WHAT: Boat Show at Mosquito Creek Marina, North Vancouver
WHERE: 415 West Esplanade, North Vancouver, BC
WHO: All ages – fun for the family and kids
WHY: Destined to become Vancouver’s largest floating boat show
WHEN: September 22-25, 2011, Thursday – Friday: 12 noon – 6 pm, Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm, Sunday 10 am – 4 pm
HOW (MUCH): $12, children under 12 accompanied by an adult are free

Right now, Groupon is offering a special price for the event, essentially a 2-for-1 where $13 buys you two tickets. Click HERE. to purchase the deal now and see you at the show!

To find out more about the event, you can check out their facebook, HERE, click on to their website, HERE, or follow them on twitter, @TheCreekMarina.

The fashion show around the pool featured designs by the Musquem Band’s Debra Sparrow, Vancouver designer, Jacqueline Conoir, and bathing suits by Soak.

Guests included native author Calvin Helin whose “Dances with Dependency” has become a bestseller, and Federal Conservative MP Andrew Saxton.

Attendees dined on Salmon prepared by Chef Francois Samson and enjoyed beats from DJ Rico through the evening.

Find out more about the Visions 180 programme on their website, HERE.

It is the 90th anniversary and the government monopoly Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) still controls and sells all liquor within BC at the wholesale level and still sells a vast amount through its government retail stores which have extremely high operating costs. The LDB is a $3 billion per year business in B.C. It generates about $900 million per year for the government but costs about $300 million per year to operate.

The following are some of the legacies of prohibition which make BC look ridiculous when compared to the rest of the world:

• Today, all liquor sold within BC must be registered and listed with the government. All imports of liquor must be approved by and processed through the government wholesaler. Yet, we don’t do this for cigarettes or guns.
• Today in BC, and unlike most of the rest of the world, it is still illegal to consume alcohol in a public place such as a park. BC citizens cannot legally enjoy a glass of wine while enjoying a picnic.
• It is still illegal to carry liquor across provincial borders (a criminal offence with possible imprisonment). In Europe, you can ship alcohol between countries without a problem. While Canadians cannot legally return from a vacation in another province with any alcohol, they can bring back 2 bottles per person after a trip to another country.
• We have excessively high taxes on liquor which result in prices being about double what they should be.           For example, Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, a Washington state wine, is commonly available for $6 south of the border. It is $15.99 in BC because the standard LDB markup on wine is 123% plus 12% HST on top of that for a grand total of 135% tax.
• Wine is good for you when used in moderation as intended. No amount of soda pop is good for you but that is taxed at only 12%.
• We have arcane regulation of restaurants and private retailers such that these independent businesses are not permitted to do things which are otherwise commonplace. For example, they cannot store liquor off-site. They cannot transfer liquor between locations of the same restaurant or retail chain (even if the LDB is out of stock). They must buy nearly all their liquor from the government, usually from a single designated government store. If they order anything other than mainstream products, they are forced to order in full case lots via a slow and inefficient delivery system. As a result, restaurants frequently run out of products or encounter storage and financial issues due to the requirement to order in such large quantities.
• Restaurants and bars are denied wholesale prices entirely. Private retailers are given wholesale prices which are fixed artificially high by their chief competitor (the government stores). As a result, there is virtually no competition in the retail liquor business and consumers are denied the sales and good deals that are common in other countries.* It is illegal for a private person to sell a bottle of liquor to another private person. Auctions are also illegal (unless done for charity).
• Citizens cannot take their own wine into a restaurant and have the restaurant charge them a corkage fee (even if the wine was purchased from a government store). This is illegal – it’s considered to be “illicit liquor”.

Happy Anniversary LDB, but don’t expect the rest of British Columbia to be joining you to celebrate the 90th birthday of the establishment of government control over the sale of liquor within the province.

-30-

For more information about wine and liquor laws in BC and Canada, visit www.winelaw.ca.

Mark Hicken, BA JD
Vintage Law Group
T: 604 868 1375
E: mark@winelaw.ca
W: www.winelaw.ca

Julia Watt
Gala Events & Marketing
T: 604-790-4484
E: julia@galaevents.ca
W: www.galaevents.ca

As governor of Alaska, Palin implemented changes other politicians talked about: energy independence, ethics reform, and the biggest private sector infrastructure project in U.S. history.

During the US Presidential campaign, Palin became a lightning rod for both praise and criticism. Supporters called her “refreshing” and honest,” a kitchen-table public servant they felt would fight for their interest. Opponents derided her as a wide-eyed Pollyanna unprepared for national leadership. A big player in the U.S. midterms just weeks after this event, meet Palin in person and judge for yourself.

The Bon Mot Book Club event was well-attended by the veritable who’s who of the Vancouver’s upper society. Seen at the event were Olga Ilich and Lorne Mayencourt of the British Columbia Liberal Party, Martin Zlotnik of the ZLC Financial Group, and Edward McGurk of the Vancouver Community Challenge.

The Warner Home Video Product Showcase was held i the secret back room at V (Earls Restaurant – Yaletown). The big feature for the product showcase was the box-office hit movie “Inception“.

Among the guests at the event were Marisa Russo and morning show host, Jennifer Thomson.

The event also saw entertainment reporter Thor Diakow and noted Vancouver photographer Jonathan Evans.

The Warner Home Video Product Showcase, which was held from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, featured Chris Lewchuk, the publicity manager at Warner Home Video, dressed up as Freddy Krueger from the 1980s movie “Nightmare on Elm Street“.

Sales and Event Coordinator of V Yaletown and Rebecca Olson was also on hand at the Warner Home Video Product Showcase. Robyn Goetz, Riaz Meghji, and Dyan Eaton also attended the event.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is one of the most important festivals celebrated in China. The Mid-Autumn Festival, which is also known as the Moon Festival, is celebrated during the autumnal equinox when the moon is at its fullest. The Chinese mooncake is the traditional food served during the festival.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is also closely linked to the legend of two figures in Chinese mythology, the divine archer Houyi and the Chinese Goddess of the Moon, Chang’e.

The Wild Rice Autumn Menu Launch saw Wild Rice owner Andrew Wong collaborating with Chef Rob Erickson in offering a three-course menu inspired by the legend and traditions associated with the festival. Wild Rice is the brainchild of Andrew Wong who wanted to provide a fusion of local and Chinese cuisine to culinary enthusiasts across Vancouver.

Aside from providing guests with delightful canapes and cocktails, the event also served as a fund-raiser for Friends for Life and A Loving Spoonful as a $5 donation was collected at the door for both charitable institutions.

Vancouver rarely sees international wine critics of Allen Meadows caliber, a true celebrity in the wine world, for all things Burgundy & Pinot Noir. Wine lovers and collectors know; Burgundy is a region being explored, and Burghound is the guide.

Prior to becoming one of the foremost wine critics in the world, Allen Meadows was a well-respected finance executive, whose career spanned over two decades. Following his retirement in 1999, he authored a book that focused on the subject of Burgundy before he established Burghound.com. Burghound.com is a quarterly review that was solely dedicated on the coverage of Burgundy and Pinot Noir.

Allen Meadows visited the Marquis Wine Cellars to give some notable insights on Burgundy as well as sharing a his tasting notes with John Clerides, Marquis Wine Cellars owner, and Vancouver lawyer Mark Hicken.

Urban Thai Bistro has brought the best of the East into the West with its authentic Thai cuisine. With its unique fusion of exotic dishes, whose spiciness can be adjusted to suit the taste of any food-loving Vancouverite, the Urban Thai Bistro has given Yaletown the best of what Thailand has to offer for the last ten years.

Urban Thai Bistro owner Desmond Chen welcomed guests to the anniversary celebration which started at 5 PM. Among the guests who joined the party were Q4 Al Centro General Manager Albert Chee and Brian Jessel BMW owner Brian Jessel.

Desmond Chen is a nominee for the esteemed Bill Tuson Restaurateur of the Year in October 2003 of the British Columbia Restaurant and Food Association.

Also joining the tenth year anniversary celebration of the Urban Thai Bistro were Polly Chen, Patrick Chen, Condrea Fung, and Peachy Chen. Urban Thai Bistro is open to serve its award-winning menu offerings including the popular Thai dishes daily from 11:30 AM until 10:30 PM.

To find out more about Urban Thai Bistro, visit their website, HERE.

Dave Robertson utilizes an informed and detail-oriented approach to his work and his ability of bringing to the surface the story behind the photographs has made him well-appreciated by his clients. His outfit provides concepts, photography, production and imaging all in one roof to clients who recognize the value of excellence in well-done work.

Some the works of Dave Robertson exhibited during the event were the pieces entitled “Yard Sale” and “Finn Slough”.

Among the visitors to the opening of the Domicile at Becker Galleries were Adria Karchut of A Loving Spoonful, acclaimed artist Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, and Allison Mander of the Buschlen Mowatt Gallery.

Aside from the works of Dave Robertson from his Domicile collection, Paul Day’s piece entitled “Opera”, which was made from Teracotta and Resin, was also featured at the Becker Galleries.

The Becker Galleries was established by Michele Becker, who had left one of the more prestigious galleries in Vancouver and started her own gallery. The Becker Galleries had its grand opening last January 27th with a cocktail reception which featured a number of international contemporary artists who had given prominence to Vancouver.

Tear the Curtain! is a theatre and feature film hybrid set in the 1930s and relives the gripping events which led to the foundation of the celebrated Stanley Theatre. The era is highlighted by the struggle of rival crime bosses staking their claim on the territory even as the long-lost legacy of  a theatrical legend is rediscovered by a jaded critic.

“The language of film noir is beautifully manipulated in the protagonist’s quest to break through social and theatrical convention to find something truly authentic. The Electric Company looks back to theatre greats like Antonin Artaud in order to suggest a new future.”

- Rachel Ditor, Arts Club Literary Manager

This collaborative effort between the Arts Club Theatre Company and the Electric Company Theatre brings to life an era where warring mob families reigned over the entire entertainment industry.

“We commissioned the Electric Company as part of our Silver Commissions Project and the piece they have created takes their continued exploration of combining film with live stage action to a new level of creative energy”

- Bill Millerd, Arts Club Artistic Managing Director

The production was presented by Jonathan Young and Kevin Kerr of the Electric Company and created and directed by Kim Collier. Among the supporters of the production are the Vancouver Foundation, Arts Partners in Creative Development, the BC Arts Council, and the Eric Hamber Foundation.

Gracing the Tear the Curtain! premiere were Michael Antonakos and Adam Charles. Amy Lynn Strilchek, Kholby Wardell, Celine Stubel and Emily MacArthur also attended the premiere showing of the Tear the Curtain! which was held at the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.