Official CNE Blog

Many of us live close to mega-shopping centres, where it seems that you can buy most anything.  You, however, can’t beat some of the deals on many unique and hard to find items at the CNE At Home Pavilion and Shoppers’ Market in the Direct Energy Centre.

If you are looking for a BIG screen TV, you can buy a HUGE Samsung 64” 3D Plasma TV for $1,500 from HiFiCiTi.  I did – really!  For the same model, this was about $1,000 cheaper than the big box stores!  If you are not looking for something that big, they have a many other sizes at incredible prices!

Maybe you’re a crafter who enjoys sewing or machine embroidery.  Janome has a booth with many different models, and experienced staff to demonstrate the various features.

Are you green and into conservation? WaterMagic has water conservation solutions that are smart and practical.  I have purchased several of their faucet heads for my kitchen and bathroom.

One gizmo that caught my attention is BoomBox.  They have a product that will amazingly turn most anything into a boombox with their portable speaker system.

Have you heard of the GripStick?  It is a clever way to seal your bags (cereal or snack bags, for example) that is an improvement over bag clips.  They come in several sizes and colours.  I bought a set and love them!

And if you have been to the CNE at least once in your life, I am sure you have seen the Sweepa (either at their booth, or being carried around the grounds by happy shoppers).  I have been using mine for years.  With a lifetime warrantee (I returned one for a replacement last year) it is one of the best deals you can find.

If you happen to be with someone that doesn’t love shopping as much as you do, there is plenty of entertainment for them close by, including chefs on the Celebrity Stage, music and dancing on the International Stage and the Superdogs!

I’ve only mentioned a few of the thousands of items to discover.  Don’t forget to leave lots of time to explore all of the markets and pavilions on the CNE grounds for amazing deals.

Written by: Tim Ducharme

You know what I’m blown away by? No it’s not the midway and all the great rides… it’s not all those shows and special guests… it’s not the concerts… and not even the air show (though… starts tomorrow and I’m hugely excited for it!)

No what I’m blown away by is the variety of foods and the uniqueness of the foods at the Ex! The Ex is probably the only place where you can go and eat pizza, fries, or a burger and be considered boring or unadventurous. No, the Ex is a place of spectacle and that means indulging in the spectacle of foods too!

We’ve all read about the wild oddities and calorie bomb foods in the papers and said publicly “Oh that’s crazy!” but deep down I know every one of us is saying “I so want to try that.” And we should! The Ex is only here once a year so it’s a time to indulge in the crazy foods they have to offer.

The other day I tried one of the Krispy Kreme donut burgers… I then went for the deep fried cola (not as refreshing as cola usually is but, really really tasty!) and ended the day with a deep fried PB&J sandwich… again amazing.

Indulge folks! You have all year to be good with diet. What’s a few thousand calories anyway? With the amount of walking you do at the Ex, it’s a wash!

But, you know what… if you’re not interested in that and the price tag that comes with it; you know what’s NEVER a bad choice?

$.99 Pasta! And it’s delicious too (you can find it in the Food Building).

Get down to the Ex and indulge folks, there’s only a few days left!

Written by: Zach Bussey

Butter Sculptures

The CNE manages to do many things – challenges us foodies to try new and delicious, almost heart-stopping foods, challenges us foodies yet again by tempting us to take a chance on a whirling, swirling ride certain to make our tummies rumble, but above all the CNE marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new season.

Now don’t fret just yet – we have yet to see leaves on the ground, nor has the wind blown to the point of sweater wearing, but it does remind us that it is certainly around the corner.

So as the last weekend at the Ex approaches, make sure to check out all it has to offer. From the ever-famous air show to the CNE Mardi Gras Parade, the Ex never disappoints and certainly leaves us with the old familiar feeling of back-to- school nostalgia. And if you’re really looking for a way to end the summer with a bang, check out Dave the human cannonball master.

Cannonball Dave

I will definitely be there all weekend long soaking up the last bits of summer, enjoying the drawn out sunshine that dips late into the night. While there, I will be attempting to demolish the Epic Burger, The Original Philly Cheese Steak, some deep-fried butter and of course my beloved deep-fried mac and cheese, and I plan to eat every last bite! Seeing as I also plan to conquer some rides, against my better judgment of mixing the two, stay tuned to see how it all turns out.

Send me a tweet @TaylorNVFerri to connect while you’re at the Ex too. Can’t wait to see you all there!

Written by: Taylor Ferri

Posted in Official CNE Bloggers 2011 | Comments Off

Being a CNE Blogger makes for some very fun summer nights.  After dinner we walk over to Exhibition Place and live it up for a few hours by trying our luck in the game shacks, jumping on a thrilling ride, and chowing down on cotton candy.  These are happy times.

But before this sweet summer comes to an end, I thought I would highlight a few of my favourite things to do at the CNE.  Check it out.

Visit at dusk. There is something spectacular about the CNE in the evening – twinkling Midway lights, sunset, and carnival music makes for a dreamy night.

Eat. Take the time to choose something you don’t usually eat. I am an organic eating girl and mom to a boy who has food allergies, which means I’m basically an amateur chef.  But the past two weeks I had four dozen Tiny Tom donuts, three hamburgers, two orders of fries, two Cokes, and three candy apples.  Delicious.

Play. Bring a couple loonies and play a game.  You will feel fantastic once you get your hands on a fluffy stuffed bear.

Shop for something unique. Take an hour to browse through the International Pavilion and scope out a great find. I picked up a red, Asian-inspired parasol.

Jump on a ride. Buy yourself a handful of coupons and hop on the Ferris Wheel (if you’re too scared, try out the Ferris Wheel in the Kiddie Midway). The view from the top is incredible.

Bring a kid. I brought my lively little boy to the CNE five times. From the Kiddie Midway, cute little games where there is “a prize every time”, Craft Studio in Kids World, and giant bubble cauldron, experiencing the CNE through the eyes of a child is what summer is all about.

We will be making one more visit to the CNE on the weekend – so if you happen to see a curly haired girl, with a red parasol, carrying a bag of donuts, and holding hands with a very happy little boy, at dusk – come and say hello.

 Written by: Catherine Romano

Yesterday, I attended the Aerial Acrobatics & Ice Skating Show with the intention of taking a few photographs and writing a good-humoured, but objectively critical review of the offering.  I can’t do it. The lights – the sounds – the glitter – the dangerous and graceful aerial somersaults – and above all the beautiful young women and men on the ice — jumping and spinning to the driving music, doing impossible moves with ease and grace – just knocked me over. I can’t tell you whether Joannie Rochette was technically perfect – I can only say she was beautiful and wonderful. All this gushing is rather a surprise to me. In my normal life, as a trial lawyer, critical thinking with careful analysis is my forte.  I confess, at the Ex, I’m not a critic – I’m an enthusiast. So I can’t tell you if Sabrina Ferland hit her soaring high notes perfectly – she sounded perfect to me. I can give you this message though: go to the Ricoh Coliseum, put down the five-in-one ladder you have been lugging around after an impulse purchase at the Shoppers Market, eat your candy apple and soak up the glamour for twenty-five minutes.  Okay, I can be critical: the show’s too short. I could watch for hours.  How’s that? Go see it. They will Rock You.

Written by: James Carlisle

During a recent visit to the Ex our plans of enjoying the outdoors were squashed when a storm rolled in. We made our way to the Direct Energy centre before the rain really started coming down and were pleasantly surprised with the amount of things to do indoors.

The first area we found ourselves in was the International Pavilion; shops representing countries around the world displayed their wares. What a variety. Buddhist statues from Thailand, rugs and textiles from Turkey and even some home grown products such as maple syrup and wood carvings are available. It’s easy to get lost in the aisles as you jump from country to country.

Heading east in the building leads you to a serious shopping mecca with housewares, clothing, furniture and row upon row of DVDs and CDs for sale. We passed so many people with bulging shopping bags that it never occurred to me that people come to the CNE just to shop!

We also took a stroll through the Ghosts of the CNE exhibit, which tells the story of the many ghost sightings and history of the Exhibition grounds. There is an eerie video re-enactment of some of the sightings which is creepy enough to make sure you never stay on the grounds after dark!

Leaving the exhibit we grabbed a quick refreshment at the Wine Garden which features VQA wines, Ontario Craft beers and offerings from the Leslieville Cheese Market. We managed to catch ‘Beverly Taft and her Swell Fellas’ (www.beverlytaft.com) perform a set, who were fantastic – great 30’s & 40’s swing and some depression era songs. A great way to wind down our day at the Ex!

Written by: Andrew Gayman

Love ice skating?? What about acrobatics?? What did you say?? Broadway?? Then you have come to the right place – Ricoh Coliseum at the Ex, 2:00 P.M and 5:00 P.M.  Get there early for the best spots and believe me, they do fill up!!!

What a talented bunch in this show.  I was holding my breath the whole time during the acrobatics shows and by the pin drop silence, I am sure the audience was too.  We Will Rock You’s Yvan Pedneault and the melancholic voice of Sabrina Ferland shook the arena.

Then our very own Joannie Rochette comes on the ice and the crowd goes wild.  Stellar performance, not a flaw.  She really works the crowd and the looks on the little ones faces are awesome. You can tell they love her.  Joannie has really inspired me after her courageous performance during the Vancouver Olympics.  Her mom would indeed be very proud of her.  Joannie made her bronze medal look like gold. 

I tried very hard to get a picture of Joannie, but even as an Official CNE Blogger, I could not get past security.  Maybe a good thing as I would have embarrassed myself as I’m still star struck.  Courage, beauty and performance all rolled into one to give us ‘Canada’s Sweetheart’.  She gives the song ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ which was performed by Yvan at this show, a whole new meaning, she believed in herself in Vancouver!!

Beyond Broadway is a show you don’t want to miss.  Besides, why wouldn’t you want to see skating in Summer???

Written by: Sabrina Mantel

With my companion, the Dedicated Knitter, I visited the Farm Pavilion, intending to meet some livestock and soak up the agricultural ambience. DK didn’t get beyond the AFCO display where she developed an instant rapport with the Alpaca yarn. While I petted the very tolerant Alpacas, Susan Schumacher from SanGrall Farm showed DK the soft, lustrous yarn made from their fleece. Especially taken with the product of “Princess,” one of Susan’s most prized animals, DK simply gave Susan all her money in return for enough yarn to make me a scarf and socks (or a shawl?) for the coming winter.  Alpaca fibre seems expensive, but, when you consider that Susan and her family harvest an average of only five pounds of fleece a year from Princess and that must be cleaned, processed and spun, the yarn is a good value. 

Alpaca farming is mainly a “labour of love,” says Susan, who keeps a herd of about 20 animals. The yarn is softer and warmer than wool and it isn’t covered in the greasy lanolin that sometimes causes allergies. Like most avid knitters, DK doesn’t buy yarn because of the garments she can make. No, it’s the feel of yarn and its pleasing natural colours. Also, the pleasure of just going home with a bag of treasure to add to her stash.

Members of AFCO (Alpaca Fibre Co-operative of Ontario) work together to improve the breed and their products.  AFCO members are at the Farm Pavilion to show their animals and their products. They might even invite you for a farm visit. The AFCO website is www.afco.ca.

Written by: James Carlisle

Day nine was divine! 

On a beautiful sunny Saturday, cooling off in the Sprite Splash Zone was a must.  While there, I tested my surfer skills on Flowrider – a surfing simulation that creates a high pressure wave.  Even though I had a premonition that it could be an epic fail since I don’t do any board sports and the most water pressure I have ever had coming at me was a water hose to the face, I tried it anyways purely for thrills.

The adrenaline rush I got from trying to stay up and be one with the wave was exhilarating. Not only was it tons of fun but falling also didn’t hurt at all (felt like falling on a trampoline). My friends really enjoyed watching the wipeouts and listening to DJ Hussy spin some great tracks. After, we stayed to watch Nick Nguyen & Sean Silveira rock the wave. These pro flow riders were insane! They did flips, juggled, surfed on a stool, and jumped from crazy heights.

Letting our senses guide us, we ended up at the Food Building and were drawn to the delectable fried foods.  I challenge anyone to try to resist the temptation of traditional fair food.  Who eats healthy at a fair?!  I sure don’t…I love a good sugar rush!

We tried deep fried pickles, pop tarts, and cherry-aid. All were really good except fried cherry-aid. Since that wasn’t enough calories for one day, I had to try the donut burger! I was skeptical to try it so went splits with my sister. To our surprise, we both really enjoyed it so much so that we fought over the last bite.  It’s like eating a main course and dessert all in one.  Our taste buds thanked us for all the sweet sensations and I’m sure yours will too!

Written by: Katelyn Field