Every year in Vancouver the Dining Out for Life event encourages everyone in the region to head out for a delicious dinner at the participating restaurant of their choice and it’s all for a great cause: A Loving Spoonful and Friends for Life.

On Thursday, March 12, 2009 thousands will fill their plates to fight AIDS. Over 200 restaurants from Whistler to White Rock and into the Valley will join the fight against AIDS by donating 25 percent of their food revenue from meals sold during this important event.

I first learned about A Loving Spoonful two years ago when our pal Raul joined me and dozens of others for Blogathon 2007 and I’m glad to have become more familiar with their generous work since.

This year one of the winners of my Best of 604 awards, Eagranie Yuh of The Well-Tempered Chocolatier, is involved with DOFL and will be ‘holding down the fort’ from the Cascade Room (2616 Main Street).

Eagranie informed me that Sumac Ridge Estate Winery will donate $1 from every bottle purchased at BC restaurants (as well as liquor stores) throughout the month of March and Stella Artois will donate $1 from every sale during the Dining Out for Life campaign (through March 12th). She’s also got a Facebook event for the Cascade Room experience.

Via Raul’s post, I found out that Karen of TinyBites will be at Tomato during the event as well.

You can check out the entire list of participating pubs and restaurants on the Dining Out for Life directory and be sure to make your reservations today.

Canada’s annual music awards, the Junos, will be hosted in Vancouver at the end of the month and with the event comes satellite parties, concerts, a celebrity and alumni hockey game, and plenty of stars. One thing I know about awards ceremonies is that gift bags filled with a plethora of high-end goodies and gadgets are handed to special guests, and thanks to one company that reached out to me on Twitter, I have the inside scoop about what this year’s Juno VIPs will be receiving courtesy of the Uptown GiftBox Company.

CEO of Uptown, Gabrielle Durning, is thrilled. “When I first launched the company, I said, ‘One day, we’ll do the gifts for The Junos!‘ So, for us, it feels like a real personal milestone to have the opportunity to create a custom gift design for this year’s Awards.”

The company has taken the term hyper-local to a whole new level with the gifts they have prepared for the Awards this year. “Over the last few years, we have been really inspired by the ‘100-mile-diet’ philosophy of living locally. There are so many innovative and unique artisans in BC alone that it is very easy for us to create gorgeous, locally made gifts.”

So what exactly will be served up in these special compilations? “From the layered shortbread blended with edible petals grown on their own farms at Langford Foods, to the wild salmon pate from Seachange Savouries on Saltspring Island to the BC cedar box handcrafted by Woodpak Inc., our Juno GiftBox is a real highlight of some of BC’s Best.” They will also contain Raincoast Crisps, a delectable cracker that I know my husband can’t get enough of (especially the rosemary variety).

But as Durning explains, it’s not 100% about what goes in the packages as the boxes themselves have their own story. “Like all our gifts, we like to tell a story, to create gifts with meaning. For example, the Coast Salish artist, Maynard Johnny Jr. who created the original design that we silkscreened on the boxes, produced an image titled “Juneau”. The ‘twist’ on the name is in reference to Pierre Juneau who was the namesake for the Juno Awards. He was the founder of both the CRTC and the Canadian Content Regulations. Of course, the beautiful symbolism Maynard produced, is striking and represents the spirit of collaboration, found in so many of today’s successful artists.”

The boxes are indeed beautiful and lovely representation of the talented and valuable small businesses, craftsmen and artists in our region. They also symbolize the fact that a small gesture can go a long way. “In these challenging economic times, we feel our services are even more relevant than before,” noted Durning. “Remember when Michelle Obama presented Laura Bush with a simple, elegant gift on the day of the inauguration? She created a new tradition, while honouring simple etiquette and grace.”

You can view more works by artist Maynard Johnny Jr on several gallery sites and many of the gift box items can be found in local grocery and specialty stores.

On Monday March 16th the Federation of BC Writers along with the Shebeen Club are hosting the Crime Pays fundraiser at the Vancouver Police Museum.

Photo credit: omoo on Flickr

Come help the Fed celebrate 32 years of getting away with murder. Whether infiltrating schools, divvying up swag, or distributing subversive publications, the Federation of BC Writers has been operating unchecked in our province for decades.

Do you enjoy the vicarious thrill of rubbing shoulder pads with the Lost Literati of the Wild West, surrounded by instruments of murder and mayhem in the cozy confines of the police museum? Do you have what it takes to make your bones as a Fed member? There’s only one way to find out! Come out to the party and make us an offer we can’t refuse. [Raincoaster]

When: Monday, March 16th, 6:00pm – 9:00pm
Where: The Vancouver Police Museum, 240 East Cordova Street, Vancouver
Info: Tickets are $20, there will be refreshments, and prizes galore.

One of the best parts is the recommended dress code: “Trenchcoat and fedora, deerstalker and cape, jailhouse stripes, uniforms, Bond Villain suits or femme fatale slinkwear all optional but encouraged. Attitude absolutely mandatory“.

Sponsorship and other inquiries can be conducted through Lorraine over at Raincoaster.

During these particular economic times I’ve noticed many more people are heading out to a night at the theatre (whether it be live, or film) – it’s a great form of entertainment that’s easy on the wallet. There are many ways to catch a flick in town, from Hockey Nights in Film and the upcoming DOXA Film Festival to a unique event happening out in Surrey at the end of the month called Green Movie Nights.

“Surrey-Newton Green candidate Trevor Loke will begin hosting a series of Green Movie Nights, every Tuesday evening at the Strawberry Hill Library in Surrey. The non-partisan event will provide a forum for community members to see unique, independent documentaries and continue a discussion about the topic following the film.”

The 11th Hour
When: Tuesday March 10th, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Info: Facebook Event

American Drug War
When: Tuesday March 17th, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Info: Facebook Event

Who Killed the Electric Car
When: Tuesday March 31st, 6:30pm – 9:00pm
Info: Facebook Event

All screenings will be at the Strawberry Hill Library 7399 122 Street in Surrey and admission is by donation. It’s located right near the Scottsdale bus loop so feel free to take transit (from Surrey Central or Scott Road SkyTrain).

The Vancouver 2010 Winter Games and Paralympic Games will be here in less than a year and they’re looking for performance volunteers for the following:

Opening Ceremony – February 12, 2010
Victory Ceremonies – Nightly, February 14-21 and 23-26, 2010
Closing Ceremony – February 28, 2010

From Beijing 2008 – Photo credit: richardgiles on Flickr

Performers will need to apply, attend an audition, and be approved by VANOC however they are looking for individuals with all levels of skill and while production or performing experience is an asset, it is not required (check here for all details including how you must be 17 years or older).

They are looking for athletic types, musicians, vocalists, dancers, non-dancers and performance groups. The preparation for the Games ceremonies begins months in advance and 100s of hours can be contributed, so that’s one thing to keep in mind along with rehearsal dates and times, which will begin in November 2009.

Although tickets to the ceremonies are not included, it does actually seem like something pretty impressive to put on your resume if this is within your chosen field. You can apply now online.