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!

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.

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!!

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.

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.

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.

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?

Port Moody Festival of the Arts

The Port Moody Festival of the Arts, which actually started on April 4^th with a gala opening and performance by Divine Brown, is still going on this weekend. There have been a variety of shows and performances, including John Mann (from Spirit of the West) doing a solo, acoustic show at The Point pub in Port Moody, which was an amazing and intimate show.
On April 12, there are two performances. At 7pm you can go to A Sound Affair at the Kyle Centre. This is an opportunity for the city to showcase some of their up and coming bands. At 8pm, at the Inlet Theatre, Will Millar, a former Irish Rover, will be performing.
On April 13, the final day of the festival, there is a kids’ show, Bobs and Lolo a the Inlet Theatre.
The Inlet Theatre is conveniently located across the street from the trendiest place in the suburbs: Newport Village in Port Moody. This shopping village reminds me of a little tiny Whistler. The Irish Pub, St. James’ Well, has the most amazing pub food around, so you can head there after checking out the trendy (if expensive) local boutiques.