Best Buy Canada released their Holiday Gift Guide a few weeks ago and with digital cameras, iPods, and the latest televisions on almost everyone’s list, it’s one hot resource. To help promote their gift ideas this season, they have offered up a TomTom system to one of my readers.

TomTom GO 245
Fully loaded with premium maps of Canada, the USA, and Mexico, this TomTom mobile navigator includes over 7 million points of interest available thought its 4.3 inch touch-screen. It also doubles as a Bluetooth hands-free system for safely answering and placing calls with voice recognition and 130 different verbal commands. The suggested retail price for this TomTom unit is $249.99.

I am a huge fan of roadtrips and have sailed down highways from Saskatoon to Mount Shasta. To enter to win this unit, I’d love to know… Where would you go on your own ‘ultimate roadtrip’?

I will draw one winner from all entries on Thursday, December 16th, 2010.

Update The winner is Scott!

When looking for a theme for this week’s collection of Archives Photos, the keyword “Barbershops” caught my eye on the search page. With a wrap on this year’s Movember many grizzly-faced men have been shaving up a storm either at home or with the help of a grooming professional, so the theme seems rather fitting.

Year: 1909
In this photo: Louvre Hotel barbershop at the 300 block of Carrall Street
VPL Accession Number: 1262
Photographer / Studio: Leonard Frank Collection

Year: 1910
In this photo: Clarke Street in Port Moody with a barbershop on the right
VPL Accession Number: 7025
Photographer / Studio: Leonard Frank Collection

Year: 1934
In this photo: Barbershop next to the Capitol Theatre on Granville
VPL Accession Number: 23587
Photographer / Studio: Dominion Photo Co.

Year: 1946
In this photo: Interior of Soon Town Barbershop at 420 Columbia in Vancouver
VPL Accession Number: 26945
Photographer / Studio: Dominion Photo Co.

Year: 1950s
In this photo: Woman holding a sign in front of a barbershop at 2427 East Hastings
VPL Accession Number: 41564
Photographer / Studio: Province Newspaper

Year: 1960s
In this photo: Barbershop interior with men getting hair cuts
VPL Accession Number: 41421
Photographer / Studio: Province Newspaper

Should you have a theme you would like to see me feature using historic photographs, please feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments.

After checking into the Westin when we were in Whistler last month we heading down to the concourse level to meet up with our Whistler Tasting Tour for the evening. Over the next three hours we would walk to four restaurants, sample wine pairings, and have some exclusive experiences in the village.

Jamie was our guide who handed out playing cards at the start of our tour. This would be a theme throughout the evening as we collected cards (with each stop and with trivia questions) to make our best poker hands.

The first stop was the wine cellar at Bearfoot Bistro, the largest of its kind in Western Canada. This sub-subterranean wine mecca has hosted everyone from film and restaurant industry stars to Olympic medalists. Complete with a small lounge, the main attraction in the cellar (aside from the tens of thousands of wines) is the sabrage.

We were told the history of sabering open a bottle of champagne or sparkling wine and two members of our groups (with the highest playing cards in their possession) were able to try this feat for themselves. John and another guest on the tour had the best cards and were able to partake in this Napoleonic tradition.

Bearfoot is also home of Andre Saint Jacques who holds the Guinness World Record for sabering open 21 bottles of Champagne in one minute.

The second stop on the tour was Hy’s Steakhouse, where we indulged in sampling steak bits and a beautifully seared tuna. Whoever could guess the varietal of red or white wine poured in their glass received more playing cards for their poker hand.

Our main course was served over at Quattro, sibling to Q4 on West 4th in Vancouver. There was a choice or salmon or veal served atop their famous spaghetti Quattro, which packs quite a punch of flavour and spice.

A surprise stop before heading to our dessert location was at Rogers Chocolates along the Village Stroll. We were treated to ice wine truffles and I scooped up a box of sea salt cashews covered in dark chocolate.

Blueberry cheesecake and ice wine were served at The Mix to round out our evening. While I didn’t have the best poker hand I did have the worst, which was rewarded all the same. With our bellies full and appetites satisfied, I walked away with a goodie bag containing a wine stopper and corkscrew.

There were about ten people in our group and only two couples knew each other heading into the tour. It was an enjoyable way to explore the culinary scene in Whistler while being social and meeting vacationers and locals alike. Whistler Tasting offers three different types of tours starting at $59.99 a person and each participant walks away with a perks card, good for discounts around Whistler.

Disclosure: cmp.ly/2

With Christmas only a few weeks away, those who opt for real Christmas trees are getting ready to head out and find that perfect one. There is something very traditional and “Christmassy” about taking a break from the congested malls and heading into the country with your kids, partner or friends. Many tree farms also have caroling, hot chocolate and candy canes to add to the experience. Even if you aren’t into buying a tree most also have wreaths and boughs available.

Where to Get a Live Christmas Tree

Whether you are partial to full, groomed trees or have an affinity for more of a “Charlie Brown” style, there are plenty of options if you know where to look.

Tips

• The farms provide saws, leave the hatchet and chainsaw at home
• Most farms don’t allow dogs
• They close before or just after dark so make sure to check hours of operations (most close between 4:00pm – 5:30pm)
• A good quality tree will last you the month of December but make sure to water daily when you first bring it home
• Many are cash or cheque only (although a few do accept debit and credit cards)
• If you don’t know much about trees or what you are looking for, talk to the staff they are generally a wealth of knowledge on the subject

Recommended Farms
Frosty’s Family Christmas Tree Farm
Hours: Open Daily. U-cut 9:00am – 4:30pm, Fresh cut 9:00am – 8:00pm

Location: From Highway 1, take the 264th St. exit, and go over the overpass. Turn west on 56th Ave at the light. Follow 56th Ave to 248th St and turn south. At 52nd Ave, turn west and continue down the road until you see our festive family of snowmen greeting you at our Farm Entrance.

Features: Hot Chocolate, Hot Apple Cider, and Hot Dogs are available on the weekends till 4:30pm.

H&M Christmas Tree Farm
Hours: Pre-cut Monday to Friday 10:00am – 10:00 pm and Saturday, Sunday 9:00am-10:00pm. Open 7 days a week.

Location: 6640-6980 Steveston Hwy in Richmond

Features: Open fires, Christmas music, hot apple cider, ample parking and complimentary hot dogs.

Dogwood Christmas Tree Farm
Hours: Open Daily 9:00am – 4:30pm

Location: 8659 252 St. Fort Langley, 4 kilometers east of The Fort, on River Road & 252nd St.

Features: 18 acres of Douglas Fir, Grand Fir, Noble, and Fraser Fir. U-cut and farm-fresh cut trees, fresh holly, boughs, and wreaths. Complimentary Candy Cane,Christmas carols. Hot Dogs, Hot Chocolate, and Hot Cider are available on the weekends from Santa’s Snack Shack.

Should you have any family favourite locations not listed, please feel free to add them in the comments.

Update The following suggestions have been contributed for cut trees:

The Wildlife Rescue Association out at Burnaby Lake will be selling organic, salmon-safe Xmas trees on Friday, December 17, 2010 between 10:00am and 2:00pm. The trees have been generously donated by The Bees Knees Christmas Trees who own two organic farms out in the Columbia Valley. The charity is located at 5216 Glencarin Drive, Burnaby V5B C1 and a minimum donation of $20 is suggested.

Aunt Leah’s Independent Lifeskills Society has lots in Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam and on the North Shore. Your purchase will go to Aunt Leah’s programs that help prevent youth homelessness.

Vancouver welcomed a new restaurant to its search engines, directories, and foodie rosters last night. The Helm opened up at 1180 Howe in a familiar location but with a refreshing menu worth discovering.

World-renowned chef and television personality David Adjey was on-scene with cameras in tow as The Helm was part of the “The Opener” series on the Food Network. At one point Chef Adjey came to our table to ask how our evening was going and he noted that, “this one was a challenge.” TV cameras stopped by now and then to grab shots of us eating or chatting with our server.

Our favourite dishes of the night were the simple yet very tasty golden beets with Agassiz hazelnuts and Moonstruck farmhouse feta, and the falafels (above).

Turkey confit gravy with huckleberries and savoury bread pudding
Smoked Sloping Hills pork shoulder with house-made peanut-chili sauce

Mentions on the menus and by the staff made it quite evident that The Helm has a commitment to sourcing local ingredients, and you can find a list of their partners online.

Wildflower honey pot de creme with sour cherries and walnuts

Executive Chef Tobey Nemeth will take things from here as The Helm is now officially open for business. Stop by for a classic cocktail or to sample share plates. Follow @HelmVancouver on Twitter for updates and air-times for its episode of The Opener.