Pirate Pak Day at White Spot 2017

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

On one magical day a year, adults can order an iconic, legendary White Spot Pirate Pak and it’s not only encouraged, it goes to support a wonderful cause! Pirate Pak Day is back on August 9th and for every Adult or Kid Pirate Pak and select entree that sold, White Spot will make a $2 donation to the Zajac Ranch for Children – a summer camp that brings joy to children and young adults with serious medical conditions.

Pirate Pak Day at White Spot

Can’t make it but still want to support the kids? Text PIRATE to 202220 to donate $10 now to Zajac Ranch.

For the 8th consecutive year, a toonie from the sale of every Pirate Pak will be donated to Zajac Ranch for Children, a local charity that provides kids and young adults with life-threatening illnesses and chronic disabilities a unique summer camp experience.

Pirate Pak Day has become an anticipated annual tradition that has raised a total of $555,748 since its inception, and sent more than 370 hearties to camp. White Spot Week at Zajac Ranch runs from August 14 to 18 and includes activities ranging from kayaking and climbing to swimming and horseback riding.

On August 9th only, Adult Pirate Pak menu is available for both dine-in and take-out.

  • Legendary Burger
  • BC Chicken Burger
  • Bacon Cheddar Burger
  • Sriracha Portobello Veggie Burger
  • Dippin’ Chicken
  • The White Spot Club
  • The Spot’s Fish & Chips
  • Nat’s Original Beef Dip

In addition to traditional Burger Pirate Paks, White Spot will also be donating $2 from entrees and sandwiches from the Pirate Pak Day menu.

White Spot burgers are proudly made with 100% fresh Canadian beef, fresh BC chicken breast and secret Triple “O” sauce, and come on specially baked artisan-style bun. Each burger option comes in the nostalgic Pirate Pak boat, with a bounty of fresh-cut ‘endless’ fries, creamy coleslaw, soft drink, premium rich ice cream and of course, the treasured chocolate ‘gold’ coin.

New Ways to help the kids
Helping to raise even more money this year, White Spot partners will donate $0.25 for every sleeve or pint from the BC craft beer list or glass from the 100% BC VQA wine list ordered to Zajac ranch.

62 White Spot restaurants throughout British Columbia and 4 locations in Alberta are participating this year. Follow White Spot on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information.

Neon Sai Woo Sign Returns to East Pender

Comments 1 by Rebecca Bollwitt

It came down in 1959 and just last week it rose again. Sai Woo’s iconic neon rooster has been recreated and installed at 158 E Pender St in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown, thanks to donors and pledges.

Neon Sai Woo Sign Returns to East Pender

The project to restore the sign began earlier this year when current Sai Woo owner, Salli Pateman, was trying to track down the original.

“Sai Woo first opened its doors as a chop suey house in 1925. Its delightfully garish neon sign, which featured a giant rooster with spread wings, was likely taken down when the original restaurant was closed in 1959. The existence of the sign was known from archival footage.” [Source: CTV]


1936. Men outside Sai Woo. Archives# CVA 260-452

Sai Woo teamed up with TDH Experiential Fabricators to recreate the restaurant sign. TDH has created some of the most creative and recognizable signs across the west coast – including Gastown’s “Time is Precious”, Bao Bei’s neon sign, and Vancouver Aquarium’s sign. Salli picked TDH as they have a long history with neon signs and were willing to recreate the rooster sign exactly as it was going off only one frame of a 1959 video clip.

The cost to replace the sign rang up to $18,712 so she launched the Kickstarter campaign “Bright Lights, Van City“.

Word of the mission spread, and the community came together and raised $18,190 to recreate the sign, just shy of the goal. $522 short, with just hours left to find additional backers, Steven Wong of East Pender’s Modernized Tailors hand-delivered a check for $522 to Salli before the campaign ended.

Steven’s father frequented the original Sai Woo restaurant in the 1950s, Vancouver’s legendary Neon Era, when 19,000 neon signs illuminated the city when the sun went down. Steven’s donation was in commemoration of his father who passed away this year at the age of 96.

Something to Crow About

This year, several historic East Pender landmarks have risen from the ashes. On the 100 block of Pender St there was the return of Jade Dynasty restaurant in the recently restored Mah Society Bldg, which includes a new retro sign based on early examples found in the area. The new Chinatown BBQ shop is opening shortly a few doors down from Sai Woo and the HO-HO is under construction which will bring back this iconic restaurant and a new version of the 3 storey high neon sign which was last seen in the late 1990s.

In 2011, Vancouver’s Chinatown was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Want to see more of Vancouver’s old neon? Check out the Museum of Vancouver’s permanent exhibit: Neon Vancouver Ugly Vancouver.

The Non-Drowsy Chaperone Date Night Giveaway

Comments 306 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Theatre Under the Stars (“TUTS”) has been bringing soaring works of song and dance to the crown jewel of the city, Stanley Park, for over 75 years! This season TUTS presents a pair of Broadway blockbusters at Malkin Bowl: Mary Poppins and The Drowsy Chaperone. I have the opportunity to give away an awesome date night experience that features fun in the city paired with one of these colourful musical productions.


Photo credit: Tim Matheson

The Drowsy Chaperone

“A deliriously witty love letter to musical theatre… funny, energetic…graced with talent galore.”
– Vancouver Sun

The Drowsy Chaperone is bursting with show-stopping song and dance. This Canadian musical parody & five-time Tony Award-winner whisks audiences away on a Jazz Age journey of love, laughter, and libation.

Alone in his modest, one-bedroom apartment, a musical theatre fan puts on his treasured cast recording. As the record spins, the colourful & chaotic characters of a fictitious 1928 musical spring to life – filling his living room with all manner of movie stars, gangsters, divas, and more.


Photo credit: Tim Matheson

Starring as Man in Chair is five-time Jessie Award-winner Shawn Macdonald who takes the stage with TUTS newcomer and lauded actor Caitriona Murphy (The Drowsy Chaperone) as well as Shannon Hanbury, who makes her ninth TUTS appearance as Janet van de Graaff. Joining them are Stuart Barkley (Robert Martin), Blake Sartin (George), and Dimitrios Stephanoy as the Latin lothario Aldolpho. Directed by Gillian Barber, The Drowsy Chaperone features choreography by Shelley Stewart Hunt, with musical direction by Kevin Michael Cripps.

The Non-Drowsy Chaperone Date Night Giveaway

Thanks to TUTS I have this exciting prize package to give away:

Theatre, dinner, drinks, limo, flowers? You’ll definitely score some points with your significant other when you win this date night! Here’s how to enter the contest:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Click below to post an entry on Twitter

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a @TUTSVancouver date night prize package #TUTS2017 http://ow.ly/l1qR30e5tRg” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

Performances alternate evenings. All shows at 8:00pm, except on Fireworks Nights, when shows begin at 7:00pm. Follow TUTS on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

*Based on availability. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, August 8, 2017. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly.

Update: The winner is Rochelle!

Surrey Women’s Centre Diaper Campaign

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Surrey Women’s Centre will be collecting diaper donations from August 1-18th, benefitting under-privileged mothers who have a difficult time providing for their families.

Surrey Women’s Centre Diaper Campaign

Being a mom is hard enough. Let’s help make it easier.

Surrey Women's Centre Diaper Campaign

Chantal, a young single mom, can’t always afford diapers for her daughter Skye – and she is not alone. Many single moms struggle to provide the basics for their babies. “I sacrifice my food for Skye,” explains Chantal. “I’d rather have her eat and have diapers than me eat for a whole day.”

Many moms, like Chantal, end up working part time and depend on welfare because of the difficulty finding affordable childcare. The irony is, if they had affordable childcare, they would be able to go to work full time.

According to the Canadian Diaper Bank, most childcare facilities require a parent to provide a supply of disposable diapers ahead of time. Many do not accept reusable, cloth diapers – which are usually cheaper.

“It’s hard. I’m struggling, but better me struggle through life than me have nothing at all,” says Chantal.

How to Help

Supporting the cause is as easy as sharing this post on Facebook. For every 5 shares it receives, Shoppers Drug Mart will donate a box of diapers to mothers.

You can also donate a box of new, unopened diapers to the Surrey Women’s Centre between August 1-18th, 2017. Call Amanda at 604-589-1868 Ext. 243 for more details on drop off location and times.

The third option is to click here to send some eCards. For every 5 sent, Shopper’s Drug Mart will donate a box of diapers.

In 2015, Surrey Women’s Centre and Shoppers Drug Mart partnered up, and with your help, provided over 200 moms with diapers. This year they aim to do the same. This August, you can help Chantal and other moms in need.

Win a VIP Experience at the Kaleidoscope Arts Festival in Coquitlam

Comments 84 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Celebrate the arts, savour the flavours of the local food truck and craft brew scene, enjoy the best of music and dance, and check out the handiworks at the artisan fair at Coquitlam’s Kaleidoscope Arts Festival on August 12th.

Kaleidoscope Arts Festival in Coquitlam

Where: Town Centre Park next to Lafarge Lake-Douglas SkyTrain station
When: Saturday, August 12, 2017 from 2:00pm to 10:00pm
Tickets: FREE! All ages.

Kaleidoscope Arts Festival in Coquitlam

Bif Naked will headline on the Plaza Stage, sponsored by Coast Capital Savings and featuring musical acts throughout the day at the amphitheatre-style Town Centre Park Plaza, overlooking scenic Lafarge Lake. With her nine albums, a long list of hits, videos and her new book tucked under her arm, Bif will be rocking the Kaleidoscope stage.

The musical lineup also features jazz/pop singer-songwriter Jennifer Hayes, indie/roots/folk act West My Friend, indie rockers Derrival, and BreakOut West 2017 nominees for Rock Artist of the Year, The Matinée. Also appearing is The Paperboys.

Whether you’re age two or 82, this event is guaranteed to be a highlight of summer. Festival-goers will delight in the vibrant festival atmosphere as roving entertainers and live music fill the park.

Try out a variety of instruments in the Musical Experience zone, from flutes to trombones, with the help of experienced staff from Arts Partner Long & McQuade. See amazing feats during the Big Topp Show circus performance. Add your own thread to a commemorative flag tapestry organized by Place des Arts as a collaborative community art project. Craft your own origami paper heart necklace using ribbon and origami papers. Get your face painted or opt for some body art.

Visit the Coquitlam Public Library tent, peruse the artisan market, watch a performance by the V’ni Dansi’s Louis Riel Métis dancers, and prepare to be dazzled in The Red Ball Show & Workshop, which fuses dance with juggling and comedy.

Kaleidoscope Arts Festival in Coquitlam

Win a VIP Experience

I have an amazing, exclusive VIP prize package to give away that includes:

  • Free on-site VIP parking
  • Reserved table for four overlooking The Plaza Stage
  • Food vouchers ($100 value) for on-site food vendors.
  • 8 Brew Corner beverage vouchers (incl. Mariner Brewing, Hearthstone Brewing and Lonetree Cider)
  • Mariner Brewing swag (4 t-shirts, 4 branded glasses and coasters) – Coquitlam’s FIRST craft brewery!
  • I’ll meet up with the winner for an exclusive meet & greet with Bif Naked, including a professional photo with Bif, and signed copy of Bif’s book just for you!

This can all be yours as you enjoy Kaleidoscope as a VIP! 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

[clickToTweet tweet=”RT to enter to win a VIP Kaleidoscope Festival experience #ExploreCoquitlam @CityOfCoquitlam http://ow.ly/HPOC30e3tMi” quote=” Click to enter via Twitter” theme=”style6″]

Follow the City of Coquitlam on Facebook and Twitter for more information.

Miss604 is proud to be the Social Media Partner of the Kaleidoscope Arts Festival

Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Monday, August 7, 2017.

Explore and Share

Pick up your copy of the Coquitlam 2017 Travel & Adventure Guide at any City facility, or read it online, and share your photos online using #explorecoquitlam.

Update: The winner is Stacey Robinson!