With the morning sun appearing over the hills and illuminating Osoyoos Lake I am still dreaming about the meal Michelle and I enjoyed at Miradoro last night. Recently handed top honours as “Best Winery Restaurant” in the Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, Miradoro Restaurant takes the best of BC, and the best of the Okanagan valley, and pairs it majestically with Tinhorn Creek Vineyards‘ lush varietals.
Taking into consideration the calibre of the food, the quality of the wines, the modern design of the restaurant and the spectacular wrap-around views of the entire vine-and-orchard-filled valley, it felt odd to walk into a practically empty Miradoro — but such is the norm around this time of year in this seasonal oasis.
The population of nearby Osoyoos in the off-season is about 5,000 — doubling in the summer months — with the May Long Weekend being the official start to summer. Once the floodgates are open, winery tasting rooms are packed and reservations will be strongly recommended. In the meantime, lucky for us, we were part of a select group of diners who chose Miradoro last night along with a family, and a young couple on a date.
Michelle had been eyeing the menu online before we even left the Lower Mainland but she selected our starters based on their wine pairings (although we skipped the Chardonnay for the clams and got the 2 Bench Oldfield Series white 2012 with both).
we wai kai scallop & cauliflower
with shallot, caper raisin sauce, sunflower seed
steamed gulf island clams
with chorizo in saffron tomato sauce
I had to go for the Halibut (you can probably check back my ‘Food‘ archives and see that it’s always my favourite dish to try), and I was absolutely charmed by this presentation. Buttery but clean and crisp, with rich couscous and perky valley vegetables.
forno roasted halibut
with charmoula, carrot cous cous, cabbage puree, pickled local walnut, radish
Pairing: Chardonnay 2012
Michelle selected the duck, and while it was less rare than she was used to, there was so flavour lacking whatsoever and the root vegetable fudge offered a sweet contrast.
duck breast
with root vegetable fudge, sunchoke puree, ras al hanout granola, harker’s organic cider
Pairing: Oldfield Pinot Noir 2009
We had to go out in style and peruse the dessert menu, deciding on the lemon crema and tiramisu.
lemon crema
with citrus mint salad & lavender sablé cookie
tiramisu
classic italian pudding with mascarpone, marsala, cocoa & espresso (the best we’ve ever had).
What I love about this winery restaurant is that it’s not always about Tinhorn Creek’s wines, they have a full compliment of other Osoyoos and Oliver wines available on their dessert wine list. However, we went with the Tinhorn Creek Kerner with our sweets, tipping our hats to the host and rounding out a meal that burst with fresh local flavours.
Canadian Concert Series Contest
You can still enter to win your own experience at Tinhorn Creek Winery in my Canadian Concert Series contest. Until May 1st, enter to win a 1-night stay at the Watermark Beach Resort and two tickets to The Boom Booms concert at the Tinhorn Creek vineyard amphitheatre. Head over to my contest post for details on how to enter to win.
Michelle and I are in the area to experience life at Osoyoos Cottages. Located on the east side of Osoyoos Lake, with a driveway flanked by pastures and an ecological reserve, it’s a budding lakeside community we’re calling home for the next few days.
Celebrate youth in our community during BC Youth Week, taking place May 1st through May 7th, 2014. Youth Week is an international celebration recognizing the value, diversity and positive contributions youth make in their communities. Be sure to catch one of many events including everything from sporting events and art shows to award ceremonies and random acts of kindness.
BC Youth Week Events
There are dozens of events happening from Courtenay to Clearwater, here are just a few that are scheduled around the Lower Mainland:
Carnival – Abbotsford
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014
Time: 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Location: AYC Youth Centre at Abbotsford Rec Centre
Try out the HUGE inflatable obstacle race course and they will have carnival style games, popcorn, snow cones and a sweet photo booth. All youth 12-18 are welcome to join this super fun night at our youth centre at ARC. Read more »
Youth Week Block Party – Burnaby
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014
Time: 12:30pm to 4:00pm
For Ages: 10-18, free admission
Location: Summit Youth Centre/Confederation Park
The BIGGEST event of the week celebrates Youth and Raises Awareness of Sexually Exploited Children & Youth. Come check out the BBQ, live DJ, open mike, scavenger hunt, art in the park, music, and more. Read more »
Dodge Ball Tournament – Coquitlam
Date: Friday, May 2, 2014
Time: 6:30pm to 7:30pm
Location: Centennial Activity Centre
This fun drop-in tournament will feature an exciting variety of dodge ball variations. Cost is $2, includes prizes. Read more »
Surrey Steps Up Showcase – Surrey
Date: Friday, May 2, 2014
Time: 6:30pm to 10:00pm
An opportunity for youth to broadcast their creativity, compassion and courage to the world. From Guilford Park to Earl Marriot, Clayton Heights to Tamanawis, our city is alive with amazing young people who are stepping up and transforming their communities through arts, athletics, and activism. Read more »
WHOMP – Maple Ridge/Pitt Meadows
Date: Saturday May 3, 2014 at 9:00pm to
Sunday May 4, 2014 at 8:00am
Location: Greg Moore Youth Centre (11925 Haney Place)
Cost: $10
This all-nighter is jam packed with activities from swimming to obstacle courses to trivia. Prizes, pizza, and guaranteed fun. Read more »
Youth Fest 2014 – Mission
Date : Saturday, May 3, 2014
Time: 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Location: Mission Leisure Centre
Activities will include skate board and dance competitions, a performance by Childsplay, Graffiti Art, Dunk Tank, Food Eating Contests, and a dance. Read more »
Youth Week Event – Vancouver
Date: Saturday, May 3, 2014
Time: 11:00am to 4:00pm
Location: Creekside Community Centre & Downtown Skate Plaza
Join the fun at Creekside Community Centre and the outside area to the Union Street Skate Park with performances, dragon boating, skate boarding, hip hop dancing, inflatables, 3 on 3 basketball, dodgeball, street art, prizes. Read more »
Walk so Kids Can Talk- Kids Help Phone
Date: Sunday, May 4, 2014
Time: 9:30am to 3:30pm
Location: Various: Vancouver, Victoria, Fraser Valley, Nanaimo, Kelowna
Cost: Free, pledges welcomed
Kids Help Phone’s Walk so Kids Can Talk presented by BMO is a fun, healthy, family friendly event that can be enjoyed by individuals, groups, families, students, schools, and corporate teams. It’s a terrific way to build community and come together to enjoy a great experience outdoors while supporting a vital cause: young people’s mental health and well-being.
Youth Awards Ceremony- District of North Vancouver
Date: Monday, May 5, 2014
Time: 6:00pm
Location: District of North Vancouver Municipal Hall – 335 W Queens Rd
Join the District of North Vancouver at our Youth Awards Ceremony.
Big Day Out – Township of Langley
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2014
Time: 3:30pm to 5:30pm
Location: W.C. Blair Recreation Centre
Join the fun at the skate park for music, skate and bike competitions, free food, and prizes. Read more »
To find out what’s happening in your community today, check out the BC Youth Week event listings by city and become a fan of BC Youth Week on Facebook.
Miss604 is a proud partner of BC Youth Week and Surrey Youth Fest.
Pauline Johnson documented and shared “Legends of Vancouver” over 100 years ago, telling famous tales of the Lions peaks and giving Lost Lagoon its name. Many of Pauline’s works are in the Public Domain and her book, “Legends of Vancouver” is available on iBooks, and for free on Kindle. In the last post I featured Lost Lagoon and this week’s theme is a tribute to our April showers.
Rainfall by E. Pauline Johnson
From out the west, where darkling storm-clouds float,
The ‘waking wind pipes soft its rising note.
From out the west, o’erhung with fringes grey,
The wind preludes with sighs its roundelay,
Then blowing, singing, piping, laughing loud,
It scurries on before the grey storm-cloud;
Across the hollow and along the hill
It whips and whirls among the maples, till
With boughs upbent, and green of leaves blown wide,
The silver shines upon their underside.
A gusty freshening of humid air,
With showers laden, and with fragrance rare;
And now a little sprinkle, with a dash
Of great cool drops that fall with sudden splash;
Then over field and hollow, grass and grain,
The loud, crisp whiteness of the nearing rain.
Related posts: Lost Lagoon, Pauline Johnson Opera by Margaret Atwood, Pauline Johnson’s Legends of Vancouver, Pauline Johnson Exhibit at Stanley Park Nature House, Pauline Johnson Memorial at Stanley Park, Vancouver History: The Lions, The Two Sisters.
The Vancouver Sun Run has been Canada’s largest 10K road race since its inception in 1985 and it’s taking the city by storm again this weekend as tens of thousands of walkers and runners hit the streets on Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 9:00am.
Photo credit:
JWalk* on Flickr
The Vancouver Sun put together a very handy information page where you can find everything you need for Sunday’s event. Here are just a few key points that I’d like to share as well.
Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Road Closures
The 10K course starts at Georgia and Burrard and will be lined with water stations and live musical performers. For the safety of the 50,000 participants, various road closures will be in effect between 5:00am and 1:30pm. These closures may restrict parking and access to and from your building.
Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Start Times
Competitive (unassisted) wheelchair racers start at 8:40am. GoodLife Fitness aerobics instructors lead a warm-up starting at 8:42am. Walkers and runners are grouped into waves according to their estimated finish time, and start at timed intervals. The first wave starts at 9:00 and there will be multiple waves.
If you are a walker in the purple and red zones, you are encouraged to arrive at the start by 9:00am, but be aware that you may not cross the start line until about 9:45am. More info »
Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Getting There
SkyTrain’s Expo and Millennium Lines will start service half an hour earlier, with the first train leaving King George Station at 6:38am and Lougheed Station at 6:45am. Both will operate “rush hour” level service before the start of the race and also in the afternoon until the crowds clear. They will then resume regular Sunday service. Canada Line will begin service at the regular time of 4:48 a.m. and will provide increased train frequency for crowds travelling to and from the race.
The West Coast Express will operate a special Sun Run Train. It will depart Mission City Station at 7:00am. arriving at Waterfront at 8:15am. The train will depart Waterfront Station at 1:00pm. for the return trip. SeaBus will start operations one hour earlier than normal, with the first sailing leaving Lonsdale Quay at 7:00am and sailings leaving every 15 minutes from Waterfront until 2:45pm. More info »
Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Have Fun!
You don’t need to be a runner, a jogger or a walker to have fun. Bring along the family or a friend to watch the race from the sidelines, and join in the fun and festivities on the course and at the finish line. The party starts at BC Place at 8:30am, just in time to entertain the Shaw Mini Sun Runners and the first of the elite runners crossing the finish line at about 9:30am. There will be snacks and entertainment for everyone.
Along the route participants will enjoy music from 18 bands and artists including: The Neurotics (Start Line); Quickness (Georgia & Granville); Bad Motor Scooter (Front of the Art Gallery); Jennifer Hershman (Robson & Denman); Warren Dean Flandez (Denman & Beach); Studio Cloud 30 Singers (Beach at Bidwell); Sandcastle Theory (Beach at Cardero); Rock Paper Moon (under Burrard Bridge North End); Sandi Melody Band & Harmony House Students (Burrard Bridge North End); BC Regiment Band (near Molson Building on Burrard); Mai Tai Friday (Burrard & 2nd Ave); Spakwas Slolem/Eagle Song Dancers — Squamish Nation (Fir near 2nd Ave); Des Larson (under Granville Bridge at 4th Ave); Scary Lizards (grassy area where 4th and 6th Ave meet); X-Kalibre (6th Ave near Ash); Deep Blue (6th Ave under Cambie Bridge); Not Sold Separately (Mini Sun Run); Ten Souljers (BC Place). More info »
Vancouver Sun Run 2014: Causes
Although not designated as a charity event, The Vancouver Sun Run has donated close to $2.11 million for designated causes since its inception in 1985. This year, The Vancouver Sun Run will once again support The Vancouver Sun’s Raise-a-Reader campaign and BC’s amateur athletes with significant donations.
Follow The Vancouver Sun on Twitter for more up-to-date information and instructions and be sure to look for your race photo in the paper on Monday, April 28, 2014.
The Surrey Party for the Planet, one of BC’s largest Earth Day celebrations, is happening this Saturday, April 26, 2014 at The Plaza at New City Hall. John and I have been to every Party for the Planet as I’ve had the pleasure of being a sponsor every year since the event began in 2011. It’s free, it’s fun, it’s family friendly, and there’s always a great entertainment lineup. If you weren’t already convinced to join us on Saturday, here are…
5 Reasons to Visit Surrey Party for the Planet
Source: City of Surrey.
City Hall Open House
The Grand Opening of the New City Hall will also take place during Party for the Planet starting at 2:00pm. There will be opening remarks by Mayor Dianne Watts and Council, a ribbon cutting, cupcakes, tours (from 10:00am to 1:00pm), and a public art unveiling.
Lights at the 2013 P4TP
Music
Wander between the Main Stage, Children’s Stage, Atrium Stage, and Centre Stage throughout the full day of live music, from the Kwantlen Glee Club, Jodi Proznick Quartet, and Surrey Strings to Jeremy Fisher, Jordan Klassen, Dear Rouge, Andrew Allen, and Said The Whale. Check out the full lineup online.
Entertainment for Kids
Visit Kids World for face painting and eco-themed crafts, and check out the Children’s Stage – Library Schedule for entertainment from Mad Science, Juggler Mike Battie, Storytime, Surrey Libraries’ Poetry Contest Winner, Raptors Ridge Birds of Prey Demo, Robin and the Magical Tree: Music & Puppets. Bobs & Lolo will also be on the Main Stage twice.
Tree Sale
Returning this year is the popular Tree Sale with $20 trees ready to be planted. You can also find the Surrey Urban Farmers Market, food producers, and artisans in Farmer’s Alley, Sustainability Way House, the Nature Nook, and other featured activity areas.
Mini Donuts and More
If you don’t arrive hungry, you’ll soon be craving some of the tasty treats being served up at Party for the Planet. You’ll find Poutine by Big Red Poutine and authentic polish food by Old Country Pierogi on site along with artisan ice-cream by Rocky Point Ice Cream, gourmet burgers, corn on the cob, corn dogs, coffee, mini donuts, and take-home snacks from the Honeybee Centre and Sweet Thea Bakery.
Surrey Party for the Planet takes place Saturday April 26, 2014 from 10:00am to 9:00pm at Surrey City Hall Plaza, 13450 104 Avenue, Surrey. It is accessible by transit (Surrey Centre Station) and a bike valet will be on site.
