I don’t even want to believe it, but the Twitter chatter around Whitney Houston’s death is just non-stop. And so is the news stream. From what I understand, Houston’s publicist confirmed to AP that Whitney Houston had died. These are incredibly sad news. I just want to remember her for her gorgeous voice. Some of my favorite songs from her are here:
When Michelin invited me to the Laurentian Mountains (Laurentides, in French) to do a road test of their new Michelin X-ICE Xi3 tire, my first question to myself was “how exactly will I portray this particular media trip?”. After all, having the experience of doing travel writing doesn’t prepare me to write a good, solid review of an experience that I had never had (doing road testing of a tire in extreme winter conditions).
As a performing artist myself, I have always loved the innovative and quirky ways in which artists reinvent themselves and their body of work. Vinyl Vaudeville is a 1920’s style vintage cabaret, highlighting the excitement of traditional trapeze artists and world-record-breaking acrobats doing back flips on pogo sticks. I have not had a chance to see the show, and unfortunately I may not be able to, but from what I saw on the video preview, it’s an interesting spectacle and one that you may want to check out.
What happens when a vintage dinner cabaret hits Vancouver a century too late? Well, it features not only the glitz of traditional trapeze artists, but also the excitement of world-record-breaking acrobats doing back flips on pogo sticks. Vinyl Vaudeville attempts to replicate the century-old
tradition of combining a sassy cabaret, dinner theatre, and after-show swingin’ dance soiree together with a twist.In the style of the early 1900’s, the production features cirque performers, dancers, and comedic actors all backed by an acoustic swing band. The show’s highlight is a duo from Los Angeles who performs acrobatic stunts on pogo sticks. Collectively they hold eight Guinness World Records, and have a long list of prestigious appearances including The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, America’s Got Talent, and Ellen.
Get ready to be whisked away by the host of quirky characters into the magic of a bygone era. Dressing spiffy for the occasion in your vintage attire is always encouraged. Vinyl Vaudeville takes over Performance Works on Granville Island from February 10th till the 18th. It’s a romantic place to take your sweetie for Valentine’s Day, but is also appropriate for the whole family.
While it opened last night (February 10th), it’s still on until Valentine’s Day, so you may want to take this opportunity to take your loved one or a friend to the performance. But in case you don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day on the exact day, I have 2 sets of tickets to give away, total of 4 tickets for Friday February 17th. Tickets are to be picked up at Performance Works before 7:30PM day off the show at will call. For this giveaway I will draw winners on February 15th at 2pm. To enter my giveaway all you need to tell me is your favorite song from “Cabaret” (I am sure you have seen the movie Cabaret, right? – or maybe just any cabaret-themed movie, like the one with Christina Aguilera or the one with Renee Zellwegger, Chicago, etc.) As always, maximum 2 entries per person, one via comment, one via Twitter (you can tweet the following):
Shared my favorite cabaret-themed song http://is.gd/CRbgAl to enter to win tickets to @vinylvaudeville from @hummingbird604
Being a Calendar Girls newbie (I knew of the participation of Helen Mirren as Chris in the original 2003 movie, based on a true story, but I never saw the movie), I was expectant and at the same time, excited. I was really looking forward to attending opening night of Calendar Girls (The Arts Club). The production did not disappoint me at all.
While I have a much more reduced blogging schedule, I am a big fan of the Dance Centre, so when they told me about emerging Vancouver choreographer Shannon Moreno and her company Science Friction’s most recent work, I thought I should write about it. Shannon is from BC originally but has combined periods of activity in Vancouver with working extensively in Europe, most recently in Germany; she returned about a year and a half ago, had a baby, and resumed her work here; last year she received the Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award, which supports BC choreographers who show exceptional promise, and this piece is the result of that Award. The work is loosely inspired by Alan Lightman’s novel Einstein’s Dreams and explores themes of dreaming, time and space; it’s a quartet performed by a stellar cast – Justine Chambers, Alison Denham, Billy Marchenski, and Farley Johansson.
Dreams, time and space inspire Something(s) Relative, an exciting new ensemble work created by Shannon Moreno, Co-Artistic Director of Science Friction and an emerging choreographic voice in Vancouver. Known for her theatrical and entertaining style, Moreno takes Alan Lightman’s bestselling novel Einstein’s Dreams as a starting point for exploring whether dreams can truly help us understand ourselves. The outstanding cast features dancers Justine Chambers, Alison Denham, Farley Johansson and Billy Marchenski, with lighting design by Rob Sondergaard, music by Marc Stewart, and dramaturgy by Ruth McIntosh. Something(s) Relativeis presented through The Dance Centre’s fourth Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award, which is awarded every two years to a young choreographer who shows exceptional promise, with support from the Artist-in-Residence programs of The Dance Centre and Dance Victoria.
The world premiere of Something(s) Relative is presented through The Iris Garland Emerging Choreographer Award and will take place Thursday-Saturday February 16-18, 2012 at 8pm at the Scotiabank Dance Centre, 677 Davie Street, Vancouver. Tickets: $25/$18 students and seniors from Tickets Tonight or by calling 604 684 2787 or through the Dance Centre website.
To enter my giveaway all you need to tell me is an anecdote about your most vivid dream. I do remember my dreams quite frequently, and more often than not, they’re about having my PhD revoked (which is bad!). To earn a second entry (for a total of 2) you can also tweet the following:
Shared a memory of a vivid dream with @hummingbird604 http://is.gd/fD02on to enter to win tix to Something(s) Relative at @dancecentre
I will draw a winner from all Twitter and comment entries, randomized, on February 13th at 7pm. The tickets will be available during the run, but I strongly recommend that you attend opening night.
As a Mexican, and as someone who writes about food, wine, liquor and travel, it makes absolute sense that I write about the Food and Wine Festival in Ixtapa, Zihuatanejo, to take place from March 22-24, 2012. The festival takes place, as its name indicates, in one of the most beautiful locations yet, the amazing Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo (please, foreigners, don’t call it “Zihua”. It’s Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, a blended community of the resort town Ixtapa with the municipality of Zihuatanejo). We Mexicans often call it Ixtapa, but more often than not we use the full name Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo.
I recently attended the Vancouver media preview of the Food and Wine Festival in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, with leading wine expert and award-winning author Mark Oldman, who will also be featured at the festival March 22-24. A select number of wine, travel and food writers (myself included) were invited to a preview of the festival in an evening of Mexican wine and mezcal tasting.
Mark shared exceptional wine selections from the increasingly popular Baja California region and Guadalupe Valley. During the evening, we talked about and tasted wines from the legendary Bodegas de Vino Santo Tomas winery, as well as a selection of wines from the renowned winemakers of Viticultura Unida (VTU).
We finished the evening by sampling Partida’s premium tequila and taste a glass of mezcal to learn what makes this smoky, complex Mexican spirit so special.
As the only Mexican in the crowd, and a Canadian resident, I felt (as I mentioned at the event) a lot of ownership of the event. I felt incredibly proud to have the opportunity to hear the fantastic Mark Oldman pay tribute and teach my fellow writers about some fantastic wines and an excellent tequila (I wasn’t crazy about the mezcal, but the tequila was to-die-for).
This year’s Festival presents another banquet of culinary indulgences, all with a distinctive Mexican point of view. Celebrity chefs Michael Symon and Marcus Samuelsson and wine expert Mark Oldman join Mexico’s foremost masters of cuisine for an authentic exploration of local flavors. Sample traditional dishes with a modern flair and for a special highlight, dig into avant-garde street food that will have you ooohinng and ahhing down the embarcadero. Doin’t miss classes, exclusive house tours and a catamaran cruise past quiet fishing villages – reminding you what makes gorgeous Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo so delectable, all by itself.
I doubt I will have the time to travel to the Food and Wine Festival in Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo this March, but if I can’t you probably should! It’s going to be an amazing event. And if you do attend, make sure to tell your friends about it, because Mexico has a lot to offer to the Canadian traveler (I know, despite the horror stories that we keep hearing!)
Last year, I wasn’t able to attend Tales of the Cocktail, neither in New Orleans nor when they went on tour and had a stopover in Vancouver (which I really regretted, since I love cocktails, I write about booze quite frequently and I am a friend and fan of some of the local organizers of the 2011 edition in Vancouver, including my dear friend Jay Jones). This year, because of my academic conference commitments, I will not be able to attend New Orleans. Luckily I will have some time to attend some of the events at Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver 2012. Yeah. That’s the kind of sacrifice I have to make, to ensure you are all up-to-speed with this world-class event!
Tales of the Cocktail® is the world’s premier cocktail festival, bringing together the most respected minds on mixology for five days of cocktails, cuisine and culture. Held annually in New Orleans, this international event has something for cocktail professionals and enthusiasts alike with a spirited schedule of seminars, dinners, competitions and tasting rooms where brands showcase their latest products. Tales of the Cocktail® returns in 2012 for a historic milestone—its 10th Anniversary of rocking the cocktail world. Join the celebration July 25-29, 2012 and see how Tales of the Cocktail® only gets better with age.
Here is a lowdown of the events for Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver 2012 (you can read about each of them on the program, opens to PDF document):
Sunday February 12th, 2012
Registration and Cabaret St. Germain Welcome Cocktails
Hollywood North Official Party presented by PMA Canada and William Grant & SonsMonday February 13th, 2012
Coffee Bar presented by Amarula Cream, Frangelico, Irish Mist and Tullamore Dew
Meet the Maker Tasting Presented by American Distilling Institute and Legacy Liquor Stores
7 Tasting Rooms
- DiSaronno & Tia Maria Tasting Room
- Havana Cultura
- A Mad Tea Party
- 150 Years of Bacardi
- Around the World in Whisky Days
- Lifford Lounge
- Hendrick’s Gin Tasting Emporium
Hendrick’s Monday Soiree
Tuesday February 14th, 2012
Coffee Bar presented by Amarula Cream, Frangelico, Irish Mist and Tullamore Dew
Your choice of 3 Seminars
- Born to Mix with Dushan Zaric
- Punch and Beyond: Colonial American Drinks with Wayne Curtis
- Bitter Not Twisted with Jacob Briars
- Tequila Evolved with Eric Lorenz, Charlotte Voisey and Iván Saldaña
- Less is More – Alcoholic Dilution with Audrey Saunders and Harold McGee
- Rum for All Face Off with Paul Pacult and Sean Ludford
Bitter Bash: The Official Closing Party of Tales of the Cocktail on Tour Vancouver presented by Skyy Spirits
Wednesday February 15th, 2012
Bartenders’ Brunch presented by Mott’s Clamato
Farewell Vancouver, Hello New Orleans Lunch presented by Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Fireball Whisky and Jazzmen Rice
Registration Package Valued of $460. Each CPBA registration will include: All the above seminars and events + CPBA Welcome Event on Sunday. Value of $575 only for $195! There are 2 events not included in registration:
– Spirited Dinner Series – Make reservations directly with the restaurant
– BC Bar Crawl – this is one of the most fun events because it will be a complimentary event!
You can register for Tales of the Cocktail on Tour in Vancouver 2012 here. And follow along the posts tagged with Tales of the Cocktail so you can check out the fun!
One of those songs you would NOT believe I’m fond of. But it sounds so indie, so natural, so hip and such a breath of fresh air. So I’m really glad that I used SoundHound (the better version of Shazam) to find the name. It’s Crystalised by The xx, a British band (my years in Manchester really gave me a very strong interest in British music and musicians). I know that Gorillaz did a cover song for the Greys Anatomy soundtrack, but that did not work for me.
I went into Chambar (located in the area now known as Crosstown, just outside the Skytrain station Stadium/Chinatown) expecting (and perhaps even secretly hoping) not to like it, and I came out with a full belly of delicious food, a service from the Chambar staff that went above-and-beyond the call of duty, and a remorseful face, as I totally thought I would not like Chambar, and ended up loving it. Yes, it’s not inexpensive, but it’s definitely worth the money you pay.
JT ordered La Carbonade Flamande (at $26, a pretty decent price for a high-end restaurant, Chambar Ale braised short ribs, sultanas, sauteed swiss chard, parsley & sage barley risotto). I totally would have loved to try the risotto, as I find few restaurants in Vancouver know how to make it well done.
I ordered a L’omble de l’Artique nicois ($28 price point, again normal in a higher-end restaurant, crispy Arctic char, sea asparagus, pea shoots, bacalao, lemon & grana padano concasse, with a few tapenades). This dish was absolutely glorious. The Arctic char, which some food connoisseurs may not totally love (particularly since it does share characteristics with salmon, but it’s not exactly salmon), I found absolutely brilliant. The lemon and grana padano concasse added a full-bodied splash of flavour. The tapenades complimented the citrus in the lemon and grana padano concasse (which after doing a bit of research I found a bit ironic, since from what I read, the concasse does contain cheese and anybody who knows me knows I hate cheese). The sea asparagus provided a nice bedding that lent body and texture to the full dish. I totally want the recipe to make it at home!
Would I come back to Chambar again? Absolutely. As soon as I came in, I told the hostess and waitress we needed to be at the theatre by 7pm (we arrived 6:20pm sharp). We were in and out (dinner served and made to perfection, invoiced and bill paid, and tummy full) in 18 minutes (add 2 minutes to chat with the server and thank her for the most excellent service). Unbelievable. While it’s true that, as my readers said, Chambar seems to be the kind of place you would want to enjoy slowly, I am very truly impressed with the quality of the food, the service and the speed. I would totally come back. In fact, I’m sure I will.
Disclosure: JT paid for both of our dinners. As always, I retain full editorial control of what is published on my site. Nobody at Chambar even clued in that I write a blog, which I found fantastic. Their service is just simply that top-notch.
I love the Vancouver Aquarium and the Royal Canadian Mint, and I just found out that to celebrate an iconic symbol of Canada’s Pacific Coast, the Mint is inviting visitors to the Vancouver Aquarium’s Cannacord Financial Exploration Gallery to trade their loose change and be among the first Canadians to own this exciting new circulation coin. As the Mint has employed its unique technology to colour half of the 12.5 million coins featuring this theme, some of the coins exchanged at this event will be coloured. While quantities last, visitors can also receive a free illustrated collector card in which to keep all five coins from the 2011 Legendary Nature commemorative circulation coin series.
The Orca is a highly social sea mammal, of which some populations are considered threatened or endangered. Thanks to active conservation efforts, significant Orca pods have found sanctuary near the British Columbia mainland in places such as the Gulf Islands National Park Reserve of Canada and the Gwaii Haanas National Marine Conservation Area Reserve. In celebration of this inspiring creature, the Mint’s newest 25-cent circulation coin features an artistic interpretation of an Orca which is enhanced by the addition of blue colour (symbolizing its marine habitat) on half of the 12.5 million circulation coins dedicated to this theme.
The event and exhibit and coin trade will take place at the Vancouver Aquarium Cannacord Financial Exploration Gallery located at 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, British Columbia.
When: Thursday, February 9, 2012, from 10:30 am – 2:00 pm
Where: Vancouver Aquarium Cannacord Financial Exploration Gallery located at 845 Avison Way, Vancouver, British Columbia
Who doesn’t like a fairy tale with a happy ending? Anybody who has ever read The Beauty and The Beast, the traditional fairy tale, knows more or less the gist of what it’s about. And the Broadway Across Canada production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver from February 8th through 12th is a really nice reminder of the power of love (and the beauty of musical theatre).
I’m a really big fan of the arts, and I love innovative shows, like The Marvelous Wonderettes, on stage at The PAL Theatre from February 8th through February 26th, 2012.
The Marvelous Wonderettes, the hit Off-Broadway musical, is the perfect show for young and old and everyone in between!
Experience Springfield High School’s 1958 Super Senior Prom where you will meet the Wonderettes, four girls with hopes and dreams as big as their crinoline skirts! Not only are they the trophy winning Varsity Songleaders, but Betty Jean, Suzy, Cindy Lou and Missy have all been nominated for Springfield‘s “Queen of your Dreams.” As the girls sing your favourite classics from the ‘50s including; “Mr Sandman,” “Lollipop,” and “Lipstick on your Collar”, learn about their lives and loves. Who will get your vote for the crown?
We next meet the girls as they reunite to perform at their 10 year reunion. The songs are new, the hair is higher and the skirts are shorter! Just wait until you hear the Wonderettes belt out such top hits as “Son of a Preacher man”, It’s My Party, Leader of the Pack, and “RESPECT”. Learn who found their “Dream Lover” and who is singing “The Wedding Bell Blues”.
With their delicious harmonies, the Wonderettes promise a complete theatre experience that is sure to fracture your funny bone and leave you humming. So get hip to a whole new sound, put on your best threads, and lose the squares. The Marvelous Wonderettes is sure to be the biggest bash!
The wonderfully amazing Marvelous Wonderettes have granted me 4 tickets to give away (e.g. 2 sets of two) to the Valentine’s Day performance of the MARVELOUS WONDERETTES! Curtain is at 8pm and because it’s Valentine’s Day, there is going to be a Dessert Buffet with the show. You can purchase your own tickets here.
Once I draw winners (this February 12th at 2pm, so you have time to prepare for your Valentine’s day), I will have the tickets waiting for the winners at the box office at the PAL Theatre. This is for the Feb 14th performance only, 8pm. The PAL Theatre is located at 581 Cardero Street, which is 1/2 block east of Georgia Street. The Marvelous Wonderettes should be an amazing show.
To enter my giveaway, tell me the song that most reminds you of LOVE. For example, to me, one of the songs that reminds me the most of love is (ironically) “I Am Not In Love”. Strange, eh? To gain a total of 2 entries, drop a comment here AND post the following on Twitter (1 entry in total)
Told @hummingbird604 about a love song http://is.gd/WOLMGh to enter to win Valentine’s tix to Marvelous Wonderettes!
Tickets are available online at Tickets Tonight or by phone at (604) 684-2787. For group rates, call (604) 880-1564.
Regular: $25.50 + $3.75 s/c
Preview: $15.50 + $3.25 s/c
Valentine’s Day: Treats for your Sweets! Dessert Buffet and Show: February 14th
$35.50 + $4.25 s/c
You shall not miss The Marvelous Wonderettes! I look forward to checking the show (I won’t be able to make opening night, but I’ll do my best to visit another night!)
So, I realized I didn’t have any material or wine available to write my Wine Wednesday post, and seeing as you might need some recommendations and you can’t wait for the week after this one (next week is Tales of the Cocktail Vancouver 2012 and I will be reporting from there), I figured I had to look after you, my dear readers. So I went to the wine store at the Quay in New Westminster and found myself a nice sweet, white wine: Redtree 2010 Moscato. Redtree Moscato 2010 reserve is a very nice and inexpensive wine. If you like dessert wine, this is the kind of stuff you want to drink for dessert.
Substantially sweeter than a port, and extremely light, but still full-bodied. With California grapes, and a decent 10.64% alcohol content, it’s slightly acidic for my taste (pH=3.47) but it retails for a nice $12.00 plus tax (from the website I see that it retails at $8.00 – I’m wondering if that’s American or what).
Our 2010 Moscato is soft and slightly spritzy with nectarine and rose petal flavors and crisp acidity. This sweet and elegant wine can be enjoyed as an after dinner refreshment with a variety of desserts or as a refreshing sipper on a warm summer afternoon.
You can find the full tasting notes here for Redtree Moscato 2010. I’d definitely recommend this wine for a summer night! Or just for dessert!
I always write about the Annual Wellness Show (which this year takes place from February 17th through 19th), but this year it is specially important to me as this edition of the Annual Wellness Show has a very strong emphasis on mental health.
New Rave Productions presents The Wellness Show, the largest trade show in Western Canada dedicated to helping you to live a more balanced and holistic lifestyle. This year’s Wellness Show marks their Twentieth Anniversary, and takes place February 17-19, at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
The Wellness Show includes exhibitors, speakers, workshops, fitness and cooking demonstrations, lots of yummy food samples, and amazing contests, all on a variety of wellness topics, all under one roof.This year’s show includes:
Celebrity Cooking Stage: Pino Posteraro, Cioppino’s; Ken Nakamo, The Rosewood Hotel Georgia; Ned Bell, The Four Seasons; Jennifer Peters, Raincity Grill; Robert Erikson, Central Bistro; Antonio Cerullo, Choices Markets; Kris Kabush, Hart House Restaurant; Hidekazu Tojo, Tojo’s; and special guest, Julie Van Rosendaal, best-selling author, Spilling the Beans.
Demonstration Stage: Square Dancing, Sufi Whirling, Speedmonton (Speed Badminton), Pliates, Pole Walking, and the ever-popular Shimak’s Bollywood Workout.
Living Well Stage: “Brainology” by Niv Harris, “Health, Fitness and Aging” by Infofit, “The Path to Phenomenal Health, High Energy and Improved Well-Being” by Sam Graci, “Humor for Health” by Monique Hurteau and Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas) and much, much more, including Master Zhi Gang Sha.
Women and Wellness Stage: “Everything You Need to Know about Hormones,” by Lorna VanderHaegen, “Mastering Menopause,” by Bev Maya and Gilly Thomas, and “Healing Depression and Anxiety Holistically,” by Dr Divi Chandna.Workshop Stage: “Fat Loss for the 21st Century,” by Infofit, “Meditation Made Easy,” by Kiana Holland, “Pain Management,” by Dr. Heidi Rootes, and “Practical Tools to Manage Stress,” by Dr. Divi Chandna.
Tea Garden: NEW this year! Tea-tasting sessions with experts, as well as information and tastings of medicinal and Roibos teas, a Morocan tea ceremony, and a workshop to learn how to create your own tea blend.The Show also features Pet Wellness, Cheese Tastings from The Dairy Farmers of Canada, massage, shiatsu and reflexology, and a kids play area set up by Gymnastics BC.
The Wellness Show runs Friday, February 17 (noon to 8 pm), Saturday, February 18 (10 am to 7 pm), and Sunday, February 19 (10 am to 6 pm), at the Vancouver Convention Centre, East Building Exhibit Hall B & C, 999 Canada Place. Tickets at the door are: $16.00 (General Admission), $14.00 (Seniors & Students), $6.00 (Children 6-15), FREE (Children 5 Years & Under), and 3 Day Passes are available for $30. Discounted tickets are available online. $2 off coupons at all Choices Markets.
I am, as you can imagine, a sucker for fundraisers. And this fundraiser, the 46th Annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon that takes place on February 11th and 12th, is one of the biggest fundraisers in Canada. I only wish I had more time to participate, because this is a particularly busy time of the year for me.
I pride myself in supporting my GLBT students at UBC, and I am very proud to teach at a university where diversity is encouraged and so much work and effort has been put forth to ensure that queer faculty, staff and students feel safe and at home. One of those actions on the part of the university always makes my eyes well: the rising of the rainbow flag at the UBC Flag Pole.
Each February, to mark the start of Outweek, UBC raises the Rainbow Flag in support of our LGBQTTI students, faculty, and staff. UBC is the only university in Western Canada that flies the Rainbow Flag, and only one of two in all of Canada. Access & Diversity is proud to partner with Pride UBC, Alumni Affairs, and the VP Students Office to support UBC Outweek.
Out Week 2012 is organized by Pride UBC and takes place from February 6th through February 15th, 2012. You can read the full program here.
Pride UBC is an AMS resource group that offers educational and social services dealing with sexual and gender diversity to the UBC community, including but not limited to students, staff, and faculty. Pride UBC provides support and information to those who self identify gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, two-spirit, asexual, queer, questioning, intersex, those who do not identify and allies; assists people who are coming out; supplies a forum for dialogue about sexuality and gender identity; holds social events, and educates the wider UBC community about the variation in human sexuality and gender identity. Members of the group come from diverse backgrounds and everyone is welcome regardless of sexuality or gender. Come find us in the SUB, room 245C in the Resource Groups Area.
I’m very proud of my GLBT students and always look for ways to support their efforts and try hard to be a role model to them as well. This year’s Out Week 2012 features a full day event discussing queer issues (Queer U) hosted by the Liu Institute for Global Issues. Should be a lot of fun.
To be fair, I never thought that February of 2012 would be when I would find out that Proposition 8, the November 2008 ruling that banned gay marriage in California, has been now ruled unconstitutional. A great day indeed for GLBT rights, but not a victory in and of itself, since there is still time for this ruling to be appealed. Let’s wait and see what happens.
In the context of Dine Out Vancouver 2012, one of the activities I got invited to was the Secret Supper Soiree organized by Swallow Tail. I took Lorraine Murphy as my Plus One, and we were lucky enough to be joined by my good friend Sue Frause, who like me is a travel writer (but she is based out of the US).
Who has two thumbs, and is excited about City and Slope 2012 AND has two passes to Mount Seymour to give away? THIS GUY!
I have a pair of mountain passes to Mount Seymour for one lucky reader that can be used all weekend; including Sunday, Feb 12th, where the theme is 80’s slope style at Mount Seymour. There will be prizes for best dressed skiier and snowboarder, plus giveaways and all the 80’s music anyone could ever want to hear!
To enter my giveaway all you need to tell me is what you like the best about our fair city (Vancouver). While I am not much of a skier, one of the reasons why I love Vancouver is because I can snowshoe in the morning, and sail in the afternoon, and have a lavish dinner in the evening. Our city is, at the same time, urban, and sophisticated. There’s city, and there’s slope! The schedule of events for City and Slope 2012 is here (opens to PDF).
I will draw a winner (2 maximum entries, one via Twitter, one via comment) on the day of the opening party, February 9th at 4pm. Good luck everyone! To enter via Twitter, post the following on your stream:
Shared my love for Vancouver w/ @hummingbird604 & @cityandslope 2 enter 2 win passes to @Mt_Seymour. Enter here http://is.gd/I2hsc5
I love sweaters, and I love energy conservation, so I find it really fun to be partnering with World Wildlife Fund to help spread awareness about National Sweater Day. This initiative encourages everyone to turn down their thermostats and put on a sweater to save energy on February 9. It’s a fun initiative meant to show support for energy conservation.
On Feb 9th, put on your favourite sweater and turn the heat down a few degrees to help WWF
take action against climate change, and work toward a sustainable future. By rethinking how we use energy and how much we use, we can make a big impact on climate change. If every Canadian lowered the heat a few degrees this winter, it’d be like taking 300,000 vehicles off the road! So wear that sweater and make the world a better place for your Grandchildren.
I have 3 (three) Joe Fresh sweaters for giveaway to celebrate National Sweater Day. All you need to do is give me one quick tip on energy conservation on this post, and for a total of 2 entries, you can also tweet the following:
Shared an energy conservation tip with @hummingbird604 to enter to win a sweater for #NSD2012 http://is.gd/06jLlw
You can also call on February 9th and talk to a granny to do your pledge! How fun! Check out the promo video, which is really funny.
On Feb 9th, WWF wants you to lower your heat and wear a sweater to show you’re taking action against climate change. To make sure you put one on, Grannies are standing by to personally call and remind you. Pledge your support and book a call now.
Some facts on energy conservation that WWF sent me:
Residential heating produces about 44 megatonnes of greenhouse gas emissions per yearIf every Canadian turned down their thermostat by two degrees each winter, 2.2 megatonnes of carbon dioxide could be saved every year – the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road60 per cent of energy goes to heating and cooling homes, most of it from fossil fuels
I will draw 3 winners of the Joe Fresh sweaters on Thursday February 9th, at 4pm. So, keep those energy conservation tips coming!
As a classically-trained (former) dancer, few things make my heart race faster than the prospect of being able to witness some world-calibre ballet. And few shows have the high caliber of the National Ballet of Cuba, which will be performing Don Quixote from February 16th through 18th, 2012, presented by Brent Belsher in memory of David Hui.
I had an opportunity to talk to Brent Belsher (a Vancouver hard-core dance fan and consultant to the arts community, who was partnering with David YH Lui to bring the National Ballet of Cuba to Vancouver) who shared with me the story of why he decided to still bring the production, in a way a homage to the hard work of David YH Lui who, as indicated by the CBC story, “was a prominent member of the performing arts scene in B.C. for more than 40 years, founding Ballet BC and Dance Spectacular, later replaced by the Dance Alive series.” David mentioned to Brent that he wanted to raise the level of our city’s cultural IQ, and 2 summers ago they decided to start working on bringing this show to Vancouver. The show has the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra providing the musical background, and offers a beautiful spectacle of classical ballet, which they hope Vancouver will embrace.
For me, the mere idea of meeting Alicia Alonso, one of very few worldwide prima ballerina assoluta‘s is a total dream (hopefully, to come true, as Brent told me that they’re of coursehoping she will be able to come to Vancouver accompanying her dancers. You should know that the National Ballet of Cuba is recognized as one of the world’s best classical ballet companies.
The presentation of the National Ballet of Cuba will be a very short affair, and one that I will have a lucky reader attend through a giveaway of a pair of tickets. All you need to do to enter my giveaway is tell me the last time you watched/witnessed ballet. In my case, I recently attended The Nutcracker and I watch at least 10 shows a year.
To gain an additional entry for a total of 2 entries you can post the following on Twitter:
I entered to win tickets to Don Quixote with the National Ballet of Cuba http://is.gd/d7vFZS from @hummingbird604
I will draw a winner on February 12th, at 2pm. You can buy tickets here.
Speaking of cancer, my good friend Greg Mitchell is organizing his second annual fundraiser for Team In Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada. (Greg will be running a triathlon – an amazing feat for anyone who completes one – but he is doing this one inspired by friends of his who have fought blood cancers) This year, the line up of artists at the concert/pub night (which will take place at Library Square on February 9th) sounds really awesome. Check the Facebook page event to read about them. You can donate directly to Greg’s fundraising campaign here. And another way to donate is to buy tickets and attend the fundraiser.
Learning about what inspired Greg to run the triathlon with Team In Training really resonated with me. You can also follow Greg on Twitter here.
On Saturday night, I celebrated a milestone day with one of my closest friends. Her name is Melissa, and in addition to celebrating her 34th birthday, it marks the beginning of her 5th year in remission from Hodgkins Lymphoma. Yes, what a great way to celebrate a birthday! In addition to being one of my closest friends, she is an amazing, bright, beautiful person who I am so thankful for as a friend. Now on Sunday morning, as part of my training, I ran a 10km run, which was a little more difficult due to excessive alcohol consumption.
Anyhow, last year when I took on the challenge of completing a triathlon, it was done with Melissa formost on my mind and my thoughts as I did it. I was one of a few people who got to see and spend time with Melissa during her Chemotherapy treatment and it was humbling to see her drive and her fight. Indeed, the fight never left her eyes and she was convinced she was going to beat this thing called Cancer, and well, she did – and then some. She returned to her career, has and continues to travel, and in general thrives.
Greg is a personal friend of mine, and I strongly encourage you to join and support his fundraising efforts towards fighting blood cancers. I for one, will.
I was bullied as a child (I wrote about it here) Yeah, among the many experiences I have had in my life, the worst was being bullied. Because I was short. Because I was a nerdy kid, a bookworm. But the reality is, I was bullied because the kids that surrounded me were unable to understand differences and diversity. I don’t blame the kids, to be fair. I blame the uninformed parents, and the non-supportive school (I went to an all-boys school). And yes, I did survive. But not thanks to my teachers nor my peers, nor even my friends. I survived thanks to my parents and my brothers and an amazing extended family. Having had a personal experience with bullying has made me a keen supporter of Pink Shirt Day, a BC-led initiative to end bullying. Their motto is Bullying Stops Here.
You can buy your Pink Shirt Day T-shirts (with proceeds to go to the Boys and Girls Clubs) here.
UPDATE – I just found out that you can buy the official Pink Shirt Day t-shirts at any London Drugs location.
For the fourth year, London Drugs is supporting the powerful Pink Shirt Day campaign with the official Anti-bullying Pink Shirt Day shirts available at all London Drugs locations. The net proceeds from the $9.80 T-shirt directly support local Boys and Girls Clubs in communities across Western Canada.
Finding ways to de-stigmatize mental illness and promoting mental health is one of the key topics I’m very passionate about. When Isabella and I were looking for funding for Mental Health Camp one of the sources we considered was Bell, as they are strong promoters of mental health awareness campaigns. Their flagship campaign features Canadian Olympian superstar Clara Hughes, who battled depression for two years and has been an ardent advocate of mental health in Canada and is the spokesperson for the Bell Let’s Talk Day campaign, which takes place on February 8th.
There are many misconceptions and fears about what mental health means in the context of home, work and school. Often it is the elephant in the room that no one wants or knows how to talk about. Bell Let’s Talk Day is about recognizing that and the fact that talking about mental health is the first step in making a difference in the lives of all Canadians so… let’s talk
You can participate in many ways, join the conversation on February 9th. A very strong focus of Bell’s Let’s Talk Day is de-stigmatizing, which I really appreciate.
To drive progress in reducing stigma, a new campaign called Bell Let’s Talk is opening the national conversation about mental illness and its dramatic impact in all parts of the country. Stepping forward as Bell’s spokesperson for Bell Let’s Talk Day and our campaign to effect change is six-time Olympic medalist Clara Hughes. As a community leader and philanthropist who has come to know and inspire Canadians, Clara has seen the impact of mental illness and understands how important it is to get people talking about it around kitchen and boardroom tables.
Joining Clara as spokespeople for Bell Let’s Talk Day and to help grow the dialogue on mental health this year are composer and performer Stefie Shock and actor-comedian Michel Mpambara.
On February 8, 2012, Bell will lead the conversation to reduce stigma with the launch of Bell Let’s Talk Day – a national campaign which will raise awareness about mental health across Canada each year. For every text message and long distance call made by Bell customers that day, Bell will contribute 5¢ to programs dedicated to mental health.
13 years ago this day (February 1st), my Aunt L passed away of lung cancer. I was at her bedside, as was my brother. Before then, I had never seen anyone die. Ever. Nothing prepares you for that experience. It remains, to this day, the most painful day of my entire life. I have lost so many family members and so many friends to cancer, yet February 1st remains imprinted in my storyline as the one day that I simply cannot fathom. It’s a painful reminder of the day I lost the woman who was like my second mother. If you know how close I am to my Mom, you can imagine how close I was to my Aunt L. Losing someone that you love THAT MUCH is incredibly painful.
One of the reasons why I often regret not living in Mexico for as long as I have is because I have missed the opportunity to spend more time with those family members who are no longer with us. Sure, I have followed my dreams and tried to make them proud by succeeding in a foreign country, but the regret remains, and so do the painful memories.
One of the reasons why I support cancer-focused charities so strongly is because that way, I channel my energies, my anger, my pain and my loss towards something constructive. Yes, I hate cancer. Yes, I hate that it took from me the one person that was a second mother to me, the one who, without being her own child, treated me like her son, and focused in my growth and development almost as much as my own parents did. And beyond that, cancer has continued to take the lives of several of my loved ones, my Aunt M, my grandma, my friend Derek K. Miller, the list goes on.
The beginning of February, for these reasons, is always challenging to me. I’m not in a social mood, and yet I have several social commitments. If you see me grumpy or in a foul mood, I hope you understand why. February 1st is a reminder to me that the fight against cancer is not won yet.
