Orlando, Fl Exit 260 to Route 4 : Thinking about taking the family to Florida for vacation but  you’re discouraged with the high exchange rates? Why not consider the newly re-imaged Sonesta ES Suites in Orlando,  which is located in the heart of Orlando‘s International Drive resort area and across from the Orlando Eye.

Now the piece de resistance: Take advantage of a special Visit Orlando Canadian resident offer where you save 22% on 2-bedroom / 2- bathroom suites. Whether you’re there for a few days or twenty, you’ll find convenience with their newly renovated and redesigned oversized two-bedroom suites, that sleep up to 6 or 8 people, with all of the comforts of home. This special is designed to allow Canadian residents the opportunity to purchase the suites in Canadian dollars at par (or close to par).

Plus, you’ll enjoy delightful extras like convenient work stations and fully equipped kitchens. On-site laundry facilities are available, and complimentary breakfast, parking, and wi-fi are offered to all  guests.

This promotion only runs until April 30, 2017 book your reservations now!

The promotion can be booked by visiting their website at sonesta.com/orlando and using promo code VOR,  Or using the link below which  features the special offer: sonesta.com/us/florida/orlando/sonesta-es-suites-orlando/canadianspecial 

Location: Sonesta ES Suites Orlando, 8480 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819
Tel: 407-352-2400
sonesta.com/orlando

Your high school Prom is one of those defining moments growing up. It might’ve been great or it might have been awful, but you will always remember it. What would you have felt like if you were banned from attending with the one person you adored at that moment?

Marc Hall, a high school student from Oshawa Ontario, had to take the school board to court in order to take the person he wanted to his prom – his boyfriend, Jean-Paul Dumond (Jason in this show).  This controversy set off  a national media frenzy. The case and the attention it received helped inspire others everywhere to fight for their basic human rights.

His community came together to support him, and now the theatrical community has too,  creating this uplifting show, Prom Queen: The Musical, about him at the Centre Segal. Though you know the ending,  playwright Kent Staines still keeps you  riveted, not in a “straight” line as you might think, but through the anguish of growing up in high school for all kinds of kids. He sums up Marc’s struggles, having him declare, “I’m not leading a lifestyle, I’m leading a life”.

Lyricist Akiva Romer-Segal and composer Coleen Dauncey, besties since high school, are really good at “song spotting” – moving the story along through perfectly placed musical moments. They captured his heartache succinctly in one fun tightly choreographed number which proclaimed “Show the world what you are about from the inside out”.

Choreographer Sean Cheesman (So You Think You Can Dance judge/star) uses the entire set upstairs, downstairs and with great big animated packs of people in a fun bright young bouncy way through many dance styles of the 2000’s: R&B, pop-punk, rock, country and of course, his own interpretation of those movements.

Allessandro Costantini captures Marc Hall brilliantly and playfully understood where he came from. For he, too, was a ground-breaking kid who took on the world at 16. When he realized his high school would not let him mount the musical “Hair”, he approached the mayor of his town to start a theater company for young audiences: YES Theatre in Sudbury is now in its 8th year.

As for the real life Marc Hall, what are his thoughts about all this? He says, “it’s more about being able to continue that conversation”, and “I am just thrilled that so much positivity has come from my experience”. Think about it – in the 14 years which have passed, we now have, TV shows starring LGBTQ actors, gay marriage, Pride parades in many towns, and gender neutral bathrooms.

Dance right over to the Segal to watch this diverse cast in its rainbow of colors, sizes, and shapes recount  a story which must be re-told and disseminated. As the lyrics proclaim, “We could be oblivious or we can be infinite”. Marc Hall chose the latter. The students responded with, “The more they try to silence us, the louder we get”.  Prom Queen: The Musical, instructs our youth to “break the rules, break the mold”, and we are watching as they change our world one kid at at time.

Location: Segal Centre, 5170 ch. de la Cote-Ste-Catherine, Montreal H3W 1M7
Dates: til Nov 20
Phone: 514-739-7944
Tickets: $51-$65, group, senior, student and under 30 discounts available
www.segalcentre.org
Metro: Cote-Ste-Catherine, Snowdon Bus: 129, 51, 17

Hanger 16, where the SOS Labyrinthe is created and re-created constantly, was home to tireless longshoremen. In respecting that history, they’ve used canvas, pipes, crates and barrels to transform Hangar 16 into a megamaze. Your job is to find four historical objects they’ve hidden: the captain’s hook, the travel wallet, the wooden shoes and a Cuban pitchfork. Here’s a bit of the background on the last one:

Fidel Castro loves ice cream, but Cuban cows couldn’t produce enough milk to feed his people. So dreaming of creating a race of “supercows”, he decided to breed Cuban cattle with Holsteins from Canada. This breed was known to produce up to 9 times more milk. For 48 hours, after cattleman J.G. Trudeau trucked the first batch of 300 heads of cattle to Hangar 16 for transfer to Cuba, the shed morphed into a cowshed, and the longshoremen turned into farmhands using pitchforks. From 1966 to 1971, this port handled over 35,000 Cuban-bound animals.

In 1972, Fidel’s supercow was finally born. Named Ubre Blanca (White Udder), it holds the Guinness world record for milk production in 24 hours: 110 liters of milk per day!
And that is why a Cuban pitchfork is one of the treasures to hunt for in Hangar 16.

The 2 km. maze is great fun for kids of all ages. Families can bond trying to outwit the course, teens can spend a fun evening with friends, and it’s perfect for a date. Many challenges and false alleys lead to much laughter and enthusiastic cries. If you do get stuck, look for the pirate in the corner, and he may let you sing a song for a clue! This is a memorable adventure to experience with family and friends.

Location: Old Port of Montreal, Hangar 16
Hours: 11 am to 7:30 pm, weekends and holidays only
Tel: 514-499-0099
www.soslabyrinthe.com

Google Map: Click for map 

Imagine you are a pirate climbing the ropes of your ship at sea. Now take that thought and multiply it by a few rope courses with dozens of challenges on each one. You put on a harness and attach yourself by a safety hook to a guide wire to climb like a monkey at Voiles en Voiles.

Aerial courses on the pirate ship in the port of Montreal start at 2 ft high for ages 3-6, where they can climb on hanging ladders, flat nets, a rocking bridge, a footbridge and more. The next level up is 13 ft high, and can be done be 5 year olds and up and challenged doing alternating logs, bridges, and a maze.

The 24 ft high ropes have you passing bags, holding on to hanging logs, and crossing a net, while the double diamond 35 ft challenge has angled discs, jump ropes, logs, hanging beams and a surprise footbridge.

For the wee ones, there’s a climbing wall and at least 1/2 dozen inflatable games. Prices range from $12 for one person for one hour to $89 for a family of four for 2 hours, or a 4-hour package. It takes the full 4 hours to accomplish all of the rope challenges.

Spectators can watch all the fun for free. There’s no charge to sit on the Adirondack chairs and glean a breeze from the St Lawrence River. You can bring or buy some snacks and eat at the picnic tables too.

Location: Old Port of Montreal
Hours: 10 am to 8 pm, weekends and holidays only
Tel: 514-473-1458
www.voilesenvoiles.com

Google Map: Click for map 

It’s time to hit the road for a summer driving trip. Here’s THE place in the city to buy a pre-owned car.

Wheels For Lease (Roues de Location) is a different kind of car dealership with a commitment to excellence; Their high quality of inventory, personal service, and especially their honest reputation is what sets this dealer apart.

It is the only pre-owned auto business recommended by the APA (Automobile Protection Association).

Their experienced sales staff is eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with you. You can easily browse their online inventory, then schedule a test drive and investigate financing options. You can also request information about a vehicle using their online form or by calling 514-735-2224 or 1-866-535-2224 where someone will gladly answer your questions.

Serving the Montreal area, Roues de Location sells pre-owned, expertly inspected, and problem-free cars. The dedicated sales staff’s goal is to make your experience of buying a car (or truck) pleasant, easy and financially advantageous.

Roues de Location can ship their quality vehicles throughout Canada. Each one is inspected before delivery. If they don’t have the vehicle you’re looking for don’t hesitate give them a call and they will gladly try to find one for you. Their best advertisement is their word-of-mouth customer satisfaction. In this business, honesty goes a long way

Location: 5257 Namur St, Montreal QC, H4P 2R7
corner: Decarie
Tel: 514-735-2224 or 1-866-535-2224
Hours Mon-Thurs 9-6, Fri 9-5, Sat closed, Sun 10-12
http://www.rouesdelocation.com/

There are a few ways to cut costs and take in JFL inexpensively.

Thursday night at 9 pm, Sugar Sammy is doing a Free farewell outdoor concert on Scene Videotron. The Scène Vidéotron will be presenting various activities at 5pm, 7pm and 9pm.

The Street Arts Festival has acts performing for free in and around Place des Arts. The colorful Place de la famille le lait will offer its load of shows and activities, including biking and spinning for kids and all the family, starting a 1:30 pm each day.  You can sit and watch Ecran des Gags Tim Hortons starting at 3pm.

Also for your family entertainment, the V8 Energie Labyrinthe will be open from 6pm from July 26-30 (3pm on weekends).
You can join workshops or watch shows at  Le Petit cabaret de l’Humour at 12:30 pm and 5 pm in Complexe Desjardins from July 21-24 and 28-30.

The NFB #GIFnTAKE  is a new animated experience that puts you front and center of an animated film. You can film by yourself or share the spotlight with a group of friends. The final product will be made into an animated GIF you can share on social media. Find it on the southeast side of Jeanne-Mance and Maisonneuve next to Place-des-Arts Metro station entrance.

At the Zone Mondial des Jeux Loto-Québec set on Maisonneuve Blvd you can get to play various table games and board games. You are invited to play the new and the classic video games.

The Scène Loto-Québec will be hosting shows from 4pm-10pm.

www.hahaha.com

The best deal by far for tickets is the OFF-JFL and or Zoofest Shows pass. It costs $49.99 and you get to choose 3 tickets to any of the 100 or so OFF-JFL or Zoofest shows. Also included is that each day from July 26-30, you get an additional free ticket for an OFF-JFL/Zoofest show. There’s all a 6 show pass for $89.99.

OFF-JFL has a lineup of artists performing at smaller venues where the shows are much more intimate. I laughed so hard I cried at Louie Anderson’s gig. His audience had an age range from 12-78, all laughing away, so this fest is for everyone.

For the “regular” Just for Laughs events, a 2-show pass can be purchased for $99.99 with pre-sale access to JFL special events and concerts AND  one  FREE show per day during the festival. A 3-show pass gets you your choice of 3 JFL shows and one free ticket every day from July 26 to July 30 for $139,99 and there’s a 5-show pass for $215.

There are a number of  tourist oriented package deals for tickets. Why not be a enjoy your own city, choose a tourism package in which you can stay overnight in a hotel, be right downtown in the midst of all the action, enjoy a 5-course dinner, and take in the Gala of your choice for $350.

Last minute tickets can be purchased at the box office on the corner of Jeanne Mance and Sainte-Catherine.

You can also pay to watch the galas if you have Videotron.  www.illico.tv/Canal 900

www.hahaha.com
http://www.hahaha.com/en/montreal-festival#cat=off-jfl
Dates: Ends July 31

If you are heading out to Ottawa to enjoy our nation’s capitol, leave some time to explore the Canadian Museum of Nature. It’s the perfect place for all ages of the family to enjoy themselves. The brainy kids (or adults) can soak up extensive details about nature while the playful gang can pull levers or turn knobs in a deep sea sub, learn on many touch screens, or even dance around in front of  the endothermy camera checking out their colorful “hotspots”.

Everyone is awed by the the 19.8-metre blue whale skeleton in the Water Gallery but keeping going further in. All the way in the back are many interactive games for young and old alike: make believe areas for the wee ones, a board game along a wall,  animal jigsaw puzzles on touch screens, word games, etc.  

Gawk at the dinosaur fossils or walk amongst the fleshed-out dinosaur creatures for photo ops with kids. In the Vale Earth Gallery swoon over the 1200 gorgeous minerals, rocks and meteorites. Our 5 1/2-year-old couldn’t get enough of the joystick which controls a huge earth or the button to start the volcano.

Sure there’s a full size mammal gallery but the 11, 8 and 5 1/2 year-olds all stayed longer in the small Nature Live space where they oogled the cases of walking stick bugs in different camouflage colors and thicknesses. How many of you have come face to face with a tarantula? Then they listened intently as a docent showed fossils which were indigenous to Ottawa.

If you have time there are two 3D movies, “Prehistoric Planet 3D and Micro-Monsters 3D” (both too scary for the 5 1/2 -year old) but our gang liked the interactive museum more.

The famous Bird Gallery, with  one of the most extensive collections of Canadian birds in the world re-opened June 1. A special exhibit on now is Ultimate Dinosaurs June 11-September 5 and then upcoming is Reptiles: The Beautiful and the Deadly, October 6-April 2 .

A brand new Arctic Gallery will be unveiled on June 23 which is set to explain how the arctic is changing, including plants, animals and people of the area plus scientific research. Outside, three new ecozones will be shown off on June 17 including a woolly mammoths and an “iceberg”.

I’d like to give a thumbs up to the friendly security guards who answered questions informatively and helped to point out nearby bathrooms and water fountains.

Canadian Museum of Nature, a Beaux Arts building, was our first national museum, completed in 1912. Trivia buffs should note that this building  served as home to Canada’s House of Commons and Senate following the fire that destroyed the Centre Block of Parliament in 1916.

Location: 240 McLeod St.
Phone: 613-364-4021
www.nature.ca

On the first weekend of May, there is an annual salute to Jane Jacobs, an activist, writer, and philosopher of architecture and urban planning.  When doing her urban planning, the citizen’s knowledge of an area was extremely important to her in order to build human-scale cities.

S0 back in 2007, in Toronto, an event was held where Free urban walks were offered. Now over one hundred cities in the world give free Jane’s walks in May. We have dozens here in Montreal. Most are in French, but some are English and a few bilingual, everything from architecture to green spaces to a bakery tasting to a native heritage walk:

March Walkley
Benny Farm and Sherbrooke Forest, the hidden gems
Explore your Neighboorhood Westhaven
La diversite culturelle dans CDN (bilingue) :
Native Heritage Three Walk
Green and Growing
Wild city Mapping
Sustainability in Milton Parc

You must register online and some are filled up, but don’t despair, there’s spots left from Ste-Anne to St-Leonard. And sometimes there are last minute drop-outs.

http://www.ecologieurbaine.net/fr/activites-et-projets/activites/promenade-de-jane
http://www.ecologieurbaine.net/

We hadn’t rented a car for at least a decade and didn’t know what to expect. Before booking, we called both our charge card and auto insurance companies to find out how we were covered for auto insurance in Florida. To our delight, our Quebec car insurance provider would cover our car rental insurance in Florida as if we were here. No extra fees needed to be incurred.

Allegiant Air partners with Alamo car rental and now we know why. We didn’t know what a fair price would be for a week and weren’t sure when to book but they have an amazing “change when you want” policy. Any time you see a lower price online, just give them a call and in under 2 minutes (really!), the price was changed immediately. I did this twice as the price came down a huge $61 for the week. And each time it was as pleasant exchange.

The pick up at the Fort Lauderdale airport was easy peasy.  The agents were quick to write up the policy and there were no surprise charges added. We rolled our bags through a walkway to the garage (no bus to wait for, no time wasted) and the Alamo cars were right there. The agent just pointed to a row of parked cars of the class we ordered. He told us to pick whichever one we wanted – the key was in the car. Wow!

We drove to the exit booth, showed pointed out the nicks on the bumper, and we were on our way. Coming back was even faster. Just read the easy-to-follow signs at the Fort Lauderdale airport right in to their garage. We parked the car, an agent came over and scanned 2 things on the car and we were done. No muss, no fuss and no extra charges.

www.allegiant.com
ww.alamo??car rent