As a long-time theatre writer, I know that once I start getting the emails about Bard on the Beach it’s time for the summer theatre circuit. And as always, I’m thrilled to be highlighting and showcasing the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Summer Festival in its 2012 edition. Bard is opening this year with The Taming of the Shrew, a fantastic romantic comedy.
Shakespeare’s romantic romp, The Taming of the Shrew, shines a comic spotlight on the pleasures and misadventures of the search for the perfect partner. Beautiful Bianca has no shortage of admirers, but she can’t marry until her headstrong sister Kate finds a husband. Along comes the fortune-hunting Petruchio who sets out to capture the heart of the fiery-spirited Kate. Petruchio and Kate face off in a crackling battle of wits, while three enthusiastic suitors launch their own devious campaigns as they vie for Bianca’s affections.
Beautiful Bianca (Dawn Petten) has many suitors, but her father Baptista (Bernard Cuffling) says she cannot marry until her older sister Kate (Lois Anderson) finds a husband. Along comes Petruchio (John Murphy) who, determined “to wive it wealthily in Padua,” sets out to win the hand and heart of feisty Kate who has frightened off all previous candidates with her prickly personality. He then sets out to tame his new bride, with the help of his sidekick Grumio (Kayvon Kelly). While Kate and Petruchio engage in a lively battle of wits, three hopeful suitors vie for Bianca’s affections: newcomer Lucentio (Anton Lipovetsky), optimistic favourite Hortensio (Kevin Kruchkywich) and the elderly but wealthy Gremio (Shawn Macdonald). While Lucentio poses as a schoolmaster, his servant Tranio (Kyle Rideout) assumes the role of his master. When confirmation of the promised dower is needed, a traveller (Craig Erickson) successfully pretends to be Lucentio’s father until the real Vincentio (Duncan Fraser) arrives. Adding to the hilarity are the local tailor (Ian Butcher), a widow (Susan Coodin), Baptista’s servant Biondella (Colleen Wheeler) and Petruchio’s servant Curtis (Bob Frazer).
I have a pair of tickets to give away for the June 9th at 8pm performance, and all you need to do is two things: First, find out when was the first time that Bard on the Beach performed The Taming of the Shrew, and second, tell me your favorite Bard on the Beach performance for this year. I am excited about all of them but as you know if you’ve read my blog long enough, I have a very soft spot for Bob Frazer, one of Vancouver’s and BC’s best actors of this generation so I’m excited to see him at Taming of the Shrew (I saw him last year as Iogo in Othello at Bard on the Beach too). So, go and find out when was the first time Bard on the Beach performed Taming of the Shrew, and in addition to that, share with me which Bard on the Beach production of this year you’re most excited about.
And here is the 2012 Season schedule for Bard on the Beach. There are number of amazing productions and you should check them out. And if you want to earn an additional entry on the contest you can post the following on Twitter:
Told @hummingbird604 what I know about @bardonthebeach http://is.gd/Uixsgo to enter to win tickets to Taming of the Shrew
Learn more about the wonderful Shakespeare Festival Bard on the Beach on the video below:
Performance details for The Taming of the Shrew are as follows: OPENS: June 7. PREVIEWS: May 31, June 1, 2, 3, 5, 6.
Regular performances include a free pre-show talk.
Runs Tuesdays through Sundays from May 31 to September 22 – On the BMO Mainstage in Vanier Park.
Plays in repertory with Macbeth which begins June 13 in previews.
Bard Explored: Lecture Series – June 23 – Macbeth; July 14 – The Taming of the Shrew; August 11 – The Merry Wives of Windsor; August 25 – King John
Bard-B-Q & Fireworks evenings: July 28, August 1 & 4
Celebrating Red & White – wine tasting event following the 3pm matinee and before the 8pm show on August 18.
Play ticket prices include reserved seating & HST and are $40 (evenings) and $21 to $33 (previews & matinees) with a new $30 Youth Rate (6-25 years) for evening performances. For the month of June, the adult evening ticket price is $36.
Order by phone at 604-739-0559, online at Bard on the Beach or in-person at the site as of May 25. Follow Bard on the Beach on Facebook and Twitter.
I feel so incredibly bad, because I wanted to write about the Surrey Children’s Festival 2012 which started yesterday and I’ve been so overwhelmed this week I just couldn’t make the time. I have a very loving relationship with the city of Surrey. I worked on a social media project with the city, and have always had a very good collaborative relationship with the Mayor Dianne Watts, the City of Surrey council and staff. I love Mayor Watts and what she is doing for Surrey. She is such a committed public servant.
Anyways, the Surrey Children’s Festival 2012 started yesterday May 24th and goes through May 26th and hopefully many parents and their children will get to enjoy it.
The annual Surrey Children’s Festival inspires young hearts and minds to greater possibilities, and celebrates our rich and diverse cultural heritage through performing and visual arts experiences.
The City of Surrey is the founding sponsor of the Festival. The Festival is run by a year-round 2-person staff housed in the Surrey Arts Centre. The staff increases to over 200 during the running of the 3-day festival. 65 performers illuminate and entertain audiences. Over 250 volunteers also support the festival.
Festival Dates and Times
May 24 to 26, 2012
Thursday and Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
I admit that I love Pinterest, particularly because it enables me to earn more traction in some blog posts and increases my traffic. It also gives me an opportunity to present a complete overview of who I am, both in the academic and the social media realm. But Pinterest can also create crazy people like the ones depicted by Comediva in the video above!
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team In Training (TNT) has:
* Trained over a half a million runners, walkers, triathletes, cyclists and hikers
* Raised over $1.2 billion to fund lifesaving cancer research
* Two 4-5 month training options:
* In-person program from our gigantic network of certified coaches
* On-line option – same great coaches, “virtually”
* More than 200 exciting endurance events to choose from.
There are some remarkable stories. One of them is Tony, a leukemia survivor, who with TnT LLSC has trained for a marathon and a triathlon, and this fall will be training with us and mentoring participants who train for the RBC GranFondo Whistler. Tony’s story is extremely inspiring. And I hope you can support the work of Team in Training. I’ve grown fond of this initiative since Greg did it (it’s been his second year in a row, and he’s amazing).
Photo credit: Tony di Giovanni
I encourage you to explore the links on my blog post and read Tony’s story, and if you are so inclined, please support this worthy initiative.
BC’s South Asian community is a long-time supporter of BC Children’s Hospital, raising awareness and funds for more than a decade. Throughout the year, community members show their support for child health care by organizing and donating at radiothons, dances, dinners, walk-a-thons, and other fundraising initiatives.
The generosity of the community is celebrated on the A World of Smiles telethon each spring.
WE NEED YOUR HELP. Please tune in on May 27th and make a donation to BC Children’s Hospital. Shaw Multicultural Channel Cable 116, Shaw Direct channel 299 and Shaw TV Channels in BC.
Thank you.
I hope you can support A World of Smiles Telethon this coming Sunday. And please remember that your donations to BC Children’s Hospital Foundation help this worthy foundation strengthen their programs and provide children in need of medical attention with care.
Despite the fact that I write a lifestyle blog, I actually don’t drink that much. In fact, I have discovered that I drink much less than people think. But because of the fact that on Wednesdays I write a feature on wines, and particularly British Columbia wines when I can, I am often “forced” to have to at least drink one glass of wine before Wednesday. Because, you know, my readers are my priority, and I can’t let you a Wednesday without YOU knowing about another wine.
So tonight, I’ll fully admit that I am writing about Sola Nero Vena (a very sweet, bright pink rosé wine) because it’s what it is in my fridge, and it is what I drink when I am writing, and a little bit of wine always helps the words flow, and I have 3 books to edit, so there you go. AND my readers are expecting a Wine Wednesday post. So here it is.
Vena is the Roman goddess of beauty and love. The planet named for her has been known since antiquity as the evening star and appears just as the last blush of sunset fades into twilight. Vena is a delightful blush wine with vibrant strawberry and cherry flavours and a refreshing finish. Enjoy Vena on its own or share it with friends as you watch the sun go down.
I serve my Sola Nero Vena very cold (you may notice I use my large wine glass from Tastes of April Point 2011 in Quadra Island, one of my most favorite travel events of the year). I drink it while I write (when I have to write for an extended period of time) as it is sweet and fresh. But remember my tastes: Gewurtrzaminer, Riesling or sweet Pinot Grigios. Or sweet rosés. So make sure you are ready for at least a 1 in the sweetness scale.
I know people will think this is dirt-cheap wine at $7 in the BC Liquor stores, and hey, let me tell you – it does the trick. So, I don’t want to pay $30 for a bottle of rosé when I can pay this little and while Sola Nero Vena may not be the elixir of gods, it’s a good wine and I enjoy it quite a lot. With 11.5% alcohol and presented in 750 ml bottles, I definitely recommend Sola Nero Vena if you need something fresh, cold and sweet to accompany your writing.
Disclosure: I bought several bottles of Sola Nero wine one time when I was running out of time to get some wine, and I paid out of my own pocket for them. I don’t have any personal connections with Sola Nero Wines nor is a review expected, nor paid for, not a positive review in the cards. As always I retain full editorial control of what I publish on my site.
The University of Guanajuato, where I did my undergraduate, and where I celebrated many Students’ Days. Photo credit: Jose Ramon Vega
While I teach in a Canadian university and here we don’t celebrate Students’ Day, I do recall fondly my undergraduate years when I celebrated Mexican Students’ Day (May 23rd). So, to all Mexican students (my previous ones) and to my own students here in Canada, even if you don’t celebrate this holiday, Happy Students’ Day!
While I knew about the City of Vancouver Neighbourhood Small Grants, I do not think I had heard about the Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grants until a friend (who, like me, lives in Mount Pleasant) sent me this information, which I am reproducing below. [UPDATE – After doing a little research, and realizing that I should know more about this program since the folks at the Vancouver Foundation are actually my friends and I have sat on advisory committees for the Foundation itself, here is some more information that I garnered about the programme].
The City of Vancouver and Vancouver Foundation have teamed up to help make Vancouver the greenest city by 2020. We’ve created the Greenest City Fund – a four-year, $2 million fund that will support community-led green projects. We want to go right into the heart of the community for ideas, and that’s why we’ve dedicated a portion of the Fund to support Neighbourhood Small Grants (NSG) that have a green focus. Our aim is to encourage local initiatives, designed and undertaken by residents, right in their community. We’re looking for fabulous ideas from you, Vancouver residents, which will make your neighbourhood greener. Your proposal needs to meet the criteria on the left and must benefit your Vancouver neighbourhood.
This project offers up to $1000 to groups of people living in Mount Pleasant and Little Mountain, who want to work together on a small event, program or project that enhances their neighbourhood through a green focus. We’re looking for fabulous ideas from you, Vancouver residents, which will make your neighbourhood greener. Your proposal needs to meet the criteria and must benefit your Vancouver neighbourhood.
What Kinds of Projects Receive Funding?
All kinds of projects! Here are some other Greenest City NSG ideas you could develop:
1. Making businesses greener or creating green jobs.
2. Growing and eating local food.
3. Making buildings more energy efficient.
4. Promoting greener forms of transportation.
5. Creating zero waste.
6. Mitigating climate change and breathing clean air.
7. Improving access to nature and planting trees.
8. Conserving drinking water.
9. Reducing our ecological footprint.
Where can I get Information about City Guidelines?
Applicants must live in the Mount Pleasant and Little Mountain Neighbourhoods, see map here. The grants are for projects by neighbours or small groups of residents only; organizations cannot apply. All projects must take place in Vancouver.
Application Deadline
The Greenest City Neighbourhood Small Grant application deadline is May 25, 2012, and if your grant is approved the Steering Committee will inform you in June. The projects, events and programs will take place in 2012, followed by a celebration in November which gives grant recipients the opportunity to display photographs, tell stories, mingle with other project organizers, and meet the NSGP Steering Committee.
It’s quite obvious from my scholarly research profile that I am very interested in water, but not only from the research standpoint but also from the activist side of things. I had written before about Run for Water but I realize that I haven’t written about it this year (and this year it takes place in Calgary, AB and Abbottsford, BC so even more important to highlight it)
Photo credit: Staff of Hope on Flickr
Run For Water is an Abbotsford based nonprofit society dedicated to staging a high-calibre running event. The members of Run For Water Society share the goal of promoting healthy physical activity and community spirit as well as raising funds for clean water development in under-privileged communities.
You can help HOPE International Development Agency provide families in southern Ethiopia with clean water by participating in this year’s Run For Water events be organized by friends of HOPE International Development Agency in British Columbia and Calgary.
There are two events to choose from in 2012:
– Abbotsford, British Columbia, May 27, 2012
– Calgary, Alberta, September 8, 2012
Your participation will transform lives! By participating as a runner or walker in the Abbotsford Run For Water or Calgary Run For Water event, you can radically change the future of thousands of people in southern Ethiopia who live without access to clean, safe drinking water. Without clean water, these families remain trapped in poverty – the hallmarks of which are disease and malnutrition.
This is a very worthy event and if I could run it myself I would but unfortunately I won’t be able to. But hopefully many of you will! Help improve the lives of people in Southern Ethiopia and enable them to access water. Given how much clean water we have in BC, hopefully that will encourage British Columbians (and Albertans!) to participate in Run for Water.
I am in love with my home province, British Columbia, and I have been a faithful promoter of its wonders and beauties. I have written about the small regions in BC (like Harrison Mills) and the large ones (like Victoria), I have explored many wonderful things that we have to do and places to see in British Columbia. However, I have to be honest and say that every time I visit Alberta (most recently I went to Calgary and Edmonton – my brother lives in Calgary and many of my friends live in Edmonton), I am always amazed at all the things that Alberta has to offer. I recently attended Travel Alberta’s campaign unveiling: Remember to Breathe. And yes, the views of Alberta, the things that one can do and places one can see are definitely breathtaking. Check them out for yourselves.
If you have followed my blog closely you probably have realized how much I travel writing I do, and how many wonderful events in Canada I promote and highlight. Travel Tuesday is usually one of my favorite days of the week because it usually gives me the chance to write about fantastic travel-focused events that happen in Canada, and especially my home province, British Columbia. One of the destinations I have more proudly highlighted on my travel writings (and where I feel most at home) is Salt Spring Island. Once you reach Salt Spring Island, you are on island time and you really have a chance to relax. And one of my absolute favorite food and wine events happens every year precisely on Salt Spring Island. It’s one of those amazing opportunities that you ABSOLUTELY MUST enjoy at least once in your lifetime: Chefs Across The Water. I recently announced on my Twitter stream the dates for Chefs Across The Water 2012, hosted by Hastings House on Salt Spring Island. You can tell how much I loved it that I highlighted Salt Spring Island as one of my top travel experiences and destinations in 2011.
Hastings House Country House Hotel and Dining Room on Salt Spring Island is pleased to announce our guest chef program is returning for 2012 — top BC chefs have been invited to prepare multiple-course dinners in the Hastings House kitchen, incorporating Salt Spring Island’s produce, seafood, and meats. Wine pairings featuring BC wines will be offered to complement the extraordinary menus.
Salt Spring Island is a food-lover’s paradise, blessed with a mild Mediterranean-like climate and devoted growers and producers renowned for their organic fruits and vegetables, meats, and cheeses. Fresh-caught, wild seafood rounds out nature’s local pantry. In recent years, island wineries have further added to the diversity of the local harvest. Diners can look forward to amazing experiences as the celebrated guest chefs each put their own personal spin on Salt Spring Island flavours.
Chefs Across The Water is, without a doubt, one of the premiere wine and food events in the entire province of British Columbia, and certainly would rank up high there in Canada. The 2012 programme sounds simply amazing:
The new guest chef line-up builds on the tradition of connecting British Columbia’s fine dining establishments while highlighting the incredible bounty of the region’s produce. This year Chefs Across the Water invites distinguished chefs from three Relais & Châteaux luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants to participate in a series of gastronomic island adventures in the months of June, September and October.
Chefs Across the Water participants and dates are as follows:
Chef Nicholas Nutting The Wickaninnish Inn
Monday, June 11th
Chef Lee Parsons The Wedgewood Hotel
Monday, September 17th
Chef Terry Pichor Sonora Resort
Tuesday, October 16th
Each one of the dinners is $100.00 per person, wine pairings $40.00. This is really affordable, even more so if you think about the kind of exclusive and one-of-a-kind experience it is, and each person gets to enjoy a delicious five course dinner prepared with local ingredients by some of the most amazing chefs in the province of British Columbia.
I am super excited to announce that Salt Spring Air and Hastings House have again partenered with me (as they usually do, because they are amazing and they always have been incredibly kind to me) to offer a lucky reader of mine (and a guest of theirs) a Chefs Across The Water 2012 Grand Prize. The Grand Pack elements are as follows:
My Chefs Across The Water/Hastings House/Salt Spring Air Grand Prize package will include two return (Vancouver-Salt Spring Island-Vancouver) seats on the flight to Salt Spring Island that is most appropriate for Chefs Across The Water (June 11th afternoon to return June 12th morning). If you know anything about Salt Spring Air, you’ll know that they are absolutely wonderful and that they provide top-notch service (as well as dozens of Twitter deal, you should follow them at @SaltSpringAir). Beyond their fantastic service and amazing customer service quality, another thing that I love about Salt Spring Air is how eager their owner (Phillip) is willing to experiment with social media (check out Salt Spring Air Pinterest, for example). I always have entrusted my travel to and from Salt Spring (and sometimes to Victoria too) to Salt Spring Air.
SaltSpring Air is the islanders’ airline. We are a locally owned airline based out of Ganges on Saltspring Island, British Columbia, Canada. Now offering free parking at Vancouver Airport. We offer scheduled seaplane service between Saltspring Island, Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Downtown Vancouver/ Vancouver Harbour, and Maple Bay on Vancouver Island. Saltspring Air also provides seaplane flights to the many Gulf Islands.
Charter flights and scenic sightseeing flights are available to any destination throughout the west coast of British Columbia including Victoria Harbour, Nanaimo Harbour, Tofino, Sunshine Coast, Canada’s Southern Gulf Islands and most points reachable by floatplane on Vancouver Island. Our scheduled service serves the following communities; Ganges, Fulford Harbour, Duncan, North Saanich, Pat Bay, Mill Bay, Chemainus, Crofton, Ladysmith, Cowichan, Saturna, Poets Cove and Port Washington of Pender Island, Lyall Harbour on Saturna Island, Miners Bay on Mayne Island, Montague Harbour on Galiano Island, Telegraph Harbour on Thetis Island, Brentwood and Sidney by the Sea.
My Grand Prize Package also includes dinner for two at the June 11th Chefs Across The Water dinner. You REALLY should try, regardless of whether you win (or not) my Grand Prize, to visit Salt Spring Island for Chefs Across The Water. You can read my experience at the August 2011 Chefs Across The Water here. And a couple of photos just to entice your appetite.
Not only do you get to experience the scenic flight over to Salt Spring Island, courtesy of Salt Spring Air, and a fantastic dinner for two in the dining room of Hastings House at Salt Spring, but Hastings House has kindly upped the ante on my Grand Prize and is offering accommodation for two for an overnight stay at the amazing Hastings House. You can read my experiences at Hastings House (which have always been wonderful, both for Chefs Across The Water and for the Salt Spring Island Documentary Film Festival) here. Just a couple of photos of my previous visits to show you how cozy and comfortable the accommodations are.
Hastings House Country House Hotel is a small waterfront luxury country resort, spa and restaurant – sits on 22 acres on the waterfront of Ganges Harbour, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Enjoy luxury lodging, fine dining, wellness and relaxation in a casually-elegant atmosphere. Explore British Columbia’s natural beauty, Salt Spring’s mild climate and the warmth and creativity of its people.
The heart of the seaside resort is a magnificent 11th century Sussex-style Manor House overlooking peaceful Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island, BC. The Manor House is where guests gather for cocktails and conversation, before dinner. Eighteen unique guest rooms and suites, each with its own décor and history, are situated in seven lovingly maintained buildings around the estate.
So, what do you need to do to enter to win my Chefs Across The Water/Salt Spring Air/Hastings House Grand Prize contest? Well, that is actually pretty easy. You can earn one entry by dropping a comment on this post telling me about your best travel experience in British Columbia. Bonus points if said travel experience has been to Salt Spring Island, or a stay at Hastings House, or flying with Salt Spring Air! I just think it is important to highlight how much of a fantastic travel destination Salt Spring Island is, and while I love all of British Columbia, I think it would be neat if your travel experience had a Salt Spring Island component (this is not mandatory, however!).
If you want to earn a second entry on top of your comment (for a total of two), you can post the following on Twitter:
Shared BC travels w/ @Hummingbird604 http://is.gd/U9nQoH 2 enter 2 win #CAW @saltspringair @hastings_house Chefs Across The Water prize
I will count the second entry (Twitter) only after you drop a comment on this post. I will void entries that just drop a one liner, though. My goal with Grand Prize contests like this is to enrich the experiences of my readers by having my readers share their own travel experiences, so a one liner or a two word phrase just telling me where it was where you travelled and had the most fun doesn’t really inform the other contest participants and commenters on the post. Share about the wonders that Salt Spring Island and the province of British Columbia have!
The fine print:
This contest is open to 19 years of age and older. Please drink responsibly if you consume any alcohol during your dinner. Travel to-and-from Vancouver (if you are out of the Metro Vancouver area) is on your own, as the flight will leave downtown Vancouver and drop you off in Ganges, Salt Spring Island.
I will draw a winner from all entries on the second Travel Tuesday of June, June 5th, at 4pm Pacific Standard Time. Good luck everyone, and thanks Salt Spring Air and Hastings House for, as always, partnering with me to offer amazing Grand Prizes to my readers.
I wish I had PVR’d the pilot of Wonder Woman (with Adrienne Palicki). Frankly, even though I hated the uniform, I absolutely loved the idea of reinventing Wonder Woman. Unfortunately I have NEVER been able to find the actual pilot. A fan created these opening credits with fragments of the pilot (which was never launched formally), so I have relied on this video to imagine what having a new TV series focused on the Princess Amazon would look like. For your viewing pleasure.
There are about a dozen or more reasons why I promote local businesses, and even more so, I love promoting local shops that are in New Westminster (where The Network Hub has their New Westminster campus). But the other element that drew me to promoting Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery was not the fact that they sent me a box of goodies, but the fact that they are focused on gluten-free goodies.
Photo credit: Melanie McDermott on Flickr
Both my friends Jonny Staub (on-air DJ for The Beat 94.5) and Janni Aragon (professor at University of Victoria) eat gluten-free stuff. My friend LMcT also requires consuming gluten free stuff, as does Justin Long, an entrepreneur at The Network Hub and a friend of mine as well. So, slowly but surely many more of my friends are increasing consumption of gluten-free goodies and thus it’s nice to know that Cloud 9 will carry them.
With everything in his childhood home freshly baked, Ray Porcellato, founder of Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery acquired his love for baking at a young age from his mother Pixie. When he saw the demand for gluten-free products going largely unfulfilled, Ray decided to continue that family tradition and launched a bakery that would create gluten-free baked goods that had the same taste and quality he grew up with.
After creating a specially formulated gluten-free flour, he began to produce a complete range of baked goods and confections that are firstly of the highest standards, and also fulfilled a need for uncompromising gluten-free products.
The goodies I was sent were promptly distributed amongst everyone whom I bumped into at my office at The Network Hub. The one item I kept was the salty pastry (in Spanish we call those hojaldre but I have no clue how to say it in English). The prices (I did check Cloud 9 Specialty Bakery’s prices) are pretty much on-par with any other store/bakery. I found the chocolate biscotti a bit dry but then again, it’s probably the best way because I dip it in my coffee.
Overall, I’ll have to visit Cloud 9 Specialty Baker in New Westminster and I encourage you to do so as well. After all, I’m in New Westminster at least once a week!
Disclosure: I was sent a box of goodies (including cookies, gluten-free flour, biscottis and other small items), but while the box of goodies was free, a review was neither expected nor a positive review, in the case of writing one was expected either. I did not visit the store as the box was mailed to me, so this does not count as a review of the bakery itself. As always, I retain full editorial control of what is published on my site.
My dear friend Minna identified the song that is one of my favorite of Adele: Set Fire To The Rain. One of the most gut-wrenching songs I have heard in my entire life. For your listening pleasure.
As cancer is one of the key topics I write about (I have lost too many loved ones to cancer), and thanks to the lovely folks of Breakfast Television for reminding me, I figured I should highlight next Sunday’s Vancouver Spring Sprint 2012 (May 27th) in support of the Brain Tumour Foundation.
Date: Sunday, May 27, 2012 Location: Burnaby Lake, Rugby Club, 3760 Sperling Ave Registration: 10am Start: 11am Distance: 2.5km or 5km walk/fun run
Who We Are: A dedicated team of volunteers, patients, survivors, family members, health care professionals and staff, determined to make the journey with a brain tumour one full of hope and support. We work collaboratively to serve the needs of those Canadians affected by all types of brain tumours.
What We Do: Information, education and support is available and research continues into the cause of and a cure for brain tumours.
Every year, thousands of Canadians affected by brain tumours find emotional support and comfort while gaining a better understanding and knowledge of their disease through a range of programs and services available across the country. This includes: up-to-date brain tumour information material, numerous education events and support groups. Important brain tumour research is also supported through annual grants, a fellowship and the brain tumour tissue bank. Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada is funded entirely through generous donations from individuals, corporations, and employee groups as well as through memorial gifts, planned giving and special events.
While my blog is normally a lifestyle and travel blog (dining out, fine and performing arts, dance, theatre, travel features, history), most of my readers know that I am an uncle several times now, and that my nephews and nieces are one of my top priorities. So when my nephews are in town, particularly L who is now four years old, I’m always keen to bring them to do children’s-focused activities. And slowly but surely I’m learning about all that the kidlets and youngins have available for activities. Like the Vancouver International Children’s Festival 2012 on Granville Island.
You can check more on the Vancouver International Children’s Festival 2012 Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter at @VICF.
A world-renowned festival of performing arts for young audiences, the Vancouver International Children’s Festival has been educating, entertaining and inspiring young audiences since 1978.
As someone who grew up trained in the arts (I’m a competitive dancer and a former theatre actor, and like my four brothers, I play classical piano), I love festivals like the Vancouver International Children’s Festival. The schedule of events is here. Tickets to the event start I think at $18 per single event, and you can find the prizing bundles and packages here. I love the fact that there will be a number of shows in French.
I thought it’d be important to show the Age Policy, something that is often debated in the arts. Personally I love children but I know they can be disruptive in some performances. Note the age policy for VICF here.
The Festival is family-friendly. All ages, including babies, are admitted to the following Festival SoundStage shows: Élage Dioiuf, Kutapira, Journey Through Sound, Will Stroet, along wiith age-appropriate activities. Babies under 12 months are admitted at no charge to the Festival SoundStage.
For all other venues, all patrons require a ticket. The age ratings for each show have been developed to ensure a positive and enriching theatrical experience for everyone. Children younger than the ages listed on the individual shows and babes in arms (children under 12 mos.) are not permitted in the theatre venues as they may become frightened or disruptive.
I didn’t have the time to talk to the organizers so at this point I don’t know if I will have any tickets to give away yet, but stay tuned and check back! UPDATE: The organizers have given me stuff to give away, so check out my contest:
Win a Family 4-Pack of Site Activity Passes to the Vancouver International Children’s Festival, taking place May 29 to June 3 on Granville Island. The passes are good for 1 day and allow your family to access the world of art & music in their 3 activity zones. If you win, you’ll be able to enjoy these activities by picking your tickets up at VICF Box Office on Granville Island.
All you need to do to enter my giveaway is tell me your favorite family activity, be it on Granville Island or elsewhere in Vancouver. I found out when I last babysat L and E, my nephews (1 and 4) that we had an amazing time at Stanley Park, where the train is. What about you? What do you do with your family? When we were little, my parents and I and my brothers we all used to go to the movies on Sunday night and then have dinner as a family. Even as I’ve grown older, I do that still.
An additional entry can be earned by posting on Pinterest (if you have a Pinterest account) a photo of your favorite family activity, and pinging me back either on Pinterest, or on Twitter. My Pinterest account is here. Or you can just repin the pin originated from this blog post.
A third entry can be earned by posting the following text on your Twitter account:
Shared w/ @hummingbird604 my favorite family activity http://is.gd/1IMGyO 2 enter 2 win a Family On-Site Pack for @VICF – what’s yours?
When we would have parties at my grandparents, my aunts and I would dance to The Bee Gees’ music. I grew up listening to their music even if I was too young to be “of that era” (my parents were of that era, however. Which is what makes it all the more shocking, as my parents are, very happily, still alive). I just found out that Robin Gibb just passed away of cancer, a couple of days after Donna Summer (read my tribute to Donna Summer here). I wish cancer would simply stop taking valuable people from this world. Rest in peace, Robin Gibb. You and your brothers brought much joy to me and many other thousand folks.
Stayin’ Alive
A Fifth of Beethoven
More Than A Woman
What was your favorite Bee Gees’ song? (and yes, so sad that we lost Andy Gibb so young!)
Napoletana pizza has become quite a popular item in the 2011-2012 Vancouver food scene, with the emergence of several pizzerias, including Nicli Antica Pizzeria, NOVO Pizzeria, Verace Pizzeria, Pizzeria Farina, Famoso, Pizzeria Prima Strada in Victoria and a few others. Interestingly enough, I have tried many of these recently in the last little while, and thus I am able to form an opinion of my favorite (and least favorite). Via Tevere Pizzeria on Victoria Drive, located one block away from Commercial Drive, and in the residential area is one of those non-pretentious, unassuming, relatively small spaces that provide nutritious, substantive, tasty and flavourful thin-crust Neapolitan pizza.
And one of the best I have tried in recent years. Moreover, the fact that it is located on Victoria Drive in the residential neighbourhood rather than on Commercial Drive is something that makes Via Tevere Pizzeria more appealing, and you will understand my reasoning if you read my posts on the economic geography of the lower West End. By doing some of this reading you’ll know the reason why I am so keen on being a customer of restaurants/grocery stores who are located within the residential area: – I am a bit fixated with urban/industrial/residential transformation.
Lorraine and I visited Via Tevere Pizzeria last week and ordered just one pizza (Vesuvio, $15) and a glass of wine ($6) and sharing one pizza was more than enough for both of us as we were just having a snack. I suspect that one pizza would be enough for a single person if you are hungry enough (which to be honest, I wasn’t really very hungry, and neither was Lorraine). What I found very surprising is that Via Tevere Pizzeria was so unassuming and the pizza was so delightful and filling. The crust was not doughy and the amount of food that covered my pasta was more than enough to make it worth the price I was paying.
Overall, Via Tevere Pizzeria ranks as one of my favorite pizza places, and one that is not just “Uncle Fatih” kind of pizza. Definitely up there to compete with Famoso, Nicli and Prima Strada, at the very least. And in such a secluded location that it’s not so mainstream. I’ll definitely be back to Via Tevere Pizzeria.
Disclosure: I paid for both of our dinners on my dime. As always I retain full editorial control over anything I post on my site.
I wish I could say I feel safe enough with the insane drivers in Vancouver to bike to work during British Columbia and Metro Vancouver’s Bike To Work Week 2012. The reality is, I have NEVER felt safe enough to bike within the confines of the city of Vancouver. My feelings of safety increased (a little) when Mayor Gregor Robertson decided to build dedicated (and separated) bike lanes on some of the major arteries downtown, particularly those that go near my office on West Hastings and Richards (the bike lanes were set up on Dunsmuir and Howe).
Regardless, there are many a brave soul in Vancouver (and by Vancouver I mean, Metro Vancouver and in British Columbia in general) who use bicycles as a main mode of sustainable transportation (I use Skytrain and bus transit, and walk), so to those brave souls, just a quick reminder that it’s Bike To Work Week on May 28th through June 2nd (I won’t be here, I will be in Waterloo at Congress 2012).
Cycling to work is a great way to add activity to your day, saving time by combining a work out with your travel needs. We want to help you arrive at work energized and full of endorphins year round.
Bike to Work uses events and friendly competition to encourage avid cyclists and new riders alike to try the trip to work on bike. Our website offers year round tips on safe cycling, along with workplace and individual workshops on skills and bike maintenance.
The Bike to Work Week events happen once in the spring and once in the fall, with an interactive online tool to map and track your trips, enter prize draws, compete with other organizations, and win fabulous prizes and awards, all for free! Chart the benefits: kilometres, calories, carbon savings. Challenge a friend or co-worker; challenge yourself and discover how fun it is.
One of the most fun nights out that I have had in recent months was having dinner after my panel at Science Online Vancouver this past Tuesday. The reality is, there are few people who understand me well enough like science communicators (and of course my dear friend Minna Van). So, I was thrilled to be joined by Eric M. Johnson, Andrew Torr, Carin Bondar and Tyson Jerry (and Minna) for dinner at Famoso Neapoletan Pizzeria.
First off, I was kind of surprised that Famoso asked us to fill out an order pad. But our server, Charlotte (fiancee of the owner/franchiser of Famoso) was such a good sport, so lovely and so energetic and full of life and focused on our enjoyment, that I had absolutely no problem doing the weird “fill out your table’s order and bring it down and we’ll go from there“. I ordered a Pollo Pizzeta with a Tomato Bisque soup ($11 for the combo, which I find absolutely super inexpensive).
I not only don’t have any complaints about the Tomato Bisque, but I have to say it was the best bisque I have had this side of French bistros. The pizzetta is, to my surprise, a little bit thicker in dough than I have experienced at other Napoletana pizza joints, including Nicli, Via Tevere and Verace. While extremely flavourful, and rich in cheese, I found it heavy to digest. The above said, I absolutely loved the service, both offline and online. The response from the management team to our praising tweets was really solid and warm.
My feeling is that Famoso is still working out the kinks to their pizzas. Frankly I’d like to see thinner, less doughy crusts next time. Or maybe I just chose the wrong pizzetta (because I saw what Carin, Andrew, Eric, Tyson and Minna ordered and they looked sort of richer in ingredients). Overall an extremely nice experience (not only because of the company we kept but also because Charlotte made us feel so much at home – she even gave us gelato samples to share). I mean, seriously. That woman alone made the visit worth it (in addition to my beloved friends).
I will be coming back to Famoso Neapolitan Pizzeria, if for nothing else, to try new pizzettas and to have that delicious tomato bisque.
Disclosure: Minna invited me for dinner so my tab was on her dime. As always I retain full editorial control over anything I post on my blog.
One of the most taboo topics and one that folks tend to overlook when promoting non-profit organizations is that of sexual abuse, particular of women. The Vancouver Rape Relief and Women’s Shelter is one of several organizations that focus on helping women who have suffered abuse, particularly sexual abuse, and many of their clients come from the Downtown East Side. Thus I wanted to promote their forthcoming event, the Vancouver Walk for Rape Relief 2012, to take place on Sunday May 26th.
It’s time to get ready and excited for the Walk for Rape Relief! This year it’s happening on the last Sunday in May and we’re looking forward to walking, pedaling, rollerblading, and wheeling around the beautiful Stanley Park seawall with you! When it comes to ending violence against women, it’s easy to talk the talk, but let’s walk the walk together! Come out and show your support for your local women’s shelter!
The Walk for Rape Relief has been an annual community event for over 30 years. We will meet again this year at Ceperley Park in Stanley Park. The Walk is an opportunity for men and women to actively change their world. Walkers collect pledges, and these proceeds provide the means to operate a transition house for battered women and their children, and a 24 hour crisis line for women escaping male violence.
This sounds like a relevant project and hopefully some of you will be able to participate.
For obvious reasons (I sit on the executive board of The Network Hub and we have a campus in New Westminster at the renovated Westminster Quay, now River Market), I promote New Westminster relentlessly. I have a stake in New Westminster’s regional development and I’m in love with the Royal City as is. So I’m excited about the 10th Annual DiverseCity Multicultural Festival 2012 happening RIGHT NOW (Saturday May 19th) in New Westminster.
Uptown New Westminster. Photo credit: Dennis Sylvester Hurd
Since its inception ten years ago, the Multicultural Festival has grown into a signature event for the City of New Westminster and an integral part of Hyack Festival Week. Saturday, May 19th, 2012.
The 2012 Multicultural Festival will take place on Saturday May 19th at the New Westminster Quay boardwalk (between Fraser River Discovery Centre and the River Market).
The festival is a celebration of the rich cultural diversity that exists in our community today. This family event celebrates the beginning of summer and all that Canada has to offer. Cultural groups representing lands of near and far, bring their unique traditions of celebration through world music, dance, interpretation and taste.
The Downtown New Westminster BIA has proudly partnered up with the City of New Westminster, Scotiabank, River Market, Fraser River Discovery Centre, OMNI TV and Astral Media to bring you this milestone 10th Annual Event!
Stories of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy often capture my attention, and the Jumpstart Day at the Vancouver Canadian Tire (one of my favorite big-box stores, to be quite honest) did catch my interest.
What made it relevant for me (the Jumpstart Day campaign) is as it’s focused on kids and play.
On May 26, the Fourth Annual Jumpstart Day will take place at the Vancouver Canadian Tire, located at 2220 Kingsway in Vancouver and 1350 Main Street in North Vancouver. The day-long fundraising event is the celebration of Jumpstart’s One Million Red Balls campaign, which, through themonth of May, encourages customers to donate $2 in exchange for a red ball – a national symbol for child’s play.
On Jumpstart Day, most Canadian Tire stores across the country will celebrate and raise additional funds for Jumpstart with special events and activities for customers. At the Vancouver Canadian Tire, customers will be asked for a donation to participatein the GoClean car wash, balloon pop and table top games. All money raised will be donated to Jumpstart, helping Canadian kids get involved in organized sport.
Donations to Jumpstart help the one in three Canadian families that cannot afford to enrol their children in organized sports and recreation. All funds raised through the One Million Red Balls campaign and on Jumpstart Day stay within the local communityto help local children. To date over 8,000 children in Vancouver have been able to participate in sports and recreation because of Jumpstart. Since 2005, Jumpstart has helped 439,383 kids across Canada by removing the financial barriers that prevent children from participating.
Canadian Tire invites the Vancouver community to get involved and make a difference in the lives of local kids.
WHAT: Jumpstart Day celebrations: GoClean car wash, balloon pop and table top games WHEN: Saturday, May 26, 2012 WHERE: Canadian Tire
In Vancouver: 2220 Kingsway, V5N 2T7
In North Vancouver: 1350 Main Street Street, V7J 1C6
Canadian Tire Jumpstart is a national charitable program that helps financially disadvantaged kids participate in organized sport and recreation. We help cover registration, equipment and/or transportation costs.We have an extensive, national network of more than 310 local chapters. Chapter members are volunteers who are committed to helping get kids active and healthy. They work in partnership with other local non-profit organizations to discreetly identify kids with the greatest need in their community. Canadian Tire Jumpstart then covers registration, equipment and/or transportation costs to help them participate in a sport or recreational activity of their choice. We also lend support to unique initiatives aimed at increasing access to sport and recreation programs. Since our launch in 2005, Canadian Tire Jumpstart has given 439,383 kids across Canada the chance to play.
Hopefully many of you will join Jumpstart Day at Canadian Tire!
Normally, I would be all over checking out Vancouver Craft Beer Week 2012, and finding ways to give you my dear and loyal readers a chance to enjoy the paired dinners and/or other events. I am, however, overwhelmed with work and the academic conference speaking circuit so I can’t, but you should know that there’s a tonne of events that just kicked off at Vancouver Craft Beer Week 2012.
As always, all events are for 19 and over and please drink responsibly.
It’s been 365 days since VCBW 2011 shook the core of British Columbia’s craft beer scene with our second annual nine-day celebration of fermentation. For year three we’re turning up the volume to 11 by bringing you 9 Headliner events, 6 Opening Acts, 36 Neighbourhood Gigs, and 12+ week-long specials dedicated to all things craft beer. Ticket sales and full details for all these rockstar worthy gatherings can be found in the Events and Specials pages on this very website. Make sure to check out our 60+ participating Breweries, and show a little love to the Sponsors who help make this whole thing possible.
As always please drink responsibly, serving-it-right rules apply, and whatever you do, Do NOT drink and drive!
Vancouver Craft Beer Week 2012 takes place from May 18th through May 26th, 2012. Check out their day-by-day event schedule. Some of the events for tonight (Saturday May 19th) sound a lot of fun, like the Beerlesque at Hyde on Main Street (one of my neigbhourhood pubs). If you happen to attend a VCBW event, I’d love to hear from you.
It is a fact that I write a lot about food, and while I don’t often have the time to cook, I sometimes wish I could take cooking classes. I really had thought about doing stuff with The Dirty Apron, but always ran out of time. But you can now take Celebrity Cooking Classes with The Arts Club!
Celebrity Chef Cooking Class. Photography by WorldExposure.com
Learn how to create haute cuisine at home! The Arts Club Theatre Company announces its spring 2012 lineup ofCelebrity Chef Cooking Classes, running fromMay 28 to July 18. These intimate four-course dinners held at private residences throughout Vancouver give guests the opportunity to discover the latest trends in food and wine, and ways to incorporate in-vogue ingredients into the home cook’s arsenal. Not only are these popular events fun and engaging, but they also raise funds for the not-for-profit theatre company.
The highly sociable evenings begin with a glass of wine and an amuse bouche to whet the appetite. Then the chef gets down to the task in hand: a three-hour interactive master class demonstrating professional techniques from the simple to the ingenious. Guests have one-on-one access to some of the most skilled and innovative chefs in Vancouver, who will present dishes that highlight the best bounty of the season. Each class will showcase the finest vintages from a B.C. winery with wines from the Mark Anthony Group portfolio, includingGanton & Larsen Prospect Winery, and Rigamarole Wines. This series features a special spotlight on Mission Hill Family Estate—named Winery of the Year in 2011 by InterVin International Wine Competition.
The spring lineup of classes welcomes new chef instructors: David Robertson, owner of The Dirty Apron Cooking School; TV personality Anthony Sedlak, who recently opened The American Cheesesteak Co. in Yaletown (and whom I’ve hung out with a few times); Tim Evans at Siena Restaurant; and Tom Lee, chef de cuisine at Edible Canada at the Market. Ned Bell, Quang Dang, and Jefferson Alvarez from the amazing Fraiche in West Vancouver (you can read my review of Fraiche here) return to present classes to celebrate good food, inspire, and educate.
All classes start at 6 PM. Full schedule of Celebrity Chef Cooking Classes:
Wednesday, May 23 David Robertson, The Dirty Apron Cooking School
Wine pairings from Rigamarole Wines
Monday, May 28 Ned Bell, YEW restaurant + bar
Wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate
Monday, June 4 Tim Evans, Siena Restaurant
Wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate
Monday, June 11 Quang Dang, West Restaurant
Wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate
Tuesday, June 19 Jefferson Alvarez, Fraîche Restaurant
Wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate
Tuesday, June 26 Anthony Sedlak, The American Cheesesteak Co.
Food Network chef and host of The Main
Wine pairings from Mission Hill Family Estate
Wednesday, July 18 Tom Lee, Edible Canada at the Market
Wine pairings fromGanton & Larsen Prospect Winery
IN BRIEF: The Arts Club Theatre Company’s Celebrity Chef Cooking Classes run May 23–July 18 in exclusive private homes in Vancouver. Tickets for each of these fundraising events to benefit the Arts Club are $125 and include a $50 tax receipt. For tickets and info, call Special Events at 604.687.5315 x248. A full list of chefs and dates is available online.
I really love these fundraising events for The Arts Club, a theatre company that produces amazing shows for Vancouver’s public. Hopefully you will be able to take in one of these Celebrity Cooking Classes.
