Best things to do for Canada Day

No more teachers no more books..., well you know the rest.    I've been out of school for more than 20 years, but end of the school year still seems to be the official start of summer for me.

Lots going on in and around Waterdown if you decided to stay in town instead of heading into cottage country.

In Waterdown, "THE" event of the summer is taking place at Memorial Park... I believe it's the 4th Annual "Oh Canada Ribfest".      Lots of great food like bbq ribs/chicken/pulled pork, colossal onions, donuts, lemonade, ice cream etc...  Also lots of local businesses, vendors and artisans have booths selling their services or products.    Then, there is the stage for entertainment (you can watch ME dancing with my Adult Hip Hop group dancing with Live Dream Dance on Saturday at 11am, and then a big attraction on Sunday night is local rising star Jaclyn Kenyon) and of course all the midway/games.     Monday, special Canada Day activities are planned like the swearing in of new Canadians (130pm Main Stage) and then everything finishes off Monday night at 10pm with FIREWORKS!!!

For more details on all the activities happening at Ribfest, or if you'd like to volunteer... please visit  http://ohcanadaribfest.ca/     This is such a great fundraiser put on by the Rotary Clubs of Waterdown & Flamborough.     Money raised goes right back into the community for local projects and organizations.

Another great event is happening 10 minutes away down at the downtown Hamilton waterfront... the Tall Ships have arrived in Hamilton Harbour as part of a year long celebration of the Bi-Centennial of the War of 1812 (aka when we kicked the butt of the American's and this great country didn't become another American "state"     To find out more about the festivities around the Tall Ships in Hamilton Harbour, check out the Tourism Hamilton Website:
http://www.tourismhamilton.com/bicentennial-1812/signature-events/tall-ships

Happy Canada Day from me and my family to yours... 

 

 

Best Waterfront

Waterdown is (to me) so centrally located.     We are accessible to so many areas.     In 10 minutes we can be in downtown Hamilton or 20 minutes to downtown Burlington.    

In Burlington, there is such a pretty Waterfront... it is a vibrant area which attracts people all day, every day of the year.      Yesterday, the long awaited Burlington Pier opened with the start of the Sound of Music Festival.... and an official community celebration is taking place tomorrow.

Taken from the City of Burlington website....

"The City of Burlington will celebrate the opening of the Brant Street Pier on Saturday, June 15 as part of Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival, one of Ontario’s top festivals.
The pier’s opening will take place from noon to 3 p.m. at Spencer Smith Park, following the Sound of Music parade.

“The Brant Street Pier is nearly completed, and will be a waterfront icon at the foot of Brant Street for families to enjoy for generations to come,” said Mayor Rick Goldring. “There is still some outstanding business regarding legal action related to the pier. The city will be as open as possible in sharing that information.”

The Brant Street Pier is part of the overall development of the Waterfront at Downtown Burlington that includes Rotary Pond and Discovery Landing.

The Burlington Teen Tour Band will lead City Council, members of the community and federal and provincial politicians onto the pier to enjoy its waterfront view as well as some free refreshments and live entertainment. Part of the pier will close at 3 p.m. to allow Sound of Music organizers to get ready for evening fireworks.
The seven Burlington children who left their handprints on a commemorative plaque on the pier will also be asked to join the official opening. They will attend a plaque unveiling at the pier with the city’s funding partners on Friday, June 14 at 1 p.m.
“People will be thrilled when they see the astounding view of Lake Ontario and Burlington’s skyline from the Brant Street Pier,” said City Manager Jeff Fielding. “The completed Brant Street Pier is one more feature in this city that makes Burlington truly special, and one of Canada’s best cities.” 
The pier has been the product of years of challenges that include the uniqueness of constructing in and around water. The city worked with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Ministry of Natural Resources and Conservation Halton to ensure protection of both waterfront and land, especially the aquatic habitat.
“This has been a challenging but rewarding project for city staff,” said Scott Stewart, General Manager of Development and Infrastructure. “I would like to give my sincere thanks to the construction team that has helped get the Brant Street Pier where it is today—ready for opening in June of 2013.”  
The Brant Street Pier construction team includes Graham Infrastructure, Morrison Hershfield and project manager METTKO.
The total cost of the Brant Street Pier construction is $14.4 million. The Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Program is funding $4.4 million of this amount while Halton Region is providing $2.5 million.
“In Burlington, we do great things together,” said Mayor Goldring. “The Brant Street Pier is an example of a government partnership that will attract tourists, create another anchor in the downtown, and stand out as an example of the creative vision this city has for a continuously high quality of life for residents.” 
About the Brant Street Pier
The Brant Street Pier is being built to a high design standard with a minimum 75-year operational life.
The unique S-shaped pier will be a signature destination and attraction at The Waterfront at Downtown Burlington. The pier extends 132 metres (about 430 feet) from Spencer Smith Park over Lake Ontario, providing unique views of the lake and Burlington's shoreline. The pier deck is elevated above the surface of the water with the lookout node another nearly four metres (about 13 feet) above the main deck. 

The Brant Street Pier includes environmentally friendly features, such as energy-efficient LED lighting. A concrete walkway will connect the pier to the existing promenade in the east end of the park. For more information, visit www.burlington.ca/pier or email pier@burlington.ca.

About the Sound of Music FestivalBurlington’s Sound of Music Festival is Canada’s largest free music festival. More than 200,000 people each year come to the four-day festival to enjoy live concerts featuring all types of music, including jazz; rock; folk; pop; blues; Latin; Big Band; Celtic; country; and children’s entertainment.
The festival features more than 10 performance areas throughout Burlington's downtown and waterfront. For more about Burlington’s Sound of Music Festival, visit www.soundofmusic.ca "

What a great weekend it will be to celebrate the opening of the Pier and catch some wonderful FREE entertainment, food & fun at the Sound of Music Festival... all taking place down at the Burlington Waterfront.

Best Waterdown Health Festival

I've been on a quest lately after being diagnosed as Gluten, Dairy & Egg Intolerant.    There are other ones for me but those are the major ones for me to avoid.     There has been so much to learn and shopping/eating has become a new way of life for me.                             I have learned a lot from my Naturopath, Dr. Carly Wendler and I have learned a lot from the great staff at Goodness Me in Waterdown.    They have been fantastic with lots of food samples, advice from staff and they always have classes every week to help educate and promote good health in various forms.                                    Tomorrow, May 25th they are have a Health Festival at their Waterdown location.  You can sign-up for free classes, try out some new products, score some great deals and win prizes! Plus, they will be grilling on the BBQ from 11:30AM-6PM (including Gluten Free options) so come hungry!

 

Classes scheduled for Saturday are:

 

5 Secrets to Increase Your Energy & Reduce Your Waistline

10:00AM - 11:30AM

Gluten & Dairy Free Eating Made Simple

1:00PM - 2:30PM

Create the You, You Want to Be!

4:00PM - 5:30PM

 

I will there attending Dr. Carly's class "Gluten & Dairy Free Eating Made Simple"    On Dr. Carly's Facebook fan page is a great description of her class and what she'll be covering...

"Are you wondering about the boom in gluten and dairy free eating? Why does it seem that everyone is tittering about this shift in what we are feeding our families and ourselves? Everywhere we look these days we are seeing books, programs, and health professionals recommending these changes for specific health issues as well as for general overall well being and preventative health. It is not without great scientific support and research that these recommendations are making their way into everyday language. Societies that have the highest consumption of wheat and dairy also have the highest rates of pediatric type 1 diabetes, eczema, allergies, ear infections, heart disease, celiac disease, auto immune diseases and the list continues!     For complete event details please visit www.drcarlywendler.com events or www.goodnessme.ca "

 

We are so fortunate to have such a great store in Waterdown like Goodness Me.    With the increase of people with Celiac and Food Intolerances, it is a valuable resource in our community and I hope you'll check out the Health Festival Saturday.

Best Gluten Free Frozen Yogurt

Every few years, a certain type of shop will become popular... Tea, Coffee, Donut, Cupcake, Ice Cream with Mix-Ins... they've all had their time of popularity.     The trend of the moment seems to be the Yogurt Shop where you can mix the flavours, and add in pretty much as much toppings as you want.      You walk in choose a cup (the only size is large!) and you have your choice to serve yourself what kind of flavour(s) you want.     Some might go for just one flavour, or swirl two together... or maybe pick two flavours and put them in the same bowl yourself.    

Then you get to go to the topping area and put anything your heart desires on top.    Then you go to the cashier and they weigh your purchase and you are charged by the weight (and of course you can't put anything back in case you've rung up a $13 cup!!!)

For me, I am crazy about a new place in Burlington called CC Swirls www.ccswirls.com  located at 2201 Brant Street (in the plaza between Dollarama and Freshco).      What I love about this shop is EVERYTHING is Gluten Free!!!!    They have the cups that you can fill up with your favourite frozen yogurt and topping (note... they do have some toppings that would have gluten in them) or they have a freezer with pre-packed frozen yogurt,  frozen yogurt bars and frozen cakes.     I also need to be dairy free so for those of us with Gluten Free/Dairy Free needs, they also offer one flavour of Sorbet.

There are many great shops locally in the area Yogurty's is a great place right in the heart of the core in Waterdown @ 312 Dundas St E (and a favourite place of my daughters!).      They've just started to offer a Gluten Free & Dairy free flavour(s) there as well.      http://www.yogurtys.com/

Our family has also tried Menchies which is located at 1900 Appleby Line in Burlington.   They have many Gluten Free options, and just one Gluten Free/Dairy Free sorbet flavour as well.    www.menchies.com

I'm so glad to have found these shops (especially with summer right around the corner) and that they offer something for those of us with dietary restrictions.

Best Prom Dress

There are lots of great places around to get beautiful dresses... locally you might like to try Angie's Bridal on Mill Street South, or you might be able to find a dress at either of the other two bridal shops in town like the Coach House or Michelle My Belle both on Dundas Street.

Last year, I learned of a company in Burlington, Brash Avenues (a marketing company) that was taking donations of used/donated prom dresses, tuxedos and suits for teens looking to go to prom.     Proms have gotten out of control with  expensive dresses, hair, hair pieces, makeup, limos, etc... To go to prom can be so expensive that some kids don't go just because it is an expense they or their family can't afford.

This year, Brash Avenues has offered to collect dresses and suits again, but will be able to offer teens the experience of shopping by appointment only at the exclusive and discreet Mapleview shop "Dreams Dress Boutique" https://www.facebook.com/DreamsDressBoutique

Taken from the Dreams Dress Boutique page on facebook... "They (Mapleview Mall) are helping us with dress collection as well as creating a stylish boutique that will be DISCREET, private and made for the girls to feel special. The boutique will be invite only for those in need of a d...ress for their special occasion. We will be giving VIP passes to the girls in need of a dress so they are able to visit the store. Please pass the message on to teachers, principals and anyone that may know a girl in need of a dress.
Dress donations will be accepted at Brash Avenues as well as Mapleview Centre from now until May 10th. The dress collection at Mapleview is located next to Guest Services on the lower level. We are also graciously accepting shoes, accessories or anything that will make the girls special day a wonderful experience.
Mapleview is also running a contest for all who donate new or gently used dresses, accessories, shoes etc... to either Brash Avenues or Mapleview. When you make a donation you will get a card with a code to enter into a contest. The contest will include a weekly draw for a $200 gift card to Mapleview Centre, and a grand prize of $500 gift card to Mapleview along with a 2 hour stylist session with Style Icon Krystin Lee.   For more information on the Dream Big Dress Boutique, please call Crystal at 905-637-1578 or email crystal@brashavenues.com
Thank you in advance for all the community support. This project is only a success because of our amazing community in Halton & the GTA!   Please share this page and message to help spread the message!"

 

What a great service to provide!     And what a great way to pass on your teens prom dress from last year that that they aren't going to wear again or if you are a fella... and you have a suit that you are looking to get rid of... certainly a young guy would appreciate a suit to wear to prom (and possibly again and again).

 

 

 

Best Local Hockey

Waterdown is such a great town for local sport.     There is great choice when it comes to Dance Studios, Karate, Soccer, Ice Skating and of course Hockey!

This weekend the Flamborough Minor Peewee AE Sabres are set to finish their best season in years!     At the end of the regular season, the Sabres have acheived a record 23 wins, 2 losses and 3 ties which is the best finish the Flamborough Hockey Association has marked in recent memory.

TOMORROW... SATURDAY MARCH 23rd @ 3pm at the brand new North Wentworth Arena, the boys are hoping to bring home the GOLD in the OMHA (Ontario Minor Hockey Association) Championship.      

The team is hoping that the community will come out and support their team by filling the arena with lots of cheering fans wearing Blue and Gold (team colours) and making lots of noise for the boys with horns, bells, whistles and chants of support!

How awesome is it for them to have home ice advantage on one of the best seasons they've had in years.... Come on Flamborough.... come out and support the boys this Saturday!

Best Gluten Free Bakeries

Since having the diagnosis of Food Intolerance (Gluten, Casein & Egg mostly) I have been on a quest to find some of the great desserts, cookies and baked goods that I know I am going to miss and need a great healthy replacement for me.   

The first place I tried out was Kelly's Bake Shoppe on Brant Street in Burlington.     I was most interested to go there since they are the ONLY place I have found that are ALL Gluten Free and Vegan (no animal products like eggs and milk).       I tried a great sample of their products... a few cupcakes (all great), the Mile High Brownie (FANTASTIC) and bought a bag of their Gluten Free Croutons (excellent on my gluten free vegan Ceasar Salad I made at home).    Can't wait to go back and try more!



The second place I tried out was You'd Never Know Bakery in Dundas.    Super friendly staff that was excellent about coaching me through some of my options.   The President and Owner Rhonda Barr was there working away and even came over to chat with me.    She helped me pick out some great options and even helped me with advice on buying Gluten Free and dining out.     At Ya'd Never Know, I ended up not purchasing sweets but went more for freezer meals, All Purpose Gluten Free Flour, Pizza Crusts, Hamburger Buns and the MOST incredible prepared chicken breast I've ever had.     I've been on such a bland diet for months now that this amazing marinade had so much flavour it was a little taste of heaven for me.      I hope they have it when I go back, Rhonda had said it was a seasonal option.    It was truly amazing.    There was so much selection there.    Ready made salads, ready made meals, bulk grains like Quinoa Flakes, baked goods, soups and meals for the freezer.    So far I have really enjoyed everything I bought from there.   Rhonda even informed me of the Canadian Governments tax rebate for those with a diagnosis of Celiac or Gluten Intolerance.     I am going to be a regular there for sure.

 In Waterdown, the new bakery Beyond the Batter does have a daily gluten free feature and sometimes will have a vegan option as a Baker's Choice.     Each day of the week they offer a different flavour for Gluten Free.    My favourite is Midnight Craving and they offer the Gluten Free option on Tuesdays and Saturdays.  To see a list of the cupcake selections please visit their website   http://www.beyondthebatter.com/Daily-Cupcakes.html        While Beyond the Batter does offer Gluten Free and Vegan options,  they do say on their website "If you are allergic to these ingredients we do not recommend that you consume our products. We do our best to ensure that our Gluten Free and Vegan do not come into contact with any of these allergens, however do not guarantee it."

Also offering Gluten Free cupcakes is Cupids Cupcakes located in the Longo's Plaza at Walker's Line & Dundas.     While offering Gluten Free cupcakes, they do not offer Vegan at all.     Their literature states that they bake Gluten Free on special order and you need to order either a dozen mini's or a half dozen full sized.     I went in one day and asked about what they had Gluten Free and they did have two vanilla and 10 chocolate mini cupcakes in the freezer that they could sell me.     I have frequently bought cupcakes there for the last couple of years and could not tell the difference between their Gluten Free and the regular cupcakes.     When placing the order, you can get any of the icing flavours normally being offered on their daily schedule.   They do require 48 hours notice before pick up to have your GFree cupcakes ready.

More places are offering Gluten Free options so thankfully it is getting easier to find substitutes when trying to stick to a Gluten Free or Vegan diet.