Parksville Uncorked 2013: Tickets on Sale Now

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Parksville Uncorked returns in February as the Beach Club Resort and the award-winning Tigh-Na-Mara Resort and Spa host beer and wine pairing events.

Located just north of Nanaimo, Parksville is s sunny seaside community that celebrates the best of BC ingredients and spirits with Uncorked, now in its 5th year. Tickets are currently available for the following events:

Tigh Na Mara: Feb. 2012Thursday, February 21, 2013
Parksville Untapped ($49)
Featuring craft beer from around BC
at Tigh-Na-Mara from 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Friday, February 22, 2013
Swirl Signature Event ($69)
Featuring BC wines and bites from local chefs
at Beach Club Resort from 6:00pm to 9:00pm

Saturday, February 23, 2013
Winemaker’s Dinner: Burrowing Owl ($149)
at Beach Club Resort from 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Winemaker’s Dinner: Road 13 ($129)
With a menu by Executive Chef Eric Edwards
at Tigh-Na-Mara from 6:30pm to 9:00pm

Sunday, February 24, 2013 ($29.95)
Bubbles and Brunch
at Tigh-Na-Mara from 9:00am to 2:00pm

John and I stayed at Tigh-Na-Mara last year for the festivities and what happened to be our anniversary weekend as well. The resort went out of their way to welcome us and help us celebrate while we took in events for Parksville Uncorked.

Tigh Na Mara: Feb. 2012 Tigh Na Mara: Feb. 2012

Tigh Na Mara: Feb. 2012 Tigh Na Mara: Feb. 2012

The Burrowing Owl Winemaker’s dinner in the Cedar Room was decadent, with numerous pairings, samples, and courses. Sitting at a table with other media, there were great dinner discussions and the room was hopping with spirited conversation. The best part about having the event at the resort was that we could walk out the door and over to our lodge to retire for the night. Complete with a big soaker tub and a fireplace, our room was perched above sandy beaches and flanked by twisting arbutus trees. It felt like summer camp… for adults.

Tigh Na Mara: Feb. 2012

Tigh Na Mara: Feb. 2012 Tigh Na Mara: Feb. 2012

Parksville is a fantastic coastal getaway at any time of year so visiting for Uncorked and its many events are the perfect time to plan that visit. Call 1-855-254-WINE to book your Parksville Uncorked experience and check out stay packages offered by Tigh-Na-Mara and the Beach Club Resort.

My Book Launch Event at London Drugs

Comments 5 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Earlier this year Eric Butow and I wrote an updated version of our book, Blogging to Drive Business. It recently hit store shelves (both virtual and physical) and I’m going to be celebrating at London Drugs this Thursday, November 29th.

What: Book launch for Blogging to Drive Business: 2nd Edition
Where: London Drugs on Georgia and Granville (downstairs near electronics)
When: Thursday, November 29, 2012 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm

Our book is a companion guide for businesses looking to get into blogging, wondering how they’ll find the time, how they’ll come up with topics, who should write the blog, tools they should use, and other helpful tips. I even included some local case studies such as Translink’s Buzzer Blog, Vancouver Film School’s successful YouTube channel, ING Direct’s CEO blog, and more.

Stop by throughout the evening on Thursday to pick up a copy of the book, get it signed, ask me any burning blogging questions, have some free cake and Commercial Drive Coffee, and enter to win exclusive giveaways that will only be available at this event. There’s no need to RSVP, just show up (it’s right near the Vancouver City Center Canada Line entrance too) and enjoy the festivities. I’d love to see you all there if you can make it.

London Drugs supported our first book by hosting my launch event (Eric lives in California) and having copies available in their stores across BC. They’re once again being fantastic partners by stocking our book and hosting this event with me once again. Check out their new website today for some fantastic Cyber Monday deals and follow them on Twitter @LondonDrugs for specials and store information.

Vancouver Icons: Centennial Rocket

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

If you’ve ever exited the Olympic Village Canada Line Station and looked south or looped off the Cambie Bridge and onto West 6th/West 2nd then you’ve probably spotted the Centennial Rocket. Modelled after a rocket made for a 1936 PNE float, it was installed in 1986 and contains a time capsule to be opened 50 years after Expo 86. The Centennial Rocket is this week’s Vancouver Icon photo feature:

Centennial Rocket
Photo credit: PiscesDreamer on Flickr

The design was originally created in 1936 for the Sheet Metal Workers Local 280 float for the Pacific National Exhibition Jubilee Parade on the occasion of the City of Vancouver’s 50th birthday. It was designed by Lew Parry and made into a sculpture, built by Neon Products, which was sited at the first Vancouver Air Terminal from 1939 to 1972 when it was scrapped because of rust. In 1985 the Vancouver Transportation Club and the Sheet Metal Workers Union 280 decided to build a replica to celebrate Vancouver’s 100th birthday.


1938 Steel workers rocket ship parade float. VPL Number: 70994. Photographer: King Studio.
1949 Rocket ship model at Vancouver Airport. VPL Number: 80856. Photographer: Tom Christopherson.

They located Lew Parry and he still had the original plans. This time the rocketship was built from more durable materials by Terminal Sheet Metal and the Local 280 metal workers. The Rocket was exhibited at Expo 86 and then donated to the city. It was moved by helicopter to it’s current site. A Centennial Time Capsule is housed in the base of the rocket, scheduled to be opened 50 years from 1986. It includes items such as an Expo 86 passport with stamps of all the pavilions and recorded messages from local celebrities and many other things. [City of Vancouver Public Art]

The rocket ship off Cambie
Photo credit: Carol Browne on Flickr

rocket into space rocket into space
Photo credit: Uncleweed & Uncleweed on Flickr

211/365 [LEVITATE] Lift off
Photo credit: kurichan+ on Flickr

Launching over the Cambie Street Bridge
Photo credit: 3dpete on Flickr

Other Vancouver Icons posts include: 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.

Vancouver Christmas Market 2012: Win Tickets

Comments 92 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Vancouver Christmas Market is in full swing at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza until December 24, 2012. Styled after a traditional German Christmas market, you can find ornaments, crafts, jewelry, mulled wine, schnitzel, gingerbread, and more from a variety of vendors

Vancouver Christmas Market

Check out the Kids Market for hands-on fun and a carousel ride. Entertainment includes The XMas Factor singing competition, choirs, school bands, and more.

Admission deals include a season pass with the purchase of one regular admission, which means you pay once and you’re in free the rest of the season. They are also offering a 2-for-1 lunch admission with friends and colleagues. During the week admission is $2 between 11:00am and 4:00pm from Monday to Friday.

Vancouver Christmas Market Vancouver Christmas Market

Vancouver Christmas Market Vancouver Christmas Market Vancouver Christmas Market

Vancouver Christmas Market Vancouver Christmas Market

Vancouver Christmas Market Vancouver Christmas Market

If you would like to check out the market, I have 10 tickets (5 pairs) to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite holiday decorations, crafts, or ornaments (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tickets to the @VanChristmas Market from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/fAjmz

Follow the Vancouver Christmas Market on Twitter and Facebook for more special event information. I will draw 5 winners on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 12:00pm.

Update The winners are Carolyn, @ak1net, Sunita, Christina and Harvey!

Archives Photos of the Day: Ice Skating

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Scarves and mittens are out as temperatures drop and winter approaches. With the cooler weather and frosted north shore views, I thought old time images of ice skating around Vancouver would be appropriate for this week’s roundup of photos from the Vancouver Public Library and Vancouver City Archives:


1890s – Men Skating at Trout Lake. Archives item#: M-3-11.3.

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