My Oh My: Lu Kala and Aqua Perform at Caesars Windsor

All glitz and glamour: Lu Kala 

Photo credit: Chris Woodrich

Collage photo by me: Before the show, During, and 

Special moment with Lene and Soren on stage

Continuing their Canadian Tour, it was a full out 90’s dance party with Danish-Norwegian euro-pop band Aqua at Caesars Windsor.

Opening up was a Congolese-Canadian singer artist I had never heard of before named Lu Kala. If I’m going to be honest, this was a strange choice when I had seen that 90’s bands like Bran Van 3000 and even singer Simone Denny from Love Inc were Aqua’s openers before, which really fit the vibe of the show and homage to the 90’s era. Still I was open to something new.                                           

Stepping onto the stage, Lu Kala was anything but subtle showing off her glamour, complete with bright flowing orange hair. Kala’s voice at times throughout her perfomance reminded me a bit of Meghan Trainer and even Adele. She had a powerful voice and oozed feminine energy/empowerment with  songs like Lottery Pretty Girl Era and Hotter Now. Those were definitely catchy and pop-ish.  One song really struck me though called Nothing But Love. Kala poured her soul into it and I could just feel the chills. She won me over with that one.   

With a short intermission, Aqua was up next. With non-stop energy, René Dif and Lene Nostrøm were bop bop bopping on and off the stage featuring so many of their chart-topping hits like Barbie Girl, Doctor Jones, Roses are Red and many more that filled my 90’s heart with nostalgic glee. One cannot forget musician, Søren Rasted’s with his multi-talents of singing and rockin’ out on the keyboards.  The music overall stepped a bit away from the high-pitched sweet pop sounds to more edgier rock anthems and Lene’s vocals roared with passion in every note.  

Highlights:

👉A beautifully simple version of Aquarius showing the raw and vulnerable side of Lene with Soren matching her tone on piano.

👉René's intermission dj-set and rapping skills – unbelievable performance.

👉Calling You – One of my favourites that I played all the time on my cd player back in the day! It sounded even better live.

👉Turn Back Time – stripped down to the very core with one of my favourite lines of lyrics: “If only I could say what I still hide”.

👉The lighting and stage visuals were really colourful and eye-catching, if not at times a little blinding.

👉René's energy was wild. He was completely enthralled with jumping out into the audience with every opportunity he could. It was also funny to see Lene climb up onto the shoulders of a security guy while continuing to sing to the crowd.

Overall, this was the most fun I’ve had with my husband at a concert in a while especially one that hit the 90’s vibe so heavily with nothing but happy boys and girls all around us. 

💜Band's Official Site: Aqua

💜IG: Lu Kal

💜Check out all the great shows coming up at Caesars Windsor

*I received complimentary tickets to this show from Caesars Windsor - all opinions are my own!

Dressed with a Smile: 2025 Musical Annie Review at the Stratford Festival Theatre

       

                           

It was another evening at the Stratford Festival Theatre with our tickets in hand, ready to head to our seats. This time with tickets to see Annie, directed and choreographed by Donna Feore.

Highlights:                                                                                                                                                                                           

👉Harper Rae Asch was fantastic as Annie. Her bright red curly hair, bubbly personality that didn’t miss a beat throughout the whole show and incredible vocals earned a well-deserved standing ovation. 

👉Kids performances (Cast)  were incredible to watch especially during It’s the Hard Knock Life. A specific stand-out was Cydnee Abbott, who plays Pepper. (interesting note, she holds the Guinness World Record for the most full-body revolutions in a backbend in 1 minute!)           

👉Miss Hannigan (Laura Conlin) what a gem. I couldn’t help but feel that she really embodied the spirit of Carol Burnett with impeccable comedic flair. 

👉Mark Uhre and Amanda Lundgren who play Rooster Hannigan and Lily St. Regis were a fun energetic duo and convincing on stage together as swindlers trying to pose as Annie’s biological parents in return for $50,000. 

                 

👉The song “NYC” – The scene set and lighting for this one really set the tone of New York City. Probably one of my favourites. I’m still humming the tune.

A few missteps to address...

👉I didn’t quite feel the connection between Annie and Oliver Warbucks (played by Dan Chameroy) in the second act, even during what would have been considered the emotional moments. I have seen Dan perform in many other productions in Stratford, believing his character to a tee, but this one didn’t convince me of a father figure in the end, way more believable in his role as the billionaire, Oliver Warbucks.

👉Some scenes in the second act felt rushed and the over-enthusiasm of Warbuck’s staff being so thrilled to be not only at his beck and call, but now to Annie felt a little odd as they danced around gleefully– as if they didn’t have any other purpose.  

👎Pet peeve theatre moment:  Despite the announcements to turn off all devices, I don’t think some people got the memo clear enough near where we were seating. Scrolling endlessly (not just a quick check if you absolutely must) on one’s phone during a performance or playing a game (Wordle can wait, trust me) is not just annoying to patrons who have to see your phone light up in the dark, but also just rude to performers on stage!  

Usually there would be quite a few ushers abound to nip this in the bud but there was no one near us and we didn’t want to have to get up to find someone outside and miss parts of the show. Luckily there were some unattended seats away from the unnerving cell scrollers which we grabbed (and noticed another couple doing the same)  so we could enjoy the rest of the show.

Final thoughts:

        

Overall, this musical production of Annie with wonderful singing, incredible energetic dance sequences will no doubt make you smile and feel happy that a small change of heart can make a world of difference through a child’s eyes. 

Some of the themes of desperation and despair are indeed overshadowed by catchy song numbers draped in sheer optimism that many kids in reality will unlikely experience. However, what is very apparent is the idea of one little girl’s strength (Annie), to never give up hope for a brighter tomorrow.

💜 Book now! Tickets for Annie and other performances are available here: Stratford Festival

Returned favourites and some new spots for us to explore in Stratford. 

Nature continues to be quite healing for me especially in dealing with the complexity of grief. 

Dinner at our favourite spot: Fellini's 

17th Anniversary Dinner at Tabouli by Eddy's

Dinner at Tabouli by Eddy's

BBQ platter: hot rolls, fattoush salad & hummus, kaftas

 beef shish kabobs, chicken shish tawooks

Dessert: baklava and cheesecake

Lebanese cuisine is quite popular here in Windsor-Essex County and it's one of our favourite cuisines to enjoy when dining out or even grabbing take-out. After a busy day, we headed off  for our 17th anniversary at Tabouli by Eddy's. 

The atmosphere was really inviting the moment we stepped into the restaurant. The colours and decor pieces really match the relaxed yet elegant vibe. I would suggest bringing an extra sweater if you are eating indoors as it was a little chilly inside or opt for enjoying some patio dining.  

One aspect that was really apparent was how well-trained the staff were from anticipating specific customer needs to keeping our waters refilled before we even needed to call anyone over for a top up.

 Our waiter was friendly and the timing of the appetizers to our entrees flowed so well. Sometimes you just get everything laid out on the table and feel overwhelmed, not here. It is all the little touches that really make a difference in service and they truly excel in this area.

The menu was varied so whether you're a hungry meat lover, a vegetarian or somewhere in-between, there were tons of entrees to choose from or you could get a platter that would yield lots of leftovers. 

The food was delicious and presented elegantly. There was more than enough for us which meant leftovers for the next day and no extra cooking for me. They do not shy away from offering generous portion sizes. 

We had the bbq platter with sautéed vegetables. The pita chips definitely had a kick of spice but I enjoyed dipping them in the hummus. The meat was really tender and flavourful. They also had the best fattoush salad. 

To our surprise, baklava and their decadent cheese cake were compliments of Eddy, the owner. A sweet end to our meal. 

We'll definitely be back.

Check out their website for your next authentic dining experience:

💜https://taboulibyeddys.ca/

Anything For Love: Celebrating Meat Loaf at Caesars Windsor

I remember the day that I got the call; “you won 2 tickets to see Meat Loaf!” I felt like I had won the jackpot as his iconic music had flowed through my life for years, especially during the ultimate heartbreak of unrequitted love. I felt a real connection especially to the lyrics.  

Sadly, he cancelled the show due to illness. As time passed by, I kept hoping that I would get another opportunity to see him live, but in 2022, he was whisked away, just like a bat out of hell.

Now in 2025, I finally had my chance to wear my bat necklace with pride and practice my pelvic thrust.

Meatloaf alumni band members from The Neverland Express with powerhouse vocalist and American Idol Winner, Caleb Johnson, rocked Caesars Windsor with their homage to the rock and roll hero himself, Meat Loaf. An added bonus after intermission was a little tribute to the cult classic film; The Rocky Horror Picture Show.


Highlights of the night for me:

👉The tribute to Meat Loaf on screen with interviews, and clips of his early acting days in Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Fight Club and of course, Rocky Horror Picture Show.

👉Caleb singing his entire heart out during I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That) and Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.

👉 Singer Lyssa Lynne and Caleb had awesome chemistry together performing a crowd favourite, Paradise by the Dashboard Light.

👉The Neverland Express alumni – world-class guitarists; Randy Flowers and Paul Crook. They were just incredible.

👉Everyone standing up doing the iconic Time Warp together.

Was everything perfect? No. There were some noticeable sound distortions happening on stage and I wish there would have been some more theatrics during the second half for honouring to RHPS. Tell me Caleb wouldn’t have looked sizzlin’ in at least some bold makeup, a mesh shirt, or heck even some high heels while singing Sweet Transvestite?!

Overall, it was a fun show and worth seeing – thanks to Jay and Jamie for the double date!! Although I never got the chance to see Meat Loaf perform, Caleb’s infectious energy was as close to having all my rock and rolls dreams come through.

💜Caesars Windsor

💜Celebrating Meat Loaf

A Combination That Works Like a Charm: 2024 La Cage Aux Folles Stratford Review

     

Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein’s Tony Award-winning 1983 musical, La Cage Aux Folles gets a dazzling facelift from director, Thom Allison for this year’s performance at Stratford Festival’s, Avon Theatre. 

Adapted from the novel by Jean Poiret, La Cage Aux Folles tells the story of life partners, Georges (Sean Arbuckle), and Albin/Zaza (Steve Ross) who run a drag nightclub in St. Tropez and you know, enjoy their morning cup of coffee and do laundry, like most couples do.  

However, a surprise visit turns their lives get flipped upside down, or rather put temporarily in the closet, when Georges’ son, Jean-Michel (Kevin “Koovy” Mclachlan – for this performance), announces that he’s getting married to the daughter of a conservative politician Edouard Dindon (Juan Chioran). Consequences unfold when playing it “straight” but in the most surprising way.   

Highlights:

👉The dance numbers were incredible to watch from Choreographer, Cameron Carver. Shout-out to the entire Les Cagelles dancers especially how many times they did the splits!

👉Chris Vergara as Jacob, Albin’s butler, was an immediate show-stealer. Full of sparkle and sass = plus brilliant physical comedy!

👉All the costume designs by David Boechler were fantastic, especially the carefully curated assortment of Zaza’s (Ross) glittery gowns with help from drag consultant Justin Miller. Oh and what human could be complete without beautiful touches from makeup designer, Dino Dillo.

👉🎶Music... Going in with only knowing one song, the iconic “I Am What I Am” which I fondly recall Respect’s Definitive Mix version, featuring Hanna Jones, from my earlier years, watching the ground-breaking series, Queer as Folk.  

This version of the song had a different feel, as the audience was glued to the stage watching Steve Ross’ vulnerable performance and hearing his outstanding vocals. Another reminder of his range of talents stepping onto the Stratford stage, in every role embraced, high-heels or not. 

👉A close second favourite was Song on the Sand – a musical joy of lyrics and nostalgic emotions that remind us of the simple pleasures of falling and being in love.                                                                                         

La Cage Aux Folles is full of humour (take note, it gets a little naughty!) yet holds pivotal sentimental moments that will make you wonder why we’re still living in a world that is so divided outside the stage.                                    

 I hope we can take a step back and begin to look at things from a different angle.

💜Grab your tickets! Official website: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/

A few moments with my husband Bill, enjoying our time in Stratford, Ontario.

Break An Egg: Something Rotten! Stratford Festival Review

Something Rotten! is directed and choreographed by Donna Feore and tells the story of the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, two struggling playwrights in Renaissance London, who are looking for their chance at greatness, sadly only finding themselves overshadowed by the one, the only, the crowd-chanting and charismatic, William Shakespeare. In desperate times, comes desperate measures and with the divine (or deceptive?) help of a soothsayer, a musical is born.

               

Highlights:                      

👉Jeff Lillico was hilarious as The Bard (aka Shakespeare) with his show-stopping rocker confidence on stage and expertise timing of hair-flips.

👉Dan Chameroy as Thomas Nostradamus was just pure gold in his role and every moment on stage gave  you a full belly-laugh.

👉The rapid fire musical theatre references included some costuming brilliance in its execution that I won’t be spoiling. It felt like a nostalgic trip back in time with such fond memories (ps. our first visit together to the Festival Theatre was Fiddler on the Roof)  

👉The hilarious tap-dancing dance-off duel was endlessly funny from start to finish between quick-wittted Shakespeare, played by Jeff Lillico  and the beating heart of the musical, Nick Bottom, played by Mark Uhre.

👉Starr Domingue as Bea hit all the right notes with a hefty dose of sassy female empowerment and the beauty of true partnership in the song "Right Hand Man".

👉The genuine love affair to secretly long for between Nigel played by the whimsical, Henry Firmston and Portia, played by Olivia Sinclair-Brisbane. Both of their performances were so genuine and together, they are about as sweet as the sugar in one’s tea cup on a mid-summer’s night. 

👉Steve Ross as Shylock, a Jewish money-lender, was a sure-fit for this role, keeping us laughing with plenty of Yiddish references along the way.   

With over 14 production numbers in the show (music and lyrics by Wayne Kirkpatrick and Karey Kirkpatrick), included are some egg-cellent dance routines that got its well-deserved standing ova-tion. 

👉I cannot forget to mention the ensemble cast. This musical reached a new height as they gave their heart and soul into every note, twirl and leg thrust. Sitting there in the audience, you could feel it.

Book your tickets because if you’ve been stuck in the camp of  “God I Hate Shakespeare!” trust me, you’re gonna love it.

💜Official website: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/

Moments in Stratford

To my followers: On a personal note, I recently lost my brother and so I've been deep in the grieving woods and trying to make my way through it.   I want to thank my husband, Bill, for taking me to Stratford to enjoy this fantastic musical and experience a few hours of laughter and smiles. 

Sure-Lox: Barbie Puzzle - Faces

A new arrival in the mail - Sure-Lox Puzzles - Barbie Puzzle Collection - Faces!

This brought back a lot of nostalgic moments, as I did engage in a lot of pretend-play with my Barbie dolls when I was younger. It's really amazing how much Barbie has evolved and these faces do reflect more of our diverse culture today. 

Thoughts: 

👉A bit more puzzle dust in this one, but nothing my little hand-vac couldn't clean up.

👉Good quality cardboard pieces (with glossy finish) and vibrant colour palette to complete the puzzle.

👉Simply from a visual aesthetic, I do wish there was a Barbie face that had eye-glasses not just sunglasses but hey that's ok!

👉As with all Sure-Lox puzzles, they have the "Sure-Lox fit" which allows for the puzzle pieces to fit together nice and tightly.

👉If you're ready for a challenge, make sure to set aside a lot of concentration and patience if you haven't worked with a block design pattern before.  Thanks to Bill for being my fabulous puzzle partner. :) 

🧩1000 Pieces

Stay connected with all the exciting new puzzle launches!

💜FB: Surelox Puzzles

💜IG: SureLox

Disclosure: I was gifted this puzzle from Surelox to try out and provide my honest feedback. #gifted #sureloxvip 

Start Spreading The News: ACT Presents Newsies Jr. at the Capitol Theatre

 

Photo credit: John Chan Photography

Directed and choreograped by Becca Miinch, with the always creative flare of Artistic Director – Chris Rabideau, it was a wonderful opportunity to see the emerging talents of so many students across Windsor-Essex County come together for Arts Collective Theatre's (ACT) Youth Creative production of Newsies Jr. at the Capitol Theatre.

Set in the hustle bustle of New York City, this musical adaptation features a Tony Award-winning score by Alan Menken and Jack Feldman, and a book by Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein.   

Newsies Jr. tells the story of Jack Kelly,  a rebellious soul on the outside, but a soft-hearted dreamer on the inside, who sells newspapers on the streets of New York with his friends to make a mere living. After yet another price increase from the bosses, Jack has had enough and rallies all the newsies to ban together and stand strong. Unexpected revelations happen along the way, as they prepare for the fight of their lives.  

Highlights:

👉Malia Afonso’s role as Katherine was unforgettable. Her sheer presence lights up a room, or in this case, an entire theatre.  Her solo of “Watch What Happens” was so emotionally compelling. When you think of star quality, she’s it.  

👉Evangeline Scott as Crutchie was at the heart of Newsies and portrays the character with dignity, showing resilience and adding a little wise-cracking humour.       

👉If you haven’t smiled in a while, when Reya Porter steps on stage, that will absolutely put the biggest one on your face, playing Les - a “pint-size” charming Newsie.    

👉The ensemble cast for “Seize The Day” was amazing especially with the added toe-tapping sequence.

👉Another great moment was the fight scene, coordinated by Tiffany Chan and assistant Peter Corio.

👉Newsie, Jack Kelly played by Rowan Alice took the reigns of really showing his character come to life and pulling off a pretty convincing New Yorker accent.

👉A perfect array of costumes for the cast really set the mood to reflect the time period and social classes, along with the icon Newsies caps, all envisioned from Costume Manager - Moya McAlister and Costume Designer – Valentine Yaghoubzadeh

This inspiring production of Newsies Jr. reminds us of the power of change and reflects on some of today's social disparities. Watching these diverse young generational performers are a beacon of hope for a brighter future. When we stand together in unity, we create a ripple effect and ACT ensures in every performance this message is loud and clear.

💜Get your tickets for this weekend only! Newsies Jr.

💜Arts Collective Theatre

💜Capitol Theatre Windsor

Feline Good: CATS The Musical

Photo Credit: SCC

Director and Choreographer, Kristyn Wiklanski set the stage for a purr-fect evening to go out to the Chrysler Theatre and see the St Clair College Performing Arts students in a modern day creation of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Broadway musical Cats, adapted from T.S. Eliot’s whimsical poetry collection titled Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats.

In a nutshell, the story revolves around The Jellicle Ball, a celebration held once a year for all the Cats and an opportunity to share tales of their lives to Old Deuteronomy, their wisdom-filled and highly-respected leader, who will choose only one of them to journey to the Heaviside layer and be reborn into a new life.

With a beautifully haunting set design, the junkyard alley where the tribe of cats live and play, every inch of the stage had its own little tale to tell. The entire cast did an excellent job personifying their chosen character cat and exhibiting kitty-like body language and gestures with submissive and dominant poses.

There was so much thoughtful consideration into the movement on stage, mixed with heightened operatic solos and ensembles, and of course jaw-dropping dance sequences that kept up momentum in energy from start to finish.

Highlights:

👉Alex Wyant gave an outstanding performance as Rum Tum Tugger, a wildly energetic and uninhibited cat.

👉It was amazing to experience the zest of the fashionable lit-up ensemble and electrifying solo performance of the lovable magical black and white cat, Mr. Mistoffelees – Paige Moore. 

👉Another show-stopping vocal and dance performance was from Skimbleshanks, the Railway Cat - Josie Bianchi. 

👉Grizabella played by Gracienne Swarbrick blew the audience away with her ballad of “Memory”.

👉Joanna Empey as Old Deuteronomy spoke to our hearts with every note sung in “The Ad-Dressing of Cats”.

As an audience, getting to experience the full emotional spectrum of a mystical world that highlights the connective fabrics that are within ourselves and shown to others is something to always hold dear in our memories.

 

💜For any animal lovers out there, this show had an paw-some initiative to support the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society. Any donations are always appreciated to help our furry friends.

💜 Chrysler Theatre    

💜 SCCPA Facebook Page

SureLox: Time Life Magazine National Parks Puzzle

How many National Parks have you been to? This puzzle from SureLox Puzzles features a variety of stunning park photos from Time Life Magazine.  It is a perfect little adventure for your imagination as you delve into building each puzzle piece to reveal a different park.  

SureLox Puzzles - TIME LIFE Magazine - National Parks 

🧩500 Pieces

Thoughts:

👉Minimal puzzle dust

👉Good quality thick pieces with vibrant colours

👉Although the containers were set out to sort, which is our usual process when starting a puzzle, it was actually much easier to follow along with the box and work on each postcard-like image after completing the border.

👉LOVE the SureLox fit which allows for the puzzle pieces to fit together nice and tightly.

👉Only issue is the size of these pieces are a little on the small side, preference is having them a bit bigger to work with. Really need to take a lot of breaks because otherwise our eyes go a little googly.

Finished puzzle - a beauty! 

 

Stay connected with all the exciting new puzzle launches!

💜FB: Facebook

💜IG: SureLox  

Disclosure: I was gifted this puzzle from Surelox to try out and provide my honest feedback. #gifted

Crafted With Love: Café Amor & Art Review

Life has become about enjoying the quieter moments, as well as exploring more of the neighbourhoods here in Windsor, Ontario.  If you’re ever strolling down Ottawa Street, you’ll want to stop in at Café Amor & Art, a cozy shop located at 1464 Ottawa St. where a small family business has blossomed into an inclusive space for all who walk through their door.

They have an assortment of specialty drinks like lattes, cappuccinos, flavoured coffees, teas and of course, a variety of home-made soups, sandwiches and mouth-watering pastries. 

As you wait for your order (or you can have a seat and a staff member will bring it to you), there is aesthetically vibrant Latin-American artwork, hand-crafted jewellery, pottery, and such a sense of cultural authenticity throughout the cafe to enjoy.

A frothy rich latte, hearty pulled pork sandwich, side of tangy coleslaw, and unique style of chicken noodle soup with crunchy tortilla chips (as shown in the top photo) hit the spot on a rather cold and chilly day. No dessert this time, but that’s just another reason to return.

When you get the vibe that you're not just a customer to them, but more like family, you know that's love.  

💜Website: Café Amor & Art 

💜Follow on IG Café Amor & Art

You Can Be My Friend: Junie B. Jones - The Musical

Photo credit: Bloomsbury House Stage Production

After what has seemed like endless days of grey skies from morning till night, Sunday turned out to be a beautiful blue sky and sunny day.  It was a perfect way to spend the afternoon at the Chrysler Theatre seeing Bloomsbury House Stage Production of Junie B. Jones – The Musical! 

Starting off, Director, Martin Ouellette was able to bring to life many of the characters from the beloved Junie B. Jones book series from author, Barbara Park. The show had impressive choreographed dance scenes, meticulously derived from Julia Pastorius that were set to heartfelt and fun musical numbers. Having an all-adult cast playing multiple roles, including adorable first graders, elevated this experience making it truly an all-ages family show to enjoy. 

It was a packed theatre with kids excitedly in their seats, holding onto their Junie B. Books and awaiting the moment when the very first song “Top-Secret Personal Beeswax” would start off this high energy production. 

👉Junie B. Jones (played by Charlotte Salisbury) was just like the character from the book, emulating Junie’s exuberant personality, mature wisdom and quick-witted antics on stage. She was a joy to watch, all complete in her brightly striped leggings and tutu – vision of Costume designer, Carly Morrison Hart.

👉Herb (played by Gianluca Ieraci) gave another stand-out performance, especially with his mannerisms and adorable connection to Junie B in the bus scene, where we get to see best friends in the making.      

👉Sheldon (played by Bill Dileva) – a first grader allergic to fake meat, cheese and dairy, who is often pushed out of his comfort zone and highly accident-prone, dove straight into this role and really had perfect comedic timing throughout the show. Bill's unique talents as a performer shone as he took centre stage with sheer confidence doing a solo of Sheldon’s anthemic “Half Time Show” performance. 

👉Daddy (also played by Bill Dileva) showcased his unbelievable juggling skills on stage, as the audience cheered wildly.  His scene with Mother (Alysia Therrien) who sang beautifully in the song “When Life Gives you Lemons” was also another really special moment together, encouraging Junie B to not give up when times get a little rough in life.

👉May (played by Krystal Laframboise) gave a highly gratifying performance as Junie B’s antagonist in the show.

👉Mr. Scary (played by Craig Gloster) was anything but scary! He was the kind and encouraging teacher figure that makes you want to come to school every day and who can forget Mrs. Gutzman, played by Laura K. Bird, the nurturing head cook, baking your favourite cookies and sending you off to math class relaxed.

👉Other actors rounded out the production, playing multiple characters including Lucille, Camille and Chenille – played respectfully by Alysia Therrien, Julia Pastorius and Krystal Laframboise, who were really fun to watch on stage and gave sassy performances. Alex Hristoff, was convincing in her child-like portrayal of José, Junie B.’s bilingual friend.

👉The final song, “Writing Down the Story of My Life” mixed in comedic elements and sweet sentiments of how to trudge through the hard parts of life and was the encouraging message that we all need to hear sometimes.

                            

💜What's playing next? Visit Bloomsbury House

💜Upcoming shows at the Chrysler Theatre

You Gotta Thai Here: Thai Palace Restaurant Review

Lovely ambience here

Meal featured: fresh tofu spring rolls and chicken Pad Thai

Originally a Torontonian, I always loved the diversity of not just the people but the variety of cuisines and cultures that intermingled within our community. Moving to a much smaller-populated city like Windsor, Ontario, and being a Windsorite for many decades, it didn’t take long to realize that our local restaurant community here was filled with passionate creators who made mouth-watering dishes for their patrons and offered top-notch customer service. 

The restaurant scene here has continued to blossom into a food-lovers paradise for all palates. Sadly as some doors closed, others ones have opened. If you’ve ever run a restaurant or know someone who has, you know the blood, sweat and tears that goes into it. 

Today I wanted to mention Thai Palace, a special gem in our city that has been around since 2007 and offers authentic Thai cuisine. They have a wide range of menu items from delicious fresh spring rolls to start your meal off to flavourful noodle dishes and an assortment of curries – which can be spiced to order (spice level of 0 to 5), or they let you know it’s already spiced hot at a starting level 1!  It is a welcoming place for everyone, as there are vegetarian and vegan options available and gluten-free too.

Thai Palace excels at offering high food quality, generous portion sizes, a warm atmosphere, as well as daily specials to enjoy for a quick lunch or a leisurely dinner. You can also do take-out and just recently, they now offer delivery. As this may feel typical to your favourite restaurant, I wanted to share a special moment that I witnessed with my husband one evening that made us really pause and smile.  

While waiting for our food, among many other patrons in the restaurant, we saw one of the staff sit down at a table and actually assist someone dining alone with their meal. This person had a visible disability. The staff member sat down in a chair and helped feed the customer without hesitation. It was a beautiful experience and honestly not something either of us had seen before during a busy evening rush. It made a lasting impression.

From that day, we’ve been back many times and shared great memories with others, over a little pad thai and bubble tea beverages.  So many of our celebrations (anniversaries, birthdays, etc) have been spent here over the years and you know, that little dash of humanity always makes a meal taste better.

💜Website: Thai Palace

Don't Stop Make-Believing: Mr. Dressup Documentary Review

The Magic of Make-Believe is a documentary by Robert McCallum and was a special one-night screening event at WIFF, here in Windsor, Ontario, celebrating the life of beloved children's entertainer, Mr. Dressup.  

This one is for all the kids (especially the Canadian ones eh!) growing up who remember making toilet paper roll crafts and couldn’t wait for Mr. Dressup (Ernie Coombs) to open his colourful Tickle Trunk that was filled with treasures and would ultimately spark our imaginations for decades to come.              

There are some heart-felt interviews sputtered throughout the film, including Andrew Phung (actor/comedian), Eric McCormack  (best known on Will & Grace), Scott Thompson (from the brilliant sketch comedy series, Kids in the Hall) and countless other celebrities who recall special moments from their own lives, watching Mr. Dressup. As well, we get to hear from Ernie’s children who share fond memories of their dad from early ages, up to the final goodbye.

Not surprising, the kind, thoughtful, and welcoming character of Mr. Dressup didn’t just translate on screen, but was actually Ernie’s natural demeanor in his regular life outside of TV land. He was the kind of man who embraced everyone with an open heart. Ernie loved his family and never failed to acknowledge friends in the industry who supported him throughout his life, especially long-time pal, Fred Rogers (well-known as Mr. Rogers, another beloved TV show entertainer from the era), who jump-started Ernie's career by simply believing in him.

This iconic children’s tv program ran for almost 30 years, with more than 4000 episodes on CBC.  One of many interesting facts shared in the documentary shows quite a progressive representation in media. Mr. Dressup’s interaction with two puppets known as Casey and Finnegan were both played by Australian puppeteer, Judith Lawrence. Casey was always considered non-gendered, which made it easy for any child to identify with the character.

When remembering Ernie’s life and all the joy he brought to others, there is a level of gratitude that is unspoken from our lips but remains deeply in our hearts.  From the wise words of Ernie, “keep your crayons sharp, your sticky tape untangled, and always put the top back on your markers."

A Sure Bet: Guys & Dolls Musical Review at the Capitol Theatre

Photo courtesy of John Chan

No luck has been needed as Arts Collective Theatre’s (ACT) production of Guys and Dolls showing at the iconic Capitol Theatre in Windsor, Ontario, truly dazzled theatre patrons once again. 

With the creative vision of Artistic Director, Chris Rabideau and Assistant Director, Cristina Orlando,  Musical Direction by local and internationally renowned composer Ian Smith, and dance choreography by Tiffany Chan, made for an incredible afternoon of sights and sounds.  

Set in Depression-era Time Square, Guys and Dolls is filled with many colourful characters and tells the stories of sinners, like big shot Nathan Detroit (played by Michael Rice), who runs a notorious floating crap game and is looking for his next spot to earn some quick money. Getting not so subtle hints from his sweetheart of 14 years, Miss Adelaide (Avonlea Smith), a headliner at the sizzling Hot Box Club, he needs to curb his gambling ways to take the plunge and marry her already. 

We also have the suave doll-magnet, Sky Masterson (Gianluca Ieraci) who unexpectedly falls head over heels in love with mission worker, Sarah Brown (Jamie Brown-Hart). Their love is put to the test when Sarah believes he has set up an illegal game at the mission.                                                                                  

Highlights:

👉First and foremost, my husband, Bill – Total bias here to include a review of his magical performance, but honestly, even if I didn’t know him, he really knocked my socks off. As a professional magician in his every day life, he had a few tricks up his sleeve to delight audiences.  He was part of the terrific ensemble cast, singing, dancing, and had a fun role of acting a little tipsy (intentionally!). I had no idea he could move and groove on stage like this.                           

👉Gambler, Nicely Nicely Johnson - Kyle Cloutier was just a joy to watch on stage – quick-talking and such an exuberant personality. Being one of the sinners, he’d still probably whistle a cab for you on the hustling and bustling streets of New York.

👉Big Julie -  Leave it to ACT to switch things up and take “Big Jule” from the original musical and give us a treat with “Big Julie” played so confidently by Florine Ndimubandi.  She was a powerhouse in the song “Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat.”

👉Adelaide - Avonlea Smith dominated the stage in the song “Adelaide’s Lament”. It was performed so well, highlighting her incredible vocals and ability to engage in a role so vivaciously that obviously she was destined to play.  

👉Nathan Detroit - Adelaide’s beau in the show, Micheal Rice, sang straight from the heart and was rather convincing that he could change his ways, with his declaration of love to Adelaide, in the song, “Sue Me.”  His comedic timing was perfect in so many scenes.         

👉Sky and Sarah – Gianluca and Jamie Brown-Hart have such chemistry that steamed up the stage -holy moly. Apart, Jamie holds the gift of innocence on stage that never wavers from her character, which is remarkable to watch.  Gianluca’s thick tousled hair and New York-ish quirks of a sleazy sinner is spot on, and his vocals would truly make Frank Sinatra proud. 

👉Arvide Abernathy – Jim Walls is the ultimate endearing grand-father figure of Sarah. Honestly, can we just give him a big hug? Just a genuine performance all around.

👉“Sit Down, You're Rockin' The Boat” wait for it, hallelujah! Heidi Richards, as General Cartwright really shone in this scene with her energetic gospel stylings. You have to experience this whole scene for yourself.

👉The choreography from the dance scenes were amazing and kudos to Tiffany Chan as well as technical dance instructor Leslie McCurdy for being able to create routines that evoked a lot of energy and passion with every step. 

👉Costume Manager, Moya McAlister and designer Valentine Yaghobzadeh brought a new level of New York chic fashion with bright, bold and sparkly outfits that made a statement and to reminiscence the time period with hints of modern flair.                                                       

Having a slight inside scoop of the dedication that everyone gave to perform in Guys and Dolls, along with the many hours of laundry that had to be done after these passionate performers left the stage every night, I am so happy that I was able to see this musical, which is one of my all-time favourites, in such a refreshing new way. 

As well, I applaud the diversity for casting individuals of all walks of life, and true community spirit that Arts Collective Theatre (ACT) brings to Windsor, Ontario. 

As the curtains close next week for this production, excitement continues on for what they’ll have in store for 2024.

💜Arts Collective Theatre

💜Capitol Theatre Windsor

Good For The Soul: WSO with LaKisha Jones at the Capitol Theatre

We chose to get balcony seats so it was a nice view. 

Quick snap before the performance on Sat. Sept 23, 2023 - 8 pm.

 

It was a fun evening out at The Capitol Theatre this past weekend here in Windsor, Ontario. There is such nostalgia entering the building as it brought back great memories of a really special Valentine's date concert experience with Bill way back in 2009, which seems like so long ago!  Since that time, we've been back many times to enjoy various performances.

The Windsor Symphony Orchestra never disappoints with another wonderful evening of music. These musicians are really hard-working and so gifted with their instruments and performances.  To elevate the experience further, Flint Michigan's powerhouse of soul, LaKisha Jones crossed onto Canadian soil to share her beautiful voice with all of us.

It was a bit of a surprise not to see Robert Franz conducting on the stage that night, but his Assistant Conductor, Francisco Hernández Bolaños took his place and definitely held his own with his comedic charm with the audience between sets and of course, his passionate conducting style.  

LaKisha Jones was truly a sight to behold, every time she appeared on the stage in a different vibrant outfit. Her grace, confidence and voice through every song showed what a superstar she truly is.   

A few highlights:

👉The unique musical style of the WSO performing 2001 - Space Odyssey

👉James Bond medley - another nostalgic moment for me, as I had a previous online handle, known as 007! 

👉I Will Always Love You  - I was transported back to The Bodyguard soundtrack. LaKisha knocked it out of the park with her vocal range and emotional performance.

Celebrating the opening of Windsor Symphony Orchestra's Toldo Pops Concert Series, there's plenty more fantastic performances to come that no doubt will earn our R-E-S-P-E-C-T.

💜Performance schedule/booking tickets: WSO website

💜IG LaKisha Jones 

Find Your Grail: Stratford’s Spamalot Review

The ridiculous and pun-filled humour in Stratford Festival’s 2023 production of Monty Python’s Spamalot is a hilarious musical comedy from Eric Idle and John Du Prez that is directed by Lezlie Wade and Choreographed by Jesse Robb.  With elements from the 1975 motion picture “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”, this one has a whole new flavour of obscurity that is combined with incredible performances, toe-tapping dance numbers, intricate stage elements, and vibrant costuming that is fit for royalty or maybe a dominatrix.  

The story revolves around King Arthur and his eccentric bunch of Knights of the Round Table who go in search of the elusive Holy Grail. It is completely bonkers, as we all know that nothing always goes to plan in life. Nonetheless, we are here for the laughs and all the mishaps!

Jonathan Goad leads this impressive production, playing King Arthur, with Eddie Glen as his submissive squire, Patsy. Included are: Aaron Krohn (Sir Lancelot), Trevor Patt (Sir Robin) and Liam Tobin as Sir Dennis Galahad.  Also to note, many of the actors played multiple roles, which was most impressive.

You'll be in for plenty of surprises that will literally and figuratively moo-ve you (yes a terrible pun inserted intentionally, you’ll know why after seeing Spamalot). There are also catchy musical numbers that will have you singing along with the multitude of talent that graces the stage from many of Stratford’s finest performers. 

Highlights:

👉All and I mean ALL the groan-worthy puns!

👉The French Taunter whose insults you could slice with a baguette.

👉Knights Who Say "Ni" (couldn’t stop laughing!) 

👉“He Is Not Dead Yet” was performed so brilliantly.

👉The spicy, sultry and spunky “Lady of the Lake” played by Kimberly-Ann Truong

👉Eddie Glen who played Patsy felt like he was meant to be born on stage, as his comedic timing was perfect. 

And more (but I’m not spoiling anything else!)  

The level of mockery that you’ll hear and see on the stage is done in the usual Monty Python style and so there are no shortage of laughs that may seem a little uncomfortable if you’re not familiar with the dry British humour. 

There are plenty of ideological themes throughout that may offend as well, but like many musicals from Stratford, this performance gets some tweaks with clear messages of love and humanity tossed in for good measure, something that is definitely rattled in today’s world.                      

And so my friends, with that gentle warning, I would encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and see Spamalot at the Stratford Festival’s lovely Avon Theatre.  

On a personal note, this was a great way to spend our upcoming 15th anniversary together, as my husband and I are big Monty Python fans and love finding any reason to go and see performances in Stratford! It’s really our home away from home. 

By audience demand, more shows have been added. Truly another production that deserves much praise and multiple viewings!  

Go in with an open mind and heart and always look on the bright side of life.

💜Official website for more info and tickets: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/

Welcome to Windsor: Marhaba Bistro & Cafe

A lovely new place opened up right near us called Marhaba Bistro & Cafe (6152 Tecumseh Rd E), which is Windsor’s first majlis style bistro and cafe.

They have a good sized menu, so there is something for everyone to enjoy. We ordered the 3araby chicken shawarma with Fattoush salad. The food was delicious and flavourful. I really loved the pickled turnips on the side and how vibrant they looked. Also this was the first time having shawarma presented like this, instead of in a full wrap format. 

It was a bit too hot to dine out on the patio, so we stayed inside which had a nice cozy atmosphere.  I think we have a new favourite place to enjoy. 

Definitely try it out!

💜IG: Marhaba Bistro & Cafe 

Seasons Of Love At Stratford Festival: Rent Musical Review

In honour of yet another brilliant mind gone too soon, Jonathan Larson (creator of smash sensation Rent) it was a very emotional 2023 trip to the Stratford Festival. We got to experience an artistic masterpiece of musical theatre from director Thom Allison, and music director, Franklin Brasz that holds such a passionate and sentimental value. With an outstanding Rent cast, thanks to the brilliant casting from Beth Russel, we can raise from our seats and proudly shout from the rooftops that love IS love.

If you’ve seen the film Rent, or even Larson’s, Tick, Tick... Boom! be prepared for something completely out of the box with this musical that is provocative, progressive and full of energy. The stories share many common themes, such as: struggle, identity and belonging. 

Choreographer, Marc Kimelman, has the ability to transform moments on stage into memories that will live on far beyond when the curtains close.

                                                                

A few highlights for me:

                                                                                                         

👉Gabriel Antonacci’s touching version of "One Song Glory".

👉Nestor Lozano Jr.'s portrayal as drag queen and life-giving Angel, who is appropriately named with an angelic vocal range and stunning presence on stage.

👉Lee Siegel’s emotional “I’ll Cover You” (reprise). The flood gates opened and there wasn't a dry eye around.

I can go on and on,  but I won’t because reading about this experience is just one layer, you need to be there, watching the vulnerability unfold on stage.  While it might shock some audiences with a handful of provocative scenes and language that could offend, we’re getting past the surface here and digging deep into the emotional rawness of these characters lives told through performance and song. 

Maybe you’re not an addict,  confused about your identity, hiv+ or even on the verge of a mental breakdown,  but you know what? If you are, that's alright. You still deserve to live a life of dignity. Why? Because as echoed in the musical, life can be really fu**ing weird!

While going through a lot of struggles right now, Rent couldn’t have come out at a better time to teach me some valuable lessons that can often be forgotten in moments that we cannot change and cause great amounts of despair.  

For anyone out there trying to navigate the darkness, forget regret or life is yours to miss.

Don't let time run out, book your tickets for the 2023 season!

💜Official website: https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/

Choose Wisely: Erie St. Gastro Pub Food Review

One thing to love about Windsor is the food. We have so many places that have been in business for ages, and for good reason. As life changes, as it always does, it's exciting to see plenty of new local spots with creative and passionate chefs that are popping up that really seem to have the bones for lasting a long time - well, as long as they are supported. 

Erie St. Gastro Pub has a great minimalistic look but is still bright and welcoming with elegant touches of decor. If you're in the mood for a hearty burger, a little asian fusion or even something off the vegetarian/vegan menu, this might be the place for you.  

Dinner & Thoughts:

Steamed Dumplings (Appetizer)- A great start to the meal. We had veggie dumplings which were tasty with a sweet chili sauce. The freshly chopped green onions were a nice addition.

Pho -  I haven't had Pho (pronounced "fuh") in a while, so I was excited to try it out here. It had a heaping amount of chicken, noodles, and a very flavourful broth - I could taste the coriander with every slurp. The bowl was large enough that I have a bit of leftovers for lunch.

Double Pork  -  If you know Bill, he loves a good pulled pork sandwich. He really enjoyed his meal - the pork was soft enough but still with a little bit of chewiness. He also really loved the blend of mustard, chipotle mayo and honey ginger bbq sauce and the Vietnamese slaw. It was incredibly filling.

Usually a side salad is nothing special, but this one was elevated with the right amount of lettuce, shredded carrots, peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, a little slice of avocado (he didn't eat that but a nice touch regardless). It was complemented by a delicious carrot/ginger dressing.

Warm hospitality - Maggie was top notch as our server, with a bubbly personality and just so accommodating to whatever we needed from the moment we sat down to the time we left.  We don't drink alcohol (if you do, they have a huge menu to choose from) but that was not an issue at all, as our glasses never remained empty for long, whenever passing by to check on us.  

Overall, I am confident to say that this time, we have chosen wisely. :) 

💜Website: Erie St Gastro Pub

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