Vancouver Winter Farmers Markets 2017-2018

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Over 150 local farms and producers will keep the harvest rolling in this season at Vancouver Winter Farmers Markets two weekly winter markets.

Starting November 4th, these festive and family-friendly events will run rain or shine and offer Vancouver’s best source of winter produce, locally raised meat, poultry, & eggs, sustainable seafood, craft alcohol, artisanal cheese & bread, a wide mix of prepared food, wild harvested products, handmade craft, and food trucks.

Vancouver Winter Farmers Markets

NatBaileyFarmersMarket

What: Nat Bailey Winter Farmers Market
Where: 4601 Ontario St, Vancouver
When: Saturdays 10:00am to 2:00pm, November 4 – April 21 (closed December 30)

Find a selection of food trucks and hot drink vendors along with market musicians for your enjoyment. There are plenty of covered seating areas and warming stations too.

What: Hastings Park Winter Farmers Market
Where: PNE, Renfrew & Hastings, Vancouver
When: Sundays 10:00am to 2:00pm, November 5 – April 29 (closed December 24 & 31)

Hastings Park has 20+ new vendors this season – including farms, cheesemakers, craft alcohol producers, food trucks, and artisanal food producers. There is free parking for market shoppers at Gate 2 off of Renfrew St.

Other highlights of the weekly Winter Markets include live music, face painting for kids, educational activities and community programming, and a great opportunity to connect with local farmers and producers.

For more information, and to find out what’s in season, follow Vancouver Farmers Markets on Facebook and Twitter.

Fresh Prep Meal Kit Delivery Service: Win a Gift Card

Comments 109 by Rebecca Bollwitt

I fully admit that I love watching recipe videos on Facebook and Instagram, but I rarely get my act together enough to actually grocery shop, chop, and prepare those delicious-looking meals. Fresh Prep is a Vancouver-based meal kit delivery service that is dedicated to helping busy people get back in the kitchen, putting healthy and delicious dinners together in under 30 minutes. They do the prep for you, delivered right to your door!

Fresh Prep Vancouver

Fresh Prep makes easy and convenient for busy people to cook high-quality meals. They deliver meal kits to your door, keeping the ingredients fresh until you’re ready to cook. Designed by chefs and nutritionists, each kit contains pre-chopped, portioned ingredients and recipe instructions so you can cook delicious meals in 15-30 minutes with fewer dishes, and less cleanup.

How it Works

Sign up for Fresh Prep
Pick your recipes & delivery dates
Get your weekly box
Cook incredible meals in under 30 minutes!

Their produce is organic and local wherever possible and their meat is raised without unnecessary hormones or antibiotics which results in better taste. Fresh Prep meals cost roughly $10 per meal per person. This price is less than if you were to purchase all ingredients for the meals separately at the grocery store, also leaving out the convenience factor of our service.

For a quick sample/teaser, this week’s menu alone includes Shredded Chicken and Vermicelli Noodles with Peanut Sauce, Maple Glazed Salmon with Chard and Quinoa, Sweet and Spicy Sriracha Teriyaki Stir Fry with Snow Peas and Mushrooms, and more!

You only receive and pay for the ingredients you need for each meal producing less food waste. Fresh Prep is unique because they use reusable cooler bags instead of sending meals via FedEx in disposable cardboard boxes. If customers return the plastic packaging, they will properly recycle it, also reducing the environmental impact.

Enter to Win

I have a $100 credit to give away so that a lucky winner can enjoy the benefits Fresh Prep Vancouver! Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a $100 @freshprepvan gift card http://ow.ly/kXzt30geGtN #freshprepvan” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

Get inspired! Follow Fresh Prep on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, November 6, 2017.

Update The winner is Linda Webster!

4th Annual Chefs’ Charity Dinner for Dan’s Legacy

Comments 48 by Rebecca Bollwitt

On Thursday, November 16, five of Metro Vancouver’s top chefs will create exquisite culinary masterpieces for 120 guests at the 4th Annual Chefs’ Charity Dinner at the prestigious Vancouver Club. Funds raised at the gala support Dan’s Legacy’s counselling and life-skills programs for youth affected by trauma-based mental health and addictions challenges.

Chefs’ Charity Dinner

Where: The Vancouver Club (915 West Hastings)
When: Thursday, November 16, 2017 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Tickets: Individual tickets are $250, and tables of eight are $2,000. Available for purchase online or call 604-329-9186 for more information.

Hosted by Fred Lee, the gala showcases a multi-course meal specially created by Vancouver Club Head Chef Sean Cousins, working in collaboration with Dino Renaerts (Bon Vivant Catering/Hollyburn Country Club), Shay Kelly (The Caterer) and Dr. Theresa Nicassio (author of “YUM: Plant Based Recipes for a Gluten-Free Diet), and Pastry Chef Saskia Nollen (Vancouver Club), as well as students from the Coast Mental Health Culinary Skills Training Program.

Fine wine, music and a lively auction featuring a Holland America cruise, Air Canada tickets, a luxury fishing trip adventure to Moutcha Bay Lodge and much more will round out the evening. Funds raised at the gala support Dan’s Legacy’s counselling and life-skills programs for youth affected by trauma-based mental health and addictions challenges.

About Dan’s Legacy

dans-legacy-ecThe Dan’s Legacy Foundation (Dan’s Legacy) was founded in memory of a promising and vibrant young man who fell victim to a sexual predator. As is common with victims of abuse, he turned to drugs to suppress the psychological pain of the experience. Stints in rehab only provided a partial solution. What was needed was counselling support to uncover the root of his addiction. Tragically, Dan relapsed and died from an overdose. He was nineteen years old.

Dan’s Legacy provides therapeutic counselling and life-skills intervention programs to youth battling mental health and addictions issues resulting from childhood trauma and abuse. In the past three years Dan’s Legacy has helped over 150 youth meet their educational, housing and life-goals.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to the Chefs’ Charity Dinner to support this worthy cause.

Since I am unable to attend the event, I’d love the winner to be my social reporter for the night. In exchange for two tickets, and to amplify the message, the winner will be asked to post about the event live on their platform of choice (Facebook, Instagram or Twitter, minimum 1 post). If they do not have their own social media, please provide Miss604 with 1 image and a brief recap so we can tell everyone about it!

Here’s how you can enter to win the tickets:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Like or comment on this post on Facebook (1 entry)
  • Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to the @DansLegacyBC #ChefsCharityDinner http://ow.ly/wdej30gekIm” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 9:00am on Friday, November 10, 2017.

Follow Dan’s Legacy on Facebook and Twitter for more information about The Foundation and the Chefs’ Charity Dinner.

Update The winner is @SarahGoods_!

Miss604 is a proud social media partner of the Chefs’ Charity Dinner

Variety Week on Global and Variety Week Street Festival on Friday

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Variety – the Children’s Charity of BC is once again partnering with their friends at Global BC to present Variety Week. The fall campaign will run from October 30 to November 3, culminating with a live-on-location finale and street festival at Robson Square in Downtown Vancouver.

Variety Week on Global

Where: Global newscasts (morning, noon, 6:00pm)
When: Monday, October 30 to Friday, November 3, 2017

Throughout all their newscasts during the week, Global BC will feature stories, interviews and entertainment encouraging donations by showcasing the charitable work Variety BC facilitates throughout the province – ensuring children with special needs have the support needed to thrive.

“Every year there are more and more families relying on our support,” remarked Variety BC interim CEO, Cally Wesson. “Our goal for Variety Week is once again very simple: we want to help as many of these kids and families as we possibly can. The support and coverage we receive from Global BC during Variety Week is instrumental in showing audiences the need for their support and the direct impact it has on some extremely deserving children.”

Donations can be made online, by calling 310-KIDS, or texting KIDS to 45678 to make an automatic $20 contribution. Donor names will be aired on Global BC newscasts throughout the week.

Viewers will experience firsthand the difference every dollar can make to a family in need, as they are introduced to children and families who need assistance right now. These stories and victories will be updated as part of the 2018 Show of Hearts Telethon in February allowing donors to see their contributions in action.

Variety – the Children’s Charity steps in where health care ends, providing direct help to children with special needs in BC and the Yukon. For over 50 years Variety has ensured children have the support to reach their potential.

Donations can be made online, by calling 310-KIDS, or texting KIDS to 45678 to make an automatic $20 contribution. Donor names will be aired on Global BC newscasts throughout the week.

Variety Week Street Festival

Where: Robson Square (800 block Robson Street, Vancouver)
When: Stop by between 3:00pm and 7:00pm on Friday, November 3, 2017
Tickets: Not required for this FREE event! Simply join us if you can and have some fun.

See the Global BC team in action, participate in activities with some great community organizations, play games, win some prizes, enjoy food truck fare, and check out a free concert with live music from Shylo Sharity, Eli Bennett, Todd Richard, and Washboard Union.

Donations can be made online, by calling 310-KIDS, or texting KIDS to 45678 to make an automatic $20 contribution. Donor names will be aired on Global BC newscasts throughout the week.

Together, we can be there when a family needs us the most. Since 2010 Variety has distributed more than $30 million in funding to families and organizations in communities all across the province. With your help, we can raise even more!

Rebecca Bollwitt of Miss604 is a proud member of the Board of Directors of Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC.

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team vs USA: Win a VIP Prize Pack

Comments 84 by Rebecca Bollwitt

One the fiercest rivalries in women’s sport returns to Vancouver as Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team faces USA at BC Place on November 9th. This is your opportunity to cheer on Canada’s Olympic soccer heroes as the play on home soil!

Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team vs USA

When: Thursday, November 9, 2017 at 7:00pm
Where: BC Place, Vancouver
Tickets: Starting at $20, tickets are still available online.

With Canada determined to reach the top of the FIFA world rankings, the battle between the world’s top ranked USA and fifth ranked Canada is a highly anticipated match-up.

The Canadian team is coming off back-to-back Olympic Bronze Medals having won in London in 2012 and then repeated at Rio in 2016 and is led by inspirational captain and Vancouver native Christine Sinclair.

The world-number-one ranked USA side are the defending FIFA Women’s World Cup champions, having won the FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada 2015 final at BC Place.

The Canada v USA rivalry has had a number of epic moments down the years, with none larger than the 2012 London Olympics semi-final where USA beat Canada 4-3 in extra time in controversial fashion. Christine Sinclair scored three goals for Canada that day as more than 10 Million Canadians tuned in to watch the game.

Enter to Win

I have a VIP Canada Soccer prize package to give away that includes 4 BC Place Club Seats for the match and 4 Canada Soccer scarves. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Like @Miss604 and @CanadaSoccer on Facebook (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a VIP @CanadaSoccerEN prize pack to cheer on #CanWNT Nov 9 http://ow.ly/nYka30gbf0G” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, November 2, 2017. Follow Canada Women’s National Team soccer updates on Facebook and Twitter with tag #CanWNT and #CanadaRED.

Update Jodi P. is the winner!