I had been by Caya before but had no idea that it was a series of boutiques setup by TELUS that connects phones, photography, accessories, Optik TV, and imaging services. Their focus right now is on gadgets for spring break — capturing and sharing your adventures with friends and family. Whether you’re heading to Whistler, Sun Peaks, staying in town, or off to a warm and sunny vacation destination.
1. Glider Gloves ($29.99)
Thick, warm, and you can still use your smartphone without removing them. The anti-slip grip will work with any touch-screen device.
2. X-Mini II Capsule Speaker ($29.99)
Pocket-sized speaker that can broadcast your tunes from your mobile phone, laptop, mp3 player.
3. Fuji Finepix XP20 Camera ($169.99)
Take this waterproof camera up the mountain without worry. It’s shock and freeze proof, captures 14 megapixel images, can do HD video recording, and has a 5x optical zoom.
4. Urban Ears Medis Headphones ($59.99)
These headphones have a patented EarClick solution which secures the earpiece at two separate points to relieve pressure while keeping it firmly in place.
5. Liquid Image Dive Mask on sale until March 29th ($99.99. Regular price $129.99)
Integrated waterproof digital camera and dive mask. It is depth tested to 16 feet, has a five or an eight mega-pixel sensor and allows you to shoot 18-25 frames per second.
6. Liquid Image Ski Goggles on sale until March 29th ($199.99. Regular price $279.99)
Document your powder-packed runs with your own goggle-cam. Completely hands-free, capture 5 mega pixel HD video, record up to 30 frames per second, and store up to 711 minutes of footage.
To promote the spring break gadget campaign, Caya has offered up a prize pack for one lucky Miss604.com reader. This includes the Liquid Image Ski Goggles (with built-in camera) and a $25 print plus card for photo-finishing at Caya.
Stop by any of the four Caya stores (Davie, Gastown, Denman, South Granville) to print or enlarge photos. Caya also offers printing services to produce your own keepsakes like canvas prints, photobooks, calendars, and mugs.
Here’s how you can enter to win the goggles and the $25 print plus card:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow Caya on Twitter and Facebook for news and product information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Thursday, March 22, 2012 at 12:00pm.
Update The winner is @ClaudiaWan!
Kitsilano residents love their community and it shows. One of the first local blogs I ever read in 2005 was Kitsilano.ca and I’ve had the pleasure of speaking in front of dedicated business owners at the Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce. In a new joint effort by Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, Kitsilano 4th Avenue BIA, Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce and West Broadway BIA, they want you to show off your Kitsilano pride.
Kits Me… Love the Hood You’re In!
Kitsilano residents, past and present, are encouraged to submit a story about why they love their neighbourhood. A panel of judges will select 90 stories from the entries and have them printed up and hung as banners along West 4th between Burrard and Balsam.
Organizers of the interactive contest also hope it will raise awareness of local organizations and shine a light on the work they do on the Westside. ‘Kits Me’ buttons are another component of the campaign that will benefit both local businesses and customers. They will be sold in stores along West 4th and West Broadway with all proceeds going directly to Kitsilano Neighbourhood House to support the accessible community programs and services they provide to families, youth, newcomers and seniors on the Westside.
They are accepting entries starting today and until April 5, 2012. You can share your story online or drop it off at the Kitsilano Neighbourhood House (“Kits House”), office located at 3683 West 4th at Alma. The banners will go up in June this year and feature a photo of the story’s author along with a quote.
I was recently flown up to Powell River, at the top end of our gorgeous Sunshine Coast, to visit a local icon that is in danger. Along the way I met Karen Skadsheim, owner of Townsite Brewing, Powell River’s first brewery that will be tapping its first keg later this month.
Located in historic Townsite, the oldest neighbourhood in Powell River, Townsite Brewing set up shop in the old Post Office Building. Before we set out on a walking tour of the area, I found out more about how Karen came to own a brewery.
“I’m originally from Vancouver so I experienced the rise of craft beer there,” Karen told me. She sold her condo in Kitsilano a few years ago and jetted off the Europe before returning home with no job and no fixed address. Being financially confident enough to enjoy one more summer off, she visited her brother in Powell River while starting a job hunt back in Vancouver.
“Before I knew it I was on every single board in town.” Karen quickly became an integral part of the community and managed a restaurant that focused on local food. All the while the old Post Office in building in Townsite kept singing out to her. “I saw this building that had a fish plant in it and I just thought ‘Ah, that building should be a brewery!‘ and everybody said, ‘I know, that would be perfect!’“.
Soon enough she was going into business with the building’s owner and by November 2010, it was re-zoned and ready to be set into action. One thing was missing at that point though, and it was someone who could make great beer. Karen put an ad on ProBrewer, a beer industry website, and received an overwhelming response. They found Belgian brewmaster Cedric Dauchot in Saskatoon who had been working with Les 3 Brasseurs Canada since 2005. He and his wife, also a brewmaster, had plans to start a local brewpub as well. “They had the business plan but lacked the financial backing and a building. We had the building and the financial backing but no brewers,” said Karen. It was a perfect fit. This is Cedric’s 7th brewery or “lucky number 7” as Karen puts it.
While I didn’t get to sample any beer just yet — it’s not quite ready — plans are in the works to incorporate local flavours and flare into the brews. Karen said they’ll most likely be doing something with blackberries in the summer around the time of the Powell River Blackberry Festival, and she has a few other ideas in mind that include locally-grown certified organic hops. Heading into their launch, they will have 3 beers ready to go this spring: Powtown Porter, Tinhat IPA, and the Zunga Golden Blonde Ale.
Read more about Townsite Brewing on their blog and follow then on Twitter and Facebook to learn about upcoming events and tastings around Powell River and the Lower Mainland.
The Burrard Hotel has recently undergone a complete renovation, overhaul, re-branding, and everything else associated with bringing this 1950s style motor hotel up to Vancouver’s world-class city standards. Tipping their hat to their roots, you can find retro charms like plastic patio furniture in the swinging garden courtyard mixed with modern amenities like complimentary WIFI and a guest iMac in the lobby.
The Burrard fell into disrepair for decades, sporting the same heavy, smokey 1970s decor until new management tore it apart in 2010. Over a year later, it re-opened last fall with more than just a fresh coat of paint. Walls were torn apart to upgrade wiring and plumbing, carpeting was completely re-done, and the antiquated furniture was replaced, and a re-branding was in order. Playing a bit with their old image, the new branding incorporates a sharp font, bright colours, and hip activity ideas for your visit.
Before the renovations, in 2010. Photo courtesy of The Burrard.
After the renovations. My photos from 2012.
I don’t envision The Burrard as an ideal destination for large families spending a week-long vacation in the city as it doesn’t have things like a restaurant or a pool and the rooms have just one bed. However, its appealing price point, value, location, and amenities are perfect for a grown-up weekend downtown for an event or concert, conference or corporate getaway. It’s close to the Granville entertainment district, walking distance to shopping on Robson, and right along the bus line that will take you to Kitsilano, Granville Island, and much more that the city has to offer.
I liked that the WIFI was included (pay WIFI is a common hotel guest complaint), the parking was gated (accessed using your room key-card), there are complimentary rental bikes, and the rooms were cozy with a pod coffee maker, iPod dock/clock radio, and a large flat-screen TV. I’m not a huge fan of the cheeky quotes found in the stairwells but that could be appealing to others. However, playing my web-developer nerd card, I am a fan of the font used for the messaging.
Right now one night at The Burrard runs from $93 to $119 – which is a pretty great deal for downtown. With the “old Burrard” behind them, they have already climbed up to be #16 on Trip Advisor’s list of hotels in Vancouver (as of March 2012). After having breakfast with General Manager Dani Pretto, and learning more about the dedicated staff, I see a bright future for The Burrard. Follow them on Twitter @TheBurrard for news and updates.
Despite the chilly weather and frozen rain pelting down on the coast, winter is almost over and local company Spring Advertising is once again hosting “Boink Day” to celebrate. On the first day of spring, March 20, 2012, stop by the Vancouver Art Gallery for a public pogo challenge in support of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.
What Boink Day 2012
Where Georgia side of the Vancouver Art Gallery
When Tuesday, March 20, 2012 From 7:00am to 7:00pm.
For every pogo bounce performed by participants, Spring Advertising will donate 10 cents to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. The public can also make cash or non-perishable food item donations on-site. You can stop by to be a spectator, donator, or pogo-bouncer for however long you like.
Follow Spring Advertising on Twitter or Facebook for more information.
