The Arts Club is presenting three holiday shows this season including the return of It’s a Wonderful Life at the Granville Island Stage, on now until January 2nd, 2011.

Photo credit: David Cooper for The Arts Club

I saw this production in 2008 and it was as charming as the old black and white film by Frank Capra but with colourful costumes and vivid emotions. There’s nothing like taking in a night of theatre in Vancouver and with the snow outside, this holiday-themed production is sure to warm your heart.

Tickets start at $29 and you can also arrive early for a bite to eat at the Backstage Lounge, which offers a discount for theatre-goers on the night of their show. If you would like to see It’s a Wonderful Life this season, here’s how you can enter to win a pair of tickets:

I will draw one winner from all entries on December 6th at 12:00pm. The winner will get two tickets to the performance on Friday, December 10th.

Update The winner is Jeff, have a great time at the show!

During my stay in Victoria with Keira we were booked to to a tea workshop at Silk Road Tea in Chinatown. Recently expanded along Government Street Silk Road is a tea shop, tasting room, and spa rolled into one.

Upon entering we were greeted with samples of their Westcoast Peppermint and were surrounded by infusers, candles, soaps and oils in their spa section. Some patrons were first-time visitors asking for advice on how to use lavender essence therapeutically, while others were regulars stocking up on their usual supplies of bath salts. We quickly learned that all of Silk Road’s body care products are 100% natural and manufactured in-house.

I spotted Libre Tea glasses, tea pots with cute yet descriptive names like “stump” and “curvy”, and any other kind of tea accessory imaginable.

We took our places at the tea bar for their very popular afternoon workshop. The theme that day was “Hot Chocolate Teas” as we were to learn how to separately blend cherry tea, peppermint tea, and black chai with various amounts of cocoa to create some delicious treats for sipping. When each new tea was introduced we were given notes on its caffeine content, ideal steeping time, and tips on garnishes (from mint leaves to goji berries).

The workshop was $12 and included recipes, tastings of about five different blends, and an education in tea preparation and health benefits. These sessions run every Saturday and Sunday at 2:00pm from September to June and reservations are highly recommended.

With the steady stream of tea drinkers pouring into the shop throughout the hour, it appeared that tea is as big in Victoria now as it ever was in all traditional senses.

You can order teas online from Silk Road or find their teas served at various establishments throughout Victoria. They’ve even been mixed into original cocktails at Veneto lounge in the Rialto Hotel. “One of the great resources of working downtown Victoria is my proximity to Chinatown’s Silk Road Tea shop, a veritable playground of lovely and delicate flavours.” Veneto’s star bartender Simon Ogden told me. “It’s a wellspring of new cocktail concept inspiration, and proudly local.

Silk Road has also partnered with Rogers Chocolates to create organic tea-infused chocolate bars that are available on Granville Island or in Gastown.

Read Keira’s post about Silk Road Tea over on her blog.

The North Shore mountains hide, shrouded in a grey cloud of flurries as I look out over an un-touched blanket of snow covering the West End. This morning’s snow in Metro Vancouver is still cascading from the skies as many have taken to staying indoors and bundling up. Growing up in Surrey we used to have plenty of snow days as we slid down the hill in a local park. Stuffed and suited up with arms like wool sausages, we spent hours on our old family toboggan.

As a throwback to our old snow days in Metro Vancouver, I have dug up some photos from the Surrey and Vancouver archives.

Year: 1927
In this photo: Peter Pantages (founder of the Polar Bear Club) & Miss E Robinson in the snow
Archives Item#: CVA 99-1784
Photographer: Stuart Thomson

Year: 1929
In this photo: Skiing on Grouse Mountain
Archives Item#: CVA 99-2000
Photographer: Stuart Thomson

Year: 1929
In this photo: Snow scene on Grouse Mountain
Archives Item#: CVA 99-2002
Photographer: Stuart Thomson

Year: April 1, 1936
In this photo: Hastings West of Homer, streetcar with snow-plough on front
Archives Item#: CVA 677-276.5

Year: April 1, 1936
In this photo: Granville at Pender downtown
Archives Item#: CVA 677-276.1

Year: April 1, 1936
In this photo: Pair heading to Spencer’s department store downtown
Archives Item#: CVA 677-276.3

Year: 1964
In this photo: White Rock under snow
Accession Number: SA 1992.036.3244, SA 1992.036.3245

Year: 1964
In this photo: Snow scene in Cloverdale
Accession Number: SA 1992.036.1802, SA 1992.036.1803

Tourism Surrey is promoting their many holiday activities this season by hosting a photo contest. When you visit one of their “Top Ten” suggested destinations (listed below) be sure to snap a photo and upload it for your chance to win a prize.

Chelsea Barr from the City of Nanaimo has been promoting the city’s latest (and sweetest) attraction. She’s put together the “Nanaimo Bar Trail” in honor of the famous 3-layer chocolate dessert invented in (and named after) Nanaimo.

Photo credit: edwardkimuk on Flickr

Normally served up in bar form with a layer of vanilla custard between a bed of coconut and a solid chocolate topper, the Nanaimo Bar is being transformed into many different creations around the city. Keira and I had the chance to explore a few of these decadent treats during our recent visit to the Harbour City.

Photo credit: C&C Cupcakery on Flickr

A Wee Cupcakery
Location: 407 Fitzwilliam Street
Website: AWeeCupcakery.com
Specialty: The Nanaimo Bar Cupcake

While there were no Nanaimo Bar cupcakes on display by the time we strolled into the shop we had our pick from gluten-free creations, dark vanilla, gingerbread, and red velvet cupcakes topped with healthy dollop of sour cream icing. It’s also conveniently located just down the street from Jakeobs Ice Cream who serves up a massive Nanaimo Bar-theme ice cream sundae.

Modern Cafe
Location: 221 Commercial Street
Website: TheModernCafe.ca
Specialty: The Nanaimo Bar Martini

Vanilla vodka, creme de cacao, espresso, coconut syrup and a healthy swirl of chocolate sauce makes this super sweet martini complete. The addition of the coconut syrup and chocolate sauce really give it a Nanaimo Bar-like taste and if you’re enjoying one late in the evening, you can ask for decaf espresso.

Pirate Chips
Location: 1 Commercial Street
Website: Go Nanaimo Blog
Specialty: The Deep-Fried Nanaimo Bar

Known for their deep-fried specialties (from fish and fries to Mars bars), Pirate Chips serves up a piping hot deep-fried Nanaimo Bar coated in a light cinnamon batter. This crispy treat is melted and chewy on the inside, while it doesn’t lose the flavours from each layer of the bar.

Other stops on the tour include Mon Petit Choux for an organic version, the Nanaimo Museum for a brief history of the dessert, and Minnoz in the Coast Hotel for a Nanaimo Bar cheesecake. You can read about all of Chelsea’s recommended stops in this article she wrote for EAT Magazine or stop into one (or all) of the locations we visited this month.

Follow all articles from our girls getaway in Nanaimo and Victoria this November by viewing my Vancouver Island category.