During select hours on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 (Giving Tuesday) admission to Science World will be by donation in support of Super Science Club.

Giving Tuesday is an International Day of Giving where charities, companies and individuals join together to share commitments, rally for their favourite cause and think about others. In the same way that retailers take part in Black Friday, the giving community comes together for Giving Tuesday.

Visit Science World by Donation on Giving Tuesday

In celebration of Giving Tuesday, Science World is extending its hours from 5:00pm to 8:00pm on November 28th with admission during this time by donation.

All proceeds will support Science World’s Super Science Club — an after-school program for kids attending underserved elementary schools, in the Lower Mainland and the Fraser Valley. This program inspires at-risk children to be inquisitive about the world around them and to develop a long-term interest in science and technology.

All donations are tax-deductible and will be matched by Science World’s Board of Directors. For those who cannot make it to Science World on Tuesday, online donations are accepted online.

Follow Science World on Facebook and Twitter for more information about their #GivingTuesday participation.

The Cultch presents Theatre Replacement’s East Van Panto Snow White & the Seven Dwarves at the York Theatre. With 5 shows already sold out, performances will run from Wednesday, November 29, 2017 through to Saturday, January 6, 2018.

East Van Panto: Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Where: York Theatre (639 Commercial Drive, Vancouver)
When: November 29, 2017 – January 6, 2018
Opening Night Opening Night: Friday, December 1, 2017 at 7:00pm
Tickets: On sale now from $22 via The Cultch’s Box Office by phone at (604) 251-1363, or online. Child tickets just $22 for any seat in the house (must be 18 and under). Family Packs from $135 (Family Pack includes 2 adult & 2 child tickets). Enjoy a post-show Q&A on December 3, 10, 12, & 19, 2017.

Celebrating its fifth year, the East Van Panto is back with an outrageous take on Snow White. In this East Van tale, our hero flees the Queen of North Vancouver across the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge and lands straight into the madness of the PNE, where she dances with SuperDogs, hops a ride on the Wooden Roller Coaster, and befriends washed-up ‘80s rock stars “The Seven Dwarves”. Pure Panto hilarity ensues as they do everything they can to escape the Queen’s wicked clutches.

Theatre Replacement is thrilled that the Panto has developed into a beloved holiday tradition for hundreds of local families. The company is celebrating that spirit of inclusion by continuing to expand the circle of artists who work on the show each year, including an all-star cast featuring Ming Hudson, Chirag Naik, Amy Rutherford and the return of Panto favourite, Allan Zinyk. The cast is joined by three Studio 58 students and fifteen amazing kids from the local community. Theatre Replacement is also excited to welcome the return of writer Mark Chavez and director Anita Rochon to the Panto family.

Enter to Win

I have a family pack of tickets to give away to the 2:00pm performance on Sunday, December 10, 2017! 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 a family pack of tickets to see @ThtrReplacement East Van Panto: Snow White at @TheCultch http://ow.ly/PXXq30gLq1s” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, November 29, 2017. Follow The Cultch on Twitter and Facebook for the latest performance information.

Update The winner is Mary-Anne!

Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC invites you to spend One Night in Havana this spring at an exciting and enchanting gala. Step into the old world glamour, where colours and music play with your senses, as the culture envelops you and takes you to a new horizon.

Cuba will welcome you into an era past; old Hollywood married with colonial structures and rum barrels. Take in the sensual dancing and vibrant personalities as you weave your way through the engaging offerings of food, drink, murals and cultural experiences.

when: Saturday, April 14, 2018 6:00pm to 11:30pm
Where: Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront Vancouver (1133 W Hastings St, Vancouver)
Tickets: Available online now for $250 ($225 for Variety BC members)

I had the chance to speak to the One Night in Havana gala Committee Chair, Jill Sinclair, who assured me that this will be the “un-gala” gala of the year!

“The biggest thing was that when they told me the government will not sponsor a hearing aid for a child,” Jill said she was incredulous when she learned about the kind of support Variety BC offers children in this province. “I’ve lived in the Lower Mainland my entire life and I had no idea of the extent of help that Variety provides.”

Jill is a business and life coach and author of Date Did What?. Her book is about the perils and hilarity of dating and relationships and is the inspiration for her show on Pulse FM (Tuesdays at 7:00pm).

From the most basic health needs like wheelchairs and therapies, to larger programs like the Sunshine Coaches, Jill was impressed by the gap that Variety BC fills for healthcare in this province. She is now dedicated to raising awareness and has graciously come on board to ensure this fabulous fundraiser is a smashing success.

“This event is just going to transport you to Havana, Cuba and it’s just going to be absolutely mind-blowing.” Jill describes the scene at the Pinnacle with classic cars at the entrance, cigar rollers, salsa dancers, rum carts, and entertainment that will dazzle.

“I’m super excited to have this committee, with these people on board, and to further raise awareness.”

RSVP to the Facebook event here to get reminders and be sure to pick up your tickets. There are several tables already sold out and we’d love to see you there!

About Variety BC

Variety – the Children’s Charity steps in where health care ends, providing direct help to children with special needs in BC and the Yukon. For over 50 years Variety has ensured children have the support to reach their potential. Funding from Variety helps to cover costs for medical care and services, mobility equipment, specialized therapies and developmental programs not covered by private or public health plans. For more information, follow Variety on Facebook.

Miss604’s Rebecca Bollwitt is a proud member of the Board of Directors of Variety – The Children’s Charity of BC

The SnowSeekers team has once again headed to Terrace, Quesnel, Wells, Barkerville, and Smithers to explore and report on some of the amazing conditions, terrain and experiences in Northern BC. This season, follow the second annual #SkiNorthBC on social media and through this story series.

#SkiNorthBC at Troll Ski Area

Finding the fountain of youth on the slopes 

“Keep skiing, or you’ll get old,” is the often heard philosophy of Hildur and Len Sinclair, owners of Troll Ski Area, just east of Quesnel, BC.

Photo credit: @Doc_Pow

They should know. They are part of a tightly knit and friendly community that embraces winter and is the envy of folks who live for the joy of gobs of snow.

Learn more about Troll Ski Area on SnowSeekers.ca »

Anyone who loves long fall lines will be in heaven. With an enviable 1,729 of vertical feet, the ski area caters to the more those who love steeps and deeps. But beginners will also feel right at home, as will those who live for skiing through the trees.

Photo credit: @DaxJustin

Don’t be fooled by first impressions. This is place that is a lot bigger than it looks. You’ll have no problem getting some me time and finding hidden stashes of powder all around the mountain.

By mid-day, your legs will be quivering and ready for a break in the hand-hewn wood day lodge, where the aroma of cinnamon buns wafts in the air. You’ll no doubt end up chatting with the locals, and finding out some of their favourite runs. Like off the Silver Chair, where you can slip into slack-country for an afternoon of floating over fluffy powder. You just might be the only soul here. 

Photo credit: @Doc_Pow

Lap it up like a fountain of youth, just like the Sinclairs recommend!

If you go

• Troll is found around the middle of the Barkerville Highway. On your way, you’ll go through the City of Quesnel. Learn more about what adventures can be found there »
• Call Tourism Quesnel at (250) 992-8716
• Troll, Quesnel, the District of Wells and Barkerville are destinations along the famed Barkerville Highway (aka Highway 26) – all within the Cariboo Regional District.
• Get inspired and learn more to what BC has in store for you this winter, search #ExploreBC on social media.

For more on skiing in Northern BC, set a bookmark to check out the #SkiNorthBC expedition page on a regular basis. More stories and videos will be coming out all season long.

We arrived at night, doing a walk-around our rental car using the flashlight on our phones. Then, one by one we loaded up our suitcases and hit the road from Maui’s Kahului Airport, looping down around the coast to the Kaanapali Beach resort area. We turned on the radio and the sweet sounds of 93.5 KPOA welcomed us to the island.

My first and only previous Hawaiian visit was back in 2012 for the inaugural Kaanapali Fresh food festival with John. Now, five years later, I was coming back with my sister, a woman very deserving of a tropical getaway, and I knew Kaanapali would be the perfect place for her to unwind — and also get in a little adventure.

Pulling up to the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa, we were greeted by the friendly valet and I headed in to the lobby to check in. Welcomed with beautifully delicate floral leis, we felt like royalty right away – even though this is a standard greeting for all guests at the Hyatt Regency Maui. Rolling our suitcases through the lobby and into the grand courtyard, the rest of the resort’s landscape came into view. Lush gardens, birds, pineapple plants, and this was still just inside the hotel! Once the elevator doors opened on our floor, we looked down at the courtyard, where an ocean breeze swept up through the lobby and met us 19 storeys up.

In our room it was like Christmas morning. There was fresh-cut pineapple in a bowl, and fresh pineapples hollowed out waiting for us to pour in a Mai Tai mix. Hyatt Maui pineapple cookies were on a plate next to some awesome pink swag for the Paddle for the Cure we were going to do in a few days. We poured our Mai Tais into the pineapples, snapped a few obligatory photos for social media, and stepped out onto our ocean-view balcony.

It was late enough that live entertainment down at the poolside restaurant had ceased, however the sound of the wind and waves was all we needed to unwind. We sat out in the warm South Pacific air, above the palm trees, wearing our new pink hats and leis, sipping from our pineapples, and my sister turned to me and said: “This is the Hawaii you dream of. And it’s real.” Little did she know just how much more “Hawaii” our experience would get, but this was a pretty awesome start. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩