Here is some video of the most recent Olenka and the Autumn Lovers show. Enjoy!
China Beach: A hotel in the woods!
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Raw Canvas
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This spring Jax, Bear, Paul, and me went to Raw Canvas! What a great place! http://rawcanvas.com/ We started with wine and appys. The appy plate consisted of st.maure caprifeuille( [france (loire valley) : goat: raw, dense and creamy, exhibiting a pleasant tartness), riopelle ([quebec: cow: raw]
tangy, chalky, silky, creamy, buttery), smokehouse cheddar ([bc (armstrong): cow actually smoked, so the smoke flavour is subtle) and a variety of crackers. We devoured it!
We then decided to take on the raw canvas bestowed upon us courtesy of www.groupon.com. The wine made us courageous, bold, and a little tipsy but we were up for the challenge! The final products were nothing short of hilarious when Jax unveiled her "gentle thrust" painting to us. It still hangs on our wall and it still makes me laugh every time I see it. Bear perfected the imprint of her gentle namesake and crafted a fun little painting, while Paul's painting was an insight into his perception of 'self.' I painted a valley which came out as very moody (like me!!!). Needless to say, its a fun time and you should try it out!
tangy, chalky, silky, creamy, buttery), smokehouse cheddar ([bc (armstrong): cow actually smoked, so the smoke flavour is subtle) and a variety of crackers. We devoured it!
We then decided to take on the raw canvas bestowed upon us courtesy of www.groupon.com. The wine made us courageous, bold, and a little tipsy but we were up for the challenge! The final products were nothing short of hilarious when Jax unveiled her "gentle thrust" painting to us. It still hangs on our wall and it still makes me laugh every time I see it. Bear perfected the imprint of her gentle namesake and crafted a fun little painting, while Paul's painting was an insight into his perception of 'self.' I painted a valley which came out as very moody (like me!!!). Needless to say, its a fun time and you should try it out!
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| The thrust |
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| Moody Valley |
my latest painting (first painting in YEARS)
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I am amazed by crows. The way they communicate, the way they wait patiently for the right moment to seize your sushi, and the way they look. What a majestic bird, well maybe that is going a little too far but hey I like em! It is because of this respect that I felt the need to paint one, so I "borrowed" a canvas from Jax (and paint and brushes and easel and even the chair I sat on) and painted away. This is what came of it!
Car Free Vancouver Day June 19
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Today was the first car free day commercial drive of 2011 and it was soooo much better than ever! I say this because for the first time since I can remember, I was able to walk around freely without leaning on or bumping into or accidentally stepping on other people. This made all the difference as my group was able to enjoy the great music, take in the smokey smells and take time to read into who and why people were there.
When you first enter the car free zone, you are instantly bombarded with smells, sounds and sights. This is what you came for. @ the Libra room, there were the smooth sounds of the blues wailing from guitars, saxophones, and drums, smells of salted sardine san
dwiches being bbq'd and and the sights of hundreds of smiling faces as we all were there for the party! I personally love music (don't we all!) and there was no better place to get some. All of the musicians were in cheerful mood as they sang and played their instruments. There is something about playing for free and to a varied audience that brings out the uniqueness of each musician. For example, there was a gypsy band playing and you could feel their music in the street as they had people dancing all around them. There was also a small group of latin dancers who performed their sensual moves to us and then there was that brave young lady who without the aid of her own music but using the sounds of the festival, tap danced for us all! It was great!
We then made it to the Safe Amp Stage! There was a great info booth, great bands, and a really smokey sardine smell hovering all around us. We were fortunate enough to see Stefana Fratila http://www.myspace.com/stefanafratila
Her music is unique, quirky, classy and a little eerie which is perfect for me since I love to hear the artist have a voice in their music. To be able to tell you a story without giving you only one ending. Her music is like a book where you follow the antagonist blindly, honestly without consequence to how it will all end. That made no sense, sorry!
Next was just taking in all the propaganda tents, all the other great music, and good smells. After this I went to the Library!
Savetheyuppies
Overall, I am excited for the upcoming car free festivals!
When you first enter the car free zone, you are instantly bombarded with smells, sounds and sights. This is what you came for. @ the Libra room, there were the smooth sounds of the blues wailing from guitars, saxophones, and drums, smells of salted sardine san
dwiches being bbq'd and and the sights of hundreds of smiling faces as we all were there for the party! I personally love music (don't we all!) and there was no better place to get some. All of the musicians were in cheerful mood as they sang and played their instruments. There is something about playing for free and to a varied audience that brings out the uniqueness of each musician. For example, there was a gypsy band playing and you could feel their music in the street as they had people dancing all around them. There was also a small group of latin dancers who performed their sensual moves to us and then there was that brave young lady who without the aid of her own music but using the sounds of the festival, tap danced for us all! It was great!
We then made it to the Safe Amp Stage! There was a great info booth, great bands, and a really smokey sardine smell hovering all around us. We were fortunate enough to see Stefana Fratila http://www.myspace.com/stefanafratila
Her music is unique, quirky, classy and a little eerie which is perfect for me since I love to hear the artist have a voice in their music. To be able to tell you a story without giving you only one ending. Her music is like a book where you follow the antagonist blindly, honestly without consequence to how it will all end. That made no sense, sorry!
Next was just taking in all the propaganda tents, all the other great music, and good smells. After this I went to the Library!
Savetheyuppies
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| The drive |
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| Libra room |
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| bikes on the drive |
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| traveling gypsies |
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| politics |
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| stefana fratila |
Overall, I am excited for the upcoming car free festivals!
my eat! vancouver experience
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I had the pleasure of partaking in Eat! Vancouver Saturday at the Vancouver Convention Centre with some good friends! Upon arrival, we were kinda thinking 'did I just pay $14 bucks plus $5 for a couple dog food vendors? I personally am jealous of dog owners not being one myself. Dogs are the cutest, cuddliest little critters on the planet! My girlfriend would like a Border Terrier, they are cute! Here is a photo taken from the web...
I digress. Eat!Vancouver was great, lots of samples, lots of olives stuffed with jalapenos, great iced tea, super cheap ice cream and a spin to win Social shopper wheel (ahem!). As we got more comfortable asking for samples the scene got much better! In fact I ended eating so many samples that I didn't have to get diner. Especially after the amazing Thai fresh wrap from Gorilla Foods http://www.gorillafood.com/ Which was three collard greens leaf wraps filled with sprouted sunflower seed and veggie pate, sesame seasoned coleslaw and a side dip of raisin chutney. If looks could kill then this wrap would be knockin you dead but instead it has the goods in it to keep you livin!
There were other odd little booths as well, including http://abeego.ca/ which makes food storage solutions with a green twist! For under $20 I was able to take home three sheets of natural, reusable, eco-conscious food storage solutions created with hemp/cotton fabric infused with a blend of beeswax and plant extracts. I can't wait to properly store my cheese and leftovers!
Overall I was pleased with the amazing samples, smiling vendors, and beautiful convention centre. I shall and so shall you go the next time Eat! Vancouver comes fresh to Vancouver.
There were other odd little booths as well, including http://abeego.ca/ which makes food storage solutions with a green twist! For under $20 I was able to take home three sheets of natural, reusable, eco-conscious food storage solutions created with hemp/cotton fabric infused with a blend of beeswax and plant extracts. I can't wait to properly store my cheese and leftovers!
Overall I was pleased with the amazing samples, smiling vendors, and beautiful convention centre. I shall and so shall you go the next time Eat! Vancouver comes fresh to Vancouver.
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| Keramikos display www.keramikos.com |
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| windset farms www.windsetfarms.com |
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| Gorilla Food www.gorillafood.com |
Squatting in Finn Slough
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I have a whole new perspective of Richmond now! Before I would leave Richmond with the same feeling as a convict escaping jail, excited to go but only getting lost trying to find the next town. Needless to say, it was not a favourite of mine but that all changed today as Calicarpa (my squeeze) and I ventured through the Georgia Cannery, the bunkhouses and Finn Slough. These historical and culturally rich parts were warm, adventurous, and photolicious! We started with free parking, yes FREE parking for the whole day then took off to the Cannery.
For only a little cash we got to tour the factory, learning about B.C. history. Inside the factory are nifty nooks and creepy crannies. Each room had an eerie sense of how hard life would have been for those people. There are a lot of resources on how the fish was packed and who did it. Even down to the original Sammy the Salmon labels (Sammy was created by Disney!). Fun stuff!
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/attractions/?id=66
Next it was off to Pajol's for a halibut burger. It was a fair trade, I got food and they got money, lets leave it at that as it is not fair to judge a fast food joints food, I think. Our last stop was to Finn Slough http://finnslough.com/ What a cool place, you see its sort of a community of 'squatters' who care for the preservation of the houses and living cheaply! There is an open communication board and information on the status of the land before you enter. I took some photos but was getting tired so we ventured out of Richmond with a new found appreciation for this beautiful, historical and friendly part of our Province!
To see more visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/itsteatime/sets/72157626948493446/
For only a little cash we got to tour the factory, learning about B.C. history. Inside the factory are nifty nooks and creepy crannies. Each room had an eerie sense of how hard life would have been for those people. There are a lot of resources on how the fish was packed and who did it. Even down to the original Sammy the Salmon labels (Sammy was created by Disney!). Fun stuff!
http://www.britishcolumbia.com/attractions/?id=66
Next it was off to Pajol's for a halibut burger. It was a fair trade, I got food and they got money, lets leave it at that as it is not fair to judge a fast food joints food, I think. Our last stop was to Finn Slough http://finnslough.com/ What a cool place, you see its sort of a community of 'squatters' who care for the preservation of the houses and living cheaply! There is an open communication board and information on the status of the land before you enter. I took some photos but was getting tired so we ventured out of Richmond with a new found appreciation for this beautiful, historical and friendly part of our Province!
Paraben free sunscreens!!!
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The sun is finally started to show up here in Vancouver and this means time to start thinking about saving the most precious protection you have, your skin! I bet by now you have all caught wind of this upcoming summer as a scorcher so why not prepare yourself beforehand? Here is a website that offers you a chance to find paraben free lotions.
The Best Beach Sunscreens: The best sunscreen is a hat and a shirt. No chemicals to absorb through the skin, no questions about whether they work. But when you can’t get away from exposing your skin to the sun, use EWG’s top-rated sunscreens to provide broad-spectrum (UVA and UVB-sunburn) protection with fewer hazardous chemicals that penetrate the skin. Sunscreen and sunblock makers are awaiting FDA approval for a wider selection of UVA-blocking chemicals. In the meantime, all top-rated products contain either zinc or titanium minerals to help cut UVA exposures for sunscreen users.
Choose from among our top-rated sunscreens for broad spectrum protection with fewer hazardous ingredients. And follow our sun safety tips to protect your skin for a lifetime.
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/
Choose from among our top-rated sunscreens for broad spectrum protection with fewer hazardous ingredients. And follow our sun safety tips to protect your skin for a lifetime.
http://breakingnews.ewg.org/2011sunscreen/
Oh what a day!!! I Love!Vancouver!
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This past Sunday in Vancouver will be a day for everyone to remember! The sun was relentless and shining in all her beautiful glory. The streets were littered with people celebrating culture, green living and community pride! Out on the Drive, the locals flooded the already crowded sidewalks and stores where they filled themselves with smoked fish, Turkish coffee and Italian pride.
Out near Olympic Village Love!Vancouver held its first Green festival. The festival was a total success in part to amazing volunteers (me of course!) and great booths, and music. Kate Morgan kicked it off with some fresh sounds off her new album 'The Kate Morgan Ep' http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/the-kate-morgan-ep/id386027435 while David Blair filled in later with CBC's Canucks theme song 'We are all Canucks.' I have the video I took posted on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6IaKhfrRls All while the blissful tunes were on we were all treated to some beautiful local jewellers, workshops and quirky yet classy product designs! Some of the booths participating this year were in no particular order:
Saul Good http://www.itsaulgood.com/
Sars BC (Small Animal Rescue Society of BC http://smallanimalrescue.org/
Tracy Lydiatt - BSc, MSc. The Green Families Guru http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com/
Street Cat Designs - Pamela Jackson http://www.streetcatdesigns.net/
Sweet Earth Photographics http://www.sweetearthphotographics.com/
Eclipseawards http://www.eclipseawards.com/
El Camino Voluntours Inc. http://www.voluntours.ca/ (this one is great! I wish I had known before I spent hours upon hours looking for a volunteer gig in Costa Rica)
Steam Whistle Brewing http://www.steamwhistle.ca/
There were plenty of other great vendors at the festival too!
Thanks to all the volunteers, staff and smiling faces for making this a great festival to look forward to for years to come!!!
Out near Olympic Village Love!Vancouver held its first Green festival. The festival was a total success in part to amazing volunteers (me of course!) and great booths, and music. Kate Morgan kicked it off with some fresh sounds off her new album 'The Kate Morgan Ep' http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/the-kate-morgan-ep/id386027435 while David Blair filled in later with CBC's Canucks theme song 'We are all Canucks.' I have the video I took posted on youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6IaKhfrRls All while the blissful tunes were on we were all treated to some beautiful local jewellers, workshops and quirky yet classy product designs! Some of the booths participating this year were in no particular order:
Saul Good http://www.itsaulgood.com/
Sars BC (Small Animal Rescue Society of BC http://smallanimalrescue.org/
Tracy Lydiatt - BSc, MSc. The Green Families Guru http://www.thegreenfamiliesguru.com/
Street Cat Designs - Pamela Jackson http://www.streetcatdesigns.net/
Sweet Earth Photographics http://www.sweetearthphotographics.com/
Eclipseawards http://www.eclipseawards.com/
El Camino Voluntours Inc. http://www.voluntours.ca/ (this one is great! I wish I had known before I spent hours upon hours looking for a volunteer gig in Costa Rica)
Steam Whistle Brewing http://www.steamwhistle.ca/
There were plenty of other great vendors at the festival too!
Thanks to all the volunteers, staff and smiling faces for making this a great festival to look forward to for years to come!!!
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