Category: Family

Family Fun in Fergus

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The Elora Gorge makes Fergus, ON a sweet place to visit any time of year but come October, when you toss in some early fall colour, the town’s many charms really start to shine.

Combine that natural magic with some theatrical magic and you’ve got a very nice way to spend a fall day.

This October consider a family road trip to Fergus for an afternoon of fun at the Magic Festival family matinee show held in the town’s charming theatre, The Fergus Grand.

It’s a sweet little room with no bad seats or sight lines.

I’m not a part of this year’s edition but the talent lineup is always good and it’s curated by a pro, Fergus native Ryan Joyce.

Colourful screen grab of Magic Show info graphic showing basic show info.

Ticket info here.

Worthy of your consideration. Individual tickets and family ticket packages are available.

Fergus Grand Theatre interior as seen from stage.
Yours truly at The Fergus Grand a while back.

30th Anniversary…?!

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Thought bubble containing a nice Google birthday magic review from a mother.

Isn’t that a nice review?

During a recent weekend birthday gig the hosting mom, who kindly wrote this Google review, told me she inquired of several entertainers before she booked me.

Booked me, because my birthday party magic show best suited her needs, right?

Nope. Booked me because I was the only one actually who responded to her. No one else replied!

Maybe that means the others were all booked solid or maybe the others were all flakes.
Maybe a bit of both? Either way it always amazes me how some performers behave. Even if I can’t help you myself I’ll reply to say as much and maybe offer you a suggestion.

One no response she mentioned prompted me to visit his website for the first time in years.

Boy was it dusty. Copyright date 2010, not “https” secure and, oddly, not a single photo or video of the performer in action. I will not mention the performer directly, however…

Said website also held this relic:

Screen grab of nice but 30 year old testimonial from me.

It’s legit. A sincere thank you from me to a teenage performer who did about 10 minutes on a community outreach show hosted by the local magic club. During the holidays. In December 1995. That’s right, December 1995 — you know, 30 years ago!

Long ago I requested that he remove/replace it but I see it’s still there. Sigh…

So thank you birthday mom for booking and for your lovely review. I’m glad the kids had a blast, grown ups too. I guess I’m glad nobody else responded too…!

And to a certain nameless performer since it’s now 2025… happy 30th anniversary to us?

Jeesh!

Magical Offerings at the BPAC #1

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Screen grab of listing for Ted & Marion Outerbridge at Burlington Paerfoening Arts Centre.

Outerbridge Magic!

This is the first of 3 unique spring 2025 magical offerings at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre. It’s great to see so much variety art scheduled so I’m doing my part with a wee blog post about each over the next few weeks.

Ted & Marion Outerbridge are veteran performers who have toured far and wide for years. I’ve seen previous performances and also attended their fine lecture for magicians. They are consummate pros through and through.

They are bringing their current show, Mysteries of The Keyhole House, to the BPAC on Sunday March 9th 2025 at 7:00 pm with a family friendly matinee on Monday March 10th in the afternoon. Visit BPAC for full info.

For your consideration and, as it happens timing wise, a great kick-off to the March Break!

Book Family Cemetery

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A collection of old grave stones in Book Family Cemetery.

Once in a while I take a dear friend’s 90 something father out for a spin. Gives him a little adventure away from his retirement residence.

We always drive the rural roads. He grew up in the area so he’s got a story for almost all of them from Hamilton to Hagersville. Admittedly many of these stories seem to involve underage drinking in the 1940s but hey…

Recently he tossed out the random factoid that we were passing a cemetery on Book Road in Ancaster, Ontario. I notice there’s a maintained grassy area along the side of the road plus, up above, the hint of a fence line atop a steep hill.

So when I got home I look on the City of Hamilton website and, sure enough, there’s an old cemetery there: Book Cemetery.

Weathered grave stone of George Book.

Many of the markers are broken, weathered or being claimed by organics. As best I could see from the stones there hadn’t been a burial since 1899.
I wouldn’t exactly call it a ruin though; the mowed grass and pathway tells that the City of Hamilton respectfully maintains it.

Broken memorial marker of John Book.

Part of our local landscape that was news to me. Worth a wee blog post I thought.

If you go…
Book Cemetery is in Ancaster, Ontario.
281 Book Road East at Hwy # 6 South. North East corner. It’s pinned on Google maps.
Be aware that the access path on east side takes you up a steep hill. A short hike is needed to get up there.

Another angle of Book Family Cemetery gravestones.

Slightly creepy shot of same gravestones done with black and white filter.
Gotta do at least one cemetery shot in black & white, amirite?!

The Book family were early settlers in the area. Early, as in 1789 early! Not the focus of this blog post but there is a nibble of Book Family history in this post on Facebook to get you started should you be interested.

The Kids Should See This…

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I’m a big fan of the aggregator site Kottke.org.

Almost daily, well weekdays anyways, it offers up an eclectic slice of the internet curated by its founder, Jason Kottke.

A recent posting reminded me of a real gem of a web resource for families called The Kids Should See This, an amazing collection of videos for families and kids.

There’s a category to cover every interest from art to music & DIY to claymation.

The whole site is worthy of your attention but here are three to get you started…

A piece of a glacier breaking off and flipping, the colourful mating display of a Tragopan Pheasant and the incredible skills of rola-bola artist, Bernard Hazen.

Enjoy!