After spending most of the day at the car dealership trying to get some issues resolved, the last thing I wanted to do was cook dinner. After taking a quick dip in the hot tub we decided to to pack the mini van with the tribe and go out for dinner. The Lone Star Texas Grill in Ancaster opened a couple months back, replacing “The Outback” (will miss the burgers) which was situated in the very same location in the Meadowlands, Ancaster. Kieana had been there a few weeks back and enjoyed her experience so we thought we’d give them a try.

I suppose any restaurant you visit at dinner time on a Friday night will be busy, so having to wait the extra half hour to be seated was not an issue. There were 5 of us in our party, so we had the wait a little longer to get a table big enough for us. When we were finally seated we soon realize that 2 tables for 2 pushed together and a chair added at the top would make for quite a challenge, as we settled in. It’s a good thing Kieana had to leave so we didn’t have to put up with such little space.

In all my years eating out I’ve never come across a more friendly and “genuinely having fun” staff. From the time you’re greeted at the door to the time they open the door for you and thank you for visiting, you’ll only encounter staff who gives the impression that they love what they’re doing. The person responsible for hiring and training the staff at the Lone Star Grill In Ancaster… you did your company proud. There are two staff members who really stood out this night who I will mention later in this review post.

The Interior.

As mentioned before this used to be The Outback restaurant only a few short few months ago, which Lone Star Texas Grill took over and re-transformed. Not sure how they achieved it, but it looks much bigger inside and very welcoming. Like a typical themed bar/restaurant you’ll find a lot of things hanging on the walls etc with the Texas and cowboy theme. Even the staff are dressed in jeans, plaid shirts and some even wore cowboy/girl boots. As we waited to be seated I looked up and noticed that even the light fixtures were replica chuck wagon wheels with light bulbs fixed into them.

There’s a huge bar area that’s very bright and full of activity, as people were either having a drink before dinner or just hanging out watching the various sports events on the many huge plasma screens over the bar.

The dining room seemed well spaced out until you had to actually sit at your table. As mentioned above it can get very crowded and I could never understand why restaurants insist on creating massive menus (size, not offerings). The very same menu could easily be printed and displayed in a small book-like form which would be so much easier to handle. The tables were already small, not to mention the typical stuff that the table already had on it… now try to open a massive size menu. Restaurant owners please consider the space people are working with when creating your menu. Yes, they do look very attractive in their massive size, but they’re not practical.

The food!

You’re greeted with a large basket of fresh made tortilla chips with a very tasty salsa as your drink order is taken and you’re given time to browse the menu. I believe this is refilled as required, since we were asked if we wanted more but we declined since we wanted to save room for dinner.

We placed our order, drinks refilled and waited for about 30 minutes or so for the food to arrive. Yes it was a bit long, but it was Friday night and though it was getting close to 9 pm the dining room was still packed. I had gone to their website earlier in the day to check out their menu so I pretty much knew what I wanted to try. Plus at the website you have the choice to join their mailing list (email) and get a coupon for a free starter. Which I did and it was emailed to me seconds later. I could order anything (1 per table though) off the starter menu that was under $11 I think.

With the coupon we ordered the “Wild Fire Wings” (A full pound of wings, regular or dusted, tossed in our Original BBQ or Texas Butter sauce, served with fries, carrot & celery sticks and ranch dressing.). We had ours done regular and tossed in Texas Butter sauce. The wings itself were a nice size and done perfectly, but that butter sauce was a mistake. There was a hint of butter, but everything was over-powered with a vinegar sort of linguring taste. Seems we never got fries with ours! Maybe this is the typical way bar wings are done and I’m sure it’s probably a hit with other customers, but as someone who’s enjoyed wings all over North America these could be improved on.

Indy ordered the “Little Cowboy Steak” off the kids menu (Grilled 7oz sirloin steak with cowboy seasonings served with steamed vegetables & Mexican rice or fries.). The steak itself was done to perfection and you could tell that decent beef was used. However the steamed vegetables were rather flat and lacked any sort of flavour according to Indy. The fries seemed to be fresh cut, but not sure if it’s because of the time we waited (probably sitting back in the kitchen) or the fact that the restaurant itself was a bit cold inside, the fries were cold and limp. A combination of filling up with the chips and salsa and the fact that the fries and vegetables were a turn-off, but Indy left most of what was served to her on her plate. Cost $9.99

Tehya is very similar to me and will try different things off the menu at the restaurants we visit. I don’t recall she’s ever ordered the same thing and any 2 restaurants we’ve ever been to. Rather than order off the actual dinner menu, she decided on a chili from the starter menu. She got the Texas Red Chili (Traditional Texas-style chili with beans and seasoned lean ground beef topped with Cheddar cheese, diced green onions and served with garlic toast.). This is a MUST try when you visit. Don’t think it’s going to be packed with a punch of spices and heat that will cause heart burn. No, this is well balanced and full of chili goodness. Yes, she insisted I try it and she came pretty close to losing her dinner to me. The toasted bread was wonderful when dipped into the warm chili and the cheese topping made everything all gooey and rich. This was the hit of the night! Cost – $7.99

Caron had the Ranchers Sirloin (8 oz.) (A juicy, boneless cut with great flavour and texture. All of our steaks are served with crispy onion rings, seasonal vegetables and choice of Chuck Wagon Side.) with the fries as her choice of side. Again the steak was done to perfection, but it was a bit dry and could really use some au jus. As with Indy’s order, the vegetables were boring and the fries cold as well. She claimed that she wasn’t really impressed. The free refills of coke helped it all go down Cost : $18.99

I ordered the Baja Tequila Shrimp (Skillet-seared shrimp tossed with peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic, our own Ranchero sauce and flambéed with tequila. Served over Mexican rice and seasonal vegetables.) and was really hoping/expecting to be thrilled with promise of something exciting. I was disappointed from the very first bite I took. However I love shrimp and these were also done as I like, so I did picked away at the shrimp and some of the rice. Same story with the seasonal vegetables as with Indy and Caron. I didn’t even touch that part of my plate. I though that if I asked for some hot sauce it would help add some flair to the dish that was missing. Our server got me a couple hot sauce options (see pic below), but that didn’t help. Vinegar based hotsauce (like the wings) that should not be classified as hot sauce… maybe it should be called flavoured vinegar. After really trying to eat this, I gave up.

Our server asked me if everything was ok after seeing that I didn’t eat much off the plate and though I normally would complain and cause a fuss I decided to keep quiet this night. She again asked and I felt I should say something (I was not hoping or trying to get any sort of response), so I mentioned that it was very hard to eat and that besides the shrimp everything else was “blah”. She apologized, asked if I’d like to get something else, which I declined. Moments later she came back with her manager who again apologized to me, offered to buy my dinner and asked if they could get me something else. THIS IS WHAT CUSTOMER SERVICE SHOULD BE ABOUT!  I didn’t have to complain.. they noticed that I didn’t eat my dinner and they took the necessary steps to find out why and gave me options. I again declined, but I did get a cup of coffee. BTW, it was one of the best cup of coffee I’ve ever had.

The manager explained that the dish I ordered was a usual hit in the restaurant and could not understand why it was a miss with me. She apologized again, which was very sincere and went a long way in making this customer feel better.

With the manager covering my meal and the coupon we had for the free starter, our bill came to just under $60 with a 15% tip for our server. Please note that this didn’t include any booze or dessert. (remember to go to their website for the free coupon)

Final thoughts…

I/We probably won’t be going back to the Lone Star Texas Grill anytime soon, but if we did it would be to try those amazing looking fajita platters I’d see making it’s way past our table to other guests. Looked and smelled amazing. To our server “Tequila” (Amber) you did an amazing job and I especially like the fact that you took my situation immediately to your manager (This after trying to resolve it first) . This shows that you care about your customers and you’re willing to make them happy before they leave with a negative view of your restaurant. “Dasiy” (Dana) you and your staff are a credit to Lone Star Grill and I love the professional and friendly way you took the time to make me happy. I didn’t ask or expect anything in return when I didn’t like my dinner, but you went the extra step to cover what I would have spent and you offered me something else off the menu. Thanks!

I will be emailing your head office to give them my positive thoughts about the two of you.

In case you’re reading this review and wondering why there are 2 names for each person I mentioned (Amber – Tequila and Dana – Daisy), it’s because each employee is given (probably chooses?) a fun name to work under. I did mention above that this staff were all having fun.

* Did you notice the portion size with Caron’s meal as compared to Indy’s? And check the price difference.. it’s cheaper to order off the kids menu?

Address | Contact | Time Opened

14 Martindale Cres.
Meadowlands Power Centre
Ancaster, ON, L9K1J9

T: 905-648-7147
F: 905-648-5348

Mon-Thurs 11:30am – 11:00pm
Fri-Sat 11:30am – Midnight
Sun 11:30am – 10:00pm

They have a neat tortilla making machine at the back of the restaurant within everyones view..super cool:

Be sure to leave your thoughts and questions in the “comment” area provided.

Halloween Haunt, originally known as “Fearfest”, is a haunted attraction at Canada’s Wonderland located in Vaughan, Ontario. It runs after the park’s regular operating hours on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings in October – up to, and including Halloween night. It is Canada’s largest haunted theme park featuring over 300 monsters, 10 walk-through “maze” attractions, 3 uniquely-themed atmospheric scare areas, and a live show. During its operation, the grounds are transformed via frightening decorative props, thematic music, eerie lighting to further create its scary atmosphere

Ticket Prices:

Halloween Haunt Admission E-Tickets are $29.99 each plus tax.

Halloween Haunt Season Passholer Admission E-Tickets are $24.99 each plus tax. A valid 2009 or 2010 Season Pass must be presented along with E-Ticket.

Contact Information:

By mail, send your letter to:

Canada’s Wonderland
9580 Jane Street
Vaughan, Ontario  L6A 1S6

Phone:
Guest Inquiries     (905) 832-8131
Group Sales     (905) 832-7400
Press/Media Inquiries     (905) 832-7000 x8000
Employment Opportunities     (905) 832-7401

Directions / Map
View Larger Map

List of sinister events, include…

Fangs – Show (debuted 2009) “Comedy meets vampires in this edgy unveiling of the undead…”

Club Blood – Maze (debuted 2009) “At the hottest new nightclub in town, they line up to get in, but no one makes it out alive. Because inside this devilish dance hall, vampires staff the bar and the DJ booth in an effort to lure the most edible into their isolated lair. The most delicious dancers are invited to the VIP lounge, where away from the throbbing heartbeat of the music, the vampires slowly suck the life from their victims.”

A Midsummer Nights Scream- Maze (debuted 2009) “The mysterious and mythical creatures who once peacefully inhabited the forest are gone. Fallen victim to massacring humans scared at living so close to these immortals, the burnt and destroyed forest was devoid of almost all life. Only a few fearsome fairies remain, swearing terrifying revenge on any who dare to enter these woods.”

Kingdom of Carnage – Maze (debuted 2008) “Castle Carnage had a dark and twisted reputation for using medieval torture methods on their prisoners; but what could the starving peasants do to save those captured, and where were the chivalrous knights to resettle order? Bertilak de Hautdesert gave up hope on being rescued, and rallied the prisoners to overthrow the cruel tyrannical nobility. The torture which they had long been subjected to has now come full circle on their royal oppressors in a scene of carnage that makes Countess Bathory’s castle look like a holiday retreat. Let the brave of heart and noble of spirit beware: chivalry is dead. ”

Red Beard’s Rage – Maze (debuted 2008) “The legendary pirate known as Red Beard is said to have led his crew into a massacre when they set to the sea for a preemptive strike against the Spaniards; but neither he or his ship was ever found. A single surviving manuscript details how his mistress, a sea witch who was later burnt at the stake, cast a spell to keep Red Beard and his crew from fully crossing into death. His ship has continued to haunt the stormy seas for centuries. Now it has set up dock and Red Beard and his crew await new victims to help them fulfill their bloodlust. ”

Clowns at Midnight – Maze (debuted 2007) “In 1857 the circus top tent caught on fire. The spectators escaped unharmed, but the performers were left behind to choke on the heavy smoke and burn in the infernal heat. The audience claimed they thought it was part of the show, but the angry spirits of the clowns and circus freaks do not believe such a claim, and know that the spectators simply did not believe the freaks were worth the effort to save. Every night, the circus freaks appear to perform their act in an attempt to lure in fresh blood until they have gathered enough to return to this world for good.”

The Asylum – Maze (debuted 2007) “In 1923 Miles Gravestone was admitted to the asylum after surviving the curse of Slaughter Mill. No one believed his story, and most believed that it was he who gruesomely murdered his camping friends. The doctors forced electroshock therapy while the nurses cruelly sedated him with rusty needles. Pushed to his psychological brink, his sorrow and fear exploded in a rage of fury and he gathered all the other inmates to form a revolt. The inmates have taken over the asylum entirely, and those doctors and nurses who survived such actions are just as deranged as their former patients.”

Miner’s Revenge – Maze (debuted 2007) “It was a dark and foul night when the mine collapsed. Few escaped, and most were trapped alive. They spent their last days waiting….expecting to be rescued. But they never were, and no rescue attempt was ever made. To this date, no one in town can forget that fatal night, especially not those miners left behind, and now they are hungry for revenge. Over 50 years too late, the exhumation has finally begun. The question is, will fear hold you back, or will you go digging for trouble?”

Mother Noose – maze (debuted 2008) “When the Brothers Grimm set out to tell stories from the countryside, they never imagined the dark horrors and unhappy endings they would encounter. Tales of massacre, evil creatures and ferocious beasts are not the fairy tales we grew up with. Mother Noose recreates these haunted stories for anyone brave enough to see just how dark the dark ages really were.”

Bloodshed – Maze (debuted 2005) “When the headless horseman realized his head was not in the possession of the humans, he ravaged the Van Tassels’ barn, tearing through the helpless workers and animals that got in his way. The dilapidated barn is now haunted by rabid animals out for revenge against all things human, and the corpses of deceased farm hands roam about in loathsome madness.”

Cornstalkers – Maze (debuted 2005) “With the Van Tassel family and their farm hands all dead, the fields of the Van Tassel Farmstead have become overgrown with two centuries of colonial debris and corn. The evil which occurred on the farmstead that night has sunk into the once lifeless bodies of scarecrows, which now consider these fields theirs, and will stalk and scare any crows, animals or humans who dare set foot onto their soil. ”

Important: Guest costumes are not permitted. Halloween Haunt is not recommended for children under the age of 13.

Here’s a short video clip of Halloween Haunt at Canada’s Wonderland:

Looking for a fun filled way to spend the day with your family and friends? One of the top attractions in Southern Ontario during the summer months, African Lion Safari is celebrating 4o years in the animal safari business and we highly recommend a visit. African Lion Safari is a safari park situated in Flamborough, (Hamilton) Ontario Canada, about 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Toronto. It features more than 1,000 animals, representing over 130 species of mammals and birds from across the globe. Guests are treated to seven game reserves (with a total area of about 300 hectares) traversed via tour buses or the visitors’ own vehicles where animals roam freely in large contained areas. Accompanying the game reserves is a large walking section where hundreds of exotic birds and primates, as well as the park’s herd of Asian Elephants, are on display.

We started the day off at 10 am – by the time we paid for our tickets and parked it was around 10:20 am. Just a note, that the ticket booths to enter open at 9 am, but, the game reserve does not open until 10 am. There was plenty of parking at this time.

We decided to not go through the game reserve with our van since on our last visit a few years back we saw the monkeys go to work on a BMW (broken wipers and side mirror), rather to use their safari bus. GREAT DECISION! It was an airconditioned, very clean vehicle with large windows. You just sit back, relax and enjoy the commentary from the driver. The bus ran every 1/2 hour, so we only had to wait that time to get the next one. The kids are free.

Included in your admission to the park is the water park, animal shows, a boat tour, and a scenic train ride. Don’t miss the animal shows, they are hilarious, especially the one with the parrots! When you arrive at the park, if you’re taking the bus into the reserves, book that first, so you can plan the rest of your day, they fill up fast. There are two not-to-be-missed elephant swims! Show up early to get a good viewing space though! Have a designated person who can hold your space at the lake for viewing, but children should be taken up to the roadway where they actually parade these elephants in line right down the middle of the park to the lake! It’s amazing and you’re so close to the elephants you’d never believe it! We opted to take the bus into the reserves and were glad we did when we did see animals all over cars that had driven in. We had no problems taking pictures out the bus windows either.

We packed a picnic lunch since buying food for 5 people can be very expensive, plus you never know how good the food at these parks are. You have unlimited access to your cars so it was easy to get our strollers, coolers etc. There are lot’s of picnic tables and shelters to sit and eat. If you don’t take your food, the selection of food isn’t too bad (Pizza Pizza, Hamburger joint, the usual type of park food).

Right beside the picnic area the Elephant Swim was happening. Yes, it is fun to watch but, EVERYONE at the park seemed to be there. Very tough for the kids to get a chance to see anything.

There are too many things to mention, but the scenic train ride is about 10 minutes and the wait to get on about 30 minutes. The shows are great, especially the birds of prey show. They run 20 minutes. There are elephant rides ($5 per person). The water park is fun and very crowded.

Washrooms were surprisingly very clean for the amount of people at the park at any given time. And I do recommend that you take  strollers/wagons  if you have young ones, since there’s a lot of walking as the park is very spread out. And remember to wear comfortable shoes.

Here are some pics courtesy of Kieana and Indy (our daughters), followed by driving directions, park hours, entrance fee and some final thoughts.

Game Reserves

Convertibles, motorcycles and other unsuitable vehicles will not be permitted to drive through the game reserves. Windshields with cracks are not permitted to drive through the game reserves. Alternate transportation, the Safari Tour Bus, is available at additional cost.

No responsibility is accepted for damage to vehicles or trailers, their car bras, tires, lights, or canvas covers, vinyl roofs or other accessories. Make sure to remove all loose items.

Do not feed the animals.

Obey all signs. Keep all windows closed. Keep all doors locked.

Do not leave children unattended anywhere.

You’ll notice that there’s no pics of the Misumu Bay water park area.. our girls are teenagers now and they refuse to be seen among all the little kids. Basically we skipped this part of the park. But I do recall when they were younger they had tons of fun here (so did I). A great place to cool down after a hot day in the safari.

At Misumu Bay Wet Play swim wear is required. Tight sealed swim pants are required on children wearing diapers. Height restrictions are in place, for the enjoyment and safety of children. Children will be measured by staff, and will receive appropriate wristband. To enter the area that has the Bucket children have to be between 40 and 60 inches (102cm to 150 cm) in height. Children under this height must remain in the other area of Misumu Bay that has the mushroom spray. Please supervise your children at all times.

At Jungle Playground height restrictions are also in place for the enjoyment and safety of children. Children must be between 3 and 5 ft (92 to 150 cm) in height.

At Toddler play area children must be 5 years of age or younger.

Admission Costs!

SUMMER ADMISSION RATES: (SUMMER – June 27 – Sept 7, 2009)

Adult (13-59)…………….$29.95
Senior (60+)……………..$26.95
Children (3-12)…………..$24.95

SPRING/FALL ADMISSION RATES:

SPRING – May 2 – June 26, 2009
FALL – Sept 8 – Oct 12, 2009

Adult (13-59)…………….$24.95
Senior (60+)……………..$21.95
Children (3-12)…………..$19.95
* Children 2 and under are admitted FREE

Taxes not included. Prices in Canadian dollars.

Click here for a map of the African Lion Safari park.

Address /  Contact.

MAILING ADDRESS
African Lion Safari & Game Farm Ltd.
RR #1 Cambridge, Ontario Canada
Postal Code N1R 5S2

SITE LOCATION (see below for a google map of the area)
1386 Cooper Road, Flamborough

Toll Free 1-800-461-WILD(9453)
Telephone (519) 623-2620
Fax (519) 623-9542

Overall a great experience for both the old and young alike. The only beef I have is the horrible way the entrance /parking is set up. On a busy summer’s day you’ll find yourself stuck outside the gates for a long time ( no bathrooms outside so be prepared) as you wait to enter (we’ve read reviews where people had to wait close to 2 hrs to get in on a busy day). Though parking is free it’s a nightmare finding a spot, especially if you go as a group. Management should invest some resources to accommodate the increased volume of visitors.

Also.. looking at the food prices, you may want to pack some food with you as it’s a bit expensive.

Leave me questions or comments in the area provided below.

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Once again the Burlington Rotary Club Ribfest did not disappoint. Since most of what I mentioned in the previous Burlington Ribfest post is pretty much what you’d expect to see and do at the event, this post will showcase some of the pictures I took and a couple of the observations we made.

New at this year’s festival was the “recycle” theme. After Caron got her platter of baked beans, coleslaw, ribs, pulled pork and chicken (we start off every year with this sampler) she pointed out the fact that not only were the containers not the plastic ones from last year, the utensils were also environmentally friendly. It seems that this year all the vendors had to serve their food in biodegradable containers and the disposable knives and forks were all made from a sort of compressed wood. Picture a Popsicle stick made into a fork. However, they were just as strong as the plastic version that’s so bad for our environment.

Not only were the containers and utensils good for the environment, instead of having garbage bins they set up (see pic below) recycling stations where you could take your used containers and food scraps. Here the volunteer staff would separate everything and put them into designated containers to be processed (kinda like the green bin program we have in Ontario).

Kudos to the organizers for implementing this step to show that we care about our environment.

Parking / Crowd.

There were no exceptions as far as parking was concerned. With the thousands of people coming into Burlington for the event, we went knowing that parking will be difficult to find. We lucked out and found a couple spots about 2 blocks away. The owners of a variety store were selling spots for $10 a car and with people coming and going all day (all weekend) I’m sure they made a killing.

Walking from the lot were we parked to the actual event site at Spencer Smith park, we could tell that this year would be even bigger than previous years (plus the weather was beautiful so many people were coming out to make full use of the beautiful skies) with all the people going and coming back to the site. As we approached the gate, our thoughts were confirmed. The place was packed and there was a huge line to get in, but there was a good flow to things. The same amount of people that were flooding in were matched by the number of people stuffed with BBQ goodness leaving. The venue itself was crowded at the front and near the stage (see pics below), but in the middle was enough place to move around a bit freely.

The Q!

Seems the theme this year as far as sauces go was savory sweet! We tried several of the different BBQ sauces that were featured at many of the grillers. I’m not sure if they changed their sauces or were experimenting with new stuff, but we found them all to be very sweet and lacked any true flavour or notes. We even tested the “hot” option at the “Carolina” booth and to be quite honest, I was expecting a prescription saying how much I should take and when, with each dose. It had a sort of medicine taste to it. Was it me or did I need to consume a few beers for everything to taste the way I/we expected?

Best!

Once again the “Boss Hogs” booth provided the best ribs, chicken and pulled pork. However their baked beans didn’t have that same bang as it did last year and had a bit of a “gritty” texture to them. And though there was a huge line to purchase, the staff were very efficient and within 5-10 minutes you had your order and were ready to dig in.

Disappointing!

The most disappointing Q of the day must go to the “Texas” grill. No wonder there was a short line and I was served so fast. Everyone else knew what I didn’t. From their sweet sauce, very small portions (I got a hacked piece of chicken breast that needed a Hollywood type implant to be seriously taken to be a breast) and ribs that were so overdone, the meat was hard to peel away from the bones. Made for a very chewy experience. Their pulled pork had some potential, but with the soup type amount of BBQ sauce it was sitting in made it very difficult to appreciate.

The Carolina grill was the most unorganized set-up at this year’s event. You’d figure with the HUGE line that greeted you, you’d think that these guys were serving up the best Q at the event. NOPE! They were just “glacier” type slow. While my sister waited in line we had enough time to go to 2 different booths (stay in line and get served), come back and eat our entire platters and still had to wait 1/2 an hr for her. Must be some good Q to make people wait this long? Yes and NO. The pork ribs were excellent, but these grillers should not be allowed near beef ribs again. Not only did the beef ribs have a gamy taste to them, they were bland and depended on the bbq sauce to add any sort of enjoyment to them.

NOTE: Reheating the ribs, pulled pork etc may sound like a good idea at the time when you get that take out package, but you’ll be kicking yourself if you reheat it in a microwave. Why didn’t I eat them fresh off the grill? They become very dry and the meat becomes very stringy.

For full directions to the annual Burlington Ribfest, event information like opening and closing times, things to do for the kids and the list of live musical acts, visit the original post I made about the Burlington Rotary Ribfest.

If you’re looking for something you can do with your family the last long weekend of the summer, you must consider attending this annual event in Burlington, Ontario. Free to get it, free entertainment, good food for the most part and well organized. You  may have some issues with parking, but with the constant flow of people, you’re sure to find a spot if you show a little patience or have some luck as we did.

Note: It may sound like a good idea to bring your new born or toddler with you, after all you can stick them in a stroller and wheel them around. Not so much! Not only will you find it difficult to navigate the crowds with the strollers, the smoke and loudness of the event will not be something you’ll want to have your child experience. Make it a date night and get a baby sitter!

Without any doubt, there is merit to this claim. At the end of last summer I had the opportunity to finally attend the Burlington Ribfest and to this day I still get mad at myself for taking this long to attend. I won’t get into much details at this point, since I plan on refreshing my mind and taste buds this year, which means a full review for you with pics and videos. Hopefully I can get Caron and one of our girls to give their thoughts as well so you’ll have different perspectives of the event. Until then I’d like to leave you with some pics, more info about the event and my assurance that you DON’T want to miss this year’s event.

The people, the music and the food are all incredible… so lets hope the weather holds out so I can devour some more of that puled pork, bbq ribs and that wonderful southern baked beans. BTW, you’ll never attend a more organized event in Southern Ontario.

How much does it cost to get into the Burlington Ribfest?

As far as I can remember it’s been free and after checking on their official website I can assure you that it’s FREE!

When is the Burlington Ribfest?

The Burlington Ribfest is now in it’s 14th year and will be held Labour Day weekend in Burlington Ontario on the waterfront at Spencer Smith Park. (see below for a map and full driving directions)

Who will be at the Burlington Ribfest?

Eighteen of North Americas best “Ribber” will be bringing their grills, their award winning  sauces and tons of meat for the grill. All you have to do is bring your appetite and wet towels to clean your face.

Live Performances at 2009 Burlington Ribfest.

* Friday night is kicked off by world renowned songwriter and local musician Tom Wilson.
* Saturday night double header is kick started by “The Kings” (This Beat Goes On, Switchin to Glide) and followed up by “The Spoons” (Romantic Traffic, Tell no Lies).
* Sunday night is fired up by a long time supporter of Ribfest, the legendary “Downchild’s Blues Band”.

Full Schedule:

How to get to the Burlington Ribfest?

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Though it’s been open for a number of months now, the Silvercity Hamilton Movie Complex is still considered new to many. Especially since most people still don’t know that they have a new option for a night out at the movies with big screen and big sound, other than the Silvercity Ancaster location. It’s about time the “east mountain” got it’s own power center and Silvercity location.

Located on the “east mountain” of Hamilton where there’s the new “power center” with mega stores like Michael’s, Best Buy, Indigo, Home depot, etc. Silvercity Hamilton is a welcome addition to the landscape of the east mountain.

A few days ago we went out for an afternoon showing of Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen and I thought I’d kill 2 birds with one stone. Catch the latest Transformers flick and do a review of this “new” Silvercity location. I’d been here about 3 times prior, since it’s so conveniently located to our home but I kept forgetting to bring along my camera. BTW, the pics are a bit limited since I’m always afraid that some manager would approach me to not take pics etc, so I move like a paparazzi ninja.

The basics…

* Digital Projection
* Automated Banking Machine
* Real D 3D projection (where listed)
* Interactive Gaming Area
* Party Rooms
* 10 Screens

Accessibility

* Wheelchair Accessibility
* Hearing Assistance

Good or Bad?

We’ll we’ve gone from being blown away by the sound, picture and seat spacing (tons of leg-room in front – you don’t even have to squish when someones wants to get pass you to head for the bathrooms or concessions) from previous installments of Silvercity type movie theatre. How could they improve on an already successful arrangement?  With the addition of “lazy boy” type reclining seats. But I dare to ask how many people find them comfortable? I’m a fairly large fella so my weight and length of legs can see me enjoy this new feature, as you have to use size and gravity to set you in the right position.  But since there is no locking mechanism to keep the tilted seats into a comfortable position, if you’re short or petite you will struggle to appreciate these seats. Caron had a terrible time getting comfortable and she even resorted to pushing her legs onto the seats in front of her to get comfortable (Caron is not one to go against rules like this). Silvercity did not think this one through when they opted for this design. A simple locking mechanism would easily correct this flaw in their seating.

Parking.

Free and ample, but it..

SUCKS! Again we see these poorly laid out parking lots, with very limited space for a vehicle bigger than a “smart car” and those friggin concrete dividers. Due to the layout it’s so easy to get into accidents or have your parked car scraped by other cars trying to park. Plus, they did not even consider that many of their customers are kids who gets dropped off by parents. It would have been nice to see some sort of drop off and pick up zone near the doors. The way the front is designed, if a car pauses to let off people the entire parking area goes into lock down due to lack of space to move.

It’s very rare that I ever give poor reviews, but this one is very hard to fake. Once inside you are greeted with the “slowest” working staff I’ve encountered in my 20+ years in Canada. From the ticketing system (btw, the automated system is just as slow and does have the occasional hiccup when it won’t let you make the purchase you want) to the concession area, it seems no staff member is in a hurry. Our very first time there it took us almost an hour to get tickets and some pop corn and it was not a busy night. We discounted that experience to the fact that it was new (1 week old at the time I think). But the last 2 times we’ve only seen a minimal improvement.

Silvercity Hamilton comes with the normal stuff you’d expect at the concessions (pop corn, pop, chocolate bars, candy), except this location also serves gourmet coffee and yogurt fruit blends (not bad for $4 or so for a large serving). There’s the games area where you can spend a few bucks really fast if you’re into those video game type of things and though I’ve never ventured upstairs, there’s supposedly a lounge where you can kick back and wait with friends before the movie starts or while you wait for someone to give you a ride home.

So why do I keep going back you ask? The picture and sound. Unmatched at any other movie theatre location in the Hamilton area without any doubt, even at the Ancaster Silvercity location. I love to be entertained by high quality picture and sound and this place delivers. I can confess that I did spend a lot of coins at our own home system (rocks the crap out our home when the volume is cranked), but I also work from home so getting the opportunity the leave the house and watch a movie with the girls or Caron is always a treat.

So how was the movie.

Other than a few jerks talking non-stop and one of them getting punked by an adult (shame on you) the movie was what I expected. Not Oscar calibre, but hey.. it was about robots.

Location:

795, Paramount Drive
Stoney Creek
ON, L8J 0B4
905-560-0239

Nearest intersection:
Paramount Dr. and Old Mud St.

Map:

View Larger Map

Last fall we decided to take a mini-break with the girls before they head back to school, so we did the tourist thing and headed down the QEW to Niagara Falls for the weekend. It was (sadly) one of the most boring summers they’ve ever had to endure, but this trip did brighten things up a bit for us. In another post I’ll share my review on the helicopter tour we did and the trek we took under the falls.

Once you get past the “musty smell”… The place is roomy, and clean. The carpets were jazzy (bright red, leopard print, etc). The figures were right there, so you could pose for pictures with them. Many looked real, and the outfits were great. I could even smell the leather scent of Angelina Jolie’s dress, I was impressed that the costumes were high-end.

You can take a pic in a Delorian with a Back to the Future theme, with a wax Oprah in a set designed to look like the show, and much more. I would be wary of taking kids in, only because they must be well behaved and not touch or pull on the figures.

The scary-horror section was VERY SCARY, so if you take a child you may wish to bypass this. My group was terrified amazed as the Freddy and Jason figures looked so so so real.

This museum has beautiful life-masks on the walls as well, which are fun to look at. These are poured over actor’s faces, and I guess the molds help the wax-makers construct the figures.

A nice array of past and present celebs, world leaders, fictional characters, and so on. Wish it was even larger because it was so much fun. MY fave was the Star Trek display (see below) and I just had to take a pic with the fellas. Beam me up Scotty! Caron went nuts for the chance to take a pic with her teenage sweetheart Michael J Fox (Back to the Future).

Some Pics…

We got the combo pack that got us into both the wax museum and Ripley’s to save on some cash.

Admission to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum and Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks Adult $18.99    Child $8.99 In Canadian Dollars.

Contact Info:

OPEN YEAR ROUND INCLUDING HOLIDAYS
4983 Clifton Hill, Niagara Falls, Ontario
905-356-2238 ext 233 / fax 905 356 8122 / www.ripleysniagara.com

Couple pics of the lively street … the first one was taken looking up the street (Clifton hill) and the other from the top of Clifton Hill.