5 Valentine’s Day Gifts from Mount Pleasant

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt
Disclosure: Sponsored Post — This is a paid post, sponsored by The Independent at Main. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.

Working with the Mount Pleasant BIA over the years, visiting over 20 businesses each season for fun community promotions, I’ve walked up and down, from 18th to 7th, from Kingsway to Quebec, and one thing that always resonates is the unique passion that each business owner and organization member has for their neighbourhood. When it comes to Valentine’s Day – whether you’re searching for that perfect gift or experience, chances are you’ll find it in Mount Pleasant.

Mount Pleasant Wreath Photowalk South Main South Main

5 Valentine’s Day Gifts from Mount Pleasant

1. French Made Baking‘s macarons are the macarons that put Vancouver on the macaron map, if indeed such a map existed. For Valentine’s Day you can pick up a box of sweet and chewy heart-shaped macarons for your special someone but be sure to get there fast as they are bound to sell out. French Made Baking is also participating in the Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival so if you’re not just popping in to pick up a treat, stay a while and enjoy 4 unique hot chocolate concoctions.

A photo posted by French Made Baking (@frenchmadebaking) on

2. Looking for a more savoury treat? Rosemary Rocksalt is serving up heart-shaped bagels with pink rocksalt, $10.95/dz. Place order by end of day Friday the 13th by calling 604-874-4570 to guarantee your dozen.

3. For truly locally-inspired gifts Bird on a Wire and Much & Little are your go-to shops. Find everything from cotton towels, hand-forged scissors, silk dresses, soy candles, and dinner ware at Much & Little. Bird on a Wire carries products for him, her, baby, home and more. You’ll love their paper goods, scents from the Vancouver Candle Company, and crafter classes.

A photo posted by Bird on a Wire Creations (@birdonawireart) on

4. The Brewery Creek Liquor Store has everything you need for a spirited Valentine’s Day with well over 800 craft brews from local and global standouts, a top notch selection of BC wines and bubbly, hard-to-find products, craft Vodkas and Tequilas with an ever-growing selection of Rums, Ryes, Bourbons, Single malt and Vatted-malt Scotches, as well as Blended Scotches, Irish Whiskeys, Gins, Brandy and Cognacs.

A photo posted by Brewery Creek (@brewerycreek) on

5. Brunch it up! Mount Pleasant has so many incredible brunch spots from The Wallflower and Thyme to Indulge, to Caffee Rustico and Burgoo. Treat your sweetheart to hearty comfort foods or elevated, inspired cuisine with a cup of locally roasted coffee to start your day on the right note.

The Independent at Main

In the heart of all of this lovable neighbourhood, The Independent will grow, consisting of five architecturally distinct buildings, inspired by the building palate of Mount Pleasant.

independent-neighbourhood-map

It offers unmatched views, urban agricultural areas, over 300 bicycle parking stalls, dog run space and dog wash area for grooming, a fitness room, a workshop room with bike repair area, and more. Choose from many different suites types, from studios to 3 bedroom condos to suit the many different needs of those moving into this unique community — from young families, to single urban professionals, to downsizing couples. It’s close to the B-Line, Downtown and cross town buses, and the 10th Ave and Ontario bike lanes.

Opening previews for The Independent at Main start on Saturday, February 14, 2015 at the Sales Centre on the corner of Main and Broadway. Stop by to find out more and enjoy FREE snacks from Roaming Dragon food truck from 12:00pm to 5:00pm.

Beginning February 14th the Sale Centre will be open from 12:00pm, to 5:00pm every day except Friday.

February in Vancouver History

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Thanks to the City of Vancouver Archives and Chuck Davis’ History of Metropolitan Vancouver, here’s a glimpse at what happened this month in Vancouver history:

February in Vancouver History


February 3, 1929: Frozen fountain in Stanley Park. Archives# CVA 1477-613.

February 4, 1882

People came from far and wide to see the glow of the first lights on this day. Moodyville was the first townsite on the Pacific Coast, North of San Francisco, to have electricity.


1889: Moodyville. Archives# CVA 1376-375.10.

February 10, 1974

On this day the Fraser Street Bridge was replaced by the Knight Street Bridge.


1922. Fraser Street Bridge with swing span open. Archives# CVA 371-905.2.

February 12, 1912

The Vancouver Sun, BC’s biggest daily newspaper started on this day.

February 15, 1966

The first ski lift was introduced in Whistler, paving the way for this resort destination to thrive in the decades to come.

February 20, 1833

James Murray Yale took command of Fort Langley on this day. The Vancouver neighbourhood of Yaletown is named after him.

February 27, 1958

This was the last trip for the Interurban, running between Marpole and Steveston.


1952: Interurban. Archives# CVA 447-1666.

February 28, 1910

The prominent building at the northwest corner of Hastings and Granville opened on this day. At the time it was the Main Post Office. Today, it’s Sinclair Centre.

Sources: Vancouver History. Related Posts: January 1st in Vancouver History, February in Vancouver History, March in Vancouver History, April in Vancouver History, May in Vancouver History, June in Vancouver History, July in Vancouver History, August in Vancouver History, September, October in Vancouver History, November in Vancouver History, December in Vancouver History.

Win a Wellness Show Prize Pack

Comments 67 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Wellness Show returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre this year offering three full days of information and exhibits focusing on everything from massage and martial arts to fitness and cheese seminars.

wellnessshow
12:00pm to 7:00pm on Friday, February 13, 2015
10:00am to 7:00pm on Saturday, February 14, 2015
10:00am to 6:00pm on Sunday, February 15, 2015

Highlights this year include the Organic Market Section Presented By Nesters Market, a marketplace, the Butterfly Naturopathic clinic, workshops and seminars, cooking demos, a celebrity cooking stage, a kids activity area, and more.

Exhibitors focus on health and wellness, beauty, active living, leisure, healthy aging, kids health, mental well-being, pet health, and living green. Stop by one of the Wellness Show’s six stages: Celebrity Cooking Stage, Living Well Seminar Stage, Women and Wellness, Wellness Workshops, Fitness Demo Stage, and the Dairy Farmers “All you need is Cheese” Seminar.

Tickets are $14.50 (general admission), $12.50 (seniors and students with valid ID), $6.00 (children 5 and under are free). Three-day passes are available for $30.00 and discount tickets can be found online in advance. Cash only at the door.

Win a Wellness Show Prize Pack

I have a pair of tickets to give away to the Wellness Show long with a fully loaded gift basket valued at $350. The prize includes:

WholyTeaWholy Tea – #1 selling gentle cleansing tea on the market, contains all natural herbs for a complete liver and colon cleanse. Great for after the holidays every seasonal change.

Cardioflex Q10 – All in one heart formula, Best on the market for 10 years now. 16 vital nutrients, builds collagen, restores elasticity of the arteries and clears plaque, naturally.

Colflex oil of Oregano spray – Best tasting Oregano, great for your purse and for travel, comes in cinnamon and in mint flavours. Benefits of thyme and cinnamon oil along with oregano oil, works for sore throats or for prevention.

Nature Pro Protein Powder – Whey from all natural grass fed cattle from Australia, cold pressed never heated whey, maximum absorbency possible, helps you lose weight, mix in your smoothies or pancakes.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment with a quick everyday wellness tip (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
  • RT to enter to win @thewellnessshow tix + a prize pack from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/IQhms

    Follow the Wellness Show on Twitter and Facebook for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, February 12, 2015.

    Update: The winner is Susannah!

Parksville Uncorked 2015

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

I think that every British Columbian should have two things on their experience bucket list: The first is to witness and capture a Tigh-Na-Mara sunrise and the second is to attend a wine and culinary festival on Vancouver Island. Luckily you can accomplish both if you head over to the 7th Annual Parksville Uncorked this month.

Tigh-Na-Mara

Parksville Uncorked 2015

Seasoned wine appreciators, newcomers, foodies, and those who simply enjoy the best ingredients Vancouver Island can serve up will be spoiled with the featured events lined up this year at Parksville Uncorked. Signature events include:

Parksville Untapped
Thursday February 19, 2015 6:30pm to 9:00pm at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort
Parksville Untapped will showcase regional breweries and feature beer paired with delicious regional cuisine. Tickets are $55 per person + applicable taxes and include an exclusive take home “Parksville Untapped” beer glass. Book the night at Tigh-Na-Mara and save with one of this Uncorked package.

Swirl Signature Event
Friday, February 20, 2015 6:30pm to 9:00pm at The Beach Club Resort
Enjoy the best BC wines and gourmet cuisine Swirl. Whether you’re discovering wine for the first time, or tempting a sophisticated palate, Swirl will excite all your senses. Tickets are $75 per person + applicable taxes and include an exclusive take home “Swirl” wine glass. NEW THIS YEAR: BC Liquor Stores will have a pop-up shop at Swirl with many of the featured wines for sale right at the event.

Winemaker’s Dinner
Saturday February 21, 2015 6:30pm to 9:00pm
Quails Gate Winemakers’ Dinner at The Beach Club Resort
Tickets are $149 per person + applicable taxes.

Winemaker’s Dinner
Saturday, February 21, 2015 6:30pm to 9:00pm
See Ya Later Ranch Winemakers’ Dinner at Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort
Tickets are $129 per person + applicable taxes.

Bubbles and Brunch
Sunday, February 22, 2015 7:30am to 1:00pm
Tigh-Na-Mara Seaside Spa Resort and The Beach Club Resort
Enjoy a flight of BC bubbles for an additional $10, featuring: Stellar’s Jay, Cipes Brut, and Blue Mountain Brut.

Check out the various resort packages and be sure to book early as this festival does sell out. Parksville Uncorked proudly benefits Variety – Children’s Charity & Rotary Club Parksville.

Cobra Ramone Album Release Party

Comments 8 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Vancouver-based Cobra Ramone, a blues and rock vixen who raised over $17,000 through an Indiegogo campaign, is releasing her album Bang Bang on Friday, February 13th ahead of a Western Canadian tour.

New Jersey-born, Vancouver-based Cobra Ramone is a rock ‘n’ roll vixen jacked up on a blend of grit, gunpowder and Jack Daniels. An up-and-comer in the music industry, Cobra has already made an impression with her 2009 EP release, The Flood, and her 2012 self-titled album that spawned three singles – “Wrath Like a City”, a song that landed a spot on the Canadian Active Rock Charts for five consecutive weeks; “I’m The One”, which was featured on the Canadian drama series The L.A. Complex; and “Guns Blazing”, which received placement on the Canadian comedy-drama film All the Wrong Reasons starring Cory Monteith in one of his final feature film roles.

Recorded in Vancouver at Greenhouse Studios with up-and-coming producer Samuel Hewson Woywitka (Chin Injeti), Bang Bang is a five-song EP written by Cobra (axe, vocals) and Trevor Snakedust (organs, guitar, vocals) with additional assistance on arrangements by their drummer Pat Steward (Odds, Bryan Adams). The result is a blend of bluesy grit and greasy rock that will leave you lusting for more.

Tour Dates

March 4, 2015 Banff, AB at Elk & Oarsmen
March 5, 2015 Red Deer, AB at The Vat
March 6, 2015 Edmonton, AB at The Artery
March 7, 2015 Calgary, AB at The Palomino Smokehouse
March 20, 2015 Kelowna, BC at Doc Willoughby’s
March 21, 2015 Whistler, BC at Whistler Brewing Company
March 26, 2015 Victoria, BC at Logan’s Pub
March 27, 2015 Nanaimo, BC at The Cambie
April 3, 2015 Vancouver, BC at ANZA Club (official CD release party)

Ticket prices for each show vary and will be available at the door.

CobraRamone
Cobra Ramone Press Photo

Win Your Way in to the Cobra Ramone Album Release Party

Enter to win a copy of Bang Bang ahead of its release on Friday and win a spot for you and a friend on the guest list at Cobra Ramone‘s album release party at the ANZA CLUB on April 3rd. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win #BangBang by @cobraramone and tix to the album release party from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/ILjD3

Follow Cobra Ramone on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for more information. On Friday, February 13, 2015 at 12:00pm I will draw two winners who will each receive a copy of the EP and a pair of tickets to the album release party on April 3rd.

Update The winner is Michael h!