IDS Vancouver 2023 | An Exhibition of Beautiful Objects

For most September is synonymous with the start of school, but I relate September with IDS Vancouver. The Interior Design Show (IDS) Vancouver celebrates craftsmanship and creativity. There is an emphasis on being bold with colour, shape and materials. There is nothing "basic bitch" about IDS Vancouver. In fact, you would be hard-pressed to find anything as boring as the Carrara marble or neutral white colour palette sofas. IDS Vancouver 2023 did not disappoint with its lineup of Canadian artisans, woodworkers, fabricators and designers. 

There were three Canadian Artisan brands which captivated me and I hope to someday own pieces by them. Man & Son Design (a lighting house), Le Tenon & La Mortaise (wood furniture), and Cory Michah Olsen (Stone nested wood objects).

The lighting fixture display by Man & Son Design was like a warm inviting hug which was hard not to be drawn to. Based out of Victoria, the female duo hand turns every piece of wood into gorgeous shapes for their various lighting fixtures. Their pieces are made from reclaimed wood making each grain and colour unique. They offer pendant lights, sconces and desk lamps.

The Body Shop Metrotown Changemakers' Workshop

The Body Shop is leading the conversation of sustainability, ethically sourced ingredients and waste reduction with its Changemakers' Workshop concept stores. The Metrotown Burnaby location has recently reopened as the newest Changemakers' Workshop concept shop. I had the opportunity for a 1 on 1 tour to learn more about the space and its products. 

I had no idea what a "Concept Store" was, so I turned to Google for answers: a selection of products, services and experiences encompassing a concept. My guess was a model store for what future retail spaces would look like, but eh, this is why we have Google! The Changemakers' Workshop concept stores are a space to foster a relationship with the community it serves in addition to continuing to educate consumers on sustainability. The Body Shop Burnaby team partnered with local eco-organization, PECO and together created an original piece of art from collected trash and empty product containers. 

Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival 2023

Vancouver may be devoid of all things fun - ahem cancelled New Year's fireworks - but we do make up for it with our food festivities. As 2023 starts to unfold, so begins the 13th annual Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival boasting 65 establishments collectively pouring up 145 unique hot chocolates! 

The Hot Chocolate Festival used to have a small number of participating restaurants making it feasible for me to try nearly all of the hot chocolate creations. As the years have gone on, the Hot Chocolate Festival has grown exponentially and now include several of my personal favourite establishments that I like to frequent year round. 

Another factor restricting me from trying more is the pricing for the hot chocolates. I want to try as many as I can, but the exorbitant pricing for a single hot chocolate has me and others rethinking it. Normally in Vancouver, hot drinks like hot chocolates, lattes, mochas etc would never be more than $7 and that is on the expensive end. For the festival, I found the average pricing was in the $12 range with some going up to $16! That is madness! Sure you can argue that the are served with a treat, but a single small chocolate or tiny donut hole or miniature cupcake is still a major stretch. The insane pricing has been voiced by many Vancouverites this year and I do hope that in the future, participants will reconsider and not price gouge us. 

There were so many hot chocolates I wanted to try, but sadly I was only able to make it to three. I tried The Federal Store, 49th Parallel and Fufu Cafe. I wish I got to visit Whisk as they had a wonderful matcha hot chocolate because we all know I love matcha! 

The Federal Store | The Sasha Velour 

Tucked within a Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, the Federal Store has become a café that has won my heart with its incredible bakery case, particularly the cupcakes! I even celebrated my 29th birthday with their Roasted Strawberry Cake. 

As soon as I heard the name for this hot chocolate, I instantly knew it would be rose flavoured.

The Sasha Velour is a direct nod to the iconic moment from Rupaul's Drag Race in which Sasha Velour sent viewers screaming as she pulled off her wig to reveal a cascade of red rose petals.  

The 66% Valrhona Caraibe Hot Chocolate is infused with cardamom pods and the delicate flavour of rose. The hot chocolate is served with a cardamom sugar rim and a massive cube of pink-hued rose petal marshmallow. Accompanying the Sasha Velour is miniature rose milk chocolate cupcake. 

Rose is a strong flavour and the Federal Store team did not shy in their use, but I love rose water, so I was happy to warm up with the floral spiced hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was not overtly sweeet which can be tricky when using white or milk chocolate. I personally love a rich deep dark chocolate, but in this case, the Federal Store could not have gone with a darker chocolate as it would have masked the delicate undertones of rose. Hard to wrong with a homemade marshmallow and it only made the drink creamier as it melted. I have always loved their cupcakes and the rose chocolate is one of their regular flavours that I have enjoyed on many occasions. 

49th Parallel | Florals and Spice

Many people do not know that you can get amazing hot chocolate from 49th Parallel year round. The Main Street location of 49th Parallel has a special device that warms and stirs melted chocolate keeping it at the ready for when someone wants a glass of hot chocolate. The Florals and Spice is made using melted dark chocolate and infused with cardamom and rose petals. 

I did not get the florals or spice. The dark chocolate was strong and most likely masked the subtle delicate flavours of rose and cardamom. Served with the hot chocolate was a fluffy mini brioche doughnut filled with a spiced chocolate custard and topped with an orange blossom glaze, chopped pistachios and rose petals. As always, their doughnut dough is beautifully fluffy and airy. The glaze was too sweet for me, but the chocolate custard was great. The Peanut Butter & Jelly continues to remain my favourite doughnut at Lucky's! 

Fufu Cafe | Two to Mango

I am a mango girl through and through, and it is not everyday that you see a mango hot chocolate. The hot chocolate is made with a base of Valrhona 55% Itakuja dark chocolate and fresh mango puree and a roasted kuro goma (black sesame) puree. A dollop of sweet mango whipped cream and lemon zest finish the hot chocolate. The mango flavour was fruity and the whip was divine! I have never been big on black sesame, but it brought a wonderful rich savoury undertones to the otherwise sweet mango hot chocolate. Accompanying the hot chocolate was a duo black and white sable cookie (crumble style) with a sweet mango filling. I love mango, and pure mango puree filling is yummy to me. 

Their second hot chocolate was a miso cheese flavoured one which I decided to pass on. I just draw the line at salty miso and cheese in my hot chocolate. It might have been the best hot chocolate ever created. I guess I will never know and I am okay with that! 

BYES

Maria Ida Designs Vancouver Glass Blowing Artist

There are few art mediums as captivating as glass so I was excited to connect with Vancouver glass artist, Maria Ida Designs and see her in action firsthand! Working out of the Terminal City Glass Co-op, Maria creates colourful home objects ranging from bud vases to glasses. 

I came across Maria Ida Designs pieces at the Little Mountain Shop Holiday Pop-Up 2022 where I fell in love with her miniature bud vases. She also makes bubble bowls, glasses and vases in vibrant colours. Since each piece is made by hand, no two are alike. 

So how does glass blowing work? 

Suncatcher Rainbow Decals at The Little Mountain Shop Holiday Pop-Up - The Polygon Gallery

The Suncatcher Rainbow Decals are a part of The Little Mountain Shop Holiday Pop-Up inside North Vancouver's The Polygon Gallery! I am bouncing with joy because The Little Mountain Shop selects which brands to include, so it is an honour to have been asked to be a part of the Holiday Shop. The Little Mountain Shop Holiday Pop-Up has an all-all Canadian lineup of mostly local, women-led, BIPOC makers and creatives which includes me!

The Suncatcher Rainbow Decals look pretty alongside Vancouver's most coveted lifestyle brands like East 29th (phenomenal facial serum!), Flax Home, Mumgry, Zimt Chocolates, and Homecoming Candles. Many of the brands are Vancouver-based, female-owned and BIPOC. 

Safe Sweat is Revolutionizing the Gym Game

Over the past decade, workout facilities have been seeing significant revitalizations with spin rooms, boxing bags and even treadmill group classes. Long gone are the days of the big warehouse-like spaces filled with subpar workout equipment. Safe Sweat is redefining what a gym facility should look like with its "Fitsuites."

The 2,700 square foot space has been divided into 8 pods dubbed "FITsuites," which are outfitted with what I affectionately call the Rolls Royce of gym equipment. Each pod is equipped with cardio, squat rack, multi-functional bench, dumbbells, kettlebells, focus & recovery devices, fitness accessories and a massive TV fully stocked with streaming, music and workouts. 

No detail was missed by co-owners Emre Ozgur and Andrea Kloegman in designing the FITsuites. Together, they have 50 years of experience in the fitness industry. 

Michelin Guide Vancouver Restaurants Announced

Kissa Tanto - 1 Michelin Star

After months of careful delegation by a team of anonymous Michelin Guide inspectors, eight Vancouver restaurants have been awarded 1 Michelin Star each. In addition to the eight Michelin Stars, 12 restaurants were given the Bib Gourmand and a list of recommended restaurants in Vancouver was also released. Really is about time that Michelin Guide came to Canada, so it is a big deal that Vancouver has received its very first ever Michelin Stars. 

A few of my predictions matched Michelin Guide, so you could say I am pretty much now qualified to join the elite individuals tasked with selecting which restaurant deserves a Michelin star. My personal favourite is Kissa Tanto which is now officially a 1 Michelin Star restaurant! If The Four Seasons Vancouver had not closed, I strongly believe The Yew would have been a strong contender for a Michelin Star. 

Laity Pumpkin Patch Maple Ridge has a Pumpkin Cannon

This year I challenged myself to go beyond my favourites and visit new pumpkin patches in the Lower Mainland. Laity Pumpkin Patch is in the mountains of Maple Ridge and is so massive that they have two farms across the street from one another - North and South! I went to Laity Pumpkin Patch South. 

The primary reason I made the drive out to Maple Ridge was to see Laity's Pumpkin Cannon in action. The massive air compressor launches a fresh pumpkin at a stacked pyramid of blue barrels. Watching a pumpkin being launched at high velocity and its guts exploding on impact was awesome. Laity Pumpkin Canon launches every hour and everyone near and far on the property hurries over to watch the pumpkin go boom. 

The Eastside Flea: Vancouver's Hipster Community Market

The Eastside Flea is a great community market on the edge of Vancouver's Chinatown. Being my first time visiting, I did not know what to expect. The space was buzzing with energy and laughter because everyone was having a fabulous time. The Eastside Flea has over 40+ vendors, many being vintage and antique sellers. Entry into the market is $4 a person and also gains you access to the cocktail bar. 

The crowd at The Eastside Flea definitely draws a huge hipster crowd with its welcoming and carefree atmosphere. A couple of food trucks keep the masses fed and hydrated. There are brightly painted picnic benches and Muskoka chairs to hang out on. The weather was spectacular on Sunday, so everyone was soaking up the warm fall sunshine. Crack On, Ay! Mamacita, Aperitivo and Disco Biscuits were on site on Sunday and it is constantly changing. 

Family Style Italian at Savio Volpe

I cannot count the number of times I have dined at Savio Volpe and there might already be a blogpost on one of my many pasta-filled dinners there! The menu is continuously updated to incorporate fresh and seasonal ingredients. 

My favourite "Per La Tavola" aka For The Table is Savio Volpe's buttery Garlic Knots which come hot from the oven dusted in pecorino romano and black pepper. Always add the hot marinara sauce! These remind me of my time in Los Angeles when I dined at C&O Trattoria which not only serves platters of garlic rolls to all guests but also has singing waiters! 

Scarecrow Fest at Art's Nursery

The Fraser Valley is filled with pumpkin patches and it is about time someone introduced something new to the Hallowe'en festivities. Art's Nursery has done just that with its Scarecrow Fest! The best part, the Scarecrow Fest is completely FREE at Art's Nursery. Let me reiterate, Scarecrow Fest is FREE and is a wonderful activity for young families and adults. 

The flower and plant nursery is spread out over a massive plot of land and you can tell a great deal of love and care has gone into setting up the property. There are beautiful garden sculptures, fountains, various flowers, fruit trees and basically every plant you could want. For the month of October, scarecrows in every inch of the nursery. These scarecrows are recognizable Hollywood and television characters we have grown up watching and loving particularly from Hallowe'en movies.

Oktober Fest at Braidwood Tavern - Four Seasons Whistler Resort

 

When in Whistler, you dine at the Braidwood Tavern the restaurant situated inside the Four Seasons Whistler Resort! Now until October 16th is the Oktober Fest menu and it is everything German beer, meat and potatoes. The team at Bradwood Tavern makes everything from scratch in-house with a modern take. 

To start we did the Charcuterie Board, but I would argue it is more of a tower. A three-tiered wooden tower arrived laden with dry cured meats, salami, cold cuts and various accompaniments. Two large Bavarian pretzels still warm from the oven topped the tower. There were two types of grainy mustard to enjoy the pretzels with. To balance the salt from the meats, there were pearl onions, caperberries and those tiny little pickles I love called cornichons. 

Train Wreck Hike Whistler

South of Whistler adjacent to the 2010 Olympic Athlete's Village is the unconventional trail - Train Wreck. The short trail takes you directly to the resting place of 7 train cars in the 1956 train derailment and crash. 

The trail is easy to access from the Sea to Sky Highway and is worth the stop when heading to or from Whistler. It is a casual 15-minute stroll to the suspension bridge which helps you traverse the roaring Cheakakmus River to the brightly painted box cars. Cheakakmus River is aggressive white water crashing up against the stones, so you do not want to fall in. 

Fairmont Banff Springs Breakfast at the Vermillion Room

No vacation is complete without a fancy brunch and when in Banff, you head to the Vermillion Room Bar & Brasserie inside the Fairmont Banff Springs - I will be discussing the hotel property in detail in a different blog post! I have stunning pictures of the property to share, but the pictures I took during breakfast are horrid and I regret not being able to retake them. 

The Vermillion Room is almost like a well-kept secret as it is located at the back of the hotel on the second floor. Guests not staying with the Fairmont Banff Springs tend to not venture past the grand entrance, but I encourage you to head up the massive stairwell and across the second floor as you will be rewarded by the expansive dining hall of the Vermillion Room. Though the Vermillion Room itself is impressive, the unobstructed view of the famed Canadian Rockies Mountainscape is the real reason to brunch here. 

The Final Vancouver Symphony Orchestra Harry Potter in Concert

The era of Harry Potter at the Orpheum Theatre has come to an end with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) wrapping up their final shows of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. I think most 90s kids would agree that Harry Potter was our childhood. We grew up with the books and the movie franchise so having the opportunity to relive the magic was a magical treat. 

The movie is the darkest of the franchise, opening with the burial of Dobbie the free elf and the wizarding world plunging further into despair as the dark lord continues instill terror into the magical community. The Orpheum Theatre was sold-out, packed to the ceiling with excited Potter Heads. I have great admiration for the work and effort that goes into dressing up as your favourite character. Since it was the final movie, I thought I would channel my inner Hermione Granger by wearing my official Harry Potter Gryffindor Sweater from Universal Hollywood. 

Five Acres Flower Farm Workshops

 

The Fraser Valley is home to many farms, one of which is a small-scale family-run flower farm. The micro-farm is tucked behind Amanda McAllister's family home and every summer, she invites flower enthusiasts to join her for flower workshops. This is my second year attending the Flower Experience at Five Acres Farm and it is safe to say that this is now an annual end-of-summer/fall tradition for me. 

The farm specializes in dahlia varieties. There are rows and rows of dahlias, from small round heads to large dinner plate varieties. So many shades of pinks and oranges! Aside from dahlias, Amanda grows other cut flowers too like cosmos, zinnias, lisianthus, sweet peas, and snapdragons. She is currently working on establishing a field of peonies. I did not know it can take nearly three years for a peony plant to establish its roots which are vital for healthy large peony blooms. Next year might finally be the year that the peonies will be ready! 

Blogtober 2022

October is my favourite month. Granted I am biased considering I am an October baby, but you cannot deny October is the epitome of fall. The pumpkin patches are open, there is pumpkin spice everything and the weather is perfect for cozy oversized knits. The leaves are changing colour, so everything is warm shades of orange, reds and yellows. 

On numerous occasions I have challenged myself to do a month of blogposts and every time that I say I will, I fail spectacularly. Blogging is tough! Carving out time to write write interesting blogposts and editing pictures is not easy. I need to be in a certain headspace to write, so I cannot be exhausted from work or drained from the pain of a migraine. 

Meet Me In Gastown + Dinner at Monarca

Vancouver does not have much in the way of evening fun, in fact, some would argue Vancouver is completely devoid of nightlife. It is not every day a fun community event is organized and when I heard it was in Gastown, I knew I needed to attend. 

With its bricked walkways and roads, heritage buildings and gorgeous cast iron lamp posts, Gastown is simply magical in the evenings. Meet Me In Gastown took place on Thursday, August 25th and was a community celebration featuring the Vancouver Metropolitan Orchestra + Light Show in collaboration with Gastown Thursday Nights. The festivities took place at the corner of Water Street and Alexander Street and the streets were alive with people. 

Honestly, nothing beats dining outdoors on a warm summer's evening. Monarca Cocina Mexicana set up picnic benches in the courtyard and served a special Meet Me In Gastown Menu. Other restaurants in the area had similar setups. This was my first time dining at Monarca. The menu is upscale Mexican and the interior of the restaurant is edgy yet still chic.

Rainbow Suncatcher Decal Pop-Up a Success

My first Pop-Up shop for the Rainbow Suncatcher Decals was a massive success! Thank you to everyone who came by, said hi and supported my little venture. When I first started Rainbow Suncatcher Decals, I did not have plans to sell directly to consumers, but this pop-up shop was so much fun that I am considering doing another pop-up or market. 

Now the day itself was overcast with sporadic spurts of rain. Not ideal weather considering I was set up outdoors along the sidewalk. Not to mention the Rainbow Suncatcher Decals NEED sunshine to create the beautiful rainbow rays! 

I cannot talk about the Pop-Up shop without mentioning Habit Trading Co. which hosted me for the day. Christa, the owner brought amazing energy and a positive vibe. Christa helped me set up and decorate and was my all-around personal Hype Women for the entire day. Each time I made a sale, Christa would cheer me on, and give me advice throughout the day. Christa is no stranger to the world of retail, so I tried to soak up as much information as I could from her. 

My favourite part about doing the Pop-Up shop was getting to interact with everyone. Making those in-person connections with the community is something I deeply value. 

What I would do differently for future Pop-Ups?

• TABLE CLOTH - I borrowed one for the day from Habit Trading Co., but I should bring one. 
• SIGNS - Information on the Suncatcher Decals and pricing etc
• PICTURES - Of the rainbow ray effects that the Suncatcher Decals produce
• SUITCASE - save me multiple trips to the car by putting everything into a suitcase
• CHANGE - I primarily use cards for payments, so I did not even anticipate others using cash and would need change

I thought it would be fun to make treats to share with guests, so I landed on the idea of doing rainbow rice cereal treats. I pictured them to be cute, but instead, they turned into a mint green colour and bright coral colour which I then sprinkled with rainbow nonpareils. I affectionately dubbed them my zombie squares and they tasted delicious! 

It was interesting to see which designs shoppers gravitated towards. The top two designs were hands down the Female Floral Vase and the Monstera Planter. Not surprised since Vancouverites have a not-so-secret obsession with plants. The two rainbow designs appealed to the younger crowd who also enjoyed the zombie squares. 

BYES

Khatsilano Returns After a 2 Year Hiatus for its 10 Year Anniversary

Khatsilano has returned and for its 10-year anniversary, the iconic street party was bigger than ever. Every summer I look forward to a couple of events: Canada Day, Celebration of Lights and Khatsilano! The massive street party kicked off at 11 AM and the festivities did not end until late into the evening. Comfortable walking shoes are a must because it takes place between Burrard Street and McDonald Street along West 4th. 

Khatsilano did not disappoint with its multiple performance stages, activity areas, food truck block and phenomenal sales. We all know the shopping on West 4th is superb and every year for Khatsilano, the shops offer amazing deals for that day only. My favourite shop, Hills Dry Goods had fabulous sales and an additional 20% off EVERYTHING in store! I took advantage of the sale and bought myself an organic cotton sweater in a gorgeous pink. I do regret missing the Ganni crewneck on sale for $40, but you cannot get them all. Most of the stores set up little sale tents outside. I found a great sample sale piece from Anian for nearly 70% for my friend. Cannot wait to see him rock it during the winter. Other notable deals include Clearly Contacts, Old Faithful Shop and Ming Woo.