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Your Downtown, 1 May 1994, p. 12

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if YtjMlvhrkoW Mûy19'94 Vacation, Tired of the same ho-hum vacations? How about playing Indiana Jones for a day and excavating an archeological dig on your vacation this year. Or tak- ing lessons in sea-kayaking. Or delving into the history of Acadia. A learning vacation in Atlantic Canada - New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador - is a unique way to expand your mind, meet new people and add an exciting dimen- sion to your travels. Nature enthusiasts, sports-lovers and life-long leamers will be pleased at the range of stimulating opportunities for children and adults of all ages. P.E.I., best known as the home of "Anne of Green Gables," offers intrigu- ing alternatives from May through September - a hockey school, musical theater training program, computer camp, or courses in mushroom collect- ing, creative writing, watercolor tech- nique, garden design and photography. Some sessions last a day, some a week or more. Elderhostel, a worldwide organiza- tion, offers people age 60 and over week-long mini-courses at college campuses throughout Maritimes. At the University of Prince Edward Island, visitors can study Acadian his- and learn, iIn Atlantic Cnada tory, economics and cuisine. In Nova Scotia, travelers can dance, paint and return to nature. The House of Roth Campground in Clementsport offers week-long dance holidays spe- cializing in square dancing and square dance calling. At Liscombe Lodge there are weekend workshops in oil painting. For spur-of-the-moment nature lovers, the Parks Are For People pro- gram sponsors a free outdoor event at a different park every weekend. Activities include nature hikes, star- gazing, bird-watching, river clean-up and study of folklore, flowers, animals and insects. Outdoors enthusiasts of all ages will love the range of programs offered in New Brunswick: Various workshops are available throughout the province, including weekend canoe clinics, lessons in scuba diving, horseback rid- ing, sailing and high- sea kayaking. There's even a management training course in the outdoors for corporate fast-trackers. Newfoundland and Labrador offers a majestic landscape as a bonus for vaca- tioners. A company called Ocean Contact Ltd. conducts whale studies in scenic Trinity Bay. You can view one of the largest seal herds in the world in its.natural environment on the Arctic ice flows. Exierienced ecologists and naturalists guide visitors to the herd where they can observe and photograph the harp seals with their cuddly seal pups. In the capital of St. John's, visitors can tour Memorial University's botani- cal gardens - 45- hectares. of plants, butterflies and birds. A full range of interpretive events is offered. With a learning vacation in Atlantic Canada, you'Il come home with more thanjust a few snapshots of your trip. For brochures about leaming vacations in Atlantic Canada, call toll-free 1-800- 565-2627 or contact your local travel agent. Pack just whot you need for your vocation Are you one of those people who pack a steamer trunk for a single weekend away from home? Life's too short to spend hours planning and packing. Tina Sutton, national fashion consultant for Hit or Miss, America's leading off-price women's fashion store, has the solution. "If you buy a few versatile pieces in co-ordinating colors at the beginning of the season, you'l be able to leave town on a moment's notice arid with a single suitcase you can carry yourself." First, pack with your destination in mind. If you're going to the beach or for a weekend in the country, dress is generally casual. Start with a sleeveless denim shirt, which works with shorts or pants, with or without a jacket. A feminine, ruffle- collar blouse is also a versatile choice. Wear it with roll-cuff denim shorts during the day, then switch to a long, printed gypsy skirt at night. A linen blazer is a must, working with casual denim for cool days, and linen walking shorts or pants if you want to dress up a bit at night. Lastly, an oversized tee shirt doubles as a wardrobe mixer and bathing suit cover-up. If your weekend travel includes city destinations, you'1l want comfortable styles that can be dressed up or down, like a lightweight linen blazer and pants. Washable silks are another good bet. A short-sleeve printed top works with matching walking shorts for day, and can be topped with a solid color, coordinating jacket at night. Silks also travel wel and take up very little room in a suitcase. Turn to experts for renovations Change is a way of life in the '90s. Change in fashion, design, cars, how we live and what we will accept or tolerate is increasing at a rapid pace. Consumers no longer accept everything at face value or buy on impulse. The '90s have seen new awareness in consumer spending. Now people want more for their dollar than just product or a fast-talking salesperson. The kitchen industry is one area that has cer- tainly done an about-face in the past few years - due mostly to this change in consumer buying trends. When one thinks back 15 or 20 years, the kitchen was just another room in the home. For designers, it really wasn't considered one of the prominent rooms which required much thought. A few cabinets on a wall, a sink area, fridge and stove areas - ail not necessarily placed in convenient locations - seemed to be the norm. Today, everything has changed. The kitchen has become the most prominent room in the home. It is used not only as a place to prepare meals, but as a conversation area, a work centre, entertainment centre and a place for the family to meet at the end of the day, especially if both par- ents work. The kitchen is now pushed to the forefront as the first room to appraise when buying a new home or selling your present house. Statistics show that approximately 90 seconds after setting foot in your kitchen, a potential buyer will decide whether or not to purchase your house. That is why, when today's designers begin to plan a kitchen they worry about traffic flow, light- ing, the work triangle, convenient and safe appli- ance placement and how to maximize storage space. They talk about lazy-susans, diagonal cabi- nets, appliance garages, plate-divider cabinets, stem-glass holders, easy-reach cabinets, pot-and- pan units, roll-outs and the list goes on. Fast-talking salespeople can't do the job. Experts rely on designers who have worked hard to achieve status and to be recognized for their design capabilities - designers with flair and the ability to visualize the finished product before it is even started. Companies, too, must meet this challenge - the change in consumer attitude. Showrooms have to be up to date and show the latest in product technology. They must be diversified for every type and class of potential buyer - whether they have a $4,000 or a $40,000 budget. Companies must also have a good warranty and, especially, an excellent after-sales service program with a strong commitment to a satisfied and happy customer. Brandom Kitchen and Bath reflects ail these attributes. With excellent displays, product, designers, installers and public awareness that allows the consumer to put their renovation in capable and trustworthy hands. SHOP noWowN HITBY -T 1

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