Archive for April, 2010
Slopestyle Summer
I know we’re barely half-way through Spring, but with my closet quickly filling up with breezy dresses and my snowboard delegated to dust collecting duty, it’s safe to say that Summer can’t come quickly enough. Most mountains around BC are keeping their fingers crossed that this season’s snow will melt in time for the sunny months, though no mountain more than Mount Washington Alpine Resort. With a base of more than 600cm (yes, even to this minute), mountain bikers could be in for a surprise come June.
Here’s hoping the white stuff takes a hike sooner than later because this girl’s favourite mountain has a whole pile of exciting events planned for those sunny days that never end, with the extensive mountain bike terrain park and scenic lifts set to re-open on Saturday, June 19, 2010. Here’s a quick run-down of what you need to mark on your calendar:
Father’s Day
Beerfest 2010
The Big Day Up
See Jane Jump Women’s Mountain Bike Festival
Alpine Wine Festival
With Summer sunshine comes the much-dreaded HST. Stick it to the man and buy your 2010/2011 alpine or nordic season pass by the end of April and skip the extra tax. Early bird mountain bike passes are currently on sale for $250. Visit Mount Washington Alpine Resort’s official website for more information on these and other great events and offers. Sunday, June 20th
Take in a view to a thrill and bring the whole family – dads ride the mile-high lift to the top for free!Friday, July 9th from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Beer enthusiasts will assemble at the Raven Lodge for unlimited samplings, a souvenir beer glass and some good old fashioned rock and roll. Tickets sell for $30 each; must be 19+ years to attend.
[visit the website for more information]Saturday, July 17th from 2:00 p.m. – 1:00 a.m.
Cumberland Village Works presents a tasty preview to The Big Time Out, high above the Comox Valley. This day-long music festival features The Cat Empire, Daniel Wesley and much more exciting entertainment to be announced soon.
[visit the official website for more information]August 21-22, 2010
This two-day inaugural event has been designed to bring chicas of all skill levels to this alpine paradise for a weekend of riding, coaching, eating, drinking and relaxing.
[visit the official website for more information]Friday, August 6th from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
There’s nothing I look forward to more each Summer at the mountain than the Alpine Wine Festival. High class meets high altitude as wine connoisseurs and grasshoppers alike meet at the Raven Lodge, set against breathtaking mountains, to sample of the best wines that BC and the world have to offer. Tickets sell for $30 each; must be 19+ years to attend.
[visit the website for more information]
Sunshine On A Cloudy Day
One of my daily must-visit sites around the Web is Flickr. I’m always curious to see the photos that my friends and contacts are coming up with and how they document their experiences.
Some photos, however, are extraordinarily interesting and certainly warrant a “favourite” status. To beat the overcast blues on this gray Monday I thought I’d share with you a handful of my most-loved snapshots from other Flickr members.
Photo: brock_saucy on Flickr (used with permission)
Photo: John Bollwitt on Flickr (used with permission)
Photo: satosphere
Photo: justthisguyyouknow on Flickr
Photo: miss604 on Flickr
Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr (used with permission)
Photo:Liam Higgins on Flickr
Photo: Dennis Leidelmeijer on Flickr
Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr (used with permission)
Photo: Alex Dram on Flickr
Photo: kk+ on Flickr
Photo: /3 on Flickr
Many of the photos within my favourites collection are marked All Rights Reserved and therefore cannot be shared on my blog. The rest of the photos in my favourites collection can be viewed here.
Flip Camera And AXE Gear Giveaway
If I’m honest with myself, there are very few experiences in life I’d do differently if given the opportunity. Some are minor blips and some adventures can only be described as memorably epic. Even wine-induced shenanigans with girlfriends are almost always worth the less-than-stellar feeling the morning after.
It’s the little stepping stones along the way that have created my character. The people I’ve met, the places I’ve seen, the bad days I’ve survived, the parties I wish I could forget and the scandalous parties I wished would never end… they’ve all been anthems for this girl. No single experience has epitomized me but I eagerly anticipate all the ones that are to come.
As my life-long dream trip to New York City quickly approaches, I’m really excited to be capturing the journey not only through photos and memories, but also to immortalize the vacation with my brand new Flip MinoHD camera. Lucky for you I have an extra one to give away to a reader.
AXE has become synonymous for fixing guys up no matter what goes down each day. Their complete line of body washes and body sprays combine gentle ingredients with yummy scents to transform, revitalize and invigorate. Thanks to the great people at AXE, you’ve got a chance to win an armful of select products and your very own gorgeous Flip MinoHD camera – valued at $249.99!
Ladies and gentlemen, here’s your chance to capture your next wild time in HD video:
Yes, it’s that simple. You can always check out the AXE Canada Anthem for a little bit of inspiration. The contest closes on Friday, April 30. I’ll choose one reader’s story at random and the Flip camera and AXE gear is theirs!
Disclaimer: I was not paid or obligated to hold this contest. I did, however, receive my Flip MinoHD camera at no cost. Chances of winning dependent on the number of entries.
365 Days And 1,460 Kisses
Jordy – Also known as: J-Man, My Foxy Little Man, Love Muffin, J, Lil’ J, J-Fresh, Buddy, Sweetpea, Mister, Jords, Monster, Little Monkey
His ears were pasted back on his head, his fur dull and coarse and tremendous fear reflected in his eyes. The photo I saw of Jordy on his adoption profile was accompanied with the label “high anxiety” and he had enormous emotional issues, mainly because he’d been re-homed a half-dozen times in only three short years. There was something about him that I couldn’t get out of my head, and I found myself visiting his online profile numerous times each day until I finally decided to bite the bullet and submit an application form for adoption.
The response e-mail I received informed me that several other applications for Jordy were pending, but that it wasn’t a first-come, first-served basis. Jordy would go to the person best suited for him, so I applied anyway. As luck would have it, the other applications were never fully processed and after nearly six weeks of filling out forms, reference checks, phone interviews and a home visit, I was finally invited to meet Jordy at his foster home in Duncan.
He was nothing more than a dark silhouette on a landing who refused to come downstairs when I walked in the home. He was the typical sad orphan in the corner who wasn’t playing or interacting with the other foster dogs and it broke my heart. However, after more than an hour spent together and a walk in the woods, Jordy warmed up to me considerably – and more than any other prospective adopting “parent” that had previously met him. I decided that I wanted to go through with the adoption and, one week later, returned with my mom and Rebecca to bring him home.
That was one year ago today and I can’t begin to tell you the difference a year makes. Back then he truly was the high anxiety dog he’d been labeled as, was constantly panting and breathing rapidly – even in his sleep. Though he was house-trained, it took close to four months to find a routine that stopped him from marking inside. Taking him to the dog park or asking him to shake a paw would elicit nothing more than a blank stare.
Today he’s happy, bouncing, relaxed, sweet-mannered, loves to destroy his toys and his treats, interacts and plays with other dogs at the dog park, gets excited over having sleep-over vacations with my mom and aunt, knows more than his share of tricks and is as lazy as a teenager when it comes to sleeping. Seeing the progress this formerly neglected dog has made truly warms my heart a hundred times over every single day, even if just in the way he greets me with cuddles and kisses every time I walk through the front door.
Today we’re celebrating one year together, coinciding with his fourth birthday. I couldn’t imagine my days without him around.
If you’re considering bringing a dog into your home, please first consider the immense undertaking of time and potential expense involved. Second, I strongly encourage you to explore adoption options from either your area SPCA or a local adoption/rescue agency. Jordy was adopted from Furever After Small Dog Rescue in Qualicum Beach. Supporting pet stores and breeders will only contribute to a nation-wide pet population epidemic, while there are hundreds of dogs across BC that are amazing, wonderful and crave nothing more than a warm, loving home.
Island Profile: Ucluelet
If Tofino was a superhero, Ucluelet would be its trusty sidekick – the one that does all the heavy lifting without taking much credit. While Tofino is beautiful in its own right, on the opposite stretch of sand that is the Pacific Rim National Park lies the sleepy town of Ucluelet – affectionately known as “Ukie” by Islanders.
Photo: Karl McCabe on Flickr
Slightly more than 100 kilometres west of Port Alberni on Highway 4, Ucluelet is the district municipality you’ll find if you steer south at the West Coast junction. Home to a tight-knit population of less than 2,000, this much less discovered community boasts more than a few unique bragging rights.
Map: Google Maps
While it’s thought that First Nations inhabited the West Coast of Vancouver Island for more than 4,300 years, Ucluelet wasn’t discovered by European explorers until 1787 when Charles William Barkley (the explorer that Barkley Sound was named for) arrived in search of pelts. Settlement was extremely slow in the area and nearly 100 years passed before Ucluelet was established as a trading post. Ucluelet would have to wait another 100 years before infrastructure such as churches and schools began to spring up.
Photo: revertebrate on Flickr
Photo: riacale on Flickr
Ucluelet’s culture is largely governed by the presence of the Yu-cluth-aht tribe, meaning “people of the safe landing place” or “people of the safe harbour”. The historical roots of Ucluelet dictate that the area has relied heavily on the fishing and logging industries to stay financially afloat. The same is true of the town’s population today, as most of its proudly hardworking residents deem these industries essential for survival.
Photo: magictoken on Flickr
Photo: quaelin on Flickr
Mother Nature is wild and unpredictable and this is especially recognized by residents of Ucluelet. Treated to an annual storm season, the thrashing ocean is both a sight to behold and a volatile force waiting to be unleashed. As such, Ucluelet is home to both the Amphitrite Lighthouse and acts as a key base for the Canadian Coast Guard.
Photos: san paco martire on Flickr; gabindu on Flickr
Photo: Loutron Glouton on Flickr
This community’s beauty is found not only in its natural expanses, but also in the charm and humour lining quiet streets and safe harbours.
Photo: roaming-the-planet on Flickr
Photo: Choconancy1 on Flickr
Ucluelet is also the home of furry and feathered dwellers including deer, whales, bald eagles, black bears, seals, sea lions, cougars and ocean-loving birds. Controversy brewed last summer after CBC News reported that the BC Environment Ministry was concerned over the welfare of a black-tailed deer named Bimbo that had been living with a Ucluelet woman as her pet for five years. The woman was ordered to release the deer or turn it over to a rehabilitation centre.
Those interested in a more in-depth look at the creatures of the local sea can visit the Ucluelet Aquarium [website] near the government dock on the waterfront.
Photo: Dave Bezaire & Susi Havens-Bezaire on Flickr
Photos: Yogue_style on Flickr
With its pristine beaches, jaggedly striking escarpments and toasty sunshine, it’s no surprise that tourism is rapidly becoming a vital component to Ucluelet. Visitors can occupy their time with any number of activities, not limited to hiking, surfing, fine dining, beachcombing, kayaking, fishing, relaxing at the spa and wildlife watching. Golf fanatics will be in seventh heaven as a Jack Niklaus Signature Golf Course is being developed – albeit controversially – to cover 220 acres at Wyndansea on the north end of town.
Photo: busysignals on Flickr
Photo: basic__sounds on Flickr
A lot of people tend to gently tease me for my ceaseless love for any and all things Vancouver Island, but it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why it causes my heart to skip a beat. The extraordinary beauty is simply breathtaking and the sense of tranquility is inescapable. The air really is different on the other side of the Georgia Strait.
Photo: Yogue_style on Flickr
Photo: the PhotoPhreak on Flickr
For more information on visiting this quaint jewel of the West Coast, please visit the Ucluelet Chamber of Commerce [website].
So This Is What A Fever Feels Like…
…of the playoff variety.
Growing up in a house with a hockey-hungry dad and an equally Canuck-crazy brother, one would assume that playoff insanity is nothing new for this girl. The Vancouver Canucks are BC’s team and there’s absolutely no team I’d rather see bring home the Stanley Cup. However, that said, I must admit that any excitement I’ve felt, any enthusiasm I’ve displayed and any cheering I have directed toward the Canucks has been of the bandwagon variety. I’m a fickle fan and will be the first to admit it. Perhaps it’s because of this that playoff fever had never struck me down and got me hot.
That is, however, until now. Before I discovered the Phoenix Suns and how thrilling NBA basketball is for me, I never had a “thing”. Everyone has that one “thing” they get excited and passionate about and any “thing” that I’d ever pursued simply waned as I went along. Not so in this case, and today I find myself gearing up for my first playoff season as a bona fide, blissed out, babelicious fan. Like the Vancouver Canucks, my beloved Suns have grabbed third seed in the Western Conference (much to the surprise of many).
Tonight the puck drops at GM Place between the Canucks and the LA Kings, and we’re three sleeps away from a first-round tip off between the Suns and the Portland Trail Blazers on home turf. No matter which sport is yours or which team you’re cheering on, playoff season is bound to be anything but dull. So to you and your boys, whichever boys they may be, this Gatorade’s for you.
Good luck and game on!
Harlem Globetrotters Update
Unfortunately, it appears that the Harlem Globetrotters‘ game and exhibition scheduled for this coming Saturday, April 17, 2010 at General Motors Place is now nothing more than a hoop dream. Due to a scheduling conflict, the event has been canceled and will not be rescheduled during their 2010 North American Tour.
Photo: alexkess on Flickr
In a press release I received this morning, the Globetrotters confirm that they will instead be playing a matinee game at 3:00 p.m. on April 17th at the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Complex in the Fraser Valley. Their regularly scheduled game will go ahead on Sunday, April 18th at 2:00 p.m. as planned. Unfortunately, tickets purchased for the event at GM Place cannot be honoured in Abbotsford. Ticketmaster will be automatically crediting those who purchased tickets online or by phone within five business days; ticket holders who made purchases in person can get a refund at the point of purchase as of this Friday.
I want to thank all my enthusiastic readers and Twitter followers for their entries in the contest to win tickets to the Harlem Globetrotters game and offer my sincerest apologies. The Harlem Globetrotters will eventually make their way to GM Place in Vancouver on their 2011 North American Tour with dates to be announced this Fall. Stay tuned as I hope to provide this exciting contest to you again at that time!
Farmers’ Markets On Vancouver Island
With endless blue skies, sunshine and warm weekends in the near future, various farmers’ markets across Vancouver Island are gearing up for another deliciously successful season.
Quickly becoming internationally renowned for its artisan cheeses, homegrown bakeries, decadent table and dessert wines, jams, fresh eggs, organic fruits, sweet honey and lavender, Vancouver Island is a virtual paradise for “foodies”. From the North Island to the Gulf Islands to the Capital Region, there are delicacies waiting for everyone.
Photo: Nomade Moderne on Flickr
Campbell River Pier Street Farmers’ Market
- Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Maritime Heritage Centre – 621 North Island Highway
[website]
Cedar Farmers’ Market
Colwood Farmers’ Market Comox Valley Farmers’ Market Coombs Old Country Market Denman Island Farmers’ Market Downtown Duncan Farmers’ Market Errington Farmers’ Market Gold River Farmers’ Market Hornby Island Farmers’ Market James Bay Community Market (Victoria) Nanaimo Downtown Farmers’ Market Port Alberni Farmers’ Market Quadra Island Farmers’ Market & Bazaar Qualicum Beach Farmers’ Market Salt Spring Island’s Saturday Market Sayward Summer Sunday Market Sidney Summer Market Sooke Country Market Tofino Public Market Many markets open in April, some in May and a few not until June. Check the websites for more specific information. If you know of another great farmers’ market on the Island not listed above, please feel free to add it in the comments! Get outside, enjoy the bounty our Island has to offer, and don’t forget your SPF and reusable shopping bags!Sundays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
2313 Yellow Point Road
[website not available]Wednesdays from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre – 1767 Island Highway
[website]Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds – 4835 Headquarters Road
[website]Open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Highway 4A between Parksville and Port Alberni.
[website]Saturday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Recycling Centre at Marcus Isbister Old School Centre on Denman Road
[website not available]Saturday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Corner of Lois Lane and Craig Street in downtown Duncan
[website]Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
1390 Errington Road
[website]Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location to be determined – Contact Christine O’Neil with community input and feedback
[website]Saturdays and Wednesdays from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Hornby Island Community Hall – corner of Central Road and Sollans Road
[website]Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Corner of Menzies Street and Superior Street
[website]Fridays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Pioneer Waterfront Plaza on Front Street
[website]Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Foot of Argyle Street at Harbour Quay
[website]Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Quathiaski Cove – West Road
[website]Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Corner of First Street and Memorial Avenue in downtown Qualicum Beach
[website]Saturdays from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (rain or shine)
Centennial Park in the town of Ganges
[website]
Sundays from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Sayward Heritage Community Hall – 1257 Sayward Road
[website]Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
Beacon Avenue (closed to vehicular traffic)
[website not available]Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
2047 Otter Point Road
[website]Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Village Green – Corner of Third Street and Campbell Street
[website not available]
This Girl Takes The Cake – Literally
Anyone that found themselves on the south coast of British Columbia last Friday – and particularly on the eastern shores of Vancouver Island – was glaringly aware of the dazzling display of weather Mother Nature put on for us all. After a late night on Thursday, I found myself up at the crack of dawn to fight for a seat on an early morning bus to Horseshoe Bay in hopes of grabbing a sailing before the winds really whipped up.
Photo: ecstaticist on Flickr
I arrived at the terminal just before 8:00 a.m., boarded the vessel around 20 after eight and didn’t set sail until a few minutes past 10:00 a.m. Because of the inclement weather, the ferry needed to sail close to UBC and then cut north up the channel, finally arriving in Nanaimo shortly before 12:30.
Surprisingly, the ride was hardly rough or bumpy at all and nothing like I’m sure the Texada Island ferry passengers were experiencing. Lucky for me that I dragged my butt out of bed as early as I did. All subsequent sailings were canceled that day and I had a very important reason to get home.
After 365 days of smiling, giggling, turning over, crawling, clapping, burping, crying and winning over countless hearts with her bright blue eyes, my niece Sienna was celebrating her first birthday. We had a small gathering of family and a couple friends on hand for a BBQ and some birthday cake amongst Tinkerbell decorations.
It’s every baby’s right of passage to savour an over-sized slice of cake smothered in frosting when they turn one. Sienna wasted no time in doing so.
A little unsure of what to think at first, once she got a taste for the chocolate there was no turning back.
And if one cake wasn’t enough, I managed to re-create my chocolate fudge layer cake for Easter dinner’s dessert on the next night.
By then it seemed she had the process down pat.
Being a kid is exhausting work, but someone’s gotta do it, right?
John Mayer – Battle Studies At GM Place
Music history is filled with musicians who play the guitar well but only a few who can be considered legendary masters of the instrument. Whatever your opinion of John Mayer may or may not be, he is one of the legendary few.
On April 1 he brought his Battle Studies 2010 World Tour to GM Place in Vancouver, and Andrea and I were some of the first few to lock in our tickets for the evening.
The show opened with a fan favourite from 2009′s Battle Studies record, “Heartbreak Warfare”, a song laced with the logistics of love.
Supported by both new players and long-time bandmates Steve Jordan (who treated us to an incredible drum solo) and David Ryan Harris on the guitar, Mayer has managed to bring a well-balanced rock show to the crowd.
It isn’t often I find myself at a concert that’s enjoyable the entire way through, but that can’t be said of the Battle Studies show. Treating us to samples from his entire catalogue, some of John’s highlights included “Good Love Is On The Way”, “Vultures” and “Why Georgia”.
Never one to shy away from having fun on stage, John sparked the crowd with inspired covers of Bill Withers’ “Ain’t No Sunshine” and Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”.
It’s hard to ignore controversy surrounding any celebrity in the spotlight, but after expressing regrets for his candid nature in a Playboy interview earlier this year, John claimed he just wanted to keep his mouth shut and play his guitar. And that, my friends, is simply what he did… and might I add, quite beautifully. The man can drop humour like the best of them, but jamming out with us what he came to Vancouver to do.
Some experiences in life feel like nothing more than dreams when basking in the afterglow. Never is that more true of experiences with music, an element that has the power to relate to all of us. I have a lot of gratitude for John Mayer’s music and the personal impact its had on my life since his first release.
Many moments in our lives are defined by a note or a song. It just so happens that many of my defining moments have been shaped in some way by this one man’s craft.
