With Eddie dry and blue skies, we left the Water, Neon and LED lights of Niagara Falls and headed north along the River Road to the most charming little place in the world. Niagara on the Lake is where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario. It is home to the oldest Catholic Church in Ontario, second oldest Anglian (read Church of England) Church and the oldest surviving golf course in Canada…it is a flat boring course that I could even do well on. The River Road is similar to lots of River Roads that wind through the original 13 colonies and southern states. Large farming estates, plantations and homes flank the roads with century old stone stacked fences or hedge rows…with a variety of crops from cotton to tobacco to sugar cane dotting the landscape. Here, it is not that different. There are centuries old homes, sprinkled with a few new out of place modern homes but almost all have grapes planted. The number of wineries in the region outnumbered all of our fingers and toes, for sure. And you know what Eddie says about that-“Just because you can grow grapes, does not mean you should make wine”. So, I am sure there is a wide variety of quality. The vines have not begun to bud, but the various wineries are open for a tasting-mostly a sweet dessert wine called Ice Wine that is produced here, with the weather more conducive to white wines grapes. The area also has a fair number of breweries and hard apple cider houses, if you are not a wine person. My early research said there are a few renegades that have produced some red wines, but it would be best to stick with what they are known for.
The town of Niagara on the Lake starts where Fort George (War-of 1812 for you history buffs) was and the recreated National Park is now. The town of Niagara on the Lake has strived to keep us in the last century or two with Vintage Hotels, tree and flower lined streets, no stop lights and shops that date back over 100 years. I have been tempted to bring home one of their landscape maintenance people…they use E-powered lawn mowers (even on the big park stuff), hand weed, and there are no blowers in the Historical section, by city ordinance. Cool, lush, quiet and alive with color. We are staying at the Prince of Wales, a hotel that has been here since the mid 1800’s. Yeah, we do authentic. High tea, served daily, pinkies out. There are two distinct groups of people here…old and bridal party…before, during and after. It is a true destination wedding place that brings the romantic setting to your Instagram post. Not much in between.
Niagara on the Lake is also home to the Shaw Festival. It is Canada second largest repertoire company with 4 stages/theaters in the small town. Wednesday was opening day for the summer for the Shaw Theatre. The play-Gypsy. Awww, come one you know the 1959’s production of the story based loosely on the life of burlesque’s Gypsy Rose Lee. Give you a hint - Ethel Merman. Everything is coming up Roses, Let me Entertain you, Wherever We Go. Music by Sondheim…considered one of the Greatest Musical of all times. Most of us in the audience were old enough to remember Ethel Merman in the role or even Bette Midler belting out the tunes…except for the few newlyweds in the audience we all knew the plot and had seen at least one of the revivals or TV adaptions of it. These poor kids (newlyweds and Catholic High school students) looked clueless at intermission. Vaudeville, burlesque, the depression….these poor kids thumbs needed a rest from all the wiki inquires. Eddie, of course, theatre buff and college thespian has matured into Theatre Critic…we attended the Matinee performance so that dinner could be filed with his opinions….and he had many…and so soon after his yellow bag performance. What do they say…people in glass houses….
Meanwhile, back at Apple Watch watch. If you give a mouse a cookie…if you change your activity level for two days, it will want you to do more on day three. My watch kept telling me to stand up at the theatre. Heck, we already had 8,000 steps by 2:00…lay off. Maybe I will just leave it at home on Thursday when we go wining. That will teach it a thing or two. I don’t think you get activity points for moving your elbow with glass in your hand.
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