This Week in London

[6-min read] Meet your local Artist: Bill

Hello London!

As we kick off this week, I am excited to introduce the new section "Local Artist Spotlight" where we'll look into the creative world of a local artisan, showcasing their unique talents in photography, furniture-making, stained glass, painting, and more.

And, in line with our evolving spirit, we've renamed the newsletter to Forest City Digest. This change aims to better reflect the newsletter's focus on London, ON, and its commitment to serving you, our valued community.

The world is a wonderful place, let’s learn more about it.

— Enrique Banuelos

LOCAL ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: BILL STEPHENS

This painting captures the quiet beauty of Bellamere Winery - a popular location for Weddings and events.  The original painting is still available for purchase.

Bill Stephens is a watercolour and ink artist from Dorchester, Ontario. He captures the essence of his travels through meticulously detailed paintings. Inspired by architectural beauty, Bill's work invites viewers to experience the places he encounters, often featuring historically significant buildings at risk of modernization.

Looking for more art by Bill? 🌍️ Website 😀 Facebook 📷️ Instagram

DAD JOKE

All I did was tell the server what I wanted. He suddenly turned to the table next to mine, grabbed the plate of the women sitting there, and ran out of the room.

All I said was “Caesar Salad”

TRIVA

Question: What is the only bird that can fly backward? Answer ⬇️ 

THINGS TO DO

London Farm Show 🐮 
WED/FRI March 5-7, $17+ (Details)
@ Western Fair District, 316 Rectory Street
Over 300 exhibitors and 230,000 square feet of show space, showcasing the latest in agricultural technology & equipment.

Free Family Gun Night at The Children’s Museum 🧸 
THUR March 6, (Free) (Details)
@ London Children’s Museum, 100 Kellogg Ln
TD Free Family Fun Night is an opportunity for families to enjoy an evening of free admission, made possible by our friends at TD.

Cowboy Bebop - Anime at the Hyland (Movie) ❄️ 
FRI March 7, $17 (Details)
@ Hyland Cinema 240 Wharncliffe Rd S
The March entry in their bi-monthly Anime series is the iconic Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (2001)! Playing for One Show Only at the Hyland.

Brooms & Brews 🧹 🍺 
SAT March 8, 6PM, $35 (Details)
@ London Curling Club & Highland Community Curling Club
During the first hour, our coaches will be on the ice to provide instruction and help you get started. During the second hour, everyone will be split into teams of 4 and play a short just-for-fun game against one another.

London Book Fair & Crafters Market 📖 ✂️ 
SAT March 8, 10:30AM-3:30PM(Free) (Details)
@ Centennial Hall, 550 Wellington St.
40+ vendors showcasing a diverse range of local authors, publishers, books, crafts, and unique handmade items

Snowshoeing at Westminster Ponds ❄️ 
SAT/SUN March 8/9, (Free) (Details)
@ Westminster Ponds, 944 Western Counties Rd
Free snowshoeing in the Westminster Ponds, weather permitting, every Saturday (11AM -1PM) and Sunday (1PM - 3PM). Snowshoes provided and self-guided trails.

Freeform Conscious Dance Event 💃 
SUN March 9, 2-4PM, $20 (Details)
@ 23 Heather Crescent (Adjacent to KELCO Engineering)
Join us to MOVE, dance, and feel! THE MOVEMENT is a freeform conscious dance event with epic music and great people. The only goal is to move your body and be present with what you feel.

Beginner’s Photography Class 📷️ 
SUN March 9, 10AM-1PM, $105 (Details)
@ Clarence St
Explore the basics of focal length and distortion in this hands-on beginner's photography class. Learn how different lenses affect your composition and perspective, and how to control distortion for better images.

Funny Face Photo Booth GIF by Working Title

Chess Tournament ♟️ 
MON March 10, 6PM, (Free) (Details)
@ 1001 Fanshawe College Boulevard
Fuel Esports presents a Chess Tournament for current Fanshawe College students. The tournament will take place in Forwell Hall, inside the Student Union Building (SUB).

Zumba Session 🏃 
MON March 10, 7PM, (Free) (Details)
@ PFG Mechanix, 232 Wharncliffe Road South
In this Zumba class, participants will learn the energetic and dynamic movements of Zumba, a vibrant Brazilian dance style. Registration required.

Legendary Creatures Reptile Exhibit 🐍 
WED March 12, $5 (Details)
@ Heeman’s, 20422 Nissouri Road
Our friends at Southwest Pet are bringing a scaly squad. This is your chance to get up close and personal with some pretty legendary creatures.

beautiful chameleon face

London Toy & Collectibles Expo 🪀 
SUN March 9, 9:30AM-2:30PM, $5+ (Details)
@ Centennial Hall, 550 Wellington St.
The London Toy & Collectibles Expo will feature a diverse selection of vendors offering comics, vinyl records, music memorabilia, retro video games, and other collectibles.

Mark Stebbins: Supersampler 🖼️ 
FEB 15 -AUG 17, (Free) (Details)
@ Museum London - Interior Gallery, 421 Ridout Street North
Supersampler is an exhibition featuring a decade’s worth of work by London-based painter, Mark Stebbins. Inspired by the history of image making, digital media and textiles.

Extreme Dogs Show 🐕️ 
TUES March 11, 2PM, $25 (Details)
@ Western Fair Agriplex, 845 Florence St
These loveable Canine will captivate, inspire a wow the crowd from start to finish. They've been stars for NFL, CFL, NBA Halftime shows along with major events.

Bernese Mountain Dog at a dog show in Newtownards, Northern Ireland

London Singles Walk/Hike (Ages 35+) 🚶 🚶‍♀️ 
SAT March 8, 2-4PM, $25 (Details)
@ BackRoads Brews + Shoes1295 Riverbend Rd
Join us for a 60-minute walk/hike through the picturesque paths of Riverbend and Kains Woods. After the hike, stick around for drinks and snacks to keep the good vibes going!

Emilio's A Million Chameleons Puppet Show 🦎 
WED March 12, $30+ (Details)
@ Port Stanley Festival Theatre, 302 Bridge Street
Direct from Off Broadway... Emilio is excited to bring you his circus act with a million chameleons to entertain you with music, magic, and amazement.

COMEDY & ENTERTAINMENT

Comedy Night at Anderson Ales 🤣 
THURS March 6, 7PM, $15+ (Details)
@ Anderson Craft Ales, 1030 Elias Street
Comedy Night returns to Anderson Craft Ales Thursday March 6th, with a tremendous line-up of comedians set to perform. Get ready for a night of comedy that is totally bananas!

The Goonies 40th Anniversary (Movie) 🎥 
SAT/TUES March 8/11, $17 (Details)
@ Hyland Cinema 240 Wharncliffe Rd S
See the iconic adventure film on its 40th Anniversary at the Hyland as a part of their Everyone's a Kid Series!

Raging Bull (Movie) 🎥 
SUN March 9, 7:15PM, $17 (Details)
@ Hyland Cinema 240 Wharncliffe Rd S
Hyland Cinema celebrates Martin Scorsese with Marty March Madness, featuring iconic films like Raging Bull on its 45th anniversary, kicking off a series of legendary works.

Julie Kim - Doing Too Much Tour 🤣 
SUN March 9, 7PM, $43 (Details)
@ Wolf Performance Hall, 251 Dundas Street
Julie Kim is a top Canadian stand-up comedian. She toured North America with Ronny Chieng and performed at major comedy festivals, including Just for Laughs.

Gee Gethiga: All Gas No Brakes 🤣 
SUN March 9, 7PM, $20 (Details)
@ Poacher's Arms, 171 Queens Avenue
London Entertainer of the year Gee Gethiga headlines a special one night only show at London Yuks Yuks.

CAREER

Fanshawe College Job Fair with the Canadian Coast Guard ⚓️ 
WED March 5, 9AM-2PM, (Free) (Details)
@ 1001 Fanshawe College Boulevard
Come meet our team, discover challenging careers at sea and on land, and learn more about our critical missions for maritime safety and environmental protection.

RNLI training off Teignmouth

Outside the Box Career Opportunities 👩‍🦱 🌳 
THUR March 6, 1-4PM, (Free) (Details)
@ Innovation Village, 1001 Fanshawe College Boulevard
Women in Landscaping is coming to Fanshawe College. Explore unique career paths that you never knew existed. Meet professionals who have taken unconventional routes to success.

MARCH BREAK CAMPS

Art Camp for Kids 🧑‍🎨 
March 10-14, $70/Day (Details)
@ 505 Village Green Ave, Westmount
Classes will include three art activities a day. Some of the projects are clay, pastels, watercolour, acrylic, lots of drawing and so much more.

Dance Camp for Kids 💃 
March 10-14, $55/Day (Details)
@ 725 Notre Dame Dr
Campers will enjoy fun and exciting dance steps to popular music along with Inside Out-themed camp activities, games, and crafts. Dance Extreme March break camps are perfect for current dancers, new dancers and children with no dance experience.

Karate Camp for Kids 🥋 
March 10-14, $175/week (Details)
@ 1225 Wonderland Rd
No special equipment or martial arts experience needed to have a great time at Family Karate camps!

MUSIC

Opera at Western: The Magic Flute 🎵 
THUR-SUN March 6-9, $40+ (Details)
@ Paul Davenport Theatre, Western
Mozart's last—and often deemed best—opera is The Magic Flute. This comic tale is a timeless adventure: save the princess! Serpents and sorcerers, trials and temptations beleaguer our bumbling heroes in their quests to find true love.

Magisterra At The Museum 🎹 
THURS March 6, 7PM, $38+ (Details)
@ Western Fair District - Agriplex 845 Florence Street
Magisterra Soloists invite you to an evening of piano trio delights.

AHEE - wubcraft tour @ System Saturdays 🎵 
SAT March 8, 10PM, $27 (Details)
@ Rum Runners, 178 Dundas Street
AHEE's "Wubcraft" Tour live show is an electrifying experience that combines dubstep, drum and bass, and other genres into a cohesive, high-energy performance, known for its infectious positive vibes.

Dreamer - 'The Supertramp Experience' 🎵 
SAT March 8, 8PM, (Free) (Details)
@ Centennial Hall, 550 Wellington St.
Dreamer - "The Supertramp Experience" delivers a world-class show that includes authentic instrumentation, including vintage keyboards and live horns.

Our Lady Peace 30th Anniversary Tour 🎵 
SAT March 8, 7PM, $73+ (Details)
@ Canada Life Place, 99 Dundas Street
Featuring the new single “Sound The Alarm”—this tour will be a powerful tribute to the band's three-decade legacy and an unforgettable experience for fans both old and new.

Jane Bunnet 🎵 
FRI March 7, 8PM, $38+ (Details)
@ Wolf Performance Hall, 251 Dundas St.
Sunfest invites you to immerse yourself in the phenomenal jazz stylings of Jane Bunnett: Warm winds of Cuba, featuring Magic Sax Quartet, Orlando “Maraca” Valle & Maqueque.

TRIVA

Question: What is the only bird that can fly backward?
Answer: The Hummingbird!
Hummingbirds are capable of flying in any direction, including backward, due to their unique physiology, which allows them to rotate their wings in a figure-eight pattern.1

Your insights matter. If you have suggestions, or feedback, email me. I’ll read it!

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