Friday, November 30, 2012

Gingerbread Lane at the Hyatt
9:00am - 9:00pm Nov 28 - Dec 27th 
Hyatt Regency Vancouver, 655 Burrard Street, hotel lobby
From November 28, 2012 - December 27, 2012, guests of the hotel can enjoy a walk through Gingerbread Lane, which features over 40 gingerbread houses that have been created by various partners. View them all and then select your favorite to win this year's People's Choice award! Make a donation to Make-A-Wish BC & Yukon along with your vote, and be entered to win a free night stay at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver. See photos from last year here.

Bright Nights at Stanley Park - $10 max
Afternoon matinees Wed, Sat, Sun - 11:00am to 3:00pm 
Sunday to Thursday- 3:00pm to 10:00pm 
Friday and Saturday - 3:00pm to 11:00pm
During the holiday season, Stanley Park sparkles with two million twinkling lights, decorating the darkness that comes early at this time of year. Make the Bright Nights Train part of your holiday tradition Ride the train, watch animated displays, listen to holiday classics, sip warm cocoa, and feast on fresh popcorn or roasted nuts. Enjoy the sight of young eyes dazzled by the display of lights and the excitement of the holidays. Partial proceeds from the sale of Bright Nights tickets go to the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund. Adult $10, Matinee $5.50. Entrance to the plaza is by donation (you don't need to purchase train tickets to see the lights). Donations will be accepted at the front gate. We suggest a $4 minimum donation. Thank you!

Free XBox Live Gold Weekend
"If you haven’t had a chance to check out the latest entertainment experiences on Xbox, this weekend is a great chance to give it a try. From Thursday, Nov. 29 through Sunday, Dec. 2, we’re unlocking Xbox LIVE Gold in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, Taiwan and the United States."

Saturday, December 1, 2012

Kensington Holiday Craft Fair
10:00am - 4:00pm
Kensington Community Centre, 5175 Dumfries Street, Vancouver
Join us at the Annual Kensington Holiday Craft Fair, Saturday December 1, 2012, from 9:00am-4:00pm. Public Admission to the event is free.

Baker's Market
11:00am - 3:00pm (Oct 6 - Dec 8)
Moberly Arts & Cultural Centre, 7646 Prince Albert Street, Vancouver
Selling sweet and savoury baked goodies to the local community.

Christmas in Steveston Village
12:00pm - 4:00pm
1:00pm - Santa's Arrival by boat
Steveston Village, Richmond, BC
The afternoon begins with the arrival of Santa, Steveston-style, by boat at Fisherman’s Wharf. Santa will walk over to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery where parents can take a photo of their child with the jolly old elf. Adding to the charm, old-fashioned horse drawn carriage rides circle Steveston throughout the afternoon, and Musically Yours, a trio of carolers, roam the streets.  Watch for elves who will be handing out candy canes and special offers. Adding to the festivity, a stiltwalker and juggler will entertain audiences. Have your photo taken with one of the three Christmas mascots.  Visit village businesses decked in holiday style and stocked with unique items for the holiday season. Make an evening of it and dine out in Steveston.

Imaginarius Fantasticus
12:00pm - 7:00pm Sat & Sun
International Village Mall, 88 W. Pender Street, Vancouver, BC
BC’s largest indoor and FREE Fantasy Christmas Market Faire- in the middle of downtown Vancouver, at International Village Mall, center atrium. The Imaginarius Fantasticus at International Village Mall in downtown Vancouver offers you a Truly Magical and Entertaining ‘Fantasy Christmas Market Faire’! We will transform the center atrium of International Village Mall into 6000 square feet of fantasy themed entertainment with BC’s finest artisans offering you the most unique and enchanted gift solutions to be found anywhere- Imaginarius Fantasticus has the power to charm the fussiest people on your list, and to suit every size pocket!

Introduction to Home Coffee Roasting
1:00pm - 2:30pm
Homesteader's Emporium, 649 East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC
If you’ve ever wondered how coffee goes from fruit to beverage, stop in for this informal session on coffee roasting! After a brief presentation on drying and green bean preparation, Emporium owner Rick Havlak will demonstrate several ways to roast coffee at home ranging from low-tech improvised methods to slick purpose-built appliances.  Come with any questions, anecdotes, or problems you’ve encountered; go home with a sample of coffee roasted before your eyes!  $5 suggested donation. Registration not required.

Christmas on the Drive
2:00pm - 7:00pm
Grandview Park, 1657 Charles Street (@ Commercial Drive), Vancouver, BC
The Commercial Drive Business Society's Christmas on the Drive Event at Grandview Park is on Saturday, December 1, 2012 from 2pm to 7pm. We'll be lighting the 60' tall Christmas Tree, and will have choirs, carolers, kids activities, seasonal beverages, and baked goods!

Light up the Heights
3:00pm - 5:00pm
Heights Fountain Square (Hastings & MacDonald), Burnaby, BC
To kick-off the festive season, the Heights Merchants Association will be hosting a community Tree Lighting Ceremony at Heights Fountain Square (Hastings & MacDonald) on Saturday, Dec. 1 from 3 to 5 p.m. Admission is free, but the donation of a new and unwrapped toy to the Burnaby Christmas Bureau would be most appreciated.  Our community will come together under a beautifully lit tree to enjoy music, warm drinks, sweet treats, kids activities, and a visit from some special guests!

Child’s Play Gamepalooza! - $5
3:00pm - 11:00pm
Magic Stronghold, 5558 Lane St, Burnaby, BC 
Games night with board games, trading card games, and light PC/Console gaming.  There will be 50/50 draws, raffles, silent auctions, and tournaments.  All proceeds will be going to Child’s Play Charity.

Lower Lonsdale Christmas Festival
4:30pm - 7:30pm
The Shipyards at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue
Annual Christmas Festival. Enjoy family fun entertainment and activities including complimentary coffee, hot chocolate and cookies. For a small donation to the North Shore Neighbourhood House decorate a gingerbread man or make a bug lantern with the North Vancouver Museum & Archives plus festive crafts by North Vancouver Community Arts Council. See Santa Claus, reindeer, carolers and the official lighting of the city Christmas Tree.

Crafts for a Cause - $2
6:00pm - 10:00pm
Rhizome Cafe, 317 East Broadway, Vancouver
Now in its 5th year, Crafts for a Cause is a fundraiser that supports social justice struggles. Community groups working for social justice sell art and crafts to support their organizing work.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Every year, in the spirit of giving, sponsors decorate Christmas trees to fundraise for the BC Children's Hospital Foundation. The trees are set up at Four Seasons Hotel & Pacific Centre Mall and will be on display until January 1st, 2013. Make sure to check them out! The public can also get involved and vote for their favourite tree!
























Eeee! Cute cheetahs decorate the Telus tree. n_n

The highlight of our trip to Toronto was a dinner at Richmond Station. W and I have been looking forward to this day ever since we found out that Chef Carl Heinrich was going to open his own restaurant. For those who don't know, Chef Carl Heinrich was the winner of Top Chef Canada, Season 2 and he also came from BC! We were so happy to find out that his restaurant would be open by the time we would be in Toronto!

Richmond station is located at 1 Richmond St W, basically right across from Eaton Centre!

The main seating area.

We were brought up to the dining area where the Chef's table was, where there is an open window looking into the kitchen.

The Chef's table is right along the wall under the kitchen window. It was full by the time we reserved so we were seated at a smaller table but still right beside the kitchen.

Their menu is written daily on a chalkboard on the wall. The waiter will also come by and tell you what is featured for the day.

We finally spotted the amazing chef himself! Chef Carl Heinrich, preparing some kind of meat in the kitchen. He is very familiar with farm-to-table, nose-to-tail cooking and he procures his ingredients from local farms and isn't afraid to use the whole animal. He brought out a gigantic piece of meat at one point. I think it was the ribs of a cow but I didn't get a good photo of it though.

Ok, here is where this dinner gets exciting! As we were just settling down and I was doing my usual paparazzi photo shots of the kitchen, I heard a voice: "So what, you're stalking me now?" And I turned to see, who else, but CHEF TREVOR BIRD! Those of you who have read my previous posts may know that I met him at the Tweetup at his restaurant Fable in Vancouver (where in I may have sent some creepy tweets), and again at the Samsung Passion for Fresh Challenge at the Vancouver Home + Design Show. I was SO surprised! It was a total coincidence!

AND not only Trevor, who was the runner up of Top Chef Canada, Season 2, but Trista Sheen and Jonathan Korecki, two of the top five were also there! Above was Jonathan Korecki posing with Trevor.

The four of them were having a dinner and were going to cook for a private function the next day for Visa Infinite. Too bad we were leaving for Montreal the next day, otherwise, we'd do some more stalking. LOL

The logo of Richmond Station on the water bottle

 Ok, on to the food!

Polenta Fries ($8) - spicy aioli, marinara

We decided to start with Polenta Fries. Tasty, light and crispy. It also came with ketchcup made in house. So yummy, I wanted more!

Beef Tartare ($13) - hickory sticks, green beans, fried egg

W and I also shared the Beef Tartare. We really enjoyed this dish, too. The crunchy hickory sticks and egg together with the beef was the perfect combo. It tastes great!

Ah! This was a surprise! Suddenly, our waitress came by with two glasses of champagne! Courtesy of Trevor, she said! Of course, that was an excuse to go talk to him some more hahaha!

Tasting Plate: Mushroom Ravioli with braised swiss chard & kale, caper vinaigrette, and butter cream sauce

After we finished our appetizers, we were brought a tasting plate of mushroom ravioli. How nice! Even though it was just a small tasting plate, it was still beautifully plated. Mmm! It tasted amazing as well. This would be my next choice if I ever get the chance to go back there again.

6 oz. Sirloin ($26) - on bed of parsnip puree, yellow sweet potato, califlower, arugula + caper vinegrette, salsa verde

Chef Carl Heinrick loves his meat so of course I had to order the sirloin for my main! W had the same idea too. And you know what? It was delicious. Cooked to perfection! Juicy and tender, full of flavour. Everything on the plate just works.

Carl popped out at one point to ask how everything was. =)

Station S'mores ($9) - raspberry red wine sauce, candied hazelnuts, chocolate torte, graham cracker, melted marshmallow

We finished off our dinner with the delicious Station S'mores. Mmm-mm-mm! Very sweet but the tartness of the raspberry sauce balanced it out and the hazelnuts were a nice added flavour. 

Quinoa Salad ($11) - zucchini, radish, sunflower seeds, red wine vinaigrette

We also took a Quinoa Salad to go. We were supposed to dine with the friend we were staying with but she unfortunately got pulled away at the last minute so we decided to order the dish she wanted for her. She commented on it later on and said it tasted really good and very fresh.  



It was also nice that these little pumpkin cakes came with the bill. Ending on a sweet note. Loved it.

Our meal was amazing and what happened there was an added bonus! It was an awesome experience that ended our visit to Toronto on an ultimate high. I'd recommend trying out Richmond Station if you haven't yet. I'd totally go back if I ever visit Toronto again!

Last Friday and Saturday, Mainland Street in Yaletown was transformed into CandyTown, an outdoor Christmas market.


 The first scent to hit me was I exited the Yaletown skytrain station was the roasted chestnuts! Mmm!

 A little skating rink was set up and a lot of kids as well as adults took advantage of it!

Former Canuck, Trevor Linden was also there greeting fans, signing autographs and taking posing for photos. Not surprisingly, he attracted a large crowd!

CandyTown IS at the North Pole! All we need is snow and we're all set.

 And what's the North Pole without elves,

Santa,

And reindeer!!!! I confess this was the main reason I came to CandyTown. I was so excited when I heard there was going to be a REAL reindeer at the festival!

It's really tiny - the size of a large dog. I never realized they came in such small sizes! It also only has one antler since they shed them around this time of year.


There was a long line up to take photos with the reindeer, too.

  I have a lot of photos. n_n

Cirque du Soleil had a tent at CandyTown to promote their show Amaluna which is currently in Vancouver! It's so pretty and blue. People could enter a contest to win tickets by writing down a wish and throwing it into the wishing bowl.




 CandyTown means sweet treats! Free cotton candy!

 There was also free horse drawn carriage rides!


 Cute nutcracker at one of the vendors there.



Unfortunately, I missed the ice carvings that came later in the day. =( It was a small festival but it was fun to see everything there (especially the reindeer)! I hope CandyTown will come back next year!