Vancouver now has its own “wine of the month club”. The new My Sommelier program is an initiative of My Liquor Store which operates three independent liquor stores in Vancouver (West End, Crosstown, and Burrard). It allows you to sign up to receive carefully selected bottles of wine each month along with tasting notes, winemaker information, and pairing suggestions.
The packages (that include your preference of red or white wine) are $45 a month for 2 bottles, $100 a month for 6 bottles, or $200 a month for 12 bottles. You can sign up for yourself or gift the My Sommelier program to someone special.
The sommelier behind the scenes, making the selections for program participants, is Vancouverite Cyndy Pellegrin who has traveled the world to gain first-hand knowledge of winemaking operations in France, Italy, Spain, New Zealand, South America, and the United States. She has a Sommelier Diploma from the International Sommelier Guild and the Advanced Wines and Spirits Certificate with Distinction from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, as well as the Society of Wine Educators “Wines of Spain” certificate. She is currently the Director of Wine (Sommelier) for My Liquor Store and their partner clubs, pubs and restaurants.
The My Sommelier Wine Club has generously offered up a 3 month package for one of my wine-loving readers. The winner will receive 2 bottles of wine for 3 months (value $135) with free delivery within Metro Vancouver (if they live between West Vancouver and Abbotsford). Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment here naming your favourite wine (brand or varietal) (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
You must be 19 years of age or older to enter and receive the prize. There will be free delivery in Metro Vancouver. All My Sommelier program rules apply. Please enjoy responsibly. I will draw 1 winner at random from all entries on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at 10:00am. Follow @MyLiquorStore on Twitter for news and information about in-store events.
The City of Surrey, RCMP, and CUPE 402 have partnered to host a youth film contest that will highlight the issue of bullying. Students between the ages of 14 and 18 are invited to put together a 30-second or 60-second clip about why they believe bullying must stop.
From the press release: “We need to draw attention to the effects of bullying and send a strong message to both students and adults that this kind of behavior will not be tolerated in our schools, our workplaces, online, or anywhere in our communities,” says Mayor Dianne Watts.
Entries will be put into two categories: students ages 14 and 15 (juniors) and students ages 16 to 18 (seniors). Prizes will be awarded to the top three films in each category and the winning entry will be played on ShawTV for Anti-Bullying Day which is February 29, 2012.
Organizers are hoping to get the entries screened at this year’s Projecting Change Film Festival as well.
Video submissions must be received by February 6, 2012 at 5:00pm. Full contest rules are available online along with consent forms.
Related: Metropolis at Metrotown is hosting a t-shirt design contest Anti-Bullying Day 2012.
We’re ten days into the new year as lights, trees, and decorations are making their way back into boxes and bins. Before the winter blues set in, take a look at the following events (submitted by readers) to plan a fun-filled month.
Photo credit:
bcbusinesshub on Flickr – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Waiting for Godot at The Cultch
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Pull Focus Film School Winter Open House
Waiting for Godot at The Cultch
Friday, January 13, 2012
Team Awesome’s Polaroid Party
Waiting for Godot at The Cultch
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Bloodied But Unbowed: Film Screening + Rock Show
Waiting for Godot at The Cultch
Sunday, January 15, 2012
21st Century Flea Market
River District Knitting Club
Waiting for Godot at The Cultch Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Vancouver’s PuSh International Performing Arts Festival returns January 17 to February 5, 2012 featuring a spread of main shows, an aboriginal performance series, and the late-night Club PuSh on Granville Island.
Eat the Street. Photo credit: Lisa Kannakko.
From films and spoken-word, to music, lectures, video, and more. These are just a few of the events that have caught my eye already:
- Eat the Street: The Mammalian Diving Reflex company will host a food tour of Gastown with six students from a local elementary school. Guests are invited to come along, dine, and enjoy the uncensored, brutally honest reflections of the children when it comes to the food, service, decor, and more. Sit at the kids’ table at one of the participating restaurants, like the Irish Heather, Chambar, Subeez, and more. Check out the finale Awards Ceremony at the Roundhouse on February 2nd.
- Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata: “Your personal ads, set to music!” Composer Veda Hille and the CBC’s Bill Richardson explore what humanity has to offer and turn it into sidesplitting musical fare. They will take samples from the 700+ local Craigslist sites in 70 countries and present postings to you in quick-witted spoken text and song.
- Guided Tour: “Peter Reder’s Guided Tour takes place after-hours in the darkened passages of the Vancouver Art Gallery—a former provincial courthouse and one of the city’s most treasured turn-of-the-century heritage buildings.” The presentation is a combination of video, text, artifacts, and performance.
Beat Nation. Photo credit: Chris Randle.
Individual tickets are available ranging from $25 to $40 depending on the event. You can also purchase a PuSh Pass for the best value, saving 30% off individual show prices.
The opening gala is January 17, 2012 at the Waldorf Hotel with host Keri Adam of CTV, live music, video projections, and surprise guests.
Follow the PuSh Festival on Twitter or Facebook for more information about the events.
Reservations are now open for Dine Out Vancouver which returns January 20 to February 5, 2012. This festival of sipping, sampling, and devouring multi-course meals around the city celebrates all that Vancouver restaurants have to offer for $18, $28, and $38 through special prix-fixe menus.
This is the 10th year of the festival that includes BC Wine and Kronenbourg beer pairing with the menu, new street food events (January 24-26), and a daily roster of food tours. Participants can also vote on the “Best Bite Awards” throughout Dine Out.
To find a Dine Out restaurant, search the list of over 225 local venues by location, Dine Out menu price, or cuisine type. Dine Out Vancouver is partnering up with local hotels this year as well so that patrons can enjoy dinner in the city and top off their evening with an overnight stay at one of our gorgeous local accommodations.
Tourism Vancouver has offered up a Dine & Stay prize for one lucky Miss604.com reader and their guest. This includes a 1 night stay at the Pinnacle Hotel at the Pier (includes parking, value $169) with Dine Out dinner for 2 in the Lobby Restaurant. This modern hotel located near Lonsdale in North Vancouver offers spectacular views of Vancouver from across the harbour. Their Dine Out menu is in the $28 range and includes gluten-free options, BC VQA Wine or Kronenbourg beer pairing, and dessert is a house-made belgian chocolate crème brûlée.
Here’s how you can enter to win my Dine Out Vancouver Dine & Stay prize:
I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Friday, January 13, 2012 at 12:00pm. Must be 19 years of age or older. Winner must use the prize within the Dine Out Vancouver Dates, between January 20 and February 5, 2012. There are no blackout dates but reservations are based on availability.
Update The winner is @SharonLoh_!
