Subscribe RSS
 
youDiscover Series Crowns its Champions
Running Red LightsThe decision is final. After a difficult deliberation, seven weeks of competitions, 22 independent music artists and 22 comedians, the judges have made their choice. The band Running Red Lights of Toronto has been crowned musical champion, while Calwyn Shurgold, of Toronto has been selected best comic performer in this year’s youDiscover Summer Competition.

As a result of their winning performance, Running Red Lights will now receive a recording contract from Orange Lounge Recordings. More importantly, their victory has now earned them the opening spot on the nationally broadcast New Year’s Eve show in Queen Victoria Park, in Niagara Falls.

Calwyn Shurgold

Comedian Calwyn Shurgold, who had the large Friday night crowd at Oakes Garden Theatre “laughing in the aisles”, also receives the right to appear at this year’s New Year’s Eve celebration. In total, the youDiscover competition offered series contestants a chance to compete for a prize package valued at over $35,000.

The Grand Finale, held on August 27, was hosted by The Niagara Parks Commission (NPC) at its scenic Oakes Garden Theatre. Each of the final five artists and comics performed before a live audience and a panel of industry experts including one of last year’s finalists and one of Orange Lounge Recordings newest recording artists, Robyn Dell’Unto. Be sure to visit www.indiscover.net to watch videos from the Finale, which will be available online on Wednesday. more…

Perfect Weather this Weekend in Niagara Falls

This promises to be an amazing weekend…

Category: Travel  Tags:  One Comment
Famous Friday – Zach Anner
Name: Zach Anner
Birth Date: November 17th, 1984
Place of Birth: Buffalo, NY
Claim to Fame: Zach was one of the top 5 finalists  in Oprah’s “Search for the Next TV Star contest”.
Zach Anner came into this world a whole two months early on November 17th, 1984 in Buffalo, NY. He has a condition known as cerebral palsy.  He is known for exploiting his condition by getting to the front of the line at the Maid of the Mist and other attractions. After graduating from Kenmore West Senior High School with honors and a GED, Zach attended college at the University of Texas at Austin. There he worked on the sketch comedy show That’s Awesome, the mocumentary show The Wingmen, and the documentary Forgotten Lives.
Here is his Oprah audition video:

Golf and support Big Brothers Big Sisters of Niagara

Niagara Falls Big Brothers Big Sisters provides a variety of mentoring programs for children and youth throughout our community. It’s their goal as an organization to work towards providing a mentor to every child in need of a mentor in Niagara Falls. To address the growing need for volunteer mentors, BBBS has increased their volunteer recruitment efforts, streamlined our intake process, and added a variety of new Mentoring programs to meet the changing needs of volunteers. These strategies have resulted in a significant increase in children participating in programs over the last few years. In 2007, over 190 children were involved in one of our programs. Last year, we offered services to over 100 additional children, which means that close to 300 children in our community were impacted by the presence of a caring, volunteer mentor.

However, Big Brothers Big Sisters still has a lot of work to do. They have close to 50 children on our waiting list, some of whom have been waiting for close to 18 months. There are several schools waiting for BBBS to be in a position where they can offer one of our popular School Based programs to their students. In short, there are many children still waiting for that special person to make a difference in their lives. As John Crosbie said, “A mentor is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” We want to make a difference in the lives of these children.

You can help! – The 2010 Golf For Kids Sake is one of our most crucial fundraising events every year. This golf tournament helps us raise close to $30,000 annually, which in turn helps us find more volunteers to support those children in our community in need of a mentor.

Please consider joining us this year, as we strive to fill our tournament, and increase our sponsorship levels.

more…

Parks commission invites bids on boat tour contract

Want to operate a tour boat from the Canadian shores of the lower Niagara River?

Then, the Niagara Parks Commission wants to hear from you and your company.

The parks commission, Friday afternoon, set a Nov. 24 deadline for any company to bid on tour boat operations. The Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co. has been running tour boats from both the U.S. and Canadian shores of the lower Niagara River for generations and while its U.S. pact runs for more than three decades, it’s Canadian lease has been under fire for the past year.

Last year, a 25-year extension between the Maid of the Mist Steamboat Co. and Niagara Parks Commission became a political issue in Southern Ontario as some potential competitors cried foul. The uproar resulted in several commission members resigning and a new regime installed to oversee its operations. more…

Video of Patrick Kane & Stanley Cup at Niagara Falls

On this day in Niagara Falls History – August 17

newspaperThe first public hanging on record in the Niagara peninsula took place outside the jail in Niagara-on-the-Lake on Monday morning, August 17, 1801.

Full Story…

Patrick Kane bringings the Stanley Cup to Niagara

Patrick Kane is bringing the Stanley Cup to Niagara Falls USA tomorrow Thursday August 12th! You are invited to be on Goat Island at 9 a.m. when Mayor Paul Dyster will present Kane with a key to the city.


Zach Anner Visits Niagara Falls

Zach Anner will be  featured this Friday in our Famous Friday post.  Here is one of his hilarious videos.

Drummond Hill Cemetery in Niagara Falls Canada part 2

This is Part 2 of an investigation, by the EVP Society of Ontario, of the Drummond Hill Cemetery. With so much history behind this site, it would be hard to believe that something had not made it’s home here. The site of the fierce Battle of Lundy’s Lane, Drummond Hill sure has it share of surprises.

Link to part 1: Drummond Hill

Mark Picone’s recipes

Tyler Anderson / National Post

This summer risotto is an ideal way to get those fresh peaches into a main course

In the middle of a work week, when it is hot and steamy in the city, it’s a dream to think of spending the day in Niagara having lunch with Mark Picone, one of Canada’s top chefs. Picone, former chef at Vineland Estates Winery, now has his own culinary studio in Vineland, where people can book private meals or classes for eight to 12 guests. Our lunch, sponsored by Ontario Tender Fruit Producers, included nectarines, peaches and plums, but Mark promotes local food every chance he gets.

After lunch I visited The Moyers’ Cherry Avenue Farms “Pick-Your-Own” and picked (and ate) apricots in the middle of the orchard. If you can’t make it to Vineland, they have three stands on Saturdays at St. Lawrence Market (north side) in Toronto and also sell the red fife wheat pasta they make from the wheat they grow near their peach trees.

NECTARINE SALAD WITH MINT CHILI DRESSING

Add grilled steak or chicken for a main course salad.

Dressing:

- 3 tbsp (45 mL) Niagara Ice Wine vinegar

- 1 tbsp (15 mL) maple syrup

- 1⁄4 tsp (1 mL) sea salt or more to taste

- 1⁄4 tsp (1 mL) hot red pepper sauce

- 1⁄2 cup (125 mL) extra virgin olive oil

- 2 tbsp (25 mL) chopped fresh mint

- 2 tbsp (25 mL) sniped chives

Salad:

- 12 cups (3 L) mixed greens

- 3 nectarines, cut into wedges

- 1⁄2 small red onion, thinly sliced

1. For dressing whisk vinegar with maple syrup, salt, hot pepper sauce and olive oil. Add mint and chives. Season to taste.

2. Place lettuce in a salad bowl and top with nectarines and onions. Toss with just enough dressing to coat the greens. Makes 6 to 8 servings

SUMMER RISOTTO WITH PEACHES

To peel peaches you can use a soft skin peeler or drop them into boiling water for 30 seconds, refresh under cold water and pull skins off with a knife. (Often I don’t peel them at all.) Mark served this with sautéed scallops. more…

Drive Through of Clifton Hill Niagara Falls

Have you ever visited Niagara Falls at night? Here is a video of a drive through of Clifton Hill at night.

What’s Happenning this Weekend in Niagara Falls

Enjoy Free Concerts and Fireworks Over the Civic Holiday Long Weekend

Fireworks over Niagara FallsLooking for fun this long weekend? Head to Niagara Falls for free Coca Cola Concerts on the Illumination Tower Stage, the youDiscover music and comedy series and Canada’s longest running fireworks series over Niagara Falls, sponsored by Pizza Pizza.

Coca Cola Concert Series
The free Coca Cola Concert Series takes place at 8 p.m. on the Illumination Tower Stage next to Queen Victoria Place, directly across from the Falls.

Concert goers will have the best view of the fireworks displays, making for the perfect family outing.

Coca Cola Concert Series lineup for long weekend:
Saturday, July 31 – Last Exit * NOTE: NO FIREWORKS ON SATURDAY *
Sunday, August 1 – Borderline
Monday, August 2 – Athertones more…

Stone Road Grille’s Food Day Menu

Food Day was founded in 2003 as The World’s Longest BBQ in response to the sanction of Canada’s beef exports by our largest trading partner and the dramatic hardship it imposed on our agricultural community. The BBQ was a huge success and has evolved into Food Day, an annual mid-summer celebration when we share Canada’s rich culinary heritage, our delicious northern bounty and the best managed food system on the planet.

- July 31st, 2010 -
HOUSE CURED CHARCUTERIE AND PRESERVES
~or~

SELECTION OF CANADIAN OYSTERS ON THE HALF SHELL
Preserved Lemon Mignonette
Southbrook Vineyards Biodynamic Fresh White 2009
~.~
CHEF’S SALAD
Bibb Lettuce, Pingue Prosciutto, Niagara Gold Cheese, Eric’s Confit Duck,
Line 4 Quail’s Egg, Nicoise Olives, Tommy Gomes Tomato “Raisins”
Bob Hicks Fine Herb Niagara Vidal Vinaigrette
Southbrook Vineyards 2009 Biodynamic Cabernet Rose
~.~
SUSTAINABLY CAUGHT MIKUNI WILD HARVEST HALIBUT
Pan Roasted with House Nduja Sauce, Sautéed BC Sea Asparagus
Southbrook Vineyards 2008 Organic Chardonnay “Triomphe”
~.~ more…

Niagara Falls USA Photo Contest

Custom_banner_1279162846

Do you have a winning shot of Niagara Falls? You now have a chance to prove it by entering Niagara Falls USA Facebook photo contest.  Hurry! Contest ends  July 27th. more…
Category: Contests  Tags: ,  Leave a Comment
Is Niagara Parks Commission taking a shot at Toronto?

The Niagara Falls add campaign, funded by local businesses, is seen as taking shots at Toronto.  What do you think?

Mini War Games Club in Welland

Fans of war games such as Warhammer, Magic the Gathering, and Hordes probably know about the MWG Club in Welland.  For those of you who do not know, these war games allow players to assemble and paint individual 28 mm scale miniature figures that represent futuristic soldiers, creatures and vehicles of war. These figurines are collected to comprise squads in armies that can be pitted against those of other players. Each player brings a roughly equal complement of units to a tabletop battlefield with handmade or purchased terrain. The players then decide upon a scenario, ranging from simple skirmishes to complex battles involving defended objectives and reinforcements. The models are physically moved across the table and the actual distance between models plays a role in the outcome of combat.

Not sure if this is something for you? Here is a video of a previous battle:

Upcoming Tournament

Where: MWG Club
When: Saturday July 31st, 2010

For this tournament you will need a codex-legal 1750 point army list. Army do not need to be fully painted, but extra points will be awards for fully painted armies (including bases).All models must be fully assembled.

Time: 10am to 6pm
Cost: $10 / person (includes prizes)
Lunch: $5 for 4 slices of pizza (optional)
Requirements: One codex-legal 1,750 point 40k army

Video: The Story of Niagara Falls

Here is a great 6 part PBS video of the story of Niagara Falls.  The videos cover the geographic history, daredevils, attractions, and romance, of Niagara. Hopefully YouTube does not pull the video.

more…

We Have a Winner

The winner of the Stupid Tourist Contest is Jen.  Jen has won 2 Niagara Falls Tour tickets courtesy of eTours.to.  She won by submitting this story:

“Working at the lobby counter in one of the hotels on the falls we once had an irate woman come down to report someone on the custodial staff had obviously tampered with her cell phone. Apparently, when she turned her phone on that day she was dismayed to find some prankster had written then name “Roger” into her display. Well she was just livid and we were lucky she had the presence of mind to inform us rather than go straight to the police as she is sure a dignified hotel chain like ours would hate the bad publicity we would be sure to recieve if this ever got out. What’s worse, she couldn’t seem to get rid of this “Roger business” and feared anyone capable of such hijinks may not have stopped at just that and if we thought she was going to be responsible for any long distance charges well didn’t we have another thing coming!

I think we all deserved medals for maintaining our “professional faces” while we explained to her Roger’s is a Canadian cellular company and her phone will switch back as soon as she returns to the USofA. Not gonna lie though, I did experience that twinge of Schadenfreude as she muttered an apology and slinked back to the elevators. ;oP”

To see some of the other hilarious entries please read the comment section on the original post: http://www.niagarablog.com/stupid-tourist-contest-2/

Canada Day Fireworks

Video of the Fireworks show on Canada Day July 1st, 2010.