Grouse Mountain is the Peak of Christmas in Vancouver with mountain-top ice skating, skiing, Santa’s reindeer and other snowy adventures with sweeping views high above the city.
A fire crackling in the outdoor pit, the scraping of skate blades on the ice, fresh powder falling from the sky, and the aroma of Beaver Tails wafting through the crisp mountain air. Once you purchase your lift ticket on the world-famous Grouse Mountain Sky Ride you have access to all Peak of Christmas activities, until December 24th, like visiting Santa’s reindeer Dancer and Vixen, ice skating, Christmas movies in the Chalet, a brand new Gingerbread Village this year in the Chalet and reindeer crafts including antler decorating.
You can also purchase to special events like Breakfast with Santa or head out on a snowshoe adventure. Warm up with a hot chocolate from Lupins or the Grouse Grind Coffee Bar or stop in for a bite at Altitudes Bistro or The Observatory.
If you would like to experience the Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain this season I have a family prize pack available that includes: A Family Peak of Christmas Ticket (2 adults, 2 children), ice skating rentals, and a $50 Grouse Mountain gift card.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming your favourite snowy-day activity (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, December 13, 2012. The gift card can be used in any retail store or food and beverage outlet on the mountain with the exception of Starbucks. Follow Grouse Mountain on Facebook and Twitter for more information about events, activities, and conditions this season.
Update The winner is Ai Ling!
Vancouver Whitecaps FC have opened up a retail store in a fantastic location at Metropolis at Metrotown. This past weekend we took the SkyTrain over to the store to take a look at the selection and pick up some gifts.
THIS STORE IS NOW CLOSED. VISIT THE WHITECAPS STORE AT 375 WATER ST IN VANCOUVER (GASTOWN)
Jerseys, golf shirts, t-shirts, and even luggage tags fill the racks at this outlet. There are a variety of t-shirt and long-sleeve shirt styles that I haven’t seen before at the BC Place kiosks along with great stocking stuffers like stickers, shot glasses, mugs, and pennants. From infant to adult sizes, you’ll find a good selection for all ages.
Check out the Holiday Packs that include 4 tickets to the 2013 Major League Soccer Home Opener in the Teal section at BC Place, plus an official Whitecaps FC scarf ($100 plus tax). There’s also a ticket kiosk in the store where you can get single tickets, season tickets, 9-packs, and student season tickets.
There are deals happening all the time (we got a free signed copy of Bob Lenarduzzi’s book with purchase) and we could even use our Whitecaps FC season ticket-holder discount (of 15%). Whitecaps FC BMO MasterCard holders receive a 10% discount on all in-store merchandise.
To celebrate the opening of the Whitecaps FC store in Metropolis at Metrotown I have a team-signed ball to give away to one lucky reader. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming a Whitecaps FC player (past or present) – (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on Saturday, December 15, 2012. Follow Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Twitter and Facebook for more information about the store, the team, and the upcoming season.
Update The winner is Peter!
Last May I was introduced to the family behind The Urban Tea Merchant along with their expertise on all things tea, their afternoon teas, and their wide selection of tea-related products. This shop and tea parlour located between Thurlow and Burrard, bordering Georgia and Alberni, is a fragrant and soothing oasis among the hustle and bustle of downtown Vancouver.
For my first experience in the spring I enjoyed iced teas but when I returned last week with Marc Smith, they offered up new blends of their signature TWG luxury teas just for the holiday season.
Holiday Tea Service
To compliment their Westcoast Tea Service, Champagne Tea Service, and Weekend Brunch, The Urban Tea Merchant now offers a Holiday Tea Service. For $48 per person the Holiday Tea includes hand-crafted sandwiches, savouries and sweets, and a pot of TWG Tea‘s Holiday Collection such as the Christmas Lights Tea.
Marc and I both agreed that our favourite sip was the White Christmas tea, a Yin Zhen white tea which was blended with hibiscus, spices, and orange peels. We also tried Red Christmas (a rooibos style) and Christmas Lights (which had a sweet marzipan flavour). There were so many goodies to choose from on the multi-tiered platter we couldn’t even finish it all. I loved the salmon sandwich and the tuna on a crostini along with the gingerbread, scones, and macarons. Each piece is delicately infused with festive and seasonal teas, complimenting the brews in your cup.
The December Lunch Special is also a Petite Tea Service for $20 that includes a variety of five savouries and four sweets along with an $8 credit towards any TWG tea. The shop is sparkling with holiday colours, festive teas, and all kinds of accessories — perfect gift ideas for the tea drinker in your life. You can sniff, sample, sip, and pick out the perfect blend.
Reservations can now be made for the Holiday Tea and other afternoon tea services including group events. The Urban Tea Merchant is located at 1070 West Georgia Street and you can find them on Twitter and Facebook.
It was on this day in history (1868) that the second Earl Granville was named Secretary of the Colonies. Granville Townsite (Gastown), Granville Street, Granville Island. have all been named after him. It’s a nice tie-in to today’s collection of photos from the archives, which all feature Granville Island. At this time of year it’s just as alive as in the summer with holiday gift shoppers visiting local artisans, dinner essentials getting hand-picked in the market, and holiday plays bringing audience to theatres to laugh and be inspired.
Visit the Vancouver Public Library or the Vancouver City Archives for more historical photographs.
Richard Wolak from Vancouver Foodster has officially crowned a winner in his Best Burger Challenge. From November 5th until November 30th he had 29 restaurants (and a food truck) throw their hats in the ring and the final choice was made by the public through a vote that took place November 28th to December 3rd.
Max’s Burgers: “The Local”. Photo courtesy of Richard Wolak.
“Burgers are one of those menu items that are popular in many restaurants in our area,” Richard told me. “Yes we are often known as a healthy city, but I see it as balance, people who are working out also want to treat themselves to a burger. The challenge gets people out to try new burger creations that either haven’t been on their favourite restaurants menus or gets them out to try new restaurants and the burger creations that they are featuring.”
The winners were announced on Richard’s website this week:
1st Place: Max’s Burgers – “The Local”
2nd Place: The Fray – “Triple Threat Burger”
3rd Place: Blue Canoe Waterfront Restaurant – “The Mistress”
4th Place: Luke’s Kitchen — “Veggie Burger”
“The top 5 winning burgers were all ones that were custom created by the restaurants for this challenge, and the top 2 winning burgers were all about local and from what those restaurants have told me, this was the most popular item on their menu during the challenge outselling every other menu item.”
Richard said that aside from promoting local eateries and engaging the public, the challenge actually had a major impact on the way that one competitor did business. Max’s Burgers (1st place) previously used Alberta beef. For this challenge they came up with “The Local” burger and used grass-fed local beef from The Honest Butcher. “Almost every customer began ordering “The Local” and paying a higher price as this was their most expensive burger on the menu. Within two weeks they decided to change the entire beef supply moving strongly in a more local sustainable direction, and now all their beef is being purchased locally, totally changing the way they do business and service their customers.”
This is actually Richard’s third food challenge, having hosted his own Best Beef Burger and Fries Challenge, a Poutine Challenge and a Pancake Challenge earlier this year. “The chefs enjoy being challenged and it also challenges the servers and the rest of the staff creating a camaraderie of sorts which energizes the whole team and increases sales for their respective restaurants.”
You can read full descriptions of each winning burger on Richard’s site and also find out who he personally named Best Beef Burger last year. Follow Richard on Twitter to learn more about his upcoming events (like Food Talks and Tasting Plates) and explore more of the delicious food this city has to offer.
