Now that fall is on the way in Canada and the U.S. (sorry about that), it’s time to think about a trip to a hemisphere where spring is about to begin. Not that one needs a reason to visit Australia or Tahiti, but both locations have something to celebrate in the coming months. It’s wildflower time in Western Australia. And time to celebrate the natural heritage of Tahiti. Tahiti Tourisme launched a campaign in Canada this month to promote Tahitian Guesthouses in The Islands of Tahiti. Now through December 30, 2018, Tahiti Tourisme will share exciting reasons for Canadian travellers Read more
It’s like Siri combined with a TV remote and the Internet. The new Rogers Ignite TV is a marvellous product that puts a world of television within easy reach; classic movies, your favourite sports, kids shows and just about everything in between. They’ve set up a Rogers Command Centre down near the Rogers Centre in Toronto (look for it at the southwest corner of Bremner Boulevard and lower Simcoe, just inside Roundhouse Park), and the public is welcome to drop by today, tomorrow and all through the Labour Day weekend. For folks who may not be up to date on Read more
LAS VEGAS – A beautiful hotel with spacious suites. World-class cuisine. And great, classic cocktails. The Palazzo Las Vegas has pretty much everything you’d want from a hotel on The Strip. And some things you might not expect. I recently had a 24-hour visit that I wish had been considerably long. We started things out with a classic daiquiri at Rosina, a great bar that feels like Chicago or New York, with lots of gold lights and shiny mirrors and some Art Deco elements. It’s a fairly intimate affair; designed to seat 60 guests. The idea, I was told, is Read more
LAS VEGAS – A soothing retreat in the middle of one of the entertainment capitals of the world. I recently had a night at the new Park MGM Hotel and Casino in Vegas, formerly the Monte Carlo. It’s been given a spectacular facelift, with a welcoming lobby, a great swimming pool complex, sensational food (with more to come, including an Eataly outlet) and relaxing, restful rooms. The room I had was decorated in soft shades of green with gold accents and a big comfy cushioned seating strip by the window. They had nice art on the walls, including a series Read more
TORONTO – I don’t pretend to know everything about the food scene in the city. But if there’s a better restaurant in the city than Don Alfonso 1890 Toronto I haven’t eaten there. I also haven’t seen it, haven’t read about it and haven’t even dreamed of it. My wife and I recently had the chance to have dinner there (I also got to attend an opening lunch a few weeks ago) and were, quite frankly, overwhelmed by the inventiveness and quality of the menu, the whisper-quiet but friendly service, the presentation of the food and the variety of the Read more
LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO – I’m standing on the southernmost point of continental Canada, a thin strip of rocky sand at the south end of Point Pelee, Ontario that’s roughly the same latitude as Rome and northern California. There’s a soft wind in the air and hardly a cloud in the sky on a perfect summer’s day as I pose for a photo. Seconds after I leave, a young couple takes my place and I snap a picture for them. And on it goes; a steady line of folks waiting to have an Instagram moment at one of the most iconic places Read more
KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO – Two Dutch gentlemen who make chocolate birds for the likes of Margaret Atwood. Glorious fruit stands near the shores of a beautiful lake. And a wild and crazy operation that’s part restaurant, video arcade, garden shop and petting zoo. Not to mention fine food, a cool boutique hotel, craft beer and wonderful wineries. I fell in love with Kingsville on my first visit a couple years ago. I’ve been back twice since and it remains one of my favourite towns in Canada, an amazingly diverse city of 21,000 souls, where Mercedes convertibles mix with motorcycles and where Read more
