The Polygon Gallery Holiday Shop has transformed the main floor of the gallery in North Van’s Shipyards District into a beautifully decorated and carefully curated, holiday shopping destination.
The Polygon Gallery Holiday Shop
Where:Online or in person at 101 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver
Open Wednesday to Sunday, until January 3, 2021, The Holiday Shop offers a stellar line-up of original, design-focused gifts created by independent, local makers and international design companies. It’s a gallery store, a bookstore, and a pop-up all in one!
Homeware, jewelry, apparel, bags, books, prints, puzzles, crafts, and gifts created by makers local to Vancouver, the North Shore, and Canada, sit alongside international brands and collectives.
The now expanded shop is carrying a fresh selection of merchandise along with new brands that launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Polygon’s acclaimed Bookstore, which has been moved to the building’s lobby for this holiday shopping event, showcases rare international photobooks and gallery publications. All purchases help support the Gallery’s artistic and educational programming.
Part of the Holiday Shop also includes a pop-up experience by Little Mountain Shop, a much-loved Mount Pleasant community space that closed in June due to COVID-19. The pop-up will spotlight local, women-led vendors and is one of the limited opportunities for Vancouverites to locate products by these sought-after makers during the holiday season.
Curated Gift Boxes
The Polygon’s retail concierge can create custom gift boxes of local favourites from The Holiday Shop’s large collection of homeware, jewelry, books, candles, apparel, and gifts. Each box is beautifully custom wrapped, and makes a great gift for a loved one or client.
Giveaway
I have picked out a wellness gift box (value $150) to give away to one lucky reader! It includes: Tea and bath salts from Sḵwálwen, a Modern Sprout Lavender Grow Kit, Hollow Tree candle, and a Baltic Club journal.
Click below to share an entry on Twitter (1 entry)
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win wellness gift box (value $150) from @PolygonGallery http://ow.ly/5Xy350CB4PE” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entires at 12:00pm on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. The winner will be able to pick up their prize at the Polygon Gallery or have it shipped within Metro Vancouver.
To acknowledge the cultural legacy and historic significance of the Commodore Ballroom, Kennedy Stewart, Mayor of the City of Vancouver, has officially proclaimed December 3, 2020 as Commodore Ballroom Day. The proclamation marks the venue’s 90th anniversary and kicks off the first of ongoing celebrations.
Commodore Photos by Sandra Merz
Commodore Ballroom Day
Originally opening its doors in 1930, the Commodore Ballroom has grown to become the city’s best-known and most beloved live music venue. A stunning example of Art Deco style, elegant décor, and arguably the best dancefloor in town, the Commodore has featured an astonishing list of performers over the last nine decades.
Reflecting the progressive and diverse musical landscapes of the time, performers have included Duke Ellington, Dal Richards, Tina Turner, The Clash, U2, Nirvana, Coldpay, Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, and many more.
Commodore Ballroom (Left) 1949 CVA 586-7809 & (Right) 1930 Photo by Stuart Thomson CVA 99-3855
Anniversary Activities
Fans of the Commodore Ballroom can participate in an array of events, aligned with current government restrictions, to mark the celebration of this milestone:
December 2, 2020: BC Place Light Show The rooftop of BC Place will illuminate with glowing birthday candles in celebration of the anniversary.
December 3, 2020: Commodore Ballroom Day Two Colin James Performances Colin James returns to the venue for the 33rd time with two live virtual performances as part of the Jim Beam Bourbon Presents Live From Inside series.
December 3 – 11, 2020 Commodore Ballroom Jacket Giveaway One Commodore Ballroom satin jacket will be given away every day for 9 days to 9 lucky fans. Follow on Facebook for more details.
Commodore Ballroom Secret Rooftop Message An established fixture of downtown Vancouver, the Commodore has a message displayed on its rooftop for its neighbours to share on social media #Commodore90.
More details on upcoming events and celebrations to be announced throughout the year.
I think almost everyone has a “Commodore” story or five to tell. When I was growing up in Surrey, listening to CFOX on the radio, I couldn’t wait until I was 19 so that I could go to shows there. From interviewing some of my favourite bands backstage, to experiencing so many on stage, and even attending special events during the 2010 Olympics, or sponsoring the Jessie Awards, the Commodore has a special place in my heart.
Christmas at Hycroft is Vancouver’s longest running Christmas fair, and they’re not stopping this year! Pivoting to an online market model, you can shop from the comfort of your own home.
Christmas at Hycroft Online
All orders must be collected in person (at Hycroft, 1489 McRae Ave, Vancouver) by booking a timeslot within designated pick-up dates.
The festive online market will be stocked with an array of gifts, delicious home-baked treats, and artisan Boxed Gift Collections. You’ll also be able to find unique gift ideas in the annual Silent Auction, all thanks to the generosity of members and local businesses in and around Vancouver. Online bidding will be open until December 13, 2020.
Those familiar with Hycroft’s onsite Bistro will also be pleased to learn they’re offering festive feasts, without the fuss! You’ll be able to order frozen meals or ready-to-eat takeout dinners.
Now in its 48th year, this event raises funds for the Hycroft Heritage Preservation Foundation to help preserve and maintain Hycroft and its grounds. An imposing Italianate mansion, Hycroft was built in the Edwardian era by Alexander Duncan McRae. The McRae family lived in Hycroft until 1942 when it was gifted for to the nation for use as a veterans’ hospital. It was purchased by the University Women’s Club of Vancouver in 1962. Hycroft is one of Vancouver’s most important designated heritage sites.
Is it really holiday theatre season in Vancouver without panto? In Panto Come Home from The Cultch this season you get a mix of all seven East Van Pantos, live from the York Theatre… with 350 pounds of past costumes!
Panto Come Home. Photo by Emily Cooper
Panto Come Home
Where: Online, streamed live from the York Theatre When: December 17-27, 2020 Tickets: From $35. Single tickets on sale now through The Cultch’s Box Office (604) 251-1363 or online
In 2020’s Panto Come Home! Theatre Replacement’s Artistic Directors James Long and Maiko Yamamoto sneak into the York to find very sad pyjama clad Veda Hille parked at her piano. Seems she’s moved into the theatre and has been spending her days trying to relive Panto memories of old. In an attempt to cheer her up they call up a bunch of their Panto friends to sing and dance the greatest East Van Panto hits. Things go sideways fast when the Phanto of the Panto swoops in. He’s been watching these things ever since Jack and the Beanstalk opened the York 8 years ago and has a few choice ideas of his own. Physically-distanced antics ensue!
The chickens have been busy collecting an all-star cast of East Van Panto favourites including Dawn Petten (Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Wizard of Oz), Donna Soares (Cinderella), AmandaSum (Pinocchio), Shawn Macdonald (Pinocchio), and Mark Chavez (writer, Little Red Riding Hood, Snow White). Together, they will dig into the East Van Panto vault and remix the best of the last seven years into a brand new holiday extravaganza. From the ‘Cheese Song’ to the BC Ferry Godmother, Panto Come Home! is guaranteed to knock out the isolation blues and bring home the holidays.
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a Holiday Cultch Box from @TheCultch that includes access to this year’s Panto Come Home! @THTRreplacement http://ow.ly/4Obc50CzLl4″ quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 8, 2020. The winner will receive the Holiday Cultch Box and access to Panto Come Home on their choice of date.
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (“NORAD”) is celebrating the 65th Anniversary of tracking Santa’s yuletide journey around the globe. The NORAD Tracks Santa website launching December 1st features Santa’s North Pole Village, which includes a holiday countdown, games, movie theater, holiday music, webstore, and more.
PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, CO, UNITED STATES. Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandra Longfellow
65th Anniversary of NORAD Tracks Santa
The website is available in eight languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, and Chinese.
The official NORAD Tracks Santa app has been updated for 2020 and is also available in the Apple App and Google Play stores, so parents and children can count down the days until Santa’s launch on their smart phones and tablets. Tracking opportunities are also offered through social media on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram, as well as on partner platforms Amazon Alexa and OnStar.
Starting at 1:00am Pacific Time on December 24th, website visitors can watch Santa make preparations for his flight.
NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will stream videos on the website as Santa makes his way over various locations. Then, at 3:00am PT, trackers worldwide can call to inquire as to Santa’s whereabouts by dialling the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) where they will either speak with a live phone operator or hear a recorded update.
Due to COVID concerns, the NORAD Tracks Santa Operations Center will have fewer phone operators, so callers who do not reach a volunteer will hear a regularly updated recording as to Santa’s current location. Anytime on December 24th, Amazon Alexa users can ask for Santa’s location through the NORAD Tracks Santa skill for Amazon Alexa, and OnStar subscribers can press the OnStar button in their vehicles to locate Santa.
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Fitzmorris. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Jeff Fitzmorris.
Tracking Santa has been a tradition since 1955 when a local newspaper advertisement informed child they could call Santa directly – only the contact number was misprinted. Instead of reaching Santa, the phone rang through to the crew commander on duty, U.S. Air Force Colonel Harry Shoup, at the Continental Air Defense Command Operations Center, the predecessor to NORAD. Col. Shoup was quick to realize a mistake had been made, and assured the child he was Santa. Shoup then assigned a duty officer to continue answering calls. Thus, a holiday tradition was born, which NORAD has carried on since it was created in 1958. Each year since, NORAD has reported Santa’s location on December 24th to millions of children and families around the world.
