2026 Theatre Notes

You, Always / Berkeley Street Theatre, Can Stage (Feb)

Canadian playwright Erin Shields tackles some tough themes in this play about sisterhood: cancer, MAID, divorce, eating disorders. 

The stage was stark and minimal, which allowed it to morph easily from one place into another. 

The two actors were challenged to jump quickly between childhood, adulthood, and adolescence in a series of rapid vignettes, and they pulled off the transitions well, using a lilt in their voice or a shrug of the shoulders to help frame their age. 

Conflict between the two sisters gave rise to arguments beginning with "You, always...." While I know conflict is the dramaturge's friend, I could have used a few more scenes featuring their love and support for one another to even the balance. My favourite scene was when they donned the costumes from childhood stories, and it was well placed in the arc because their yelling at each other was getting a bit one note. 

By the end of the show, there were many people crying in the theatre but personally, I couldn't help feeling a tad manipulated. 

Epitourists: French Canadian Comfort Food

It was the guys turn to prepare the culinary treats, and 'boy' did they deliver! Comfort Food with a French Canadian theme. Laura and Peter hosted Kaarina, Mike, Rob and me for a Wolfe Island winter getaway.

MENU Les Gars Canadiens-Français

Appetizer 

Cretons de Quebec, Deux fromages du Québec (Morbier, Crem triple), Pork Rinds, Gherkins, Maple Pecans, Pickled Beans (Rob's & Diane's)

Cocktail: Quebec Cocktail

Soup 

Soupe aux pois Résidente

Wine: Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva

Main 

Tortiere

Wine: Lupa Meraviglia Tre di Tre (a score of 99 from Luca Maroni)

Dessert

Recette de pouding chômeur

Charlevoix 1608 cheese paired with Chenin Blanc was a prelude to a delicious French Onion soup Laura served the day we arrived. The main culinary event was the following day. 

Rob chose the Appetizer course. The 'pate' is typically served cold on morning toast, but it worked nicely as an appetizer served alongside pork rinds, cheese, and maple pecans. There was enough leftover for a breakfast nibble.

Mike found his recipe for Pea Soup from Canadian Living magazine. I wonder if this is one that Laura had a hand in testing when she worked there? Quite delicous! 

Peter prepared the tortiere; seasoned boldly with thyme, sage, nutmeg, cloves, salt & pepper. It looked so tasty everyone dove in and we forgot to take a photo, so Laura's Christmas pie above is a stand-in. The pastry was perfect.

Courses were all cooked and prepared ahead of time, with the exception of dessert. Rob made it before dinner and timed it so it would be nice and warm when served. Unfortunately the eggs were forgotten on the counter and didn't make it into the cake batter - pas de problème. Creme fraiche saved the day. Lots of maple syrup! Pouding chômeur, translates to "unemployed man's pudding" or "poor man's pudding," and is a quintessential Québécois dessert that originated during the early years of the Great Depression. Rob remembers his Nova Scotian mom making it when he was a kid in Winnipeg. This particular recipe was from Rideau Hall.

Links to recipes:

Quebec Cocktail (Rob used Compari and 1/4 oz of simple syrup)

Cretons de Quebec:

Classic Pea Soup

Tourtiere

Pouding chômeur

The meal was fantastic! So was the company and winter retreat.

Freddy the cat charmed us all and mooched the Cretons de Quebec - as well as some of the pork rinds. Quite hilarious watching him crunch away.

Well fed, he (mostly) ignored the birds at the feeder. Finches, bluejays, junkos, cardinals, chickadees. An Eastern Towhee even made an appearance. Apparently it is quite a hit with the Island's birders, as Laura discovered someone staking out her property to add to his bird list while another visitor traded honey for the privilege. 

I always enjoy a good wood fire. Perfect for warming toes and watching dancing flames. Those of us who wanted outdoor fun indulged in some snowshoeing and outdoor hiking. 

Jalisco

The final leg of the Mexico trip was a stay in Jalisco. After all the busy sightseeing in Mexico City and El Chepo Barrancas, hanging out in the warm sun and listening to the waves was a balm. 

We've been wanting to stay in Yolapa ever since our son came back with rave reviews. A boat ride from the pier at PV, it is a sleepy beach town. Very laid back. No cars, but ATVs, on cobblestone streets. We decided to spoil ourselves with accommodations right on the beach. The balcony was huge and the sound of the waves played all day and night. There was a bit of a river as well, with lots of different birds splashing in: brown pelicans, black storks, blue herons, laughing gulls, white egrets, frigates and black-necked stilt birds.  We did explore  the trails a bit, enjoying views of the waterfall, fishing boats, and village square. Our favourite restaurant was Abuelos, with its open-air ambience and live musicians. 

We divided our stay between Yolapa and Peurto Vallarta. In PV, we stayed in Zona Romantica. Our hotel didn't have much of a view, but it did have the perfect location. In the city’s main square, Plaza de Armas, perfectly situated between the Malecon, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, and the Arches at the Malecon amphitheater. 

We also spent a few hours on the water in a small boat whale watching tour, see humpbacks sound and mothers with their calves. Our last night, we spoiled ourselves with a table on beach and a serenade from an excellent mariachi band. 

Two weeks later there were troubles with the cartels. The bustling Square, and the OXO we shopped at, became the scene of vehicles lit on fire and smoke rising, with tourists asked to shelter in place. So glad we missed that action!

Snow Moon - February 2026

 

We watched the full moon rise in Yelapa on February 1, and it still seemed full when it rose the next night in Puerto Vallarta Feb 2. Hermosa Luna!

We were feeling a bit guilty about leaving Toronto just before it was dumped with the heaviest snowfall in a generation:

Toronto is digging itself out of mountains of snow on Monday after a massive winter storm on Sunday dumped around 50 centimetres of the white stuff or more in Toronto, depending on how close you are to the lakeside. According to Environment Canada, snowfall totals at Toronto Pearson International Airport on Sunday hit 46 centimetres, making it the “highest daily total snowfall on record.“This brings the January 2026 snowfall total to 88.2 cm, which is the snowiest January and snowiest month since records began in 1937,” the weather agency said in a summary released early Monday. Global News

The same weather pattern had brought snow in Copper Canyon's Divisadero January 24, shutting down Aventura Ecotoursism Park and the Cable Car ride we'd booked ahead. We met one couple in their thirties who were thrilled to be experiencing snow for the first time; many tourists were happily grinning and making snowballs. 

Meanwhile, back in Toronto. our house sitter Maxyne was snowed in, watching coyotes in our front yard on Jan 26. 

Yolapa Birds

See birds by the sea shore!

Hanging out on our balcony with a pair of binoculars in Yolapa, lots of different birds splashed in between the seashore and the river: brown pelicans, black storks, blue herons, white egrets, frigates and laughing gulls. My first sighting of black-necked stilt birds (or at least awareness... I must have seen these before!).

Black-necked stilt birds

Brown pelicans

Frigates