🌳 Have you seen London’s new park upgrades?

My raspberry patch started three years ago with just three stalks and a single berry, and now it produces pounds of beautiful purple raspberries. 

Harvesting these purple raspberries (yes, purple not red!) means carefully dodging the prickly branches, although eating a few along the way is a pretty delicious reward! Some make it into preserves, others reach the freezer for year-round treats, and those are only the ones I measured, not the ones I ate during the harvest. What are you growing, picking or enjoying from your garden this summer? 

The Gist: London’s neighbourhood parks are getting a summer glow-up thanks to a $4 million investment upgrading 23 parks across the city. This year’s projects include new and improved playground equipment, accessible seating, shade structures, sports courts and cricket batting cages. Twelve projects are already complete, with eight others expected to wrap up this year.

Why It Matters: These are the close-to-home parks where Londoners play, meet up and spend summer afternoons, and the upgrades are adding things people can actually use, from better playgrounds and courts to shade and seating. More improvements are still to come, with additional projects planned over the next couple of years.

The Gist: London teen Logan Szlatoszlavek, aka The Piano Kid, has turned his love of piano into a small business, performing live music and hosting Jeopardy-style music trivia at seniors’ residences around the city. The 13-year-old plays everything from classical pieces and oldies to modern songs and his own compositions, and he’s saving his earnings for university and a future grand piano.

Why It Matters: It’s a feel-good local story with a bigger payoff: Logan is building confidence and business skills while giving seniors an afternoon of music, memories and connection. His performances bring two generations together around something they can both enjoy.

Ever wondered what is behind some of London’s most interesting doors? On September 19 and 20, Doors Open London celebrates its 25th anniversary by inviting us to explore museums, heritage buildings and local organizations across the city, completely free. This year’s Cheers to Years celebration will include guided tours, live performances, demonstrations and historical re-enactments, offering a closer look at the places and stories that have shaped London.

Doors Open events also take place in communities across Ontario, opening the doors, gates and courtyards of fascinating cultural and heritage sites. One of the first Doors Open events my daughter and I attended was Research Casting International in Trenton, and it was so cool!! I love seeking these events out when visiting different parts of the province because they are such a fun way to experience a region, hear its stories and get inside places you might normally walk right past.

Sweet Onion Bistro is one of the sweetest ways to soak up a summer evening. The front patio is the place to be, complete with live music on select nights, crisp village-exclusive pours, and even a dedicated puppy menu for your fur-babies. Go for the Saganaki or Ontario pork belly with sweet onion marmalade, followed by classic chicken souvlaki. Warm, relaxed, and made for lingering.

Riverside Social Club was opened in 2024 by Mat Rivest and Anis Omar, making it simple to explore the Thames by canoe or kayak. Approaching their second year on the water, it remains a favourite way to swap city sounds for a peaceful paddle past grazing deer and geese.

An hour out on a quiet weekday evening offers a fresh local perspective, with friendly staff ready to guide your route.

A reader recently asked us about local choirs, and while looking into options, my first thought was Amabile. Brenda Zadorsky was my music teacher at Northridge Public School back in the day, and she was one of those amazing teachers whose passion, energy and belief in young people stayed with you long after you left her classroom.

I did not make the choir, which was probably the right call since my singing still sounds best in the shower, but many of my classmates did. I watched Brenda turn her love of music into something extraordinary. What began with 27 girls singing together after the London Kiwanis Music Festival grew into one of Canada’s leading youth choir organizations, touching thousands of lives over four decades.

I was SO excited to see Brenda named to the 2026 Mayor’s New Year’s Honour List in the Arts category. Brenda, thank you for inspiring generations of young people, for building a community grounded in excellence and belonging, and for showing so many of us what can happen when talent is matched with vision, persistence and heart. London is better because of you, and I feel very lucky to have once been your student for a few precious years.

A Forest City Insider reader, Tammy, sent us a lovely recommendation for The Flower Lady and Gent, a local cut-flower farm just south of London. Located at 7440 Pack Road, the farm offers beautiful pre-made fresh bouquets. Tammy describes it as a special local spot that is well worth the drive. Looking forward to visiting!

Open Thursday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

✨ Festival Friday | Storybook Gardens | 08/14 | More
Stage entertainment, water fun, and food trucks for kids.

🎬 Outdoor Movie Night: A Minecraft Movie | Byron Hills & Bonaventure Meadows Parks | 08/14-08/15 | More
Bring a blanket for a free park screening under the stars.

🎉 London Fiesta Extravaganza | Victoria Park | 08/14-08/16 | More
Filipino food, dance, and cultural showcases in a bicentennial-sized celebration.

🐶 Pawlooza | Plunkett Estate | 08/15 | More
Dock diving, sprawling fun zones, and dog-friendly festivities outdoors.

☘️ Irish Heritage Day | Fanshawe Pioneer Village | 08/16 | More
Traditional music, cultural history, games, and a hot dog fundraiser.

👟 Walk/Run for Camp Wendake | Springbank Gardens | 08/16 | More
Scenic park route raising funds and support for community programs.

🎵 City of Music Concerts: Vybekings | Market Lane | 08/13 | More
UNESCO-featured rhythms and open-air tunes in a pedestrian setting.

🎨 Inked Circus Tattoo Expo | J-AAR Expo Centre (The Agriplex) | 08/14-08/16 | More
World-class ink artists, live performances, and alternative culture showcases.

🎛️ Cirque Du Dubstep III | Rum Runners | 08/15 | More
Late-night bass, lasers, and circus theatrics on the dance floor. 19+.

🎸 Letlive | Rum Runners | 08/19 | More
Raw post-hardcore cathartic vocals, and energetic stage performance.

🤼 WWE Summer Tour | Canada Life Place | 08/20 | More
Electrifying ring drama, explosive stadium athleticism, and premier entertainment.

Thanks for reading! We’ll have more updates for you next week!

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