A New Rooftop Cafe Downtown

Mai CàPhê held its grand opening earlier this month at 353 Brant Street, on the second floor of a building the same family has run businesses out of since 1994.

That's the year Deanna Mai's parents opened Lugano Pizza downstairs, after coming to Canada from Vietnam. Everything they had went into the shop, so the apartment upstairs became the family home. A sister later opened La Viva Hair Studio next door, putting the whole family under one roof. The apartment where Deanna grew up is now the café.

The origin of the name: "Mai" is the family name, "CàPhê" is Vietnamese for coffee, and together it's pronounced "my cafe." The menu covers Vietnamese coffee, including a sea salt version, plus bánh mì and croissants. The headline story is the rooftop patio and lakefront view from inside.

The idea came from a 2024 trip back to Vietnam, Deanna's first in over ten years, two years after the family lost their father. Opening took longer than planned between permits and construction delays. Then more than 3,000 drinks went out the door in the first week.

Heat waves, yellow skies, and now… tornadoes? It has not been your average summer so far in Burlington.

Phones went off in synchrony Saturday afternon as a tornado warning from Environment Canada was issued across the region.

The warning rated the risk as extreme, with forecasters tracking a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado, with possible 90 km/h winds, hail, and up to 30 mm of rain.

Understandably, a lot of people were rattled. The wording on those alerts is blunt, and tornado is not a word we are used to seeing attached to Halton.

Thankfully it moved through fast. The storm tracked southeast out of Milton and carried on out over the lake, where it turned into a marine warning instead. The warning was lifted by mid afternoon, and no damage or injuries were reported in Burlington.

Hopefully the rest of the summer brings a few less surprises.

🛣 Skyway Bridge Closes Two Lanes This Weekend

🧺 Aldershot Seniors Invited to Summer Picnic and Fitness

The Burlington Waterfront Festival wrapped up at Spencer Smith Park on Sunday after three days of live music, food trucks, and local vendors along the lake.

Friday night ran 5-10 p.m. with a grunge theme capped by Pearl Jam tribute Pearl Jamming. Saturday brought local bands from noon to 10 p.m., while Sunday wound down with Canadiana from noon to 9 p.m., featuring a Tragically Hip tribute called From The Hip.

About 20 food trucks were set up, including Buster's Sea Cove, Jerk Brothers, and Meltdown Cheesery. There was also an artisan market, kids' carnival games, and shaded seating zones to escape the July heat.

The festival was free to enter and family friendly, with donations at the gate going to Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation.

Here’s a cool video of the event.

Oakville’s Bronte Legion is asking for public support after its Canada Day fundraiser fell short this year. The July 1 event at 79 Jones Street is the veterans' organization's biggest fundraiser of the year, but scorching heat and a severe storm cut attendance and revenue to less than half of their goal.

Last year's event raised $22,000. This year, the heat kept many regulars home, and an afternoon storm collapsed the stage tent and soaked the final band's equipment, shutting down the show early.

The funds cover building maintenance, remembrance programs, and support for local veterans and community events. The Legion hopes to raise another $10,000 and is accepting donations at [email protected].

Monday, July 20
☁️ Overcast
High: 28°C | Low: 14°C

Tuesday, July 21
🌦️ Showers, chance of a storm
High: 28°C | Low: 18°C

Wednesday, July 22
🌦️ Light drizzle
High: 22°C | Low: 16°C

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~ Nick