Category: Local News and Events

“Human nature is like water. It takes the shape of its container” – Wallace Stevens

People often ask me why I joined of Dad Club London. As with most things held dear to the heart, it is near impossible to pin down a singular reason, but the collective altruistic nature of this club is what stands in the forefront of my admiration.

Since becoming a member of DCL, I have witnessed endless amounts of compassion, whether it be towards our fellow members, or to those in need within our community. Personally I have gained a much better view on what compassion really means and have become a product of this environment. With an absolute degree of certainty I can attest to the fact that others within our club have had this same experience.

On June 12 2017, the Salvation Army released a tweet which read:
“The Centre of Hope is a cooling station at 281 Wellington Street and open 24/7. We are in need of bottled water donations!”

That was our call to action.

Through the generosity of our members, we scoured through the bottled water supply at many stores across the city, and fought supermarket lineups, in an attempt to make sure that those in need didn’t get denied a necessity of life.

866 cases of water flooded through those doors within a 2 day span on behalf of Dad Club London.

Water, and our access to it, is something many of us tend to take for granted. I’ve personally never put much thought into how something as simple as a bottle of water could impact so many people, but after seeing the reactions of the administrators when we walked in, it was personally a humbling feeling.

We are a diverse group of individuals and may not always share the same beliefs, but when we, as a group, come across a situation that demands our attention, it’s in our nature to take the shape of our container…

Below is a letter from The Salvation Army recognizing our efforts to make this city a better place.

The post Call to Action: Salvation Army needs Water appeared first on Dad Club London.

Source: dad club london

Check out the CTV London news clip!

The post CTV London: Dad Club for Defibrillators appeared first on Dad Club London.

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Make the most of the sunshine with these urban beaches and swimming pools in London.

On the off chance there’s a sunny day in the English capital, people pile out in droves to parks, rooftop bars and any available patch of sunlight one can sit down in. In the summer months, things step up a notch when all the urban beaches and swimming pools in London open for business – find out the best hidden gems the city has to offer below.

BRIXTON BEACH ☀️ #brixtonbeach #chilltime #autop #amazingplace #goodvibes #sundayafternoon #londonlife #festivedayinthesand

A post shared by Maylis (@maylis_hugon) on Jun 19, 2017 at 9:15am PDT

Brixton Beach

Every summer, this southwest slice of beach paradise opens up to the public. While it’s not going to quite be the white sandy beaches of Spain, it’s about as close are you’re going to get. A rooftop in Brixton is transformed into a sandy seaside getaway and this year, they’re going with a big Cuban theme – so think mojitos, plantains and a whole lot of colour. A lot of street food places set up shop here and while there’s no water to be found, you can still soak in the sun and feel the sand between your toes.

What a great day for the beach #UrbanBeach #neverlandlondon

A post shared by (@aimeeathomas) on May 27, 2017 at 10:49am PDT

Neverland London

Forget about MJ’s ill-fated theme park, Neverland London’s a totally different scene. This Fulham beach overlooks the Thames and is a great chill out spot on those long summer nights – especially because you can bring your own booze to the party. While you’re advised to book in advance for this popular getaway, you can up your holiday game by renting out a day bed or beach hut to really make the most of the sun.

Image via London’s Royal Docks

Urban London Beach

Tucked away behind the Emirates Cable Car, this hidden stretch of sand borders the water and is the perfect place to catch some rays. With summery striped deckchairs and white sand, the best thing about this East London secret is that it’s totally free.

Wonderful way to start Saturday.. ❤️ the Lido ‍♀️‍♀️

A post shared by Jo Blackshaw (@joblackshaw) on Jun 17, 2017 at 3:31am PDT

Tooting Bec Lido

In the summer, this public swimming pool extends their hours for maximum water time. Located out in South London, this outdoor freshwater pool is a favourite not just for its room 90m oasis but also its vibrant beach huts that line it. While it’s open all year round, between May and August it throws open its doors from 6am-8pm – better dig out that old swimming costume.

swimming in the serpentine! 🤽‍♂️‍♀️ shame about the sun burn

A post shared by Henry Worssam (@hworssam886) on Jun 19, 2017 at 11:47am PDT

Serpentine Lido

You’d never think it, but London’s actually home to a gigantic lake. Hidden away in Hyde Park, this watery getaway is always a popular spot come summertime and with good reason. With over 100 yards of water for paddling in, changing rooms, deck chairs and luscious greenery, it’s a favourite with families. Thankfully the water’s unchlorinated, however you may wind up having to skirt around a couple of stray ducks.

Feeling refreshed #outdoorswimming #hampsteadheathponds #kenwoodladiespond #alittlepeaceofheaven #atonewithnature #noboysallowed ‍♀️

A post shared by Carra Hart (@carrahart) on May 28, 2017 at 2:28am PDT

Kenwood Ladies Pond

Ladies, this one’s for you. This Hampstead Heath gem has been a female-friendly swimming hole since the early 1900s and is a real retreat from the bustle of downtown London. Rings by flowers, rare birds and trees, women of all sizes and walks of life can have a paddle here without feeling judged. Run entirely by volunteers who love the pond, it’s a little brisk so brace yourself.

The post Cooling off: Urban Beaches & Swimming Pools in London appeared first on London Pass Blog.

Source: londonpass

This past weekend, CLV Group participated in Glow Fair in Ottawa. A portion of Bank Street was shut down for the biggest street party in the city! Various vendors were set up handing out free swag, street artists were drawing on the pavement and large canvas’, a silent disco took place and there were a ton of concerts. It was a great weekend for people to explore the streets and check out everything that Glow Fair and Bank Street has to offer!

CLV Group was set up between Cooper and Lisgar with a Jenga set, which was a HUGE hit with everyone, props to take photos, volleyballs, glow sticks, additional swag and the chance to enter into our Canada Day Contest! We had a blast chatting with everyone who stopped by and seeing all the kids enjoy the Jenga set.

Thank you to those who stopped by and entered into our Canada Day Contest! Stay tuned as we’ll be announcing the winner on June 23rd.

See more photos from the event, here.

Source: clvgroup

It’s time for a curtain call with this guide to London theatre shows

London has long been a bastion of culture, with a rich theatrical history including Shakespeare’s greatest masterpieces and otherworldly musicals. These are some of the shows that speak to the best of British culture, check out our guide to London theatre shows below and find out how you could save on theatre tickets with your London Pass!

Wicked

This beloved Tony-award winning musical takes the Hollywood classic The Wizard of Oz and takes it for a spin. This touching prologue told from the perspective of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch, revolves around how she changed from one of Oz’s most promising stars to storybook villain. Tackling themes like prejudice, compassion and friendship with laughter and tears, you’ll want to hang onto some tissues for the end of the first act and the iconic number Defying Gravity.

The Lion King

Brush up on your Disney knowledge and be prepared to sing along at this popular West End musical, which takes the classic film The Lion King to the stage. The stagecraft and costuming are stunning and ambitious, with seven foot elephants roaming the aisles and pride rock rising from the stage. Even the most cynical person will fall in love with this family-friendly musical.

The Woman in Black

Adapted from the horror novel of the same name, The Woman in Black is a spine-tingling experience not for the faint of heart. After a homeowner with an eccentric past dies, a young lawyer is sent to her eerie house to sort out their affairs and terror ensues as a deathly apparition begins to haunt him. There’s nothing that compares to sitting in a dark theatre, hearing the creak of a door as you hang onto the edge of your seat…

Aladdin

One of the new kids on the block, this musical takes the original Disney classic and switches it up from the stage. Expect all your favourite ballads – A Whole New World and carpet flights included – as well as a fast-talking genie, who drops pop culture references at lightning speed. A perfect family day out.

Book of Mormon

From the creators of South Park comes an unexpected musical, which follows two Mormon missionaries and their mishaps in war torn Africa. After Elder Price, the star of his class and one of the religion’s brightest sparks, and Elder Cunningham, the complete opposite, are paired together for an African mission, they find themselves having to deal with warlords, diseases and their own personal conflicts. (The music is way too catchy for its own good.)

42nd Street

It’s a classic story: a small-town girl comes to the big city with even bigger showbiz dreams, only to find the path to success harder than she thought. 42nd Street brings the infectious joy of Broadway to London with its main character Peggy Sawyer leading the way, accompanied by a high-kicking chorus and foot-tapping showtunes.

 

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

This play is the much-anticipated sequel to J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series and follows the next generation of wizards and witches, namely Harry and Draco’s sons. Written by Rowling, Jack Thorne and John Tiffany, the show has been the talk of the town since it opened and its stagecraft and the way it brings spells to life are nothing short of magical. It’s a must for any London theatregoer – that is, if you can get tickets.

Kinky Boots

Get your dancing shoes on for this sparkly musical, where struggling shoemaker Charlie Price’s factory is given a second lease on life by a fabulous drag queen named Lola. Based on true events, Cyndi Lauper penned its upbeat score and it has since swept a number of Tonys since it first premiered in the US.

 

Matilda

It doesn’t get more British than Roald Dahl and this charming adaptation of his story Matilda is easily one of the top five musicals in London. Matilda, a book-loving girl with a difficult family background, has her world forever changed by the arrival of her kind teacher Miss Honey and tyrant headmaster Miss Trunchbull. Just like its main character, the musical is bright, witty and full of warmth with a surprise round every corner.

Les Miserables

Do you hear the people sing? Head to the Queen’s Theatre to see this stalwart of the London theatre scene, which has enchanted and devastated audiences for years. The musical is set during the lead-up to the French revolution and adapted from Victor Hugo’s literary epic of the same name, intertwining the lives of a thief, policeman, street rat, sheltered daughter and more in a complex web of love, fury and justice.

The post Our Guide to London Theatre Shows: What’s On & What to See appeared first on London Pass Blog.

Source: londonpass

This past weekend, our CLV Group team spent the day at Bark in the Park in support of the London Humane Society.

Bark in the Park is a fun-filled day for pets and owners that includes vendor booths for shopping, live shows, recreational areas, concessions and entertainment. Bark in the Park was hosted at the beautiful Plunkett Estate, which offers large green spaces for dogs to play and roam!

We created doggy treat bags and handed them out to attendees throughout the event. Attendees were SO excited to hear that we were pet-friendly! To learn more about our pet-friendly apartments in London, click here.

For more information on Bark in the Park, or to learn more about how you can contribute to the London Humane Society, click here.

 

See more photos on our CLV Group Facebook page!

 

Source: clvgroup

When putting your house or condo in London and area up for sale, have you thought about how and when buyers will see your home?

If possible, schedule showings in the same way that is used by a majority of the homes in your area.  This may be by special appointment or by a lockbox system.   Remember that this will be the buyer’s first contact with your home, and it should set a positive tone.

Make the buyer and agent feel welcome.  Be as flexible on timing as possible.  The buyer may be viewing many homes over a large area.  (The average buyer sees 4-9 homes before making a decision)

Being flexible is very important and while inconvenient or disruptive at times, when a buyer is willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for your home, be flexible.

If you wanted to buy a car on a Thursday afternoon but one of the dealerships is closed, would you go someplace else? Or, you are in London with your family for the weekend only and some homes you would like to see you cannot because the home seller is too busy or tired? ( True story, a $550,000 house and the seller was too busy & did not have the time to keep the house tidy!) By the way, that house did sell eventually, 1 month later for $529,900!

I can recall instances in which the seller came to the door in a hostile way and demanded to know why we were 5 minutes late. Last weekend my clients and I got to a house that we had made an appointment to see (11:30 AM to 12) and we got there at 11:55 AM and the man in the house ranted and raved that we were disrupting his day and yadda,yadda yadda! We left, never even left the hallway and by the way, in this very vibrant housing market, the house has been on the market 51 days! Hmmmmm! I wonder why?

Many people have a strong reluctance to intrude or bother other people.  Remember that the decision to buy a home can be emotional & stressful, you most likely feel the same way when you are selling your home.

Have you ever tried to make your way through a corn maze out in the country? If you don’t know the layout, it’s probably going to take you a long time to find your way through.

You’ll hit a lot of dead ends, go around in circles a few times, and maybe even become frustrated before you finally find your way out.

The same can be said about selling a home in London Ontario.

Real estate transactions are not something you do every day, so you’re not as familiar with their “layout”. As a result, the process of preparing your home for sale, getting it listed, dealing with viewings and buyers, and negotiating offers can potentially be very stressful… so stressful, in fact, you might be discouraged from making a move!

That’s why finding someone who knows the London Ontario real estate market is so important. He or she knows the maze and can guide you through it.

Read more

The post How & When Do Buyers Get To See Your Home? appeared first on Condos in London Ontario Blog.

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Source: London.ca

When it comes to celebrating the big milestones and special occasions in life, you want to do it with style; something unique, exciting and something that your guests have likely never experienced before.

This was my line of thinking when I began planning my husband’s milestone surprise birthday party. After some research, I happily discovered Murder For Hire, a high quality, interactive murder mystery dinner theatre experience.

I loved the concept of providing entertainment for our guests in a home setting and providing something just a bit unusual. For the guests that preferred to sit back and watch, a live story unfolded right in front of them. For the more outgoing guests, an opportunity to become a part of the story presented itself. And to round it all off, all the guests were able to interact with the actors and take part in trying to solve the murder. It was so much fun!

THE MURDER FOR HIRE EXPERIENCE

Murder For Hire is a company based in Thorndale, Ontario (just outside of London) and is dedicated to the presentation of the highest quality interactive murder mystery dinner theatre, paying particular attention to detail. The company was established in 2006 by Kay Rogers whom writes all of the scripts for the stories as well as the creation of costumes, props and sound effects for each show.

When you visit the Murder For Hire website, you can check out the different script options. I chose the Diamonds, Death and Second Chances show because I loved the idea of the late 60’s themed basis. The script is based on an auction of fine jewels hosted by Lady Ophelia so I decided to go with a Mad Men-inspired theme. I even asked the guests to dress up in their favourite 1960’s look…it really added to the experience.

I served 60’s style foods like Swedish meatballs, deviled eggs, pigs in a blanket and a cheese ball. I also set up a Martini Bar so that guests could sip away in style.

The party starts like any other, mingling among the guests; the Murder For Hire actors blend seamlessly into the crowd and begin to tell their back stories. This shapes the characters for the upcoming events. With fun sound effects, vibrant props and costumes, the mystery unfolds until the climax takes place; the murder.

During this time, the cast will get to know you and your guests too and they will throw in some fun surprises that will seriously take your party to the next level. Again, I don’t want to give away too much, but let me just say that I never knew some of the guys in my life looked so good in leisure suits!

It is then time for the guests to gather the evidence, question the actors and submit their hypothesis on whodunit and possible motives. The truth is finally revealed and awards are given out to party guests based on various criteria (I don’t want to give anything away here) that are fun!
This all takes place over a few of hours and provides a really fun and out of the ordinary experience. We opted in to add a photo booth setup to enhance the experience and to make sure we got some great shots of all the fun costumes and actors. You receive all the images on the spot on a handy USB card.

The Murder For Hire team does a wonderful job of staying in character and providing laughter, entertainment and the opportunity to bring out your inner detective. This is something that I would highly recommend for your next celebration.

TAKE ANY PARTY TO THE NEXT LEVEL

Each month, there are featured Murder For Hire scripts to bring your party to the next level…check out GHOULS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN! for a unique way to celebrate Halloween, or CRIMES OF PASSION to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a whole new way. And the Holidays will never be the same with the 2017 featured script, THE CHAOS IS KILLING ME, a Christmas themed show featuring the annual CHAOS (Canadian Honorary Association of Santas) Convention. Sounds fishy huh?!

CONTACT MURDER FOR HIRE

If you want to throw a party that your guests will never forget, be sure to check out Murder For Hire online or call 519-495-1446. You can also follow on Facebook to learn more.

Thanks to Kay and the Murder For Hire Team for providing such a fun and memorable event to celebrate such a special day in our lives!

Source: http://citymom.ca/feed