Crave Burnaby Heights 2012

Comments 2 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Burnaby Heights Merchants’ Association (“The Heights”) would like to spread the word about their eateries and have launched Crave, a three-day dining event with specials throughout the community at local eateries.

Hats Off Day 2011

From Tuesday, April 24th to Thursday, April 26th, you can dine out for $15, $20, or $25 and enjoy a specially-prepared three-course meal throughout this friendly neighbourhood.

When you make your reservation you will also be entered to win a $50 gift certificate for the Heights restaurant of your choice. You can also try your luck in Follow Me Foodie’s contest for Crave. Follow @BurnabyHeights on Twitter for more information.

Vancouver Craft Beer Week 2012

Comments 2 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Vancouver Craft Beer Week is returning for the third year with more headlining events, neighbourhood festivities, and week-long specials around the city thanks to the participation of over 60 breweries.

Vancouver Craft Beer Week

Friday, May 18, 2012
Headliner: VCBW Opening Night Overture Presented by Darby’s Liquor Store
Time: 6:00pm to 11:00pm
Tickets: Available now
Location: Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre

Saturday, May 19, 2012
Headliner: Hop-Headbanger’s Ball
Time: 4:00pm to 9:00pm
Tickets: Available now
Location: Woodland Smokehouse, 485 Commercial Drive

Opening Act: Island to Island Beer Pairing Dinner
Time: 7:00pm to 10:00pm
Tickets: Available now
Location: Edible Canada, 1596 Johnston St, Granville Island

There are also six “Neighbourhood Gigs” on this date. Full details here.

Sunday, May 20, 2012
Headliner: Hoppapalooza III
Time: 4:00pm to 10:00pm
Tickets: SOLD OUT
Location: Alibi Room, 157 Alexander St

Opening Act: Earls Gets Crafty
Time: 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Tickets: Available now
Location: V Lounge by Earls Restaurants, 1095 Mainland St

There are also six “Neighbourhood Gigs” on this date. Full details here.

Specials can be found throughout the week at Donelly Group establishments, The Burrard Hotel (for a place to crash downtown), The Cascade Room, Big Ridge Brewing Co., Yaletown Brewing Co., Central City Brewing, Central City Liquor Store, Romer’s Burger Bar, Darby’s Pub, Darby’s Liquor Store, Chambar, Fairmont Waterfront, and Rogue. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩

CAMRA Kitsilano Cask Carouse

Comments 70 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Kitsilano Cask Carouse is coming up this month, presented by CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) Vancouver. There will be 4-stops on the tour, each with a different cask-conditioned ale made by one of BC’s craft breweries. Tour guests will receive an appetizer to pair with each sleeve and the stops will also feature a speaker who will educate participants on a variety of beer topics.

Kitsilano Cask Carouse

Where: Meet at the Safeway on West 4th at Vine
When: Saturday, April 21, 2012 check-in at 11:30am
Tickets: Available online for $50 per person or $45 for CAMRA members

Cask Carouse stops include:
Sunset Grill Tap House & Whiskey Bar featuring Red Truck French Oaked Strong Ale
The Bimini featuring Parallel 49 Imperial Wit
Darby’s Pub featuring Lighthouse Brewing Switchback IPA
Displace Hashery featuring R&B Brewing Raspberry IPA

We’re fortunate to have such a vibrant and increasingly popular craft beer scene in BC and across the Lower Mainland. This tour will be your chance to explore some new-to-you brews, enjoy favourites, and meet other local beer lovers.

Participants will be split into four groups so if you’re booking with friends, just let the organizers know. Also, vegetarian meal options are available upon request. This event is for those of legal drinking age so you must be 19 or older to participate. Follow CAMRA Vancouver on Twitter and Facebook for more information.

CAMRA has generously offered up a pair of tickets to give away to my readers. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment here naming a BC beer or brewery (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win 2 tickets for @CAMRA_YVR’s #Kitsilano Cask Carouse from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/afdvi

I will draw one winner next Thursday, April 19, 2012 at 12:00pm. You must be 19 years of age or older to enter this contest. Please enjoy responsibly.

Update The winner is @jpfaubert! Cameron!

Big Baby Drive Surrey

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Big Baby Drive is heading to Surrey this month after a successful campaign at Oakridge in March. Organized by One Big Movement (“OBM”), which was founded by SFU students, the drive collected over 1,100 items for local low-income mothers and their children.

One Big Movement
Joseph Choi & Lynn Shinto of One Big Movement. Photo by Phylicia Torrevillas of Metro News.

The Surrey event will be held at Guildford Town Centre (near London Drugs, at Customer Service) April 28th and 29th from 10:00am to 4:00pm. I asked Mercedes Book from One Big Movement if they have a wish-list for this drive based on the items received at Oakridge. She said that while they collected plenty of helpful goods and toys, they really would like to stock up on essentials like diapers.

Wish-list items:

  • Unopened baby food, body care, skincare & shampoo products
  • New or Washed blankets, clothes and bedding
  • New diapers (open boxes are okay – sizes 4, 5 and 6 are highest in demand)
  • Baby monitors, speakers and breast pumps
  • Toys (nursery, bath, developmental, playhouses, etc.)

All donations and items collected are go directly to programs run by the YWCA Metro Vancouver. Guildford Town Centre is located off 104th Avenue between 152nd and 150th. Follow One Big Movement on Twitter and Facebook for more information about upcoming events and campaigns.

Vancouver Canadians Tweetup

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

I have partnered with the Vancouver Canadians this month to assist with their first tweetup event happening at the end of the month. The Vancouver Canadians are the ‘A’ affiliates for Toronto so we’ll be getting together to watch the Blue Jays take on the Mariners.

Nat Bailey Stadium

What: A Tweetup (in-person meeting of people we know from Twitter) with the Canadians
Where: Mahony & Sons Public House at 1055 Canada Place (beside the large rain drop statue)
When: Saturday, 28 April 2012 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm
Tickets: It’s FREE but there is an online RSVP service so we can get an idea of the number of attendees.

There are many Jays fans in Vancouver but due to our proximity to Seattle, there just might be a few Mariners fans among us. Mahony and Sons will be broadcasting the game on several HDTVs (with audio), and will feature contests between innings hosted by Rob Fai (@RobFaiNation). I will be there and will be checking out the Twitter conversation using the tag #CanadiansTweetup, we’ll have a raffle, and our own section of the bar.

I admit it took me years to get into baseball but thanks to my American husband who was born and raised amidst the cornfield ballparks of the Midwest, it’s grown on me. You can’t deny the history and passion that the Vancouver Canadians have brought to our town since 1951 and the C’s also coming off a historic season, winning their first Northwest League Championship.

Canadians games are fun for the whole family with plenty of activities for the kids (I love their A&W Family Fun Sundays) and they run promotions all season long. Please join us April 28th and get to know fellow baseball fans in town. Follow @VanCanadians on Twitter for more information leading up to their own season this summer.

Related: Check out my Hall of Fame posts about baseball history in Vancouver: Arnold Hallgren, Larry Walker, Helen and Margaret Callaghan.