This 'aint no pussy cat!

With the summer in full tilt in the beautiful 1000 Islands, Nick and I decided to take the day off and head out on the highly anticipated Wild Cat Cruise.

This is the 54 passenger, high-speed Catamaran that sets out to the mighty St.Lawrence for a one of a kind tour.

 

 

The tour starts out as a very relaxing guided tour, with happy tunes to listen too along the way. Once out on the open water, Captain Andy lets you know to hold on tight and get ready for the ride!

 

 

Just two of the spectacular views from this trip. Singer Castle (above) with it's rich history and beautiful setting and the new skyline featuring The Tall Ships Condo (below).

 

The Wild Cat is one fun ride worth taking! It lets you experience the world famous 1000 Islands like never seen before.

Cruising the beautiful 1000 Islands

Over the weekend when the sun made a brief appearance, we jumped at the chance to do one of our favourite activities in the 1000 Islands - take a cruise!

Last year (and many before) we have boarded at Blockhouse Island in Brockville, On. to take one of the many cruises offered. This year we wanted to try something different, so we headed to Gananoque and took the 1 Hour cruise.

This is a shot of one of the world famous 1000 Islands.

 

The girls and I posing for some pictures, as I'm usually the one behind the camera.

 

 

 

The hour cruise proved to be just the right amount of time with our small children. The ship is large enough to comfortably move around and enjoy a relaxing time on the St.Lawrence River.

 

Such a peaceful cruise!

 

 

One of the many sights - beautiful sail boats.

 

If you put one thing on your list this summer, check out the many cruises offered for the St. Lawrence River. There are cruises leaving daily from Brockville, Rockport, Gananoque and Kingston.

 

 

 

The Tall Ships Festival didn't disappoint!

This year's Father's Day weekend in Brockville was one to remember!

We kicked it off by attending the much anticipated Tall Ships Festival. This was an incredable event and something none of us have ever experienced. The ships were immaculate, providing my father-in-law with some great shots (as photography is a favorite hobby of his), the crowds were large but filled with happy sightseers and the food  (oh, the food!) was delicious!

Nick and I had the opportunity to dine on the Tall Ship Sandy for the Saturday evening dinner and fireworks cruise. Everything from boarding to the weather was perfect. We met some great friends and neighbours on the ship, enjoyed the roast beef dinner with "to die for" dessert (hello cheesecake!) and ended the evening with a romantic fireworks display at the back of the ship.

As we sat there taking in the breathtaking colours of the fireworks, I realized just how lucky I am to live in this beautiful area. The view of our city from the water was like something out of a movie. The shore was filled with proud residents enjoying the festival, the water filled with local boats and the historic Tall Ships alike, and the overall atmosphere was that of joy and non-stop fun. What a perfect evening!

Sunday was a day of family and celebration! It was my grandmother's birthday, Father's Day and the local wine show all wrapped into one day (in no particular order of course - cheeky!)Nick made some wonderful giant gormet hamburgers, we had salads and homemade carrot cake, and that was just lunch! While some of the men raced off to make their tee-off time, us ladies decided to meet at the 1000 Islands Food and Wine Festival. We had to have a drink to honour the fathers' in our life afterall.

I was yet again, very pleased to see a good turnout at the wine and food festival. I met some great vendors and tried some fabulous Ontario wine. I am not much of a drinker but my mother, who is part-owner in a local wine import business (Amano Inc.) was on-hand to tell me all about what we were sampling, which made it delicious AND interesting.

The weekend flew by way too fast, as there was just so much to do and the city was buzzing. Make sure you check out http://www.brockvilletourism.com for next years' dates and some other wonderful festivals happening throughout the remainder of the summer. Brockville and the 1000 Islands always has something for everyone!

Kick-off to Summer

What type of things remind you that summer has finally arrived? Is it the birds chirping in the early morning light, seeing the harbours fill up with boaters or perhaps a local event, that brings to mind that finally (yes, finally!) summer is here? For me, it is the annual sidewalk sale in downtown Brockville that is the kick-off to summer.

Saturday morning was a very early start. My one year old hasn't been the biggest fan of sleep lately and our days typically start at 5:00 am. One could view this as exhausting - and it is - but as this is everyday life, I choose to utilise all that early morning time and get my chores out of the way. By 9:00, the house was clean and we were ready to start our busy weekend routine.

The day had come. A day I look forward too all year long - The annual Brockville Downtown Sidewalk Sale. All my favourite shops and vendors, combined with our Farmers' Market makes for one busy and incredible sale! King Street, from East to West is blocked off to traffic (with the exception of some detour routes for locals and convenience) and the streets are filled with excited people alike. The weather this year was a bit cooler then usual, but it didn't seem to stop people from coming out to enjoy the bouncy castles, remote control car kid's area, cuisine, sales and entertainment. We stayed for about an hour and a half, meeting friends and family, then called it a morning and continued with our weekend plans of country drives and errands.

On a bit of a last-minute whim, my Fiance decided we should check out the drive-in theatre in Port-Elmsley, which is about an hour drive from Brockville. The first show started at 9:00 pm, so we figured it was a great "Date-night" as the kids would surely be asleep when we got there. Boy, were we wrong. Our four year old was bouncing with excitement to see her first drive-in movie (who could blame her) and our one year old was loud, proud and ready to party with all those other movie-goers. As a PSA, I feel I should quickly apologize to the other patrons for our "screamy" baby, but caution you that drive-ins sometimes lead to those situations some nine months later. HA! This experience does have a happy ending though, as Nick and Remy had some wonderful bonding time walking the grounds of the drive-in, while my oldest and I got quality mommy-daughter cuddle and movie time. It ended up as a date after-all, just not with my fiance!

Sunday came, and thankfully the late night movie exhausted the kids, who slept in. We got up, got ready and headed over to brunch at the Brockville Convention Centre. Sadly, it was the last of the season (although I have thrown a fit about that and maybe there will be special occasion brunches) as it truly is the best brunch in town! We met some great friends, their adorable children and crossed our fingers that four kids under eight was not going to end up as crazy as we thought it may. Turns out, we were blown away by the customer service (and food!) as the wait staff and even Sous Chef decided to play with the kids and even colour with them. We stayed for close to two hours as the kids were having an absolute blast with the Convention Centre team. A huge thank you to you all for making it such a fun and great experience.

After brunch, we headed to the Brockville Memorial Centre for an event called "This one is for the girls". This was put on by a local resident, Kaili Tennant - who wanted to showcase other women in business in our area and donate proceeds to our local Interval House. With many unique vendors and a great cause, I hope to see this back next year. Congrats Kaili and team- you did a wonderful job!

Last, but certainly not least, we headed out to Eagle Point Winery, where they were participating in Doors Open, hosting a wine tasting of their newest release and having a BBQ with proceeds going to the Front of Young Township Volunteer Fire Department. As my Father-In law to be is a volunteer firefighter, any event where we can support that cause, is big on our list. Mix wine and a good cause and you have a popular event! The parking lot was full and the winery was a buzz. I have visited a few times now, picked up a bottle and can tell you that you should put Eagle Point Winery on your list of summer hot spots. I hear they are also hosting Yoga in the vineyard, which is sure to be a hit!

As I sit to write this post, I realize just how busy of a weekend we have had. I love that we live in an area where there is so much to do and usually for a very good cause. There are  many people and businesses in the area that share my community pride. Make sure you get out this season and take in everything there is to offer.

Bringing back brunch

Does your Sunday morning sound like this: " Momma, I'm awake. I'm awake! I'm awake!!! Followed by a one year old baby screaming due to the aforementioned yelling.  Oh, I should point out that it is 6:30 a.m. and this is a typical Sunday morning for us.

So what does this have to do with how much I love Brockville? I love it so much that I tirelessly write about my passion for the city and surrounding area. I can proudly say we have shopped at nearly every store, eaten at nearly every restaurant and frequented every park. A few times over. This, is why- when I heard the new Brockville Convention Centre would be hosting WEEKLY brunch - I kicked up my feet in excitement for Sunday mornings - despite the early wake up calls!

I remember brunch being an occasion. Mother's Day Brunch, Father's Day Brunch and the morning after almost every holiday, you guessed it, was usually brunch. This is not reserved for exhausted parents who just need an extra hour or so before breaking out the skillet to feed those hungry babes. Young couples recouping from the party the night before, single people wanting to get out and about, elderly citizens who enjoy good food and traditions. Brunch has been around forever and there to serve everyone.

Nick and I had attended the fabulous opening night gala at the Convention Centre on Friday and were blown away by the venue. It is open, spacious, bright and is clearly going to be a huge hit in our city. The venue can be split into three rooms; two mid-sized rooms or one giant room allowing for any size event.  My favourite part was the entrance hall. It felt warm and welcoming, along with stylish and sophisticated. I enjoyed how you could grab a cocktail and mingle with friends.

We decided that Sunday we would brave it, and take the kids. I was a little weary - because the children are toddlers, who are loud, always hungry, never patient and, well....they are kids. I envisioned us walking back into the ballroom and my children somehow taking every table cloth off of every table, running amuck, spilling tea and coffee and receiving looks from lovely people out to enjoy their Sunday. What we actually experienced was walking into the ballroom - which was very elegant - but feeling welcomed with smiles from other families and brunch- goers. We were seated, received a high-chair immediately for our youngest and welcomed to check out the buffet.

There are no words to describe this brunch. I always go on and on about how wonderful our experiences are and how delicious our food is. It has always been very true. We have been lucky to have such experiences. The brunch at the Brockville Convention Centre? Chef William Alexander and his extraordinary team have knocked it out of the park!

From the generous amount of food, selection, plating and taste (oh the taste!) everything was perfect. There was fresh fruit, a yogurt parfait bar, canapes, eggs, bacon, sausage, pancakes, pulled pork Eggs Benedict, ,mini sliders and array of juice, tea and coffee. Those are just the things that come to mind. I know I am missing many items. It wasn't the quantity that surprised me, although for the price, I knew I was getting a deal. It was the quality of the food that blew me away. Nick raved and raved about the sliders and the kids devoured everything we gave them.

It would be safe to say that brunch is back. Back with a vengeance. If you are looking to reclaim your Sunday as a day of relaxtion or for a local celebration - or if you just want a damn good meal, then please head over to the Brockville Convention Centre and enjoy. What an amazing meal!

April showers bring birthdays, concerts and wineries

April has been a busy month this far. We had two birthdays' ; a big milestone for Remy, as she celebrated her first birthday and I continue to celebrate my twenty-eighth birthday, again and likely again next year too. My mom headed off to Italy for a week in support of her new wine importing business (Amano Inc.) and our calendar continued to be full of diverse community events.

If you are a fan of maple syrup (and who isn't?), pancake breakfasts and family activities, you have likely heard of Gibbon's Family Farm, just north of Brockville. We ventured out one Saturday morning for their family day and took in music, pony rides and a petting zoo. There were many local families in attendance and no shortage of happy children. Our girls spotted the petting zoo, and headed over to see the baby lamb, goat and of course,  to hold the bunnies. We then ventured into the barn to listen to some folk music and hear some stories. After that quick break, it was back to the animals for a pony ride. Both girls enjoyed the ride - so much so, that I believe they are in cohoots to try and get daddy to buy them a horse!

That same Saturday evening was the annual North Augusta Volunteer Firefighters Pancake Dinner. If you are familiar with my blog, you know this is something we also supported last year and will hopefully continue to do so in years to come. It was nice to see the familiar faces of long-time friends who now volunteer and bring their own families to the dinner. The proceeds raised from this event go to assist in supporting our volunteer firefighters with their ongoing training, equipment and education to the general public. I can't think of a better way to show respect and support to the men and women who courageously give their time and lives to helping others. Thank you!

Last, but certainly not least, Nick, the girls and I spent last weekend away in Kingston. I had bought Nick concert tickets to see Great Big Sea for his birthday awhile back and we had been anticipating this concert for nearly 4 months! With Mother Nature throwing one last hooray of an ice storm, I was worried we wouldn't make it. Thankfully the weather let up and it was safe to travel. Although Kingston is a stone's throw away, it isn't a place we would have gone to if the ice had stayed. We checked into our hotel after dinner, my long-time friend and her hubby came to stay with the girls so we could head out to the concert. I like Great Big Sea, but could have taken or left them before this concert. I have to tell you - after seeing them perform live, that this is an amazing band who has gained a new fan. Their cadence was incredible and the range was like nothing I had ever heard. It was a great date night and a fun memory Nick and I will have for years to come.

As always- this area never disappoints. En route back from our Kingston adventure, the kids fell asleep in the car. Nick and I both enjoy country drives and so we went where the roads took us. We discovered Eagle Point Winery, just north of Rockport and I fell in love. As I don't often drink, I couldn't tell you the first thing about wine (shhh...don't tell my mom- she is a sommelier) but I will tell you that this winery is breathtaking. When I ventured in, looking lost I am sure, the associate could not have been kinder and more welcoming. She answered my questions and showed a genuine excitement that I was visiting for the first time. I sampled their 2007 Merlot and was blown away. I was also excited when I was introduced to Debra Marshall, the Operations Manager for the winery. Debra was very warm and welcoming too. She didn't seem to mind my lack of knowledge and was more then happy to take my card and entertain the idea of a return visit and tour. I brought home a bottle of that Merlot and can't wait to return soon.

I would love to know what everyone does with their weekends in the area? Does your family have a favourite local hang-out or activity? If you have experiences to share or ideas of places to visit - please email me at littlecitycharmevents@gmail.com

Get out and enjoy local!

Mmmm...."The Mow"

My not-so-secret love for Brockville and our local businesses is on full display in this post. I enjoy writing about my family's experiences when we are out and about and the local talent that blows us away. No- I don't get paid by those businesses to promote them, I just really believe that when we have a great time in our own backyard, it's worth noting and promoting that local talent. Here is a recent experience we've had and I really think you should check it out!

The Barley Mow

Little City Charm was recently nominated for a CanWeblog Award, which seemed like a great reason to celebrate. There are many tasty places to eat in Brockville, but we wanted to try the new and highly talked about Barley Mow, a family-friendly pub . Nick and I had been there previously for a quick breakfast before but it is the delicious traditional food and excellent service - during the dinner hour - that set this restaurant apart.

We sauntered in at dinner, with two of our children in tow. In some cases, I am pretty sure I have seen servers "rock, paper and scissors" to see who gets the luxury of waiting on our family of toddlers. This time- we were greeted with a genuine smile and excitement to see our family. We were seated and almost every server came to coo over our children and take our drink order right away. We were given menus and what seemed like the perfect amount of time to decide on our dinner. I ordered the bacon wrapped meatloaf, Nick had the prime rib sandwich and my oldest had the mac and cheese with a side of fresh veggies. Our baby, is well, just that- so no steak for her just yet!

It didn't take long for our meal to arrive. It was fresh, hot and plated to perfection. I will admit that my father-in-law still makes the best meatloaf (c'mon, it's stuffed with ham and Swiss cheese!) but this one was a very close second. Nick raved about his sandwich and my daughter ate her entire meal. She is four, that NEVER happens.

I also have to mention the very best part of our experience was our server, Jenny. She was pleasant, fun with the kids and never missed a beat with our orders. We had a great conversation with Jenny and learned she wants to someday work with children. As a mom and daycare owner, this was great to hear as she really seemed to have a way with people.

Great atmosphere, food, prices and service -  The Barley Mow knocked it out of the park! We will be back soon. Maybe with my in-laws to have the meatloaf!