Keira-anne.com

The air is starting to get cooler, the days shorter and leaves are beginning to turn. The final days of August are winding down, ready to usher in the autumn and all the beauty that season holds. However, we’re not finished with our sun-drenched days quite yet and there’s still a lot of summer to pack in before Labour Day. Here’s a brief round-up of activities to keep you (or your family) smiling until the first school bell rings.

Rumble on the Runway

August 28-29, 2010 – Port McNeill Airport – Drag racing enthusiasts won’t want to miss the North Island Timing Association’s premiere summer event that promises to provide a million thrills a minute. Time trials will be held on Saturday with the elimination round on Sunday. [website]

Big River… Almost Johnny Cash

September 5, 2010 – Spirit Square, Campbell River – This tribute to the Man in Black will rock the afternoon from noon until 2:00 p.m. at the Spirit Square at Tyee Plaza; admission is free for the whole family. [website]

Alpine Food Festival

September 3-5, 2010 – Mount Washington Alpine Resort – Challenge your culinary skill set with cooking classes, wine pairings, a gala dinner, “foodie” marketplace and special appearance from Anthony Sedlak of the Food Network. [website]

Comox Valley Exhibition

August 27-29, 2010 – Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds – Featuring crafters, artisans, zucchini races, chainsaw carving, lumberjack show and so much more! [website]

10th Annual Tofino Lantern Festival

August 29, 2010 – Tofino Botanical Gardens – This unique event is a fantasy land full of handcrafted lanterns gracing Tofino’s famed botanical jewel. Lantern-making workshops are being held August 24-28, 2010 with the grande finale on Sunday night. The event is car-free, so please walk or bicycle to the gardens. All proceeds will benefit the Raincoast Education Society. [website]

Lighthouse Country Fall Fair

September 4, 2010 – Qualicum Bay – Welcome a new season and celebrate the vibrant oceanside communities of Parksville, Qualicum and beyond with this event designed to entertain and educate. The fair features a bouncy castle, kids’ games, “freaky” vegetables, dancers, musicians and so much more. This year’s theme will highlight local farms and produce with its “Heritage Breeds and Seeds” theme. Admission is $5 for adults; children 12 and under are free. [website]

The Little Woodstock West Street Festival

September 3-4, 2010 – Nanaimo – Maffeo Sutton Park welcomes the community’s most notable and talented buskers in this whimsically delightful celebration of music and entertainment. Admission is free but please bring a donation for the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank. [website]

Ladysmith Arts On The Avenue

August 29, 2010 – First Avenue, Ladysmith – The stretch of First Avenue between Roberts Street and White Street is home to everything from pottery and jewelry to handmade food and entertainment. The fun gets underway at 10 a.m. and winds down by 4 p.m. [website]

Cobble Hill Fair

August 27-29, 2010 – Cobble Hill Fairgrounds – Celebrating 101 years, the fair includes a pancake breakfast, parade, kids’ games and even a Johnny Cash tribute band! [website]

Victoria Fringe Theatre Festival

August 26 – September 5, 2010 – Various locations in Victoria – More than 65 highly talented performing companies from around the globe will each be performing a handful of shows throughout the capital region – some of which are free! Attendees over the age of 13 must purchase a Visa button to access any and all shows. [website]

If you have an event you’d like featured here, send me an e-mail or feel free to leave a comment below!

Last week I took some time off work and escaped to Vancouver Island for nine days. Much of that time was spent wearing stretchy pants, watching HGTV, sleeping in late, stuffing my face with all kinds of food that’s bad for me (my skin was hating me for doing so), drinking beer, BBQing, baking and catching up with friends. I managed to squeeze in a day of going through old boxes with my mom and aunt, hoping to find a lot that could be given away or recycled.

I discovered far more spiders and mice than this city girl is kosher with, but also learned that apparently I used to be a major pack rat. I saved everything from tees to receipts and even hotel shower caps. However, among the overstuffed boxes laid a few gems and memories that I thought I’d take the time to gratuitously share with you all.

My summer of 15. Taking trips to Vancouver, sans parents, was always a thrill. We never had shops like Underground in Courtenay. Plus, I knew I’d never get to see Trainspotting if my parents had anything to say about it.

When I did find myself in the city with one or both parents, a Vancouver Canucks’ hockey game was almost always on the agenda. Anyone raised in BC will certainly remember the 1994 playoffs and the legendary roster.

Apparently there was also a NBA team that called Vancouver home at one time…

I also found my old diary…

… and somewhere in the boxes was my baby book.

I’ll never forget my first concert. My dad took me to see U2′s Zoo TV World Tour at BC Place when I was 11, and I still remember the butterflies I felt while stepping off the Skytrain. I was crushing on Bono – hard.

There’s no better way to hear Achtung Baby than live and loud.

(Yeah, I don’t get it either.)

These belonged to my mom and aunt when they were little girls and got passed along. Somewhere there’s a hipster dying to own them.

Remember a long, long time ago… about 24 years ago? There was a little exhibition along the waterfront at False Creek in Vancouver and people came from far and wide to share in the cultural experience. Expo ’86 brought the world to our slice of the planet for five months in 1986, bringing with it iconic legacies that are still part of Vancouver in 2010.

I went through a phase in junior high where I collected everything and anything I could get my hands on from the world fair. At one point I even found a stuffed, life-size Expo Ernie (the official mascot), but he sadly succumbed to dirt, dust, mice and water damage. A few items remained in near-mint condition.

“Something’s Happening Here” played during the evening fireworks display. What I wouldn’t give to be able to digitalize the tape and play it here for you all. It’s the epitome of “epic”.

Though I was incredibly young at the time, I still have a few fond memories of the trip I took with my family across the water and into the colourful, musical, creative gates of Expo ’86.

Purple velcro shoes? Check.

Somewhere in the memorabilia boxes from Expo ’86, I also found a ton of buttons. I suspect the aquarium buttons were from way back when it was still okay to keep whales and dolphins in captivity. Oh wait…

Last, though certainly not the least, comes one of my most treasured pictures. For reasons unbeknownst to me, at one time there were lions and tigers (yet not bears) on display at the Driftwood Mall in Courtenay. My dad paid to have a Polaroid snapped of me holding a tiger cub. I’m guessing that he’s not so cuddly and cute anymore (and hopefully not still in captivity either).

While more than half a dozen bags and three or four boxes were bound up for the thrift store and recycling bins, I’m not cutthroat enough to get rid of any of these items. Who knows when my eighth grade medal for basketball sportsmanship will come in handy?

I’m not normally one for summer vacations. That’s not to say I don’t take time away from work when the sun is shining and the beach calls my name. However, there’s no better place to be during the summertime than British Columbia and, in particular, on Vancouver Island. So why leave?

In only one week I’ll be throwing summer dresses, sandals and bikinis in my suitcase, packing a bag for Jordy (that kid doesn’t travel light) and head to Vancouver Island for nine days. The best part of the plan is that I have no plans. Spending endless hours on the Island’s beaches, noshing on homegrown food from Coombs, taking afternoon naps in the shade in my mom’s backyard, ice cold beer, evening badminton, BBQ dinners every single day and catching up with some of my oldest friends are all on the must-do list.

There’s never a shortage of events happening in and around the Comox Valley over the upcoming BC Day Long Wekeend, some of which I spend all year looking forward to. Next weekend marks the start of the 52nd Annual Nautical Days celebration in the seaside town of Comox, featuring a family-friendly parade, Dragon Boat races, fireworks and the always-popular Build, Bail and Sail race [website].

Photo: tempest_kat on Flickr

Photo: Amelia Burrows

Also that weekend is the Filberg Festival, entering its 28th year from July 30 until August 2 [website]. Highly skilled potters, painters, musicians, “foodies”, weavers, textile and clothing designers, jewelers and more from around North America converge in the middle of breathtaking Filberg Park to display their wares. It’s a must for me every year, even if only for the best lemonade ever.

In the meantime, I thought I’d share with you some of my favourite summer snaps from around the Island and the Comox Valley over the summer months. What are you looking forward to before the leaves start to turn orange, red and yellow? Feel free to share your summertime musts in the comments below!

While I’d like to call it an act of spontaneity, I’ve been mulling over the idea of buying a bicycle for quite some time. In truth I haven’t owned one since I was in my early teens, ripping up and down the dirt roads of Hornby Island on our family camping trips (yikes, right?). And even then, it was only a mountain bike.

The thing about Craigslist is that the margin of decision time is narrow. If you find something you want, buy it or it’ll be gone before you know it. This afternoon I found a vintage road bike for $100 that I fell in love with, but by the time I got on the phone with the owner, it was gone. He said that the good news was that he had a second bike that he was selling, this one for only $90. He swung by within the hour, let me try it on for size and it was a done deal.

It’s a bit beaten-looking, rusted and in desperate need of a paint job. However, with a bit of fresh handlebar tape, a shiny, new saddle and some TLC, the bike will look as good as (almost) new. It’ll be great to have something to bomb around downtown with during the sunny months, but at that price, it almost doesn’t matter if it doesn’t last me too long. I still need to grab myself a lock and helmet, but I can’t wait to take this for a spin in the open bike lanes.

Almost all my life, I’ve had ideals and expectations about what I thought New York City would be like. Four full days into our trip, I can say with absolute certainty that this city has met and exceeded any ideas I held. Rebecca and I have been living an adventure that is nothing short of amazing.

Before we arrived, Rebecca and I agreed that we wouldn’t plan an itinerary, but instead wake up each day and see where New York City takes us.

In the short time we’ve been here, we have drank $2 cans of PBR in a Tribeca dive bar, strolled the sunshine-splashed pathways of Central Park, soaked up the atmosphere at Union Square, stood face-to-face with the Empire State Building from the top of Rockefeller Center, given our credit cards a solid workout with some of the city’s best shopping, cooled down with frosted hot chocolate from Serendipity 3, strolled through the West Village like a couple of locals, mesmerized ourselves with the dazzling lights of Times Square and noshed on fried green tomatoes in Hell’s Kitchen.

Needless to say, the pedicures we treated ourselves to were much deserved. Whoever said that New York City is a walking town wasn’t kidding.

With three full days left, there’s much we still want to see. Battery Park, the Staten Island ferry, Chinatown and the Brooklyn Bridge are on tomorrow’s agenda, and we’ve already snagged tickets to see Sex and the City 2 while we’re in the city. I’m sure that by the time we arrive home, it will have all seemed like a dream, but we’re certainly living that dream while we’re here.

Feel free to explore my complete Flickr set here and Rebecca’s full Flickr set here.

An occasion such as this one called for a big, borrowed suitcase. My darling Pepper’s 29-inch upright is loaded with five pairs of shoes, three handbags, tops, bottoms, under tops, under bottoms and is still barely 2/3 full. Just minutes ago we checked in with our airline; a window seat for me, a middle seat for her. One particular hopelessly chic hotel in the middle of Manhattan is eagerly anticipating the arrival of two West Coast girls.

In just 24 short hours, Rebecca and I will be making our way to New York City.

Photo: A. Strakey on Flickr

I can’t deny that the fact that our ultimate girls’ vacation has finally arrived is a bit surreal. While I anticipate that the adventures that await us will likely keep me from blogging, I’ll definitely be rolling out some updates via my Twitter and Flickr, so be sure to follow along. In the meantime, if you haven’t yet entered to win a $100 gift card, this week is your last chance – I’ll be drawing a winner upon my return.

Enjoy the long weekend, play fun, play safe and don’t forget to slather on the SPF!

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.

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?

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.

It’s no secret that yours truly is a major fan of basketball, so it should go without saying that I was thrilled to learn that the Harlem Globetrotters would be bringing their fiercely talented show to Vancouver this Spring.

Photo: westerntragedy on Flickr

Despite their name, the Harlem Globetrotters were formed in Chicago, Illinois in 1926 but adopted their moniker due to the team’s association with the African-American community. Since that time, the team has dribbled and dunked their way into countless generations around the world – much in part thanks to that unmistakable whistle of “Sweet Georgia Brown”.

April 17 is gearing up to be an exciting and action-packed night that promises to be fun for families and basketball fans alike. To celebrate their return to Vancouver, the Harlem Globetrotters have provided me with two tickets to give away to one lucky reader. Here’s what you need to know and how to enter:

What: Harlem Globetrotters 2010 North American Tour

Where: GM Place, 800 Griffiths Way, Vancouver, BC

When: Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.

Who: Maybe you! (As long as you live in the Metro Vancouver area and can attend – the tickets have no cash value)

How to enter: Leave a comment below, telling me why you’d like to attend the Harlem Globetrotters’ 2010 North American Tour or simply re-Tweet the following on Twitter:

I want tickets to see the Harlem Globetrotters, thanks to @keiraanne and @globies! #HGVan2010 http://ow.ly/1rrG1

You can do both and double your entries!

The contest closes on April 14th when I draw one lucky winner – Good luck!