Niagara Oast House Brewers, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

On our way home today, Gord and I stopped in at Niagara Oast House Brewers for a tour.  The building is about 100 years old and has had many uses over the years.  Oast started about two years ago.

Our guide was Oscar and he took good care of us.  He was friendly and knowledgeable.

Gord and Oscar

Oscar explained what an oast house is (it's a building designed for drying hops as part of the brewing process).

Then he took us in with the equipment and explained how everything worked.

Stagecoach Family Restaurant & Ice Cream Parlour, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I had breakfast this morning at the Stagecoach, which was a block from our hotel.

It was a busy spot.

We both ordered the Cook's Favourite.

Gord got his with bacon.

The Olde Angel Inn, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Gord and I had theatre tickets for the Shaw Festival last night.  We drove to Niagara-on-the-Lake yesterday afternoon and drove home today.

We spent the night at the Olde Angel Inn.

Great food, historic accommodations and good friends await you here at Ontario's oldest operating inn. Established in 1789 and rebuilt in 1815 after the War of 1812, The Olde Angel Inn is a perennial favourite among locals and tourists alike.

Boasting a lively English-style pub, quaint dining room and private function room (familiarily known as the "Snug"), as well as 5 fabulous guest bedrooms, The Olde Angel Inn is decorated in olde world decor, including three cosy gas fireplaces, one in each of our three dining areas.

Step through our doors and back into history. The Olde Angel Inn's rooms, with exposed hand-hewn beams and thick plank floors laid in 1815, still echo to the sounds of the British soldiers and townsfolk who, two centuries ago, gathered here for food and drink. Small but unique, the Inn is believed to have been founded as The Harmonious Coach House on land granted to the deputy surveyor-general around 1789. The town was then called Newark and was destined to become the first Capital of Upper Canada. Records from this time are sketchy but it is known that in 1793, the new Assembly passed an act outlawing slavery, the first such law enacted anywhere in the world. It is believed that the legislators celebrated the event over dinner at the Inn that evening.

The Inn was badly burned during the War of 1812-14. It was rebuilt by John Ross in 1815, who named it the Angel Inn, in a tender reference to his wife.

There is a popular local legend (that shows up in accounts dating to the 1820s) of an unfortunate Canadian militia officer who was killed at the Inn during the American invasion of May, 1813.

Captain Colin Swayze had delayed joining the British retreat in order to rendezvous with a young woman, believed to be his true love. Surprised by American soldiers sent to search the Inn, he hid in an empty barrel in the cellar. The invaders used bayonets to prod into every corner and possible place of concealment and the unlucky lover received a fatal wound. Some believe the Ghost of Captain Swayze is fated to walk the Inn at night, perhaps in longing for his sweetheart. There have been reports of noises coming from the empty(?) dining room, rearranged place settings, and other unexplained occurrences. 

It is said that his ghost will remain harmless as long as the British flag flies over the Inn, a precaution prudently taken by the proprietor.

Alas, we didn't come across Captain Swayze.

We stayed in the Colonel's Suite.

Enjoy a unique sleeping experience in the antique "Irish Fertility Bed". Suite has a three piece bathroom with shower and a private sitting room. Sleeps two maximum. Located above lobby at the side of the Inn.

The Irish Harp Pub, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Gord and I had tickets to see a play tonight.  We both found it really boring so left during intermission.

We went to the Irish Harp Pub because there was a Celtic band playing.

The band was Finnigan's Wake and they were really good.  They played Irish, Celtic and East Coast tunes. I'm originally from the East Coast and it was just like being home!

 Hopefully they'll play in Toronto sometime!

The servers were friendly and took good care of us.

The Olde Angel Inn, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON

Gord and I had an early supper today at the pub in the Olde Angel Inn, which was established in 1789 and rebuilt in 1815 after the War of 1812.

We got there just before the supper rush and it got busy.

They had an interesting selection of craft beer.

beautybox five - September 2014

I received my September beautybox five today.

Beauty Box 5 is a subscription-based, beauty sampling service that delivers 5 deluxe samples and full-sized products right to your door every month.

Subscriptions are $12US a month or $99US for a year.  Shipping is free.

Here's what was in the box ...

• Sally Hansen Toe Spacer - $1.99 value
• Lashem 3-in-1 Eye Bright - 5ml sample - $13.60 value 
• My Beauty Spot Nail Polish - $4.17 value
• Natural Style by FUBU Deep Conditioner & Co-Wash - 2 x 14ml = $0.83 value
• Nicka K New York Eyelight Crayon - Charcoal - $4.49 value - has no staying power and I have to keep reapplying every hour or so.

Total value:  $25.08

Anis de Flavigny candies

Today I received a box in mail.

When I opened it, I was delighted to discover Anis de Flavigny candies inside to sample and share.  Whoohoo!

Anis de Flavigny sweets: little white pearls with an authentic, fresh and delicious flavour. First produced several hundred years ago, they weigh no more than a gram, are produced by hand, are always trendy and are enjoyed by young and old. In keeping with tradition, green aniseeds are gradually enrobed in delicately flavoured liquid sugar over the course of two weeks. This original recipe guarantees a sweet that is free from all artificial colorings, sweeteners, flavorings, preservatives and GM ingredients.

Anis de Flavigny come in seven subtle all-natural flavours, spiced or floral, to please as many of you as possible: anise, orange blossom, mint, liquorice, rose and violet. The Anis are home-made in the family owned factory of 30 people, which is in the old abbey of Flavigny-sur-Ozerain. Flavigny is a village of 300 people, listed as one of the hundred prettiest villages in France (also where the movie, Chocolat, was filmed).

Wow!  What a selection!

The tins are lovely!

I tried the mint ones right away ... yum!

• Since 1591, Les Anis de Flavigny have been made in the Flavigny village of France using the original recipe developed by monks.
• Each candy contains a real aniseed, which hold a warm, spicy flavour and an aromatic scent. The aniseed is gradually enrobed in delicately flavoured liquid sugar over the course of two weeks to produce the smooth pearl-like candy - a process called "dragée."
• In addition to the charming oval tins (already available in Canada), new pocket-boxes of Les Anis de Flavigny in a variety of flavours will be available in Canada in September 2014. The new boxes pay homage to the old-fashioned rectangular boxes that Anis de Flavigny were originally packaged in hundreds of years ago. The new boxes contain the Original pea-sized candy, or the smaller rice-sized candy, Les Petits Anis®.
• Beautiful illustrations on the packaging tell an evolving love story of a shepherd and shepherdess. Sharing a candy that holds an aniseed has traditionally been a symbol of love, happiness and fertility. 
• The factory has been owned and operated by the Troubat family since 1923 and continues to operate on the traditions of the abbey’s monks.

You should check them out ... they'd make great gifts!  You can find them here ...

Ontario

• Denninger's 
• Goodness Me
• Pusateri’s 

British Columbia

• Fairway Market
• Urban Fare

Luxe Box - fall 2014

My fall Luxe Box arrived today.

Sign up to receive 7 to 8 trial sized beauty and lifestyle discoveries every season.

The cost is about $27 a box.

Here's what was inside ...

The blush is crushed, not usable and leaking
from the package :(

• Phyto Paris Phytokératine Repairing Thermal Protectant Spray - 30ml sample - $6.40 value 
• VASANTI BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator - 20gram sample - $5.65 value - I've had this before and like it.
• Lila Grace Tropical Scents Body Lotion - 65ml sample - $4 value
• Burt's Bees Lip Gloss in "Ruby Moon" - $12.99 value - I like Burt's lip products!
• The Balm En Root Hair Shine Serum - 30ml sample - $4 value - I like it ... it makes my hair soft.
• So Susan Universal Blush - $17.50 value
• Loose Button Blush Brush  - $18 value

Total value = $68.54

October 6 update:  I received a be a ... bombshell eyeshadow (tempted) today to replace the crushed blush.

Book ~ "Toronto Sketches 7: The Way We Were" (2003) Mike Filey

From Goodreads ~ Mike Filey is back again with another installment in the popular Toronto Sketches series. Mike's nostalgic look at the city's past combines legend, personal anecdotes, and photographs to chronicle the life of an ever-changing city.

Among the stories in this volume, Mike looks back to the introduction of the "horseless carriage." He laments the loss of great movie houses of the past - the University, Shea's Hippodrome, the Tivoli - and applauds those looking to save the Eglinton Theatre, and he tells the history of the King Edward Hotel as it enters its 100th year.

"Toronto Sketches 7" is a valuable addition to the collection of any fan of Toronto history.

Mike Filey had a column in the Toronto Sun for about 30 years and I read it for many years (I like learning about the history of Toronto) ... this book is a compilation of some of his columns.

In this book, we learn about the roundhouse (Steam Whistle Brewing is there now is), the Pier (once a museum, now Amsterdam Brewhouse), Hotel Spadina (a backpackers hostel which recently was closed down and sold), Mount Pleasant Cemetery, old City Hall, how Harvey's got its name, and more.

There was an interesting story about the smallest house in Toronto.  It's at 128 Day Avenue (in the Rogers Road/Dufferin Street area).  It was built in 1912 by contractor Arthur Weeden and is only about 7′ wide, 47′ deep, with a total of less than 300 square feet of living space inside.

During the street's development, Lot 128 was conceived as a laneway for the neighbouring home. The curb was never cut by the City to allow vehicular passage from the street. Observing this, Arthur decided that "in order to use the land, I would build on it" (Weeden, Toronto Sun Telegram, 1939). After completing the laneway house, he and his wife lived in it for 20 years. After his wife passed away, Mr. Weeden, 77 years of age at the time of the Sun Telegram article, lived in the house for 6 more years, during which time he tended to the vegetable garden in the rear of the house, growing tomatoes, cabbages, Swiss chard, rhubarb and some flowers.

Here it is with Weeden sitting on the porch in 1939:

Here it is today.

In 2010, it was on the market and the owners asked $180,000.

Even though the book was published in 2003, it was still an interesting book because it dealt with many historical events in Toronto. If you live in Toronto or are from Toronto, you should check it out.

"KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities", Cirque du Soleil, Toronto, ON

Cirque du Soleil is in town with their production, KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities.

Reality is Relative 

What if you could alter reality at will? Delve into a world of curiosity where seeing is disbelieving: the world of KURIOS™ – Cabinet of Curiosities from Cirque du Soleil®. The show immerses you in a mysterious and fascinating realm that disorients your senses and challenges your perceptions, leaving you to wonder: "Is it real, or just a figment of my imagination?" 

Step into the curio cabinet of an ambitious inventor who defies the laws of time, space and dimension in order to reinvent everything around him. Suddenly, the visible becomes invisible, perspectives are transformed, and the world is literally turned upside down in a place that’s as beautiful as it is mysterious. 

KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities is an ingenious blend of unusual curiosity acts and stunning acrobatic prowess from Cirque du Soleil. Let KURIOS show you that anything is possible through the power of imagination.

The company I work for bought a bunch of tickets for tonight's performance and invited clients and companies we do business with.  I've never been to see Cirque before and got to go.  Yay!  I've heard it's awesome so I was looking forward to it.  The Toronto Star had given it 4/4 stars.

We had a reception before the show with cocktails and appetizers and there was a photographer taking pictures.  Here are me and Baljeet, my colleague (she and I met in the parking lot and came in together).

I had no idea what the story was about but that didn't matter ... the show was amazing.  There is a large cast and there is always something going on.  I didn't know what to expect and don't want to give anything away but there is lots of acrobatics, balancing, singing (the female singer, Eirini Tornesaki, has a great voice), clapping, laughs and more.

If you get a chance, you should check it out.  I'd gotten tickets for Gord and I to go in October and I'm glad I did because it's a great show and I'll be able to see all I miss tonight (as I said, there's always something going on).