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Wednesday, July 26, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER C1 Includes comforter, bedskirt, sham(s), sheet set (200 percale) Now an additional 25% off 2000 ' fo' rnmmm OakviUe Beaver Entertainment Editor: Carol Baldwin 845*3824 (Extension 254); Fax: 337-5567; E-mail: baldwin@haltonsearch.com Local woman writes book to help parents plan TABMCLAND CANADA'S LARGEST cncuinu cardip nicTniniimn FASHION FABRIC DISTRIBUTOR "NEW” LAURA ASHLEY Current Patterns Assorted Shower Curtains Now 20%-70% off reg. price 3 to choose from Assorted Ceramics Now an additional 25% off LAURA ASHLEY Assorted Blouson Valances Reg. Now Bath $19.99 $9.99 Hand $13.99 $6.99 Wash $6.99 $3.49 50% off reg. retail price Reg $45 Now Only $5.99 OAKVILLE 481 North Service Rd.W. (between Dorval Drive and 4th Line) (905) 847-2274 MON.-FRI. 10A.M.-6 PM. SAT. - 9 A.M. - 6 P.M. SUN. 12 P.M. - 5 P.M. Visit us on line @ www.halconlinen.com ENTIRE IN-STORE STOCK! SIMPLICITY & NEW LOOK Patterns ONLY EACH PLUS: PREVIEW FALL '2000 & SAVE! SAVE 20% OFF OUR REGULAR PRICE ON ALL NEW FABRIC, DRAPERY & UPHOLSTERY ARRIVALS! •SEWING CLUB MEMBERS PAY NO TAX! •AN ADDITIONAL 15% (EQUIVALENT OF TAXES) WILL BE 0E0UCTE0 FOR FABRICLAND SEWING CLUB MEMBERS. BECAUSE MEMBERSHIP PAYS' Sale in effect on selected in-stock merchandise from July 26-August 13,2000, while quantities last Additional 50% discount will be taken off prices already reduced by 50% off our regular prices. Full details in-store. Look for the red sale lags. All sales final. OPEN SUNDAYS 12-5 140 Rebecca St. OAKVILLE 844-7728 Otter valid July 26-Ajgust 1/00. Limit 10 patterns per brand, per customer Not valid with any other d<scoont offers ON SELECTED SPRING & SUMMER CLEARANCE ALREADY REDUCED BY *0FF OUR ALREADY REDUCED PRICES. Arts & Entertainment SAVE AN ADDITIONAL fun trips, at a glance, in and around Toronto By Carol Baldwin ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR Natalie Ann Comeau says she was in the right place at the right time, but it was really a matter of writing the right letter at the right time. That letter changed her life, and she’s hoping it will change the lives of many other parents or, at least, make their lives easier. The letter was sent to a publisher who ultimately proposed that the Oakville mother of one write a book to guide parents and their children, agos 1 to 12, to “kid-friendly” places and activities in and around Toronto. Comeau’s book. The Lobster Kids’ Guide to Exploring Toronto, was recently launched as one in a series of Lobster Kids' Guide books that present kids attractions at a glance for all seasons and all budgets in such cities as Montreal, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary and, now Toronto. The Toronto guide started almost three years ago when Comeau moved to Oakville from Montreal and began looking for places to visit and things to do with her three-year-old daughter, Brianna. Much to her dismay, the only comprehensive guide she could find to help her plan activities or day trips was outdated. “So, I thought, ‘No one else has thought to write one of these. I’ll do it myself.’ So, we started going out visiting different places; looking them up on the Internet or in the newspaper, and gathering information,” she says, adding that she was recording all this information as she went. “As a single parent I wanted something that would give me everything (on a particular site or activity) on one page: Where is it? What do I need to bring? What can I expect to see?...I really needed information that I could read in the car at a red light.” When Comeau went home for a visit, she discovered, to her delight. The Lobster Kids ’ Guide to Exploring Montreal, and decided to write to the publishers asking if they had any ideas that she might incorporate into a similar book for Toronto. ‘They called me right away and said, ‘We’re looking to do a Toronto book...Send us your materials and we’ll talk,”’ says Comeau, explaining that she had already spent two years collecting and recording information from the Internet, magazines, tourist guides, and word-of-mouth. “Some of them were obvious ones; others were less known.” Then, after Lobster Press gave her the go-ahead, she had to cram that information into its pre-set format. “It was a whirlwind winter,” she quips, adding that she was ultimately pleased with the results. “I really wanted to create a guide that would fit into a backpack or glove compartment and that parents could pick up and flip through easily... Also, if the kids are working on a history project at school, the Upper Canada rebellion for example, they can take the kids to some of the historical houses and bring an element of reality into what they’re studying. It makes it a little more exciting for them.” The guide lists attractions that are an hour’s drive or less from the CN Tower, she explains. adding that she did stretch it a little, including spots in Hamilton and north Halton. With the exception of tennis courts, pools, restaurants etc., she and her daughter and sometimes friends with older children, visited and rated the 100-plus attractions listed in the book. They are rated according to the enjoyment level for children and the learning opportunities as well as the accessibility from the CN Tower and the cost and value for the money. A one-lobster rating denotes a good attraction; two lobsters deem it very good; and three means excellent. “Something like the Playdium is fun, but it’s really not educational, whereas something like the ROM is fun and educational,” she says, explaining that the ROM would receive an extra lobster in its rating. The Halton County Radial Railway also received three lobsters. "It was another real find...We had a blast when we were there. You get to ride all the old electric rail cars, the old streetcars,” Comeau says with excitement. “They’ve got some that are works in progress, so if you’ve got kids who are into mechanical things, it’s a great place to go...They’ve got old cars fixed up that are used for movie shoots.” She claims to have had as good a time at most of the attractions as her daughter did, which is lucky considering the amount of time she put into the research. And, she adds, many of the sites would be as interesting to adults without kids as to parents -in the ‘green spaces’ chapter, for example. The active Oakville mom says there are going to be people who are disappointed that their favourite spot was not included. But, she’s prepared for that. “I’m telling people from the public that if we’ve left out their favourite restaurant or park or favourite place to go, to let us know. We’ll be updating the guide approximately every two years,” she says. “Even if there are people out there who own an attraction and are interested in being in the next guide...we’re always looking for new places.” The chapters in the book are divided by interests - museums, places to play, places to leam, etc. - and include over two dozen icons which, when applicable, appear in the margin letting readers know added details about the attraction, such as parking, streetcar and subway stops, washroom facilities, etc. There is also a chapter that offers tips on preparations and getting around with small children. For example, should you bring a stroller? The Lobster Kids' Guide to Exploring Toronto is currently available at Chapters and Pick of the Crop for $17.95 or through the website at www.lobsterpress.com. The website, says Comeau, is also a good place to visit for suggestions on day trips for each season. Now that the book is out and Comeau only has to keep her files up-to-date on each attraction and accumulate new ones, her leisure hours can be spent pursuing her passion for canoeing. And, unfortunately, she’s not expecting her royalties to be large enough for her to give up her day job, so she’ll continue to spend her days with the foster puppy program at Lions Foundation of Canada in Oakville. The chapters in the book are divided by interests - museums, places to play, places to leam, etc. -and include over two dozen icons which, when applicable, appear in the margin letting readers know added details about the attraction, such as parking, streetcar and subway stops, washroom facilities, etc. Photo by Peter C. McCusker Natalie Ann Comeau, with guide book in one hand and binoculars in the other, is ready to discover the world of nature, science, history...the possibilities are endless in and around the Toronto area. Many of the special attractions she lists in her newly released book, The Lobster Kids’Guide to Exploring Toronto, are right here in Halton. The Oakville woman wrote the book to help parents and their children discover, at a glance, a variety of attractions that are fun and, in some cases, educational without having to drive hours from home. The book, which is available locally for $17.95, will be updated every two years to make sure address and phone numbers are correct as well as other pertinent information. New editions will also include new attractions or ones that were inadvertently omitted in the previous edition(s).