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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! 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. Wall of Fame - Joe Thornton Community CentreWe 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
Mean Girls - Central Elgin Collegiate Institute
Date Night is the stuff of Legends - |
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 |
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 |
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 |
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. 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! |
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 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. |
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. |
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. 📍 Wildflowers Farm is at 42338 Fruitridge Line |
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. |
AuthorSARAH NOBLE |