Surrey Marathon 2013: New Course

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Registration is now open for the Surrey International World Music Marathon happening September 29th, 2013. In its first year the marathon welcomed thousands of marathon, half-marathon, 5km, marathon relay, and half-relay participants including the world’s oldest marathon runner Fauja Singh (at age 101).

For its second year, this Boston Marathon qualifier is getting a new course with over 20km of greenways along the route, maximizing the scenic roads and pathways of Green Timbers Urban Forest.

course-map-2013

The run will start and finish from the Surrey’s City Centre and from the front door of Central City Shopping Centre and Simon Fraser University. Runners will make their way through well-established residential neighbourhoods and most of the route will be closed to traffic, accommodating Cultural Miles (with world music) and aid stations.

Register soon to take advantage of the lowest rates possible. Follow the Surrey Marathon on Facebook and Twitter for the lastest information.

A Loving Spoonful CandyGram For Valentine’s Day 2013

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Surprise a special someone this Valentine’s Day by ordering them a CandyGram from A Loving Spoonful that will show you care about them and this great local cause.

candygram-2013-header

Order your CandyGram now for only $10 online and it can be sent anywhere in Canada (when booked by February 6th for Eastern Canada and February 8th for Western Canada). Select one of 150 creative messages to accompany your CandyGram that will include two delicious Purdy’s chocolates, Yelpstick lip balm, fresh mints in a stylish tin from Yelp, and a Shamin Jewelers’ love bracelet (unisex) — a $27 value.

All funds generated by CandyGrams will be used to provide meals for men, women and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Follow A Loving Spoonful on Facebook and Twitter (tag: #candygram) for more information.

A Loving Spoonful is a volunteer-driven, non-partisan society that provides free, nutritious meals to people living with HIV/AIDS in Greater Vancouver. Every week, all year round for over 19 years, our volunteers deliver approximately 1200 frozen meals and over 250 snack packs to men, women and children who are primarily homebound with AIDS.

Billy Elliot the Musical Vancouver Pre-Sale Code

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Broadway Across Canada presents Billy Elliot the Musical in Vancouver this April. Based on the international smash-hit film, this musical has a cast of 45 and a Tony® Award-winning creative team that includes Director Stephen Daldry, Choreographer Peter Darling and Writer Lee Hall along with the music of Sir Elton John.

billyelliotmusical
Photo courtesy of Broadway Across Canada.

Billy Elliot the Musical is the joyous celebration of one boy’s journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a surprising passion that inspires his family and his whole community. A big musical with an even bigger heart, Billy Elliot the Musical will enchant the dreamer in all of us.

Billy Elliot the Musical will be at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from April 2nd to 7th, 2013. I have a pre-sale code for tickets that opened up this morning that will be valid until Sunday, January 20, 2013. Visit this Ticketmaster link and used the code: DREAMS.

Archive Photos of the Day: Snowy Streets

Comments 2 by Rebecca Bollwitt

When the rest of Metro Vancouver is blanketed with centimeters of snow you’ll often find the streets bare or covered in slush downtown. Our snow build-up doesn’t usually compare to other parts of the region but that wasn’t always the case. I found a few frosty photos from the Vancouver Public Library archives that show a very snow-covered downtown Vancouver.


1909 – Granville at Hastings
VPL Accession Number: 7135
Photographer: Philip Timms


1916 – Robson and Thurlow
VPL Accession Number: 8302
Photographer: Philip Timms


1916 – Robson Street
VPL Accession Number: 8301
Photographer: Philip Timms


1916 – Granville Street
VPL Accession Number: 8303
Photographer: Philip Timms


1954 – Pender and Seymour
VPL Accession Number: 82437
Photographer / Studio: Artray


1971 – Robson and Burrard
VPL Accession Number: 9600M
Photographer: W. Roozeboom

Dine Out Vancouver 2013: Dine With Amex

Comments 2 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Dine Out Vancouver sponsored by American Express Canada and presented by Tourism Vancouver is now in its 11th year and is the largest dine out celebration in Canada. Great deals, great food, and your choice of great local restaurants.

dinewitamex

Running from January 18, 2013 to February 3, 2018 Vancouver-area diners can select from hundreds of local restaurants which will each offer up a set-price ($18, $28, or $38) multi-course menu. You might be trying something new or sampling your regular selection of courses from a favourite restaurant.

The menus for each establishment were posted in early January and each have pairing options for BC wines or Granville Island Beer. You can search menus based on price, neighbourhood, and even vegetarian or gluten-free options. Reservations are now being accepted at all participating restaurants so you’ll want to make your move as popular spaces are booking up quickly.

Dine Out Vancouver Events

American Express and Dine Out Vancouver love to bring exciting dining events to life, and throughout the festival there will be ticketed events like cocktail tours, wine and beer pairings, and the street food market. Some are already sold out but you can still get tickets to Best Eats of the East Village, Ravioli and Wine, Breakfast with the Masters at the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Secret Supper Soirees, and many more.

I did the Secret Supper Soiree in 2011 that combined a tour of unique and historic places in Vancouver with delectable bites of food along the way. Each stop is a secret so you won’t know your adventure until you’re living (and tasting) it.

Hotel room and dining packages are also available (from $78, $108, and $138) so that you can make a full night out of your Dine Out Vancouver experience.

Getting Social

One of the best parts of Dine Out is that your meal becomes even more social. Everyone’s talking about their menu selections, sampling from others, and of course taking photos and sharing them online.

I have partnered with the Premiere Sponsor, American Express Canada, to offer up some unique coverage of Dine Out Vancouver including details of a special dinner I’ll be hosting with some friends at L’Abattoir January 23rd.

Labattoir2
Photo courtesy of L’Abattoir – Photographer: Laura Leyshon

Previously we have stayed in the West End and Yaletown for Dine Out but decided to go with Gastown this time around. The neighbourhood has such character and we’ve only ever been to L’Abattoir’s space when it was occupied by the Irish Heather. Last year L’Abattoir was voted the Best New Restaurant in Gastown and EnRoute Magazine name it one of Canada’s Best New Restaurants in 2011 so we can’t wait to see the change. We’re looking forward to going a little upscale and sampling some creations from award-winning bartender Shaun Layton. My guests and I will be posting updates on Twitter and Instagram using the #DineWithAmex hashtag.

Festival-goers can also get social and enter the American Express Canada #DineWithAmex contest on Facebook for the chance to win one of ten $100 American Express Gift Cards. Simply Instagram your Dine Out meals and upload them with the hashtag #DineWithAmex. Then visit DineWithAmex.ca to find the URL of your Instagram photo and submit your food photo entry. You can enter up to three times between January 18th and February 3rd for a chance to win.

Special Offer for Amex Cardmembers

Canadian cardmembers can earn a $20 American Express Statement Credit by being by being one of 5,000 to register your eligible American Express Card by February 3rd (at DineWithAmex.ca) and using your Amex card at three separate Dine Out Vancouver restaurants.

Try something new or visit an old favourite and support local eateries. Be sure to make your reservations now so that you can experience these great deals during the festival.

Follow all updates and information about Dine Out Vancouver by tracking the tags #DOVF and #DineWithAmex on Twitter and by following @DineOutVan and @AmexCanada on Twitter.

This post is sponsored by American Express Canada in partnership with Miss604 and Dine Out Vancouver.