the thirties grind

Flash Giveaway! 2 tickets to EAT Vancouver Food & Cooking Festival

Win 4 passes for the World of Art at the Vancouver International Children’s Festival!

A world-renowned festival of performing arts for young audiences, the Vancouver International Children’s Festival has been educating, entertaining and inspiring young audiences since 1978.  I remember going to this event as a child (with my school, parents and friends) and have fond memories of the shows, activities and treats I enjoyed there.  I am so delighted that this festival continues to flourish and am excited to attend with my own children each year.

The festival is running this year from May 27th to June 2nd.

I am delighted to offer a Family 4-Pack of Activity Wristbands, which can be used to access the World of Art in the festival’s Granville Island activity zone.

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me your favourite thing about the Vancouver International Children’s Festival.  For extra entries, follow the directions in the Rafflecopter form below.  Winner will be notified on May 18th.

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Post-Partum Health For Moms: Vancouver-based exercise class now taking registrations (get 10% off here)

Wellness Works Vancouver is presenting exercise program to “put you back together again after pregnancy”.

Raise your hand if since having your baby you:

• Suffer from low-back, SI joint, hip or pelvic pain? – yup.
• “Leak” when you cough, sneeze or jump? – can I get an AMEN?
• Have a split down the middle of your belly? (Rectus Diastasis) – sigh…yes.
• Feel uncomfortable or less able to lift heavy things (like car seats)? – honey…can you please get that??!!
• Long for a flatter belly? – YES. YES. YES.

There ARE exercises that can help. Read more…

What to do on Mother’s Day in Vancouver: London Heritage Farm annual plant sale

Jackie Ye and Lindsay Andrea prepare for the 6th annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale

Looking for some different ideas on how to spend Mother’s Day this year?  Are you (or your mom) a green thumb?  This might be the event for you!

The London Heritage Farm is getting ready to hold its 6^th annual Plant Sale just in time for Mother’s Day.  The sale will feature over 100 varieties of plants including a selection of London Heritage Farm perennials and annuals, as well as organic vegetable seedlings, including heirloom tomatoes, herbs and more.  This year the event will feature special guest, Kathy Van Vliet, a garden designer from Sunnyside Nursery, and a former host of her own Delta cable TV gardening show for over eight years. Kathy will be available to chat and answer any plant-related questions. Read more…

Struggling with a major life decision? Canadian TV show “The Audience” is looking for you!

We’ve all been there…hit with a major life decision that stops us in our tracks.  Who do you turn to for advice?  Who do you listen to?  What is the right decision?

As parents we’re told, “it takes a village to raise a child.”  Well, The Audience – a new television series being shot and produced in Vancouver, B.C. – might argue that it takes a village to get through some of these tough life choices. Read more…

Crate & Barrel Vancouver Media and VIP Opening (March 20, 2013)

Last night, I attended the media and VIP opening of Vancouver’s first Crate & Barrel, located at Oakridge Centre.  As guests, we were wined and dined as we perused the gorgeous home furnishings throughout the store.

Customers of the new Vancouver location will discover the brand’s fresh and colourful 2013 Spring and Summer Collection, which features entertaining and decorating essentials for every room in the home.  The assortment will highlight stylish choices in furniture, accessories, textiles, tabletop, kitchen, bed and bath, storage, and outdoor living. A favourite gift destination for celebrations of all kinds, Crate and Barrel will also offer its popular gift registry service, as well as its Designer Rewards Program for eligible industry professionals. Read more…

Foreign Investment in Vancouver’s Real Estate Market: free event at SFU Woodward’s

March 20, 2013 | 7:00 – 9:00 PM

Free, but registration is required.

Djavad Mowafaghian Cinema, Goldcorp Centre for the Arts

Presented by SFU’s Vancity Office of Community Engagement and the SFU City Program

In Vancouver, there has been a lot of speculation about the impact of foreign investment on our real estate market.  Evidence has been limited.

So does such an issue exist?  What are the facts?  How does foreign investment impact affordability, if at all?

What are other jurisdictions doing?  What public policy interventions would make sense, if any?

These will be some of the questions discussed by our panel, moderated by Tyee editor David Beers:

Andy Yan, BTA Works
Tsur Somerville, UBC’s Sauder School of Business
Sandy Garrosino, Independent City Council Candidate
Richard Wozny, Principal, Site Economics Ltd.

Register here.

Vancouver Lego Games!

Five students, from the University of British Columbia, decided to organize a charity Lego building event to benefit the Canuck Place Children’s Hospice as part of a class project. Read more…

TED West Coast Conference headed to Vancouver in 2014!!

I don’t know about you, but I love TED Talks.  So I was excited to hear that TED will be celebrating it’s 30 Year Anniversary in Vancouver!

From the TED Website:

In 2014, TED will celebrate our 30th anniversary. And to mark this spectacular event, we’re planning something very special. We are moving our annual West Coast conference from Long Beach, California, to Vancouver, Canada. From March 17 to March 21, 2014, TED will be held in this great city, which boasts a thriving spirit of innovation as well as stunning views — the harbor and mountains in the same scenic vistas.

The event will be held in the Vancouver Convention Centre and promises to be a week filled with engaging, inspiring and informative sessions.  There will be something for everyone.

AND…

TEDActive 2014 is set to be held in Whistler!

Registration for both TED2014 and TEDActive 2014 will open on Monday, February 11, 2013.

FEAST VAN: Great food for a good cause in my hood.

Here’s a heads-up on FeastVan, a 17 day dining event involving many of the best restaurants of East Vancouver. From January 18th to February 3rd, local foodies and visitors will be invited to enjoy a selection of specially priced three-course meals (two course meals at lunch) from Au Petit Chavignol, Cascade Room, El Caminos, Habit, Harvest Community Foods, Les Faux Bourgeois, The Parker, Union Bar, and many more.

Participating restaurants will donate $1 to the Strathcona Community Center Back Pack Food Program, which provides meals for both Raycam and Strathcona community centers. The awesome organisation, which serves the children of Strathcona and the DTES, aims to “bridge the weekend gaps when school food programs are not running”.

$1 from every prix fixe dinner sold will go towards the Strathcona Community Center Back Pack Food Program

2013 Participating Restaurants Include… Read more…