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//CONTRIBUTORS LYNN OGRYZLO
ANDREW HIND
Lynn is a food, wine and travel writer, author of three international award-winning cookbooks and regular contributor to REV Publications. Lynn specializes in culinary tourism covering regional cuisine destinations, slow food, culinary holidays, wine, spirits and “la dolca vita”. She can be reached for questions or comments at lynnogryzlo.com.
Andrew is a freelance writer specializing in travel, history and lifestyle. He has a passion for new adventure, experiences and also for exploring little known stories. Andrew is never without a book or three in hand and some obscure historical fact at the tip of his tongue. Follow him @discoveriesAM
JILL THAM
GABRIELLE TIEMAN
Jill’s passion for writing came after seeing the movie Stand by Me. She prefers listening to Niagara bands to practising her guitar and running the track better than shopping. When Jill is not moonlighting as a freelance writer, she is an Elementary teacher juggling her three children. Along with being a regular contributor to Today Magazine, Jill’s articles have been featured in Canadian Running, Pedal, Allergic Living and @OECTA. jilltham.wordpress.com @JillBT
MARIANA BOCKAROVA Mariana Bockarova is a PhD Candidate at the University of Toronto, where she teaches Psychological Resiliency, the Science of Happiness, and the Psychology of Relationships. Her research explores narrative medicine and mental health. She also holds a Master’s degree from Harvard University concentrated in Psychology.
Gabrielle is a passionate about the written word. A newcomer to Niagara, Gabrielle is a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Journalism program and has written for a number of newspapers and publications across Canada. Her passion lies in profiling members of the community and uncovering the hidden gems within a city. When she is not writing you can find her on her bicycle - most likely with a large coffee in hand.
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SOUS CHEF DAVE VISENTIN’S SWEET OBSESSION
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MUSKOKA BOAT & HERITAGE CENTRE and TAMING NORTHERN ONTARIO TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 1
Casino Rama Resort by Today Magazine is published by Rev Publishing Inc. All opinions expressed in Casino Rama Resort Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of Rev Publishing, it’s employees or owners. Reasonable care is taken to ensure that the information contained in this magazine is as up-to-date and accurate as possible, as of the time of publication, but no responsibility can be taken by Casino Rama Resort Magazine for any errors, omissions or comments made by writers or interviewees that are contained herein. Furthermore, responsibility for any losses, damages or distress resulting from adherence to any information made available through this magazine is not the responsibility of Casino Rama Resort Magazine. All unsolicited manuscripts and/or photographs submitted are assumed to be intended for publication or republication in whole or in part. The right to alter, edit or refuse photos and/or manuscripts intended for publication is assumed. All unsolicited material submitted to Casino Rama Resort Magazine are submitted at the author’s risk. Manuscripts and or photographs intended to be returned must be accompanied by sufficient postage. Casino Rama Resort Magazine does not assume any responsibility for any claims of our advertisers and reserves the right to refuse any advertising.
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// INSIDE FOOD & DRINK
LIFESTYLE & CULTURE
ACTIVE TRAVELLER
OUR HERE. COMMUNITY SEE.DO.
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22
31
41
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Discover the ways Casino Rama Resort gives back to the community through their Casino Rama Cares program.
Check out that stars that are coming to play at Casino Rama Resort!
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ONTARIO’S LAKE COUNTRY EVENTS
MAC & CHEESE Let’s face it, macaroni and cheese is the mother of all comfort foods. It’s introduced during childhood and served often through good times and bad. It strokes our psyche in ways similar to a mother’s warm embrace and when we eat it, the tactile emotional joy brings warmth and comfort.
FRUGAL FASHIONISTA A how-to guide for looking your best without breaking the bank. From perfecting that biker look to distressing your own jeans, we got you covered.
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SOOTHE AWAY THE WINTER BLAHS
The Balance in Life Spa at Casino Rama Resort is a THE MASTER great place to retreat from OF MAPLE the cold and to shake off the Sous Chef Dave Visentin is winter doldrums. The spa, considered the master of all open to hotel guests and the things maple at Casino Rama public alike, offers a number Resort. Visentin’s maple of full-body treatment rooms, traditions began as a young pedicure and manicure staboy when his French mother tions, adult-only fitness facility, taught him almost everything eucalyptus steam room, indoor he knows about maple syrup, salt water swimming pool, and now, he shares that knowl- sauna, and hot tub. edge with his fellow chefs at Casino Rama Resort!
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EMBRACING LAKE COUNTRY’S WINTER WONDERLAND Why spend your days indoors when there are so many exciting sporting opportunities outdoors? Grab your toque and mitts, pack a thermos filled with steaming hot chocolate, and head out to the woods, hills and lakes to embrace winter as only Ontario’s Lake Country can offer.
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GIRLS JUST WANNA RELAX Writer Jill Tham and three of her friends go on a “Girls Getaway” at Casino Rama Resort, prompting her to answer the question…what does the perfect girl’s weekend entail?
CASINO RAMA CARES
KNOWLEDGE YOU CAN BET ON These tips won’t help you win a jackpot, but they will help you walk out on top – by having fun and sticking to your budget.
ENTERTAINMENT LISTINGS
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What’s happening out and about in Ontario’s Lake Country.
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SHIP UP & SHIP OUT Explore a museum dedicated to preserving Muskoka’s water based history.
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TAMING NORTHERN ONTARIO From Ontario’s great wilderness to Ontario’s most popular summer getaway.
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DATE NIGHT IN LAKE COUNTRY With some of Ontario’s most beautiful scenery, Ontario’s Lake Country is an ideal place for romance and Casino Rama Resort, is the perfect base for your adventures. Whether it is an outdoor activity, romantic dinner or a day at the spa, Orillia or the surrounding area has a spot for you. Here are some ideas to get you started!
TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 9
//FOOD & DRINK
IT IS
WHAT IT IS… Macaroni & Cheese BY LYNN OGRZYLO
“It is what it is and you can’t make it into anything different,” Dane Linklater, Sous Chef at Casino Rama Resort, talks philosophical about one of his most beloved dishes, macaroni and cheese. Baked or stirred; orange or white; crusted or plain; paleo or vegetarian, experts speculate that 60% of all adults will eat a dish of macaroni and cheese, or better known as mac + cheese, at least once a year, while a whopping 80% of children will eat it once if not twice in any given week! Good macaroni and cheese spreads across the tongue with a mouth filling texture that caresses and hugs our gustatory senses. The creamy, warm cheddar flavours put a smile on your face while the heavy feeling in the stomach gives the emotion of comfort and love. Mac + Cheese is more about the tactile, emotional comfort than it is about flavours. “That’s why when chefs try to dress it up, people get excited about new flavours but then they get let down because any other strong flavours will interfere with the emotional satisfaction of a good, heart warming, mac + cheese.”
Let’s face it, macaroni and cheese is a dish introduced at childhood and served often through good times and bad. It strokes our psyche in ways similar to a mothers warm embrace and when we eat it, the tactile emotional joy brings warmth and comfort, as any mother would. Macaroni and cheese lovers like Linklater never underestimate the power of such an influential food. There are restaurants that dedicate their entire menu to the dish, cookbooks offering up hundreds of different ways to make it and yes, even the Crayola company named one of their crayon colours ‘macaroni & cheese’. Linklaters’ macaroni and cheese is very basic using a straightforward Béchamel sauce and extra old cheddar cheese. “It’s sharp, pronounced, the star of the dish,” he says of the cheddar. Linklater explains that when foods are warm, their flavours change from when they are cold or at room temperature. Extra old cheddar is needed to offer an intense cheddar flavour when warm. He recommends buying the best quality cheddar, perhaps from a cheese monger, for the strongest flavour. “It really does make a difference.” >> TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 11
IT’S A CLASSIC THAT EVERYONE LOVES BECAUSE IT’S FULL OF FLAVOUR. IT’S BECAUSE OF THE FAT – FAT IS FLAVOUR. FAT FROM THE BUTTER AND CREAM TO THE MOUNTAINS OF CHEESE. WHAT’S NOT TO LOVE?
He puts half the cheese covered macaroni in the bottom of a casserole dish, adds a layer of sliced tomatoes and covers it with the remaining cheese covered macaroni. “It gives a fresh element to the dish and if you don’t have tomatoes, you can use ketchup instead.” I know the history of macaroni and cheese is relatively unknown, but what we do know is that its origins are believed to be Italian from the 14th century. Then France changed the Italian Béchamel sauce to their preferred Mornay sauce and then American President, Thomas Jefferson, brought the dish back from Italy along with a pasta machine. Neither, Italy, France nor Jefferson mention anything about tomatoes or ketchup in the dish so my guess is this is an English influence. You just can’t pin down a dish as popular as macaroni and cheese. Besides it’s popularity, macaroni and cheese is one of the most versatile dishes allowing for each chef to incorporate their own personal touch and at Casino Rama Resort, they take these privileges seriously. Jeremy Pammett is another Sous Chef at Casino Rama Resort having a love affair with his childhood dish. “I grew up with it, we got through many lonely nights together.” But today Pammett believes he’s incorporated some flavours that make the dish better, more sophisticated, less juvenile. “The one I make for our Simcoe Yard House (pub) I like better than my childhood version,” says Pammett of his double smoked bacon and Gouda macaroni and cheese. Pammett begins with a traditional Béchamel sauce. Béchamel is the Italian white sauce that begins with a roux (equal amounts of flour and butter). Then warm milk is added slowly so the butter paste can absorb the milk. Pammett uses whole milk and when it’s almost done he stirs in just the right amount of Parmesan and smoked Gouda cheeses so it melts and creates a luxurious texture, rich flavour and elegant sheen to the sauce. He’s not saying how much cheese he uses, my guess is that this will be a well-guarded chefs’ secret. Let’s just say the resulting sauce is over-the-top cheesy and luscious! He cuts the double smoked bacon into lardoons (an English term for the size and shape of the diced pieces of uber-thick bacon) and cooks them in a skillet until crispy. The crispy bacon then gets folded into the macaroni and it gets coated with the gutsy, white, cheese sauce. Before he finishes his instruction, Pammett let it slip that he adds a spill of lemon
juice to round out the flavours. Finally, he fills a casserole dish with the cheesy bacon concoction and tops it all with a Panko, Parmesan, herb topping and bakes it in the oven. It’s macaroni and cheese all grown up. You can order the Pammett’s famous Double Smoked Bacon Macaroni and Cheese at the Simcoe Yard House. It’s packed full of smoky flavours and a meaty essence that’s carried along the rich, creamy, luscious texture and finishes with a light, citrusy note. After all, it is the grown up version. “I put macaroni and cheese on every restaurant menu I’ve opened or worked at,” says the lover of warm, rich cheese. “It’s a classic that everyone loves because it’s full of flavour. It’s because of the fat – fat is flavour. Fat from the butter and cream to the mountains of cheese. What’s not to love?” Pammett agrees with the statistics that most adults will eat a dish of macaroni and cheese at least once a year and suggests, “it’s not a dish you’re going to want to eat very often, but when you do, be really selective and eat a really good one.” I found three macaroni and cheese lovers at Casino Rama Resort. The third is Sous Chef, John Huffman. Huffman has a unique way of preparing his macaroni and cheese dish, he doesn’t start with a roux, but instead he takes full-fat whipping cream (35% cream) and reduces it down by two thirds so it’s rich and thick. To that he melts in a smoked applewood white cheddar cheese. “No Béchamel, just a reduction of cream and when you add the pasta and stir, it thickens up the sauce.” Huffman admits to sometimes adding in some slices of grilled Chorizo sausages if he’s in the mood for meat and also does not bake his dish in the oven. “It’s ready straight from the saucepan,” he laughs, “that’s the way I like to eat it!” Huffman prefers Farfalle pasta (bow ties), which gives a lighter texture to his dish than the sturdier elbow or curly macaroni that Linklater and Pummett use. All three chefs agree that if you’re making macaroni and cheese at home, buy a strong and unique cheese from a cheese monger. Otherwise, the flavours will be less than what you’re expecting. They also encourage you to experiment with different shapes of short-cut, decorative macaroni for different flavours and they all advise that if you’ve been brought up with the ubiquitous box of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, you can still upscale it by adding some good quality cheeses and a meat of your choice. After all, it is what it is.
TIME FLIES WHEN YOU’RE HAVING FUN 2016 marks the 5th anniversary for Treetop Trekking in Huntsville. The tree top adventure park first opened its aerial courses off of Highway 60 at the site of the old Huntsville airport in spring of 2012. Since then Treetop Trekking has welcomed tens of thousands of adventure seekers to its zip lines, log bridges, Tarzan swings and other aerial games suspended high in the forest canopy. The activity that originates in France has quickly become a new favourite summer activity for Muskoka regulars and first time visitors to the area. The combination of fresh air, excitement and physical challenge has proven a winning recipe for summer fun. “At first many visitors are nervous about climbing to heights that can reach over 40 feet in the air,” says Treetop Trekking Marketing Director, Mike Stiell. “A fear of heights is one of the most common fears, but 9 times out of 10 by the end of their visit those nervous climbers are laughing and having a fantastic time,” says Stiell. He goes on to explain that it usually takes first times visitors a little bit of time to build their confidence and to trust the equipment they are using, but once they build up that confidence it’s all fun from that point on. Every tour also starts off with a safety orientation and trained guides supervise all activities. Aside from the Huntsville location, Treetop Trekking also operates parks in Barrie, Brampton, Stouffville, the Ganaraska Forest near Port Hope and at 5 locations in Quebec. To celebrate it’s 5th year in operation, Treetop Trekking in Huntsville is offering specials throughout the season (April to October), including a ‘4 people for the price of 3’ deal on certain weekdays in July and August. The park is open to ages 9 and up and is a popular activity for families, groups of friends, birthday parties, corporate groups and group outings. Reservations are recommended, and the park is busiest on Saturdays and Sundays so plan accordingly. For more information on Treetop Trekking you can check out their website at treetoptrekking.com Treetop Trekking Ontario Zipline Parks treetoptrekking.com Treetop Trekking is Ontario’s zip line adventure leader. Providing zipline and aerial game parks in Toronto, Peterborough, Brampton, Barrie, Huntsville, Stouffville ...
maple
THE MASTER OF
BY LYNN OGRYZLO
S
ous Chef at Casino Rama Resort Dave Visentin is considered the master of all things maple. Each year he and his two small sons tap a few sugar maple trees on their property, then he pulls the giant pot traditionally used to fry his Thanksgiving turkey and he fills it with maple water. Slowly he brings it to a boil and waits and watches. Impatient and inspired by the smells of warming maple water, his two children run into the house where last years maple syrup has been warmed and is ready to pour over a steamy stack of fluffy pancakes. Pancakes are the traditional partner for maple syrup, the cake-like little disks of sponge soak up the warm, dark, luscious syrup like no other edible vehicle. I learned a long time ago that the best way to enjoy maple syrup for morning pancakes is to warm it. Like the aroma of freshly brewed coffee or of bread baking in the oven, the scent of the warm syrup in the air seduces our taste buds and puts pangs of hunger in our stomachs. Warm maple syrup is less viscous than when cold out of the refrigerator and this means you can pour less of it easier. This is important because in almost all other dishes using maple syrup, less is more. I mean using less is better because the flavour of maple syrup is strong and your intent when cooking is to marry flavours together, not dominate the dish like with pancakes and maple syrup.
Take for example baked brie. It’s one of my favourite dishes to serve when the girls come over. I roast a wheel of brie in the oven with dried cherries and fresh walnuts. When the warm wheel of cheese comes out of the oven, I drizzle a small amount of maple syrup on it. The tart cherries and savoury walnuts come alive with a kiss of maple sweetness. The key here is that less is more. Maple syrup is one of those local products that bring pure magic from the land. Visentin’s maple traditions began as a young boy when his French mother taught him almost everything he knows about maple syrup. “It was part of what she did and she made it part of what we did as a family. They’re great childhood memories so I’m making it a part of what I do with my own children now,” he says as he pours hot, reduced maple syrup onto clean snow. It quickly thickens into a taffy-like candy that his children eagerly devour. But Visentin is doing more than teaching his children about one of Ontario’s sweet harvests. Surrounded by sugar maple trees, Visentin wants people to understand that Sugar Maple trees are an agricultural crop with a harvest period just like peaches or tomatoes. The only difference is that one is natural and the others are planted. >>
TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 15
In the early spring when the snow begins to melt, maple trees suck up the melted snow through their roots. This liquid travels all the way up the trunk of the tree and into the branches. When it flows back down, it collects natural vitamins and minerals like other natural and nutritious crops. Visentin likens this process to the trees way of stretching and waking up to a new season. It’s during this process of melted snow running through the veins of the sugar maple trees that the trees are safely tapped and the resulting maple water collected in buckets. A maple harvest is actually one of our oldest harvests, started by natives who not only cooked the sap into syrup and used as their only sweetener but they also drank the fresh maple water as a nutritious beverage. Like icewine, the sugar content of maple water is measured by degrees Brix. Icewine averages between 20 and 23 degrees Brix and maple syrup averages around 50 – ultimately sweeter. Unlike icewine, the juice of which is concentrated by on-the-vine dehydration and freezing, maple syrup is concentrated more like a culinary reduction - by boiling. It takes approximately 40 litres of maple water to boil and caramelize into one litre of maple syrup – that’s even more concentrated than icewine and explains why maple syrup is the most expensive natural sweetener. Boiled maple water also makes much more than just syrup. Through different procedures a producer can make maple sugar, butter, soft and hard maple candy and taffy as well as dozens of other maple products like jelly, mustard, BBQ sauce, ice cream, candy floss, vinegar and more. As a health oriented sous chef, Visentin feels good that he can produce a product for his children that is 100% natural, full of manganese for bone formation; potassium for muscle development; and zinc for a healthy immune system.
TAP INTO MAPLE
festival MARCH 1 – MAY 31
In fact, maple syrup has a higher nutritional value than other common sweeteners, fewer calories than corn syrup or honey and a quarter cup of maple syrup has as much antioxidant activity as one serving of broccoli. Even though these are all important factors for Visentin, he still preaches moderation in all sweets. Like the Visentin household, most of Ontario’s maple syrup comes from small, family owned farms, over 2,500 of them to be exact. Production is closely tied to culture and history with many farms passed down from generation to generation. It’s not only a Visentin family tradition, it’s an Ontario, cultural tradition that creates jobs and contributes to a sweet economy. Maple season is so ingrained in the Visentin’s family culinary traditions that today, his pantry would not be the same without real Ontario maple syrup – and that includes his own kitchen pantry at Casino Rama Resort. At home Visentin marinates pork tenderloin in a mixture of maple syrup and hot peppers for a sweet and spicy coating that caramelizes deliciously when he sears it. He uses maple syrup in baking, salad dressings, basted on roasted vegetables, or meats, stirred into hot tea and splashed liberally in desserts. “My kids favourite is in hot chocolate”. He marries maple with whisky in his barbecue sauce and baked beans always include a drizzle of maple syrup. “The kids love eggs baked in maple syrup, they dip their toast in it,” says Visentin who has a never ending list of how to incorporate maple syrup into anyone’s life. It’s easy enough to do. During the month of March, Visentin and other chefs at Casino Rama Resort invite you to sample their maple creations tempting you to go beyond the tradition of pancakes – but the pancakes and maple syrup are pretty spectacular too!
A celebration in and around Ontario’s Lake Country featuring maple syrup in restaurant dishes, cultural sugar bush tours and the sale of creative, edible maple products both sweet and savoury. ontarioslakecountry.com/tap-into-maple/ MORE INFORMATION ON MAPLE SYRUP, Ontario Maple Syrup Producers Association, ontariomaple.com
CMYK Values
Pantone Numbers
C17 M 100 Y100 K 8
Pantone 1807
C0 M 0 Y0 K 100
Pantone Black
Choose your dining experience. Making dinner reservations is easy; choosing between Teca “simply Italian” and Muskoka Chophouse is not. Both have earned the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Both offer an intimate, lively environment. Carnivores, head for Muskoka Chophouse, overlooking the resort terrace. Featuring Certified Angus Beef® and signature Maryland lump crabcakes. A children’s menu is not available at this restaurant. Pasta lovers, enjoy classic Italian cuisine, the open kitchen and casual ambience at Teca. Enjoy our house-made pasta and flatbreads. For a casual evening with wings, burgers and craft beers, Lakes lobby lounge offers a full menu. Or try the Friday night Prime Rib at Cottages restaurant. To reserve your table, call the resort at 705-765-1900 or dial “0” from your guest room at JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka.
1050 Paignton House Rd., Minett, ON P0B 1G0 • 1-705-765-1900 • jwrosseau.ca
TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 17
WE CAN TAKE YOU ANYWHERE VISIT SAVEABUCK.COM/CONTEST FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A NIAGARA FALLS GETAWAY
DATE NIGHT IN LAKE COUNTRY WITH SOME OF ONTARIO’S MOST BEAUTIFUL SCENERY, ONTARIO’S LAKE COUNTRY IS AN IDEAL PLACE FOR ROMANCE, AND CASINO RAMA RESORT, IS THE PERFECT BASE FOR YOUR ADVENTURES. Whether it is an outdoor activity, romantic dinner or a day at the spa, Orillia or the surrounding area has a spot for you. Here are some ideas to get you started! >> TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 19
GO FOR A STROLL IN COUCHICHING BEACH PARK, IT’S KNOWN AS ORILLIA’S NICEST. Oftentimes during the summer there are activities happening, but sometimes winter solitude is nice as well! Located on Centennial Drive in Orillia.
EMBRACE THE WEATHER, AND GO ON A SKI OR SNOWSHOE DATE! Check out page 31 for a list of great ways to indulge in the winter weather. TAKE IN A LITTLE HISTORY WITH A DATE AT THE STEPHEN LEACOCK MUSEUM. It’s the perfect place to step back in time and appreciate one of Canada’s greatest writers. There is even a little café for an after museum coffee. More info at leacockmuseum.com INDULGE A BIT AT MARIPOSA MARKET. There’s no way the date can go badly when you are munching on delicious donuts and pastries. More info at mariposamarket.ca
IF A TRADITIONAL DATE IS MORE YOUR STYLE, WHY NOT TRY OUT ONE OF THE FINE DINING ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE AREA. Casino Rama Resort has the always delicious St. Germain’s Steakhouse of course, but if you are looking to branch out of the casino, you could check out Rustico or Era67 in Orillia, The Mill Street Bistro in Coldwater or Rawley Restaurant in Port Severn. GO FOR A COUPLE’S SPA DAY! Balance in Life spa has several great options for couples. Check out the couples packages at casinorama.com/Promotions
NOT MUCH IS SEXIER THAN SAFETY, SO WHY NOT TAKE A TRIP TO THE OPP MUSEUM. You’ll learn all about the history of the Ontario Provincial Police, and probably get a kick out of their mug shot gallery. More info at opp.ca/ museum CATCH A PERFORMANCE AT THE ORILLIA OPERA HOUSE. There are year-round performances. More info at orilliaoperahouse.ca/en/index.aspx DO-WOP YOUR WAY AROUND THE RINK AT THE ROLLER SKATING PLACE IN SEVERN! You can skate year round, and the fee covers the skate rental! For more information visit therollerskatingplace.com
From beers and burgers to steak and lobster, you’ll never go hungry at the Great Indoors, with 8 unique restaurants to choose from
TH E FRU GAL FASHIO NIS TA BY M A R I A N A B O C K A R OVA
//LIFESTYLE & CULTURE
T h e H ow -to G u i d e fo r L o o kin g Yo u r Be s t W it h o u t Br e a kin g t h e B a n k Nowadays, it's hard to watch television, flip through magazines, or even run through your Instagram feed without being bombarded by designer after designer goods. And designer clothing, as the sold-out $120 Plain White T Shirt by Kanye West demonstrates, is expensive. This is something fashion stylist, Sheila McElrea, knows all too well: "I really like brands but they aren't accessible because not everyone can afford a thousand dollars for a pair of shoes. Sure, everyone would want Givenchy, but not everyone can afford it." Her solution? Mix-and-match, style well, and do-it-yourself: How do you know when your wardrobe needs updating? I always think, if you don’t care about the stuff you wear, then you don't need to update your wardrobe. Fashion isn't necessary to enjoy your life, your happiness is more important, but if having different clothing would make you happier, then I support it. Maybe that's the wrong answer coming from a fashion stylist, but fashion really stresses some people out. It should be fun; I feel like you can't re-do your entire wardrobe every season, so there's no point in stressing. But, if you add in just a few new items per season, each spring and fall, it augments your look without too much stress. What are some must-add items for the upcoming fashion seasons? Denim is big and we're still in athleisure mode, so a lot of brands are doing stylish athletic gear that's super trendy, and sneakers are in, for sure. That biker-y look is always in, and we're still wearing fur for winter. With that in mind, how do you put a look together? Everyone starts off somewhere different, but I usually start off with a jacket and curate an outfit based on that. To me, a jacket defines the structure of the look. If you start with a jacket and base your decisions from there, you can add in a shirt and some shoes, and pants that flow from what your jacket looks like, and I usually add in jewelry last. For example, I love leather, so if the client is interested in it, I'm prone to starting with a leather jacket, then doing a white t-shirt and jeans, with a nice pair of heels. Maybe a studded shoe or something, to soften it. So that would be the biker-y look, which starts with the leather jacket. Exactly, yeah.
But what about starting with a jacket that's colorful or has a crazy pattern, how do you know when its overkill? It's all about confidence. If you don't feel right in it, if it's not you - it's kind of like putting on too much make-up, you feel it when it's not you anymore. Most of the time, if it's head to toe patterns and prints, it might be a bit much. I don't like when things are too matchy-matchy, unless it's intended to be overtly matchy and I don't like when things are too perfect. So a smaller print with a bold, loud print, make it look really beautiful together. If what you're wearing makes you feel claustrophobic, that's your answer. Okay, so avoid anything matchy-matchy, but how do you know if it works? It's hard to explain, but it should feel right. Often, people are scared to try things on or to try things together. But if it doesn't work, you're not stuck with it, you can change it. People are adverse to trying things. There's lots of things I have tried on and never left the house in, but it's good to experiment. What about age appropriateness? Something women, I think, hear a lot is that you should ' dress your age'. I only think weather appropriateness is important, because wearing a mini-skirt in a blizzard is not a good look. If you really want to wear something, be practical. Wear a mini-skirt but with a jacket. I don't think there should be age restrictions because typically age restrictions just speaks to older women not being allowed to wear skimpier clothing, but if they look good, who cares? Anna Dello Russo, the fashion journalist, wears tight and revealing clothing all the time and I think she looks awesome. I think she's a great example of that. What about other fashion restrictions? I don't really like when there are rules, I think it's too limiting. I don't like when people say 'oh, that's manly' or 'oh, that's girly'‌why does it matter? I wear men's clothing all the time; I love the hang of a man's sweater. I always try to adopt to that silhouette. That's a good frugal tip - shop in your boyfriend's or husband's closet! Yeah, so if you're trying to feel confident in men's clothing, just keep your silhouette. A belt around your waist with a pair of heels and a super baggy men's sweater is a cool image. Add something feminine while you're wearing your boyfriend's jeans. What about repurposing clothing from your own closet? Sure, ripped jeans are on trend right now, and I have ripped my own jeans many times before. You can go for a single slit in the knee caps, which isn't frayed or isn't really naturally distressed. For cutting a slit, I would just take a pair of scissors, fold the jean vertically, and cut a straight slit. With a distressed look, you cut it up a little bit more. With scissors, cut two straight slits and pull the threads down vertically, so only the horizontal threads are left and they fray and you'll have the distressed look without being too perfect. You can also use rocks or sandpaper. If you just keep hitting the same spot in your jean, it'll distress it naturally. It takes some time but it looks really nice, and it discolors the denim as well so it looks naturally distressed. >> TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 23
How do you know exactly where to cut the jeans? It depends on where it falls on you. If they are tight jeans, just cut a slit in the middle of your knee cap. If they are looser, then the cut should be on the upper knee cap. I've seen some pretty wild cuts on the back of jeans, what about that? I don't love it, it's not for me, but it's definitely a look. I've seen worse. I would rather you wear a mini skirt that's really short instead of cutting up the back. What about crop tops? They seem to be really in. If you're going to cut your own crop top, definitely get a fabric that doesn’t fray, so if you cut it, it won't be ruined. Either that or get it hemmed. T-shirt material doesn’t fray, whereas knits do. The only thing about crop tops is you have to wear a really high-waisted bottom piece, like a high-waisted skirt, where there's an inch or two of stomach showing. Don't do a super short shirt with a low pair of pants. Could you cut your own off the shoulder shirt? Off the shoulder has been huge for the last six months. I haven't seen it on any red carpets recently, but it's still around. I wear shirts sometimes where the neck is too wide and it goes over the shoulder. But I wouldn't cut anything to make it yourself. You can get a cowl neck sweater that’s wider and push it to one side. What about DIY accessories? I love a good choker. I have a friend who literally ties shoelaces around her neck and it looks super cute because she has the end of the tie in the front. With a longer necklace, you can clip it in the back, but I wouldn’t because it might fall down, but I love the shoelace idea, I think it's brilliant; it's very cheap and very nice. I feel like chokers bring the look up a little bit, so you can wear it with a higher neck, obviously not a turtle neck, but any other neck line it would suit, it's very wearable. How do you know what accessories go with what you're wearing? An accessory should accent what you're wearing and not take anything over. Everything should blend together instead of your necklace being not noticeable or be a focal point. Really, everything should blend in. I always like wearing a larger pieces or a statement necklace with something casual to even it out. Any final words of advice for frugal fashionistas? A good pair of shoes and a jacket update a wardrobe instantly, because you can wear a dress from a couple of years ago and update it with new shoes and then you're not buying a whole new outfit. And just have fun. It's just clothing. Trial and error, there's no right answer; do whatever is best for that moment. You're dressing so that you feel good about yourself, so just have fun and be experimental.
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Soothe Away
THE WINTER BLAHS BY ANDREW HIND
Many people don’t appreciate winter for the unique joys it brings. Yes, the cold can be biting and snow can grind traffic to a halt, but if you find the right setting—that beautiful, natural spot where snow mounds up like fluffy pillows and drapes evergreens like Christmas garland—there is no season more beautiful. That’s Ontario’s Lake Country, a place where you’ll be inspired to get out and play in the fresh air, and experience all the adventure that winter affords. After a few hours of exploring a winter wonderland, you’ve earned the right to return to the comforts of the Balance in Life Spa at Casino Rama Resort. When flurries fall and the thermometer dips, this is the place you’ll want to Retreat to. The Balance in Life Spa at Casino Rama Resort is a great place to retreat from the cold and to shake off the winter doldrums. The spa, open
to hotel guests and the public alike, offers a number of full-body treatment rooms, pedicure and manicure stations, adult-only fitness facility, eucalyptus steam room, indoor salt water swimming pool, sauna, and hot tub. Long, cold winters can make you feel lethargic, stressed and chilled to the bone. One of the most effective ways to remove the deep chill of winter is to warm your muscles and relax your mind with a body polish followed by a 50-minute therapeutic massage. For added heat, choose the hot stone massage. “It’s a perfect way to exfoliate away the dead skin and soothe aching muscles after shoveling,” enthuses spa manager Debbie Polden. Equally rejuvenating is a facial. New for 2017 is the spas signature Instant Effects Age Defying Facial, a treatment using Eminence products and the latest technology in skin care. Your dry, winter-ravaged skin will thank you. >> TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 27
Pampering need not end upon leaving the spa, according to Polden. “We have a new line of massage products which include reflexology sticks and massage rollers which are both amazing self-treatment options for clients post-massage to maintain good circulation and reduce tension in the muscles,” she explains. “In addition, our extensive line of organic skin-and body products (signature Eminence and Makes Scents lines) are excellent ways to take the spa home with you as they enable guests to continue the positive effects of a facial, nail or body treatment at home long after the initial service is over.” Polden recommends Stone Crop Whip, Arctic Berry Radiance Cream and any one of their SPF moisturizers for dehydrated, dull winter complexions. “We also love our exfoliating cleansers, which can be used daily for a gentle skin polish and for a deeper exfoliation. The Strawberry Dermafoliant is an awesome choice to remove dead and dull skin cells,” Polden continues. Warm and comfortable, the Balance in Life Spa is the perfect haven from the stresses of the world and a warm setting from which to escape winter chills. Best of all, with their products and guidance you can take the benefits of a spa visit home with you. For more information, go to casinorama.com or call 1-705-238-5933
COLD-WEATHER SKIN CARE Cold weather in winter brings unpleasant dryness to the skin of the face, hands, and feet. During the cold weather, the skin tends to lose its moisture not only from the cold weather, but from heating sources. Subsequently, as weather conditions change, so should your skin care routine. Here are 10 tips for boosting your winter skin care regimen, so that your skin stays moist and healthy through the winter months. 1. Dry and cracked hands and cuticles are common in winter weather. Soothe your hands and feet in a paraffin wax treatment. Paraffin hydrates and increases circulation! Add it to your next manicure or pedicure. 2. Having a facial is a great way to refresh your skin and start a new season. As the climate changes, so does our skin. An aesthetician can help ease the transition. Starting the season with a healthier, cleaner skin allows your cold weather skin-care routine to be more effective. 3. Protect your skin from the elements. Skin gets more dry and sensitive in the winter so think of a richer cream as an extra layer of protection. Protecting your skin from wind and frost is important during the cold winter months. Avoid staying too close to the heater since the hot air can also dehydrate your skin. 4. The winter sun, combined with snow glare, can damage your skin. Sunscreen is a good choice year-round. Apply it 30 minutes before going outside, to reduce and prevent damage to your skin. 5. Remember to drink water to stay hydrated in the winter, and avoid excess alcohol, which is known to dehydrate the body, leading to flaky skin. 6. Wet socks and gloves can irritate your skin and cause itchy dry skin. Take care to moisturize both hands and feet in winter, and make time for a manicure and pedicure. 7. Lips can get cracked and very dry during the winter when they are exposed to cold air. Use a lip moisturizer when you are outdoors. 8. Exfoliate with a scrub on a weekly basis to remove dead skin cells 9. One of the best ways to protect the skin in the winter is to eat a healthy diet full of vitamins, especially vitamin C and D. Choose fruits and vegetables that are high in vitamins and minerals to protect your skin. 10. Constant exposure to hot water, cold and wind will crack the skin; use a moisturizing wash with warm water, in the shower and oil, in your bath. Warm your moisturizer in the microwave for a few seconds to give yourself a warm luxurious spa treatment after your bath or shower. 5 WAYS TO STAY WARM AT BALANCE IN LIFE SPA 1. Let the heat in and toxins out in the eucalyptus steam room and dry sauna 2. Feel the tension melt away with a hot stone massage 3. Cozy up on heated massage and facial beds 4. Treat your feet and hands to a hot paraffin masque during a service 5. Let your stress float away in the heated saltwater pool and hot tub
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//ACTIVE TRAVELLER
ANDREW HIND
Winter transforms Ontario’s Lake
Country into a brand new world,
and enchanted wonderland of snow-
draped trees and frozen lakes. Grab
your toque and mitts, pack a thermos
f illed with steaming hot chocolate, and head out to the woods, hills
and lakes to embrace winter as only
Ontario’s Lake Country can offer.
SNOWSHOEING Snowshoeing is about as Canadian as hockey and the beaver. It’s an iconic part of our winter season with real appeal—walking effortlessly across a sea of pristine new-fallen snow, through wilderness transformed into a soft white wonderland, surrounded by a hush so complete you can almost hear the snowflakes dancing on the breeze as they drift down from grey skies above. You can head out to any number of unique snowshoe trails throughout the region, or better yet join one of these guided hikes. You’ve never strapped on a pair of snowshoes before? Not to fear, snowshoeing is basically as easy as walking, and these tours are suitable for all ages and all fitness levels. >> TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 31
SNOWSHOE AND FONDUE AT HARDWOOD SKI AND BIKE
SOJOURN SNOWSHOE HIKES
Hardwood Ski and Bike has over 40 km of beautiful, rolling trails through hardwood and pine forests for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. The eight loops feature terrain ranging from gently rolling to challenging. Of special interest are the three Snowshoe and Fondue night hikes, each timed to coincide with the full moon cycle so that participants are trekking through forests illuminated by the pale blue glow of the moon hanging high in the sky above. “The hikes take us through beautiful terrain, with a stop-over at a look-out point on the property where we warm ourselves by a bonfire, then return again to end the evening with fondue and charcuterie. It’s really a beautiful experience,” says Jen McCullough of Hardwood Ski and Bike. “We have three night hikes over the winter, with a special valentine-themed hike in February where, in addition to fondue and charcuterie, we have a local craft brewery offering beer and wine sampling, and other food items.”
Make the most of Family Day (February 20) and get out on the trails in Copeland Forest with the Couchiching Conservancy’s Passport to Nature: Snowshoe Copeland event. Nestled on the edge of the Oro Moraine, Copeland Forest contains the highest quality of mature upland deciduous forest in the region, making for a scenic day in the snow under crystal blue skies. Running from 1-3pm, the family-friendly event is hosted by Sojourn Outdoors, an outdoor sports store in Barrie, on behalf of the Couchiching Conservancy. Bring your own snowshoes or test out a pair from Sojourn. Sojourn also hosts a number of other guided snowshoe hikes over the course of the winter. Moonlight Night Hikes are held at Copeland Wednesday evenings 7-9pm. There are also a number of daytime hikes, which alternate between Copeland Forest, Awenda Provincial Park, and McCrae Provincial Park. Prices are $15 for those with their own snowshoes, or $20 if you need to rent a pair. For more information and to register contact Sojourn Outdoors at 705-739-9694 or online at sojournoutdoors.com. Contact the Couchiching Conservancy at 705-326-1620 or go to couchichingconservancy.ca for the Family Day snowshoe hike. >>
Prices are $65, save for the valentine’s hike, which is $125. Prices don’t include the cost of snowshoe rentals ($20). Dates: February 11, March 11 For more information or to register, call 1-800-387-3775 or or go to hardwoodskiandbike.ca
REAL FREEDOM LIES IN
WILDERNESS NOT IN CIVILIZATION. – CHARLES LINDBERGH
TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 33
SKIING Ontario’s Lake Country is blessed with seemingly endless miles of scenic cross-country ski trails. When you think of downhill skiing, however, it’s likely France’s Meribel or Mont Tremblanc in Quebec that jumps to mind. Nevertheless, there is an option much closer at-hand, an option that includes runs suitable for all ages and world-class competitions thrilling for spectators.
CHAMPIONSHIP SKIING AND SNOWBOARDING AT MOUNT ST. LOUIS MOONSTONE Are you in the mood for some winter adrenaline that only skiing or snowboarding can provide? No need to go to Whistler or Vail when you’ve got Mount St. Louis near at hand in Coldwater. Here you can ski your legs to jelly all day long for a fraction of the cost of those world-renowned ski regions, and best of all, before the sun settles over the horizon, be back at Casino Rama Resort for an evening of dining, gaming and entertainment. There’s no better feeling than exiting your block, clicking into your bindings, and pushing off onto a gentle run. The only thing more exhilarating may be watching professional skiers demonstrate the height of athletic excellence, up close and in person. Once again, look no further than Mount St. Louis, home to a trio of competitions this winter. Mount St. Louis plays host to Freestyle Skiing Ontario Provincial Championships on February 23 and 24. Finally, from February 24-26, the ski resort is home to the Snowboard Ontario Provincials. For more information go to mountstlouis.com or call 705-835-2112.
ICE FISHING There’s something appealing about ice-fishing. For some it’s the challenge, the thrill of the catch. For others it’s the solitude, with nothing but your thoughts and the cracking of the ice beneath to intrude upon your solitude on a snow-hushed lake. And for some it’s merely the opportunity to venture outdoors and escape the confines of one’s home. Never tried it? There’s no better time than Family Day Weekend (February 18-20), when Canadian residents can ice-fish license-free throughout Ontario. And there’s no better place for your inaugural experience of drilling a hole and sinking a line into freezing water than Ontario’s Lake Country, a region blessed with numerous lakes with excellent fishing opportunities—and none better than Lake Couchiching For more information go to ontariofamilyfishing.com
POND HOCKEY The ice lies before you like a giant pane of glass, one of many rutted rinks cleared from the snow-covered expanse of the lake. The boards were nothing more than low plywood surrounded by piled snow. It reminds you of the ad-hoc hockey of your youth. As soon as the nets are placed, these imperfect rinks instantly become Maple Leaf Gardens or the Montreal Forum as you find yourself transported back in time to childhood games of shinny. There’s nothing more magical than pond hockey.
THE NORTH AMERICAN CUP Located in the heart of the Muskoka’s, Gravenhurst is a beautiful setting for this three-day round robin tournament that takes hockey back to it’s roots – on the pond. This 11th annual pond hockey classic is going to be a weekend packed with festivities and fun with a big kickoff celebration, massive indoor beer tent (in the Boston Pizza) that will include live entertainment and a pub crawl bus. The tournament runs February 10-12th, 2017. For complete event details, and to register your team onthepondcanada.com
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Girls
JUST WANNA RELAX: GIRL’S GETAWAY AT CASINO RAMA RESORT BY JILL THAM
I wouldn’t say I travel a lot, but I do get away a few times a year and it always prompts me to ask the same question, “What makes the perfect weekend away?” Maybe it’s being able to let go of everyday responsibilities. Perhaps it is a chance to relax or let loose. Or possibly it’s great food and some old-fashioned girl therapy. Regardless, each one of us is different in what we want out of a weekend away, with the common denominator being we all need a weekend away. After my girl’s getaway at Casino Rama Resort, I’ve come to conclude that every girl’s weekend has a specific set of “must haves” to make it a success: food, entertainment, shopping, relaxation and friends. I brought along three friends to share in the weekend as I discovered that Casino Rama Resort delivered the most relaxing and stress-free weekend I have ever experienced. LOCATION Casino Rama Resort is the perfect location for a unique girl’s getaway. With exposed wood, a calming waterfall and fireplace, the hotel lobby is designed to make you feel like you are in a peaceful and secluded location away from life’s stresses. FOOD I have a new appreciation for the convenience of stepping off the hotel elevator and having an impressive selection of restaurants to choose from. There was no worry of where to eat, who was going to be the designated driver, parking and all the planning that comes along with a girl’s night out. I am a supporter of the all-day breakfast menu. In my opinion there is nothing better than bacon and eggs while on vacation. Which lead us to Weirs Restaurant at lunchtime. The Weirs had a menu that was full of family friendly favourites with exceptionally reasonable prices, suited for everyone from couples enjoying a romantic weekend together to friends staying in the hotel for a getaway retreat.
As a writer, I am privileged to eat at many restaurants while profiling chefs and restaurant owners. I can attest that the food at St. Germain’s Steakhouse is a cut above the rest. This up-scale, yet casual restaurant won’t make you feel out of place if you are not dressed up or if you don’t order a bottle of wine. One of the first questions I ask any waiter or restauranteur is, “What is your most popular dish? Specifically what do women order?” Michael, our waiter, responded that Caesar salad was their most popular appetizer. I figured we should try it. The simplicity and portion size of the Caesar salad was something I could appreciate. Now, I love mini portioned formal dishes that focus on presentation, but at St. Germain’s you get the best of both worlds as you will leave impressed by the food and with your pants feeling snug around the waist. For our main dishes and desserts we did what many girls do: we ordered four dishes and sampled each other’s. To be honest I cringe when I hear food clichés like, “melt in your mouth,” but there truly is no other way to describe the food. Each one of us was especially pleased with the entrées and desserts. >> TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 37
SHOPPING As any group of women like to do, we hit the shops. Just a short drive away from Casino Rama Resort is the town of Orillia. Entertainment and shopping is at the forefront of this bustling town. With festivals like Burls Creek Boots & Hearts and the Mariposa Folk Festival, Orillia is making its mark on the map. Mississauga Street had something to offer each woman in the group. With great places to shop for clothing, sweets, jewelry, and home décor; no one left the downtown empty handed. Before leaving, we made sure to take a spin through the local snowboarding/surf shop and music store to round out the experience. Weekends in Orillia offer a casual nightlife with local bands and great beer.
ENTERTAINMENT Step onto the gaming floor of Casino Rama Resort and experience more than 2,500 exhilarating slots and interactive theme games. Personally, I stick to the slots that coincide with television shows, so Game of Thrones and the Big Bang Theory got my attention. My friend, Kristy, on the other hand, used her own method of reading and reviewing the payouts to get her win. Whatever it was, the gaming area at Casino Rama Resort had something that appealed to the four of us. Inside the casino is the Simcoe Yard House, a restaurant with a pub sort of feel. While we played the slots we could hear the evening performer as he sang and rocked out to popular music. And we weren’t the only group of ladies singing along with the band. Our weekend wouldn’t be complete without heading to a show. I was biting my newly manicured nails as Neil Goldberg’s Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy kept me on the edge of my seat. The immense talent and physical strength of the performers was more than impressive in this 5000-seat entertainment centre. With great performers like Gordon Lightfoot and Tom Cochrane, Sarah Silverman, Daniel O’Donnell, and Rascal Flatts, Casino Rama Resort’s Entertainment Centre is the place to be this spring. One thing that sticks out in my mind about the Entertainment Centre is what I call Casino Rama Resort’s, “Hall of Great Acts.” The corridor of the Entertainment Centre is filled with pictures and signatures of all the performers who have graced the stage at Casino Rama Resort since its opening 16 years ago. I’ll admit I was star struck admiring all the great classic acts as I walked in and out of the show.
RELAXATION I have never been much of a spa person, although I have been many times, I’d much rather be at the gym or sitting in the hot tub. To get me out of the sauna and into a pedicure chair is not an easy task. The Balance In Life Spa offers a full range of services. With pedicures and facials topping the list in popularity. Once again relaxation was at the forefront as I truly didn’t feel obligated to make small talk with the aesthetician. The name Balance in Life is fitting for the spa, as it is a nice reminder to pamper yourself every now and again, something that moms can be guilty of neglecting. Truth be told, two days wasn’t quite enough. I could have used another dip in the pool, another Mona Lisa cocktail from St. Germain’s, and another relaxing hour beside the fire watching The Wedding Planner. Have you ever been trying on a dress in a store and the sales lady says, “You can totally dress it up or dress it down,” and you immediately think she is feeding you a line to make a sale? Well, when I think of the resort I think of that dress; the saying makes sense to me now. Casual or formal, whatever you decide, Casino Rama Resort will deliver on all of my five important areas that make a girls’ weekend memorable. The weekend truly was the, “the Great Indoors.” For more information visit casinorama.com/promotions Girls Getaway Package Includes (per person) • $100 Spa Credit (per person) • $65 Resort Dining Credit (per person) • In Room Movie • Basket of Munchies • Complimentary Valet Book now from $200 per person. Call 1-800-832-PLAY (7529) and quote promo code GIRLZ (44759)
Get in touch with the beauty, relaxation and tranquility of the Great Indoors. All spa and hotel guests have access to the indoor salt water horizon pool and hot tub, eucalyptus steam room, sauna and adult only fitness facility
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Photos: Brent Long, Marc Rochette
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MEETING & MEALS PACKAGE Package includes: Naturally lit meeting room Muskoka-inspired breakfast, lunch and dinner Two coffee breaks with food items Private dinner options Muskoka inspired team activities available Private campfire with s’mores
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rockycrest.ca
//OUR COMMUNITY The work and dedication of community & charitable organizations across Simcoe County makes an important difference to where we live, work and play. Here's a snapshot of how Casino Rama Cares helped support these efforts in 2015.
RADIO FOR CARDIOLOGY: Monetary sponsorships given When a heart attack strikes, every minute counts when it comes to ensuring a successful outcome. That’s why local broadcaster Larche Communications, through it’s 104.1 The Dock To theradio community and date, KICX 106 stations, has pledged to raise $500,000 to build a much needed Cardiac program has donated Care Unit at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barrie, ON. And because ensuring quality care, close to home is something the Casino Rama Cares program believes in, they were thrilled to surand counting! prise Paul Larche with a $50,000 donation live on stage during a fundraising concert for the Radio for Cardiology campaign this fall.
Value of in-kind donations
COLDEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR:
Toys donated by CREW & patrons
Towards educational scholarship programs Did you know... the Casino Rama Cares program started in 1995 before the doors to the casino even opened!
The Coldest Night of the Year walk is a national event that supports the hungry, homeless and hurting by raising funds in more than one hundred Organizations communities across Canada. As part of the Casino’s commitment to supsupported through that improve the quality of life for residents in Simcoe port organizations monetary, County, the Casino Rama Cares team, made up of the brave staff members pictured here, participate in the annual 2, 5 or 10 km walk in support in-kind and volunteer ofservices the local Lighthouse Men’s Shelter.
Find out more by visiting
TOY DRIVE: Thanks to the generosity of the Casino Rama Cares program more than 2,000 children in Simcoe County woke up to a brand new toy this holiday season! Gifts and funds were donated to Barrie and District Christmas Cheer and the Rock 95/Kool FM Toy Drive.
TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 41
for this symbol on the Ă&#x; LOOK gaming floor for our newest slots!
PharAOhs, kings AND treAsure
More than 2,500 slots on the gaming floor, from classic reels and progressive jackpots to the latest in slot technology including video reels, transmissive screens, multi-denomination and video poker slots. We truly have it all!
*Note, games themes are subject to change and based on availability. Must be nineteen (19) years of age or older with government issued photo identification. Those who have been trespassed and/or self-excluded from Casino Rama Resort or any OLG property and/or fail to meet Casino Rama Resort’s conditions of entry may not visit, participate in promotions and/or redeem offers. Offers do not apply to employees of Casino Rama Resort. Casino Rama Resort reserves the right to cancel or change this program without notice.
TOP FIVE GAMBLING TIPS THESE TIPS WON’T HELP YOU WIN A JACKPOT, BUT THEY WILL HELP YOU WALK OUT ON TOP – BY HAVING FUN AND STICKING TO YOUR BUDGET.
IF YOU CHOOSE TO GAMBLE FOLLOW THESE IMPORTANT TIPS: DON’T BRING EXTRA MONEY WITH YOU Make a budget and stick to it. If you need to keep going back to the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) for money, you’ve probably spent more than you planned, and maybe more than you can afford. SET A TIME LIMIT If you have a firm idea of when you need to leave, it’ll keep you from losing track of time – as well as how much you’re spending.
TAKE BREAKS ON A REGULAR BASIS Regardless of whether you’re up or down, it’s important to walk away from time to time and get some perspective. BALANCE YOUR ACTIVITIES Yes, gambling is fun, but it shouldn’t be the only thing that you do on a regular basis. A balance of activities will help you resist the temptation of playing more than you should. GET SUPPORT Don’t wait. If you start losing more money than you can afford, or if you think you might have a problem, reach out and speak to a professional.
TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 43
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THE KING IN CONCERT AN ELVIS TRIBUTE STARRING JAMES CAWLEY Featuring Musical Director Joey Pucci and The American Longboards Band FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Showtime: 9 PM, Doors Open: 8 PM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Showtime: 1 PM, Doors Open: 12 noon TICKETS ARE $22/$32/$45 Cawley has been ranked the #1 Elvis impersonator in the USA by a committee of Elvis fan club presidents. His amazing voice allows the audience the chance to relive the excitement of having seen “The King” in person. ANDRÉ-PHILIPPE GAGNON FRIDAY, MARCH 3 Showtime: 9 PM, DOORS OPEN: 8 PM SATURDAY, MARCH 4 Showtime: 8 PM, Doors Open: 7 PM TICKETS ARE $32.50/$42.50/$54.50 This award-winning Canadian comedian known for his 400+ unique impersonations, including both the singing and speaking voices of various celebrities, returns to perform live.
AIR SUPPLY FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Showtime: 9 PM, Doors Open: 8 PM SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Showtime: 8 PM, Doors Open: 7 PM TICKETS ARE $34/$44/$57 “Making Love Out of Nothing At All”, “All Out of Love”, “Lost In Love”, “Every Woman In the World” & “Even The Nights Are Better”.
TRAVIS TRITT FRIDAY, MARCH 10 Showtime: 9 PM, Doors Open: 8 PM TICKETS ARE $30.97/$39.82/$54.86 “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive”, “Anymore” & “Tell Me I Was Dreaming”. >> TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 47
ZUCCHERO: BLACK CAT LIVE TOUR SUNDAY, MARCH 26 Showtime: 7 PM, Doors Open: 6 PM TICKETS ARE $47.50/$57.50/$72.50 “Senza Una Donna”, “Turandot: Nessun Dorma!” & “Miserere”.
TANYA TUCKER SATURDAY, MARCH 11 Showtime: 8 PM, Doors Open: 7 PM TICKETS ARE $22/$32/$42 “Delta Dawn”, “Strong Enough to Bend” & “Would You Lay with Me (In A Field of Stone). WINDBORNE’S THE MUSIC OF PRINCE WITH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA FRIDAY, MARCH 17 Showtime: 9 PM, Doors Open: 8 PM TICKETS ARE $27.43/$39.82/$48.67 Performed by an orchestra and amplified with a full Rock band and vocals, Windborne Music captures Prince’s distinct sound while presenting some familiar and lots of new musical colours. THE IRISH ROVERS SATURDAY, MARCH 18 Showtime: 8 PM, Doors Open: 7 PM TICKETS ARE $25/$35/$45 Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day weekend with The Irish Rovers, best known for hits: “Wasn’t That A Party”, “The Unicorn” and “Drunken Sailor”.
TOM COCHRANE’S MAD MAD WORLD TOUR WITH RED RIDER WITH SPECIAL GUEST MEGHAN PATRICK FRIDAY, MARCH 31 Showtime: 9 PM, Doors Open: 8 PM TICKETS ARE $49.55/$59.29/$75.22 From the just released expanded 25th anniversary edition of the Juno Award winning album Mad Mad World hits will include: “Life Is a Highway”, “No Regrets”, “Sinking Like a Sunset” & “Washed Away”. #MMW25
FOUR BY FOUR SATURDAY, MARCH 25 Showtime: 8 PM, Doors Open: 7 PM TICKETS ARE $22.12/$32.74/$44.25 This exciting retrospective features a stellar cast and classic songs made famous by legendary artists - The Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Bee Gees plus the soul music that became known as Motown! Sing & dance to the over fifty hits in this Vegas style review including “Yesterday”, “Stayin’ Alive”, “Surfin’ USA”, “Stop In The Name Of Love”, “Twist and Shout”, “How Deep Is Your Love”, “Please Mister Postman”, “Yellow Submarine” and “More Than A Woman”.
THE MAN IN BLACK: A TRIBUTE TO JOHNNY CASH STARRING SHAWN BARKER SATURDAY, APRIL 1 Showtime: 8 PM, Doors Open: 7 PM TICKETS ARE $23.01/$31.86/$48.67 Shawn Barker is considered the pre-eminent Cash tribute artist by fans & critics alike! Experience live, his uncanny resemblance & remarkably authentic portrayal of one of music’s most enduring legends, Johnny Cash. This show features hit songs from across Cash’s career right up to 2003 as well as duets performed with June Carter Cash. >>
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ANDY KIM SATURDAY, APRIL 8 Showtime: 8 PM, Doors Open: 7 PM TICKETS ARE $15.50/$25.50/$35.50 “Rock Me Gently”, “Shoot ‘Em Up, Baby”, “Baby, I Love You” and “Sugar, Sugar”.
GORDON LIGHTFOOT THE LEGEND LIVES ON… FRIDAY, APRIL 7 Showtime: 9 PM, Doors Open: 8 PM TICKETS ARE $66.37/$75.22/$88.49 “Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”, “Sundown” and “If You Could Read My Mind”.
SARAH SILVERMAN FRIDAY, APRIL 21 Showtime: 9 PM, Doors Open: 8 PM TICKETS ARE $50.89/$59.74/$75.22 This two-time Emmy Award winner is one of the most versatile talents in entertainment with credit as an actress, creator, writer, executive producer, comedienne and author. She was most recently seen starring in The Lonely Islands “Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping” and will next be seen in both “The Book of Henry” and “Battle of the Sexes.”
RASCAL FLATTS RHYTHM AND ROOTS TOUR SATURDAY, APRIL 22 Showtime: 8 PM, Doors Open: 7 PM TICKETS ARE $70/$85/$100 “What Hurts the Most”, “Life is a Highway”, “My Wish”, “I Won’t Let Go” and “I Like The Sound Of That”.
“OH WHAT A NIGHT!” A MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO FRANKIE VALLI AND THE FOUR SEASONS FRIDAY, APRIL 28 Showtime: 9 PM, Doors Open: 8 PM TICKETS ARE $23.89/$32.74/$44.25 “Oh What A Night!” is an exciting fast paced musical tribute to the legendary Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons coming direct from Las Vegas. MICKEY GILLEY SATURDAY, APRIL 29 Showtime: 8 PM, Doors Open: 7 PM TICKETS ARE $26.55/$35.40/$44.25 “Stand By Me”, “I Overlooked an Orchid” & “Room Full of Roses”.
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ONTARIO’S
LAKE COUNTRY
EVENTS BY GABRIELLE TIEMAN
11TH ANNUAL ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT FEBRUARY 18 | South Shore Centre The 11th annual Ice Fishing Tournament held over Family Day long weekend is hosted by the Simcoe County Home Builders’ Association and held on Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie. In an act to better appeal to all ice fishing enthusiasts – both seasoned veterans and new comers to the sport – no fishing licenses are required to participate in the tournament and all ages and skill levels are welcome. Annually, participants have had the opportunity to win over fifty thousand dollars in prizes
RAMONA WINTERFEST FEBRUARY 18 | Ramona Hall This year, Ramona’s annual Winterfest is ready to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday with a patriotic theme and fun for the whole family. Hosted by the historical Ramona Agricultural Society, Winterfest is an event for all ages. Activities throughout the day include a children’s craft corner, a silent auction, a Euchre tournament and the fan favourite Poker Run. The cross country Poker Run continues to be a festival highlight from year to year. Participants may walk, ski or snowshoe their way through the carved out forest trail – which circles through a large and picturesque beaver pond and is home to deer, wild turkeys, owls and moose. Participants may take breaks at the three check points along the trail to warm up and have a chance to draw a winning hand. Departures are between 10a.m. – 2 p.m. but all participants must be back to Ramona Hall by 4 p.m. to be entered for cash prizes. Tickets are five dollars and the children’s craft corner is included at no extra charge.
FAMILY DAY NATURE FESTIVAL FEBRUARY 20 | Tiffin Conservation Area, Utopia and cash giveaways; with prizes determined by the heaviest weight of a fish caught and the time at which they were registered. Past prizes have included snowmobiles, boats, trailers and an ATV Mule. To date, the popular tournament has raised over three hundred thousand dollars for local charities and community groups. Past local and global recipients have included Habitat for Humanity, Gilda’s Club, the Children’s Aid Foundation, Hospice Simcoe, the RVH Cancer Centre and many more. Registration can be done online at icefishingbarrie.ca or by calling 705-431-5030.
Celebrate Family Day outside with your loved ones at Utopia’s own winter wonderland. Held at the Tiffin Conservation Area located between Barrie and Angus, this 300 acre conservation area is a four-season destination for environmental recreation and education and home to the Nottawasaga Valley Conservation Authority’s Administration Centre. Drop in between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and enjoy kick sledding, skating, a Sojourn Mountaineering Tent Display, a demonstration on the War of 1812 Winter Camp and a winter scavenger hunt. There will also be traditional style snowshoeing and hiking available for those who wish to plow through the snow and explore Tiffin’s expansive network of over 17 kilometers of looped trails that meander through a mixture of wetlands, forests, open meadows and ancient lake beds. Hot dogs, hot chocolate and snacks will also be available for purchase throughout the day – but feel free to bring a picnic lunch of your own to enjoy on the grounds. TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 53
POLAR RUSH FEBRUARY 25 | Horseshoe Skyline Resort Revered as the most exhilarating winter obstacle course and a rush unlike any other, the Polar Rush Challenge held at the Horseshoe Skyline Resort in Barrie is a great reason to crack out your snow pants and get your internal temperature up outside in the cold. The five kilometer course features over 12 obstacles – including wall climbing, crazy carpeting, tube running and snow crawling – guaranteed prizes and a bonfire after party. This is not a course designed for athletes; participants must be ten years and older and love the childlike exhilaration of playing in the snow, building snow forts and trudging up and down a sled hill. Register at polarrush.ca
SWEETWATER HARVEST FESTIVAL MARCH 25-26 | Wye Marsh Celebrate a uniquely Canadian tradition this March at the 26th annual Sweetwater Harvest Festival. A cherished tradition in the historic town of Midland, step back in time and enjoy the beauty of the town’s natural landscape while celebrating the history of maple syrup and its simple roots. Along with celebrating the history of maple syrup and the role it played in both Ontario’s and Canada’s culture and natural heritage, the Sweetwater Festival also celebrates wilderness and the preservation of both the wildlife and plant life. Yes there are sugar shack tours, day long pancake breakfasts and taffy rolled out on fresh snow, but there is so much more to enjoy during the weekend long festival. Enjoy live music, horse drawn carriage rides, bird feedings, wilderness survival courses, cooking and woodcarving demos and so much more for the whole family. So whether you prefer it smothering a stack of pancakes, marbling your fudge or coating your pulled pork and ribs, the maple syrup scene encourages families to help tap some trees, enjoy fresh toffy on a stick and gain a true appreciation for this true Canadian delicacy. Tickets are $10 dollars for a family [2 adults and 2 children] $30 dollars for Wye Marsh Members & Children under 3 are free. Access to the All Day Pancake and Sausage Breakfast is an additional $5 dollars. Tickets can be purchased online or by cash at the event.
TAP INTO MAPLE | MARCH 1 to MAY 31 Ganaraska Forest and Various Locations throughout Ontario’s Lake Country & Springwater When the air warms up and the sap starts running, Canadians flock to the woods to gather their favourite all natural sweet – the beloved maple syrup. World renowned for producing this family favourite, Ontario’s Lake Country houses a high concentration of sugar shacks and maple farms in the region. Discover, taste, see, smell and enjoy all things maple at the annual Tap into Maple Flavours of Ontario’s Lake Country event. Over 24 maple stops – from sugar bushes and restaurants to museums, resorts and shops– come together throughout Lake Country to create a self-guided tour to support and showcase the local maple products.
From March 31 - April 16 a variety of Ontario’s Lake Country independent restaurants have created special pre-set menus where everything revolves around the quintessential Canadian flavour. Participating restaurants are encouraged to think outside of the box and create innovative dishes for visiting maple enthusiasts. Look forward to the popular lunch menu provided by participating restaurants; menus with two to three courses will cost approximately $10$15 dollars, while the dinners will include three courses for $20-$30 dollars. A variety of Ontario’s Lake Country’s independent restaurants will be participating including: Brewery Bay, Era 67 Restaurant, White Lions Tea House and Grape & Olive Wine & Martini Bar at Best Western Plus Mariposa Market in Orillia; Echo’s Dining Lounge at Bayview Wildwood in Port Stanton; Lakeview Restaurant at Knights Inn Harbour Resort in Brechin; Rawley Resort Restaurant in Port Severn; Cedar at Casino Rama Resort in Rama; and Settlers’ Ghost in Horseshoe Valley. If you would rather delve into the history of maple syrup production, local museums offer a plethora of information and educational activities on the sweet treat or you can attend one of many events that will offer a unique perspective on maple. A number of hotels throughout the region will also be offering special maple packages for those visiting throughout the festival. Come and experience Ontario’s maple history. >>
SIMCOE SPRING HOME & COTTAGE SHOW APRIL 7-9 | Barnfield Point Recreation Centre, Orillia The 24th annual Spring Home & Cottage show features hundreds of local vendors showcasing products and services specifically targeted towards perfecting your home and cottage. This year’s 2017 event has trend spotters forecasting that it will be all about ease and comfort. Even at the luxury end of the decor spectrum, this year’s look is less stiff and more sit back and relax. This well-organized consumer event takes the stress and struggle out of redecorating and renovating. Everything you need is under one roof; custom framing from Easy Frame Products; unique, multi material railings from Muskoka Aluminum and Vinyl; bay windows and custom glasswork from Orillia Glass and Mirror; and every vendor, supplier and designer in between. Admission is three dollars for adults and children 12 and under are free.
GREAT EASTER EGG HUNT APRIL 15 | Downtown Orillia Join hundreds of children as they scour the streets of downtown Orillia in traditional Easter fashion for bright colourful plastic eggs. The event is held annually for children aged 12 and under from 9:30 a.m. until noon. Children only need to find three eggs in order to exchange them at Orillia’s historic Opera House for chocolate – courtesy of local Orillia vendor Apple Annie’s Gift Crafts & Chocolates A single golden egg is also hidden amongst the colourful; the finder will receive a special prize together with the chocolate. Alongside the glee filled egg hunt, children can indulge in sweet treats and face painting – courtesy of the Easter Bunny himself. Parents are reminded to bring their children their own basket for egg collecting.
ORILLIA PERCH FESTIVAL APRIL 23 - MAY 13 | Tudhope Park, Orillia Welcome to the 37th Annual Orillia Perch Festival! Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching, Orillia, Ontario, Canada. One of Canada’s Largest Registered Fishing Derbies! Over Sixty Tagged Perch worth $500 Each! Plus ... Bonus Perch & Thousands of Dollars in Daily, Weekly and Grand Prize Draws! JUST FISH TO WIN !!!
DEAN BRODY W/ JAMES BARKER BAND (RADIO FOR CARDIOLOGY BENEFIT CONCERT VII) MAY 5 | CASINO RAMA RESORT Casino Rama Resort is proud to support the ongoing efforts to raise funds for the Radio for Cardiology campaign in support of Royal Victoria Hospital (Barrie). Tickets start at just $45 to see live performances by Dean Brody: “Bring Down the House”, “Canadian Girls”, “It’s Friday” & “Bounty” and the James Barker Band: “Lawn Chair Lazy” & “Just Sayin’”. Come out to support the cause and see an amazing concert in The Great Indoors – Casino Rama Resort.
GRAVENHURST, ONTARIO OCTOBER 11, 2013: Historic Segwun steamboat, the oldest operating steam driven vessel in North America, with tourists onboard on Lake Muskoka on an autumnal cruise. Editorial credit: LesPalenik / Shutterstock, Inc.
Ship up and Ship Out BY ANDREW HIND
G BOAT AND
THE MUSKOKA HERITAGE CENTRE
ravenhurst’s fortunes have always been linked to its waterfront. From the 1860s, the wharves built along the shores of Muskoka Bay served first as a stepping-off point for settlers entering the wilds of Muskoka, and later as a link to luxury resorts clinging precariously to the shorelines. Train tracks, wharves, and boatbuilders’ shops lined the shores. Gravenhurst, for good reason, was called the Gateway to Muskoka. Where better to build a museum dedicated to preserving the history of steamships and luxury hotels and handcrafted motorboats that came to define this region? Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre is a world-class museum which, appropriately enough, occupies the one-time site of the Ditchburn Boat Manufacturing Company. >>
TODAYMAGAZINE.CA 59
Through these exhibits, visitors step into the past to explore what it truly meant to spend a summer in Muskoka. One of the most interesting aspects of the museum is its interactive, hands-on displays. These make the experience of serving aboard a steamship or vacationing at a resort during the gilded era of the early 20th century more tangible for modern visitors. Visitors are invited to become a captain in a wheelhouse and blow the steamship whistle and start a working steam engine, for example, or send a virtual postcard from one of the regions famed hotels. Through these exhibits, visitors step into the past to explore what it truly meant to spend a summer in Muskoka. The tour begins with a brief description of the development of Gravenhurst’s harbour and boat-building activities, and an examination of Muskoka’s first decades. After that, the museum can be roughly divided into three main exhibits exploring different facets of the region’s history. In the first exhibit, visitors will explore the ups and downs of the steamship industry in Muskoka, celebrating 150-years in 2017. The launch of the Wenonah in 1866 kicked off a century during which steamboats were the bonds that linked the region together and allowed it to develop. By 1960, cars had replaced boats as the primary mode of transportation and all the steamships were gone. Thankfully, the RMS Segwun, which rotted along the shoreline for a few decades, was saved and restored. In the steamship exhibit, visitors visit the freight deck and meet the crew that laboured there, view a movie about the restoration of the Segwun, look into an elegant steamship dining room, and are introduced to A.P. Cockburn—the father of Muskoka’s steamboat fleet and the tourist industry it fostered. Perhaps the most moving artifacts found here belong to the Waome, which rolled over and sank in the late autumn of 1934, taking with it three lives. It was Muskoka’s worst maritime disaster. Wander over now to the next exhibit, ‘Summers at the Lake’, which focuses on the elegance of the Muskoka hotels of yesteryear. Here you visit a hotel dining room, with fine china and polished silver atop the tables, listen and dance to the sounds of the Big Band Era (the biggest names of the period, from Duke Ellington to the Dorsey Brothers, all played in the dance halls of some of Muskoka’s most famed resorts), and cozy-up by the fireplace to watch the hotel’s events. One of the personalities you’ll meet here is Mary Elizabeth Aiken, who guided Windermere House through some of its most successful years and was noted as being the consummate hostess. In the ‘Boat Builders Workshop’, we learn about Muskoka’s wooden boat industry, view the process of boat restoration and compare the skills and techniques of boat builders of yesteryear and those of today, see a
1930’s boat builder’s workshop, and meet Herb Ditchburn, one of the best known and most skilled of these craftsmen. The highlight, however, is undoubtedly the museum’s collection of in-water antique wooden boats, the largest display of its kind in North America. Elsewhere in the museum is a special exhibit on loan from the Canadian Museum of Nature that runs throughout the summer. Entitled ‘Canada’s Waterscapes’, it explores Canada’s aquatic ecosystems in an engaging, interactive, family-friendly way designed to foster greater appreciation for our lakes and streams. You’ll leave the museum with a greater appreciation for the necessity of preserving these vital ecosystems. Young ones should be sure to head upstairs to the newly opened, 4,000sq foot discovery learning space called KidZone. It’s a fun, dynamic and interactive way to learn about what makes Muskoka special. The highlight is undoubtedly the unique opportunity to test drive a float plane simulator, allowing young ones to experience the sensation of flying high above the lake-studded Muskoka landscape and picking a stretch of water upon which to bring their plane in for a landing. Elsewhere, children can visit a beaver lodge and a wilderness camp site, play in an interactive water table, build with Lego, and get creative upon a giant chalkboard wall. There’s so much to see and do you’ll need to pull your kids away. Muskoka’s history comes alive at Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre. Your tour is measured in decades rather than hours as you step back in time to a romantic era in which the foundations of modern Muskoka were laid. >> LOCATION: 275 Steamship Bay Road, Gravenhurst, ON PHONE: 705-687-2115 WEB: realmuskoka.com/muskoka-boat-and-heritage-centre/ SUMMER/FALL HOURS OF OPERATION June 15 to October 12 Monday – Friday: 10:00am – 6:00pm Saturday - Sunday: 10:00am – 4:00pm ADMISSION FEES Adults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10.00 Seniors & Military. . . . . . $8.00 Children. . . . . . . . . . . . . .$6.00 Family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25.00 Note: Passengers aboard the Segwun or Wenonah II receive FREE general admission with proof of purchase
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ExploringMUSKOKA WHARF We sat on the deck, the glorious summer sun warming our faces and painting the ripples upon the water a dazzling silver. We watched as loons paddled in the distance, as smoke billowed from the stack of a century-old steamship to halo above, and as gleaming boats full of tanned passengers dressed in t-shirts and shorts gently pulled up alongside the docks. We felt lazy and relaxed. And yet there is an unmistakable energy, a vibrancy that says Gravenhurst’s Muskoka Wharf is the place to be. There’s much more to experience here than Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre A boardwalk allows you to stroll along the water’s shores past boutique shops, cafes, and an ice-cream parlour. A pair of restaurants, Dock of the Bay and Boston Pizza, boast decks literally atop the water that provide ideal spots
from which to enjoy a meal and take in the appeal of the beautiful setting. Book a cruise and slip back in time aboard one of two nostalgic vessels that carry on a 150year old tradition of steamboating in Muskoka. Most beloved, of course, is R.M.S Segwun, the oldest operating steamship in North America. Her sister-ship, the Wenonah II, was built in the 1990s but retains all of the historic charm of a turn-of-the-century steamship. The experience aboard either ship is timeless and unforgettable. Leaning over the railings, you watch the rock-and-pine shoreline glide past at a leisurely 5 knots, wave at smaller motorboats whizzing past, and admire the stately summer states belonging to the rich and famous. There are a variety of excursion options to choose from, but the most spectacular are the sunset
dinner cruises, where you enjoy a fine meal in the ship’s dining room and then watch spellbound at the beauty of the golden sun dipping below the horizon, its fading rays shimmering upon the water. Overlooking the entire wharf, just 70-feet from the shore and adjacent to Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre, is a Residence Inn by Marriott, a warm and comfortable hotel boasting 106 suites, an indoor pool and whirlpool, exercise room, and free breakfast buffet. From here, all the attractions are just a few minute walk away. At the end of a day of exploring, retire to your private balcony, pull up a Muskoka chair and gaze out onto the placid waters as one of the steamships slowly glides into view, floating on the lake like a serene apparition from a bygone era.
Photos: Green Autumn Photography, Michael Steingard, Rowell Photography and Visual Roots
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BY: ANDREW HIND
ry to imagine Muskoka without Windermere House’s white towers looking out over Lake Rosseau or without the name Deerhurst to instantly conjure up images of refined hospitality. You can’t do it. Muskoka’s resorts are regional icons, symbols of its status as a beloved tourist destination and a summer playground for vacationers. And it’s been that way for a century and a half. Long before there were cottages, resorts-some large and luxurious, others little more than family homes that had been opened up to tourists-people were lured to this beautiful country, which offered warm hospitality and an escape from the stresses that even then were associated with city life. A century ago, there were well over 100 resorts active in Muskoka, each one with it’s own unique charm and personality, each with its own stories to tell. In a very real sense, the modern Muskoka we know and love was built upon the foundations established by these early hotels. The story of Muskoka’s resorts must begin with settlement of the region, for the two go hand-in-hand. Prior to the middle of the 19th century, Muskoka was uninhabited wilderness, a vast and rugged region consisting of endless miles of forest interspersed with thousands of lakes and swamps. Things began to change when, in 1868, in an effort to encourage more settlements, Ontario passed the Free Grants and
Homesteads Act. Under this plan, the government built a network of colonization roads into the wilderness hinterlands of the province, and then offered 100 acres of land to any settler who was prepared to move into these uninhabited areas. The only stipulation was that the settler was expected to clear 15 acres, build a house, and live on the site continuously for five years. Thousands took up the offer over the following decades, founding farms and villages throughout Muskoka that gradually brought a sense of civilization to the region. However, as it turned out, the Free Grants and Homesteads Act wasn’t such a great offer. The land was rugged, and the climate harsh. For most settlers, prosperity tilling the soil and cultivating crops proved elusive. Naturally, many people became disappointed with their farmland and began to search for other means of making a living. They found they could reap greater success by opening their homes to hunters and fishermen, mostly wealthy and well-born men from America, who were seeking the adventure of the Canadian wilderness. As word spread that Muskoka represented a sportsman’s dream, residents found that more and more travelers began knocking on their doors, asking for a warm bed, a hearty meal, and perhaps a local guide, and were willing to pay well for these services. The Muskoka tourist industry was born. >>
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wasn’t long before these hunters and anglers, marveling at the clean air, beautiful waters, splendor of the natural environs, began to bring their families to experience Muskoka. Demand for food and lodgings grew, so that homes that had turned into boarding houses began to evolve into hotels. The first wilderness resort, the one which formed the template after which all those to come were modeled, was Rosseau House, or Pratt’s Hotel, built in the village of Rosseau in 1870 by wealthy New Yorker William H. Pratt. It was an instant success, with masses of affluent tourists flocking to the hotel almost as soon as it was opened. Residents across Muskoka began to take note of Pratt’s success, and in the years that followed dozens of other hotels emerged to challenge Rosseau House. The rise of Muskoka as a tourist destination was linked to developments that were dramatically altering people’s lifestyles. Throughout the 19th century, the cities of the American East Coast underwent rapid industrialization that led to congestion, smoke, and heat that made them barely habitable during the summer months. Naturally, the poor had no escape from such inhospitable conditions, but the wealthy and the emerging middle classes could afford to flee the city for someplace more pleasant. Muskoka, with its pristine wilderness fit the bill perfectly.
By the 1890s, Muskoka had become one of the most popular holiday regions in North America, and dozens of resorts sprang up along the lakeshores of this charismatic region. Most of the famous resorts of today were founded in that golden era, including Deerhurst, Cleveland House, and Windermere House. For every resort that endures today, there were ten that have long since disappeared. Though there was a brief hiccup during World War One, the Golden Era of Muskoka’s resorts endured into the 1920s and through the Big Band Era. At the time, the biggest names in music could be found playing in resort dance halls and ball rooms throughout the region, including the Dorsey Brothers and the legendary Duke Ellington. It was a heady time characterized by a relentless pursuit of pleasure, and the wealthy from allover North America flocked to Muskoka each summer to indulge themselves in luxury, dancing, sport, and socializing with their peers. Indeed, the 1920s represented the apogee of the resort era, and was fittingly marked by the arrival on the scene of the grandest, most opulent of them all: Bigwin Inn, on Lake of Bays. The stock market crash of 1929 and the Great Depression that followed forever changed the face of Muskoka tourism. Those were difficult times for resorts. Many people no longer had the disposable income to spend on a summer vacation; luxuries, which vacations surely constitute, are the first thing to be discarded when times get tough. As a result, many resorts were forced to close off floors, wings, or even the entire hotel as the number of guests dwindled. Bats, mice and rot moved in. Some resorts were fated never to re-open. Muskoka’s resorts had great hopes that crowds would return after World War II: the Depression was a thing of the past, people were filled with dreams and had the money to make them a reality, and with advances in automobiles Muskoka was closer than ever. Unfortunately, things didn’t quite work out as envisioned. With air transportation now affordable, people began to shun Muskoka and other traditional destinations, instead heading off to Europe, the Caribbean, and other exotic locales. Those that did not turn their back on Muskoka-and there were many that didn’tmore often than not opted to purchase a cottage of their own rather than spend weeks on end at a hotel. Combined, these two factors delivered a near-fatal blow to area resorts. As travel tastes were evolving, the extravagance that marked most of the largest and most famous resorts in the early decades of the century fell out of style. Some resorts were able to adapt, but others couldn’t. The lucky resorts that endured were generally treated to badly needed modernization during the 1970s and ‘80s when tourism rebounded in the region, becoming the beloved destinations of today. These historic properties have been been joined by some ambitious new properties as well, most notably the JW Marriott on Lake Rosseau. Resorts are a part of Muskoka’s unique identity, so much so that many believe cottage country should more properly be called resort country. Indulge in one of the region’s many resorts and judge for yourself.
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