Tinkerblue

Aboriginal Storytelling Festival

Thursday night there was an Aboriginal Storytelling Festival at the Sechelt Nation Band Hall.  I thought it might be interesting and it was free.    The participating authors were:

Nicola Campbell - Interior Salish and Metis, author of 3 childrens' books.

Zaccheus Jackson - a guerilla poet/slam poet

Michael Kusugak - Inuit, author of mulitple children's books

Diane Silvey - Member of the Sechelt Band, teacher and author

Richard Wagamese - Member of the Ojibway Band, journalist and author

Prior to the event I thought I didn't know any of their writings.  I was surprised to find that I do. Diane Silvey wrote The Kid's Book of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada.  Michael Kusugak wrote T is for Territories, The Littlest Sled Dog and cowrote  A Promise is A Promise with Robert Munsch.  All of which I've sent overseas as gifts to friends. 

Richard Wagamese was part of the line up for the 2012 Sunshine Coast Festival of the Written Arts, and the author of Keeper 'N Me, a book that's been on my to read list for a while now. 

Nicola Campbell and Zaccheus Jackson were completely new to me.  

Each author spoke about what story telling meant to them and their culture or told a story or performed poetry they had written or all of the above.  For me, Zaccheus Jackson, Michael Kusugak and Richard Wagamese were the most engaging and interesting speakers.  I could have listened to any of them for hours.  I've added more books to my never ending "Books to Read" list.  I love learning about new to me authors and finding new books to read. It was a good night and I'm glad I went. 

Food Talks Vol 2

Last week I won 4 tickets to Food Talks Vol 2 presented by Vancouver Foodster.  Unfortunately Erin and Kyla were last minute cancellations but Steph and I still made it. The event was held at the Delta Burnaby Hotel. Appetizers were provided by EBO Restaurant. I have never eaten there, so wasn't sure what to expect.  

 

Tomato Consomme served over dry ice

 

I needn't have worried. Everything was delicious. Steph ate beforehand but I hadn't and I was starving. I had thought I'd have to have dinner when I returned home. But there was more than enough food. We even had seconds.

 

Boccocini, tomato, sprouts and a balsamic reduction

 

 

Lamb slider, chicken satay skewer, wagyu beef

 

 

Syrah from Painted Rock Winery and smoked salmon

 

 After the appetizers there were 5 guest speakers.

John Skinner from Painted Rock Winery.  On the shore of Skaha Lake, in all my trips to the Okanagan how have I not been to Painted Rock?  John was a stockbroker before taking the leap of faith and buying the land, planting the vines and starting the winery in 2004. His goal for Painted Rock is to get better not bigger. I liked the Syrah. I'd buy a bottle to two.

Chef Wendy Boys is a dessert consultant and owner of Cocolico. Seriously, a dessert consultant? Maybe that should be my next job.  A broken ankle, knitting and babies led Wendy to her own chocolate company. Down to her last $300.00 she used her chocolates to barter for supplies (labels etc). She even bartered for a pair of John Fluevog Shoes.

 

Adam Chandler of Beta 5 Chocolates had me drooling from the get go with his talk of chocolate with a beer (stout) ganache, or sprinkled with chicharron (crispy pork crackling) and smoked salt and of course Smores. Did you know Beta 5 have a chocolate membership? On the first Saturday of each month fancy chocolates delivered to your front door. Sign me up.

 

Petit Fours by Chef Daniel of EBO

 

Debra Amrein-Boyes from The Farm House Natural Cheeses lost my interest unfortunately. I love cheese, but whereas the other speakers had been lighthearted and fun, Debra was more political and somewhat bitter sounding. She spoke about the dairy industry, loss of local labour and quotas. There is nothing wrong with that it was just a little heavier than the rest of the evening.

 

I'm not sure what was inside the chocolate ball but it was so good. Steph and I both wanted more. Very More-ish.

 

Jason Pleym, founder of Two Rivers Meats, got my attention back.  Jason talked about how he was inspired by his father in law's farm, Pemberton Meadows Natural Beef, to source other ethically and sustainably produced meats.

 

Our take home box of Beta 5 Chocolates

 

The next Food Talks, Vol 3 is on August 14th at the Westin Grand. Tickets are $30.00

 

Inside my box of Beta 5 chocolates

 

I'm glad Steph and I went. It was a nice break from packing up the house (for me) and from baby (for Steph). A good girls night out.

Vancouver Aquarium After Hours

Last week I won two tickets to the After Hours evening at Vancouver Aquarium from Marc Smith at 30 Day Adventures. After Hours is just that, the Aquarium is open after it's normal hours and for the over 19 set only.

4 hours at the Aquarium with no school groups, day camps or other assorted rugrats. It was awesome.  It was busy, the event sold out but it was not crowded and the only lineups were for the beer.

I forced Andrea into coming with me and we had a great time. Our first stop of the evening was at Penguin Point to visit the African Penguins.

I like penguins. I'm partial to Fairy Penguins, but I could have watched the African Penguins for quite some time. In fact I think I did. Andrea was very patient. 

After saying goodnight to the penguins we made our way around the rest of the Aquarium. Some of the highlights were:

• Hanging out with the Belugas
• Saying hi to the Otters
• Sea Lions napping in the sun
• Welcoming Dory, Nemo and Marlin back from the EAC

• The touch tanks in the lab - sea cucumbers, urchins, anemone, crabs, jelly fish and sea stars

• Playing dress up in the kiddie area 

But suprisingly my favourite thing of the evening was the tiny tiny sea gooseberries. These are video I took on my iPhone. Andrea and I spent quite a bit of time watching the colours light up.

 

 

The After Hours event was a great way to enjoy the Aquarium without kids running wild. I go again. Tickets are $21.95. Not bad for an evenings entertainment. Thanks to Roxanne from the Aquarium and Marc from 30 Day Adventures for the tickets that Andrea and I were lucky enough to have last night.

 

 

 

 

 

New Years Eve 2010

Normally we don't do a lot for New Years Eve. We either stay home and watch a movie, or hang out a friend's house. Getting dressed up, paying big bucks and battling large crowds is not our thing. Unless we're away.  And then we get dressed up, spend big $$, join the crowds, say goodbye to the old year and ring in the New Year in style. Being that we were away from home, we farewelled 2010 and welcomed 2011 by:

Paying out the big bucks for tickets to a NYE do at the Hobart Conference and Function Centre

Putting on our party clothes - or the nicest, cleanest clothes we could find in our suitcases

Catching a water taxi from the eastern shore suburbs where we are staying with my parents to the Hobart waterfront.

 

Strolling along the docks, looking at all the yachts and watching the last yacht come into the slips

Eating a rather large amount of good food

My non seafood menu:

 

Drinking unlimited beer, wine and some rather nice sparkling wine

Tormenting hubby

Braving the chilly winds to watch the fireworks

Being with family

 

Bye Bye 2010, it was a great year. Now bring on 2011. May it be good to us all.

Taste of Tasmania

The Taste of Tasmania (known by locals as "The Taste")  is an annual event that runs for a week from late December to early January. It's all about local food and drink. Vendors come from all around the State. Some have businesses that operate year round, others only operate at The Taste.

 

This is the third year that Hubby and I have been home at this time of year (1998, 2006 and 2010). We went almost every day, either for lunch or dinner.  73 food and beverage stalls in total.  I think we ate at most of them. Well not quite, but we gave it a good try.

 

 

We went with friends and family. One particular day we sat and ate and drank for 6 hours with good friends Sharyn and Dave, my parents, Shaun and Kelly and my Nan. One evening we went again with my parents, Shaun and Kelly and their friend Matty.  The last night we spent with my friends Narelle and Justin and their boys, Dale and Liam - and we stayed to watch the movie UP on the lawns at Parliament House. 

 

• #2 Kornet Pizza - Meal in a Cone - Spring Bay Scallop Margarita, Sassafras BBQ Chicken
• #8 Rosti Chalet - Bacon and Guyere Cheese, Smoked Salmon
• #10 Cape Grim Burger Products - Cape Grim Beef Burger
• #12 Taste Of Persia - Limed Lamb Kebab Wrap
• #13 Scoopz of Valhalla Icecream - hubby had a couple of different scoops over the week
• #15 Festival Mushrooms - tempura mushrooms with wasabi mayo and chilli plum sauce
• #16 Island Berries Tasmania - chocolate pannacotta with fresh raspberries (and the dessert platter that Kelly shared with us all!)

 

• #17 Besmudi - the longest, skinniest chicken strips ever.
• #20 Waji's Tasmanian Experience - Cajun calamari (everyone else told me it was the best)
• #24 Hill Street Gourmet Meats - platter of wagyu beef, chicken burger, and saucy sausage
• #27 The Turkish Kitchen - mixed platter with chicken, lamb, rice, salad
• #29 Smallest Pancakes in Town/Something Sweet - tiny pancakes with fresh raspberries and cream, and a second plate with chocolate sauce and ice-cream

 

• #30 Fish Frenzy - scallops and chips
• #33 Cafe Chocolatte - Anvers Confectionery - chocolate fondue with marshmallows, mini meringues, strawberries and cherries
• #35 Frogmore Creek, 42 South Wines and Tasmanian Highland Cheeses, with special guests Get Shucked Oysters - mixed cheese plate
• #51 Gillespie's Ginger Beer - alcoholic ginger beer
• #53 Doctor coffee - chocolate infused meringue with fresh raspberries and cream
• #54 Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm - by far our favourite stall. Hubby ate them out of raspberry ice-cream. We also tried the baked cheesecake and chocolate pudding both with fresh raspberries.

• #56 Tasmanian Fine Ice Cream - hubby had to have ice-cream here after Christmas Hills sold out.
• #59 Ninth Island Bubbles Bar - glass of sparkling wine
• #60 Tasmanian Chilli Beer Company - multiple bottles of chilli beer. My favourite was green tea and lemon

• #B1 Moo Brew - multiples glasses of beer (not suitable for bogans)
• #B3 Marypin Chilean/South American Food - Beef empanada
• #B5 Two Metre Tall Real Ale & Cider with the Wursthaus Kitchen - more beer, antipasto plate
• #B7 Ironhouse Brewery - more beer

 

I'm not sure what we're going to eat for the rest of our stay, but it wont be as good!  

There's more photos of the food we ate on my facebook page.

 

Celebration of Light

On Wednesday Hubby's parents brought their boat over from the Island. Hubby, Adera and I met them at Granville Island and headed out into English Bay for the 3rd night of the Celebration of Light fireworks.

2010 marks the 20th anniversary of the Celevration of Light, originally called Symphony of Fire.

We saw the presentation Journey by Mexico. Personally I think it got off to a slow start, but by the 2nd piece of music it was awesome.

Surrey 2010 Celebration Site

Mum and Dad, Dave and Morag have a pretty full calendar for the Olympics already.  But just in case they have any spare time, they could head out to the Celebration Site in Surrey.  It'd be worth it for the RCMP Musical Ride alone.  I doubt very much that they will get a chance to see the Musical Ride in Hobart or London. 

When - February 12th to 28th (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

Where - Holland Park - corner of King George Hwy and Old Yale Road, King George Skytrain

 

Artwork by Zach Camozzi - click on the map to open a PDF file.

What - Celebration Stage, Skating Rink, Toboggan Zone, Curling Zone, Sustainability Way, Kids World, Meet the Mascots

Performances by 

• Blue Rodeo - Feb 12th
• Serena Ryder - Feb 14th
• Hot Hot Heat - Feb 17th
• Corb Lund - Feb 18th
• Jully Black - Feb 19th
• Sam Roberts - Feb 19th
• Malkit Singh - Feb 20th
• 54-40 - Feb 21st
• Marianas Trench - Feb 26th
• Wintersleep - Feb 27th
• Tokyo Police Club - Feb 27th
• Randy Bachman - Feb 28th
• and many, many, many more.

 

RCMP Musical Ride

• Wed/Thurs/Fri 8:00pm
• Sat/Sun 3:00pm and 8:00pm
• Feb 28th 4:00pm

www.surrey2010.com

Vectorial Elevation in Vancouver

What??????????????????????????????????

I can't explain it.  So, straight from the press release:

"Starting at dusk on February 4, 2010, 20 robotic searchlights will create a quiet canopy of light in the night sky above and on the sparkling surface of English Bay below with designs created by people around the world and delivered via the Internet. Called Vectorial Elevation, it is the first time the internationally celebrated work of art will be displayed in Canada and over a body of water.

The 10,000-watt lights will move and create patterns silently from locations in Vanier Park and Sunset Beach that cover an area of 100,000 square metres and be visible within 15 kilometres of the city’s downtown core, stretching to Richmond, the peaks of Cypress and Grouse mountains and freighters and boats on the water."

 

And guess what?

You get to design the show!  And you don't need to be in Vancouver.

Again, from the press release:

"Visitors to www.vectorialvancouver.net can design how the lights will move, their angles and how they are clustered in timed sequences to create their own patterns for the world to see. A personalized webpage will be automatically created for each participant to document their design. Organizers estimate 130,000 different patterns will be created in the 24 days the project operates from dusk to dawn.

A real-time video stream of the work from four cameras placed around English Bay can be accessed on the Internet. Those who opt to create patterns can also send a personal dedication to friends or a sweetheart anywhere in the world at www.vectorialvancouver.net. The project was developed in consultation with the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation"

 

Vectorial Elevation is the work of Canadian artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer .  The installation has previously been staged in  Mexico, Spain, Ireland, and France.

This is a photo by Martin Vegas of the installation at the Zocalo in Mexico City, 2000. 

How cool is that?

 

 

 

 

There's more to Vancouver 2010 than just the sport events

No tickets to events? You can still get that "Olympic Feeling".

Go skating in downtown Vancouver at Robson Square.  Opening November 24th GE, free public skating will operate noon to 9:00 pm daily.  Rentals are $3.00.

Take a sleigh ride or go skating at Grouse Mountain. Morag and I did both last year, it was a lot of fun. You can also go snow shoeing or skiing.  Grouse Mountain will be open 24/7 throughout the Olympics.  The NBC's Today Show will be broadcast from the top of the mountain at 4:00am.  So if you're inclined to be an early bird you can go up and watch the live broadcast.

 Morag Dec 2008

You can also go snowtubing, snow shoeing or skiing at Mt Seymour.

Hang out at the O Zone in Richmond.  There'll be outdoor skating, exhibits, athlete appearances, ice carvers, ice art, entertainment, food and fireworks. You can try out (virtual) bobsledding and ice hockey at The BCLC Winter Games Dome.  Don't forget this is home to Holland Heineken House too.

Four Host First Nations Pavilion - located on the plaza of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the pavilion will open in February 2010 and run throughout the Olympic Winter Games.  Not yet complete, the pavilion will include a 3000 sq ft sphere surrounded by a Coast Salish Long House.  It will showcase Aboriginal art, sport, business, and culture from across Canada.

 

The 2010 Cultural Olympiad presented by Bell will bring art, theatre, dance, and music to Vancouver and the Sea to Sky corridor from January 22nd to March 21st 2010. Checkout the event listings here.  I won't be able to make it, but some events that caught my attention:

Feist - February 17th at the Orpheum

Blue Rodeo- February 28th in Whistler

Fear of Flight- February 9th to 13th.  I don't think I'd actually want to to see this, but the aviation thing is large in our household to I had to mention it.

Cirque Eloize: Rain- March 18th to 20th.  Because I like the circus.

The Only Animal: Nix- January 22nd to February 22nd.  Because I never seen snow and ice theatre before.

 
Livecity Vancouver - Livecity Yaletown (B David Lam Park) will be open during the Olympic Winter Games.  Livecity Downtown (A) will be opening during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. From the Livecity Vancouver website:

• High-quality, secure, family-friendly environment that showcases the arts, culture, entertainment and Olympic sponsors
• Schedules and content built around Games-time events
• Events that are open, accessible and free of charge
• Planned on-screen programming on large LED screens showing Olympic and Paralympic events and track the progress of Canadian athletes
• Live programming featuring the very best local, national and international performing artists, as well as special appearances by past and present Olympians, Paralympians and other special guests

Whistler Live! - I posted about the Whistler Live! sites a few days back.  You can read it here.

And finally don't forget to go shopping for all your souvenirs at the Olympic Superstore.

 

Pulse to the Podium

Arrrgg....Phase 3 of ticket sales didn't go so well yesterday.  In fact it didn't go at all. I was going to try and get some figure skating for Morag, Short Track for Mum, Dad and Dave, Aerials for everyone and closing for Mum and Dad.  But. And it's a big but.  The ticketing system wasn't working properly and phase 3 has now been delayed until next week.  There's a lot of upset people, you can see the comments on twitter and Facebook.  I'm not that upset, we'll survive. 

Pulse to the Podium is a series of free, family focused events to build excitement for the Games.  Held at community centres around Vancouver in partnership with the Vancouver Parks Board and funded by a City of Vancouver Host a City Happening Grant.

• Learn about the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games
• Try winter sports on Nintendo Wii
• Play some winter sport themed carnival games
• Make a medal and pose on the podium
• The mascots will be making some appearances

Upcoming dates include:

• Roundhouse - today Sunday, November 8th noon to 2:00 pm
• Douglas Park - Saturday, November 14th 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
• Marpole-Oakridge - Saturday, November 21st noon to 2:00 pm
• Riley Park - Saturday, November 28th noon to 2:00 pm
• False Creek - Sunday, November 29th 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Checkout this video of a Pulse to Podium event earlier this year. It's mainly aimed at families with young kids, so I don't think hubby and I will be checking it out.

http://vancouver.ca/Greaterdot/video/09-PulsePodium.wmv