Eigensinn Farm Pork Steak with Green beans cooked with speck and garlic scape at Haisai restaurant in Singhampton on Sept. 6, 2013.  (Deborah Baic/The Globe and Mail)



KAT TANCOCK

Special to The Globe and Mail

 

In March, I attended a food-photography workshop in Sicily with Béatrice Peltre, author of the cookbook La Tartine Gourmande. The true value was in watching Peltre work: endless adjustments and retakes, extreme pickiness when selecting produce and the patience to keep trying until the shot was right.

Martha Stewart, one might think, would know all of this, with her extensive media experience and general air of OCD. And yet her Twitter feed of late has had the look of being hijacked by a half-blind toddler. The images, collected and spread far and wide by BuzzFeed, range from out of focus and badly lit to earning comparisons to the origins of penicillin and the contents of certain bathroom fixtures. Not a good thing.

Food photography, for all the derision it receives, isn’t easy, especially when shooting with a smartphone. Here’s how to do it right.

Don’t use your flash: “The best food under harsh lighting conditions won’t look appetizing,” says Vancouver photographer Joann Pai. “Never use the flash on a smartphone.” If it’s dark, look for external light sources, such as candles or a lamp. In daytime, shoot near a window, with the subject out of direct sunlight.

Don’t stop at one: “You’re never going to get it on the first shot,” says Vancouver photographer Shawn Taylor. “Try the same thing with little tweaks: lighting, where you place the focus, exposure, angle.”

Think about angles: “For me, the best angle is top-down,” says Pai. “It gives you a chance to style what’s around the table.” Taylor agrees, and says that trying different angles is key to getting a creative shot. “45 degrees is boring because that’s how you see your food when you’re sitting at the table.”

Don’t centre everything: “The fact that we can move the phone quickly to what we want to show is really empowering,” says Peltre, who suggests playing with cropping and what appears within the frame. Pai is a believer in the classic rule of thirds, placing the subject one-third of the way in from the photo’s edges. “I like to place my subjects off-centre.”

Don’t post straight online: A little adjustment of your image can go a long way, whether it’s via a photo-editing app (see sidebar) or just an Instagram filter. “When you’ve got bad light, sometimes the filter fixes things,” says Taylor.

Apps to try
Joann Pai suggests thinking outside the Instagram frame when shooting with your phone. Here are her three essential apps:

ProCamera 7 (iOS, itunes.apple.com)
Use this app to control camera functionality while taking photos, including manually adjusting shutter speed, focus, exposure and white balance – and displaying live ISO and shutter-speed data.

Snapseed (iOS, Android, Chrome, snapseed.com, itunes.apple.com)
Adjust ambience, brightness, and more in this mobile- or Web-based photo editor that’s been owned by Google since late last year.

VSCO Cam (iOS, itunes.apple.com)
Pai likes this app for its filters, which she prefers over those in Instagram as they’re more food-friendly. “Filters should alter the mood of the scene but not take away from what the food actually looks like.”

 

I enjoy strolling around and browsing Granville Island market !  I often spend a good amount of  time gawking at all the bakeries there.  They look amazing and taste very yummy too.  If you have a sweet tooth, you will fall in love with all the sweet shops in the market. 

Many shops on the island are overpriced so do shop with care :-)  My rule of  thumb regarding fruits/veggies is, if I can get the same at local market or farm, I would get them there instead.  The market here is best for hard to find/specialty items.  Chocolate and sweet bakeries are superb here ! Oh and the seafood too ! 

A typical day for us on the island would be getting hot drinks, sweet bakeries, and a bag of salmon jerky from the public market.  We then head outside to the community space to eat our goodies and to enjoy the live music (they always have local musicians).  Bee likes to chase the hundreds of birds hanging out there.  When food is done, we would go for stroll around, taking in the sight and sound.  They have a lot of neat shops outside the market and a kids market with an indoor playground.

On a dry day, I recommend taking a walk down towards the marina and checking out the floating houses there.  They are quite handsome to look at. 

 

In the summer, there's a waterpark for kids up on the hill.  You can bring a blanket and have a picnic up on the grassy area while the kids play.  It's quite of a pleasant outdoor area.

Now that it's beginning to feel like winter, the indoor food court is a nice cozy place for dessert and snacks.  They have a good selection of fast food vendors here.  If you have loud kids like mine, this place is great !  No kid ? well, there are some fine restaurants around that sure will please your palate.  There's Bridges, Dockside, Edible, Sandbar, to name a few.  Also, just before the entrance to the island, there's Afghan Horsemen restaurant.  Food is excellent.  One of my favorite restaurant.

Below are some pictures we took on our recent visit, after CandyTown (Christmas street in Yaletown, very small, not too many vendors, wasn't worth the expensive parking fee).


 

Lovebug all bundled up !

Granville Island Public Market 1689 Johnston St | Vancouver, BC | (604) 666-6655

 

 

GET $10 OFF $40 WITH CODE tracycollin

*new customer only*

 

With the cold weather moving in, all I want is hot noodle soup for dinner.  Here's a recipe for an easy tasty dinner.  It needs only few ingredients and if you're Vietnamese, you probably have all of these ingredients in your pantry already !  Simple quick dinner for the win :-)

I just started to write recipe so please ask if something is unclear.  Everything is estimated (to closest unit of measurement).  If there's an "about" word before the ingredient, try a little bit first then add some more in after.  I cook mostly by eyeing and tasting :-/

 

What you will need for 4 servings:

- 10 cups water
- 1 whole chicken (I prefer free range) OR 4 large chicken legs (about 3 pounds)
- 2 cans of whole bamboo shoots or a pack of fresh one if avail. (I prefer Aroy-D brand)
- about 3 tablespoons of good fish sauce (Viet Huong 3 Crabs brand is the best kind)
- 1/2 teaspoon of salt
- a small 1" chuck of rock sugar or less than a teaspoon of sugar
- about 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric powder (optional, for coloring only)
- 1 shallot, thinly sliced
- 1/2 white onion, quartered
- 1 teaspoon of olive oil
- 1 bunch of green onions
- handful of cilantro

Rice noodles:

2 pack of round rice noodles cook as instructed on package.  Usually, I cook them in 8 cups of cold water.  Bring to boil and let boil for about 7-10 minutes.  Turn off heat, close lid for 5 min.  Test for doneness by pinching a noodle, if break apart it's done).  Drained in colander.

Instructions:

- Clean the chicken and set aside
- In a large pot, put in 10 cups of cold filtered water
- Put the chicken in the cold water and turn the stove on high, to boil it
- Once bubbling, put in the turmeric powder, this will make the chicken and broth yellow (for look only, opt out if you don't have turmeric around)
- Let the chicken boil in the water for about 20 min, then turn down heat to medium/low, close the lid (for at least 15 min.)

 

- While the chicken is cooking, wash the green onions and cilantro.  Thinly sliced the green onions and roughly chopped up the cilantro. 
- Take the bamboo shoots out of cans, washed in cold water, and thinly sliced it length wise (long)

- Remove the chicken from the pot, the water from the chicken should run clear.  Set aside to cool.

 

- Skim the top of the broth (I usually run the broth through a mesh layered with a paper towel, the fat gets trapped in the fiber and this usually remove most of the fat from the broth)
- Quartered the white onions and put it in the pot
- Put in the sliced bamboo shoots
- Put the in the fish sauce, salt and rock sugar. Taste the broth, and if needed, add more fish sauce to your liking.  Remember, once you pour the soup over the noodles, the broth will be diluted a bit.)

- Remove the meat from the chicken (if using whole chicken, leave the wings and thighs) and put the bones back into the pot (to sweeten the broth).  Simmer on medium for at least 20 min.

- You can either hand shred the chicken meat or slice them (I shred them because it's easy !!! one less cutting board and knife to wash :)

When ready to eat, REMOVE the bones and onions from the stock, ADD the sautéed shallot to broth and bring the broth to boil.

Serving:

- Put noodles into a bowl, put the chicken meat on top, scoop in the broth and bamboo shoots.  The noodles should submerge in the broth.  Sprinkle with green onions and cilantro.  Top with a dash of pepper and Sriracha hot chilli sauce or slices of chili.

* If I have guests over, I usually put a small dish of fish sauce with a few slices of chilli on the table for those who wants a saltier broth.
 

this is a lunch set up picture !  they look calm in this picture don't they ?
 

For a while, dinner time was a stressful time for us.  A typical dinner would be us trying to get our slow eater toddler (she's no longer picky, just chew slowly) to eat, slow down our fast eater baby so she doesn't choke !  all the while trying to put something into our growling stomach !   It's no fun for all of us.  By the time our toddler finished her food, we've lost our appetite because our food has now gone cold.  Some day we're too exhausted to reheat the food and feed ourselves.  Someday we go to bed feeling like we never had dinner.

I love food !  I enjoy eating and now that it's becoming a chore, it bothers me to no end.  I decided to do something about it.  Dinner sucks because of the kids !  So I eliminated them :-)  I started to feed my kids first, feed them their dinner early !!!!   I figured that's the only way our dinner will not be interrupted.  Until they are older, we will eat together again.  For now, I need time to eat and digest my food so I can have the strength to keep up with the 2 little monsters :-)  My husband needs to eat too !  Everyday, after greeting us, he would say "I'm so hungry" !  The man just came home from a stressful job, he needs food to nourish him !  We all need to eat ;-)

At our house, we usually have dinner around 6:30pm so I try to feed the kids around 5:45, 6 o'clock.  They like to eat together, and yelling, laughing, and screaming together !  all the while with me singing and talking to them !  It's a gong show but by the time we set up our dinner, things quiet down a notch, the kids leave us alone because they're full.  Husband and I get to eat hot food, vent about our day, sip our coco water, yap some more about whatever.  The kids are often found eating fruits (we usually have fruits after dinner, an asian thing ?) and playing at our feet (or dancing to Katy Perry's Firework).   The kids entertain each other and we get to EAT !  It's nice and dare I say ?  r.e.l.a.x.i.n.g.

I am fully aware that we're not eating together.   It's temporary sanity for us, for now.  We're still together as a family in one room.  We're all talking to each other.  Sharing our day stories.  I know other parents might be judging us or wagging their fingers !  but this is what works for us.  We're not stress out !  We don't do it all the time but most days.  For me, I feel if we're happy parents we will raise happy kids !
 

It's mid November already and before I know it, the hustle and bustle of the holiday will be sweeping me in.   I thought I should quickly write up a post on what to do around town during this festive time with little ones in tow.  Christmas is my favorite season !

I will separate this Christmas Activities Guide into 3 sections:  BY DONATION, PAY ADMISSION and FREE.

If you're considering checking out the PAY ADMISSION venues, I highly recommend going there early December to avoid the crowd.  For those with wee ones, the street lights displays are great because you can come and go at your convenience ! Babies and kids of all ages love those brightly lit Christmas lights.  Dress warm, make a cup of coco to-go for yourself, take a stroll with your little ones and watch them marvel at the sight of twinkling lights.


BY DONATION:

STANLEY PARK BRIGHT NIGHTS
Date:  December 5, 2013 - January 5, 2014
During the holiday season, the Bright Nights Train and Plaza at Stanley Park sparkles with three million twinkling lights, decorating the darkness that comes early at this time of year.

Entrance to the Bright Nights Train Plaza is by donation (you don't need to purchase train tickets to see the holiday lights). Donations will be accepted at the front gate. We suggest a minimum $4.00 donation.

If you're interested in the train ride:
*Partial proceeds from the sale of Bright Nights tickets go to the BC Professional Fire Fighters' Burn Fund, which helps burn survivors and their families.

Train tickets:
Adult: $11.00 includes GST;
Child, Youth & Seniors: $7.00 includes GST
(Children & Youth 3-17, Seniors 65+)
Children Under 3 years of age are free
Matinee (Wed, Sat & Sun Matinees 11am - 3pm): $6.00 (all ages)

Hours & Tickets info:
http://vancouver.ca/parks-recreation-culture/bright-nights-train.aspx
http://www.burnfund.org/our_programs/bright_nights.php

It's beautiful here !  We went before we had the kids so we might take them to check out the lights this year.  We probably will do the train ride as my eldest, who's 3, loves train.  I don't know how my 9 months will fare but we'll find out soon enough!


PAY ADMISSION:

VANCOUVER CHRISTMAS MARKET
Date:  November 22nd - December 24th
Hours:  11am - 9pm

Admission is $6 for adults (13+) Monday to Friday from 4:00pm to 9:00pm and weekends from 11:00am to 9:00pm. Adult admission is $3 Monday to Friday from 11:00am to 4:00pm. Youth admission is $3, children (up to 6 years old ) are free. Rates include tax and tickets can be purchased online in advance.

Entrance to the market is near the corner of Georgia and Hamilton in downtown Vancouver. Follow the Vancouver Christmas Market on Facebook and Twitter for more information about activities, events, and live entertainment.

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AT VANDUSEN BOTANICAL GARDEN (vancouver)

A magical experience for the whole family with 1.4 million twinkling lights.

Date:  December 11 - January 4, 2014 (closed December 25th)

Hours:  4:30 to 9 p.m. each evening

 

A few highlights at the garden:

• Dancing Lights on Livingstone Lake: starting at 4:30 p.m. Two different shows - one show on the half hour and a different one at the top of the hour. Two different shows repeating in sequence throughout the evening.
• Photos with Santa and the backdrop of a million twinkling lights: Dec. 11 - 24
• Special themed areas; Gingerbread Wood, Golden Chain Walk, Candy Cane Lane

Available at Tickets Tonight, Admissions Desk or at the gate:

Adult (19-64)	$14.25
Senior (65+)	$10.50
Youth (13-18)	$10.50
Child (3-12)	$7.75
Children under age 3	free
Family (2 adults + children age 18 and under)	$32.50
VanDusen Members	$11.25
VanDusen Family Members	$27.25

CHRISTMAS AT HYCROFT (Vancouver)
Date:  November 21-24, 2013
Time:  Daily 11am - 9pm, Sunday 11am - 6pm

ADMISSION: Adult $13 Child $5 (5 – 11 years) VALET PARKING $5
More info:  http://www.uwcvancouver.ca/index.php/programs-events-events-entertainment/christmas-at-hycroft

LUMINESCENCE AT VANCOUVER AQUARIUM

Date:  November 28, 2013 to January 22, 2014

Hours:  10 am to 5 pm daily.  Doors close at 4:45 p.m.

Perhaps the most creative display of lights, Vancouver Aquarium has put together an aquatic light show featuring the incredible world of fluorescent and bioluminescent ocean light. Find out why and how aquatic animals like anemones, cuttlefish, jellies and corals glow in the deep. Don’t go home without a meet-and-greet with Scuba Claus – underwater Santa. The show is included with the price of admission: $21 for adults; $16 for youth 13-18, students and seniors; and $13 for children 4-12.

GROUSE MOUNTAIN'S PEAK OF CHRISTMAS (north vancouver)

Sleigh bells ring, choirs sing! Grouse Mountain presents a magical celebration and a multitude of festivities.

Bring your family to Santa's Workshop and meet reindeer, or take a sleigh-ride through our mystical alpine forest. You can also experience the tranquil beauty of skating on our 8,000 square foot mountaintop Ice Skating Pond, surrounded by snow-topped trees.

For more info.:

http://www.grousemountain.com/events/the-peak-of-christmas-2013

I went to this few years back (company's event). It's beautiful ! If you have older kids it might be worth it for an evening out with the whole gang ! But since I got two little ones, who wouldn't last longer than an hour up there, I can't justify paying the $$ admission cost.

BEAR CREEK PARK TRAIN (surrey)

Date:  Friday, Dec. 13 till Sunday January 5 2014 – Closed December 25th

Hours:  10am to 4pm daily

Come and Meet Santa in the station. Receive a candy cane and activity bag to take home. Take a ride through the Christmas display.

Adults $5 Child $7.50

FREE:

 

CANDYTOWN (Yaletown, Vancouver)

Date:  Saturday, November 23, 2013

Time:  12-9pm

Location:  1000 – 1100 block of Mainland Street

 

Featured Activities:

• “All I Want for Christmas” Gift Market
• Free Horse Carriage Rides
• Live Music
• Visits with Santa 1PM – 6PM

More info:  http://yaletowninfo.com/events/candytown/

 

SANTA CLAUS PARADE

Date:  Sunday, December 1st, 2013

Time:  Parade starts at 1pm

Location:  The Parade is in downtown Vancouver, located just blocks from the Burrard, City Centre, Granville and Waterfront SkyTrain stations.

Parade route:  The Parade starts at Georgia and Broughton, travels east on Georgia to Howe, turns south on Howe, and finishes at Howe and Davie. (1.8 kms)

More info:  http://rogerssantaclausparade.com/

 

 

 

ILLUMINATIONS AT HERITAGE CHRISTMAS (BURNABY VILLAGE MUSEUM)
Dates & Hours:
November 23 - December 13, 12noon-4:30pm
December 14 - January 3, 2014, 12noon-9pm
(closed December 24 & 25)

Free gate admission, Carousel rides are only $2.21 each.

With a stroll through the Village visitors will enjoy the traditional sights and sounds of Christmases past. There is a new Twelve Days of Christmas scavenger hunt, seasonal entertainment and a special display by the Canadiana Costume Society.

I went here last year.  If you don't expect crazy display of lights, it's quite a pleasant walk around.  There's enough going on to entertain the kids.  Dress warm as it's all outdoor.  The Carousel is the only indoor area there.  I read on the site "New this year, there will be 400 sound-reactive lights at the bandstand that twinkle and change colours in response to sound. Visitors can sing carols, clap their hands and make noise to create their own magical holiday light show."  I would like to try that out !  Did I mention it's FREE ?

ICE SKATING @ ROBSON SQUARE
Date:  November 15, 2013 - February 28, 2013
Hours:  Sunday - Thursday from 9am - 9pm |  Fridays & Saturdays from 9am - 11pm

Located at 800 Robson Street (just across from the Vancouver Art Gallery in the heart of downtown Vancouver).  Skating is free; skate rentals are $4, helmets and ice cleats are $2.

 

TRINITY STREET CHRISTMAS LIGHT FESTIVAL

Date:  Mid-December 2013 - January 2, 2014

The 2400-2900 blocks of Trinity Street will once again be a blaze of holiday lights as they compete for the honour of best block.

Take in the lights on Trinity Street from December 4/12 to January 6/13. Remember, the Trinity Street Christmas Light Festival is best enjoyed by walking the route so please use your feet to see our street and make this a green event.

 

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Trinity-Street-Christmas-Light-Festival/130091770384867
 

LADNER VILLAGE CHRISTMAS TREE LIGHTING (Delta)
Date:  November 28, 2013
First annual Christmas Tree lighting Festival from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Santa himself will be on hand to officially light the Ladner Village Christmas tree at approximately 7:10 p.m. The event will be held rain or shine.
Location:  5028 48th Avenue, Delta


MAGIC OF CHRISTMAS PARADE (Langley)
Date:  December 7th, 2013
Time:  6pm
Location:  downtown core of Langley City


CHRISTMAS PARADE OF LIGHTS (New Westminster)
Date:  December 7th, 2013
Time:  11am
Location:  Columbia Street & 6 Street (ends at Hyack Square)


CHRISTMAS IN STEVESTON VILLAGE (Richmond)
Date:  December 1st, 2013
Time:  12-5 pm
Location:  Bayview street, Between No. 1 Road & Easthope Avenue
Steveston is preparing to welcome the holiday season with a community display of lights, music, horse-drawn carriage rides, carollers, and the arrival of Santa!


Below is a list of street Christmas light displays I gathered from various sources.  Some are unconfirmed so I suggest you go only if you're in the neighborhood.  Dress warmly and drive safely !


Burnaby

6728 Grant Place
Come by and see the display — it’s worth the stop. The family have been doing their light display for more than 25 years in the North Burnaby area, and hope this year to bring joy and happiness to many more appreciative visitors. The display is dedicated to dear departed family and friends whose memories remain lit in their hearts, like just like the lights.

8222 Burnlake Drive
The display includes 20,000 lights, a seven-metre tall animated tree and a house full of lights dancing to music. Once again the family is collecting donations for BC Children’s Hospital. Lights are on daily from 4:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.

4990 Belleville Ave.
The family is collecting donations for Variety the Children’s Charity.

5951 Baffin Place.
The Sherwood family’s annual neighbourhood lightup event will delight all. From 6-9 p.m. every night until Jan. 2.

950 Kensington Ave.
Collecting donations for Michael Cuccione Foundation.

1440 Cambridge Drive
Collecting donations for BC Children’s Hospital.

Also check out:
4187 Williams St.
5067 Dover Street


Coquitlam/Port Coquitlam/Maple Ridge

646 Claremont
Come up the driveway for the best view. Featuring a complete nativity — baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph, shepherds, and the three wise men — lights to music, Santa and Mrs. Claus, reindeer, Christmas trees and more. Over 7000 lights. Daily from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Donations accepted for the Knights of Columbus charities.

1440 Cambridge Drive
Electric train with bells and whistles; electric train with falling snow; nativity scene; more than 30,000 lights with music; five geese pulling a sleigh; 5.5-metre candle; gingerbread houses and people; Santa’s workshop with elves, and a hot-air balloon. Collecting for BC’s Children’s Hospital. Open 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

2988 Forestridge Place
Just below Westwood Golf Academy, the Bilesky family display features lots of lights and yard decorations, from Disney characters, wise men and angels to a herd of grazing reindeer on the rooftop. A big Santa greets visitors, carols play and Santa waves as he appears from out of the chimney. Donations accepted for Variety, the Children’s Charity.

3970 Cedar Dr.
Interactive displays with Santa, reindeer, snowmen and angels add to the 50,000 lights strung up here. 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. until Jan. 1.

Also check out:
678 Folsom street Coquitlam
927 Lillian St., Coquitlam
2638 Brewster Dr., Coquitlam
3313 Rae St., Port Coquitlam
21456 Maple Ridge Bob & Gail Watson
11940 Hood St., Maple Ridge
21456 122 Ave., Maple Ridge
21614-122nd Ave, Maple Ridge
North Pole BC 22351 144th Avenue November 26th to December 24th


Delta

11548 86a Ave
Bob and Maureen Mussato have a wonderful bright Christmas display of thousands of lights, and also lawn ornaments. Come see this display and we promise you will be feeling a lot like Christmas. Open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

11147 Huff Blvd Delta BC - Christmas light show / display featuring choreographed lights and sound, lawn displays and thousands of lights!  Light show is once an hour, featuring 8 songs including Polar Express, Hot Chocolate, Wizards of Winter, Carol of the Bells and more...

Also check out:
11385 86 Ave North Delta
11422 - 75 Ave., North Delta
11425 - 11427 90th Ave., North Delta
3560 Arthur Ave., Delta


Langley/South Langley

23145 0 Ave.
Parallel Acres is having their Christmas display until Dec. 31, from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. All welcome, but no dogs please.

The Land of Christmas 20169 32nd Ave. Langley
Largest Christmas display Castle in all of Canada! 3 Stories !

Also check out:
19646 49th Ave., Langley
23145 0 Ave, Langley
4732 207A St., Langley


Richmond

12138 4 Ave., Richmond, Steveston merchants
3999 Williams Rd., Richmond
5193 Hummingbird Dr., Richmond
Garry Street near Fentiman Place


Surrey/South Surrey

16681 20th Ave.
This display includes 250,000 lights, two-metre toy solders, a nativity scene, dancing lights, a life-size gingerbread house, a skating scene, and many others. There is also a photo area where you can sit in a sleigh pulled by reindeer. The family is continuing to collect donations for BC Children’s Hospital again this year. Open 4:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. every night.

15659 93A Ave.
This traditional display has 15,000 lights, which include toy soldiers, candlesticks, lit trees, and Santa, his nine reindeer and life-size sleigh. The deer dance to the Christmas music played. Donations are accepted for BC Children’s Hospital. Open 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. until Jan 1.

11478 — 139th St.
The Fox family’s display is a large and colourful one. Donations to the Fraser Valley Conservancy Society greatly appreciated. Open 4:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. until Jan. 8.

15466 91A Ave.
The Lagerstroms take their lights seriously. About 60,000 lights are synchronized to music broadcast on 88.3 FM radio. Open Sun. to Thurs. from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fri. and Sat., 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Christmas and Boxing Day until midnight.

Also check out:
12755 114A Ave (9000W of Christmas lights all synced to music)
9277 132 St Surrey B.C. Hopkins’s lights

3326 Rosemary Heights Cres., Surrey

15499 22nd Ave., South Surrey
3248-141A St., South Surrey
9467-127th st., Surrey , BC YouTube13675 Grosvenor Rd., Surrey BC

6585-193rd St., Surrey

14380 66 Ave., Surrey

159a & 37a Surrey BC , Morgan Creek

16681 20th Ave. - Donate BC Children's Hospital

15659 93A Ave. - Donate BC Children's Hospital.

16956 60A Avenue, Cloverdale

11478 - 139th St. - Donate Fraser Valley Conservancy Society

19368 62A Ave Surrey, BC (close to Willowbrook Mall)

15466 91A Avenue - Lagerstrom’s Christmas Light Show12755 114A Ave. Surrey
13130 65B Ave., Surrey
11082 Jay Cr., Surrey
6369 165A Street, Surrey
11084 153A St., Surrey
19158 48th Ave., Surrey
15466 91 Ave., Surrey
6369 165A St., Surrey
66th Avenue and 192A Street
Entire neighbourhood just northeast of 64th Avenue and 184 Street
12953 20 Ave., Surrey St. Marks Church Journey of Christmas
Winter Ice Palace at Cloverdale Arena Dec 18th to Jan 2nd

Vancouver

2400-2900 Trinity St.
These blocks will be a blaze of lights for the annual fundraiser for Harbour View Daycare. Best enjoyed by walking, you will get to experience the brilliance of the lights for the holiday season and feel the spirit of one of the great neighbourhoods of Vancouver. For a $2 donation you can vote for your favourite light display. Until Jan. 2.

West End and Stanley Park
See 15,000 coloured lights decorate trees on Beach Ave. Take a stroll by the Lost Lagoon fountain, which is adorned with lights. See a decorated tree at George Wainborn Park at 450 Beach Ave.

1489 McRae Ave.
Christmas at Hycroft, presented by the University Women’s Club, is always worth a visit.

1081 Burrard St.
The Lights of Hope is in the courtyard of St. Paul’s Hospital. Over 400 multi-coloured stars shower light down onto the street. Take the detour when you’re downtown, it’s worth it. Donations accepted for the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation. www.helpstpauls.com

1690 Matthews Ave.
Canuck Place is lit up once again. Volunteers have placed thousands of lights around majestic Glen Brae mansion and turned its gardens into a magical sight.

1412 Laurier St.
An annual tradition for the O’Toole family. Enjoy its lights and surprises.

Also check out:
2175 West 16th Ave
750 Hornby St., Vancouver The Vancouver Art Gallery
Bloedel Conservatory, Queen Elizabeth Park
East 17th Avenue and Sophia Street, Vancouver
East 12th Avenue and Semlin Street
2175 West 16th Ave, Vancouver
Triumph and Nanaimo Street, Vancouver
4399 Prince Edward St., Vancouver
2636 E. 40th Ave., Vancouver
1412 Laurier Ave. Vancouver
Jervis Street % Beach Avenue George Wainborn Park 450 Beach Ave.
999 Canada Place St Christmas at Canada Place
Woodward's Hastings and Abbott

North Vancouver

4967 Chalet Place
Collecting donations for Harvest Project
3735 Capilano Rd., North Vancouver Capilano Suspension
256 6th St. E, North Vancouver
 333 Brooksbank Ave., North Vancouver Park & Tilford GardensCity Hall, North Vancouver
Dundarave, West Vancouver
 

There's something comforting about sharing meals with friends.  Eating, talking, laughing, and fighting over the last bit of food.  I love eating with my friends.  I love having them over, having them eating on my table, sharing life stories.  These are whom I am doing life with.

For a period of time, my girlfriends and I used to come over to each other's place and cook together or one of us will host it and do the meal planning and we'll come early to assist.  Over time, with kids coming into the picture and the group expanding (new life partners), the hot pot and pot luck route proved to be safest and easiest for all of us.  We refuse to give up eating together.  It's been over 5 years now, we rarely go over a month without sharing at least a meal together.  It's becoming our tradition.  A very good tradition I must say. 

I can see us growing old together.  Years from now we'll still be looking across at each other, still call each other out, annoying each other, fighting for a chance to state our case, or smacking someone over the shoulder over something they shouldn't say !  And there will be laughter and lots of it.  Friendship is a bond worth celebrating often with good food !!!   I know no matter what happened in our lives, what dragon(s) we're slaying, it's this meal, this slice of time we spent together that offers us small comfort that we're not doing life alone.

Last night, every single bowls, serving dishes, cups, spoons, chopsticks was out in the "battle" during our group dinner.  After everyone left, my kids and husband passed out on the bed.  I wandered into the kitchen and ate left overs.  I was glad there just a bit of everything left !  I wished I made more rice though.  There's always next time.

This morning, as I sat eating cereal out of a measuring cup (which I'm sure it's spared because no one found it), I feel light hearted that my friends were over, putting all my dinner wares to use.  I made a mental note to buy more. 

I noticed that I enjoy hosting dinner as I get older.  When I was in my early 20s, I hate having people over.  The thought of prepping, cooking for people and cleaning after them are dreadful !  I'm too lazy for it.  Now my girlfriends and I plan them days in advance, sometime weeks.  It might sound strange, but I enjoy just watching friends having a good time.  I like to serve my friends.  Somewhere between the 20s and 30s, it's becoming less about me and more about others.  I am happiest when those around me are happy.

Since I've been hosting more than a dozen of times, I now have an orderly schedule I followed.  The night before and the day of the event it usually goes down like this, in particular order:

Night before:
- Grocery shopping
- Mopping
- Vacuuming
- Wiping windows, mantels, walls
- Clean up/organizing rooms

Day of:
- Disinfecting all bathrooms !
- Tidying up playrooms for the kids (so they can make a mess of it !!!)
- Cooking
- Getting my kids and I ready
- Feeding kids (I found getting them to eat first relieved me from the stress of feeding them & entertaining guests at the same time)
- Setting tables
- Sitting around waiting for guests, whom usually arrived 15-40 min. late !  Even if I tell them an earlier start time so that they would arrive around the actual time I want to start dinner > it never worked !  My friends are mind readers :-)

It does take a little effort but we enjoy it.  Mr. C and I would say to each other, while we clean up the house, "it's fun, let's do it again !".