Around Burlington

Google Maps

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Mon, 19 May 2008 16:35:00 +0000

I'm delighted to share that I've created a user-created map on Google Maps called Dining In Burlington (it's a bit small right now, but will grow over time). Anyone can add their own thoughts and experiences to this map. So, I look forward to reading your reviews.

{ crafty burlingtonians }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 00:29:00 +0000

Have you heard of Etsy? If not, let me introduce you to my favourite website. Etsy is devoted to hand made goods. Before you go "ug" - think beautiful, chic, sophisticated, cute, well-crafted items. Well imagine my delight to find 4 Burlingtonians selling their wares on Etsy!

Purse collection for Blythes via iana's shop

Air Wynn glass designs:

Puppy collars by erinder:

Naturally Hip panty liners:

{ a weekend walk . treasures uncovered }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sun, 23 Mar 2008 14:09:00 +0000

On a walk through the beautiful streets of downtown Burlington, we weave in and out of shops...uncovering hidden treasures along the way.

{ Pane Fresco } - a mandatory Sunday destination...pick up your baked goods for the day or stop in for a tasty brunch.

{ A dog on a mission } - a random dog that made us chuckle...since it looked like it was driving the car.

{ InVU } - yes, I've posted about InVU before, but what can I say...it's my favorite spot in Burlington.

{ Book Nook } - over 20,000 books grace the shelves of this quaint Brant Street book store!

{ a fiesta . a cake . then a siesta }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 02:16:00 +0000

This past weekend, during an ice storm, we celebrated 3 birthdays. We tried hard to leave the snow behind with a cheap and cheery fiesta-themed party - breaking out the Sombreros, Mexican decorations and even a pinata. The evening was capped up with one of the ugliest birthday cakes ever created (compliments of Fortinos).

{ a saturday evening tasting }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 01:12:00 +0000

Enjoy an evening of premium VQA wine from Maleta Winery at Paletta Mansion's monthly wine tasting event. Taking place this Saturday evening from 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., this is your opportunity to taste Maleta's award-winning Bordeaux-style Meritage.

To book, call Terry Milewski at 906-632-7809 ext. 3.

{ the grand farewell }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:18:00 +0000

In the most recent edition of Biz magazine I came across a really interesting business concept. The Grand Farewell is a Burlington-based company that creates short autobiographical videos of a person's life, made while their still living, to be shown at their funeral.

OK, let's get this over with - yes, it's macabre, morbid, and slightly depressing. But on the lighter side, it's a fantastic opportunity for someone to share their story and define their legacy...and provide a memory that will stand the test of time.

Click here to find out about the process.

Call for a free, no-obligation consultation:
1-905-315-5055
email ron@thegrandfarewell.com.

{ lunar eclipse }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:33:00 +0000

Thought I'd share a few pictures of the beautiful lunar eclipse last week. Stunning! If you missed it, the next total lunar eclipse will be on December 21, 2010. Mark your calendars.

{ THE best sandwich west of the city }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 23:58:00 +0000

As the title of this post states, I'm going to talk about the best sandwich west of the city. In fact, it was so good the first time that I went back the very next day to get the same sandwich again (and it was just as good!). Artisano Bakery Cafe is an unassuming little spot in between a spattering of outlet stores in the RioCan Center (that's the name of the new outdoor outlet center on Burloak). There's plenty of parking, but the challenge becomes how to navigate around the throngs of Artisano-groupies shuffling in and out of this hot-spot.

Now I can't comment on why everyone else flocks to Artisano, but I can tell you that the best sandwich I've ever had the pleasure of consuming came out of this cafe. Nestled between 2 slices of herb & cheese focaccia sits generous shavings of turkey breast, bacon and provolone cheese, seasoned with their very own garlic-parmiggiano sauce. Then pressed, panini-style, and served warm. It is one of the most delightful experiences...and a must try. The sandwich is called the Turkey, Bacon & Provolone Panini. If you order it by itself, it's served with a gourmet dill pickle slice and your choice of kettle chips or an apple. You can also choose to eat a 1/2 a sandwich (which, believe me, is more than enough) with either a soup or a salad.

So, what are you waiting for?
RioCan Centre Burloak
Artisano Bakery Cafe Ltd.
3505 Wyecroft Road, Building I, Unit 3
Oakville, Ontario
L6L 0B6
Phone: 905-825-5271
Fax: 905-825-2450

Oh, and also try out their other location:
Artisano Bakery Cafe Ltd.
1020 Islington Avenue, #14
Toronto, Ontario
M8Z 6A4

And their set to open another one soon:
Artisano Bakery Cafe Ltd.
353 Iroquois Road,
Oakville, Ontario

{ burlington . aka hollywood west }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:16:00 +0000

Often lovingly referred to as Borington, Burlington should actually be renamed Hollywood West. After all, Ryan Gosling once attended Lester B Pearson and Jim Carrey played hookie at Aldershot High School.

Oh, and until writing this post I had no idea that the very annoying (sorry) host of Good Day L.A., Jillian Barberie, is also from our small town.

Born in Burlington, Ryan Taylor is Canada's top male model recently signed to fashion giant IMG.

Although not really considered a celebrity, Burlington's-own Frank Rondell-Chiarelli does impersonate the larger than life, late celebrity Ray Charles

And who could forget Finger Eleven (aka Rainbow Butt Monkeys)? The top 40 alternative metal band from Burlington.

And although not 'technically' a celebrity, Burlington's own Michael Lee-Chin is Canada's 11th richest Canadian also donated $30-million to Toronto's newly-launched Michael Lee-Chin Crystal at the ROM. Well, he's a celebrity in my books.

So next time you utter the word Borington, think about these incredible Burlington-connections and be proud.

{ pov . performing arts burlington }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 20:38:00 +0000

There's a lot of talk right now about the Burlington Performing Arts Centre building project. In fact, the Burlington Post ran a multi-page spotlight in this Sunday's edition. I wanted to weigh in as a resident, a branding expert and an advocate of arts + culture.

Burlington, the brand

I spent the last 15 years developing and building brands for tier 1 consumer goods companies. Many people think of a brand as a logo or a name, but in fact a brand is a collection of perceptions in the mind of the consumer based on experiences. And the truly successful take control over what their brand stands for and build those experiences for their consumers.

I moved to Burlington from Toronto about 4 years ago. I came from a city that had a distinct personality - a thriving metropolis of cultures that came together and not only co-existed, but co-experienced. Yet, I enjoyed moving to Burlington...I was close to family, in a friendly city with friendly neighbours, and could leave my door unlocked if I so wished. The problem is, 4 years later I'm still not sure what Burlington stands for. It lacks a distinct personality, the heart of which to build experiences from. Without that heart, Burlington is simply a nice city to live in. Not necessarily a desired destination.

As a resident, I would love to see arts and culture thread its way into the fabric of our city. I dream of a day when I can enjoy an enriching night out in Burlington...a day when my friends from Toronto will drive the 25 minutes to lap up a Burlington show with Burlington talent...a day when creative boutiques and gourmet restauranteurs flock to our city to sell their wares...a day when Olympic champions, Hollywood celebrities, and elite theatre performers state that they made their start in our city...and a day in which Burlington solidifies itself as a desired suburban city based on the experiences and perceptions of its residents and visitors.

Feel free to weigh in with your thoughts & opinions. A community and corporate services meeting to discuss the proposed construction of the Performing Arts Centre will be taking place on Tuesday @ 7:00 p.m. at City Hall, 426 Brant Street.

For more info, see the Performing Arts Burlington website.

{ valentine's day: pepperwood bistro }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 00:17:00 +0000

Hurry up because seatings are filling up for Pepperwood Bistro's Valentine's Day Dinner. Enjoy the sweet sounds of Michael McGuire - if you haven't had the pleasure of hearing his jazz vocals, you must. Choose from Pepperwood's prix fix or a la carte menus. Oh, and I heard a little something about chocolate covered strawberries.

The prix fix menu choices are as follows:

Appetizer
Braised chickent, chorizo sausage, ricotta and sweet bell peppers baked in puff pastry wiht white frisse endive salad and black currant vinaigrette.

Main
Black cod poached in vanilla pink peppercorn scented court bouillon with roasted sweet potato pont neufs and ancho pepper tomato relish

- or -

Hazelnut pesto crusted 1/2 rack of australian lamb with shallot butter whipped potatoes, crisp onion strings, pan jus and mint infused oil.

Dessert
Vanilla scented individual cheese cake with strawberry cream

- and -

Chocolate caramel lava cake with black cherry coulis

$85 per couple (taxes and grats not included)

For another taste of Pepperwoods...
Saturday, February 16 @ 7 p.m. at the RBG Centre
Valentine's dinner and dance. Begin your evening with champagne and strawberries. Enjoy a spectacular dinner catered by Pepperwood with live music. After dinner, let the DJ entice you to dance the night away. Tickets — Members: $100 per couple; Non-members $120 per couple. Reserve tickets by calling 905-527-1158, ext. 513.

Photo via flickr

{ valentine flowers . via holland park }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 20:23:00 +0000

Looking for a beautiful bouquet for your Valentine, but abhor the thought of buying long stem red roses? Holland Park has some beautiful options to choose from.

top left - hopeless romantic ($74.95)
top right - passionate reds ($44.99)
bottom left - spring tulips in hot pink ($34.95)
bottom right - multi-coloured roses ($54.99)

Call 1-800-234-6515

{ cherry oranges }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 16:56:00 +0000

Have you heard of these little gems? Cherry Oranges are also known as the "Emperor's Delicacy" - an extremely tiny and rare Mandarin found only in a remote region in the south of China, dating back 1300 years.

Now I must say that I try to stick to locally grown fruits & veggies, but these little gems intrigued me.

They're less than half the size of a regular Mandarin (as you can see in the bottom image) and their taste is more sweet but more subdued (not having the tart, acidic notes that a Mandarin has). Although they are supposed to be seedless, you will find a seed here and there. But overall, they're quite enjoyable. These would be fantastic for kids with little hands.

I picked mine up from Fortinos.

{ spencer's at the waterfront }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 04:31:00 +0000

Spencer's at the Waterfront is located just west of the downtown core, on Lakeshore Road. With beautiful views of the lake and the Skyway Bridge through its tall wall of windows, it's a picturesque setting for a nice night out. And it's equally as nice to visit on the weekend for brunch.

Michael and I set out to Spencer's this evening for a relaxing wrap up to an otherwise tough work week.

I began with the Heirloom Beet and Monforte Goat Cheese starter - $9. It was OK. I found it a bit unexciting and wished there were more beets (I think if you put all the pieces together it would be a 1/2 a small beet). I followed with the Linguini, Olive Oil & Parmesan entree - $16. It had nice flavour - the pine nuts and the oven dried tomato were a pleasing combination and the wild rocket gave the perfect kick. I would have liked the pasta to be a bit more al dente. But overall it was nice.

Michael had the Dungeness Crab Fritters - $13. He said they totally lacked flavour and were a big disappointment. The 8oz Spenny Burger ($15) did not get a better review, even though it seemed to be a hot commodity at the restaurant...there were about 10 other people in the tables around us who had ordered this entree.

Overall, we found the food disappointing. The service was great - maybe a tad slow. The ambiance was very nice - it has a relaxed yet elegant feel. There was a musician playing who was absolutely fantastic - unfortunately I didn't catch his name.

Tips

- in the winter, try to stay as far from the front door as possible - there's a nasty draft
- if you're going for brunch, get there early or make a reservation...it's usually fully booked (oh, and be sure to bring change with you as parking is paid until 6:00 p.m. M-Sat)
- get a table by the window facing the lake - best view in Burlington

Contact Info

1340 Lakeshore Road
Burlington, Ontario, CANADA
L7S 1B1
Phone; 905 633 7494
Fax; 905 633 4816
info@spencersatthewaterfront.com
www.spencersatthewaterfront.com

Main Spencer's Landing photo via flickr

{ Valentine's Day }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 02:53:00 +0000

1505 North is having a Valentine's Day event featuring Rudy & Esther and a fantastic prix fix menu. Click here for menu.
Call 905-319-1330

{ burlington arts center - annual art auction }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 00:02:00 +0000

Don't miss the Burlington Art Center's annual art auction on February 15, 2008. This is the premiere fundraising event for the gallery which will feature original contemporary Canadian art, including an original piece from famed Canadian wildlife artist Robert Bateman. At the auction you'll find a wide variety of art: lithograph, watercolour, oil, multimedia, pottery, fiber art, sculpture, and jewellry.

Tickets

Pre-auction dinner and auction tickets are $100.00
Auction tickets are $35.00 at the door, or $30.00 if you're a member of the center

Schedule at a glance

The patrons reception starts at 6:00 p.m. on February 15th. Enjoy a fantastic dinner, meet the artists and get a sneak peek of the auction items!

The live auction will start at 8:00 p.m.

Free previews of the auction items will be scheduled as follows:
February 13 & 14, 12 - 9 PM
February 15, 12 - 5 PM

For more information

Website
T: 905 632 7796

Photo via flickr

{ inVU burlington }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:04:00 +0000

Designers and design-hounds all flock to inVU. Located in downtown Burlington, it's almost as much fun drooling over their stunning window displays as it is scouring their walls of luxurious fabrics. Whether you're looking for ready-made draperies, custom furniture or fabric pieces or uber chic home decor, inVU is the place to visit.

Be sure to sign up for their newsletter to stay abreast of the latest trends, new products as well as get expert design advice.

Design Consultation

In addition to oh-so-glorious products, inVU also offers their inHOME service - design consultation with one of their many qualified Design Divas. They can help pull together a room, help select fabrics, colours and decor items and even oversee the measurement and installation of custom furniture and drapery.

For a consultation fee of $75.00, they will set up your in-home consultation within 48 hours. Simply call 1-800-665-9227.

Contact Information

InVU Burlington
2004 Caroline Street
Burlington, Ontario
L7R 1K4

905.632.4994
info@invudraperyco.com

Store Hours

Monday to Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday and Friday 10am - 8pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday 12pm - 5pm

{ silvercity oakville }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:48:00 +0000

SilverCity Oakville takes movie watching to the next level. If you haven't made the trip out to this 12-screen, 45,000 square foot movie complex, then be sure to put it in your calendar.

Big Extras

VIP Auditoriums
Adults 19 years and older can watch movies in one of three VIP auditoriums for a nominal upcharge. They can enjoy the exclusive box office and concession stand or the private licensed lounge area. Seating can be reserved in advance. And concession offerings can be ordered from and delivered right to their in-theatre seats.

Kid's Club
Cineplex Kids Club has child-watching services offered to parents while they enjoy a movie

FastLane Service
Order your food and drinks at the automated kiosk and proceed to the FastLane counter to pick them up

Stadium Seating
The new SilverCity Oakville Cinemas also features all stadium seating (each seat row will be 18" higher than the previous row); wall-to-wall, giant, curved screens; large, luxurious seats with ample legroom and Dolby Digital Surround Sound. The concessions include traditional movie fare such as popcorn, candy and soft drinks in addition to a wide range of options including Chaqwa specialty coffees and teas, a variety of hot food items, Pizza Pizza, New York Fries and a Yogen Fruz frozen dessert bar with a great selection of no-fat and low-fat yogurts and premium ice creams.

Contact Information

3531 Wyecroft Road (close to Burloak & QEW)
Oakville
ON, L6L 0B7
(905) 827-7173

{ jysk - and a good night's sleep }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:41:00 +0000

Jysk has extended their White Sale. You can continue to save up to 50% off of their pillows and duvets. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a fantastic King Feather Bed for under $50.00! But the best steal of all was a Luxury Danish Temperature Regulating Comforter. Regularly priced at $550.00 (King), I snapped mine up for half price. This duvet uses the patented TempraKON technology developed by NASA for astronauts. The Outlast Thermocules absorb excess heat into the comforter and release stored heat when needed - to keep your body at the perfect temperature. This actually helps to improve your REM sleep cycle throughout the night. Oh, and it's also hypo-allergenic, filled with grade one Siberian down and has a 300 thread count jaquard cotton cover.

Jysk is located at: Unit #5 3305 Fairview St

Telephone:(905) 637-5671
Fax:(905) 637-4407
Email: burlington@jysk.ca

Store Hours
1. Mon - Wed 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
2. Thu - Fri 10:00 AM 9:00 PM
3. Saturday 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
4. Sunday 11:00 AM 5:00 PM

{ focus on homes - 2615 bluffs way }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:54:00 +0000

This week's focus on Spectacular Homes showcases a palatial custom built home, on 2 acres of land, in north Burlington's The Bluffs.

Boasting over 5,200 sq ft of open concept floor space with an elegant floating staircase, a gourmet kitchen, a beautifully designed great room overlooking the perfectly manicured property as well as an authentic connoisseur's wine room. In addition to overall impact, what makes this home so impressive is the attention to details...4" exotic dark hardwoods, limestone floors, coffered and vaulted ceilings, seamless glass shower, and beautiful millwork are a few of the designer details. A circular drive leads to the spacious triple car garage. And a walk out basement with 9 ft ceilings and rough in for heated floors adds an additional 3,000 sq ft of ready to be finished living space.
{ $2,799,000 }

Listing details

Lot Size: 213.25X451.9
Bedrooms: 4
Baths: 4
Square Footage: Approx. 5,237
Basement: unfinished

Salesperson: Don Goodale
Telephone: 905-845-9180
Toll free: 1-888-462-4851
Email: brad@goodalemillergroup.com

{ the crystal ball carnival }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 16:56:00 +0000

Get your tickets to one of Burlington's most anticipated fundraisers - Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital's Crystal Ball. On Saturday, April 5, 2008 JBMH will host a whimsical, carnival-themed event at the Burlington Convention Centre.

Tickets have sold out every year so don’t delay! Call 905.336.6499, or email wstevenson@jbmh.com.

Click here to see pictures from last year's event.
Tent provided by Regal Tent Productions.

{ the rude native }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 04:05:00 +0000

The Rude Native's new(er) location on Brant Street has created a much-needed nighttime 'heart' to Burlington's downtown core. The second we walked into the restaurant it had a great vibe to it. A mix of 20-somethings all the way up to 50-somethings, all out to enjoy a great night out.

We sat at the back of the main room by the fireplace (note that there is a 2nd room past the kitchen if you're looking for something more low key). We were impressed by the romantic fireside location, but quickly changed our tune when our surrounding temperature shot up to about 200 degrees.

I had the Roasted Beet & Tomato Salad { $9.95 } to start - top left. And the Chicken Supreme for my entree { $20.95 } - bottom right.
Michael had the Samosas { $8.95 } - top right, followed by the Seared Salmon { $21.95 } - bottom left. The consensus...the food was OK, but flavours were unexciting and unsophisticated. We'd go back for a nice night out with friends for drinks, but would likely not visit again for dinner.

We're still on our hunt for the perfect downtown weekend restaurant. So, stay tuned.

{ blacktree restaurant }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 03:18:00 +0000

Blacktree's chef Matteo Paonessa creates a new and masterful menu every month. His foods are as eclectic as the surroundings - but unexpected flavor combinations create some of the most delicious fare imagineable.

Chef Paonessa pooh poohed one of the most commonly touted cardinal rules for business success - location, location, location. Situated in a dated strip plaza in a pocket of shops that can't be seen from the parking lot sits this small and delightfully quirky hideaway.

I began with the goat cheese pastry with tamarillo and dark olive jello appetizer (F). The goat cheese melted in my mouth and the flavors were complimented so beautifully by the zestiness of the tamarillo and the sweet & nutty flavors of the jelly. Michael had the special for the day, a composed salad with a theme of mushrooms (D+E), which he thoroughly enjoyed.

Our appetizers were followed by a wonderful surprise - freshly baked bread with an assortment of butter-based spreads all selected to match our entree selections. We enjoyed green tea and carmelized onion butter. And just when we thought we had enjoyed one piece of bread too many, we were presented with a palette cleansing ice cream (so sorry, but I can't recall the flavor...it was, however, delicious...and succeeded in preparing our stomachs for more delights).

Our next course was unbelievably better than the last. I ordered the coconut meringue encrusted lamb with potato wall, beets and bubbles (B) - so poignantly identified by our waiter with a laser pointer. I have to admit that I had no idea what this would taste like - coconut meringue with lamb? It was one of the most incredible culinary masterpieces I've experienced. This was not to be outdone by our friend's hazelnut crusted veal with a large apricot ravioli, rosemary and bubbles (A) and Michael's fish special (C).

Totally satiated, we were unable to order a dessert - but I wish we could have made room for their chocolate ginger pancake or their butternut squash tartin.

After our meal, the chef came out to greet us and ended up sitting with us and sharing stories of sipping Grappa in Italy - we actually ended up tasting a few different versions so he could school us on the nuances of this nasal-clearing drink.

I can't stress enough - make time to visit this hidden gem. It will not disappoint!

{ capturing emotion }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Tue, 08 Jan 2008 03:00:00 +0000

"I believe artists have a responsibility to provide the world with beauty and truth. Creation is a constant inspiration for me and the human experience a constant challenge."
- Jason Bouwman

Jason Bouwman, founder of Burlington-based Compass Creative has an eye for beauty and the talent to capture it.

A native to Burlington, Jason was so eager to get going on his career that he began to work as a commercial artist while still in school. After graduating from Sheridan College's Technical Illustration program he continued freelancing for many different clients in a wide range of industries. He then founded Compass Creative a design agency which has recently been awarded the "Burlington Chamber of Commerce Award for Small Business". Currently Jason balances his time between his professional role, family responsibilities and personal interests which include photography and painting “en plein air”. Jason sells his work online and in the Burlington Cultural Centre. He still lives in Burlington with his wife and four children.

As my new Flickr-mentor, I just had to ask him to share a few key tips for anyone interested in developing their skills in photography.

What tools do you need to take a truly great picture?
With the amount of equipment on the market these days and the speed at which the technology develops/improves it can be daunting to decide what tools are essential. Truth is there is no one brand, system or series of cameras and lenses that will work for everyone. Just like some artists paint with very wide brushes on large canvasses and another might do very fine, detailed work in tempura on paper so there is different equipment for different photographic styles. The good thing about the amount of product out there these days is that you're sure to able to find something that fits your style, budget and skill level. Having said that, good equipment and your ability to put it to full use really opens up the possibilities for expressing your ideas. I would suggest buying the best quality you can afford so that you are free to explore and experiment without feeling that your equipment is holding you back.
In the end however, the most important tools for creative image making will always be your brain and your eyes. No amount of technology is going to teach you how to see or give you an interesting idea to express. I have seen some really great creative work by guys using cheap toy Holga cameras. Go figure.

What do you look for before taking the shot?
I try to identify what it was about the scene, object, person etc. that moved me. Then I try to think about how to compose my shot in a way which captures the essence of what I'm feeling, thinking or trying to convey. Eg. a house on a hill might be positioned large and near the top of a vertically composed image to convey loftiness, power, status or it may be positioned small and very low in the image to convey vulnerability against a threatening sky.
I also consider light quality so that I can adjust my settings to ensure a proper exposure.
If possible I try to move around my subject a bit to exhaust any other possible angles or compositions that might not be obvious at first glance.

Can you share any tips or tricks to get the best photograph?
Experiment with depth of field (DOF) This is achieved by changing your aperture settings eg: wide open aperture gives shallow depth of field, bokeh, and soft backgrounds, while small apertures give greater DOF.
Avoid on camera flashes! Turn them off whenever you can. Try using a tripod instead in low light conditions.
Avoid shooting outdoors between 10:00 am and 2:00pm

More beautiful images captured by Jason Bouwman.
Can you identify the Burlington location?

{ pepperwood bistro }

noreply@blogger.com (Aldershotie) — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 23:23:00 +0000

Located in downtown Burlington with beautiful patio views of the lake sits an eclectic restaurant, jazz bistro and brewery in one. Pepperwood Bistro is known for its cozy, relaxed environment and ambient lighting (no matter what time of the day you're visiting). A popular haunt for brunch, in part due to the incredible jazz sounds by Michael McGuire, Pepperwood has a delightful menu diverse enough to satisfy any taste.

You can't go to Pepperwood's without trying one of their on-premise brewed beers. They have six house brands to choose from, Pale Ale, Dry Hopped Best Bitter, Cream Ale, Red Ale, Monkey Brown, and a Framboise. And, each month their brewer, Paul Dickey, creates one special keg of beer - a treat to look forward to. To get on the brewer's mailing list - for full details on their monthly features - email brewer@pepperwood.on.ca.

This weekend we made our way up to Pepperwoods for our weekly brunch. Michael had the BISTRO BREAKFAST - $10 (top left) and I had the divine CARDAMOM CALVADOES FRENCH TOAST - $12 (top right). Now heed this warning, if you don't like sweet then stay away from the French Toast. Made from 4 triangles of bread pudding which have been dipped in eggs and fried and a side of whipped cream and berries & bananas, it's not only one of the most delicious breakfasts I've had, but guaranteed to clog at least one artery. The Bistro Breakfast is a pretty standard breakfast of eggs, bacon, farmer's fresh sausage, oven roasted tomatoes and home fries...but my husband loves it.

To make reservations or drop by, Pepperwood Bistro is located at:
1455 Lakeshore Road (corner of Brant & Lakeshore)
Burlington, Ontario L7S 2J1
Tel: (905) 333-6999
Fax: (905) 333-6858

Upcoming Events
The Pepperwood Bistro and Brewery will be celebrating its 14th annual Beer Festival on February 24th, 2008 from 2:30 till 5:00 p.m. The cost is $30 per person, and tickets will be available in advance. Located at 1455 Lakeshore Road in Burlington Ontario, the Pepperwood is one of a handful of brew pubs in the province. This event has been a favourite of both the participants and the breweries over the years. The chef pulls out all the stops and puts on a great spread to enjoy as you sample beer from many of Ontario’s premier micro breweries. Of course the Pepperwood offers its own products for sampling as well as offering a selection not normally on tap. I intend to bring back the Chipotle beer again this year as well as a cask of something special. Last years breweries included Better Bitters, Black Oak, Brick, Creemore, Denison’s, Great Lakes, King, Labatt-Stella, Lakeport, McAuslan, Mill Street, Niagara, Pepperwood, Taps, and Trafalgar.

Looking for more information?

Pepperwood Bistro Menus
Brunch menu
Lunch menu
Dinner menu
Dessert menu

Pepperwood Bistro Restaurant Reviews
Restaurantica