"Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", Shaw Festival, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I saw Cat on a Hot Tin Roof today ... it is part of the Shaw Festival.

Combine the sultry heat of the Mississippi Delta with Tennessee Williams’ rich language, add Maggie the Cat and you’ve got an American classic, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Maggie and Brick’s marriage is on the rocks and Brick is drinking as much as he can to quiet his thoughts and forget about his past. But Big Daddy’s inheritance is at stake and his two sons and their wives fight to win their share. An explosive drama and a Pulitzer Prize-winning play.

It is playing at the Royal George Theatre on Queen Street.

Here is a statue George Bernard Shaw, the namesake of the festival, which is across the street from the theatre.

I love this quote which is next to George!

We'd seen this play five years ago at the Stratford Festival and enjoyed it ... it's one of Gord's favourites. They did a good job with it today. The actors playing Maggie and Big Daddy were fabulous, as was the one playing Big Mama. It's a three act play with two intermissions.

It was interesting and annoying going on a Wednesday afternoon as there were a lot of older people in attendance. We got our tickets just a couple weeks ago so were in the balcony on the left hand side. All around us, we had older women chatting and opening candy wrappers. A woman behind us had her cell phone go off. All no-nos! Gord and I gave them the "stern" glare but it didn't work.

My new Laurel Burch purses

When Gord and I were out strolling on Queen Street yesterday, I stopped in a store called Godel.

I saw a colourful purse that had dogs on it by Laurel Burch. I thought it was cute but wanted to think about it.

We stopped in again this morning so I could look at it again. I talked myself out of it and walked away.

But it was on my mind and I knew I wanted it ... so we went back before we saw the play. Not only did I buy the one with the dogs but I also bought one with cats. Ha!

Here are the front of them ... Rainbow Cats and Canine Friends.

And here are the colourful backs ...

I used the one with the cats right away.

Here I am in front of the store with my new cats purse!

They are fairly big so I can carry a lot of stuff around in 'em.

Fort Mississauga, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I explored Fort Mississauga this morning.

The fort today consists of a box–shaped brick tower and historic star–shaped earthworks—the only one in the country. The all–brick fort was built from 1814–1816 during the War of 1812, to replace nearby Fort George. It was built on a foundation of brick and stone salvaged from rubble left after United States forces sacked the nearby town of Newark (now Niagara on the Lake) in December, 1813.

Before the fort was built, the site was used by at least three Native American tribes: the Neutral (15th century); Seneca (late 17th century); and Mississauga (18th century). In 1804, a lighthouse was erected at the site, which had become known as Mississauga Point. This was the first lighthouse on the Great Lakes but was dismantled in 1814 to make way for Fort Mississauga, which incorporated stone from the lighthouse. Mississauga Point Lighthouse was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1937 and is today commemorated within the walls of Fort Mississauga by a plaque erected by the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada.

The British Army was stationed at the fort from 1813 to 1855, followed by the Canadian Army, which used it as summer training ground beginning in the 1870s, then during both World Wars and the Korean War.

The block house is the only building of the original fort to survive with all other buildings destroyed or dismantled. The interior of the blockhouse is closed, but has wooden staircases leading to some upper windows.

This is looking over at Fort Niagara. Fort Niagara is a fortification originally built in 1678 to protect the interests of New France in North America. It is located near Youngstown, NY.

This is the gate from Fort Mississauga to the water ... the stone steps looked kind of dangerous so we didn't go down.

There's no cost to check this out and worth the half hour it takes to walk there and back from downtown Niagara on the Lake.

Yianni's Mediterranean Bistro, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I had breakfast this morning at Yianni's Mediterranean Bistro on Queen Street.

It's a large restaurant with a patio in the back. We sat in the front of the restaurant because it was brighter. It seemed like the lights were low towards the back ... not cozy at all.

We both ordered Yianni's Special.

Plus Gord ordered a coffee and I ordered a large milk.

Here it is ...

Breakfast was good and there was a nice variety.

Our server started out fairly friendly. But after we'd ordered and got our meals, she kind of forgot about us. We were trying to catch her attention to let her know we wanted our bill for a while. It took us a long time to be able to pay.

Wine Country Vintners, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I had planned on doing a structured wine tour this afternoon. But we were enjoying exploring Fort George so much that we decided to stay there.

We stopped in at Wine Country Vintners on Queen Street afterward.

We are wine club members (we receive two bottles of wine from Peller Estates every month) so our tastings were free.

Linda gave us samples of a bubbly, a sauvignon, a riesling and finally an ice wine riesling.

The ice wine riesling was yummy ... but expensive!


We bought a couple bottles of Ice Cuvée. The first New Years Eve Gord and I spent together back in 2008 he brought a bottle of this wine so it's been "our" wine. We haven't had it in a while. We also bought some funky new champagne flutes.

Since it's our anniversary, we thought it would be nice to have "our" bubbly to celebrate.

The Olde Angel Inn, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I had supper tonight at The Olde Angel Inn.

Great food, accommodations and friends await you here at Ontario's oldest operating inn. Established in 1789 and rebuilt in 1816 after the War of 1812, The Olde Angel Inn is a favourite among locals and tourists alike.

We'd been here back in the fall of 2005 and enjoyed it.

Here's Gord in the doorway.

The hostess sat us in the back. There was a better vibe in the front so we sat at the bar instead ... I though it was hilarious that this plaque was in the corner behind us.

Gord ordered fish 'n chips ... he thought it was okay, not great.

I ordered curried chicken and rice.

My meal was good. There was a lot of chicken and the sauce was spicy. All that was missing was some naan bread.

Coach & Horses Pub, Niagara on the Lake, ON

After spending the afternoon at Fort George, Gord and I stopped at the Coach & Horses Pub on our way back to the hotel.

After spending hours walking around in the sun, my dark rum and coke tasted good!

Gord had an ale from Niagara College.

We were a bit hungry so ordered some toasted naan and red pepper humus. Yum!

Kateri was our server and she was very friendly!

We had stopped in six years ago found this to be a snooty place. It's been revamped and is much friendlier.

Fort George, Niagara on the Lake, ON

Gord and I spent the afternoon at Fort George.

During the War of 1812, Fort George served as the headquarters for the Centre Division of the British Army. These forces included British regulars, local militia, aboriginal warriors and Runchey's corps of freed slaves. Major General Sir Isaac Brock, "the saviour of Upper Canada" served here until his death at the Battle of Queenston Heights in October, 1812. Brock and his aide-de-camp John Macdonell were initially buried within the fort. Fort George was destroyed by American artillery fire and captured during the Battle of Fort George in May 1813. The U.S. forces used the fort as a base to invade the rest of Upper Canada, however, they were repulsed at the Battles of Stoney Creek and Beaver Dams. After a seven month occupation, the fort was retaken in December and remained in British hands for the remainder of the war. After the war, the fort was partially rebuilt, and by the 1820's it was falling into ruins. It was finally abandoned in favour of a more strategic installation at Fort Mississauga and a more protected one at Butler's Barracks.

Gord's an expert on the War of 1812 and I like history so it was a fun way to spend the afternoon.

Here's Brock's original grave.

Gord loves cannons.

It was fun to watch the musket demonstration. It's LOUD!

Here's Gord at attention.

The blockhouse was cool.

You had to go through a tunnel to get to it.

The view was great ... this is looking across the river at the U.S. who were attacking us back in 1812.

Here are me and Gord.

Then back down the narrow steps.

And back through the tunnel.

Here's the kitchen where the meals were made.

I would have been a terrible wife back then since I don't sew, iron, etc.

Patrick gave an interesting lecture about the weapons (swords and guns) ... you know how much Gord loves swords, you can imagine his excitement!

The prison ... oh oh! Let us out!

The soldiers' barracks ...



If you are in the area, you should check the Fort out ... it's really interesting!