed we are, I can't help but think of those who will "celebrate" a little too much tomorrow night and still need to find their way home.    There are many services in the area that specifically on New Years Eve or even all year round provide a service to pick up those who need a ride home after a night of drinking.     Many of these services will also drive your car home for you.  Here's a little list of designated driver services)...  

MISSISSAUGA , OAKVILLE,
BURLINGTON AREAS

ST. JOHN AMBULANCE's "Operation Red Nose" Burlington
http://www.sja.ca/Ontario/CommunityServices/Pages/BurlingtonOperationRedNose.aspx
PLAN AHEAD! HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER, STAY OVERNIGHT, CALL A CAB OR CALL OPERATION REDNOSE! For more information call 905-634-6665 or 905-484-3467

DDADD INC. Designated Drivers Against Drinking Drivers
www.cylex.ca/company/ddadd-inc--desgnated-drivers-against-drinking-drivers-17190691.html

BURLINGTON / OAKVILLE (905) 805-4DAD (4323)

MISSISSAUGA (416) 752-4DAD (4323)
Toll Free - 1-888-750-4DAD(4323)

TORONTO AREA

Professional Designated Driver Service
www.reliabledd.com
Local: 647-350-1775  or  Toll-Free: 1-877-647-1775

GTA Designated Drivers
www.gtadd.ca
Telephone: 416 951-9355

WatchMen
www.watchmenletusdrive.com
Telephone: 647 380-2989


GUELPH, KITCHENER, WATERLOO, CAMBRIDGE

Designated Drivers
Designated Drivers offers the people of Guelph, Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and its suburbs a safe alternative to driving under the influence
Phone 519-760-3748

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for a Happy, Healthy and SAFE 2012.

Best Proximity

One of the things I love most about living in Waterdown is how close it is to so many cool things to do.   45 minutes and you are in Toronto, 45 minutes and you are in Niagara on the Lake, and hour and you are at the border to the US in Niagara Falls, 45 minutes to Oktoberfest in Kitchener and an hour til you are in Stratford.   
Living in Southern Ontario we are such a short drive to so many great amenities and to me, Waterdown is the centre to easily get to so many wonderful places.     Hamilton and Burlington are a mere 15 minutes away (or less depending on which area you need to get to).    My husband grew up in Toronto and was very used to traffic and how much longer it took to get anywhere downtown if something big was going on.    A few years ago he went to a Bruce Springsteen Concert (his very favourite singer) at Copps Colliseum in Hamilton.    I told him where to park so he could get out quick and easy.    From his seat at Copps, trying to beat the crowd to the parking lot, getting out of the parking lot and home to our front door was 20 minutes!    Normally, it would only take 10 minutes to get from Copps to our home.   Gotta like that kind of traffic.

There are so many great things to see and do in this fantastic area.   At this time of year, my all time favourite thing is to see the National Ballet's Nutcracker at the Four Season's Centre in Toronto.    I am now spoiled by this version, and everything else just seems to pale in comparison.    I've taken my daughters to see the Nutcracker for the last 4 years, and last year I was so honoured to be able to take my Nan from Nova Scotia there to see the National Ballet's Nutcracker.   She had never been to the ballet (in her 86 years) and certainly there was nothing like that available to her living in rural Nova Scotia.    We've been too busy this year to get tickets, but we really MUST make it next year.    Hardly feels like Christmas without seeing it.    Of course, each time we go to the Four Season's Centre to see the Nutcracker, we MUST walk just further down Queen Street to see the Bay Christmas Windows, also make it up inside the Bay to Christmas Street to see the decorations and finally to go into the Eaton's Centre and marvel at the GIGANTIC Swarovski Christmas Tree.    It's incredible and everyone needs to see it at least once, especially on a sunny day when the sunlight from the skylights just make the crystals twinkle like fireworks.   

Waterdown is such a fantastic town, but drive around a little and you will come across alot of great venues and activities not a very far distance from town.    What's that saying from Ontario Tourism... Ontario, Your's to Discover!

Best Old Fashioned Christmas

As a young girl growing up on episodes of "Little House on the Prairie", I've had a romanticized view of what life was like as a "pioneer".    I've always enjoyed visiting Westfield Heritage Village, in the town of Rockton which is only 20 minutes away from Waterdown.    It is run by Conservation Hamilton and is open Sundays or holidays April through October, 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm with special programs running in December for Christmas and March for Maple Syrup season.   I highly recommend going for the Christmas celebrations.   There is a certain magic to the all the buildings and seeing the way Christmas was celebrated long before the commercialism of what we know now.

You can enjoy a leisurely day in the country as you visit over thirty five historical buildings or walk on our picturesque nature trails. Log cabins, one room school house, blacksmith shop, railway station, general store, steam locomotive and many other destinations interpreted by enthusiastic and knowledgeable costumed interpreters make your visit something special for the whole family. Don’t forget to drop in at the General Store soda shop for a light lunch, indulge in Eddie D. Cat confections or purchase one of a kind items in our gift shop. Tours are self guided or with a costumed guide on the hour.

In December, they run special programs to celebrate Christmas.    This year you can visit
Saurday, December 3, 10 & 17, 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm for ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas
Celebrate Christmas past from Georgian times to the modern era. Feel the warmth of the season through food samples, fireworks , horse and wagon rides, and a visit from Saint Nick. Eddie D. Cat Confectionery offers a wide range of sweet treats for the season or visit our one-of-a-kind Gift Shop for the perfect Christmas gift. Special event prices apply for this event – though you may use your Nature’s Rewards pass for this event.

• Adult admission – $11.00
• Senior (65+) or Student (13-17 yrs) – $10.00
• Child (6-12yrs) – $6.50 (children 5 and under are free)

Sunday, December 18, noon to 4:00 pm – Christmas Day in the Country
Enjoy an old fashioned Christmas and celebrate the season where traditions of an earlier time are brought to life. Join the parties, enjoy the food and shop for that special someone

To learn more about Westfield, please visit their website at www.westfieldheritage.com

Best Parade

"It's the most wonderful time of the year...."   I've always loved Christmas-time.   Truth be told, I love all the lead up to Christmas... the decorating, the visiting, the shopping... and I love the Waterdown Santa Clause Parade.    What's great about the Waterdown parade is that it starts at 630pm and every float is decorated with lots of lights to really bring out the festive mood.   

I also love that, each float that goes by we seem to say "Oh look there's...."   I've mentioned many times in my blog that the longer you live in Waterdown and get to know your neighbours and local business people, you just can't seem to go far without running into someone you know.

For me, after Santa of course, I love to see the pets they bring out for Flamborough Adoptions... all kinds of happy doggies on leash running along the street (usually dressed up in costume, coat or lights) with volunteers from the Shelter.   

It's always interesting to see what floats are the same, what ones are new and ones that have alot of creativity to them.

This year the pararde happens Saturday November 26th, beginning at 630pm.    Early in the day, people begin putting out their chairs along the parade route to reserve their spot.   I'm always impressed by how people respect that and don't move the chairs.    People are also very good about making sure that little kids can see everything as well and help to move them up to the front.

This year is going to be fantastic just for the weather alone.    Sunny with a daytime high of 12C and possibly a low of 8C and clear skies in the evening... that's my kind of weather!

Don't forget your loonies for the loonie bin, letters for Santa and socks & mitts to give to Helping Hands.    Hope to see you there!     Merry Christmas.

Best Christmas Home Tour

I have to be upfront here... I am a little prejudiced in this category, but I have to say that the Drummond House Christmas Home Tour, Bake Sale and Silent Auction is the BEST kick off to the Holiday Season in Waterdown.    The reason I am prejudiced is because I have been on the Organizational Team for this event for the last 5 years.

The Open House began 6 years ago as small event to invite the public to come into the home, see it decorated for Christmas and for people to learn about what Drummond House does.    Today the Christmas Home Tour, Bake Sale & Silent Auction has grown into one of the biggest fundraisers Drummond House does.   I am honoured to hear that people think the quality of decorating has been compared to the Junior League Home Tour.    Each year the event has gotten bigger and bigger.    This year it has grown so much that the Bake Sale and Silent Auction along with a few other sale items (Antique Sale & Toonie Sale) have been re-located next door to Drummond House at the Flamborough Baptist Church.

Unlike the Junior League Home Tour, THERE IS NO CHARGE TO VIEW Drummond House.     Since it is fully self funded charity, DONATIONS ARE GREATLY ACCEPTED.     Visitors are also encouraged to take photos of the decorations and use ideas showcased in their own homes for Christmas Decorating.   

You can read more about the Christmas Home Tour, Bake Sale & Silent Auction in the Flamborough Review article... http://www.flamboroughreview.com/community/drummond-house-set-for-tour/

Each year, I get the pleasure to serve up complimentary hot apple cider to visitors as they visit the last room in the house... the kitchen.   I hope you will join me Saturday November 19th between 10a-4p at Drummond House.

Best Entertainment

Every town should have a great community theatre, and in Waterdown we have the Village Theatre.   It's a great little gem in the heart of the Waterdown Core, right on Dundas Street between Main and Mill... couldn't get more central than that!

They just finished up "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and currently getting ready for their next play "The Mousetrap".

A little about the Villiage Theatre from their website... 

Operating out of the Memorial Hall in the centre of Waterdown, Ontario, Canada for over thirty years, Village Theatre is a community theatre group which produces challenging and entertaining drama, comedy, sometimes even some music! We provide a creative outlet for close to 100 local actors, directors, designers and backstage crew. Many others join simply for the fun and friendship of getting a show on stage.

We're proud of our reputation as the group which does what others wouldn't dare, with memorable productions by playwrights such as Dario Fo, Michel Tremblay and Anouilh; with plays like Top Girls, Equus and Love For Love. We also produce a full-scale children’s play as part of our regular season, giving many children the opportunity to perform.

Recent renovations to Memorial Hall, funded by Village Theatre through various grants, means a classier, more versatile venue that welcomes our audience with style. If you're looking for a social group where you can work hard for no pay, to create magical moments that disappear as soon as they're reached, then you're as crazy as we are - you may as well join us!

"The Mousetrap"

By Agatha Christie
The Mystery that made History

directed by: Andrew Finnigan
produced by: Joyce Bell
stage manager: Theresa Cooke

Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap is the longest running play of our time. Enter a dark manor house where you'll join a murderer and a group of complete strangers, one of whom has set a trap to catch the murderer. Mousetrap is a chilling play with a surprise twist ending which has been sworn to secrecy by the audience members since 1952!

Showtimes and Dates:

            Friday November 18 - 8:00 pm
Saturday November 19 - 8:00 pm
Sunday November 20 - 2:00 pm

Friday November 25 - 8:00 pm
Saturday November 26 - 8:00 pm
Sunday November 27 - 2:00 pm

Friday December 2 - 8:00 pm
Saturday December 3 - 8:00 pm
     

Ticket Prices:

$20.00 through the Box Office, at the door and when purchased or at Jitterbug Cafe & Catering and Polar Bay Wines ticket outlets.      Group rates for ten or more pre-paid:  $15.00 per person.

Box Office:

Phone 905-690-7889 or email: vtwboxoffice@gmail.com    Village Theatre and the Box Office opens ½ hour before each performance.

      

To learn more about the Village Theatre and it's upcoming events, please visit their website at:

http://www.villagetheatrewaterdown.ca/