Harry Walker Prkwy & Stellar Dr - Newmarket's Entertainment District

More residential units are planned for around Main St Newmarket not bars

Newmarket's Entertainment & Activities District features excellent school break options.

It's becoming more apparent that Newmarket's Main St. will not suffice as an entertainment district in the growing town of Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. There are simply too many residents living in units above and around the establishments for any sort of real night action to take place without recurring noise issues. Seniors buildings overlook it's square as well, adding to the negative impact late night entertainment has in the zone. Not so in Newmarket's unofficial; entertainment / recreational district, a kilometre stretch along Harry Walker Parkway North from Davis Drive to about Ringwell Dr.

Remember bowling? Winter activity revised.

1220 Stellar Features latest in Escape Room technology

Along that stretch you'll find no less than two hotels, the local craft Arch Brewery and retail outlet,  an axe throwing facility, Laser Play with licensed lounge and an upstairs Kids PlayZone, bingo hall, NewMakeIT where creative artists and set builders can be 3d creative - in fact both nearby escape rooms Crypto and Arch Brewing both make signage using them -  and an entertainment and leisure complex at the heart of it all, at 1220 Stellar Dr.and H.W. Parkway, that houses a billiard hall with off- track betting, bowling - including York Region's largest 5 pin centre, an escape room - dance hall, karate centre, and Stellar Hall which features everything from live bands to hip hop to comedy sand dinner theatre and of course weddings and special events. Wow, who knew!? And with the area infused with industry, there are no night time neighbours kept awake evenings and nights by the exciting events that go on.

Recently I had a chance to chat with a few of the business owners and operators in the unofficial entertainment district including Arch Brewing, Crypto Escape Rooms and Stellar Hall and look forward to featuring them in some upcoming online info pieces and video profiles.


Arch Brewer Brewing Company, on Pony Drive adjacent to the Holiday Inn Hotel, is open 7 days a week and open to the public. Here you can see the beer as its brewed and labelled and bottled on site! Cool paraphernalia adorn the walls too with some Souvenir-like buy-ables, samples, and upper floor lounge.

The Crypto Escape Room features the latest in escape room technology where participants are forced to figure out mind bending escapes built into their fantastical themed rooms and based on the traffic I witnessed just while interviewing the owners outside their 1220 Stellar Drive location - down the hallway from stellar hall on the 2nd floor - they are on the right track.

Book for New Year's Eve in Newmarket @ 905-830-9441

Stellar Hall and Event Centre, also in the complex at 1220 Stellar, has been featuring special event nights that showcase live entertainment from rock to hip hop to comedy and dinner theatre, keeping up a long standing tradition for the location which 40 years ago was the biggest live act venue for miles and featured top Canadian Entertainers like Tommy Hunter!

Stellar Bowl - York Region's largest 5 pin bowling centre -  on the main floor level, is also alive and well taking up the ground level spot at the complex along with Bigg Wiggs Billiards. Both of which recreational entertainment venues are becoming rare entities in this day and age for self entertainment and recreation. Stellar Bowl is also open all Xmas break, offering glow in the dark bowling while listening to cool tunes or enjoying a drink.

Town won't license this Main St location as a nightclub

I believe the town needs to start recognizing this " industrial" area as also the entertainment district and supporting it as so, including relaxing zoning regulations on occasion to adjust to the times.

This unit left sits empty on Main St. as the town will not license it for a Nightclub or bar - despite the location having been one of Newmarket's longest having been known as Fitzgerald's, Sneakers Sports Bar and the White Rabbit over the years.

And while the town may not have been successful in attracting much industry to it's crosstown industrial designated area, these industries seem to mix well in the zone. So...as they say...if it ain't broke don't fix it. Although, we can enhance it, and transit past 7:30 pm would be nice.

Stellar and Harry Walker Parkway - The Heart of Entertainment and Activities in Newmarket

Arch sits on perch engraved using 3d technology from NewMakeIt

Visit Newmarket's Entertainment and Activities District soon and check out the new and old businesses, entertainment and activities available for Xmas and March break and night time activities including the Stellar Hall featuring the (click to book)  New Year's Eve Stellar Hall Ball and in the new year look for their upcoming regular monthly Jam as well as  a new feature band / talent contest series!

Stay tuned to TPE for more. Just Google Entertainment Newmarket to stay in the loop!
Or get on the Mail list @tpeproductions@gmail.com.

Later,

TP

Newmarket Jazz+ Festival Grows Again

Newmarket Jazz+ Festival  arrives on Main St

With summer season winding down, I thought it a good time to reflect on the summer festival season, and if you didn't get out to see someone like Glenn Marais at a Music in The Park, or particularly to the Newmarket Jazz + Festival, which celebrated this year by expanding, adding the larger Ray Twinney Complex into the mix, while still holding some presence at Riverwalk Commons and on Main St on the Saturday of the long weekend event, then you're missing out. Kudos to the Newmarket Jazz+ Festival team for branding the location changes to ensure minimal confusion.

Added Location - Ray Twinney Centre, 100 Eagle St W


From my understanding, Colin James did indeed rock the place up at Ray Twinney Arena, as well as George Oliver, Brass Transit, George St Kitts and others, while outdoors, at the same locale, featured live entertainment for all ages across a number of genres. I caught a bit of the Mad Hatter kiddy's act doing various rock icon voices, and later Rob Tardik performed, and although it rained a bit through that, It was a blast! and i got to know the 88.5 girls better while winning a mug since I knew Garry Gamble was one of their hosts, as I used to read a blurb on 88.5 with Coverstory!

I had limited time to attend this year, but had a good time when I did and had also volunteered to help set up Main St. for the Saturday which included live street entertainment, vendors, games, and activities for the kids, as well as street-eats. Meantime the morning Sat Main St portion of the event also allowed for farmers market attendees to wander up should they wish after 9am, making for a festive atmosphere with the various patios and street grills set up and ready to roll.

After intros, the volunteers set the tents up and put the chairs out whilst directing vendors to their spots, blocking off the road and setting up booths and activities for their own businesses and associations - all with a 7am call. Lol. Well as close as one gets with that on volunteer gigs. At any rate, the half dozen or so die-hards got it done while others took their shifts as they showed up, a true team effort, as not all could stay - myself booked out for 2:30 pm.

One thing missing, however, was more music elements, especially with the feature entertainers not coming on until noon. And perhaps we could allow for more vendors to fill some areas and add a few more interactive activities for the kids - something we helpers all agreed to try and achieve for next year.

Entertainer would draw seated customers

The vibe and set up all in all was good, but a few key spots for busker type street musicians and adding some live entertainment in some establishments - such as Hesed Cafe which sports a piano, and Books N Things  Cafe which already hosts Open Stage's as does Cover Notes, are great spots for solo type acoustical acts, not to mention the various bar patios which would really give it a more authentic festival vibe I think. As I understand, one bar or two may have been included in 2016 which is a great start! It just needs be out there more and have several locations with the various pub and cafe dates featured on the schedules.


So more inclusion of those restaurants & cafes, beyond the Saturday, intertwined as part of the festival, is what is needed. In 2015, the Jazz+ Sunday had live entertainment at River Walk but if you walked up to Main St. you'd never know it was part of it. Patios sat fairly empty at times, no street players, no patio jams, no visible connection to the Newmarket Jazz + Festival - but I'd like to change that with more, advertised, feature performers, hosted at various Main St locations throughout the fest, thereby drawing more customers - and more late night goers - onto main during the festival to spend some disposable income there as well. Why not end the night rocking on at a place doing live on Main? And with patios also being more accessible to wheelchair users.


In fact, that is something I not only noted in 2014, but acted on in 2015, adding a keyboardist entertainer and singer to play on the Main Street, who added a vibe and reason to come down to the the most south extension of Main with less restaurants to keep it in the loop when the street is not closed off. This I plan more of, for atmosphere during street events.


I've now discussed this and other ideas with not only some members of the B.I.A., but also with other concerned store owners and everyone seems pretty upbeat about the idea of having more Main St participation during the fest, and other attracting events, and I look forward to communicating with event organizers like George St Kitts who I worked the same bill with for a United Way campaign some years ago and now from promoting the festival, which I've done plenty of in the past, so I'm pretty sure we can get er done!  Stay tuned.

You hope to capture some farmers market attendees with day-of discount coupons - good only on the day

@Main St during Newmarket Jazz+ Festival

Check one!

Grilled soup!? Real rock stars drink soup!

Rob Tardik

New Ray Twinney Centre outdoor location

Tom Bits: Mixed review on the new location grounds at Ray Twinney Complex but more potential. Food areas need be made more accessible. Meantime if you missed the festival, a friend of mine has just opened Niagara Fall's only authentic Jazz Bar at a famous location on Bridge St called....what else? Harry's Jazz Bar!!
 
Watch for Beatle MAIN ia too...

TP out!

For Autism - Tell them Tom's Top 10 sent you - get 10% off.

Born To Be Blue & Regression to hit screens

Main St Newmarket, Ontario, Canada - movies location

 Born to be Blue is a feature film bio pic coming out in theatres this week that tells the story of a jazz legend, Chet Baker, during a certain period of his life in his forties. The lead role, played by Ethan Hawke, nearly never came to be, yet seemed destined to always. Explanation....

The only reason Hawke took / was offered the role is because it was convenient for Director Robert Budreau to drop off a copy of the script at the hotel to read while he was staying in Toronto filming the Alejandro Amenabar horror film, Regression, in Newmarket, Ontario which open in theatres next month as well, and then pop by on occasion to meet at the bar and discuss his vision on the role / movie while Hawke was missing his family, and between being on set. Geez Canada has paid off well for this Ethan Hawke lad.

The ironic part, and reason for my earlier, "yet seemed destined to always", statement refers to the fact that earlier in his career Hawke had been involved in his own production for a Chet Baker film with Richard Licklater but the film about the legend jazz/blues player, which took place at another time period in the performers life, never got off the ground. So this role has actually been 12 years in the making for him.

Well you never know, maybe York Region will prove yet another set location for the next music legend bio-pic or Tommy Boy scene, what with Newmarket becoming Main Street USA of late, and even the winter blues can be dispelled at Aurora's Winter Blues Festival this weekend!

All Star jammers @ 2015 Aurora Winter Blues Festival click here for 2016 info

TP out

Newmarket Jazz + Festival Advanced Tickets and Related Info

With July fast approaching and a spring that hasn't been ideal, I look forward to the summer and all the outdoor activities that go with that, whether farmers markets, garage sales or beach lounging, but the most looked forward to activities on my list are out door music venues, events that allow you the "freedom" of being outdoors...with some occasional shaded areas are nice.... and music festivals often fit that mold.

In Newmarket Ontario, there is the Jazz + Festival to end off July 31st - 03 on the long weekend, and, as I wrote last year, the event has gotten better and better each year with exciting new performers added as it settled on the Jazz+ moniker and now has added TD as the main sponsor becoming the TD Jazz+ Festival.

This year's festival looks to keep that trend going, with a Friday night kick off featuring Six Ways To Sunday, Just Friends, Bernadette Connors, and Saint O, the event running through the Monday with much more including ZimZum at Newmarket's Riverwalk Commons, with a few venues along Main St also embracing the festival, having in-house related activities, product, and entertainment, including Hesed Cafe, which will feature keyboardist / singer/ composer Carl Braund with a mix of originals and classic tunes.

Time is fast running out for SPONSORS - Have your company logo onstage while a band YOU sponsored plays! The video and pics will be etched forever emblazoned with your logo receiving thousands of views before next year's event. Not bad for $500.

PRICES GO UP July 2!

But, for the casual attendee, I do recommend purchasing advanced tickets - weekend passes at about $15 are the best bet, or daily passes @ about $5 per day. Purchasing early guarantees you entrance should tickets

outsell demand and also helps the organizers prepare a better show allowing them to maximize the talent they can bring to the stages for your pleasure...Everyone doing their part will help take this festival to the next level... early purchase gets you into Europa Travel's chance to win a trip as well! Wahoooo!

If you plan to attend please do book early....You can buy tickets Online Here or pick some up on Main St. @ Good Vibes, 254 Main St South.

Newmarket Live Music Show a Genre Bender

When I was a 'kid" rock and roll bars were the norm. If we weren't always mesmerized by the next big acts coming to Toronto we were entrenched in the bar band scene, each having favorites.

Trooper, Max Webster, Helix, April Wine, Teenage Head, David Wilcox to name some, and then there were the infamous numerous clone acts, some of which were ( are?) pretty good like Just Alice and Blushing Brides who did The Rolling Stones so well. A Rod Stewart cover guy I recall was good as well but I got jumped after his show while on assignment for Coverstory Newspaper outside The Rockin Deli in Newmarket...I think for wearing leather pants! Long story for another day. Needless to say, Hot Legs wasn't my theme song that cold wintry night! Ahhh..the memories. Lol. Still have the scuffed pants too! Ha.

The Sean Abbott Band

With rock & roll bars on a steady decline over the past few years, one wonders if the rock genre will even survive? It's hard to deny, with one live club after another closing up shop, there is hardly any left to play live at anymore and certainly none starting up built around live bands. It's all electronic these days. Cheaper. Less hassle. But is it better?
Recently, an old haunt from the heyday, the Silver Dollar, was designated an historical building. Wow, they must feel this is a breed becoming extinct. The SD featuring top acts on the scene at one time along with the never a cover Gasworks, upstart Rock & Roll Heaven, the Rivoli, Diamond Club, Big Bop etc and what became The Guvernment, which just closed last week and had once housed bigger acts - all gone now.  Ditto the El Mocambo where recently I saw one of the final shows there featuring The Yappers.. The bars that do house live acts still, often prefer cover tunes, eliminating an entire element to the scene, including stunting the artistry of live performers.

Going, going...

So it's great to see flexible venues like Stellar Hall located above the bowling alley at 1220 Stellar Dr in Newmarket, offering great acoustics in a hall and adjoining room just large enough to call it a bash! Having put on or promoted a number of shows there over the past several years now it's been great to see them grow as a venue, adding a top of the line sound system, new lighting and mobile staging in that time as well.

Sat Mar 21 2015 will be such a night there, with a line up reminiscent of a walk back in time through a number of rock genres and featuring only top notch talent. The licensed event will also have a light menu and be Emceed by yours truly, TP, so expect some wacky improv giveaways! Air guitar anyone!? Ha!

The evening will open with house music followed by TPE intros and fun stuff before the phenomenal Brits and American blues inspired Sean Abbott Band, playing a mix of originals and covers in the rock and blues genres, take the stage. Sean, who has played with greats including guys who played with Clapton is expected to electrify the room, along with his band-mates, making for an unbelievable live experience!

The Yappers are also on the bill and play a superb original brand of reggae mixed with rock and sometimes a splash of country in a head bobbing and body sway inspiring set, with song writer/ singer/ guitar player Ray Yap leading the way, influenced heavily by bands his mentor and Uncle, Phil Chen, one of the world's most prolific bass players played with, such as Bob Marley, Eric Clapton and Rod Stewart who Yap met as a kid among some greats his uncle played alongside and also influenced Ray.Their new songs are just killer too and I can't wait to hear them live!

Hip Hop 'till you drop! Stoked!

At 11 pm the genre evolves to more recent with an All Star Showcase of Hip Hop talent taking to the stage, hosted by Stay Blessed Productions' Dean Wild and also featuring Headliners Root Of All Evil - MissPaige, DGT, Sadie Marquis..also! Enigmatic, DeeCeption - Diana Nardelli - as well as Shatter Theory  and Justin R Harris Just Flow !


Wonderground Magazine is also sponsoring a booth for the Performance Artists attending to sell their stuff! 

The entire line-up is stellar - just like the hall's name! 19+ Licensed Event with Hot Food Menu. $10 Cover. 
Doors Open 8PM. Info Call TPE@ 289-221-0928

 It's going to be one heck of a Genres Bender, March 21 2015! Snooze U Lose. Doors Open 8pm.

Advanced Tickets contact tpeproductions@gmail.com or Stellar Hall & Event Centre @ 905-830-4208 Join the Event and TPE on FaceBook

Newmarket "Stage of Hope" for New Messages, Music, and Productions

I wrote a blog already covering the poverty and politics side of the recent Riverwalk Commons held International Day for The Eradication of Poverty event held in Newmarket, Ontario, Canada. It touched on the arts side of the York Region version of the Internationally marked day, but did not dwell enough perhaps on the arts side was my thought so I've put this one together.

Each year, as the event has evolved, we have slowly added more arts to the days planned itinerary and to that end for 2014 we emphasized youth and added more hip hop and spoken word to the mix which all melded to the theme in a very cool package, acting as the nights end with various acts taking to the stage in succession, highlighted by a song from Maurice Weeks and Justin Harris / AFM Fam JustFlow's track Politics. Very fitting, and really added another notch vibe to an already vibe engorged outdoor event. Some mainstream media coverage was welcome as well.

With Opening acts ranging from a Richmond Hill youth group's stage version of Stone Soup, that included a man returning from Afghanistan with post stress syndrome, to a 40 minute set by the unbelievable The Yappers (anybody seen their stage sign? Lol ) who kicked out some rockin' slash country at times slash always reggae based tunes to the delight of some attendees who felt suddenly inspired to dance and sway to their dynamic original sound. Leader / Composer Ray Yap from Aurora, fronting wacky Bassist Stew Sparks, and Drum sensation, Laney V, slashed out a mid-song solo, after jumping into the crowd, his wireless guitar seemingly leading him to reach his intense crescendo before returning to the stage in time to end the song with his mates. Small things, but stage time has obviously worked well with the band and I think they played with inflamed passion as well, without which, there is no "music' to me.

The Yappers perform at Riverwalk Commons Stage

The Open Stage also heard a touch of Elvis, helped on by yours truly, with an enthusiastic, but not too sure of the words accomplice, who wanted to sing - but hey like anyone he was welcome to give what he could and in that way, it too was an entertaining moment.

" I'm wea-ring Black, Because their's nothing Dar-ker" The Yappers

Maurice Weeks

The last part of the Int day event was reserved for Hip Hop Performers and Spoken Word Artists. If you look at the history of the roots of hip hop music you don't have to look too far to find a connection to poverty in some way...or the results of it...and our life choices we make...and that all comes out in hip hop something I discovered over the past number of years whilst having been immersed in the entertainment industry. The 1st inkling I got was when I saw seniors up and dancing to hip hop - then I knew it was a market and some. Looking further, one discovers that the real top hop if you will, is rooted in personal experiences, or perceptions of those experiences, and then relayed out through the spoken word on stage or in some cases as with the Arthur Jr Music Family and JustFlow are prone to do, crossed with R&B music to add a whole other dimension - such as the perfectly themed and slickly performed at the event, Politics.

JustFlow's Justin Harris

Maurice and Justin thrust out the beats with more vigour than I've seen from them in some time, which seemed to draw the remaining and enthusiastic crowd closer in, almost as if to get some of that music magic dust to rub off on them. The guys brought them to threshold before relenting the stage to some of the walk-on talent which too was splashed with intense participation, from the unique mind bending antics of Spence, a local Newmarket talent who stood out, as well as up and coming talents including a female MC / Hip Hop Artist - Dean Wild of Stay Blessed Productions.

With a few pumpkin smashed being the only casualties of the evening's events, and the seemingly unanimous vibe by all attendees including the earlier-set folk, that this was an inspiring event to make music and noise at, and a great fit to showcase ideas, talent, and new work. And I look forward to next years event for which Oct 17 falls on a Saturday, and to perhaps expand the music and arts portion of the event should there be enough interest to.

The event often inspires ideas, and one of which that seems to be grabbing hold of life was an idea of a type of march to draw attention to the lives of those with disabilities and on low income in York Region to be called Walk & Roll which would roll out sometime in the spring of 2015 and would encompass having a march from York Region headquarters, to the Aurora / Newmarket M.P.P. Chris Ballard's office at

Yonge and St John's Side Rd, and could include walkers, wheelchair and scooter users, bike riders, skate boarders - however people get around without transit - and include music, amplified mics and opportunities to sing or rap out as we travel the route. At our destination we would meet with the M.P.P. and ask him to support a motion in parliament to give to raise disability support rates and stop putting the onus on them to find alternative income supports.

" 1%. What do they expect us to do with that? That's $12 to me. 3 bus rides." Dan Philion

The Walk & Roll idea was inspired by Dan Philion, PACC's Vice-Chair and community volunteer award winner, who himself is confined to a wheelchair and has increasingly limited use of his hands. Tired of living in constant worry of having enough food without begging and having to live in isolation without being able to afford to go out, Dan asked was there not something we can do?

Walk & Roll!? Stay Tuned!

Until next time..TPE Out!