Domo Returns

It’s hard to believe that Canada’s BIGGEST fair has come and gone yet again; only 345 more days until it returns! I have to admit that I am more than a little sad to say goodbye, but I will say that this year’s experience was completely different than those before it. As a lucky winner of the 2011 CNE Blogger Contest, I was able to take part in an amazing opportunity to connect with all you CNE lovers. Like me, some of you have been coming since as far back as you can remember, while others venture from as far away as Australia (yes, I did meet some very impressed Aussies).

My final days at the Ex were filled with food (as to be expected), rides, and the return of Domo aka more games at the Midway, and this time we actually won on the first attempt. Although I had mentioned in my previous blog that I should probably stay away from rides until well after I had eaten, there is just something so alluring about the lights, but I am happy to report that I managed to safely return from my heart stopping, sky soaring, depth plunging rides all in one piece.

I am already counting down the days until CNE2012, and by the time you read this, there will only be 344 days left. And perhaps if you have been reading these blogs all along, next year it will be you who sits behind your Mac, smartphone or Twitter app while you happily blog about all the Ex has to offer.

A BIG thank you to the team at the CNE and to Rogers Wireless for allowing us to have an unbelievable summer experience at the Ex!

Written by: Taylor Ferri

Hornet

Some of the best moments of my summer always included my trip to the Ex. And every summer, the Ex just gets better and better. From musical on ice to eating deep fried onions, here are some of the highlights of my Ex:

1. Attending one of the Beyond Broadway shows with Joannie Rochette was definitely an eye-opening, fantastic and magical experience. From Rock of Ages to Burlesque, the show was a combination of singing, acrobats and of course figure skating. As a fan of Joannie, I was very excited to see her perform live! What’s more is that I was able to share the experience with my mom who loves figure skating and cabaret!
2. My favourite carnival food has to be waffle ice creams and I must have set a personal record of how many waffle ice creams I could eat in a day (if you must know, it was 3)! I don’t know about you, but it brings back great memories of my childhood – I still remember stealing my sister’s waffle ice cream at the Ex!
3. Lastly, I was very honoured to check out some of the jets, buses and gadgets used by the Canadian Forces. We went into the Navy bus to see first hand of what it’s like to be part of the team. We also briefly spoke to one of the officers about the Hornet which was used during the Air Show.

All in all, I had a great time at the Ex. I got to spend time with my family, friends and colleagues which was the most important part of my experience as the CNE blogger. I’m already looking forward to next year’s CNE!

Written by: Sumaya Khan

One of my favourite highlights of the EX was the cheese seminar courtesy of the Dairy Farmers of Canada.  When I first heard of the cheese tasting, I immediately wanted to check it out.  I grew up eating cheese as a snack in my elementary days, especially cheddar cheese which would always be my go-to comfort food.

The cheese seminar was held at the Home Pavillion at the Direct Energy Centre. When my friend and I took our seats, the awesome reps gave us some brochures and journals that would help with the seminar.  During the seminar, all 30 guests were given 6-7 different cheeses to taste while Anne-Marie Shubin, international cheese expert, explained the differences in their taste, texture and smell. We started off with the milder cheeses such as the mozzarella and then tried the boursin, Havarti and of course the blue cheese.  I was surprised to hear that Anne-Marie uses a small amount of blue cheese  (in addition to the mozzarella cheese) while making spaghetti. It’s because blue cheese gives that aroma of creamy cheese without overloading your spaghetti with cheese.

We were also given pieces of bread, which we were encouraged to chew between each tastings. According to Anne-Marie, the bread cleanses your taste buds so you can really taste the differences between each cheese.  The cheese seminar was extremely educational and I certainly have a new found appreciation for cheese farmers in Canada! I hope to go to my local farmer’s market this weekend and try some of my favourites – must have havarti on the list! 

Written by: Sumaya Khan

As they say, ‘all good things must come to an end’ and that is indeed what happened yesterday in Toronto – we said ‘goodbye’ to the CNE.

This year was extra special for me as I got to visit as and when I wanted.  I stopped by at lunch, after work, on weekends and I still missed a lot of shows.  However, as I have kids, it was very important for me that they enjoy the CNE as much as I did.

We went on the last day and it was crowded.  So good to see so many people out there enjoying the very last bit of Summer.

The shows were awesome.  I took in Beyond Broadway twice – both times were just as good.  Becky Hoops – adorable and funny.  She even posed for a picture when she saw that I was trying to get a good shot of her for my blogs.  The animals – beyond cute.  My kids loved playing with them and they spent a lot of time in The Farm.

Some other things we enjoyed were playing the games by some of the vendors – Rogers gave away a poncho which came in so handy on the rainy days, Patak’s sauce will take care of my dinner for one night and I even scored a couple of T-shirts from playing some games and trivia at booths along the way.  And of course, we just had to win a Smurf, who would not want one of those little guys!!

A big Thank You and shout out to Rogers, BlackBerry and The CNE for letting me be the eyes and ears of the CNE this year.  I had so much fun tweeting and blogging.  Until next year – so long and take care!

Written by: Sabrina Mantel

It’s Labour Day and the final day for the Ex. It means that the un-official end to summer is here, the Midway will be rolling out of town shortly, some of us will be heading back to school and we’ll be stuck trying to find to find creative ways to get our deep-fried fix.

I was reminded this year of how huge the Exhibition is and that you truly can’t do it in a day. I was lucky to have the opportunity to visit the CNE a number of times during the run and get to check out almost all of it. It’s mind boggling how they manage to get so many food vendors and attractions, performers and artists, and even all those rides!

The highlight for me was some of the great offerings at the Food Building this year; you’ve likely read many of us wax on about the deep fried mac and cheese, the cherry-aide and cola and the extreme donut burger. While these enticing dishes helped lure many in, I think many visitors realized that the Ex is more than just out of this world food.

Of note, the ‘Ghosts of the CNE’ exhibit was chilling after learning about the spirited history of the CNE. The International Stage was amazing, every performer or group that performed on that stage was incredible; especially the Mzansi Youth Choir. Seeing Duff Goldman and Kevin Bosch on the Food Network stage was a total treat and great to see them off of the television.

Huge thanks to the staff and volunteers at the CNE for another spectacular summer, and to the great people at Rogers and RIM who outfitted us with BlackBerry smartphones to capture the essence of the Ex.

See you next year!

Written by: Andrew Gayman

It is terribly sad that the Ex is almost coming to an end… with only ONE day left, that means that summer really has ended. So upsetting… but at least we can have it go out in a swarm of planes, screeching across the sky! I feel the need, the need for speed! Yes, the Air Show is here for ONE MORE DAY! The Air Show really is one of my favourite events of my favourite festivals. When else do we get the opportunity to see a series of aircrafts tear up the skies and bring out the Tom Cruise/Maverick in all of us?

I’ve watched the Air Show every year for many years now and this was probably my 2^nd favourite show. My first being the year the F22 Raptor made its appearance – a truly incredible thing, one I hope they bring back next year (Or the F35?). But the CF18 Hornet really impressed too. Pretty sure we got ‘buzzed’. This year also included the MV22 Osprey, Warthog and the new US Jet Team “Heavy Metal”. I’m a big fan of those Albatros’ –  they remind me of F104 Starfighter, though reading up on these they are faster, cheaper and actively in service! I think they’ll be a secondary fan favourite this year, second only to….

The Snowbirds who always put on an incredible show that year after year makes me smile and generally happy.  I mean… any time a group of planes, built by Canada (Yes the Tutor aircraft were developed and made in Canada!) and flown in close quarters over Toronto happens, that has to make everyone proud to be Canadian. Cannot say enough good things about them!

You can check them out today only then they are gone for another year! As long as you’re near the water, or even in the downtown core, you’ll have a chance to check them out… so look up Toronto! But if you do hit up the Ex, check out Daytona Wings, oh my god they were amazing today!

Lastly, I just wanted to take a moment to thank The Ex and the team that works there to make every year great and for having me as a blogger. It was great to be part of it and spend time at the Ex. Additionally, thank you to Blackberry and Rogers who hooked us up with new Blackberry smartphones and service while we were at The Ex. Finally, thank you to the readers! I hope you have enjoyed and taken part in the awesomeness that is The Ex!

Happy Labour Day everyone… only 346 days till The Ex 2012!

Written by: Zach Bussey

See you all next year.

Written by: James Carlisle

Little Charlie, in coveralls and battered cap, sporting a bushy mustache, sweeps up the stage to prepare it for his master, Mat Velvet, the “Wheel God” who will amaze us with his skill on German Wheel. Mat is also a Super Hero fighting crime dressed in his spotted red tights, spats and his fetching black cape. Pratfalls, outrageous posing and corny jokes ensue until the caterpillar becomes a butterfly and Charlie emerges from her coveralls to reveal gorgeous Charlie in red tights who enthralls us with breathtaking acrobatics. Mat continues to kibitz and boast about his star qualities.

I came across their show at the Busker Stage by chance as I was expecting to see beautiful Becky Hoops again.  It was a happy accident. Usually you would see a performance like this from far away in a big auditorium. At the CNE you stand right at the edge of the stage and you really see how difficult, wonderful and dangerous the act is.

Mat and Charlie are two of the many characters created by Martin Varallo and his wife Dominique Major. Their artistry was featured at Cirque du Soleil and on BBC television. After the show, they told me about their life travelling the world with their two children performing for television, cabarets and sometimes at busker festivals. After 18 years of travelling, they like to spend as much time as they can teaching at Dominique’s Circus School near Montreal, Quebec. See their act, then, follow Mat and Charlie at: www.matandcharlie.com

Written by: James Carlisle

I have a confession to make: I have spent a perhaps a total of $20 on games over the course of the fair and have gone on only three rides. And I’ve been quite a bit. Sacrilege, I know. But hear me out on this one.

I like rides just fine, but my girlfriend discovered that they do not agree with her. And seeing as she’s my primary Ex companion, there hasn’t been much ride going. As for the games, that’s entirely my fault. I’m not particularly good at them. I don’t think I’ve ever won anything more than a novelty comb. Yet I’ve been to the CNE seven or eight days this year and not been bored for a second. This is really a testament to how much there is to do there.

I remember as a kid, I couldn’t wait to get out of the Arts & Crafts Building or the International Pavilion and now I can’t spend enough time there! Shopping for cool decorations, clothing, electronics, food products, you name it. The Manitoulin Island dips, sauces and chutneys are especially delicious! How about all the amazing shows? Beyond Broadway, SuperDogs, Human Cannonball, Comedy Hypnotist, Busker’s Corner, Celebrity Chefs, Concerts, the Air Show…the list of things to do and see is pretty much endless.

So even if you’re not keen on rides and don’t have much faith in your ability to win at the Midway Games, don’t be discouraged! Sure they may have the most flash, but there are so many great simple pleasures. For me, spending time in the Food Building and the Farm is what makes me happiest. Tasty treats and cute animals…what else do I need? Plus, you can discover where the Deep Fried Butter you’re enjoying came from!

Written by: Michael Mandziuk

I’ve always wanted to be a busker, but I lack the co-ordination.  This year the Buskers’ Corner has three amazing shows.  I have seen them all, and they keep drawing me back.

Sheldon Casavant is a magician with a great wit.  With a nice mix of humour, his illusions and magic will certainly amaze you, as well as entertain you.  In addition to making things disappear and reappear, he turns an audience member’s $20 bill in to a $5 and pulls the right card from the centre of an apple!

Becky Hoops is just hilarious!  I have stopped to see her show the most as it is my personal favourite.  She takes us on a sensational tour mixed with humour, flexibility and co-ordination, entertaining the crowd while twirling up to four hoops at a time.  At one point she has two hoops going in opposite directions!  You can read James Carlisle’s post about Becky Hoops here: http://blog.theex.com/2011/08/29/becky-hoops-playtime/.

Mat Velvet & Charlie mix up some clowning antics with some impressive skills on the German Wheel (and we are talking some big tricks on a very small stage).  The show starts off with some serious clowning around and ends with some impressive stunts.

I am sure the reason I keep coming back to the Buskers’ Corner stage is that each performance leaves me with a huge smile on my face.

For more information about these wonderful buskers, you can visit their websites:
Sheldon Casavant: http://www.sheldoncasavant.com/
Becky Hoops: http://www.beckyhoops.com/
Mat Velvet & Charlie: http://www.matandcharlie.com/

Written by: Tim Ducharme