ANMORE, B.C. -- A Metro Vancouver retiree who had been under investigation by the BC Conservation Officer Service for taking an emaciated bear cub to a local wildlife centre will not face fines or jail time for his actions.

Anmore resident Mike Robson had taken the tiny cub, which was huddled under his neighbour's patio table, to the Critter Care Wildlife Society in Langley after he said conservation officers had refused to look into his wife's report about the bear. Robson also said officers appeared to be in no hurry to help the animal, which weighed only 20 pounds and appeared to be alone with no food source.

"I want to thank the public for all the messages they sent to government and all the support they gave us," said Robson, crediting the media attention and barrage of criticism against the conservation service for the swift end to the investigation.

"The COS has determined that no enforcement action will be taken against people who were clearly acting with good intentions," confirmed the BC Conservation Officer Service in an email statement to CTV News.

CTV News was there on Jan. 9 when Robson was surprised to see a conservation officer pull up to his home in the forested community of Anmore, north of Port Moody, around 11 a.m. He told the responding officer that he didnt think anyone was coming to tend to the cub, so he took it to the wildlife centre, fearing it would starve or freeze in sub-zero temperatures. Robson was also concerned the cub would be one of many bears euthanized or taken to the woods to die if conservation officers showed up to deal with it.

The BC Conservation Officer Service acknowledged it should have done more to tell Robson they intended to assess the bear, writing "clear communications and a thoughtful approach to the people who care about wildlife is critical in achieving positive results."

The officer on scene and the email statement both reiterated the risk of human habituation should people intervene too soon with wildlife, noting cubs sometimes wander away from their mother or their den and can make their way back if left alone. Sometimes "rescuing" a cub actually results in separating it from its family and officials advise leaving cubs for 24 to 48 hours before they determine what to do.

The cub is now with Critter Care in Langley, where caretakers are tending to the cub along with 27 other orphaned cubs. Senior animal care technician Nathan Wagstaffe said the cub should be between 70 and 80 pounds. He believes it was orphaned earlier last year and has been barely surviving since then.

"His heart was definitely in the right place but unfortunately his actions were not," Wagstaffe said last Thursday of Robsons delivery of the cub to them rather than allowing a conservation officer to assess and retrieve the cub. "We have to follow protocols the way they are. We can't have the general public just picking up orphan bear cubs."

Knowing the cub will be under Critter Cares supervision and stewardship for up to a year is a relief to Robson, who appreciates the end to the investigation into his actions, but is also wary of what comes next.

"(Dep. Chief Conservation Officer) Chris Doyle commented that the story had taken a life of its own and he was shocked at how many angry people were contacting the conservation service and said they were going to have a meeting about it with the staff to review what happened and see where mistakes were made and try to do better the next time," said Robson.

"But I didnt feel his heart was in changing things in the future -- I didnt think its systemic change for the way conservation treats animals. It was more about how to avoid bad press."

See the article here:
Anmore man who rescued bear cub cleared by BC Conservation | CTV News - CTV News

DENVER The Denver International Airport released new renderings this week of its ongoing gate expansion and the amenities that will be included.

The project will add 39 new gates to the airport, increasing the airports gate capacity by 30%.

Not only will there be new gates, new concessions, lounge seating, nursing rooms and family restrooms, said Alex Renteria, a DIA spokesperson.

Under the design plans, each concourse will also feature an outdoor patio in the secured area so that passengers can get some fresh air without needing to go through TSA again.

The 39 gates will be spread out throughout the three concourses. The new gates will be located at the ends of each concourse. Here is a breakdown of the new gates:

-A-West: 12 gates -B-West: 4 gates -B-East: 7 narrow-body gates -C- East: 16 gates

Along with new gates, each concourse is also getting an outdoor patio installed. The patios will feature a pet relief area, outdoor seating and fire pits.

Holder Construction and FCI Constructors Inc. will work on Concourse B-East and Concourse C-East, and Turner Construction and Flatiron Construction on Concourse A-West and Concourse B-West. HNTB Corp. and Jacobs Engineering Group were contracted for architectural and design services for the project.

B-West will be complete by the end of 2020 and A-West, B-East and C-East will be complete by the end of 2021.

Go here to read the rest:
Denver Int'l Airport's gate renovation will include new outdoor patios at each concourse - The Denver Channel

Posted By Thaddeus McCollum on Tue, Dec 31, 2019 at 12:43 PM

Correction: An earlier version included an inaccurate date. Apologies!

For the past four years, the Punk on the Patio series has been carrying on the tradition of floor shows established by the likes of Bar-BQ-Bar and the Social's old back-door shows. After their fourth anniversary earlier this year, though, they're hanging it up.

The final Punk on the Patio happening Tuesday, Jan. 7 features performances from scene veterans Flashlights, along with more recent newcomers like Chalet Girl, Like Father and No Handouts. The cover includes a free drink to get you started on the celebration/commiseration.

Find out more on the Facebook event page.

8 p.m. | The Patio, 14 W. Washington St. (enter through 64 North, 64 N. Orange Ave.) | foundation-presents.com | $5Get our top picks for the best events in Orlando every Thursday morning. Sign up for our weekly Events newsletter.

Tags: Punk on the Patio, Tuesday January 7, Flashlights, Chalet Girl, Like Father, No Handouts, the patio, Orlando shows, Image

Excerpt from:
Don't miss the final Punk on the Patio, happening Tuesday, Jan. 7 - Orlando Weekly

PHOTO VIA GOOGLE MAPSJust last week CL spottedBackyard Grill and Patiotaking overNueva Cantina's (and Love Artifacts) old stomping grounds at 4918 S. MacDill Ave. in Tampa.

It looks like the restaurant is wasting no time getting up and running, as Backyard Grill is making its debut on Friday, January 10. Local rock band, The Ordeal, will be taking over the outdoor patio to celebrate. In the band's Facebook event, The Ordeal explains that the restaurant's owner is hoping to revive Love Artifacts thesmall neighborhood hangout and music venue that owner Lynn Love created, followed by a call to action:

"The Ordeal will be kicking off this new business with a bang. Come join us in making this new Backyard Grill and patio South Tampa's coolest music venue."

Locals can slide by to kick 2020 off with live local music, new eats, and draft brews on Friday, January 10 from 8 p.m.-midnight.

Want to know everything going on with Tampa Bay's food and drink scene? Sign up for ourBitesnewsletter.

See more here:
New Tampa restaurant Backyard Grill and Patio will open next week - Creative Loafing Tampa

ESCONDIDO When writer, cartoonist and Dykes to Watch Out For creator Alison Bechdel was 19, she came out to her parents as a lesbian. Not long after, Bechdels gay father, Bruce, stepped into the path of a delivery truck and died. The tragedy of her childhood and coming to terms with both her sexuality as well as her fathers apparent suicide is the underpinning of Fun Home, Patio Playhouses upcoming 2020 production.

Fun Home is a Broadway musical based on Bechdels 2006 graphic memoir Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, adapted by Lisa Krone and Jeanine Tesori. Patio Playhouses Artistic Manager Matt Fitzgerald serves as the plays director. Initially drawn to the production by Tesoris score, which he calls fantastic, he also found himself relating on some level to some of the characters.

Its easy as a father to see as unkind as it might sound, to see a little bit of Bruce in myself, and have that egg me on become a better father, a better person, he said, though he feels that he does not go to the same extremes.

Not to normalize (Alisons) story, but the feeling of being an outsider, in high school or in college is, I think, relatable to most people. And thats Middle Alisons story the awkwardness of discovering who you are and relating that to your life.

Bechdel is depicted in three stages of her life by three separate actresses: the child Small Alison (Emma Delaware), the college student Middle Alison (Caitlin Groome) and middle-aged cartoonist Alison (Dani Leandra). Fitzgerald hailed the actresses skills and their effort to inform each other about the character. He said he believes that whatever differences are visible in their respective performances will reflect on the growth of Alison as a person.

To reflect the source materials graphic novel origins, some of the props used in the play will be images drawn by some of the cast, as well as (possibly) pieces of some of Bechdels artwork. Were trying to match her style as best as possible with all of our props and stuff, Fitzgerald said.

The production will serve as Patios second musical in a row after Miracles of the Season, but two key things will set it apart from that production. First, instead of playing pre-recorded tracks, there will be a seven-piece orchestra in the black box theater. Second, there will be alley seating, meaning there will be bleachers set up across from the ordinary seats. Thus, managing the sound became the biggest design challenge of the play.

Fitzgerald says that even if audience members dont relate to Bechdel herself, they can still find meaning and enjoyment in a story about family.

I think theres a lot of people who have found a home in this show, he said. A relatability, particularly those in the LGBT community, specifically young lesbian or bisexual women have found a protagonist in the show they can relate to specifically, rather than generally.

But really, its a difficult but fantastic story with a beautiful score.

The show will play at Patio Playhouses black box theater on Kalmia Street in Escondido from Jan. 17 to Feb. 9, Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m., and Sundays at 2 p.m. Tickets range from $15 to $44.

Alex Wehrung covers Rancho Santa Fe and theatre-related news in North County. He previously reported forThe Daily Nexus in Santa Barbara, CAand the Escondido Times-Advocate in Escondido, CA.

See the rest here:
Patio Playhouse's 'Fun Home' will sing the songs of Alison Bechdel's life - Coast News

Possibilities are unlimited with this amazing, private retreat! Nestled on over 24 wooded, rolling acres, sitting high above the Great River Road with incredible views and sunsets. Conveniently located within 15 minutes of the amenities of Historical Grafton, the conveniences of Alton and access to the Clark Bridge. The main home offers 8,000 sq. feet of finished living space, gorgeous handscraped, exotic hardwood flooring, full kitchens on 2 levels, built in hot tub and sauna, full bar, central vac, radiant floor heat, solarium with humidity control, 3 fireplaces, 3 car att. garage, huge main floor laundry area, sunroom, numerous patios & balconies with phenomenal views, it overlooks the 1 acre stocked pond, and just beyond that, on the 2nd parcel (PIN#01-396-009-00)you'll find the 5 are stocked lake! But wait...there's more!! The detached 4 car garage, built in 1995, also offers a 2 bedroom guest house! Opportunities like this don't happen often! Welcome to your new DREAM HOME!

View Listing

Continue reading here:
Big Homes Just Listed in the St. Louis Area - STLtoday.com

Houstons restaurant scene is huge and there is no shortage of fun, family-friendly restaurants around town. Sometimes you just want to kick back and relax while the kids eat and play.

Weve rounded up the best restaurants in Houston with a playground, make sure you visit them all.

Here is our full Guide to Restaurants with Playgrounds in Houston:

Crisp Heights- This gastro pub offers pizza and Italian-fusion bites, plus they have an outdoor patio great for kids. They dont have a playground but theres a fountain, a ping pong table, and cornhole.

Little Matts- This unique burger restaurant has picnic seating, game tablets, a candy shop, and an arcade. They also offer chicken wings, personal pizzas, and more on the menu.

Betsys at Evelyns Park- If you want an awesome playground, why not go to a park? This park in Bellaire has a restaurant and coffee shop on the same property. There isnt an actual playground but the kids will love the walk-up slides. Plus, there is plenty of room to run and its close enough to keep an eye on the kids while you eat. Bring your camera- there is also an awesome sculpture installation based on Alice in Wonderland.

Lake House- This counter-serve restaurant has an outdoor patio right inside Discovery Green. They are located by the fountains so the kids can play in the water while you eat.

Christians Tailgate- This restaurant has three locations in Houston. Their West University location has a small arcade and an outdoor playground. Make sure to order a milkshake!

Lupe Tortilla- This Texas-native restaurant has multiple locations around Houston, and many of them have an outdoor playground. The playgrounds are in a sandbox so know before you go.

Preslees-This new Heights restaurant on 19th St. has an outdoor patio with tons of stuff for kids to play with, including swings/hammocks, a mini-playground for toddlers, a pedal car, ping pong, cornhole, and more.

Chick-fil-A-Sure, it might be fast food, but Chick-fil-A is always a favorite with kids and adults alike. There are numerous locations all across Houston, and most of the restaurants have an indoor playground.

Jimmy Changas- All of the Jimmy Changas locations, from Katy to Pearland, have a playground! There are four locations in Houston, all with a Jimmys Jungle.

Yard House- This outdoor beer garden and restaurant doesnt actually have a playground but one visit and youll see why its on the list. They have a huge, outdoor area with lawn chairs, green space, and hammocks. They offer their eclectic menu for lunch, dinner, and late-night dining.

Lupe Tortilla- This Texas-native restaurant has multiple locations around Houston, all of them with an outdoor playground. All of the playgrounds are in a sandbox so know before you go.

Beavers West- Enjoy room to run plus play equipment at this restaurant on Westheimer. They have a great menu and a fun atmosphere, great for singles and families.

Live Oak Grill- This restaurant has one location in Houston- in Sugar Land. Each location has a spacious patio with room for kids to move around, picnic-style seating,

Casa Ole- Casa Ole has several locations in Houston but there is only one left with a sandbox! Bring a towel for the car, youll need it! This location is on Highway 6 North at Yorktown Crossing.

Creekwood Grill- Located in Cypress, this restaurant has a playground and great food. They also offer kids eat free on Wednesday nights!

La Hacienda- This Cypress-area restaurant is huge and has an even bigger playground. The towering structure is great for kids aged 3 and up. They will also enjoy the indoor and outdoor patio seating.

Jimmy Changas- All of the Jimmy Changas locations, from Katy to Pearland, have a playground! There are four locations in Houston, all with a Jimmys Jungle.

Las Ventanas Tex Mex- This spacious Tex-Mex eatery offers a small childrens play area. There is plenty of room on the patio so you can keep a close eye on the bubs, plus delicious drinks and food.

The Original Shack Burger Resort- This outdoor restaurant offers a huge play space, complete with games, a sandbox, and more. They sometimes have live music and the food is always good.

The Backyard Grill- This Cypress-area restaurant has a small sandbox on the patio for kids. The patio is screened in during bad weather. Theres also a tree, adorned with fairy lights, right in the middle of the restaurant! The kids will love it.

Clays- This restaurant in West Houston has a large play area with turf grass as well as a petting zoo! You can sit inside or outside without worrying about the kids.

Lupe Tortilla- This Texas-native restaurant has multiple locations around Houston, all of them with an outdoor playground. All of the playgrounds are in a sandbox so know before you go.

Drix Restaurant & Lounge- This Katy-area wine bar and restaurant has an entire room set aside just for kids! Youll want to check on the kids frequently because you wont be able to see them from outside of the playground but you can easily see who is coming and going.

Did we miss one? Name your favorite local restaurant with a playground in the comments below:

Link:
A Guide to Restaurants with Playgrounds in Houston - Houston On The Cheap

Fancy a new patio, bed or border, or maybe its time to make that veg plot a reality? Hannah Stephenson offers design ideas to help get you started.

The New Year is a great time for turning over a new leaf and planning a new look for your garden.

You can sit inside in the warm, sketch possible shapes and sizes of lawns, beds and borders, and maybe even contemplate a new patio.

Heres some inspiration for getting started

Tackling steep gardens

Dealing with a steep garden can pose problems (Hannah Stephenson/PA)

My own garden needs some careful thought as its on a steep hill but I havent got round to terracing it into sections, as that would require major digging work and all the expense that goes with it.

The trouble with steep gardens is that if you want level planting areas, you can create terraces but you are likely to need a specialist to build the necessary retaining walls. However, if you decide to go ahead, it can mean endless possibilities, as such walls can include steps, water features and split-level flowerbeds.

Dealing with difficult shapes

Use trellis and climbing plants to separate different areas of the garden (iStock/PA)

You, too, may have a difficult garden which doesnt have a uniform, rectangular shape, but while you are planning, bear in mind these basic guidelines.

The key to an interesting garden is to be able to move through it, and everything should not be visible at a single glance. Its great to provide surprises by creating trellises or other borders, which will divide a garden into individual areas.

Softening borders

Soften gardens with curved borders (iStock/PA)

If you have a square plot, this may seem almost impossible, but you can soften boundaries with climbing plants. It is also a good idea to base the whole garden on a circular pattern, whether it be with a circular lawn or paved area, with soft curved borders providing eye-catching colour and detail.

If you have a town garden with an unsightly view of, say, an industrial building, or you are overlooked by neighbours, you could think about planting a tree or a climbing plant on trellis in a strategic position, to enhance privacy and create a pleasing sight for the eye.

Tackling narrow and wide gardens

People with wide gardens which are not very long should never place a focal point on the opposite boundary, as this will only emphasise the gardens shortness.You can create eye-catching surprises like this water feature in odd-shaped gardens (iStock/PA)

Instead, place eye-catching points from corner to corner, arranging a viewing point in one corner and planting the borders, so the eye automatically goes to the other corner.

Long, narrow gardens can also cause headaches, but such a plot can be divided effectively by creating a meandering path in an S shape, using plantings so that each curve you take brings you to another surprise.

Make a plan

There are a number of garden apps which will help you do this, includingiScape (iOS), a great way to visualise how your garden could look. The app lets you take a photo of yourgarden, render it into 3D, then drag and drop features onto it, including plants, trees, ponds and ground cover such as grass and gravel.

Whatever online help youre offered, make a list of what you want in your garden will you be growing vegetables, making your own compost, investing in a greenhouse, or would you rather it consisted mainly of pretty pots and borders of colour?

If you are short of space, you may have to compromise on your initial wish list, rather than trying to cram everything in and not being able to move.

Also consider how much time you are going to have to spend maintaining your garden. If you have a full-time job, it may not be wise to have masses of beds and borders and a huge lawn, which will need high-maintenance upkeep.

Sketch it out

Always design a new garden on paper first, as though you are looking down on the garden. Measure the shape and dimensions, scale it down to suit the size of your paper and draw in your house first, making sure it is at the correct angle in relation to the garden.

Pick up ideas for new garden design by visiting public gardens, or flick through magazines and books to findpictures which may well correspond to the shape and size of your garden.

[readmore][/readmore]

Read more here:
Want to redesign your garden for 2020? Heres how to give it a go yourself - Irish Examiner

If youve been to Mexican spot Mission or Hawthorne on U Street, youre familiar with the Mission Group mentality: lively bars with frequent food-and-drink happy hours and tons of no-fee event spaces. Co-founders Fritz Broganand ReedLandryare sticking to the same formula for the newest addition to their restaurant family, the Admiral, a seafood spot opening today in Dupont Circle.

While Mission is all about tequila, the Admirals drink of choice is bourbon. Specifically, 75 different types of American whiskey. If you prefer brews over booze, a dozen draft lines are pouring classics like Pacifico, Stella Artois, and Sam Adams as well as two draft cocktails.Still riding the hard seltzer train? The bar serves both Truly and White Claw.

Keeping in step with the Admirals sister spots, happy hour is daily with both food and drink specials. The first session from 4 PM to 7 PM features half-price oyster platters, $7 draft cocktails, and select beers for $5 or $8. On Thursday through Saturday starting at 11 PM there are more half-price bivalves in addition to shot specialsliquid courage to dance to the DJ.

The restaurants name is in homage to Admiral Samuel Francis Du Pont (you may be familiar with a certain circle also named in tribute). For chef Roberto Hernandez, the moniker beget the menu. It was like: Admiral. Navy. Seafood. Ocean. Thats the road weve got to take, says Hernandez.

The nautical menu is the marriage of seafood plates and global pub favorites. Hernandez looked to New England for a buttery lobster roll on a potato bun. Dishes like jambalaya and hushpuppies are pulled from the south. Jumbo lump crab dip gratin is a tribute to the Mid-Atlantic, and oysters at the raw bar are sourced from Virginia.

Theres also plenty of land-loving bar snacks like brisket sliders, bourbon BBQ chicken wings, and french fries made in-house. The restaurant is opening with a preview menu until December 24 and will unveil the full offerings on December 26.

The restaurants pice de rsistance is a massive 200-seat outdoor patio with its own bar, lounge area, and event space. While the patio is currently winterized the team is exploring adding heaters for cold weather.

In the meantime, you can pull up a chair indoors. Like the menu, the decor plays on the seafaring theme with navy banquettes and light-washed wood. Eighteen flat screen TVs are scattered across the space, which means the bar can play both the big game and the big political showdown (it is Washington, after all).

Bottomless brunch will be available on weekends in January 2020.

The Admiral. 1 Dupont Circle., NW.

Join the conversation!

Daniella joined Washingtonian in August 2018. She is a University of Wisconsin-Madison grad and lives in Logan Circle.

Read the original post:
The Admiral Opens In Dupont Circle With Daily Oyster Happy Hour And A Massive Patio - Washingtonian

Carl R Staub

AVON LAKE, Ohio -- The stately brick colonial at 31940 Lake Rd. has everything you could ask for in a lake house: a grand two-tier patio with views of the Cleveland skyline, dock access for your boat, and plenty of space inside and out for entertaining,

"This home has incredible curb appeal, quality finishes and a great floor plan," says Howard Hanna listing agent Kim Crane. "The lake access is amazing and really sets this apart from other lakefront homes. With over 10,000 square feet of living space this home is also an incredible value for the price tag."

Built in 2006, the home has 3 bedrooms, 5.5 bathrooms and huge finished walkout lower level. On the market for just a couple of weeks, the home is available for $1,950,000.

Keep on reading for more photos and information about the home.

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

See the full listing

Address: 31940 Lake Road

City: Avon Lake

Price: $1,950,000

Square footage: 10,381

Year built: 2006

No. bedrooms: 3

No. bathrooms: 5.5

Lot size: 0.91 acre

School district: Avon Lake City School District

Real estate agent and contact info: Kim Crane, Howard Hanna

p: (440) 333-6500

e: kim@kimcranehomes.com

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

The living spaces on the main level feature tall ceilings, Brazilian cherry hardwood floors, and wood moldings and trim.

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

The sun room, with accessed from the family and dining rooms, is covered in oak and has a slate floor.

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

The kitchen features cherry cabinets, granite counters, tin ceiling, breakfast area, bar and butler's pantry.

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

The office has an atrium with an additional workspace on the second level.

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Bedrooms and bathrooms

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

The first-floor master suite comes with lakefront views, en-suite bathroom and a spiral staircase down to the lower level.

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

The two upstairs bedrooms share a Jack-and-Jill bathroom.

Carl R Staub

Finished basement

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

From the listing: "The walkout lower level is finished and includes a family/media room with a fireplace, three rec rooms, a full kitchen, two full baths, ample storage space, and patio access."

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Outdoor spaces

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

The outdoor space includes a multi-level patio with several seating options, 180-degree views of the lake and walkway down to the dock and shoreline.

Carl R Staub

Carl R Staub

For more information on 31940 Lake Rd. in Avon Lake, contact Kim Crane, Howard Hanna at (440) 333-6500 or kim@kimcranehomes.com.

Originally posted here:
Brick colonial with amazing lake access in Avon Lake asks $1.95M: House of the Week - cleveland.com