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Travel News You Can Use
By Cynthia David
Where puck power meets porterhouse perfection, Selanne Steak Tavern in Laguna Beach has scored its ninth consecutive Wine Spectator “Best of Award of Excellence.” It’s no surprise when you find out the co-owner is NHL legend Teemu Selanne. This haute hideaway serves sizzling steaks (yes, that 38-ounce Wagyu Tomahawk!) alongside a jaw-dropping 2,750-bottle wine cellar that gives Napa royalty a run for their grapes. From vintage French beauties to bold California pours, the 400-label wine list is as carefully crafted as the menu by Chef Vincent Terusa. It’s no wonder foodies and fans alike keep returning—this is steakhouse supremacy, SoCal-style. selannesteaktavern.com
Amsterdam’s 750th birthday celebration continues until year’s end. The big party takes place Oct. 27, the Dutch capital’s actual anniversary. On Nov. 1, Museumnacht, buy a wristband to enter more than 50 museums, large and small, while enjoying live music, DJs and food and drink until 2 a.m. Sinterklass arrives Nov. 16 to kick off the Christmas season. Be sure to visit a holiday market or two. From Nov. 27 to Jan. 18 the annual Amsterdam Light Festival dispels the winter darkness. On New Year’s Eve, join the countdown at Museumplein and take in the eco-friendly Electric Fireworks show. For info on events year-round visit Iamsterdam.com.
Toronto residents and visitors seeking a break from busy downtown will find an oasis of calm, beauty and inspiration at the Aga Khan Museum. Islamic art exhibit, “As the Sun Appears from Beyond,” celebrates winners of the 20-year-old Al Burda Award in the United Arab Emirates as well as the Toronto museum’s 10th anniversary. The more than 60 works, classical and contemporary, highlight Islamic artistic traditions. Many verses are decorated with colourful, intricate designs a.k.a. ornamentation. Their beauty, intertwined with meaning, will resonate with viewers. The exhibit continues until Feb. 15. Agakhanpark.org
Britain is in the midst of a wine revolution. The number of vineyards is soaring, producing 12 million bottles a year, with both still and sparkling wines winning international acclaim. One of the newest wineries is Domaine Evremond, backed by French champagne house Taittinger in the picturesque village of Chilham, Kent, near Canterbury. Kent, known as the Garden of England, features chalky soil and a mild climate similar to Champagne’s. Unique experiences await wine lovers, from vineyard tours in Sussex and Kent to tours and tastings in Scotland and Wales. VisitBritain.com
Hold on tight and prepare to soar over Niagara Falls from your seat in a brand new flying theatre. Niagara Takes Flight, shot using the latest drone technology, takes passengers on a thrilling journey celebrating Niagara’s iconic sites and landmarks, history and people. To make the experience truly immersive, riders are suspended in the air in gondola-style seats and will feel wind, mist and motion while watching the film on a domed screen 17 metres wide. The $25 million theatre is located inside Niagara Parks’ flagship site, Table Rock Centre, just steps from Horseshoe Falls. Niagaraparks.com/flight
Swiss-based MSC Cruises is updating its specialty restaurant menus and packages to give guests a wider range of gastronomic experiences on board its modern, glamorous ships. The biggest change is the fixed-price menu. Choose a starter, main course and dessert from the full restaurant menu for one price. Special dishes, such as Ozaki Wagyu beef, will be offered for a small additional charge. Guests can also pre-purchase flexible packages for one to four specialty meals in a restaurant of their choice or repeat a favourite (apart from Butcher’s Cut). Book a specialty dining package in advance and save up to 20% off the regular price. msccruises.ca
The harvest season may be ending but there’s still plenty to taste, see and do in California’s Napa Valley. An exhibition dedicated to beloved culinary and TV icon Julia Child opens at the Napa Valley Museum of Art & Culture’s immense new space in St. Helena. After your visit, grab a table at Under-Study, the on-site café run by the team behind hot restaurant Press. At Rutherford Hill Winery, new tasting spaces called Sky Lofts float 122 metres above the Valley’s famed Oakville and Rutherford regions. To stay, check out Okaeri Calistoga, a new seven-room Japanese-style guest house set in a Victorian manor with views of Mount Saint Helena. visitnapavalley.com
Experience Montréal at its most creative and delicious this fall and winter. From Nov. 6 to 8 La Grande Dégustation wine, spirit and beer festival takes place at the Port of Montréal’s Grand Quai. From Nov. 27 to March 8, LUMINO installations will light up the downtown core from dusk ’til 11 pm. In February, Montréal en Lumière dazzles with gastronomy, arts and performances, many free, in the Quartier des Spectacles. The fun begins Feb. 15 when female chefs, wine growers and pastry chefs from around the world will be honoured before thrilling taste buds at local restaurants. Gourmet festivities continue with Brunch en Lumière and the new Teatime. Mtl.org
Travel expert Cynthia David provides updates on the tourism industry in this curated collection that appears in every issue.
