In this next segment of Why I Love #Barrie, I will highlight the heart of our gorgeous city, our downtown core. From Toronto street to Mulcaster Street and even a little beyond, Barrie’s downtown is bustling with activity and excitement for the entire family. Downtown Barrie is also rich with culture giving you a reason to come in from wherever you live in our beautiful city.
The Downtown Barrie culture thrives! The centre for the performing arts is a world class facility and provides a plethora of year round programming. The Flying Monkey craft Brewery sits in the heart of our downtown offering tours and award winning ales.
The Maclaren art centre has a permanent collection of 26,600 works of art held in trust for the public and presents a year-round programme of world-class exhibitions, public art projects, education activities and special events. The Creative Space offers start-ups and micro businesses a collective space for creative collaboration as well as some awesome events like Ignite Barrie an idea workshop. There is so much more that you must experience for yourself.
Plus the Downtown Barrie Business Association plans and facilitates the planning of enough events to keep the people coming down in droves. Award winning festivals like the Craft Beer and Ribfest, Winterfest and Barrie’s Canada Day Celebration, Lawn Chair Luminata, Curb Appeal, the Jazz and Blues Fest and Barrie’s New Music Fest.
Our city core keeps your inner core in mind being conscious of the health and wellness options you desire. Start or end the day at Ann Green Yoga; their offer studios overlooks Kempenfelt Bay. Then pop into Bohemia which serves fair trade organic java and spectacular organic cuisine. Or, if you’re on the west side of downtown, stop by the exceptional Unity Market and feel the energy of social activity blended with awesome food and beverage.
The Local Foods Mart gives you the opportunity to take that good food home hosting your organic grocery needs. Rawlicious is your restaurant of choice for vegan cuisine. And of course Nutrition Plus is pretty much taking over the corner of Dunlop and Maple to provide you the nutrition you need!
You can shop at the myriad of stores like Janet Kemp or Imago Boutique just for starters then drop into a pub like Kenzington Burger Bar or Donaleigh’s Irish Public House or one of the many other independently owned restaurants and take a load off.
During the summer months the city’s pubs stretch their patio’s to the front of their establishments and sprawl out on the side walks of Dunlop offers those wandering around the opportunity to sit down and really breath in our incredible downtown.
All of this greatness surrounds Memorial Square at the southeastern end of the Nine Mile Portage and was the site of the Barrie Railroad Station and the Post Office. In 1922, a cenotaph was dedicated to those who had lost their lives in World War I. Today, the site remains a focal point of Barrie’s downtown.
This blog is just a small glimpse at the awesomeness Barrie’s downtown has to offer. You really need to check it out for yourself to fully understand why downtown Barrie is one of the many reasons why I love #barrie
Todd Palmer
Marketing Director, Pratt Homes Barrie
