We spent our Labor Day weekend with our friends in Canada. Every year we travel to Stratford (Shakespeare Festival) and Niagara-on-the Lake (George Bernard Shaw Festival) in Canada to absorb as much Shakespeare as we can during this 3-4 day trip. The entire trip to Stratford (from Chicago) takes about 8-9 hours but we usually split it in half. We drive either to Detroit or Windsor, Canada; spend the night there and the next day we drive to Stratford. This time we drove to Detroit and spent the night at the
Westin Hotel by the airport. The hotel was wonderful, especially their famous heavenly bed. After a good night sleep we headed to Stratford.
Stratford is nestled in the picturesque heartland of Perth County in rural southwestern Ontario; this picturesque town offers world-class theater, great shopping, and first-rate dining experience. Truly, this is a paradise for Shakespeare lovers and of other fine playwrights. This year the
Stratford Festival of Canada season runs from April 10 through to November 4, 2007. This acclaimed theater company presents 14 plays in repertory in four distinct theaters around the city. We saw the musicals My one and only and Oklahoma and the plays Othello and Comedy of Errors. Indeed, we are like paratroopers who are on a mission of trying to see as many plays as we can – it means two a day. But of course, not everybody has to be like us. It is equally pleasant to just walk along the Avon River and feed the ducks and swans, have a picnic or shop in the lovely little boutiques on Ontario Street.
Naturally, we cannot forget to mention the dining here in Stratford. It is truly awesome. We especially love
Bijou (French cuisine with an ever-changing blackboard menu), the
Old Prune (superb food in a contemporary décor); and Rundles (the cuisine is based on French cookery with influences from Italy and Japan). I have to underline Bijou. It is absolutely our favorite restaurant in town and their braised, crispy duck leg is absolutely out of this world. I could eat there every night and the prices are very reasonable (they used to be even better when the dollar was stronger).
On Sunday morning – after we consumed our last breakfast at the Alexandra Inn (we stayed here seven years but this year the owners decided to close their doors to guests) we drove to
Niagara-on-the Lake, which is about an hour and a half drive from Stratford. It is the home to the Shaw Festival’s three theaters. This little town seems to attract visitors of many kinds: shoppers, history buffs, epicures, wine connoisseurs, gardeners, and those just seeking a leisurely escape. The town, set in a landscape of vineyards and orchards, is rich with beautifully restored architecture, lovingly tended parks and gardens, imaginative shops and galleries, a picturesque marina, luxury hotels and charming bed and breakfasts.
We saw an afternoon performance of G.B. Shaw’s
The Philanderer, which was a wonderfully performed witty play. The rest of the day we spent wondering around town and having a simple but scrumptious dinner (some awesome bread, salami, and cheese from DeLuca’s Cheese Market and Deli) at our B&B’s (
The Guy Wilson House) back porch. Next morning -- after a super-awesome gourmet breakfast -- we headed over to the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls – a wondrous sight to behold – (a mere 15 minute drive) before we headed back to Chicago. I cannot wait to return next year!
Stratford is nestled in the picturesque heartland of Perth County in rural southwestern Ontario; this picturesque town offers world-class theater, great shopping, and first-rate dining experience. Truly, this is a paradise for Shakespeare lovers and of other fine playwrights. This year the Stratford Festival of Canada season runs from April 10 through to November 4, 2007. This acclaimed theater company presents 14 plays in repertory in four distinct theaters around the city. We saw the musicals My one and only and Oklahoma and the plays Othello and Comedy of Errors. Indeed, we are like paratroopers who are on a mission of trying to see as many plays as we can – it means two a day. But of course, not everybody has to be like us. It is equally pleasant to just walk along the Avon River and feed the ducks and swans, have a picnic or shop in the lovely little boutiques on Ontario Street.
Naturally, we cannot forget to mention the dining here in Stratford. It is truly awesome. We especially love Bijou (French cuisine with an ever-changing blackboard menu), the Old Prune (superb food in a contemporary décor); and Rundles (the cuisine is based on French cookery with influences from Italy and Japan). I have to underline Bijou. It is absolutely our favorite restaurant in town and their braised, crispy duck leg is absolutely out of this world. I could eat there every night and the prices are very reasonable (they used to be even better when the dollar was stronger).
On Sunday morning – after we consumed our last breakfast at the Alexandra Inn (we stayed here seven years but this year the owners decided to close their doors to guests) we drove to Niagara-on-the Lake, which is about an hour and a half drive from Stratford. It is the home to the Shaw Festival’s three theaters. This little town seems to attract visitors of many kinds: shoppers, history buffs, epicures, wine connoisseurs, gardeners, and those just seeking a leisurely escape. The town, set in a landscape of vineyards and orchards, is rich with beautifully restored architecture, lovingly tended parks and gardens, imaginative shops and galleries, a picturesque marina, luxury hotels and charming bed and breakfasts.
We saw an afternoon performance of G.B. Shaw’s The Philanderer, which was a wonderfully performed witty play. The rest of the day we spent wondering around town and having a simple but scrumptious dinner (some awesome bread, salami, and cheese from DeLuca’s Cheese Market and Deli) at our B&B’s (The Guy Wilson House) back porch. Next morning -- after a super-awesome gourmet breakfast -- we headed over to the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls – a wondrous sight to behold – (a mere 15 minute drive) before we headed back to Chicago. I cannot wait to return next year!
No comments:
Post a Comment