A BITE OF HISTORY AT DOMINION SQUARE TAVERN

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Enter the Dominion Square Tavern, smack bang downtown, and you’ll think you’ve stepped through the gates of time…

From the crests on the wall to the honey-coloured wood tables to the apricot leather banquettes and distressed mirrors behind the full-length bar, the hopping Dominion Square Tavern is something out of a 1920s movie. The waiters’ tuxedo shirts and carefully carved facial hair adds to the impression, but most important, of course, is the food.

Following the worldwide trend for classic tipples, the cocktail list – the natural place to start any meal here – features a frothy gin fizz, a biting sazerac and a refreshing mint julep. The mixing is judicious here, in fact, near perfect – never too sweet or sour, generously strong but always delectably subtle.

Points of departure from the British tradition (the cocktail was invented in London, after all) are their own in-house inventions, such as the Canuck – a treacly treat involving rye, angostura bitters, lemon juice and maple syrup – and the Orange Julep, which is basically the drinkable equivalent of a spiked creamsicle. In other words: heaven on earth.

Appetizers keep the British vibe going with offerings that include a scotch egg: a whole 3-minute egg encased in homemade sausage meat, then battered and deep-fried. It comes served on a housemade mayo as light and fluffy as cumulus nimbus and a spinach and watercress salad that adds a welcome note of tartness. The marrowbone, another favourite app, comes not sliced in the regular rounds, but cut lengthwise, providing an insanely generous serving of fatty marrow to spread on rye toast triangles. Beware, this may be more than the average appetite can handle. A more conservative choice might be the tomato salad, served with lardons and a dollop of cottage cheese. One bite and my initial aversion to the diet-staple dissipated into thin air.

Mains are meaty and homey: the homemade bangers and mash are a comfort-food staple, particularly because the mashed potatoes are laced with cheddar cheese. The braised beef is so tender you could eat it with a spoon. The mussels braised in cider and bacon are famous for a reason, but the beet salad is to be avoided – there’s something confusing about the myriad flavours and textures of the endive, beets, goat cheese and ranch dressing. Too much of a good thing. A great choice for those looking to focus on the drinking more than the eating here are the ploughman’s platters, generous platefuls of terrines, pickled veggies, cheeses and deviled eggs perfect for sharing. There’s a fish one and a meat one – and of course all of the charcuterie is made on the spot.

If you can’t fit in a dessert you owe it to yourself to take one to go – their doogie-bag packaging is so cute it’s worth it just for that. Maybe the nutmeg doughnuts tempt you? They come with a dollop of sour cream. Or the 75% cocoa chocolate mousse, which is decadence in a dish, or the pub classic of all classics: sticky toffee pudding, with a side of homemade coffee ice cream. Who knew the good old days tasted so great?

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THE DETAILS

Dominion Square Tavern, 1243 Metcalf, (514) 564-5056

Isa Tousignant is contributing editor for Canadian Art, Montreal correspondent for Akimbo, and a freelance writer on art, culture, travel, design and shoes for everyone from enRoute to Canadian Business to herself.

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Photo credit: jvde | Flickr

Planning a staycation for this Victoria Day Long Weekend?  Don’t worry – You can still get out of the city, soak up B.C.’s natural splendours and be home in time for dinner.

Here are five long weekend daytrip ideas.  All of these options are within a 90-minute drive of downtown Vancouver and emphasize the great outdoors.  Got more ideas?  Please comment below.

• Whytecliff Park: This 15-hectare waterfront park in Horseshoe Bay is only 30-45 minutes from the concrete jungles of downtown Vancouver.  It features a small, sandy beach, cliffs plunging dramatically to the brisk waters of Howe Sound and even a little island you can swim to that sits just offshore.  For families, there’s a large grassy picnic area with changing rooms.

• Golden Ears Provincial Park: For a glimpse of B.C.’s rugged backcountry, head to Golden Ears, which is about 90 minutes from Vancouver just outside of Maple Ridge.  Take a dip in the crystalline waters of Alouette Lake or opt for adventure on the network of trails that wind along rivers, waterfalls and high into the alpine country.

Photo credit: Frosty_White_Raven | Flickr

• Reifel Bird Sanctuary:  It’s amazing how many lifelong Vancouverites have never been to this 850-acre wildlife preserve in Delta, about one hour outside of Vancouver.  Trails weave through ponds and marshes and converge on the scenic Fraser River Delta.  Along the way you’ll see dozens (if not hundreds) of native and migrating bird species.  And you can buy birdseed at the gate for just $1.

• Buntzen Lake:  This 4.8-kilometer-long B.C. Hydro reservoir high above Port Moody feels like a hidden getaway but is only an hour outside of Vancouver.  It’s especially popular among families who picnic along the grassy shore and kids who swim in the calm water.  Nice hiking trails rim the thickly forested lake and climb into the surrounding mountains.

• Deep Cove:  The closest thing Vancouver has to a cottage community, Deep Cove is an idyllic little town nestled along Indian Arm, a glacial fjord that extends north from Burrard Inlet, about 45 minutes from downtown Vancouver.  Popular activities kayaking in the usually calm waters of Indian Arm, relaxing at waterfront parks or hiking along trails that climb into the mountains outside of town.

Got more Long Weekend  daytrip ideas?  Please let us know. 

Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/05/16/back-to-nature-top-5-victoria-day-long-weekend-daytrips-from-vancouver/

IN-ROOM PAMPERING FROM MONTREAL’S MOBILE SPA

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Jetlag or business travel got the better of you? Have you shopped and/or dropped? If you’re in dire need of a massage and there’s no spa at your hotel, no worries. Here comes Appia Nomadic Spa Community to the rescue…

Stay right where you are because Appia comes to you! The first step is calling your concierge, admitting you need help and, within two hours (9 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week), someone can be knocking at your door. Depending on how out-of whack you are, you can get a full body massage or a treatment for only your hands and feet- the Appia therapists are trained in both relaxing and stimulating massages, including deep tissue, shiatsu and reflexology.

And, yes, despite the fact I live here in beautiful Montreal, I sacrificed an entire afternoon for you, dear reader, all in the name of journalistic research. Appia therapists – you can request male or female – all do body and facial treatments, plus a few beauty services. Company owners Delphine Beauchamp and her partner both came from Cirque du Soleil, so they know a thing or three about offering a total “experience.”

While my personal therapist didn’t do any flying trapeze acts or gymnastics on the ceiling, she did have me drifting on Cloud Nine. The facial was ultra relaxing with no painful extractions. While you enjoy a soothing mask, you can choose either a hand or foot massage.

Besides a pro staff and ultra-convenient accommodations, Appia is also proud to be using Tata Harper products. They’re 100% organic with an uplifting fresh fragrance. FYI: skincare junkies might already know how magazine editors covet this haute beauty brand from Vermont, the Rejuvenating Serum in particular. For body treatments, therapists use exclusive Appia products, which are loaded with local Canadian ingredients.

If you’re thinking what I’m thinking, yes, this is a great idea for couples. You can request two therapists at once – you won’t be the first. Or bring your girlfriends and make it getaway spa party. While you’re at it, why not add on a little mani or pedi? There’ll be no need to sit your digits under those UV lights; you can kick back in bed and watch television while your nails dry. If your hotel room is a stand-up shower only, I recommend the “after” treatment called “Walk in the Woods”, where North American white spruce oils transform your eucalyptus shower into mini-hammam.

I decided, however, to end my facial + back scrub + body massage + foot rub with the “White Lake” milk bath, which contains apple and lavender, and is as comforting and soothing as it sounds. I love it that after the therapist fills your tub, she says “Sayonara”. There are no transactions, everything just gets charged to your room.

Another luxury is the fact that you don’t have to get all dressed up again. You can take your time, allowing your bliss to continue long after your therapist has left – and then just roll right into bed. Now that’s what I call room service.

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THE DETAILS

Appia Nomadic Spa Community, (514) 443-2266

Services are available at these fine hotels

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Running through the fountains atop Queen Elizabeth Park. Photo: Dana Lynch

Summer is coming! If the approaching long May weekend isn’t enough to convince you, then how about these pictures from Queen Elizabeth Park—You know summer is coming when the weather is warm enough for kids to run through Queen E’s dancing fountains!*

My family and I headed to Queen Elizabeth Park for part of Mother’s Day yesterday, and the scene there was just idyllic! Barefoot babies in the fountain, flowers in bloom throughout the free quarry gardens, clear skies making it easy to see all of downtown Vancouver from atop the park (the highest point in the city)—It was one of those days that made me feel lucky to live in Vancouver, one of the most gorgeous cities on earth!

Check out the photos for a peak at early summer at Queen Elizabeth Park:

Quarry Garden in bloom at Queen Elizabeth Park. Photo: Dana Lynch

Queen Elizabeth Park. Photo: Dana Lynch

Winding pathways at Queen Elizabeth Park. Photo: Dana Lynch

A few favourite things to do at Queen Elizabeth Park:

• Stroll through the Quarry Gardens – now in full bloom!
• Grab a bite or a glass of wine at Seasons in the Park Restaurant – one of the Top Vancouver Restaurants with a View
• Visit the tropics—and the birds—at the Bloedel Conservatory
• Play a quick round of golf at the Queen Elizabeth Pitch Putt

*Disclaimer: I don’t know if you’re “officially” allowed to run around in the Queen Elizabeth Park fountains. I’ve put in a call to the Vancouver Park Board and am awaiting clarification of the official policy.

Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/05/14/signs-of-summer-at-queen-elizabeth-park/

THINGS TO DO IN MONTREAL: MAY 11-17

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The Montreal streets are alive with the sights and sounds of spring this week – and on top of that it’s Montreal’s birthday! Whether you’re here for a raucous weekend or a pleasant Mother’s Day, Montreal is in a festive mood, with everything from theatre, dance and circus shows to mind-expanding art and body-grooving live music.

(happy birthday, montreal!) On May 17, the Fête de Montréal celebrates the founding of Montreal 370 years ago (the city doesn’t look a day over 150, really!), with a day-long program of entertainment throughout the Quartier des Spectacles (from Place Émilie-Gamelin to Place des Festivals), featuring 250 artists at 40 venues. The free fun happens in two-hour blocks starting at 7:30 in the morning, again at 11:30 a.m. and in the evening at 4 p.m.

See made-in-Montreal performances from professional musicians, a gospel choir, theatre troupes, dancers, comedians, circus artists, even a large-format live painting session by the RGB collective. In the meantime throughout the week at Quartier des Spectacles, check out the music-making swings along President Kennedy Avenue – yes, hop on and hit musical notes while you swing. Only in Montreal.

(dancing away) Les Grands Ballets Canadiens’ The Little Prince, choreographed by The Netherlands’ Didy Veldman, takes us to a planet of poetry and profundity in to May 12 at Place des Arts. Tangente closes its season with Bancs d’essai internationaux, a series of performances from young artists from around the world, at Monument National, May 11-12. And learn to salsa – or show off your already-honed salsa skills – free of charge with choreographer and live music from, at Bal du Dimanche at Place des Arts, May 13.

(circus burlesque) Yes, two things Montreal knows how to do and do eccentrically: circus and burlesque. On May 11, Cirquatlantique brings ancient Rome – the mystical, lavish one – to Montreal in their action-packed, Montreal-star-studded show Arena, hosted by Plastic Patrik, with hors d’oeuvres, bar service and live music, all fittingly taking place at Bain Mathieu (2915 Ontario Est), a historic public pool in the city’s east end. A circus of its own sort, the 2012 roller derby season continues at Arena Saint Louis (5633 St-Dominique) this Saturday!

(picture shows) There’s still time to catch exhibition Anatomy of a Disappearance at the always-excellent DHC/ART, located in Old Montreal, showcases the brilliant, somewhat eerie, somewhat darkly humorous photography of Taryn Simon, captivating video work by Omer Fast, Philippe Parreno, and José Toirac, and an installation by Teresa Margolles, only to May 13. Dazibao photography gallery, located at the Cinémathèque québécoise screens The Fountain and the Fall by artists Philippe Hamelin Julie Tremble. And the McCord Museum features rare artifacts of Hollywood history – with a Canadian twist – in exhibition Mary Pickford and the Invention of the Movie Star.

(theatre time) Old Montreal’s Centaur Theatre re-launches SideMart Theatrical Grocery’s award-winning show Haunted Hillbilly, about a country musician and a vampire – fun times! Puppets, dark comedy and fairy tales combine in Scapegoat Carnivale’s The Heretics of Bohemia, a dream-like odyssey set on the mythical Bohemian seacoast, playing at the Segal Centre to May 19. Also at the Segal, top-notch Canadian actors star in Bernard Slade’s romantic comedy Same Time Next Year, to May 20. Neil Simon’s comedy Rumors gets a local run ending May 12 at Théâtre Ste-Catherine, while Montreal-made Poutine Masala fuses the tastes of Quebec and Bollywood in the story of a young Quebecois man who falls in love with an Indian woman, at Mainline Theatre, May 16-27.

(digital delights) Montreal’s International Biennale of Digital Art continues at the Musée d’art contemporain with a massive audio-visual installation by Berlin artist Carsten Nicolai, while at the SAT, Ulf Langheinrich’s 360-degree immersive video Hemisphere engulfs our senses to May 26, and theatre project Dieu est un DJ explores how we communicate and spend time together when we’re not on the internet… And beginning on May 17, the Quartier des spectacles hosts Parcours Numérique, a high-tech outdoor urban art experience that turns the facades of eight downtown buildings into projection screens for video art from Herman Kolgen, Vincent Morisset and more Montreal artists with international profiles, to June 3, in collaboration with Mutek and Elektra.

(music in motion) Friday night starts the week out hot with a celebration of 50 hits from the greatest Black Divas in music history, with the powerful vocal stylings of Kim Richardson and Marie-Alice Depestre, at Theatre Corona. Meanwhile, women rock out as La Sera (with Katy Goodman of Vivian Girls) plays Il Motore. Get down to the reggae sound on May 12 at Club Soda at the 20th anniversary of Little Thunder Sound, starring Jamaica’s I-Octane and plenty of other artists and DJs. Dance the night away to the updated club sounds of swing at Speakeasy Electro Swing at La Sala Rossa on May 12. Sitar virtuoso Ustad Shujaat Husain Khan welcomes the public to an evening of Sitar and Sufi Songs on May 13 at Oscar Peterson Hall. Sweden’s We Are Serenades make a joyful sound at La Sala Rossa on May 13, while Musicalizm: The Best of Stevie Wonder brings joy to Cabaret Mile End. Former Fleet Foxes member, J. Tillman goes solo as Father John Misty, with opener Har Mar Superstar, May 15 at Petit Campus. And musical genius/eccentric R Stevie Moore comes to town with Bobby Conn, on May 17 at Il Motore.

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Photo: Cloverdale Rodeo Country Fair

The Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair returns this May long weekend with jam-packed family-friendly entertainment and exciting new events, May 18-21, 2012. The 66th annual Cloverdale Rodeo and 124th Country Fair combines a unique blend of rodeo action, free-with-admission entertainment, live performances and fierce competition.

The World’s top ranked cowboys and cowgirls will be ready to compete for $300,000 in cash prizes in four main events: Saddle Bronc, Bull Riding, Bareback and Ladies Barrel Racing. Additional competitions include Mutton’ Bustin‘, the 35th Annual Bed Race, the Lumberjack Show and new this year, the Cloverdale Cowboy Cook-Off BBQ Competition and World Freestyle Round-Up Skateboarding Competition.

Plus, the 2012 Country Fair promises to be bigger and better than ever. With ongoing performances on the outdoor entertainment stage, an improved Kidz Zone with guest appearances from Dora the Explorer, animal displays, rides and games, and Dinotown there is something for everyone at this year’s event!

Photo: Cloverdale Rodeo Country Fair

And to keep the party going well after sundown, the World Famous Longhorn Saloon will provide daily entertainment with performances by Ken McCoy and more. If you love line dancing, country music and an old-fashioned good time, then this is one party that can’t be missed!

Event: 2012 Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair
Dates: May 18-21, 2012
Location: Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey, B.C.
Tickets: $12 for grounds admission, kids twelve and under are free, rodeo tickets begin at $25. Tickets are available online and at the gate. For more information, please click here.

For a detailed schedule of events, performances, competitors list, and to purchase tickets visit www.CloverdaleRodeo.com.

Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/05/11/the-66th-annual-cloverdale-rodeo-and-country-fair-returns-may-18-21-2012-free-tickets/

SPRING IN MONTREAL

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Spring has sprung in Montreal and we sent our cameraman Guillaume Langlois out to take it all in. From sight-seeing on Mount Royal to biking on Parc Jean-Drapeau, from surfing the Saint-Lawrence to shopping on busy Sainte-Catherine, Montreal has put away the winter coats and is ready revel in spring and look forward to another amazing festival-filled summer.

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One of the most popular annual expos at the Vancouver Convention Centre is the EPIC Vancouver: Sustainable Living Expo, happening this weekend, May 11 – 13.

A smorgasbord of awesomeness for the eco-conscious (that’s practically everyone in Vancouver, right? At least, that’s what we’re aspiring to be….), EPIC Vancouver brings together over 300 exhibitors and features the latest trends in sustainable Fashion, Food, Health, Beauty, Home Garden, Recreation, and Transportation. There are Main Stages with live presentations and demos, a live art walk, and a lot of focus on local, organic and fair trade food, including an “EPICurean Corner” that showcases B.C.’s artisan food makers and a “Whole Foods EPICurean Stage.”

Highlights of the 2012 EPIC Vancouver: Sustainable Living Expo include:

• Shopping at the 300+ earth-friendly retailers
• Mother’s Day pampering, shopping prizes
• KidZone for kids
• Toyota Lexus Hybrid Ride’n Drives
• EPIC Experts “green gurus” on the Main Stage
• Meet the Miss World Canada Contestants
• EPIC Fashion Marketplace
• Eco Wedding Showcase
• Cell Phone Recycling

Tickets to EPIC Vancouver are on sale now; buy them online for a $3 discount (at the door, tickets are $12 per adult, $9 for students and seniors, and free for kids 12 and under.)

Find a complete schedule of EPIC Vancouver: Sustainable Living Expo events at the official site.

Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/05/10/epic-vancouver-sustainable-living-expo-this-weekend-may-11-13-2012/

5 GREAT MAPLE TREATS IN MONTREAL

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The end of maple season approaches as spring swings into full bloom, so if you’ve got a yen for this particularly local flavour, now’s the time to indulge…

Here in Montreal, local bakers and candy-makers have been busy, as they always are, thinking of new ways to feature the maple flavour in all sorts of tasty new avant-garde inventions, as well as some twists on traditional recipes. Here’s our selection of this year’s best…

1) Cake à l’érable from Mamie Clafoutis. From this cherished address, an artisanal bakery on Van Horne street in Outremont, a sweet maple cake baked in a classic maple-syrup tin.

2) Érable chocolates from Chocolats Genevieve Grandbois. This sweet morsel from one of Montreal’s most celebrated chocolatiers, is a threefer  – maple butter, maple sugar and pecans caramelized in maple syrup! Instore, also check out the Brindilles au chocolat (small chocolate branches) sprinkled with maple sugar, and the maple caramel spread.

3) Frozen maple-bacon cake from Les Givrés. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: This is Montreal’s best ice cream. Their maple cake creation is a maple-sugar genoise, maple ice-cream, maple butter, caramelized pecans and a maple meringue, with a special bacon topping. It’s indescribable.

4) Maple Pie from Pain et Saveurs isn’t especially newfangled or crazy, but this classic maple treat from a bakery on the South Shore is well worth the drive over the bridge. Quite simply, it’s the best maple-sugar pie I’ve ever had: Maple, cream, butter and crust – simple, the way it should be.

5) Maple Sugar scrub from Montreal-based cosmetics company Bella Pella, known for their excellent handmade body products, has a sugar scrub for your body that’s good enough to eat, even though it’s not edible. You’ll smell like a maple snack yourself after a few minutes in the shower with this baby, and your skin will be super-soft – and you’ll be left irresistible to sweet-toothed paramours, as well.

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Yes, Mother’s Day is this Sunday, May 13, and Vancouver has lots of options for last-minute gifts, from special deals and events to share with Mom to Vancouver’s best spa treatments, sweets, gifts for new moms and more.

10 Last-Minute Vancouver Mother’s Day Gift Ideas 

1. Take Mom to the Vancouver Art Gallery for free on Sunday, May 13: You pay for your own admission to VAG and Mom gets in free. Current exhibits include Emily Carr and the Theatre of Transcendence and the fantastic Beat Nation: Art, Hip Hop and Aboriginal Culture.

2. Pamper Mom at one of Vancouver’s best spas: 8 Vancouver Spa Treatments to Make You Melt.

3. If spa treatments are out of the budget, take Mom to Whole Foods on Robson on Saturday, May 12, for Whole Foods Market Mother’s Day High Tea Pampering Event, where you can treat her to a massage and mini-makeover for just $20.

4. Indulge her appetite at one the top spots for Mother’s Day Brunch.

5. For moms who love sweets, there are lots of options for Mother’s Day: Thierry will have unique delicacies in-store on May 13, including their famous handmade chocolates, or you can buy beautiful selections from the Best Vancouver Chocolate Shops Chocolatiers.

6. Is the mom in your life brand-new? The Best Vancouver Baby Stores have lots of fabulous fun and practical gifts for new moms.

7. Does your mom love to cook? Give her an award-winning Vancouver restaurant cookbook.

8. Eco-conscious moms—and moms into interior design—will love a ticket to the EPIC: The Sustainable Living Expo, on May 11 – 13 at the Vancouver Convention Centre; tickets are just $12 per person.

9. Afternoon Tea is a great alternative to Mother’s Day Brunch for moms who like to sleep in: Special Afternoon Teas for Mother’s Day 2012.

10. Check out the Vancouver Deal of the Day, a composite site that brings together daily deals for Vancouver from a range of “deal” sites, including Groupon, StealTheDeal.com, and EthicalDeal.com, for special deals leading up to Mother’s Day 2012.

Have more ideas for last-minute Mother’s Day gifts or special Mother’s Day deals in Vancouver? Please share in the comments.

Article source: http://www.insidevancouver.ca/2012/05/08/10-last-minute-mothers-day-gifts-special-deals/