I often receive emails through my contact form about new products and services but this is only the second time a message has been about sunglasses. Not limiting my contest to purely big-brand items, I am pleased to partner with YEG Wood for a unique giveaway.
YEG Wood, based out of Edmonton, makes wooden apparel such as watches, iPhone cases, and sunglasses. Sustainably made from Cherrywood, their eco-chic TreeFarers style is based on the classis Ray-Ban Wayfarer. The hinges are spring-loaded so they can bend in or out and the lenses have a medium tint, rated UV400.
To enter to win, leave a comment on this post naming your favourite tree species or favourite specific tree (as we’re sticking with a wooden theme). My favourite tree is in Stanley Park, just up the Third Beach Trail, although it was a victim of the windstorm five years ago.
You can also enter by posting the following on Twitter:
I entered to win @YEGWood wooden sunglasses from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/81VM6 #Miss604Holidays
I will draw one winner at random from all entries on at 10:00am on December 27, 2011. If you’re in Edmonton, you can check out YEG Wood’s official launch party this Saturday as well.
Update The YEG Wood folks would like to extend a discount to all Miss604.com readers as well. The code is valid until January 15, 2012 and will take $20 off the purchase of sunglasses. Here’s how to use it on the website:
Select your glasses and click “Add To Cart”.
Click “Checkout”
In Step 1 of 2, enter all the pertinent info; then click “Continue to Next Step”
In Step 2 of 2, under Discounts enter “Miss604GetsWoodGlasses” and then click “Apply”
The price will be adjusted, and then you are all clear to complete your transaction.
With Standard Shipping, glasses will arrive in 4 – 5 days; with Super Fast Christmas Shipping, they will arrive in 2.
Twenty years ago I was named an honorary member of The Stormy Petrels of BC, Vancouver’s official Sherlock Holmes Society. My mother had become President (a position she still holds today) and her passion for the great detective had rubbed off. Snuggled in at night we would read about the Blue Carbuncle, Silver Blaze, and the Scandal in Bohemia.
There are many Holmesian groups across the world, including our closest neighbours, the Sound of the Baskervilles in Seattle. Each meets to discuss the canon and host Victorian-themed events while sporting deerstalkers and perhaps a magnifying glass or two.
Following the first Guy Ritchie Sherlock Holmes film in 2009, my mother was interviewed by The Vancouver Sun. “It had something for everyone, which was great,” she said. “People liked the costumes and the sets were amazing, the special effects, the historical accuracy was very good. It had everything: mystery, drama, suspense, intrigue, a lot of action, and comedy. At the end, it did leave it wide open for a sequel, something to look forward to.” Fans are indeed ready for Holmes’ next adventure on the big screen:
Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law returns as his formidable colleague, Dr. Watson, in “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows“.
Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room… until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris)—and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective.
Holmes’ investigation into Moriarty’s plot becomes ever more dangerous as it leads him and Watson out of London and across Europe, to France, Germany and finally to Switzerland.
I sent The Stormy Petrels to the advanced screening last night. Here’s my mother’s review:
It was an era of great change and new beginnings. A clash of old vs new and, of course, good vs evil.
Where old seasoned Sherlockians in the audience may be a little more critical of details, younger audience members who have never read an original Sherlock Holmes book seemed to really enjoy the movie for what it was. A suspenseful, action-packed adventure.
It was about partnerships and relationships. The Holmes/Watson partnership was very strong, as it should be. Holmes would have been lost without his Watson. It was good to see, once more, how strong Watson’s character was and that is also how he was meant to be portrayed.
Let’s face it, Robert Downey Jr. may not be the image most Sherlockians conjure up as Sherlock Holmes, but each person has their own ideal image.
We need to keep the ‘Holmes fires’ from dimming. This movie, as I saw it, was quite successful in re-kindling that flame. Not in a mocking fashion, but in an adventurous, exciting way. The most important thing to remember, Sherlockians, is that this movie, once again, brought the name of Sherlock Holmes to the forefront.
I once again found myself in the wonderful winter whirlwind that is the Whistler Film Festival (“WFF”) this year, covering the festivities and films for Miss604.com.
More and more, I keep hearing festival guests making comparisons between WFF and the Sundance Film Festival – not to how it is now (with all the Hollywood glitz) but how it was back in the day. Now, I’ve never been to Sundance, but when I saw Adrian Grenier (Vince Chase from the television series Entourage) wandering around a party at the Barefoot Bistro (with an entourage, no less), I suddenly had an inkling of what they meant. I did feel as though I was in the Entourage episode where Vince and his boys go to Sundance. The music, the party, the snows, and the toques and UGG boots on beautiful people.
This was my fifth year attending the festival and it seems to just keep growing and growing, and getting better and better. Each year there are more panels, awards, tributes, and money to be given out to filmmakers. So maybe it’s fair to make such a comparison.
The parties were over-the-top, really. There were too many to count (and usually a few happening at the same time) but I did of course have a lovely evening at the Brightlight Pictures “white carpet” party at Araxi as well as the Spotlight Gala on Saturday night. I was also spoiled to swag at the Canadian Film Lounge, hosted by the First Weekend Club (I love my new Libre Tea mug!).
And – of course – the films. Though the festival brings in high profile members of the North American film community, they are still committed to supporting local and Canadian filmmakers. This yea, WIFF Artistic Director Stacey Donen implemented a new program, called “Work-in-Progress”, where a filmmaker screens their film still in post-production and gets audience feedback. The gunnea pig was director Rob Leicker and his film Lost Lagoon (my dog Momo has a role in it). It was a fantastic and visually-stunning film and though I may be partial to loving the film for reasons previously explained, I’m not the only arts reviewer who like it — Craig Takeuchi of the Georgia Straight liked it as well.
Other fantastic films shown at the film festival (all Canadian!): RasTa: A Soul’s Journey (a documentary by Bob Marley’s granddaughter Donish Prendergast about the Rastafarian movement in the world); Doppleganger Paul (an absurdist story about a man who thinks he’s another man’s doppleganger though he is nothing like said man); Café de Flore (a stunning story interweaving two stories about destiny and love. It’s actually playing at Fifth Avenue Cinemas right now); and of course, Lost Lagoon (a film about a Korean woman’s journey of self-discovery in Vancouver).
So once again, among the films, festivities, and snow, I had a wonderful time in Whistler. I guess the only complaint I have about WFF would be that I wish it were longer! I would love to see everything stretched out to 14 days. Who knows… maybe next year?
Recording artist, actress, host, and singer Dawn Chubai came to Vancouver in 2004 and has been a fixture of our morning television programming ever-since. She’s currently the “Live Eye” host for City TV’s Breakfast Television which she says is a nice opportunity for her to connect with the community.
“I enjoy working with people and getting out there so it’s a great fit,” she told me during a telephone chat we had this week.
Dawn’s also very active on social media and it’s through her Twitter account that I discovered her singing career. She said it was at a business luncheon, where she sang the anthem, that one of her most exciting opportunities presented itself. “Dal Richards was sitting right next to me, and I had never met him before, and he just said, ‘You’re a singer!‘” That meeting lead to what Dawn refers to as her most “Wow!” gig — sharing the Orpheum stage with the legendary Dal Richards and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra.
Her television career even began after she sang on a morning show in Edmonton. Her style of choice (and she’s even released an independent album) is jazz although with Dal, she performs big band hits. “It’s really cool to do these songs that have entertained audiences and Dal’s audience for years,” she told me. “We’ve now done everything from charity gigs to the Christmas market, parties, and more.”
When not up at the crack of dawn for her Live Eye segments or singing her heart out, Dawn is also an emcee-for-hire and donates her time to many local causes. And, while she won’t be leaving television any time soon, she’s enjoying all of the opportunities that are coming her way. “Performance is a true passion. It’s not completely unrelated from what I do in my everyday job, which is still in front of the camera, working with people, and entertaining.”
Going forward, Dawn will continue to embrace social media as a communication tool as well. “I was probably late getting into Twitter compared to some but I have embraced it wholeheartedly.” She added that it’s a fantastic way to communicate and promote things that are important to her personally, but also things that are happening around town and with the BT program. “It’s about having your personalities being accessible to the public – being that station that the community and the viewer can relate to.” While Twitter is great for business purposes, Dawn said she personally tries not to post too much junk, “but once and a while everyone gets a bit silly.”
You can catch Dawn’s next live performance on New Year’s Eve at the River Rock Show Theatre with Dal Richards and his orchestra. Tickets are currently available thought Ticketmaster.
Stop by CityTV on December 16th (at West 2nd & Columbia) with a donation for “Food Bank Friday”. You can follow Dawn on Twitter @Dawn_Chubai for more information.
The Shops at Morgan Crossing in South Surrey are offering up a variety of family-friendly activities this season on top of the opportunity to get through your Christmas list with their roster of over 60 retailers.
Photo courtesy of The Shops at Morgan Crossing
From December 19 to December 21, 2011, there will be cookie decorating (provided by Thrifty Foods), crafts for kids (provided by The Shops at Morgan Crossing), and storytelling (provided by the Surrey Library). Stop by the corner of Croydon Drive and Main Street from 12:00pm to 3:00pm each day for these free events.
You can also get photos with Santa at the same location on Thursdays from 5:00pm to 7:00pm and Fridays from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. The photos are by donation to the Surrey Food Bank (suggested donation is $2). Children, families, and dogs are invited (yes, your pet can get their photo with Santa too).
When you make a purchase at any of the Shops at Morgan Crossing between now and December 24, 2011 you can also enter to win their “Gift-a-Way” prizes of $500, $1,000, or $2,000. See stores for details. I also have a prize pack courtesy of some of the retailers that you can enter to win. This includes:
A $100 gift certificate from Dunns Tailors along with a personalized styling and wardrobe direction for the winner
A $75 gift certificate from Crowns & Jewels (high end jewelry, and clothing)
A lunch from Sushi Castle worth $30
Here’s how you can enter to win this prize package:
Leave a comment naming a retailer at The Shops at Morgan Crossing (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a holiday prize pack from @TheShopsatMC & @Miss604 http://ow.ly/7Zbd9 #Miss604Holidays
I will draw one winner at 10:00am next Wednesday, December 21, 2011. They will be able to pick up their prize at The Shops at Morgan Crossing.
