Sponsored by the Burnaby Arts Council

The popular Luminescence exhibition returns to the Deer Lake Gallery from March 16 to April 6. Indoor and outdoor light-based works celebrate the spring equinox by creating optical illusions and showcasing the evolution of experiential art.

Luminescence IV in Burnaby

When: March 16 to April 6, 2019
Tuesdays to Saturdays 12:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: Deer Lake Gallery (6584 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby)
Admission: Free general admission. VIP passes are available online.

This family-friendly event features compelling artworks by 25+ local artists representing varying disciplines. These artists present the many ways this brilliant natural phenomenon – the essence of light or luminescence – has inspired them.

Luminescence IV will feature up to 30 individual works that utilize two and three dimensional professional designs, creating an illuminating experience. This year one of the featured artists is local Burnaby icon Ron Simmer who will be showing his highly engaging Berzerkatroid Dragon. The dragon is approximately 16 feet long, 9 feet high and weighs approximately 450 lb. The propane fire effect was fabricated by Daniel Stratten of Think Industrial.

Limited VIP Passes are available for the opening (March 16th) at a cost of $25 each. These tickets include front of the line access, early entry to the event (7:00pm, one hour before general admission), a drink ticket and access to an exclusive performance. The opening night event features DJ BJAM and a live fire performance by ACROfire Entertainment.

Luminescence is presented in partnership with Norburn Lighting and with support from Prime Image Technologies, BC Arts Council and the City of Burnaby.

Win VIP Passes to Opening Night

I have a pair of VIP passes to give away to opening night on March 16th that include: 7:00pm Priority Access (doors open for general public @ 8:00pm); Exclusive ACROfire performance @ 7:45pm; Private meet and greet with the artists between 7:00pm and 8:00pm; Front of the Line access to the event (guaranteed access!); 1 drink ticket per pass.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Like, comment on, or share this post on Facebook (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

Follow the Burnaby Arts Council on Twitter and using the tags #BurnabyArtsConnected #Luminescence2019 on social media. I will draw one contest winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, March 14, 2019.

UPDATE: The winner is Craig!

The 8th Macaron Day in Vancouver is coming up on March 20th, joining bakeries, cafes and bistros around the world to support local causes, one sweet treat at a time.

Macaron Day

Macaron Day was founded in France (le jour du macaron) by Pierre Hermé years ago. It’s a day to celebrate the colours of spring with a bright palette of treats. Macaron Day events will be happening overseas, in New York, and in Toronto. Over the last few years it has become a Vancouver tradition as well.

Macarons (not to be confused with macaroons) are meringue-based confections commonly filled with buttercream or jam with a delicate soft and crunchy outer shell. All you need to do is visit a participating “Macaron Day” bakery or cafe on March 20th and you’ll be given a macaron and be invited to make a donation their chosen charity.

Participants and Causes

Where: Thierry Cafe (1059 Alberni St, Vancouver)
Cause: St. Paul’s Foundation. Dear to Chef Thierry’s heart, St. Paul’s changed his life when he was diagnosed with a heart condition known as cardiac hypertrophy. A successful surgery in 2016 turned his health around and has made him eternally thankful for all the care he received from the dedicated team of doctors and nurses.

Choose from Chef Thierry’s selection of macarons from lychee, vanilla, pink praline, salted caramel and more. Available individually or in gift boxes of 7 or 12 pieces, macarons are offered from $2.50 to $27.85. As in years past, partial proceeds of all macaron sales will benefit St. Paul’s Foundation.

Where: Ladurée (1141 Robson St, Vancouver)
Cause: $1 from every macaron sold on Macaron Day will be donated to the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation. Be it one macaron, a dozen, or more, macaron-lovers are encouraged to visit any of Ladurée Vancouver’s three locations on Macaron Day to help fundraise for BCCHF.

Where: Bon Macaron (2823 W Broadway, Vancouver)
Cause: $5 from every box of six macarons sold on March 20th, 2019
will go to the BCCHF. Buying a box of six macarons also gets you two more
of your choice free and a chance to be a winner in Bon Macaron’s “Bake It until You Make It” contest. Two randomly selected winners (one in Victoria and one in Vancouver) will win a macaron baking class for two.

Do you know of any more locations? The list will be updated as offerings and specials are announced.

It’s known as the BC’s largest Earth Day celebration, where you can enjoy free family entertainment, pick up some native trees to plant, take part in environmental workshops, shop a sustainable marketplace and soar across a zip line. It’s Surrey’s Party for the Planet and it’s back April 13th!

Party for the Planet 2019

When: Saturday, April 13, 2019 from 10:00am to 6:00pm
Where: Surrey Civic Plaza (13450 104th Avenue, Surrey)
Admission This is a free event. No tickets are required!

Presented by TD, this year’s free event will offer 1,000 complimentary plants to attendees and provide an abundance of opportunities for all ages to learn about environmental initiatives. The Adventure Zone will include a free zip line, rock climbing wall, road hockey and food trucks. This year’s tree and plant sale will offer native trees for $20 each, and plants from $2 to $4. Soulful singer Colin Bullock, indie pop duo Harlequin Gold, and children’s performers Bobs & Lolo will perform on the TD Main Stage, located inside Council Chambers. Live music will be heard throughout the event, with a DJ in the Adventure Zone and acoustic performances in Live Green World and City Hall Atrium.

Additional festival attractions include a Surrey Parks display, a Library Stage featuring children’s performers, an Enviro-Bungee, meet and greets with Big Bird and Elmo, environmental educational booths, kid’s crafts and a variety of local vendors.

Follow the Surrey Events team on Facebook and Twitter for more information leading up to main event.

Miss604 is a proud sponsor of Surrey Party for the Planet, since 2011.

Sponsored by Metropolis at Metrotown

A harbinger of springtime in Vancouver, cherry blossoms cover the region in delightfully fragrant pink and white confetti, with a natural celebration of the season. From March 5 to 31, Metropolis at Metrotown’s Grand Court will be the site of Blossom at Metropolis, an awe-inspiring, one-of-a-kind art installation made up of more than 250,000 cherry blossoms.

Blossom at Metropolis

Where: Metropolis at Metrotown Grand Court (4700 Kingsway, Burnaby)
When: March 5 – 31, 2019. Open daily during regular mall hours. Monday to Saturday, 10:00am to 9:00pm; Sunday and holidays, 11:00am to 7:00pm

Created by Vancouver interactive-arts company Hfour, Blossom at Metropolis encourages people to wander, take photos (including in an Instagram-worthy “selfie zone”), and sit in awe of the quarter-million-plus blossoms, which will be reflected in dozens of mirror spheres (with the largest being 4 metres in size) that create the illusion of infinite blooms hanging above them.

As well, there will be a variety of floral art and Japanese cultural workshops every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday during the installation’s 27 days, presented in collaboration with MUJI (Workshop Wednesdays) and Nikkei National Museum & Cultural Centre (Tuesdays and Thursdays). Workshops include origami, brush lettering, traditional Japanese paper and fabric art, flower arranging, traditional Japanese folk dancing, and much more.

Find the complete schedule, registration information, and age restrictions (some workshops are all-ages) on the Metropolis website here »

Visitors to the installation will also have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a $1000 shopping spree. In addition, by sharing their videos and photos of their visit on Instagram using #METBlossom and @metropolisatmet, they can also enter for a chance to win a weekly Blossom prize package or a $500 Metropolis at Metrotown gift card.

Follow Metropolis at Metrotown on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information about their shops, services, and special events.

When the Whitecaps kicked off their MLS season on Saturday, BC Place launched its new food options for 2019. During Rugby Sevens, BC Lions games and Whitecaps matches you can snack on and savour these latest menu additions:

Food Options at BC Place

Crispy Shrimp Tacos from Steveston’s Fish & Chips: Ocean Wise, light crispy batter, green cabbage slaw, salsa verde, pickled red onion

The Outrageous Burger from Lionsgate Grill: Three house-made beef patties, hot dog, three chicken strips, six strips of bacon, three cheddar cheese slices, fries, house recipe sauce

Beast Fries from The Poutinerie: Caramelized onion, cheddar cheese, Thousand Island dressing

Fiesta Burrito Bowl from Beast on Fire: Gluten Free, Vegan without Sour Cream, Black beans, salsa fresca, sour cream, marinated slaw, served over cilantro-lime rice

All of these will be served up along with Butter Chicken, Lamb Curry, and Chana Masala from Bombay Kitchen, a Buffalo Chicken Tenders Burger from Lionsgate Grill, and Macaroni & Cheese from Boom Kitchen. There’s also a Rainbow Grilled Cheese for the Whitecaps FC Pride Match.

“Centerplate at BC Place is excited to present our new menu, filled with food and beverage options that honour traditional stadium food and highlight British Columbia’s rich culinary history and diversity,” says Paul McArdle, General Manager for Centerplate at BC Place. “With an internationally inspired range of flavours, and ingredients produced and sourced locally where possible, guests at BC Place are in for a treat this year.”

For more information about visiting BC Place for events this season, follow along on Facebook, and Twitter.