Hamilton - 10th Annual Tastes of Downtown

At a recent girlfriend's weekend, we decided to give the tour of independent restaurants in downtown Hamilton a try. We were very pleasantly surprised. with several simultaneous tours, each group of 12 visited 5 of the possible 15 participating restaurants. We had excellent service and food at Stairways (good Polish home cooking), La Piazza (awesome Italian, complete with wine pairings), Honest Lawyer (delicious pub apps), Gate of India (authentic!), 2 Black Sheep (oysters galore). While all warrant a repeat visit, and many of the others out guide pointed out along the way were intriguing, our hands down favourite was La Piazza. The enthusiasm of the chef and sommelier were as intoxicating as the food. 

Soulpepper - The Dybbuk or Between Two Worlds

I just loved this show, although it took me a little while to get into it at the beginning, with so much going on.  Brilliant staging. I'm afraid to say anything - there's just too much good stuff I wouldn't want to give away. I strongly recommend.

Acting Up Stage Company - Ballad of the Burning Star

A unique and creative approach to telling a story. At times the language and dance was aggressive, but this helped us to appreciate the tension the families were living through. A very effective way to teach about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, generating lots of conversation.

Art of Time Ensemble - Songbook 8: Brent Carver

Extraordinary show - awesome arrangements, amazing musicians and Brent Carver was both endearing and outstanding. Andrew Burashko has not disappointed with a fresh arrangement of some old favourites. Next year's season is now on sale - I recommend you subscribe.

RSGC Grad Parents and Sons BBQ

I have to mention this event, although it was a personal one relating to my son vs a publicly available event, because I was very impressed with how the college reinforces their values. RSGC has 10 qualities that they strive to instill in their students. All of the graduating boys received recognition for the quality they most exemplified. It was a lovely way to recognize each graduate, as well as reinforce overall what it means to be a Georgian. Well done !

Mirvish - Titanic

Amazing staging and singing, the tension steadily building deliciously throughout the first act. Many stand-out performances, particularly vocals from Ben Heppner (Straus) and Beverage (boiler operator), and endearing characters played by Hume (head waiter) and Crowe (radio operator). I could really mention them all.

Soulpepper - Trudeau and Levesque

A sequel to Trudeau and the FLQ, this show also stands on its own, encapsulating a unique period in Canadian politics. The video cabaret style makes light work of serious matters and is a very enjoyable way to absorb a history lesson. I had a great evening with my 17 year old.  Strongly recommended for teens and up!

Factory Theatre - Morro & Jasp

Quite silly, as one would expect with clowns, but also a charming parody of a start-up company. Audience participation was very well integrated. The humour grew as the story developed and the characters matured. A fun night out if you enjoy silly office humour.

Dinner Theatre - Faulty Towers

An interesting dinner party - seated at tables of 8, we have an opportunity to meet new people, many of which are celebrating a birthday or anniversary. ‎A cast of 3, the married owners of the restaurant and the "english-language-challenged" head waiter, provide a non-stop barrage of jokes and slapstick in the vein of Monty Python. Even if you don't recall this British sitcom, starring John Cleese, of a few decades ago, you will enjoy a leisurely delicious dinner with old and new friends.

National Geographic Live! Pete McBride - Chasing Rivers

Featuring two major rivers, the Colorado and the Ganges, Pete and his team share their end to end journey. We are awed by the beauty, where the river is still clean and alive, and saddened by the sorry state of the effects in densely populated areas. His passion for water conservation makes us hopeful.