Bedouin Soundclash will be playing a benefit concert next Thursday in Vancouver in partnership with Virgin Mobile’s Re*Generation movement. Proceeds from the event will support Vancouver’s Broadway Youth Resource Centre, which provides a range of social, health, education, employment and life skills services to homeless and at-risk youth between the ages of 12 and 24 in our community.
Bedouin Soundclash at Surrey’s Fusion Festival. Photos by John Bollwitt
When Thursday, December 1, 2011 doors at 8:00pm Where Venue Night Club on Granville Tickets Available online for $25 (plus applicable taxes, fees).
Virgin Re*Gen is an initiative of Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group. If you can’t make it to the show, you can text “REGEN” to 3033 from your mobile to donate $5 to these programs across Canada.
I also have four tickets to give away so I’ll draw for two winners who will each get a pair. Here’s how you can win your way into this concert for a cause:
Leave a comment on this post naming a Bedouin Soundclash song (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I entered to win tickets to see @bedouinsndclsh from @VirginUnite & @miss604 http://ow.ly/7Feup
I will draw two winners tomorrow, Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 10:00am. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win as the show is not at an all-ages venue.
“The classical Chinese garden was the first garden in the Ming Dynasty style created outside of China, and is located in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown, just blocks from the troubled heart of the city’s Downtown Eastside… …In fact, the little garden is rated ahead of the Rodin Sculpture Garden in Paris and was one of just three North American gardens cited, along with the Foster Botanical Garden in Hawaii and the Conservatory Garden in New York’s Central Park.” [Source: Vancouver Sun]
Not only is the garden home to koi, bamboo, architecture, and weathered stones, it also hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. It’s a cornerstone of Chinatown and the East Vancouver community. In December they will be hosting the 18th annual Winter Solstice Festival and an exhibition in collaboration with the Hope in Shadows project. Follow @VanGarden on Twitter for information and updates from the garden.
National Geographic’s book: Secret Journeys of a Lifetime, that features the list of the world’s best city gardens, is currently available in stores and online.
This year you can once again purchase a Christmas tree from Aunt Leah’s and make a difference in the lives of foster kids, mothers, and babies. With two additional locations, you can conveniently pick up your tree for the season and support this local non-profit.
Aunt Leah’s Christmas tree campaign has been going since 1995 and it has become an integral part of their annual fundraising.
Last year, Aunt Leah’s Christmas Tree Lots at 7405 Royal Oak Ave. in Burnaby and at 7025 Granville St. in Vancouver sold over $130,000 worth of top quality, fresh cut trees. This year Aunt Leah’s hopes to boost their revenue by opening two new tree lots: one in Coquitlam and one in North Vancouver. In addition they are launching Vancouver’s first online tree lot, where customers can purchase their trees online and have them delivered to their doors or ready for pickup at one of the four locations in the lower mainland. [Source: Press Release]
100% of profits from Aunt Leah’s Christmas tree lots go to housing and programs that support vulnerable new moms and youth who are aging out of the foster care system.
Christmas Tree Lots
Vancouver Christmas Tree Lot
Location: St. Stephen’s United Church (54th & Granville)
Open Date: Saturday, November 26, 2011
Hours: 7 days a week from 10:00am to 9:00pm
Burnaby Christmas Tree Lot
Location: All Saints Anglican Church (Royal Oak & Rumble)
Open Date: Saturday, November 26, 2011
Hours: Monday to Thursday from 1:00pm to 9:00pm
Hours: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00am to 9:00pm
North Vancouver Christmas Tree Lot
Location: St. John the Evangelist Anglican Church (220 8th St West)
Open Date: Saturday, November 26, 2011
Hours: Monday to Thursday from 1:00pm to 9:00pm
Hours: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 10:00am to 9:00pm
Coquitlam Christmas Tree Lot
Location: Eagle Ridge United Church (2813 Glen Drive)
Open Date: Friday, December 2, 2011
Hours: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 1:00pm to 9:00pm
There are ten different types and sizes of tree ranging from $20 to $75 either at one of the lots or online. Follow @AuntLeahs on Twitter for news and updates.
Along the Canada Line, this Friday and Saturday, donation boxes will be setup for the BC Blanket Drive.
The public are asked to bring donations of warm clothing items (not just blankets) to drop off for the campaign. This includes socks, scarves, mittens, and toques as well.
The donations will then be distributed to various organizations such as Covenant House, SHARE Society, Mission Community Services, Union Gospel Mission and Lookout Aid Society.
Volunteers will be at Waterfront, Vancouver City Centre, Yaletown, Broadway, Oakridge, Bridgeport, Aberdeen, and Richmond Brighouse stations on November 25th and 26th from 8:00am until 5:00pm.
There is also a fundraising event for Blanket BC tonight at The Junction pub on Davie and general donations by mail or PayPal are accepted for the cause. Follow Blanket BC on Facebook and Twitter for news and information.
As mentioned in this morning’s contest post, I spent the better part of the day on Salt Spring Island judging the “Glowtini” competition.
Heading over to the island with Saltspring Air
There were six participants from around the island who all prepared special holiday cocktails — the winning drink to be featured at restaurants and pubs around Salt Spring this season. They were Tom Messer from the Salt Spring Inn, Greg VanRiel from The Oystercatcher Seafood Bar and Grill, Miles Roberts from Auntie Pestos Cafe, John King from Harbour House Hotel Restaurant and Organic Farm, Jesse Anderson from Moby’s Oyster Bar + Marine Grill, and Candace Cole from Rock Salt Restaurant.
It was a very tough competition to judge as all of the contestants provided something unique. There were espresso pearls, chocolate shavings, frozen grapes and raspberries, sugar diamonds, candy cane rim sugar, and a white chocolate garnish shaped like a Christmas tree.
In the end, the Laughing Apple Martini prepared by Tom Messer from the Salt Spring Inn was crowned as the official Glowtini of Christmas at Salt Spring Island.
The new Glowtini
While the other cocktails were sweet and chocolatey (which I thoroughly enjoyed) I think that the new Glowtini really showcased the “best of the island” while maintaining a festive flavour thanks to the cider. Here’s how you can make your own Glowtini, if you can find some of these unique-to-Salt Spring ingredients where you are.
4 splashes of Salt Spring Laughing Apple (mulled with cinnamon and cloves)
In just a few hours I met friendly folk from the Chamber of Commerce, local press, business owners, and some very creative mixologists. Even Raffi stopped by to say hello before the competition began. I then flew home with Harold from Saltspring Air — who let me ride co-pilot as the clouds broke apart and the sun beamed down on the Salish Sea.
The return flight
The people of Salt Spring would like everyone to know that it’s a great place to visit throughout the year (not just in the summer) and they’re open for business this holiday season. You can enter to win your own Salt Spring Island getaway that includes a two-night stay, lunch, dinner, and more. Proceeds from the sale of the Glowtini will support Salt Spring’s Copper Kettle Community Partnership.