Photo credit One SEED Architecture + Interiors

Interested in architecture or home design in general? Don't miss the upcoming Vancouver Modern Home Tour happening on September 14th, 2013 from 11am to 5pm. The Vancouver Modern Home Tour is a self-guided driving-tour of seven architecturally progressive and contemporary homes in the Vancouver area that exemplify modern living. This is the first Modern Home Tour in Vancouver with successful tours already held in the USA and Toronto. Thanks to a handful of generous homeowners, tourgoers get the chance to explore the inside and out of these awe-inspiring modern homes, designed by some of Vancouver’s greatest modern architects. Locations stretch from West Vancouver to Kensington-Cedar Cottage and homes vary greatly in size, shape and design.

Photography by Janis Nicolay

Here are the 7 homes accepted and confirmed for the tour:

• Check out a unit in an early 20th century condominium building in the heart of Yaletown, completely renovated and updated in 2010 by Falken Reynolds Interiors, transformed into the bachelor pad of every man’s dreams!
  
  
• A modestly-sized new home, built in 2012 by the Environmental Design Group with interiors designed by Project 22 Design Inc., that makes use of connected open spaces to feel twice as big.
  
• The eco-conscious Narrow Passive House, built in 2012 by One SEED Architecture + Interiors, which is simple and pure in design, but complex in its ability to take advantage of the Earth’s never-ending capacity to heat, cool, and ventilate, while using materials and building systems which are durable and tread lightly on the environment.
  
• The visually impressive Geometric House, also by One SEED Architecture + Interiors (built 2011), that is considered a perfect example of a true west coast modern home with clean lines, open concept planning, natural materials and inside-outside flow.
  
• A tremendous 2011 renovation by FNDA Architecture Inc. of a 1960’s wood post and beam house in West Vancouver that offers its residents a new open floor plan, as well as a new level of energy efficient living.
  
• A modernist prototype home for Vancouver’s ubiquitous RS-1 zoning district that rethinks the typical zoning regulations and constraints of building in an urban context, designed by Campos Leckie Studio and located in Arbutus Ridge.
  
• A wonderfully modern home by Evoke International Design, located in the Point Grey neighbourhood, that uses open planning, a minimal number of single-use rooms and a fluidity of movement from inside to outside to create a larger sense of space, while also presenting a unique façade in its RS-1 District zoning.

Advanced tickets, which includes entrance to all 7 homes, are $30, with Children 12 and under are free. Sales benefit non-profit organization, Aunt Leah’s Place and tickets may be picked up at one of three participating homes on the day of the tour starting at 11 a.m.:

1. 9 West 22nd Avenue, Vancouver
2. 2880 West 20th Avenue, Vancouver
3. 2465 Rosebery Avenue , West Vancouver

Whether you are interested in architecture or just finding some inspiration for your next renovation, this is the tour for you! Please visit the tour’s website: http://Vancouver.modernhometours.com for more details.

Photography by Lucas Finlay

Event Details

Dates and Times:
Saturday, September 14, 2013 from 11:00am – 5:00pm

Locations: 
9 West 22nd Avenue, 2880 West 20th Avenue, 2465 Rosebery Avenue, 4669 West 9th Ave, 1155 Mainland Street, and two others. [Google Map]

Giveaway!

But that's not all! Vancouver Modern Home Tours has generously offered my readers a chance to win tickets to tour! We're giving away TWO pairs of tickets!

To enter, one or all of the following:

1. Like us on Facebook (1 entry)
   
2. Like or share the contest post on Facebook for another entry (1 entry)
   
   
3. Follow @Mashedthoughts on Twitter Follow @mashedthoughts
   
   and tweet the following (1 entry per tweet, you can do this once per day):
   

   Win 1 of 2 pairs of tickets to #Vancouver @ModernHomeTours  via @MashedThoughts http://bit.ly/172C8vw Follow and RT to Enter!

4. Leave a comment on this post - visit http://Vancouver.modernhometours.com and tell me which house you are most looking forward to viewing! (1 entry)  

The giveaway will end on September 6th, 2013 11:59pm and the two winners will be notified the following day. Good luck!


UPDATE: The winners are Winnie W. and Steve W.! Congrats!

Friday, August 30, 2013

Serbian Days Vancouver
Fri 9:30 - 8th Annual Serbian Day Zurka ($10)
Sat 12pm - 7pm
Sun 10:30am - 7pm
St. Sava Serbian Church, 505 East 63rd Ave and George Park
Sports’ tournaments, Kids’ games, arts and crafts, live music,  Cultural Program and Performing Arts.

Saturday, August 31, 2013

Serbian Days Vancouver
Fri 9:30 - 8th Annual Serbian Day Zurka ($10)
Sat 12pm - 7pm
Sun 10:30am - 7pm
St. Sava Serbian Church, 505 East 63rd Ave and George Park
Sports’ tournaments, Kids’ games, arts and crafts, live music,  Cultural Program and Performing Arts.


2nd Annual Gastown BBQ & Chili Festival
 Aug 31st, 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Sept 1nd 1:00pm - 7:00pm
The Blarney Stone, and 17 other Gastown Restaurants, will compete in a two-day, outdoor, cookout in a festival-style setting. The weekend will feature BBQ and Chili Competitions, Live Music, Street Entertainment, and other events. Proceeds from the weekend's BBQ and Chili tastings will go directly to Athletics 4 Kids, a local charity that helps under-privileged children participate in team sports.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Serbian Days Vancouver
Fri 9:30 - 8th Annual Serbian Day Zurka ($10)
Sat 12pm - 7pm
Sun 10:30am - 7pm
St. Sava Serbian Church, 505 East 63rd Ave and George Park
Sports’ tournaments, Kids’ games, arts and crafts, live music,  Cultural Program and Performing Arts.


2nd Annual Gastown BBQ & Chili Festival
 Aug 31st, 1:00pm - 7:00pm
Sept 1nd 1:00pm - 7:00pm
The Blarney Stone, and 17 other Gastown Restaurants, will compete in a two-day, outdoor, cookout in a festival-style setting. The weekend will feature BBQ and Chili Competitions, Live Music, Street Entertainment, and other events. Proceeds from the weekend's BBQ and Chili tastings will go directly to Athletics 4 Kids, a local charity that helps under-privileged children participate in team sports.

Victory Square Block Party 2013
2:00pm - 9:00pm
Victory Square Park (Cambie & Hastings), Vancouver
If Music Waste welcomes the start of summer in Vancouver, then the Victory Square Block Party is the ultimate way to say good-bye.  An afternoon of fundraising, bands, comedy, nature, random sprinkler attacks and music in an historic setting with all your friends.

Monday, September 2, 2013 - Labour Day!

The annual TaiwanFest sponsored by Telus is happening starting this Saturday September 1st to Monday September 3rd.  This free event is dedicated to promoting Taiwanese Arts and Culture. There will be dance performances, lectures, music, food, games and many other fun things to do!

Free Gate Admission, Free Carousel Rides. Old-fashioned fun complete with games of chance, entertainment and market vendors. Join one of the races, try the corn shucking or put yourself in picture at our new photostop.

Reoccurring:

River District Farmers Market
10:00am - 3:00pm every Saturday from May4 - Oct26
Kerr Street Plaza – on Kerr Street, one block South of SE Marine Drive, Vancouver
This one-of-a-kind farmers market is the only riverfront market in Vancouver. Come shop for fruits and veggies, prepared foods, and handmade products produced farmers and artisans. Enjoy the waterfront, playground and pier.


Shop for organic and conventional product, meat, cheese, seafood and plants as well as tasty baked goods, beautiful crafts while being entertained by local musicians. Hot coffee and hot food available on site each week.

Shangri-La Farmers Market
every other Sunday, 11am to 3pm from May 19 - Sept 22
Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver, 1128 W Georgia St Vancouver
Join us in the plaza between the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver and Urban Fare for the Shangri-La Farmers Market. Sample fresh local produce and products every second Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Live cooking demos at 12 noon by Executive Chef Wayne Harris.

Food Cart Fest - $2
12pm - 5pm from June 23 - Sept 22
215 West 1st - between Olympic Village & Cambie Bridge
Food Cart Fest is a gathering of over 20 of Vancouver’s top Food Carts presented by Arrival and The Streetfood Vancouver Society. Join us every week this summer for food, fun, and sun complemented by community markets, live music and DJs, craft food vendors, kids activities, and more. Food Cart Fest launches on Sunday, June 23 and takes place every Sunday from 12pm-5pm until September 22. Admission is $2. Children 13 and under get in free. Max rate for families is $5. Vancity members get in free. Check out my visit here.

Chinatown Night Market
6pm - 11pm Fri, Sat, Sun May 17th to Sept 8
Keefer Street between Main & Columbia, Vancouver
This summer, the Chinatown Night Market is bringing a heady mix of time-honoured tradition and new school flavour to the festivities on Keefer Street. Live music, storytelling, and Mahjong; new vendors, more food, and some other stuff that wasn’t here last year like outdoor classic movie screenings and epic ping pong tournaments. See some photos from last year here.

Richmond Night Market - $2
Fri-Sat  7PM - 12AM 
Sun & Stat Holidays  6PM - 11PM 
Sat (Jul & Aug) 7PM - 1AM
8351 River Road, Richmond BC
Lots of food, live entertainment and vendors. $2 fee for regular admission (Subject to changes). FREE admission for children 10 & under and FREE admission for Seniors 60 & up. $10 and $20 Zoom Passes are available for purchase. Check out my photos from this year here.

International Summer Night Market
7pm - 12am Fri, Sat, Sun, May 10 - Sept 8
12631 Vulcan Way, Richmond BC
6th annual Summer Night Market in Richmond starting May 10, 2013! Lots of food, live entertainment and vendors. Check out my photos from this year here.

After visiting the Farmers Market Kitchen in the morning, which coincidentally was also about salmon, I head to the Pink Salmon Festival at Hadden/Vanier Park. This festival is held only every two years which coincides with the life cycle of the Pink salmon! Having been to the festival previously, I knew what to expect: lots of delicious salmon!








Chefs from Vista 18 (on top of the beans), Fish Counter(with the sauce on top) and Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts (the darker one) prepared Pink Salmon in three different ways for us. All this deliciousness by donation! So yummy! I liked the Fish Counter one the best but they all were good!

This is a Pink salmon. It can be identified by the spots on a solid gray tail, small scales and tiny teeth. They have a two year life span and return to their birth stream to spawn at the end. They are more hardy than other salmon so if their stream is disturbed they are more likely to be able to relocate elsewhere.

A giant salmon queen was walking..er...swimming around the site much to everyone's delight!

The Stream of Dreams Mural Society was there showing off some of the hand painted salmon art done by children! I've seen these before and I think it's a great idea! The society teaches kids about taking care of our lakes, rivers and oceans and how all storm drains lead to fish habitat.


Raffle tickets were being sold with proceeds going to the Pacific Salmon Foundation, the non-profit organization that is responsible for this festival.


The festival is very kid friendly. There's lots of activities for them like story time in this big fish tent!

They also get to dress up for it!






It was an amazing day and though there were many people who turned up for the festival, it wasn't as busy as the last time I went. Stanley Park's 125th Anniversary celebration was happening the same time so that may account for the low turnout this year. At the end of the day, they had plenty of left over salmon and festival organizers donated them to Union Gospel Mission - 650 pounds of Pinks!

I had a great time and am looking forward to going again in 2015!

I love to visit the Farmers Market, especially when the monthly Farmers Market Kitchen is on! Last Sunday, Chef Ned Bell of YEW Restaurant gave a demo on BBQing salmon.



He started off by introducing himself and his restaurant and how he loves support local food and how we should all donate to the Farmers Market Kitchen. As an incentive, anyone who donated $5 or more received a canned tuna from YEW!
 
The canned tuna is sold for $7 something at the restaurant so everyone jumped at the chance. I got one myself because it's so yummy! Tuna and love are the two ingredients!

Starting from the top, Chef Ned Bell proceeded to show us how to fillet and debone a whole salmon! That above is about a 9lb Spring Chinook salmon.


It was freshly caught, and has its organic ocean tag with tracking number so that you know which boat caught it, where, when and how it was caught. Ned Bell is very passionate about sustainable seafood, as should we all, since if we continue eating the way we eat, there will be no more seafood period! Traceability is important for seafood to know what you are eating. Ask the server where the fish came from, if it is Ocean Wise, if they don't know or can't answer then...well you got your answer. The Four Seasons is the first luxury hotel in Canada to be 100% ocean wise! All the seafood at the hotel is caught, raised, farmed or harvested sustainably and Chef Ned Bell is very proud to be part of that.


 So to fillet a fish:
1. start at the head, score down to the bone then follow the backbone with your knife  = perfect fillet

 2. flip fish, and do the same thing to the other side.

 Chef had his little sous-chef entourage watching him work. =D

You are left with the rest of the fish which you can scrape it with a spoon and use for salmon burger or tartare! Yummy!



3. Take out the belly bones
4. Use a long sharp knife and skin the salmon. He stressed the importance of having sharp knives in the kitchen.


5. Run knife along against pin bones and use good set of fish pliers to pull out the bones and voila! You're done!


To give the fish a great flavour, Chef uses cedar paper, which can be bought from any local hardware store, and cook the fish on it. Just lay it on the tray and put the fish on top of it. It doesn't need to be soaked it if you put it on the tray. It is one use and throw it away, easy, clean. Chef says that one of the most important things of being a chef is to work clean. Working cleaning, being organized means you waste less and make less mistakes.

Add some extra virgin olive oil.

Lots of sea salt like a crust.

Then put it into the BBQ preheated to medium to medium/high heat. Or if you don't have a BBQ, medium/high heat 375 - 400 in your oven. Bake for 10min until the fat, white stuff rise to the top. That's when you know it's done.


While the salmon was cooking, Chef prepared the compote and salad to go with the fish.


Boil crab apples from Vista Dora farms, mix in a cup of honey,  a cup vinegar e.g. red wine vinegar or cider vinegar, salt but balance to your taste. Stir it a little bit to break apart the apples when they are soft enough.



Hannah Brook Farms provided the greens in the salad.


Throw in roasted hazelnuts from Poplar Grove, some extra virgin olive oil, poured some of the liquid from the compote, some sea salt and mix it all together. And you're done your salad. Easy!


Checking on the fish...white stuff is the fat that rose to the top. Take it out right away because it will continue to cook! Juicy and perfectly cooked. Mmm.


 After the demo was done, Chef Ned Bell served up samples to the hungry crowd.



Voila! Cedar baked BBQ salmon with mixed greens and crab apple compote. So yummy! Best of all, all the ingredients can be found fresh at the Farmers Market!

Chef Ned Bell and his sous-chef Max.

The next Farmers Market Kitchen and the last one this season is on September 29 with Chef Eric Arrouzé from UBC Culinary Arts. Make sure to check it out! Please visit eatlocal.org for more information.