Look beyond the bar for fun times
Coming up on my fifth year of living
in London, I'd have to say I've
experienced quite a bit of the Forest
City. I'll admit that during my first
year in the new city I was pretty confined
to Richmond Row, my residence
and the Masonville area
(Loblaws, the LCBO and the mall…
what else could a girl ask for?). But
when I became a reporter, not only
did I have the opportunity to attend
some great events in London, but I
truly discovered how much more
London has to offer. So even if you
are a bar-goer (like myself), think
about some of these alternatives and
give your liver a rest.
Take a walk downtown (during the day)
I can assure you that Richmond Row looks a lot different during the day than it does at night. The sun shines light on some of my favourite shops that London has to offer.
Lolita (533 Richmond St.), Skirt (500 Richmond St.) and Frilly Lizard (362 Talbot St.) are my personal favourite shops downtown. They all feature younger women's clothing, including lots of dresses that are perfect for a night on the town and are different from what the mall has to offer.
Tribal Mountain Trade (575 Richmond St.) is another one of my favourite stores that's in the heart of Richmond Row. It offers furnishings, décor items, sculptures, jewellery, handmade paper products, oils, candles and more.
Make your way to the Market...
If you continue your walk south on Richmond, you'll run into the Convent Garden Market (130 King St.), a building that is home to 52 vendors! It has everything from cupcakes to jewellery to delicious fresh food to groceries to art. Whether you're dining in, taking out or just browsing, it's a must-visit in London.
Have some family fun, without your family
So you may be far away from your family, but that doesn't mean spending an innocent night with friends won't be fun. Palasad (777 Adelaide St. N., 141 Pine Valley Blvd.) appeals to the college crowd as they offer booze, bowling, billiards and, new for this year, ping-pong tables. Their food — especially appetizers — are great for munching on while playing. Check out their website for daily deals such as Toonie Tuesdays and Half-Price Wing Night Wednesdays. Keep an eye out for special discounts for Fanshawe and Western students as well.
Fleetway (720 Proudfood Ln.) is more family-oriented but can offer you a great night out. Fleetway has bowling, rock climbing, glow-inthe- dark mini-putt and billiards. There's also a Dairy Queen inside the building so you can get some sweet treats afterwards!
Get some good ol' fashioned entertainment
Marienbad (122 Carling St.) is known for its variety of beers and its Murder Mystery Dinner shows. Every month there's a “murder” at Marienbad that you can get involved with. You can participate as much or as little as you like — some patrons dress up and some just go for the delicious meal.
There's nothing like experiencing a movie at the drive-in. The Mustang Drive-In (2551 Wilton Grove Rd.) is about 20 minutes east of London and features two huge screens. There's a Tuesday special for $5/person and a Thursday special for $15/carload!
The Grand Theatre (471 Richmond St.) holds a lot of history in London. It's been here since 1901 and been a success ever since. They have several professional shows each season and even work with high school students to put on a variety of plays.
Indulge
For those of you with a sweet tooth like myself, London has an amazing variety of ice cream/dessert places that you have to try! With the cupcake craze in full swing, may I recommend a personal favourite: Razzle Dazzle Cupcakes (316 Horton St. E.). Owned by the cutest couple ever — Connie and Wayne Hartley — Razzle Dazzle offers a wide variety of cupcakes that are always changing. They do large orders in advance as well as walkins. I will warn you, though — after 5 p.m. on weekdays and anytime on weekends they can be extremely busy and low on selection, so call ahead!
Kiwi Craze (595 Fanshawe Park Rd. W.) and YoYo's (515 Richmond St., 1105 Wellington Rd.) are two popular places to grab a frozen treat. Both offer a wide variety of frozen yogurt flavours and tons of toppings: candies, chocolates, nuts and more.
Marble Slab (573 Richmond St., 3039 Wonderland Rd. S., 50 North Centre Rd.) is a worldwide phenomenon. With three locations in London, including one downtown, you can't miss it. Marble Slab is the first company to introduce the “frozen slab” technique, which pretty much means you pick your ice cream flavour and whatever toppings you'd like and they mush it all together into one delicious masterpiece.
One more piece of advice...
If you're looking for a great slice of cheesecake, try the brownie caramel pecan cheesecake from Sunripe Market (744 Adelaide St. N.) or a variety of delicious cheesecakes from Williams Coffee Pub (578 Richmond St., 1245 Highbury Ave. N.)!
Cheer on the Knights
The London Knights have a massive following here in town. The John Labatt Centre (99 Dundas St.) is home to the OHL team that has consistently made London proud. Last year they were OHL champions and runners-up in the Memorial Cup battle. Their homeopener is set for September 21 against Erie.
Go for a fancy dinner
I know it's not always easy to splurge on a nice dinner when you're in college, but once in a while, you deserve to treat yourself! My all-time favourite hidden gem is Aroma Mediterranean Restaurant (717 Richmond St.). The menu is a little bit pricey, but the ambiance is beautiful, and there's live music on the weekends!
Grab a casual bite
The Works (145 King St.) features over 100 different burgers, everything from peanut butter and cream cheese to Kraft Dinner to hot as hell sauce — let your imagination go wild. They have several different patties to choose from including beef, vegetarian and elk.
Prince Albert's Diner (565 Richmond St.) is a staple in London. It's my favourite diner in town and I love their perogies and milkshakes. They usually provide really quick service, but watch out for long lines, especially at peak times (Saturday and Sunday morning, and weekends after the bar!).
Take a walk downtown (during the day)
I can assure you that Richmond Row looks a lot different during the day than it does at night. The sun shines light on some of my favourite shops that London has to offer.
Lolita (533 Richmond St.), Skirt (500 Richmond St.) and Frilly Lizard (362 Talbot St.) are my personal favourite shops downtown. They all feature younger women's clothing, including lots of dresses that are perfect for a night on the town and are different from what the mall has to offer.
Tribal Mountain Trade (575 Richmond St.) is another one of my favourite stores that's in the heart of Richmond Row. It offers furnishings, décor items, sculptures, jewellery, handmade paper products, oils, candles and more.
Make your way to the Market...
If you continue your walk south on Richmond, you'll run into the Convent Garden Market (130 King St.), a building that is home to 52 vendors! It has everything from cupcakes to jewellery to delicious fresh food to groceries to art. Whether you're dining in, taking out or just browsing, it's a must-visit in London.
Have some family fun, without your family
So you may be far away from your family, but that doesn't mean spending an innocent night with friends won't be fun. Palasad (777 Adelaide St. N., 141 Pine Valley Blvd.) appeals to the college crowd as they offer booze, bowling, billiards and, new for this year, ping-pong tables. Their food — especially appetizers — are great for munching on while playing. Check out their website for daily deals such as Toonie Tuesdays and Half-Price Wing Night Wednesdays. Keep an eye out for special discounts for Fanshawe and Western students as well.
Fleetway (720 Proudfood Ln.) is more family-oriented but can offer you a great night out. Fleetway has bowling, rock climbing, glow-inthe- dark mini-putt and billiards. There's also a Dairy Queen inside the building so you can get some sweet treats afterwards!
Get some good ol' fashioned entertainment
Marienbad (122 Carling St.) is known for its variety of beers and its Murder Mystery Dinner shows. Every month there's a “murder” at Marienbad that you can get involved with. You can participate as much or as little as you like — some patrons dress up and some just go for the delicious meal.
There's nothing like experiencing a movie at the drive-in. The Mustang Drive-In (2551 Wilton Grove Rd.) is about 20 minutes east of London and features two huge screens. There's a Tuesday special for $5/person and a Thursday special for $15/carload!
The Grand Theatre (471 Richmond St.) holds a lot of history in London. It's been here since 1901 and been a success ever since. They have several professional shows each season and even work with high school students to put on a variety of plays.
Indulge
For those of you with a sweet tooth like myself, London has an amazing variety of ice cream/dessert places that you have to try! With the cupcake craze in full swing, may I recommend a personal favourite: Razzle Dazzle Cupcakes (316 Horton St. E.). Owned by the cutest couple ever — Connie and Wayne Hartley — Razzle Dazzle offers a wide variety of cupcakes that are always changing. They do large orders in advance as well as walkins. I will warn you, though — after 5 p.m. on weekdays and anytime on weekends they can be extremely busy and low on selection, so call ahead!
Kiwi Craze (595 Fanshawe Park Rd. W.) and YoYo's (515 Richmond St., 1105 Wellington Rd.) are two popular places to grab a frozen treat. Both offer a wide variety of frozen yogurt flavours and tons of toppings: candies, chocolates, nuts and more.
Marble Slab (573 Richmond St., 3039 Wonderland Rd. S., 50 North Centre Rd.) is a worldwide phenomenon. With three locations in London, including one downtown, you can't miss it. Marble Slab is the first company to introduce the “frozen slab” technique, which pretty much means you pick your ice cream flavour and whatever toppings you'd like and they mush it all together into one delicious masterpiece.
One more piece of advice...
If you're looking for a great slice of cheesecake, try the brownie caramel pecan cheesecake from Sunripe Market (744 Adelaide St. N.) or a variety of delicious cheesecakes from Williams Coffee Pub (578 Richmond St., 1245 Highbury Ave. N.)!
Cheer on the Knights
The London Knights have a massive following here in town. The John Labatt Centre (99 Dundas St.) is home to the OHL team that has consistently made London proud. Last year they were OHL champions and runners-up in the Memorial Cup battle. Their homeopener is set for September 21 against Erie.
Go for a fancy dinner
I know it's not always easy to splurge on a nice dinner when you're in college, but once in a while, you deserve to treat yourself! My all-time favourite hidden gem is Aroma Mediterranean Restaurant (717 Richmond St.). The menu is a little bit pricey, but the ambiance is beautiful, and there's live music on the weekends!
Grab a casual bite
The Works (145 King St.) features over 100 different burgers, everything from peanut butter and cream cheese to Kraft Dinner to hot as hell sauce — let your imagination go wild. They have several different patties to choose from including beef, vegetarian and elk.
Prince Albert's Diner (565 Richmond St.) is a staple in London. It's my favourite diner in town and I love their perogies and milkshakes. They usually provide really quick service, but watch out for long lines, especially at peak times (Saturday and Sunday morning, and weekends after the bar!).
