Experience the Museums of Mississauga

Contributed by the one and only Stuart Keeler
Images courtesy of Museums of Mississauga

We are fortunate to have a strong arts culture here in Canada's sixth largest (and growing!) city.
One of the attractions in Mississauga is our museums, which are chock-full of vibrant, restored heritage buildings with the goal to connect with all of the communities across our city.
There are plenty of exhibits, events and education experiences that are ready and waiting for you to engage with this year. 
We have outlined a few  that you should definitely check out with family, friends, colleagues or even on your own!:

Bradley Museum & Benares Historic House
Wednesday & Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday Noon – 4:00 p.m.
 
Leslie Log House
Saturday & Sunday 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.

EXHIBITIONS & SPECIAL EVENTS

THE JOURNALS OF SUSANNA MOODIE January 30 – April 16
Charles Pachter & Margaret Atwood in collaboration with the McMichael Canadian Art Collection. 
Benares Historic House & Bradley Museum works on loan from the McMichael Canadian Art Collection and the Museums of Mississauga.

 
In conversation with the iconic Margaret Atwood and Charles Pachter
Free!
March 29 - 6:00 pm Noel Ryan Auditorium
Call Readers’ Den Information desk for more information : 905-615-3200 ext. 3544
 
BEING CANADIAN: Stories told through Films | National Film Board of Canada
January 30 – April 8, 2016 Benares Visitor Centre

Film Series night with for Begumpura: The Wives Colony (Hindi & English)
Feb 25th 2016 Benares Visitor Centre 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Begumpura examines the concept of estranged families as one of the major challenges of globalization and immigration by a group of South Asian immigrant wives in Mississauga.

MAPLE FAMILY SUNDAYS AT BRADLEY MUSEUM February 28, March 6, 13, 20, 27 & April 3
Unique entertainment, crafts and fun activities are all focused on experiencing our great nation. Pancakes with maple syrup are in the Sugar Shack; souvenirs and syrup can be purchased in the Maple Souvenir Magasin.

MAPLE MAGIC AT BRADLEY MUSEUM March 14–20
Mississauga’s favourite maple tradition returns to the Bradley Museum for March Break. Learn the magic of maple. Tap a tree and follow the sap lines to the Bradley House kitchen where maple treats await. Enjoy an afternoon of truly Canadiana themed fun.

TEAS & LIBATIONS AT BENARES HISTORIC HOUSE Year Round
Indulge in a spot of afternoon tea and enjoy one of our themed tea experiences.  Choose from Traditional Afternoon Tea, Downton Abbey Tea or a special Mothers Day Tea.  Or try the Grand Tour: Teas of the World series. Explore teas from Scotland, Japan, Russia and India and celebrate how we all love our tea.

JANES WALK MISSISSAUGA AT BENARES HISTORIC HOUSE May 6-8
Inspired by urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs, Jane’s Walk Mississauga engages Clarkson Village from Benares Historic House along Clarkson Road North to Lakeshore Road West and past the historic Spring Creek cemetery. This free tour offers personal stories, anecdotes and contemporary pop-culture references of the neighbourhood.

MUSCLE, MUSTACHES AND MOTORS AT BENARES HISTORIC HOUSE June 19
Treat Dad this Father’s Day to an afternoon of barbershop related activities and vintage cars. 50 vintage cars from the 1800’s – 1980’s will be in display while Dad learns the ins and outs of beards and mustaches. Enjoy entertainment by a barber shop quartet, learn about cigars and take in the Hairy History Exhibit.  

FRONT LAWN FILM SERIES AT BENARES HISTORIC HOUSE June 26, July 28, August 30
Gather your friends and family for a free screening of a popular classic under the stars. Come early and enjoy a tour of the museums before the film. Lawn opens at 6 pm. Lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Visit our website for a complete list of films.  

Gastronomy | The Spirit of Simple Cuisine Year Round
The concept of “Farm to Table” is a new trend with very old roots.  In this new series, learn what farm to table means today.  Use produce from a local Co-op in classic recipes; discover new ways to use locally sourced seasonal fruits and veggies.  Prep an entire meal based on the theme of the week. Visit the website for themes, dates and museum locations.

http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/discover/museumsofmississauga

New Waste Collection Schedule for Peel

by Jay Kana

Images of new recycling, organic and garbage bins via the Region of Peel

Change isn't easy...just ask any man. Ok, ok, we're kidding!
But this change is relatively easy and the Region of Peel has made it easy to understand.

Previously, Peel had weekly collections of garbage, recycling, and green bins (organic waste).
Effective Monday, January 4th, 2016, here are the changes, based on a two-week schedule:

Week 1: Garbage and Organics
Week 2: Recycling and Organics

Here's a quick link to find out your schedule, simply done by entering your address:
http://peelregion.ca/waste-scripts/when-does-it-go/

Since the garbage pickup will be done bi-weekly, the previous 2 bag limit will be doubled to 4 bags.

By now, everyone should've received their new, wheeled organics, garbage and recycling bins that come in different sizes.
In April 2016, after using the bins for three months, there will be a 30 day period where you can exchange the size of your bins if they're too small/big for your needs.
After April, there will be a $25 charge for the change.

Why is this change happening, you ask? The Region of Peel lays it out like this:

1. It's a cost saving measure (everyone can appreciate that)
2. It reduces the amount of waste sent to the landfill
3. It reduces greenhouse gas emissions as fewer collection vehicles will be on the road
4. Fewer worker injuries
5. Cleaner-looking streetscapes with less wind-blown litter
6. Carts are easier to wheel to the curb (the certainly are!)
7. Carts are pest-resistant

There are some particulars involved, such as where to place the bins, how far apart, what time you can put it out, etc. 
All of that can be found here: http://peelregion.ca/waste/carts

If you're looking for more information, head to  www.peelregion.ca/waste where they have a full suite of answers for you.

Change is good. Especially with all the benefits this change brings to beautiful Mississauga.
 

12 Questions with STIR Kitchen

Image courtesy of stir kitchen

One of the newest restaurants in good ol' Mississauga is STIR Kitchen, owned by Hip Restaurants.
They're located in the heart of the city on the southwest corner of Hurontario and Kingsbridge Garden Circle (a couple of minutes north of Square One),
We had a chance to chat with owner and restaurant industry veteran Faz Rajani,  about this fabulous fine dining establishment and present it to you via our "12 Questions" series. 
Why 12? Well, why not? It's getting a score of 10, with 2 bonus marks.

1. Signature Menu Item: Food
   STIR Burger, Seafood Fettuccine, Stone Oven Pizza, Hunter Schnitzel
2. Signature Menu Item: Drink
   There's not one single item. What STIR has done is provide a wealth of options for their clients, which include: 
   32 Beer taps, 65 different wines and complex cocktails
3. Describe In Three Words
   Ok, ok, we know it's not three words. But it's a cool story:
   STIR's approach to this unique restaurant was to challenge themselves by asking "What more could you want from a restaurant?" It's far from a conceited stance. Rather, they strive to provide a memorable, exciting and top quality experience consistently for each client.
4. Seating Capacity
   180
5. Type of Food Served
   Modern classics with a twist, including gourmet burgers, stone oven pizzas, steak, seafood, chicken, and the constantly increasing in popularity shared plates 
6. Chef's Bio in One Sentence
   The seasoned, Italian-inspired Chef Hans brings tremendous passion to create and plate outstanding food and has been with HIP for over 3 years.
7. Specials and Events
   Friday & Saturday - Live DJ and dancing
   Rotating live acts Monday, Tuesday & Thursday (acoustic, jazz, duos)
   Wednesday - Rescue Me Wednesdays (a night for our valued service folks)
8. Customers Expectations
   To experience a beautiful, unique location, fantastic food and stellar service and a one of a kind dining experience
9. Take Out & Catering
   Yes/Yes
10. Price Range/Category
    Mid-to-high priced
11. Name Origin Story
    They threw their previous concepts together in hopes of finding something that stood out...you could say they put everything in a pot and "stirred" it up. Funny enough, that's exactly what they did and hence STIR came out. 
12. Type of Crowd/Clientele
    From the young to established professionals to the mature crowd, their audience is diverse in search of  great food, service and atmosphere that gives a downtown feel without the hefty price tag. It's a great choice for date nights, special occasions and days you don't want to cook....so, every day, if you're like the Modern Mississauga team.

www.hiprestaurants.com
289-232-STIR
10 Kingsbridge Garden Circle #101