March 31, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Quesnel, Kayaking & Canoeing
Find more information about Quesnel - Kayaking & Canoeing
Last night I attended a slide show presented by 3 members of the Blackwater Paddlers Club. The slide show titled “Spring into Paddling” showed photos taken of rivers and lakes in and around the Quesnel area. Stunning images of the Cottonwood River, Blackwater River and Quesnel Lake, all showcasing the beautiful, natural, unspoiled environment we live in.
Paddle members John Marien, George Ryan and Jerry McFetridge set off in July 2005 for their ultimate paddle adventure. They toured the Horton River in North West Territories and paddled to the Arctic Ocean and shared with us photos from their 26 day voyage. They were without human sight or contact for 25 of the 26 day tour, having the company of rain for 21 of the 26 days and sighting 11 Grizzly Bears. The wildlife appeared abundant especially the bird population. The water in the river was so clear you could see the rocks on the river floor from the back row of the Correlieu Theatre where I was seated.
I was really surprised to see such a diverse range of ages and interests in the audience that evening. Over 200 Quesnel and area residents came for a glimpse of an adventure only few would dare to dream about. It really made me think about adventure, exploring and the next canoe I see I’ll buy!
For more information on the Blackwater Paddlers Club; log onto www.quesnelpaddlers.com or swing by 337 Reid St Quesnel and talk to John Marien at Quesnel Ski & Outdoor.
March 31, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Victoria, Dining
Find more information about Victoria - Dining
Funky and whimsical, those are the two words that come to mind as I sit and eat my yogurt, mango, banana parfait (served in an ice cream sundae glass) with raisin toast on the side. The walls are grass green to match the wheat grass growing in pots above the bar. Metallic cake pans adorn the walls adjacent to the front door and Godzilla perches above my table peering into my oh-so-freshly-squeezed orange juice. I am in
rebar, a restaurant that proclaims to serve Victoria’s healthiest and funkiest food. At this point, I would tend to agree.
The waitress talks loudly about her gourmet picnic the day before and a regular customer makes the rounds hugging the staff. The juice bar menu includes items with names like Capital Iron Basement, Haiku and Cathedral Groove. My vinyl tablecloth explodes with an over-the-top flower pattern in primary colours. Overall, healthy for my tummy, entertainment for my ears and eyes.
The kitschy corner restaurant is in Bastion Square, downtown
Victoria.
March 30, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Kelowna, Dining
Find more information about Kelowna - Dining
I had dinner at the Old Vines Restaurant at the
Quails’ Gate Winery in
Kelowna a few weeks back. I must admit the food was fabulous – while I was hesitant purchasing a Thai fusion plate at a BC winery, the dish was incredible, especially following an afternoon of wine tasting at other vineyards.
Along with the tab, I picked up a little tidbit I thought I would share with you. Quail’s Gate holds Wine Appreciation Evenings, where you can “learn about the history of Quails’ Gate’s wines and winemaking, taste wines and explore the art of food & wine pairing.” Sounds like a rather nice way to get into the Okanagan mood. Reservations required, email hscott@quailsgate.com.
March 23, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Duncan, Dining
Find more information about Duncan - Dining
Food and drink are without a doubt two of my favourite things and one of the best ways to enjoy them is by touring the vineyards and farms of the Cowichan Region on beautiful southern Vancouver Island. With over a dozen vineyards and the only estate cidery in BC, Cowichan is the second largest wine region in the province and becoming well known for it's character and culinary delights. The vineyards are all fairly small and the growers and vintners are generally available to spend time talking to visitors about their craft. The quality and variety of foods grown and produced in the area is one of the main reasons that world class chefs are making this area their home. You can take part in culinary workshops, demonstrations and gourmet pot luck dinners held in many homes and commercial kitchens. Local chefs can often be found sharing their craft at local festivals and events throughout the year. Culinary retreats and accommodations with fully equipped gourmet kitchens are springing up throughout the region for guided or self catered culinary enjoyment. A scenic wine tour will take you past diverse farms to collect seasonal fruits and vegetables, visit the cheesemaker and organic bakery in historic Cowichan Bay and buy fresh fish & seafood straight from the fishermen. Learn about wild mushrooms and have a guide take you into the forest in search of these elusive delicacies. You can even visit local potters and glass makers along the way to collect your dinnerware for a truly authentic Cowichan feast. After a bountiful day of gathering you can bet that dinner is going to be great !
http://www.visit.cowichan.net
March 23, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Quesnel, Cross-Country Skiing
Being an avid downhill skier the idea of pushing & sweating my way through a ski run was a hard sell but enough harrassing from good friends Sunshine & Victor and the "excuse" reserve pathetically low I decided to check it out. Cross country skiers always look incredibly fit and healthy and for good reason, it is a physical work-out but after one time I was hooked. I was so impressed by the professional standards of the trail network, the maintenance and constant work was evident. We set off at 7:00pm, minus 12, on the 3km of lit trails, under the stars and among the silence. It was such a great night and such a great facility, we are so lucky to have this kind of devotion to a passion as the Cariboo Ski Touring Club has displayed; it is a true asset to our community, region and province. Hallis Lake Ski Trails - check it out! www.caribooski.ca
March 22, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Art Galleries & Artists
Find more information about Vancouver - Art Galleries & Artists
Don't be surprised if you're walking around in Vancouver and you see a man hanging off a cable as in this picture (by
CharlieBrown) I pulled of Flick. It's the filming of X-men 3 last year. This is one of many movies that was shot in Vancouver. The TV and film business is booming and Vancouver and movie and TV sets are everywhere. Especially the
Vancouver Art Gallery seems to be a favorite spot. So keep an eye out for the little "crew" signs, large mobile dressing trucks, large lights and flying men on cables during your next visit. You might even spot a celebrity.
March 18, 2006 | Tips from Us >
McBride, Festivals & Events
until we become Hockeyville! One of the early contenders in the CBC/Kraft Hockeyville Competition, McBride spontaneously erupted in
BLUE - everywhere there are blue lights, streamers, clothing, hair, faces, cars, even a horse. Main Street businesses decked out their storefronts in blue, the Village trimmed the municipal office building with blue lights, trees and lampposts are wrapped in blue, and many homes in the area replaced Christmas lights with blue. On February 19, players from minor hockey, Veneer Kings, Old Timers, Women's Team and coaches all turned out for a huge mixed tournament at the Robson Valley Rec Centre. The stands were packed with fans who generously donated Kraft items to the Food Bank. And 550 people, from a village of 750, turned out for the Hockeyville photo that day. The CBC film crew visited us on the weekend of March 4 & 5. The Figure Skating Club's Carnival opened with one of our Mounties skating around the rink carrying the Canadian flag - how cool is that? And the McBride Old Timers made a special appearance as the ladies in blue at the fashion show number of the Carnival. On Sunday, Main Street was cordoned off into eight rinks for a gigantic street hockey tournament with teams comprised of players of all ages. Following the tournament, players and fans lined up to spell out "WE ARE HOCKEYVILLE" the length of Main Street while a local pilot flew the film crew and local photographers over for an aerial shot. I won't tell you what else we have up our sleeve in case you latecomers into the competition are looking to steal ideas! We look forward to seeing
McBride on the list of finalists that will be announced on March 29.
March 18, 2006 | Tips from Us >
McBride, Festivals & Events
We're already planning a grand celebration for the
75th anniversary of incorporation of the Village of McBride (1932) on
August 3 - 5, 2007. We are gathering up a contact list. Did you ever live in McBride, or know anyone who did? If so,
please submit your name, email, fax, phone, mailing address, and if you like a blurb about when you were here. Official invitations will be going out later this year. Keep an eye on the
Village website for details as they unfold.
March 18, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Smithers, Festivals & Events
Community energy is running high in Smithers' bid to become Canada's "Hockeyville". What started out as an idea around a table at a local pub, is now consuming the whole community. The creative energy and enthusiasm is is really remarkable. Businesses are supporting Hockeyville almost without excpetion--storefronts are decorated; signs hang everywhere; staff serve customers in either red or white "Smithers is Hockeyville" jerseys. Last week, a CBC film crew were in town for 2 days. Besides filming the energy in the downtown core, they were tranported up to Hudson Bay Mountain to film a women's hockey game played at over 5 000 feet. We expect this is a world record for women's hockey at this altitude. Smithers is on a role! Last week on CBC Television, a local family was judged to have the best 'backyard rink' in Canada. The feeling around town is that we're going to make the top 50 entries for "Hockeyville" and we have a good chance of winning. Move over Smithers--here comes "Hockeyville".
March 15, 2006 | Tips from Us >
Vancouver, Wineries & Vineyards
Find more information about Vancouver - Wineries & Vineyards
Spring is slowly making it's way into Vancouver so it was time for my first gelato of the season. There are lots of great places to get ice cream and gelato and picking a flavour is always is a challenge for me.
So when I visited La Casa Gelato, I was in for the extreme challenge because La Casa Gelato offers over 200 flavours of gelato and ice cream. Reading all the labels can take a long time but it's fun to see al the different flavours. There are the everyday vanilla, chocolate, lemon and such. But they offer flavours that range from interesting such as Guinness Draft or Pear Gorgonzola to very interesting such as wasabi or garlic. They offer free samples so you don't have to commit to anything to try it.
La Casa Gelato is located somewhat off the beaten path in a bit of an industrial part of town at 1033 Venables St (view on Google Maps). But it's but near Commercial Drive, where you can, among other things, enjoy other Italian foods.