Vancouver's best-kept restaurant secrets

Directly from the Opus Bar and Elixir Bistro Newsletter:

Bubble Lounge: Every Friday, 5-9pm starting March 12, 2010 Bubbly cocktails starting at $7. Fresh oysters ½ dozen for $10.

FAB Women: The savvy women’s guide to a stylish life. Thursday, March 18, 2010
The Art Issue: Get dialed-in on the Women behind the
canvases of Vancouver. 6pm-9pm, OPUS Bar

Dining Out For Life: Thursday, March 25, 2010.  Elixir Bistro is proud to once again be a part of Dining Out For Life. 25% of your food bill will be donated to A Loving Spoonful and Friends For Life, organizations that help local people living with AIDS/HIV.

Directly from the Bistro 101 Newsletter:

Celebrate BC’s Spring Wine Release

Wine lovers delight!  Celebrate BC’s Spring Wine releases at our appropriately named BC Spring Wine Release Dinner.  Enjoy a beautiful five-course dinner for $45 per person.  Add the BC Spring Wine Release pairings for an additional $30 per person:

Avocado, Smoked Tomato & Crab Tian (Blue Mountain Brut Sparking Wine)

Fennel & Scallop Salad with Pommes Gaufrette (Hawthorne Mountain See Ya Later Ranch Gewurtzraminer)

Green Apple & White Wine Granite

Entree Choices (select one)

Queen Charlotte Halibut Filet with Lemongrass & Tobiko Butter Sauce, Wilted Green Scallions & Crisp Rice Cake (Lang Farm Reserve Riesling)

OR

Braised Veal Shank with Juniper Berry Cream Sauce, Egg Spatzle, Spring Vegetables (Meyer Family Vineyard Tribute Series Chardonnay)

Zabaglione with Fresh Berries & Lady Fingers (Mission Hill Family Reserve Riesling Ice Wine)

Wednesday April 21st at 6:30PM - spaces are limited.

Call 604.734.0101 for more information about this or other special event dinners and restaurant promotions.

Directly from the Wines of Argentina Press Release:

Wines from Argentina Event Shines the Spotlight on Top Wines, Tasty Bites, and Tango Dancers

March 11, 2010 (Vancouver, BC) – Throughout April of 2010, BC Liquor Stores will celebrate the quality and value of wines from Argentina.  The month-long promotion will include a consumer tasting at the 39th & Cambie Signature Store on Friday, April 9th.  Guests at the event will enjoy Argentine wines paired with South American cuisine from Baru Latino Restaurante and will be treated to a demonstration of tango dance moves.

Argentina has made a huge splash on the international scene in recent years.  International sales of Argentine wine have increased an astounding 700% over the past 6 years.  Wine lovers around the world have come to rely on Argentina’s winemakers for bottles that consistently deliver value for the money.

Throughout April, Argentina’s success will be celebrated with displays in 60 BC Liquor Stores.

At the Cambie & 39th consumer tasting,  Wines of Argentina will be paired with bites from Baru Latino Restaurante.  Guests at the event will also enjoy a demonstration of passionate tango dancing.

In conjunction with the promotion, Wines of Argentina is also offering a prize package that has all the makings for a spectacular night out.  The prize consists of dinner for 8 at Baru, where the winners will enjoy outstanding cuisine paired with top-quality wines from Argentina.  Limo service to and from the restaurant is included.

BARU’s Latin driven cuisine is the focus of this award winning, neighbourhood restaurant located in the Point Grey / Kitsilano area.  Here, responsibly caught seafood and organic meats are served with classic and original drinks in a warm and welcoming environment.

To enter the draw, please visit www.winesofargentina.ca.

Wines of Argentina Consumer Tasting

Friday, April 9, 2010

3:00 – 7:00 pm

BCLDB 39th & Cambie Signature Liquor Store

5555 Cambie Street, Vancouver

Directly from the L’Altro Buca Press Release:
CELEBRATE SPRING FLAVOURS AT L’ALTRO BUCA
A Fresh, Affordable Approach To Post-Olympic Dining

March 9th, 2010, Vancouver, BC – With Olympic mayhem and meals served in tents now a distant memory, those looking to revel in local fare and fresh flavours at exceptional value can take refuge at Westend favourite, L’Altro Buca. For the next few weeks, chef Andrey Durbach is highlighting the arrival of springtime ingredients with a new menu featuring twenty items under twenty-five dollars, family-style dining options, and prix fixe price breaks. Diners can choose from items such as salad of king crab served with wild prawns, avocado and tomato and basil dressing; grilled asparagus served with housemade pork cheek bacon and poached egg, finished with Parmigiano Reggiano; handmade fazzoletti pasta with osso buco ragu and gremolata; roasted Rossdown Farms chicken served with olive oil mashed potato, lemon, rosemary, confit garlic and fresh baby artichokes.

The full springtime menu is available below. L’Altro Buca is open for dinner seven nights from 5pm, for reservations please call 604.683.6912 or please visit: www.altrobuca.ca.

ABOUT LA BUCA, L’ALTRO BUCA & PIED-À-TERRE
Chef Andrey Durbach and business partner Chris Stewart opened their first venue together five years ago. Today, they own and operate three very distinct neighbourhood restaurants in Vancouver: La Buca, Pied-à-Terre and L’Altro Buca. Guided by the belief that every community deserves a perfect little place to dine, their restaurants offer inviting atmospheres paired with quality, fresh ingredients and exceptional service.

ANTIPASTI

Porcini mushroom soup with truffled crema, 8.50

Romaine lettuce salad, fried anchovies, lemon, garlic and capers, 9.50
Grilled asparagus with housemade pork cheek bacon, poached egg, Reggiano Parmesan sauce, 11

Antipasto della casa, for two, 15

Salad of king crab, wild prawns and avocado; tomato and basil dressing, 12.50

PRIMI

Spaghetti: choice of pomodori or pesto sauce,15

Risotto frutti di mare: prawns, scallops, king crab, fresh fish,22

Handmade duck tortellini in brood,17

Fazzoletti with osso buco ragu and gremolata, 18

SECONDI

Pesce del giorno, fresh fish every day, A/Q

Crisp roasted Rossdown Farms chicken, olive oil mashed potato, lemon, rosemary, confit garlic, fresh baby artichokes, 23.50

Milk fed veal scallopine with mushroom risotto and marsala sauce, 25

Grilled Angus beef shortrib, truffled cauliflower purée, lemon-pepper tagliatelle, Chianti wine sauce, 24

DOLCI

Sorbetto with moscato d’asti
Caffe latte pannacotta with milk foam & fresh zeppolini

Chocolate torta with pistachio crema & salted caramel

Crème fraîche cheesecake with sour cherries

7.50

Tasting and a la famiglia menus available

Directly from the Baker’s Market Press Release:

WHO: www.bakersmarket.com

Baker’s Market, the sweetest place in Vancouver for desserts & baked goodies

WHAT:  to buy/sell delicious baked goods

WHERE:  408 East Kent Avenue South, Back door #115

Vancouver, BC  V5X 2X7.  Free parking.

WHEN:  Saturdays, 11am – 3pm

March 20, 27, April 3 (Easter Special Market),

April 10, 17, 24, May 1, May 8 (Mother’s Day Special Market)

WHY?  Support your local, talented & creative bakers, who love to bake for customers like you!

Come and join us at the Baker’s Market. If you have a “sweet-tooth”, this is the place for you.  Inspired by traditional farmer’s markets, this market is even better since it is indoors with lots of free parking too.  You’ll find talented bakers selling cupcakes, cookies, mini bundt cakes, muffins, scones, breads & gluten free goodies too.  Many bakers will be happy to take orders for corporate orders, wedding cakes and much more!

BAKERS:  if you are a baker of any kind, home baker, student baker, pastry chef, bakery owner, wedding cake decorator, cookie baker…this is the place to show-off and sell your baked treats.

SPECIALTY STORES:  if you have a retail store or online store that sells specialty baking ingredients, equipment, tools, cake/cookie decorating items…we’d love to have you too!

Give yourself a break and treat yourself to something sweet.

Remember DESSERTS is STRESSED spelled backwards!

Directly from the Glowbal Group Press Release:

The 82nd Annual Academy Awards: A Red Carpet Occasion at O Lounge
O Lounge at COAST Restaurant is rolling out the red carpet for Oscar aficionados eager to catch all the action of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards, March 7. With a new HD Projector and two large plasma screens, O Lounge will showcase all the glitz from Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre. Celebrate the evening in high-style with fresh oysters and the finest bubbly. Oscar oracle? The GLOWBAL COLLECTION will be giving away prizes and gift certificates to the table with the closest predictions. Don’t forget to dress to the nines - awards will also be handed out for ‘Best Dressed.’

O Lounge Oscar Party
Sunday, March 7
5 pm onwards

For O Lounge Oscar party reservations, please call 604.685.5010

Happy Belated Valentine’s Day, Vancouver!

To the one that got away: Valentine’s Day. The Olympics have been a time of celebration and victory for Vancouverites and Canadians alike. Sadly, February 14 passed with little fanfare. Restaurants have been packed, working hours have been hectic, and finding time to spend with that “special someone” has been next to impossible. The GLOWBAL COLLECTION has deemed March 14 the perfect day to celebrate Valentine’s Day - better late than never! The chefs at each restaurant have designed a spectacular menu and extra-special touches at all locations will ensure couples enjoy an enchanted - albeit delayed - Valentine’s Day.

To make a March 14 ‘Valentine’s Day’ reservation at a GLOWBAL COLLECTION restaurant, please call:
Trattoria: 604.732.1441
Italian Kitchen: 604.687.2858
Society: 604.629.8800
COAST: 604.685.5010
glowbal grill: 604.602.0835
Sanafir: 604.678.1049

Sanafir Restaurant & Lounge Adds Mid-Day Medina Culture to the Mix

Sanafir Restaurant & Lounge is now open for lunch five days a week. Visit the city’s culinary casbah from Monday - Friday, noon onwards, for a taste of the restaurant’s signature cuisine, featuring innovative twists on Asian, Mediterranean and Indian flavours. Who says the Granville Strip is only for after dark?

New hours:
Monday thru Thursday: 12:00pm - 1:00am
Friday: 12:00pm - 2:00am
Saturday: 4:30pm - 2:00am
Sunday: 4:30pm - 1:00am

Daylight Savings Time

Spring ahead with more dough! As the Olympics conclude, the crowds head home and Vancouver locals fall back into the daily routine, THE GLOWBAL COLLECTION of restaurants would like to thank its loyal guests for their patience during this busy period and express appreciation for their continued patronage - not only over the past few weeks, but over the years as well. From March 15 - 25, guests at glowbal grill, COAST, Sanafir, Italian Kitchen, Trattoria Italian Kitchen and SOCIETY, will enjoy 30% savings on all lunch menu items, Monday - Friday (food only).

Olympic Guests: Central Reservations Would Like to Thank You!
In an effort to thank patrons who have made reservations through The GLOWBAL COLLECTION’s Olympic Central Reservations Office, the COLLECTION would like to invite them back with a $50 gift certificate redeemable at all restaurants within The GLOWBAL COLLECTION. All bookings made between February 12 - 28 (via the Central Reservations Office only) will be issued a gift certificate to the email address provided at the time of reservation.

If you are a guest who made a reservation through the Central Reservation Office within these dates and do not receive your GC, please contact The GLOWBAL COLLECTION directly at reserve@glowbalgroup.com.

Directly from the Donnelly Group Press Release

Donnelly Nightclubs, together with their charity arm The Donnelly Fund and Smirnoff Vodka, is holding a stylish “House Party” themed event on Tuesday, March 4th at the Rocky Mountaineer Station.

Promising to be a star-studded affair, all proceeds from the evening will benefit the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation, through the Donnelly Fund.

In an impressive transformation, the Rocky Mountaineer Station will be styled to resemble an enormous mansion with a “garage” inspired stage, a “kitchen” bar and a “bedroom” VIP lounge, complemented by a colossal sound system and visual installations. To complete the experience, a “back-yard” skate ramp will be installed, showcasing the skills of local pro-skaters.

Guests can enjoy headlining act The Clipse (Virginia rap heavyweights, best known for their work with Justin Timberlake on his first single “Like I Love You”). Other celebrated talent includes dance music legends Crystal Method, local indie buzz bands The Humans and The Good News and DJs Mat the Alien, Matty C and Trevor Risk.

Bask in the city’s Olympic after-glow at this exclusive bash, with all profits supporting a fantastic local cause.

The Donnelly House Party takes place at the Rocky Mountaineer Station (1755 Cotrell Street) on Thursday March 4th, 2010 from 8pm – 2am. Tickets are only $15 and available at http://www.ticketbreak.com/event_details/3487

Directly from the Opus Bar Press Release:

Sunday March 7, 2010. 5pm - 10pm

OPUS Bar, 350 Davie Street, Vancouver B.C.

Feel like a celebrity as you walk the Red Carpet, wave to adoring paparazzi and step into the ultimate viewing party! Dress to impress and experience all the glitz and glamour of Hollywood while sipping Oscartini’s, nibbling feature Oscar O-bite platters for $25 and mingling with Vancouver’s glamorous while watching the 82nd Annual Academy Awards.

Don’t miss your chance to win a Bed & Breakfast package for two at OPUS Hotel Vancouver, for the person with the most correct Oscar ballot predictions.

3 course Oscar Dinner available in Elixir Bistro for $30 with optional wine pairings for $20.

RSVP to Jessica Dunn JDunn@opushotel.com

Directly from the Bastille Cafe & Bar Press Release:

EXPECT A NEW BUZZ FROM BALLARD’S BASTILLE THIS APRIL
BASTILLE’S ROOFTOP GARDEN TO BECOME A HIVE OF ACTIVITY WITH PARTNER BALLARD BEE COMPANY

Bastille Cafe & Bar is happy to announce a partnership with Corky Luster’s Ballard Bee Company www.ballardbeecompany.com and the addition of 4 beehives to be installed on Bastille’s unique rooftop garden in late March or early April. Chef Shannon Galusha will integrate both extracted and comb honey from these western honeybees into the menu at Bastille starting this summer following collection in May and June from blackberry blooms.  Chef Galusha is considering all the ways to use this sweet amber bounty, from honeyed vinegar, combs to accompany the cheese program, savory dishes and desserts.

Western honeybees are dormant from October to March, but since the weather has been warmer this year in Seattle, there is some collection happening now from crocuses, pussy willows and heather pollen. Once collection begins in earnest, Bastille’s bees will produce two major honey flows from Big Leaf maple and the aforementioned blackberry.

Directly from the Donnelly Hospitality Press Release:

On Thursday March 4 The Donnelly Fund and Smirnoff present the SMIRNOFF EXPERIENCE HOUSE PARTY with rap dudes Clipse performing live and a DJ set by the Crystal Method. It all takes place at the Rocky Mountaineer Station (which will be decked out to look like an actual house - there’s be a mini ramp, live art installation, massive soundstage…the production alone is nuts). With opening performances by the Good News, Humans and DJ sets by Mat the Alien, Matty C and Trevor Risk, this will be the post-Olympics, locals-only show that you need. Tickets are only $15 in advance available HERE . Proceeds benefit the BC Children’s Hospital through our own charitable organization, the Donnelly Fund. This party is going to be huge.

HOUSE PARTY - MARCH 4  featuring:

THE CLIPSE (Live) www.myspace.com/clipse
THE CRYSTAL METHOD (DJ set) www.myspace.com/thecrystalmethod
MAT THE ALIEN (Video Set) www.myspace.com/matthealien

plus local bands:

THE GOOD NEWS www.myspace.com/weareallgoodnews
THE HUMANS www.myspace.com/dashumans

HOUSE PARTY: The Clipse, Crystal Method

DJ SPIDER - FEBRUARY 24

Spider is back to rock Pop Opera with Vancity’s finest Marvel + Seko along for the ride. Spider always comes correct with a massive set complete with rock solid turntablism and upfront programming.

Whether you’re rocking out to his set at an LA hotspot or listening to one of his mixtapes, the unique style of DJ Spider is apparent. Though his roots stem from a deep love for hip-hop, Spider has cultivated his sound to include an eclectic mix of cuts that transgress nearly every genre of music. No matter what kind of crowd, he is guaranteed to rock the party playing hip hop, soul, funk, reggae, electro, house, bmore, pop, rock and more.

9:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Pop Opera - 686 West Hastings Street

DJ Spider Feb 24

LIL JON - THURSDAY FEBRUARY 25

One of the true godfathers of Crunk, Lil Jon and Da East Side Boyz have been tearin upn da club for well over a decade. The massive Yeah with Usher is easily one of the biggest club bangers in Hip Hop history, but only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Lil jons appearances on massive urban records  Get Buck In Here, Salt Shaker, Snap Yo Fingaz to name a few. Recent collabs with Pitbull, LMFAO and DJ Class have also firmly cemented Lil Jon in the emerging club electro scene and made him a mainstay in the VIP booths in Las Vegas, Hollywood and Miami. Join us Feb 25th for a huge night with one of the biggest in the game.

9:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Pop Opera - 686 West Hastings Street

LIL JON Feb 25

I HEART FRIDAY - EVERY FRIDAY

Featuring Vancouver’s top resident Djs with rotating special guests setting the Friday night vibe with hip hop, RnB and dance music for Vancouver heads to get down.

9:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Pop Opera - 686 West Hastings Street

Pop Opera Fridays

LA DISCOTHEQUE - EVERY SATURDAY

Saturdays - Jon C and JP host LA DISCOTHEQUE, Gastown’s #1 dance party.  Each week resident DJs Trevor Risk, Group Hug, Ethnic Friends, Shitz Popinov and the Slow DJs take you there with the most upfront house electro and disco tunes to keep you moving til dawn.

9:00 PM - 3:00 AM
The Modern - 7 Alexander Street

La Discotheque

DJ ELEVEN - FEBRUARY 28

After all the medals are won there’s only one thing to do - have the biggest party the city has ever seen!  Join us after the Olympic Closing Ceremonies as we celebrate one more time!

9:00 PM - 3:00 AM
The Modern - 7 Alexander Street

2010 Closing Party w DJ Eleven and The Good Life

DJ SPIDER + DJ ONO - FEBRUARY 25

The Select Series touches down at Bar None for a special 2010 International Edition featuring Asia’s #1 DJ Ono from Thailand.  Known for rocking clubs from Bangkok to Beijing and back, expect a night full of international flavour as the games are kicked into high gear!  Not only that but we have one of our faves back for another round: LA’s party rocker extraordinaire DJ Spider.

9:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Bar None - 1222 Hamilton Street

DJ SPIDER + DJ ONO (Asias #1 DJ) Feb 25

CITYLIFE - EVERY FRIDAY

Bar None presents City Life Fridays - DJs Marvel and Zak Santiago start your weekend off right with 80s, 90s and contemporary dance classics at Yaletown’s #1 nightlife destination.

9:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Bar None - 1222 Hamilton Street

City Life Fridays

ELEMENT SUNDAYS - FEBRUARY 28

After all the medals are won there’s only one thing to do - have the biggest party the city has ever seen!  Join us after the Olympic Closing Ceremonies as we celebrate one more time!  Early bird tickets just $40

8:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Bar None - 1222 Hamilton Street

Bar None Sundays Closing Night Feb 28

THE BLEND - EVERY WEDNESDAY

Each and every Wednesday, with residents DJ Supafly (The Beat 94.5) and BZ Black - Vancouver’s most banging mid-week club night featuring the best party-rock, hip-hop and dance anthems - check it!  Up on the patio The Boyscouts mix old school hip hop, funk and classic party jams on 4 turntables.

8:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Republic - 958 Granville St

The Blend

THE GRADUATE - EVERY THURSDAY

Thursdays at Republic just got academic! Join DJs C-Stylez, Hoopsta, Jial-14 and guests spinning Top 40 party rocking mash-ups at the best student night in town. Do the math - $4 Hiballs and $4 shots plus Grade A music equals the best excuse to skip Friday class ever!

8:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Republic - 958 Granville St

The Graduate

OLYMPICS CLOSING PARTY - FEBRUARY 28

After all the medals are won there’s only one thing to do - have the biggest party the city has ever seen! Join us after the Olympic Closing Ceremonies as we celebrate one more time!

9:00 PM - 3:00 AM
Republic - 958 Granville St

Directly from the Hamilton Street Grill Press Release:

Please join us for Sunday Services at the Hamilton Street Grill!

On random Sundays, we offer a family-style carving meal accompanied by a glass of one of R + B Brewing’s fine products in our private dining room. There’s a limit of 28 people, so book early. We’ll be sharing a table, so this offer is limited to friendly people only.

Menu for Sunday March 7th: Slow-roast whole prime rib of Certified Angus Beef, carved tableside by a trained professional, with loads of roast garlic mashed potatoes, just enough vegetables so that you can tell your mother you had your vegetables today, and a rather decent gravy. The beer will be R + B’s excellent Bohemian Lager. Dinner is at 7:30 pm

The absurdly low price for this dinner is just $18. per person.

For reservations please call us at 604-331-1511

Directly from the CRU Restaurant Press Release:

CRU Celebrates Success of Okanagan’s Painted Rock With Winemaker’s Dinner

On Sunday, March 7 2010, Vancouver’s CRU Restaurant will present an intimate winemaker’s dinner featuring BC’s Painted Rock winery.  The four-course dinner will give guests a chance to discover why Painted Rock rose above tough competition to be named Best New Winery at this year’s Okanagan Fall Wine Festival.

Located on the eastern shore of Skaha Lake, Painted Rock is named for ancient pictographs (rock drawings) made by native Canadians on the property.  Everything else about the winery, however, is brand new:  the vines were planted in 2005 and 2006, the winery buildings just completed this autumn, and it’s furnished with the state-of-the art winemaking equipment and uses only 100% new oak barrels.

The dinner at CRU will give Vancouverites a chance to see what all the buzz is about.  Painted Rock’s proprietor, John Skinner, will host the event, sharing his passion for wine and his insight into what makes his wines so special.

The Painted Rock wines will be paired with a four-course dinner that will show them to their best advantage.

Painted Rock Winemaker’s Dinner

Sunday, March 7 2010 6:30 pm

$85 per person (exclusive of taxes and gratuity)

Directly from the Granville Island Press Release:

WHEN SKIING IMITATES ART

K2 Sports Commissions Joel Berman Glass Studios to Create World’s Largest Glass Skis

Sixteen-foot All-Glass Skis to Display During Vancouver Winter Festivities

Vancouver, BC (February 22, 2010): Snow skiing will be bigger than life as billions of TV viewers around the globe watch the world’s best athletes compete in Vancouver this month. To celebrate the occasion, K2 Sports, the world’s leading manufacturer of snow skis and snowboards, commissioned globally-renowned architectural glass artist Joel Berman to create the world’s largest pair of all-glass skis.

The 16-foot-tall skis, designed with K2’s signature blue, white and red color scheme, were recently installed on the exterior of Berman’s studio on Granville Island, a popular dining and shopping district on the fringe of downtown Vancouver that will be an entertainment epicentre during the city-wide celebration, February 12-28.

According to Anthony De Rocco, K2’s Executive Vice President, K2 Sports and Joel Berman Glass studios collaborated on this project in order to provide a vibrant sports-themed art installation on Granville Island, the heart of Vancouver’s dynamic arts community.

“Since Joel Berman Glass Studios is located in such a highly visible and popular area of Vancouver, we realized that we had a unique opportunity to honor the athletes and celebrate the festivities with a sports-themed art installation that had never before been achieved,” said Saleem Khattak, Senior Designer for Joel Berman Glass Studios. “And K2 Sports was the perfect partner for this project.”

In addition to being a one-of-a-kind piece of art, the process of building the skis was a feat in itself involving new glass-on-glass color printing processes on fused colored glass.

Following the Vancouver events, the skis will be transferred to Seattle to adorn K2’s 300,000-square-foot headquarter facilities that the company moved into from its original home on Vashon Island, Washington, in 2007.

The following is a list of Pacific Northwest food and wine events that are currently on or upcoming:

Dine Around Victoria: February 18th to March 7th, 2010

Dine Around Seattle:  March 1st to March 30th, 2010

Dining out for Life Vancouver: Thursday March 25th, 2010

Vancouver Playhouse Wine Festival:  April 19th to April 25th, 2010

Dine Out Vancouver: April 26th to May 6th, 2010

Eat! Vancouver Food and Cooking Festival: May 28th to 30th, 2010

Directly from The Listel Hotel Press Release:

West Coast Scapes @ Vancouver’s “most art-full hotel”

The Listel Hotel exhibits work of local legend Cory Creed and iconic Canadian artist Yehouda Chaki

ROBSON STREET: Local legend Cori Creed and iconic Canadian artist Yehouda Chaki have joined forces to create the West Coast Scapes exhibit at Buschlen Mowatt @ The Listel Hotel gallery. The collection will showcase until March 31, 2010 and features the lush, colourful scenes and expressive landscapes – veritable emotive testaments - that these two powerful artists are both known for.

Cori Creed. Known for her bold, immersive landscape work, Cori Creed has unveiled six (6) of her latest paintings in this exhibit and says, “Our local coast provides a magnificent vehicle for exploring the surface and colour of paint on canvas. The tangles and textures of fall and winter branch work, the cold granite bearing raw and figurative arbutus trees, the fleeting and varied moods of the climate and skies. I am striving to create a place and a mood and an appreciation for what we have out our back door, but also to make the viewer aware of the surface and the medium.” Creed has drawn inspiration from Peter Doig, Gordon Smith and Joichi Hoshi whose work shares an evident joy in mastery of their mediums.

Yehouda Chaki. In 2008 Chaki was commissioned to capture on canvas the vivid beauty and rugged landscapes of the remote Toba River Valley, north of Powell River, BC. On display at the Listel are 16 of these stunning canvasses.

With a career that has included over 85 one man shows and over 300 group exhibitions, Chaki’s work has garnered a devoted following, and niche in contemporary Canadian art. His work is in the permanent collections of over seventy-five museums and corporations including The Montreal Museum of Fine Art, Musée D’art Contemporain de Montreal, Fort Lauderdale Museum in Florida, Eretz Israel Museum in Israel, Musée de Toulon in France, and the Museo de Arte Moderna in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Buschlen Mowatt Gallery. Buschlen Mowatt Gallery is a prestigious showcase featuring modern and contemporary masters of international significance. Recent exhibitions include: Colour Field installation of major works by Helen Frankenthaler, Jules Olitski, Kenneth Noland, Larry Poons and Frank Stella; Louise Nevelson Retrospective; Javier Marin and Ricardo Mazal - Latin American Visions. Upcoming exhibitions will include sculpture by Cecilia Miguez and Sorel Etrog Paintings and Sculpture from the 1960’s.

The Listel Hotel. The Listel Hotel has long been known as Vancouver’s “most art-full hotel” and “a cultural tourist’s dream” and for its strong ties and creative partnerships with some of the city’s most dynamic cultural organizations such as the Buschlen Mowatt Gallery. In 2008 the Hotel created a new gallery space - Buschlen Mowatt @ The Listel Hotel - where the works of painter Bernard Cathelin, photographers Dina Goldstein and Pieter Hugo and sculptors John Henry and Betty Gold have all been recently exhibited.

Aqua Riva is serving an all day Olympic Menu from Feb 8th to 28th, 2010.

White Spot:  Take Out Special $9.99 one piece West Coast Halibut and Chips.

Posh Restaurant:  7 days of love starts Feb 19th and goes to May 31st, 2010.

Bistro 101 has a 2010 February Dining Promotion:  2 course luncheon for $20.10.

Lobster Fest 2010 is on at all Boathouse Restaurant Locations. $35.99 for a three course lobster dinner.

CRU Restaurant: Painted Rock Winery Dinner: Sunday, March 7, 2010. $85 per person, plus tax and gratuity.

Horizons Restaurant: has a Steak and Lobster Tail February Celebration Promotion.

The Salmon House: has a Uniquely BC 3 Course February Menu for $54 with uniquely Bc wine pairings $79.

Directly from the YWCA Press Release:

THE WORLD IS COMING TO OUR DOOR – OUR FREE SPORT-THEMED ART EXHIBIT

Vancouver, B.C. — A renowned local artist and the YWCA Hotel in downtown Vancouver have teamed up to stage a free art exhibit of sports-themed pictures — as well as official images the artist created for the 1988 Olympics in Calgary – and many of the paintings are available for sale. Ken Wesman is showing many of his exciting images of winter sports like hockey and skiing and is donating half of the proceeds from the exhibit to YWCA community programs and services. “I have in one way or another always been involved with the Y,” he says. “The YWCA has so much to offer and now it’s time for me to give back with my sport art. Called “We Rock,” the exhibit runs from February 6 to 28, 2010, at the YWCA Hotel, 733 Beatty Street. This will be Wesman’s second fundraising art exhibit in support of the YWCA. The first, held in December 2005, was inspired by the World Junior Hockey Championships.

WESMAN also has a long history with the Olympic Games – he was asked to create seven official images for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, and produced images later that year for the Olympic Summer Games in Seoul. Each resulted in exhibit sellouts, and four of these images are now in both Olympic Halls of Fame: Olympics ’88 Volunteers, Calgary Magic, Seoul Magic, and Opening Ceremonies.

YWCA Hotel is a 155-room property located in downtown Vancouver. Steps away from BC Place Stadium and the downtown core, the YWCA Hotel is in the hub of the city. Equipped with various amenities and services, the hotel offers great accommodation for any type of traveller. Revenue generated from the hotel supports YWCA Vancouver’s programs and services that benefit women and their families

Directly from the Chambar Press Release:

CHAMBAR SALUTES CANADIAN MEDALISTS WITH DINNER & DRINKS ON THE HOUSE
Award Winning Cuisine for Award Winning Athletes

Vancouver, BC, February 17, 2010 – Beatty Street’s hot spot, Chambar Restaurant, will congratulate Canadian 2010 Olympic Winter Game medalists with a celebratory dinner for them and a guest on the house. Owners Nico and Karri Schuermans want to recognize the accomplishments of Canadian podium-bound athletes by offering them an evening to indulge in Chambar’s award-winning menus, service, atmosphere, and perhaps a little civilized debauchery.

Chambar’s close proximity to BC Place and Canada Hockey Place has made it a mecca of Olympic activity and popular gathering place for fans, athletes and celebrities alike to enjoy pre and post event sustenance, and to catch game highlights on the big screen in the restaurant’s lounge and rear dining room.

Chambar invites you to leave your day at the door for an unpretentious fling with fine dining. Housed in a refurbished brick and beam heritage building, the restaurant’s cuisine is a unique blend of Belgian and North African influences with a commitment to seasonal, organic and local ingredients. Chambar is located at 562 Beatty Street in the Crosstown District. Dinner is served nightly from 5:30pm - midnight and the bar will remain open until 2:00am during the Games. For reservations phone 604-879-7119 or visit: www.chambar.com.

Offer valid until March 1, 2010. Reservations recommended; medal required.