Phillip Crawford
3 things I love about the Stratford Area:
It is a very friendly, clean and safe community. Wonderfully beautified by the city and citizens alike; and more cultured and sophisticated in arts and dining than many larger cities.
3 Favorite local hidden treasures you shouldn't miss:
Stratford Summer Music Every summer over 80 jazz, choral, classical operatic concerts by critically
renowned international musical artists perform in the most intimate
surroundings - from concerts in heritage churches and halls to barges in along
the river to after-theatre cabarets. What makes the festival truly unique is the eclectic composition of professional musical
acts, a number making their Canadian debuts, in a variety of causal settings.
Savour Stratford Perth County I return to Stratford in late September to
enjoy two days of great sampling of local foods and concerts by local
music. On the Saturday, the downtown is
abuzz with a farmers' market, artisan crafts, food stalls and hip, local music.
On Sunday, York Street is transformed into a garden party with 30 local chefs
working with local food producers to create an afternoon of sampling of food, wines
and craft beers under a tent accompanied by live music.
Distinctly
Tea Inc. With an unsurpassed
selection of over 350 quality loose teas from around the world, and a variety
of tea accessories, anyone interested in tea should not skip a visit here.
Walls lined with green, black, white, Darjeeling, rooibos, oolong, herbal,
yerba mate, estate teas, and fruit tisanes, make a quick choice impossible, but
you can try any one of them, and have them make your tea elixir to go!
My perfect day spent in the Stratford Area:
A perfect day in Stratford for us would begin with breakfast at Foster's Inn. They offer a delicious and colorful menu of fresh local ingredients-and that seems to be the emerging theme of Stratford cuisine. We would then go for a walk-which is truly one of the highlights of any visit here. The gardens that have established Stratford as the winner in the international Communities in Bloom competition and overall Best Blooming Community in Canada provides for mellifluous strolls along the Avon River. There are exotic flowers, labeled for the curious; swans drifting; and, during the spring, summer and fall the banks of the Avon are a perfect place to stop for a picnic - but make sure you feed the swans with only greens and grains. We can hear the St. James Anglican Church bells chime. There are so many boutique shops that are worth entry for their delightfully unique collections; and there are so many restaurants whose chefs and farmers embrace a local and organic culinary relationship with symphonic results. One shop we like is MacLeod's Scottish Shop. You must try on a kilt from an amazing selection of tartans as well as Scottish tweeds and Rugby shirts. In fact, MacLeod's can rightly claim to be a gateway to the British Isles Formerly the Stratford Brewery, Anything Grows now serves rare and creative gardening and outdoor living accessories. We can't resist a visit to H.H. Delea and Company where we can find a great selection of candles, cards, and small gifts to bring back to friends and family. We always like to dine at Bijou for a romantic, modern French dinner; and either attend a world class musical at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, or enjoy night music performances in the Fleck Marquee throughout the summer. And of course don't forget the musical season of the critically renowned Stratford Summer Music Festival.