Rachel McAdams Hometown Tour

One of my dearest friends absolutely LOVES Rachel McAdams. This friend is from Los Angeles where it's not unusual to spot celebrities pumping gas or grocery shopping (they ARE just like us, after all), so when she flew in for a visit, I knew I had to come up with a fun way to show off Rachel's hometown and make the experience of exploring St. Thomas fun and meaningful—and so, the Unofficial Rachel McAdams Hometown Tour was born. 

While the tour is based on some of Rachel's known appearances and rumoured local lore - a lot of it is a tongue and cheek quest modelled around her movies and local sights and sounds visitors to St. Thomas and the area can enjoy - with a side quest or two thrown in for good measure.

Consider grabbing some popcorn and watching through Rachel's extensive film catalogue or toss on a playlist and get touring!
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     I love the exploration of someone who has such a different background from you. That exploration runs to compassion and to cracking yourself open and creating more understanding of how weird and amazing life is.
             - Rachel McAdams

Wall of Fame - Joe Thornton Community Centre

We may be a small City, but we are big on support and incredibly proud of the folks like Rachel McAdams who started their journey here or came to call St. Thomas home. The Wall of Fame in the Joe Thornton Community Centre honours those individuals.

While you are there, take a minute to dream about where your photo might fit and take a stroll around the walking track or catch a St. Thomas Stars game.

📍To check out the Wall of Fame, visit the JTCC at 75 Caso Xing.

Doctor Strange - Strange Adventures

This mural is a bit of a time machine for folks who spent their childhood in St. Thomas. Strange Adventures by Denial is a heartfelt tribute to growing up in the small city of St. Thomas, complete with Joe Thornton & Rachel McAdams, Thomas the Tank Engine with a Jumbo trunk, the City of St. Thomas Police badge & some fun pop culture references that make the whole thing a celebration of all the ‘Strange Adventures’ only possible in the Railway City!

Stop by for your own Strange Adventure and grab a photo with Rachel while you're there!

📍To see this mural in person, visit 930 Talbot Street.

Mean Girls - Central Elgin Collegiate Institute

Rachel was already a little bit dramatic during her time at Central Elgin Collegiate, but a Mean Girl? Doubtful.
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Not until the breakout role of Regina George in the 2004 film did the actress experience broad recognition for her acting chops. Possibly because of the wildly different character played in The Notebook the same year.

Regardless, you can view the outside brick wall of the stage where Rachel prepared for the Sears Drama Festival Ontario Showcase (where she won recognition in 1995 for Outstanding Performance) at the corner of Chestnut and High Streets. Look closely, and you may see stars!

​The Maskel Pierra Performing Arts Stage is dedicated to the teachers who encouraged Rachel to pursue acting over a degree in Political Science.

📍​Central Elgin Collegiate is located at 201 Chestnut St.

​Date Night is the stuff of Legends - ​Legend's Tavern

​It's a poorly kept local secret (or baseless rumour depending on how you want to look at it) that Legends was a haunt for the actress and her paramour at the time, Ryan Gosling, back in the day. It remains an immensely popular local watering hole with an incredible patio in the heart of Downtown St. Thomas. Best known for its wings, Legends Tavern is a perfect casual option for a night in the town.
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No one is *just* Ken here.
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​📍Legends is located at 600 Talbot St. 

​Game Night - Enjoy a local cafe

If you want to be authentic to the movie, grab Jason Bateman and your beat-up copy of Pictionary for this one. But for me, one of my favourite memories with visiting friends was choosing a board game and setting up at a local cafe to enjoy an afternoon of caffeine and competition. It's a perfect way to take a break from touring around while spending quality time making memories with your people and getting a taste of the local flavour.

📍​ While there are a variety of tasty local options to try, we chose Streamliners Espresso Bar for their Lavender Lattes

The Notebook - Tea & Sunset @ the Elevated Park

"I want a big ol' porch wrapped around the entire house. We can drink tea and watch the sun go down."                                                                                     - Allie, The Notebook
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The St. Thomas Elevated Park is the big ol' porch wrapped around the City - Pick up a local brew from infuZed tZ & Apothecary in Downtown St. Thomas and wander up the path to the park ahead of sunset to take in the collection of art and settle in with that tea and your favourite person to watch the sun go down. The changing view as the sun goes down is one of the most romantic and magical things you can experience. The Elevated Park is essentially St. Thomas' front porch and is most certainly worth the sit. 

📍Access the St. Thomas Elevated Park by foot at 1 Centre Street. There is limited parking and we recommend the short walk from Jumbo at 65 Talbot St.

​The Vow - Love Locks at the Elevated Park

One of the art installations at the Elevated Park is another opportunity to connect with a Rachel McAdams film. Love Locks by local artist Bobby Keeler allows visitors to leave a symbol of their partnership behind. Love locks symbolize love and commitment, or a vow if you will. This practice is rumoured to be inspired by an ancient Chinese custom: lovers lock a padlock on a chain or gate and then throw away the key, symbolically locking their love forever.

"No matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find a way back to each other." - Leo, The Vow

St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre

Highlighting The Vow a bit more, a visit to the St. Thomas-Elgin Public Art Centre would be on Rachel's character Paige's list of things to do in town. 

The Public Art Centre is an incredible stop in Downtown St. Thomas dedicated to presenting a historical and contemporary visual art program by local, regional, national, and international artists; facilitating the development of emerging artists; providing diverse art educational programming; acquiring culturally-significant works of art; and the caring of the management of a permanent collection.

​With a rotation of exhibits, a few murals to check out and educational programming available, it should be on the "to visit" list whenever you come to town, as there is regularly something new to observe.

​📍Visit the Public Art Centre at 301 Talbot St.

Slings & Arrows (side quest) - Stratford Festival

A show that is hugely undervalued while being relatively niche for theatre lovers, Slings & Arrows is set at the fictional New Burbage Festival, a Shakespearean festival similar to the real-world Stratford Festival. Rachel's performance opposite a plethora of Canadian screen icons earned her a Gemini in 2004.
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Stratford is only about an hour's drive from St. Thomas and is a gorgeous side quest exploration. If you are particularly interested in Celebrity Home Town Tours, there just so happens to be one available. 

​📍To stay in St. Thomas and still experience some Drama, check to see if the Elgin Theatre Guild has a show on while here!

​Hometown Fare - Two Forks, Port Stanley

With its stunning patio, local seasonal menu, and incredible cocktail list, it's one of the top recommendations locally for a casual fine dining experience while you are in the area, so it's no surprise that Rachel herself would try it.

The menu changes with the season, but a favourite way to enjoy the dining experience here is a sample of a few small plates, grabbing two forks to share.

The team behind Two Forks also has a sister restaurant, Grassroots,  in St. Thomas that offers another incredible experience specializing in dry aged beef and craft cocktails.

📍Grassroots is located at 10 Wilson Ave.
Visit Two Forks at 295 Bridges St., Port Stanley

Green Living - the storehouse

Rachel is a big fan of greening up her lifestyle and at one point even launched a website with two friends to encourage us all to live a greener lifestyle. A local destination for greener lifestyle options is The Storehouse in Port Stanley. This small shop is big on working to offer a wide range of natural health and green lifestyle choices for the community and visitors alike. 

The Storehouse is located in one of Port Stanley's beautiful historic buildings and the strawberry brick makes for a stunning photo op!

📍Shop at 211 Main St., Port Stanley

​perfect pie - grab a slice and enjoy!

Based solely on the name of this one, a perfect slice of pie can be a great excuse to treat yourself.

It also depends on what your definition of pie is! For fans of the Pizza Pie, Railway City Tourism offers a self-guided pizza tour. The experience offers an astonishing number of pizza joints (arguably the most per capita in the world) with tasting notes and perfectly paired local beverage suggestions to lead you on a local experience for your pie hole.

​You can even grab a St. Thomas Pizza Shirt to celebrate. 
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OR, if you want something a bit sweeter, a local bakery can provide the right treat for whatever you crave!

On a Saturday, head to the Horton Farmer's Market in the morning for a variety of local sweet treats as well!

This one is really up to you and how you want to experience it!

morning glory - Mcdonald's

Now, our job at Railway City Tourism is to make sure that we showcase the local flavours. The tastes and sights that you can't get anywhere else. But this isn't just any tour of our community. It's Rachel's tour.

​To to pay a bit of a tribute to Morning Glory and the drive her character, Becky, exemplifies. Because sometimes, when you are hustling for the career you want, there are other jobs along the way. Like many young folks, one of Rachel's first jobs was at the local McDonald's. 

The hot chick - purely wicked

The best place to get a little bit of magic with a hint of self-care isn't going to induce a body swap, but Purely Wicked will transport you to a whole new level. From handmade bath and body products and candles to metaphysical treasures, this downtown shop is a vibe you'll need to check out. It's easy to spend time here wandering the beautiful space, petting Minoux the shop cat, and taking in all there is to see.

​📍 Visit Purely Wicked at 633 Talbot St. 

disobedience - walk with pride

Pride in Elgin County and St. Thomas is typically celebrated in August, but the Pride crosswalk by City Hall always makes for a great photo op. St. Thomas City Hall is ALWAYS ready to have her* picture taken and the clocktower is absolutely stunning against the sky!

📍City Hall is located at 545 Talbot St. and across the street from the Tiny Alley Gallery, where you'll find another homage in mural from to Rachel and an incredible sculpture that highlights the heritage of the movie theatre that used to be on the property, and some great local shops Downtown!

*I don't claim to know how City Hall identifies, but with elegant architecture and strong foundation this is a true gem of Downtown St. Thomas. I feel that much like cars and boats...buildings that look like this just have some inherent femininity and strength.​

midnight in paris - french wine at from the vines

Wander the local murals with the same intrigue as you might explore Montmartre. Then, find yourself at From the Vines to enjoy exclusive wines from France and other corners of the world. Slow down and channel the "l'Art de Vivre à la Française"—the art of living life to the fullest: enjoying the best moments in life.

​​📍From the Vines is located at 168 Curtis St.

The time traveler's wife - pause for a picnic at waterworks

Who doesn't love a picnic? These can be memorable ways to share a meal with kids and friends or make something simple more romantic! Taking the opportunity to sit back and relax in one of St. Thomas' incredible local parks with a book (Check out the extensive network of Little Free Libraries if you need a new title) on a beautiful day is a great way to reset after some full days of exploration. Pack a basket of local goods with a Saturday visit to the Horton Farmers' Market or order take-out from a local gem like Le Cafe Siam or Plaza Sushi. From the Vines also offers charcuterie to go! Preordering is encouraged.

📍Waterworks Park is at 2 South Edgeware Rd.

wedding crashers - wildflowers farm 

You don't have to be attending a wedding (and we do not recommend crashing!) to enjoy Wildflowers Farm. Friday Night Markets and special events provide all the opportunity you need to enjoy botanical cocktails and music under the stars - but the weddings there are pretty great, too.

Friday Night Markets are seasonal, generally late May to late September.
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​📍 Wildflowers Farm is at  42338 Fruitridge Line

the family stone - enjoy a hearty breakfast

One of the most iconic scenes of The Family Stone is Sarah Jessica Parker's Meredith shouting at Rachel's Amy, "You're the Worst," while Rachel proceeds to slip into the strata. 

Depending on the season, you can venture to the Horton Farmers' Market to pick up the fresh ingredients to make the Morton Family Strata yourself and enjoy it at home with your family. Just don't slip in it yourself. THAT would be the worst.

But if home cooking isn't in the cards, check out a local gem like Country Charm Cafe for a taste of home without the cleanup. It's cash only, but there is an ATM onsite.

📍Country Charm Cafe is located at 310 Wellington St.

the lucky ones - take a road trip & enjoy the landscape

Getting out of the city for a drive can be a revolutionary experience, and while it may not be as life-altering as the road trip depicted in the film, country roads with windows down can change your perspective of the day. You can catch big open skies and inspiring cloud formations, discover gorgeous walks, or just enjoy the view.

sherlock holmes - grab a cozy mystery at lockwood books

You can take a step into the past at Lockwood Books and browse the shelves of this local gem. You may even stumble on some Sir Arthur Conan Doyle yourself.

This Downtown Shop specializes in old and rare books, but occasionally there are some newer (and local!) options on the shelves too. Be sure to take your time to discover the incredible charm of this shop, pet Duck the shop cat, and explore the secret section if you dare! 

📍 Visit Lockwood Books at 488 Talbot St.

aloha - spend some time at the beach

Are our beaches quite the same as the Hawaiian Shores? No. But there is a different kind of magic on Lake Erie Shores. Ports of call are as little as 15 minutes away from St. Thomas and offer a variety of beaches to enjoy. Stroll the nearby villages and stick your toes in the sand. It doesn't even matter what time of year it is - these beaches offer some stunning views.​

the notebook - ice cream at broderick's

In a "The Notebook" bonus round, pop into Broderick's Ice Cream Parlour for an incredible variety of flavours of Ice Cream and Frozen Yogurt. This quaint stop is a throwback to ice cream shoppes of yore. The waffle cones are made in-house, and the scent may draw you in all on its own.
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For an authentic Notebook experience, order a vanilla cone and shove it in the face of someone you love.

📍Broderick's is open seasonally at 290 Bridge St., Port Stanley

eurovision song contest - drink lots of coffee & have big dreams

Whether you enjoy your morning cup at a local cafe or want to take beans home to brew your own, Streamliners Espresso Bar is the place to go. This place was born from big dreams and offers the perfect environment to help you dream up your own. Serving Las Chicas del Cafe coffee and espresso beverages roasted across the street, you'll be inspired to chase your dreams after experiencing this one brought to life!

Maybe you dream of cozy knit sweaters like Rachel's character Sigrit wears...if that's the case a visit to Little Red Mitten might be the inspiration you need to get started. This cozy shop is bursting with colour and fiber art inspiration of all kinds!

📍Streamliners is located at 767 Talbot St.
📍Little Red Mitten can be found at 86 Talbot St.

about time - live each day (and experience) to the fullest, in the moment

Continue to hone the art of being in the moment no matter where you journey in St. Thomas and the surrounding area. If you are a local, it's easy to take our incredible local landscapes for granted - while we may not have ocean shores or rocky mountains - what we do have is lush and wild but meditative.

​We may not have skyscrapers - but we do have rich heritage and deep wells of artistic and creative talents.

So be in the moment—Dance in the rain. Bask in the sun. Bathe in the forest. Take in the art (head tilts are not frowned upon).

Breathe in. Breathe out.

​There is an incredible journey in and around St. Thomas waiting for you!

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Author

SARAH NOBLE
Sarah is a part of the St. Thomas Economic Development Corporation and a bit of a St. Thomas fan girl. When given the opportunity to combine her love of pop culture with her love of St. Thomas, she dove in. This tour is the result. If you have a local story to tell, reach out to Sarah at [email protected].