Stuff To Do In Peterborough This Weekend

Frosty glass at the King St. Parking Garage. Photo: Evan HoltFriday:

Harry Manx presents Folk Under the Clock at Showplace Performance Centre - 8 p.m. Tickets $37.50

Peterborough Theatre Guild presents Art - 8 p.m. Tickets $18, $16/seniors, $10/students

Saturday:

Heritage Week Final day of this event with activities taking place throughout the city.

The Art School of Peterborough hosts the 1st Annual Art-a-Thon - Noon to Midnight, $5

Snofest Family Skating at Evinrude Center - 1:15 to 2:45 p.m. - Free

Ron James at Showplace Performance Centre - 8 p.m. Tickets $54

Peterborough Green-Up Disco Fundraiser at Splice, 8 p.m. Tickets $25

Peterborough Theatre Guild presents Art - 8 p.m. Tickets $18, $16/seniors, $10/students

Sunday:

YMCA Half Marathon begins at 12:30 p.m. (123 Aylmer Street) More info here

Peterborough Theatre Guild presents Art - 2 p.m. Tickets $18, $16/seniors, $10/students

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

A Look At The New Route For This Weekend's YMCA Half Marathon In Peterborough

Alana Callan (middle) at the start of last year's YMCA Half MarathonThis weekend, I decided to try out the new YMCA Half Marathon route. I have never run an unfamiliar race route before race day, and since the route has changed and runs through the city of Peterborough this year, I decided to give it a try.

The 21.1 km route begins at the YMCA located on Alymer street and takes runners through familiar aspects of the city. Many parts of the route are regular running routes for locals (around the Lake, out to Trent etc.). Runners leave the YMCA and run up Alymer Street to Perry Street and proceed down Crescent Street past the Little Lake Cemetery and then head to Lansdowne Street. From Lansdowne, you run up to Ashburnham Road past the canal and turn on Hunter to go through the Lift Lock tunnel and up and over "Museum Hill" and turn down Armour Road. Runners take a long trip down Armour Road to the turn-around.

It is an "out and back" route, and on the way out I had decided I hate "out and back" routes. But once I turned and headed back, I decided I quite liked running "out and back," as the run back was nicely familiar. Runners who have run the YMCA Half Marathon in the past few years will enjoy this new route for the change of scenery. I don't think I'll need to "draft" behind another runner this year as I have done in the past while running out by the airport and battling the wind.

There are four water and toilet stations this year, and I've been told that the local fire department will be taking care of the water station near the Peterborough Lift Lock.

The 33rd annual YMCA Half Marathon in Peterborough is in support of the YMCA's Annual Strong Kids Campaign, which encourages the healthy growth and development of Peterborough's youth. There is still time to register for this great event. It takes place this Sunday (February 27) starting at 12:30 p.m. and you can choose either the 5 km or 21.1 km race. There is also a kids 1 km fun run which is very fun to watch.

Click here for a PDF of the detailed route map.

[Contributed by Alana Callan]

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PtboPics: Family Day At Ontario Speed Skating Oval In Lakefield

There was a great crowd out today for Family Day at the Oval in Lakefield. Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal was out with his family (see his picture below), and the ice conditions were pretty good considering the warm weather we've had of late, so kudos to the ice crew. People were able to try speed skates which were made available, and there were hot dogs and hot chocolate being served. It was fun in the sun.

[Ontario Speed Skating Oval]

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Today Heritage Week Kicks Off In The Peterpatch

After being chosen by the Ontario Heritage Trust to host this year's Heritage Week (February 18th to 26th), it will be kicking off today at 10 a.m. at Trent University, with special guest Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism and Culture.

Events will be taking place throughout the city over the course of this special week. Partake and learn more about our heritage!

[Heritage Week, Peterborough]

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Jackie DeKnock Creates Culinary Retreat "Gourmet Safari" Near Peterborough

Jackie gets help from Kruz FM's Catherine Hanrahan, who fluffs the rice. Photo: Julie MorrisJackie DeKnock and her husband Dan have set up a culinary retreat just outside of Peterborough in Mount Pleasant called Gourmet Safari. PtboCanada was there yesterday as part of a kind of culinary workshop organized by Kruz FM's Catherine Hanrahan. Jackie's growing business is coming together as a bed and breakfast and kitchen "studio" with hands-on cooking lessons.

The focus is on global cuisine, as Jackie has travelled the world during her last job at British Airways. Cooking and traveling are her two passions, so she took cooking classes and also learned about the importance of nutritional values. 

Jackie started her business by teaching cooking for two little girls, then moved on to men's cooking classes. She then added group classes, a Tapas birthday party and a couple's cooking class (they enjoyed it so much that they want to come back monthly).

There are a few spots left in Jackie's March Break Children's Cooking Camp, where kids explore culinary delights from the likes of Italy, Greece, Thailand, Mexico and Egypt.

Delicious kabobs served by Jackie and Dan. Photo: Evan Holt

For more info, check out Jackie's website. Jackie also appears on Kruz FM with Quick and Delicious Dish recipes every week.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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What You Would Do With Peterborough Square

Photo: Evan HoltSo we recently posed the question on Twitter, "Peterborough Square. If someone handed you the building, clean slate, what would you do with it?" We received a range of interesting answers. Among them:

-- "Demolish it, build a public square & park around Market Hall with ice rink, outdoor stage, greenspace. Parking underground." —Candace Shaw

-- "Peterborough Square: Casino!" —David Feeley

-- "Dr offices. Professional buiding." —Paul Laing

-- "Ptbo Square partly demolished. Keep the theatre and leave the lower level for offices. Above should be a conference centre!" —Justin Beaudoin

-- "Convention centre, arboretum w/ space for farmer's market, town square." —Bill Juby

-- "PTBO Square should be an international flea market." —Catherine Hanrahan

Several people on Twitter really liked Candace Shaw's idea above, with Alana Callan remarking, "It would really put the focus back on downtown as a communal place, the 'heart' of the city."

So what do you think? Perfect world, what would you do with Peterborough Square? Leave it as is? Tweak? Radical change? Comment below, or elaborate on some of the thoughts above. 

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Stuff To Do In The Patch This Weekend (Including Watching A Polar Plunge!)

Saturday:

Peterborough Symphony Orchestra presents Latin Heat featuring Marion Newman - Showplace Performance Centre - 8 p.m.

Africville Productions presents Celebrating Difference - The Venue - 8 p.m., Tickets $25 at the door

Sunday:

Kawartha Wilds Tracking Club - 9 a.m., meet at the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre. An opportunity to track and trail local wildlife (map) - FREE 

Family Sundays at Art Gallery of Peterborough - 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., FREE

31st Annual Polar Plunge (see graphic at right), Rotary Park, Ennismore - 2 p.m.

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

Plush Owner Mike Watt Is Channeling Joaquin Phoenix

Mike Watt, owner of hip Peterborough stores Plush, Flavour Fashion and S.O.S, tells PtboCanada he's not sure when the beard is going to go. For now, he says even though it does get itchy, it's staying put—and continuing to grow. When the beard comes off, we will break the news.

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3rd Annual Hockey Day In Peterborough Is This Saturday

 This Saturday marks the 3rd year for Hockey Day in Peterborough. Be sure to be at our historic Liftlock by gametime at 12:30 p.m., or watch live coverage of all the games on TVCOGECO.

For additional info, you can also check out the Hockey Day in Peterborough Facebook page.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Julie Morris]

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Video: Amazing Turnout At City Hall Last Night To Oppose Transit Cuts

Many people are pissed about the proposed transit cuts in the Patch. And they showed it loud and clear during a city council meeting last night in a great show of democracy in action.

The next meeting on the proposed cuts is tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. at Evinrude Centre, a bigger venue to fit everyone in.

[CHEX TV]

[Related: Facebook Page Launched To Raise Awareness About Proposed Cuts To Peterborough Public Transit]

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