Experience sponsored by Willamette Valley Oregon Wine Country along with Eugene, Cascades & Coast
John and I believe in balance: We work hard to play hard. We also enjoy fine foods and beverages, as well as physical activity. It just so happens that we found this balance during our recent trip to Willamette Valley Oregon Wine Country.
Hiking in Philomath
Before stopping in at Cardwell Hill Cellars in Philomath, Oregon, we went for a hike in the Beazell Memorial Forest, which is a testament to true love. For real! Even though my Cascadian heart finds forests utterly and hopelessly romantic settings in general, this one was specially created for all to enjoy thanks to a dedication from a beloved husband.
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Sponsored by Metropolis at Metrotown
One of my first jobs was at Metropolis at Metrotown, and holiday shopping season was my favourite. Christmas music playing overhead, new winter inventory arriving every day, and wrapping a carefully selected gift for a shopper and seeing how excited they were to find it for their loved one. Not to mention the holiday-themed treats that satisfied during extended shopping hours.
This holiday season, Metropolis is introducing several new and improved services to make it even easier and more convenient for shoppers who visit the largest shopping centre in BC.
Holiday Shopping with Ease at Metropolis at Metrotown
Text Guest Services
Shoppers can now text (604) 359-9111 to reach Metropolis’ Guest Services for assistance while in the mall or planning their trip to the mall. Inquire about finding a store, mall hours, parking, children’s stroller, and more. This service is available during mall hours.
Photos with Santa
Metropolis’ popular Photos with Santa program starts Friday, November 16 and runs until December 24, 2018. With a minimum donation of $3 per photo, visitors will receive a digital photo with Santa, with proceeds benefiting the Burnaby Christmas Bureau. Shoppers are encouraged to visit Santa earlier in the season as wait times are less.
Extended Holiday Hours
Metropolis offers extended holiday hours from December 1 straight through until Christmas Eve as follows:
December 1 to 18: 10:00am to 9:00pm – Daily
December 19 to 23: 10:00am to 10:00pm – Moonlight Madness
December 24: 10:00am to 6:00pm
Gift Wrap Services
Burnaby Neighbourhood House and MS Society of BC/Yukon will be offering gift wrapping services by donation starting November 23 to December 24. All proceeds will go back to the charities. Gift wrap booths are located in front of The Disney Store on the Ground Level, and in front of Plenty on the Upper Level.
Metropolis Gift Card
Metropolis’ gift card is available for purchase at Guest Services and their dedicated holiday gift card kiosks. They are redeemable throughout the mall, as well as 22 other Ivanhoe Cambridge shopping centres across Canada. The gift card is also available for purchase online.
Win a Gift Card
Metropolis at Metrotown sharing the holiday spirit in a BIG way by offering a $500 gift card to a lucky Miss604 reader! Here’s how you can enter to win:
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a $500 gift card for your holiday shopping at @metropolisatmet http://ow.ly/YJma30mO30E” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, December 7, 2018.
Follow Metropolis at Metrotown on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information about their shops, services, and special events.
Update: The winner is Nomi Diamond Ishayek!
Big Rigs for Kids is a free event, that travels through several communities in Surrey, offering family fun while supporting a great cause. This lighted truck parade will illuminate Surrey, starting at the Surrey Santa Parade in Cloverdale, and will be followed by live entertainment, snacks, and more over at Surrey City Hall.
Santa Parade in Surrey
The 13th Annual Surrey Santa Parade continues to grow in popularity and we continue to see new entries like Western Pacific Enterprises 50 foot decorated crane. The parade has a wonderful mix of antique vehicles, big rigs, boats, floats, marching bands, mascots, remote controlled vehicles, dancers, service clubs and sports teams. Please join us for an evening of fun that is held in the charming historic town centre of Cloverdale.
There will be several groups along with the route selling food and novelties, with proceeds going to charity. Please consider bringing a non-perishable food donation or gift item for the Surrey Food Bank and the Surrey Christmas Bureau.
Big Rigs for Kids
The Big Rigs for Kids begins at the front of the Surrey Santa Parade of Lights and then form a convoy and travel to the City Hall Plaza to form a display of lights until 8:00pm. The Surrey Food Bank and Surrey Christmas Bureau will also be taking donations of food, toys, and cash.
- Where: City Hall Plaza (13450 104 Ave, Surrey) (click to view Big Rigs setup)
- When: Festivities and family fun on Sunday, December 2, 2018 3:00pm to 8:00pm. Big Rigs trucks arrive at City Hall at 6:30pm
The convoy is partly comprised of a special group of highly decorated Big Rigs from the Island Equipment Owners Association. You can view the lighted convoy as they cross Surrey. The convoy is expected to leave Cloverdale at approximately 5:20pm, on its way to Surrey City Hall.
Follow the Downtown Surrey BIA on Facebook and Twitter for more information about this event.
Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir (“Good Noise”) presents their beloved sell-out holiday concert, Good Tidings! A Good Noise Gospel Christmas, December 14 & December 15 at Christ Church Cathedral and December 17 at St. John’s Shaughnessy.
Maureen Washington with the Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir by Wendy D Photography
For the second year in a row and by popular demand, Good Noise will be joined by critically acclaimed Canadian jazz singer Maureen Washington in a glorious evening of gospel, soul, and jazz Christmas favourites. With infectious energy and deeply felt arrangements, this Good Noise Gospel Christmas will have audiences dancing in the aisles in joyous celebration of the holidays.
Good Tidings A Good Noise Gospel Christmas
- Where: Christ Church Cathedral (690 Burrard St, Vancouver)
When: December 14, 2018 at 8:00pm &
December 15, 2018 at 3:00pm & 8:00pm
- Where: St. John’s Shaughnessy (1490 Nanton Ave, Vancouver)
When: December 17 at 7:30pm
Tickets are available for $30 (adults), $25 (students/seniors), $10 (children 12 and under). Book online now or by calling 1-800-838-3006.
Holiday hits abound as the concert features a delightful mix of audience favourites in dazzling new arrangements, including a powerfully moving rendition of O Holy Night. Good Noise and Maureen will then join forces in a tribute to Aretha Franklin with a Christmas arrangement of the gospel song, Walk In the Light, featured on both her 1987 gospel album and at her funeral earlier this year. To complete the set list, the choir will perform the vibrant and joyful Amen, written by a pioneer of gospel music, Jester Hairston.
Good Noise will also premiere a hand-clapping, foot-stomping arrangement of Everybody Knows it’s Christmas by gospel great Israel Houghton. Returning to the concert stage after thrilling audiences last year will be the Staple Singers classic Who Took the Merry out of Christmas and Joy To The World, in an arrangement made famous by Whitney Houston in the 1996 film The Preacher’s Wife.
Accompanying Good Noise and Washington in this highly anticipated holiday event will be the outstanding musical stylings of: Michael Kalanj (Hammond B3), Laurence Mollerup (bass), Elliot Polsky (drums), Ingrid Stitt (saxophones), and Artistic Director Gail Suderman (piano).
Win a Date Night Prize Pack
i have a pair of tickets to give away for the show on December 14th along with a $75 gift card for dinner at The Charles Bar. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win tickets to @GoodNoiseVGC #GoodTidings a Good Noise Gospel Christmas + $75 for dinner at @thecharlesbar http://ow.ly/OQyv30mN3LV” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2018. Follow Good Noise on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.
Update The winner is Kate Choi!
