I was in Niagara-on-the-Lake last night for Stratus’ annual Harvest Party. It’s my second year going. But aside from their annual party, I probably visit the region a couple times a year.
I like wine and I like supporting our local wine industry. I shop almost exclusively Ontario. I think a lot of people don’t realize how good our wines have become. The other reason I like going is because of the food. Good wine and good food go hand in hand. Stone Road Grille is one of my favourites.
But Niagara-on-the-Lake is not a place where you’ll hear a lot of young people from Toronto going to frequently. And if you look at the town’s demographics, people over 65 years old make up about a 1/4 of the population. It’s growing as a place to retire.
However, as Niagara’s prominence as a wine region grows, so will the town. Every time I go, I think about what could be done to improve the experience and attract a greater number of visitors.
One thing I think would be a great addition is a well designed bike network. Wineries are of course very spread out, but wine tasting and driving make for an awkward mix. Let’s make it easier for people to get around on bicycle.
I also think there’s an opportunity to brand the region as a food destination. Whenever you go to an event in Niagara, you discover all kinds of great local restaurants producing spectacular food, often using local ingredients. That should be promoted more.
I’m sure many people like Niagara-on-the-Lake just the way it is. And it’s certainly a beautiful and enjoyable place. But I always like to think about how something could be made even better.
A friend of mine recently told me about a documentary that he thought I’d like. It’s called Highrise. And it’s an exploration of vertical living around the world.
But it’s not your typical documentary. It’s a multi-year, multi-media documentary that I’m still in the midst of exploring. There’s videos, interactive web documentaries, blog posts and other stuff planned.
If you’re interested in highrise buildings and cities, you can start here and here on the New York Times’ website.
Imagine this sequence of events (and don’t peak by clicking on any of the links).
The year is 1994.
You notice that the internet is starting to become a big deal and that more and more products are being sold online. As a result of this trend, you decide to start an online business.
You write up the business plan and begin operations out of your garage. You then get lucky (or you’re just smart and talented). Within 2 months, sales reach $20,000/week. That’s over a million dollars a year.
Business continues to grow and within 3 years you’re able to take your company public, raising $54 million at a $438 million valuation. Over the subsequent two years, you’re then able to raise an additional $2.2 billion in debt to fund your continued growth.
The year is now 2000.
You were just named Time magazine Man of the Year. And traditional brick-and-mortar retailers are really taking notice (i.e. suing you). That’s pretty impressive after only 6 years of operation.