Great Reasons To Shop Downtown This Christmas

There is free 2-hour parking downtown over the Xmas season and any money deposited in the meters will go toward the Kawartha Food ShareShop downtown Peterborough and support local when looking for a unique Christmas gift this year. There are extended hours in December at participating stores, and parking is free downtown.

Santa himself will be walking around downtown to check if you are naughty or nice from noon to 3 on December 11th and 18th. If you are nice, he just might give you a candy cane.

As added incentive to shop downtown, you will receive a Downtown Holiday Shopping Passport when you spend $10 at a participating DBIA store. When your passport is full ($200 in purchases), it will be deposited into a ballot box.

There are early bird prize draws from the ballot box on December 6th, 13th and 20th. Prizes range from a $500 DBIA Gift Certificate to the Grand Prize of a $1,000 DBIA Gift Certificate (the draw date for that is on January 4, 2011).

[Words & pictures by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

 


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PtboPics: The Peterborough Santa Claus Parade

Reggie's HotGrill The weather was cold but not *too* cold, the floats were creative, and a good time was had by all at the Peterborough Santa Claus Parade on Saturday. Here's the photographic evidence:
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Video: The Venue's Grand Opening Was Last Night

Stuff To Do In The Patch This Weekend

Friday: 

Showplace Performance Centre presents A Celtic Christmas with Barra MacNeils (Tickets $50.75 - 8 p.m.)

Saturday:

Peterborough Santa Claus Parade (4:45 p.m. - 6 p.m.) George Street

Peterborough Petes vs. Windsor Spitfires (7 p.m. - Tickets)

Showplace Performance Centre presents Elvis: The Wonderful World of Christmas (Tickets $42 - 8 p.m.)

Mid-Life Crisis in Concert (8 p.m. - $15) at The Venue

Sunday:

T.A.S.S. presents A Big Band Christmas (Tickets $20 - Adults - 3 p.m.)

"Yule Be Cool" Christmas Concert with The Peterborough Pop Ensemble (7:30 p.m. - 9 p.m. - Free with donation) Northminister United Church


To submit info for "Stuff to do in the Patch This Weekend", email evan@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

Pump Up The Volume Peterborough: Trent Radio Needs Your Help

Trent Radio is off the air right now. The Examiner reports the radio station operated by Trent University students is asking for donations to help it repair its transmitter that has stopped working. It could cost anywhere from $1,000 to $10,000 to fix depending on what is required with the repair.

In the meantime, Trent Radio listeners can still follow the station's regular programming by tuning in online.

Donations can be dropped off at Trent Radio at 715 George St. N. or made online.

[Trent Radio; Peterborough Examiner]

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Explore Peterborough's Hunting & Fishing Heritage Centre

Peterborough is home to the Hunting & Fishing Heritage Centre, which opened in April 2010. With free admission until the end of this year, now is the time to pop in and explore the building.

There are wildlife galleries with actual size animals on display (the polar bear is quite intimidating), an amphitheatre with nature films, an aquarium and touch screen systems to give you more info.

The centre is located at 4601 Guthrie Drive beside the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters building. They are open Tuesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.


[Words & pictures by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]


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What About A Designated "Entertainment District" for Peterborough?

There has been talk around the Patch about creating a designated "Entertainment District" down around Showplace, Market Hall and The Venue in the hopes of drawing even more townsfolk—and tourists—downtown. Optics mean a lot, and a branded "Entertainment District" might help.

We asked our new Mayor Daryl Bennett what he has to say about this. "There will be a focus on the need to cultivate the entertainment district," Bennett tells us, adding that he will be gathering more intel on the Municipal Cultural Plan that is already underway, as well as attending its visioning forum and public open house (which is happening today, November 29th). "The information gathered through this process will assist as we move ahead with the central core of our city," he adds.

The Venue's manager Christian Tanna told the Examiner recently that "Within a few years I think you are going to see this block have a bit of a renaissance from a business standpoint. It kind of in a way becomes Peterborough's new entertainment district."

Downtown stores have been branding this "Fashion District", so why not a create a "Entertainment District"? Go downtown and shop, eat and then take in a show.

Thoughts?


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PtboPics: Arkells At The Red Dog

Thanks to Michael Hurcomb for supplying these great shots to PtboCanada from the Arkells amazing sold-out gig last night that may go down as one of the best performances ever at The Red Dog.




To view more of Michael's photos from the gig, click here.

Send your PtboPic to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada.

PtboCanada Interview: Jeremy Fisher (Who Plays The Red Dog This Tuesday)

Photo by Rob WaymenVancouver's Jeremy Fisher will be playing The Red Dog this Tuesday (November 30th) in support of his new album Flood. Fisher has spent the better part of the last decade building support for his hook-filled pop music. Recently, PtboCanada had a chance to ask Fisher some questions. Besides having the best hair in Canadian rock, Fisher is also a pretty good interview. Here it goes:


PtboCanada:
Help our readers get to know you a little by letting us in on what music gets you going. Tell us your vote for best album ever— one set of songs that from beginning to end makes you smile. Shake your ass. Inspire.


Fisher: I couldn't possibly choose one album, but the first one that comes to mind that is still fresh 25 years later and gives me all those things would be Paul Simon's Graceland.


PtboCanada:
Your new album,
Flood, was released last month. How have you found fans reacting to the new material? What tracks seem to get the best response?

Fisher: The reaction seems positive to me. I'm definitely starting to notice people are familiar with some of the songs on the road. "Laissez Faire" appears to be a stand out as well as "Shine A Little Light".


PtboCanada:
Speaking of "Shine A Little Light",
that's the first single from Flood. What do you think makes a good lead single? What made this track fit that mould?

Fisher: That's a tough question for me to answer. I usually leave it up to the wonderful team of people I work with to make that decision. I'm so close to the songs by the time I'm done a record that I feel like they all have potential as lead singles.  


PtboCanada:
You're on Wind-up Records in the United States, which is a label known to be heavily weighted towards the commercial alternative end of the spectrum. On Wind-up, you are label mates with the Canadian group Finger Eleven, which seems like a more natural fit amongst bands like Seether and Evenescence. How does Jeremy Fisher fit in with this mix?

Fisher: I don't know that I do, but I guess opposites attract for better or worse.


PtboCanada:
You just released the holiday single "Snowflakes". What made you want to release a seasonal track?


Fisher: Every year I do something around the holiday and this year with the record coming out and me being on tour, I couldn't really take the time to make a video or anything. I just wrote "Snowflakes" one morning and thought it would make a good winter/holiday song.


PtboCanada:
What seasonal/holiday tracks affected you when you were growing up?


Fisher: "Little Drummer Boy", "Carol of the Bells".  I used to like playing "Sleigh Ride!" in high school band because it uses a vibraslap in the percussion section.


PtboCanada:
Sticking with the holiday theme, how will you be spending yours?


Fisher: Rum and eggnog, tobogganing, hanging with family—never gets old.

--------------------------

[Q&A by PtboCanada's Jeffrey Macklin]

[Jeremy Fisher; The Red Dog]

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Video: Jay Scotland Busted On COPS Peterborough!

Remember, all weathercasters are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

[YouTube]

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