Sue Frause is an American writer and photographer. She's had a major crush on Canada ever since she visited British Columbia as a young girl. Even if your heart doesn't pitter patter over all things Canadian, read on. You'll find photos, travel tips, road notes and the latest news and thoughts about our friends north of the 49th parallel. Cool idea, eh?
Monday, November 30, 2009
The Second City Toronto turns 50 this year
I didn't realize that The Second City turns 50 this year. No surprise that I found out while watching my favorite TV arts/culture magazine show, CBS Sunday Morning. They had a great piece by The Second City alum Nancy Giles.
Toronto alumni include Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Candy, Dave Thomas, Martin Short, Mike Myers, Eugene Levy and Catherine O'Hara.
I didn't have time to take in a performance at The Second City Toronto while on my cross-Canada train adventure, but the Shut Up and Show Us Your Tweets! show sounds hilarious.
CN Tower in Toronto
Photo by Sue Frause
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Yousuf Karsh: Karsh of Ottawa's Connection with The Fairmont Chateau Laurier
I'd never heard of Yousuf Karsh until I stayed at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. It turns out that he and his wife Estrellita made the iconic hotel their home from 1980-1998. His presence at the hotel as a resident and legendary photographer is a big part of Chateau Laurier's identity. He also had his photo studio in the hotel from 1973-1992.
The association dates back to 1931 when Karsh moved to Ottawa to open a photo studio. Knowing that the capital city was a major crossroads for many prominent political figures, he was correct in assuming that government officials and visiting statesmen would contact him to be photographed. They did.
One of his earliest mentors was MacKenzie King. In fact, King orchestrated the infamous portrait of Sir Winston Churchill that was taken in the Speaker's Chamber of the Canadian House of Parliament in 1941. That one photo brought Karsh international fame. Churchill was quoted as saying to Karsh, "You can even make a roaring lion stand still to be photographed," after Karsh surprised Churchill by grabbing the cigar out of his mouth. The Churchill portrait has been widely reproduced.
Other Karsh portraits include Albert Einstein, Georgia O'Keefe, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Pierre Trudeau, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela. His photographs have become part of many permanent collections around the world, include the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa.
When Karsh and his wife left the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in 1998, Suite 358 was renamed to honor the couple. He donated 15 of his prints to the hotel, and today six of them hang in the Reading Lounge, including this one of Einstein. Others are in the Karsh Suite.
Photos by Sue Frause
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Christmas comes early in Canada due to early Thanksgiving
Holiday cookies on sale in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Photo by Sue Frause. |
I spotted wreaths in Halifax and heard Christmas music in Montreal. And the lovely Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City was beautifully decorated for the winter holiday and even Santa Claus was in place.
So what's the big rush? Turns out that Canada doesn't have the buffer of Thanksgiving in November that we do in the states. They celebrate Thanksgiving on the second Monday in October, which means that in many places, holiday decorations and hints of Christmas begin appearing shortly after Halloween.
I spotted these Christmas cookies at Le Moulin de Provence in Ottawa's ByWard Market. The bakery became famous after President Barack Obama's visit earlier this year and created a huge increase in orders for its signature maple leaf cookies.
But now, it's time to celebrate Thanksgiving and the long weekend in the USA. Bon appetit to everybody celebrating our American holiday!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
12 Pacific Northwest Getaways (BC included)
No surprise that among my list of 12 Pacific Northwest Getaways that I'm posting on my Examiner.com website, two from British Columbia have already made the list: Vancouver, BC and Vancouver Island's Oceanside Region (Parkside and Qualicum Beach).
I've only posted a third of my dozen destinations to date, so keep checking my Examiner site for the remainder of the list. And yes, British Columbia will be in the future mix!
Summer sunset at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort, Parksville, BC
Photo by Sue Frause
Monday, November 23, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure FINAL DAY 13: Homeward Bound to Vancouver, BC
Photos by Sue Frause
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure DAY 12: Edmonton, Jasper and West to BC
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Saturday, November 21, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure DAY 11: West to Winnipeg and Saskatchewan
Friday, November 20, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure DAY 10: Gogama, Foleyet & Hornepayne, Ontario
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure DAY 9: Niagara Falls, Dan Aykroyd Wine, On to Ontario
VIA Rail Canada's Canadian pulls out of the Toronto station at 10 PM on Thursday night. Our next stop will be in Horneypayne, Ontario on Friday afternoon. My little room on the sleeper car Mackenzie was small but cozy. The room next to me was empty, so I stowed my luggage in there.
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Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure DAY 8: Toronto's Frank Gehry & the Jersey Boys
I continued my overnighters with Fairmont, staying at The Fairmont Royal York. Now 80 years old, it has hosted some legendary guests, starting with Winston Churchill in 1929. The hotel has also been used as a movie set -- scenes were shot here for Chloe, Amelia, Grey Gardens and Take the Lead. I didn't spot any celebrities, but did have a nice chat with a former Attorney General of Canada in the hotel's Library Bar.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure DAY SEVEN: Exploring Ottawa's cats and cookies!
It was a beautiful weekday morning in Ottawa to walk around Parliament Hill, located just across the Rideau Canal from the Fairmont Chateau Laurier where I was staying. Pictured above are the Canadian Parliamentary Cats, which live within meowing distance of the iconic buildings of Parliament Hill. The so-called Cat Sanctuary was developed in the 1970s by Irene Desormeaux and is funded by personal donations. |
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure: And now, a postcard from Manitoba
Sunset west of Winnipeg. ©SueFrausePhoto |
At any rate, here is the sunset onboard Via Rail's Canada yesterday evening en route from Winnipeg to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. I'll catch up with my posts when I arrive in Vancouver and eventually Seattle in a few days.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure: Where in the World is Sue Frause?
A brief stop in Foleyet, Ontario on Friday Photo by Sue Frause |
That said, our train was five hours late getting to Winnipeg, so we arrived at 1 PM on Saturday instead of at 8 AM. That means only one hour here instead of four -- but just enough time to scoot into the VIA Rail Canada station and check my emails and let people know I'm still on board!
Several people are curious about the route of the Canadian. Here's a link with a good map. The trip from Halifax, Nova Scotia to Vancouver, British Columbia is 4,466 KM or around 2,769 miles. We'll continue on to Saskatoon, Saskatechewan and are scheduled to arrive there around 10 PM tonight.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Closet Canuck's Great Big Canadian Train Adventure DAY SIX: Quebec City to Ottawa
Sunrise over the St. Lawrence River from Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. |
Pastoral landscape between Quebec City and Ottawa. |
The Fairmont Chateau Laurier opened in Ottawa in 1812. |
A view to Parliament Hill from Napean Point. |
The National Gallery of Canada was created in 1880. |
Sunset over the Ottawa River from Napean Point. |
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