If you have lately walked by the Yaletown-Roundhouse Canada Line station, you may have noticed the KARMA pop-up store on Davie Street.  KARMA is a local active wear company made in Vancouver.” We design clothing with subtle logos, clean lines and hidden features. By avoiding over the top details, KARMA clothing remains classic.” From now until April 24th, the KARMA pop-up shop featuring stockroom sale items will be located at 289 Davie Street in Yaletown.  Hours are Monday to Friday: 10am – 7pm, Saturday and Sunday: 10am – 6pm.  In addition to already reduced prices, they will be having daily promotions.  For more information, check out the Karma Pop-up Shop Facebook Group.

Welcome to NESTEA’s “Chill on the Hill” event, happening on Saturday July 25th.  Think: live music, on-the-house virgin caipirinhas, lessons with Olympic athletes, beach volleyball, meet-and-greets with popular bands, half-pipe shows, live music, sun, snow, all at our very own beautiful Whistler, B.C.  The event is open to public of all ages, and because of the enormous complexity in delivering a snow and beach party, it will only be hitting the West Coast for one jam-packed fiesta. I had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with the brains behind the operation, NESTEA’s Wallace Leung. See our interview below to get a taste of what to expect before you arrive!

MMV: What was NESTEA’s goal with Chill on the Hill?

WL: “Canadians love being active, and they love the outdoors. We wanted to provide a refreshing possibility- thinking, wouldn’t it be cool to have snow, and do a bit of skiing, and have a beach concert, with bands playing… We thought, how would this look?”

MMV: What was your experience with Mont Treblant, the Quebec edition of NESTEA Chill on the Hill, which happened June 20?

WL: “It was cool to see people ready to go [in their snow gear], so early in the morning… In total, we had about 5,000 people out”!

MMV: What was participants’ favourite aspect of the experience in Quebec?

WL: It was quite varied! A lot of people, who came with their skis or snowboard, loved that experience of doing a bit of rails and jumps in the summer, and then others loved the opportunity to play beach volleyball, others would say the opportunity to hang out with Sam Roberts backstage… there were families there as well, who just enjoyed hanging out on the beach!”

MMV: How did you choose Whistler as your West-Coast venue?

WL: “Whistler is an absolute jewel! It is one of Western Canadas national treasures… Also, Whistler and Intrawest has been a longstanding partner with the Coca-Cola company, so it was really a great fit and a great venue.

MMV: What sets Whistler’s event apart from the Mont Treblant version?

WL: “For Whistler, the event is actually at the peak! We will truck the sand [for the beach courts] to the top, that’s a feat in itself! Also, we will have two bands playing, and it will happen all day this time… In Treblant, the event happened only at the base.”

MMV: What’s going on to achieve the snow theme? What kind of snow activities are offered, and how is there still snow on the mountain??!

WL: “The Whistler Operations team is managing that for us completely! They will get the snow from the glacier, bring it down, lay it out for us, and throughout the day they will manage the snow for us! Snow activities will include a boarding park, with rails and jumps, and there will also be a tricks competition, which two Olympians will help judge. They will also be running workshops!” (Ski and snowboard rentals will be available at the event).

For latest event updates, check out Chill on the Hill’s Facebook Page.

Do you like live music, on-the-house virgin caipirinhas, lessons with Olympic athletes, beach volleyball, meet-and-greets with popular bands, half-pipe shows, live music, sun, snow, or beautiful Whistler, B.C.? Oh ya- and what about, when it’s all free?

There is not a single person who would have difficulty finding something to enjoy at the West-Coast edition of NESTEA Chill on the Hill this Saturday. The event, happening from 10am-4pm on the peak of Whistler Blackcomb, is sure to provide something for everyone: for the active enthusiasts, beach volleyball games, free snowboard tricks workshops led by Olympic snowboarders, and the chance to join or watch a snowboard competition will entice you to the peak. For those who prefer being pampered, NESTEA will have a tea & WIFI lounge serving non-stop mocktails, as well as beach chairs for relaxation. Meanwhile, everyone can delight in House dj’s as well as a free concert, featuring The Stills and Protest the Hero, and a meet-and-greet with both the bands and the athletes. The event is open to public of all ages, and because of the enormous complexity in delivering a snow and beach party, it will only be hitting the West Coast for one jam-packed fiesta.

What’s the Order of Events?

Beach volleyball: 10am-4pm
SnowPark & Skills workshops: 10am-4pm
InteractiviTEA lounge (WIFI-enabled, with NESTEA mocktails): 10am-4pm
Olympic athletes meet and greet: 11-11:30am, Tent
Protest the Hero live: 12-12:45pm, mainstage
Protest the Hero meet and greet: 1-1:30pm
Tricks competition- ski and snowboard: 1:30-2:30pm, SnowPark
The Stills meet and greet: 2-2:30pm
The Stills live: 3-4pm, mainstage
DJ, with house music: throughout event.

Which athletes will be involved?

Canadian Olympian Justin Lamoureux (Halfpipe), and American Olympian Seth Wescott (Snowboard Cross)

How do participants get to the peak?

It’s about a twenty-minute ride up the mountain [on the new Peak-to-Peak gondola]” (*See NESTEA’s Chill on the Hill Facebook page for a $5-off gondola ticket coupon).

What should MMV readers wear?
According to NESTEA’s Wallace Leung:

Definitely, first and foremost, if you are skiing and snowboarding, you will have to wear a helmet, but whether t-shirt or snow pants, that’s completely up to you… If you’re a superstar [and don’t wear snow gear]… I’m thinking of myself, I might fall down and get wet! But it’s up to you! Keep in mind that sometimes you may be hitting the snow side, and sometimes the sand side!

What kinds of food will be available?
Vendors at the peak, and participants are also welcome to bring their own picnic.

For latest event updates, check out Chill on the Hill’s Facebook Page

See you this Saturday!

Vancouverites! I believe common sense dictates that anything worth doing is done better in costume  – especially if what you are doing is for charity. Everyone has that inner mascot just waiting to come out, it’s time to face it and embrace it.

So….take this wisdom and run with it at the Chip’s Not Dead Yet charity race on June 20, 2009, with all proceeds going towards the BC Children’s Hospital foundation. When you register for the race, not only do you have the opportunity to race up and down W. 10th avenue dressed up in costume, but you also gain access to the largest summer street party Vancouver has to offer – we’re talking live entertainment on the Georgia Straight entertainment stage, a beer garden sponsored by Russell Beer and an expected 5000 excited people attending. Oh, and did I mention there were prizes?

This is what you’ll be racing for:

• Bridal Dash = 2 tickets anywhere West Jet flies
• High Heel Dash = $1,500 Gift Card to spend at Pacific Centre (!!)
• Underwear Dash = A backyard summer BBQ catered by Russell Beer and Memphis Blues BBQ.
• Super Hero Half Mile(ish) Dash = A trip along the Inside Passage on the new Northern Expedition presented by BC Ferries.
• Timed Wave Race = 2 people will each win 6 months of yoga each, a mat and a water bottle courtesy of Semperviva Yoga
• Canucks Fan Parade = a Vancouver Canucks forward Taylor Pyatt signed stick and a Mattius Ohlund signed Jersey.
• Rock Star Wave = 2 tickets to the upcoming Aerosmith concert and a signed Aerosmith drumhead.
• Elite Race = $20,000

Other waves you can sign up for are the couch potato wave, the Pooch Parade, the uniform dash and high school elite dash. Read more here. Those are the things you’ll be racing to win, but every registered participant will walk away with a Lululemon Tech top valued at more than the cost of registration! So grab a couple friends, brainstorm costumes over a couple beers and make sure to  register!

Here are the specs:

Where? W. 10th Ave between Blanca and Alma
When? June 20th, 2009
How much? $35 for individuals // group of 10+, registration is only $30 per person.
Why?

1. For the kids! 200% of proceeds are going towards the BC Children’s Hospital. And no, my finger didn’t just slip from the ‘1′ to the ‘2′ accidentally. 200% of proceeds will go towards this children’s charity because Chip Wilson, founder of Lululemon, has agreed to match every dollar donated up to $150,000.
2. You get to dress up in costume! And run around! Like a kid!
3. You get access to the summers biggest street party! Enjoy live entertainment and a beer garden with 5000 other Vancouverites!

Hope to see you there!

By Alicia Woodside, MMV Fitness Writer

Modern Mix Vancouver hit Bike The Blossoms 2009, as the preferred way to spend a sunny Saturday after a morning of exams. This event, organized by the 2009 Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival and Slow Food Vancouver, offered bikers of all kinds a flower-laden bike route through the city, and many interesting stops along the way. Some of the unique events included an invitation to sample cherry blossom tea at Steep’s Tea, an out of the ordinary cow-milking presentation at Kits Community Centre, and tours through the inspiring urban farming demonstration at City Farmer Urban Agricultural Centre (2150 Maple Street).

MMV’s Top 6 of the Day:

1.    The worm compost at City Farmer! This was gross, but fun to peer below the lid and see what kinds of insects lay beneath! A great activity to engage in on Earth Day!

2.    The Poultry in Motion Educational Display at Kits Community Centre: This exhibit was a mobile display of the chicken-raising process, showing an exact replica of Fraser Valley chicken farms. The best part, was that the display had live chickens inside, including chickadees! (A childhood obsession)

3.    The cherry-apple scones and outdoor patio at Union Market… A relaxing, quaint place to visit for a yummy snack and to kick back. The baking samples were so good, that we needed to leave with some of Union Market’s whole-wheat raisin bread. I can attest that this is also a must-try, being both healthy and sweet!

4.    Newfound love for the bike lanes on seventh and eighth avenues, which allowed us to avoid the disapproving looks garnered on West Broadway sidewalks!

5.    Complimentary bike valet: At all three major stop points along the route, the event organizers created a very thoughtful bike valet service for all participants. This was a very nice touch to the event, especially for those of us who have been the victims of bike theft on multiple occasions in the city!

6.    Best of all, the people. The event was a great opportunity to interact with some friendly and fun people in the community, who were also glad to get outside, engage in a bit of relaxed exercise, and learn about the intricacies of the food we eat.

MMV will be sure to attend next year’s event, for another great day spent exploring the great people and places in our city.

Here in Vancouver, we all have something very special to share, which is living in the city designated “the most liveable in the world”. It’s easy to see why just by heading outside, and encountering a sparkling ocean against breath-taking West Coast mountains. Sometimes it’s easy to take our beautiful environment, and the lifestyle it provides for granted. At this year’s Bike the Blossoms event, take the moment to rejoice and celebrate our city’s natural beauty.

The event, organized by the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival in partnership with Slow Food Vancouver, welcomes everyone to slow down for a day to have fun and re-connect with our city’s beautiful outdoors. The day offers a well-planned bike route that will lead bikers through the most spectacular cherry blossom sights around town. There is also a special highlight on local farmers and eateries, aimed to promote the Slow Food movement. This year, many Fraser Valley farmers will take part in the event at Kitsilano and Britannia Community Centres, so that participants can stop by and get to know the people who actually produce their food. The farmers will be offering delicious tastings, as well as discussing the rarely explored topic of how the food we ingest is produced. Last year, some of the great public talks included a presentation by top beef producer Bob Hopcott, who taught about raising beef without hormones or additives for ultra-tenderness. Local eateries along the route will put their mark on the event with special menu items that incorporate local, fresh, or organic ingredients from Bosa Fine Foods. This year, many cafés and eateries along the Drive are highlighted. Stop by for a unique bite along the way, such as a sample of cherry blossom tea at Steeps Tea, (895 West Broadway) a cherry scone at Union Market, (754-756 Union Street) or Spelt Breakfast Cookie samples at The Spelt Bakery (2141 East Hastings). These are just a few of the foods to be savoured!

The Down-Low Before You Show:

• Don’t like hills? Start the bike route wherever you want, but if you’re looking to avoid hills, make sure to travel heading North between Van Dusen Gardens and Kits Community Center.
• Don’t like biking? That’s okay too! The event is a rare occasion to get to meet the people who produce your food, interact with the community, and visit some of the amazing restaurants in the area! This year, Slow Food has gathered some great eateries along the Drive to showcase, some of which will have special “Slow Tastes” to make the event truly special!

Support the Cause: The organizers at Slow Food Vancouver have brought together some great aspects to the event, including the delicious tastings along the way! To compensate, the organizers hope that all participants will support the program by officially registering at brownpapertickets. This will involve a $7 fee that will go to support the program! The official map will also be provided upon registration.

• Bring a bag, or strap some panniers to carry any purchases along the way! Local farmers may have some tasty products for you to purchase.

The event promises to be a great way to admire our beautiful surroundings and enjoy some unique food and learning amongst the great people who make up our vibrant community. For more information, and to check out full listings of the participating eateries and community centres, check out the official Bike the Blossoms website.

By Alicia Woodside, MMV Fitness Writer

Qoola Frozen Yogurt + Fruit (1116 Denman Street) offers the great taste and atmosphere of a regular dessert destination, with the added bonus of being excellent for your health. The store offers Vancouver’s only fresh frozen yogurt, as well as organic whole grain waffles with free-range eggs, fresh crepes, daily-prepared fruit, smoothies, and popular acai berry bowls. Qoola tops traditional ice cream and dessert outlets, not only because of its deliciousness, but also due to its 135-calorie serving size of their small Qoolala (6 oz), loaded with active bacterial cultures which aid in reducing the effects of lactose intolerance, boosts the immune system, and increases brain stimulation.

Qoola is the only frozen yogurt destination in Vancouver that provides fresh frozen yogurt, which contains up to an estimated 100 to 400 times the quantities of probiotic cultures per gram than competing frozen yogurt providers. The yogurt itself comes in four flavours: original, chocolate, green tea (made with real matcha), and a feature flavour. To add to your fresh frozen yogurt, choose from a huge array of fun toppings, including fresh-cut, daily-prepared fruit and crunchy spoonfuls of your favourite childhood cereal.

Overwhelmed by the many options? Qoola even suggests featured creations, such as the Qoolbama, a yogurt inspired by President Barack Obama, in red, white, and blue. If you choose one of Qoola’s smoothies, add some hemp seed powder as protein, or “Greens Plus”, a plentiful mixture packed with more nutrients than you could imagine. After enjoying one of Qoola’s homemade waffles, prepared with organic whole grains, barley, whey, oats, and free-range eggs, I felt satisfied and well-nourished.

Photo by Julia Buczek

Beyond the food, what struck me most about this new business is the store’s sincere purpose and devotion to its customers. Managing Director Warrick Chu, a Vancouver native, explains, “I want customers to know what [foods] you are putting into your body”. In an age when even McDonalds claims it is part of a balanced lifestyle (as a sponsor for the 2009 BMO Vancouver Marathon), it is great to see a company that truly acts on its stated purpose. To deliver on its mission to provide a healthy dessert alternative, Qoola refuses to cut costs in ingredients, and provides only fresh materials, which certainly come at the expense of profits.

For example, Warrick explains that the store incurs extra costs to ensure that all fruit is fresh, (except for the acai berries, which retain the most nutritive value in a frozen form). The company has a ninety-seven page nutrition document for employees to reference, and insists on serving fresh frozen yogurt only, despite the huge challenges this poses to the business. Warrick hopes the store becomes not only about quality food, but about astounding customer service. He hopes that his staff can truly get to know customers, and provide unconditional service, such as always giving the customer the extra smoothie that doesn’t fit into the cup, or offering customers filtered water free of charge.

Not only is the store dedicated to customers’ well being, it is also serious about its role in the community and its impacts to the environment. Despite the added costs, all of Qoola’s packaging is biodegradable, compostable or recyclable, T5 fluorescent lighting is used to conserve energy on menu boards and displays, and the company has a Green Table membership,  which means it is collaborating with other restaurant professionals to reduce environmental impacts. The store even composts leftover organic waste with the help of a family friend and hopes to coordinate a way for leftover food to feed hungry mouths. At Qoola’s recent grand opening party, an offer for free yogurt in exchange for non-perishable food donations raised an impressive 138 pounds of aid for the food bank.

If this sounds like a place you want to hang out, the store is a great choice for an afternoon break, a study spot (boasting free Wi-Fi), a delicious stop during a stroll along the Seawall, or a friendly get together at any time of day. It is well equipped for a lounge-like atmosphere in the evening, as the store’s spotlights fade into the night. Head in to check it out Monday through Thursday from 1pm to 10:30pm, Friday 1pm to midnight, Saturday 11am to midnight, or on Sunday from 11am to 10:30pm. Despite these stated hours, owner Warrick Chu says, “we will never close our doors on a customer!”

Photo by Julia Buczek

So next time you’re strolling along English Bay and heading for a treat at one of Denman’s many food outlets, skip the Starbucks’ dessert-in-disguise beverages, the luring Cupcake store, and that seductive, sweet-smelling Italian bakery. Instead, head into Qoola. This frozen yogurt destination will leave you with your sweet tooth satisfied, but also with a snack that has added nutritive value for your body. Finally: a conveyor of sweet treats and desserts that are good for you and true to their slogan of “Pure Heart + Pure Body”!