Welcome to the latest series of Super, Neighbours blog posts where we highlight incredible travel destinations in British Columbia! Recently the folks at Tourism Harrison Hot Springs had us out for a weekend to experience some of what this fantastic destination has to offer in the winter. Until this trip the only time I had spent in Harrison Village was in the car passing through on our way to Sasquatch Provincial Park to do some camping, so I didn’t really have much of a grasp on what was in store for us aside from the obvious: the hot springs, which were originally revered as “the healing place” by the Coast Salish peoples. We’re going to park at the foot of Harrison Lake and bring you inside the Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa, we’ll take you to a bunch of great places to eat as well as some unexpectedly incredible experiences outside. It’s not that we didn’t have high expectations for the place but this trip far exceeded what we had anticipated. We’re new (big) fans of Harrison, to be certain.

So first things first: Did you know that Harrison Hot Springs is only a 90 minute drive from Vancouver? Just outside of Chilliwack you exit off Highway 1 and make your way down a very rural two lane route peppered with romantic old farms and plenty of greenery. There’s a few folks who make their living growing hazelnuts in the region and you just might want to stop along the way and buy them direct.

I’m probably not alone in having a “thing” for old barns and silos like this one pictured below. The property that it’s on is currently for sale, priced at $899,999, and it’s got a couple of old buildings on it as well as this gem. I fear it will likely be dismantled once the parcel finds a new owner so, for now, behold this beautiful ghost of rural route past!

And just like that, we’re …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

VANCOUVER DAZE showcases and highlights the lifestyle and cultural scene of our beautiful city, uncovering all the interesting things, misadventures, and shenanigans beyond social functions and local happenings. We fiercely promote all the fun times, food, culture, and entertainment the city has to offer along with the creative minds behind them. Follow more of my work/coverage over at RICKCHUNG.COM and on Twitter at @RICKCHUNG. You can pitch me HERE.

Volume 54: The Social Feed long table communal dinner for Dine Out Vancouver 2012 at Save On Meats butcher shop in Gastown on January 27, 2012. Hashtag: #DineOutFeed. More photos available on Flickr.

Apparently, due to my first article on The Social Feed’s delicious dinner at Nelson the Seagull, Dine Out approached them to do a special pop up dinner at Save on Meats butcher next door to its diner.

The idea of the night was food served in a social fashion as the food was prepared. We dined on the special pop-up “Noise-to-Tail” menu.
…READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Every day we share a single photo from our Flickr Pool shot by one of our faithful and talented readers (that’s you!)

Wow! What an awesome Daily Flickr Pickr photo from Kenneth Rowley today. Awesome colors and composition. Has a very “summery” feel to it even though it says it was taken on December 12, 2011. The reds and blues are fantastic! It looks like it could have been taken down at Granville Island or maybe out in Steveston perhaps…? Just awesome.

Enoy Canon G11 & Snapspeed by Kenneth Rowley

John

I recently read a theory that going for 50 coffees with people you’ve never met is the entrepreneurs equivalent to the theory that doing anything for 10,000 hours will make you an expert on it. While I get the idea, 50 coffees is far easier than practicing something for ten years, and while I’m far from lazy I’ve decided to set out on a fairly simple mission: over the next 50 weeks I’m going to invite 50 interesting Vancouverites, most of whom I have never met before, to go for coffee. I’m going to use this as an exercise in networking for myself and for V.I.A. while also using it as a platform to introduce you to some people who are doing really cool stuff in the city you live in. COFFEE #23 Name: Michael Tippett Occupation: Entrepreneur Beverage: Dark roast + Orangina

Meet Michael Tippett. Two-time Emmy nominee, co-founder of NowPublic, outgoing executive director of Growlab and the founder of Vancouver’s newest startup, Ayoudo, which just launched today! I must apologize for, again, bringing you to coffee with somebody who was not a stranger to me before we met up to chat over java but I can’t think of a better way to introduce you to Michael and I’m really excited about this thing that just launched today.

We met at the Everything Cafe where he gave me the scoop on what Ayoudo does, how it’s pronounced (a-YOO-doh) and where it’s headed. Essentially it’s a web site and a free iPhone app that you can use to put the word out about anything you need done, and people answer the call. Or the other way around: you’re good at something/available and you find ways to help other people by applying for the jobs they’ve posted. Very cool, very simple and self-explanatory and, again, I’m very excited to see where this Vancouver-born company is heading. I’m also about to use this app to try and find somebody to make some curtains for my travel trailer, so if you’ll excuse me…

Learn more about Ayoudo HERE or just search “Ayoudo” in the Itunes App Store and find somebody to do that whatever-it-is for you today!

Vancouver is home to a thriving fashion industry made up of individuals committed to its growth and success. Get to know these personalities in The Inseam and discover what makes the Vancouver Fashion scene so awesome.

Photo: courtesy Sarah La Greca

Gypsy Market is not typical vintage offering. In fact, the collection is reminiscent of current high fashion looks,consisting of modern silhouettes, quality fabrics and unique details. When shopping vintage often poses as an overwhelming pursuit, Gypsy Market presents a unique and cohesive line of carefully edited looks.

I chat with owner Sarah La Greca and her partner in crime, Sara Gourlay, to discuss Gypsy Market, the science of vintage shopping and what’s next.

Valerie Tiu: Can you tell us a bit about your concept for Gypsy Market? How did you come up with this idea?

Sarah La Greca: Gypsy Market is a curated vintage collection. I handpick and put together collections of modern, wearable, more high fashion vintage pieces, rather than your typical “vintage-y” type looks. It’s not retro. My signature …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Wow! Our friends over at Arc’teryx have gone and done something super awesome:

In the third year of their Birds Nest Project, an army of their employees volunteered to construct 700 of these wind/waterproof capes for the homeless and impoverished in the Lower Mainland.

HERE is a link with all of the info.

Photos courtesy Arc’teryx

Stay tuned for more Random Acts!

A Vancouver time travelogue brought to you by Past Tense.

The 1950s was a decade of moral panics. In this case it was over children being exposed to horror comic books. The Jaycee Youth Leadership collected 8000 comics and organized a book burning on Prior Street. The authors of Vancouver Noir write that “no significant improvement in juvenile behaviour was observed” following the event.

Source: Vancouver Herald, via Vancouver Noir: 1930-1960 by Diane Purvey & John Belshaw (Anvil Press, 2011)