Editor’s note
Welcome to the Forest City Arts and Culture Roundup from London Ontario Online News.
This is our first foray into new territory, expanding beyond local government and related local news into the happier, much cooler side of city life. And it allows me to welcome the first new member of the Loon team: Diana Tamblyn, our new Arts and Culture Editor.
Diana is an acclaimed creator of graphic novels and highly-accomplished marketing professional who’s active in the community, including as a board member at Museum London. She will oversee weekly columns and, as you can tell, she already has just the right attitude. Hell to the yeah.
I could not be happier, and there’s more to come. Next week, the new Loon team will be throwing free content at you, and the week after that we will ask you to throw money back. Who else is on the team? Wait and see.
As you will learn on Monday, it’s time to buckle up.
- Mike Donachie
London’s culture: hiding in plain sight
Diana writes
Do you have friends, family, or acquaintances who constantly complain that there’s nothing to do in London, Ontario, then head to Toronto or elsewhere (or talk about going to Toronto or elsewhere), for fun, entertainment, arts and culture?
I do, and you know what—they are WRONG. There is plenty to do in London, Ontario. What we don’t have any more is solid, consistent coverage of arts and culture in the city. There are a lot of cool things happening, but they can be tough to find. London has a habit of hiding its best gems in plain sight. You just need to know where to look.
In this local round-up, I’ve done the digging for you to uncover some of the coolest things happening around the city. I’ll be focusing on under-the-radar events, unique experiences, and local gems, not the big-ticket acts playing at Canada Life Place (because they don’t need any promotion).
I’ll also be highlighting London artists who are out there doing big things— whether it’s earning national attention, appearing in major media or releasing new projects that many of us may have missed. It’s proof that some of the city’s best creative talent is often hiding in plain sight.
Let’s get into it!
The Pairs on CBC’s Q
The Pairs are a London-based trio made up of Renée Coughlin, Noelle Frances Coughlin, and Hillary Watson. These singer-songwriters and classically trained vocalists combine beautiful harmonies with strong storytelling, and a dose of humour. They were featured in the Fall on CBC Radio’s Q, and the segment was repeated this April - no small feat.
You can listen to the interview here.
Check out their website.
“I first saw The Pairs at a folk festival do a rare thing - make a noisy, wandering crowd suddenly go quiet. You could tell right then they are something rare and one of the brightest new voices in Canadian folk.”
- Tom Power
Spotlight events for June 5 – June 7
There is so much to do in London this summer, and here’s a taste.
Gathering on the Green
Saturday, June 6, Old South, Wortley Village Green | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
If you’ve never been to “Gathering on the Green”, this is the year to fix that. Celebrating more than four decades as Old South’s signature community festival, this FREE event transforms Wortley Village Green into a lively mix of live music, tons of local vendors, food, family activities, and that Old South neighbourhood charm.
If you’re looking for a low-cost, high-fun way to spend a Saturday, start here. Bonus points if you arrive by bike and spend the afternoon wandering one of the city’s most walkable neighbourhoods.
For details, see this website from the Old South Community Organization (OSCO).
50th Annual Geranium Heritage House Tour
Sunday, June 7, St. John the Evangelist | 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Ever wondered what the inside of those beautiful Old North heritage homes looks like? Celebrating its 50th year, the Geranium Heritage House Tour is your chance to find out.
My Grandma and Mom used to drag me to this event as a kid. At first I thought it was super boring, but I’ve always loved history and I do love to snoop, so even as a kid, it won me over!
It was first called “Geranium Walk”, because homes open to tour goers are marked with red geraniums. Later the name was changed to the “Geranium Heritage House Tour”. This year’s tour includes exclusive access to seven heritage homes, along with stories of the people, architecture, and history that helped shape the area.
The event is organized by the Architectural Conservancy of London, and it’s an important fundraiser for them. For $28.25, you get a lovely booklet with a history of the area, details of the properties and a map.
There are volunteers on hand at each place and afternoon refreshments are included in the Tour.
The tour starts and ends at St. John the Evangelist Church at 280 St. James St.
Tickets on sale here.
Art Market at London Bicycle Cafe
Saturday, June 6, London Bicycle Café, 320 Thames St. | 1:00 – 5:00 PM
Art, coffee, bicycles, and local makers. Sounds like a good combo to me.
This free outdoor market brings together 15+ local artists and vendors at the Bicycle Café in the bustling River District for an afternoon of great people-watching, and plenty of opportunities to convince yourself that buying local art is a perfectly reasonable financial decision. Because it is.
Then top it all off at District Ice Cream for a scoop or two.
Details here.
Now get out and experience London
Here at London Ontario Online News, we love to promote the best of our city, and we’re asking you to join in, especially through the Forest City Arts and Culture Roundup.
Please get out and support events and, if you can, mention that you heard about it here. And let us know how it goes! You can comment below or send us a note in various ways.
Do you have an event coming up that you’d like us to feature? Send us a note about it. No guarantees it will be featured, but if we don’t know about it, we can’t write about it.
Want to sponsor a column? Soon that will be possible. Watch this space.