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Cuvée 2014 – Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 2

Cuvée 2014
Their tagline reads: “Indulge. Taste. Discover.” and you will be doing just that on the evening of Friday, February 28. Mingle with winemakers as they pour their personal favourites and chat with chefs while they prepare delectable eats. Discover Ontario wine and its culinary scene all in one grand ballroom and then dance the night away to live music at the Après Cuvée after-party.

The Cuvée festivities continue onto the weekend with the Cuvée en Route passport, which allows you to tour and taste your way along the wine route on Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 2 where you will be able to enjoy special Cuvée flights chosen by the winemakers.

To find out more, visit cuvee.ca.

Read about our visit to last years’ event here.

The Barbados “free spending money” on-island is back – 2014

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The Barbados Island Inclusive package is back!!! Take advantage of “free spending money” on-island

TORONTO, Feb. 4, 2014 /CNW/ – The Barbados Island Inclusive package is back for 2014! Canadians can now take advantage of this great money-saving offer by booking before March 15^th, for travel to Barbados between May 1^st and December 19^th, 2014.

With the Barbados Island Inclusive, guests receive “free spending money” based on their length of stay for use at participating attractions and restaurants while on-island. With a minimum stay of 5 nights guests will receive US$150.00 per person and on stays of 7 nights or longer guests will receive US$200.00 per person, based on a maximum of two (2) persons per room. Vouchers will be distributed to guests upon hotel check-in. Read More

The TSA Laughs At Your Naked Body And Does Not Stop Terrorists (from Jalopnik)

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Interesting information and links from Jalopnik…

PATRICK GEORGE on JALOPNIK

If you somehow need more proof that the Transportation Security Administration is an expensive, invasive joke of a federal agency that does not actually thwart airline terrorism, then writer and former TSA screener Jason Edward Harrington is happy to give you some.

Writing in Politico Magazine, Harrington details the three ludicrous years he spent working for the TSA at Chicago O’Hare International Airport which included, in his words, “patting down the crotches of children, the elderly and even infants as part of the post-9/11 airport security show.”

The worst part, he says, is many of the TSA agents themselves feel that the agency creates mistrust with citizens and is a waste of public money.

Here are some of the great examples of how Harrington and his blue-shirted pals kept us safe in the skies:

Once, in 2008, I had to confiscate a bottle of alcohol from a group of Marines coming home from Afghanistan. It was celebration champagne intended for one of the men in the group—a young, decorated soldier. He was in a wheelchair, both legs lost to an I.E.D., and it fell to me to tell this kid who would never walk again that his homecoming champagne had to be taken away in the name of national security.

And this: Read More

February 2014 Desktop Wallpaper Now Available

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We’ve added February’s Desktop Calendar to our “Downloads” page.

The waves at beautiful Monterey California … we hope you like it!

Toronto Zoo, TravelBloggers.ca, Polar Bears

TORONTO ZOO’S POLAR BEAR CUB EXPLORES THE OUTDOORS FOR THE FIRST TIME

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Watch the polar bear cub in the snow for the first time!

Air Canada rouge to Offer More Caribbean Destinations this Summer from Toronto and Montreal

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MONTREAL, Jan. 27, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ – Air Canada today announced that its leisure carrier subsidiary, Air Canada rouge, is expanding its choice of more Caribbean destinations this summer. Routes previously operated by Air Canada from Toronto and Montreal to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Bahamas, Barbados, Haiti, Cancun and Tampa, FL, will be converted beginning this spring to Air Canada rouge service. Together with its previously announced 2014 summer schedule to Europe, Air Canada rouge plans to operate a total of 44 routes serving 28 popular vacation destinations, including continuation of its summer routes – Athens, Edinburgh and Venice – and new service to Barcelona, Dublin, Lisbon, Manchester, Nice and Rome.

The conversion of additional Caribbean vacation destinations to Air Canada rouge service represents an increase of 22 per cent more seats on these routes to the Caribbean this summer than last. The increase is greatest from Montreal where there will be in an increase of 36 per cent more seats on these routes and 20 per cent more flights than last summer with the introduction of additional flights to Cancun, Port-au-Prince and Punta Cana. Read More

The Friends of Algonquin Park Partners with EarthCam to Deliver Exclusive Webcam Views of Algonquin Park

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ALGONQUIN PARK, ON, Jan. 22, 2014 /CNW/ – The Friends of Algonquin Park, a non-profit Canadian registered charity for those passionate about Algonquin Park, and EarthCam, the global leader in webcam technology have partnered to share live streaming video, panorama, and archived imagery of scenic Algonquin Park.

“We know that people from around the world recognize that Algonquin Park is a place to be treasured. For most visitors, they can’t be here as much as they would like, so the new partnership with EarthCam allows them to see Algonquin Park in real-time. This opportunity was possible through the innovations of EarthCam and a generous sponsorship by the Couples Resort, a 5-star luxury resort outside the East Gate of the Park” said Lee Pauzé, General Manager, The Friends of Algonquin Park.

“The Friends team knew from discussions with Algonquin Park visitors that seeing the seasons change, the lake ice form and melt, and watching the Park’s wildlife were important for those dreaming of their next Algonquin experience. Launching an EarthCam camera with high quality live views and amazing panoramas was critical to ensuring that we could do justice to such a beautiful place in Ontario, Canada”, commented Clarissa Ramirez, EarthCam Network Product Specialist.

“Partnering with The Friends on this new project was an obvious opportunity for us since our guests enjoy spending time on the trails, learning from park naturalists, and exploring the wild areas Algonquin has to offer. Giving back to Algonquin Park was important for us, and working with The Friends of Algonquin Park to achieve this goal has been a very positive experience” said John Sorensen of Couples Resort.

Enjoy the views from the Algonquin Park Visitor Centre at www.algonquinpark.on.ca/webcam

About The Friends of Algonquin Park

The Friends of Algonquin Park is a Canadian registered charity and non-profit, non-governmental organization established in 1983 for people passionate about Algonquin Park. It operates retail locations, recruits members, and fundraises to support the natural and cultural educational goals of Algonquin Park. For more about The Friends ofAlgonquin Park, visit www.algonquinpark.on.ca

SOURCE The Friends of Algonquin Park

Gogo Network Goes Live Over Canada

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Global leader in in-flight connectivity expands its reach to include Canada for both commercial and business aviation

ITASCA, Ill., Jan. 6, 2014 /CNW/ – Gogo (NASDAQ: GOGO), the world leader of in-flight connectivity and a pioneer in wireless in-flight digital entertainment solutions, announced today that the first phase of its Canadian air-to-ground Wi-Fi network is live in Canada, with the balance of the network expected to go live in the first quarter of 2014.

Gogo’s ATG Canadian network will allow the company to offer seamless in-flight Internet service between the U.S. and Canada to its airline partners. Read More

Exuma Bahamas, Exuma Water Sports 007, TravelBloggers.ca

January 2014 Desktop Wallpaper Now Available

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We’ve added January’s Desktop Calendar to our “Downloads” page.

This month we’re wishing we were back here in Exuma, Bahamas … we hope you like it!

TravelBloggers.ca, Niagara Ice Wine Festival

Early Icewine Harvest in Ontario’s Wine Country

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NIAGARA, ON, Dec. 16, 2013 /CNW/ – The Icewine harvest had an early start this year as the temperature began to dip to below -8˚ Celsius in late November. Icewine harvest varies from year to year as growers are dependent on nature, but one thing that remains cool and dependable is the Niagara Icewine Festival – an annual celebration in January, that turns the region into an unforgettable wintery wonderland of Icewine-inspired experiences.

The Icewine Festival, a one-of-a-kind celebration, is a time when consumers have the best opportunity to discover and enjoy Canada’s most cherished product. For three weeks in January, wine enthusiasts, cocktail fans, foodies and music lovers can all choose from a collection of Icewine related events reflecting the authentic and local flavours of Ontario.

Events will be hosted throughout the Niagara region and at the outdoor street festivals in the towns of Jordan Village and Niagara-on-the-Lake, where visitors can admire sparkling ice sculptures, warm up to cozy open fires and enjoy live entertainment.

New this year is Niagara-on-the-Lake’s ‘Sparkle & Ice.’ During the evening of Friday, January 17^th, Icewine makers will be sharing their favourite VQA wines, paired with Icewine inspired dishes by Signature Kitchen Chefs. Guests will be welcomed with an Icewine Cocktail and a chance to win an authentic Diamond.

This year’s annual Icewine Gala on January 10^th is themed the ‘Bacchus Evening of Icewine & Revelry’. Festival activities will take place throughout Twenty Valley’s Jordan Village and Niagara-on-the-Lake from January 10^th – 26^th, 2014.

Visitors can purchase a Discovery Pass, where guests can choose from over 30 incredible wine and culinary experiences along the Wine Route.

In addition to an array of Icewine, visitors can also taste Ontario’s sensational sparkling wines and delicious VQA red and white wines.

For full details on all Icewine Festival events download the following event summaries for January 2014:
Niagara Icewine Festival Brochure &
Niagara-on-the-Lake Winter in Wine Country Brochure

“The Icewine Festival in Niagara is one of Wine Country Ontario’s signature celebrations. During this magical time, our wine region is like a winter wonderland where we celebrate something that is quintessentially Canadian,” Allan Schmidt, President of Vineland Estates Winery and Chair of the Wine Council of Ontario for “Wine Country Ontario.”

For more information you can also visit: www.niagaraicewinefestival.com, www.wineriesofniagaraonthelake.com, www.niagaraonthelake.com, www.twentyvalley.ca & www.winecountryontario.ca.