Contents Deb Geissler Publisher
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dgeissler@desertentertainer.com
Kimberly Brucks Advertising Manager kbrucks@desertentertainer.com
Jose De La Cruz Senior Graphic Designer ads@desertentertainer.com News news@desertentertainer.com Advertising
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Calendering in the Coachella Valley Keeping you organized for fall and winter 2019.
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Canadian Connection Keep track of friends and family across the border.
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Where the Wild Things Are Today’s zoos tell a story of protecting species one paw at a time.
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Feast on These! The newest, hottest restaurants and lounges in the Coachella Valley for fall and winter 2019
kbrucks@desertentertainer.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alison Elsner Michael W. Brooks, ESQ. L DISTRIBUTION All delivery inquiries should be directed to Ahkto Distribution at 760-459-4204
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Happy Hour It’s 5 o’clock somewhere.
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Second Generation Canadian Icons When substance and style fuse into an explosion of success.
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Hudson’s Bay Company The powerhouse retail group that’s part of the fabric of Canada and the United States..
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Tax Talk Michael fills you in on the latest developments for Canadian sellers of U.S. real estate.
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Classic Albums Live A group of Canada’s most acclaimed musicians will re-create Tom Petty’s “Damn the Torpedoes” at McCallum.
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Taking Flight It’s smooth sailing ahead for travel between Palm Springs and Canada.
or distribution@ahkto.com 26 760-820-2610 News, photos, editorial submissions
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Palm Springs and Coachella Valley Say hello to hockey and lots more headline entertainment.
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Atwater Market An art deco gem that sparkles beside the Lachine Canal.
or story ideas should be sent to news@desertentertainer.com Entertainment and events sometimes change after press deadline. Please check with venues to confirm the date and times.
Sweet Escape to Santa Catalina Island From flying fish to gourmet cuisine to bison roaming free...a chance to reinvigorate your spirit and soul.
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CanadaSouthMagazine.com Titles registered and all contents copyright 2019 by the Hi-Desert Publishing Co. All rights reserved.
Cover photo courtesy of San Diego Zoo
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Welcome Canadians
welcome
Photo courtesy of Tourisme Montréal/Stéphan Poulin
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t’s once again time for the Coachella Valley to extend a warm welcome to our winter residents – a salute to snowbirds, if you will. Palm Springs and the desert cities are lucky to be among the “chosen” areas, where our Canadian friends looking to escape the bitter cold of the north make their way here for the winter months. Thanks to snowbirds, the local businesses, restaurants and stores thrive, special events proliferate and – best of all – treasured friends and neighbors reunite. The term “snowbird” has been around for almost 100 years. The word was first used in 1923 to describe seasonal workers who moved south for the winter months, and by 1979 it was commonly used in reference to the large number of retired tourists who flocked to the south. John D. Rockefeller, founder of Standard Oil, was one of the very first snowbirds, traveling each year from his home in New York to the sunny coastline of Ormond Beach, Florida, beginning in 1914 until the end of his life
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in 1937. True, he was not Canadian, but others followed his trend. The snowbird lifestyle not only helped improve transportation on roads and airlines, but also has been a driver in the development of real estate and the economy here in the U.S. for a century now. And for that, we thank you! Today, the term is one of endearment, encompassing so much more than the ephemeral quality implied by the word “tourist.” It carries with it the significance of the decision that lies behind the move, a conscious decision to adopt and accept the southern California lifestyle. Frankly, those of us who live here yearround are flattered and honored to be able to live side by side with our Canadian brothers and sisters for part of the year. And, snowdogs and snowcats are always welcome, too. In this issue, we’re excited to bring you our cover story about the best zoos in Canada and the U.S., including those exemplars of species preservation, the award-winning San Diego
October 2019
Zoo and The Living Desert. Our fall/winter desert calendar will keep your fun factor high, and we’ve also included an overview of the upcoming Canadian festivals and events. Be sure to check out the guide to a weekend escape to Catalina Island, accessible by high speed ferry. In our architectural feature, we’ve selected Atwater Market in Montréal. We’ve taken an in-depth look at second generation Canadian icons as well as The Hudson Bay Company and a few other items we hope you’ll find enlightening. Feel free to reach out to us at any time at desertentertainer@gmail.com. From all of us at Canada South, we are delighted to welcome you back “home!” From the desk of
Alison Elsner Canada South Magazine
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Fall Calendar
Props and Hops Craft Beer Festival features craft beers from around the region, local musicians, food vendors and flight exhibitions.
Photo courtesy of Palm Springs Air Museum
Calendering in the Coachella Valley Keeping you organized for fall and winter 2019 By Alison Elsner
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November 5, 19 and December 3, 17
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9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Parade starts at 12 p.m.)
7:30 a.m. (Check in 7:15 a.m.)
55th Annual Golf Cart Parade “Let the Good Times Roll” at this annual celebration of themed golf carts decorated to fit the day’s motif. All ages are welcome to spectate as marching bands along with kids and adults dressed up in costume make their way down the parade route. There will be plenty of food and drink stations, a Kid Zone, golf expo, vendors, classic cars, a beer and wine garden and “Pooch Paw-rade” for the doggies. The day begins with a Palm Desert Rotarysponsored pancake breakfast at 8 a.m. Free. El Paseo between Portola Avenue and Monterey Avenue, Palm Desert, 760-346-6111, golfcartparade.com
Birding Walk-About Group Snowbirds, meet desert birds. Experienced birders introduce watchers to the many year-round and migratory birds who call the desert their home, such as the mountain bluebird, northern harrier, western meadowlark and maybe even the redtailed hawk. The search begins on the Ed Hastey Garden Walk and proceeds out to the Randall Henderson trail, starting at post 1 to the lower wash and looping back. Guests should bring binoculars, water, a hat, sunscreen and a camera. Free, donations appreciated. Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center, 51500 Highway 74, Palm Desert, 760-862-9984, desertmountains.org
ith so many creative takes on how to structure our social calendars, it’s tempting to overschedule, especially if you occasionally find yourself giving in to FOMO (you know, “fear of missing out”). But we are here to assure you that it’s all good, because there are more than enough events in the Coachella Valley throughout fall and winter to keep the pace steady. The secret is to stay organized, and we know you’ve got that wired, so…start filling up the pages of your day-timers or online Outlook calendars, and it will work out the way it should. From community celebrations to fundraisers to holiday fun, let the scheduling begin – and go ahead, use a pen.
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Fall Calendar
Find yourself surrounded by a million sparkling holiday lights along a tunnel of lights at WildLights.
November 15 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Health & Wellness Expo Come see why “healthy is the new happy.” Hosted by the Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce, guests will discover wellness from head to toe through the latest exhibitions and activities in health care, fitness, nutrition, financial planning and networking. There will also be food and beverage tastings. Display booths will include Eisenhower Health, The Leaf, Live Well Clinic, Gravity Defyer, Desert Oasis Health Care, JR Thomas’ Golf Cars, Clark’s Nutrition, Home Financing Inc., Desert Entertainer, Desert Insurance Solutions, Vibra Rehabilitation, American Heart Association, Edward Jones Investments, Desert Health Coach and many more. Free. Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, 71333 Dinah Shore Drive, Rancho Mirage, 760-568-9351, ranchomiragechamber.org
November 22-24 (Auction begins at different times each day) 67th Annual McCormick’s Classic Car Auction Nothing says vintage Palm Springs quite like a 1964 Ford Thunderbird, a 1966 Shelby Cobra CSX4236 or a 1949 Cadillac Series 62 Convertible, currently some of the classic cars set to display at the upcoming bi-annual
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Photo courtesy of The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens
auction. Each of the three days, between 175225 cars will cross the auction block, but don’t worry, you don’t have to buy one. On day one, there’s a champagne happy hour at 11 a.m. and admission is free to everyone. On Sunday, attendees can look forward to “Sunday Morning Coming Down” with free mimosas and bloody Marys in the main auction tent starting at 9 a.m. with the auction beginning at 10 a.m. Free on Friday, $15 per day Saturday and Sunday, $25 for both days. Palm Springs Convention Center, 277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, 760-320-3290, classic-carauction.com
November 23 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (VIP admission at 12 p.m.) 8th Annual Props and Hops Craft Beer Festival Southern California’s only craft beer festival with flying vintage aircraft features beers from places like Bootlegger’s Brewery, Ballast Point and La Quinta Brewing Co., live music and DJ sets, food vendors including The Meatball Syndicate and In-N-Out Burger, flight exhibitions and exciting aircraft rides in a vintage C-47 Skytrain, T-28 Trojan, P-51 Mustang and T-33 Shooting Star Jet. Admission includes eight four-ounce tastings. Let your spirits soar. Over 21 only. $40 in advance, $50 at the door. Palm Springs Air Museum, 745 North Gene Autry Trail, Palm Springs, 760-778-6262, palmspringsairmuseum.org
November 23 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Bighorn Behind a Miracle (BAM) This most festive party of the year turns the popular El Paseo shopping district into a winter wonderland with a five-story Ferris wheel, family fun activities, live entertainment, pictures with Santa Claus and over 25 local restaurants and vendors offering small bites and drinks, all included in one ticket price. Starting at 5 p.m., a grand illumination of the 60-foot El Paseo Christmas Tree will be lit. Proceeds benefit local organizations and medical centers to help cancer patients and their families with support, transportation, equipment and medical care. Free parking behind California Pizza Kitchen. $15-$50, kids under 5 free. El Paseo between Ocotillo Drive and Sage Lane, Palm Desert, 760-610-8218, bighornbam.net.
November 23-December 24 6 to 9 p.m., selected nights Wildlights at The Living Desert Adults and children will find themselves surrounded by herds of life-size, luminescent animal lanterns and elaborate pathways decorated in more than a million sparkling holiday lights along with a giant tunnel of lights twinkling on all
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sides. Sponsored by the Berger Foundation, attendees can visit with Santa while listening to live entertainment and taking part in arts and crafts, carousel rides, live animal encounters, food and drink sampling and more. What could be better than showing these magnificent creatures how much we love them for the holidays and throughout the year, under a dazzling canopy of lights? $10 adults, $8 children, free under 3. The Living Desert, 47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, 760-346-5694, livingdesert.org
November 28 6 a.m. Registration, 8 a.m. Run Begins. Awards announced 9 a.m. Martha’s Village & Kitchen 13th Annual Thanksgiving 5K Just by running, walking or strolling, participants can help to stomp out hunger in the Coachella Valley at this annual event that winds up and down El Paseo and the streets of Palm Desert. Sponsored by Fortem Financial, this 5K run (three miles) is for all ages and athletic levels who can look forward to refreshments at the beer garden and a Kid Zone with hula hoop contests and face painting. Every registrant receives a shirt, goody bag and temporary turkey tattoo. Martha’s Village & Kitchen is one of the largest providers of homeless services in the Coachella Valley and Riverside County. $30 to $45 to register. El Paseo and San Pablo Avenue, Palm Desert, 760-347-4741, marthasvillage5k.org
December 4 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. Happy Tails Dog Adventure at Whitewater Preserve Park Calling all canines and their owners! Fetch the leash and join other puppers on an outing in the great outdoors. “Happy Tails” provides fun exercise while exploring nature where dogs and their hoomans can learn about dog-friendly trails, native flora and wildlife and responsible hiking. Among the scenery of the Sand to Snow National Monument, this guided walk is designed to promote canine ethics on Public Lands. Pack plenty of water for you and your furry friends. Free. 9160 Whitewater Canyon Road, Whitewater, 760-5689918, desertmountains.org
December 7 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m. 27th Annual Festival of Lights Parade Derivative of a modern-day Norman Rockwell tableau, this celebration of decorated vehicles, marching bands, giant Macy’s Parade-style balloons and holiday themed floats adorned in thousands of colorful lights encourages ev-
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A Charlie Brown Christmas comes to life on stage.
eryone to embrace the season. Parade-watchers can also expect to see performing groups, the Budweiser Clydesdales, Mickey and Minnie Mouse and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus in their sleigh. Families, friends and those going solo can get all bundled up and watch the activity as it moves northbound on Palm Canyon Drive through the middle of Palm Springs village, with plenty of restaurants open all around offering a warm-up following the parade. This year’s Celebrity Grand Marshal is actress and singer Lorna Luft, and the community grand marshals are modernist architect Hugh Kaptur and NBC’s Gino Lamont. Get your folding chairs ready. Palm Canyon Drive from Ramon Road to Tamarisk Road, Palm Springs, 760-323-8276, psfestivaloflights.com
December 7-8 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Carnival rides continue to midnight) 2019 Indio International Tamale Festival Time for some major deliciousness at this two-day food party which features dozens of tasty tamale stands with best recipes announced on the final day. Arts and crafts booths, shopping, Folklorico and line dancing, tamale-eating contests, wine and beer gardens, bicycle safety demos by IEHP, Kiddie Land and five spectacular live entertainment stages with
October 2019
Photo courtesy of acharliebrownchristmaslive.com
bands, singing, magic and top entertainment mean your weekend is solidly booked. Carnival rides take place into the evening, and the event kicks off with a parade. The festival was voted a “Top Ten Food Festival” by the Food Network. This is your chance to meet Mr. Tamale. Old Town Indio, 46200 Oasis Street, Indio, 760-262-4633, tamalefestival.net.
December 14 8 p.m. A Charlie Brown Christmas One of our most popular stories that unites us all will be presented onstage. Based on the original 1965 animated television special from the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz, the story deals with lead character Charlie Brown finding himself in low spirits despite the onset of the cheerful holiday season. Lucy suggests he direct a neighborhood Christmas play, but his best efforts are ignored and mocked by his peers. After Linus tells Charlie Brown about the true meaning of Christmas, Charlie Brown cheers up, and the Peanuts gang unites to celebrate the Christmas season. It’s a reminder for us all about what really matters, plus who can resist that classic jazz soundtrack? $69, $49 and $39. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, 84-245 Indio Springs Parkway, Indio, 800-827-2946, fantasyspringsresort.com
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Datebook
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights
Photo courtesy of niagara.ca
CANADIAN CONNECTION KEEP TRACK OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY ACROSS THE BORDER
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f there’s one thing Americans can learn from our Canadian neighbors, it’s how to put on an amazing winter party. Most festivals and fairs in the U.S. seem to sidestep the winter months, but Canada embraces the frigid weather and encourages celebrations of food and spirits, Christmas and lights, lights, lights! It’s a winning strategy, giving people the opportunity to experience the progression of the holidays together. There’s a lot to be said for appreciating the sincerity and purity that predominates during the winter months, allowing us all to savor the season, whether up close or from afar. Here are some exciting events and gatherings taking place across Canada this fall and winter:
ALBERTA - CALGARY Signatures Festival of Crafts November 7-10 Stunning works will be on display at this traditional showcase, one of Canada’s most impressive holiday handcrafted shopping events, featuring over 230 of the country’s
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most talented artists, artisans and designers from coast to coast. Plan to shop for beautiful handmade goods including fashion, jewelry, home décor, sculptures, glassware, natural body care, gourmet foods and more. Vendors include Airdrie Woodworks, Alie and Elsie Jewelry, Bonheur Wood Timepieces, Calgary ChocoSweeats Factories and dozens of others. Bring your holiday shopping lists! BMO Centre, Stampede Park, 20 Round Up Way SE, Calgary, AB, 888-773-4444, festivalofcrafts.ca
ALBERTA - EDMONTON Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival November 8-9 This premier party is a weekend-long indulgence to sample food from Banff’s most exclusive restaurants, sweet treats from the best bakeries, wine from local vintners, premium spirits, specialty liqueurs and craft beers. Guests are invited to taste brand new products and menu items as well as old favorites as they connect with award winning chefs, brewmasters, wineries and more. In 2018,
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the Festival donated nearly $16,000 to local charities and organizations. Happiness never tasted so good. Edmonton Convention Center, 9797 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, 403-2280777, rockymountainwine.com Festival of Trees November 28-December 1 There’s nothing like this four-day event to get us ready for Santa. Merging the most eyeopening elements of nature and design, attendees can view more than 200 trees from traditional to designer and exotic to whimsical at this 35th annual event. Kids will love the Secret Shop and the Gingerbread Cakes display. There are also several fundraisers with separate ticket prices, kicking off with a Gala Evening and Auction on November 27, a Luncheon and Fashion Show along with the Silver Bell Soirée on November 29, Santa’s Breakfast on December 1, Family Night and more, all to benefit the programs at the University of Alberta Hospital. Shaw Conference Centre, 9797 Jasper Ave NW, Edmonton, AB, 780-407-2786, festivaloftrees.ca
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Victorian Christmas at the Halifax Citadel
BRITISH COLUMBIA - VANCOUVER Eat! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival November 4-9 Supporting BC CANCER Foundation, this 17th annual celebration of world-class food and cooking will once again welcome guests to enjoy culinary collaborations between awardwinning chefs across Canada and the United States. EAT! Dinner Series, EAT! Harvest, EAT! Pastry, EAT! Expert Classes, an exclusive demo with Thomas Haas and other signature food and cooking activities will feed your soul. Workshops under $100 include Basics of Charcuterie, Learning to Grill Up Peruvian Food and Artisan Sausage Making. Various locations in Vancouver, BC, eat-vancouver.com Hopscotch Festival of Whiskey, Beer and Spirits November 18-24 What’s better than a grand time focused around tasting and education on libations? For 24 years, the Grand Tasting Hall here has come alive with thousands of different craft and premium beers, spirits from around the globe, the most delicious of scotch and other whiskies, as well as a selection of wines and spectacular food samplings. Mood lighting, a live music lounge, an on-site liquor store and a smoking area add to the ambiance. PNE Forum, 2901 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, BC, 800-7263626, hopscotchfestival.com
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Hopscotch Festival Photo courtesy of myvancity.com
Photo courtesy of discoverhalifax.com
BRITISH COLUMBIA WHISTLER Whistler Film Festival December 4-8, times vary Dubbed as Canada’s “coolest film festival,” this five-day event is complemented by stunning mountain scenery. Canadian movie-makers join forces to display their latest creations and meet at the “Whistler Summit” to talk about the state of Canadian cinema, while viewers discover new horizons. A wide variety of films is screened, from offbeat and indie to those that make their way into Hollywood blockbuster status. The Festival also hosts socials, fundraisers, talent panels and industry programs. Whistler Conference Center, 4010 Whistler Way, Whistler, BC, 877-838-3456, whistlerfilmfestival.com
NOVIA SCOTIA - HALIFAX Victorian Christmas at the Halifax Citadel November 23-24, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Step back in time at this 30th annual event and experience the traditions of Christmas in much the same way as Queen Victoria’s soldiers and their families did. See how the troops celebrated the season in the barracks and in the field, find out what a 19th century Christmas tree looked like and let the schoolmaster
entertain with a magic lantern show. There will be parades with Father Christmas and guest performers including choirs, musicians and dancers. Children will enjoy Victorian games and a visit to the craft room, where they can create their own souvenirs to take home. Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, 5425 Sackville Street, Halifax, NS, 902-426-5080, novascotia.com
ONTARIO - AMHERSTBURG River Lights Winter Festival November 16-January 5 Don’t even think about missing out on seeing the hundreds of customized and colorful light displays while being part of interactive photo ops and festive holiday exhibits. Activities are planned to take off the chill of the winter season with lights illuminated throughout the Kings Navy Yard and Toddy Jones Parks every night. On weekends, the life-sized gingerbread warming house will be open with the entries from the annual Gingerbread House Contest, free crafts for kids, hot chocolate and Story Time Sundays. This destination is perfect for taking along family members of all ages. Various locations in downtown Amherstburg, ON, 516-730-1309, visitamherstburg.ca/ events/river-lights-winter-festival.
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Datebook
QUÉBEC - MONTRÉAL December 19-31
Montréal En Fêtes (Merry Montréal) One of the oldest neighborhoods in North America, the Old Port of Montréal, plays host to a long list of impressive holiday activities where participants of all ages can relive the secrets of Christmas past. Start by hanging a stocking at Château Ramezay and return after the holiday to see what Santa left just for you. JacquesCartier Square transforms into La Place Nordique with rousing musical performances, artisanal beers at outdoor bars, hot chocolate and warm drinks, art installations, holiday mascots, photo-booths, a gigantic holiday market, fireworks and the biggest New Year’s Eve party in Canada. The New Year’s “Festive Zone” will offer alcoholic beverages, gourmet delicacies and seating near the fireplace. Place Jacques-Cartier, Montréal, QC, montrealenfetes.com Montréal En Fêtes (Merry Montréal)
Photo by Matias Garabedian
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ONTARIO - NIAGARA FALLS Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights November 16-January 12 Canada’s largest illumination festival was founded 37 years ago, and today it’s the largest light festival in North America. This event features a five kilometer route of lighted displays spanning from Dufferin Islands along the Niagara Parkway, fireworks over the falls, concerts, children’s performances and laser shows adjacent to the Falls and near Clifton Hill hotels. Two million lights and 100 installations astound viewers along with the world’s largest animated Canadian-American flag display, with shuttles, walking tours and more. 6815 Stanley Ave., Niagara Falls, ON, 866-668-9365, wfol.com
ONTARIO - TORONTO Toronto Christmas Market November 14-December 22, opens 10 a.m. As if the Distillery District weren’t delightful enough on its own, this holiday event takes it further with lights everywhere and seasonal décor, pet photos with Santa, visits to Santa’s house, St. Nicholas riding in on a white horse, the Gingerbread House, a Ferris wheel and carousel rides, Candy Cane Carolers, vodka, gin and whiskey sampling at the Spirit of York Micro Distillery including Whiskey Wonderland,
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a Beer Garden, the Giving Pantry and a giant Christmas tree. Distillery District walking tours are available through Go Tours Canada which will be set up during the Market. All retail stores in the Distillery District are open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the Market. Distillery District, 55 Mill Street, Toronto, ON, torontochristmasmarket.com Gourmet Food & Wine Expo November 21-24, hours vary each day Passionate wine aficionados and food lovers descend upon this festival for the largest event of its kind. Demonstrations lure the best national chefs, local culinary stars, celebrated winemakers, brewmasters and mixologists, which all combine to equal some serious gastronomic contentment. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the international GF&WE. Guests can look forward to hourly seminars examining food and wine trends, a fine wine tasting lounge, a Real Britain vacation prize drawing, tutored tastings, Switzerland cheese demos, grains on tap, wine education classes, live entertainment and lots more. Metro Toronto Convention Centre, 255 Front Street West, Toronto, ON, 289-442-8422, eventbank.com
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND CHARLOTTETOWN PEI Spirits Festival November 16 This gathering is the key to lifting your spirits, on several levels. Sponsored by Johnnie Walk-
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er and showcasing some of the world’s most unique, high-end spirits, this is your chance to shop limited quantity spirits exclusively while sampling new recipes and observing expert mixologists in action. The evening before the Festival, on November 15, there is a private Whiskey Dinner serving up a five-course dinner at Mavors Restaurant ($55 and up per person), and anyone who attends will receive 50 percent off of the Festival ticket price for the following day. Must be 19 years or older. Confederation Centre of the Arts, 145 Richmond Street, Charlottetown, PEI, peispiritsfest.ca.
QUÉBEC - MONTRÉAL Nutcracker Market November 28-December 8 Local vendors who have paired up with creative merchants will be back for the 10th edition, welcoming 72,000 holiday shoppers on the hunt for jewelry and accessories, beauty and well-being items, gourmet pleasures, home and decorations, toys and more. Les Grand Ballets Canadiens will donate 10 percent of the proceeds to The Nutcracker for Children Fund, which sends 2,800 sick and disadvantaged children to attend The Nutcracker for free. Mall of The Palais Des Congrès De Montréal,1001, place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, Montréal, QC, 514-871-8122, grandsballets. com/en/nutcracker/market.
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Cover Story
Photo courtesy of San Diego Zoo
By Alison Elsner
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ver the past several decades, zoos around the world have evolved into dynamic laboratories of conservation and study to preserve precious animal species. There are some impressive zoos throughout the globe, and those in North America are nothing to growl at. There are around 43 zoos in the Great White North, with 18 of those clustered in Ontario, seven in Quebec and six in British Columbia. There are 278 zoos or animal parks in the United States. Zoos used to look like collections of caged animals, usually established for the purposes of entertainment or displays of power. But, in this more enlightened era, the justification for “zoos” has transformed significantly. Most modern zoos in Australasia, Asia, Europe, and North America, particularly those with scientific societies, are accredited and exist to carry out a mission to display wild animals primarily for the conservation of endangered species, as well as for research purposes and education,
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and secondarily for the entertainment of visitors, the somewhat controversial component. In the U.S., the Penrose Research Laboratory of the Philadelphia Zoo focuses on the study of comparative pathology. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums produced its first conservation strategy in 1993, and, in November 2004, it adopted a new strategy that sets out the aims and mission of zoological gardens of the 21st century. Conservation programs all over the world fight to protect species from going extinct, but most conservation programs are underfunded and underrepresented. Conservation programs can struggle to fight bigger issues like habitat loss and illness. Efforts to rebuild degrading habitats require major funding and a massive amount of time, both of which are often scarce in conservation efforts and sometimes placed in political crosshairs. Off-site conservation relies on zoos, national parks or other care facilities to support the rehabilitation of the animals and their populations. Zoos benefit conservation by providing suit-
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able habitats and care to endangered animals. When properly regulated, they present a safe, clean environment for the animals to diversely repopulate. The breeding of endangered species is coordinated by cooperative breeding programs, and in the U.S. and Canada that means the Species Survival Plans. Besides conservation of captive species, large zoos may form a suitable environment for wild native animals such as herons to live in or visit. A colony of blackcrowned night herons has regularly summered at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. for more than a century. Many zoos may provide information to visitors on wild animals visiting or living in the zoo or encourage them by directing them to specific feeding or breeding platforms. As the standards keep getting higher, certain zoo programs have risen to the top of the heap in terms of reputation and popularity. Below, we’ve summarized some of the top contenders that we feel are, simply put, the cat’s meow and the bees’ knees.
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Cover Story
CANADA Zoo Assiniboine Park This highly regarded zoo spans over 90 acres and offers visitors encounters with over 1,200 animals from 275 species. One of the largest zoos in Canada, activities include visits to the Discovery Center, petting zoo and indoor learning park. The Churchill Exhibit houses the most comprehensive zoological polar bear exhibit of its kind in the world, with expansive enclosures, pools, rugged landscapes and shaded dens which provide the polar bears with a stimulating environment inspired by their natural habitat and plenty of space for exercise, exploration and socialization. Other animals include mammals, birds, fish, insects, crustaceans, reptiles and amphibians, like the slender tailed meerkat and the southern ground hornbill. Exhibits cover areas like Grasslands + Boreal Forest and Stingray Beach, and there are numerous restaurants and shops for break time. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission: $11.25-$20.50. Zoo Assiniboine Park, 2595 Roblin Blvd., Winnipeg, MB. 204-927-6000, assiniboineparkzoo.ca/zoo BC Wildlife Park Kamloops You may not be aware that this “zoo” is the largest breeding facility for burrowing owls in North America. It plays an important role in educating the public about the variety of wildlife found throughout British Columbia, featuring over 65 species of wildlife on a 50 hectare site. Activities include animal encounters, riding the mini train, cooling off in the splash park and experiencing wildlife up close in a way that simply isn’t possible anywhere else. Critter categories include big cats, bears, canines, hoofstock, waterfowl, reptiles and amphibians, arachnids and insects and small mammals. The birds of prey feature burrowing owl, long-eared owl, red-tailed hawk, bald eagle, golden eagle, barred owl, great gray owl and great horned owl, and the flight demonstrations are not to be missed. Feedings are conducted with grizzly bears, porcupines, bighorn sheep and camels. The geothermic, climate controlled 18,000 square foot Discovery Centre features the Eco Gallery, the Wildlife Education Centre, the Reptile Exhibit, the “Naturally Yours” Gift Shop and the Blue Heron Café. Something for everyone! Open daily 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $12.95 and up. BC Wildlife Park Kamloops, 9077 Dallas Dr., Kamloops, BC. 250-573-3242, bcwildlife.org
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Photo courtesy of San Diego Zoo
Calgary Zoo Home to nearly 1,000 creatures across 119 species, the Zoo is is involved in 12 conservation research programs in Canada and around the world. Located on the lovely St. George’s Island on the Bow River and operated by the Calgary Zoological Society, a not-for-profit society founded in 1929, the Calgary Zoo is one of just five zoos in Canada accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. It’s also the second largest in Canada. Their biologists at their Centre for Conservation Research have earned international recognition in the science of species recovery and reintroduction. One of the highlights is the Grizzly Bear sessions, where an interpreter explains the science behind bear “training,” interactive activities that build bonds of trust between animal and keeper. As winter progresses, the bears get
“sleepy,” and training is put on hold. Animal trainings are always optional for the animals, working off their cues and interest. The Zoo experience here also features the Canadian Wilds section that is home to bears, wolves and whooping cranes to the thrilling Destination Africa and fun land of Lemurs. Other daily events include animal feedings, Savannah Social and education about how zoologists duplicate the animals’ natural habitats. And, of course, there are plenty of restaurant and shopping options including a Safari Sunday Brunch. Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: $24.95$34.95. Calgary Zoo, 1300 Zoo Road., NE, Calgary, AB. 800-588-9993, 403-232-9200, calgaryzoo.com
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Cover Story
Caravan Safari at San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Photo courtesy of San Diego Zoo
Continued from page 15
Zoo Granby With a collection of over 1,000 animals from 225 species, mostly from South America, Asia and Africa, the Zoo de Granby brings in over 500,000 visitors each year. Spanning over 60 acres, the zoo grounds also organize their exhibits based on the geographic origins of their animal residents. Unusual creatures include the Giant Pacific Octopus, the world’s largest, from South America; the prehistoric Przewalski’s Horse from Asia; and the Aldabra Giant Tortoise from Africa, known to live to 100 to 150 years and the only one to have avoided extinction of the 18 tortoise species in the Indian Ocean. Established in 1953 as a sanctuary for many endangered and exotic animals, the Granby Zoo now includes a petting zoo, monorail and jungle training camp for kids. Other features here include the Discovery Center, feeding and education sessions with tigers, elephants and Japanese macaques, fun at the Amazoo water park, amusement park, souvenir boutiques and six delish restaurants. Open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: $11.05$34.85. Zoo de Granby, 525, rue St-Hubert, Granby, QC. 450-372-9113, 877-472-6299, zoodegranby.com Greater Vancouver Zoo Starting out as a game farm decades ago, the Zoo’s focus is now purely on conservation and wildlife recovery programs, like the highly successful Oregon Spotted Frog Recovery. There are 140 species of rescued, donated and orphaned animals here
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making adorable sounds situated on 120 acres. Visitors are even welcome to bring in wagons, rollerblades, bikes and skateboards to explore the zoo and step into the wild. Guests will be welcomed by ambassadors like the endangered Persian onager from Asia, the moose which loves its snowy habitat in the winter in Canada, Alaska and the northern United States and reindeer, native to northern parts of North America and Eurasia. There are also dozens of amphibians, reptiles and birds, like the western painted turtle, Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly, Egyptian goose and Maribou stork. Other attractions include the Family Farmyard, Junior Zoologist Camps, Keeper Talks, Zoo Sleepovers and the Zoo Train. Open daily 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $18-$28. Greater Vancouver Zoo, 5048 - 264th Street, Aldergrove, BC. 604-856-6825, gvzoo.com Magnetic Hill Zoo Right next to the famous Magnetic Hill and the Magic Mountain Water Park, The Magnetic Hill Zoo is the largest in Atlantic Canada. Home to over 600 animals, the Zoo is dedicated to protection of animal species and raising public awareness about the environment and animal habitat. The zoo has been an accredited member of the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA) since 1993. The animals on display, including over 100 indigenous and exotic species or birds, mammals, insects, reptiles and fish, include black bears, arctic wolves, African lions, capybara, fallow deer, jaguars, pygmy goat, zebras, baboons, lemurs, Burmese pythons, squirrel
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monkeys, Rococo toad, tarantulas and so many more. The Zoo is divided into four distinct areas: the Americas, Asia, Africa and the Discovery Centre. Open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (closed December 24 and 25). Admission: $9 and up. Magnetic Hill Zoo, 125 Magic Mountain Rd., Moncton, NB. 506-877-7720, moncton.ca/magnetichillzoo Toronto Zoo One of the largest in the world, this spectacular landscape in Ontario is set in the scenic Rouge Valley and features over 5,000 animals representing over 460 different species. Each year, over 1.2 million visitors spend a day walking one of the largest zoos in the world – and the largest zoo in Canada spanning 710 acres. The superbly planned and maintained zoo has been thoughtfully divided into seven zoogeographical regions showcasing animals from various continents in their natural habitats. With 6 miles of walking trails, there’s a discovery zone with interactive wildlife experience, Splash Island, the Greenhouse featuring flora from around the world, Wild Rouge Zipline and Canopy Tour, TundraAir Ride, Zoomobile and, of course, restaurants and shops. Critters large and small include African lion, western lowland gorilla, domestic yak, white rhinoceros, grizzly bear and Canada lynx. Open daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Closes at 8:30 p.m. Thursdays. Admission: $14-$23. Toronto Zoo, 2000 Meadowvale Rd., Toronto, ON. 416-3925900, torontozoo.com
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Cover Story
United States Bronx Zoo The tagline here is “Saving wildlife and wild places.” Daily exhibits aren’t what one normally finds, offering excitement like sea-lion, bee-eater and penguin feeding as well as a ride on the Bug Carousel. Jungleworld is a fascinating showcase of ebony langurs who groom each other atop a maze of branches in this Asian-inspired jungle. Though most of this species is colored black, many of these are orange, echoing a group on an island in Indonesia. In the Butterfly Garden, well over a dozen different butterfly species flutter through the meadow and greenhouse at any one time. As the species seem to stick together, there is often a large number of the same type gathered at one nectar tray. The Congo Gorilla Forest demonstrates how gorillas are among our closest relatives in the wild. From cautious to playful to nurturing, each has a unique personality, and here they can live side by side as they would in the wild, with mandrills and okapis. And the Children’s Zoo features a farmyard for kids to meet, greet, and pet goats, sheep and donkeys. Open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closes at 5:30 p.m. on weekends and holidays). Admission: $14 and up. Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx, New York. 718-220-5100, bronxzoo.com Disney’s Animal Kingdom Animal Kingdom’s 500 acres near Orlando is home to some 1,700 animals representing 250 different species. The park is dedicated and themed entirely around the natural environment and animal conservation, a philosophy once pioneered by Walt Disney himself. Since the park’s opening in 1998, the resident elephant herd has produced seven calves. Sections include Discovery Island, where the iconic 14-story Tree of Life, a sculpted, man-made baobab tree, can be found; Pandora – The World of Avatar is themed to the fictional alien exoplanetary moon; Africa, set in the fictional port village of Harambe, where Kilimanjaro Safaris feature spotted hyenas, wild dogs, cattle, rhino, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, African elephants, zebras, wildebeest, buffaloes, Nile crocodiles, ostriches, antelopes, birds and flamingos; Rafiki’s Planet Watch, connected to Africa; Asia, set in the fictional kingdom of Anandapur (“place of many delights” in Sanskrit); and DinoLand U.S.A., themed around dinosaurs and other extinct prehistoric life. Guests can enjoy animal encounters, jungle trails, Broadway-style musical shows and seemingly endless options for eating and drinking.
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens Voted one of the 10 best zoo’s in the U.S. by Condé Nast, The Living Desert has been one of the most popular attractions in the Coachella Valley and Palm Springs region for 50 years. TLD is a nonprofit, accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, active in conservation research, habitat protection, breeding programs and education initiatives around the world. Interactive attractions include giraffe feeding, butterflies and hummingbirds, animal encounters, petting kraal, Discovery Center, Gecko Gulch, Tennity Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center and private safari and behind-the-scenes tours. The natural areas provide exploration of the pristine Colorado Desert through a series of nature and hiking trails, part of zoo admission. Zoo-goers return time and again to see the Amur leopard, addax, bobcat, coyote, fennec fox, serval, striped hyena and the extensive gardens and aviary. Open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Dec. 25). Admission: $14.95 and up. The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, 47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, California. 760-346-5694, livingdesert.org San Diego Zoo This world-famous Zoo in Balboa Park is one of the largest, most progressive zoos in the world with over 4,000 animals of more than 800 species. Exhibits are designed around a particular habitat, and the landscaping and flora itself is worthy of recognition, allowing the animals to cohabitate as they would in the wild, along with their native horticulture. Exhibits range from an African rain forest to the Arctic taiga and tundra in the summertime. Some of the largest free-flight aviaries in existence are here. Many exhibits are “natural” with invisible wires and darkened blinds to view birds and pools and openair moats for large mammals. This zoo is a study in the highest levels of professionalism with exciting and easy-to-understand walking or tram routes around the property, plenty of dining and just as much shopping. The behind the scenes “upgraded experiences” are once-in-a-lifetime interactive opportunities. Highlights that everyone can enjoy include guided bus tours, botanical tours, shows and the Skyfari Aerial Tram.
Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until 9 p.m. depending on day. Admission: $46 and up. San Diego Zoo, 2920 Zoo Drive, San Diego, California. 619-231-1515, zoo.sandiegozoo.org San Diego Zoo Safari Park The sister property to the San Diego Zoo, the Park, located 35 miles away, houses an incredible array of wild and endangered animal species from Africa, Asia, Europe, North and South America and Australia. The park is in a semi-arid environment, based around Nairobi village in Kenya. One of its most notable features is the large Wgasa Railway which explores 700 acres of free-range exhibits that house cheetahs, antelopes, lions, giraffes, okapis, elephants, zebras, Przewalski’s horses, rhinos and bonobos. The park is also noted for its highly successful California condor breeding program and an amazing collection of rare hornbills. Activities include Safari Tours (Cheetah, Caravan, Flight Line, Jungle Ropes…), Africa Tram, educational animal encounters, Shiley’s Cheetah Run and 17 dining areas! The San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy engages in a robust program to proactively bring animals like the white rhinoceros, of which there are only two left in the world, back from the brink of extinction. Open daily 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. or until 9 p.m. depending on day. Admission: $46 and up. San Diego Zoo Safari Park, 15500 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido, California. 619-231-1515, sdzsafaripark.org (Note: admission fees vary widely from one zoo to another due to the additional experiences that may or may not be included for each; please check website for specific admission fees categorized by age and inclusion of activities).
Photo courtesy of San Diego Zoo
Open daily 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Admission: $109 and up. Disney’s Animal Kingdom, 2901 Osceola Pkwy., Orlando, Florida. 407-939-5277, disneyworld.disney.go.com
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Let’s Eat!
By Alison Elsner
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he Coachella Valley is one of those locales where culinary entrepreneurship is alive and well. Returning after being away for a few months brings a fresh revelation of newly opened restaurants, lounges and bold foodie experiments. And there’s no need to fret too much about straying from the diet…with the fall weather in the desert, the surrounding hiking trails and public parks are practically hollering your name, inviting you to start – or finish - the day with a brisk, healthy walk that will burn off those calories from the afternoon or evening before. Below you will find the most recent openings, poised to please the palate and your appreciation of innovative décor and unexpected approaches to making customers happy. Dig in! Antigua Kitchen + Bar Antigua offers quality American dishes, with locally sourced ingredients and a casual desert dining vibe. It’s a beautifully designed space positioned within a walkable distance from surrounding resorts in Palm Springs that displays an elegant yet unpretentious atmosphere.
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Antigua features high end quality cooking from many cultures. Guests can drink and dine at the 30-foot bar, in the modern dining room or on the romantic patio. The beverage list includes an intriguing selection of local liquor with more than 30 different wines by the glass (even more by the bottle) and verticals of high-quality rosés. The “Sharing is Caring” starter menu features tastes like “krispy” calamari, seasonal vegetable quesadilla, crunchy ravioli and many others ($6.99 and up). There are also artisanal pizzas on the “Lust for Crust” menu, salads, wraps, pasta, meats, fish, and “Guilty Pleasure” desserts like bomba exotica, chocolate cake, key lime cheesecake and a variety of others ($6.99). Open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. or 11 p.m. Antigua Kitchen + Bar, 105 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-656-7875, antiguapalmsprings.com. Bongo Johnny’s After a fire last March closed down their previous location on Arenas Road, proprietors reopened in a prime new location at the corner of North Palm Canyon Drive and Amado Road, right across from the Hyatt
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Palm Springs and on the second floor above La Quinta Brewing Co. Home of the $5 bottomless mimosa every day from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., there are full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus so you can start the day with omelets and scrambles. Salads and wraps include choices like Mexican chicken Caesar, Pacific rim salad, meatball sandwich and lots of thick and juicy burgers. Dinner entrees cover everything from lobster ravioli to crab cake sandwich ($14.95 and up). A full bar and specialty cocktails serve up loopy lemonade, Johnny’s pink cucumber, fresh fruit sangria, the dreamsicle and many others ($7.50-$9). A lengthy beer list of domestics and imported is accompanied by red and white wine lists. There’s even a dog menu with selections like cold wet nose, which is a scoop of vanilla ice cream, canine heaven which is sirloin steak and rover easy which is two scrambled eggs. Open daily 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Bongo Johnny’s, 301 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-318-3960, bongojohnnys.com. Continued on page 20
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Let’s Eat!
Photo courtesy of Kitchen 86 + Bar
Photo courtesy of V Wine Lounge
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Hair of the Dog The year-long wait for the grand re-opening in their new location is finally over, after 20 years in its previous location and 40 years in Palm Springs. This is an easygoing, English-themed pub with a dark interior, a jukebox and a menu with the requisite bar fare. The new, much larger location – 5,500 square feet - features three pool tables, two steel competition dart boards, a coin operated dart board, a golf video game, corn hole, plenty of sports on eight television screens and a small stage for live music, karaoke and DJs. The 36-foot, repurposed wood bar with bullnose molding from the old location offers more than 50 selections of beer, serving everything from Budweiser to Modelo and a lineup of 12 taps ($3-$7). Large windows let in a lot of natural light, and there’s even a little courtyard for sipping drinks while gazing at the mountains. The familiar British flags still hang proudly at the entry. The best part yet is that it’s open all day and night-long, so just as its name suggests, there’s no chance that that hangover will ever catch up to you. Open daily 6 a.m. to 2 a.m. Hair of the Dog, 555 South Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760323-9890, hair-of-the-dog-pub.business.site. Il Corso Sicilian chef Mario Marfia’s culinary delights are now available in Palm Springs, having opened several months ago, following on the successful heels of its twin sibling in Palm Desert. Authentic Italian dishes include fresh salads, homemade pastas, wood oven pizza and delicious seafood. In addition to the regular menu, Chef Mario prepares nightly
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specials from all over Italy like “the world’s best gnocchi” and the house specialty, roasted leg of veal. During the week, Sunday through Thursday, “All-You-Can-Drink Rosé” flows freely at the bar for only $25 per person. Menu selections, in categories of antipasti, insalate, pasta and seconde include kale salad, ravioli with spinach and ricotta, lasagna with meat sauce, filet mignon with green pepper sauce, veal chop and an entire separate menu of desserts ($10 each) like tartuffo, panna cotta, tiramisu, fruit sorbet and many others. Mangia! Open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Il Corso, 111 North Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-656-3770, ilcorsocv.com. Kitchen 86 + Bar Apparently, Wolfgang Puck’s WP Kitchen + Bar just wasn’t the right fit for this El Paseo installation, but diners seem to be responding enthusiastically to the replacement, opened at the end of February. The “modern eclectic small plate restaurant” uses organic ingredients and features items like house-made curry, ramens, wood-fired pizzas and their signature tableside cheese wheel pasta. For cheese-lovers, the raclette means hot molten cheese scraped onto any menu item you wish. One of the most exciting elements of Kitchen 86 in a town that generally shuts down early is that it stays open – serving up food and craft cocktails – until 2 a.m. every night (day). Mains range from $16-$42, Shareables from $6-$17 and Salads from $7-$10. Menus change daily, but sample items might include rosemary lamb chops, dos tacos, boom-boom shrimp, cowboy ribeye, short ribs and polenta, Azteca salad, pollo pesto pizza and so many
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Photo courtesy of Antigua Kitchen + Bar
others that make it difficult to narrow down your final choices…plural. Open daily 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Kitchen 86 + Bar, 73-130 El Paseo, Palm Desert, 760-890-1586, kitchen-86.com. Krispy Kreme Yes, it’s real. No need for pinching yourself because it’s not a dream. The Coachella Valley now has its own portal to these fluffy little clouds of fried, frosted heaven. Opened over the summer, the doughnut franchise that took the country by storm – and has actually been around since 1937 - even boasts a drive through and a fully visible prep facility for store visitors by way of a glass wall. From the Original Glazed Doughnut to New York Cheesecake to Strawberry Iced to Oreo Cookies and Kreme, there are over 40 varieties to choose from, with seasonal specials like Key Lime and Original Filled Birthday Batter. In case you crave a little more sugar with your, well, sugar and fat, there’s a full menu of tasty coffee drinks as well, like caramel mocha latte, frozen vanilla latte, cappuccino, chocolate iced coffee and K cups and fresh ground beans to take home. A box of one dozen doughnuts starts at $11.99, and the store delivers to areas in and around Rancho Mirage. Open daily 5:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. (until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday). Krispy Kreme, 72787 Dinah Shore Drive, Rancho Mirage, 760-251-4000, krispykreme.com.
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Let’s Eat!
Photo courtesy of Wilma and Frieda’s Continued from page 20
Shamrock’s Irish Pub Taking over where Hair of the Dog used to be, this traditional Irish bar features friendly patio dining and drinking, and dogs are welcome. A popular stop on the bar-hopping route, Shamrock’s offers a wide selection of domestic and imported beers including several IPAs. They’ve become known for “Mo’s perfect coffee,” a concoction of Baileys, Kahlua and Frangelico mixed with flavorful dark roast coffee. Bloody Marys are only $5 every day from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., and there’s an extensive whiskey list and full range of liquors. Recent renovations have ensured the Irish theme abounds, with shamrocks all around and green lighting underneath the bar that runs the length of the establishment. They’ve also added indoor and outdoor big screen televisions for sports fans to keep up with the latest on the Kentucky Derby, Wimbledon, NFL draft, and Sunday, Monday and Thursday football. Erin go Bragh! Open daily 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. Shamrock’s Irish Pub, 236 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, shamrocksirishpub.net Tac/Quila The heart and soul of Mexico is represented here, with fresh, quality ingredients and artistic blends of flavor, aroma and color. Starters like beer tempura avocado bites ($12), crab cakes and deep-fried calamari ($14 each) set the tone. “Streetwise” and “Elevated Moments” menus feature tastes like verdi or rojas enchiladas ($10), chipotle marinated shrimp fajitas ($29) and marinated salmon ($32). For dessert, try arroz con leche ($10) or guava cheese empanada ($12).
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But one of the most exciting parts of the menu here is the cocktails with refrescada, Jalisco mule, bloody Maria, rufino Tamayo, watermelon margarita and a flight of four tasting size margaritas ($12-$21). The Beers, Chavela, kombucha, tequila and wine menus are also muy bueno. Owners Liz and Mark believe that “nothing brings people together like a great meal in a memorable setting.” They already proved their mettle with their restaurant FARM, also in downtown Palm Springs. With this new venture, we readily accept the invitation to travel south of the border right here in our backyard-no passport required. Open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tac/Quila, 415 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-4174471, tacquila.com V Wine Lounge This vintage, midcentury establishment covers 3,800 square feet serving more than 80 California boutique and oldworld wines by the glass, as well as all the great garagiste and small production international wines one could ask for. The throw-back vibe has been brought over from West Hollywood (V Wine Room West Hollywood) and has set up very stylish shop in Kaptur Plaza in downtown Palm Springs. Trained servers don’t just show up with a wine menu but rather speak with customers about their preferences, asking them to select favorite tastes like savory, fruity, earthy or heavy on the tannins. Servers then bring over some options. There is an eclectic wine list, should customers wish to browse. The lounge also pours craft beer on tap and in the bottle and 1950’s inspired cocktails like a classic gin martini and Manhattan to be en-
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joyed with 24 selections of cheeses while relaxing in the midcentury style living room with Barcaloungers and bright colors. There’s also a dedicated private event space right next door, The Opal, available for rental for private or music events. V for victory! Open Monday-Friday 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday 2 p.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. V Wine Lounge, 600 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs, 760-668-9665, vwinelounge.com. Wilma & Frieda, Palm Springs Brunchlovers everywhere, rejoice! This popular restaurant that’s been open for a few years in Palm Desert now has its own outpost in downtown Palm Springs, with a few new menu items. The eatery has been featured on Guy Fieri’s “Diner’s, Drive-ins and Dives” and serves up dishes like prawns and cheesy grits ($30), short rib ravioli ($21), Kim’s banana caramel French toast ($13.85) and bangers and rings “Benny” which consists of seared cheddar sausage on a house made English muffin with two poached eggs, three jumbo onion rings and hollandaise ($16). There are also vegan options like zucchini seasoned with pine nuts and desserts like the Meyer lemon blueberry breakfast tart ($4.95). Signature spirits feature Woodbury’s bloody bacon Caesar, southbound greyhound and southern peach ($12 each), wines and beers. Plan on treats included on the bar menu like fried green tomatoes and rings or corn-chorizo hush puppies ($7-$14), and bar items are $2 off during happy hour Thursday to Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (We’ll meet you there). Open Sunday-Wednesday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Wilma & Frieda, 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs, 760-992-5080, wilmafrieda.com.
canadasouthmagazine.com
Explore and Enjoy
the Coachella Valley
Day Trippin’
Photos courtesy of Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
Sweet Escape to
Santa Catalina Island From flying fish to gourmet cuisine to bison roaming free…a chance to reinvigorate your spirit and soul By Alison Elsner
T
wenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me….” The 1958 hit song by The Four Preps captures the essence of a visit to this charming island just off the southern California coast, with its lyrics about tropical trees, salty air and romance. If the song had been longer, they might have also talked about the quaint stores, restaurants and bars, bed-and-breakfasts, golf carts, hiking, zipline, plants and animals…all the things that make this such a magnetic destination. Photos of Catalina could easily be mistaken for Portofino or Amalfi, especially when gazing down from above at the yachts moored in the harbor or at the side-by-side boutiques and adorable hotels lining the narrow roads that accent the seascape and wind their way up the terraced hillsides. Santa Catalina Island lies in the Gulf of Santa Catalina and is 22 miles long and 8 miles across at its greatest width. The highest point on the island is Mount Orizaba at 2,097 feet. Santa Catalina, usually referred to as just Cata-
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lina, is part of the Channel Islands of California archipelago and lies within Los Angeles County, approximately 26 miles southwest of Long Beach (like the song tells us). Catalina was originally settled by the Tongva, who called the island Pimugna or Pimu and referred to themselves as Pimugnans or Pimuvit. The first Europeans to arrive on Catalina claimed it for the Spanish Empire. Over the years, territorial claims to the island transferred to Mexico and then to the United States. During this time, the island was sporadically used for smuggling, otter hunting and gold-digging, before successfully being developed into a tourist destination by chewing gum magnate William Wrigley, Jr. beginning in the 1920s. Since the 1970s, most of the island has been administered by the Catalina Island Conservancy. Its total population in the 2010 census was 4,096 people, 90 percent of whom live in the island’s only incorporated city, Avalon. The second center of population is the unincorporated village of Two Harbors at the island’s isthmus. School children are part of the Long Beach Unified School District, and all schools
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are located in Avalon including Avalon Elementary School, Avalon Middle School and Avalon High School. Thousands of students travel from the mainland to study at the Catalina Island Marine Institute every year, too. Catalina Island was never connected to mainland California, so it was originally lacking in all terrestrial life. Any plants or animals that arrived on the island had to make their way across miles of open ocean, through winds, drifting waters or other animals, catching a ride on their wings. Native American and other human populations have introduced animals and plants over the years, both intentionally and accidentally. Catalina is home to at least fifty endemic species that occur naturally on the island and nowhere else in the world. This limited distribution of a species may result from the extinction of the original population on the mainland combined with its continued survival on the island where there may be fewer threats to its existence. Continued on page 28
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Day Trippin’ Continued from page 26
The most common native plants are chaparral, coastal sage scrub, island oak-ironwood woodland and grassland. Eucalyptus trees are the most common introduced plant. About 400 species of native plants grow on the island. The island is home to several critters including island fox, a subspecies of California ground squirrel, Santa Catalina Island harvest mouse, Southern Pacific rattlesnake, Santa Catalina Island deer mouse, ornate shrew and Catalina orangetip butterfly. In 1924, 14 bison were brought to the island – and left there - for the filming of the Western movie “The Vanishing American” (written by Catalina resident, Zane Grey), so there are now 150 bison on the island. Other non-native animals include the blackbuck, bullfrog, feral cat, mule deer, rat and common starling, however previous populations of cattle, feral goat, feral pig and sheep no longer exist. There are 37 resident bird species on the island. Most of the island is managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy, a private nonprofit organization, the primary goal of which is to ensure conservation of the endangered island fox. The Institute for Wildlife Studies, a separate conservation organization, has worked to restore bald eagles to the island on Conservancy land since the late 1970s, when the eagles’ ability to hatch their young was destroyed through the use of the pesticide DDT.
When to Go
Summer weather on Catalina is undeniably spectacular, and the journey across the water is usually smoothest during this time, however when all the kids are out of school, this
is usually the most expensive and crowded in terms of lodging and sightseeing. That makes fall, winter and spring ideal times to visit, especially since many people say the water is warmest between October and January. One should expect a bit of chop along the water, so if you expect to get seasick, take your Dramamine or meclizine. In November, the average temperature on the island ranges from 65 degrees high to 53 degrees low, not much different from the rest of the year.
How to Get There
The most popular and the most reasonably priced passenger ferries are operated by Catalina Express with 30 departures daily. Prices range from $37.25 to $52.25 per person, round trip. The sleek, high speed ferries depart from Dana Point in Orange County as well as from Long Beach and San Pedro in Los Angeles County. A trip in each direction takes about 30 minutes. Reservations: catalinaexpress.com. Helicopter service is available from Long Beach or San Pedro. Catalina is an active port for many cruise lines which are destined for Baja, Mexico. There’s also a small Catalina Airport (AVX), also known as Airport-in-the-Sky, which was just upgraded in January of this year and is located 7 miles from Avalon.
How to Get Around Once There
The use of cars is restricted on the island, adding to its charm. There’s actually a 14-year waiting list to bring a car to the Island. Most residents use golf carts to get around. Visitors can hire a taxi, which are allowed, and many tourists prefer to rent a golf cart,
bicycle or motorized scooter called a Segway from one of the rental agencies situated around town. The city of Avalon is open to the public without restrictions, but the only major road to the back country is Stage Road. The Conservancy does allow day hiking and mountain biking in the undeveloped areas as long as visitors first obtain a free hiking permit at the Conservancy’s office (on which they declare the parts of the island they intend to visit). Bicycle permits are available for a fee. Visitors can stop in at the Conservancy office, located at 125 Claressa Avenue in Avalon or call 562-437-8555 or visit catalinaconservancy.org.
Where to Stay
There are many appealing options, so you might want to just take a look at Expedia.com or TripAdvisor.com to find a sweet little hotel that meets your price point and is fairly close to the center of the action or nestled in amongst the others when heading uphill from town. In Avalon, we recommend these: Catalina Island Inn, Upscale beach retreat and reasonably priced; catalinaislandinn.com. Glenmore Plaza Hotel, Victorian charm and just a few steps from the beach; glenmoreplaza.com. Hotel Atwater, Completely renovated and in the heart of Avalon; visitcatalinaisland.com. Pavilion Hotel, only 14 steps from the beach and Avalon Bay; visitcatalinaisland.com. Continued on page 30
Photos courtesy of Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
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Day Trippin’ Continued from page 28
In Two Harbors, we recommend these: Banning House Lodge, a charming Craftsmanstyle bed and breakfast, offering sweeping views of the Isthmus and Cat Harbor; visitcatalinaisland.com. Villa Santa Rosa and Villa Santa Cruz, fully furnished vacation rentals; visitcatalinaisland.com.
Where to Eat, Drink and Play
There are dozens of restaurants, easily found by walking Crescent Avenue where visitors will find everything from fresh waffle ice cream cones to freshly-caught seafood to steaks to salads and sandwiches, at a variety of venues that overlook the harbor. Try out Catalina Island’s signature cocktail, the Buffalo Milk, a variation on the Mudslide. The three-hour, guided Avalon Tasting & Cultural Walking Tour ($97) shares Catalina history while providing food and drink samplings along the way. There’s also a Catalina Happy Hour Tour ($69) where guests can visit Avalon’s best bars and insider tips. Reservations: catalinafoodtours.com. (Both tours sell out quickly so advance purchase is required). Another fun option is to lunch high above Avalon Bay at the Forbes Travel Guide 4-star Mt. Ada, the former home of William Wrigley Jr. and his wife Ada. Lunch is available by reservation only, Friday-Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reservations: visitcatalinaisland.com.
Things to Do Shopping It’s a given that you’ll end up sauntering along the palm tree-lined streets of downtown Avalon and browsing for artisan jewelry, gifts, artwork, clothing and saltwater taffy. Most of the island’s numerous shops and boutiques are located on or adjacent to Crescent Avenue (locals call it Front Street). “Shop Catalina” is a one-night shopping extravaganza held annually on the first Saturday in December (this year on December 7), offering a chance to get into the holiday spirit, enter to win prizes, enjoy entertainment like strolling carolers and experience discounted holiday shopping while supporting community causes. Diving and Scuba/Snorkeling Divers can expect to see abundant marine life in all forms including kelp forests, giant black sea bass, yellowtail, lobsters, abalone, horn shark, nudibranch, large pelagic, eels, sheep crab, halibut, leopard sharks and sea lions. There are a few locations around the island where divers can experience the thrill of exploring a wrecked plane and sunken ships. Dive on your own or join a guided tour. Glass Bottom Boat Tours Boats tour reefs and shipwrecks of the area, and visitors often
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Photos courtesy of Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
see flying fish and the bright orange garibaldi fish swimming in the kelp beds. Night rides give you a peek at the lobsters scuttling along the ocean floor and the sharks gliding by. Parasailing Soaring at 800-feet above Avalon Harbor while being towed by a highspeed boat gives parasailers a bird’s-eye view of the Island below. For an extra splash of excitement, the crew will make sure you are “dipped” into the water. Hiking, Biking and Camping Catalina has a master trails system which includes 27 miles of new and expanded trails, part of 165 total miles of recreational roads and hiking trails. Improvements include new trail markers/enhanced trailheads, waterless restrooms at key sites and a new trails map, with opportunities to see Catalina’s flora and fauna firsthand. Permits are required from the Conservancy Center. Jeep and Bus Tours Guests can tour the interior of the island, a conservation area managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy. Tour-goers will often see bison roaming free. Tours can be structured to include naturalist led hikes, comfort camping or an adventure along the Trans Catalina Trail. Sightseeing Guided tours of the former Catalina Casino, the big, white, round building at the end of the harbor, feature views of the ballroom and the historic, wood-paneled lobby. The Catalina Island Museum, formerly located in the historic Casino but since 2016 in its own facility, is the keeper of the island’s cultural heritage with collections of over 100,000 items and over 8,000 years of Native American history. The museum features dynamic exhibits on the history, an art gallery, special exhibitions from around the world, a unique Museum Store and
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special programs like films and book signings. The Botanical Garden is located at the end of Avalon Canyon Road, featuring specimens of succulents and cactus. You may want to even hike the trail above the Wrigley Memorial near the Garden. Beach Activities Visitors can rent jet skis, paddleboards, paddleboats and small motorboats to explore the crystal-clear waters before relaxing on the sand, with a drink in your hand. It also makes for a nice break to walk along the waterfront from Casino Point to Lover’s Point. Zip-Line and Climbing Adventures Aerial adventures offer climbing, swinging and sliding from trees on rope ladders, log bridges and zip lines at 35 miles per hour, all while suspended in a lush grove of eucalyptus. Selfpaced courses from beginner to advanced are designed for ages seven and up. There’s also a 32-foot rock climbing wall. Guests can learn the history and techniques of falconry where one of these beautiful trained birds of prey will swoop down and gently land on your outstretched hand. Whether you pop over for the day or decide to stay overnight, there are practically unlimited ways to explore this California treasure that combines cuisine, nightlife, history and the rarified air of our natural environment. No matter how you define it – curative, therapeutic or just relaxing – you will likely come away feeling like a better version of yourself. For contact information and details on scheduling tours, guided hikes, camping, zipline adventures or diving appointments, visit catalinachamber.com (there are multiple companies listed for each activity in both Avalon and Two Harbors).
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Slap Shot
Photos courtesy of ahlpalmsprings.com
Palm Springs and Coachella Valley
SAY HELLO to hockey and lots more headline entertainment By Alison Elsner
M
ove over Coachella Fest and Stagecoach. There’s going to be a new kid in town. Thanks to the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians in partnership with the Oak View Group (OVG) and Live Nation, downtown Palm Springs will play host to a sparkling new sports and entertainment arena. The privately financed center is projected to cost $250 million to build. In addition to shows from top names like Katy Perry, Metallica and Imagine Dragons, the venture means more jobs for area workers – up to 500 per day when events are scheduled. In early October, the American Hockey League Board of Governors confirmed the approval of the 32nd expansion franchise to the AHL – the primary developmental league for the National Hockey League – right here in Palm Springs. The venue will seat at least 10,000 and occupy 300,000 square feet on 16 acres of tribal land. An adjoining facility will serve as a community space and training center for a minor league hockey team as well as a facility for youth hockey and ice skating for the general public. The AHL team will be the top minor league affiliate for Seattle’s NHL franchise, which plans to start playing in the arena upon its completion in 2021. The facility could expand to 12,000 seats for concerts, with an open-air concourse. Amenities will likely include suites and hospitality clubs. The arena
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will be the largest indoor venue between the Arizona border and the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, which can seat 11,000. Construction on the site is scheduled to break ground in February 2020 and will incorporate green initiatives and sustainability. OVG is already a power player as they are developing venues in Seattle, Belmont Park in New York and the University of Texas in Austin, in addition to structures in Milan for the Winter Olympics in 2026. “This is a unique partnership that will forever change the face of sports and entertainment in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley,” Tribal Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe said in a press release. “We are creating a healthy community gathering place for Coachella Valley families and visitors from around the world to celebrate, play, and experience diverse entertainment opportunities in a state-of-the-art arena.” Residents and visitors can look forward to the arena hosting conventions, award shows and exhibitions in addition to concerts, live entertainment events and the aforementioned hockey games, which will bring a taste of home for visiting snowbirds. Residents of the Coachella Valley are now breathing a sigh of relief after several months of evaluation by the AHL Board of Governors to determine if Palm Springs would get the nod. The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians have shown themselves to be a prolific
contributor to the cultural and economic expansion and diversity of the Coachella Valley. The Tribe’s Agua Caliente Cultural Center is currently under construction at the site of the former Spa Hotel, very close to the new arena. And we’re just teasing about Coachella and Stagecoach. Actually, the more the merrier, as the influence of Live Nation as an entertainment powerhouse will complement the other global event producer, Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG) – owner of Goldenvoice - which has been an anchor at the east end of the valley. The partnership will be especially significant when the music festivals and events like the Palm Springs International Film Festival are underway, providing an opportunity for dramatically more synergy around these activities. The population of the Coachella Valley is expected to rise by more than 50 percent over the next three decades – from 477,000 in 2016 to 512,000 in 2020 and 754,000 by 2045, according to the Southern California Association of Governments. The arena’s development correlates with this growth, giving residents and visitors access to top entertainment throughout the region and embracing a winter sports league. The trick is to ensure that the new facility doesn’t negatively impact traffic patterns and parking. With managed growth and proper planning, which city officials have pledged to address, the boon to the economy will continue to invigorate the area and complement the restaurants, hotels and golf courses throughout the desert, especially the Agua Caliente Casino Resort Hotel in Rancho Mirage, which houses The Show concert venue, and a new casino being built by the Tribe in Cathedral City. Looks like things are coming up aces for Palm Springs and those of us who live here full or part time.
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Shopping
Atwater Market
Photos courtesy of Tourisme Montréal
An art deco gem that sparkles beside the Lachine Canal By Alison Elsner
W
hen someone mentions Atwater Market, the first things that may rush to mind – sending your dopamine receptors into overtime with anticipation - are probably visions of local and imported cheeses, meats, seafoods, chocolates, bakery items, gelato, artisan coffees, fresh produce, flowers and gardening accessories, nuts, wine and spirits…you get the idea. This massive market hall is spectacular for its many high-quality stalls and installations that delight the senses, predominantly the one related to taste. But the market’s art deco structure is an enormous part of the attraction here, in the Saint-Henri area of Montréal. Opened in 1933, the market was designed by architect Ludger Lemieux, working with his son, Paul Lemieux. Architect Lemieux, along with his sons and his frequent design partner JosephHonoré MacDuff, were involved in 500 projects from the late 19th-century to mid-20th century. Other Canadian projects for which
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he is known include Bibliotheque Notre Dame (1898), Église Sainte-Irénée (1904), Workman Building (1907), Église Saint-Vincent-Ferrier (1931) and Saint-Henri Fire Station (1930). Atwater Market, or Marché Atwater, takes its name from the avenue bordering it, which in turn was named after Edwin Atwater, a 19th century municipal alderman in the district of Saint-Antoine. Located on Atwater Street, near the Lachine Canal and the Lionel-Groulx Metro station and Greene Avenue, the market is connected to Saint-Patrick Street and a bicycle path in Pointe-SaintCharles by way of a pedestrian bridge. The bike path travels from the Old Port of Montréal to the Lachine Marina and is owned and maintained by Parks Canada. The area immediately east and west of the market has enjoyed a rebirth and gentrification, with a number of upscale condominiums being built right on the Lachine Canal and replacing low and modest cost housing. Since the Lachine Canal reopened in 2002, residential property values in the Southwest
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borough have shot up by 61 percent, according to Montréal’s 2006 property valuation records, with the most intense growth happening around the Atwater Market. The Lachine Canal, the Atlantic Ocean’s once-upon-a-time chief entry to the North American continent, is of major historical significance in and of itself. It’s also a Montréal treasure to locals and a popular tourist attraction, especially following its restoration and reopening to pleasure boating in 2002 which breathed new life into the 14.5 kilometers (9 miles) that make up this Canadian National Historic Site. Visitors sometimes spend an entire day walking along the Lachine Canal’s green banks. However, tourists are mostly found meandering the 4 kilometer (2.5 mile) stretch from Old Montréal to the Atwater Market, taking in sights of the Old Port, the remnants of Griffintown and finally, discovering the cultural and culinary lure of the Market.
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Shopping
Photos courtesy of Tourisme Montréal
Continued from page 32
The history of the Atwater Market is storied and substantial. Following the stock market crash of 1929, the federal government launched major public works projects to stimulate the economy. As part of this effort, many public markets were built in Montréal, including Atwater Market, completed in and operating since 1933 on the site of the former Saint Antoine Market and a former basin of the Lachine Canal. In addition to operating as a farmer’s market, it served a variety of political, military, social and sporting purposes such as a host site for speeches by Mayor Camillien Houde, a food warehouse for soldiers during World War II, a platform for industrial exhibitions and a center for wrestling matches. The market’s art deco style of architecture regularly places it among those structures most revered in the city. In 1968, the city closed the market with plans to convert it into a recreation center. Public protests caused city officials to rethink the plan, and the market was re-opened in 1982 after improvements had been made. Further renovations, repairs and adaptations were carried out in 1989 and 1993.
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Photos courtesy of DespiteTheSnow.com
Photos courtesy of Tourisme Montréal
Today’s Atwater Market is a four-season tourist attraction and for good reason. It explodes with sensations of color, freshness and flavor and is recognized as a popular hub for local and hard-to-find gourmet products. It’s also the most expensive public market in Montréal, but there’s nothing precluding visitors from simply browsing or snagging a few picnic items to enjoy by the water. Fromagerie Atwater is more than just a cheese shop; it’s an institution. The store displays over 750 international and local varieties of cheese, and the proprietors will gladly allow sampling before purchase. Other products include buttery croissants, farm-picked produce, fine cut meats, deli specialties and fish. Pôles des saveurs restaurant area offers plenty of to-go choices ranging from Vietnamese to Reunion Island specialties, barbecue, tapas and others. In summer, guests will find delicious ice creams and coffees. The outdoor season, which is ushered in with the spring thaw, is a vibrant exhibition with stands overflowing with bright flower blooms, herbs and vegetables. Later in the year when the frost sets in, usually in October, walls are erected around the market to keep shoppers sheltered from the winter chill.
The ground and first floors, especially the large pillar-free areas, are used by merchants. The second floor currently houses a gym, and the fourth-floor mezzanine is taken up by administrative offices. The market schedules numerous events throughout the year like culinary demonstrations, gourmet walkabouts, workshops and “cinq a sèpts” (activities after work between 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.). Atwater Market earns its superlative reputation every single day by offering top-quality products, both edible and decorative, while honoring the original architecture of the structure by visionary Ludger Lemieux. The Market and its environs appeal to something deep within each of us, celebrating aesthetic tradition blended with the passion of generations of family shopkeepers and merchants. Oh, and some darned tasty cheeses, meats and bakery sweets.
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Atwater Market is open Monday-Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. The market is located at 138 Avenue Atwater, Montréal, QC, H4C 2H6, Canada. For more information, call 514-937-7754 or visit marchespublics-mtl.com/en/marches/atwater-market
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It’s 5 O’ Clock Somewhere
Palm Springs Al dente Receive 20 percent off your entire check, daily from 3 to 6 p.m. 491 North Palm Canyon Drive. 760-325-1160, aldentepalmsprings.com Rick’s Desert Grill Happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m., Monday-Friday. 1596 North Palm Canyon Drive. 760-325-2127, ricksdesertgrill.com Oscar’s Happy hour Monday-Saturday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way. 760-325-1188. Revel Public House Daily happy hour, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close. 140 South Palm Canyon Drive. 760-325-9464. Trio Restaurant Daily happy hour from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. 707 North Palm Canyon Drive. 760-864-8746, triopalmsprings.com Woody’s Palm House Daily happy hour served from 3 to 6 p.m. 450 South Palm Canyon Drive. 760-230-0188, woodyspalmhouse.com
Indian Wells Don Diego’s Happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. 74969 Highway 111. 760-340-5588. Eureka! Daily “hoppy” hour, 2 to 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. to close. 74985 Highway 111, Indian Wells. 760-834-7700. The Nest Nightly happy hour at the bar, 4 to 6 p.m. 75188 Highway 111. 760-346-2314, gotothenest.com
Happy Hour La Quinta
Indio
Fortun’s Kitchen + Bar Happy hour Tuesday-Saturday from 3 to 7 p.m. in Steve’s Bar. 78085 Avenida La Fonda. 760-564-8744.
Neil’s Lounge Daily happy hour, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 80956 Highway 111, Indio. 760-347-1522.
The Grill on Main Daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. 78065 Main Street. 760-777-7773, thegrillonmainlq.com
Pueblo Viejo Grill Daily happy hour at the bar from 3 to 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. to closing. 81931 Highway 111, 760-342-5900, puebloviejogrill.com
LQ Brewing Co. “Hoppy” hours, Monday-Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. 78065 Main Street. 760-972-4251.
Tack Room Tavern Daily from 3 p.m. to close. 81900 Avenue 51. 760-347-9985, tackroomtavern.com
Palm Desert
Cathedral City
AC3 Restaurant + Bar Daily happy hour from 3 to 6:30 p.m. 45350 Larkspur Lane. 760-340-6069, ac3palmdesert.com
Bubba’s Bones & Brews Enjoy daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. 68525 Ramon Road. 760-699-7231, bubbasbonesandbrews.com
Roy’s Restaurant Daily happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. 71959 Highway 111. 760-340-9044.
Fresh Agave Mexican Bar and Grill Daily happy hour in the bar from 3 to 5 p.m. 73325 Highway 111. 760-836-9028, freshagavemexicanbarandgrill.com
Casa Blanca Restaurant Monday-Friday, 3 to 6 p.m. 35850 Date Palm Drive. 760-328-2150, casablancamenu.com
Yard House Daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. to close. The River, 71800 Highway 111. 760-779-1415.
Sullivan’s Steakhouse Monday-Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday and Sunday, 3 p.m. to close 73505 El Paseo, Suite 2600. 760-341-3560.
Vicky’s of Santa Fe Daily happy hour, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. 45100 Club Drive. 760-345-9770, vickysofsantafe.com
Rancho Mirage Acqua California Bistro Daily happy hour from 11 a.m. to close. 71800 Highway 111. 760-862-9800. Las Casuelas Nuevas Happy hour Sunday-Thursday, 4 p.m. to closing. Friday-Saturday, 4 to 6 p.m. 70050 Highway 111. 760-328-8844, lascasuelasnuevas.com
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Otori Japanese Cuisine Daily happy hour from 8 p.m. to closing. 68100 Ramon Road, Suite A1. 760-699-5486.
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Generations vote and went on to win the Papineau election the next year. Between 2008-2009, he became a member of parliament of the Official Opposition, chaired the Liberal Party’s national convention and became the party critic for issues like youth, multiculturalism and immigration. Trudeau’s political ambitions grew, and, following the resignation of Liberal Party leader Michael Ignatieff in 2012, campaigned for the position. He won a resounding 80.1 percent of the vote and secured his position as leader of the party. In 2015, Trudeau finally sought the highest leadership position in Canada and campaigned to be prime minister. His campaign was known for its positive and progressive tone. Among other things, Trudeau promised to fight climate change, protect reproductive rights and cut taxes for the middle class. He became the leader of the federal Liberal Party in April 2013 and led the Liberals to victory on October 19, 2015.
Photo courtesy of pm.gc.ca
By Alison Elsner
I
n today’s culture, which often celebrates just what we see on the surface, it’s restorative to know that there are plenty of achievers who’ve paid their dues. These prolific progeny of famous forbearers aren’t just figureheads. They’ve proven their mettle and shown that they can cut the mustard all by themselves and not just because of their parents’ success. Sure, they all likely received the ultimate insider’s instruction from the best possible role models on how to get ahead in life, but for these leaders in society, the training wheels have been off for a long time. In addition to the obligatory hard work, high intelligence and resilience, they’ve demonstrated that they have what it takes to lead the pack in politics, business, media and entertainment. Here’s an inspiring overview of some of the most accomplished:
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Justin Trudeau and Pierre Trudeau Justin Trudeau: Probably the most familiar, and possibly the most notable on our list, Justin Trudeau serves as the current prime minister of Canada, elected with a liberal majority government in October, 2015. Notwithstanding his recent dip into hot water related to the revelation that he had dressed in blackface at social events in his more youthful days, Trudeau is the 23rd P.M. of Canada and he’s the first to be a descendant of a former prime minister. As a young adult, Trudeau tried his hand at various jobs — nightclub bouncer, snowboard instructor — before he settled on teaching as his career. He gained the attention of the Canadian public in 2000 when he gave a heartfelt eulogy at his father’s state funeral. He won the Liberal Party nomination with a large majority
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The Parent Pierre Elliott Trudeau: Often referred to by the initials PET, the elder Trudeau was the 15th prime minister of Canada and leader of the Liberal Party between 1968 to 1984, with a brief period as Leader of the Opposition from 1979 to 1980. His tenure of 15 years and 164 days makes him Canada’s third longest-serving Prime Minister, behind William Lyon Mackenzie King and John A. Macdonald. Despite his personal motto, “Reason before passion”, his personality and political career aroused polarizing reactions throughout Canada during his time in office. Admirers praised what they consider to be the force of Trudeau’s intellect and his political acumen, maintaining national unity over the Quebec sovereignty movement, suppressing a Quebec terrorist crisis, fostering a pan-Canadian identity and in achieving sweeping institutional reform, including the implementation of official bilingualism, patriation of the Constitution and the establishment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Critics accused him of arrogance, economic mismanagement and unduly centralizing Canadian decision-making to the detriment of the culture of Quebec and the economy of the Prairies. Nevertheless, his legacy recalls a charismatic figure who used brainpower and a powerful personality to bring together a country that was very nearly torn apart. He introduced the Multiculturalism Policy in the House of Commons, the first of its kind in the world, which was then emulated in several provinces such as Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as other countries like Australia, which has had a similar history and immigration pattern.
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Generations
Rachel Notley
Rachel Notley and Grant Notley Rachel Notley: Rachel is the daughter of legendary Alberta NDP (New Democratic Party) leader Grant Notley, who died tragically in a plane crash in 1984. Notley served as the 17th Premier of Alberta from 2015 to 2019. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta for Edmonton-Strathcona. Prior to entering politics, she was an attorney who focused on labor law with a specialty in workers’ compensation advocacy and workplace health and safety issues. Notley was first elected to the Legislative Assembly in the 2008 provincial election, and six years later she won the Alberta New Democratic Party leadership election on the first ballot with 70 percent of the vote and went on to lead the party to a majority victory in the 2015 provincial election, ending 44 years of dominance by the Progressive Conservative Association of Alberta. In the 2019 provincial election, the NDP government was defeated by the United Conservative Party, making Notley the Leader of the Opposition. In late 2015, Notley unveiled Alberta’s bold and far-reaching climate change strategy, in time for the COP 21 conference in Paris. Under her leadership, The NDP made reforms to public health and well-being services. In 2018, the NDP proposed Bill 9 to enforce 50 meter buffer zones around abortion clinics in Alberta to ban harassment by pro-life activists. She saw that Alberta’s minimum wage was raised in 2018, and in 2015 her government froze tuition fees for post-secondary students (which was extended through 2018). She is the first New Democrat to serve as Leader of the Offi-
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Photo by Adrian Wyld
cial Opposition since Ray Martin (1984-1993). Her father, Grant Notley, held the same office from 1982 until his death in 1984. Incidentally, is the first Alberta Premier to be born in Edmonton. She is also the sister of Paul Notley and Stephen Notley, author and illustrator/cartoonist of “Bob the Angry Flower,” a book that uses metaphors to tackle politics, religion, the meaning of life and human stupidity. The Parent Grant Notley: Walter Grant Notley served as a member of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta from 1971 to 1984 and also served as leader of the Alberta NDP from 1968 to 1984. When Rachel Notley was a child, her father ran for office in Alberta repeatedly before eventually winning at seat. He lost in 1963, lost in 1967 and lost a by-election in 1969. He finally won the first seat for the Alberta NDP in 1971. He was the lone member for the NDP in the legislature and in 1982 became official leader of the opposition. Notley spent his political career energetically building the social democratic NDP into a potent force in one of Canada’s most conservative provinces. In October 19, 1984, when daughter Rachel was 20, Notley and five other passengers were killed near Slave Lake in northern Alberta when their flight crashed into a snow-covered, wooded hillside. Grant Notley was only 45 years old. Four people survived the crash, including thenMinister of Housing, Larry Shaben. A year after Notley’s death, his party achieved a breakthrough. In the 1986 provincial election, the NDP, for the first time, won 16 seats and 29 percent of the vote.
Avi Lewis and Stephen Lewis Avi Lewis: Avram David “Avi” Lewis, born in 1968, is a Canadian documentary filmmaker, former host of the Al Jazeera English show “Fault Line” and former host of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) currentaffairs programs “CounterSpin” and “On the Map.” He is an activist and the son of legendary former Ontario NDP leader Stephen Lewis and grandson of David Lewis, who was a federal NDP leader. He served as MuchMusic’s political specialist, providing extensive special events coverage for the channel designed to engage youth in the political process, covering events like the 1993 Canadian federal election and the 1995 Quebec referendum. In 2004, Lewis and his wife Naomi Klein collaborated on “The Take,” a documentary that detailed the “recovered factory” movement in Argentina, nominated for four Gemini Awards. Lewis directed the 2015 feature-length documentary “This Changes Everything,” which finished second in the audience voting for the documentary category at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival. Lewis made headlines during the April 2016 NDP convention, where the party voted to dump Tom Mulcair, who led the NDP to a crushing defeat in the 2015 federal election. With his wife, author Naomi Klein and other advocates, Avi Lewis co-wrote something known as the Leap Manifesto, an outline for dramatic change in the political and economic systems that would address issues with
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Generations Continued from page 37
the environment, income, racial and gender equality. It stirred a fair amount of discontent at the convention. Although he says he has no interest in the job, Lewis has been talked about as a potential new leader of the federal NDP. The Parent Stephen Lewis: Stephen Henry Lewis, Canadian politician, public speaker, broadcaster and diplomat, was also the leader of the social democratic Ontario NDP for most of the 1970s. During many of those years as leader, his father David Lewis was simultaneously the leader of the federal NDP. After politics, he became a broadcaster on both CBC Radio and Toronto’s Citytv. In the mid-1980s, he was appointed as Canada’s United Nations ambassador by Progressive Conservative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. In the 2000s, he served a term as the United Nations’ special envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. In 2003, he gained investiture into the Order of Canada. In 2014, he became a Distinguished Visiting Professor at Ryerson University in Toronto. Stephen Lewis is also the grandson of Moishe Lewis (1888–1950), an activist in the Jewish Bund in Russia and the Jewish Labour Committee in Montréal. Proving that the success is not limited to a couple of family members, Lewis has three siblings, two of which were active and high-ranking officials within the Ontario NDP during the 1980s and 1990s: Michael Lewis was the secretary, and Janet Solberg was the president. His second sister is Nina Lewis-Libeskind, the wife and partner of world-renowned architect Daniel Libeskind. He’s considered an elder statesman in the New Democratic Party and was the final speaker on the Saturday of the April, 2016 convention. Lewis has 33 honorary degrees, 32 of them from Canadian institutions, among the most held by any Canadian.
Dan Levy and Eugene Levy Dan Levy: Practically the spitting image of his funnyman father, Eugene, Dan Levy is a Canadian actor, writer, producer and television personality. His mother is screenwriter Deborah Devine Levy. He currently stars as David Rose in “Schitt’s Creek,” a scripted comedy series that he co-created with his father. The show has caught on more powerfully than poutine in the U.S. too (just ask your friends). Levy began his career as one the original seven co-hosts on the now defunct MTV Canada flagship series “MTV Live”, and he gained prominence as co-host of MTV Canada’s “The After Show.” Levy wrote, produced and starred in his own Christmas Special for MTV,
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Eugene and Dan Levy
co-hosted the MTV Movie Awards Red Carpet, the X-Factor pre-show and national coverage of the Vancouver Olympic Games for CTV. Levy left MTV Canada in 2011 after five years with the network. As an actor, he has appeared in several Canadian TV series and films. For his work on “Schitt’s Creek,”, Levy has been nominated for numerous awards, including several Canadian Screen Awards for writing and acting, winning the awards for Best Comedy Series, Best Writing in a Comedy Program or Series in 2016 and Best Comedy Series in 2019. The show was renewed for a sixth and final season. In September of this year, it was announced that Levy had signed a three-year deal with ABC Studios to produce and develop scripted content. He splits his time between Toronto and Los Angeles, and, in a 2017 interview, Levy confirmed he is gay and has been “out” since he was 19. The Parent Eugene Levy: Sometimes just looking at his farcical expressions, laden with parody, is enough to cause bursts of laughter. His most memorable role and the one where he rose to prominence as an alumni of Canadian sketch comedy group Second City and the
October 2019
Photo courtesy of dan-levy.com
show “SCTV” where he starred with legends Gilda Radner, John Candy, Martin Short and Joe Flaherty. The show was notable for laying the groundwork for Canadian comedians to find fame here in the U.S. The elder Levy is an actor, comedian, producer, director and writer – all of which add up to making him a master of parody and impersonation - and he’s the only actor to have appeared in all eight of the “American Pie” films. He often plays flustered and “nerdy” figures. He is a regular collaborator of actor-director Christopher Guest, appearing in and co-writing four of his films, starting with “Waiting for Guffman” (1996). Levy received the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award (GGPAA), Canada’s highest honor in the performing arts, in 2008. He was appointed to the Order of Canada on June 30, 2011. For his starring role in Schitt’s Creek, alongside his son Dan, he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, his first career acting nomination. Levy is one of only a handful of people who have won at least five Canadian Comedy Awards. In 2010, Levy was awarded the ACTRA Award by the union representing Canada’s actors.
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In Fashion
Photo courtesy of reuters.com
Hudson’s Bay Company
The powerhouse retail group that’s part of the fabric of Canada and the United States By Alison Elsner
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or Canadians, the name Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), also known as Compagnie de la Baie d’Hudson, is probably a household name, through its namesake department store Hudson’s Bay, referred to as The Bay (The Baie in French). For the Yanks not quite as familiar with this gem of a retail empire, think Macy’s or Nordstrom, and think shopping temptation at every turn. What isn’t as commonly known is the depth of history and its inextricable relationship to Canadian-American business and retail culture in both countries. A fur trading company for much of its existence, HBC today is a Canadian business group which operates stores throughout Canada and the United States. What may be surprising to some readers is HBC’s ownership of upscale department store Sak’s Fifth Avenue, with 39 Sak’s stores in 22 states in the U.S. and three that have now been opened in Canada since HBC acquired the chain in 2013. HBC
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also owns Sak’s Off Fifth outlet stores and Lord & Taylor stores. The Hudson’s Bay Company is the oldest company in North America, founded 349 years ago. After incorporation by English royal charter in 1670, the company functioned as the de facto government in parts of North America for nearly 200 years until the HBC sold the land it owned (known as Rupert’s Land) to Canada in 1869 as part of The Deed of Surrender. During its peak, the company controlled the fur trade throughout much of the English- and later British-controlled North America. By the mid-19th century, the company evolved into a mercantile business selling a wide variety of products from furs to fine homeware in a small number of sales shops across Canada. These shops were the first step towards the department stores the company owns today. The iconic department store today evolved from trading posts at the start of the 19th century, when they began to see demand for general merchandise grow rapidly. HBC soon
expanded into the interior and set-up posts along river settlements that later developed into the modern cities of Winnipeg, Calgary and Edmonton. In 1857, the first sales shop was established in Fort Langley. This was followed by other sales shops in Fort Victoria (1859), Winnipeg (1881), Calgary (1884), Vancouver (1887), Vernon (1887), Edmonton (1890), Yorkton (1898) and Nelson (1902). The first of the grand “original six” department stores was built in Calgary in 1913. The other department stores that followed were in Edmonton, Vancouver, Victoria, Saskatoon and Winnipeg The First World War interrupted a major remodeling and restoration of retail trade shops planned in 1912. Following the war, the company revitalized its fur-trade and real-estate activities, and it diversified its operations by venturing into the oil business. Today, the department store business is the only remaining part of the company’s operations, in the form of department stores under the Hudson’s Bay brand.
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In Fashion Continued from page 39
In 1960, the company acquired Morgan’s, allowing it to expand as a company into Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa. In 1965, HBC rebranded its department stores as The Bay, and the Morgan’s logo was changed to match the new visual identity. By 1972 the last of the former Morgan’s stores had been rebranded to Bay stores. In 1970, on the company’s 300th anniversary, as a result of punishing new British tax laws, the company relocated to Canada and was re-chartered as a Canadian business corporation under Canadian law. Head Office functions were transferred from London to Winnipeg. By 1974, as the company expanded into eastern Canada, head office functions were moved to Toronto. Hudson’s Bay Company reversed a formidable debt problem in 1987, by shedding non-strategic assets such as its wholesale division and getting completely out of the oil and gas business. HBC also sold its Canadian fur-auction business to Hudson’s Bay Fur Sales Canada (now North American Fur Auctions). The Northern Stores Division was sold that same year to a group of investors and employees, which adopted The North West Company name three years later. The HBC acquired Towers Department Stores in 1990, combining them with the Zellers chain, and Woodward’s stores in 1993, converting them into Bay or Zellers stores. Kmart Canada was acquired in 1998 and merged with Zellers. In 1991, the Bay agreed to stop retailing fur in response to complaints from those opposed. In 1997, the Bay reopened its fur salons to meet the demand of consumers. On 29 July 2013, Hudson’s Bay Company announced that it would buy Saks Incorporated, operator of the US Saks Fifth Avenue brand, for US$2.9 billion, or $16 per share. The merger was completed on 3 November 2013. This also paved the way for the opening of Sak’s Fifth Avenue stores in Canada. As recently as June of this year, there was an attempt to take the company private, however the plan was blocked when Canadian investment firm Catalyst Capital Group Inc. acquired enough shares to prevent the deal. There are reports that HBC is downsizing its operations, with the planned sale of Lord & Taylor. HBC’s head office is currently located in Brampton, Ontario, and Richard Baker currently presides as Governor and Executive Chairman. The company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol “HBC”. The Bay remains one of the pillars of the retail industry in Canada and the United States, demonstrating how no business exists on an island. As they say, the world keeps getting smaller.
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Photo courtesy of Hudson’s Bay
Looking sharp at the Olympics thanks to HBC
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hanks to HBC, Olympic athletes from Canada have been marching in the parade of nations looking stylish and modern for the past several Olympic Games. In 2005, HBC managed to outbid the previous Canadian Olympic wear-supplier, Roots Canada, which had supplied Canada’s Olympic teams from 1998 to 2004. The HBC was named the official outfitter for the Canadian Olympic team in 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018, and the $100 million sponsorship deal has been renewed through 2020. Incidentally, HBC also dressed Canada’s winter Olympians from 1936 to 1968. There were a couple of snags along the way. In 2006 and 2008, uniforms and toques received a mixed reception for their multicolored stripes in green, red, yellow and blue which some felt were an advertisement for HBC rather than representing the Canadian Olympic team’s traditional colors of red and white. Also, HBC produced 80 to 90 percent of their Olympic clothes in China as opposed to Roots who had prioritized Canadian production and materials. The 2010 version for the Olympic Games held in Vancouver was much more successful,
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especially since Canada was the host country and their athletes had a record medal haul. The Red Mittens, red-and-white mittens featuring a large maple leaf, that were sold for $10 CAD, with one-third of the proceeds going to the Canadian Olympic Committee, proved very popular, as were the Canada hoodies. Just a guess, but we can probably expect robust sales of the Red Mittens again in 2020, as it’s now reached tradition status. In 2018, at the Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang, each athlete received a complete 30-piece clothing kit with jackets, tees, hoodies and accessories including hats, scarves and the Hudson’s Bay’s iconic Red Mittens. They also received luggage designed and created by Herschel Supply Co. and a fun pajama “onesie”, created and designed by Drake General Store that was probably a hit in and around Olympic Village during the limited hours when sleep was actually taking place. Items were sold throughout Canada in the HBC’s 550 department stores, including The Bay, Zeller’s and Home Outfitters. See the team Canada collection at thebay.com/ Canadian-Olympic-Team-Collection
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In Fashion
Photo courtesy of The Gardens on El Paseo
Sak’s Fifth Avenue
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ynonymous with a lifestyle reminiscent of round the clock cocktail parties in the Hamptons or patio soirées in Palm Beach, Sak’s Fifth Avenue is the luxury department store that has become a shoppers’ magnet. Women and men hold Sak’s dear to their heart, coveting their international designer clothing, shoe and handbag collections. Many of the stores feature experiential services, like intimate private jewelry viewing spaces, personal shoppers and advisors, beauty treatment rooms and private shopping suites. Interior design is well planned and modern, and many of the stores incorporate dining and beauty salons. Saks Fifth Avenue’s main flagship store is located on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. In 1990, “Saks Off 5th” was launched, an outlet store offshoot of the main brand, with 107 stores worldwide by 2016. On July 29, 2013, the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) acquired Saks Fifth Avenue’s parent company for US $2.9 billion. Saks Fifth Avenue was the brainchild of Horace Saks and Bernard Gimbel, who operated independent retail stores on New York’s 34th Street at Herald Square in the early 1900s. With the opening of its founders’ “dream store” on
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Photo courtesy of Saks Off 5th
September 15, 1924, Saks Fifth Avenue became the first large retail operation to locate in what was then primarily a residential district. With the sudden death of Horace Saks in 1926, Adam Gimbel became President of Saks Fifth Avenue and retired in 1969. Between 1972 and 1989, 20 new stores opened throughout the country, many in Texas and the Midwest, and 8 stores were replaced by newer ones in the same markets. A renovation of the New York flagship began in 1978, with the installation of an escalator service in
1979 and the construction of a 36-floor office and retail complex directly behind the store, which was completed in spring 1990. In late 1994, Saks undertook a major initiative to intensify its presence on the West Coast by acquiring four former I. Magnin stores in Beverly Hills, Carmel, San Diego and Phoenix. With the August 1995 opening of Saks West in Beverly Hills, Saks Fifth Avenue became Beverly Hills’ largest specialty store. On November 4, 2013, Saks Incorporated was acquired by Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC).
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Tax Talk
TAX TALK
International purchases of US Real Estate decline considerably in 2018 - 2019 By Michael W. Brooks, Esq. (President of DIRECTS)
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urchases of US real estate by non-US (foreign) persons slowed considerably during the period of April 2018 to March 2019, per a recent report issued by the National Association of Realtors entitled “Profile of International Transactions in U.S. Residential Real Estate 2019�. This report generally reviewed residential real estate purchases only (not commercial purchases). Much of this international investment drop off was felt in California, which is currently the #2 state in the US in terms of international ownership of US real estate (only Florida annually has more transactions per year). Foreign persons consist of both non-US citizens who live in the US full-time (such as foreign workers working in the US on an H-1B Visa) and foreign persons who purchase US real estate but do not live in the US full-time (we see many of these purchases/ purchasers
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in the Palm Springs area, where most Canadian owners of Palm Springs real estate are still full-time residents of Canada. We also see many of this type of purchaser just outside of Los Angeles, with the thousands of Chinese owners of real estate in the San Gabriel Valley and Irvine (Orange County) area (where a significant percentage (around 40 percent) of the Chinese owners remain residents of China (i.e., do not move to the US) while owning the US real estate).
Foreign Purchases in US Real Estate Decline Generally in 2018-2019 The dollar value of the foreign purchases (of US real residential real estate) declined from $121B in April 2017-March 2018, to $77.9B from April 2018 to March 2019 (a 36% decline). The number of international (residential) purchase transactions dropped from 266,000 to 183,100. Why the decline generally? The report cites a variety of factors: from the high US
October 2019
dollar value; to a global decline in growth; to trade wars; to Brexit; to a tightening of regulations by some countries on capital flight. The top five countries of international purchases/ purchasers of US residential real estate, in terms of dollar value, remained the same in 2018-2019: (1) China; (2) Canada; (3) India; (4) United Kingdom; (5) Mexico. One-third of the purchases from the investors from these top five countries occurred in California.
Chinese Purchasers Decline Significantly For a variety of reasons (trade war, slowing Chinese economy, high US dollar value and the Chinese government’s more persistent efforts to curtail the amount of Chinese money leaving the country), Chinese purchases/ purchasers of US real estate dropped significantly in 2018-2019. The headline number is eyepopping- Chinese purchasers purchased $13.4B in US real estate in the 2018-2019 pe-
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Tax Talk
riod, less than one-half the $30.4B purchased by the Chinese in the 2017-2018 period (and it was over $31B for the 2016-2017 period). With one-third of all Chinese US real estate purchases occurring in California (plus a high percentage of those California purchases occurring in Southern California), the retreat of the Chinese purchaser must have a detrimental effect on Orange County (many in Irvine, California) real estate transactions, plus transactions in the heavily Chinese San Gabriel Valley (Arcadia, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Diamond Bar, Alhambra, City of Industry) must have felt the decline as well. Remember, many of these Chinese transactions take place in majority-owned Chinese areas (i.e., a lot of Chinese to Chinese transactions), meaning fewer Chinese buyers will lead to fewer Chinese being able to sell. Will it improve anytime soon? Who knows? Chinese sales did not appear to uptick significantly (according to the NAR report- although international seller statistics were not reported on significantly in the report), so a good bet is many Chinese investors in US real estate are simply riding out the slowdown while continuing to hold their US real estate.
Canadian Investment in US Real Estate Also Slides in 2019 For the last few years, investors from Canada have represented the second largest international investor group in US real estate. Many
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Canadians purchase US vacation/winter homes in Florida, Arizona and of course the Palm Springs, California area, but Canadians too purchased significantly less real estate (in both amount and quantity) in 2018-2019. In 2017-2018, Canadians purchased $10.5B in US real estate (on $27,400 purchases), while in 2018-2019 Canadians purchased $8B in US real estate (on $19,900 purchases). Why the drop off for the Canadians? The strong US dollar and slower Canadian economy may be responsible for the downtick. Will the Canadian slowdown continue? As long as the weather continues to stay brutally cold in Canada in the winter, my guess is a prolonged (several-year) slowdown of Canadian purchases is unlikely.
Conclusion Other countries with large US real estate investor pools also saw slower domestic economic growth in the reviewed period (the U.K. and Mexico, for example), so one general conclusion is that slower growth abroad (e.g., China, Canada, the U.K., Mexico) will simply lead to fewer real estate purchases in the US. And that’s probably an easy enough answer generally to the question of why international purchases slowed for the reviewed period in 2018-2019. But one could also argue problems (or slowdowns) in the key foreign countries might lead to a “flight to safety�, and safe is how the US real estate market has
often been viewed by the world. Regardless, this foreign investor slowdown bears watching. Foreign investors typically purchase more higher-end real estate (and the median price of foreign investor purchases is higher than all purchases), and they often pay with all cash. This is a significant buying block at the top (on down) of the US real estate market. If this international investor slowdown continues, the US real estate market may face some headwinds, and maybe for a while. The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as legal advice on any subject matter. Michael W. Brooks, Esq., is the President of DIRECTS (Domestic and International Real Estate Closing Tax Services, Inc.), a tax company with sole focus of assisting non-US persons with the tax issues which arise when non-US persons sell US real estate. Michael and DIRECTS expressly disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken or not taken based on any or all the contents of this article. Michael can be reached at DIRECTS at 760-346-6140 or at michael@directsllp.com. The firm website is directsinternationaltax.com.
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Canadian Musicians
Photo courtesy of McCallum Theate
CLASSIC ALBUMS LIVE PERFORMS TOM PETTY’S ‘DAMN THE TORPEDOES’
Canada’s most acclaimed vocalists and musicians recreate one of the greatest albums of all time By Alison Elsner
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n November 23 at 8 p.m., fans will be treated to a blast from the notso-long-ago past, with the McCallum Theatre’s Classic Albums Live tribute presentation of “Damn The Torpedoes,” the 1979 album from Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. This tribute represents the peak of singer, songwriter and musician
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Tom Petty’s musical career, with hits like “Refugee,” “Don’t Do Me Like That” and “Here Comes My Girl.” “Damn the Torpedoes” reached number two on the U.S. charts and went on to become certified Triple Platinum. A group of Canada’s most skilled vocalists and acclaimed musicians who bring us this spectacular show are recognized for honoring the work with no gimmicks, no make-up,
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no costumes and no illusions. The attention to detail is staggering, and every sound from the album is masterfully duplicated live on stage. The album will be played in its entirety. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Drive, Palm Desert. Tickets $60, $40 and $30. 760-340-2787, mccallumtheatre.com, classicalbumslive.com
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Take Flight
taking flight
It’s smooth sailing ahead for travel between Palm Springs and Canada
By Alison Elsner
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ir travel into and out of the Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) just keeps getting better and better. On track to hit the 2.6 million passenger mark for 2019, numerous upgrades continue to be completed, showing that boarding flights and coming in for a landing against the panoramic mountain backdrop are the highlights of any excursion. Improvements are being made to the terminal, such as new ticket counters and enhanced rental car facilities. Travelers can stop off at La Brea Bakery and Palm Springs Tap Room Bar, PGA Tour Shop, Celebrity Bistro Café and Bar and 12th Fairway Bar and Grill. The Desert Marketplace gift shop carries designer-worthy items like Brighton, and there is even a California Vintages Wine Bar nestled among the palms to ease those pre- (or post-) flight jitters. Airport officials want to remind passengers that they need to arrive at least two hours ahead of departure time, as PSP is no exception during peak season! Here’s an update on the carriers to and from Canada and Palm Springs, showing why this seemingly small airport boasts such enormous appeal. What else would you expect from an airport whose entrance is accessed by “Kirk Douglas Way”? Safe travels to our snowbird friends! For additional information on Palm Springs to Canada flight schedules, visit palmspringsca.gov/ government/departments/aviation-palm-springsinternational-airport-psp
Photo by Ed Turner, courtesy of WestJet
Air Canada Calgary, Alberta Toronto, Ontario Vancouver, British Columbia Reservations: 888-247-2262, aircanada.com
WestJet Calgary, Alberta Edmonton, Alberta Vancouver, British Columbia Winnepeg, Manitoba
Photo courtesy of CNW Group/Air Canada
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Reservations: 888-937-8538, westjet.com/en-ca
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