MONTECRISTO Monday – Skoah Skincare Training

Blogger-cum-MONTECRISTO magazine assistant editor, Craig David Long, has become somewhat of a local expert on the way Vancouverites identify themselves through fashion and style. In a world that places high value on surface appearances, he believes that, like our clothing, our skin, albeit reluctantly, also often stands in to say something about who we are and how we feel. For the upcoming spring issue of MONTECRISTO, Long sits down with Chris and Andrea Scott of Skoah to see how they address their clients’ innermost, or shall we say outermost, inhibitions.

In the lounge of their Yaletown spa, Andrea chimes in, “What prompted us to start Skoah, was how uncomfortable we both felt at spas that didn’t ask us questions about our skin, or explain what products they were using, and why, before they lathered us up.”

MONTECRISTO magazine is a regional lifestyle quarterly created for the discerning, cultured Vancouverite, and is designed with the highest standard of quality in mind. The spring issue of MONTECRISTO is available today at Chapters/Indigo stores across Greater Vancouver. www.montecristomagazine.com

MMV One Year Anniversary & Reader Appreciation Party (Tuesday May 12, 2009)

You are invited to…..Modern Mix Vancouver’s One-Year Anniversary & Reader Appreciation Party on Tuesday May 12, 2009 from 6:30pm to 9:00pm at Suki’s Salon on Granville & West 15th. Think two floors – floor to ceiling windows and bright lights. Appetizers by CRU, desserts by Ganache and fresh frozen yogurt from Qoola. Would love to meet my readers in person! DJ Peter Ottis playing chill house tracks. Please RSVP to info@modernmixvancouver.com. First 100 respondents will be gifted with a goodie bag with $50+ of swag from our lovely local sponsors. Feel free to share the invitation with your friends and come celebrate!

Facebook Event: HERE
MMV Event Page: HERE

Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards 2009 – CRU wins Gold!

Modern Mix Vancouver would like to express its congratulations to CRU Restaurant (1459 West Broadway), for winning Gold in the the 2009 Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Awards “Small Plates” category! “They’ve got the most inventive small plates in the city,” said one judge. “Sleek, sexy, and sophisticated.” Try the duck confit robed in bacon if you need convincing.
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CRU will be the exclusive canape/appetizer sponsor at Modern Mix Vancouver’s one-year anniversary party, on Tuesday May 12th (6:30pm to 9pm). Save the date! Facebook event is HERE, more details and official invitation to come soon.

Celebrate Life in The City: Bike the Blossoms 2009 (April 18)

By Alicia Woodside, MMV Fitness Writer
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.
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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!
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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.

MONTECRISTO Monday – Chambar’s Antique Doors

Last week, MONTECRISTO magazine announced that Voya Restaurant’s mixologist and head bartender, Jay Jones, would be joining its contributing team. Jay is in good company, with Karri Schuermans, proprietor of Chambar Belgian Restaurant, also writing a piece. Chambar recently acquired a unit adjacent to their restaurant, and have undergone a few renovations to transform the space into an elegant private dining room. While guests will surely notice the grand antique Egyptian doors that lead them into the room, only Schuermans can appreciate the joy and frustration of getting them there—until now, that is. Schuermans shares the story of how she acquired these beautiful doors, in MONTECRISTO’s upcoming spring issue.

They came from a man named Harry Stryer, who has an antique warehouse tucked away on Franklin Street. Harry travels all over the world, and is often hard to track down, but when he finally returns to Vancouver, he always brings back with him something unique.

MONTECRISTO magazine is a regional lifestyle quarterly created for the discerning, cultured Vancouverite, and is designed with the highest standard of quality in mind. The upcoming spring issue of MONTECRISTO will be available at Chapters/Indigo stores across Greater Vancouver, as of April 20th. www.montecristomagazine.com

MAVI – Warehouse Sale (April 10th to 13th)

The Mavi Easter Weekend sample sale is happening at the Mavi Store in Gastown (355 Water Street) this long weekend – starting today! Open from 10am to 6pm, stop by for some great deals – including jeans for $38! All items bought are a final sale but they will be taking cash, Debit, Visa, MC and Amex at the store. It’s been a while since I’ve been to a Mavi Warehouse sale – but I remember I would do my annual jean shopping there 😉 It’s a really good deal…