Winter Solstice Lantern Festival 2012

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Celebrate the change of seasons on Friday December 21st on Granville Island, in South East False Creek, in Yaletown, Chinatown, and on the East Side with the Winter Solstice Lantern Festival. Presented by the Secret Lantern Society, this free family event will have lanterns, singing, dancing, and a processions through town.

Granville Island

Winter Solstice Lantern Festival 2012Starting at 4:00pm you can stop in to the False Creek Community Centre (1318 Cartwright St) to make a lantern for $10, which will just take 30 minutes. Processions will leave right at 6:00pm from three different locations: Leg-In-Boot Square, Granville Island Triangle Square, and the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.

At Leg-In-Boot Square the crowd will split, with some heading toward Granville Island and others heading east to Creekside. When the three processions meet on Granville Island they will be greeted by the traditional torch-lit Song Of Welcome by The Vancouver Morris Men. The Carnival Band and the Rhythm Spirit Drummers will combined to lead everyone over to Ron Basford Park where the Vancouver Fire Collective will weave their fiery magic and a giant fire sculpture of the rising sun lights the darkest night.

Returning to the False Creek Community Centre at 7:30pm, festivities will continue until 9:30pm with the Roma Swing Trio, music from the Carnival Band, singing from Indian Time Drum Group, and storytelling from Mind Of A Snail Puppet Co. You could also head into Performance Works on Granville Island at 7:30pm for a community dance.

South East False Creek

Starting at 4:00pm you can stop into the Creekside Community Centre (1 Athletes Way) to make a lantern for $10, which will just take 30 minutes. The procession will leave at 6:00pm from Leg-In-Boot Square and return to Creekside for more festivities at 7:00pm until 10:00pm. Hot chocolate, live music, stories from Lost And Found Puppet Company, and more.

Yaletown

Starting at 4:00pm you can stop into the Roundhouse Community Centre (181 Roundhouse Mews) to make a lantern for $10, which will just take 30 minutes. Processions will set out from three locations: Cooper’s Park, Emery Barnes Park, and the Vancouver Aquatic Centre. Lead by the drums of Tege Fo Collective along the seawall as well as through historic Yaletown, the processions will converge in David Lam Park where they will be welcomed with a spectacular fire performance by Fire Tribe.

Head back inside at the Roundhouse from 7:00pm to 10:00pm for live music, dancing, drumming, lantern creations, stories, and more. Sit beneath the giant Tree of Life in the Secret Lantern Garden, enter the realm of myth and legend in a fabric and light installation created by Heather Jones with Zee Kesler, or be entranced by the aerial dance of Kira Schaffer and Colleen Yuen of Firebelly Performance Society. From Russian gypsy musicians and dancers to traditional English folk dances of the Tiddley Cove Morris. It will be a grand celebration.

Tonight in Vancouver: The 17th Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Photo credit: [travelfox] on Flickr

18th Annual Winter Solstice Lantern Festival at the Vancouver Chinese Garden Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
Photo credit: vancouver4life.com & mountainhiker on Flickr

Chinatown

Starting at 4:00pm you can stop into the Strathcona Community Centre (601 Keefer St) to make a lantern for $10, which will just take 30 minutes. The procession will head out from the Strathcona Community Centre at 6:00pm with Russell Shumsky & Friends on the drums, winding through the streets of Strathcona and ending up at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. Festivities will continue until 10:00pm with drummers, stories, a choral performance by The Real Treble Makers, and raise your spirits in the Winter Solstice Music Ceilidh featuring Toddish McWong and the Black Bear Rebels & Friends.

East Side

The evening begins in three neighbourhood homes that will have lanterns and performers before processions head out. 2256 Parker St (lantern workshop, with music by Savoir Faire), 2257 Parker St (music by Taryn the Tailor), 2162 Parker St (music and shadow puppetry by Erica Mah + the Sargasso Season). Tickets are required for these shows and they have sold out in the past. Email info[at]inthehousefestival.com to pre-register for the show or workshop you would like to attend.

Immediately after these house concerts follow the wild Roma-influenced music of Orkestar Slivovica as they lead you in a procession down Parker Street, straight to the Britannia courtyard for more music, hot chocolate and the on-going Labyrinth of Light. Events at the Britannia Community Centre (1661 Napier St) are free for the whole family. From 6:00pm to 10:00pm you can enjoy the lanterns, dance, sing, and be entertained.

Labyrinths of Light will only be at the East Side and Yaletown events this year.

Labyrinth of Light - 2011 Winter Solstice Lantern Festival
Photo credit: eych-you-bee-ee-ahr-tee on Flickr

The Secret Lantern Society reveals details about the event every now and then on their website, keeping a bit of mystery going until the very day. Donations for the society are accepted at all events.

Holiday Ice Skating in Vancouver

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

We’re bundling up with our coats and scarves as the local mountains continue to get sprinkled with fresh powder – winter is most definitely here this week! A popular family activity is to lace up the skates and enjoy an afternoon at the local ice rink (perhaps followed up with a cup or two of hot chocolate). The Vancouver Park Board has plenty of skating options over the holidays including a few rinks that are even open on Christmas Day.

Skating Bench Monday Fun and Games
Photo credit: {Karina} & Chiot’s Run on Flickr

Holiday Family Skating December 22-28, 2012

Sunset Rink: Open Saturday December 22nd from 2:00pm to 3:00pm for family skate and 3:15pm to 4:15pm for public skate. Open Sunday December 23rd for public skate from 2:00pm to 3:15pm and family skate from 4:30pm to 5:30pm. Closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day. Open Thursday December 27th from 3:00pm to 4:15pm for Low Cost Skate. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

The Commercial Drive Coffee Company: Coffee Giveaway

Comments 163 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Commercial Drive Coffee Company popped onto my radar just a short time ago when they supplied the complimentary coffee at my London Drugs book signing event — and I’m very glad that they did. Roasted in East Vancouver, they have signature Vancouver-themed coffee styles that include:

  • The Drive Espresso: “A smooth, low acidity, European style blend. Great to drink as a short or long espresso. It will leave a great taste in your mouth.”
  • Grandview Medium Roast: “A medium roasted coffee blend with a smooth flavour that still carries a full bodied cup of coffee.”
  • The Continental Medium Roast: “A medium roast coffee, with history. To support local business on the drive, CDCC partnered up with Continental Coffee for this particular blend. Continental Coffee has been on the drive for over 30 years at 1806 Commercial Drive and is an essential part of the drive’s coffee culture.”
  • Park Drive Dark Roast: “A dark roast coffee blend full of body and flavour.”

Vancouver is one coffee-loving city so the Commercial Drive Coffee Company has offered to supply one lucky Miss604 reader with coffee for a year. They will be awarding 26 coupons that can each be redeemed for a bag of coffee at at London Drugs locations. That’s 2 bags of coffee a month! Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a year’s supply of @TheDriveCoffee from @londondrugs & @Miss604 http://ow.ly/gaCi0

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on Friday, December 21, 2012. Follow the Commercial Drive Coffee Company on Facebook and Twitter to learn more about their roasts, where to buy, and what community event they’ll attend next.

Update The winner is Roberta! (comment December 17)

Vancouver History: Abbott House

Comments 2 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Nestled between the residential towers of the West End you can spot a few heritage houses that have endured for decades. Some converted to apartments or businesses, others preserved in time like Roedde House. One that sticks out, with no other heritage houses remaining in its immediate vicinity, is Abbott House at 720 Jervis Street between West Georgia and Alberni.

Abbott House
Photo credit: Clayton Perry Photoworks on Flickr

The rich built their homes on the bluff above Coal Harbour where Morton had built his cabin. West of Burrard, Hastings turned into Seaton Street, which was known as Blueblood Alley. But the bluebloods soon left for the West End, and then Shaughnessy. Only one Blueblood Alley mansion remains, Henry Abbott’s home at 720 Jervis. [Vancouver Sun]

720jervis
1960 – West Georgia and Jervis. Archives item# Air P91.

Henry Braithwaite Abbott (same namesake as Abbott Street) had his house built in 1899. He was an executive with the CPR who was present in Craigellachie, BC when the last spike was hammered in to complete Canada’s first transcontinental railroad. He was also on the first train from Montreal to Port Moody with Lord Strathcona [source: Vancouver History].

Abbott House, 720 Jervis
Photo credit: nonstopdesign on Flickr

The house (now painted “CPR Red”) has undergone transformations over the years, it was even the original home of the Elbow Room Cafe until 1996. If you do a search for its address you’ll find that it has apartments which are a part of the Residences on Georgia development.

Edible Canada at Granville Island

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt
Disclosure: Review — This is not a paid post. Our meal was compliments of Edible Canada. We made our own purchases in the retail store. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.

Edible Canada on Granville Island combines a bistro with a retail store that is packed with the best permanent selection of local and artisan ingredients around.

If you’ve ever wondered what “Canadian Cuisine” entails, look no further than the Edible Canada bistro menu. Keira and I stopped in yesterday, enjoying individual french press coffees and two items from the brunch menu. I had the standard Edible Canada Breakfast (scrambled free range eggs, Sloping Hills pork & apple sausage, double smoked bacon, smoked tomatoes, crispy duck fat fried hashbrowns, fresh herbs – $12) and Keira couldn’t enough of her Wild Mushroom Benny (spinach, thyme, Sea to Sky mushroom salt, citrus hollandaise, salad – $13).

Edible Canada at Granville Island Edible Canada at Granville Island Edible Canada at Granville Island

She hesitated asking about a gluten-free option but the server said they have gluten-free bread, which she was easily allowed to substitute. In fact about half of the menu is gluten-free, including options like Fiore Farms Ham and Eggs (house cured ham, two sunny side up free-range eggs, bacon hash, grilled green onions, pork jus – $15) and lunch items like the Roasted Winter Beet Salad (Okanagan pears, Agassiz hazelnuts, Happy Day’s goat cheese, orange shallot & thyme vinaigrette – $11/$16) or Yarrow Meadows Duck Poutine (shredded duck leg, cheese curds, duck fat frites, two sunny side up free-range eggs, Sea to Sky bacon salt – $16).

Edible Canada at Granville Island

After our meal we exited through the retail shop, but not before spending a good 20 minutes picking out gift items and sampling some amazing bourbon barrel-aged syrup. The staff was friendly and helpful, naming the gentleman who carved hand-crafted wood bowls from Cowichan or explaining the origin of the local cranberry marmalade. I realized that many of the places I’ve visited over the last few years (in the Cowichan valley or on the Langley or Harrison/Agassiz Circle Farm Tour) had items for sale in the Edible Canada retail store. Venturi-Schulze balsamic vinegar, Cocoa Nymph chocolate bars, Vista D’Oro preserves, Earnest Ice Cream, Erin Ireland’s Banana Bread, and much more.

Edible Canada at Granville Island Edible Canada at Granville Island

Edible Canada at Granville Island

Pick out distinctly “British Columbia” ingredients for your own cooking and baking, or put together a gift basket with items like rose petal scone mix, lavender sea salt, and chocolate mint tea from Salt Spring Island. Top Products are listed online and you can search for jams, jellies, oils, vinegars, crackers, sauces, cereals, syrups, nuts, seafood, candy, and more.

Edible Canada at Granville Island Edible Canada at Granville Island

Edible Canada at Granville Island Edible Canada at Granville Island

Edible Canada at Granville Island Edible Canada at Granville Island

Edible Canada at Granville Island

Stop by Edible Canada on Granville Island at #212-1551 Johnston St (across from the Net Loft and kitty corner to the market). Follow them on Twitter and Facebook for more product information, special events, and promotions.