In response to the challenging times that we’re all experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to spread love and levity across the community.
We brainstormed various ways we could do this and one of the things we landed on was highlighting some of the incredible local businesses who are stepping up and modifying their services to continue to serve the community through these tough times. These are local businesses who have local champions who are doing what they can to be leaders through this unprecedented historic time.
“Homemade goodness on the go; it’s a labour of love.”
From a 100-year-old stable to comfort food on your table, Well Fed is one of Gravenhurst’s best food stops, offering a wide variety of authentic Muskoka fare. Owned & Operated by Annette Gillan, Annette’s recipes are from a 4-generation-old family cookbook that is ever expanding. Ready to heat or ready to eat, Well Fed offers food you can take home to pop in the oven, or food that is hot and ready to pop on the table.
COVID-19 has certainly affected us all and Well Fed is no different as they quickly adapted their services to remain, as they call it, ‘slightly open’ for curbside pick-up and local home delivery. Annette has even gone one step further as to allow her patrons to order wholesale from her suppliers to ensure locals have consistent access to the supplies they need to survive comfortably at home.
We want to take this opportunity to acknowledge all of the hard work and energy that Annette and her family have poured into operating and adapting to these tough times and say THANK YOU for all that they continue to do to serve our wonderful community.
If you are in Gravenhurst, be sure to follow Well Fed on Facebook as she often posts what fresh foods and family feasts are available in the days to follow. Keep up the great work Annette!
Christmas Tyme is a unique, year-round Christmas store located in historic downtown Huntsville. They carry personalized Christmas ornaments, Jim Shore figurines, s’mores, movie & tv memorabilia, nativities, home décor and much more.
And though these tough times have forced Christmas Tyme to close their physical store, they continue to offer their heart-warming, happiness-inducing line of products online for curbside pick-up. Most recently, they offered a wide range of beautiful gifts for Mother’s Day and committed to ensuring locals were able to spoil Mom.
We think it is amazing what they have continued to do and want to give them this special shout out to thank them for all they do to serve community. Be sure to follow them on Facebook for regular product updates and to visit their website to see what is available from their online store.
The building next to the Kee has been many things; from the original “Eldorado”, the “Bob Inn”, “Latern Loft” to the “Kee Café”. And now, in its current iteration, established in 2002, the Bala Falls Pub has been welcoming locals, cottagers and visitors alike to its relaxing family atmosphere for classic homemade pub fare and refreshing beverages.
Through these tough times, Bala Falls Pub, owned and operated by David Fisher & Jacinta Cowan, have risen to the challenge and remain open 7 days a week. They are currently offering take out and through a collaboration up with Bala Taxi, also offer home delivery Monday to Saturday. In addition to ensuring the Bala community has access to delicious pub fare, they also host Virtual Trivia every Sunday at 3:00 PM. To get involved, simply e-mail balafallspubinfo@gmail.com and they will send you log-in information and details on how to participate.
Today we salute David, Jacinta and the entire Bala Falls Pub team for their hard work and dedication to community. It is wonderful see local businesses that are stepping up to support others and helping everyone get through these tough times. Way to go guys!!
In response to the challenging times that we’re all experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to spread love and levity across the community.
We brainstormed various ways we could do this and one of the things we landed on was highlighting some of the incredible local businesses who are stepping up and modifying their services to continue to serve the community through these tough times. These are local businesses who have local champions who are doing what they can to be leaders through this unprecedented historic time.
Perfectly situated in the heart of downtown Bracebridge, The Pedicure Room has been helping their patrons relax, refresh and rejuvenate since 2015. Owned and operated by Jennifer Oakes, the Pedicure Room offers a wide range of spa services that include manicures, pedicures, massages, sugaring, waxing, tinting, facials, microdermabrasion and more.
And like all spas, salons and hands-on services, The Pedicure Room has had to adapt to the ongoing pandemic and modify their services as to continue to reach and support their clientele. Specifically, this has involved them offering gift certificates and their spa products on-line through their website as well as offering both curbside pick-up and home delivery.
While the at-home products are certainly no replacement for the exceptional customer service and rejuvenating experience of going to the Pedicure Room in-person, it is a perfect example of how much Jennifer and her team care about the community. We want to acknowledge that hard work and thank Jennifer and her team for their dedication to supporting community. Thank you for all you do!
“Driven by innovation in the marketplace, excellence in customer service, and integrity and respect in our actions.”
We want to take this chance to give a HUGE, and we mean HUUUUUGE, Bear Wear Shout Out to Janet and her incredible team at the Canada Post Postal Office in downtown Bracebridge. Not only are they fantastic to work with on a regular basis year-round, but during the extra stressful COVID-19 pandemic, they have been stepping up to manage the influx of on-line orders and shipping with grace and poise.
Many businesses have turned to on-line sales through the pandemic and without the dedication put in by our local Canada Post – and those working across the country – we would not be able to continue sending out our comfy, cozy Bear Wear line to families nation-wide.
Thank you to Janet and her team for all they do to support our community. We are extremely grateful. Please join us in saluting Canada Post in today’s #MBWShoutOut.
Those familiar with the expression “Like being a kid in a candy store” must have been talking about The Nutty Chocolatier in Huntsville because for anyone who has visited their store, you understand the true meaning of BLISS. The Nutty Chocolatier is one of Ontario’s finest retailers of hand-crafted chocolates, sugar-free chocolates, novelties, candy, fudge, imported and domestic candy, gift baskets, corporate gift items, and so much more.
Despite these challenging times, The Nutty Chocolatier has continued to inspire joy and delight throughout the community, by offering curbside pick-up, local delivery and shipping. So whether you just needed a quick fix of that special something, or you were putting together a large basket to spoil mom for Mother’s Day, or you’re stocking up the pantry for your munchy fix, The Nutty Chocolatier has always got you covered. We are proud to acknowledge their hard work and commitment to the community and hope you’ll show them some love the next time your sweet tooth is calling.
Dogs may not be our whole life, but they make our lives whole.
There’s no wonder why they’re called “man’s best friend”… they love to snuggle us when we’re feeling down, they’re happy to finish whatever is left on our plate, they eagerly await our return home from just about anywhere and boy oh boy do they just love to be part of any adventure we bring them on. From trips to the cottage, hikes in the wilderness, lazy days on the dock, kayak & canoe trips, or sitting around the campfire and watching the stars – they just want to be part of the fun with you.
Pretty much any Muskoka tradition you can think of, your furry, four-legged best friend is happy to be part of it. That is what inspired us to make our Muskoka Bear Wear Doggie Bandanas – available in a wide variety of sizes and colours. Proudly Canadian-made, it lets you and your dog show off your love for all things comfy. But more than that, with the sale of every bandana, we donate $5 to the Ontario SPCA & Humane Society and Muskoka Animal Centre. So, whether your best friend is a Miniature Poodle or a Mastiff, we have a bandana just for them and that way you can feel good knowing you’re doing good, while looking good.
Now let us ooouuu and aaahhh together while we look back at some of our favourite Bear Wear doggie photos! If you have a doggie photo that you would like to share with us, be sure to send them in or post them to one of our social channels.
Be sure to check out this week’s #MBWShoutOuts Week 6 Round-Up for local businesses that are doing what they can through these tough times to continue to serve our awesome community.
Just remember… #StayHome #StayHealthy and #StayCozy
Normally this time of year we’d be counting down the days until cottage season but in the midst of everything that is happening we continue to encourage everyone to stay home and stay comfy so that hopefully we can enjoy summer in Muskoka.
With that in mind, here are a few of things we miss and look forward to resuming when all of this has passed.
1. Sunrises on the Dock with a Hot Beverage
You hear the call of a pair of loons echoing over the still water and squint your eyes as that first beam of sunlight breaks the horizon. You picked up some fresh coffee beans from Oliver’s on the way to the cottage, so you are now sitting comfortably in your Muskoka chair, holding your Bear Wear mug and it is like time has stopped. You can hear the wind passing through the leaves, the birds springing to life and the gentle waves as they hit against the dock. Nothing will ever replace moments like these.
2. Live Music Concerts
Hunter’s Bay Radio in Huntsville is a great example of a local business adapting to the times to give local artists a platform to be seen and heard while we all hang out at home. And as much as we have been loving watching their virtual concerts, there are few experiences in life like being in the crowd at a live show for one of your favourite bands or artists. The shared energy of the fans around you, the music as it hits you and that indescribable magic that happens during that exchange is truly something special. Whether you are preparing to take in a show at the Kee to Bala or maybe heading south for the next Boots & Hearts, Muskoka Bear Wear always has your back all the way!
3. Lunch Dates
Zoom chats and FaceTime have been a great alternative fill-in for meeting up with your besties to catch up, but it will never replace huddling around the table with your squad – say at Main Street Delicatessen – and serving up the tea on all the things going on in our lives. Who unfollowed who on Instagram? Did you see what your fave celebrity wore on the red-carpet last night? Did they really leave your message on ‘read’ all day? Have you tried the latest Tik Tok challenge? We can’t wait for things to return to normal so we can all pile into our favourite restaurants and dish.
We know times are tough, but we also know these times will pass and we will be jumping in the lake and roasting s’mores by the fire with all of you again soon. Just think of how much sweeter it will be and how much more we will appreciate those simpler, meaningful experiences together.
Be sure to check out this week’s #MBWShoutOuts Week 5 Round-Up for local businesses that are doing what they can through these tough times to continue to serve our awesome community.
Just remember… #StayHome #StayHealthy and #StayCozy
In response to the challenging times that we’re all experiencing together regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to spread love and levity across the community.
We brainstormed various ways we could do this and one of the things we landed on was highlighting some of the incredible local businesses who are stepping up and modifying their services to continue to serve the community through these tough times. These are local businesses who have local champions who are doing what they can to be leaders through this unprecedented historic time.
“We know locals. We remember cottagers. We love to meet new visitors!”
Today we would like to give a special Muskoka Bear Wear Shout Out to our friends at Oliver’s Coffee. Locally owned & operated since 2003, Oliver’s Coffee roasts their own coffee and bakes their fresh goodies daily and boasts locations in Gravenhurst, Bracebridge (x3), Huntsville, Port Carling and Bala. They have become well known for their wide selection of signature blends and flavoured coffee. They also cater AND have a strong social and environmental conscious.
And while they have been closed during these tough times, they have re-opened their flagship location in Bracebridge (203 Manitoba Street) TODAY (April 27th) from 7:00 AM – 3:00 PM to deliver their delicious line of coffee and goodies to the community. They told us that they intend to test re-opening their various locations for one day at a time to see the response. So, be sure to follow Oliver’s Coffee on Facebook or visit their website to stay up to date for their next opening… and be sure to zip down to their Bracebridge location to get your caffeine fix before 3:00 PM today. They’ve recently installed some plexi-glass guards for the front counter, have upped their cleaning & sanitization practices and are eager to see your smiling faces again.
We wish Oliver’s all the success through these difficult times and look forward to seeing all of their physical locations re-opened soon!
Hunters Bay Radio (HBR) is a not-for-profit community radio station based in Muskoka. They offer a great variety of music, news, and community talk shows. You can listen within Muskoka or Almaguin Highlands at 88.7 FM, or anywhere via their FREE Hunters Bay Radio App, Alexa, or on-line at MuskokaRadio.com.
Through quarantine life, HBR has stepped up to deliver a series of virtual concerts that they have named QUARANTUNES. The series has been running every Thursday and Saturday night through April and will continue through May. Beyond the fact that the concert series has been providing a wonderful bit of escapism and entertainment for all of the viewers, but these have been paid gigs for the artists who are streaming from home while they have been unable to perform live because of venue closures.
We applaud HBR and their partner for the program – Lake of Bays Brewery – for providing these opportunities to local artists and for striving to deliver these great ‘live’ music experiences during these tough times.
For more information about the concert series, including the list of upcoming artists, please visit here: https://bit.ly/2WcDl6P. Be sure to tune in for the next performance, Thursday, April 30th at 7:00 PM to watch and listen to Matt Allen.
A gem for locals and cottagers alike, Main Street Delicatessen is located in the heart of downtown Bracebridge and has been serving up delicious, mouth-watering fare since 2013. With a wide variety of homemade soups, sandwiches, salads and several other amazing favourites, they also run a deli counter, offer gourmet pizzas and cater.
And while these tough times have affected us all, it certainly has not crushed their spirit as they continue to provide Take Out options and now also offer Local Delivery. They are working hard to keep the community strong, united and well fed and we would like to acknowledge their dedication to our community.
Be sure to check out their modified Take Out & Delivery menu on their Facebook Page and continue supporting this great local business as they adapt to the times.
