Burlington Keeps its Cool all Summer Long
You can’t make us feel guilty about slowing our pace to a casual saunter. July in Burlington isn’t like July in most other mid-size Canadian cities. Our magical lakefront becomes a focal point for the entire community; both for the relief it brings via cool, gentle breezes, and the space it provides to stretch out and think about…what else, ICE CREAM!
Sweet “Sole” Music Fills the Streets!
That April heat wave had all of us swapping our winter footwear for running shoes and sandals. Summer officially arrives later this month but the mood has already swung in favour of long walks on the lakefront and other outdoor pleasures during these longest days of the year. The Burlington social calendar has something for everyone. The sound of rubber soles soon will fill the streets!
Lakefront Luxury and Geothermal Genius
Lakefront Luxury and Geothermal Genius. Revisit the creation of the Molinaro Group developments: 360 on Pearl and Strata.
Q: How to Build a Better Burlington? A: The Molinaro Group!
The growth and success of Burlington can be traced to the vision and commitment of many engaged citizens and organizations. The Molinaro Group leads by example with a track record that dates back to its development of landmark condos, starting with Spencer’s Landing, Bunton’s Wharf and The Baxter.
The Focus is on the Crocus!
The first glimpse of a crocus usually comes when snow is still on the ground. These brave, tiny flowers always surprise us when their slender green tips push through the grey remains of fading winter. It’s also a transitional moment for Burlington’s cultural and recreational scenes.
Bridge Month Brings Cultural Dividends
Bridge Month Brings Cultural Dividends Snow, rain, and grey skies go with the territory in February. What’s great is that the bleakest month is also the shortest one. Let’s not waste any more time getting into the calendar of events that will keep you sane until the big melt of March signals the start of spring. At the Molinaro Group, we’ve always championed Burlington’s cultural cornerstones, including the Performing Arts Centre, Botanical Gardens and festival scene, among others. “These cultural amenities are part of what makes Burlington great,” says company President, Vince Molinaro. “We’ve always taken the opportunity to support these institutions and we enjoy being associated with them.” Ever the diplomat, he declines to pick a favourite, but you can be sure he’ll be holding tickets to one or more of these events on the February schedule. February Events in Burlington Ontario Burlington Performing Arts Centre What’s better than old time rock n’ roll for shaking the winter blues and getting you on your feet? If Valentine’s Day doesn’t get your heart racing then maybe Trooper is the answer. The iconic Canadian rock band performs all the hits, one night only at the BPAC on February 23rd. You have to be a certain age to remember driving along to the rousing chorus of We’re Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time) or Raise a Little Hell. They were among the biggest radio hits of their day and continue to win fans decades later. KIM MITCHELL (Patio Lanterns, anyone?). Mitchell always draws a crowd anxious to hear his signature mega-hit and many others. The only thing missing is the shoulder-length hair (Feb. 18)! IMAGINATION MOVERS (Family Day Fun!). The Emmy-winning rock band for families has earned a continent-wide following through regular appearances on the Disney Channel and network television. They’ll draw from an archive of 250 original songs to bring cheer to parents and kids on the civic holiday Monday (Feb. 20). · SEÁN CULLEN’S COMEDY COCKTAIL. The renowned funny man of stage and screen returns to BPAC with a band of like-minded scoundrels ready to make your sides split with laughter. This standup/variety show/comedy review promises non-stop giggles and plenty of surprises – a perfect antidote to the mid-winter blahs (Feb. 22). RHINESTONE COWGIRL: Celebrating Dolly Parton A tribute to the beloved country music star, this concert program spans decades of hit songs and runs for four nights (Feb. 23-26). The February schedule also includes performances by the Burlington Dance Company, the folk-singer duo Madison Violet, pianist Francine Kay, The Lion King Jr. Musical and Kevin Hearn of the Barenaked Ladies. Visit the BPAC website for a complete list of event dates and ticket information. February is Black History Month and the Royal Botanical Gardens will honour this legacy with a month-long series of displays. Three separate presentations offer insights into the natural world through the eyes of black artists and visionaries. WinterTide runs Thursday through Saturday every week from February 9 until March 18. Experience the beauty of a Canadian winter’s eve in an outdoor jazz lounge. It features music by the ensemble T.U. Jazz against a backdrop of crackling fire pits, romantic lighting and snowy scenery at the Rock Garden. Enjoy cocktails and dining options at the Rock Garden Bistro. Visit the RBG website for ticketing info and a full list of exhibits, courses and workshops available in February and beyond. “Going indoors in the fall and winter is always a lot of fun at the performing arts centre, and there’s our famous festival of lights. That’ll warm your heart up, for sure.” Vince says. “Our company, and others like it, have thrown our corporate weight and sense of civic pride behind our local cultural institutions and public festivities. We believe in helping Burlington become one of Canada’s most desirable destinations for living and leisure. We lend our support because it’s good for our community and because Burlington has been so good to us.” Thanks, Vince. Now, show us your tickets.
Tree trimming at the Burlington Performing Arts Centre
The Molinaro Group once again is participating in the Burlington Performing Arts Centre’s Festival of Trees. This is the 6th Annual edition of the event which sparks yuletide joy to patrons who visit the Centre until Dec 17th. The pre-lit artificial Christmas trees, generously donated by Canadian Tire’s Burlington Stores, and sponsored by local businesses, will light up BPAC’s Lobby for four weeks – until their silent auction ‘winners’ take them home for the holidays. “We also make a further donation, on behalf of the winning bid for the Molinaro tree,” said Vince Molinaro. “It’s our way to help pay it forward, and to encourage bids for our tree, which go to the Performing Arts Centre. Win-win all around!” To get your chance at winning a tree, enter the Silent Auction by simply viewing the trees in-person and placing your bid. All tree bid proceeds support the Burlington Performing Arts Centre. Tree bidding ends on Saturday, December 17 at 8pm. Minimum bid for trees is $10. Winners will be contacted by email and/or phone and can pick up their trees on Monday, Dec 19 and Tuesday, Dec 20. Entrants must consent to signing up for our mailing list to be eligible. For more details visit: https://burlingtonpac.ca/events/festival-of-trees/
Burlington Brings the Holiday Spirit to Life
Burlington Brings the Holiday Spirit to Life December in and around Burlington is packed with events and activities of all kinds and for all tastes. Here’s how to enjoy the holidays in Burlington! Make Way for Santa The December calendar begins with one of the city’s most cherished events: the Burlington Santa Claus Parade on Sunday, December 4th. After two years in COVID lockdown, the crimson-clad chap will carefully comb his beard for a long-awaited local appearance in all his pre-pandemic festive glory. Stake out your position early for the 2 p.m. starting time, and have your hot chocolate in hand. The route begins steps away from Paradigm Grand, at the intersection of Guelph Line and Prospect St., crosses New St. and finishes at The Promenade at Elgin and Brant St. We can hope for a mild afternoon but prepare to dress for the season to make sure you’re comfortable. The Nutcracker and More at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre The Molinaro Group can’t take credit for Santa’s visit but it does take pride in its ongoing role in the annual Festival of Trees now in its sixth year at The Burlington Performing Arts Centre (BPAC). TMG joins up to 30 other local businesses in sponsoring this major fund-raiser for the city’s foremost cultural and performance hub. It’s a truly interactive event including a silent auction in which you can bid on one of the pre-lit artificial trees on display in The Family Lobby. You may take it home for the holidays if you’re the high bidder! The event runs through December 17th during regular box office hours, and it’s a mood-boosting Christmas tinsel-fest the whole family will enjoy. Again, all proceeds benefit BPAC which will be offering a schedule of events for all musical tastes throughout the season. Come visit the Festival of Lights at Spencer Smith Park Combine that event with a stroll down to the waterfront and Spencer Smith Park where our gorgeous little town always puts on its best face. And the Festival of Lights is nothing if not the perfect excuse to get off the couch and walk off any holiday excess – not that we’re pointing fingers. There is no guilt associated with indulging yourself in the spectacular lakefront setting and dazzling technical presentation. The program runs from late November until January 8th of the New Year, from 4 p.m. to midnight daily. It’s a showcase for everything that makes Burlington a great community and attracts visitors from all around the Golden Horseshoe. So, if you’re hosting friends or relatives from out of town, it’s a must-see. But depending upon the weather and amount of snow, the lighting effect could be dramatically different from week-to-week so we recommend repeat visits. Have yourself a Merry Molinaro Style Holiday in Burlington We’ve covered the headline events. Here’s our carefully curated list of other activities, formal and informal, to help you tailor holiday plans for yourself and your loved ones, ‘Molinaro-style’: Bright Nights – from December 1st through January the downtown shopping district is lit up at night with festive arbors, walkways and brilliant decorations to complement the seasonal storefront window displays. Catch a meal at a local restaurant then take a stroll amid the twinkling stars Explore an exhibition at the Art Gallery of Burlington. Some long-running exhibits draw to close at year-end while others continue into 2023.You’ll be glad you came in from the cold Local history and indigenous culture come together at the Joseph Brant Museum located on the waterfront. It’s a monument to one of Burlington’s greatest historical figures, a local landowner and Canadian icon. And his story is worthy of more than one lengthy visit. Burlington Teen Tour Band – 75th Anniversary Holiday Concert/BPAC Main Theatre, Wed. Dec. 14th at 7 p.m. State Ballet Theatre of Ukraine: THE NUTCRACKER/BPAC Main Theatre, Dec. 2-3rd Ugly Christmas Sweater Market: Burlington Centre, Dec. 3-4th Hello Holidays! Sip & Shop Artisan Bazaar/RBG Centre Auditorium, Dec. 9th Burlington Holiday Market: Downtown, Dec. 8-11th A Christmas Spectacular- BSO/BPAC, Dec. 11th Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus: Royal Botanical Gardens, Dec. 11th Safety First! We’ve by no means captured every event that’s going on in our immediate area this holiday season, but we hope you’ll find time to enjoy some of them. And please consider masking-up if you’re out amongst the crowd at busy indoor venues. Health and family have always come first at The Molinaro Group. We encourage everyone to spend time with loved ones and appreciate what Burlington offers as a vibrant, welcoming city with a small town atmosphere. From midtown, to downtown to the waterfront, it’s yours to explore at this grand time of the year.
Urban Farm Harvest 2022
Molinaro Group‘s Urban Farm, in partnership with Bunchberry Connections, grew a bumper crop in 2022. Located in Midtown, at Fairview and Ghent, the farm operates on Molinaro land generously loaned to Bunchberry Connections. This year was an even bigger success than last, with over 1,000 lbs. of fresh produce grown and supplied to the Burlington Food Bank. And plans are well underway for the 2023 growing season! https://youtu.be/T_Q2KhsjcTU
Work where you work. LIVE where you play!
Fall in Burlington presents a ton of possibilities, not to mention spooky reminders about Oct. 31. Let’s get into it (puffy jacket recommended)! For your convenience, and vicarious pleasure if cocooning indoors is your autumn default, we’ve compiled a handy checklist of to-dos for the coming weeks in and around Paradigm Grand. The benefits of our midtown Burlington location will come into sharper focus as we work through the list but the singular advantage of having a bonanza of activities right outside your door is at the heart of our goal to create a lifestyle community. The new mantra is “Work where you work, LIVE where you play!” And there are plenty of attractions only short walking distance (or a short car ride in minimal traffic) away within a comfortable radius of our ideally-positioned condo base camp. Consider heading out now to relish these timeless autumn pleasures before barren branches replace the glorious fall canopy: First, set the mood for fun and look up the classic Haunted Elevator ‘David S. Pumpkins’ SNL skit on YouTube. It never gets old Get a pumpkin for carving Have your picture taken on a hay bale Explore a conservation area Walk the Waterfront Trail Drink hot chocolate in Central Park Get someone to cover you in a pile of leaves Your quest for the right jack-o-lantern should include a visit to pumpkin central, Springridge Farm in Milton. It’s a stress-free, 25-minute drive northwest of midtown and features gorgeous views of the escarpment. The family-owned enterprise has been growing all kinds of produce at this location for over half-a-century. Check their web site for a full list of attractions and business hours; their Harvest Weekends promotion runs through October 30. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a Halloween pumpkin AND your picture taken on a hay bale during the same visit. The farm also is within minutes’ drive of two renowned conservation areas, Rattlesnake Point and Kelso/Glen Eden. Some of the more challenging terrain calls for comfortable hiking shoes. Burlington’s Waterfront Trail is a community focal point and true gem. It touches all the main lakefront landmarks and you’re never more than a stone’s throw from the lapping waves so remember to bundle up if you plan to go the distance. Pick up the route near Holbert Cove at the south end and head north, stopping to check out the Terry Fox Memorial and continuing along to Spencer Smith Park. This is the perfect place to get a family photo or selfie against the blue horizon. There’s also plenty of room to relax with a warm beverage, people-watch or toss the ball around before your walk continues. The trees have mostly shed by now so leaves are a-plenty for some fun photos. The tour only gets better on the approach to the Brant Street Pier. The city’s inspired restoration extends more than 100 metres over Lake Ontario. Linger here to take in great views of the city skyline, beachfront and water traffic. The pier features a different colour display on a daily basis to commemorate events and honour various worthy causes, often at the request of Burlington citizens and community groups. Whether the theme is sombre or festive, it’s always a sight to behold. You’ve been outside the city and covered the waterfront. Next, check out Burlington’s largest green space and recreational hub, Central Park. Aside from being the home of the main branch of the Burlington Public Library, it’s where athletes of all ages come to play year-round on the grass fields and in numerous indoor facilities. There’s a community garden on the grounds, not far from the Drury Lane Theatre where live productions of classic Broadway musicals are scheduled throughout the fall. No matter how you spend your autumn days and weekends, it’s easy to make the case that Paradigm Grand is the place to come home to, only minutes from the best that Burlington has to offer. Believe us when we tell you, this is exactly how we planned it. In the haunting (and hilarious) words of David S. Pumpkins, “ANY QUEST-yuns”?
