Transitions-Oakville, Burlington and Mississauga Real Estate Blog

Just north of Dundas on Walker's Line in Burlington, a new raw and organic food cafe has opened.
The Naked Sprout is Burlington's newest healthy eatery and as part of Chrysalis Yoga Studio, it promises to nourish the body with nutritious, scrumptious, soul-satisfying organic and raw food delicacies.

Tonight was the first evening a group of people gathered in the warm atmosphere of the cosy cafe. Owned by Clayton, Shanine and Pete, the cafe opened it's doors for 'staff appreciation night' as they showed their appreciation for the staff of Chrysalis Yoga Studio.

Pete, as head chef and manager of the cafe, served up a wonderful menu consisting of healthy raw food meals, delectable desserts and tasty appetizers and salads.

I chose the vegan pizza made with a sweet potato crust and covered in sun-dried tomatoes with various vegee toppings. Healthy and delicious, I'm lookingforward to enjoying it again.

The gluten-free, dairy-free, raspberry cheesecake leaves you wanting to eat more and more. It's that good.

Drop in to The Naked Sprout for a meal or an organic coffee or tea the  next time you're in the area and perhaps take in a yoga class at Chrysalis Yoga Studio while you're there.  Your body, mind and soul will thank you.

Yoga in Burlington and Oakville Area - Chrysalis Yoga.

The sign is up, the beautiful natural wood floors have been laid, plants and yoga props have arrived and classes have been scheduled. Chrysalis Yoga of Burlington is about to open it's doors and has opening week specials you won't want to miss.

It's an exciting time for  seasoned yoga practioners and those who have always wondered about yoga or who have decided to make this the year they make changes to their lifestyle by incorporating a new health-giving, stress-reducing practice to their lives.
Chrysalis Yoga, a new state of the art yoga studio in the the Walker's Line and Dundas area of Burlington, is offering free yoga classes through-out their opening week of January 29th- February 4th.

Chrysalis Yoga has two spacious yoga rooms known as the Fire Room (for hot yoga classes) and the Earth Room (for regular temperature yoga classes).
To see what classes are being offered during the months of January and February, check this schedule and be sure to drop by during their free opening week!

Chrysalis Yoga in Burlington, an open and warm space, exudes a sense of calm and tranquility.
Once you visit the studio, you won't ever want to leave. That's just the kind of place it is.
Experience this for yourself (as I did on many of my recent visits there).

Chrysalis Cafe, an inviting raw and organic food cafe, is part of the Chrysalis Yoga studio.
Chrysalis Cafe will be opening a month later than Chrysalis Yoga as workers continue to prepare it for it's own opening day.
With natural wood tables made from recycled barn wood (exceptionally beautiful) and warm American Clay walls, the cafe will also have a cosy sitting area warmed by a fireplace.
The perfect place to stop by with a group of friends after a yoga class or just as a place to visit for a delicious lunch or dinner.

Chrysalis Yoga of Burlington offers a wide variety of classes for all ages. Restorative yoga classes are ideal for those new to yoga or who have an underlying health condition.
Beginner classes are ideal for those new to yoga who wish to ease into the poses and benefits slowly.
There are also many different styles of yoga classes being offered as well as classes for children, families and expecting Moms.

To receive regular updates from Chrysalis Yoga, you can sign up for their newsletter here.

If you live in Burlington, Oakville or surrounding regions, making Chrysalis Yoga and Cafe a part of  your life will be one of the best ways to, as they say at Chrysalis Yoga, "Transform Yourself, Transform Your Life, Transform the World Around You!"

Chrysalis Yoga Studio, Burlington, Ontario - Prepare to Be Transformed!

Have you ever met someone who is a regular practitioner of yoga? Notice their skin, sense of calm, bright eyes, gentle smile, supple body and general state of exemplary health?

You too can transform your self and your life to one of health and vitality.

Yoga is known to

•                      increase longevity
•                          increase immunity
•                          give a person more energy
•                          restore health to body organs
•                          restore people with disease to a state of health
•                          help a person to look and feel younger
•                          reduce or elimate stress
•                          restore suppleness and muscle tone

An exciting new yoga studio is coming to the Burlington-Oakville area!  Located in a brand new plaza that is currently being built on the corner of Walker's Line and Palladium Way in Burlington, Chrysalis Yoga is conveniently located close to the major residential areas of Burlington and Oakville.

Scheduled to open in December 2010 or January 2011, depending on how quickly the construction progresses, Chrysalis Yoga will be offering a wide variety of yoga classes and styles in both a hot yoga room and a regular temperature yoga room.
In addition, workshops will be held by top teachers from Canada and the United States.

Unique in the Burlington-Oakville area, Chrysalis Yoga in Burlington will also include a warm, inviting dining area known as Chrysalis Cafe.
Chrysalis Cafe will be the perfect place to stop by after class for raw and organic foods and juices that nourish the body and spirit.

Visit the newly released Chrysalis Yoga website for more details about this beautiful new studio and to sign up for their newsletter.

I'll be joining Chrysalis Yoga studio and will be a regular partaker of their classes. I hope you will be too!

If you've made the decision to transform your body, mind, spirit and life in the coming year, put a gift certificate from Chrysalis Yoga on your Christmas list, or better still, give the gift of a healthy, long life and vitality to someone you love.

Chrysalis Yoga gift certificates are the perfect gift for people of all ages and walks of life.

Watch for more exciting news about Chrysalis Yoga Studio in Burlington, Ontario on this blog.
I'll be keeping you up to date regularly so that you don't miss out on this wonderful opportunity to make a positive and lasting change in your life and in the lives of those around you.

Last Wednesday I was fortunate to be given two tickets to attend the media launch of 'A Taste of Burlington'. 

The event was held at the beautiful Burlington Art Centre in the Shoreline Room, overlooking Lake Ontario.

Numerous of Burlington's finest restaurants who are participating in the summer season's A Taste of Burlington program were present.

They served a wide variety of their specialties and attendees had a pleasant afternoon dining on samplings of Burlington's best.

The wines of Ontario were well represented also and we were able to sample some of the finest wines Ontario has to offer.

Musical entertainment played softly in the background while we were treated to a delicious afternoon lunch from Burlington's finest.

A Taste of Burlington runs from Monday, July 19th to Monday, August 2, 2010.  During this time period diners will be able to experience the finest restaurants in the region as 23 of Burlington's restaurants offer  prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus.

During the summer program of A Taste of Burlington, participating restaurants will offer 3 course meals for $20 (lunch) or $30, $35 or $40 (dinner).

A Taste of Burlington is a very popular program for locals and tourists alike.

Reservations are recommended.

Burlington's Waterfront - Spencer Smith Park

In the middle of winter, I find myself dreaming of the Lake Ontario waterfront. Lake Ontario has been a constant in my life from the time I was 7 years old and we moved from the tip of James Bay in Quebec down to Batawa in southern Ontario.

A special occasion in my family was when my Dad would announce 'Let's go to the beach!'. My two brothers and I would jump for joy and run to find our sand toys and bathing suits.
Mom would pack dinner into a cooler and my Dad would go out to the back garden shed to get the hibachi and charcoal briquettes so we could barbecue our dinner on the beach. Then off we would go.

On other occasions we would go smelt fishing with two or three other families. When the smelt were running in the spring, my Dad and his friends would use big square nets to catch thousands of them.

They'd bring the nets on shore where the Moms and kids were warming themselves around a giant bonfire, and we would scoop all of the smelt into buckets or whatever other containers we had brought.

                                                                        North Beach on Lake Ontario in Prince Edward County -
                                                                        where we used to go to the beach on weekends and smelt
                                                                        fishing in the spring.

Back at home my Dad would pay my brothers and a penny for each smelt we cleaned. It was a quick and easy way to make a few dollars and  we enjoyed the opportunity to make some extra money over and above our allowances.

Anyhow, just sitting here this evening thinking of the Lake Ontario shoreline here in Oakville and Burlington and started to go through some of my pictures from last summer. These are taken at the Burlington Waterfront in Spencer Smith Park.


Looking out over Lake Ontario at Spencer Smith Park on Burlington's Waterfront.


View of the Burlington Pier - Under Construction


Spencer Smith Park on Burlington's Waterfront

If you're in Burlington, be sure to stop by and take a stroll (or go skating in the winter) down on the waterfront at Spencer Smith Park.

©2010JoSmith

Lowville Winter Games - Beat the Winter Blues!

It's time to sharpen up your skates and wax the family toboggan. The village of Lowville, north of Britannia Road on Guelph Line in Burlington, is holding their annual winter games on Sunday, February 7th, 2010 from 12 noon to 4pm.

This fun-filled day will take place at Lowville Park. Come early for the Pancake Eating Contest which is being sponsored by Golden Griddle.

They'll be horse drawn wagon rides, log sawing, entertainment, tobogganing, skating, crafts and games for the whole family.

The Lowville United Church will have goodies for sale to stave off those winter munchy attacks after an afternoon spent skating or tobogganing.

What better way for families to have fun together? The Lowville Winter Game events are free!

Leave your car at the Halton District School Board parking lot (first driveway west of Guelph Line on Upper Middle Road) and take the FREE shuttle bus starting at noon.
That way you'll be sure to not have to worry over where you're going to park when you arrive at Lowville Park.

For more information about the Lowville Winter Games call 905-335-7600 ext 7201.

©2009JoSmith

It's Burlington Winter Carnival Time!

That time of year is upon us once more. Time for Free Skates, Free Swims, Open Houses, Contests, Tournaments and More.

Don't let the crisp, snowy days of January and early February get you down or make  you house bound. Gather up the family and take in some of the events being held during the Burlington Winter Carnival.

This Year's Events Include:

Sunday, January 17th -

Free Swim from 1:30-3:30 at the Aldershot Pool. Call 905-637-5688 for Info.

Friday, January 22nd -

Public Stargazing and Astronomy Night ~ I don't know about you, but the mystery of the night skies has always intrigued me.
Come out to Nelson Recreation Center at 4235 New Street at 7pm where The Hamilton Amateur Astronomers will have their telescopes set up. As long as the weather and clouds permit, viewing will take place until 10 pm. This event is FREE!

For a full list of this year's Burlington Winter Carnival events visit www.burlington.ca

©2009JoSmith

A New Year, A New You at the Moksha Yoga Studio, Burlington.

With the start of a new year, many of us turn our thoughts towards our health and decide to take up a new fitness activity or make a lifestyle change.

Yoga is an excellent choice for those who do not want a strenuous activity or do not want to visit a gym to work out on machines regularly.
I began taking yoga lessons when I was 14 years old. I remember how amazed I was when I found out my instructor was 65 years of age. She didn't look a day over 39. She was supple, energetic and  had a glow about her that few people half her age have.

The more I learned about yoga, the more I began to realize that yoga was not just a physical activity and that much of her 'fountain of youth' could be attributed to her many years of yoga practice.

My yoga lessons lapsed over the years and every now and then I would sign up for classes again or begin to practice my basic routines at home once more.
I always enjoyed it so much when I did, however life would usually get in the way and my yoga would once more go on the back burner.

This coming week I'm going to start yoga once more.
I'll be taking classes at Moksha Yoga in Burlington, a studio not too far from where I live and where my brother Clayton and his fiance Shanine both teach.

Clayton started yoga a number of years ago as a way to become healthier and relieve the stresses of his regular work and personal life.  Being the CEO of a successful financial firm, Crystal Wealth Management Ltd., he found that yoga helped to take his mind off of the ups and downs of a volatile market and remind him of one of the most important things in our lives, our health.

Clayton enjoyed yoga so much that he went on to take many years of courses with the goal of becoming a yoga teacher himself.
Last year he achieved that dream and became a certified yoga and meditation teacher. I'm very proud of him and I've noticed a huge difference in him over the years. He's much happier and easier going now and the longer he took yoga and meditation, the healthier he became.

Here is the schedule for classes at Moksha Yoga. If you've decided to take your health into greater consideration this year, think of joining a yoga class.

Shanine and Clayton sailing with us in summer of 2009.

I'll be attending 2-3  of Clayton or Shanine's classes a week, whenever I can fit one in to my schedule.

I hope to see you at one of the yoga classes at the Moksha Yoga studio in Burlington soon!

©2009JoSmith

If you're looking for a FREE activity that the whole family can take part in, grab your skates and head down to Spencer Smith Park in Burlington, Ontario for Free skating at the Rotary Centennial Pond.

Overlooking Lake Ontario, the Rotary Pond is the perfect place to spend a sunny, Sunday afternoon with your family or friends.

Skating starts at 10am however the pond is also open in the evenings until 10pm so you and your sweetheart can have a romantic evening by the lake skating under the Pond lights and bright winter stars.

The pond is kept groomed however it's advisable to call ahead for ICE conditions -905-634-7263

If you would rather stay cosy and warm inside and watch the activities taking place, pull up a chair in the Discovery Landing Observation building.

This beautiful glass building is the perfect place to watch snow falling over the lake, storms coming in on the horizon or just soak in some bright winter sun.

The Rotary Pond at Discovery Landing is at the foot of downtown Burlington.
After skating be sure to take in a hearty dinner and warm up at one of Burlington's fine downtown restaurants or cafes.

It's the perfect way to end a perfect day of Free skating on Spencer Smith Park's Rotary Centennial Pond in Burlington, Ontario.

©2009JoSmith

The Burlington Public Library in Burlington, Ontario consists of a main branch and 5 auxiliary branches in various locations throughout the city.

The main branch, known as the Central Library is located near downtown Burlington on New Street.
Visit this link to take a visual tour of this beautiful library.

Any resident of Burlington or Halton region can have a library card free of charge. In addition, people who work in Burlington yet live outside the city can also have a library card at no cost.

To join the Burlington Public Library you will require an Ontario's Drivers License showing your address or two pieces of alternative identification with at least one showing your current address.

The library card of today is a high tech little item with a barcode that is swiped everytime you take books out.
It also has your account number which gives you access to your account online.

Once you've logged in to your account, you are able to renew your books (this is a very handy feature that I use very often to renew books which are nearing the due date), and reserve books that are currently not available.

Accessing the Burlington Public Library online also gives you the opportunity to search the system for books that you are interested in reading, or for books of a particular subject or author that appeal to you.

The Burlington Public Library is a member of the Ontario Interlibrary Loan and will search all libraries in Ontario who participate (which is the majority of municipal libraries and many academic libraries as well) in the program, for the book.

It is a very rare occurrence for them not be able to locate a book for you.
I've used this service quite often and every single book I've ever inquired about was able to be found at some library in Ontario and delivered to me at the Burlington Public Library, free of charge, within a week or two. You can search the Ontario Interlibrary Loan Service on your own, as well.

This is a tremendous resource for anyone who is doing research or who prefers to borrow books rather than having to buy them.
Generally what I do is browse new books or subjects on Amazon.com or Chapters.ca and find the books that interest me, then I prepare my list and bring it into the resource desk at the library.

The staff is very pleasant and helpful and will do their absolute best to serve you and attain the books you desire. When your books arrive at the library, you will receive a phone call or an email to let you know your book has arrived.

You can also take out CDs and DVDs at the library, free of charge.
They have an extensive collection of movies, ducumentaries, music, talking books, motivational as well as instructional DVDs and CDs.
You can search to see what is available in the CD and DVD collection by visiting the Burlington Public Library online search page.

For a relaxing few hours of research or reading, visit the library today. There are computers for you to use without charge, and free wireless internet service for those of you who wish to bring in your own laptop and work.

There is also an extensive journal, newspaper and magazine area  with big comfy chairs just waiting for you.

Explore the Burlington Public Libary site today. You'll find out about events the library is holding, how to do geneology research free through library resources, how and where to download books off the net and more.

In these cold, dark winter nights nothing is finer than cosying up with a cup of hot chocolate and a good book from the Burlington Public Library in Burlington, Ontario.

©2009JoSmith