Over the years I have profiled bloggers from the Northwest Territories to the Fraser Valley, anyone that interests me and that I hope will interest you as well. A few years ago I started asking a standard set of questions and I’ve sent these out to a few local bloggers for this week’s series. Click, share, explore, and enjoy.
Tazim Damji
Photo courtesy of Tazim Damji
Blog: BeingTazim
Twitter: BeingTazim
Facebook: /BeingTazim
How long has your blog been around?
It was started in February 2010 during a trip to Mexico City on an extra-long reading week due to the Winter Olympics.
What is your role?
I’m the owner and 95% of editorial content is written by me.
What does your site do/what is it about
Being Tazim is a blog focused on reader-service, organized around the principle that every individual has varied interests and unlimited creative potential.
What can people see, read, and do when visiting your site?
Content ranges from smart tips for home décor, to smart ways to use and enjoy technology. My partner and I travel a fair amount, so I also share a fair bit of our travel adventures, as well as (more recently) DIY projects and ideas.
Why do you blog?
Originally, I started in order to express the ‘hidden’ personas that I couldn’t focus on due to being a full-time university student. I ended up focusing the topics over time and connecting with other bloggers in a variety of social medias—and it became a way to be part of a great network of supportive people, in addition to being able to do something that I love. My formal education started out in interior design (before I pursued a degree in Art History at UBC), but I don’t practice interior design professionally anymore, so the blog has been a place where I can still showcase my ideas.
What is the ultimate goal for your site, how would you like to see it grow?
I’m hoping to be able to reach more local readers, and those interested in home decor and creativity. Being able to interview people I’m interested in, attending events, and featuring home, studio and store tours are all things that I would like to focus more on. Every month I am happy to get more opportunities to work with brands and causes that I stand behind — and I would love to do more of that on my blog. Ideally, I would like to be able to work part-time and spend more time on my blog.
Follow Tazim on her blog BeingTazim, Twitter, and on Facebook.
Read all entries in my Blogger Profile series and feel free to suggest a blogger for possible feature in the comments of this post.
I haven’t tried nearly as many food trucks in Vancouver as I would like so when Marc Smith asked me to join him during his 30 Day Adventures: Food Truck Edition, I had a hard time picking our meet-up location. However, I am a big fan of breakfast and after reading food bloggers praise Yolk’s, I knew we had to make that our destination.
Parked outside Stadium SkyTrain station downtown from 7:30am until 1:00pm Monday to Friday, Yolk’s offers up creatively delicious breakfasts on the go. They are known for their free-range egg sandwiches but we were there at about 11:45am and selected items from their brunch menu. I went with the Croque-Madame Muffin (brioche bread, carved ham, béchamel sauce, Gruyere, poached free-range yolk) and Marc went with the Brioche French Toast Sandwich (double smoked bacon, fresh mint, local berries, maple whipped cream, vanilla syrup).
Marc’s french toast was $9.75 and the Croque-Madam was two for $7.55 (or $4 each). I had already had a large breakfast that morning so I would have ordered a few more items, which will just have to wait until next time. I’d like to fully commit with either their Tempura-Panko Avocado Sandwich (poached free-range egg, fresh cilantro & lime hollandaise) for $6.95 or the Full Combo Breakfast for $10 (free-range egg sandwich, organic potato skewer with lemon and truffle + organic Brazilian coffee).
They post their daily menu offerings and specials on Twitter and Facebook every day so you know what to expect when you walk up to their window as well. Yolk’s accepts cash, debit, and credit cards, which is very handy. You can find them at Beatty and Dunsmuir daily or at special events like this weekend’s final Yelp Food Truck Fest at the Waldorf Hotel.
My photo of Marc (left) taking his photo (right)
If you want to learn more about the food trucks in Vancouver, check out Marc’s blog series where he’s dining at 30 different food trucks every day for 30 days.
The Rosewood Hotel Georgia in the heart of downtown Vancouver not only has a beautiful art collection, chic luxurious guest rooms, and a fantastic brunch at Reflections, it’s home to Sense: A Rosewood Spa.
Hotel guests and locals can both enjoy a variety of therapies, treatments, massages, and facials. Men and women have their own facilities but can meet up in the relaxation lounge pre and post treatments for decompressing from the day with some tea. The spa also features the hotel’s fitness centre and a 52 foot indoor salt water pool.
Sense is offering up a 15% discount for locals which will run throughout the winter. 4 hours of valet parking is complimentary when you book as well.
I recently went in for the Vancouver Signature Sensation treatment. You know that feeling when you’re taking a hot shower and you pause for a moment to let the water cascade down and clear your mind? It’s like that plus an exfoliation — plus a shea butter massage.
“A cool glacial breeze and the aroma of fresh mountain air are captured within this signature service. Our peppermint- and herb-infused sea salt exfoliation will melt away dry skin and leave behind a subtle cooling sensation. A cleansing Vichy rinse releases tension, stimulates blood circulation and relaxes tight, sore muscles. Last, a hydrating massage with our signature shea butter blended with essential and hydrating oils holds the moisture in your skin.”
I have a gift certificate available for one lucky reader to experience an 80-minute Vancouver Signature Sensation treatment at Sense (value $175). 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 on Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 12:00pm. Update The winner is Sharon! (Comment Oct 2)
Yesterday was National Tree Day and this weekend communities around the province are tree day activities. I thought it would be only fitting to have a tree theme for this week’s roundup of photos from the Vancouver Public Library. Bear in mind, most of Vancouver – including and especially downtown – was covered in forest in the early days.
1886 J.W. Horne’s real estate office in a hollow log at Georgia & Granville.
VPL Accession Number: 1099. Photographer: H.T. Devine.
1870 Gassy Jack’s tree at Carrall & Water. VPL Accession Number: 24322.
Photography studio: Dominion Photo Co.
1889 – A bench inside Hollow Tree. VPL Accession Number: 13253. Photography studio: Bailey Bros.
(Left) 1900-1910 Men with trees. VPL Accession Number: 6184Q. Photographer: Leonard Frank.
(Right) Lizzie and Harold Timms in Stanley Park. VPL Accession Number: 6672. Photographer: Philip Timms.
1900s Inside the Hollow Tree. VPL Accession Number: 5487. Photographer: Philip Timms.
1900s Harold Timms hugging a tree in Stanley Park. VPL Accession Number: 6690.
Photographer: Philip Timms.
1900s Trees in the road in Stanley Park. VPL Accession Number: 7286. Photographer: Philip Timms.
1919 Men standing on trees at Hastings Saw Mill. VPL Accession Number: 3926.
Photographer: Leonard Frank.
(Left) 1919 Hastings Saw Mill camp. VPL Accession Number: 3930. (Middle) 1923 Man by a log. VPL Accession Number: 3761. (Right) 1928 Men by large cedars. VPL Accession Number: 5572B.
Photographer: Leonard Frank.
1937 Clearing for the Lions Gate Bridge road. VPL Accession Number: 19130. Photographer: Philip Timms.
Last week Vancity launched the second round of their Good Money Mob in support of three local businesses. As their partner for this round, I selected Uprising Breads Bakery, CocoaNymph Chocolates & Confections, and Woodland Smokehouse & Commissary. The public can vote now on which business they would like to support through the Good Money Mob, meaning the business will get the support of Vancity and a “cash mob” from customers.
About Woodland Smokehouse & Commissary
It’s a deli, cafe, butcher and sandwich shop, smokehouse, and commissary where establishments like Peckinpah in Gastown, Mogu Food Cart, Raincity Soups, Cartems Donuts, Earnest Ice Cream and Street Meet prepare and produce their delicious products.
My haul today included some bison salami, smoked tuna, lamb sausage, butternut squash soup, turkey and mushroom pate, and a salted caramel Cartems donut. It’s safe to say that John and I have enough meat to last us a few dinners. While enjoying my donut alongside my colleague Cinci, a man struck up a conversation about just how good Woodland was. He said he first went to Peckinpah and asked where their meat was smoked. He started coming by Woodland (and still goes to Peckinpah) because it’s some of the best smoked meat around — and he was from Montreal.
Located at 485 Commercial Drive just south of East Hastings, Woodland is open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 6:00pm and on Saturday from 10:00am to 6:00pm. They have breakfast menu items and plenty of lunch and dinner options to eat-in or take home.
Contest
I have a $50 gift card available for Woodland Smokehouse & Commissary to give away today so that one lucky reader can get their fill of smoked meats, charcuterie, sausages, soups, Earnest Ice Cream, and Cartems Donuts.
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow Woodland Smokehouse on Twitter and Facebook to learn more about them. I will draw one winner at random from all entries tomorrow at 5:00pm and be sure to VOTE for the business you would like to see Good Money Mobbed!
Update The winner is Jeff!
