Even after all of the free samples at the West Coast Women’s Show — everything from Turkish coffee and olive oil to hummus and fruitcake, I couldn’t resist crunching on some pumpkin, cranberry Monkey Toast when I got home along with a sweet spoonful of Campbell’s Gold Honey. The West Coast Women’s Show was absolutely hopping at TRADEX in Abbotsford during its first full day, here are just a few of the show’s highlights for me:
Gluten-Free, Grills, and Glamour
To start, TRADEX is a giant venue (twice as big as I thought when I first walked through the doors) and it was filled with women yesterday who were shopping, enjoying a martini and a fashion show, and getting their nails done. The biggest crowds at first glance were at the gluten free product stands, the grill appliance demos (that smelled amazing, cooking up zucchini, chicken, and sausages) and at glamour booths where attendees could get henna on their hands, glitter eye shadow, or gel nail polish.
Shopping
There was really so much to see and do that I went through twice, once along and once with a friend, and I still don’t think I got to everything after 2 hours. We did a quick stop at the fashion show and sipped some Skinny Grape wine samples as Hall of Flame calendar firefighters signed autographs, we heard all of the pitches from the stone cookware booth and Norwex cloth ladies, and made some great purchases. I bought the aforementioned Monkey Toast, made by a local couple in Horseshoe Bay, some Campbell’s Gold Honey that I visited on a Circle Farm Tour this summer, and I was almost sold on some hot packs, a purse with designs by Corrine Hunt, and some loose-leaf teas.
Saturday and Sunday
There are still two full days of the West Coast Women’s Show packed with kitchen demos, health and wellness, samples, shopping, and much more. The show will run Saturday, October 26, 2013 from 10:00am to 9:00pm; Sunday, October 27, 2013 from 11:00am to 5:30pm at TRADEX in Abbotsford. Admission is $12 for adults, $9 for seniors ($7 on Friday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm), $9 for youth (13-17), $4 for children (6-12), and children 5 and under are free. Ticket prices include GST. Ticket sales are cash only at the gate at TRADEX.
Follow the West Coast Women’s Show on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Walking tours are a fantastic way for visitors to learn about our city and for locals, they help us understand more about our own backyard — while often being highly entertaining. Tour Guys, Vancouver’s largest walking tour company, has re-launched their overwhelmingly popular “Murders, Mystery and Mayhem” tour for a third straight year.
“Murders, Mysteries and Mayhem” is the brainchild of two East Van natives, Jessica O’Neill and Alasdair Butcher, passionate local historians who grew up on Commercial Drive and in Strathcona. Jessica explains how the tour came about. “I’d been guiding with Tour Guys for 2 years, and when (owner) Steve Woodall asked me to write a Halloween tour, I was excited. But that quickly turned to disappointment when I realized how flimsy and fake most of Vancouver’s ghost stories are!” The solution? A tour comprised of the really scary stuff – the true stories of crime, killings and terror.
This tour explores a Vancouver “that is more than natural beauty, tall glass towers and high property values — a Vancouver that has changed less than you’d think since its days as a rough and dirty mill town in the 1860s.” Departing from the Vancouver Art Gallery, guests make their way to Gastown, taking an unexpected route that includes going down dark alleys, through eerily lit squares and even indoors to see a larger than life riot.
“Murders, Mysteries and Mayhem” runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 6:00pm and 8:00pm (more dates/times added as needed) until the first weekend of November. It is recommended for those over the age of 12.
50% Promo Code & Contest
The Tour Guys have graciously setup a promo code of “MISS604” for my readers to receive 50% off their ticket purchase for tours this week and next. Use this link to receive the discount when booking.
I also have a pair of tickets to give away for one of next week’s walking tours. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment here naming a creepy/scary place in Vancouver (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Sunday, October 27, 2013. The winner will be able to attend the tour on either October 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st or November 1st (their choice). Follow Tour Guys (Vancouver and Toronto) on Facebook for more information about their seasonal and year-round tours.
Update The winner is Shirley!
The Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival (“VISAFF”) opens this weekend with a red carpet gala event on Friday followed by two days of film screenings at SFU Woodwards.
Vancouver International South Asian Film Festival
Opening Gala Reception
The opening red carpet gala on Friday, October 25, 2013 will take place at the Goldcorp Centre for Performing Arts at SFU Woodwards; promising an evoking atmosphere and an unforgettable evening of red carpet glamour, live performances, key note speakers and official trailers of all the films selected for VISAFF 2013. The reception is scheduled from 7:00pm until 12:00am and tickets are available for purchase online for $25.
The evening will include Vancouver comedian, Hollywood Harv, film trailers for the weekend’s screenings, and an introduction of the VISAFF founders. Priyatharshini Raja & Arash Kakpour will perform a contemporary dance piece and former Miss Universe contestant, Shalini Kumar will sing live. Director Tandy Tatter will introduce his film The Ink Doc while Amandeep Singh “Inkquisite” will be having a mini art exhibition in the outside lobby area, giving guests the option to silent bid on some of his beautiful pieces of work.
Saturday and Sunday Screenings
Saturday, October 26, 2013 is the first official day of the VISAFF and screenings will run from 12:00pm until 7:30pm at the Goldcorp Centre for Performing Arts at SFU Woodwards. The schedule begins with student films, followed by numerous short film titles emphasizing a strong female focus, a feature documentary and the ending the day off with a feature horror film. All the screenings will be divided into blocks and tickets can be purchased for these groupings or for the full day.
Sunday, October 27, 2013 is the second and final day of the film festival at the Goldcorp Centre for Performing Arts at SFU Woodwards with screenings from 3:00pm until 6:30pm. This day will feature numerous short film titles emphasizing a modern man focus and ending with a feature film . All the screenings will be divided into blocks and tickets can be purchased for these groupings or for the full day.
VISAFF’s purpose and vision is to “bridge the gap” between South Asian films and mainstream audiences. VISAFF is instrumental in breaking the South Asian stereotype, and expanding North American views on the artists within the culture beyond Bollywood. The festival is committed to serving as a launch pad for integration through celebration and education. Follow the festival this week on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
The International Artist Day Festival in White Rock is a weekend-long celebration of artists from around the world right here in our own backyard. Festivities will kick off on Friday evening with a gala event, followed by two days of art and performances at the White Rock Community Centre.
International Artist Day Festival in White Rock
Gala Evening
When: Friday, October 25, 2013 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: White Rock Community Centre (15154 Russell Avenue, White Rock)
Tickets: $150 which include a $100 art voucher to be used toward the purchase of any piece of art at the show. Only 200 tickets are available. Call White Rock Leisure Services (604) 541-2199 ext. 0 or visit the White Rock Community Centre in person.
This intimate and elegant gala evening will have ‘Mr. Oh Canada’ Mark Donnelly as Master of Ceremonies and feature the works of over 90 artists. There will be a performance by Canadian award-winning Jody Proznick Trio, “Trilogy”, gourmet canapés catered by Marilyn Pearson Cuisine & Company and wine from Township 7.
17 master artists will be present with their art and be available to discuss their work in an informal studio atmosphere: Alan Wylie, Keith Hiscock, Raymond Chow, Chris MacClure, Arnie Fisk, Brent Heighton, Jose Ventura, John Einerssen, Vance Theoret, Terry Isaac, Dan F. Gray, Richard Tetrault, Jef Morlan, David Patterson, Gaye Adams, Dave Benning, Richard S. McDiarmid. The event also includes an anonymous (signed on the back) 12″x12″ canvas show of art submitted by artists from across BC, each available for $150.
Festival Weekend
When: Saturday, October 26th and Sunday, October 27th, 2013
Where: White Rock Community Centre (15154 Russell Avenue, White Rock)
Tickets: Entry is by donation, proceeds go to the White Rock Elementary’s Fine Arts Program
The International Artist Day Festival is a community event that will showcase the visual and performing arts. This is a chance to meet and get to know the creative talent in our region. There will be scheduled talks by noted artists who have been invited to share their stories throughout the weekend. A large part of the visual art event is a 12” x 12” Canvas Show. The anonymous nature of the pieces will lend some fun and mystery and will be available for collectors to purchase.
Master artist in person are: Alan Wylie, Chris MacClure, Jose Ventura, Terry Issac, Jeff Morlan, Dave Benning, Keith Hiscock, Arnie Fisk, John Einerssen, Dan F. Gray, David Patterson, Rick McDiarmid, Raymond Chow, Brent Heighton, Vance Theoret, Richard Tetrault, and Gaye Adams.
On Saturday (from 10:00am to 6:00pm) specifically there will be performances by The Leila Kirves Jazz Trio, The Kwantlen Guitar Quartet, The Willy Wang Jazz Trio, and The Madeline Young String Trio. On Sunday (10:00am to 4:00pm), performances will include The Willy Wang Jazz Trio and The Madeline Young String Trio.
Win Tickets to the IAD Gala
If you would like to attend the International Artist Day gala event on Friday evening, I have a pair of tickets to give away (each valued at $50, does not include the art voucher) thanks to Tourism White Rock. Here’s how you can enter to win your way into this creative celebration in White Rock:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, October 24, 2013. This is a quick turnaround so if you enter be sure to check your email on Thursday morning to see if I’ve sent you a prize notification. Follow Tourism White Rock on Twitter and Facebook for more information about this festival and other events in the area.
Update The winner is Brianna!
Through storytelling, trick-or-treating and family fun, Fort Langley National Historic Site and Fort Langley Village are serving up some Halloween fun this weekend.
Halloween at Fort Langley: Grave Tales
The Birthplace of BC at Fort Langley is the perfect place to hear spine-tingling stories during a night time walking tour. Grave Tales are currently running nightly through Fort Langley Village. Upcoming dates for 7:00pm, 8:00pm and 9:00pm walks are October 25th, 26th, and 27th. October 28th, 29th, and 30th will have walks at 7:00pm and 8:00pm. Advance tickets are available online. Ages 17+ only but there is a youth edition at the old Hudson’s Bay Company Fort this year as well.
The Grave Tales: Youth Edition is for youth aged 15 and under, with adult supervision, running October 26th through October 30th at 6:00pm. Reservations for the youth edition are required and can be made only by calling (604) 513-4799.
Halloween at Fort Langley: Family Fright at the Fort
On Saturday, October 26, 2013 and Sunday, October 27, 2013 families can roam around the fort from 1:00pm to 4:00pm (gates open at 12:30pm) to enjoy trick-or-treating, pumpkin decorating, entertainment, Halloween-themed treats from The Full Barrel Cafe, and more. This event is suited for families with children 10 years old and younger. Check out the Fort Langley website for ticket pricing and follow the fort on Facebook for more information.
