This holiday season Tom Jackson isnt touring The Huron Carole the way he normally would, which is a drag for him and his band, not to mention fans of those Christmas songs and stories, but hes excited by at least one aspect of the virtual performances being rolled out in November and December.

The online benefit concert was recorded last summer at White Rocks Blue Frog Studios for broadcast in Surrey and other areas of Canada on select dates, as part of a 33rd-annual effort to raise money to feed people in need.

We can raise more money this year, possibly, Jackson said of this 2020 initiative. I think it will raise more awareness and more funds for people who need it, more than we ever have.

The Surrey version of Jacksons hour-long, all-ages The Huron Carole will be shown Friday, Dec. 11 starting at 7 p.m., with tickets priced at $15, or $25 with VIP reception on the Zoom conference platform. In partnership with Surrey Civic Theatres, viewers can make an additional donation to Surrey Food Bank on the event webpage, found at surrey.ca.

The schedule of virtual tour dates is posted to huroncarole.ca, with additional B.C. events connected to charities in Kelowna, Campbell River and Victoria.

(Story continues below show trailer)

Jackson, a musician, actor and activist, has helped raise close to $230 million with his charitable initiatives over the years, leading to humanitarian awards, Red Cross ambassadorship and an Order of Canada induction.

The Huron Carole benefit, which has a goal of defeating hunger, feeding the soul based on Jacksons signature song, was first performed at Torontos Silver Dollar bar in the late-1980s.

Seems like a long time ago, Jackson said with a laugh from his Calgary-area home. Its been a wonderful journey and it all continues to change, with new challenges and other things in the mix that have to be overcome, and every time you do that you learn something. This year were all in that program of reinventing ourselves to some degree, and this is no exception.

That first benefit event in Toronto didnt generate truckloads of cash, with only 200 people in the place, but it raised awareness of a need in the city, and helped set in motion the touring production and national TV special to come. The following year, Jackson saw a need for a show in Winnipeg, and it all grew from there.

It didnt start touring until I got to Calgary, because it was about figuring out how to do it both Winnipeg and Calgary, because I was living here in Calgary, Jackson recalled. I rallied a bunch of folks here and now all of a sudden we had two shows, and the next year we had four shows, and it became a tour that eventually morphed into a national television special for 10 years, and a tour.

At some point we had a request, a lot of requests, to bring the show into smaller communities, so we relaunched it and renamed it Singing for Supper, Jackson continued.

Eventually, The Huron Carole tour returned to Canadas bigger cities.

The model for so many years was the travelling cast and having guests on the show from the local communities, but at some point we decided we needed to ground the show so it would be the same show in every city, a traveling cast, within the last decade.

(Story continues below video)

This year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the concert was recorded by Jackson and his band of Vancouver-area musicians, including music director Tom McKillip, Darryl Havers, John MacArthur Ellis, Kirby Barber and Chris Nordquist. McKillip suggested Blue Frog Studios, and Jackson and his wife, project manager Alison Jackson, made their way west for the session.

It was great, a great facility, Jackson said. It was a wonderful surprise, because originally we had planned to bring the band out to Calgary and set up a soundstage, so to speak. But Tom said he did a thing out at Blue Frog where they have cameras and a nice stage, and thats how it came to happen.

Blue Frog operator Kelly Breaks was glad to host the band at a time when the studio was pretty much shut down.

We used a bit of the audience floor as well, not only the stage, Breaks recalled.

It was surreal almost, because it was during a warm spell in the summer, beautiful weather, and here it was all decked out for Christmas. We had our patio doors opened, so people are walking by hearing some Christmas stuff going on, and some of them recognized Tom Jackson.

The Canada Life-sponsored online show, produced by Tomali Pictures Ltd. and Joe Media Group, is billed as a world-class concert experience intended to leverage fundraising opportunities for varied hosts.

So far, the Surrey broadcast has attracted a great response (and) lots of interest, according to Kent Gallie, the citys manager of performing arts. The good thing about a virtual event is that people can tune in from the comfort of their living room, no matter where they live.

For Jackson and company, the work now involves spreading word about the online edition of The Huron Carole.

Theres always been a gap, and its greater this year than its ever been, that gap between the haves and the have-nots, and thats why the food bank is there, Jackson said. Im not skilled enough to solve the big picture, but I am a band-aid. The clich is, if theres no band-aid, how do you stop the bleeding? But Im very happy to be that dont get me wrong. Yes, its working but we wish we didnt have that issue. Im glad to help.

There may never be another Christmas quite like this Christmas, he noted.

The need is never greater, as were in a battle with this virus and also with mental health, Jackson added.

This year we can help people at a time when theyre at home, to be happy at home and rekindle that Christmas spirit, the spirit that I remember when I was a kid. Yeah, I get it every year, but probably not like this year.

tom.zillich@surreynowleader.comLike us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram and follow Tom on Twitter

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A tiny hole-in-the-wall Scottsdale pizza joint is getting a second, and much bigger, home on Roosevelt Row in Phoenix.

Opened by Bill Forrest in 2012, Il Bosco Pizza quickly became Scottsdale resident Jeff Carlberg's favorite restaurant. In February 2019, Carlberg and his business partner John Dorsey bought the restaurant with plans to expand and bring their favorite pizza to more people.

Now, after a few expansion attempts, Il Bosco has a second location. Located just south of Roosevelt Street on 5th Street, Il Bosco is moving into a bungalow that formerly housed Dvina Modern Fare. Though the duo hadn't initially planned to move to downtown Phoenix, the bungalow, and its two large outdoor patios, will give Il Bosco the space it needs to grow, Carlberg says.

"This is the place, we fell in love with the decor, the downtown vibe, everything," Carlberg says. "We are really happy to be part of the downtown community."

Owning and growing a restaurant is a new endeavor for Carlberg, whocame out of retirement to sell pizza. For 29 years, he worked in manufacturing and owned factories in Asia that produced electronics, office furniture and swimwear. After selling his swimwear company, Carlberg retired for three and a half years before buying Il Bosco.

"I was tired of being retired," he says. "It was just the most boring thing."

TRY SOMETHING NEW:Here are 9 new restaurants to try in the West Valley for boba, breakfast, pizza and more

So he and Dorsey bought the restaurant with plans to open 10 locations throughout the East Valley. The duo initially set their sights on Gilbert, but after a space fell through, they began to look again. Downtown Phoenix developer NielsKreipke of Desert VikingDevelopment showed them an available space in a modern multi-use building on 5th Street, across from Dvina Modern Fare.

Carlberg decided the new build didn't match the "eclectically cool, down-to-earth" vibe of Il Bosco.

"But I just kept looking at the building across the street," he says. "I said, 'whenever that comes available, I want it.'"

When Carlberg first saw the single-story grey and white bungalow in December 2019, Dvina Modern Fare was just getting ready to open.

The short-lived concept served an Italian-inspired menu of panini sandwiches and salads during the day and turned into a club at night, hosting DJs inside and on the large patio. After the coronavirus pandemic hit in March, the restaurant and club closed its doors.

THANKSGIVING:Here are 10 metro Phoenix restaurants serving meals to-go

But in the process of opening Dvina, the bungalow was renovated and made into a fully functioning restaurant. For Carlberg, this means Il Bosco can move right in.

"We don't have to do anything," he says, explaining that once a few new patio tables and an outdoor wood-fired oven are installed, the restaurant will be ready to go.

The keys to Il Bosco's wood-fired pizza are simplicity and high-quality ingredients.(Photo: Phoenix Pizza Festival)

Carlberg plans to use the smaller back patio, complete with roll-up garage doors, for a private event space. The inside of the bungalow and front patio will be outfitted for dine-in service. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, outdoor seating is crucial, he says, and the large patio will have spread-out tables.

Carlberg plans to open first for dinner and later will add lunch.

Depending on the levels of coronavirus case numbers and potential restrictions on restaurants, Carlberg plans to offer takeout from the beginning as selling pizzas to-gohas proven essential to keeping the original restaurant profitable despite the pandemic, he says.

Carlberg plans to offer the same menu he fell in love with in Scottsdale at the new location.

"The one thing we are going to do is stick to what is working," he says. "Pizza, salad and appetizers."

Il Bosco's current menu includes a selection of more than 20 pizzas ranging from traditional red sauce and mozzarella to a Hatch green chile pizza and a fig jam and prosciutto pie. Each pizza is 12 inches and prices range from $13.50 to $17.50.

The Rosa pizza from Il Bosco comes with red sauce, spicy sausage, peppadew peppers and mozzarella.(Photo: Il Bosco Pizza)

The new restaurant also allows for the existing menu to expand, he says.

Dvina was outfitted with a full kitchen with ovens that Carlberg plans to use to add new baked desserts to the menu. The larger kitchen space will also allow for new salads and more appetizers, which are in the works.

The much bigger bar area at the new location will allow Carlberg to expand his spirits collection and offer a range of cocktails to accompany the beer and wine on the existing drink list.

The coronavirus pandemic has brought challenges and delays to opening the restaurant, but with the space already built out, Carlberg hopes to open soon.

"I'm a redhead so I don't have a lot of patience," he says, laughing. "That being said, I want it to be done right."

Il Bosco is planned to open in downtown Phoenix in mid- to late-December.

Reach the reporter at tirion.morris@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @tirionmorris, on Facebook at Tirion Rose and on Instagram @tirionrose.

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This popular Scottsdale pizzeria is coming to Roosevelt Row. Here's what you need to know - The Arizona Republic

Originally built in 1940, this remodeled two-bedroom cottage in Los Angeless Glassell Park neighborhood perches on an elevated corner lot, enjoying hilltop views as well multiple outdoor spaces.

Recently listed in the Glassell Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, this renovated and expanded 1940s cottage sits on an elevated lot above other homes on the street. Multiple patios surround the L-shaped structure, providing a welcoming entrance.

The sun-drenched interior comprises several living spaces including a central seating area and adjacent multipurpose space. A modern kitchen, dining area, and home office are located in a large, free-flowing space to the right.

The open-concept layout spans 1,457 square feet and situates large living and dining areas at the front of the home, affording directing access to the outdoors. The two bedrooms are tucked toward the rear, getting generous amounts of sunlight. Throughout the home, minimalist finishes allow the custom details to shine: handmade cabinetry, beamed ceilings, designer light fixtures, and built-ins.

A spacious living area anchors the center of the home; a hallway leads to the bedrooms and bathroom.

Just off of the living room, a multipurpose space is currently staged as a dining area. An expansive window provides views of the side garden lets in ample sunlight.

On the opposite side of the home, a galley-style kitchen features a large pass-through connecting to the living room. Handmade wood cabinetry, open shelving, and updated appliances round out the space.

The kitchen also opens to a large dining area.

A vaulted ceiling with exposed beams creates an airy atmosphere for the dining area while French doors provide direct access to the patio.

A sunken home office sits just behind the dining area. The brightly lit space benefits from several casement and clerestory windows along three sides of the room.

Adding to the homes appeal are a large driveway, two-car garage, and lush plantings bordering the lot. The property provides easy access to the areas cafes, parks, and hiking trails. Keep scrolling to see more of the cottage, currently listed for $949,000.

The primary bedroom sits in a corner of the home and receives natural light from two windows.

The homes only full bathroom offers handmade cabinetry as well as updated finishes. The home also comes with an additional half bathroom.

A look at the second bedroom.

The front of the home features a new concrete patio that extends from the home office and connects to an upper terrace near the main entrance.

A shaded seating area is located along a rear corner of the property.

A view from the main entrance and the upper terrace reveal stairs that lead down to the two-car garage.

Views from the edge of the terrace look toward the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance.

In addition to the garage, a long, gated driveway provides ample space for parking.

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Listed at $950K, This Clean-Lined Cottage in Los Angeles Is a Fresh Take on City Living - Dwell

Gov. Andy Beshear issued more executive orders on Wednesday in response to a rise in COVID-19 cases throughout the Commonwealth. Beshear ordered K-12 schools, restaurants, event venues, and bars to close their doors beginning Friday. The order permits curbside pickup, delivery, and patio seating (which is rendered impractical by the winter weather). At the same time Beshear is allowing casino gambling venues to remain open.

Its disappointing that the governor sees restaurants and event venues as a bigger threat to public safety than casino gambling venues.

Richard Nelson

Gov. Beshear also recommended that churches close in-person services until December 13. This recommendation has provoked widespread frustration amongst those who see this as the governor favoring casinos and abortion centers over churches, which are protected under the 1st Amendment.

The governor loses moral authority when he suggests that churches should close and casinos remain open.He also loses credibility when he shuts down legitimate businesses and gives an open door to a controversial industry that specializes in making Kentuckians lose.

This continues a stretch of controversial, unilateral decisions from the Executive Branch as many legislators released statements against the governors actions. Several legislators reported that rather than seeking to work with the legislature, Gov. Beshear met with House and Senate leadership shortly before his public briefing to tell them what his predetermined actions would be. Kentucky is in a crisis, this is real, and the Governor needs to start consulting with us for the sake of the Commonwealth, Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers said in a statement on Wednesday.

While the Governor is seeking to slow the spread of the virus, he is continuing to spread frustration and financial hardship as a result of his overreach.

State Representatives and Senators know their communities better than most and by leaving them out of the decision-making process the Governor is ignoring the very people he is seeking to protect.

Richard Nelson is executive director of the Commonwealth Policy Center.

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DELMAR Real McCoys plans to expand with a commercial kitchen grew more contentious than the dozens of letters supporting the venture suggested in its file on Wednesday, Nov. 18.

Owners of the popular nano-craft brewery in Delmars Warehouse District fielded questions during a public hearing in front of the Bethlehem Zoning Board of Appeals. The letters of support they filed along with their proposal, including those from state Assemblywoman Pat Fahy and Senator Neil Breslin, urged the board to allow for a disconnected kitchen at the end of the Hallwood Road property. Opposition, however, came from property owners and residents next door.

The zoning board has asked for more information regarding the kitchens exhaust fan before proceeding with its decision.

Owner Michael Bellini wants to modify two, 40-foot shipping containers into a small, commercial kitchen. The renderings of the plan shows a continuation of the modern industrial look present in the towns warehouse district of Hallwood Road.

Each of the high-cube containers stand 9-feet and 6-inches tall, measure 8-feet wide and 40-feet long. The metal containers, often seen on cargo ships and freight trains, would be cut and modified with large, glass doors accented by black lattice. The interior would appear to include dark wood flooring with a large, granite counter top for patrons facing an open kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances. In addition to indoor seating space, the plan includes a patio-like dining area with umbrellas, just outside of it.

At issue would be the placement of the kitchen, which is proposed to sit at the back end of the 20 Hallwood Road property, nosing a property line defined by pine trees, a stockade fence and a 10-foot retaining wall. The kitchen will stand as close as nearly 9 feet from the property line and just over 12 feet from its back neighbors closest structure.

Diana Skuza, whose family lives in the Delaware Avenue home behind Real McCoy, said she fears the kitchens exhaust fan will not only be noisy, but it will blow grease and protein particles in their backyard. When Bellinis representative shared that the fan would be the same one used as a neighboring restaurant, she said you can see a dirt spot all around it. So, thank you for that.

The Winn family, who own and once occupied the rental property behind the brewery, also spoke against the prospect of added noise and debris. George Winn, who manages the property, said his tenant is no longer able to open their back windows on account of the noise presently there.

Town holds public hearing on moratorium

DELMAR The Bethlehem Town Board hosted a public hearing on its pending 12-month moratorium on Tuesday, Nov. 23. Board members could vote it into law as early as next month.

The town is preparing a 12-month moratorium that will affect applications for residential development. The move, which is subject to the town first passing a local law, has the potential to impact two dozen proposals already on the table, involving more than 800 housing units.

Like in 2004, the town is preparing an overall plan to direct future development and growth. The town is preparing to update its comprehensive plan, a task not expected to be completed for nearly a year. A moratorium is expected to allow the town more time so that development proposals dont overrun their efforts.

Once in place, none of the town boards will be allowed to review, hold a hearing, or render a decision on residential subdivision applications containing more than four units. This includes existing subdivisions proposing to expand. Also excluded are applications to establish a planned development district, and site plans containing units within residential care, nursing homes or senior citizen housing.

The intended threshold is to allow plans to proceed if theyve already reached final approval. Other proposed plans still waiting for such approval would be held back through the duration of the moratorium. Whereas some proposals are cleared after a state environmental impact review, others such as a new subdivision still go through an additional plot review. Subdivisions still waiting upon a final plot approval wont be able to proceed.

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Exhaust fan focus of opposition to Real McCoy's plans for new commercial kitchen - Spotlight News

This lovely bungalow is located on the popular Whitecross estate in Shanklin, which comprises of similar properties, and is not far from the Aldi and Morrisons supermarkets at Lake.

The bungalow benefits from gas-fired central heating and replacement uPVC double-glazed doors and windows and also features updated kitchen and wet room suites and a conservatory extension to the rear.

Scroll through our gallery of pictures above...The bungalow, which is link-detached via the garage only, also has solar roof panels which gives the owner reduced electric charges.The entrance lobby has access to garage and rear garden, as well as a glazed panel inner front door leading into the entrance hall.The lounge has a contemporary electric fire, plus three radiators, dual-aspect windows and a square arch opening into the good-sized kitchen/diner.The kitchen area has laminate worktops with range of cream gloss units, plus an inset electric hob and a built-in electric oven.There is plumbing for a washing machine and a dishwasher, plus space for upright fridge/freezer.The kitchen/diner also features laminate flooring and a contemporary vertical radiator, plus a door to the outside and a sliding patio door to the conservatory.In turn, the sunny conservatory has French doors leading to garden and a solid uPVC insulated roof.

The kitchen/diner has a sliding door leading into the sunny conservatory.

There are two double bedrooms with radiators and front aspect windows, plus a wet room with a shower area featuring an electric shower, plus a wash-basin and low-level WC.Outside, there is an open-plan front garden which is mainly laid to shingle with a shrub border.The concrete driveway provides parking for two cars and leads to a single garage with double doors, power and light, as well as access to the lobby area.There is an enclosed garden to the rear, which is mainly laid to synthetic lawn with shingle borders for easy maintenance and a variety of shrubbery.There is also a timber shed, outside tap and a gated side path.Shanklin town centre is about threequarters-of-a-mile away and has a wide range of shops and amenities, including a medical centre, two pharmacies, a sub Post Office, a railway station and a bus terminus.Shanklin beach is around a mile away and the bungalow is also a short drive from the coastal towns of either Sandown or Ventnor, as well as being about a 15 to 20-minute drive from the county town of Newport.

LOCATION: ShanklinBEDROOMS: TwoPRICE: 285,000AGENT: Arthur WheelerTEL: 868333

Click here to read about more Isle of Wight properties for sale or to rent.

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Pictures: Recently upgraded two-bedroom bungalow in Shanklin has all mod-cons - Isle of Wight County Press

On the front patio, the tall grasses provide privacy while John and Maureen relax in red Adirondack chairs. Supplied

For homeowners John Omura and his wife Maureen DeMarco-Omura, an upstairs creative space has been a comforting retreat during this time of isolation and working from home.

My husband did the major renovation of the house in 1990 just before I met him, says Maureen located in the Glebe neighbourhood. John was living two doors down and renovated the house completely, adding the garage, the master bedroom above it and a family room behind the garage.

The third floor was originally the attic and we converted into a real creative space. Its one of the parts I love the most.

Light pours into the third floor, originally the attic.Supplied

Formally trained as an engineer, John currently works at Algonquin College as a user experience research manager, but his hobby and passion is music.

Renovation now mostly complete, the couple turns their attention to how to best use the space. One of the upstairs rooms is a music room, which they painted and decorated during the pandemic.

Johns using it a lot more now that hes working from home. He plays guitar, and daughter Alyssa, 17, sings and plays guitar too.

Maureen took over a part of the creative space in what used to be her husbands office. She dreams of using the space for painting and crafts when she retires from her job as a special education teacher in the Ottawa-Carleton School Board.

The third room upstairs also houses a slot car track where John and their son Tommy raced their miniature race cars together when Tommy was younger.

Now 20, Tommy helped design the race track to accommodate this childhood hobby he shared with his father, who re-lived his slot car days from when he was a kid. John and Tommy were members of a local slot car club that closed down in 2016. John hopes to bring the slot car room back to life after he retires in the near future.

They havent changed the basic house much since the original renovation. The most creative change weve done has been front and rear patios, deck and landscaping, says Maureen. And sorting out whats inside the three-bedroom house. I like less stuff and he likes more.

A small three-person hot tub just off the back deck is the latest addition installed during the pandemic. The yard is an oasis for us, surrounded by four old maples that our son taps for maple syrup every spring, says Maureen. There is a circular patio below the deck with a wrought iron table and chairs, and a fire bowl that we use to warm ourselves on cool COVID evenings when we cant entertain indoors! The front patio is another secluded refuge for us in the spring. The tall grasses begin growing each spring and provide privacy while we enjoy our coffees in our red Adirondack chairs.

The original home was built in the early 1900s. Back then, there was an alley in the back, says John, but now homeowners have moved their fences to the middle of the laneway.

The original home, built in the early 1900s and located in the Glebe neighbourhood, has undergone several transformations.Supplied

John felt that the house he was living in before buying the current property was feeling a little small, and so he decided to buy the one two doors down. I felt that that house was better suited to a renovation. It had a bigger lot.

He was young and frugal back then and he knew it would be long term, adds his wife. He hired a design/build company, and was impressed with the finished quality of the builders houses and the attention to detail.

Being an engineer myself, I did some preliminary floor plans that laid out the functions I wanted, and areas I thought would be nice, he says. I went back and forth with my builder, who suggested some modifications. It ended up quite different from my original floor plans, but in the end, I liked his final design.

When the house was renovated, the main floor was opened up with a look-through island joining the kitchen and dining/living room, with a triangular glassed-in staircase leading to the second level. Maureen is particularly fond of the light wells in the living/dining room that brings in the light from the third floor.

The decor has an Asian flare reflecting Johns Japanese heritage. A red kimono, passed down from Johns mother, is a focal point in the dining area.

Shoji screens provide privacy in front windows, and there are Japanese wooden Kokeshi dolls that Maureen brought back from Japan when she taught English there as an exchange teacher.

The window in the main entrance door is a faux stained glass that Maureen created as a stylized version of Hokusais famous woodblock print, The Wave.

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Design trends: Pandemic attic reno provides a creative space in Glebe home - County Weekly News

Rays and Stark Bar at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is reopening tomorrow after closing its doors in May due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the museum is debuting a free outdoor installation by Los Angeles artist Alex Prager entitled Farewell, Office Holiday Parties that will be on view until January 3, 2021 at the Smidt Welcome Plaza.

To welcome back Angelenos, chef Fernando Darin is serving a newly updated menu of soups, salads, and pizzas, along with cocktails, wine, and beer, for patio dining and for takeout. Advance reservations are required for dining in. C+M, LACMAs coffee shop located on the south side of the restaurant, will be open and brewing Intelligentsia coffee and espresso.

In addition to the new installation from Prager, visitors can also explore the museums existing outdoor sculptures from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, including Chris Burdens Urban Light, Michael Heizers Levitated Mass, and Yoshitomo Naras Miss Forest.

LACMAs reopening comes amid a recent surge in local coronavirus cases that has prompted Los Angeles County officials to mandate restaurants to operate at 50 percent outdoor dining capacity and to instate a 10 p.m. curfew. LACMA is adhering to state and county guidelines for visiting the museums outdoor campus and dining facilities.

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5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

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LACMA Restaurant Rays Reopens This Weekend With New Outdoor Art Installation - Eater LA

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With coronavirus cases jumping, central Ohio restaurant owners are doing everything they can to carrythe outdoor dining season into winter.

They are erecting tents, hunting down heaters and building igloosto extend the season for patrons who don't want to eat indoors during a pandemic.

But between building codes and a shortage of heaters, they're finding that such moves can be easier said than done.

More: Restaurants turn to heated tents to extend outdoor dining into winter, but doctors worry

According to an Ohio Restaurant Associationsurvey from the end of October, 34% of respondents plan to use portable heaters for outdoor dining and 16% plan to use tents. (For 60% of respondents, outdoor dining simply isn't an option because they lackoutdoor space.)

In Hilliard, the Center Street Market erected a 20-by-60-foot tent on its patio, complete with heaters, a dozen tables and two televisions.

Our inside seating wont be enough this winter, said Rob Fry, one of four partners who opened Center Street Market earlier this year. It hasnt been used much (as of early November), but we think it will be useful in the winter.

The 1,200-square-foot tent, which required a permit, abuts the indoor area of the market, and with the bay doors open, patrons canwalk between the tent and the indoor dining area where the market's several restaurants are located, Fry said.

We will keep it out until it isnt being used anymore, he said.

Fry was one of the lucky ones to get patio heaters, which have been, well, a hot commodity as the temperature dropped.

Sales of outdoor heaters jumped by 1,150% through March and September this year compared to 2019, according to Jonathan Johnson, CEO of Overstock.com,in an interview with Fast Company magazine.

Tory Hricovec, general manager of the First Watch in Worthington, said the restaurant has been searchingfor heaters to extend the life of its four-table patio, but so far hasn't had any luck.

If we cant get heaters, then we close our patio, Hricovec said.

Wolf's Ridge Brewing's restaurant and taproom had plans to install heaters in its outdoor dining spacebut was unable to find any units that meet Columbussafety codes, general manager CoreySchlosser said.

"Most of the heaters you see with patios, they're with propane heaters, and that is something the city said they would not allow," he said.

More: Bartenders and waiters struggle on, eight months into the pandemic

Hen Quarter restaurant in Dublin is taking a different approach: igloos.

The restaurant's owner, Ron Jordan, is awaiting four heated igloos that seat up to eight people each.

"We ordered those three weeks ago, and we're supposed to get them the first or second week of December," he said.

The restaurant's landlord preferred igloos to heated tentsbecause the tents wouldn't havehave a uniform look, Jordan said

The restaurateur said Hen Quarter will require a minimum number of guests in parties that use the igloos, and will put a time limit on the outdoor dining spaces.

The Land Grant Brewing Company taproom in Franklinton also recently bought four heated igloos that it will use in addition to itstwo gas fire pits and wood-burning fire pit in its extensive outdoor beer garden.

More: Ohio businesses say they can live with curfew but still need help

In New Albany, Hudson 29 Kitchen + Drink is preparing for winter in other ways. It plans to continue using as long as possible a "three-seasons room" that has drop-down walls on three sides and overhead heaters, saidJeremy Hughes, acting general manager of the restaurant.

Some guests feel comfortable inthe room even if they do not want to sit in other areas of the restaurant, Hughes said.

Tuccis restaurant in downtown Dublinis installing a winterized tent, featuring a load-bearing roof to withstand the weight of potential snowfall, saidgeneral manager Michael Sharp.

The tent,custom made in Germany, will feature glass walls, noise-reducing sound panels and a heating system. It will cover the entire 43-by-43-foot patio and will be up for the duration of winter, Sharpsaid.

Its time right now where we have to get creative and adapt, he said.

But while some bars and restaurants are erecting tents, others are taking them down because they fail to meet building codes requiring them to hold up under snow.

North High Brewing in downtown Dublin expects to put away its tent inDecember because it does not meet snow codes, saiddirector of operations Christopher Titus.

Instead, he plans to installheaters at patio tables during the winterfor patrons whoprefer to eat outside.

Pies and Pints in Worthington will add heaters to its partially enclosed patio, which has been popular during the pandemic, saidgeneral manager Tanya Varner.

Its benefited our business tremendously, mainly because most of our guests are still enjoying the outdoor weather,"Varner said. "Weve been very fortunate to have that patio.

Scott Boles, owner ofYabo's Tacos in Hilliard, Powell and Westerville, said the patio of the Powell operation is already enclosed, and he plans to enclose the Westerville patio. He's not sure about the Hilliard patio, which would require a lease modification.

I wish I had a better solution (for Hilliard), but I never wrote a business plan for a pandemic, Boles said.

Val Wielezynski, owner ofLa Chatelaine French Bakery & Bistro in Worthington, Dublin and Upper Arlington, said his patios have been helping the restaurants maintain healthy business during the pandemic.

The patios have been very awesome to have," hesaid. "Weve been lucky this year (due to warm weather) because weve extended the (outdoor dining) season for maybe four to five weeks.

Wielezynski, who is from France, where outdoor dining is available year-round, said he's counting on hearty customers to keep the patios open.

As long as its not raining, snowingor a blizzard, well have people out there with coats on, he said.

Excerpt from:
Bars, restaurants do whatever it takes to extend outdoor dining - The Columbus Dispatch

The Tinley Beverage Company makes cannabis-infused spirit and cocktail-inspired drinks. (Photo by Greg Doherty/Getty Images for HollyShorts)

While Ontarios longest patio season is serving its last calls under well-used heat lamps, industry groups representing the hard-hit restaurant, tourism, and live events sectors are calling on the province to advance talks on selling and consuming cannabis inside public venues. Beth Potter, president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), wants new pot regulations for lounges, cafes, festivals and concerts established by the spring.

The Ontario government launched a public consultation in February to collect feedback on consumption venues and special occasion permits for events. The feedback period ended on March 10, just as COVID-19 was tightening its grip on the province.

The pandemic hit, and were now at a place where wed like to go back and pick up the conversations with government to get the regulations put in place, especially in time for next patio season, Potter said at a virtual event about on-premise cannabis business opportunities in Ontario earlier this week.

The provinces Ministry of the Attorney General said in February that no changes to the cannabis framework were expected at the time, and there is no timeline for updates informed by the public feedback. Yahoo Finance Canada contacted the ministry regarding timing, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

What the province has made clear is the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which prohibits smoking and vaping cannabis in enclosed public spaces and patios, will not be changed as a result of the consultation.

Potter, whose organization represents nearly 200,000 businesses, expects the initial rules will focus on selling legal-aged customers packaged products like the chocolates, gummies, mints and drinks currently available from licenced producers. She said the policies could eventually be expanded to include chef-prepared cannabis-infused food and drink items.

Scores of Ontario bars and restaurants have closed their doors since the onset of the pandemic. Many who have held on are barely scraping by. In the heavily populated Toronto and Peel regions, new lockdown measures enforced by the province starting Monday will limit business to take-out only until at least Dec 21.

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Tony Elenis, president and CEO of the Ontario Restaurant and Motel Association, notes the provinces food services industry was operating on thinner margins than any other region in Canada prior to the pandemic. He said the addition of cannabis as a new revenue stream could be an enormous benefit to the food service industry, with gains extending to the hospitality sector through tourists lured by pot-influenced entertainment and dining experiences.

Wait until those chefs in the kitchen start preparing a type of food that weve never seen before, he said at the Nov. 24 event presented by TIAO, JLM Strategic Marketing and pot giant Canopy Growth (WEED.TO)(CGC).

Elenis sees the risk of serving legal cannabis in restaurants no differently than serving beer, wine and spirits. However, the prospect of selling both at the same time raises many questions. Todays regulations explicitly separate cannabis and alcohol. For example, a pot drink is not allowed to contain booze. Molson Coors (TPX-B.TO), which has invested in infused drinks, cant put beer branding on cannabis products. Would restaurants have to ditch alcohol to sell cannabis? Or would patrons be free to chase an infused sparkling water with a glass of wine?

Richard Anderson, executive director of Smart Serve Ontario, is not yet sure if his agency will be tapped to educate workers who serve cannabis for on-premise consumption, as it has done for years with bartenders and restaurant servers. He expects the Ministry of Health to require a one-or-the-other approach, at least when it comes to cannabis and alcohol at events like outdoor festivals.

Do you have a cannabis tent with a blue bracelet and a beer garden with a red bracelet, and you cant go back and forth? How does that work? he asked at the event. Weve had a lot of discussion around the table on that. Clearly the Ministry of Health is [wanting] one or the other, not both.

David MacNeil, chief executive officer of Festival Events Ontario, wants clear rules that will be easy for patrons to follow in potentially chaotic environments like large outdoor events and concerts.

Cannabis has been a part of the festival and event world for a long time, legally and otherwise, he said. I think the big hold up is how that liquor licence and cannabis will combine. Can you do both? Or do you have to isolate, and you dont move from one tent to the other. Theres a lot of questions.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has faced tough questions about his governments approach to establishing a legal cannabis market since taking office in 2018, and hastily transitioning to a more private model than his predecessor had planned.

Then came widespread criticism about the slow roll out of private retail stores. More recently, Ford has been hit with backlash from private retailers for allowing click-and-collect and delivery only at certain times during the pandemic while the province-run Ontario Cannabis Store can sell online permanently.

A survey by the polling and research firm Abacus Data commissioned by Canopy suggests Ford would face minimal opposition if the province were to embrace the sale of certain legal cannabis products in restaurants, bars and lounges. Abacus questioned 2,440 Canadian adults between Sept. 23 and 29, including 500 respondents in Ontario. The results show two-thirds of Ontario respondents either support or accept on-premise consumption of cannabis edibles and beverages.

I see no evidence in this data that this decision would hurt or be very risky for the provincial government right now, said Abacus CEO David Coletto.

Ontarians understand the scale of the challenges that tourism operators, food service operators, live music venues are facing because of the pandemic. They recognize how important that is to the quality of life in their neighbourhoods. Anything that not only gives these businesses an opportunity to diversify, to offer new products, and attract new visitors to the province, I think would find very broad support.

Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist.

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Weed at the bar? The tourism industry wants Ontario pot venues open by spring - Yahoo Lifestyle