Fresh Picks 2007
By Jodie McKague, David Pye, Tom Gierasimczuk, Sarah Lolley, Nicole Pointton, Eric Rumble, James McCarten, Tara Blasco Raj and Steve MacDonald
Jan 1, 2007
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Once Florida’s most visited attraction, St. Augustine’s Marineland saw a bottlenose dive in attendance in the mid-1990s. It takes on new life as the recently opened, interactive Dolphin Conservation Center (marineland.net). —NP
MONTRÉAL
Opening on Valentine’s Day, the unique wellness centre Studio Breathe offers more than 60 fitness classes ranging from yoga to martial arts, a holistic spa and a fireside lounge. (studiobreathe.com). —SL
Arguably the most enviably located hotel in the city (on the corner of Sherbrooke St. and St.-Laurent Blvd.) the stylishly modern Hotel Godin will be opening its highly awaited restaurant and bar this year (hotelgodin.com). —SL
Always an adventure in gastronomy and viniculture, this year’s Montréal Highlights Festival (Feb. 22 – Mar. 4) gives centre stage to chefs from New York City and South Africa (montrealenlumiere.com). —SL
The Montréal Museum of fine Arts hosts Once upon a Time Walt Disney (1937-1967), a tribute to the sources that inspired the world of Disney, and the artistic directions to which it led. It runs from March 8 to June 24 (mmfa.qc.ca). —SL OTTAWA
The Canadian Museum of Nature is unveiling big changes this year after celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2006. Look for four new floors of permanent galleries, exhibits and education spaces, including the recent opening of the Talisman Energy Fossil Gallery, a new Mammal Gallery and a new Bird Gallery (nature.ca). —TG
TORONTO
This June, golfers will begin flocking to Cobble Beach Golf Links, a course designed by Doug Carrick—another of Canada’s brightest design lights—located two hours north of Toronto near the town of Owen Sound on the edge of Georgian Bay (cobblebeachgolflinks.com). —JM
The most anticipated architectural unveiling in the country this year happens in June, when the Royal Ontario Museum opens the doors to the Renaissance ROM, crowned by the striking Daniel Liebskind-designed Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. The new space, combined with extensive renos on the original heritage building on the corner of University Ave. and Bloor St., will generate 300,000 square feet of space, allowing the museum to almost double the amount of collections on display. —TG
Although tiny Mercer St. is in the heart of Toronto’s raucous Entertainment District, its high-end tenants and polished aesthetic are a world away from partying suburbanites. The new Chez Victor (germaintoronto.com), a new restaurant and bar in the lobby of the chic Hotel Le Germain, is as big on modern décor as it is on seasonal, international dining. The new Milagro Restaurante Mexicano y Cantina (416-850-2855) boasts motherland design and food without the clichés. —TG
Just can’t get last year’s World Cup out of your head? Check out the Toronto FC, Major League Soccer’s first Canadian club when they kick off their season in April at BMO Field, Canada’s largest soccer-specific pitch located on the Exhibition Grounds (torontofc.ca). —TG
WINNIPEG
The Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra welcomes world-class Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate. He will lead the orchestra in Winnipeg, on tour, and in the orchestra's internationally acclaimed New Music Festival. Additionally, the Symphony will celebrate the Baroque Festival from March 16-18 (wso.mb.ca). —JM
Winnipeg’s French Quarter has a new neighbour. Beaujena’s Restaurant in St. Boniface specializes in fine dining with an international flair. Choose from 150 wine labels or Chef Winston Macay’s diverse menu. Try the tapas or the monthly prix fixe four-course menu with wine pairings (204-233-4841). —JM
REGINA
World-famous Canadian architect Arthur Erickson is putting the finishing touches on his $40-million RCMP Heritage Centre, set to open in late May. The facility’s exhibits, displays and a multimedia theatre will explore the RCMP’s heritage and modern-day operations (rcmpheritagecentre.com). —TG
SASKATOON
Phase one of the Western Development Museum’s new Winning the Prairie Gamble exhibit is now open. Trace the journey of the farm family from 1905 to 1920, or hop aboard a recreated colonist car (wdm.ca). —JM
EDMONTON
Play along with video game composers Tommy Tallarico and Jack Wall in Video Games Live (January 22 – 23), as they join the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and the Kokopelli and Oran Choirs for interactive Space Invaders and the sights and sounds of some of gaming’s best (videogameslive.com). —TBR
The Marriott has opened a 255-room, four-star hotel and casino with 600 slot machines, 40 table games, 12 poker tables and a high-limit gaming lounge on the Enoch Cree Nation Reserve just minutes west of Edmonton. The $178-million complex also includes more than 20,000 square feet of meeting space and a sports complex with two NHL-sized rinks (rivercreeresort.com). —TBR
Jasper National Park turns 100 this year as a culturally and environmentally protected place. To celebrate, the town and local businesses are holding 100 days of celebrations throughout the year (jaspercanadianrockies.com). —TG
CALGARY
Canada Olympic Park (COP), Calgary’s urban ski hill, snowboard park and bobsled track, has added snow-making equipment, retail, an expanded beginner area and a 22-foot, 150-metre half-pipe (modelled on the one to be used at the 2010 Olympics). (canadaolympicpark.ca). —JM
The Glenbow Museum is now home to Mavericks: An Incredible History of Alberta. The permanent display traces the history of southern Alberta through the legends who embody Canada’s Wild West archetype (glenbow.org). —JM
Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has made Canada’s Rocky Mountains even more stunning, thanks to the recent completion of the $12-million room renovation project at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in which nearly all of the historic property’s rooms were extensively overhauled (fairmont.com). —TG
PHOENIX
Phase one of the US$600-million Phoenix Convention Center expansion is now open. It offers 20,000 square feet of conference-style meeting space, a 45,000-square foot ballroom and a glass atrium and gathering space inspired by the Grand Canyon (ci.phoenix.az.us). —JM
The Phoenix Art Museum has unveiled a $50-million expansion project that includes a new four-level gallery wing, a one-acre sculpture garden and a stunning glass-enclosed lobby (phxart.org). —ER
LAS VEGAS
The US$925-million Red Rock Casino Resort and Spa features nine restaurants, 400 guest rooms and 70,000 square feet of meeting and convention space. It also claims to have one of the largest spas in the state of Nevada (redrockstation.com).
Starting in 2007, Monty Python fans can enjoy the cult classics in person at Wynn Las Vegas’ rendition of the Broadway hit, Monty Python’s Spamalot (montypythonssmapalot.com).
Got nerves of steel, a buttery putter and US$50,000 burning a hole in your pocket? Head to Las Vegas in late May for “The Ultimate Game,” a $6-million, no-handicap, made-for-TV match-play showdown at the Lake Las Vegas Resort and the Wynn Las Vegas Golf & Country Club (theultimategame.com). —JM
Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino gets a long-overdue makeover this year, ditching the stale Arabian Nights theme left over from its Aladdin days, for posh Hollywood-inspired décor (planethollywood.com) —NP
The Donald makes his Vegas entrance with Trump International, a glistening luxury resort and condominium tower in the heart of the Strip, due to open late this year (trumplv.com) —NP
Sarah Jessica Parker once said, “If you’re a nice person and you work hard, you get to go shopping at Barneys.” This fall, retailer Barneys New York opens in Vegas to the delight of the rich—and suddenly rich—alike (barneys.com) —NP
LOS ANGELES
The former Hollywood Athletic Club is now Boulevard3—a posh L.A. dance club that mixes “old-world charm with digital-generation appeal” on Sunset Blvd. The 7,500-square foot space includes a three-level ballroom, 1,500-square foot dance floor and soaring ceilings (boulevard3.com). —JM
London comes to West Hollywood. This spring, the all-suite Bel Age Hotel will be dramatically transformed into The London LA, featuring urban resort design, waterworks bathrooms and two Gordon Ramsey restaurants (belagehotel.com). —NP
From its origins as a tiny shop off Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood, Pinkberry, a line of sugar-free, low-fat, low-carb desserts, is set to launch 30 additional locations around L.A. this year (310-659-8285) —NP
With Empress, hotpsot designer Thomas Schoos—of Koi acclaim—has transformed a Sunset Strip sushi dive into L.A.’s next big Asian dining experience (323-656-8377) —NP
High-end all-American comfort food tops the menu at Ketchup, a new breed of greasy spoon on Santa Monica Blvd. partly owned by budding restaurateur Ashton Kutcher (dolcegroup.com) —NP
VANCOUVER
Big air takes on new meaning. Whistler’s Ziptrek Ecotours’ expanded zip trekking course now offers 10 lofty ziplines—including North America’s longest zip and another that concludes in the heart of Whistler Village (1-866-935-0001; ziptrek.com). —NP
Vancouver-based food tour operator Edible British Columbia has opened Edible B.C., The Store, in the Granville Island Public Market. More than 300 B.C. artisan products line the shelves and Granville Island's only tasting bar lets you try before you buy (edible-britishcolumbia.com). —TG
The big just keep getting bigger. Whistler Blackcomb’s new high-speed lift-accessed Symphony Amphitheatre (named after the terrain) is now open to those whose day of skiing doesn’t involve a 30-minute hike. The intermediate and advance terrain serves up more than 1,000 powdery acres (whistler-blackcomb.com). —TG COMOX
The Comox Valley Heritage Experience is a new self-directed driving tour winding through the natural history, industrial past and cultural heritage of the Comox Valley and incorporates 16 stops and four museums en route (discovercomoxvalley.com). —JM
Visitors smitten with Vancouver Island’s Pacific Rim National Park (and the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet) can now check out Westcoaster—a comprehensive online source for keeping up with current events in the fast-changing area (westcoaster.ca). —TG
Schooner, one of Tofino’s top fine dining spots, has opened up the town’s first lounge above the restaurant. Appropriately called Upstairs, it features high-definition flat-screen TVs, tapas and decadent desserts (250-725-3444). —TG
VICTORIA
Where is the next gastronomic hotspot in Canada? If you follow the buzz, it’s south Vancouver Island, home to 32 wineries. (A decade ago, there were only seven.) Check out the new Wine Islands Visitors’ Guide for winery hours, specialties, plus touring maps for 10 regions around Victoria and the Gulf Islands (wineislands.ca). —TG
On April 14, 2007—95 years to the day the Titanic struck the iceberg—Victoria’s Royal B.C. Museum launches the six-month Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition with 275 artifacts in several galleries that trace the nautical legend’s design, construction, discovery, recovery and conservation (royalbcmuseum.bc.ca). —JM
Nanaimo’s new WildPlay Element Park makes it okay to climb trees again. Located 90 minutes north of Victoria, the park serves up three wild adventures including bungee jumping from 43 metres above the Nanaimo River, swinging over it (at speeds of up to 140 km/h) on the King Swing and the TreeGO park—a series of interactive activities among the Douglas Fir forest (wildplayparks.com). —TG
MAUI
Using organic ingredients and water sourced 3,000 feet below the Kohala Coast off Hawaii’s Big Island, Maui’s new Ocean Vodka is as pure as 80 proof gets. A portion of the vodka’s sales goes to organizations working to conserve ocean resources (oceanvodka.com) —NP
This spring, Wailea Beach’s Marriott Resort and Spa unveils $60 million in guest room upgrades and redesigned amenities, including an expanded Mandara Spa (waileamarriott.com). —NP
HONOLULU
You don’t have to summit Diamond Head to escape downtown Waikiki. The bi-level, rooftop Waikiki Plantation Spa atop the Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach offers an extensive menu of island-inspired services and clear ocean views (waikikiplantationspa.com). —NP
In July, the long-awaited, football field-sized Hawaii Superferry begins daily service from Oahu to the islands of Maui and Kauai, with trips lasting about three hours. According to company estimates, a family of five travelling from Maui to Oahu with their own car pays $530 in round trip ferry fare. The same family travelling by air would pay approximately US$1,076 for airfare, rental car and parking. Walk-on fares start at US$42 (hawaiisuperferry.com). —TG
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