I Made a Fruit Sculpture for the Nakano Knives Contest

I love working with my hands, being creative, and making beautiful creations. Nakano Knives reached out to me to be an ambassador for the Fruit Sculpting Contest. 

Please vote for me! 

I thought it would be easy since I have seen it done many times on the Food Network. If Aarón and Chris can do it on Chefs vs. City with no training, then I should be able to carve a piece of fruit into a wicked sculpture too! 

Chefs vs. City was probably one of my favourite Food Network Channel shows! It ran for two seasons airing from 2009 to 2010. Chefs Aarón Sánchez and Chris Cosentino travel go head to head with two chefs from the city they are competing in. Sort of like the Amazing Race that you go to the city, compete in games for clues, racing around the city to the finish line. Each episode has several challenges that are centered around the local food culture in the city! I do not remember the exact episode, but maybe you can find it!

Indoor dining in BC temporarily banned March 29th to April 19th, 2021

The announcement of all indoor dining being suspended effective midnight Monday March 29th came as no surprise because the Covid-19 cases in BC have surged. Unfortunately, the ban on indoor dining, group fitness classes and Whistler Backcomb ski resort negatively impacts a huge number of small businesses in BC. The current emergency closure is in place until April 19, 2021, and there is very good possibility that it will get extended. 

In my opinion, the "circuit breaker" as put by BC health was not well implemented. Restauranteurs and employees hardly had any time to plan or make alternative arrangements. Literally they had less than 12 hours notice! The restaurants with patio and outdoor seating are lucky because the health order specifically prohibits indoor seating, not outdoor or patio dining. However, since BC is a temperate rainforest, we get several months of dreary rainy weather, so it is understandable why many restaurants only have indoor seating. 

Douce Diner scoops out Banana Splits in a retro 50's aesthetic space

My craving for the 1950's diner experience is real! The era was all about the bright hued interiors, penny tiles, cushioned booths, neon signs, and Roc'n Roll. Douce Diner has brought the classic Americana vibe north of the border to the North Shore and needless to say, they nailed the 50's era vibe! 

Douce Diner checks off so many boxes for me with their Pink, Mint and Yellow colour palette, to the intricate penny tiled flooring and the neon pink "Hello Sunshine" sign that overlooks the space. Douce Diner have struck the perfect balance between contemporary and retro. 

Pink Dance Bubbles In and Around Downtown Vancouver

An outdoor art exhibition of pink illuminating bubbles have been popping up all around Downtown Vancouver. Called #LoveVancouver Dance Bubbles, the urban art pieces by local dance production company Small Stage. The piece has been putting a smile on the face of Vancouverites for the month of March and they have been such a success that Tourism Vancouver is planning to extend the duration of the exhibit into April.

Me being me, I could not resist a pink carpet and glowing pink bubbles! I visited on a day that the installation was in the Vancouver Art Gallery Courtyard. There were 6 bubbles each with their own theming, but all bright pink in tone. The art piece was designed to have dancers perform live within the bubbles, but for that night, they did things a little different and set up two of the biggest outdoor screens ever that showed live streamed the dancers. 

I hope Vancouver continues with bringing unique interactive urban artwork like this to the community. It really brings a lot of charm and quirk to Vancouver and that is what I love about living here. Plus, it keeps things interesting! 

I should have taken pictures of the bubbles after the sun had set because they look stunning in the dark! The bright pink light really makes the bubbles just glow and pop! 

#LoveVancouver Dance Bubbles are set up at various locations throughout Downtown Vancouver. An updated schedule on dates, times and locations is available on Tourism Vancouver's website. 

BYES

Happy 6th Birthday Pink Tea Latte

Happy 6th Birthday Pink Tea Latte!

Since blogpost number one on March 16, 2015, I have published 391 posts. That is 391 creative original pieces written by me with photographs that I took first using my iPad Mini generation 2, then my parent's Nikon D 3200. I purchased my very first camera the Nikon D 5500 and upgraded to my current baby, Nikon D 750. A full frame beast that takes stunning pictures and probably remain my companion for years to come. At this point, the Nikon D750 is essentially my co-contributor for Pink Tea latte because without pictures, my writing does not feel complete. 

Feast for the Eyes - The Story of Food in Photography only at The Polygon Gallery

I love food because it is for much more than just the fuel for our bodies. Food brings us together as a society, a common uniter over which we share stories and create new memories. We mark celebrations and milestones like birthdays with food - PTL just turned 6 years old and you bet I treated myself to cake! Feast for the Eyes: The Story of Food in Photography combines my two loves, food and photography and is available for public viewing at the Polygon Gallery until May 30, 2021. Admission is by donation. 

The exhibition is divided into three themes. "Still Life" is the classic display of food. Acclaimed artists the likes of Matisse and Van Gogh come to mind. "Around the Table" looks at how we as humans interact with food whether it be social gatherings or sharing of food. The final portion of the exhibit was my favourite of the three, "Playing with Food." Going beyond just capturing food as food, but turning it into pieces of art, humour and irony.  

Hunnybee Bruncheonette for Delicious Morning Lattes & Ricotta Pancakes

Brunch is delicious and amazing and when it is combined with sun drenched space, makes for the perfect Sunday morning. Hunnybee Bruncheonette is a magical offshoot of the beloved Gastown cafe, The Birds & The Beets, which happens to be one of my favourite places to hangout. Honestly, I could lose hours of my life just sipping a latte and basking in the warmth of the sunshine at either of these locations. 

Hunnybee is at the corner of Gore and Union Street in Chinatown. Wrapping the exterior of the cafe is outdoor seating and tables under a green and white striped awning. Floor to ceiling windows make you feel like you are basically sitting outdoors. Probably adding to that feeling are all the green plants inside and the dried foliage that hangs from the ceilings.