Monthly Archive for March, 2007

Reaching for the sky (part 2)

Published
by
Graham
on March 17, 2007
in Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

From Niagara This Week:

A growing city skyline may represent new investment in the city, confidence, and create an attractive tourism core seen by visitors travelling along the QEW, but it doesn’t come without its challenges.

The city’s skyline will be getting taller as the Hilton Hotel on Fallsview Boulevard expands with a 52-storey hotel tower. Construction is slated to be complete in 2010. On the heels of that development is a Canadian Niagara Hotels plan to build a 59-storey hotel tower near Casino Niagara on Falls Avenue.

But having hotel towers reaching for the sky comes at a cost, says Ken Murphy, a River Road resident. He said the growing city skyline means residents will soon be walled off from Niagara Falls, deprived from access, view and sound of water from the Niagara River cascading over the escarpment.

GST rebate program cut devastating: business owner

Published
by
Graham
on March 17, 2007
in Niagara Falls News
. 0 Comments

From Niagara This Week:

A federal government decision to cancel the GST Visitors’ Rebate Program could devastate the region’s, and the country’s, economy, says a new study.

The study, which was completed by CRA International and commissioned by Global Refund Canada, says if the program is cancelled April 1, the country’s Gross Domestic Product would be reduced about $114 million per year, and 1,900 jobs would be lost.

Development on Stanley Avenue?

Published
by
Graham
on March 16, 2007
in Niagara Falls Developments
. 0 Comments

This is probably nothing, but right beside the Diplomat Inn on Stanley Avenue there is a lot of dirt. It’s an empty lot. I don’t know if anyone is leveling the ground preparing it for a future development, or if it just a temporary place to put the dirt from some other development.

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Internet access at hotels

Published
by
Graham
on March 16, 2007
in Niagara Falls Hotels
. 5 Comments

Yesterday I received an email from regular visitors Lisa from Rochester. She’s looking for some help:

I am trying to find out what hotels of what areas offer wireless internet.
Also want to know if the hotel only offers dialup what would be needed to get onto the internet like software etc. This is the first time bringing laptops and would like some information. Possibly this would help others

Well, first off I would recommend that you read a posting from almost year ago where I wrote about some hotspots that had come up on my Pocket PC.

Do any of you have any experience with using the Internet at a hotel in Niagara Falls (either at a computer supplied by the hotel or with your own laptop)?

Things to do in Niagara Falls: Skylon Tower Fun Centre

Published
by
Graham
on March 15, 2007
in Niagara Falls Attractions and Niagara Falls Weekly Feature - Things to do
. 8 Comments

fun_centre_pamphlet_cover.jpgThis is the last of my series on the arcades in Niagara Falls. I previously covered the Great Canadian Midway and Marvel Super Heroes Adventure City. Today I will be posting about the Skylon Tower Fun Centre.

Probably the biggest problem with the Skylon Tower Fun Centre is that it is so big. If the place isn’t full of games, it looks empty. I have been there a couple of times in the last week preparing for this postings, and I was actually surprised with how many games they do have. It’s just that the area is so large, the ceilings so high, and you enter it from an upper level, it appears that it is almost empty. It’s also probably unfair to be doing these sorts of postings when there aren’t so many people around, and the staffing levels are low.

The Skylon Tower Fun Centre has the same types of games that the other arcades have. There is a good selection of games for young children. There are also many sports games, including a few bowling lanes. There are also the common “pusher” games, air hockey, and some classic arcade games.

They have a large redemption centre where you can trade in your tickets for prizes. During the off season, the redemption area is closed, but one of the retail stores upstairs can help you.

There are several well-known fast-food chains (Mr. Sub, DQ Orange Julius, Pizza Pizza) that have a location in the food court. I have never seen them open, but admittedly have never been in there on a weekend in the summer.

Based on comments in previous post, people have fond memories of what the games area used to be like, and they long for those days. There have been no announced plans for any improvements.

Learn about other things to do in Niagara Falls

Notice of Public Hearing (beside TGI Fridays)

Published
by
Graham
on March 15, 2007
in Niagara Falls Developments
. 0 Comments

I noticed a sign announcing a Public Hearing on the sign for the Marriott Courtyard on Stanley Avenue (beside TGI Fridays):

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A variance to the footprint of the proposed hotel at the southwest corner and the height of the proposed roof feature

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Spring has sprung?

Published
by
Graham
on March 15, 2007
in Niagara Falls Scenery and Niagara Falls Weather
. 4 Comments

With all of the nice weather we’ve been having over the last few days, the daffodils are starting to sprout along Queen Victoria Park!

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Niagara Falls Video: March Break 2007 in Niagara Falls

Published
by
Graham
on March 14, 2007
in Niagara Falls Videos and Niagara Falls Weekly Feature - Videos
. 4 Comments

This week is the March Break (Spring Break) in most places in Ontario, so things have been pretty busy in Niagara falls. I took this video yesterday as I walked down Clifton Hill (since I was walking, the video is a little bumpy). You can see all the main attractions (Niagara SkyWheel, House of Frankenstein, Marvel Super Heroes Adventure City, etc). You can also see men working on the windows of the new fudge store. The video is 1:38 long.

The weather was gorgeous yesterday, reaching about 14° C (57° F) so there were lots of people out. Today isn’t that great (neither was Monday), but it is supposed to be nice, but cooler on the weekend.

View other Niagara Falls Videos…

Motel 6 Progress (brick laying)

Published
by
Graham
on March 14, 2007
in Niagara Falls Developments and Niagara Falls Hotels
. 0 Comments

The Motel 6 on Stanley Avenue is still making steady progress. The building is up, most of the doors and windows are in, and the brick facade is now going up.

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Clifton Hill Resorts Update - March 2007

Published
by
Graham
on March 14, 2007
in Niagara Falls Hotels
. 0 Comments

On Thursday I received the latest issue of the Clifton Hill Resorts Update. The newsletter seems to be almost a duplicate of what they have been sending out every month.

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As always, you can subscribe to the Clifton Hill Resorts Update newsletter by visiting the Clifton Hill Newsletter page.