Christmas in Vancouver: Grouse Mountain Peak of Christmas

Grouse Mountain Peak of Christmas 2012

Ho ho ho, there's even more Christmas in Vancouver to tell you about. Grouse Mountain is celebrating the Peak of Christmas 2012 until Dec. 24. On the mountain, you'll find Santa Claus, real reindeer, an outdoor skating rink, Christmas carolers and much more.

Here are some fun-filled things happening on Grouse Mountain:

Santa's Workshop: Meet Father Christmas in person and tell him what's on your wishlist this year. If you're nice, maybe you'll get what you've wished for.

Meet Dancer and Vixen: Dancer and Vixen, two of Santa's very own reindeer, are on vacation in the wildlife refuge. Pop by and say hello!

Sleigh Rides: Take a magical ride through the mountain, maybe even on Santa's own sleigh!

Skate with Champions: Skate with world ice skating champion Karen Magnusson on Dec. 1, 8 or 15, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Breakfast with Santa: Enjoy a hearty breakfast with the man in the red suit on Dec. 9 and Dec. 15 to 24. 

SOS Children's Gingerbread Village: See some amazing gingerbread house creations and vote for your favourite one.

With a winter wonderland at your feet, don't miss visiting Grouse Mountain this holiday season. Bring your friends, family and kids to share in the joy of Christmas in Vancouver!

Photo credit: Grouse Mountain

Vancouver Restaurants: Yaletown Brewing Company

After enjoying a cold yet sunny day at Yaletown Candytown on Saturday, my friends and I decided to head to Yaletown Brewing Company for dinner. We got there a bit past 6 p.m. and the place was packed. We didn't have a reservation so there were only seats available in the heated patio.

The heated patio was outfitted with heat lamps above the tables and fleece blankets on the chairs. This provided enough warmth, but not enough to take our coats off. Some people were in t-shirts though and seemed perfectly fine.

Our waitress came along and took our drink orders. Because it was Candytown in Yaletown, I expected that Yaletown Brewing Company would have a special candy cocktail. The waitress didn't seem to know what the special was though. 

The food menu was varied but didn't completely appeal to me. There were lots of pizzas, burgers, rice and pasta bowls, and other miscellaneous entrees. I decided on the meatloaf -- individually baked in a cast iron pot and topped with Nagila Pale Ale infused BBQ sauce, served with fresh cut potato & mushroom hash topped with a poached egg. The potato and mushroom hash sounded especially good to me, so that's why I ordered it.

While the dish sounded really good, I wasn't really impressed with it. The potato and mushroom hash was pretty flavourless and I didn't notice many mushrooms in it. The poached egg was a nice touch, but there was definitely a lack of seasoning on the hash. As for the meatloaf, I liked that it was served in its own individual pot. The first few bites were good; however, after awhile, I was getting sick of the flavour. Perhaps ground meat isn't my favourite food, perhaps this wasn't the greatest meatloaf. If I were to come back, I don't think I'd be ordering this dish again.

The service at Yaletown Brewing Company was pretty good overall. My friend had leftovers to take home, but they accidentally threw them out. A manager came by to apologize and offered to cook up more of the dish for her to take home. That was a nice gesture.

Next time I go to Yaletown Brewing Company, I think I'll try their beer and appetizers instead.

Christmas in Vancouver: Yaletown Candytown Photos

On Nov. 23 and 24, Yaletown transformed into a Christmas wonderland at the Yaletown Candytown event. There were horse and carriage rides, a skating rink, Christmas crafts, gingerbread men and Trevor Linden!

In case you missed Yaletown Candytown, here are some photos from this great event:

Roasted chestnuts, the perfect hot treat

Trevor Linden doing a media interview

Trevor Linden signing an autograph

Free horse and carriage ride

Ice skating rink

Jolly gingerbread men

Beautiful ice sculpture

Vancouver Art: Art from the Free Print Show

Tonight's Free Print Show at Little Mountain Gallery was buzzing with talented artists, beautiful art, an awesome DJ, and a ton of supporters and art enthusiasts. Here is some of the amazing art you could've picked up for FREE at the Free Print Show.

Christmas in Vancouver: Vancouver Christmas Market

With a bit over a month left 'til Christmas, there are plenty of festivities going on to get you into the holiday spirit. The Vancouver Christmas Market is one of them. At this authentic German Christmas Market, you shop for coveted gifts, sip on hot apple cider, taste some German specialities, ride a carousel and so much more.

Admission to the Vancouver Christmas Market is only $5 for adults and, $2 for youth, and free for children 6 years and under. Better yet, if you stop by the market between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. on weekdays, admission is only $2! The best part is, you'll get a free re-entry pass that allows you go back to the market as many times as you want this season.

Some highlights to look out for at the Vancouver Christmas Market include:

The X-Mas Factor: A singing competition that takes place every Friday night from 6 to 6:30 p.m. If you think you've got what it takes, sign up and belt out your favourite Christmas tunes at this fun competition.

VCM Days: The Vancouver Christmas Market "Nation Days" celebrate various European cultures, including Swiss, Dutch and Bulgarian.

Gingerbread Haus: Bask in the aroma of this Christmas cookie favourite at the Gingerbread Haus. You'll find an array of gingerbreads, marzipans and sweet treats, perfect for stocking stuffers.

German Beers: Two German brewers serving up thirst-quenching beers are Krombacher and Ayinger. Taste the new Krombacher Dunkel beer, a flavourful dark beer made with roasted malts and the finest hops. Or enjoy a refreshing Ayinger Brau-Weisse wheat beer.

This is just a sampling of what to expect at the Christmas market. There's so much more so make sure to check it out.

The Vancouver Christmas Market is happening from Nov. 24 to Dec. 24 at the outdoor plaza of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre on Cambie near W. Georgia. It's open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and closes on Dec. 24 at 6 p.m.

Photo credit: Vancouver Christmas Market

Vancouver Restaurants: The Fish Shack

I spontaneously decided to try out the The Fish Shack on Saturday evening, after reading about the restaurant on Twitter.

The Fish Shack, opened by the Glowbal Group in late October 2012, is a no-fuss seafood restaurant with fresh fish and reasonable prices. Located at the old Sanafir restaurant on Granville Street, the Fish Shack has been revamped into a buzzing restaurant with swarms of tables, a chalkboard wall and a busy bar.

A friend and I arrived at The Fish Shack around 7 p.m. on Saturday night -- prime time dinner time. The place was packed and the aroma permeating the restaurant was making my mouth water. We hadn't made reservations and there was another couple waiting for a table before us. The hostess informed us the wait would be about 20-30 minutes but they'd give us a phone call when our table was nearly ready. Tip: Make a reservation.

We wandered around Granville for a bit before deciding to head back to the restaurant and wait there. On the way back into The Fish Shack, a couple coming out started raving about the restaurant to us, telling us how amazing it was. Good sign.

We got back inside and waited a bit longer before finally getting a table. The menu had so many choices that I was lost on what to order. They had fish and chips, grilled fish, clam and mussel steamers, fresh oysters, and much more.

Fried Oysters

My friend and I decided to share the fried oysters as an appetizer. For our mains, we both knew we wanted blackened fish, but didn't know which fish we wanted. I asked our waiter for a recommendation, mentioning I liked my fish moist. He recommended the snapper and we were both sold on it. To drink, we decided to each have a The Fish Shack's Very Own caesar.

The Fish Shack has four casears on the menu. The Fish Shack's Very Own caesar, which is made with vodka, was a deliciously spicy concoction served in a large jam jar. While you're probably used to caesars adorned with celery sticks or spicy beans, this caesar was topped with a spicy pepperoni stick and a whole prawn. It was tasty and innovative.

The fried oyster appetizer was delicious too. For $9.50, you get a pail of five fried oysters served with a side of chipotle tartar sauce. The oysters weren't super crispy, perhaps because we let them sit for a bit before devouring them. Nevertheless, I enjoyed them.

Blackened Snapper

Our mains -- blackened snapper served with jasmine rice and coleslaw -- were really good, but could have been better. First and most important, the fish was perfectly cooked and seasoned. The snapper was moist and really hit the spot. The main downfall with the dish was the rice. The rice was a bit too wet and not fluffy enough. The plain white rice didn't quite match the fish either. I think a rice pilaf would have worked better. The coleslaw was good but nothing to write home about. The Fish Shack does have three types of coleslaw though, so perhaps the other two coleslaws (kimchi-style and Asian slaw) would have been better. Overall though, the main dish was delicious and the fish really shined through in the dish.

We sat around for a bit finishing our caesars before deciding to order dessert. The waiter recommended the sticky toffee pudding, which we were already thinking about. Sticky toffee pudding is one of my favourite desserts and you could say I'm a bit of a sticky toffee pudding snob because I've eaten this dessert countless times while living in the U.K. The sticky toffee pudding at The Fish Shack wasn't an authentic sticky toffee pudding. The cake wasn't the right type of cake. Instead of a moist brown cake, The Fish Shack used a piece of cake that was more like a dense vanilla pound cake. This was drowning in a pool toffee sauce and topped off with some cream. The dessert was good, but not the best. It was a large portion though and was perfect for sharing.

Overall, I had a great experience at The Fish Shack and would definitely go there again. The service was great, the food was tasty and the bill wasn't too hard on the wallet.

Vancouver Neighbourhoods: Kitsilano

Kitsilano, also known as "Kits," is a beautiful neighbourhood in Vancouver that boasts sandy beaches, plenty of shopping of an array of international eateries. This coveted area, just 10 minutes from Downtown Vancouver, is the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of Downtown and chill out for a day.

Kitsilano is bordered by two amazing beaches: Kitsilano Beach and Jericho Beach. Kitsilano Beach is a great place to go for a walk or run in the autumn. The views of the Vancouver cityscape from this beach are simply breathtaking. In the summer, this beach is often packed with sun-lovers and beach volleyball players. There's also a restaurant on the beach, the Boathouse, which also affords beautiful views from its patio. 

The Boathouse on Kits Beach

There are plenty of other restaurants in the Kits area that are worth checking out. Some of my favourites include Hapa Izakaya, an innovative Japanese tapas-style restaurant, Las Margaritas, an awesome Mexican restaurant, and Trattoria Italian Kitchen, a superb Italian restaurant with great pasta deals.

If you love shopping, definitely take a stroll along West 4th Avenue. Ski and snowboard lovers will find plenty of shops to indulge in, like Westbeach, Pacific Boarder and The Boardroom. Yoga lovers and those who just love to sweat should check out the flagship Lululemon store for some trendy and practical workout clothing. Indie music lovers should head to Zulu Records to trawl through the collection of vinyl records.

Whether you're a local or visitor in Vancouver, Kitsilano is definitely a neighbourhood you should take some time to get lost in. The urban yet relaxed vibe of Kits is what keeps me coming back to this hip Vancouver neighbourhood.

If you love Kits too, what's your favourite part of this Vancouver neighbourhood?

Vancouver Art: The Free Print Show

A friend has invited me to a unique Vancouver art show that's happening on Nov. 24. The Free Print Show is a one-night art show where every print in the gallery is free to the visitors of the show. Amazing, right?

This non-profit event brings together over 25 Vancouver artists who have created prints specifically for this event. There will be over 500 prints to give away on various subjects.

The Free Print Show is free to attend, but it will also be accepting donations for the Portland Hotel Society. The Portland Hotel Society is "dedicated to providing sustainable housing for the 'hard-to-house' population," including those living on the Downtown Eastside. Last year, the Free Print Show raised $653.24 for the Portland Hotel Society.

So, if you love art and would like to support a great cause, come out to the Free Print Show.

The Free Print Show is happening on Nov. 24, from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., at the Little Mountain Gallery, 195 East 26th Ave. The print giveaway will be happening at 10 p.m. sharp, so make sure to get there early.

For more information, or to RSVP, visit the Free Print Show event page.

Vancouver Restaurants: Cactus Club Cafe

On the weekend, I went for lunch with a couple of friends at the Cactus Club Cafe on Broadway & Granville. I wasn't in a rush to blog about this lunch because the food and service were less than desirable.

Cactus Club is a chain restaurant with 15 locations across Greater Vancouver. Its menu is diverse, with signature dishes from chef Rob Feenie, casual eats like burgers and much more.

A friend and I arrived at the Cactus Club on Broadway and Granville around lunchtime Sunday. We were greeted by a smiling hostess who asked if we'd like to be seated in the lounge or dining area. We chose the dining area and informed the hostess that another friend would be joining us. She took my name down so she could direct my other friend when she arrived. Good service from the hostess.

After being seated at our table, our waitress arrived shortly after. She told us the drink specials and took our drink orders. We ordered waters. After what seemed like a long while, the waitress dropped off our waters but didn't ask if we wanted to order. Yes, we had a friend coming still, but we were planning to order for her.

Cajun Chicken Sandwich

Our waitress was hardly to be seen and we were waiting forever to order. My friend finally had to ask the hostess to get our waitress. When the waitress finally arrived, she apologized, saying, "Oh sorry, I didn't know you wanted to order yet." She could have at least checked with us first.

Normally I really enjoy Cactus Club's food, but this time, I wasn't impressed with my order. I ordered the Cajun Chicken Sandwich with half fries and half salad (yes, you can do this for an extra charge of 75 cents). This was my first time ordering this sandwich, so I didn't know what I was getting myself into. I expected something a bit spicy. The sandwich was more like a chicken burger. I couldn't taste the Cajun spices and the sandwich was overpowered by the mayo-drenched lettuce and soggy tomato. The fries and salad were on par, but I just wasn't impressed with the sandwich.

Calamari

One of my friends ordered the calamari, which I thought was quite good. However, my friend noted that it was too salty in some areas. My other friend ordered her Cactus Club favourite: Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl. It's her go-to meal at Cactus Club, so it must be good.

Throughout our meal, our waitress was hardly seen. We were better served by other people (managers, maybe?) in the restaurant. Perhaps our waitress was new or too busy, but she didn't deliver the quality service I expected.

Overall, my Cactus Club Cafe experience was mediocre. Although I like Cactus Club, I'm not sure if I will be returning to the Broadway and Granville location.

A Walk Through The Park: Central Park Vancouver

Today Vancouver's been blessed with great autumn weather, after suffering torrential downpours over the weekend. This prompted me to go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather.

I decided to take a walk through my local park, Central Park. While Central Park in Vancouver doesn't nearly compare to Central Park in New York, this park is still an amazing place to enjoy a walk on a crisp autumn's day. 

Central Park was originally a military reserve for the defense of New Westminster. In 1891, the area was established as a public park, and now, the cities of Vancouver and Burnaby have agreed to maintain the park.

Central Park has plenty to please its visitors. The focal point of the park is the large duck pond where you'll see many mallards. There are benches around the pond where you can simply sit and admire the scenery on a day like today. There are also great trails for walking, running or cycling. In the summer, there's an outdoor swimming pool. On Wednesdays, you can pitch horseshoes at the horseshoe park. 

Here's my trip through Central Park in Vancouver.

The Duck Pond in Central Park

Ducks in Central Park

Got My Autumn Boots On

Hollywood North: Movies Filmed In Vancouver

Vancouver has been aptly dubbed Hollywood North because of the huge film industry in the city. Because it's cheaper to film here than the real Hollywood, U.S.-based filmmakers have been flocking to this city to shoot their movies. As the third largest movie production city in North America, Vancouver offers its residents and visitors the chance to spot celebrities and film sets. In Vancouver, I've personally spotted Jason Alexander, John Cusack and Tom Green, and I never keep my eye out for celebs.

While there are plenty of movies filmed in Vancouver, hardly any of them are actually set in Vancouver. But, it's still nice to recognize a piece of home in a blockbuster hit. If you want to see a bit of Vancouver in Hollywood, check out my list of Top 5 movies filmed in Vancouver.

1. 50/50

50/50, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogan, is filmed in Vancouver but set in Seattle. The opening scene of the movie is the dead giveaway that the movie was filmed in Vancouver, as Joseph Gordon-Levitt is running along the Seawall (which they obviously don't have in Seattle). Aside from this minor detail, 50/50 is a heartwarming story about love and friendships during the difficulties of cancer. I highly recommend it.

2. This Means War

This Means War, starring Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hardy and Chris Pine, is a chick flick with a bit of action. There are plenty of recognizable Vancouver locations in the movie, including the Vancouver Public Library, the Blarney Stone, Barcelona nightclub and the old Virgin Megastore on Robson St. All these Vancouver elements made me think of home and not the movie's actual setting of L.A.

3. Antitrust

Antitrust, a 2001 thriller starring Ryan Phillippe, is about a computer geek who is hired and duped by a Bill Gates lookalike known as Gary Winston. This movie was mainly filmed at the two main university campuses in Vancouver: the University of British Columbia and Simon Fraser University. Though it's an older movie, it's still worth watching, despite the huge advances in technology that have been made since 2001.

4. Twilight

The Twilight Saga was filmed in Vancouver, and I'm sure the students of David Thompson Secondary School were swooning over the sight of Edward and Jacob. Whether or not you're a fan of Twilight, there's no denying that this movie saga has brought tons of revenue to the film industry in British Columbia.

5. Everything's Gone Green

You probably haven't heard of this one, because it's more of a local movie. Written by Canadian author Douglas Coupland, Everything's Gone Green is a movie that is actually filmed and set in Vancouver. This movie touches on some elements and issues of Vancouver, like the B.C. Lottery Corporation and marijuana grow-ops. It's a good Canadian movie that's worth checking out.

Vancouver Restaurants: Las Margaritas

Las Margaritas' Facebook page has inspired me to tell you what an awesome Mexican restaurant in Vancouver this is. Currently, Las Margaritas is having a little contest on its Facebook page, where you can win a $50 gift certificate. Who wouldn't want to win that?

I can't remember the first time I first discovered Las Margaritas. It was many, many years ago. Nevertheless, the warm ambience, perfect margaritas and delicious food really impressed me and I've been going back ever since.

Las Margaritas makes some of the best margaritas I've ever tasted. Made from natural fruit juices and quality tequila, its margaritas are a perfectly refreshing drink on a hot summer's day (or a cold autumn evening). There are so many flavours to choose from too -- like lime, pineapple, strawberry and coconut, just to name a few. Don't worry if you don't drink though, you can order a virgin margarita that is just as tasty.

I haven't been to Mexico, but if food in Mexico is like the food at Las Margaritas, I'd be extremely happy. Las Margaritas starts its guests off with complimentary homemade nacho chips and salsa, which are absolutely delicious. Its menu is extensive, with appetizers like ceviche, jalapeno poppers and taquitos. There are even more main entrees to choose from and the variety is astounding. One of my personal tried-and-tested favourites is the Enchilada de Sonora, a huge plate featuring a flour tortilla filled with roasted beef or chicken, three cheeses, and chiles, topped with a generous dollop of guacamole and swizzles of sour cream. All this comes with amarilla sauce, a huge helping of refried beans and Mexican rice. Absolutely delicious.


It doesn't stop there. There's dessert too. Did someone say churros?

Las Margaritas is hands down my favourite Mexican restaurant in Vancouver. Go check it out at 1999 West 4th Ave.

Movember in Vancouver

It's officially November, a month of more rain, shorter days and moustaches. Dubbed Movember, November is the month to grow a wicked moustache and support the campaign for prostate cancer and men's health awareness.

Movember was started by a group of Australians in 1999, when they came up with the idea of growing moustaches for charity in the month of November. Since then, this moustache-growing phenomenon has spread across the globe, and the Movember Foundation has raised hundreds of millions of dollars for men's health.

You too can support Movember in Vancouver by growing a moustache, donating to the Movember Foundation or participating in Movember events across the city.

On November 28, Canadian charity group Movember and Sons will be hosting the Official Movember Gala Parté at the Commodore Ballroom. Bring your moustache (real or fake) and dress in your moustache-matching attire for a chance to win some fabulous prizes and support a great cause.

If you can't make it to the gala, treat yourself to a milkshake at a Denny's restaurants in Vancouver. Denny's will donate 50 cents from each milkshake sale in November to the Prostate Cancer Foundation BC.

To register and participate in Movember, or for more information about the Movember Gala Parté, visit the Movember and Sons website.