The giant 50-foot Christmas tree returns to the lawn of the Vancouver Art Gallery starting with a lighting ceremony on December 2nd.
The tree, which is the largest of its kind in Western Canada, is installed each year by AMACON who also uses the opportunity to donate funds their consultants, contractors, and contacts have raised for local non-profits over the last year.
In 2009, roughly $100,000 was presented in large-cheque form to BC Lions Courage for Kids, Empty Stocking Fund, Rock 101 Cares, Lasting M.A.G.I.C, BC Children’s Hospital, Amateur Sports in BC, Canada Company and The Diana Krall Foundation.
Bro-Jake from Rock101 will once again emcee the event that begins at 5:30pm, along with the lighting countdown at 6:45pm. There will also be performances by The Vancouver Children’s Choir, Christmas soloists and special guest appearances by the BC Lions, and Santa Claus himself. The tree will be on display until January 4, 2011.
During my stay in Victoria with Keira we were booked to to a tea workshop at Silk Road Tea in Chinatown. Recently expanded along Government Street Silk Road is a tea shop, tasting room, and spa rolled into one.
Upon entering we were greeted with samples of their Westcoast Peppermint and were surrounded by infusers, candles, soaps and oils in their spa section. Some patrons were first-time visitors asking for advice on how to use lavender essence therapeutically, while others were regulars stocking up on their usual supplies of bath salts. We quickly learned that all of Silk Road’s body care products are 100% natural and manufactured in-house.
I spotted Libre Tea glasses, tea pots with cute yet descriptive names like “stump” and “curvy”, and any other kind of tea accessory imaginable.
We took our places at the tea bar for their very popular afternoon workshop. The theme that day was “Hot Chocolate Teas” as we were to learn how to separately blend cherry tea, peppermint tea, and black chai with various amounts of cocoa to create some delicious treats for sipping. When each new tea was introduced we were given notes on its caffeine content, ideal steeping time, and tips on garnishes (from mint leaves to goji berries).
The workshop was $12 and included recipes, tastings of about five different blends, and an education in tea preparation and health benefits. These sessions run every Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm from September to June and reservations are highly recommended.
With the steady stream of tea drinkers pouring into the shop throughout the hour, it appeared that tea is as big in Victoria now as it ever was in all traditional senses.
You can order teas online from Silk Road or find their teas served at various establishments throughout Victoria. They’ve even been mixed into original cocktails at Veneto lounge in the Rialto Hotel. “One of the great resources of working downtown Victoria is my proximity to Chinatown’s Silk Road Tea shop, a veritable playground of lovely and delicate flavours.” Veneto’s star bartender Simon Ogden told me. “It’s a wellspring of new cocktail concept inspiration, and proudly local.
Silk Road has also partnered with Rogers Chocolates to create organic tea-infused chocolate bars that are available on Granville Island or in Gastown.
Read Keira’s post about Silk Road Tea over on her blog.
The North Shore mountains hide, shrouded in a grey cloud of flurries as I look out over an un-touched blanket of snow covering the West End. This morning’s snow in Metro Vancouver is still cascading from the skies as many have taken to staying indoors and bundling up. Growing up in Surrey we used to have plenty of snow days as we slid down the hill in a local park. Stuffed and suited up with arms like wool sausages, we spent hours on our old family toboggan.
As a throwback to our old snow days in Metro Vancouver, I have dug up some photos from the Surrey and Vancouver archives.
Year: 1927
In this photo: Peter Pantages (founder of the Polar Bear Club) & Miss E Robinson in the snow
Archives Item#: CVA 99-1784
Photographer: Stuart Thomson
Year: 1929
In this photo: Skiing on Grouse Mountain
Archives Item#: CVA 99-2000
Photographer: Stuart Thomson
Year: 1929
In this photo: Snow scene on Grouse Mountain
Archives Item#: CVA 99-2002
Photographer: Stuart Thomson
Year: April 1, 1936
In this photo: Hastings West of Homer, streetcar with snow-plough on front
Archives Item#: CVA 677-276.5
Year: April 1, 1936
In this photo: Granville at Pender downtown
Archives Item#: CVA 677-276.1
Year: April 1, 1936
In this photo: Pair heading to Spencer’s department store downtown
Archives Item#: CVA 677-276.3
Year: 1964
In this photo: White Rock under snow
Accession Number: SA 1992.036.3244, SA 1992.036.3245
Year: 1964
In this photo: Snow scene in Cloverdale
Accession Number: SA 1992.036.1802, SA 1992.036.1803
Tourism Surrey is promoting their many holiday activities this season by hosting a photo contest. When you visit one of their “Top Ten” suggested destinations (listed below) be sure to snap a photo and upload it for your chance to win a prize.
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Chelsea Barr from the City of Nanaimo has been promoting the city’s latest (and sweetest) attraction. She’s put together the “Nanaimo Bar Trail” in honor of the famous 3-layer chocolate dessert invented in (and named after) Nanaimo.
Normally served up in bar form with a layer of vanilla custard between a bed of coconut and a solid chocolate topper, the Nanaimo Bar is being transformed into many different creations around the city. Keira and I had the chance to explore a few of these decadent treats during our recent visit to the Harbour City.
A Wee Cupcakery
Location: 407 Fitzwilliam Street
Website: AWeeCupcakery.com
Specialty: The Nanaimo Bar Cupcake
While there were no Nanaimo Bar cupcakes on display by the time we strolled into the shop we had our pick from gluten-free creations, dark vanilla, gingerbread, and red velvet cupcakes topped with healthy dollop of sour cream icing. It’s also conveniently located just down the street from Jakeobs Ice Cream who serves up a massive Nanaimo Bar-theme ice cream sundae.
Modern Cafe
Location: 221 Commercial Street
Website: TheModernCafe.ca
Specialty: The Nanaimo Bar Martini
Vanilla vodka, creme de cacao, espresso, coconut syrup and a healthy swirl of chocolate sauce makes this super sweet martini complete. The addition of the coconut syrup and chocolate sauce really give it a Nanaimo Bar-like taste and if you’re enjoying one late in the evening, you can ask for decaf espresso.
Pirate Chips
Location: 1 Commercial Street
Website: Go Nanaimo Blog
Specialty: The Deep-Fried Nanaimo Bar
Known for their deep-fried specialties (from fish and fries to Mars bars), Pirate Chips serves up a piping hot deep-fried Nanaimo Bar coated in a light cinnamon batter. This crispy treat is melted and chewy on the inside, while it doesn’t lose the flavours from each layer of the bar.
Other stops on the tour include Mon Petit Choux for an organic version, the Nanaimo Museum for a brief history of the dessert, and Minnoz in the Coast Hotel for a Nanaimo Bar cheesecake. You can read about all of Chelsea’s recommended stops in this article she wrote for EAT Magazine or stop into one (or all) of the locations we visited this month.
Follow all articles from our girls getaway in Nanaimo and Victoria this November by viewing my Vancouver Island category.
