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Taste of the TSW with Jeff Bray: The El (P)

Wall of paintings at El (P) restaurant

I am restaurant obsessed. I worked in the industry for 20 years doing everything from washing dishes to owning a business myself to teaching Restaurant Operations at Centennial College.

When I go out I have high expectations, but not unreasonable expectations. I expect the food to be of a quality related to the concept. I expect to feel some value in the experience, and I expect friendly and fairly prompt service. Not unreasonable, but extremely rare. The El (P) gives me these things.

Go Play Outside: Unique Summer Theatre and Music Venues

Outdoor ticket booth with receptionist inside at Westben

With the warmer weather upon us, it’s almost a shame to spend time indoors. Yet the summer is also a time for vibrant cultural events, so what’s a lover of the arts to do? In Kawarthas Northumberland, they can check out the wide range of musical and theatrical performances taking place in the lap of … Read more

Riding the Snowscape: Fat Biking in Kawarthas Northumberland

Three cyclists in a snowy forest

Until last winter, I’d never been on a fat bike. I’d cycled Kawarthas Northumberland thoroughly in the warmer months—the region is crisscrossed with rail trails and backroads that make for shady, serene riding in the summer. Then I was invited to ride some Northumberland County trails on a borrowed fat bike, and my conversion into an all-season rider happened almost instantly.

Meet the Farmers: Moore Orchards and Market & Smør

Green baskets of strawberries

Nothing compares to the taste of fresh fruit—and for a few weeks in summer, Northumberland’s Moore Orchards is like an all-natural candy store. When their pick-your-own strawberry patch is in season visitors come from across the region and beyond, drawn by the quality produce and the chance to connect with the places their food comes from. What doesn’t get picked by customers goes into the local food scene in other ways, including helping Cobourg’s zero-waste grocery store Market & Smør achieve their sustainability goals. It’s a virtuous cycle that benefits both producers and entrepreneurs, not to mention consumers looking to eat healthy and eat local.

Meet the Musicians: Live Performances

Logo reading "Meet the Musicians of Kawarthas Northumberland"

If you enjoyed the Meet the Musicians series, you can now listen to the complete recordings that appear in each artist’s video profile. Performing at venues across Kawarthas Northumberland, all six musicians gave heartfelt performances that deserve to be heard in their entirety. Thanks again to Kate Boothman, Beau Dixon, Close Kicks, Cale Crowe, Melissa … Read more

Meet the Musicians—Close Kicks feat. Louwop

A man in an orange hoodie looks at a bearded man playing guitar

We’re used to seeing far-off places in our media. New York lofts, tropical beaches, Icelandic vistas—all perks of living in the Internet age. But it can make it all too easy to forget about the scenery and stories in our own backyard. Darryl James’ Close Kicks project is unabashedly local, and there’s a thrill of recognition in his music videos to seeing our landscapes and streets not as stand-ins for another place or era, but as themselves. Speaking to James and his collaborator Luis Segura, aka Louwop, at Lindsay’s Academy Theatre, it’s clear their commitment to nurturing the local scene runs deep.