♪ lala laala lala…DOOWWNNTOWN! ♫

Tired of the same old scene? Try out a new city!

This winter, find amazing downtown-to-downtown deals on train travel in Quebec and Ontario. VIA Rail’s bringing you one-way fares starting at:

	Economy class	Business class
Toronto – Montréal	$69*	$129*
Toronto – Ottawa	$69*	$129*
Toronto – London	$38*	$59*
Toronto – Windsor	$54*	$99*
Montréal – Ottawa	$31*	$59*
Montréal – Québec City	$44*	$79*

*Some conditions apply.

How can you lose?

 

 

Looking to treat your darling? Buy your tickets no later than 11:59 p.m. on February 5, 2010, for travel between February 12 and 15, 2010, inclusive.

Find four tempting offers. Choose between these one-way fares when you buy round trip travel in Business class:

Montréal <-> Toronto $99
Ottawa <-> Toronto $99
Montréal <-> Ottawa $49
Toronto <-> Windsor $79

Book online using the discount code: LOVE. Some conditions apply.

No time for cold feet! This Valentine’s surprise is only available for three days.

Still got a sweet spot for Valentine’s Day? Skip the cards and candy. I’ve found all-inclusive deals to the most romantic spots in Canada, including train travel, luxury accommodations and guided adventure!

My Top 5 Valentine’s Train Getaways are…

1. Montréal and Québec City – A Moment in Time  Whisk by train for a 4 star stay within the Old Walls of Québec, a St. Lawrence cruise and tours of both cities’ historic quarters.
2. Niagara Falls  - Romance  Travel by rail for a trip that includes a room view of Niagara Falls and sampling the region’s famed wines.
3. Jasper – Getaway by Rail  Get onboard in Edmonton for a weekend jaunt to Jasper! Spend the day skiing, or try a snowshoe adventure or the Maligne Canyon Ice Walk.
4. Toronto – Experience  Book a whirlwind tour of Toronto’s best, including the CN Tower, Casa Loma, the ROM, Hockey Hall of Fame, Toronto Zoo and even a Medieval Times dinner show!
5. Vancouver  to Edmonton  – The Canadian  See ocean, mountains and prairies whiz by onboard one of the most romantic train journeys ever – the Canadian!  Enjoy a comfy cabin and fine dining.

Happy Valentine’s!

 

Did you spot the headlines about Fred the Dog? Stranded in a Vancouver pound after the death of his owner, Fred has been reunited with family in Montreal – thanks in part thanks to VIA Rail!

VIA offered up free tickets onboard the Canadian for two good Samaritans who volunteered to accompany Fred on his Vancouver to Montreal train ride. They made it to Central Station on January 6, 2010. Enjoy your new home, Fred!

Cheering in 2010 from Times Square? Fuggedaboutit! Canada’s got plenty of family-friendly, outdoor parties to ring in the new year this December 31:

	HALIFAX “A” New Year’s Eve Show 10…9…8… Countdown with free concerts, fireworks, TV personalities and a huge crowd, starting at 10pm on the Grand Parade.
	MONTRÉAL New Year’s Eve Grand Bal Join over 40,000 revellers at Place Jacques Cartier for fireworks, music and dancing through the cobblestoned streets.
	TORONTO 7th Annual New Year’s Eve Family Countdown Get your party animal on at the Toronto Zoo! Snag tickets for the whole family to enjoy furry friends, free concerts and a Kids Countdown. From 6pm to 9pm.
	NIAGARA FALLS New Year’s Eve in Queen Victoria Park Billed as Canada’s largest free outdoor extravaganza, this year delivers a double-bill of STYX & Glass Tiger, plus fireworks at 9pm and midnight.
	EDMONTON New Year’s Eve Downtown Skating, concerts and dancing outside. Clowns, crafts and more kiddie fun inside. All capped by a fireworks show at midnight.
	VANCOUVER Polar Bear Swim Get your new year off to a great start by plunging into the icy waters of English Bay on January 1. An annual tradition since 1920.

 

 Happy new Year 2010!

Organizing your winter vacation? Getting those skis ready for another season?

To help with your planning, I went browsing on the TrainPackages.ca website for all-inclusive packages that deliver an unforgettable experience. Not only do they take you to Canada’s best winter destinations, these packages also include travel, accommodations and (oftentimes) excursions.

How’s that for one-stop-shopping? Here are my top 5 favourites:

1. Rockies – West Coast Explorer: A cross-Canada voyage from Toronto through the Prairies and Rockies to Vancouver.
2. Urban Winter Connection: Experience winter in the Rockies on this trip to the heart of Jasper National Park.
3. City & Ski: Departures from TO or OTT towards Montreal and the ski resort town of Mont-Temblant. The best of both worlds
4. Christmas At The Château Frontenac: Celebrate the holidays at the most romantic hotel in Québec City. Snow, music, and a calèche ride included.
5. Québec to the Maritimes: See the charming Quebecois and Maritime landscapes magically transformed by snow.

Happy planning!

At the end of your business day, take the most relaxing way home – the train!

Business class travellers taking trains 66 and 67 between Toronto and Montreal now enjoy more perks than ever:

• Privileged access to in-station Panorama lounges (where available)
• Welcome aperitif
• Choice of three delicious meals – including appetizer, main course and dessert
• Exclusive lounge with wide screen television (just in time for the hockey season)
• Choice of comfortable single, double or double-facing seats

Are you ready for a new 5 o’clock experience?

Book your Business class ticket today!

Despite the dire weather conditions, I returned for the second day of Osheaga. On the menu: a musical line-up as hot as yesterday’s, a little rain and a lot of mud! Here’s a review of my day.

BEAST

One of the day’s most sizzling performances! Frontwoman Betty Bonifassi and her band rocked out for the crowd. Having gained popularity for their collaborations with Champion and The Triplettes of Belleville, Beast’s soul-rock sound continues to win over hearts.

THE TING TINGS

My surprise find of the day – although I immediately recognized her voice from the iPod commercial. This duo from Manchester had the crowd jumping and dancing with their killer percussion indie-pop vibe.

LI’L ANDY

Oh la la! Gospel-flavoured country music, who knew? Montreal Li’l Andy put entertained the crowd at my favourite venue – Scène des arbres – adding to the chill afternoon ambience. A nice interlude from an original new artist.

RUFUS WAINWRIGHT

A break from the usual indie-pop lineup at Osheaga. Rufus even invited his famous mom – Kate McGarrigle – to play piano onstage and sing a few songs together in the language of Molière. Magnifique!

TIGA

Iconoclastic king of the dancefloor, Montrealer Tiga added some serious electro-house sounds to the mix. It wasn’t easy to dance with all the mud – but fans were letting themselves be carried away by the beats nonetheless. I know I was

See all the photos on my Flickr profile.

Guess who’s going to Osheaga in Montreal? ME!

I’m definitely seeing Coldplay on Saturday night and then Beast and Arctic Monkeys on Sunday for sure. I’m going to be taking loads of pictures and posting two blog articles on the weekend (here and on the French blog), so stay tuned for all the latest from the festival.

And a big congratulations to the winners of the Osheaga contest!

• Grand prize: Emily Caputo, Montreal, Qc.
• Second prize: Laura Saint-Louis, Rosemere, Qc.
• Third prize: Omar Raza, Windsor, Ont.

Hope to see you in Mtl this weekend!

True music fans have been talking about this two-day outdoor festival for months – and for good reason.

Not only are international acts like Coldplay and the Beastie Boys set to wow crowds during the first weekend of August, but the line-up also features an impressive list of indie rockers, pop idols and alternative sweethearts.

Jason Mraz ∙ Lykke Li ∙ Yeah Yeah Yeahs ∙ Arctic Monkeys ∙ The Roots

And let’s not forget our own national treasures!

K’naan ∙ The Stills ∙ Rufus Wainwright ∙ Beast ∙ Hey Rosetta!

Good news is, our other national treasure – VIA Rail – is offering you 50% savings on train travel to MTL for Osheaga. So what are you waiting for? GO PACK YOUR BAGS!