Marrakech Mansion
129 Victoria - 108 Johnson L0S1J0 Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON, Canada

Fran and I spent the last week in Casablanca Cottage. When not painting chairs of steam cleaning carpets we did a little touring. The ice dome in front of the American Falls is spectacular. On Sunday the area around The Falls crowded. We went back mid week, the crowds were gone.

It was a beautiful day in niagara on the Lake today. My wife and I are staying for a few days and I am getting a few jobs done. Lunch outside on Queen street. Wonderful weather!

Renovations underway at the Post House Inn. Kiddy corner to Casablanca Cottage.

Not your normal Niagara on the Lake history.

Not Niagara but from our Museum

Lots of parking!

Happy New Year everyone.

Lovely photos of a quiet town.

Great job by all.

A short walk from Marrakech Mansion and in the middle of the Golf course. Seldom visited but well worth a walk over.

I just reviewed the web site on the restoration and it is amazing. Sixty years of neglect is being turned back on this great old house on Mississauga Street. Continuing on from this project is a wealth of information on houses in Niagara on the Lake. Why did it take me so long to find it!

A great spot for lunch on The Bench. Good beer too!

Want to get away this winter but not to the USA? Why not Niagara on the Lake? The region is in the Orange Zone for COVID so restaurants are open with reduced seating, shops on Queen street are open and wineries are doing tastings. I was in Lakeview estates last Friday and folks were outside on Muskoka chairs with a propane fire and blankets on their knees. Looked very inviting. But let me get to the point. Stay a month in Casablanca Cottage your cost $4,000 plus tax. A month in Marrakech Mansion $4,500.00 plus tax. Can't stay a month? Two weeks in Casablanca $2,400.00 + tax. The Mansion $2650.00 + tax. Pets and cleaning extra. This deal good January until the end of April.

Yesterday in Niagara on the Lake. Bob and I out the Christmas trees up indoors and decorated the urns. Ready for your visit.

The ongoing discussion continues regarding cottage rental licensing. Read what two previous guests had to say.

The Lake Report featured an interview with the mayor and letters from two guests who have stayed at both houses. The link below will take you to the paper and below that is the editors email should you want to make your feeling known. https://lakereport.ca [email protected]

A night of joy from The Shaw Festival.

The town of Niagara on the Lake is proposing changes to the licensing of short term rentals. One of those proposals is that all cottage rentals take place out of an owners principal residence. My houses are not principal residences neither are most others. If this passes cottage rentals as we know them will be history. I encourage you to go to the town web site and post your comments. That link is below. https://www.jointheconversationnotl.org/short-term-rentals-

Taking time today to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. #lestweforget

Why am I never in town when chef Jason does a great special?

Keep your eyes open tonight!

Happening now in Niagara on the Lake.

The Mansion featured in Donald’s daily photo. I love the shadows.

Another cancelation. Stay safe folks.

Every day is a great day for a buggy ride in Niagara on the Lake.

Originally built for the movie The Dead Zone now a landmark in our town.

Wow love this shot!

Fall was in the air today but the flowers at Marrakech Mansion are still looking great.

On Saturday, September 12, staff and volunteers from Old Fort Niagara will canoe up the Niagara River carrying trade goods bound for Le Magazin Royal. Ceremoni...es commemorating the 300th anniversary of the French trading post will begin at 11:00 am at Artpark. The ceremony will be followed by a reenactment of the landing of Louis-Thomas Chabert de Joncaire and his men. For more information and to register, visit https://www.magazinroyal300.org/. Due to social distancing requirements, only 175 persons who pre-register will be admitted for the day. See more

The best reds in Niagara!

Want to go South for a month? - https://mailchi.mp//three-nights-for-the-price-of-two-in-f

A great day in Niagara on the Lake. The buggies kept on coming as we were mowing and trimming.

I will be heading there in about a half hour to cut grass.

Marrakech Mansion and Casablanca Cottage today.

At Marrakech Mansion today. Down town Niagara on the Lake

Our country and Victoria Street have lost a great actor and neighbour.

10 years in the making! The trumpet vine at Casablanca Cottage is in bloom. These are the first blooms. Lovin it!

Based on the Province of Ontario’s framework for reopening businesses and the further extension of the State of Emergency, it is clear that the Shaw Festival is... not able to proceed with the season as scheduled. As a result, The Shaw must cancel all performances and public events through September 15. The further delay has forced the Festival to cancel most of the 2020 productions. All 2020 performances of Gypsy, The Devil’s Disciple, Sherlock Holmes and The Raven’s Curse, Prince Caspian, The Playboy of the Western World, Assassins, Desire Under the Elms, Trouble in Mind and Me and My Girl are cancelled. We are all hungry for the special way that theatre allows us to join together and share a unique experience, said Tim Carroll, Artistic Director. Everyone in the company had been looking forward to bringing you a truly special season. It’s devastating to have had to put the season on hold; but I am determined that our audience will see as much of it as possible as soon as it is safe to share it with them. We have decided to remain optimistic and hopeful about presenting an abbreviated fall or holiday season, not only for ourselves and our audiences, but for the whole community of Niagara, said Tim Jennings, Executive Director/CEO. With that in mind, we are in the process of seeing what kind of reduced performance schedule we could offer. As one of the primary tourism and economic generators for the Niagara Region, we are keenly aware of the $220 million in economic impact The Shaw normally drives to the Region and the thousands of jobs that are reliant on us. Our theatres are in the heart of downtown Niagara-on-the-Lake and a schedule featuring Charley’s Aunt, Flush and A Christmas Carol might afford what we feel is the best way to help our community get back on its feet as soon as it is safe to do so. The question now is one of being able to do that safely and we await word from the Government and public health agencies on a variety of issues to ensure that is possible. Performances of Charley’s Aunt, Flush and A Christmas Carol after September 16 have not yet been cancelled in the hopes that The Shaw can safely welcome audiences into reduced-capacity theatres. The Festival will announce details of protocols and safety measures in the coming weeks, in conjunction with guidance from Public Health and the Town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Festival will continue to follow and exceed the directives of the local, provincial and federal governments and Canadian public health agencies. The Festival will announce details of any updated fall and holiday schedule in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, tickets for Charley’s Aunt, Flush and A Christmas Carol continue to be available online at www.shawfest.com. This truncated season will only happen if it is deemed safe by the Government and public health agencies to gather in the reduced capacity theatres. At this time, the Shaw Festival administrative and box offices are closed until further notice. In the meantime, ticket holders to cancelled performances will have the full value of their tickets held on their account. A team of box office representatives is working remotely to contact ticket holders to discuss options such as leaving money on account for future exchanges, converting the ticket value to a charitable donation or issuing a refund. In the meantime, patrons can visit shawfest.com for more information and direct any ticket-related questions to [email protected].

Views of 108 Johnson Street (Casablanca Cottage) then and now. Note the new dormer on the front, the porch opened up the back door moved from the side to the rear. Does anyone know the make and maybe year of the car so we can get an idea when these were taken.

Casablanca Cottage in the shadows.

Discounted August stays in Casablanca Cottage - https://mailchi.mp//three-nights-for-the-price-of-two-in-f

What to do in Niagara on the Lake. Interesting how they found images to use from every season.

The big Ash tree at Marrakech mansion was treated this week for Ash borer. This is one Ash the borer will not get!

Marrakech Mansion today. Flowers looking great. Bob was repainting lawn chairs too!

We often get many questions this time of year about our horses working in the summer heat. Its wonderful that people care as much about our horses as we do, so ...we would like to share what we do to keep our horses healthy in the summer months. Our carriage stands (pick up and drop off point) is in the shade for most of the day. Most of the streets are shade covered as well. So the drivers do their best to pick the shadiest streets for the tour. Plus there is usually a nice cool lake breeze by the water, so you will often find us there on our rides. Our carriage stand has a water spigot, so we can make sure the horses have access to fresh, clean and cool water throughout the day. We offer water after every ride and throughout the day. Every horse has different drinking habits, so they may not drink every time water is offered to them. With this spigot we can also hose the horses off to help keep them cool as needed The horses are also given breaks in between rides. This break time can vary depending on the horse. Drivers and ground staff monitor the horses physical response to the heat. This includes sweating, respitory rate, heart rate, bathroom habits and hydration levels. Some sweating is absolutely normal. If a horse has excessive sweating, inability to catch their breath and elevated heart rate they would be cooled with water and returned to the barn for the day. Electrolytes are added to the horses water to keep an optimal level of hydration. We don't push our horses to go fast. We let them pick the pace they are comfortable with. Some horses natural gait is faster then others. It's the horses personal preference and doesn't indicate if the horse is hot or tired. If temperatures and humidity is very high we will change our shift hours to work in the cooler parts of the day. For example, mornings and evenings Drivers will also bring treats for the horses. Example would be frozen apple sauce pouches. Of course this depends on the horses pallettes, some can be quite picky! In the 25+ years of having and working horses we have never had a horse suffer heat exhaustion, overheating, dehydration or anything else related to heat. We pride ourselves in our care for our horses and do whatever we can to keep them healthy.

The fence is painted as is the front porch, the weeds have been burn out of the front walk and I have finally figured out the light timers. We are ready for guests at Marrakech Mansion.

Niagara on the Lake is open for business - https://mailchi.mp//three-nights-for-the-price-of-two-in-f

Media Release - #NOTL to Advance to Stage 2 of Provincial Recovery: bit.ly/30WErHZ

7 am at Marrakech Mansion. Enjoying a quiet coffee on the porch. The clock tower bell just chimed.

The Government of Ontario advised today that Cottage rentals are allowed. We are open for business. Lots of weeks are available to rent this summer. Call me!

Casablanca Cottage and Marrakech Mansion are open for business - https://mailchi.mp//three-nights-for-the-price-of-two-in-f

Niagara on the Lake today. Mini herb gardens have been delivered and installed with their own sprinkler head. Ready for the cooks to arrive and add them to their creations. This Columbine was happily flowering for only the gardener (me) to see.

Beautiful voice, lovely person. We met him in Value Mart shortly after a play he acted in.

Being delivered tomorrow.

Great news. The Town of Niagara on the Lake we thank you.

Bob and I had a busy week in Niagara on the Lake getting ready for guests. (no opening date yet sorry). I pressure washed the fence at Marrakech mansion in preparation for paint. I washed the grime off of the wooden decks at both houses and we jacked up the front porch to replace the rotten pillar bases at Casablanca Cottage. The photo with Bob was before the 2x6 broke and we doubled it up!

Niagara on the Lake is starting to open up.

Another great reason to visit Niagara on the Lake

Looks like the Shaw has found a great young actress.

Me of my favourite restaurants, maybe my favourite! Congratulations you guys.

While we cannot rent the houses yet at least the town is open to visitors.

All quiet on Queen Street.

Niagara on the Lake and The Shaw Festival - https://mailchi.mp//three-nights-for-the-price-of-two-in-f

Please support this great local business.

Here at The Angel Inn, we are remembering all the Nova Scotia Angels! Sending our positive thoughts, energy and prayers to you Nova Scotia! #staysafeeveryone #novascotiaangels

All quiet in the old town.

Although we are closed due to COVID-19 our Superintendent Mike Magwood has been doing a fabulous job keeping the course looking good and ready for when we can re-open! Anyone else itching to golf? #notlgolf #stripes #notl #golf #covid

The Muskoka chairs are out, the daffodils are up but nobody is there to enjoy them. Stay safe and visa NOTL when COVID-19 is under control.

Thank you Willow cakes and bakery

Jalapeño mac and cheese is my invention they hah the. Mac and cheese I got them to add the Jalapeños. It is so good!

I got 6 out of ten