Some uplifting news for the week

It's nice to report some uplifting news in this space this weekend, rather than all the closures and such as a result of the current COVID-19 pandemic.  Oh things are still far from normal to be sure, but at least we can report on some more hopeful signs this weekend and that is nice to see.  So let's get right to it.

If you are downtown this weekend you'll notice a couple of changes.  First, the always-popular St. Catharines Farmers Market is still underway with restrictions of course, but now the time has been extended on Saturday mornings through to 1 pm, and more vendors have been added to the mix.  For the first time since before the lockdown prepared food vendors will be allowed to join the market mix, and that will be nice to see.  So if you have not already done so, why not plan to make a visit to our wonderful farmers market this morning?

Downtown streets will be an issue this weekend and many summer weekends going forward, however.  Beginning yesterday afternoon and through much of the weekend St. Paul Street between William and Carlisle will be closed to vehicular traffic, in order to accommodate restaurant patios to open on the sidewalks and for the street itself to become a pedestrian walkway.

With restaurants only able to serve on patios for the time being during Stage 2 of the reopening plan from the provincial government, this really is the only fair and viable option to help our struggling restaurant scene downtown try to regain some of their lost business during the lockdown.

Even if you choose to just pick up take out it would be encouraged to help patronize our downtown eateries.  To help in this regard,  there are Curbside Pick Up zones on Queen Street and James Street near St. Paul.  There will also be designated parking spots in the parking lot at 135 St. Paul Street, accessible via Summer Street off James.  These spaces are reserved for free short-term 15-minute parking.

The two downtown parking garages will also offer free parking this weekend.

Downtown retailers are also being encouraged to set up outdoor displays for open-air shopping through the weekend, which is also a wise move as clearly the more time we remain outside during this recovery period the better.  Physical distancing should be observed at all times, of course, and wear a face mask if required to do so by the business you are visiting.

The hours for the street closures this weekend are today through to 11 pm and tomorrow from 10 am to 9 pm.  Assuming this continues through the summer months the street closures will also be in effect on Fridays from 3 to 11 pm.

I received an email update from the Cheng2 Duo this week, and they have three events coming up in the near future that will be of interest to classical music fans.  The duo, Sylvie and Bryan, charmed local audiences at the spring recital with Bravo Niagara! Festival of the Arts last April (2019) in Niagara-on-the-Lake.  Their spirited playing and engaging personalities were hard to resist.

Recently they have been holding livestream concerts from their New York City living room, and the latest livestream will be today.  But this one will be from their home base in Canada, as this week they just played in the semi-final round of the inaugural Bader & Overton Canadian Cello Competition, live-streamed from Ottawa.

Bryan has been selected as one of the finalists now, and the virtual final round will be this afternoon with the livestream happening at 2:15 ET.  You can find out how to register to view through their website at www.cheng2duo.com and catch their performances via their YouTube and Facebook channels.

Meantime the Ottawa Chamber Music Society has been offering Chamber Chats during the lockdown, hosted by Canadian broadcaster & writer Eric Friesen.  In April I caught a wonderful Chamber Chat with Canadian pianist Angela Hewitt in fact.

This Thursday, July 2nd at 2 pm ET you can catch the latest episode on ZOOM as Eric talks with both members of the Cheng2 Duo.

The third event is currently available online through to July 2nd, and it is from the Montreal Symphony Orchestra (OSM).  The orchestra has chosen Bryan's debut concert with the orchestra in a live performance just prior to the lockdown to be rebroadcast online.  Bryan, the Grand Prize winner of the 2019 OSM competition, is performing the Dvorak Cello Concerto with the OSM with Matthias Pintscher conducting.

You can check it out via the OSM's You Tube channel and it will be available to the public through to July 2nd.

Finally, this is Pride weekend but of course everything is online this year to the pandemic, and in honour of Pride month the Brock University Human Rights & Equity Department along with various community partners will be hosting a Digital Black and Indigenous Pride Concert & Fundraising event this evening from 7 to 9:30 pm.

The aim of the concert is to celebrate Pride with Brock students and other St. Catharines community members, all the while honouring the importance of anti-racism work in the 2SLGBTQ+ movement.

Featuring a varied array of Black and Indigenous musicians, poets and artists from the local community and throughout the province, the concert hopes to put a spotlight on Black and Indigenous performers while also raising funds for various social organizations and anti-racism causes through raffle ticket sales.

You can find it online by going to the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre You Tube channel.

That's it for this week.  Stay safe, wash your hands and support our local businesses now and in the future!

June 27th, 2020.