When it comes to “concept dining”, my favourite way of eating food is definitely tapas style. Located in Blood Alley in Gastown, adjacent to Salt Tasting Room, Judas Goat Taberna is a 28-seat tapas bar which serves small plates influenced by Spain, Italy and France. Despite the foreign food pairings, the environment of Judas Goat reminds of me a family grocery store. A viewable food preparation station and high countertops close enough to make small talk with the patrons sitting beside you. Square yellow stools huddle around small tables.

Similar to its sister restaurant, The Salt Tasting Room, Judas Goat combines a variety of flavours and textures and teases the pallet with its small portions. I love the option of nibbling on a variety of food and sharing dishes. Between the two of us, we ordered 7 items, which included two “hot” dishes, two “pressed, potted, or cured” dishes and a salad. Agreeing with everyone I have spoken with, what you pay for the portions is not really worth the price; but then again, “concept dining” is about the experience of “trying something new”, right??

Adhesif Clothing is excited to announce the grand opening of its first store! Stop by 2202 Main Street (crossroad: East 6th Avenue) on Saturday, May 29^th between 6 to 11pm to enjoy some homemade nibbles, drinks, music, art by Anthony Wilson and “entertainment by a surprise guest”. With 20% off all Adhesif designs, this would be a great time to browse through “one of a kind” clothing pieces. See invitation details below.

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Exploring Purple is a fresh and fiery take on an old debate – what are the different roles between men and women in the workplace. Are the stereotypes, obstacles and conventions that attribute to gaps in wages, promotions and job security still relevant in our modern work environment? Has equality in the workplace arrived or is it just a myth? Where do we go from here? Young Women in Business, a group of emerging female leaders in Vancouver, want to find out. On May 14 they will be hosting a panel discussing women in business.
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“Women make less because they’ll work for less,” said Ghost Ceo founder Chris Flett at the provocative All-Male Panel discussion at YWiB’s Beyond Pink conference in November. He will join some of Vancouver’s savviest and successful men and women including:
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· Bob Elton, BC Hydro
· Ken Sim, Nurse Next Door
· Tamara Vrooman, Vancity
· Cybele Negris, Webnames.ca
· Anne Giardini, Weyerhaeuser
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The teams of men and women will go head to head in this exclusive panel talk, moderated by Blo Blow Dry Bar Founder, Judy Brooks. This is Exploring Purple, where pink meets blue. The first of its kind, Exploring Purple creates a space to have an honest and collective dialogue involving generations of Vancouver’s business community. This honest and raw panel conversation hopes to empower young women and men to celebrate equality in business. This once in a lifetime experience promises to be provocative, energizing and compelling.
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When: May 14th, 2010
Where: UBC Robson Square
Time: 1 – 3:30 PM
Tickets: Get ‘em while they’re hot at www.ywib.ca

Last week I was walking through Gastown and came across the furniture and design store “nood” (new objects of desire). I loved the trendy but practical items available at the store and its focus on modern, contemporary design. From clocks with magnetic moveable numbers, to funky picture frames, to espresso cups with silicon angel wings, many of their household products look like they came straight out of The Cool Hunter!

Nood encompasses a range of fun and well designed products that permeate style, accessibility and affordability. Nood offers furniture, ceramics, gifts & gadgets, luggage, home textiles, and so much more! The eclectic product categories create retail environments that have an element of discovery for customers. With an emphasis on quiet style, simple functional design and good use of color, the products and merchandising work to increase the sensory experience of nood. While nood aims to satisfy the style requirements of discerning customers looking to surround themselves in little luxuries, the product nood offers will suit all customers. Giving a new level of accessibility and affordability to well designed beautiful lifestyle and homeware products.

Despite Nood’s level of trendiness, I would say that their price points are reasonable and affordable, unlike many of the furniture and design shops in the surrounding Gastown area. Shop soon, because Nood is in the midst of their spring sale with items between 20% and 50% off!

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Please join L2 Leone (350 Howe Street) on Sunday, April 11th for a live appearance and meet & greet with will.i.am of the Grammy award winning Black Eyed Peas! L2 is thrilled to launch i.am clothing, will.i.am’s Spring/Summer 2010 signature line for men. Inspired by music, art, fashion and individuality, the i.am clothing collection is contemporary in design and embodies a lifestyle. L2 has always been a front-runner on what is new, edgy and unique in fashion and bringing Montreal produced i.am to L2 is a natural and exciting fit!
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The superstar will be in-store from 1-2pm and the first 200 fans will receive a free gift! There is also an awesome gift with purchase and a contest available only to those who come to the store on Sunday! Entrance is first come first serve so arrive early if you want to meet will.i.am! Entertainment Tonight Canada will also be live, filming.

The date has been set for the third annual Nifty for Fifty shopping extravaganza – April 17 and 18, 2010. Targeting “style-savvy and frugal fashionistas”, over 10 local designers are ready to part with their much-loved designs and vintage finds for $50 or less. To make things even more exciting, this year Nifty for Fifty will be happening at Five-Sixty, a new space on 560 Seymour that has been serving as a gallery for the Cultural Olympiad. Local fashion favourites include: Adhesif Clothing, Planet Claire, Clutch Designs, Kulus Designs, cream puff by gg, Carny Love, Dahlia Drive, Flaming Angels, Dotted Loop, and Catalyst Reaction.
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Saturday, April 17th: 11am-6pm | Sunday, April 18th: 12-5pm | Free Admission
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Dine Out Vancouver is back! Typically in February, this year, Dine Out Vancouver has been postponed to April 26 to May 6. The list of participating restaurants will be released on Monday April 19. Restaurants will begin accepting reservations at that time. Stay tuned!

The Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s premier wine show, runs from April 19 to 25, 2010. The Playhouse Wine Festival is one of the biggest and oldest wine festival events in the world. The featured theme regions for 2010 will be Argentina and New Zealand with the global focus of rosé. The festival features a week of special events including a gala auction, wine seminars, wine minglers, winery dinners, lunches and brunches at fine restaurants and hotels. To purchase tickets online, click here.

Forsya Boutique (2206 Main Street) is turning one, and what better way to celebrate the success of the Main Street boutique than with a party and fashion show, launching the first season of the new in-house label, Forsya by Julie Hebb. Sip spiked punch and try the adorable cupcakes in dreamy colours like lemon, sky, and lavender, mimicking the new in-house collection. So stop by Forsya Boutique, located at 2206 Main Street (at 6th Avenue), on April 9 to partake in the festivities and receive 20% off all merchandise.
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It’s that time again! The Aritzia Warehouse Sale, my favourite discount event of the year, will be happening between April 1st and April 5th at 611 Alexander Street. New merchandise will be added daily.