No, I won't be at the Home Show. But you should go anyway.

Need a reason to visit the National Home Show?  Besides, that is, the Toronto Star Day, where you’ll see New in Homes heartthrobs Colin & Justin and the super-cool Glen Peloso. Me, you ask? Erudite hot home products columnist, where will I be? Dear reader, I’ll be in Florida with my daughter, soaking up the sun, visiting the aged mother, raiding Target stores and laughing at Fox News (sic).

OLG, the provincial agency responsible for province-wide lottery games and gaming facilities, has partnered with a Humber College interior design student and interior designer Henry Liska to develop the LOTTO 6/49 Daydream Chair, partially out of lottery ticket, for the show. The chair will eventually reside in the OLG prize centre, and all future winners will sit it in for a dreamy photo op.

Another reason to get down to the show. Velux makers of skylights and sun tunnels, will be giving away iPods. So head over to booth 2711 and take a turn at the grinder, which simulates the most physically challenging aspect of sailing a yacht and is at the booth to celebrate the Velux 5 Oceans race  

Each weekend day of the show including Family Day (Feb. 21), the man and woman with the fastest time on the grinder will win an 8GB iPod Touch.  

 
While you’re there trying for chance to win, get these folks to explain the benefits of their product. I had a Velux sun tunnel installed in a dark hallway last year, and have been absolutely thrilled with the results. It immediately lightened up my hallway, so much so that during the day I need never turn on a light when I am going into the nearby linen closet. There’s also a light kit that can be used at night, although on most nights, it provides just enough light from the moon (or from Toronto’s over-lit night sky) that a trip to the bathroom need not be treacherous (see aged mother above).