In a city where coffee shops are as frequent as bus stops, National Coffee Day on September 29th is sure to be celebrated. Since it falls on the weekend, 7-Eleven wanted to offer up something special for commuters the day before for their second annual CofFREE Day.
On Friday, September 28, 2012 you can enjoy a free large (20 ounce) coffee at any of 7-Eleven’s 72 Greater Vancouver locations between 6:00am and 10:00am (one per guest, while supplies last).
Canadians have good reason to celebrate: a total of 64 per cent of adult Canadians drink coffee on a daily basis, making it the number one beverage choice excluding tap water. Surprisingly, our southern neighbours drink significantly less with only 54 per cent of Americans sipping a coffee on a daily basis. [Source: Press Release]
There are no coupons necessary, just show up and grab your morning cup of joe. The giveaway includes their 100% Columbian coffee, iced coffee and the new spiced pumpkin latte.
According to 7-Eleven, Greater Vancouver’s coffee drinking hot spots are in Vancouver, Richmond, Surrey, Burnaby, and Coquitlam. Follow @7ElevenCanada on Twitter for more information and updates on CofFREE Day this Friday.
Today is National Tree Day in Canada which is a part of National Forest Week. Communities across the country are hosting events today and this weekend to celebrate our coniferous and deciduous friends.
Surrey
National Tree Day Planting Party
On Saturday September 29th stop by Sullivan Park (62A Ave) for this free community event with face painting, activities, refreshments, and tree planting from 10:00am to 2:00pm.
Burnaby
Spirit Tree Festival
While I don’t believe it’s an official National Tree Day event, it is a Culture Days and Burnaby120 event, which is focused around a very special tree. The Spirit Tree (a very unique cedar) will be dedicated on Friday September 28th and free interactive workshops will follow on Saturday (9:00am to 4:00pm) and Sunday (10:00am to 3:00pm) at the Burnaby Arts Council (6584 Deer Lake Ave).
Maple Ridge
National Tree Day Celebration at the Summer Market
Join the Downtown Maple Ridge Business Improvement Association on Saturday September 29th at the Haney Farmers Market at Memorial Peace Park from 9:00am until 2:00pm. Face painting, entertainment, and even a tree cake.
Follow Tree Canada on Facebook and Twitter for more information about events in your community this week and throughout the year.
Red Truck Brewery will be hosting a groundbreaking ceremony of epic proportions tomorrow as they begin work on their new brewery. You have probably spotted the iconic red delivery truck as they deliver craft beer to dozens of purveyors around town. However, having outgrown their current location in North Vancouver, the groundbreaking ceremony in East Vancouver will involve hoisting then dropping a red truck from a crane.
In the beer drinking year of 2004 Red Truck began driving its’ 1946 Dodge Power Wagon through the streets of the lower mainland, delivering the freshest beer available to Vancouverites and their guests. From Keg 1, Dave ‘da Brewa’ Varga has been painstakingly brewing delicious Red Truck lager and ale as slowly as he can, always maintaining quality over quantity. Fortunately for the Red Truck Beer Company, Dave has been doing a fantastic job. So good in fact, we have to move from our brewery in North Vancouver to new digs on East 1st Ave, smack dab in the middle of the city in Brewery Creek.
When it’s complete, the new brewery will also have a 50’s style truck stop diner.
The truck drop event will take place from 2:46pm to 5:46pm on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 315 East 1st in Vancouver with the truck drop at 4:00pm. There will be live music, food, and of course some beer. You can RSVP for the event online and if you attend, tag your Tweets, Viddy videos, and photos on Instagram with #TruckDrop @RedTruckBeer to enter their social media contest.
World Rivers Day, celebrating everything from rushing waterways to tributaries, creeks, brooks, and estuaries is coming up on Sunday and communities across the province – from Kamloops to New Westminster are hosting events for our own BC Rivers Day.
Coquitlam
World Rivers Day in Coquitlam
Hosted at Coquitlam River Park (1190 Shaughnessy Street) on Sunday September 30th from 11:00am to 1:00pm. Explore the park and learn about local improvements to salmon runs. Tours are first-come first served and will run every half hour.
Port Coquitlam
Rivers and Trails Festival
Celebrate in multiple locations around Port Coquitlam this Sunday September 30th starting at Lions Park (2300 Lions Way) for displays, a river clean-up, nature-inspired art stations, and a pancake breakfast at 10:00am. Peace Park (1470 Kebet Way) will host activities starting at 12:00pm including family entertainment, crafts, barbecue , and river tours aboard the SS Native Paddlewheeler on the Pitt River (tickets $2). A shuttle service will be running between the two locations from 11:30am to 3:45pm.
Maple Ridge
BC Rivers Day at Kanaka Creek
Join the Kanaka Education and Environment Society for canoe tours and activities on Sunday September 30th from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Burnaby
Burnaby 2012 Celebration at Guichon Creek
BCIT is getting a jump on festivities with their event on Wednesday, September 26th from 10:00am to 2:00pm. They will have a farmers market in the SW1 courtyard, fish release at 11:00am at Guichon Creek (west of BCIT’s East Gate), a Burnaby eco-sculpture exhibit, stream improvement information, environmental displays, live music and a barbecue. They’ll continue on Sunday, September 30th from 11:00am to 3:00pm with stream restoration activities.
New Westminster
RiverFest: Inspired by the Fraser
A free family event on Friday September 28th and Saturday 29th at Riverfront Park. They’ll have activities and entertainment including popular local acts like The Matinee, Washboard Union, and Headwater performing on Saturday. You can also book a Fraser River Harbour Tour on Saturday for $5 ($2 for kids) with proceeds benefitting the Fraser Alumni Association for leadership and maritime education programs for sea cadets.
Langley
Langley BC Rivers Day Festival
This free event will offer 35 interactive displays and activity booths at Williams Park (6595 238 St) on Sunday September 30th from 11:00am until 2:00pm. Enjoy the Stream Care Puppet Theatre, giant board games, on-site concession, family entertainment, and more.
Vancouver
A Poetic Walk in Stanley Park
The False Creek Watershed Society is hosting this walking tour on Saturday, September 29th at 10:00am along with 100,000 Poets for Change. The two hour stroll will feature poetry readings along the way.
World Rivers Day Renfrew Ravine
Evergreen BC, the Still Moon Arts Society, and the City of Vancouver host this event that will feature information about native plant species, water quality sampling, ravine trivia, and a short eco-history walk on Saturday September 29th from 1:30pm to 4:30pm.
North Vancouver
World Rivers Day at Lynnmouth Park
Evergreen BC invites you to join the Lynnmouth Park Rehabilitation Project on Sunday September 30th from 10:00am to 2:00pm. Meet up at 212 Brooksbank Ave to remove invasive blackberry and ivy and replace them with native plant species. Snacks and tools will be provided.
Britannia Mine
While it’s just a bit out of town, why not take a trip up the Sea to Sky to visit historic Britannia Mine for BC Rivers Day on Sunday September 30th from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Experiments will be running throughout the day along with demonstrations, trivia/quizzes, and a historical photo presentation.
Find a full list of events courtesy of the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC.
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.
Today’s spotlight is CocoaNymph Chocolates and Confections. I stopped by the West 7th location (aka NymphEast) to check out their offerings of drinking chocolate, candied nuts, truffles, bars, and lunch items.
About CocoaNymph
- Location #1: NymphWest: 3739 West 10th Avenue (at Alma) open 11:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Saturday, 1:00pm to 5:00pm Sunday.
- Location #2: NymphEast: 4 West 7th Avenue (at Ontario) open 8:00am to 6:00pm Monday to Saturday.
NymphEast serves lunch from 10:00am to 4:00pm and carries an assortment of juices to compliment their impressive line up of drinking chocolate.
They frequently use natural, seasonal, and local ingredients in their tasty sweets. Avalon cream, Howe Sound Brewing’s beer for the Stout truffle, fresh valley strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and more.
Aside from the cafe and chocolate shop offerings, CocoaNymph also runs Chocolate Workshops several times a month — which are actually completely full until the end of October.
Contest
I have a $50 gift card available for CocoaNymph to give away today so that one lucky reader can get their fill of chocolate and confections made with local and natural ingredients. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post – enthusiasm for chocolate is encouraged! (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow CocoaNymph on Twitter and Facebook to learn more about them. I will draw one winner at random from all entries tomorrow morning at 9:00am, before the next Good Money Mob business spotlight and giveaway — and be sure to VOTE for the business you would like to see Good Money Mobbed!
Update The winner is @VisualHeart!
