CHORUS NIAGARA – SPARK TO FLAME CONCERT

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50th Season Opens with Our Favourite Things….
An Afternoon of Rodgers and HammersteinPlease join CHORUS NIAGARA and Artistic Director Robert Cooper, as they present the first concert of the Golden Anniversary Season celebrating 50 years of fine choral music. 

Our Favourite Things – An Afternoon of Rodgers and Hammerstein

Sunday, November 4th, 2:30pm

Dr. J.M. Ennis Auditorium

Centennial Secondary School, Welland, ON

 

 

South Pacific

 

Our Favourite Things will transport audiences to the glitter and glamour of The Great White Way for an afternoon of memorable Broadway favourites from the most innovative and successful American musical theatre team.

 

 

Rodgers and HammersteinRichard Rodgers (1902-1979) and Oscar Hammerstein II (1895-1960) were one of the most influential, innovative and successful of American musical theatre writing teams, usually referred to as Rodgers and Hammerstein. They created a string of popular Broadway musicals in the 1940s and 1950s, initiating what is considered the “golden age” of musical theatre. With Rodgers composing the music and Hammerstein writing the lyrics, five of their shows, Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music, were outstanding successes.

 

Rodgers and Hammerstein re-worked the musical theatre genre. Breaking away from the early 20th-century musicals and their whimsical or farcical plot lines so dependent on a ‘star’, Rodgers and Hammerstein re-invented the modern American musical theatre with thought-provoking plots of emotional depth and psychological complexity along with the unbridled optimism of post WWII that marked a revolution in musical drama combining all the aspects of the play, dance, song, and drama into an integrated whole.

 

Joining Chorus Niagara for this afternoon of Broadway delights are the Niagara Symphony Orchestra and a trio of dazzling musical theatre artists.
Tickets available now from Chorus Niagara Members or
Brock Centre for the Arts Box Office
            (905)688-5550       ext. 3257 or             866-617-3257

Fireworks at Brock Monument – War of 1812 Battle

Fireworks at Brock Monument Commemorating War of 1812 Battle of Queenston Heights and the Life of Major General Sir Isaac Brock

from   1 week ago

Fireworks framed the General Brock Monument on Saturday, October 13, 2012. It was here at Queenston Heights by the Niagara River that a battle took place 200 years ago. A massive re-enactment of the battle was enjoyed by over 10,000 spectators. There were lots of activities and this was the day’s last event to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle at Queenston Heights and the life of Major General Sir Isaac Brock.
Fireworks by Garden City Display Fireworks in Beamsville.  Fireworks at the Brock Monument:   https://vimeo.com/51371501

RiverBrink Art-Museum – FREE ADMISSION ALL WEEKEND LONG

RiverBrink Art-Museum

Free Admission to RiverBrink Art Museum on October 20-21 in Celebration of Niagara Region as a Cultural Capital of Canada. In celebration of the designation of Niagara Region as a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2012, RiverBrink Art Museum is offering free admission to its popular exhibition RiverBrink’s War of 1812 on Saturday October 20th and Sunday October 21st.

This celebratory event provides an excellent opportunity to view the Portrait of Isaac Brock before it returns to Guernsey, UK in the first week of November. In addition, RiverBrink will host four artists in support of our Accessibility Campaign to fund the construction of a ramp and accessible washrooms.

These artists will demonstrate in the mediums of origami, pen and ink, watercolours and oils. They will work on site between the hours of 1:30 and 3:30 on each of the days. RiverBrink Art Museum will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.RiverBrink Art Museum is located at 116 Queenston Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake (on the Niagara Parkway halfway between Niagara Falls and “Old Town” Niagara-on-the-Lake). For more information, please contact RiverBrink Art Museum by phone at 905-262-4510 or by email at info@riverbrink.org.

Free Admission to RiverBrink Art Museum on October 20-21 in Celebration of Niagara Region as a Cultural Capital of Canada. In celebration of the designation of Niagara Region as a Cultural Capital of Canada for 2012, RiverBrink Art Museum is offering free admission to its popular exhibition RiverBrink’s War of 1812 on Saturday October 20th and Sunday October 21st.

This celebratory event provides an excellent opportunity to view the Portrait of Isaac Brock before it returns to Guernsey, UK in the first week of November. In addition, RiverBrink will host four artists in support of our Accessibility Campaign to fund the construction of a ramp and accessible washrooms.These artists will demonstrate in the mediums of origami, pen and ink, watercolours and oils. They will work on site between the hours of 1:30 and 3:30 on each of the days. RiverBrink Art Museum will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.RiverBrink Art Museum is located at 116 Queenston Street, Niagara-on-the-Lake (on the Niagara Parkway halfway between Niagara Falls and “Old Town” Niagara-on-the-Lake). For more information, please contact RiverBrink Art Museum by phone at 905-262-4510 or by email at info@riverbrink.org.  Looking for Accommodations during your visit? Call us at: 1-866-226-4730

HOPS AND GRAPES IN NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO

Oast House Brewery

Hops and grapes in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Beer lovers rejoice! Niagara-on-the-Lake’s first craft brewery is about to open.

Brewery partners Mike Berlis, Cian MacNeill and Kevin Somerville—all from Niagara region—expect to open the doors of Niagara Oast House Brewers within the next few weeks. “Our approach complements the area’s wine and gourmet tradition while adding a whole new dimension,” says MacNeill, the brewery’s marketing manager. “Craft beer consumers have a lot in common with fine wine consumers, so Oast House is using the winery model by offering tours, tastings, and special events—including brewmaster’s dinners.”

 

MacNeill tells me the brewery has enlisted local farmers to grow its hops. “Like the terroir wines whose tastes vary with different soils, we plant hops in three different locations—on the bench, in the interior and by the lake,” he says. Brewmaster Kevin Somerville brings credentials from North American and European schools, and has worked at the Niagara College Brewing Program. You can follow Oast House Brewers on Facebook and Twitter.

For your Accommodation needs call 1-866-226-4730.

Queenston Heights – War of 1812 -October 13, 14, 2012

http://www.mississauga.com/what%27s%20on/article/1517042–author-tells-tales-of-war-of-1812

Need a Cottage Rental for the Weekend?  Call  1-866-226-4730

Drummond Hill Cemetery Tours

Drummond Hill Cemetery Tours

The City of Niagara Falls Museums will again be offering our popular walking tours of Drummond Hill Cemetery during weekends in the month of October. These tours offer visitors a unique opportunity to discover another side of Niagara Falls’ history.

These night-time tours take visitors through one of the most historic cemeteries in Canada. The guides will lead performances that provide a glimpse into the lives of some of the famous and not so famous people from the history of Niagara Falls. The tours include music, theatrical scenes, costumed performers and vignettes of people who are buried in the cemetery.

Assistant Curator of the Niagara Falls Museums, Sara Byers says, “This theatrical experience is a good introduction to the worlds of community and professional theatre as well as the field of living history.”

The museum makes every attempt to provide appropriate period costumes but assistance from the volunteers is always appreciated. Tours run October 12, 13, 19, 20, 26 & 27 at 7pm, 8pm & 9pm. The tours depart from the cemetery gates located on Buchner Place off of Drummond Road.

 

The tour cost is $12.00 per person. Tickets are available by reservation only, by visiting the Niagara Falls History Museum at 5810 Ferry Street or by calling 905-358-5082. Space is limited, and tickets will not be sold at the door.

Photos from previous years’ events and of this year’s cast are available to media upon request.

A Walk Through History is a project of the Niagara Cultural Capital Of Canada 2012 program and funding support from the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Region of Niagara is gratefully acknowledged.

Friends of Strewen Winery

Strewn banner
Dear Friends of Strewn,

Autumn is such a beautiful time of year for sharing good food, good company and great wine. And in wine country, it’s harvest! We hope to see some of you if a trip to Niagara is on your agenda. If you are staying at home during vintage, we hope you’re enjoying Strewn wines on your table. In fact, in this newsletter we have included a recipe for you and yours compliments of the Wine Country Cooking School.

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

YOU ASKED US? About the 2012 Growing Season …

“I have never seen a year like this where we came out of the start so quickly and did not slow down a single step, even at sites with record low rainfall and extreme heat in the season.” – Brock University Cool Climate Oenology department associate.

2012 was a unique growing season that progressed quickly from bud-break on and grapes missed the frost damage many other tree fruit experienced this year. Generally bloom dates across Ontario were 10 to 14 days ahead based on a 10-year normal. Of course, the weather is crucial in the weeks leading up to harvest and has a significant impact.

The 2012 harvest now is in full swing. Nearly all of the white grapes-Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, 

Gewurztraminer, Riesling and Pinot Blanc–have been harvested and fermentations are well underway.
The first red grapes, Merlot, have started to come in and will be soon followed by Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Weather conditions have generally been favourable with mostly dry weather; the few rainstorms have caused no serious problems. The early spring and hot dry summer set the scene for an outstanding vintage; we are expecting spectacular wines.

Battle of Queenston Heights War of 1812

About 1,000 historical re-enactors and volunteers are expected to take part in a recreation of the Battle of Queenston Heights on Oct. 13. It’s one of the major events here in Niagara this year marking the Bicentennial of the War of 1812. Bullet News photo by John Robbins.

JOHN ROBBINS/Bullet News

NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE – As many as 1,000 volunteers and costumed reenactors are expected to take part in a recreation of one of Canada’s most defining moments – the Battle of Queenston Heights.

The battle reenactment is just one of many events planned for the weekend of Oct. 12-14, as Niagara’s War of 1812 Bicentennial celebrations continue.


“The weekend of events planned for Oct. 12-14 will allow us to celebrate a lasting peace between two great countries,” Janice Thomson, chairwoman of the Niagara Parks Commission, said during a press conference, Tuesday afternoon near Brock’s Monument.

“It will also provide us with the opportunity to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by all of the soldiers, and native warriors of both nations who fought here and all along these lands now protected by the Niagara Parks Commission.”

Here’s a full look at the weekend’s events:

OCTOBER 12

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Educational Day Events
The Friends of Fort George will be hosting a special educational day commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Queenston Heights, at Queenston Heights Park. Guided tours of the battlefield will be offered by costumed interpreters on a pre-booked basis only. There will also be historical demonstrations and period merchants on the heights for school groups to visit. School groups have pre-booked and NPC organizers say they are close to capacity. To book a school group call                         905-468-6621            .

2 p.m. – Twinning Ceremony
The Queenston Residents’ Association will be hosting a twinning ceremony at St. Saviour Major General Sir Isaac Brock Memorial Church in Queenston at 2 p.m. There will be a dedication of a monument celebrating the historical, social and cultural relationship between St. Peter Port, Guernsey (the birthplace of Brock) and Queenston (the place where he fell in battle. A number of Guernsey officials will be speaking at this commemorative event.

Other events on Oct. 12
Throughout the day on Friday, reenactors will be arriving at Fort George and in Lewiston, NY., to set up their encampments. On Friday evening, their will be a bombardment from the shores of the Niagara River in Lewiston, followed by fireworks. The fireworks and the bombardment will be visible from the shore of the Niagara River in Queenston.

OCTOBER 13

9 a.m. – Niagara Parks shuttle buses will start picking up the public at the Butterfly Conservatory, Queenston Heights, Laura Secord Homestead, McFarland House and Fort George.

9:30 a.m. – Reenactors will leave Fort George to make their historic march to Queenston Heights.

10 a.m. – Brock Dead House Dedication. The Queenston Residents Association will be hosting a dedication ceremony at the “Brock Dead House,” located at 20 Queenston St., in the Village of Queenston. This ceremony will mark the site where Brock’s body was taken after he was mortally wounded in battle. Guy St. Denis, the researcher who confirmed the site, will be making a brief presentation of his work.

10:30 a.m. – A commemorative walking tour with Dr. Wesley Turner, author of the book Astonishing General: The Life and Legacy of Major General Sir Isaac Brock, begins. Tickets for this limited space event cost $20 and must be purchased in advance through the Friends of Fort George.

11 a.m. The public is welcome to attend a plaque dedication at Brock’s Monument at 11 a.m. on Oct. 13, where the Historic Sites and Monuments Board will be designating Major General Sir Isaac Brock as a Person of National Significance. Also beginning at 11 a.m., join the Friends of Fort George staff as they take you on a tour of the Queenston Heights battle site. Tours, which cost $5, start at Brock’s Monument. Ian Bell and a group of well-known folk musicians will play early 19th century music at the band shell. Tours and music continue through 3 p.m.

3 p.m. – The re-enactment of the Battle of Queenston Heights

4:30 p.m. – Commemorative Ceremony at Brock’s Monument

5:30 p.m. – A recreation of the procession carrying Brock’s body from the heights in a horse-drawn wagon will take place.

6 p.m. – Guided Tour of the battlefield/More musical entertainment

7:15 p.m. – Fireworks at Queenston Heights

Queenston Heights Park closes following the fireworks display

OCTOBER 14

Recreation of Brock’s Funeral Procession. Niagara-on-the-Lake. At noon, reenactors will form up at Fort George and begin their march down Byron Street to Victoria Street and then along Queen Street. The procession will stop at the Old Court House for a commemoration ceremony. The caskets of Brock and his aide-de-camp Lieutenant Colonel John Macdonell will then be placed on horse-drawn wagons and led to St. Mark’s Church and Fort George.