Andrew Hawlitzky, Author at Niagara Now

Sports: Wolves beat Wolves 4-2 in March Break Classic final

A third-period surge carried NOTL #2 to a 4-2 win over NOTL #1 in the U13 championship game, closing the three-day competition that drew teams from across Ontario.

Navy Hall pours one out for U.S. bourbon, Canadian whisky soars amid tariffs

As supply pressures on U.S. bourbon push Canadian drinkers toward domestic options, folks at the Navy Hall last Sunday got a taste of some of those options.

‘Without women, we would be nowhere’: NOTL’s women celebrate International Women’s Day

Across the park, women spoke about the people who shaped them, often naming mothers, daughters, mentors and colleagues while reflecting on how expectations for women have shifted across generations. “As women we should respect each other and allow every generation to become stronger and better than the last,” said Elaine Sonoda.

Raising a glass to women at Inniskillin

An International Women’s Day tasting at Inniskillin’s Niagara-on-the-Lake winery put women in the spotlight Sunday, pairing a guided wine experience with conversations about the many roles women play across the winemaking industry.

Team Wine wins 19th Caps, Corks and Forks tiebreaker at Niagara College

A sold-out room of 250 guests cast corks and caps course by course Saturday night at Niagara College’s NOTL campus, where Team Wine broke a 9–9 deadlock to win the 19th Caps, Corks and Forks.

PHOTOS: Packed pub takes in Canada’s ‘heartbreaker’ loss against U.S. in Olympics men’s hockey final

It was broken hearts abound at the Sandtrap Pub and Grill, as patrons who came to watch the Olympics men’s hockey final were met with the crushing disappointment of Canada’s 2-1 loss against the United States.

Queenston Pottery shares love of sculpting with Valentine’s Day class

A lump of clay took shape as a pair of cats at Queenston Pottery as the studio ran a Valentine’s Day sculpting workshop with a morning family session and an evening date-night version with wine and charcuterie.

Wine, Chocolate and Cheese passport offering a bevy of tastings until March 8

On Valentine’s Day at Ravine Vineyard, reserved tasting slots kept staff busy through Valentine’s Day as a multi-weekend wine, chocolate and cheese passport began across Niagara wine country.

Volunteers collect 679 pounds of pet food at Valentines Day drive for Newark Neighbours

Boxes of donated pet food, cat litter and pet beds were stacked up inside a Virgil garage last Saturday, where volunteers ran their second annual Valentine’s Day pet food drive for Newark Neighbours food bank clients.

NOTL Museum outlines $2M expansion plan at open house

If locals want to enjoy Free February at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Museum, there’s no time like the present, because next February, the museum will be undergoing extensive renovations.

Mayor’s Dinner at Navy Hall raises $7K to fund Fort George student jobs

Beef-barley soup and “soldie-style bread” opened a three-course meal at Navy Hall as the Friends of Fort George staged the third annual Mayor’s Dinner.

Residents flock to Niagara College for winter gardening lessons at Seedy Saturday fundraiser

Outside temperatures sat around -17 C last Saturday, yet inside Niagara College’s teaching greenhouse, it might as well have been summer.

Sandtrap raises hundreds at Super Bowl party for Red Roof Retreat

It was a full house at the Sandtrap Pub and Grill on Sunday night, with football fans’ eyes glued to the screens above the bar as the biggest night in American football unfolded.

Icebreakers Comedy Festival returns to Prince of Wales

The Icebreakers Comedy Festival returned to the Prince of Wales last weekend, bringing nationally known comics back to a venue residents may have remembered from the festival’s early years.

Inside the last days of the Royal George, Niagara-on-the-Lake’s century-old theatre

On Saturday, the front doors opened for the last public entry into the Royal George before the careful work begins of taking apart the little theatre occupying a big place in the town’s heart

History meets hilarity in War of 1812 improv show at Navy Hall

A sold-out improv comedy show set during the War of 1812 brought a different kind of history lesson to Navy Hall in Niagara-on-the-Lake during the Icewine Festival weekend.

Joseph’s Estate Wines warms up winter with first annual icewine soiree

Joseph’s Estate Wines’ first icewine soiree brought a steady flow of visitors indoors during a cold January weekend, offering icewine tastings and comfort food as a warm alternative to Niagara-on-the-Lake’s outdoor winter festivals.

Queenston Pottery icewine workshop offers hands-on break from screens

There’s a charm to homemade pottery that many of its enthusiasts enjoy. For Melissa Triefstra, the appeal was getting to take home something personal, rather than buying something on Amazon.

Sports: Volunteers rally as U9 Wolves tackle first full-ice test

The kids start the year playing on only half the ice but in January — and last weekend’s tournament — they move to full ice, which adds new rules (including offside, icing and penalties) plus a lot more room to skate and move around.

Icewine Festival pours in hundreds for busy weekend on Queen Street

The festival’s business development manager said that while she sees icewine as an opportunity for people to buy local and support Canadian businesses, they also welcome all visitors.

Diggin’ through the crates: U.S. tariffs push Niagara vinyl lovers to NOTL pop-up record show

For Simon Vaughn, a vendor and DJ who lives three blocks from the Legion, the event reflected a hard shift in how he makes sales, directly affected by the ongoing U.S.–Canada trade war.

Step back in time to a Regency-era Christmas at Fort George

The free weekend open house ran Dec. 13 and 14 at Fort George National Historic Site, showcasing British-influenced Christmas customs adapted to Upper Canada through traditional music, food, crafts and guided tours by staff.

Christmas Parade spreads cheer to NOTL with biggest lineup in years

Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Christmas Parade returned Dec. 13 at near pre-pandemic scale, organizers say, drawing residents and visitors to Old Town as 102 entries moved through the historic core in clear winter weather.

Christmas tree shoppers flock to Lions Club’s greener pastures

Many Canadian Christmas tree farmers are facing significant financial pressure after American buyers pulled back due to the ongoing U.S.–Canada trade war.

Rotary Holiday House Tour opens NOTL homes to raise $200,000 for charity

The Holiday House Tour has raised more than $1.5 million since it began, including $260,000 in ticket sales last year, with $230,000 going directly to charity.

Author's Latest