Every time a bell rings...

George Bailey, a well-known fictional character, is a small-town man whose life seems so desperate he contemplates suicide. He had always wanted to leave Bedford Falls to see the world, but circumstances and his own good heart have led him to stay. He sacrificed his education for his brother, kept the family-run building and loan af… Moreloat, protected the town from the avarice of the greedy banker Mr. Potter, and married his childhood sweetheart. As he prepares to jump from a bridge, his guardian angel intercedes; showing him what life would have become for the residents of Bedford Falls if he had never lived.

 

This is the classic 1946 film - "It's A Wonderful Life" and was the latest play to be staged by the Brockville Theatre Guild at the local Brockville Arts Centre. This timeless Christmas classic was the perfect choice to mark the Guild's 80th anniversary and kick off the upcoming holiday season

 

I had been anticipating this production since the very beginning. You see, my fiance, Nick, had been cast to play "Ernie, the cab driver". Nick has a love for the arts, and experience in theatre from his native home in Quesnel, BC but this was a first for him since moving to Ontario nearly eight years ago. Nick's good friend Will Wright, was also auditioning (and would later be cast as the lovable angle "Clarence") . With our family life now affording him the support, time and flexibility to get back into a hobby he once loved so much, Nick jumped at the chance to audition for this adaptation of the classic film.

 

As a first-time "theatre widow", I had no idea the time and effort that went into the productions. Thankfully Will's wife, Laura was there to guide me through the months of late-night rehearsals and proved to be a great date when we attended the production's closing night, last Saturday.

 

When we arrived, the lobby of The Arts Centre was beautifully decorated for Christmas and was buzzing with excited patrons. Everyone was dressed up, cocktails in hand and catching up with friends they hadn't seen in awhile. It was the perfect setting and reminded me of what life would have been like before the era of motion pictures - one in which live theatre was what everyone looked forward to as a night on the town.

 

We entered into the theatre and took our seats, where the lights dimmed and the play began. I was nervous for Nick and Will. I knew Will was a seasoned actor with years of experience in the Guild, but I had never seen either of them act before and had no idea what to expect. As the story unfolded, I found myself drawn into the characters and anticipating the upcoming scenes. Having watched the original movie every year for as long as I can remember, I may have been able to say the lines myself. What the actors brought to the stage, that set it apart from the movie, was a modern twist with their humour. I found myself cracking up by their mannerisms and on-point comedic timing. Although "It's A Wonderful Life" can be very dramatic and even reflective at times, there is also a lighter side that brings you back to the joys of the holiday spirit and the Theatre Guild nailed it with this adaptation.

 

The long hours of rehearsal and cast chemistry was very evident. The "Young George Bailey" and "Young Mary" proved to have talent to spare as they flawlessly navigated the scenes and really made you believe their love story. I also have to give a huge hats-off to Paul Duchesne, who reprised the leading role of George Baily himself. Paul was incredibly moving throughout the play, taking you with him on his journey of lost hope, despair and then eventually renewed faith in life.

 

 It was a remarkable and emotional ride that once over, truly had you walk away feeling that "It's A Wonderful Life" after all.....

 

 

"It's Amma Time"

The word "Amma" is very special in our family. It's the name my oldest daughter gave to my mother in place of the traditional "Grandma". It also means "date night" to her father and I.

Friday afternoon came and I recieved a glorious message from my mom: " Weather looks ok, I'll come pick up Lo for the night and then take her to the movies Saturday afternoon. You and Nick have a date night and meet at our place tomorrow  for dinner". I can't lie, my parents are very supportive and always jump at the chance to spend time with the girls so Nick and I can have "us" time. We love our children but it essential to take time out for each other now and then as well.

We decided that Brockville was the perfect place for a night on the town, with many options for dining and entertainment. We opted for Boston Pizza for dinner, as my fabulous in-laws gave us a generous gift card for Christmas. Nick travels a lot for work and frequents Boston Pizza so he knows the menu well and really enjoys the perogie pizza they have. I, on the other hand, am six months pregnant and have been craving steak, which, thankfully, is also on the menu. Our starter was a delicious bread that was covered in garlic and cheese, perfect for a cool winter night. Nick really enjoyed his pizza and he recommends it to everyone. I will however caution you when ordering this.  He lovingly offered me a bite and neglected to mention it had some serious heat. Thankfully I had my water nearby. My steak dinner was a bit disappointing. I ordered it "medium" and while the chef did an excellent job meeting this request, it was however, seasoned a bit too much with pepper, which took away from the taste. I chose the fresh veggies as my side. In addition, when my plate arrived they too were cold. The restaurant was busy at this time and the servers were doing a great job attending the tables. Our server checked on us many times and kept the drink refills coming. Upon having some of my water I noticed a large crack in my glass. We stopped the hostess on her way by, which is when we were met with an odd response. She looked at my glass and confirmed she saw the crack and then continued on her way. I thought maybe she was going to bring another water, but as time lapsed we realized she wasn't coming back. Thankfully our wonderful waitress checked on us again and when we showed her, she immediately removed the glass and brought a new one. All in all, dinner was a positive experience. The atmosphere was fun, the staff were friendly and attentive and the food was okay. We will be back again, but I am looking forward to trying some different menu items.

Now for the exciting part: the movie! We have been looking forward to the new Sherlock Holmes movie and the Galaxy Theatre in Brockville didn't disappoint. We thought perhaps with the holidays just being over and it being a small city, the theater would not be busy. This was not the case, as the theatre was buzzing with people excited to see all the new releases. We did not wait long to get tickets or treats and we scored some great seats even though it filled up quickly. The movie we chose was fantastic, although I am a tad biased with my unrequited love for Robert Downey Jr. The local theatre did not disappoint either, with its comfy seats, ample parking and selection of great movies. I urge you all to flock to the theatre and take in a movie.

Saturday we headed to my parents' house to celebrate Nick's Birthday. My mom always makes special dinners for the occasion. We arrived to their house and were met at the door by our daughter with lots of hugs! She was really excited that she and Amma had just come home from their own movie date. About an hour into our visit, dinner was ready. Fajitas, one of Nick's favourite meals.Dinner was amazing but no birthday is complete without DQ ice cream cake. C'mon the kid in all of us likes it! It was a great evening and just one more reason we love our family time so much.

Brockville, once again you have provided us with a great local experience and I am pleased that we get to enjoy the amenities you have to offer. Our biggest thanks goes to our parents, who cared for our oldest daughter and spoiled us with the gift cards to enjoy the night out. It's nice to be surrounded by our children and lots of love, but every now and then we love that couple time just as much.

Baby Bingo and Ginger Beef

I woke up early Saturday morning, not just because it was a busy day ahead, but because it was the highly anticipated "date night" that couples with small children only dream about.

It seems I wasn't the only one excited about the day, as both girls and my spouse were also wide awake with smiles from ear to ear. This, I thought was odd, as the night before was met with travel and crankiness, as we had returned from the Santa Claus Parade well past bedtime. I'm one to count my blessings, so I enjoyed this moment of bliss and got ready for the day.

We had some errands to run and limited time to do so. Today was the day, after months of planning, that I would throw a baby shower for my friend and colleague, Monica. We hurried out the door by 8:00am, headed to pick up an amazing diaper cake, custom-made that I had ordered a while back. After the pick up, we headed to the store to grab the cake and the decorations and zoom home to clean before my house would be taken over by approximately fifteen nurses, office staff, a cook, friends and family members and two adorable babies. Anyone who has ever thrown a baby shower knows the sheer chaos (and fun) it can bring. Throw two toddlers into the mix while trying to get ready and you have yourself a small breakdown. Thankfully my spouse is amazing and took the kids out for the afternoon. With the food prepared, flowers and candles about, I was ready to host.

With a great turnout, fun games and a lot of laughter, I'd say the shower was a success!

After everyone had left the baby shower, it was time to get ready for that highly coveted date night. I tend to have a bad habit of overbooking myself and today didn't prove to be any different. I had one hour to polish myself up and hit the town with my dashing date!

We were scheduled to be at the Ivy restaurant, in Ivy Lea on the outskirts of Brockville, for hors d'oeuvres and a wonderful dinner to follow. Neither my spouse or I had ever been and after checking out the menu online we were both really looking forward to the experience.

We arrived on time, a sheer miracle and were not disappointed by the ambiance that greeted us. The Ivy had undergone renovations not too long ago and not one detail was spared. From the grand entrance way with exposed beams to the magnificent fireplace in the dining room, I thought I was in heaven.

We started with goat cheese and spinach in a phyllo pastry, moved on to bite sized chicken satay and ended the mouth watering hors d'oeuvres with spicy samosas. These were just the start! Upon being seated we were given a starter menu with many delectable choices. Both my spouse and I chose the ginger beef served with baby greens and an onion vinaigrette drizzle. This had to be the highlight of the menu, it was the most tender and flavourful thing I had ever eaten. Being pregnant, I still wake up days later, craving this dish.

Moving on to the main course we again chose the same, porterhouse steak served with root vegetables and truffle french fries. For anyone who is not familiar with truffle fries, I have no idea what they are, only to say they look like french fries but taste like nothing you have ever eaten.

Normally I am not one to shy away from the dessert menu, but after all that food I just didn't have room. My spouse on the other hand, all 6 foot 3, 220 pounds of him, found the space and ordered the renowned sticky toffee pudding. When it arrived, my curiosity got the best of me and I had to try a bite (or three). WOW! I am truly lost for words. It was packed with flavour and yet looked so dainty.

I have no idea who the chef at the Ivy is, all I can tell you is that if you have not been, it is a must! From the moment we walked in the door to the moment we left, not one detail was spared. The service was phenomenal and the food is easily the best I have ever had. I'm still dreaming of that ginger beef.