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Being that I’m coming to you this morning from somewhere along I-5 between Vancouver, BC and Portland, Oregon, mentioning Girls Rock Camp seems only appropriate. Nearly a decade ago, the Portland State University Campus launched a summer camp for female youth aged 8-18 interested in rocking and rolling. Since 2001 it’s turned into a year-round, nation-wide program.

Photo: Girls Rock Camp Vancouver

Aimed at encouraging self esteem in girls and young women, Girls Rock Camp is a non-profit group that teaches music writing, singing and instrument lessons through workshops and hands-on training. The girls are supported as they create, perform and learn while in a social environment that is both nurturing and skill-building.

What started in Portland has now also moved to, among other places, British Columbia with Girls Rock Camp Vancouver. Because the group is a non-profit, they are always looking for community donations and support to keep the initiative rolling – whether through financial support or even instrument donations.

For those in the Portland area, a fundraiser this Sunday, December 12th will be blowing the doors off Mississippi Pizza at 3552 North Mississippi Avenue. It’s an all-ages show by donation with all proceeds to benefit Girls Rock Camp. Visit the Facebook event page for more info.

To stay in the loop with Girls Rock Camp in Vancouver, BC, you can find them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter.

While growing up on Vancouver Island, escaping to “the big city” was always a huge deal – especially when those trips involved shopping for the kind of stuff we couldn’t find at home. Most communities up and down the Island offer day-trips to Richmond for shopping at a to-be-unnamed Swedish furniture store, but there is so, so much more to Richmond than just spatulas and sofas.

Split into three distinct shopping districts, one could say that Richmond is a flawless trifecta of shopping. In the southern-most region is Steveston. Once a hub for canning salmon, it’s now home to the quaint and the curious with unique gifts that can’t be found elsewhere.

Traveling north you’ll find Central Richmond, helmed by the sprawling Richmond Centre mall and co-captained by Lansdowne Centre mall. Accessible by the Canada Line and offering oodles of free parking, this area is home to no less than The Bay, Home Outfitters, Zellers, Old Navy and Winners. Soon Richmond Centre will also welcome the highly sought-after Sephora and Forever XXI.

Finally, and perhaps what Richmond is most famous for, is Asia West. Dozens upon dozens of malls, stripmalls and blink-and-you’ll-miss-it shops, Asia West is an enticing blend of traditional Asian culture with contemporary style all found in one extremely exciting place. Make sure you check out Yaohan Centre and also Aberdeen Centre where you’ll find the popular Japanese Daiso store.

Tourism Richmond wants to get your holiday shopping season started off right and give you the chance to explore all that this distinct city has to offer. One lucky winner will win a $250 Visa gift card to peruse the seaside boutiques of Steveston, fill your shopping bags in Central Richmond or indulge in a cultural experience in Asia West – or do all three! There are two ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment below telling me which area of Richmond you’d be most interested in exploring. (1 entry)

2. Post the following on Twitter. (1 entry)

RT to win a $250 Visa gift card from @TourismRichmond and @keiraanne http://bit.ly/f0qL1e

I’ll draw one winner on Monday, December 13th.

Photos, top to bottom: Richmond Centre; and Bobby Gavin for Steveston Village

While I am very familiar with the age-old story of It’s a Wonderful Life – the Frank Capra-directed classic Christmas tale starring James Stewart – I’m a bit embarrassed to admit that it’s a movie I’ve never actually seen. Now in its fourth year on the Arts Club Theatre stage, this heartwarming holiday story has been once again brought to life with magic and wonder on Granville Island.

Photo: David Cooper for the Arts Club Theatre Company

George Bailey is a generous man who grew up with worldwide dreams and a desire to do something “important” with his life. When family obligations, business, children, marriage and financial devastation catch up with George, his overwhelming circumstances lead him to believe that he has only one choice.

As the snow falls on that harrowing Christmas Eve in Bedford Falls, George receives a visit from his guardian angel, Clarence Oddbody (played by the charmingly sweet Bernard Cuffling). From there Clarence shows George the kind of life that he never dreamed of – and never wants to see again.

Featuring exuberant performances by some of Vancouver’s most enigmatic performance artists, It’s A Wonderful Life is a treat that will both delight and warm your soul. Running now until January 2, 2011, it’s a show that you’ll not want to miss.

Until December 6th, you have a chance to win tickets to the Friday, December 10, 2010 performance! Visit Miss604.com to enter.

As someone who loves to eat, cook, discover, sample and savour any and all food, Nanaimo wouldn’t normally be the first city that comes to mind as a culinary mecca. What I was recently very pleased to discover is that the downtown core of the Harbour City is a virtual smörgåsbord of food options paying homage to all corners of the globe.

While Rebecca and I had only 24 hours to explore Nanaimo on our recent visit, it’s safe to say that we made the most of our time and visited a solid handful of these delightful dining establishments. Here’s a quick round-up of some of our stops.

Diner’s Rendezvous 489 Wallace Street [Website] [Facebook]

Visiting this historic landmark is a true treat for those enchanted with 1930s glamour. Recently reigniting the passion of this former Chinese food hotspot, Diner’s Rendezvous offers tasty and locally-sourced food within an ambient dining room that has been carefully preserved.

Originally owned by the Wong brothers, this was long ago Nanaimo’s top spot for fast and authentic Chinese food. The former prices astonished us!

While our hostess with the most, Chelsea, opted for the Little Black Dress – a pasta dish including squid ink pasta imported from Italy, both Rebecca and I washed down our lemon chicken meals with magnificent martinis.

If you make your way to Diner’s Rendezvous, don’t leave without peeking your head into the adjacent dining room and catch a glimpse of the ceiling of stars.

Modern Cafe 221 Commercial Street [Website] [Facebook] [Twitter]

After our hearty dinners, the three of us ladies managed to save room for dessert. Little did we know that, once we made our way to the retro glow of Modern Cafe’s neon, we’d have difficulty picking out what we each wanted. Logic dictates that three girls = three martinis and three desserts.

After toasting the evening with our sweet Nanaimo bar martinis, we grabbed our forks and dove into the vodka raspberry crème brulée, a decadent chocolate brownie and creamy peanut butter pie. I’m a sucker for anything with peanut butter, so there’s no need to point out which of the three was my favourite.

Mon Petit Choux 101-120 Commercial Street [Website]

Despite how full our bellies were the night before, by morning Rebecca and I were ready for a scrumptious breakfast to get energized for the day. I find French culture entirely charming and was ecstatic to learn we’d be visiting Mon Petit Choux for breakfast.

While Rebecca and Chelsea dug into their respective Croque Madames, I savoured smoked salmon on scrambled eggs with house made crème fraîche, capers, rosti, and a fresh-baked baguette with house preserves. As I sipped my carefully brewed americano, I couldn’t help but daydream for a moment that we were sitting in a Parisian café without a care in the world.

Mon Petit Choux bakes up its European pastries seven days a week and has undoubtedly become a popular café among locals. Despite how satisfied I was with my breakfast, I couldn’t help but stuff a croissant in my purse for later. You’d need to travel to France to find one better.

Pirate Chips 1 Commercial Street [Yelp] [Facebook]

True “foodies” find hole-in-the-wall treasures hard to pass up and the same couldn’t be more true than of Pirate Chips. Wedged on a corner across from Diner’s Rendezvous, this tiny pirate ship on dry land has become infamous for Nanaimo’s best poutine and other deep-fried delicacies.

Rather than a sensible lunch, us ladies ordered both the deep-fried Mars bar and a deep-fried Nanaimo bar to share. Beyond brutal for the waistline but oh-so-perfect on our taste buds. The eclectic decor kept me both interested and amused. It’s difficult not to want to call them deep-friend Nanaimo B’arrrrrrrs.

A Wee Cupcakery 407 Fitzwilliam Street [Website] [Facebook]

What started as a sugary-sweet trend has become an integral part of almost any neighbourhood. Cupcakes are no longer a quick boxed treat, but instead have become a highly sought-after luxury dessert that’s pleasing to palates of all ages.

Gone are the days when chocolate and vanilla ruled the bakery shelves. A Wee Cupcakery was launched with ideas of gingerbread and red velvet and strawberries and ambrosia dancing in owner Medina’s head.

A Wee Cupcakery also specializes in vegan, gluten-free and sugar-free options. Each and every cupcake is made with only fresh milk, eggs and indulgent Belgian Callebaut chocolate. Don’t pass by the heart-framed window of this tiny shop without stopping on your next walk through Nanaimo’s Old Quarter.

2 Chefs Affair B-123 Commercial Street [Yelp]

Nanaimo’s newest venture on the food front comes from Dan and Tammy – a husband and wife team of chefs. Dan sizzles up the meals while Tammy whips up dessert. The menu is small but the ingredients are fresh and made with a whole lot of heart.

My side salad and pulled beef sandwich with gooey cheese was the perfect portion and warmed me to my belly on an otherwise cold, rainy and dreary day. Even more enticing was the pleasant and personal service offered by the staff at 2 Chefs Affair.

If you’ve ever questioned whether or not Nanaimo is a culinary paradise, allow me to go on record and confirm that it very much is. In fact, I would go on to say that the excitement around eateries in the area is only gaining momentum as consumers seem more interested on both hand-crafted foods while sticking to the globally famous 100-mile diet. Many of the places Rebecca, Chelsea and I insist on locally-sourced food from all points across Vancouver Island. It’s a wholly refreshing way to enjoy a meal out.

And for those who have ever wondered if the Nanaimo bar comes from the city by the sea, make no mistake that this three-layered dessert calls Vancouver Island home. While the origin is still somewhat mysterious, the City of Nanaimo seems to have nailed down the original recipe and posted it online. If baking isn’t your thing, those brave enough can embark on the Nanaimo bar trail, a walking tour of various cafes and bakeries throughout downtown Nanaimo that offer their own spin on the Nanaimo bar. These stops include:

1. Mon Petit Choux – a lighter, whipped version of the classic bar with Parisian panache.

2. Pirate Chips – deep-fried. Enough said.

3. Tea on the Quay – take your Nanaimo bar to go, stuffing the bar-flavoured ice cream in a waffle cone.

4. Jakeob’s Ice Cream Parlour – the most decadent of options, a stacked Nanaimo bar sundae is sure to induce a sugar coma.

5. Minnoz Restaurant – hop into the Coast Bastion Hotel’s adjacent restaurant for a deluxe cheesecake version.

6. A Wee Cupcakery – not surprisingly, Nanaimo bar-flavoured cupcakes come out of the oven a few times a week. Call ahead to verify.

7. Modern Cafe – vanilla vodka, crème de cacao, espresso and coconut syrup laced with chocolate offer a Nanaimo bar with a true kick!

8. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory – this fudgey favourite is hard to pass up!