I recently attended the reopening of BG Urban Café (a rebranded version of the Bread Garden, one of my favorites as a matter of fact). My friends Dawn Chubai and Rebecca Bollwitt and Chris Coburn battled in a version of Iron Chef Vancouver to build the best sandwich, with Dawn coming the winner). I really didn’t have the time to stay for long, so I just took a few photos and sampled some of their dishes.
After a hatus of 8+ years. Bill Taylor brings back his much acclaimed “Lock Up Your Sons and Daughters: Anti-Queer Films 1950-1990” back for one night only. Acclaimed and heralded by film festivals world wide, this collection of anti-gay shorts brings to light such shocking details as the previously unheard of connection between homosexuality and Communism, that you can catch that homosexuality sickness just as easy as Smallpox, and 2 (yes 2!!) films that debunk that myth that “good bathroom habits can make you a sissy” (Billy’s quote, not mine!). Catch classics such as “The Gay Agenda” and of course, “Neurotic Behavior – a Psychodynamic View” on Tuesday, June 7th, at 7:30p at the Pacific Cinematheque.
Tickets are $15 dollars and can be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets or at Little Sisters. And for those of you who might be lucky enough, I have a pair of tickets to give away. Just tell me in the comments section (and you may need to Google this question!) how many states in the United States of America do not accept gay marriages?
Obviously, it’s possible that some of you may get the answer right, and of those, I will draw a random winner on Monday June 6th at 2 pm (I will inform the winner on this blog, and he/she will get their tickets at the door).
I was invited to the media opening of Tableau Bar and Bistro in Coal Harbour, in what is the Loden Hotel (and this used to be Voya Lounge). At first, I was a bit confused because from the get-go, you would think this is a sophisticated bistro and lounge. But some of the menu items want to be “comfort food fare”. So, I will fully confess – much as I love Tableau, I’m not sure about its identity. And I wonder if they are (aware of their own identity).
A neighbourhood bar bistro – serving an updated take on traditional French bistro fare prepared by Executive Chef Marc-André Choquette and his talented team. Discover a beautifully renovated interior that combines old world classic bistro elements with modern touches and a French-inspired menu that blends classic culinary flavours of Paris with the use of fresh west coast ingredients. A dynamic bar scene serves seasonal in-house and classic cocktails and a great selection of local and draft beers on tap as well as an eclectic mix of approachable wines built from the regions of France. The perfect place for a business lunch, meeting friends out on the patio, everyday dining, special celebrations or brunch with the family.
Come for the scene. Stay for the service. Return for the fare.
I tried the French onion soup, which was extremely good (even though I had to remove the cheese, but that’s ok). The endive and pear salad, I really didn’t like, although that might have to do with my rejection of endives. The tuna Nicoise is, as I noted on my handwritten notes, “hard to screw up”. Absolutely delicious.
I think that the thing I loved the most about Tableau Bar and Bistro was the drinks, which were impeccable. The Fiscal Agent and the Twentieth Century were absolutely delicious. I’ll definitely come back. Probably not for the food (which isn’t bad, but just not my fare), but for the drinks.
Disclosure: This is not a formal review, it’s just the summary of the media opening and thus should not be taken as a full-blown review of the restaurant/bar. I’m just noting some comments on the event itself and the dishes I tried as well as the drinks I tasted.
It’s almost the summer and it’s time for one of my absolute favorite shows (and one of the organizations that partners with me all the time and supports my efforts): Bard on the Beach.
I’m a Shakespeare theatre fanatic, and I’m delighted to be partnering again with Bard on the Beach. Their summer lineup looks pretty amazing, with works like As You Like It, and the Merchant of Venice (one of my absolute favorites). You can in fact buy tickets to As You Like It here.
In this merriest of comedies, Shakespeare draws on his signature themes of disguise, misplaced affections and pastoral passion. The setting is ripe for romance when Rosalind, daughter of the banished Duke, runs away in disguise with her cousin Celia to the Forest of Arden. There they meet a pair of feuding brothers and Rosalind, who is masquerading as a young man called Ganymede, finds herself uniquely poised to teach her unknowing suitor Orlando the way to win a woman’s heart. Offering their own commentary on life and love are the melancholy Jaques and the wry clown Touchstone.
I have a pair of tickets for Friday June 10th, at 8pm to give away. And one lucky reader of mine could be the winner of these tickets.
All you have to do is tell me who you would take with you to see As You Like It on Bard on the Beach and why. Personally, I know that JT and I will be going to Bard on the Beach together as it’s one of our traditions. I’ve taken other friends along with me, like my friend Trevor Boudreau and two of my closest friends, Jay Catalan and Minna Van (and I assume I’ll do the same this year.
You can earn an additional entry by posting the following on Twitter (if you do both, comment and tweet, you earn a total and maximum of 2 entries).
Told @hummingbird604 who I’d take to @BardOnTheBeach to enter & win tickets 4 “As You Like It” http://is.gd/3WKulP – who would you take?
I will draw a winner on Wednesday June 8th at 7pm. Good luck everyone!
Unfortunately for me, I won’t be when the Robson Square Artisan Market opens up this coming weekend (June 4th and 5th, 2011) as I will be in Victoria speaking at one session and one panel at Social Media Camp Victoria 2011. But that doesn’t stop me from promoting this grassroots initiative.
Photo credit: Sara Borck. Used with permission.
We are excited to announce that this summer, Robson Square in downtown Vancouver will host a weekend Artisan Market featuring local handmade arts, crafts, floral arrangements and much more. We have partnered with Music BC to bring many of their talented members to the market to perform family-friendly entertainment, and we are inviting Non-profit groups to apply for a free booth at the market to promote their cause.
The market will open at 10 am on Saturday June 4th and continue every weekend through September 18th, 2011 (one day before my birthday!). Always free admission to the public, the Robson Square Market is expected to be a vibrant community gathering for Vancouver locals and tourists alike to experience the creativity of Vancouver artisans.
If you are a local artisan or entertainer who would like to take part in the Robson Square Artisan Market, you can find more information and application forms on the market webpage. For info on contests and update, you can follow them on Twitter @artisanmarket604, and on their Facebook Page.
Robson Square Artisan Market is being organized by Projects on Purpose, the folks who operated Canada’s Northern House Olympic Pavilion for the 2011 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.
I last saw Jason Priestley last year when I went to Glengarry Glenn Ross (put on by The Arts Club and with an extraordinary ensemble that included Eric McCormack). And I now will have another opportunity to see him, as I will be covering the Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival 2011.
The Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival takes place from June 9 to 12, 2011. This special four-day weekend is a veritable Meritage of different food and wine pairing events featuring regional Chefs and Winemakers. It will provide participants with the unique opportunity to rub shoulders with film & television personalities while enjoying the region’s best cuisine, wine and entertainment.
Numerous Hollywood celebrities have been invited and are expected to attend in 2011. As well, several of the Vancouver 2010 medal winning athletes will be returning to enjoy the festivities and soak up the Osoyoos Sunshine.
Just some of the celebrities attending in 2011 include Jesse Kovacs, Jacob Jovacs, George Canyon, Rosette Luve, Lorne Cardinal, Elise Estrada, Chad Oakes, Terry David Mulligan, Catriona Le May Doan, Kristi Richards, and more.
As an academic, I often attend congresses that are related to my academic discipline. But it’s been an interesting year for me as this time, I’m going to attend and cover the National Chefs Conference 2011 in Vancouver. And I think it’s an event that should prove interesting for my readers, with a great variety of events. The programme looks quite spectacular.
More than 500 Canadian, American and world chefs will gather for the 48th annual National Chefs Conference, June 10 – 16, 2011 in Vancouver. Hosted by the Canadian Culinary Federation Culinaire Canadienne (CCFCC) and the BC Chefs’ Association, the conference offers chefs, culinarians, junior chefs and guests the opportunity to learn from industry leaders, watch and learn from culinary challenges, and taste the best of British Columbia and Canadian cuisine. This conference comes to Vancouver once every ten years.
As indicated by Dawn Donahue, the conference director, “The National Chefs Conference is a unique gathering of Canada’s culinary community. It brings together established chefs and the stars of tomorrow to test their skills, share ideas, and explore new culinary trends. Chefs speak through their food, and this conference will be an amazing conversation”
The conference agenda includes:
COMPETITIONS
CCFCC National Chefs Challenge, June 10, 2 – 9 pm,
World Association of Chefs’ Society(WACS) Chefs Challenge, June 11, 11am – 9 pm
Hans Bueschkens Junior Culinary Challenge(WACS), June 12, 11 am – 5 pm
Canadian National Junior Chefs (CCFCC) Challenge, June 15, 7 am – 2 pm
Ice Carving Competition, June 12, 12 – 4 pm
TASTES
Tastes of CCFCC Canada, Welcome Reception
June 12, 5 – 10 pm, Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside
This welcome reception features 15 food and beverage stations where junior chefs and their mentors create an unforgettable taste of their province. Each station represents regional cuisine, and is paired with a Canadian beverage. Opening with the Komo Gway Dancers, an XFour Martini Station, and the BC Chefs’ Association Awards.
Aboriginal Potlatch Supper
June 13, 6 – 10 pm, Vancouver Community College
Hosted by Vancouver Community College and the VCC Aboriginal Culinary class, this amazing dinner features indigenous products, traditional recipes, and a mix of modern and traditional cooking methods. Nine traditional menu items; each station has a choice of two beverage pairings.
Tastes of Halifax, Nova Scotia Breakfast
June 14, 7:00 – 9:00 am, Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside
The host city for CCFCC 2012 brings tastes from Eastern Canada. Halifax, proud to host CCFCC 2012 are flying in Nova Scotia lobster, and creating a true Nova Scotia breakfast. Attendees will be rewarded for attending this delicious breakfast with a complimentary entry for an “all expenses” paid trip to CCFCC 2012 – flights, accommodations, and full conference package – for two!
Dragon Feast of the Century
June 14, 12:30 to 3:00 pm, Rain Flower Seafood Restaurant, Richmond, B.C.
Fifteen award winning chefs showcase Chinese visual and culinary arts, creating this six course luncheon with fresh seafood, including crab and lobster, Fraser Valley Duck Breasts, Arctic Charr, AAA Tenderloin Beef and fresh local Asian greens.
PRESIDENTS BALL
June 15, 5:30 to 10:30 pm, Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside
The final gala and awards presentation. Winner of all five competitions and challenges will be introduced and recognized. Culinary Team Canada, led by Chef Simon Smotkowicz, creates the multi course dinner, featuring the best of Culinary Team Canada chefs, using the finest of products.
About the Canadian Culinary Federation Culinaire Canadienne (CCFCC)
The goal of the Canadian Culinary Federation is to unite chefs and cooks across Canada in a common dedication to professional excellence. The Canadian Culinary Federation (CCF) was founded in 1963 and incorporated in Ottawa as a non-profit association in 1972. Since its inception, the federation has enjoyed a deep and long-standing tradition as Canada’s true representation of the professional chef and cook. Membership in the Canadian Culinary Federation is available to any and all persons who actively seek and involve their career paths as a Cook Apprentice, Journeyman Cook, Professional Chef/Cook or Culinary Professional.
About the BC Chefs Association
The British Columbia Chef’s Association was founded by a small group of dedicated chefs in July, 1958 at a meeting at the Lougheed Hotel in Burnaby, BC. The first president and founding member was the late Wally Shaw, who also helped found the Canadian Federation of Chefs and Cooks (The Canadian Culinary Federation). Then known as “The Association of Chefs de Cuisine of BC”, the association was granted its charter on February 27, 1959. In June 1967, following changes in the constitution and bylaws, the name was changed to “The British Columbia Chefs’ Association”.
Keynote Speakers:
Chef Rob Feenie, Food Concept Architect, Cactus Clubs Ltd. on The Business of Being a Chef , June 13, 8 am sharp. Breakfast 7:00 am to 9:00 am
Chefs Panel – Women in the Industry, June 13, 12:00 – 2:30 pm
· Chef Karen Barnaby, Fishhouse in Stanley Park
· Chef Dana Reinhardt, Windset Farms
· Christa-lee McWatters-Bond, Local Lounge & Grille, Summerland
Chef Robert Clarke, C Restaurant, on Sustainability and our Future , June 15, 8:00 am sharp. Breakfast 7:00 am to 9:00 am
CCFCC Golf Tournament – Chefs Convention Fabulous Country Classic
· A full day of networking, new products, food and beverages, 18 golfing Celebrity Chefs, power carts, lunch, dinner – a pig roast hosted by Johnson’s Pork, and so much more.
Notable Attendees:
Chefs Gissur Gudmundsson, President, World Association of Chefs’ Societies; Michael Ty, President, American Culinary Federation; Louis Perrotte, American Culinary Federation; Judson Simpson, President of CCFCC; Simon Smotkowicz, President, Team Canada, Bruno Marti, Rod Butters, Bernard Casavant, Ned Bell, Vikram Vij, Sylvain Cuerrier, Scott Jeager, John Bishop and Tobias MacDonald.
Biggest surprise of my trip to Calgary? A pub that looks more sophisticated than a pub, that serves pub food, yet still has an atmosphere that is nice enough to bring your family along. My brother invited his wife, children and me to have dinner at Brewsters at McKenzie Towne, in Calgary (Alberta). I was shocked when I saw that there were 6 other families with children below the age of 5.
The food is respectably nice, and filling, and not overwhelmingly expensive. I ordered a Brewsters Burger, a seven ounce Alberta prime rib patty, Bow Valley BBQ sauce, cheddar, sautéed mushrooms, smokehouse bacon, lettuce and tomato for $13.99, with a side cup of “meat and potatoes” soup. The burger was extremely good, and cooked to perfection.
The burger was really good although I confess I should have never ordered it with BBQ sauce, which I really don’t like. The soup (“meat and potatoes”) tasted exactly like that, comfort food for someone in Alberta. I was pleasantly surprised by Brewsters and will recommend it as a family-friendly restaurant to anyone who reads me from Calgary.
I’m a very big fan of African food, although I will fully admit that my experience has been limited to Somali, Ethiopian and Eritrean food. This past weekend, JT and I went to try Simba’s Grill (which is African fusion, from what one of the owners, Mr. Kurshid Khan, told us).
He mentioned that the food that they provide at Simba’s Grill is East African fusion (from Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda). I will fully confess I haven’t researched the type of food, to be quite honest. For me, any food from Africa seems good. Just ask me about Ethiopian/Eritrean food, which I absolutely adore. I ordered a Chicken Surwa (chicken breast cooked in cream curry, $15.99). I ordered a type of spicy, saffron-infused rice pilaf ($3.99) as a side. While the spices in the cream curry made it extremely rich and tasty, the addition of a little bit of mango/chili chutney made it incredibly flavourful. I will definitely come back to Simba’s Grill.
The portion was extremely well served, and I could not finish it all as I really wanted to have Qoola frozen yogurt for dessert, so I opted for bringing the rest of my dinner home.
Disclosure: JT paid for his and my meal on his own dime.
Contrary to what you might suspect, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is NOT in Squamish. I made the mistake of thinking it was, but it’s not. It’s actually extremely close to the Upper Village in Whistler, BC, as indicated by Tourism Whistler’s page about the SLCC. And it’s an amazingly beautiful cultural centre, I might add. An exemplary showcase of two cultures that share one land.
I have always had a soft spot for showcasing First Nations’ culture and activities, particularly because I find a significant contribution to Mexican culture has come from the indigenous people who lived in what we have come to know as Mexico now, and I imagine that’s also been the case in Canada. Last year I wrote a little bit about the salmon ecosystem conservation efforts of the Musqueam Nation, and I try to highlight First Nations cultural festivals, like the Louis Riel Festival, a celebration of Métis culture. I did a bit of research on how the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre came to exist:
In 1997 the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) met with the Lil’wat Nation to consult about opportunities for the Nation’s participation and presence in Whistler BC. Out of these discussions, the idea of a world-class cultural centre was born and a relationship in the spirit of goodwill and cooperation evolved.
In 1999 the Lil’wat Nation met with the Squamish Nation to discuss issues of land use and planning in areas of traditional territory overlap. As a result, in 2001 the two Nations signed a Protocol Agreement, which formalized our mutual relationship. This historic Protocol Agreement commits us to continued co-operation in matters of cultural and economic development, and co-management of shared territory. The only agreement of its kind in Canada, the Protocol Agreement (link protocol agreement to S 9.0.1), which formalized our mutual relationship.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler BC, where mountains, rivers and people meet, embodies the spirit of partnership between our two Nations and our shared values around preserving and sharing their traditional cultures.
I wish I had taken advantage of the little café within the Cultural Centre, as some of the offerings sounded really tasty (fresh wild salmon, anyone?).
I found it fascinating that so much effort was put into blending both cultures and showcasing them equally. I also watched a beautiful 15 minute video about the SLCC that is included in the guided tour (JT and I joined for a bit of the tour, but mostly we walked through the facility on our own).
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is a beautiful showcase (and a green building to boot too, with a LEED certification, from what I read). I spent a lovely time there, and look forward to coming back at some point soon. You should definitely visit if you ever get the chance.
Disclosure: I toured the SLCC along with my guest compliments of the Centre, as part of my recent trip to Whistler to check out what to do when you’re not a winter sports person. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience visiting the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (and I strongly recommend my readers to do so). In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.
I’m reposting from Isabella’s blog and from the Mental Health Camp blog. Please do share widely. If you are interested in speaking, please complete the form below. Thanks!
the 3rd edition of MentalHealthCamp vancouver is happening soon! on july 23rd, precisely. the conference is about the intersection between social media and mental health.
is this a topic you’re interested in? would you like to talk about it, or lead a workshop?
here’s your chance – our call for speakers.
we are looking for session leaders who speak from personal or professional experience with mental health or mental illness.
we will have approximately 10 45-minute slots, with 6 slots for prearranged speakers (e.g. approved by the selection committee), and 4 slots for “mental moose” – a continuation of the unconference tradition of moosecamp at northern voice. during “mental moose”, participants who are interested in leading a session can pitch them on saturday morning with a quick 30-second talk. everyone will then vote on which sessions will be presented, and the winning sessions will be scheduled.
the theme for this year’s MentalHealthCamp is
DIVERSITY
diversity of opinions
diversity of religion
diversity of ideas on how to deal with mental health
diversity of sexual orientation
diversity in age
diversity in ethnic backgrounds
diversity in socioeconomic status
diversity of ability
and … ? (please feel free to add!)
each one of these topics contains vast, interesting fields in and of themselves. just think of the topic of mental health among british columbia’s south asian population; the diverse/diverging of the radical psychology group (here with another diversity topic: gender and bodily difference); or mental health and christian churches. we could even look at diversity from yet another point of view – adding the topic/twist of mental health to existing bodies of research, such as the growing area of research into tourism and mental health.
since MentalHealthCamp is about the intersection between mental health and social media, speakers and participants will discuss issues that touch on both topics, in whatever weird and wonderful and different ways. also, this will continue to be a grassroots-based event. as long as a speaker has something interesting and constructive to contribute, it is of no consequence whether she or he has a PhD in psychiatry or is a master in the art of living a life touched by mental illness. come one, come all! it is, after all, about diversity.
once again, we might also have a virtual session. if you’re unable to attend the conference in person but have the technical know-how, let’s talk about using technology to bring you right into our conference here in vancouver.
if you’re interested in presenting, please send us a short (100 words or less) description of the proposal, together with a short (50 words or less) bio about yourself by june 16. please send it to moritherapy at shaw dot ca.
the conference will happen on july 23, 2011, from 8:30am to 5:00 pm, at vancouver’s gallery gachet http://gachet.org/ at 88 east cordova street .
To submit a speaker’s proposal fill out the Contact Form with your proposal.
Two of the most difficult things that any conference organizer faces are finding additional brain/muscle power and seeking sponsorship for your non-profit event. But both of those are things I have absolutely no shame to ask for. So, here’s your call for volunteering and sponsorships. Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2011 takes place at Gallery Gachet on July 26th, 2011. The theme this year is Diversity in Mental Health.
So what do we need volunteers for? One of the most important ones, I find, is logistics and coordination. I’m an incredibly busy guy, and both Isabella and I are extremely constrained with time this year. Particularly, I need someone to be able to follow up with the folks I’m contacting in regards to sponsorships. Given how many hundreds of emails I get, being able to let someone else deal with communicating with potential sponsors and just give me the low-down of what needs to get done, is one.
We of course will need volunteers on “the day of” to help set-up, tear-down, clean-up, direct people, registration, introducing speakers, making sure that the sessions don’t run overtime, helping with coffee breaks, lunch, etc. All of that.
And as far as sponsorships, we need basically two things – lunch and coffee/snacks. Simple as that. We are aiming to make Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2011 a low-key, great energy event. If you are interested in either volunteering or sponsoring, feel free to send me an email through the handy contact form below. And if you are interested in pitching a speakers proposal, do the same.
In previous blog posts, when I’ve covered Whistler, I hadn’t written about Lost Lake Park. Which is mildly ironic, because I have written about the Lost Lake itself, but never about the park. JT and I walked around various of the park’s trails and strolled as close to the edge of the lake as we could.
I loved the creeks and the pristine quality of water in this area.
It’s rare that I take time to relax (I know, I’ve promised to myself and to my friends, family and readers that I’m going to take it easy, not work as hard and that I’m going to take better care of myself – I’m working on it, I swear). I suppose the first step in taking care of myself is to actually have time to visit a spa. And what a spa that was!
I was up in Whistler this past weekend with JT, touring around and looking at the kinds of things we could do given that neither of us is a winter sports person. Turns out that there’s a lot of things to do. And the first stop we had in our journey after the beautiful Rocky Mountaineer ride up was the amazing Scandinave Spa. Located near the Spruce Grove neighbourhood in Whistler, it’s close enough to the Whistler Village that you can walk.
Situated just north of Whistler Village, B.C., engulfed in a spruce and cedar forest on the edge of Lost Lake and Spruce Grove parks, this unique spa overlooks incredible mountain vistas and valleys. Invigorate and cleanse your body and mind in the hot baths and refreshing waterfalls, melt away with a relaxing massage, and breathe in the invigorating country air.
After the 3 hours of “warm up, cool down, relax” we headed back to the Listel Hotel Whistler and had a much-needed nap. Surprisingly, despite the fact that the spa is relaxing, we still needed a few more hours to recuperate. Overall, the idea of the Nordic Spa is one that you really should seriously consider. And the pricing is quite affordable, with weekly for $99 and the one-time $58, if I recall the pricing correctly.
One of the recurring themes in my travel writing, as you may see, is the sustainability factor (not only because my research, teaching and consulting is in environmental policy, but also because my travel writing is primarily focused on eco-tourism). The Scandinave Spa in Whistler offers Scandinavian baths that allow you to relax in a way that I hadn’t seen before.
Widely recognized for their energizing and relaxing effects, Scandinavian baths and hydrotherapy are associated with many benefits. In addition to cleansing the body, they stimulate blood circulation and the release of endorphins. All of the senses are awakened; muscles are soothed; a general sensation of well-being washes over you. Immerse yourself… to emerge again feeling calm yet invigorated by the experience of the Scandinavian baths.
Overall, the spa experience was amazing, and at no point did I feel rushed. The service was amazing and I really want to come back next time I’m up in Whistler.
Disclosure: My and my guest’s visit to the Scandinave Spa in Whistler, BC was sponsored very generously by the spa as part of my recent trip to Whistler to check out what to do when you’re not a winter sports person. However, I covered every other single expense I incurred during this travel, including (but not limited to) breakfast, lunch, dinner and transportation (except when explicitly indicated). I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience at the spa. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.
I’m an outdoorsy guy, even though I claim to be ‘an urbanite’. I love hiking, as demonstrated by my many posts on different parks and hikes (with my absolute favorite and usually my first hike of the year being, not surprisingly, Quarry Rock/Indian Arm in Deep Cove in North Vancouver). But enjoying the outdoors AND ziplining really takes the cake as my favorite activity, as of this past weekend.
Ziptrek Ecotours in Whistler invited me to enjoy the Ziptrek Bear Tour. Both JT and I are used to doing things that provide an adrenaline-rush and we are also both outdoorsy and ready to jump on adventures, and have a keen interest in sustainability. And I think that’s what sets Ziptrek Ecotours apart. The implementation of The Natural Step methodology throughout the whole experience.
ALL through the course of the Ziptrek Ecotour, our 2 tour guides (extremely knowledgeable, friendly and warm) were explaining to us about how they apply The Natural Step (a sustainability-implementation methodology perfected if I am not mistaken in Sweden), and they also provided us with detailed training on how to make the most of our experience.
More about the Bear Ziptrek Ecotour
This is our original tour and the one that made us famous with five incredible ziplines joined by a network of suspension bridges, boardwalks and trails. Stunning aerial vistas over Fitzsimmons Creek complete your eco-adventure. This tour is perfect for families, groups, and those who have never ziplined before.
Security is emphasized at every step of the process. We had full-body harnesses, hard hats and at every point, we were monitored front and back by the tour guides.
The Bear Ziptrek Ecotour offers 5 ziplines, 4 between Whistler and Blackcomb and 1 at the bottom of the hill, for training. Overall, I probably would have enjoyed doing the 10 ziplines offered in the Mammoth tour, but that is because I am addicted to adrenaline rushes. I was able to do a few pirouettes in the air, and while I heard people screaming, I think they did just for effect, as overall I never ever felt in danger or worried.
Flying in the air through a zipline is so freeing, it is indeed an activity that must be done at least once in your lifetime. And I’m quite pleased with the outcome of my visit, because honestly, when I first thought about doing a trip up to Whistler, seeing as I’m not a winter sports person, I didn’t know what to expect. And now I know that there’s A LOT to do in Whistler when you don’t ski or snowboard. Seriously, it’s a very fun town.
I strongly recommend you to try the Ziptrek Ecotours in Whistler if you are ever up there. Amazing experience. Prices for an adult are around $99 per person, and seeing as it’s a 3 hour experience, with a wonderful hike, beautiful views, commentary, training and guidance by 2 experienced guides and the ziplining, overall I think it’s a great value.
Ziptrek Ecotours is located in Whistler, British Columbia and covers over 33 acres of diverse terrain (old growth rain forest, second growth rain forest, steep cliff faces and lush forest floor) spanning between Whistler and Blackcomb Mountains and over the Fitzsimmons Creek.
I will definitely try it again.
Disclosure: My Bear Ziptrek Ecotour in Whistler, BC was sponsored very generously by the company as part of my recent trip to Whistler to check out what to do when you’re not a winter sports person. I paid on my own for my guest on a media rate. I covered every other single expense I incurred during this travel, including (but not limited to) breakfast, lunch, dinner and transportation (except when explicitly indicated). I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience with Ziptrek Ecotours. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.
Yeah. I’m 200 tweets away from 100,000 (yes, one hundred thousand tweets). In 3 years. How much is that per day? Per week? Per month? In doctoral dissertations? I don’t know, but people have started to make guesses as to what I will tweet, etc. And some people have suggested that maybe I should make this a charitable event. And I think that’s a great idea.
So I’m opening a Bid For My 100,000th Tweet. If you are a business who would like me to promote your stuff, you can bid a monetary donation to the BC Cancer Foundation. As you all know, this is a charity of choice for me. I’ve lost a number of my loved ones to cancer (most recently, my dear friend Derek K. Miller aka Penmachine) and I would like to raise funds for this important cause.
You may ask – what is the value proposition of my 100,000th tweet. Well, for one, I have a fairly sizable readership, both on my blog and on my Twitter account (with over 7,400 followers). And since it’s a milestone tweet, it’s quite likely that my tweet will be retweeted many times. And who knows, maybe even the mainstream media will pick it up. And maybe TechCrunch or Mashable will pick the story up. And this would lead to even MORE exposure.
So, I’m opening the bids on the comments below. If you bid on Twitter, you can use the following tweet:
“I’m bidding [X] dollars for @hummingbird604 ‘s 100,000th tweet in support of @BCCancer #b4hb100k”
Obviously, I’ll announce the highest bidder on my 99,999th tweet, and I’ll post the promoted tweet on the 100,000th. I’ll be monitoring my own Twitter stream and post periodic updates too. I think this would be a fun way of raising awareness of cancer research and doing something fun for charity.
I’m off to Calgary to speak at the Canadian Association of Geographers and then I’m speaking at Social Media Camp Victoria 2011, where I am hoping I will be posting my 100,000th tweet. I’m hoping that maybe we can organize a little celebration for that. I apologize in advance if you ask me to retweet stuff, as I’ll have to monitor my tweets closely (200 is not that far away and we still have 1 week to Social Media Camp Victoria.
A few weeks back, Natasha N. Davies (whom you may remember was also a guest speaker at the Canadian Public Relations Society Student Chapter last year on Social Media 101) invited me to be a guest lecturer in her class to the Public Relations program at Simon Fraser University. This afternoon I gave a short talk (I would have been able to speak about this for HOURS), and here are (as promised) the slides of my talk. As with anything posted here, the Creative Commons license applies (Attribution, Non-Derivative, Non-Commercial) in case you use any of the materials I post here. Thanks Natasha for inviting me, and thanks to all you guys for asking great questions! I had a great time. If you were at my lecture, please leave a comment on this post and let me know how you liked it.
When anybody asks me what I write about and I answer “me“, most people kind of laugh. They ask with a bit of a smug grin “what do you write that makes you so interesting?” and I respond “well, I write about me in the context of what I do, where I eat, what I drink and where I travel“. And the stuff I drink is quite nice, I must say. I’m definitely not a wine expert.
But I love my wine.
I am pleased to report on the 2008 Cupcake Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon and the 2009 Cupcake Vineyards Chardonnay, both wines that Cupcake Winery was kind enough to send me to taste and review. We served both wines at my recent 5 year blogiversary, and I tried them both individually and separately. I also offered my fellow co-organizers of Fashion’s Night Out (Erin Gee, Ashley Mangat and Niki Blasina) a glass of the Cabernet Sauvignon 2008. They all loved it (as did I). I found out that the Cabernet Sauvignon (retailing at $14.99 in BC) was one of the top 25 wines at Cornucopia 2010. Despite the fact that red wine is technically more popular than white wine at Chez Raul, I have a soft spot for Chardonnay. And from the information I was sent, I found out that Cupcake Winery’s Chardonnay (retailing in BC at $14.99) was awarded 88-points by Wine Spectator.
I know that some people may laugh at the fact that there is cupcake wine. But if you try these smooth, rich wines, you will not be disappointed. At 13.5% alcohol, the Cabernet Sauvignon is not overwhelmingly boozy, and gives a nice warm rich flavour that surrounds the whole mouth. I shared a glass of the Chardonnay with Arieanna and Ianiv Schweber and we all absolutely loved it. The Chardonnay is smooth and crisp, but at the same time, creamy and silky.
About Cupcake Vineyards:
Launched in 2008, Cupcake wines are hand-crafted to be rich and decadent with a smooth, creamy palate that creates a moment of luxury and pure pleasure … just like a cupcake, therefore their
namesake. Created by winemaker Adam Richardson, with more than a “baker’s dozen” of years making
wine, Cupcake Vineyards allows you to go ahead, and live deliciously!
You can also contact Cupcake Vineyards on Facebook, follow Cupcake Vineyards on Twitter or visit their website.
Disclosure: I was sent the two bottles of wine for review from Cupcake Winery. I am not obligated to post a review nor was I paid to write about them, however I do believe that they are good wines and I wanted to share my views with my readership. As always, I retain editorial control over any content I post on my website.
A few weeks ago, I was invited to the launch of the Lucky Penny red and white blends in Vancouver. I did not make it to the launch, sadly, because I have been so incredibly busy with the end of the semester, as well as some sad personal times, that if you read my blog you’ll know what I am talking about. So I didn’t get to taste Lucky Penny wines on the day they launched. However, I did get to try them out.
A few weeks ago I was sent a couple of bottles of their red and white blends, and I also served a couple of glasses to some attendees of my 5 year blogiversary party. I found the blending approach rather interesting, because you would think that blends may or may not work depending on who blends them and how. And I love Australian wine (the makers of Lucky Penny are the same as the ones from yellow tail, one of my favorites).
Since I’m not a winemaker (or heck, much a connoisseur) (although I will have you know that I studied how to distill wine in my Chemical Engineering degree), I will just share my personal impressions of Lucky Penny.
Lucky Penny is a carefully balanced blend of three grape varieties that work harmoniously together. Approachable, unpretentious and bursting with flavour
The vintage 2010 white wine blend of Chardonnay (65%), Viognier (20%) and Pinot Grigio (15%) has a relatively low alcohol percentage (11.5%) which made it really light and good for an afternoon gathering like the one I was hosting. This is a wine that can easily be consumed during a hot warm summer day, on its own. I would suspect it would go well with Italian, strong-flavoured pasta (like a Puttanesca or an Amatriciana). The tasting notes indicate that The Pinot Grigio brings soft fruit flavours of pear and melon that complement the citrus and toasted honey notes from the Chardonnay. Viognier adds a touch of apricot. The flavours are bright and interesting and the palate is full and rich with a clean ripe finish.
I’m not 100% sold on the proposed chicken and asparagus risotto or grilled barramundi with herb butter pairing suggested by Lucky Penny but they are good options though.
The vintage 2009 red wine blend of Shiraz (50%), Cabernet Sauvignon (30%) and Merlot (20%) was for me, a total hit, as it was for my party attendees. This South Australian red wine blend is substantially stronger than its white counterpart, with a solid alcohol percentage (13.5%) which makes it much more of a night-time, dinner or cheese-and-wine evening party wine. While it was really good for my afternoon gathering, I would posit that the Lucky Penny red wine blend is very much a night-time drink. This is a wine that can easily be consumed during a cold or breezy summer day, on its own, or together with some tasty food. I would suspect it would go well with light flavors that wouldn’t counter-overpower the wine rich flavor (like a good New York steak).
From the tasting notes, I learned about the 3 flavours that are prominent in the wine. The Shiraz brings rich fruit flavours of blueberry, Cabernet Sauvignon adds a hint of chocolate while Merlot contributes subtle vanilla undertones.
Overall, a delicious pair of wines that I’ll definitely try out and serve at my parties again.
Disclosure: I was sent the two bottles of wine for review from Lucky Penny. I am not obligated to post a review nor was I paid to write about them, however I do believe that they are good wines and I wanted to share my views with my readership. As always, I retain editorial control over any content I post on my website.
I like good wine. No, let me rephrase. I love great wine. And while I had already tried Chandra Winery wines before (my dear friends Cassandra Anderton and Summer Dhillon arranged for a fabulous delivery of Chandra Estate Winery spirits for both my blogiversary and the fundraiser Fashion’s Night Out! On Schools.
Chandra Estate Winery and Ecovitis Vineyard Ltd. is family owned and operated. We purchased this 10-acre, 12 year old vineyard four years ago, but the winery only opened it doors in September 2008. Together with Ecovitis Vineyard Ltd.’s sister property, located in Westbank, Chandra Estate Winery offers a tantalizing selection of beautifully crafted wines that are full-bodied, yet delicate and engaged with hints of fruit and spice. All Chandra wines have been branded VQA.
I remember the first time I tried Chandra Estate Winery’s Rosé, and I absolutely adored it. I have tried all three of the wines mentioned above (their Rosé, their Chardonnay and their Merlot).
Photo credit: Joshua Vanderheide. Used with permission.
“Luna”, their 2007 Pinot Noir Rosé (all retailing around $18-$20) has some great tasting notes: Crisp and refreshing with undertones of cranberry, strawberry, and plum; dry finish; enjoyable any season; can be served with any menu. I found this Rosé extremely light and summery and I totally can see it mixed in a cocktail, or served along a fresh fruit salad.
“Yue”, their 2006 Chardonnay white wine offers some fantastic tasting notes: used with flavours of melon, honey, apple, and spice that lingers on the palate long after the last sip; serves well with poultry, seafood, sushi, and light desserts. I have had this Yue with chicken parmigiana that I have cooked before and I absolutely adore it. Not very heavy at 14.2% alcohol, it’s also an entertaining kind of wine for sunny and summery afternoons.
“Halo”, their 2006 Merlot red wine is a delicacy to the palate. As far as tasting notes goes: Soft tannins and a round mouthful, but bold with life; medium bodied; showcases the bright fruit aromas and flavours associated with BC Okanagan wines; pairs well with red meats, particularly lamb and wild game, robust cheeses, pasta, and curried dishes. I tried this one with the spread we had at my blogiversary (which included lots of Vietnamese and Chinese dishes, as well as some sushi) and it was fabulous. I can totally see this Merlot combining well with a rottinni alla Puttanesca. Also with a nice 14% alcohol, has a solid kick and a robust deep flavor that stays with you.
Photo credit: Joshua Vanderheide. Used with permission.
The story behind the Chandra Estate Winery name is also very sweet (read below). And if you need to get any of these wines you can contact my friend Cassandra Anderton (Good Life Vancouver) on Twitter as well as @goodlifevan.
Our name was inspired by the South Okanagan’s spectacular, moonlit summer nights and a mythical tale, reflecting our culture and philosophy. ‘Chandra’ (the ‘a’ is pronounced as a short vowel ‘u’) derives from the Hindi language, and means ‘moon god’. Ancient myth states that the moon stores Soma – an ancient drink and lunar deity, which is said to be the elixir of immortality consumed by the gods themselves. When the gods drink away some of the properties, the moon wanes, and when the gods do not, the moon waxes. Traditionally, gardening practices have also been based on moon phases. The moon’s passage exerts elemental influences on a vineyard – water, earth, air, and fire – which are shown through the leaves, roots, fruit, and flower. A rising moon heightens vitality and a lowering moon influences the sap of the vines. Chandra’s magnetic pull oversees the growth of the vines, and harnesses the moon’s energy. The result is the Soma of today.
Photo credit: Joshua Vanderheide. Used with permission.
Overall, I absolutely loved these wines, and I can’t wait to try them again.
Disclosure: A couple of cases of wine for 2 events I helped organize were generously sponsored by Good Life Vancouver and Chandra Estate Winery (my good friends Cassandra Anderton and Summer Dhillon) for which I am very grateful. I am neither obligated to post a review nor was I paid to write about them, however I do believe that they are good wines and I wanted to share my views with my readership. As always, I retain editorial control over any content I post on my website. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me
If you’ve read my blog for long enough, you’ll definitely know that I am a big fan of boutique hotels. While I love larger, chain-style hotels, I have a soft spot for boutique hotel. I have profiled a few on my blog.
Located in the heart of Whistler Village in southern British Columbia, The Listel Hotel Whistler offers convenient access to a variety of outdoor activities, local restaurants and businesses. Each spacious and well-appointed guest room at this full-service Whistler hotel feature cable satellite television along with high-speed Internet access. Enjoy a delicious meal at the award-winning onsite restaurant and be sure to take advantage of the hotel’s array of amenities including our whirlpool, saunas, business services and meeting/banquet facilities accommodating up to 75 guests. Small pets are welcome.
We stayed at the Listel Hotel Whistler this past weekend as we were travelling and checking out what to do in Whistler when you’re not a sports person (turns out, there’s A LOT to do!). While the Listel Hotel Whistler has a relatively late check-in policy (4:00pm), it also offers flexibility for check-out (we did indeed check out at noon). I’ll fully confess that I’m used to having hotels give me my room when I arrive, even if it’s much earlier than the check-in time. This is a degree of flexibility that I’ve grown accustomed to. But when we arrived to the Listel Hotel Whistler, we were told that our room wasn’t ready and we had to come back. So there went our nap plans.
Our room (a Deluxe Queen/Queen Suite) was spacious and really comfortable. We really didn’t make use of the refrigerator and other amenities like the coffee and tea facility, but we definitely used the wireless (which on the first day was slightly spotty but in the end worked perfectly fine). You’ll need a password that Front Desk will provide.
While the Listel Hotel Whistler has whirlpool and saunas, we didn’t really have the time to make use of them. But one thing that is amazing at this hotel and that we should have taken advantage of is the Bearfoot Bistro, the hotel housed in the Listel. I’ve been told that Bearfoot Bistro is one of the best restaurants in Whistler and even though we had it in our own hotel, we never set foot there. Next time for sure!
The Listel Hotel Whistler is located at 4121 Village Green, in Whistler, British Columbia. It’s really accessible by car and even close by (walking distance) from the bus depot if you take the Greyhound into the Whistler Village. Like the Victorian Hotel, the Listel Hotel Whistler offers complimentary Continental breakfast, of which we took advantage both days as we had to head out and do ziplining and other activities. Overall, a very nice experience. And you can reserve rooms here (I think the price hovers around $179)
Disclosure: My 2 nights stay at the Listel Hotel Whistler in Whistler, BC was sponsored very generously by the hotel as part of my recent trip to Whistler to check out what to do when you’re not a winter sports person. However, I covered every other single expense I incurred during this travel, including (but not limited to) breakfast, lunch, dinner and transportation (except when explicitly indicated). I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience at the hotel. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.
While I’ve been doing travel writing for a few years now, I will fully admit that there are other bloggers who have provided a lot of coverage for Whistler, particularly when it comes to winter sports. Sometimes I feel bad about that, because I love Whistler (as demonstrated by my coverage of the region last year), but since I don’t ski nor snowboard, and those sports are so predominant in Whistler, I feel that I have little to add to other bloggers coverage.
Tourism Whistler extended a kind invitation to try and visit Whistler and write about what you can do in Whistler if you are not a snow sports person. I’m more of an urbanite (even though I love the outdoors) and thus I was expecting a lot of urban things in my schedule. I was pleasantly surprised with the outcome of my trip planning.
Throughout the week, you will be able to read a number of blog posts about my weekend, taking 3 (yes, you read right, I took 3 days off my insanely busy schedule) and experiencing ZipTrek Ecotours, Scandinave Spa and the rest of my days around town, including lunches and dinners, as well as some other outdoorsy, non-winter-sports-focused activities.
I first knew about WICKED (a fantastic musical) actually from JT. He was completely and utterly enthused with the idea of seeing this fantastic and mesmerizing musical. Now, you’ll have to understand, some cross-cultural references don’t quite apply, given that I had never seen Wicked (or any of its translations). But I’m thrilled that I will get to check it out, as Wicked will play Wednesday, June 1 – Sunday June 26, 2011 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Week 1 performances run, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8pm, Sunday evening 7:30pm with Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 2pm matinees. Weeks 2, 3 and 4 performances run Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8PM, Sunday evening at 7:30pm with Saturday and Sunday 2pm matinees. Ticket prices begin at $35.00. You can get tickets via Ticketmaster, all Ticketmaster outlets, or by phone 1-855-985-5000. There is an 8-ticket limit per patron.
WICKED, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Disney’s Enchanted, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirty something”), is based on the best-selling 1995 novel by Gregory Maguire. WICKED is set to make its Vancouver premiere starting Wednesday, June 1st.
The musical is directed by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). From the information I received, WICKED is the winner of 35 major awards, including a Grammy® Award and 3 Tony® Awards, is the untold story of the witches of Oz. It is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone.
Here is the synopsis of Wicked:
Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.
WICKED features set design by Tony® Award winning Eugene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony® winner Susan Hilferty (Spring Awakening, Into the Woods, Assassins), lighting design by Tony nominee® Kenneth Posner (Tony® Award winner for The Coast of Utopia, Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King). Stephen Oremus is the show’s music director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.
Called “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety and named “the defining musical of the decade” by The New York Times, WICKED continues to thrill audiences around the world. There are currently seven productions of WICKED worldwide, including two North American tours, a Broadway production, London production, a Japanese-language production, a German-language production and Australian production. A Dutch-language production of WICKED will open in 2011.
I hope everyone gets a chance to see Wicked, as from the information I received, it was quite likely that it was going to be sold-out. And no wonder, considering how much fun it looks. As mentioned above, you can get tickets by phone or via Ticketmaster. I can’t wait to check this one out.
UPDATE – I was just informed that a day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held daily for WICKED, which will be performing from June 1 – 26 at The Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Each day, 2 hours prior to show time people who present themselves at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum and then thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Winners must be present (with valid photo ID) when their names are called or they forfeit their tickets.
For years, I had wanted to take the Rocky Mountaineer. Years. You read right. YEARS. Ever since I found out that there was a beautiful train that would take me from Vancouver all the way up to Whistler, or the Rocky Mountains, or to Jasper and Banff, I figured “one day, I will take the Rocky Mountaineer… one day…”.
Well that day was this past weekend. I took 3 days (you read right, 3 full days) off, as it was a long weekend coming up, and JT and I went up to Whistler on the Rocky Mountaineer.
The trip JT and I took was the most wonderful Glass-Top round-trip Vancouver-Whistler-Vancouver ($335), not exclusively the only route that the Rocky Mountaineer offers. We were lucky because the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb season officially begun this past weekend, which means that we were amongst the very first guests to travel on the Rocky Mountaineer for the 2011 season.
Even though I receive invitations to do media travel trips just about everywhere, I had been wanted to cover Whistler as someone who doesn’t ski for a long while, so I was ready to accept the invite from Tourism Whistler. And it was a fortunate coincidence that Brie Mason and Emme Rogers were also guests on the same train!
On the way up (Friday, May 20th), the weather was absolutely glorious, both in Vancouver and in Whistler, throughout our travels parallel to the Sea-to-Sky Highway.
Included with the trip there’s plenty of non-alcoholic beverages and a hot breakfast, which was absolutely delicious.
We saw some familiar sights along the way, like my good ol’ friend the Stawamus Chief, which I have climbed numerous times throughout my life in Vancouver. Located in the quaint town of Squamish, between Vancouver and Whistler, the Chief is a really nice hike and it provides a great workout to those who like to rock climb.
I found one of the most interesting views was the one alongside the route of the train. I am still amazed at how popular trains remain as means of transportation, given that well, their speeds aren’t all that spectacular. But this (the Rocky Mountaineer) is not a quick train, and it’s not intended to be one. It’s intended for leisurely travel. The trip from Vancouver to Whistler takes 3 to 3.5 hours, and they fly by you.
At every point, I was totally blown away by the extraordinary beauty of our province. British Columbia is definitely one absolutely gorgeous province. And I’m a lucky man for living in one of the most amazing cities in Canada, Vancouver, and for having had the opportunity to travel throughout the way I have.
The rivers, the canyons and in general, the view of the mountain, the ocean, Howe Sound and the forests around us were absolutely stunning.
The Rocky Mountaineer is a one-in-a-lifetime, must-do experience. There are two ways to enjoy the Whistler Sea to Sky Climb route: the Whistler Dome Service or the Whistler Classic Service. Both of them have their own qualities (obviously, one of them has more perks, the Whistler Dome Service), but whichever you choose, they are both amazing experiences.
Rocky Mountaineer offers 45 unique Canadian vacation packages and four distinctive rail routes, rich in history and natural wonders, through British Columbia and Alberta. This world renowned, luxurious train travels by daylight through the wild beauty of Canada’s West and is the best way to experience the majestic Canadian Rockies, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Over the past 20 years, Rocky Mountaineer has grown to become the largest privately owned passenger rail service in North America and has welcomed more than one million guests onboard from around the world.
Arriving to the Whistler Rocky Mountaineer station, we were greeted with extremely friendly faces and a wonderful service from the staff on site. While there is a Traxx connection with partner hotels (included in your trip), we only connected by bus from downtown Vancouver (at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver) to the North Vancouver train station.
I definitely recommend the Rocky Mountaineer as one experience you MUST do at least once in a lifetime. I’ll absolutely be back, sooner than you think. Perhaps my next trip will have to be to Banff and Jasper. I’m a definite fan of the Rocky Mountaineer, for life. And you should know, the Rocky Mountaineer has a number of fantastic Special Offers that you should take advantage of.
Disclosure: My trip to and from Whistler was compliments of Rocky Mountaineer. I am neither obligated to post a review nor was I paid to write this post. However, I strongly believe that traveling with Rocky Mountaineer is great and wanted to share my experience with my readership. As always, I retain editorial control over any content I post on my website. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me via my Contact Form
A couple of months back, I was invited to visit Salt Spring Island for the weekend to cover the Salt Spring Island Documentary Film Festival. While I did write about Salt Spring Island quite substantially (you can read my posts here), I left out a lot of content that I think I should have posted, as sometimes I don’t have the time to write about EVERYTHING.
I was cleaning my apartment today, I came across a flyer for Salt Spring Island Cheese, where my good friend Deirdre Rowland took me for a visit. So I decided to write about it. If you’re a friend of mine or have read my blog for any length of time, you’ll be shocked that not only did I visit a cheese farm, but I even tried it (I hate cheese).
Admittedly, it was the fact that my minor when I studied Chemical Engineering was Food Science. I’ve always been fascinated with chemical processes, and in particular, given that for my doctorate I analyzed the leather-footwear commodity chain, I always ended up looking at livestock animal husbandry. And I find that cheese farms have a certain charm, beyond the technicalities of cheese-making.
I will fully admit that despite being lactose intolerant and hating cheese, I did try some of the cheeses. I know, I caved. But what can I do, I love highlighting small, mom-and-pop kind of shops and local businesses, so I had to actually sample. Unsurprisingly, the one I loved the most was the one that had garlic. Nom, nom, nom.
Founded by David and Nancy Wood in 1996, Salt Spring Island Cheese Company offers cheeses for tasting and sale. You can even take a self-guided tour through the cheese-making process. Located on Reynold Roads, about 2 km from Fulford Harbour (which is where you’d arrive if you come to Salt Spring Island via ferry), it’s a definite must-visit location if you come to Salt Spring Island. A little bit more information from their About page:
Salt Spring Island Cheese Company specializes in handmade goat and sheep cheeses. We started making cheese in 1994 and started selling it in 1996. Principally, we’re known for our chèvres, although we also make several other types of goat cheeses (feta cheeses, surface ripened cheeses, and even a hard cheese).
We make our cheese at our farm on Salt Spring Island, off Canada’s west coast, and while you can buy our cheese as far east as Toronto, we encourage you to come to the island, wander the farm and taste the cheese fresh for yourself.
