September is the perfect month to explore, discover, and indulge. Whether you are planning a trip to Niagara Falls, getting inspired by the art of Clementine Hunter, experiencing exclusive events like the Fairmont Disappearing Bar, hunting for seasonal flavours and Ontario wines, discovering the latest Tom Ford and Burberry fragrances, or searching for timepieces that honour the past, our editors have rounded up the experiences, finds, and obsessions you will not want to miss. Scroll on for the best of what is catching our eye this month.
Jump to: ART + CULTURE | INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES | BOLD TASTE | SIGNATURE SCENT | WATCHES TO WATCH
ART + CULTURE
Clementine Hunter in Louisiana
The Wash (c.1950s), Minneapolis Institute of Art
If you have not heard of Clementine Hunter, now you have. The African American artist lived on Melrose on the Cane, a plantation outside Natchitoches, Louisiana, considered the birthplace of Cane River Creole culture. Hunter was encouraged to express her creativity here, and her paintings depict everyday life at Melrose. Her African House Murals remain on display, painted directly onto the outbuilding walls. Naïve yet breathtaking, her art tells the story of a community in ways words never could. melroseonthecane.com | explorelouisiana.com
Now Showing: Rolling Stone Presents AMPLIFIED
Photo Oasis Immersion
Rolling Stone Presents: AMPLIFIED, a genre-spanning immersive experience, celebrates the spirit of rock and the sounds that shaped it at OASIS Immersion in Montréal’s Palais des congrès. Narrated by actor Kevin Bacon and Quebec rocker Nanette Workman, the show covers 60 years of rock and its influence on pop culture through music, video, photography, and laser projections. oasis.im
INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCES
Niagara Takes Flight
Courtesy of Niagara Parks
The marvel that is Niagara Falls never gets old. This August, Niagara Takes Flight: A Soaring Adventure launched at Table Rock Centre, right next to Horseshoe Falls. Take a seat in an immersive flying theatre that soars through 56 kilometres of the Niagara River corridor, with views of rapids, rock faces, age-old forests and, of course, an up-close fly-by of the Falls themselves, plus reenactments of historical battles that shaped our nation. Also visit the Niagara Power Station, a repurposed historical attraction with a sound and light show projected onto its vaulted walls and enormous generators. Take the station elevator deep into the rock below and walk the tunnel under the falls to come face to face with the rush of water. Rain poncho included. niagaraparks.com/flight
Fairmont Royal York Disappearing Bar
Photo: Fairmont Royal York/@ryanemberley
Launched this September, Fairmont’s first-ever Disappearing Bar pops up in a hidden space above the hotel’s iconic rooftop sign in Toronto. This 60-minute bookable experience includes handcrafted Grey Goose martini cocktails, dessert bites, live music, an event gallery to relive the evening, and sweeping skyline views from a vantage point never before used for an event. The intimate gathering is reserved for just 20 guests, with audio by Fairmont’s brand partner Devialet. Dates are September 17, 18, 24, and 25 only. This is a limited time experience, so hurry and book yours now. fairmont.com — Marlon Moreno
BOLD TASTE
Post House, Haliburton Highlands
Courtesy of Post House
Executive chef Dan Sanders’ Foie Gras from Post House Haliburton
At Post House in Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands, executive chef Dan Sanders creates a seasonal menu driven by local produce, market goods and nearby farm-sourced meats. On a recent visit, sleek boats pulled up to the dock as dressed-for-dinner guests arrived to sample Sanders’ prix fixe. Squash blossoms stuffed with snow crab, tuna carpaccio with foie gras and pan-seared pickerel are among the standouts. Stay the night in one of the cabins, watch the leaves turn from the dock, and do not miss breakfast — another reason for a sleepover. haliburtonposthouse.ca
FOR WINE LOVERS
Ontario Sparkling & Reds
2021 Lafontaine du Loup Brut
When winemaker Jonas Newman starts talking about sparkling wines, you can almost see the stars in his eyes. It was, in fact, a winemaker of a much earlier age who, when leaving the wine sitting a tad too long in the bottle, first tasted what we now know as Champagne. It’s alleged that this French Benedictine monk, Dom Pierre Perignon, uttered, “Come quickly, I am tasting the stars!”
Newman is known for his Ontario sparkling wines, which he produces with his wife, Vicky Samaras, at Hinterland Winery. More recently, he’s been recruited by The Grange of Prince Edward Winery, along with viticulturist Mike Peddlesden, to grow the winery’s offerings. This year, WineAlign awarded a bronze medal to The Grange’s County Gamay, a red with hints of black cherry, plum and kirsch, but we’re equally excited about the newly released 2021 Lafontaine du Loup Brut, a traditional method sparkling showing off Newman’s talents and a refined finish on the palate. I took home a bottle of the Gamay, as well as the silver-medal winning Estate Series 2023 Pinot Gris. grangewinery.com
From the Old World
Torre Zambra Madia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2021
The Famiglia De Cerchio Wine Group of Abruzzo, Italy, launched its Torre Zambra Madia Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2021 in Canada in June 2024, introducing this organic, sustainable and vegan wine to an intimate gathering of media and oenophiles hosted by Torre owner Federico de Cerchio. It’s already scored major points with the likes of American wine critic James Suckling and Italian wine critic Luca Maroni, and will only set you back about $17. On its heels come two new releases, both 100 percent Montepulciano varietals: the Villamagna Riserva 2019 (DOC Villamagna), with a cellarability of 20 years, and the Colle Maggio 2021, which can sit in the wine cellar for about 10 years. Saluti! famigliadecerchio.it/en
SIGNATURE SCENTS
Tom Ford’s Pacific Wave Bois Pacifique Eau de Parfum
Tom Ford’s Pacific Wave Bois Pacifique eau de parfum, one of his latest fragrances (he also recently released the floral amber Eau de Soleil Blanc), is his latest play on his penchant for things getting spicy. Notes of cardamom, turmeric and cedarwood, mixed with oakwood and sandalwood, and a splash of amber vanilla add to the complexity of this earthy scent. Not surprising, as last year he refreshed his signature fragrance, Oud Wood. “Oud Wood envelops you in rare oud, exotic spices and cardamom then exposes its rich and dark blend of sensuality,” says Ford. Sensual, indeed. Available at Shoppers Drug Mart, Sephora, Holt Renfrew and Ssense.
Burberry Gold Eau de Parfum
Burberry Gold Eau de Parfum is a story of self-discovery found through confidence, strength and kindness. This gourmand fragrance features a gorgeous square-shaped bottle, pale pink packaging and an archive-inspired gold label that nods to Burberry’s rich heritage. The scent itself blends a trio of vanillas with luminous lavender for a warm, uplifting fragrance that feels as elegant as it does empowering. Available at burberry.com
WATCHES TO WATCH
Omega Railmaster
The official watch brand of 007 that can be seen on the wrists of the likes of George Clooney, Nicole Kidman and now Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Omega’s latest brand ambassador. Seen here, the reboot of the 1957 Omega Railmaster, the company’s ode to those who work the railways. Sexy grey or warm beige faces subtly fade to black; both mix masterfully with stainless or leather bands. omegawatches.ca
Rope by Tiffany
Based on designs from Jean Schlumberger, one of Tiffany’s most iconic and prolific jewellery designers, the new Rope by Tiffany is the company’s first-ever solar-powered watch. In two sizes, the watch’s twisted rope frames diamonds and a mother-of-pearl or black dial, finished off with either a classic Tiffany Blue or black alligator strap. tiffany.ca
Bulova Marine Star Heritage
This special edition was inspired by the 1970s original, but the updates are decidedly here and now. The six-hand chronograph is part of a collection that celebrates Bulova’s 150th anniversary and features a stainless steel case with a commemorative anchor design on its back, a black dial face with silver-tone hands and white numerals for standout readability. With a 200m water resistance, its marine heritage is solid. bulova.com/ca
