With bags of wrapping paper and packaging that pile up by the curb, wish list items ticked off lists, and to & from cards and tags that get forgotten until next year, there is a lot of excess waste during the holidays. Metro Vancouver has launched its annual Create Memories, Not Garbage initiative this year with the addition of the Merry Memory Maker online app to inspire low-waste gift-giving and holiday traditions.
I chose to make new memories instead of waste last year myself; that included an impromptu dance party, whole-hearted belly laughs, a bit of tension over sharing the green icing, an arsenal of rolling pins, and my mom putting flour on her cheeks to take “authentic” baking selfies. How, you might ask? I signed my family up for a baking class, which was an experience that has become a new tradition – and the best part of the holidays!
My inspiration was my grandma, who was probably like yours: A champion hugger, kind with a bit of sass, and in possession of recipes for the most delicious holiday treats. Her holiday baking was legendary. She would start weeks in advance of December 25th with the nut rolls, move onto sugar cookies and those birds nest cookies with the jam on the top, then onto apple bars and sometimes even homemade doughnuts. All of these recipes were in her head, learned by heart over her many years, and unfortunately, they disappeared when we lost her a few years ago.
Since baking has always been a part of our family’s holidays, my mother, sister, niece and I took it upon ourselves to start a new tradition: We would do the baking! Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
Metro Vancouver’s largest free outdoor lights display is on now! Lights at Lafarge runs nightly until January, with hundreds of thousands of lights illuminating one of Coquitlam’s star attractions. Located just steps from Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain Station it is a wonderful opportunity to get outdoors and enjoy the festive season with friends and family.
Winter Lights at Lafarge Lake
Dates: November 24, 2018 to January 20, 2019 Times: Nightly 4:30pm to 11:00pm (past midnight on New Year’s Eve) Where: Lafarge Lake, Town Centre Park Coquitlam Admission: FREE!
Follow the 1.2km trail around the lake and enter a variety of themed light zones. Walk through the lighted 90-foot-long framed caterpillar, take pics at the Arbour Walk lighted archway, visit the Fantasy Forest with an elfin tree house, and tip toe through the Woodland Garden with overhead starbursts and tulip lights over the ground.
#ExploreCoquitlam Giveaway
I’ve had so much fun partnering with the City of Coquitlam this year and we’re both very excited to host a photo contest for Lights at Lafarge. When you visit the attraction, you’ll find three picture frame signs in the area, both are marked with #ExploreCoquitlam.
Take a photo with a frame and post it on social media using #ExploreCoquitlam & @Miss604
You’ll be entered to win an awesome prize package!
All you need to do is visit this the free Lights at Lafarge display by January 20th, find a frame, and post a photo tagging #ExploreCoquitlam & @Miss604 and you’ll be entered to win!
I will draw one winner at random from all entries received (combined on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter), on January 21, 2019 at 12:00pm. Follow the City of Coquitlam on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
The Portobello West Holiday Market is celebrating its 12th season at a new location this year! Get your Christmas shopping underway at the Roundhouse November 30 to December 2, 2018 and shop from over 70 local BC artisans. There will also be free photos with Santa, food trucks on site, distilleries, live entertainment and more.
Portobello West Holiday Market
When: November 30, 2018 12:00pm to 8:00pm & December 1-2 11:00am to 5:00pm Where: Roundhouse in Yaletown (181 Roundhouse Mews, Vancouver) Tickets: $5 at the door. Free for children 12 and under.
Win a Prize Pack
Portobello West’s generous holiday market vendors have put together a prize package for one lucky Miss604 winner!
Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a @PortobelloWest Holiday Market prize pack (value $900+) http://ow.ly/V8VU30mK3tZ” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, November 27, 2018. The winner must be able to pick up their prize in person at Portobello West between November 30 – December 2, 2018.
A treasured tradition for locals and visitors alike, the Vancouver Christmas Market returns to Jack Poole Plaza (at the Olympic Cauldron), November 21 to December 24, 2018, with extended hours from 11:30am to 9:30pm.
The city’s signature yuletide celebration amplifies and expands its festive offerings with more than 80 huts stuffed with sweets, treats, and treasures, coupled with an increased lineup of large-scale activities and live entertainment. Attracting a record number of more than 220,000 visitors last season, the market remains one of Vancouver’s beloved holiday events in which to savour the abundance of authentic German-inspired sights, sounds, and flavours.
Vancouver Christmas Market
Dates: November 21 to December 24, 2018: 11:30am to 9:30pm. December 24 6:00pm closure.
TicketsOnline Admissions: Adult $10, Seniors $9,Youth $5
(Add $5 for a Fast Pass and Season Pass)
Gate Admissions: Adult $12, Seniors $11,Youth $5
(Children under 6 are Free)
Location: Jack Poole Plaza – Home of the Olympic Cauldron
(Vancouver Convention Centre West) 1055 Canada Place
Among this year’s expanded highlights is a cozy heated Alpine Lounge where visitors will be able to relax and enjoy hot beverages and delicious food in a warm holiday environment. Guests will also delight in gathering in the market’s sleek new WunderBAR, an 840 square foot space offering an exclusive VIP experience in a gorgeous, heated wintry setting.
This brand new addition to the market has room for 40 people, providing visitors with the perfect place to host corporate events or Christmas parties with family or friends. Guests will be able to book hour-long tastings to indulge in Christmas cocktails or a mug of hot Feuerzangenbowle (spiced mulled wine) prepared by the market’s merry mixologists, and snack on a fine assortment of charcuterie or delicious German desserts in a twinkling winter oasis.
After relaxing in the Alpine Lounge or WunderBAR, visitors can make their way outside to revel in the new Winterdeck (located beside the Alpine Lounge) featuring a charming entrance arch, a giant lit up picture frame, and stunning views of the North Shore.
Couples will also enjoy venturing down Lovers’ Lane – an Instagram-worthy 20-foot long tunnel adorned with 10,000 twinkling lights and mistletoe. A Love Lock Installation will be placed near the tunnel to which lovers can attach a ‘Vancouver Christmas Market Love Lock’, serving as a beautiful symbol of love and partnership over the holiday season.
Visitors will be dazzled by Santa in a 12-foot long sleigh floating underneath the Olympic Cauldron, and the return of Canada’s first-ever Walk-In Christmas Tree, glittering with 36,000 twinkling lights. These magnificent sights will provide the perfect backdrop for guests to take festive photos with family and friends and share in the magic of the season.
I have an amazing prize package to give away that is stuffed with goodies from the Vancouver Christmas Market! It includes:
A Mistletoe Combo for two people: Admission, unlimited carousel day pass, limited edition collector mug, traditional beverage & fast pass. Also includes one Love Lock to attach to the new Love Lock Installation.
A Pair of Passes to Experience the Vancouver Christmas Market’s Brand New WunderBAR: This includes entry and one-hour seating for two in the WunderBAR, two Christmas cocktails or mugs of hot “Feuerzangenbowle” spiced mulled wine (non-alcoholic drinks available), a gourmet charcuterie board and a delicious German dessert, Souvenir Christmas Market mugs.
Click below to get another entry by posting on Twitter:
[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a fully loaded #VanChristmas holiday prize package @VanChristmas http://ow.ly/5wtS30mJkhj” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]
Follow the Vancouver Christmas Market on Facebook, and Instagram for more info. I will draw one lucky winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, November 29, 2018.
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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Review — I received media tickets from The Arts Club to write this review. Opinions are my own. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
What would a holiday show be without a big family gathering, a little drama, a heap of romance, and some great laughs? The Arts Club presents Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley on now at the Granville Island Stage until December 30th.
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley
Tickets: From $29 online or the Arts Club Box Office at (604) 687-1644.
Photo by David Cooper.
Being an Austen fan, and a fan of seeing local stage productions during the holidays, John and I made a date night out of it. We booked a reservation at The Sandbar (one of The Arts Club’s partner restaurants that offers a show-day discount) and settled in for the evening on Granville Island. The rain drizzled down but we were snug on the covered patio, surrounded by heaters. We selected the current $39 prix-fixe dinner option and sat back to watch the lighted boats in False Creek while we enjoyed a cocktail.
When it came time for the show, we walked over to the Granville Island Stage and found our seats. It’s been a while since we were at an Arts Club show here and I didn’t know you can now bring beverages into the theatre with you. A score for anyone looking to enjoy their tea, coffee, wine or spirit during the show.
Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley is a sequel to Pride and Prejudice, written by Lauren Gunderson who was cited as the most-produced living playwright in the US, according to American Theatre. In the same season, her play Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley was ranked as one of the top ten most-produced plays.
The play centres around Mary (Kate Dion-Richard), the bookish middle child of the Bennets, and is set after Lizzy Bennet (Lauren Jackson) has married Mr. Darcy (Chris Walters) and come to live on his grand estate. Joining them for the holidays are her pregnant elder sister, Jane (Leslie Dos Remedios), and Mr. Bingley (Tim Carlson); her youngest sister, and Lydia (Baraka Rahmani). While Mary starts to dream of a new life beyond her boisterous family, an unexpected visitor at the Darcy household, Arthur (Matthew Macdonald-Bain) could spell romance.
Matthew Macdonald-Bain brought an invigorating energy level to the stage, not only as a new character Arthur de Bourgh, but with his comedic timing and presence. The Bennet sisters were as charming as ever (each in their own way of course), and the holiday theme was heartwarming. There’s some very smart comedy at play, along with some of the the silliness you would expect (not only from Lydia).
Photo by David Cooper.
Designer Amy McDougall did a lovely job with the costumes and Ted Roberts’ set was grand (as you would expect from Pemberley) but bright, modern, and cozy with falling snowflakes behind the grand bay window. It’s a cleverly romantic holiday production, perfect for a date night.
