By Eudora Koh, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

I admit, I do not frequent the nail salon as often as I should (just look at my boy nails and you’ll understand), but I have gotten my nails done a couple of times for special occasions so I know how nice it is to be pampered and the wonders that nail salons do for us ladies and our cuticles. But what a treat it was to visit Spoiled Nail Bar, a sleek and sassy version of the traditional nail salon that I–along with many others I assume–are used to seeing.

I had the pleasure of attending Spoiled Nail Bar’s official launch party awhile ago, which hosted lifestyle and fashion bloggers and writers. The event was intimate and offered guests a sneak peek of the new store as well as its services, with nail technicians doing nails for the earlier part of the evening. Spoiled Nail Bar is a modern version of your traditional nail salon, located on West Broadway, close to Hemlock.

This fresh and modern rationale explains why the salon is called a “bar” and is even set up like one for your nails. The bright space has a large counter similar to one in a pub/bar, butis innovatively designed to efficiently cut, buffer and polish your nails. There are even high chairs which also add style to the already trendy nail bar, that has a vibrant purple, red and white theme. Spoiled Nail Bar’s owner, Wendy Chiang says she is excited about her new business venture that offers a wide range of services including bare and beautiful or glammed up nails, all at affordable prices.

The warm purple and red accents, which can be seen throughout Spoiled Nail Bar on the walls, furniture and decor, really emphasize its uupscale and ritzy feel, which is exactly what girls want when getting a manicure or pedicure–it all adds to the experience when visiting the new and hip nail bar.

Though french manicures and pedicures are always popular, Wendy told me that at the moment she’s seeing a lot of ladies come in to get gel enhancements for their nails, which are essentially a gel covering that is applied to nails and cured under ultra violet light, resulting in strengthening and length extension of your nails. Gel enhancements are common and ideal for brittle, soft, or weak nails. But aside from gel enhancements, there are also the typical services you would see in a nail salon which include express manicures, pedicures, or both if you really feel like spoiling yourself!

And if you’re thinking of what to do with your girlfriends the next time you get together, Spoiled Nail Bar offers parties for groups of up to 20, where you can watch movies, listen to music or just chit chat with your girlfriends while getting your nails done.

If this is the first time you’ve heard of Spoiled Nail Bar, there’s no better time to drop by and pay them a visit this weekend.  To celebrate Mother’s Day, Spoiled Nail Bar is offering a promotion on their Spoiled Combo for you and your Mom: A “Me Me Me Mani + Pamper Me Pedi = Spoiled fingers and toes” for only $42! To find out more about this Mother’s Day special and more, visit their website. Spoil yourself and your nails at Spoiled Nail Bar. You deserve it!

The local Vancouver boutique coffee roaster, 49th Parallel has announced that it will open a second café location next month, located on Main Street at the corner of East 13th Avenue. The new café will also be home to a Lucky’s Doughnuts counter, representing the company’s first foray into food.

The 2,800 square foot café joins the company’s original West 4th Avenue location in showcasing 49th Parallel’s own range of small-batch roasted coffees. In addition, the much bigger new location will include expanded space for single-cup preparation, a 16-seat communal table that can be used for group cuppings, a 30-seat patio on the East 13th Avenue side, and garage-style doors that create an open-air space during warmer weather.

“It feels good to get back to our East Vancouver roots,” says owner Vince Piccolo, who grew up not far from the new café location. “We’re really looking forward to the extra space giving us the ability to offer cuppings and educational sessions for the general public. We’re excited to share our passion for coffee with the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood.”

Bringing together the classic pairing of coffee and doughnuts to the Main Street café is the launch of Lucky’s Doughnuts. Authentic, hand-crafted and genuinely delicious, Lucky’s Doughtnuts are made fresh throughout the day using the highest quality natural ingredients. With all components made from scratch including jams, glazes and fillings, the company also strives to source locally and seasonally. A selection of 13 different doughnuts-six yeast varieties, six cake varieties and a French crueller, will be available each day, with varieties changing with the seasons.

 The new 49th Parallel Café is located at 2902 Main Street (@ East 13th Avenue), and is slated to open during the first week of June. Hours of operation will be Monday to Saturday, 7 am to 10 pm; and Sunday, 8 am to 8 pm.

On Wednesday May 9, the Calgary Stampede, Tourism Calgary, and Travel Alberta will host a public White Hat Drop in three Canadian cities sequentially with a chance for one lucky person to win a once-in-a-century prize! Hidden inside one of 150 white hats on the stairs of the Vancouver Art Gallery (Robson x Hornby Street), one red envelope will contain a once-in-a-century prize package to experience the Calgary Stampede during its Centennial Anniversary.

Here is the schedule and timing for the White Hat Drop:

• 11:30 a.m. PDT – 150 wristbands to be distributed to the first 150 people. Participants will line up behind one of two designated corners of entry
• 12:30 p.m. PDT – 10 participants at a time will get access to the designated area and will have 30 seconds to choose one white hat to stand beside.
• 12:35 p.m. PDT – All participants simultaneously uncover chosen hat to discover if they have won the red envelope

The VIP prize package for two people includes the following:

• Round-trip airfare to Calgary and two nights accommodation at Hotel Arts
• Two tickets to the sold out Garth Brooks concert on July 12
• Two Day Thrill package for the Calgary Stampede, includes Rodeo tickets, a VIP behind the scenes chuckwagon experience, evening show and more
• A $250 gift card to get officially outfitted at Lammle’s Western Wear & Tack
• A Stampede dining experience featuring chef Paul Rogalski at Rouge Restaurant, one of only 2 restaurants in Canada to receive the top 100 restaurant rating in the world by San Pellegrino
• Cocktails and tapas at one of Calgary’s newest and most coveted restaurants, Ox &Angela
• A look into Calgary outside of the Stampede gates, with passes to: Glenbow Museum, Calgary Tower, and the Calgary Zoo

If you happen to be in the Vancouver Art Gallery area during the hat drop, feel free to Tweet with the national event hashtag: #HatsOffYYC.

“Experience the civilized pleasures of the salon with fine SALONTEAs”—Tracy Stern

By Eudora Koh, Modern Mix Vancouver writer

This past weekend, Modern Mix Vancouver was invited to a lavish and modern day tea party on South Granville at the official Canadian launch of Tracy Stern’s’ SALONTEA.  The concept originated from New York, which explains its stylish name as well as its ability to draw together some of the trendiest from Vancouver’s lifestyle scene. The glamorous Tracy Stern, CEO and visionary of SALONTEA, and author of “Tea Party: 20 themed tea parties” book, was available at the event for interviews and autograph signings.

Tracy Stern’s SALONTEA is a unique and one of a kind tea boutique, serving your traditional teas and treats, but in an environment that is not your typical Vancouver tea house. Walk into SALONTEA and immediately be dazzled by its high ceilings, bright accents (mainly orange, pink and brown), splashed against the store’s shiny white tile walls. It feels like you are in an adorned salon or boutique, as its design and interior decor is decorative, fresh and contemporary.

And of course as it is a tea house, you can purchase high tea for two or more, complete with your choice of their beautifully named teas like The Musician (rooibos), The Writer (Indian chai), The Romantic (green tea), The Lover (chocolate chai), The Natural Beauty (rooibos), The Sleeping Beauty (chamomile), and The Fashionable Dandy (black tea). All very sensuous and seductive names, and very appropriate for the entire experience SALONTEA has to offer.

To enhance the baroque SALONTEA house experience at the grand opening, there were two girls dressed in bright pink and orange Mary Antoinette costumes—from head to toe (yes they even wore pink and orange wigs!) And of course, what’s a tea party without the teas and sweet and savory treats?  Guests were invited to try a few different SALONTEA favorites like iced chai latte, infused iced romantic green tea with jasmine and pomegranate juice, and traditional warm vanilla flavored teas. And the dainty tiers of bite sized treats included macaroons, salmon and cream cheese sandwiches, croissant sandwiches, pastries, scones and cupcakes galore!

Prices for high tea are still being finalized, but you can look forward to SALONTEA opening up very soon in the South Granville neighborhood, offering up a stylish way of having tea in a very modern and polished boutique styled tea house. And if you’re not in the mood to stay for tea, there are packs of SALONTEAs you can purchase to drink at home. SALONTEA books and trinkets are also available for purchase too. Either way, the next time you do decide to go for high tea, be sure to visit SALONTEA; it’s definitely the fanciful and exclusive New York twist on Vancouver afternoon tea—one that every girl is sure to adore!

Last week at the 23rd annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards, Trafalgars Bistro in Kitsilano took home the Green Award for their farm-to-table philosophy which supports local organic farms with a passion for sustainability, simplicity and seasonality.  A week after the awards, Vancouver’s greenest restaurant follows up its win with a new warm weather spring menu loaded with fresh flavour and sustainable ingredients.

Chef Matthew Villamoran created the new roster of dishes in keeping with the neighbourhood bistro’s award-winning commitment to community and the environment.  “It fits with what I do,” says Villamoran. “I’ve long believed that if you use quality ingredients and treat them with respect, the end result will justify your extra effort.”

From brunch and lunch through to snacks and dinner, Villamoran walks the environmentally friendly talk: curating just-picked produce and natural meats from local farms; making his own condiments and even cheeses in-house; and seeking out lesser known and sustainably harvested seafoods, (which make up 80 per cent of the new menu). He pulls it all together with finesse, crafting balanced, full-flavoured dishes highlighted by a hint of whimsy.

Starters include grilled octopus served with pickled and fresh chili, and watercress salad tossed with chili vinaigrette, or another that mingles pickled local beets, Okanagan goat cheese and hazelnut “mulch.”

Mains at lunch include comfortable classics like Abbostford fried chicken sided by warm potato salad, while dinner brings sustainable standouts like prosciutto-wrapped sturgeon or luscious rainbow trout.

Trafalgars Bistro is open Monday to Saturday for lunch and dinner. Their evening hours are from 5pm to 9pm (Monday to Thursday) and 5pm to 10pm (Friday and Saturday).  However, they won’t close until the last diners are comfortably finished their meal.

Reebok Canada, the official outfitter of the Canadian Football League, unveiled the new uniform of the BC Lions today.  Just in time for training camp, the eight CFL teams will start the new season with a brand new reengineered jersey. Each of the teams played an active role in developing not only their new reengineered on field jerseys, but also the look of the new Premier jersey available to their fans.

“The year of the 100^th Grey Cup is an opportunity for us to celebrate our proud past and launch our bright future,” said CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon. “And through our partnership with Reebok, with their expertise in professional football jersey design, CFL teams will kick off this historic season with brand new jerseys that feature the latest in technology as they travel the road to the 100th Grey Cup in Toronto.”

Reebok is also expanding its jersey line for fans by offering a new Premier jersey. The Premier jersey was inspired by the on field jersey but has more of a lifestyle fit so fans can go from the stadium straight to their favourite sports bar without feeling the need to change. The new model is made of a double polyester mesh for improved durability. Some teams offer jerseys with topstitched lettering instead of prints. “Reebok wanted to offer a new version of the fan jersey that’s as close as possible to those worn on the field. We’re delighted with the results and I think we can honestly say mission accomplished!” said Stewart Clark, Marketing Director at Reebok Canada.

Fans can purchase the new jersey on CFLshop.ca, on each team website as well as at their respective stores. Starting Tuesday, May 8, the jersey will also be available at Sport Chek, Sports Experts, River City Sports, Jersey City Canada and other select retailers. The suggested retail price is $110.

MMV Giveaway: Modern Mix Vancouver is giving away a BC Lions Women’s Premier Jersey in Size M.  To enter, leave a comment below telling us why you want this new jersey.  A random winner will be chosen from the comments below. Be sure to leave your email address so we can contact you if you’re a winner. BC mailing addresses only. Contest ends Sunday, May 20th (11:59pm PST).  

For additional entries, you can do the following things;

• For a second entry: Follow @ModernMixVan on Twitter and tweet “I want to win a @BCLions women’s premier jersey from @ModernMixVan. http://bit.ly/IKBPd5 RT to enter!”
• For a third entry: Like” the Modern Mix Vancouver Page on Facebook and write on the wall: “I want to win a BC Lion’s women’s premier jersey from Modern Mix Vancouver! http://bit.ly/IKBPd5″

Call your friends out on their cash issues with Pocketbook Rehab! The Credit Unions of BC is giving away a $10,000 financial intervention. Nominate your friends on Facebook for one of the following badges: Cash Disaster, Spare Change Scavenger, Mega Mooch, Spontaneous Shopper or Forgot-My-Wallet Whiner. If your nominee wins, you could also receive $1,000!

So what exactly is a financial intervention? One lucky Pocketbook Rehab winner will receive $10,000 and a meeting with a financial advisor from a BC credit union to help them spend it responsibly. The advisor will use the winner’s prize money to create a custom financial plan that will get them on the right track. The Pocketbook Rehab winner will also be featured in a short web video highlighting how their intervention helped them conquer their cash issues!

Watch this funny intro video here:

The winner will be announced the week of May 28.  Open to BC residents only. Good luck!

As Spring is in full swing and summer is approaching, it’s time to put away the rain boots and peel back the layers. While most people delight in the change of the season, for some the thought of baring more skin can be intimidating for those who suffer from dry or sensitive skin.  On behalf of Curel Skincare, Vancouver Dermatologist Dr. Shannon Humphrey shares five simple skincare tips and reminders for Modern Mix Vancouver readers:

• Keep it short and sweet – don’t overheat: A 5 to 10 minute bath or shower adds moisture to the skin, however spending more time in the water has the reverse affect, and can leave your skin dehydrated. Do not bathe more than once a day, and keep it short. Also keep the water temperature warm, not hot, as hot water can also contribute significantly to skin dehydration.
• The 3 minute rule: To lock in moisture from a bath or shower, apply a moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing! This will trap the existing water in the skin and prevent the water from evaporating. Applied regularly, a good moisturizer should help decrease dryness and itching due to dry skin (if it doesn’t, see your doctor).
• Slather up! When moisturizing to treat dryness, you really need to use a lot of it. A thin veil is not necessarily enough for your skin to absorb. Pick a moisturizer that is free of colourants and fragrances, and give your skin a good coating of it – working it in as you go. You can even do it just before bed, and sleep in cotton pajamas to help lock in the moisture for ultimate absorption.
• Gentle is best: skin care products that are fragrance free, alcohol free, colour free and pH balanced are the best. Gentle ingredients will support rather than ‘hinder’ your skin’s condition.
• You are what you eat: If you’re prone to flushing or redness, it often helps to avoid caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods and hot beverages.

Each spring, COBS Bread and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada host a joint campaign to raise funds and awareness for Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies across the country. This year, COBS Bread has created a new limited-time scone flavour for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Strawberries & Cream. This year’s scone fundraising weekend is on Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13 where COBS will be donating 50¢ from every scone sold to Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“It has been a pleasure to increase our involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters over the past three and a half years. We continue to be impressed with the care and dedication shown by the organization’s volunteers and staff, and look forward to many more years of this beneficial relationship,” says Michelle Duck, Marketing Manager of COBS Bread.

Each of the 123 Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies depends on donations to help recruit volunteers and reach more children. Funding received from companies like COBS is used to conduct background checks on volunteers to ensure child safety and provide ongoing support for children, families and volunteers to build long-lasting relationships.

“COBS Bread has raised more than $95,000 for Big Brothers Big Sisters since 2009, which has allowed agencies across the country to provide many children with the support of a mentor. In addition, COBS has raised awareness of the urgent need for more Big Brother and Big Sister volunteers. COBS’ in-store campaigns have inspired many men and women to volunteer their time to provide encouragement and support to a young person in need in their community. We are so grateful for COBS’ support of mentoring,” says Justine Greene, Executive Director of Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland.

The limited edition Strawberries and Cream Scone is full of strawberry pieces and has strawberry cream cheese folded throughout and is topped with a decadent cream cheese icing. It is only available until May 16, so make sure you get it before it is gone!  To find your closest COBS Bread location in Vancouver, click here.