The past two falls I’ve been in school while being on radio tour, and people always ask me how it’s possible to juggle so much travel with being physically present in class. The truth is, it’s just like anything else, you just do it. I’m so fortunate to be able to work in music because I love it so much, and so if it means early mornings, lots of planes, sometimes trains, and always automobiles, it’s worth it. Today I want to share with you some candid photos; sleeping on the car ride between stations, doing homework in the hotel room, squeezing in some holiday goodness from Starbucks, and an interview at Country 107.3 in Tillsonburg Ontario. What are some things that you love to do, even if at times making it all work can be a fun challenge?
Just Chil
My friend who introduced to some of the great local places to dine in London also recommended this frozen yogurt gem. Chil is a small dessert shop near the universities in London Ontario. This place was presented to me with a lot of hype, so my expectation were high…and it didn’t disappoint! I can’t eat dairy on the days that I sing, so I had to time my visit carefully, but this place was magical. I was told it was a frozen yogurt shop with greek yogurt as the base flavor for everything, along with some vegan options. The outside wasn’t anything remarkable, but the inside! It was so cute and the flavors were impressive, especially the super fruit and the original greek yogurt. They boast the largest available toppings of any frozen yogurt shop in Canada, and they don’t disappoint. They have everything from apple pie to golden oreos to warm white chocolate sauce and everything in between.
London by Local
I have a wonderful friend who went to school in London Ontario and she recommended to me some of the best local spots in London. Along with my own research I found my way to three places that are well kept secrets of London. Here are my top 3 spots to eat in London.
1. Thaifoon
This Thai restaurant is only open for late lunch and dinner, but it was worth the wait! With some great originals and a few fresh takes on traditional thai food, I’d definitely visit this spot again. It’s located downtown very close to Covent Garden Market, so it’s also convenient to get to!
- Early Bird
A restaurant with personality! This was featured on Food Network’s “You Gotta Eat Here” and once you walk in you can see why. It’s bright and colorful with band posters all over the walls, four elvis busts painted with KISS makeup, and a tiki bar in the back! I had the “Pancake Stack” and my friend had the “Toad in the Hole” and both had fun presentations and were creative interpretations of breakfast classics.
- The Salad Bowl
This spot is in Covent Garden Market, which seems to be a bit of a hub for activity in London. It has fantastic and highly customizable salads, with all sorts of variations for any diet restriction you may have. The staff was friendly and helpful and the final product was delicious and healthy; the latter of which isn’t always easy to find when traveling with a hectic schedule! Forgot to snap a picture by The Salad Bowl, but it’s not far from this Chocolate Factory stand!
Radio Row
Music feels like it runs through my veins right along with my blood, so I love meeting other people who are passionate about music! Radio row is one of the most fun parts of CCMA because I get to see all the incredible people who work at radio stations and bring our music to listeners everywhere. I get to catch up with friends, and meet new friends, all while talking about the CCMAs and music in general! Here are some photos from the day. What’s your favorite radio station?
On Air in London
Last year I went to visit the BX93 office with my first single to country radio. They had me play in the office and get to know some of the great people at the station. This year they had me come and play for an audience of listeners while broadcasting our interview live on air! It was such a great experience getting to play Bad Habit and an unreleased song for the crowd. Afterwards we had a meet and greet with some fans and got to snap a few pictures, I’ll be sharing that post later this week. It was one of my favorite ways to spend any day!
Convent Garden Market
I read before venturing out into London Ontario that this spot was a must visit, so I found my way to the Covent Garden Market and it lived up to the description! There was fresh fruit, great little restaurants, sweet treats, and my favorite, the Tea Haus! We had an excellent salad at The Salad Bowl, and then a Green Tea Chai shake from Taylor Sue’s Cups and Cones. As someone who loves tea, the Tea Haus was the real treat because of the many varieties and flavors and the fact that it was all natural ingredients! Even just wandering through the market was a great way to spend an hour, it’s small but packed with interesting treasures. What interesting markets, indoor or outdoor, have you visited?