The Vancouver International Tequila Expo returns for a second year this May and tickets have gone on sale today. Sponsored by First Majestic, Tourism Mexico, ProMexico, and the Consulate General of Mexico in Vancouver, the Vancouver International Tequila Expo will take place at the Vancouver Hyatt Regency Hotel on Friday, May 24, 2013 from 6:00pm to 9:00pm.
Raising $5,000 last year, proceeds from the event will once again benefit the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation. Organizers say that this year’s event will be larger, with more tasting booths, more food, off-site agave spirits tasting seminars and pairing dinners for Vancouver Agave Week (May 20th to 24th, 2013).
Several local restaurants will gather in the restaurant area to offer up tequila-inspired cuisine as well. Additional exhibitors, sponsors, seminars, and participating restaurants will be announced as they join the event.
The expo includes a public vote on the top three tequilas and prize giveaways including a Mexican getaway. Ticket prices have decreased this year with a $40 early-bird option in effect right now (increasing to $50 and $60 closer to the event date).
Follow the Vancouver International Tequila Expo on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the event.
The Canadian Space Agency is celebrating astronaut Chris Hadfield, commander of the International Space Station, with a world tour photo challenge. While Hadfield has been posting amazing images from his orbit of Earth, they are inviting young and old to submit photos for the chance to win some very unique prizes.
How to Enter
1. You can enter by adding a 2D Chris Hadfield to your photo using the CSA’s digital editing system.
2. You can visit a partner venue across Canada to snap a photo with a 2D cutout. Partner venues in Vancouver are the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre and Science World.
3. Download and print your own 2D Chris Hadfield (scroll to bottom of this page for file options) and take a photo with it.
Prizes
The three pictures with the most online votes will win a mission t-shirt signed by Chris Hadfield. The big winner will have the chance to virtually meet Chris Hadfield during a private discussion via Webcast after the mission (arrangements to be made in accordance with astronaut’s schedule).
The contest has been live since the summer and it will end May 16, 2013. You can upload as many images as you like or click to vote on any of the photos that have already been submitted.
On this day in 1939, two lions created by sculptor Charles Marega were placed at the south entrance of the Lions Gate Bridge. They were the last commissioned work for this prominent yet struggling Vancouver artist.
To quote my blog post on this day last year: “Over the years the lions have been a sign of ‘quitting time’ for North Shore commuters, the focus of tourist photos, brought awareness to causes and campaigns through their mysterious get-ups, and provided support for our home teams.” Frequently photographed by park explorers and passers-by, today’s Vancouver Icon photo collection features the Lions Gate Bridge lions.
Other Vancouver Icons posts include: LightShed, Granville Bridge, 217.5 Arc x 13′, Canoe Bridge, Vancouver Block, Bloedel Conservatory, Centennial Rocket, Canada Place, Old Courthouse/Vancouver Art Gallery, Dominion Building, Science World, Gastown Steam Clock, SFU Burnaby, Commodore Lanes, Siwash Rock, Kitsilano Pool, White Rock Pier, Main Post Office, Planetarium Building, Lord Stanley Statue, Vancouver Library Central Branch, Victory Square, Digital Orca, The Crab Sculpture, Girl in Wetsuit, The Sun Tower, The Hotel Vancouver, The Gassy Jack Statue, The Marine Building, and The Angel of Victory. Should you have a suggestion for the Vancouver Icons series please feel free to leave a note in the comments. It should be a thing, statue, or place that is very visible and recognizable to the public.
Be Coconut Water has offered up a special contest with Miss604 to promote the all-natural refreshment that comes from coconut water. Some enjoy it on a hot day or add it as an ingredient when cooking, while others might chug it to power up after yoga. I know that ever since coconut water came into the spotlight, John has sworn by its powers to rejuvenate after a hard workout thanks to naturally occurring electrolytes and potassium.
Packed with vitamins, you can get varieties of coconut water from Be Coconut Water that include Be Pure Coconut Water, Be Pomegranate Coconut, Water, Be Mango Coconut Water, and Be Aloe Coconut Water. These all contain natural fruit juices and do not not contain added sugar or fat, cholesterol, or gluten.
You can even cook with coconut water, just look up some recipes on Be Coconut’s website. Dishes like raw avocado coconut water soup, butternut squash quinoa soup, chocolate and banana coconut water pancakes, coconut water mojitos, and more.
In Vancouver, you can pick up Be Coconut Water at Urban Fare, London Drugs, Nesters Market, Buy-Low Foods, Meinhardt, Pharmasave, Stongs, Famous Foods, Donald’s Market, and Pure Integrative Pharmacy.
The prize package offered up by Be Coconut Water includes a 3-month supply* (any flavour) and a 3-month membership to Bikram Yoga Burnaby — “Bikram Yoga is a series of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises. Each posture stretches and strengthens specific muscles, ligaments, tendons and joints needed for the next posture. The Bikram method also stimulates the organs, glands, and nerves moving fresh oxygenated blood to 100% of the body helping to restore all systems to a healthy working order. Bikram Yoga Burnaby provides a beautiful physical space offering first class amenities combined with high quality Bikram Yoga instructors.”
Here’s how you can enter to win this prize to try out some coconut water AND yoga in the coming months:
- 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 on Monday, January 28, 2013 at 12:00pm. Learn more about Be Coconut Water on Facebook, Pinterest or Twitter. Follow Bikram Yoga Burnaby on Facebook and Twitter too.
*4 cases of Be Coconut Water (Pure, Mango, Pomegranate, Aloe, or a mixture). Each case contains twenty-four 520ml cans. Recommended daily intake is 1 can per day.
Update The winner is Cyndi!
Vancouver has earned many distinctions and topped many lists, from having some of the best city beaches, being the most congested or most expensive to the most livable, and now it’s Canada’s Most Walkable.
Vancouver walkability heat map.
The popular website/service Walk Score ranked Canada’s cities and the list included:
- 1. Vancouver (Walk Score = 78)
- 2. Toronto (Walk Score = 71)
- 3. Montreal (Walk Score = 70)
- 4. Mississauga (Walk Score = 59)
- 5. Ottawa (Walk Score = 54)
- 6. Winnipeg (Walk Score = 53)
- 7. Edmonton (Walk Score = 51)
- 8. Hamilton (Walk Score = 51)
- 9. Brampton (Walk Score = 48)
- 10. Calgary (Walk Score = 48)
The “Walk Score Algorithm” measures the walkability of individual addresses based on proximity to nearby amenities along with city boundaries, neighbourhood boundaries, and population data.
The study rated the walkability of more than 300 Canadian cities and 1,200 neighbourhoods. Given the number of points Vancouver racked up, it also outranks Seattle (where Walk Score is based) by 4 points. Victoria actually scored the same as Vancouver but its population is too small to make the ranking.
Walk Score is a helpful tool for planning how you’ll be able to get around a city in which you’re vacationing or looking for a new home. They also have Bike Score and Transit Scores that you can look up for various cities.
