Schokolade

The Schokolade Cafe on East Hastings in Vancouver offers a chocolate high tea! What a great gift for your girlfriend who's a chocoholic! They have high tea coming up on December 19th, 20th, 23rd & 24th. Or, treat yourself in bleary January: in 2010, Schokolate Cafe will be offering high tea every Friday and Saturday!

You can find out more at http://www.schokoladecafe.com/high-tea--winter-news.

Want to support a worthy cause and have a good time?

Who doesn't?!?!

Check out Bright Nights in Stanley Park: the miniature train guides you through the forest filled with over two million Christmas lights, animated displays and holiday music! All donations given at the event and partial proceeds from ticket sales go to the Burn Fund to help burn survivors and their families.

And the best part? The firefighters who are there, waiting to take your donations!

http://vancouver.ca/PARKS/events/brightnights/

I'm not sure whether to laugh at this or not...

Well, I bet the person who wins the $500 won't be laughing!
You can win $500 just for telling Santa what you want for Christmas at the Cellar's /Sexy Santa Party/! Not bad! This Wednesday, December 16th you can head to the Cellar (1006 Granville Street) to party it up with free gingerbread and fun prizes. As well, they're collecting donations for the food bank, so bring a non-perishable item with you to get in the holiday giving spirit.

http://www.cellarvan.com/clubnights_detail.php?id=62

(Insert Witty Russian Title Here)

Republic (958 Granville Street) will be hosting the Russian Standard launch party - "The #1 premium vodka in Russia!" on Wednesday, December 16th from 10pm to 3am!

Do you, like me, have a secret fetish for all things Russian? That crazy language? Vodka? Snow? Warm clothes? Hunky men named Vlad?

Check out this vodka launch event Wednesday night at Republic, with DJs Supafly, BZ Black and the Boyscouts.

(I wish I knew a Russian word that I could sign off this post with!)

http://www.dhmbars.ca/republic0events.aspx?1=187&2=187&3=3&4=3&6=86&8=86&10=86&12=86&14=86&16=86&17=187&19=187&21=187&23=187&25=187&27=187&18=186&20=186&22=186&24=186&26=186&28=186

You had me at "Complimentary Cover with any canned food donation!"

Dance away the night to Top 40, Hip Hop and holiday dance hits!! It has always been my dream to go to a club and dance to Christmas music. I don't know anyone who loves Christmas music as much as I do, but maybe I could find my soul-mate at Caprice's Winter Wonderland party next Tuesday, December 22nd.

http://www.capricenightclub.com/event3.htm

Oooooh sex advice!

One of my Thursday evening traditions is picking up a Georgia Straight at the Skytrain station on the way home from work. I read my horoscope while trying not to bump into people as I walk home, and then I read Savage Love while I'm eating dinner. There's nothing better than reading about some crazy lovers' quarrel or fetishes you never new existed while chowing down!

This Saturday, November 21st, Dan Saveage will be speaking at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts out at UBC. It's only $25, and you can get tickets through Ticketmaster.ca. I can only imagine how scathing and witty he can be in person!

The Cheap Girl

I know not everyone would be thrilled to be known as "The Cheap Girl!" (I wouldn't want my friends to be saying that about me!) But this cheap girl really knows her stuff!

Wanna know about local sales? How about the Aritzia 25th anniversary sale that starts today and runs till November 22nd? You can find it on her blog! Seriously, my life has improved by 82% since I added her to my google reader.

www.thecheapgirl.com

Everybody's gone surfing!

After skimming October's LouLou magazine (Canada's shopping magazine!), I wrote down some web sites to check out. Some of them were winners and others were losers. But I'm sharing them because, as they say, my garbage may be your treasure. What I mean is, I don't like skate clothes but maybe you do.

1. www.thecheapgirl.com

A Toronto blogger's guide to deals... many of them are only in Toronto, but she has included some warehouse sales, etc, in Vancouver. Very helpful if you want to know when the D&G warehouse sale is!

2. www.chickadvisor.com

Also Torontocentric, but has info about EVERYTHING. If you are looking for a review for something, check here first. Thinking of buying a new lipstick? Check here first. You can also sign up to be one of their reviewers... could be fun!

3. www.evegraveldesign.com

Montreal-based designer Eve Gravel shows off her wares at this site, and they are great! Lots of plaids and lovely romantic pieces.

4. www.chiccane.com

This one was fun to drool over, but out of my price range. In that sense, it was looking at net-a-porter.com: I enjoyed looking at it, but left the site a little sadder that I can't afford anything on it.

5. www.store.thinkempire.com

Skate clothes. Snowboarding clothes. Totally not my thing - although I would love to learn to snowboard, I would never wear this super-casual stuff on a day-to-day basis. I'm just a little too girly, I guess!

Happy surfing!

Natural Deodorants

I had a helluva time trying to find a decent "natural" deodorant. I pretty much just wanted to switch off of antiperspirant, because it's not supposed to be good for you. Which makes sense, I mean, how can blocking your body from a natural process (even if it's a gross one like sweating) possibly be good for you?

I've tried three natural deodorants and am ready to award first, second and third place to them.

Third Place: earthscience mint rosemary natural deodorant (about $8 at PriceSmart)


I had two issues with this deodorant. When I first put it on, it felt fine but the mint rosemary scent reminded me of roasting lamb. If it had been any good, I would have just tried a different scent. But it burned my skin and left me with red, puffy underarms for about a week. I will never buy this again. Grade: F

Second Place: JASON Lavender Deodorant Stick (about $8 at PriceSmart)


This deodorant smells quite strongly of lavender, but the tea tree and aloe varieties do not smell as strongly. It felt good going on, although sometimes it didn't seem to dry and would be sticky. I also had to reapply it during the day as it didn't last more than about six hours. In the summer, when I was hot, it would show up as ridges of white goo. Grade: C (and by "C," I mean that other than the First Place deodorant, this is the only other one that I've found that is even remotely acceptable).

First Place: Lavanila Laboratories The Healthy Deodorant in vanilla coconut ($23 at Sephora)


I didn't want to like this deodorant. I really didn't. Because I knew if I did, I would end up spending $23 at Sephora every time I needed new deodorant and that just seems kind of silly to me. But this deodorant is so amazing I'm willing to not only go across town to buy it, but also to shell out almost $25 for one stick. It smells fantastic. After I checked the reviews on Sephora.com, I thought the smell would be really strong and overpowering, but it's not. I put it on in the morning and I can be confident that I'll smell as fresh when I go to bed as if I had used antiperspirant. Grade: A+

Yummy Yaletown!

Yaletown is enticing diners into the area by offering a deal similar to Dine-Out-Vancouver: It's "A Taste of Yaletown!"

More than twenty restaurants are serving up three-course set menu meals for either $25, $35 or $45 (depending on the restaurant). What a great opportunity to go out and try some new restaurants! The event runs from October 15th to 31st, 2009.

You can get all the info at www.tasteofyaletown.com.

So many choices, I don't even know which I should try!

Happy Portobello Holidays!

The Portobello West Fashion and Art Market has organized a couple of special weekend-long holiday markets!

The market, which usually takes place on the last Sunday of the month at the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station in Vancouver, will be holding additional holiday markets on the last Saturday AND Sunday of November and December, from noon to 6pm.

Check out their website for more details: http://vancouver.portobellowest.com/When/When.php

One of a Kind

If you're like me, you love having clothes and jewelry that aren't just like every other girl's. You search out original items to make you stand out. People are always asking me where my jewelry is from, and usually my answer is "Portobello West."

But that could change after next weekend's One of a Kind Show and Sale (Thursday October 8th to Sunday October 10th at the Vancouver Convention Centre). Over 200 artists from across North America will be exhibiting their wares. And you have the chance to buy some of them! Hooray!

This show and sale is perfectly timed to get you started on your Christmas shopping early. I know it's hard to go around only spending money on other people for these few months leading up to the holidays, but it's so rewarding to give unique and beautiful gifts that you know your friends and family are going to love. Didn't your mom ever tell you, "You should always give gifts that you would be happy to receive." Mine did, and I live by it!

Check out the website here: oneofakindvancouver.com.

Where have you been?

Where have I been?

That is a great question, but the answer is not so interesting.

I've been working, working, working, as I recently started a new job. However, things seem to have stabilized and now I am back, and I am ready to tell you about all the fun and exciting things that will be going on in our fair city.

I should have the calendar chock-full of events in the next few days, too.

So toodle-oo for now, I'll get cracking on this!

Trending and Spending

I just added a great-looking event to the calendar (below)!  It's Spend on Trend, a three-day retail event featuring a variety of independent Canadian designers!  Sounds to me like it's going to be even better than Portobello West.  Not that I'm complaining about Portobello West - love it!  

Have a look at the calendar, or go to the Spend on Trend website for more information.

Packed Weekend!

This weekend is packed!  There's not even room to breathe in this city!  Well, actually, everything that this weekend is packed with is relaxing, so you'll definitely have room to breathe and relax.  And shop, and go out, and...  you get the point.

Tomorrow, Friday the 17th, will see a variety of activities going on in Yaletown.  I guess everyone there got together and decided to get their name around.  First of all, it's Hot Friday, which means there will be a DJ, performances and retail promos (from noon to 7pm).  Second, and perhaps more importantly, there's a Shopathon!  Discounts, specials, prizes, cocktails and free swag!  Can you turn that down?  Me neither!

Want to do something more cultural?  It's also the Vancouver Folk Music Festival down at Jericho Beach!  Go see Fire and Wine, the Weakerthans, Dan Mangan and a variety of others (those are just the bands I know from the radio!).

This weekend also sees the arrival of the BC Renaissance Festival, if that's more your speed.  You can make the trek to Langley (!) to go to the Renaissance marketplace, see their performances, and wear your chain mail (because, seriously, how often do you pull that one out of the closet?).

And if you don't want to go all the way to Langley, you can go see the Comedy of Errors in Queens Park!  This one is even free!  Shakespeare?  Outdoors?  Free?  Count me in!

Still haven't found what you want?  No Doubt will be in town Saturday night, GM Place, packed with screaming fans while Gwen and her buddies put on a phenomenal show (just guessin').

For more info about any of these items, check out my calendar at the bottom of my blog.

Have a great weekend!!

Sephora

I had to check out the new Sephora store in Coquitlam Centre last week, and I have to say, the crowd was overwhelming!  There was no line to get in, but you could barely move inside and the line to pay went right to the door!  I've heard that the Pacific Centre location had an hour wait just to get inside!  I guess now the powers that be know that a Sephora could have opened here ages ago and done fantastically.

I wasn't disappointed, though: the store carries everything that a Sephora should!  Philosophy, Urban Decay...  you name it!  Once the buzz wears off, I'll be heading back to spend my hard-earned money on lovely beauty products and make-up.  

I've already mentioned that the first thing I will buy is Hope In a Jar, by Philosophy, and then I think I'll try and find a new foundation.  I'm currently using MAC Studio Fix, which I find very nice, but I'm always ready to try something new!

Shopathon!

Shopathon? Really? I didn't even know that was a word!

Well, it may not be in the dictionary, but this Friday there will be a Shopathon in Yaletown from 3-9pm! Over 40 stores will have great discounts and specials, prizes, cocktails and even FREE SWAG! The first 250 shoppers will get a free swag bag, but you MUST RSVP (at http://shopyaletown.wordpress.com/rsvp/).

While you're in Yaletown, enjoy Hot Friday, this Friday July 17th from noon to 7pm. Hot Friday includes live music, DJ Wyatt, retail promotions and other performances.

Why not celebrate the end of the work week with a fun day in Yaletown?

More info: www.yaletowninfo.com

Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival

I have to wonder how this is going to be: The Maple Ridge Caribbean Festival. I have to admit, I have my doubts.

It's this weekend, July 11-12 from noon to 9pm at the Memorial Peace Park (11900 224 St.).

They have live bands, Brazilian dancers, street vendors and (my favourite, as always) Caribbean food! You can go to www.caribbeanfest.ca for more information.

PS. If anybody checks this out, you'll have to let me know if it's anything to rival the Caribbean festival in North Van!

I Love You...

This is going to be a short one, because I'm actually blushing as I write this!

The Art of Loving has a variety of workshops and events coming up, for example:

Free Sexy Games Seminar Jul 8 $0

Tantric Massage on Men Jul 14 $30

G-spot and Female Ejaculation Jul 15 $30

How To Have a Great Orgasm Jul 20 $30

Backside Love Jul 21 $30

Nude Photography Jul 26 $80

Check out their website: www.taol.ca for more information.

On Your Feet Take II

This is a continuation of my first posting, giving some local hikes...

Belcarra Regional Park is home to the Sasamat Loop Trail.  Sound tough?  It's totally not - you could do it in flip-flops, with a hibachi tucked under your arm!  Have a leisurely stroll around the lake, then roast some weenies on the beach and take a dip in the lake!

If you're coming from Vancouver, this one may be a little out of the way, and I wouldn't recommend taking the bus (who wants to get back on a bus after a day at the beach?  You're sweaty and sticky from sunscreen, and they run the OOOOOLD buses out there, where the windows only open one or two centimetres...  bad bad badness...).  But if you're in the 'burbs and you've got a car, go check it out!

And if you're in the area, why not check out Buntzen Lake as well?  This lake has a variety of hikes: there's a nice easy one that just goes around the lake (keep in mind this lake is MUCH larger than Sasamat!), or there are difficult trails like the Diez Vistas, which will reward you with a view that stretches right to Deep Cove.  The trail that goes around the lake will lead you to the walk-in beach at roughly the half-way point, so you can stop for lunch and a quick dip before going the rest of the way.

One word of warning: know where you're going!  Every summer, a couple of tired, cold hikers need to be rescued from these trails after getting lost.  Sounds scary!  I'd rather not be that hiker, myself, so I always go prepared.

Happy hiking!

The Most Wonderful Day of the Year: July 10th

No, it's not Christmas: it's the grand opening of the new Sephora stores in Coquitlam Centre and Pacific Centre!!!   What could be better?

I'm trying to wangle my way out of work early so I can be there - crossing my fingers!  What's going to be my first purchase?  Hope In a Jar!  Just check out the reviews - it's a best of Sephora.  And it comes highly recommended by several friends.  Don't worry, I'll let you know how it goes.

So where will I be on Friday at 3:30?  Sephora Coquitlam Centre - I'll be the one with bells on!

On Your Feet

I'm currently compiling a list of some hikes & walks that are nice to do, and not too far from the city (Whistler is out).  

Here's what I've got so far:

The Grouse Grind:

No list of Vancouver hikes would be complete without this one.  "Nature's Stairmaster" isn't that what they call it?  Imagine walking up a mountain that's practically perpendicular to the ground.  Sound fun?  Well, I don't know if "fun" is the first word that comes to mind, but by the time you make it to the top you'll feel like you could do anything (maybe after a little nap).  The path itself is only a few kilometres long, but it feels like a lot more due to the severe incline.  If you're going for a lazy Sunday, admire-the-view kind of hike, go somewhere else.

More info here: http://www.grousemountain.com/Summer/summer-activities/vancouver-bc-hiking-trails-trips/grouse-grind.asp

Minnekhada Park

This park is gorgeous, and a good combination of admiring the views and getting a workout.  The High Knoll path is steep, but not too long to handle, and from the top you get a great view of the Fraser Valley, Pitt Lake, Pitt Meadows, etc.  It's gorgeous!  This one is a bit further away, being in Port Coquitlam/Coquitlam.

More info here: http://www.greatervancouverparks.com/Minnekhada01.html

This list is by no means complete, and I plan on continuing to work on it, but if you have suggestions of great local hikes, send them to me or comment!

Gold Diggers

If I was so rich I could spend $130 to go out on a Thursday night (sadly, I'm not), I'd be headed to the Opus Hotel a week from today to check out their Au = Precious Element fundraiser evening for the Arts Umbrella.

The theme is GOLD!  

Your ticket will get you a couple of gold-themed drinks, and you're supposed to dress in gold, too.

You can find all the information you need in my new calendar, at the bottom of this page, or at: www.artsumbrella.com/events/fundraising/preciouselement

And in case you're wondering who they're fundraising for, naturally you can see that, too: www.artsumbrella.com

Vino Italiano!

June 21 to 26 is Italian Cultural Week at the Italian Cultural Centre (www.italianculturalcentre.ca).  They have a variety of events going on all week, including events for the family and events with wine!

Check out the schedule of performances and the information about the dance and banquet at http://www.italianculturalcentre.ca/itoolkit.asp?pg=ITALIAN_WEEK_2009.

Car-Free Vancouver

Sunday is Car-Free Vancouver day and there are a variety of events around the city (Downtown, Kitsilano and Main St).

You can check out carfreevancouver.org for more information.

This day is for having fun, and celebrating the future of our city.  There will be a variety of activities, music and other such fun in each of the areas I mentioned above.  Go enjoy your car-free self (and take transit!).

Getting Organized

As you can see, I've added a lovely calendar to my blog!  I'll be combing a variety of resources that I use regularly anyways and adding to it over time, so you can check out what's going on in Vancouver on a given day.  Of course, I won't be putting ALL the events I find on there - just the ones that are relevant to my blog.

If you know of something that I missed, please e-mail me: ms.michelle.mara@gmail.com, or you can comment.

Enjoy!

What to do with a sunny weekend?

I don't mean to say that it's best to stay inside when it finally turns to summer in this city, that is definitely not what I'm getting at.
What I do want to suggest is checking out the Vancouver Art Gallery for a couple hours, right around mid-day, when you're not supposed to be outside anyways because of the UV rays. You could always sandwich the VAG in between brunch on one patio and cocktails on another...
I'm tempted by the VAG right now because of their Stan Douglas exhibition, which is on until September. Really, just go check out the web site: it's a video and photo exhibition mostly taken in the interior. Gorgeous? I'll bet it is, but I'll have to check it out soon and let you know for sure.

Happy August, Everybody!

This is now going to be the best summer ever:

I've got my new radio station, 100.5 the Peak, to keep me going at work. And they've just announced that the Sam Roberts Band, along with Mother Mother, will be playing at Deer Lake Park on August 3!

I've heard that Deer Lake Park is an amazing venue for concerts, even though I have never been to one there. What could be more delightful or picturesque? I can hardly wait.

Tickets go on sale on Friday, presumably at 10am (because that's when tix go on sale) and also presumably at ticketmaster, the seller of all tickets ever.

See you at Deer Lake Park on August 3!!

Awesome Tunage for the Summer

I don't know how behind I am, but apparently we have a new radio station here in Vancouver!

100.5 The Peak plays aaaawesome rock - Sam Roberts, Modest Mouse, Arcade Fire, Metric, and all sorts of fun and indie rock. I pretty much have this station on all the time at home, and all the time at work - which I can do because you can listen online!

The music you listen to in the summer is so important. It's the soundtrack, right? So if you're listening to crap music all summer, your summer probably won't be so good. I urge you to go turn this station on right now. I would like to guarantee that it will make your summer better, but... I don't have that kind of power.

You can find The Peak online at www.thepeak.fm. And no, they have no affiliation with The Peak, SFU's student newspaper.

Keep it in, keep it up!

Don't be ridiculous, I'm talking about belts! They keep your belly in and your pants up!

I've been dreaming of acquiring one of these Catalyst Reaction belts ever since the first time I attended the Portobello West market over a year ago. They're dreamy!

Catalyst Reaction makes beautiful leather (I think) belts with painted (I think) designs on them. Choose from swirls, random objects (buildings, trees, fleur-de-lys, etc), a city skyline, and more! My favourite is the city skyline, and if they're at the June market I may finally make my purchase.

Catalyst Reaction also makes a variety of leather cuffs and belt buckles. You can check out their web site at www.catalystreaction.ca, but sadly they don't seem to have any pictures of their work on their (except the one picture on the home page). You'll just have to go to the market, or one of the many local shops that sells their stuff, and check it out there!

It's Always Good to Plan Ahead

So I've been checking out the Portobello West web site to see what I might like to get next time. My mom always taught me to plan ahead and never spend money on a whim (see, mom, sometimes I listen to you!).
If I had to pick my top three for jewelry, here we go:

1. billy would designs (www.billywould.com) comes in at number one! I love how they've used wood with metal. Wood just gives such a nice texture, and it's interesting because it's a tad rarer than silver or gold in jewelry.

2. DiSTRiCT THiRTY DESIGNS (www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5622894) comes in second for their shiny metal silhouettes. I love these simple but interesting designs, that could be dressed up or down. Cutesy animals seem somehow more mature when they're cut out of metal, and could be worn everyday or even dressed up! The flowers and trees are even more versatile and could really go with anything. One of these pieces would be a great investment, and I bet I'd wear it all the time!

3. Black Drop Designs (www.blackdrop.ca) comes in third (but definitely not last!) with their unique glass and resin designs. Some pieces are made with photographic silhouettes embedded in glass or resin, and some pieces seem to have bits of stuff embedded in glass or resin. What I love about these is that they aren't huge. Sometimes you see interesting jewelry pieces, but they're so huge they would really take over your outfit. The Black Drop Designs pieces are small enough that they could still be subtle, but I'm pretty sure dozens of people would be asking where you got your jewelry.

So those are my top three picks for jewelry at Portobello West. We'll see what I actually get when I go there! I know it's good to plan ahead, but at a market with so many awesome choices, it's easy to get distracted.

Beach-Ready Skin

Want to get your skin nice and clean and ready for the beach? Or maybe you already went to the beach and now you want to wash off all that makeup, sand and sunscreen? I've got the product for you!
Alba Naturals (www.albabotanica.com) makes a fantastic pineapple enzyme facial cleanser. I was skeptical at first, thinking that pineapple enzymes wouldn't be enough to wash off my makeup and clean my oily skin. But it works! This amazing cleanser foams right up and leaves your skin feeling clean and refreshed.
As a bonus, it smells like pineapple, which will remind you of pina coladas, the beach, and summer evenings all year long. Even in the snow.

I bought mine at London Drugs for around $10, but I'm sure you can get it at most local drugstores (Shoppers Drug Mart, etc).

Step Gingerly

There's no need to tread lightly once you've got this jewelry on! Gingerly Designs makes beautiful beaded jewelry from stones, gems, coral, you name it. It's not your typical beaded jewelry.

I don't generally go for giant beads, but these ones were a tad more sophisticated than big beads usually are. As well, this particular necklace's black beads are made out of some nice stone or something that feels nice and cool against the skin.

You can check out more of their designs at www.gingerlydesigns.com
I got my Gingerly Designs jewelry at the Portobello West Fashion and Art Market, www.portobellowest.com

Long time no see!

Well, I feel like a bit of a loser for not posting anything for over two months. I didn't mean to do it!
Thankfully, Sunday was the day for the Portobello West Fashion and Art Market, so I have some stuff to post - because I got some awesome stuff!
Portobello West takes place the last Sunday of every month, so the next one will be June 28th, and of course I'll be there; I still need a belt! Besides, I got a sweater that I can't wear until it cools off here so I think I might get some more summery clothes.
This past week or so it's been super hot here. I'm pretty sure we've been over 25 degrees every day for awhile (celsius)!! I've just been melting in my condo, but I'll deal with that in order to have the gorgeous weather.
Enjoy the sun and I'll see you at the next Portobello West on June 28th. Check out www.portobellowest.com for more info plus links to most of the vendor's web pages.

Wine Festival

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival starts tomorrow and runs right through to next Sunday: www.playhousewinefest.com.
My pick is Our Land, Our Best next Saturday from noon to 2:30pm at the Pan Pacific (tickets are $89). This is a showcase of BC's best wines and also BC's best food! The foods listed on the menu (see the website) sound delicious: steamed gulf island mussels on the half shell, west coast dungeness crab cakes and mini Salt Spring Island lamb sliders. Yummy!
It looks like there will be loads of sea-food and other local delights! Go try some new local wines and just remember - you're supporting local business when you do this! What a great reason to check it out.

More Junos Stuff

Just because I'm not super-enthusiastic about the Junos doesn't mean other people aren't (and it doesn't mean that I shouldn't be!), so I thought I'd just add the link for anybody wanting to find out more about the myriad of events and shows taking over our fair city in the next week.
www.junofest.ca has all the info about the shows: "Over 100 bands at 19 venues" over the weekend.
www.junofanfare.ca has all the info about the street party next weekend on Granville.
Enjoy!

Apparently the Juno Awards are coming...

I've known that the Juno Awards are coming to Vancouver for quite a while now, and I guess I haven't mentioned it because I don't usually watch the Junos. I probably should... and even if I'm not going to watch them, they are bringing tons of fun entertainment to the city so I should at least check some of that out!
Next Saturday there is going to be a Juno Fan Fare Gravnille Street Party, 11am to 4pm (on Granville Street - do I need to mention that? It doesn't say where, but presumably in the Strip with all the clubs...)
This show is going to feature City and Colour, Deborah Cox, Divine Brown, Sam Roberts Band (yesss!!!!), Kreesha Turner and others.
This event is free and doors (? to a street?) open at 9am - and it looks like they think this will be packed. www.junofanfare.ca for infos.

Radio Station Guide

I know, I know: it's a little boring. But sometimes you just have to listen to something different!

Most of the time, I like to listen to The Beat 94.5 (www.thebeat.com). They pretty much play top 40 (pop!) music. I like to listen to this when I get up in the morning or when I'm cleaning my apartment because it's pretty energetic!

On the weekends, I like to listen to 99.3 The Fox (www.cfox.com), because on the weekends they have the 90's Brunch, where they play rock from the 90's. This is good for mellower days - when I want to listen to Nirvana, Pearl Jam and the Odds. The rest of the time, they play new rock music, which I do like to listen to sometimes.

Sometimes I switch over to Virgin Radio 95.3 (www.virginradio.ca), which plays a variety of popular music from the last ten or so years (and occasionally earlier!).

Recently, I've become addicted to FM 104.9 The Greatest Hits of All Time (www.1049greatesthits.com). If you love cheesy love ballads from the 70's as much as I do, this station is for you. And local icon Red Robinson still has a show on this station! I was shocked to find that out this past weekend. Red must be about 100 by now - I remember seeing him in commercials when I was a kid. He always said, "I'm Red Robinson... join me, won't you?" and invited you to come what whatever movie he was sponsoring. Anyways, this is the only station in the city that plays Burton Cummings at least once a day. I think it's just for me...

I will also mention 96.9 Jack FM (www.jackfm.com). Their motto is playing what we want - and they really do! You'll find a wide variety of anything and everything on this station. I like to scan past it when I'm driving for a little variety.

And one that I don't listen to, but I'll mention it for you, is Rock 101 (101.1 FM, www.rock101.com). This is the classic rock station if you like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, etc. Which I don't, so I'm only mentioning it for you!

There you go! Next time you're in Vancouver, you'll know what radio stations to listen to. Happy weekend, everybody!

The City's Best Fashion and Art Market

It has to be time for Portobello West's new season!
In less than two weeks, this awesome market will be opening again, and to celebrate, they're open all weekend (instead of just Sunday).
www.vancouver.portobellowest.com
The market is held at the Rocky Mountaineer Station, which is near the Science World Skytrain station. A shuttle picks up marketeers (?) from the Skytrain Station and drives them right to the door of the market, but if it's not raining you could walk.
Admission is $2, there is a coffee cart out front, in case you're like me and can't function without.
This market is my favourite place to purchase jewelry, and every time I get something here I get a zillion compliments and people asking me where I got it. As well, everything is made by local (or nearby-local) artists. Can it get any better?

Shiny Hair for Me!

I have a terrible time finding shampoos that I like. It's just so hard to find good ones, and I have sensitive skin so it's even more difficult.
So when I find some I like, I'm thrilled, which is why I thought I would share this shampoo and conditioner with you.
It's super-affordable (maybe $10 a bottle-ish), and the smell makes you feel like you're showering in a waterfall in the middle of a tropical jungle (not that I've ever done that).
Alba Botanicals shampoo and conditioner is just great! I have tried the plumeria replenishing hair wash and the gardenia hydrating hair conditioner, and I've been so happy with them. My hair is shiny and healthy, and I only have to wash it every day. www.albabotanica.com

Getting Rid of the Winter Blahs

Sometimes I wish I could just scrub off my old face and find a new one underneath!
Sadly, no matter how hard I scrub, I'll still have the same bone structure and freckles. But I can give myself a bit of a brighten by getting rid of my old, dry winter skin.
The weather is warming up and in Vancouver, March means get ready for the rain! So if you're like me and have combination/oily skin, that means it's time to get rid of the last of the dry bits and expose the fresh, sunny skin underneath. My favourite way to do that is with St. Ives apricot face scrub.
I find that some scrubs are too subtle and just don't feel, well, scrubby enough. This apricot scrub is nice and gritty and leaves you feeling like you've left the past behind.
As well, they make a few varieties. I have tough, oily skin, so I use the original, but they also make one for sensitive skin, and a new "renew and firm" variety.

She Likes Bikes

Do you like bikes?
I'm not talking about that old rusty, banana-seated Strawberry Shortcake thing you had growing up (although I'm sure that was cool, too). I'm taling about motorcycles...
Trev Deeley Motorcycles is having a Garage Party, exclusively for women, on March 26th. They claim they can tell you everything you need to know to get your motorcycle license and look good doing it. Sounds like a wager just waiting to be made: I've seen those motorcycle schools on the roads, wearing their reflective vests and looking like they're going to fall over any minute...
You have to RSVP by March 19th (604-291-1875), so you'd better get on it.
I can see myself flying down the highway in my fringed leather pants already...

Dancing! Dancing! Yea!

Are you worried I'm getting carried away with the posts tonight?
I'm not; It's just not my fault that there's so much going on in our fair part of the world right now. Even if the weather is less than fair (why is it snowing in the middle of March?).
Are you a terrible dancer like me? If you are, maybe you want to check out the Vancouver International Dance Festival. While I long ago gave up my dreams of ever being able to dance - at all!- that doesn't mean I can't still dream. The festival runs until April 4th and has a variety of shows at a variety of venues throughout the city. www.vidf.ca
The festival started at the beginning of the month, so maybe I'm a little late reporting this to you, but there's still time! I can't even begin to describe what you'll find there (because I've never been before!) but this definitely sounds like it's worth checking out.
Who knows, maybe I'll be inspired to try some dance lessons once again...

It Just Gets Funnier and Funnier...

If you're tempted by the thought of going to a comedy show but not yet ready for something as brazen as a comedy show about mental illness (see my last post!), you could always check out the Vancouver Theatresports League at the New Revue Stage on Granville Island. The bonus? Being on Granville Island allows you so much freedom to have the perfect evening!
Just imagine yourself with the one you love, having a romantic dinner downtown or maybe in Yaletown, and then taking the False Creek Ferry across to Granville Island to laugh until you pee your pants. What could be more romantic? They have a variety of shows, including something every day from Wednesday to Saturday. www.vtsl.com

Unique Comedy Break

I recently heard about this show called Stand Up for Mental Health and I think it's a great idea and it's supposed to be a very entertaining evening.
Their web site boasts, "Most people think you have to be nuts to do stand-up comedy. In our program, it's a prerequisite!"
This is a group of people with mental illnesses who put on comedy shows to build confidence and combat prejudice and stigma. They'll be performing April 19th at the Stanley Theatre, and tickets are only $30.
Check out this barrier-breaking group and help them fight the stigma of mental illness: www.standupformentalhealth.com

Are you a shop-a-holic?

I hope that word's not copyrighted!
If you're a suburbanite who loves to shop, Coquitlam Centre is putting on just the event for you on April 7th! It may be a Tuesday night, but don't let that stop you from having fun. The event, Strut: The Ultimate Girls' Night Out, takes place at the Red Robinson Show Theatre (also in Coquitlam) and includes a fashion show, cocktails, appies, a swag bag and pampering stations.
Tickets range from $55 to $100 and judging from the web site, the more you pay the better your swag bag.
There's even going to be a show by Tina! Check out the web site: coquitlamcentre.com.wedodns.com/fashion-event
You can also feel good supporting your shopping addiction because proceeds from this event go to Variety Children's Telethon and the Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation.

Clearest Face Ever

I love to surf sephora.com, just to see what's going on. And it's always good to check out the customer ratings before you buy things (especially if you buy them online). That was how I found out about the DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask. I think it may be the best thing that ever happened to me!
This face mask is for acne-prone skin and it makes a noticeable difference after you use it just once.
I strongly recommend this, just like 90% of the other customers at Sephora who tried it!

Ring in the Spring with Festival du Bois

This weekend is the Festival du Bois in Maillardville! I mention it not so much because it's a trendy thing to do (you have to park in a dirt lot near the garbage dump and take an old school bus to the festival grounds...), but because I love poutine and crepes, and those are the two best things the festival has to offer.
There are also musical acts, children's activities and cultural booths.
But I just have to reiterate that I recommend going for the poutine, crepes and sugar pie!
Check out the sched at www.festivaldubois.ca

May all my dreams come true!

I have received the best news ever! A Sephora is coming to Vancouver this July! How exciting!!!
I believe there are three coming in: Coquitlam Centre and MetroTown in July and then Pacific Centre in August. It's like a dream come true!
In honour of this fabulous occasion, I have spent more time than usual cruising sephora.com and planning my future purchases. The very FIRST thing I am going to get is some Philosophy Hope-In-A-Jar facial moisturizer. It has fantastic reviews for all skin types. And I love the name, who wouldn't want to buy some hope in a jar? The reviews all say it has a bit of a funny smell, so I will have to see if that is true.
At any rate, I am practically counting down the days until July. I wish my birthday was in July so I could just go blow my life savings at Sephora. Maybe I'll do that anyways...

Sad Recession Time

So that title is probably not what is expected in my blog, even I think I should write something else... but this must be said!
So as I drove past a Milestone's today, I looked inside at the low-lighting, the leather(esque) bench seats, the diners dining and the generally cozy atmosphere, and it made me realize how little I have been eating out lately. I was a little sad to realize that my high life isn't quite so high as it was just six months or a year ago. Shall I blame the recession? Well, why not.
So many things have changed for me in the last year (jobs, jobs and more jobs!), and I supposed I could blame my lifestyle changes on that. But I won't. I'm going to blame that ever-useful scapegoat, the recession!
As well, by this time next weekend I'm sure I will have spent a little time in one of those cozy, dimly-lit chain restaurants that I love so much. Having a glass of wine and splitting an appy with one of my lovely friends. I can hardly wait!

Condo Gardener

I'm no hard-core gardener, but I can still appreciate all the awesome gardening stuff at Hollyfield's on Granville Island (hollyfields.ca). Whether you want a skinny vase for your lucky bamboo, a wrought-iron door knocker, or a new trowel, they'll have it.
I have a few potted plants in my apartment, and I love them, but I don't think I could ever manage a whole yard. Hollyfield's makes me wish that I had acreage that I could fill with plants, statues, fountains and flowers. Luckily for me, a lot of their stuff can be used indoors, too.
If I had an unlimited decoration budget, I'm sure there would be a fountain in my living room, a giant Buddha statue by my front door, and a crystal ball on my coffee table. Another item that tempts me every time I go in is the giant glass jewel. One day, I will find a way to fit it into my decorative scheme. Until then, I will just go browse and imaging all the lovely things I could do with a giant garden and unlimited budget.

The Bay

I know I've mentioned it before, but I adore The Bay Downtown. I had some time this weekend to go and wander through, so of course I did just that.
Their hosiery section is absolutely amazing! They have everything: dozens of different kinds of fishnets, silky nylons, sheer nylons, patterned tights, fun socks... the list goes on.
This weekend, I even stumbled on some Betsey Johnson tights: pink ones with a super-funky print. Where will I wear them? I really don't know. But I will find somewhere to wear them because they are treasure! And I will definitely be heading back to The Bay Downtown to stock up on tights before the weather turns warm (on a side note: it's supposed to snow on Tuesday... so there will probably be a few more chances to wear tights before the season changes!).

Dine-Out Vancouver

It's that time again! Time for Dine Out Vancouver! This is one time a year for two weeks (January 14th to February 1st) when almost 200 local restaurants want you to come try them out, so they serve you an established menu at a lowered price. Your meal will either be $18, $28 or $38, and you can dine in many of the city's best restaurants.
My favourite last year was Sip Resto-Lounge, and they look pretty good this year, too: Goat-Cheese Salad appetizer, Mushroom Cannelloni and Bailey's Mousse? Count me in!
I think my top picks for this year would be Bacchus Restaurant, with their Roasted Yam and Apple Velouté, Crisp Confit of Duck with Fingerling Potatoes "Forestière" and Vanilla and Mascarpone Cheesecake for dessert; and the Stone Grill's Cornish Game Hen stuffed with Wild Rice. Alright, now I'm hungry.
www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/dining/dineout.php

Best Food Deal in the City

This is just for anyone who doesn't know about Kam's Place.
So if you've never heard of it, or if you're visiting Vancouver, it's one of the best lunch and dinner spots downtown if you want a great deal.
Kam's Place, on Davie (1043 Davie St), serves "Authentic Singaporean Cuisine" at very reasonable prices. And the prices are made even more reasonable by the coupon they put in the Georgia Straight newspaper every single week. That's right! Every week, you can get a 2 for 1 coupon for Kam's Place in the paper. And then you can go there to eat their delicious food.
I recommend the spring rolls and anything with black bean sauce. Yum!

Plenty of Savings

Mmmm... shopping! Plenty is selling off all their fall & winter goods at half-off! How can you refuse? My favourite is the one in Metrotown, but apparently there are locations in Kits, Richmond and on Robson... so we can ALL go and check it out. Get some stuff, hide it away, and find it when we unpack our winter clothes at the end of summer. I love it!

Happy Yoga Dance Time

So I'm attempting to better myself this year and decided that I might give some new athletic pursuits a try. I picked dance and yoga because they seem like the least athletic pursuits I could try.
Since I live in the 'burbs, I'm checking out some yoga studios near me. One is the hot yoga at Bikram Yoga in Coquitlam and the other is Newport Yoga in Port Moody's hip & trendy-type Newport Village.
Bikram Yoga runs a hot yoga: the heat is supposed to help purify your body and warm up your muscles to make you extra-bendy and prevent injuries or strain. You can check them out at www.bikramhotyoga.ca.
Next, Newport Yoga offers everything but hot yoga. They have pilates, candlelight yoga, meditation... the list goes on. The company was also started by a former finance-guy. Looks like he decided to shun the corporate world and become a yoga instructor! Not bad! www.newportyoga.net
So now I have to pick one and make a decision. They both offer an introductory week for just $20, so I get to check them out and let you know how it goes.
Wish me luck in being slightly less lazy!

Alternabride!

I have no intention of getting married, and I'm not the type of girly-girl who is super interested in wedding -related material, but I saw an ad in the Georgia Straight that absolutely caught my eye. If I ever attend a wedding fair, this will be the one: Indie I Do!
Sure, I missed it, because it was on January 17th, but I've now bookmarked the web page so that I can go next year. Anyways, since I'm not getting married in the next 365 days (not that I've planned, anyways), I can wait until next year. www.indieido.com

Cheap Martinis that are too cheap?

My recent visits to Cafe Crepe have been horribly disappointing! I regret to say that I have had really awful service.
Additionally, they seem to have switched to plastic martini glasses (or would that be martini cups?) at some point. Plastic! It makes me feel like I'm at some frat-boys hot-tub party. Not cool.
The burger and fries are still an amazing deal, and delicious, but you might have to wait for hours to get it. That is, if the server doesn't forget that you ordered food.
So I now have a mission for the new year: what can replace Cafe Crepe? A question that just might take all 365 days to answer!

MIA - Missing in Action?

I like to think that I've been MIA since October when I made my last post. I'll tell you what I've been up to:
Most of November was spent yachting in the Mediterranean, stopping only to go to beaches in Southern France and stock up on find champagne and baked goods. Thankfully, I managed to burn enough calories sunbathing and swimming during the day and then dancing under the moon at night to keep the pain-au-chocolat and other fine French pastries from settling on my thighs.
For December, I moved on to Italy, where I bought a fabulous new designer wardrobe, about fifty pairs of oversized sunglasses to keep out the glare of the paparazzi, and a small cockapoo named Francesca (I just call her Frannie or Frannie-poo).
Well, fine, those are the things I WISH I had been doing instead of adding to my blog. But they weren't. Really, I spent the holidays in town and didn't even do anything for New Years. I had wanted to go on one of those cruises, but wasn't organized enough so they were all sold out by the time I checked into it (admittedly, it was December 30th).
But the past is not important: the future is. And here I am, back, and ready to track down some great drinks for you. Happy New Year!