Taking a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, I invited Marc Smith to afternoon tea in Richmond. The Fairmont Vancouver Airport, in the spirit and tradition of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, offers an afternoon tea service along with a seasonal Mistletoe Tea.
Fairmont YVR Mistletoe Tea
Throughout the month of December, 2:00pm to 4:30pm
Adults $42 | Children 6 – 12 $21
This seasonal twist on our traditional Afternoon Tea includes festive fare specially created by our pastry shop for the holidays. Tempting sweets, house made scones and delicate finger sandwiches are all sure to delight this holiday season.
After making our tea selection (we both opted for the peppermint) we sat and watched planes arrive at gates as the winter sun lit up the snow-capped north shore mountains in the distance.
Cinnamon & Raisin with Pumpkin Seed Scones with Devonshire Cream & Strawberry Jam
Smoked Salmon, Cucumber Carpaccio & Freshly Grated Horseradish on Rye, Cinnamon Pear, Apple & Candied Pecan with FVA Honey Butter on Sourdough, House Smoked Turkey Sandwich, Cranberry Mayo on Cranberry Loaf sandwiches
Cherry & Rum Chocolate Cone, Home Made Fruit Cake, Eggnog & Nutmeg Cheesecake, Spiced Pumpkin Tart
I had both smoked salmon sandwiches, as Marc isn’t a fan of salmon, and he enjoyed the two cinnamon, apple and pear. We devoured the scones, with two helpings of Devonshire Cream, and by the time we got to the dessert tier our bellies were full of treats and tea so I had to get the cheesecake morsels to go.
While Mistletoe Tea will only be around until the end of December, Afternoon Tea is served year-round. Tea service includes exclusively blended Fairmont teas, petit sandwiches, tasty pastries, house-made scones and fresh strawberries with Devonshire cream. Those seeking a twist on tradition can compliment their Afternoon Tea experience with a signature tea based cocktails.
Fairmont YVR Afternoon Tea Contest
The Fairmont has offered up a gift certificate for one lucky winner and three guests to enjoy afternoon tea. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- 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 Friday, December 27, 2013. Follow the Fairmont Vancouver Airport on Facebook and Twitter. All ages may enjoy afternoon tea. Gift certificate must be used by December 31, 2014.
Update The winner is Katherine!
The Woodmark Hotel & Spa is ready to welcome those who need a night off to recover from the hustle and bustle of the holidays.
The holidays are supposed to be about family gatherings, toasting the season and taking time to reflect on another year – but then there’s the dark side. We work longer hours to make up for a few days off, we shop till we drop and there’s also a whole lot of dishes to be washed.
It’s time for a little holiday therapy and that’s where The Woodmark Hotel & Spa comes in. They want to give one lucky Vancouverite a weekend away to unwind.
Image courtesy of The Woodmark.
Located on the picturesque shores of Lake Washington, the winner and their guest will be treated to a one-night stay in one of Condé Nast’s top 10 resorts in the Pacific Northwest, with sumptuous culinary fare, a rejuvenating spa experience and an excursion across the lake to downtown Seattle on the hotel’s watercraft, The Woodmark II.
Images courtesy of The Woodmark.
The Woodmark is located in Kirkland, Washington, just off the I5 Highway and a couple hours drive from Vancouver, BC and offers unsurpassed views of Seattle and the Olympic Mountains. Its serene lakeside setting blends luxury and personalized service for the ultimate urban getaway.
The prize package, exclusive to one lucky Miss604 reader and their guest, includes:
Image courtesy of The Woodmark.
Here’s how you can enter to win this getaway prize package:
- Leave a comment listing who you would take with you on relaxing weekend of post-holiday therapy (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Thursday, December 26, 2013. Must be 19+ to enter, must be able to travel to the USA. The Woodmark Hotel and Miss604 are not responsible for transportation/travel to the USA. The prize can be used for booking between January 1, 2014 and March 31, 2014.
Update The winner is Christina!
This season the Mount Pleasant Business Improvement Area sent out wreaths to their members to challenge them to decorate the festive cedar rings in a judged competition.
After a week with the wreath, the judging began and I was joined Daman Beatty, Andres Markwart, Josh Rimer, and Brigitte Stroud on a walking tour with Kara from the Mount Pleasant BIA to check out the decorations.
We walked for about 4 hours and visited over 60 shops, services, and organizations that lined Main Street, Kingsway, and the streets in between. Thrift stores, non-profit groups, cafes, restaurants, boutiques, and banks participated, each adding their own flare to their wreaths. I captured our walk in photos, here are a few highlights:
Left: Decorated by the children of Reach for the Stars Montessori. Right: Flight Centre
Banana Tans went all out, decorating their entire entranceway.
I loved learning more about Shilo Living on West Broadway
Canadian Mental Health and Vancouver Folk Fest had strong entries, side by side.
We heard more about the great work of Aunt Leah’s.
Two wreaths sported some delicious-looking macarons.
The owner’s 6 year old daughter made Yek O Yek’s entry.
We did award a special prize to Ramsay Worden Architects for upcycling their used drawings to make this lovely, glittery wreath. Our Best Overall winners were…
BEST Mobility! Their wreath combo bicycle, Rudolph was over the top.
View the rest of my wreath photos on Flickr. If you would like to explore the wreaths (and businesses) of Mount Pleasant, check out this free self-guided tour put together by the BIA and follow @MountPleasantBC #PleasantWreaths on Twitter for more information.
Brentwood in Burnaby is in the middle of their 24 Days of Giving campaign, giving back with contests and special events this season.
On December 14th and 15th Brentwood hosted the Toy Mountain, Santa is available for photos (free on Tuesdays), they have a full lineup of live weekend entertainment, and the 24 Days of Giving contest is on until Christmas Eve. There are also Burnaby Choir performances, extended holiday hours, and a gift wrapping lounge with proceeds going to local charities.
Brentwood, on the corner of Willingdon and Lougheed (and at Brentwood SkyTrain station) is home to 110 stores and services including Sears and London Drugs. To spread even more cheer they are offering up a $100 gift card to one lucky Miss604 reader. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Follow Brentwood on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their shops, services, and special events. I will draw one contest winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Thursday, December 19, 2013.
Update The winner is lor!
Premier Christy Clark announced that she and her government are in favour of Happy Hour in BC along with other liquor law changes such as allowing children to enter pubs.
Happy Hour in BC
Clark’s Liberal government is reviewing BC’s liquor laws, saying rules and regulations governing alcohol require modernization. Last month, Liberal parliamentary secretary John Yap submitted a report to the Justice Ministry that included 70 recommended changes.
On Tuesday, Clark announced her support for several of those recommendations, which she said updated “antiquated licensing rules to reflect what British Columbians actually want, while continuing to protect public safety.”Under the recommendations, minors would be allowed into establishments that primarily serve liquor, for example pubs and legions, up until a certain time.
Happy hours would also be permitted, although drinks would be subject to minimum pricing, Clark said.
In addition, customers in restaurants or bars which primarily serve food would not be required to order food with their drinks.
Customers would also be allowed to move freely with their alcoholic drinks from one adjoining licensed area to another — for example, between a summer patio and an indoor section of the pub. [CBC Vancouver]
70 changes to liquor laws in BC have been recommended by Liberal parliamentary secretary John Yap so far. According to CBC Vancouver, Yap’s plan would also see a phased-in approach to selling liquor in grocery stores, keeping liquor and food sales separate and maintaining a cap on the number of liquor retail outlets in the province.
Archive Photos of the Day
BC is currently the last province in Canada to allow Happy Hour. In honour of these updates to liquor laws, I have sourced a few photos from the City of Vancouver Archives featuring bars and bartenders.
1908: The Strand Hotel bar at 624 West Hastings. Archives# Hot P86.
1915: Regent Hotel Bar at 162 East Hastings. Archives# Hot P40.1.
1914: Hotel bar. Archives# Hot P52 & Winters Hotel Bar at the corner of Water and Abbott. Archives# Hot P43.
1904: Balmoral Saloon bar at 2 West Cordova. Archives# CVA 677-166. Photo: Philip Timms.
