Daily Archive for September 4th, 2008

Culture club

From Niagara This Week:

A new international festival will be showcasing the sights, sounds, tastes and experiences from different cultures for Niagara Falls tourists.

“We are going to start holding an annual festival celebrating different cultures from around the world,” said Niagara Parks Commission chairman Jim Williams.

The parks commission has introduced a new Celebrate Cultures festival, which is headed to Cliffton Hill for three weeks.

“This is the inaugural festival and it’s celebrating three different cultures over a three-week time frame from Sept. 3 to the 21,” said Williams. “We will be showcasing different cuisines, entertainment, music and clothes, which will expose our visitors to different cultures.”

This year the event will be showcasing the nations of Argentina, Japan, and China.

Hilton Progress (47 floors and counting)

It looks like the Hilton is now up to the 47th floor.

Integrity commissioner investigating Niagara Parks Commission

From the Niagara Falls Review:

Ontario’s integrity commissioner has begun its investigation into a complaint about the Niagara Parks Commission’s process, filed by one of its own commissioners.

“The integrity commissioner’s office is handling it. My concerns are being addressed by them,” said Bob Gale, a Niagara Falls businessman and a member of the Niagara Parks Commission’s board.

The parks commission’s chairman and manager say they’re aware Gale has filed a complaint, but they haven’t seen it and have not been contacted by the integrity commissioner’s office as part of any investigation.

“We have had no word from the Ministry (of Tourism) or the integrity commissioner’s office. I really don’t know where that’s at, at this point,” said chairman Jim Williams.

There’s no indication how long an investigation by the integrity commissioner would take, though Gale said, “I’m expecting a few months.”

East Side Mario’s update (very slow progress)

The East Side Mario’s (there are still no signs, but that is what everyone says it will be) on Clifton Hill is coming along very (and I mean very) slowly).

Casablanca renovations

Casablanca on Victoria Ave is closed for renovations right now. It does not look very professional. The place is boarded up and information is spray painted on the wood. One sign says there was a fire. The contractor’s sign says it is an emergency closure. I didn’t hear or read anything about this, so I don’t know what’s up.

Vicki Boutin: And the Winner is…

Someone with a TypePad blog posted about a recent trip to Niagara Falls (including Build-A-Bear Workshop):

This has been a busy week! We went to Niagara Falls on Monday with my friend Kelly and her kids. There is now a Build-A-Bear at the top of Clifton Hill…

Yep! And I got suckered right in to getting my monsters one each!