Eats in the Bend

9 May
Entrance to Dave's Clubhouse at Oakwood Inn

Entrance to Dave’s Clubhouse at Oakwood Inn

by Diva Trista Russell

In my last post, I talked about the Grand Bend Area Studio Tour. As part of the “Eats” part of the Studio Tour, Dave’s Clubhouse at Oakwood Inn featured a special food sampling menu this past weekend. The Clubhouse menu has been redesigned this year, so I was excited to try out some of their new menu items. The sample menu included Oakwood’s bruschetta, mini skillet mac & cheese, single fish taco, four Bam Bam shrimp, mini baked white cheddar dip, single pork pretzel slider, samples size margarita flat bread, and mini chips and salsa. Each sample was only $2 and a generous size to split for two people. I sampled some of each (you know you ordered enough when it takes 3 servers to bring it out!!) and it was all delicious! My favourite was the flat bread with mozzarella and tomato and drizzled with balsamic vinegar. If you visit the Clubhouse, make sure you sit out on the patio overlooking the golf course. The view was a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon!

You can follow Oakwood on Facebook and Twitter for their features of the day.

Margarita flat bread – yummy!

Margarita flat bread – yummy!

Oakwood is also offering Mother’s Day brunch in the Terrace Room this Sunday.

Oakwood Inn
70671 Bluewater Highway (Hwy 21 North of main intersection)
Grand Bend, ON

Pork pretzel slider

Pork pretzel slider

white cheddar dip

white cheddar dip

Oakwood's bruschetta

Oakwood’s bruschetta

Oakwood's Sampling Menu

Oakwood’s Sampling Menu

View from the Clubhouse patio

View from the Clubhouse patio

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It’s Patio Season!

9 May

by Diva Jenna Ujiye

IMG_4205

I’m sure all of you are pretty excited that spring has finally came and the weather is nice enough to sit out on a patio. Last week I met with my friends Rick and Bruno at the Albion in Bayfield and had a great meal outside while enjoying the village main street!

AlbionThe Albion

The three of us sat on the far north end of the patio and watched as the whole restaurant filled up. It was wing night! The Albion serves typical pub fare and has a variety of unique menu specialties including the ABC Albion Sammy (cheese, bacon and apples on rye), The Dopey Burger (Open faced burger with gravy, mushrooms and onions), and the sweet potato enchilada.

Alnion Burger Alnion Burger

Albion InsideMenu items range from $10 – $20 with some appetizers under and some entrees a bit over, but all in all very reasonable! They als0 have a large variety of beer on tap! Thursday night is Wing night, Friday – All you can eat Fish and Chips and on Saturday, Prime Rib is the Special. I hear that during the winter they do a really cool trivia night. I had been wanting to check out the new paintings that were done over the winter and was impressed with how much they changed the atmosphere of the place!

Albion Inside

 

If you are looking for a nice weekend away, Bayfield is a great place to visit, especially during the summer. The Albion is also a hotel and they rent rooms for $115 – $155 and that includes a continental breakfast. For more information about the Albion hotel visit their website at www.thealbionhotel.com

The Albion Hotel

albion@tcc.on.ca

1 Main Street
Bayfield, Ontario
N0M 1G0
Canada
519-565-2641

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Art in the Bend

8 May
Hand carved boxes by Wayne Smith

Hand carved boxes by Wayne Smith

by Diva Trista Russell

Art lover? Then check out Sunset Arts Gallery in Grand Bend this summer! The first weekend in May was the grand opening for their 2013 season. Sunset Arts Gallery was also part of the annual Grand Bend Area Studio Tour called “Arts, Eats, & Beats” that was held on the same weekend. This tour had three different routes, and Sunset Arts was part of the Grand Bend Central route. The gallery is located at 63 River Road, which is right beside the Grand Bend marina. At the grand opening, Sunset offered an opportunity to meet the artists and enjoy refreshments and art demonstrations.

The gallery features the work of a dozen different artists, with a variety of paintings of landscapes and abstract art, as well as pottery, hand carved wooden boxes, and handmade jewellery.

Catherine Weber, an artist from South Huron, is the founder of Sunset Arts. It’s great to see local artists at work. Local art is unique, and you can be one of a select few to have these art pieces in your home!

Pottery on display by Nancy Marshall

Pottery on display by Nancy Marshall

Sunset Arts Gallery Hours:
May 4 to June 16: Saturday 11 – 6pm, Sunday 12 – 6pm
June 17 to September 3: Monday – Saturday 11 – 6pm, Sunday 12 – 6pm
September 7 to October 14: Saturday 11 – 6pm, Sunday 12 – 6pm

Sunset Arts Gallery
63 River Road
Grand Bend, Ontario
N0M 1T0

Telephone: 519-238-6914
www.sunsetarts.info

View of the Grand Bend Marina behind Sunset Arts

View of the Grand Bend Marina behind Sunset Arts

Rear entrance to Sunset Arts Gallery

Rear entrance to Sunset Arts Gallery

Beach landscapes on canvas by Martina Bruggerman

Beach landscapes on canvas by Martina Bruggerman

Artwork by Mary Lynn Smith

Artwork by Mary Lynn Smith

Live art demo at Sunset Arts Gallery

Live art demo at Sunset Arts Gallery

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There is no shortage of amazing art in Huron

8 May

by Diva Jenna Ujiye

Art aRound Town

Last week I went down to Exeter to do a bit of shopping, eating and exploring. I stopped in at the South Huron Welcome Centre to visit my friend Brittany Fry (who is also the Exeter BIA manager) and was able to check out the Art aRound Town display in the centre. There were a variety of different kinds of art from jewellery, books, paintings, photography, pottery and more!

The centre is set up in a couple of different rooms that you can explore and the unique mix of artistry is wonderful. Art aRound Town is a small group of artists and volunteers who are working together to promote the visual arts in southern Huron County. They organize Art Shows featuring original works by local artists, hold Art Classes and Workshops with visiting Artists for all ages, and do what they can to bring Art into the lives of art enthusiasts. You can find them at 483 Main St. South (at corner of Huron St). Exeter, ON. or online at artaroundtown.net

Open on Thursdays from 2:00 – 6:00 pm.  

As well as Saturdays – May 11, 18 & 25 from 2:00 – 6:00 pm.

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It’s not just about the Guys

6 May

By Diva Jenna Ujiye

Guys in the Garage

I’ve never really wondered what went on in the garage when I wasn’t there. My garage seems to be a revolving door of guys coming to hang out, drink a beer or two and fix some item or another. I attended the second night of the newest play currently running at the Livery in Goderich on Friday. This show is called Guys in the Garage and is written and stars local writer and actor Rob Bundy. I don’t want to give away anything on the show, as there are still three more shows that you can get tickets to (which I will post later on!), but I will tell you that it gives you a bit of an insider on what happens in the garage!

Guys in the Garage 2

Many guys call it their “man cave” and it becomes a place where they have a sanctuary away from all troubles, women or kids! While watching the show I felt a bit like I was invading someones space. Local actors Ben Scholten, Wes Macvicar, Phil Main, Dave Subert and Steve Howard played the characters of the guys. They sure complained about their wives and being married quite often and seemed really concerned that their wives would find out they were having a beer. This is where Margery, played by Blanche Savage, saved the scariness of the show. She knew what they were doing and most of the wives probably did too. The garage is just a place where they could let a load off and get away, they all loved their wives and family!

The show runs may 9, 10 and 11 at 8pm, tickets are available online at www.thelivery.ca or you can call 519-524-6262 or visit the box office at 35 South Street in Goderich – The box office is open:

Tuesday: 10 am – 1 pm
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 3 – 5.30 pm
Rush seats, if available, on sale 30 minutes before performance

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Another Successful Fish Fry in “Beantown”

27 Apr
Greg and Cheryl Becker, front and Carolyn and Peter Mathoni enjoy the Zurich Lion's Fish Fry

Greg and Cheryl Becker, front and Carolyn and Peter Mathoni enjoy the Zurich Lion’s Fish Fry

by Diva Kerri Gingerch

It’s not surprising that tickets were sold out before the end of the night for the 8th Annual Lions Club Fish Fry and Silent Auction held last Friday night in Zurich.

‘This year was one of the best yet’, says Lion / Bartender John Becker.  The meal, comprised of crispy, battered whitefish, tartar sauce, dinner roll, baked potato with butter and sour cream, coleslaw and pie for dessert was absolutely amazing and Chef Terry Johns and his crew did a fantastic job.  The intermittent rain didn’t put a damper on their spirits as they worked outside at the portable fryer that was their ‘kitchen’ for a good part of the evening.

You'll always find yummy desserts being served a community dinners in Huron County. Home-made pie is one of the most popular.

You’ll always find yummy desserts being served a community dinners in Huron County. Home-made pie is one of the most popular.

The hundreds of items graciously donated by area businesses for the silent auction also contributed significantly to the success of this fundraiser.  As a local resident since birth I think I can say that Zurich doesn’t exactly have the reputation of the classiest village in the area but what we do have is a lot of caring individuals who are actively involved and trying to make a difference, and this event was indeed a class-act.

The amount of work it must have been to put on an event of this magnitude is not something some might even consider but is something that really should be appreciated.  Go Lions!

 

Family Treasures and Talent

26 Apr
Quilting products and accessories for sale.

Quilting products and accessories for sale.

By Diva Trista Russell

As I mentioned in a previous post, the Bach Festival Heritage Quilt Exhibit was held a couple of  weeks ago in Exeter. They had visitors from London, Kitchener, Grand Bend, Goderich, Stratford, and many other towns and cities.

I have to admit that quilts have never been a great interest of mine, yet I was quite impressed at the intricate detail and talent it takes to create a quilt. Like works of art, each quilt had its own unique design. What was even more impressive was the heritage and stories behind each quilt, with some over 200 years old. I even found a quilt that had a connection to my own family!

Photos aren’t normally allowed to be taken at the Quilt Exhibit, as they want to encourage people to come out and view the quilts in person, so lucky readers of the Travel Divas blog get an exclusive peek. You can also find more photos on the Bach Music Festival’s website.

If you didn’t get a chance to visit this year, you can order a CD slideshow of the 2013 Quilt Exhibit. The tea room offers a variety choices for lunch, including my favourite: homemade pie. I was able to enjoy lunch in the tea room while watching the slideshow on TV…what a great idea!

This quilt originated during a fundraising campaign for the Exeter United Church. Men in the church were challenged to donate a tie and then the women in the church put the pattern together. This quilt hangs in the church sanctuary.

This quilt originated during a fundraising campaign for the Exeter United Church. Men in the church were challenged to donate a tie and then the women in the church put the pattern together. This quilt hangs in the church sanctuary.

The Quilt Exhibit is a fundraiser for the Bach Festival of Canada being held in South Huron on July 14-20, 2013.

Bach Music Festival of Canada
264 Main St, P.O. Box 253
Exeter, ON N0M 1S6

Phone: 519 235-2565

This quilt is stitched with French knots and is over 100 years old. The knotting is a very intricate technique.

This quilt is stitched with French knots and is over 100 years old. The knotting is a very intricate technique.

Part of the Bach Music Festival Team: Louise Fagan, Executive Director, and Jean Jacobe, Volunteer Coordinator.

This was the oldest quilt on display that I could find. It was made in 1795!!

This was the oldest quilt on display that I could find. It was made in 1795!!

Visitors viewing the items on display.

Visitors viewing the items on display.

Quilts, quilts, and more quilts!

Quilts, quilts, and more quilts!

People enjoying the Quilt Exhibit at the Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church in Exeter.

People enjoying the Quilt Exhibit at the Trivitt Memorial Anglican Church in Exeter.

This coverlet was made prior to 1851 and has been handed down through the generations.

This coverlet was made prior to 1851 and has been handed down through the generations.

This is a “crazy quilt” which refers to the crazy patchwork.

This is a “crazy quilt” which refers to the crazy patchwork.

This christening gown is 115 years old and is made for a three month old infant. This gown has been worn for four generations of one family, with plans to continue wearing this treasured keepsake for the fifth generation.

Not all quilts are traditional...B is for Bach!

Not all quilts are traditional…B is for Bach!

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