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Making your House a Home

November 21, 2020 No Comments

After hanging out at home over the last few months, you may be thinking it is time to make some changes. Are your wall colours too bland? Do you dream of taking down a wall to open up a space? Many of us will seek outside help when it comes to making these decisions, but the jargon surrounding home improvement can be confusing — does your project need an interior designer or an interior decorator? The two professions certainly have similarities, but both offer different skills that will benefit your finished project.

What’s the difference?

Surely with a name so similar, they must be interchangeable, right?

The answer is ‘no’.

An interior decorator focuses mainly on the aesthetics of a space — a personal stylist for your home! Interior decorators have an abundance of creative vision and artistic taste, and while no formal schooling is required, many do have extra training. They concentrate on colour palettes, furnishings, and create beautiful livability using the space you already have. “Interior decorators look after everything from the drywall out!” say Anita Puls and Kim Giancaterino from Burlington Design Studio.

An interior designer, on the other hand, is someone licensed with accredited post-secondary training in all aspects of home remodeling, and this usually includes an apprenticeship with a designer. Much of their education is spent on drawing, space planning, design, building code, and architecture. An interior designer is proficient at drawing up floor plans and they will work hand-in-hand with your contractor or architect to ensure they can achieve your dream — even if it means reworking the walls and layout of your home.

Who should you hire for the job?

Before you decide which person is right for the job, you need to evaluate the scope of your project. Are you planning to add or remove walls and windows or are you mainly focused on reworking the esthetics of your space?

Tamara Grant, a local interior decorator and stager, feels it is essential to know the needs of the client beforehand. “It’s important to know your style and preferences since it is being decorated for you to stay and enjoy,” she says. “I like to start by coming up with a colour palette or theme to draw from.” While many clients may feel overwhelmed with the endless choices, Tamara knows that it’s important to take your time. “Do it in layers, start with furniture, add curtains, then pop in the colour with art and pillows, and finish off with tabletop décor.” Another added bonus to hiring a professional decorator is the shopping advantage. Tamara notes, “It helps to have somebody with a keen eye for design and who also knows the best places to shop for furniture and accessories,” she says. Definitely a bonus!

If your renovation involves structural work, you should enlist the help of an interior designer. They aim to improve the functionality of your space, not just the décor and feel of the room. Their expertise in drawing up floor plans, troubleshooting structural issues, and acquiring building permits is a necessity for large projects. A designer offers a trained eye that can really impact the plans of your changing space.

Whichever you choose, make sure their vision is aligned with yours. “Designing and decorating a home requires many considerations like style, functionality, architectural details, and space planning,” Anita and Kim advise, “A professionally trained eye can pull all these elements together to create a cohesive space with a timeless design that will last for many years to come.”

Tips from the professionals

Make your space liveable by keeping it bright and refreshed. Tamara Grant knows lighting is key, “Light is major! Whether it’s natural sunlight, overhead lighting, or task lighting — big and bright is the goal.”

Include natural elements in a space to create a warm and inviting home during the fall and winter months. “Using live plants and fresh greenery, and also including textured fabrics such as velvets, mohair, and wools on accent pillows and throw blankets, really help to cozy up a space during the cold months,” suggests Anita Puls. Warm colour hues such as cinnamon, caramel, cognac, and deep earthy greens immediately add a warm, intimate vibe.

Written By: Kristen Sanchioni

LOCAL LINKS

Fairhome Interiors, Burlington
Destined Dreams, Hamilton
Burlington Design Studio
Anderson’s Interiors, Burlington
Joshua Creek Furniture & Home Decor, Oakville
Swiss Interiors, Oakville

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That’s Amore: 10 Great Local Pizza Places

November 13, 2020 No Comments

What is it that makes wood-fired pizza so delicious? When a pizza has been ‘wood-fired’, it means the pizza was cooked in a wood-fired oven. Wood is burned to heat the oven which reaches extremely high temperatures, often upwards of 800 degrees Fahrenheit. A current provided by the smoke leads to a steady air stream that ensures even cooking and a unique smoky flavour. This means that it will take only a few minutes to cook a pizza, ensuring a crispy base and bubbly cheesy top.

It’s fairly easy to identify a wood-fired pizza because of its visual imperfections: large bubbles on the crust or in the centre – this is because of the fast cooking and high heat.

The crust also has the appearance of being slightly charred on the outside but inside it is chewy. In a cooler oven, the crust will lose its chewiness and become dense and dry. The fast cooking method also allows the toppings to retain their freshness without drying out.

Son of a Peach in Burlington is a specialty wood-fired pizza place that uses only the best ingredients: whole milk and virgin mozzarella, fresh basil, and 30-month aged Parmigiana Reggiano. The dough is made in-house (96-hour cold-fermented) with locally milled flour, kosher salt, and extra virgin olive oil.

The restaurant offers a patio and take-out, and there is a wine list offering local and international wines. Executive chef Diana Macri offers many pizza variations, the spicy salami and wild honey being a favourite.

Piazza Bistro on the Town Square in Oakville is run by a family team of Rob and Kirsten with their daughter Sam. It is a chic spot for Italian fare offering take-out as well as a patio. They also offer half-price bottles of wine on Tuesdays along with classic pizzas, such as the Funghi: Fiore di Latte, roasted mushrooms, shaved Parmigiana Reggiano, and truffle oil. (see the recipe for this pizza by clicking here)

7 Enoteca, also on the Town Square, pairs a modern aesthetic style with a traditional enoteca. They import exclusive Italian wines for their list, and the wines are only available through the restaurant. The Pizza Salsicce is memorable with toppings of house-made wild boar sausage with roasted red peppers, shaved red onion, Manchego and goats’ cheese.

Kerr Street in Oakville has its fair share of great pizza places. Fantastico was established in 2007 and has been producing delicious food ever since. They have a wide array of pizza options – more than 18 – with comfort food offerings like the Bacon Cheeseburger Pizza: cheddar, mozzarella, ground beef, bacon strips, and onion. Or the Bellissimo, with olive oil, goats’ cheese, Brie, figs, caramelized onions, fresh arugula, Prosciutto, and balsamic glaze.

The Boot Social Pizzeria, still on Kerr, has a wide selection as well. You can make your own pizza with the base pizza being only $15, before adding the toppings. They also have the option to turn any pizza into a calzone (folded over), stromboli (rolled), or panzerotti (smaller folded over pizza).

The Boot also offers pizza dipping sauces and the hot aïoli is very popular. A smart offering in these times where we spend more time at home is the Make at Home Pizza Package, which offers you the dough, pizza sauce, mozzarella, and flour, plus your toppings and instructions for stretching and baking the pie.

Lastly, on Kerr is Justino’s Wood Oven Pizza and Bar which offers Roma style pizza, as well as white pizza (no tomato sauce), and calzone. The Pescatore with shrimp, peppers, mozzarella, and olive is superb in its simplicity.

Industria Pizzeria and Bar on Appleby Line in Burlington also offers both rossa and bianca pizza. Their signature Pizza Bianca Industria is laden with beef, yellow cheddar, iceberg lettuce, pickles, onion, sesame seeds, and Industria sauce.

Nonna’s Oven on Rebecca in Oakville offers both pizza and panzerotti styles. Their classic Quattro Stagione with ham, artichoke, fresh mushroom, and sliced black olive is outstanding, or ask for the Calabrese with hot soppressata, roasted sweet peppers, sliced black olives, and hot chili oil.

Scaddabush Italian Kitchen and Bar on Winston Park Drive in Oakville specializes in hand-stretched pizza with gourmet offerings such as the Pear and Squash: Pecorino Alfredo sauce, roasted squash, pear, kale, caramelized onion, mozzarella, toasted hazelnuts, and sage.

And for something a little different, Mickey’s Pizza in Clarkson makes Chicago style deep dish pies. One of the signature pies is the Philly Cheese Steak with slow-roasted steak, homemade meatballs, caramelized onion, a cheese blend, and barbecue sauce.

With the weather turning cooler, comfort food is calling, so head to your favourite pizza store and enjoy the many flavours available.

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It’s Still The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

November 5, 2020 No Comments

At this time of year, you would typically find our events section overflowing with news of upcoming holiday cheer. From tree lightings to Santa Claus parades, our BIAs know how to deliver on holiday favourites. Many of these events have become longstanding traditions in our families and communities. While we don’t have to remind you that this year will be different, we do want to remind you that the holidays are still a special time – and worthy of making new traditions.

Bronte Village

Bronte’s official kick-off to summer usually begins with At Home in Bronte – an annual event where 60 local organizations, artists, businesses, and families are invited to paint a Muskoka chair. These chairs are installed for public viewing and enjoyment in Bronte Village on Canada Day for the duration of the summer. This summer, the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 – but Bronte BIA is excited to announce a winter instalment of this event. This winter, visitors to Bronte Village will find dozens of professionally painted Muskoka chairs along sidewalks and the waterfront. There will be hidden icons on the chairs, designed to get families outside and to encourage them to participate in a winter scavenger hunt.

The Village has also designed new banners and plans to line the streets with lit snowflakes and decorations for the holiday season. While there won’t be a Christmas Tree or official lighting, Bronte offers exquisite views and scenery, the waterfront an obvious one.

Downtown Oakville

You’re invited to Downtown Oakville’s Hometown Holiday festivities! Stroll safely along the brand new, extra-wide sidewalks and support your local specialty stores, services and restaurants throughout the holiday season.

The highlight of Hometown Holiday will be the spectacular 30 foot Instagram worthy ribbon tree of lights, being installed in Towne Square on November 28. Be sure to come and visit, take a photo with family and friends, and enjoy the extraordinary lighting installations in Centennial Square as well as throughout the Downtown core. Follow @oakvilledowntown (on FB or Instagram) for the details.

Don’t miss out on the best gifts of the holiday season. Subscribe to the Downtown Oakville e-newsletter to gain early access to the NEW Virtual Gift Guide here: http://explore.oakvilledowntown.com/

Downtown Burlington

Santa will not be parading in Downtown Burlington this year. The annual tree lighting and candle-lit stroll have also been cancelled. But – some wonderful things have been planned in exchange.

Celebrating 25 years of magic, the Burlington Lakeside Festival of Lights will be returning. Sixty magical lighting displays will be set up at Spencer Smith Park from November 27th, 2020 to January 8th, 2021.

The lights will turn on at 4 p.m. every day and run until midnight – with exceptions on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Orthodox Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, where the lights will be lit all day and night. This outdoor event is a perfect way to experience the holidays in Burlington and also grab some fresh air.

In addition to the Festival of Lights, Downtown Burlington has invested in a unique plug n’ play technology that transforms traditional lighting displays into interactive experiences. The display is powered by a real-time sound-to-light mapping system called Aurora. Located next to Scrivener’s along the Elgin Promenade, visitors can interact with the lighting in real-time by singing, clapping, or yelling. There will also be a canopy of lights in other areas of the promenade.

Waterdown Village

Waterdown has become a holiday hot-spot thanks to their annual evening Santa Claus parade. The parade, which typically begins at 6 p.m. lights up beautiful Downtown Waterdown with floats decked out in lights. Unfortunately, this year’s parade, along with their ‘Made for You’ market and Christmas Tree lighting have been cancelled. However, there are plans to host a virtual tree lighting via Facebook and Instagram, with special guests to be announced. Follow @waterdownbia (on FB or Instagram) for details closer to the event.

While many aspects of these events are changing week-to-week, one thing is for certain: all of the BIAs want to ensure the holidays bring magic!

Stay tuned for merchant sales. And word on the street – there’s talk of winter patios. It doesn’t get more Canadian than that, eh?

Written By: Anneliese Lawton

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A Park for the Dogs: Watch them Run!

September 14, 2020 No Comments

Written by: Celina Ip

Every puppy parent knows the word ‘walk’ is not one to throw around lightly. After all, it’s a promise that must be kept. A simple utterance of the word sends tails wagging – and while a walk around the block might suffice, dogs live for adventure. They like to sniff, they like to run, and just like their humans, they like to socialize. Oakville and Burlington are dog-friendly cities with a vast selection of off-leash parks. For dogs big and small, these areas of wonder are just the place to run until their heart’s content:

Oakville

Kingsford Gardens (2667 Kingsway Dr)

Smaller fenced-in, off-leash dog park
Located in Kingsford Gardens (well-maintained and beautiful garden lot)
Close to many walking trails
Open seven days a week, 8 am until 11 pm

Lakeside Dog Park (2266 Lakeshore Rd W.)

Fenced-in, leash-free dog park
Chain-link perimeter fencing keeps all sizes and breeds in the zone
Dual in-and-out gates and wheelchair accessibility
Watering station available in warmer months
Year-round restroom facilities and ample parking
Garbage bins in the area
Provides a beautiful view of Lake Ontario
Next-door to Lakeside Park splash pad, a playground, and picnic tables
Open seven days a week, 5:30 am until midnight

Glenashton Park (1051 Glenashton Dr)

Smaller off-leash, fenced-in dog park
Many picnic table on-site, and a wheelchair-accessible entrance
A short walk away from other parks and trails: Postridge Park, Nena Woods Park, Bayshire Woods Park
Next-door to a children’s playground, splash pad, and fields for soccer & baseball
Open weekdays from 9 am to 9 pm, Saturday from 9 am to 6 pm, and Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm

Post Park (512 Macdonald Rd)

Fenced-in, leash-free dog park
Surrounded by trees (making it shady and cool) and a nice walking trail
Watering station on site
Garbage bins available
Plenty of parking available
Next-door to a small children’s playground and a soccer field
Open seven days a week, 8 am until 11 pm

Trafalgar Memorial Park (120 Oak Park Blvd)

Consists of two fenced-in lots: one for larger dogs (over 25lbs), another for smaller breeds (under 25lbs)
The larger area also features two big ponds, an active playground, and a community area
New trees have been planted
One picnic table in each lot
Open seven days a week, 24 hours a day

North Park (3250 Neyagawa Blvd)

A medium-sized fenced-in park that welcomes dogs of all sizes
Plenty of parking available
A short walk to Lions Valley Park (features hiking trails and a beautiful creek)
Open seven days a week, 8 am until 11 pm

Palermo Park (2345 Dundas St W.)

Large fenced-in dog park
Features a nice walking trail surrounding the park
No watering station on-site, so owners should bring a portable bowl and water for their dog
Open seven days a week, 8 am until 11 pm

Bronte

Shell Dog Park (3307 Lakeshore Rd W.)

Fenced-in, leash-free dog park
Many picnic tables
Watering station and doggie bags available on site
Many garbage bins right outside the leash-free area
Clean and well-maintained
Next-door to a tennis court, kids park, Shell Skateboard Park, and walking trails
Open seven days a week, 8 am until 11 pm

Burlington

King Road Leash-Free, at Bayview Park (1800 King Rd.)

This medium-sized fenced-in dog park welcomes dogs of all breeds and sizes
The location provides beautiful views of Burlington and Burlington Bridge
Located in Bayview Park, along with a baseball diamond
Open seven days a week, from 8 am until 8 pm

Roly Bird Park (2203 Industrial St.)

Smaller fenced-in dog park, perfect for smaller dogs
Shaded by many large trees
Picnic tables on site
Plenty of parking available
Next-door to a baseball diamond, two sports fields, and a children’s playground
Open seven days a week, 24 hours a day

Norton Park (3035 Tim Dobbie Dr.)

Fenced-in dog park divided into two lots, one for larger dogs and the other for smaller dogs
Watering stations and garbage bins on site
Next-door to two artificial turf fields, a basketball court, skateboard park, and a children’s playground with splash pad
Plenty of parking available
Open seven days a week, 7 am until 10 pm

Mississauga

Jack Darling Memorial Park (1180 Lakeshore Rd. West)

One of the largest fully fenced off-leash dog parks in Ontario (22 acres for dogs to freely run around and play)
Chain link fence surrounds the perimeter
Shade provided by trees
A fully-functioning water station for dogs to cool down
Many hills for dogs to get some exercise
A couple picnic tables to rest and relax
Complimentary doggy bags at the entrance
Located along Lakeshore Road, the park provides a beautiful view of Lake Ontario
The broader Jack Darling Park includes hiking trails, picnic areas, a children’s playground, bathrooms, and splash pad

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Smooth Sipping: Your Guide to Local Distillers

September 11, 2020 No Comments

Written by: Anneliese Lawton

Walk down any beer aisle at the LCBO or your grocery store, and you’ll find an assortment of carefully crafted, small-batch local beer. Infused with seasonal flavours and influenced by local ingredients, craft beer has been gaining in popularity since the boom of the microbrewery in the 1990s.

While Canada has a longstanding history in the beer industry, we also have a “spirited” past dating back nearly 250 years. Legend has it that a fellow named James Grant started making rum in the first legal distillery in Quebec City. Over centuries, Canada has forged a reputation for its high-quality whisky and inspired a growing scene of craft distilleries, which produce everything from tequila and gin to vodka, rum, and, of course, whisky.

On the rocks? Neat? Sitting with a cigar in a wingback chair? With craft distilleries popping up right in our own backyard, it’s easy to sip your way through the GTHA.

Forty Creek Whisky | Grimsby

Fortycreekwhisky.com

A fixture in Grimsby since 1992, Forty Creek Whisky has been instrumental in ushering what would eventually become the craft spirits movement. Founded by John K. Hall, a winemaker with over four decades of experience in the industry, Forty Creek has largely been responsible for putting Canadian whisky back on the map.

Their flagship whisky, Barrel Select, is a blend of rye, corn, and barley. Warm gold in colour, it offers complex aromas and flavours of apricots, caramel, spice, vanilla, ginger, and toasted oak, ending in a long smooth finish.

Coming this fall are two limited-edition whiskies, along with Forty Creek’s 14th annual Whisky Weekend – although, this years’ event will be a virtual celebration.

Dillons | Beamsville

Dillons.ca

Founded by in-law duo Geoff Dillon and Gary Huggins, Dillon’s broke into the spirit industry with one goal: to create new spirits from old ideas and to make them with unparalleled quality, handcrafted, one small batch at a time.

Distilled the traditional way – using a copper pot – Dillon’s gin, rye, vodka, and bitters has impressed palates across North America. Using only local Niagara botanicals, and the freshest produce, flavours of their spirits vary according to what’s in season. For example, strawberries sourced in Jordan, Ontario are distilled to create their strawberry gin. This fruity spirit, perfect for cocktails, brings summer to life any time of year. They also have a cherry gin, rose gin, black walnut amaro, absinthe, peach schnapps, vodka, and rye.

Collective Arts Brewing | Hamilton

Collectiveartsbewing.com

An active player in the craft beer scene since 2013, Collective Arts fuses the creativity of craft beer with the inspired talents of emerging artists and musicians. With a successful and diverse beer line-up established, Collective Arts expanded their mixology in 2019 with their flagship Artisanal Dry Gin. Crafted in small batches with juniper berries and their unique, house-made botanical blend, the artisanal gin offers flavours and aromas of fresh lemon, lime, and orange peel.

As of August 2020, Collective Arts has three varieties of gin – Artisanal Dry, Rhubarb and Hibiscus, and their current seasonal blend: Plum and Blackthorn. They also launched a new line of canned Sparkling Gin Cocktails in April 2020 and a line of Sparkling Hard Teas (mango and pineapple, peach and orange, and blueberry and elderberry). All spirits feature their signature creative arts and are available through delivery or pickup at the brewery – although, many of their products are available at the LCBO.

SilverFox Distillery | Arthur (Wellington County)

silverfoxdistillery.ca

Open for business in February 2020, SilverFox Distillery is just breaking ground in the craft spirit industry. Mark Townsend, the master distiller for SilverFox, has been busy renovating a 3,100 square ft. facility since January 2019. With COVID restrictions in phase 3, Mark is ready to share his craft. Their signature multiple grain FoxShine White Lightning is made in a traditional Canadian fashion. Corn, oats, and wheat all harmonize to make this 100-proof spirit. For this Fall, try their Apple Pie Moonshine, featuring a blend of mulling spices to create an ole time experience.

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Sailing the Seas – Oakville’s History of Yacht Racing

August 2, 2020 No Comments

Today, Oakville Harbour at Sixteen Mile Creek and Bronte Harbour at Bronte Creek are known for their picturesque vistas of pleasure boats bobbing at their moorings. Oakville Harbour’s merchant history of grain-carrying schooners and Bronte’s story of intrepid fishing fleets are well known, but Oakville’s position as a centre for the design and construction of leading racing yachts is now all but forgotten. What is even more amazing is that this phenomenon happened here not once, but twice, decades apart.

In the 1870s yacht racing on the Great Lakes had become an increasingly popular pastime. Cecil G. Marlatt, the wealthy owner of the Oakville tannery and a keen sailor, commissioned local shipbuilder Captain James Andrew to build the Aggie. Launched in 1887, Aggie was named for C.G. Marlatt’s wife and became the most successful boat in Royal Canadian Yacht Club (RCYC) history with 83 victories, including beating designs from yacht design luminaries such as Fife, Watson, and Payne.

Sadly, the Aggie was driven ashore in a gale and wrecked at the Burlington lighthouse in 1945. Elements of the Aggie were saved, however, and her barometer, for example, was given to the Oakville Museum by the Marlatt family. C.G. Marlatt was very active in sailing on the Great Lakes and served as Commodore of RCYC. After his death in 1928, the club instituted a trophy dedicated to him and the Aggie as a memorial. The Oakville Museum holds a miniature ‘keeper’ trophy of the 1938 Marlatt championship, won by the renowned yacht Patricia.

Andrews would go on to build boats, often to a more famous designer’s plan, that would beat the best vessels any of the rival American clubs could field. These were skippered by Aemilius Jarvis who was a capable and confident sailor from a young age. He navigated Lake Ontario from Hamilton to Niagara-on-the-Lake to Whitby and back, solo in a dingy at the age of twelve. Jarvis was a consummate tactician and considered the greatest freshwater skipper of his time.

The Andrews / Jarvis combination first found fame in a match between the sloop Canada and Vencedor of the Lincoln Park Yacht Club in 1896. The US vs. Canada contest would henceforth be known as Canada’s Cup and it continues to this day. After losing in the Beaver in 1899, Jarvis was to reclaim the cup against Cadillac in 1901, three wins to one, sailing Invader – another Andrews-built boat.

Decades after the retirement of James Andrews, cutting edge yacht building would return to Oakville. Erich Bruckmann, working out of his shop near Speers and Third Line, built the Cuthbertson and Cassian designed Red Jacket, the world’s first balsa-core composite racing yacht. Lighter and faster than its competitors, the Red Jacket became the first Canadian boat to win the famed Southern Ocean Racing Conference (SORC) in 1969.

Bruckmann was a founder of C & C Yachts and his Oakville plant became the C & C custom shop, turning out Canada’s Cup winners Evergreen, Manitou, and Magistri 82, which rivaled and surpassed the marks set by the Andrews yard of old.

Today, there are still C & C Yachts in the town’s harbours, less famous than Evergreen, perhaps, but they still win races.

However, it’s not all fiberglass and space-age composites down there. In a prominent mooring at the Oakville Club, you can find Anitra, the oldest wooden schooner on the Great Lakes. Designed by Montye Macrae and launched in 1926, Anitra carries gear from the Aggie, and the mainmast from Canada’s Cup winner Seneca. She also has a racing pedigree of her own with some 100 pennants and four championships, including the 1939 Edward Prince of Wales Cup. She is regularly sailed by her current owners Jamie Macrae and Jane Hawkrigg. Next time you’re down at the lakeshore, you might be lucky to see Anitra flying under full canvas.

If you’re looking to get involved in club sailing, the Oakville Club, Oakville Yacht Squadron (OYS), and Bronte Yacht Club all have sailing memberships. Some clubs offer inexpensive crew memberships which are a great way to see if racing is right for you. OYS has several popular kids’ camps and a borrow-a-boat program. Oakville’s National One Design Sailing Academy offers fully-accredited sailing instruction.

Even if you never intend to set foot on deck, Oakville and Bronte harbours are still great places to spend an afternoon. Both harbours have great shopping and dining nearby, plenty of walkable shoreline, and a plethora of beautiful boats to admire.

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By: Julian Kingston

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