Choosing the best care for an aging parent can be one of the most difficult decisions you’ll have to make.
But knowing what questions to ask and what to look for can make the process easier, says Nina Hundtermark, who is the marketing manager at Palermo Village Retirement Residence in Oakville. Nina is in regular contact with people who are facing this decision and she also knows from personal experience that it can be tough.
A few months after placing her mother in a retirement home, she realized her mother’s dementia had progressed to the point where she needed to be in a nursing home.
“I had her with me for five days and I knew after day one she didn’t belong in a retirement home. Unless you spend some time with them, they can hide it and hold it together,” said Nina.
Before considering retirement home living, there are numerous home support options to choose from, including Home Instead, Senior Helpers, and Nurse Next Door. They can provide a Personal Support Worker to help with bathing, dressing, feeding and getting someone to an appointment as well as engaging their clients in activities.
But how do you know when home care isn’t enough? As Nina learned first-hand, it’s not enough to simply talk to one’s parent. She suggests you check their fridge and cupboards to make sure they have nutritious food, watch how often they change their clothes, and try and see if they’re getting their nails trimmed. If they’re making excuses for not going out, it may be because they’re depressed from being alone too often.
“Watch for things like if they start to lose weight or if they’re not taking care of themselves. There can be very subtle signs, like they may be nervous talking to others because they’re getting forgetful,” said Nina.
The benefit of a retirement home is that they offer meals, companionship, laundry service, exercise programs, weekly housekeeping, and other services under one roof. To begin your search, Nina suggests you make a list of things you want, like an indoor pool, or a balcony, or a kitchen to bake in, then narrow the choice in homes down to two.
Take a tour of them and ask to stay for dinner and talk to the residents. Watch to see if the servers are engaged, if the food is hot and how people are greeted at the door.
“Small things can make a big difference,” said Nina.
Nina has noticed that many people start perking up after they’ve moved into a retirement home because they’re getting balanced meals and more social interaction. However, the deciding factor is in the senior’s attitude.
“If they’re not open to moving, it’s a losing battle because you know they’re not going to assimilate when they get in there.”However, with patience and the help of a caring staff, retirement homes can definitely provide peace of mind to today’s busy families who are often trying to juggle work with caring for their kids as well as aging parents. Fortunately there are many options available in the Halton area.
by Denise Davy
Verve Senior Living
Palermo Village Retirement Residence 3136 Dundas Street West, Oakville Veveseniorliving.com
Spring is the time of year whenDowntown Oakville streets come alive. Floral arrangements line sidewalks in oversized planters and shoppers come out to take in the beautifully crafted window displays. If you’re lucky, you may even find an open patio to grab a drink with friends on an exceptionally warm spring afternoon.
Downtown Oakville always will be an Oakville hot-spot. With access to lakefront trails, restaurants, shops, and a bustling employment centre, it may come as no surprise that the Lakeshore streetscape requires a boost to improve functionality.
If you’ve made your way to the main Lakeshore Road strip recently, you may have noticed that construction has already begun on the Lakeshore Road Reconstruction and Streetscape Project.
The project, which is to be completed in two phases over a two-year period, has closed vehicle access from Navy Street to Thomas Street. Improvements include new street furniture, a pedestrian crossover at Navy and Church streets, a two-way conversion of Navy Street, bike corrals, free public wifi, and redesign of the town square, among other exciting initiatives.
While the outcome of this project will have major benefits for the Downtown core, the two-year construction and disruption is troubling for local businesses and the Downtown Oakville BIA. Downtown Oakville boasts many wonderful events throughout the year, many of which have become family traditions and draw in large crowds. In addition, parking and road disruptions may discourage people from visiting this vibrant part of our community.
In 2017, Town staff were given the go-ahead to work on a plan to soften the economic impact of these two major construction projects. The Mitigation Strategy provided council with an outline of how to support the commercial business district, which may be impacted by the Lakeshore Bridge Reconstruction (complete) and the 2019-2020 Lakeshore Road Streetscape project.
In consultation between the Town of Oakville and the BIA, a lengthy list of mitigation measures have been developed to help keep the Downtown core vibrant throughout the duration of the construction period.
A Project Office has been opened and is located in the former Post Office at 193 Church Street. The office is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to noon and by appointment in the afternoon. This location is ‘information central’ for the reconstruction of Lakeshore Road. Staff are on-hand and ready to provide information and answer any questions.
When it comes to parking, additional spots have been created, plus customers, visitors, and residents who use the Honk Mobile app will receive their first hour of parking free anytime between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays by using promo code DOWNTOWN. Parking on weekends is FREE.
And there are plenty of reasons you’ll want to head down there. The Downtown Oakville BIA is very excited to be introducing a brand-new pop-up park for all to enjoy throughout the summer in the heart of Downtown. The pop-up park will be created on George Street and will include unique lounge furniture, bistro tables, greenery, rotating art installations and more! The park will be open throughout the week, free for all to enjoy starting in June and running through to September. Every Thursday evening, the pop-up park will be home to outdoor movies. On Friday evenings, TD Songs of Summer Series will be on, showcasing an artist on stage in the pop-up park from June 14 – Aug 30 (excluding July 19, when you can enjoy Midnight Madness instead) – One Stage, One Sound, Every Friday night!
The pop-up park will also host giant blocks and yoga on Saturdays and family games and activities on Sundays. And of course, the usual themed events will be happening, including Spring Bloom May 11 – 12, Sidewalk Sale June 6 – 9, and Midnight Madness on July 19. The pop-up park will be the perfect gathering place for the community to come together and enjoy all that Downtown has to offer throughout this exciting time of revitalization.
Technicalities and construction aside, the end result of this project is going to be impressive. And while teams are hard at work in the streets and in the stores, they require our support and patience. Don’t let this project stop you from enjoying all of the best shopping and dining experiences Downtown Oakville has to offer.
It’s hard to think of Oakville as anything but a bustling lakefront town, but in the mid-1800’s it was a farming community that was so small that people scheduled their day around a single whistle.
Oakville became so well known for its strawberries that it was referred to as the strawberry capital of the Canadas and because the strawberries were exported by rail and boat, they needed safe containers.
Hence the story of Oakville’s Basket Factory began.
The factory’s origins date back to 1866 when strawberry farmers John Cross and John Chisholm began making baskets in sheds on their farms that were located around Trafalgar Road. In 1871, with the demand for strawberries and other produce growing, a new basket factory was opened at 356 Trafalgar Road, which was converted from the old Victoria Brewery, across from the Oakville GO station.
The factory was not only significant because it employed so many people but because the steam engine that powered it had a loud whistle that would signal the start of the work day and lunch hour.
Courtesy of Oakville Museums/Oakville Historical Society
George Chisholm, president of the Oakville Historical Society, said the whistle regulated the whole town as it could be heard everywhere. Indeed, it was so loud, it eventually became the town’s official fire alarm. For George, the whistle holds special significance.
“My mother told me the twelve o’clock whistle sounded while I was born,” said George. John Chisholm is his great-great-grandfather’s nephew.
“The factory was very important to the town,” said George. “It was one of the biggest factories in town and the basket factory was probably the largest employer in town for quite a while.”
Courtesy of Oakville Museums/Oakville Historical Society
While the exact number of employees isn’t known, the historical society has a list of the employees who worked there who signed up for the military during the second world war. There are 65 names on the list.
Fire destroyed the factory twice, which isn’t surprising given the baskets were made of a softwood like pine plus beech, birch or maple. Each time it was rebuilt on the Trafalgar Road site. One of the fires, in 1893, was set by former owner, Robert McKenzie Chisholm, who had just been released from the Toronto asylum.
ourtesy of Oakville Museums/Oakville Historical Society
After the 1920 fire, a new factory was rebuilt which remained open until 1984. It would later manufacture tongue depressors and popsicle sticks. The factory hasn’t been forgotten. The name of the last owner, J.M. Wallace, lives on in Wallace Park on Reynolds Street and the last remnant of the factory is parked on a lot near Trafalgar and Cornwall Road. It’s the large 15-foot flywheel that powered the operation.
Eric Chong, MasterChef Canada winner, restaurant owner and Oakville native is making his mark on the food scene. On the set of Canada’s MasterChef, he gained the attention of Michelin-starred chef Alvin Leung and together they opened Toronto restaurant R&D. We sat down with Eric to learn about his journey from White Oaks Secondary School to renowned chef.
Before the restaurant world came calling, you were an engineer. Was engineering the initial “dream” or was becoming a chef always the end goal?
I went to McMaster University and graduated as a Chemical Engineer. I worked as one for a bit but my dream was always to become a famous chef! To me, goals and dreams are two different things. A dream is something you hope for and a goal is something you work hard and strive for and can eventually attain. I never thought I would ever be able to be a professional chef because growing up in a traditional Asian household, you have the choice of being a doctor,lawyer or engineer. Being a chef was looked down upon, thus being a dream of mine.
What was it like being on MasterChef? Were you still living in Oakville at the time?
Being on the show was surreal. I watched MasterChef USA with my family, so getting to experience it first hand was crazy. I had never been so nervous and anxious in my whole life. That being said, it was so much fun! We all lived in a hotel downtown Toronto.
Do you come to Oakville from time to time? What is your go-to restaurant when you’re in town?
I do come to Oakville quite often because my parents still live here. I think 7 Enoteca is quite good! I know the owner there and every time I go the food and service is phenomenal!
Tell us about R&D and your partnership with Michelin-starred chef Alvin Leung. How did the restaurant come to fruition?… What inspired the menu? What is the atmosphere like?
Alvin first invited me to Hong Kong to work in his three Michelin-starred restaurant Bo Innovation and to try other Michelin-starred restaurants. From there, we decided to work together and open up R&D. R&D stands for Rebel and Demon. Alvin is the Demon chef of course, and I am the Rebel for deviating from the traditional path of being a doctor or an engineer. It is also an homage to both our engineering backgrounds as R&D is often known as Research & Development (which we did a lot of to create the menu).
The menu is inspired by classic Asian dishes that Alvin and I both love. We just add our own modern twist to it! The atmosphere at R&D is lively and fast-paced. We play old school hip hop and have trendy designs throughout the dining room. We have an open kitchen where guests can see us cook right before their eyes.
Do you mind sharing a recipe with us?
This recipe is very dear to my heart as it has been passed down from my grandpa. On the menu, it is called Grandpa’s Fun Guo and has been on the menu since the very first day we opened. The dough is similar to a traditional har gow dumpling, translucent and perfectly al dente. We fill our dough with chicken, truffle, bamboo, and carrots.
You recently got engaged, congratulations! How does a chef pick a caterer for their wedding? I’m sure the bar is high (and we’re sure you have some wonderful connections in the industry!) Have you started planning the wedding menu?
Yes, we did! It was tough to pick a venue that would meet everyone’s expectations. We wanted to personalize our wedding menu so that each course had significance to my fiancée and I. We wanted to incorporate some of our favourite ingredients, but I will have to keep our 5-course dinner a secret for now!
What’s next for you?
I hope to open up a fine dining restaurant in the near future. I will also be heading back to Asia to film the second season of Wok the World, a show where Alvin and I travel around different parts of Asia to discover the Chinese roots in other Asian cuisines.
We source our beans directly from quality driven small-scale producers in El Salvador. By engaging in a Direct Trade model we can offer an additional level of transparency to our customers of the specific farm the beans come from, the bean varietal, drying method, altitude. To the coffee producers direct trade enables them to be independent of the disastrous commodity market that for decades has kept the coffee prices low therefore not allowing sustainable production.
What is your philosophy behind farming?
We promote sustainable farming which is an integral concept that takes into consideration not only the protection of the forest and water resources by growing coffee under the shade of the trees, but also the protection of local economies by paying fairly and employing local people, predominantly women, to harvest and process the coffee by hand.
What was the inspiration behind the Firebat brand?
We started this journey in El Salvador which is part of a bigger region called Mesoamerica once known as the Mayan empire. In the Mayan mythology the bat means change; letting go of the old to create space for new to come. In the coffee farms, bats are also an integral part of protecting coffee forests by keeping insects at bay. El Salvador is known as the land of fire with numerous active volcanoes and coffee thrives on volcanic soil, hence our name Firebat.
What’s your favourite roast that you carry?
We are proud of all our coffees, each of them has a solid place in the coffee flavour wheel and their own target audience. If we had to choose, our favourites are coffees from Shangrila and La Roxanita farms because of their flavour complexity.
From concern for the environment to fierce affection for four-legged friends, there are plenty of reasons why vegan and vegetarian diets are more popular than ever. Instead of raising eyebrows, plant-based menus are now a major draw for restaurants looking to stay relevant and on-trend. Menus are being revamped, chefs are playing with their food to delightful effect, and animal-free ordering has become the norm. Hop on the bandwagon with a visit to Oakville and Burlington’s top destinations for vegan and vegetarian dining.
Boon Burger Oakville | Photo courtesy of @justinpluslauren
New to meat-free meals? Then start with something familiar and redone in a guilt-free way. From shakes and “Peace-za” to poutine and legume-based burgers topped with everything from peach chutney to pulled jackfruit, Boon Burger Café is the place for modern twists on comfort-food classics. With locations in Oakville and Burlington, Boon’s extensive menu can satisfy any craving. For lighter meals, Lettuce Love Café, also in Oakville and Burlington, is a vegan spot offering made-from-scratch, organic-when-possible soups, sandwiches, bowls and hearty weekend breakfasts.
Lettuce Love Cafe | in Oakville & Burlington
A dedicated vegetarian menu with plenty to savour is the perfect excuse to stop in to Paradiso’s Oakville and Burlington locations. With mouth-watering options such as phyllo-wrapped baked brie, sundried tomato arancini and spicy harissa pappardelle, vegetarian diners will feel as pampered and well-fed as their meat-eating companions.
Dar Nabati, Oakville
Oakville is also home to Dar Nabati and Stoney’s Bread Company, a place for substantial appetites with some of the tastiest vegetarian pizzas, sandwiches and salads in town. At Dar Nabati, customers can enjoy 100% plant-based food and drinks. Inventive takes, such as a Philly “cheeze” steak sandwich made with seitan, or “chick’un” fettucine alfredo prepared with cashew sauce, are better-for-you alternatives to the originals.
Maro’s Bistro, Oakville
For ethnic inspired foods, head to Maro’s Bistro or Coriander Green, where fine dining meets an appetite for veggie-packed plates. At Maro’s, Middle Eastern recipes result in flavourful, veg-friendly meals brimming with colour and spice. Coriander Green is where chef Harminder brings his much-loved, made-from-scratch Indian dishes to hungry diners. Vegetarian specialties, from curried potatoes and cauliflower in aloo gobi to spiced, stir-fried mushroom do piaja, offer satisfying ways to sample the flavours that make Harminder a local culinary star.
Rayhoon Persian Eatery, Burlington
At Rayhoon Persian Eatery in Burlington’s Village Square, a comprehensive menu includes tempting options for those avoiding animal-based ingredients. Among the offerings are vegan lentil and walnut stew peppered with raisins and dates, and Persian poached pears are perennial favourites.
Mythos Greek Cuisine Wine Bar
Minutes away, Mythos Greek Cuisine deserves a mention for authentic Greek and Cypriot dishes paired with carefully selected wines. Indulge in vegetarian-approved staples like Saganaki opa, pan-fried cheese flambéed in ouzo, or delicate spanakopita parcels, served alongside rice pilaf and lemon potatoes.
Kelly’s Bake Shoppe, Burlington
And, if you don’t think you can have your vegan cake and eat it too, guess again! At Kelly’s Bake Shoppe in downtown Burlington, delicate pillows of vegan buttercream adorn an assortment of plant-based cupcakes. If you are in downtown Oakville head to Sugar Suite for a delicious assortment of gluten-free and vegan treats. For sweets of another sort, La Dolce Vita near Oakville’s downtown, has a selection of vegan gelatos that can’t be beaten.
Sugar Suite, Oakville
Whether you’re a self-professed carnivore curious to try something new, or a lifelong vegetable devotee, you’ll find numerous restaurants in Oakville and Burlington serving up delectable, meat-free fare. Try one or try them all; you’ll leave sated, pleasantly surprised and we promise, you won’t miss a thing.
While there might still be snow on the ground when you’re reading this, it’s never too early to start thinking about Summer Camps. We are lucky to live in a community with an abundance of great options – but be warned, they fill up quick! Here are some local camp ideas to keep in mind when trying to decide how to keep the kids busy this summer.
The Canadian Dance Company boasts a variety of camps with varying focus. Active Adventure Camps(ages 2-5), begin each day by hearing a fantastic story! Each new book will inspire movement exercised, unique crafts, original songs and one of a kind creations! Our Highly trained instructors will help your little one reach developmental milestones, all while fostering a love for creative arts. These tiny campers will explore their favourite storybook characters while building independence.
Arts Fusion Camps (ages 5-12), These eager and enthusiastic youngsters will have a blast sampling the fundamentals of dance, drama, fine art and music! Exciting weekly themes will keep even the most accomplished artists on their toes, while kindly welcoming campers with minimal experience. Our diverse and encouraging faculty will offer alternatives to traditional training, allowing artists to build confidence, physical strength, problem solving skills and much more.
Lights, Camera…Actions!(ages 7-14), This camp is designed for the triple threat performer who is interested in taking their training to the next level! Performers will explore repertoire from Broadway musicals, film and television as they work to build a portfolio of audition material that flatters their skill set. These campers will have a blast working with guest choreographers, designing sets, having photo shoots and much more.
Shake It Up! (ages 5-12), This camp will focus on our fantastic recreational dance classes and musical theatre programs, allowing campers to experience all of the different disciplines we offer at CDC Burlington! This is the perfect opportunity for an experienced dancer to warm up for the new season ahead, or for a new dancer to get a feel for the style of dance they may enjoy in the future. For more information, visit canadiandancecompany.com
Just as art is unique and diverse, so are the summer camp programs at the AGB! The camps are designed to fit individual summer schedules – whether you’re looking for child care, art enrichment, or university prep, there’s something for every kid aged 4 – 17 at the AGB. Some highlights include Make A Splash with Yoga & Mindfulness (July 22 – 26), Making a Monster(July 29 – August 2), and Portfolio Development for Teens (August 26 – 20).For a complete camp listing and more information visit artgalleryofburlington.com
YMCA of Oakville Summer Camps
YMCAofoakville.org Weekly from July 2 to August 30 | Times and Fees vary|Ages 4 – 17
The YMCA believes in helping children and youth reach their full potential. Whether it’s sports, creative arts, horseback riding or adventure tours, all of their programs provide campers with a supportive environment to learn new things as they deepen their connection with the world around them. Weekly camp activities are planned around an exciting theme with games, characters and crafts, and Special Event Days are the most exciting of all, where campers and counsellors dress up based on the theme and celebrate with wild and wacky games! YMCA of Oakville camps take place in seven locations across Oakville, with extended camp care options and bus transportation included. For a complete listing, visit ymcaofoakville.org
The Creative Hub brings the best of Creative Insight Pottery and CreativeWorks together again this summer for the best Children’s Arts & Pottery Camp around! Art projects will vary from doodles to drawing, painting, sculpting, mixed media and printmaking – and in the pottery studio kids will be doing hand-built pottery, explore surface decoration techniques, and will also get to spend time on a real potter’s wheel. There are also plenty of daily outdoor activities to round out this full summer camp experience. Class sizes are small (no more than 12 per group), so there is plenty of individual attention. Each week has a new theme and projects, so you can sign up for more than one week and never do the same project twice.
Spend your summer sharpening your soccer skills, making new friends and having fun at OSC’s Oakville Wild Summer Soccer Camp! Appropriate for all skill levels, campers aged U5-U14 will have the opportunity to develop their soccer skills in a fun, play-based setting through upbeat development activities, and will learn how to apply these skills in game settings. Campers will also enjoy group, coach and volunteer challenges, two Off-the-Pitch Adventures (bowling and swimming), camp-wide games & tournaments and a Friday Pizza Pizza lunch. All campers will receive a camp t-shirt, a soccer ball and a commemorative team photo to take home along with memories to last a lifetime.
The Oakville Museum offers a variety of camp experiences and formats, from half-day, week-long “mini” camps for 4-6 year olds to a specialized full-day camp for 8-12 year olds where they actually become curators and create their own exhibit. At the Oakville Museum, camps stand out for their ability to immerse the kids in another time, in the actual surroundings in which the events from that time took place.The campers learn by doing and naturally absorb historical atmosphere along the way.They don’t really notice how much they are taking in during the activities, it just seems like fun to them, which it is. Activities are drawn from museum collections and use real historical artefacts. When you can hand a child an object and tell them this actual thing was used right here, back before your Grandma’s Grandma’s Grandma was born, and we have it now because an archaeologist dug it out of the ground where you are standing, there is a magic that happens.
For something a little different and super creative, check out the Pop Star Camp, which is operated out of a professional recording studio in Burlington, B Town Sound. Kids get a chance to feel what it’s like to be a pop star in a professional setting creating a memorable week of musical fun! The focus of the camp spans vocals, dance, fashion, instruments and photography and performance. The camp culminates in a live show for parents. Visit partylikeapopstar.ca for more information.
Royal City Soccer Club
royalsoccer.com Weekly from July 2 to August 30. Times & fees vary. Ages 5 to 13.
The Royal City Soccer Club is excited to host our 27th year of summer soccer camps this summer. Having hosted over 300,000 campers in over 100 locations across Canada, we are the #1 grassroots soccer day camps in Canada. Our program is designed to promote personal development, team building and of course, FUN! The camp program is uniquely designed to offer a soccer focus in the morning and a leisure swim with other organized camp activities in the afternoons. We encourage all boys and girls between the ages of 5 and 13 to register. We offer full day, morning and afternoon sessions where each camper receives a camp soccer ball, tshirt, camp medal, excellent supervision ratios and much more. We offer no charge early drop off and pickup times fully supervised. The camps operate during the months of July and August. We look forward to a great summer of camp. Check out our website at www.royalsoccer.com for more information or call 1-800-427-0536.
You found your person. The guy or gal who truly makes you weak in the knees. The person you want to spend the rest of your life with. Now that you’ve said “I do” to a future, it’s time to head to the altar. Planning a wedding can leave your head spinning – but we’re here to help!
We’ve pulled together a comprehensive local vendor checklist to help you design and plan your wedding like a professional. It includes when to order invitations, book the reception location, and more! With help from local vendors in Oakville and Burlington, you can pull together your vision and create the perfect day. There’s no time to waste, so let’s get started!
Ten to twelvemonths to go…
Shop for your wedding dress.
Do you want ballgown or mermaid style? Maybe something with lace? Oakville and Burlington have beautiful bridal boutiques where you can find everything including your dream wedding dress, veils, and accessories. Check out: Saratina Bridal Boutique in Oakville and Promises and Lace in Burlington.
Find a venue for your ceremony and reception, and book your date!
Venues in Oakville and Burlington offer the perfect backdrop for your special day. Do you have your heart set on an outdoor wedding? Consider one of our many golf courses. If you’re looking for an intimate venue, Spencer’s at the Waterfront is an elegant and ultra-chic venue in Burlington. It offers breathtaking views of the waterfront and fabulous food. Need something with a bit more space? Both Oakville Conference Centre and Paletta Mansion are romantic settings for larger parties.
If your venue doesn’t provide catering – fear not. There are incredible caterers right here in Oakville and Burlington. Catch Hospitality (based in Bronte) manages some of Oakville’s hottest restaurants. They’re dedicated to offering delicious food and world class service, and provide private catering through Catering by Heat. If you’re looking for something unique, try Familia Fine Foods for exceptional Latin cuisine. What is more fun than a taco bar?
Six to eight months to go…
Decide on arrangements with your florist.
Talk to your florist about what’s blooming when you’re set to wed and try to make those stems the mainstay of your arrangements. For beautiful custom arrangements in Oakville and Burlington consider: Fiori, Acorn Flower Shoppe, Margo’s Flower and Gift Shoppe, Appleby Family Florist, Brant Florist, and Millcroft Florist.
Taste and choose your wedding cake.
MollyCake in Burlington is an award-winning bakery that will work with you to come up with the perfect design for your wedding cake (their cakes taste as good as they look).
Discuss style and wording of invitations with a Stationer.
Make a great first impression. Set the tone of your wedding with handmade and custom stationary items. Check out: Anista Designs, and Dolled Up Invitations in Burlington.
Shop for bridesmaid and flower girl dresses.
Looking for a dress for mom, bridesmaid dresses, flower girl dresses, and accessories? Check out: By Tocca in Oakville and Mirella’s Ladies Boutique in Burlington.
Three to five months to go…
Book the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner location.
Restaurants are the perfect location to host your rehearsal dinner and many restaurants in Oakville and Burlington offer private party rooms. Seasons in Downtown Oakville is a posh venue featuring global dishes and an extensive wine list. Bonus: they don’t charge a room rental fee. In Burlington, Di Mario’s Trattoria serves traditional Italian food and has a unique wine list – their warm and rustic private dining room is perfectly suited for a rehearsal dinner.
Shop for groom and groomsmen attire.
Burrows Clothiers in Oakville is the place to go if you want to find the perfect suit. Their made to measure suits and dress shirts are designed specifically for you! Bush’s Men’s Wear in Burlington offers formal rentals and an extensive selection of off the rack suits (in most cases, tailoring is included with your purchase).
Shop for and purchase wedding rings.
Looking for the perfect band to match your engagement ring? Avalon Fine Jewellery in Oakville has lots in store – they also make custom pieces. In Burlington, visit Harmony Jewellers and check out their wide selection or allow them to create your dream ring through their custom services.
Six to eightweeks to go…
Mail invitations.
Touch base with vendors.
Have a dress fitting and find a seamstress.
Can’t dance? Book yourself some dance lessons.
Grab your dancing shoes for lessons at Lucille’s Ball in Burlington or Arthur Murray Dance studio in Oakville.
Three to fiveweeks to go…
Buy gifts for the wedding party.
Your wedding party is part of your day because they’re unique to you – give them a unique gift to say “thank you”. Visit Dove and Arrow in Oakville or check out Burlington’s Little Pop Up Shoppe for cards, trinkets, and unique locally made products!
One to twoweeks…
Give your caterer the final headcount.
Day before…
Enjoy a mani-pedi and get your hair done.
The last thing on the list is a little bit of T-L-C. Treat yourself to a mani-pedi at Yellow Door Studio in downtown Oakville. Then head to Blo Dry Bar in downtown Burlington (they can accomodate your whole wedding party).
When the leaves begin to change, we know it’s time to start breaking out the fall décor – and there’s no better place to start than your front door. To add a touch of warmth to your welcome home, try making one of these easy autumn wreaths.
What You’ll Need:
Natural Grapevine Wreath (18” recommended)
Silk Fall Flowers and Fall Leaves
Wooden Letter(s)
Hot Glue Gun
Scissors
Other accessories: ribbon, burlap, pinecones, twine etc.,
Steps:
Step 1:Visit your local craft store to purchase a natural grapevine wreath and your accessories, or to make it more of a fun experience, take a nature hike and pull some accessories off the trail.
Step 2:Lay your flowers, leaves, and other accessories on the wreath. This will give you a general idea of what your finished product will look like. Fiddle with the layout until you get it just right.
Step 3:Begin gluing your accessories onto the wreath with a hot glue gun. Be very careful not to get any of the hot glue on yourself, ouch!
Step 4: Hot glue typically sets within 5-30 seconds. However, leave your wreath on a flat service for a few minutes after completion to fully dry.
Step 5: Proudly hang your masterpiece on the front door(or even over your mantle).
That’s it! This is an easy way of personalizing your fall décor, that’s sure to make everyone feel welcome.
New local businesses have arrived!
Check out the newest additions to the streetscape in Oakville and Burlington. Here are four new businesses we look forward to supporting in the community.
The Little Pop Up Shoppe
Village Square, Burlington
Located in Village Square, tucked in behind Tamp Coffee, The Little Pop Up Shoppe is an exquisitely designed space showcasing local makers, artists and designers. You’ll find anything from home décor, clothing and jewelry – all designed and made locally! The collection rotates monthly, so be sure to drop in and see their inaugural selection before it’s too late. thelittlepopupshoppe.com
Vereda Central
Kerr Street, Oakville
Opening soon on Kerr St, this new coffee shop boasts delicious coffees made from beans that are hand selected in Colombia and roasted on site. Sample different varieties of coffee, snack on delicious treats, and hang out in this converted house right on Kerr Street. veredacentral.ca
The Hood
Village Square, Burlington
Now open, The Hood offers a relaxed, casual ambiance where you can enjoy artisan soups, sandwiches, and salads. Bread is baked in-house daily and the menu rotates seasonally. Located in Village Square, in the heart of Downtown Burlington, this is a must try! thehoodrestaurant.ca
Yellow Door Studio
Downtown Oakville
Yellow Door Studio is a fully licensed, artfully decorated nail studio and lounge bar. They’ve created an ambiance that elevates the nail salon experience, evolving it from something on your to-do list to something to look forward to and indulge in. Pop by this beautifully designed studio, located in the heart of Downtown Oakville. yellowdoorstudio.com
