Peter Blodgett of Darling Insurance hugs his son Jeff after being named Business Citizen of The Year at the 2017 Peterborough Chamber Business Excellence Awards at Showplace Performance Centre on October 18. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
Peter Blodgett was named the 2017 Business Citizen Of The Year at the 14th Annual Business Excellence Awards, presented by the Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce at Showplace Performance Centre last night (October 18).
Blodgett — owner of Darling Insurance with offices in Peterborough, Lakefield, Bobcaygeon, and Fenelon Falls — was recognized for his significant business and volunteer impact on the local community.
VIDEO: Peter Blodgett, 2017 Peterborough Business Citizen of the Year
There were also 24 other award recipients in 20 categories, with Kawartha Lakes Construction being recognized as Employer of the Year:
New Canadians Centre Peterborough (Not-For-Profit)
Kawartha Lakes Construction (Employer Of The Year)
Also announced were 4-Under-40 Profiles recipients (Jason Chessar, Yvonne Lai, Craig Mortlock, Catia Skinner) and two Student Business Leadership Bursaries recipients (Samantha Rivers at Fleming College and Patricia Hoyt at Trent University).
Kawartha Lakes Construction of Lakefield received the Employer of the Year award. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)4th Line Theatre in Millbrook won the Tourism award. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene won the Local Focus award. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)Celtic Connections in Lakefield won the Micro Business award. (Photo: Jeannine Taylor / kawarthaNOW.com)
The awards ceremony, previously a sit-down dinner event held at Trentwinds International Centre, moved to Showplace this year allowing more people to attend.
In all, more than 50 businesses and individuals were profiled in 20 categories, with recipients announced live on stage.
Here is the complete list of all nominees and recipients by category:
Jaime Akiyama, GreenUP Coordinator of Transportation Programs, is an avid fall cyclist who believes that you do not need special gear to extend your cycling season. Staying warm on your bike in fall means layering up and adding a few specific items to stay warm such as wool socks, gloves, and a scarf or Buff to keep your neck and ears warm. (Photo: Karen Halley)
Those of us who enjoy adventures around town on two wheels have had the opportunity to ride our bikes in warmer and drier conditions this fall. Nice weather sure makes commuting, market trips, and recreational rides more convenient and enjoyable than in the typical cold, fall weather we usually experience.
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Karen Halley, GreenUP Communications and Marketing Specialist.
Until recently, I have been a fair weather cyclist but this year I am extending my riding a bit later in the season, so that I can cut down on my driving and fit some more exercise into my day. Unfortunately, I get cold easily so usually my biggest barrier to fall riding is the weather and we are starting to get more typical conditions.
Fall is finally here so, thankfully, many of my colleagues at GreenUP are avid bike commuters and they have offered some insider tips about how to prepare for fall rides. As it turns out, I’m not the only one who feels the cold.
“My feet are my limiting factor for cycling,” explains GreenUP Coordinator of Transportation Programs Jaime Akiyama, “I love thick woolly socks that keep my toes warm when I’m not yet into winter boots. Tall socks are important too because I often have one pant leg rolled up. Merino wool socks are the best because they don’t make me cold if I get a bit sweaty.”
Kristen Laroque, GreenUP’s Store Coordinator, loves cycling-specific gear for their regular commutes. Insulated cycling gloves are designed for grip and dexterity, providing cushioning on handlebar pressure points; their jeans were specifically designed with urban bike commuting in mind, featuring a slim leg, higher waist, stretchy fabric, reinforced stitching, and reflectors along the legs. (Photo: Karen Halley)
For GreenUP Store Coordinator Kristen LaRocque, it’s her hands that need protection:.
“I can’t ride without my insulated cycling gloves. Warm hands are essential for autumn riding. Any gloves will work but cycling-specific gloves are available and designed with grip and dexterity in mind.”
I have found that it is challenging to choose the right clothing for fall cycling. The variation in temperatures from my morning commute to my evening ride home can be tricky to navigate. My colleagues tell me that the answer is layering.
“It can be hard to dress for comfortable cycling in the fall because the temperature in the morning can be so dramatically different from the afternoon temperature,” explains GreenUP Executive Director Brianna Salmon. “I usually bundle up in the morning and then store all my layers in my panniers on the way home.”
GreenUP’s Executive Director Brianna Salmon’s bicycle is outfitted with components that help protect clothing from the elements. A full chain guard protects pant legs and footwear from grease and grit, and a pair of long fenders help protect clothing from splashing puddles while keeping feet dry too. (Photo: Karen Halley)
Akiyama agrees.
“Autumn is all about layering. So often my ride in the morning is a wee-bit chilly but by midday I am stripping down to the bottom layer. You don’t need to have special gear — just lots of layers.”
It is also a challenge to avoid being cold before my body warms up, and then also be dressed in layers without getting too hot and sweaty along the way. I find that wearing a jacket with a full front closure helps. It can be easily unzipped once I have warmed up along my route.
“I love my Buff!” shares Akiyama about his thin tube-like scarf. “I can pull it up over my ears to block a chilly breeze, and once I warm up, or if the temperature warms up, I can pull it down and let it hang loose on my neck.”
At this time of year, the weather can be very unpredictable, so GreenUP Water Programs Coordinator Jenn McCallum suggests not forgetting your rain gear.
“It’s always a good idea to pack a rain coat in case of changes in the weather. Also, if I know the rain is coming, my rubber boots are key.”
GreenUP Water Programs Coordinator Jenn McCallum, who is a regular bike commuter, bundles up for a fall cycling with rubber boots to keep her feet and legs from getting soaked, and a light balaclava to keep ears and head warm under her helmet. (Photo: Karen Halley)
I really admire my colleagues’ ability to tough-it through cold and wet conditions! I’m not one to ride in the rain so if I get caught without rain gear, I have a 10-ride transit pass tucked away in my wallet. That way, if the weather is miserable when I leave work, I can take the bus home in the evening.
Proper clothing is key to making your fall ride more comfortable, but adding a few options to your bicycle can help too.
Salmon recommends a chain guard and fenders.
“I have installed a chain guard and fenders on both of my commuter bikes, summer and winter, so that I don’t get sprayed by puddles or get greasy from the chain. I particularly like long fenders that protect my shoes and boots from getting wet.”
In fall, you’ll also want to keep an eye on the light. Fall light fades quickly and often your commute can be darker then expected. Have lights with you all the time, just i ncase. Lights should be on half an hour before dusk and dawn to make sure you are visible. Daytime running lights can also drastically improve safety, especially in foggy conditions.
With so much preparation required to cycle comfortably in fall, I wonder what keeps my colleagues motivated to hop on their bike when it seems like such an effort.
McCallum gives us her perspective:
“I love the scent of fallen leaves, to hear them crunch under my wheels, and to sense the changing weather. The leaves at this time of year are so beautiful and what better way to enjoy them than while riding a bicycle?”
I can agree with my office mate. While the ride usually starts out cold, I warm up quickly as the heat I generate from my effort balances out with the cool morning air. Each morning I enjoy my downhill glide to work and at the end of the day I look forward to a challenging climb back up to the north end.
The Spill in downtown Peterborough closed permanently on October 18, 2017, and a group of supporters are hosting a fundraiser for owner Dave Tobey. (Photo: Peterborough DBIA)
When Dave Tobey, owner of The Spill in downtown Peterborough, announced last Wednesday (October 18) that the venue was closing permanently, patrons and performers alike were heartbroken.
The intimate space was popular for hosting both arts-related events and live music, particularly from independent artists and musicians who were just starting out.
While The Spill had closed before due to financial issues (most recently for a month this summer), it was always only temporary. Tobey had always found a way to keep the overcome the challenges and keep the venue open.
Now the local arts and culture community is paying back Tobey’s contribution by hosting a fundraising event called “We Love The Spill: A Tribute to Dave Tobey”.
Dave Tobey, owner of The Spill in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
The fundraiser, with all proceeds going to Tobey, takes place on Wednesday, November 8th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough).
Organized by musicians Tanner Paré (drummer with Lindsay band The Kents) and Rhys Climenhage, the musical line-up so far includes Nick Ferrio, Melissa Payne, Rhys Climenhage, Mary-Kate Edwards, and Jesse Foster. There are also plans to hold a silent auction.
“The beating heart of The Spill was Dave Tobey, who put in countless hours to accommodate and encourage the art and culture community,” Paré writes on the Facebook event page. “Dave has worked tirelessly, often sacrificing other parts of his life to make sure the pirate ship that was the Spill stayed afloat.”
The Spill was an intimate and inclusive performance venue hosting arts and live music events almost daily, with a focus on independent artists and those launching their careers. (Photo: Andy Carroll)
Tickets for the all-ages licensed show are $17 in advance or $20 at the door, and will be available on Tuesday, October 24th in person at the Market Hall box office, by phone at 705-749-1146, or online at markethall.org.
For those unable to attend the show or who want to support Tobey, Paré has also launched a crowdfunding campaign called We Love The Spill on GoFundMe.
A pine slab coffee table from The Buckhorn Furniture Company, one of the newest members of the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. (Photo: The Buckhorn Furniture Company)
The final B.O.S.S. (Business Owners Sharing Solutions) workshop of the year is taking place Wednesday, October 25th from 5 to 7 p.m. at Westwind Inn on the Lake.
This workshop will focus on effective networking and will include a speed networking portion. Chamber members Tonya Kraan of Strexer Harrop & Associates, Scott Matheson of CIBC Lakefield, and Tom LaBranche of Village Pet Food & Supply will discuss networking techniques, and share tips and tricks for effective networking and how it can benefit you as a business professional.
The final B.O.S.S. workshop of the year will focus on effective networking and will include a speed networking portion.
Invite a guest to join you. The workshop is free for Chamber members and $10 for future members. Register now. This event is free of charge for Chamber Members thanks to Professional Development Sponsor Lynn Woodcroft, Sales Representative, Royal LePage Frank Real Estate.
Congratulations Awards of Excellence Finalists
Finalists for the 18th Annual Awards of Excellence were announced last week. Congratulations to all nominees!
The confidential judges panel is comprised of five judges. The judges had some very difficult decisions to make once again this year, and chose more than three finalists for some categories.
The finalists for the 18th Annual Awards of Excellence have been announced and the awards will be presented on November 3rd at the Awards of Excellence Gala.
Tickets for the 18th Annual Awards of Excellence Gala are selling quickly, so purchase your seats now. This evening is the Chamber’s premiere event of the year, celebrating local business and presenting the Awards of Excellence.
Tickets are $85 each plus HST. Dinner includes: a choice of soup or salad; Elmhirst’s roast beef, poached salmon, or butternut squash spaghetti; and a dessert buffet. See the full menu.
A special room rate is available for those booking for the night of the Awards Gala. Call Elmhirst’s Resort at 705-295-4591 and mention you are booking for the Chamber Awards of Excellence Gala on November 3rd.
Couples Getaway – $1632 Value – Bid Now!
The Chamber’s Annual Awards Gala is fast approaching! Each year, the Chamber has many fabulous items up for bid. To get you ready, the CHamber is starting its outside bid auction early this year with an excellent item: a 2 Night Stay at Couples Resort & Algonquin Spa! The value of this package is $1,632. (Note: restrictions apply).
Submit your maximum bid by emailing generalmanager@kawarthachamber.ca with the subject line “Couples Resort Auction Bid.” The current highest bid is $600. The auction will close October 22nd, 2017 at midnight.
Enjoy a 5 Star Resort & Spa, All-Inclusive Boutique Algonquin Jr. Suite including private hot tub, king bed, wood burning fire place, free breakfast in bed daily, free 5-course meal for 2 daily (semi-formal attire with tie), free Algonquin Park pass for trails and museum, free limited sports equipment. Learn more.
All proceeds support the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, advocating for local business and promoting tourism in the Kawarthas.
Know Your Power Cobourg – November 15th
Navigating energy-efficiency programs for business
Chamber members are invited to a breakfast event on Wednesday, November 15th, to learn about energy cost-saving programs and incentives available to Ontario businesses.
The event is being held at the Best Western Plus Cobourg Inn & Convention Centre, 930 Burnham St., Cobourg. Registration and breakfast is at 9 a.m., and the program runs from 9:30 to 11 a.m. There is no charge to attend. Register here.
The event will bring together representatives from your local distribution company, natural gas distributor and the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO), along with businesses and community leaders from the region, to share information about available energy saving programs and how to enroll. You will also have the opportunity to network with other local job creators who are interested in giving their businesses a competitive edge through energy efficiencies and retrofits, and hear success stories from those who have already benefited.
Comprehensive, Pro-Growth Policies Needed in 2018 Provincial Election
Ontario’s Chamber Network provides recommendations to Drive Economic Development to the Forefront of Political Discourse
The Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, in partnership with the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released Vote Prosperity, a platform and campaign outlining the Ontario business community’s priorities for the upcoming 2018 provincial election.
Vote Prosperity provides a series of proactive recommendations that all of Ontario’s political parties should adopt to ensure growth for the province’s economy.
It’s Small Business Week, and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce has teamed up with the WSIB for its Small Business Too Big To Ignore campaign to continue to raise awareness of the important contributions small businesses are making to local communities and the economy.
Join the conversation on social media with the hash tag #TooBig2Ignore.
Ontario Chamber of Commerce Business Confidence Survey
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce invites you to complete their Business Confidence Survey. Data collected will provide powerful insights into the state of our province’s economy allowing the OCC to expand the Chamber Network’s influence with government.
Your participation will directly impact the direction of OCC policy work, communications strategy, and government relations. Take the survey.
Canada Green Corps Wage-Subsidy Programme
Green Corps is a competitive post-graduate internship programme that supports carbon reduction efforts and green innovation, while minimizing the costs of these initiatives to business.
The Government of Canada covers up to 65 per cent of a Green Corps intern’s wages, allowing small-medium sized enterprises to offer more competitive compensation packages that attract top talent. The young professionals accepted into this programme are exceptional: highly educated, passionate, and technically-savvy.
Applicants must pass an intensive four-stage screening process, including a final interview with the potential employer themselves.
The deadline for employer applications is December 31, 2017. For more information, please email Project Officer Lowine Hill at lowine.hill@unac.org or Project Officer Kanchan Muti at kanchan.muti@unac.org.
Molly’s Acres is a small family farm located outside of Buckhorn.
Our lettuces, greens and herbs are grown at Molly’s Acres using an environmentally sustainable aeroponic technology. We combine the use of natural mineral plant food with our Tower Garden system. Using this technology, Molly’s Acres uses 90% less space, 95% less water, and 100% less harmful pesticides compared to traditional soil-based agriculture. Root vegetables and more space-demanding produce are still grown in soil.
We are proud to say that all our products are grown without the use of harmful pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides.
Selling Food to Ontario Workshop – October 26th
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development has partnered with OMAFRA to bring back the popular “Selling Food to Ontario” workshop.
This day-long workshop is a series of educational modules bringing together producers and small food processors to learn how to address various issues such as food safety and pricing. Ministry specialists can help business owners and managers learn more about different sales channels, how they work, and how to decide which channels may be best for their business.
The workshop is taking place on Thursday, October 26th, from 9 a.m. to 4 .m. at the Fire Training Room, 21 Third St., Keene. Tickets are $13, available at selling-food-2017.eventbrite.ca.
LYU Love Lakefield Survey
The Love Lakefield survey aims to help Lakefield Youth Unlimited better understand the needs in the Lakefield (and area) community.
It will help LYU plan for the new school year and serve children and youth in our community better!
Experience Trinity College School and all it has to offer
How do Trinity College School students describe their experience in three words? Complete, illuminating, energetic. TCS students appreciate that school needs to be more than just reaching their academic potential — it’s about exploring all facets of themselves and the realization of passions, talents and skills that reach far beyond the classroom walls. Realize what’s within.
To learn more about the TCS experience, Trinity College School invites you to join them on campus for an open house on Saturday, October 21st. For more information, visit www.tcs.on.ca/openhouse or contact the admissions office at 905-885-3209.
Prospective students for Grades 9 to 12 can also participate in a Spend a Day or Spend a Day/Night event on October 20th. For more information, please contact the admissions office at 905-885-3209.
Peterborough Airport Engagement Survey
The Peterborough Airport is pleased to announce a public engagement exercise to determine public support for commuter air service between Peterborough Airport and Toronto Island Airport (Billy Bishop Airport).
The first step in attracting a commuter airline to Peterborough is understanding market demand. Take a short survey with nine questions and a comment section.
Upcoming Events
From the Runway to the Causeway – October 18th
Lakefield Youth Unlimited Lunch and Dinner – October 19th
Abuse Prevention of Older Adults, Bridgenorth – October 20th
Buckhorn Pumpkinfest – October 20th & 21st
For more information about the businesses and events listed above, please visit the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce & Tourism website at kawarthachamber.ca.
All photos supplied by Kawartha Chamber of Commerce except where noted.
The cast and crew of "Evil Dead The Musical" ham it up on stage for a preview performance. Killer Tree Productions' version of the cult musical horror comedy runs for four performances from October 18 to 20 at the Market Hall in Peterborough. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
Get ready to do the Necronomicon!
One of the most anticipated shows of the year, Evil Dead The Musical opens at the Market Hall in downtown Peterborough on Wednesday, October 18th. Directed by Caitlin O’Connor and produced by Barb Mills, Evil Dead The Musical is the inaugural production of Peterborough’s newest theatre company, Killer Tree Productions, and is a perfect fun-filled Halloween favourite with four performances between October 18th and 20th.
Evil Dead The Musical is an unlikely Canadian theatre success story. Performed throughout the world, the show has amassed it own cult following which is as devoted to the stage show as to the original films that inspired it.
Killer Tree Productions presents Evil Dead The Musical
When: Wednesday, October 18 to Friday, October 20, 2017 at 8 p.m.; Friday, October 20, 2017 at midnight Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough) How much: $23 in advance ($28 at door), $18 students, $33 for “Splatter Zone”
Tickets are available at the Market Hall box office, by phone at 705-749-1146, online at markethall.org, or at Moondance Records (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425, cash only).
A musical comedy retelling of Sam Raimi’s classic horror films The Evil Dead (1981) and Evil Dead II (1987) featuring Bruce Campbell as larger-than-life hero Ash Williams, the stage show was originally developed as a class project by four Queen’s University theatre students (Christopher Bond, Frank Cipolla, Melissa Morris, and George Reinblatt) who brought the show at the Randolph Theatre in 2003.
After a sellout success of its initial run, the show made headlines a year later when it became a festival favourite at the Montreal Comedy Festival. Due to its outstanding success, Evil Dead The Musical found a home off-Broadway in New York City in 2006, sealing its place in musical theatre canon, with the show’s popularity growing as theatre companies throughout the world have embraced this offbeat but beloved production.
Anybody who has seen the Evil Dead films knows the story, and the musical doesn’t stray very far from its source material. Five college students — Ash Williams (Andrew Little), his girlfriend Linda (Caitlin O’Connor), best friend Scotty (Lance Issacs), party girl Cheryl (Carly Evans), and Ash’s dorky sister Shelly (Lindsay Barr) — go for a spring break trip to an isolated cabin in the woods.
In “Evil Dead The Musical”, five college students (Lance Issacs as Scotty, Carly Evans as Shelly, Lindsay Barr as Cheryl, Caitlin O’Connor as Linda, and Andrew Little as Ash) head to an old isolated cabin in the woods where they inadvertently awake evil demons. Music, blood, and hilarity ensue. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
Upon arrival, the group discover a tape recorder owned by the cabin’s missing inhabitant, Professor Knosby. When they play the tape, they hear Knosby reciting passages from the fabled Necronomicon Ex-Mortis (a.k.a. “The Book of the Dead”). The incantations open up a floodgate of evil and what was supposed to be a fun holiday filled with friendship, togetherness, and premarital sex turns into a fight for survival as Ash and his friend’s battle for their souls against a Deadite army of Kandarian demons.
Meanwhile, in a plot ripped out of Evil Dead II, Professor Knosby’s daughter Annie (Meisha Browne) and her fiancé Ed (Addison Wylie) hire woodsy hillbilly Jake (Brandon Remmelgas) to lead them through the dark words filled with killer trees to the cursed cabin in search for Annie’s missing father — not realizing the eternal battle between good and evil already taking place at their destination.
Evil Dead The Musical is a show filled with everything: music, romance, comedy, good times, and Deadite bloodshed. Killing demons has never sounded this good!
Andrew Little as the hero Ash and Caitlin O’Connor (also the musical’s director) as his girlfriend Linda. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
The fun thing about Evil Dead The Musical is that it is not only a send up of horror films and the Evil Dead movies, but musical theatre as well. Audiences don’t go to this musical expecting to see something of the calibre of Hamilton or Les Misérables. Evil Dead The Musical doesn’t try to be anything except what it is: a campy and over-the-top show filled with stupid puns and silly sight gags that pokes fun at its own ridiculousness. The whole thing is a giant joke that both the actors and the audience are in on.
Andrew Little as Ash Williams with his iconic hand chainsaw. After he is forced to cut off his own demon-possessed hand, Ash straps a chainsaw in its place, his preferred Deadite-fighting weapon. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
With the exception of a handful of actors, most of Killer Tree Production’s cast of Evil Dead The Musical is made up of performers who are well-seasoned musicians performing musical theatre for the first time.
It is great to see some new faces in the cast, and not a cast made up of the usual suspects but, as a result, Evil Dead The Musical isn’t as polished as some of the larger Peterborough musicals jam packed with performers who have been doing musical theatre for years. Personally, I enjoyed the rawness of the performances, and the more seasoned actors truly support the others on stage. The comraderie of the cast is very evident, adding to the likeability of the production.
Andrew Little has huge shoes to fill in playing the iconic role of Ash, but he manages to walk the fine tightrope of creating homage to Bruce Campbell without doing an impersonation.
Andrew truly understands the role of Ash and plays him with tons of bravado and with his tongue firmly stuck in his cheek. Ash Williams is a perfect role for Andrew, and he brings a true sense of fun to the role. While he’s the star of the show, Andrew is a giving actor who allows the performers around him to have their individual moments. Whether he is fighting with his own demon-possessed hand, arguing with a crocheted moose head, or decapitating demons, Andrew is a lot of fun to watch.
However, the break-out star of the show is definitely Lindsay Barr as Ash’s sister Cheryl. Making her acting debut, the popular Peterborough musician steals every scene. Lindsay has great comedic timing, first as a prudish and dorky kid sister with a slurpy lisp, and then as a creepy possessed pun-sprouting demon that taunts Ash and company with some of the silliest lines of the night. Lindsay is simultaneously terrifying and hilarious and a total delight to watch. As someone who knows how to already work an audience, she has taken this ability and applied it to what will hopefully become a continuing acting career. Her performance is a blast.
Local musician Lindsay Barr knocks it out of the musical theatre park in her role as Ash’s dorky sister Cheryl. After she suddenly turns into a demon, her friends chain her in the cellar. (Photo: Sam Tweedle / kawarthaNOW.com)
One of the things that really make Evil Dead The Musical work are the memorable songs written for the show. With such great songs such as “Cabin in the Woods”, “Housewares Employee”, “What the Fuck Was That?”, “Bit-Part Demon”, and the show-stopping “Do the Necronomicon”, the music is surprisingly singable. With a great band led by Ryan Browne and the cast filled with seasoned musicians and singers, Evil Dead The Musical is strongest when the performers are singing, and its musical numbers are truly entertaining.
The musical moment of the show goes to Brandon Remmelgas’ performance of “Good Old Reliable Jake”. I’m not sure if Brandon was allowed to just do his own choreography for the number, but it’s a great bit that is really a lot of fun. Brandon also teams up with Andrew to back up Meisha Browne’s equally strong number “All the Men in My Life Keep Getting Killed by Kandarian Demons”. While every musical number in the show has an entertaining moment, these two are easily the best of the night.
The thing to remember about Evil Dead The Musical is that it is exactly what you think it is. Is it the best musical you’re going to see this year? Possibly not. But is it going to be the funnest? Most likely yes.
If you don’t think that Evil Dead The Musical is going to be your thing, then it probably isn’t. But it is the perfect show for people who may not go to traditional musicals: people who love horror, racy humour, foul language, ridiculous comedy, and tons of gore. It might not be for everybody, but it’s ideal for anybody looking for a fun way to celebrate the Halloween season.
Caitlin O’Connor and her company have really made their mark on Peterborough with Evil Dead The Musical. I look forward to see what off-beat production they bring to the Market Hall next. Peterborough’s theatre scene has a lot of room for more unconventional productions like this one.
Just a note of caution about the show’s self-described “splatter zone”, one of the key features of Evil Dead The Musical. As Ash and friends battle the Deadites, stage blood and guts soak the audience members in the first few rows. Audience members who come to the show traditionally dress in white so they can wear the “blood” like a badge after leaving the theatre. For those who delight in this sort of spectacle, it’s a great feature of the show which is tons of fun. But audience members who would much rather avoid being splattered with stage blood will want to get a seat further back from the stage. Otherwise, be sure to dress accordingly and be prepared for the possibility of being doused in demon blood.
Evil Dead The Musical runs for four performances from October 18th to 20th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St. E, Peterborough). Shows start at 8 p.m., with a special midnight performance on Friday, October 20th. Advance tickets are $23 general admission ($28 at the door), $18 for students, and $33 for seats in the “splatter zone” (see caution above).
Over the past six weeks, performance artist Brian Solomon has been working with community members and professional dance artists to choreograph "Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring", an Indigenous re-envisioning of the 1913 avant-garde ochestral ballet by Igor Stravinsky. The free community dance performance, with Stravinsky's original score re-imagined and performed by Indigenous musician Melody McKiver, takes place October 19 and 20 at an Anishinaabe burial site in downtown Peterborough. (Photo: Public Energy)
When Igor Stravinsky’s orchestral ballet “The Rite of Spring” premiered in Paris in 1913, it was so ahead of its time that it created scandal and provoked a near-riot in the audience.
Public Energy presents Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring
When: Thursday, October 19 and Friday, October 20, 2017 at 6 p.m. Where: Brock St. Parking Lot (near Brock & George Streets) How much: Free
A 45-minute community dance performance choreographed by Brian Solomon and performed by members of the community and professional dance artists. There are two performances, one on Thursday and one on Friday.
Don’t expect either a scandal or a near-riot this Thursday and Friday when Public Energy presents “Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring”, but you can certainly expect something equally unique.
The free outdoor dance performance, choreographed by performance artist Brian Solomon, will bring together more than 20 members of the local community along with professional dance artists, for an Indigenous re-imagining of Stravinsky’s notorious ballet. There are two performances of “Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring”, one on Thursday, October 19th and one on Friday, October 20th, and both begin at 6 p.m.
And what makes “Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring” even more special is that it takes place at a little-known Anishinaabe burial site in downtown Peterborough, near the Brock Street parking lot.
Solomon, who is of Anishinaabe and Irish descent, is a graduate of the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and holds an MA of performance from the Laban Centre in the U.K. Nominated for multiple Gemini and Dora Awards, Solomon has presented his works across Canada, Berlin, Ingolstadt, Bamberg, Amsterdam, and London U.K. He has also taught for several arts institutions and companies, including one of Europe’s foremost universities for acting, H.F.S. Ernst Busch (Berlin).
For the past six weeks, Solomon has been artist in residence at Public Energy in partnership with Trent University. During that time, he has been leading workshops for local community organizations (including Nogojiwanong Friendship Centre, YES Shelter for Youth and Families, LOFT Downtown Youth Space, and New Canadians Centre) and, through the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies, giving workshops for Trent University students.
He has also been working with more than 20 members of the community — ranging in age from three to over 70 years old — to develop the choreography of “Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring”, with space for weekly workshops and rehearsals being donated by Artspace and Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies.
Indigenous performance artist Brian Solomon staged a similar community dance performance in London, U.K. in 2013. (Photo: Julieta Hernandez)
“It’s very unique to have a dance artist come and spend six weeks in the community developing a performance like this,” says Public Energy’s performance curator Victoria Mohr-Blakeney. “Brian has such a gentle and open teaching style. It really makes people feel comfortable and helps them get into their bodies.”
For his part, Solomon says he’s “passionate about community-engaged arts and helping people relearn about their forgotten bodies, and take back the space those bodies occupy.”
In addition to members of the community, Solomon has also been working with dance artists Mariana Meinke and Whitney Hewitt as well as other performance professionals who will perform in “Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring”.
As for the performance itself, it takes place in the area of the Brock Street Parking Lot, on Brock Street near George Street in downtown Peterborough — on the site of an Anishinaabe burial site.
Through “Nogojiwanong Rite of Spring”, Solomon hopes to both raise awareness about the significance of the site and to honour the site, creating an opportunity to build knowledge and understanding around the history and significance of this place.
Dancers from the original production of “The Rite of Spring” posing in costumes by Russian painter and archaeologist Nicholas Roerich, who based the costume designs on Russian peasant folklore and early pagan customs. (Public domain photo)
The performance will re-envision Stravinsky’s “The Rite of Spring” through a contemporary Indigenous lens, with Stravinsky’s score re-imagined and performed by Melody McKiver (a Two-Spirit Anishinaabe violist, composer, powwow dancer and media artist and member of Obishikokaang Lac Seul First Nation in the Treaty #3 territories in Sioux Lookout).
“The Rite of Spring” is a ballet and orchestral concert choreographed by Vaslav Nijinsky and composed by Stravinsky, who was virtually unknown at the time, for the 1913 Paris season of Sergei Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes company. When it premiered at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris on May 29, 1913, its avant-garde music and choreography provoked outrage and a near-riot in the audience.
It is now widely considered to be one of the most seminal musical works of the 20th century, influencing jazz, miminalism, and other contemporary movements.
This is not the first time Solomon has staged a community dance re-interpreting “The Rite of Spring”. In 2013, he mounted a similar production, called “South London’s Rite of Spring”, in London, U.K. — on the centenary of the London premiere of the original “The Rite of Spring”.
“I felt that this primordial piece really demanded a cast of all ages and abilities to create a fuller atmosphere for the brutal story of death and sacrifice,” Solomon said of the London performance.
“By bringing together professionals and members of the local community with no prior experience to train together, we have been able to generate something much more powerful and strikingly real.”
For the first and only time, the City of Peterborough will be updating the Veterans Wall of Honour at Confederation Square to add the names of veterans who were missing from lists when the wall was originally installed in October 2010. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
The City of Peterborough is asking for the public’s help to verify the names of soldiers who are missing from the Veterans Wall of Honour.
Installed in Confederation Square across from City Hall in October 2010, the Veterans Wall of Honour includes 12 granite stone panels arranged in a semi-circle around the Peterborough Cenotaph. The panels are currently inscribed with the names of 10,382 men and women who served Canada in World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
Although the city and a group of volunteers worked to ensure all names of veterans in the City and County of Peterborough were included on the wall, some additional names have since surfaced that were missing from the original lists.
The city plans to add all verified missing names to the wall in the spring of 2018. As this will be the only time additional names will be added to the wall, the city is asking for the public’s help in identifying any missing names.
A few of the 10,382 names of local veterans who served with the Canadian forces in the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War currently listed on the Veterans Wall of Honour. (Photo: City of Peterborough)
Anyone with information about a veteran whose name is missing from the wall is asked to contact Erik Hanson, Heritage Resources Coordinator at the City of Peterborough, at 705-742-7777 ext. 1489 or ehanson@peterborough.ca.
For a name to be included on the wall, at least one of the following criteria must be met:
The enlisted person must have been born in the City or County of Peterborough; or
The person must have enlisted in the City or the County, including those who came from other communities and enlisted in the City or County; or,
After discharge, the person must have moved to the City or County prior to December 31st, 1970 and remained a permanent resident from that date forward.
The city will accept names until January 31st, 2018.
For the 2018 Win This Space competition in downtown Peterborough, entrepreneurs have until November 25th to submit a one- to three-minute video pitching their business idea. The top 10 finalists will be selected by November 30th, with the final winner announced in March 2018. (Graphic: Win This Space)
Win This Space, a competition where local entrepreneurs compete for a chance to win a free one-year lease of a downtown Peterborough storefront, has returned for its second year.
The launch event was held earlier today (October 17) at 182-1/2 Charlotte Street in downtown Peterborough — one of the seven spaces available to be won.
The contest is a partnership between the Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA), Peterborough Economic Development (PED), StartUP Peterborough, and Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC), and is supported by almost 40 business, community, and media sponsors and partners.
Entrepreneurs have until 4 p.m. on November 25th to submit a one-to-three minute video pitching their business idea at winthisspace.com.
Entrants must be 19 years of age or older, legally living in Ontario, and have a business as sole proprietorship or in partnership (no franchises, cafes, or restaurants will be considered).
A panel of eight judges will then select the top 10 finalists by November 30th. After attending an orientation in December and three mandatory workshops in January, the 10 finalists will submit their business plans and make their final pitches to the judges in February, and the winner will be announced at The Venue in downtown Peterborough on March 1, 2018.
Judges for the 2018 Win This Space competition are Brij Sahni, Bryan Buchanan, Dean Findlay, Jeff Day, Michael Konopaski, Mike Watt, Sandy Greenberg, and Sofie Andreou. (Photos: Win This Space)
The successful finalist wins her or his choice of one of seven storefronts in downtown Peterborough, with a free lease for 12 months. To cover rent payments for the year-long lease, 12 sponsors will each adopt a month and contribute $2,000 towards that month’s lease.
As well as the free lease, the winning entrepreneur will receive products and services from the competition’s sponsors totalling more than $40,000.
The eight judges for the 2018 competition are Brij Sahni (Owner, Peterborough Inn and Suites Hotel), Bryan Buchanan (General Manager, Shorelines Slots at Kawartha Downs), Dean Findlay (Chief Building Official, Building Division, City of Peterborough), Jeff Day (Executive Director, Community Futures Peterborough), Michael Konopaski (Managing Director, Inclusive Advisory), Mike Watt (Owner, Flavour Fashion, Plush Boutique, S.O.S. Save Our Soles, Ptbo Northern Originals), Sandy Greenberg (Business Advisory Centre Lead, Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development), and Sofie Andreou (Founder, Sofie Andreou & Associates).
This space at 447 George Street, just north of Brock Street, is one of seven spaces in downtown Peterborough available to be won. (Photo: Win This Space)
The seven storefronts available in the 2018 competition are 183 Charlotte Street, 410 George Street, 194 Charlotte Street, 182-1/2 Charlotte Street, 447 George Street, 372 George Street, and 351 George Street #A/1. For more information about the spaces visit winthisspace.com/the-spaces/.
Win This Space concepts have been very successful in other Canadian cities, boosting economic development while stimulating new downtown storefront businesses and creating jobs.
“It’s exciting to see all the creative ideas people have for their dream of what they would do with a downtown storefront,” says Terry Guiel, Executive Director of the Downtown Business Improvement Area. “Win This Space is more than just filling vacancies or creating jobs, it’s about inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs to take that next bold step.”
Tina Bromely of Tiny Greens, which produces edible microgreens, was the winner of the inaugural Peterborough competition in 2017.
Sponsors for the 2018 Win This Space competition are:
Kyla Gutsche, founder and owner of Cosmetic Transformations, a renowned cosmetic and medical micropigmentation company in Peterborough that can enhance or restore features people have lost due to illness, trauma, surgery or the aging process. (Photo: Ash Nayler Photography)
When Kyla Gutsche was little, she wanted to be a Formula One championship racer and Prime Minister of Canada — at the same time. She laughs about it now but, even if her dream was unrealistic, Kyla could never have predicted what she would become: one of the world’s leading medical tattoo artists.
Through her company Cosmetic Transformations, Kyla restores peoples’ appearances when they have been marred by illness, trauma, surgery, or even age. In many cases, she offers these people a new lease on life.
“People naturally know that physical injury carries deep emotional scars,” Kyla says. “Restoring the physical appearance can have a very profound affect on a person’s emotional wellbeing.”
Kyla has first-hand experience — she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when she was 26. She survived the cancer, but it destroyed her emotionally.
The treatment left her without eyebrows, and the permanent make-up procedure she underwent to help restore her eyebrows was a disaster. A second procedure to fix that disaster and replace the pigment in her lips caused an allergic reaction so severe she could barely face the world.
“It’s psychologically disturbing to look in the mirror and not recognize yourself,” she says, recounting her experience. “The emotional scars that accompany physical ones can be debilitating.”
After surviving ovarian cancer at the age of 26, Kyla Gutsche was left without eyebrows. After undergoing two unsuccessful cosmetic procedures, Kyla decided to apply her own visual arts background so that others could avoid similar experiences and have the renewed confidence to face and enjoy the world. (Graphic: Cosmetic Transformations)
If it weren’t for her father, Kyla’s story might have been significantly different. Her father took a year off work and dragged his daughter out of her house — and out of her depression.
“He basically told me ‘If you can’t find a way to love yourself the way your mother and I love you, maybe you can find a way to love other people’.
Father and daughter volunteered in the community with young people.
“He was right. I found myself again, helping others.”
With the doctorate in visual arts she held from Oxford University — and a special interest in medical illustration — Kyla now had a personal experience to motivate that career. She turned her life to helping restore other’s appearances.
She focused on developing a process that would not leave clients in the same state she had found herself. Kyla co-developed a dispersant that enables the artist or surgeon to layer pigments in the skin or scarring, so that the results simulate the translucency of normal skin. She trained with international leaders in the industry, with plastic surgeons, and even apprenticed with prisoners tattooing on the inside under the watchful eye of the wardens!
Kyla Gutsche is one of the world’s leading providers of micropigmentation tattoos, including semi-permanent make-up, replacement eyebrows, 3D areolas, and scar camouflage. She has recently expanded her services to include decorative tattooing with medically safe pigments in a medical atmosphere. (Graphic: Cosmetic Transformations)
Kyla has won two Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards (2011), the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s Innovation Award in 2012, and was named Peterborough Business Woman of the Year in 2013. Her dispersant is patented and sold in 52 countries, and her expertise and care have received international attention, with clients travelling from as far away as Australia and The Middle East. Even surgeons from Japan and Milan have come to Peterborough to learn her specialized techniques.
Kyla recently partnered with Peterborough’s first female plastic surgeon, Dr. Jennifer Klok, to create a center of excellence for reconstructive services that has put Peterborough on the map.
Now, from their office on the top floor of the Medical Arts Clinic on Charlotte Street (the former office of the late prominent Peterborough physician Andrew Chan), Kyla performs half of her services for free to young trauma survivors.
“I do this as a tribute to Dr. Chan and his staff who contributed so much to the community,” she says. “They have inspired me to do the same.”
Cosmetic Transformations is located on the top floor of the Medical Arts Clinic (Suite 301, 272 Charlotte Street) in Peterborough.
Restorative services at Cosmetic Transformations include eyelash and eyebrow simulation, lip enhancement, scar and vitiligo camouflage (with either the client’s skin tones or decorative images that empower them), as well as three-dimensional areola and nipple restoration.
Kyla has recently expanded her services to include decorative tattooing with medically safe pigments in a medical atmosphere, performed by herself and her colleague Carl Johann Christensen — a veteran tattooist in the community who eagerly joined Cosmetic Transformations in 2017.
“I’m honoured to be working alongside her,” Carl says. “It’s so much more than a job — it’s a vocation.”
Kyla, Carl, and the other members of her team truly love what they do and the people for whom they do it.
Cosmetic Transformations is located on the top floor of the Medical Arts Clinic (Suite 301, 272 Charlotte Street) in Peterborough. For more information, call 705-931-5955, email info@cosmetictransformations.com, or visit www.cosmetictransformations.com. You can also follow Cosmetic Transformations on Facebook.
Moody's Bar and Grill just opened on Tupper Street in Millbrook, giving local residents a new late-night food option. (Photo: Moody's Bar and Grill)
This month, Eva Fisher catches up with two new restaurants opening in the Kawarthas, gets a sneak peek at The Night Kitchen’s new location, learns about a new squash trend hitting the Kawarthas this fall (hint: you don’t have to peel it), and discovers one of the best Day of the Dead parties in the region.
Why did a lawyer and a paralegal decide to start a restaurant?
It sounds like the beginning of a joke, but to Peter Vance and Sarah Cooling, co-owners of Moody’s Bar and Grill (3 Tupper St., Millbrook, 705-932-6663) , it’s a way to create community connection through great food and atmosphere.
The two met while working at the Legal Centre of Northumberland.
The new restaurant opened its doors without much fanfare on Wednesday. October 11th and, fortunately according to Peter, there weren’t any hectic opening night surprises.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how smoothly everything ran. All of our staff swung into gear and did a great job.”
Moody’s homemade hamburger with aged cheddar, fries, and a roasted beet salad. Some of the ingredients come from Circle Organic farm in Millbrook. (Photo: Moody’s Bar and Grill)
That may be because the restaurant is staffed by an experienced team. General Manager Jamie Williams previously held the position of General Manager at The Social Bar and Table in Port Hope. Chef Lee Black has spent the last decade working at Kawartha Downs but, prior to that, he worked at Peterborough’s Brio Gusto.
The restaurant offers a menu of sandwiches, appetizers, salads, and pasta with an emphasis on locally sourced ingredients and food made from scratch.
For Peter, opening a restaurant is about more than the food — it’s a way to create community. He notes that although there are great dining options in Millbrook, at the moment the only restaurant open after 9 p.m. is Subway.
Moody’s Thai Coconut and Peanut Mussels with cilantro and red bell pepper. (Photo: Moody’s Bar and Grill)
“For me, the roots of this project are based in a love for real culture. Real local culture is an important driving forced in society for good. It’s really easy to get caught up in pop culture and have your life revolve around what folks in New York or Los Angeles or London are doing. There’s something really meaningful about real interpersonal relationships with people from your community.
“The idea of a bar or restaurant is about creating a space for people to have real interactions with each other.”
For more information about Moody’s, including their menu, visit their Facebook page.
It takes a village to make a Taqueria
Taco fans rejoice — a new tacqueria and Mexican restaurant is opening in the heart of Peterborough’s cafe district. La Mesita Catering (229 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-875-2505), a popular vendor at the Peterborough Farmers’ Market, is in the process of renovating 229 Hunter Street West, the location formerly occupied by The Night Kitchen.
Owner and chef Martin Carbajal and his wife Kelly Carbajal are thankful for the support they have received from their customers, including during renovations. Martin explains:
Customers and friends helping move the steam table into the new location for La Mesita Restaurant and Catering. (Photo: La Mesita Restaurant and Catering)
“The doors at the new location are very old and most of the equipment could not be passed through, so we asked friends and customers for help. The response was amazing. Many people came to help and it was like the old days when friends help each other building barns.”
A room full of friends and customers lifted La Mesita Restaurant and Catering’s new steam table through the front window of 229 Hunter Street.
The new restaurant will serve tacos and authentic Mexican food. They will serve tortas (Mexican sandwiches) made with fresh torta bread baked daily in house. There will be vegetarian and gluten-free options. There will also be a variety of soups, salads, and desserts to round out the menu.
Martin is excited to bring a new restaurant concept to Peterborough.
“We are excited about having a spot where people can try real Mexican and also enjoy a concept not to common in Canada, the taqueria concept”
Martin and Kelly plan to open the new location on October 30th, just in time for Día de Muertos (“Day of the Dead”). In the meantime, you can stay up to date on the renovations by following La Mesita Restaurant and Catering on Facebook.
A new spin on The Night Kitchen
The Night Kitchen’s new location is decorated with lights made by owner Tim Weatherup from mixer attachments. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
The Night Kitchen (168 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-741-0300) has moved to a new, larger location just down the street from its previous spot at 229 Hunter Street. Although they are reluctant to name a date, they will be open very shortly.
Owners Yannick Thiriar and Tim Weatherup occupied the previous spot beginning in 2001. Tim says that it was time to move on.
“The place had done us well for a long time, but it needed some love.”
The extra square footage will allow them to offer a more diverse menu and become licensed to sell alcohol. Tim says that although menu expansion is in the plans, they’re starting small with a few appetizers and desserts.
“What we want to do is get open, and once we’re open we can start adding more to the menu.”
That means all of your old Night Kitchen favourites will remain on the menu. Tim’s preferred pizza these days is the Lone Wolf.
“It’s got cilantro pesto, spinach, jerk chicken, pineapple, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes, mozzarella … it’s an interesting bunch of flavours that work well together.”
Yannick’s favourite “changes every day. I like the Bocce Spin. It’s a red sauce pizza with tomato, portabello mushrooms, and red onion. I like eating my slices with honey.”
At The Night Kitchen, the name is a key part of creating a new pizza.
“A lot of people come up with good pizzas who work for us, and that’s my first question. What are you going to name it? You meed a good name. Each one has a little story behind it.”
The Lone Wolf is inspired by the iconic t-shirt displaying a wolf howling at the moon. The Bocce Spin got its name from Yannick and Tim’s love of bocce.
Some have musical names: Closer to the Heart references a Rush song, and there are pizzas inspired by Hall and Oates and Devo. Tim and one of their previous staff members brought some Devo-themed pizzas to their show in Toronto and ended up backstage with the band.
The Night Kitchen is almost ready to open at its new Hunter Street West location. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
I asked Yannick and Tim what message they wanted to send to their customers. Yannick spoke first.
“We’re still here. It’s us.”
Tim agreed. “It’s going to look a little different, but we’ve been waiting a long time to make the next step and this is the next step for us. We’re excited by the chance to push the envelope again.”
For more information about The Night Kitchen including the re-opening, visit nightkitchen.ca.
Ode to Squash
Chick-a-biddy Acres harvested “easily a tonne” of squash this fall, according to owner Sherry Patterson. (Photo: Chick-a-biddy Acres)
Butternut, spaghetti, hubbard, or delicata — squash is everywhere this time of year. I spoke with a farmer and a restaurant owner about some of the best ways to enjoy squash this season, and the surprise favourite squash that you don’t need to peel.
A grower’s perspective
Sherry Patterson of Chick-a-biddy Acres (5009 County Rd. 2, Hastings, 705-696-3506) grows a variety of organic vegetables, specializing in “hand made food. We don’t have a lot of big equipment.”
At Chick-a-biddy they grow “at least a dozen varieties of squash”, and this year’s harvest was particularly bountiful; Sherry estimates “easily a tonne”.
The butternut is the most popular, but sweet dumpling, spaghetti, and kabocha types are also big hits. Uchiki Kuri (also known as hokkaido squash) is her favourite variety.
“It is so dry, creamy, nutty, sweet … bright orange red.”
Judy Cameron, an employee at By the Bridge, serves a salad with hokkaido and summer squash. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
A chef’s perspective
Bridget Cullen, owner of By the Bridge (382 Water St., Peterborough, 705-775-5050) is no stranger to the culinary joys of squash. By the Bridge serves squash in soups including their Thai coconut and their squash and apple bisque. They offer a black bean, sage, onion, and hokkaido squash salad and they often cut squash into wedges, roast it, and put it on sandwiches.
By the Bridge sources their squash from three different local farmers including Twin Pines and Real Acres.
The hokkaido squash, also known as Uchiki Kuri, is a favourite at By the Bridge and at Chick-abiddy Acres. Here Bridget Cullen shows her love. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
“We are drowning in squash right now. They’re everywhere.”
Reaffirming my belief that I need to run to the Farmers’ Market as soon as possible on a squash mission, Bridget’s favourite squash is also the hokkaido.
“It just has a different texture, so it’s half way between a squash and a sweet potato. And you can eat the skin so you don’t have to peel it.”
Celebrate the Day of the Dead with three local chefs
La Hacienda’s annual Day of the Dead party is known for great costumes and atmosphere. (Photo: La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant)
Sandra Lennox, owner of La Hacienda (190 Hunter St. W., Peterborough, 705-742-1559) has hosted one of the best Day of the Dead parties in the Kawarthas for the past five years. This year, chefs Kevin McKenna from Sam’s Place and George Madill from Primal Cuts will also take part. This is the first time that outside chefs have been involved in the event.
The event takes place on Friday, November 3rd and Saturday, November 4th beginning at 8 p.m..
Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos in Spanish) is a traditional Mexican memorial celebration for loved ones who have passed on, and Sandra notes that food can be a big part of that.
“It’s a day to remember them and to eat in their honour. We bring out the foods that they like.”
One food that’s always on the menu? Day of the Dead Bread. It’s traditionally made only for the holiday, and is spiced with anise and brushed with an orange glaze.
George from Primal Cuts will bring Canadian shrimp and heritage pork, which will be used in the main course, a drowned sandwich which is, just as it sounds, drowned in sauce. There will also be traditional desserts and more courses still to be planned.
Book now for this year’s Day of the Dead celebration at La Hacienda. (Graphic: La Hacienda Mexican Restaurant)
The annual Día de Muertos celebration transforms the restaurant.
“It’s a real ambience. People get their faces painted and wear tuxedos. You are transported to a different place.”
And although it’s a memorial event, it is still lighthearted.
“I think Mexican culture is the only culture that laughs about death. It’s fun even though it’s sad.”
You can reserve a seat by calling La Hacienda, but this event sells out every year so book now.
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