Richmond

Free Cultural Experiences in Richmond! May 2 - 3, 2009

I had a hoot at Richmond's First Doors Open event last year. I explored Places of Worship (who knew there were so many different temples in Richmond?) and some of the Public Art sites in Richmond. Who can resist a red truck suspended amongst tree? Not I! This year, I am going to drag my aunt out with me, she is newly retired and always complaining that there is nothing to do that doesn't cost money! We're going to see the new Stilt Houses Exhibit at Britannia Shipyards in Steveston then I will treat her to fish and chips on the docks at Pajo's. After we were go see a couple of artisan studios - Rita McArthur and Adrienne Moore. We will finish the afternoon off at London Heritage Farm for tea and a lovely scone, baked by volunteer baker, Jenny! She makes the best scones ever!

]]> So, put on your walking shoes and head for the Doors Open event in Richmond. For two days, on May 2 and 3, from 10am to 4pm, visitors are granted free access to an array of sites from heritage landmarks to modern structures, hidden gems, places of worship, artists’ studios, museums, national historic sites, and more. Over 40 venues participate to showcase Richmond’s diverse and multicultural nature.

Businesses large and small throughout the City invite the public to explore a behind the scenes experience at their attraction, temple or studio. Many of them offer guided tours and have set up displays, samplings, and activities to enrich the visitor’s experience. The must-see attractions list is long and includes the International Chinese Buddhist Temple with its exquisite traditional Chinese architecture, London Heritage Farm, a farmhouse museum that offers proper English tea and home-baked goods, and the Gulf Of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site where tours of the museum showcase the rich fishing history of Richmond.

For details - www.richmond.ca/doorsopen

Table Tennis or Badminton - Anyone? April 3 - 5, 2009

As someone who played competitive badminton through high school (a long, long time ago) and a decent game of ping pong aka table tennis, the skills needed to play at an international level amaze me. The speed at which a birdie flies back and forth and the tactics used by the players are exciting to watch. Racket Rally 2009 will be my opportunity to let out my hidden "sport" fan attitude. Will I be able to start a wave in the Richmond Olympic Oval?

]]> Racket Rally 2009 at the Richmond Olympic Oval April 3-5 features the world's best in Badminton and Table Tennis showcased for the first time together in North America. Six international players will play in round-robin format over four sessions. Racket Rally also includes the Racket Rally Festival featuring tournaments put on by Badminton BC and the BC Table Tennis Association – 24 courts taking up the balance of the Oval event floor.

Badminton Players:
Taufik Hidayat of Indonesia - #7 in the world, 2004 Olympic Gold Medallist

Joachim Persson of Denmark - #6 in the world, multi Grand Prix event winner

Andre Tedjono of Indonesia - #18 in the world, multi Grand Prix event winner

Andrew Dabeka of Canada - #1 in Canada, current North American Champion

Table Tennis Players:
Chen Weixing of Austria – 2007/08 European Champions League winner

Robert Gardos of Austria – Semi-finalist in 2008 Olympic Games (doubles)

Leung Chu Yan of Hong Kong – Quarter-finalist at 2004 Olympics

Pradeeban Peter-Paul of Canada - #1 in Canada, Canadian Olympian

Event Schedule Overview:

Session 1: Friday, April 3 7:30 pm – 9:30 pmBadminton Taufik Hidayat vs. Andre Tedjono
Table Tennis Chen Weixing vs. Leung Chu Yan

During a special intermission match, Kirk McLean, former Canucks’ goaltender, takes on Marty Strong, the co-host of the Bro Jake Show on Classic Rock 101.

Session 2 Saturday, April 4 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Badminton Joachim Persson vs. Taufik Hidayat
Table Tennis Leung Chu Yan vs. Robert Gardos

Cliff Ronning and Lui Passaglia will settle their differences on the table tennis court where fans will see whether hockey or football offer the better preparation for ping pong. This epic battle takes place during intermission of Saturday’s afternoon match.

Session 3 Saturday, April 4 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

Badminton Andre Tedjono vs. Joachim Persson
Table Tennis Robert Gardos vs. Chen Weixing

Session 4 Sunday, April 5 3:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Andrew Dabeka vs. Badminton Round Robin #3

Pradeeban Peter-Paul vs. Table Tennis Round Robin #3

Table Tennis Final - Round Robin #1 vs. Round Robin #2
Badminton Final - Round Robin #1 vs. Round Robin #2

For complete details - http://www.racketrally.net/
See you there.

Sun & Fun served with a Heaping Order of Fish & Chips!

Sundays are usually my lazy days, time to enjoy and not think too much about anything. Time to hang out and leisurely read the Sunday paper with a steaming cup of tea at home, is usually my first and only task of the day.

However, a couple of Sundays ago the sun was peeking out from the clouds and it had actually stopped raining. I thought I better make the best of this non-rainy day. I didn’t want to deal with the traffic of Granville Island or Kits, but wanted to go some where to enjoy a nice latte and the fresh sea air.

So, off I went to Steveston, where I could have my latte and also purchase fixings for my dinner. Fresh seafood was just up my high on my list and $5 would get me a fresh bag of shrimp enough for 2.

Once I parked my car at a 2 hour free parking spot, no change needed – thank you very much! Off towards the Fisherman’s Wharf I went, but the smell of fish and chips at Pajo’s distracted me from getting to the fish boats. I decided to stop and enjoy a bit of lunch on the dock. Nothing can compare to sitting on the dock with the sun on your face while you enjoy some great fish and chips from Pajo’s. The salt air and the seagulls calling from above, create the perfect moment to relax and unwind.

After devouring my cod and chips, I felt energized. I strolled along the boardwalk then along the village streets till I found a spot to grab my latte. It was so nice to walk around peeking into windows of shops and just enjoying my day and latte.

Finally, it was time to head home but I still needed my shrimp for dinner, so back to the wharf I went. After waiting my turn and $5 later, I had my bag of shrimp for dinner. I must say they were delish!

Romance is thriving in Richmond, BC

What to do for Valentine’s Day has always been a quandary for me? When I am single, it’s easy! Girls Night – an evening of good food, good wine and good friends at home! However, when I am part of a couple, I am faced with thousands of questions of what to do for Valentine’s Day! I start off with one simple question - do we want to go out or stay in? Which leads to many more questions, like where should we go if we go out, do we want to go to dinner only or dinner and dancing, do we exchange gifts and finally who is going to do the planning and make the reservations?

In the quest to help the Valentine’s planner here are some lovely options in Richmond, BC for an evening of romance.

Take a lovely stroll in Steveston Village and stop by Bare Basics to pick up a little something for your sweetie. Or enjoy London Farms "Chocolate Valentine Tea" service then head off to Garry Point to check out the beautiful sunset.

Enjoy a romantic dinner by the water, several of restaurants in Steveston Village are offering special Valentine's Day dinner menus - Reflections Gastronomie, Shady Island Seafood Bar & Grill, Steveston Seafood House, Tapenade Mediteranean Bistro and Sockeye City Grill are just a few places to dine in Steveston.

http://www.reflectionsgastronomie.com/
http://www.stevestonseafoodhouse.com/
http://www.tapenade.ca/index.html/
http://sockeyecity.com/

In the heart of Richmond, you can enjoy a lovely Valentine's dinner at the Wayfaring Tree then sneak off for you night's stay at the Best Western Richmond Hotel.

http://www.richmondinn.com/dining.html

Tee off at Mayfair Lakes Golf and Country Club in the afternoon then enjoy a romantic event at the Lakeside Grill Restaurant.

A Shopaholics Wonderland

Who would have thought that there would be so many shopping choices in Richmond? With several large malls to shop at with all the brand names - The Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Mexx, Tommy, Coast Mountain, Sears, The Bay, Winners, Future Shop, Best Buy, HomeSense and many other unique retailers. So much many shops to explore for clothes, acessories, electronics, home decor and anything else that you might be searching for.

My procrastination over Christmas shopping finally caught up to me, I was leaving for mom's in Victoria for the holidays on Saturday, December 23rd, only 2 days away! So, I had no choice but to go forth and shop! I, who love to shop, found the thought of Christmas shopping this year too overwhelming. I just didn't want to deal with the task of finding parking and paying an arm and a leg to park. Then dealing with the crowds. But Christmas shop, I must!

I took Thursday off work to shop. Instead of heading downtown or out to Burnaby and the megaplex, I went south into Richmond. First stop, Lansdowne Mall. Shopping list in hand, off I went to Future Shop and Best Buy. I was in the hunt for a few cds, web camera, memory stick and a dvd player. An hour later, I had what I needed and even had time to check out Winners and HomeSense for some new Christmas decorations.

Second stop, was Richmond Centre, needed to find something nice for mom and the cousins! Parking was a bit more challenging but I was parked within 10 minutes. After hitting Coast Mountain Sports, the Gap and the Bay, I had the boy cousins' gifts done and 3 new pairs of work dress pants for me. Got a couple of great deals on items - 50% off! However, I was still in the hunt for mom's gift when I spotted out of the corner or my eye a lovely lavender cashmere cardigan - perfect! 80% off! Wow! Now would they have my mom's size? Fingers crossed - success!

Next stop, Chapters and Starbucks! The Blue List 2007 by Lonely Planet and a vanilla latte break for me - decaf! After checking my list, I found that I was more than half done and it wasn't even lunch time yet!

With renewed determination and energy, I set off to Aberdeen Centre to find gifts for friends and the girl cousins and then for a bit of dim sum lunch. I had only been to Aberdeen for dim sum previously but had wanted to come back to check out some of the stores - Daiso and Smart Living Design Furniture. A couple of jade bracelets and home accessories later I was able to check off another 2/3 of my list.

Next stop was Ikea - yep, a risky endeavour but it had to be done! I needed to get a couple of picture frames and kitchen gifts - so in and out was my thought! Parking was not as easy but I did manage to find a spot at the back after circling the lot a few times. I was good and by-passed the showcase centre and went straight to the Market Place. Got what I needed and was in the cash line and out within a 1/2 hour. Checked my list and found that I was DONE! 6 hours from start to finsh, including a coffee break and lunch! Not bad! I'm going to shop out in Richmond more often in the future!

Come and explore for yourself the great shops and free parking is a bonus!

http://www.aberdeencentre.com/en/index.php
http://www.richmondcentre.ca/home/index.ch2

Spectacle of Lights, Steveston BC

Last Friday evening, I was in Steveston, BC for their Spectacle of Lights event. My friends, Bren and Tim came along with their 2 children, Emma and Helen to enjoy the caroling procession and the lighting of the 40 foot Xmas tree.

I was not sure what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised. After meeting up at the Steveston Museum, we meandered through the village, checking out the shop lights and decorations. A few of the shops really pulled out all the stops and had some impressive displays.

We were one of the first groups to arrive at the starting point. The evening was cool and crisp, no rain! We had a chance to see the crowd gather. Lots of families, kids bundled up and dogs on leashes. Volunteers were giving away glow sticks, which were a HUGE hit with the kids. Emma loved her orange one and Helen was happy with her "yellad" one. I must say that I liked my green one too! Kids playing with each other and adults chatting - "Community Spirit."

The caroling procession started with the arrival of Santa in the motorized Steveston Community hayride at No. 1 Rd and Moncton, in behind went the ROC Chorus. Once the kids saw Santa that was it! Off everyone went after the hayride. We all began caroling down Moncton to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, where the tree lighting ceremony was going to happen. Tim, Bren and the girls got to greet Santa as the hayride was stopped close by. Emma was very excited about meeting Santa! However, Helen being only 2 was a bit shy but she didn't cry.

After a few songs by the chorus to allow the crowd to gather. There were welcoming speeches and then Mayor Malcolm Brodie pulled the candy cane switch and the tree light up! "Wow! Pretty!" said Emma. The McMath band played a few tunes after and the crowd went on their way. Some went home, while others stayed to shop or eat.

We choose to eat. We had done some research prior to deciding where to have dinner since Emma has quite a few food allergies which makes it a bit more challenging. No dairy, wheat, peanuts or tree nuts - quite a list! We were able to enjoy a lovely meal at the Tapenade Bistro, just off the waterfront in Steveston. Tim, Bren and I shared the mussels, carpaccio and a ceasar salad as appies. All were very tasty! While the kids enjoyed their apple juice boxes, roasted chicken and pomme frites. Their chef was more than accomodating when it came to making the girls' dinners sans allergy items. Our main meals were also very delish! Coq au Vin for me, lamb special for Tim and the Prawns Provencal for Bren. We will definitely come back again. All in all a fun evening with friends.

If you would like to find out more information about events in Steveston & Richomond please check out these websites:
http://www.steveston.bc.ca/
http://www.tourismrichmond.com/visitors_calofevents.htm
http://www.tapenade.ca/

Dim Sum - Tasty Treats for Everyone!

Having lived in the Greater Vancouver Regional District for the last 20 years, I’ve had plenty of time to explore my surroundings but somehow I have managed to stay away from Richmond, BC. You could almost say “avoid!” Although, I’ve been told by friends and family, that Richmond has great Asian food. How did a foody like myself not seek out the unique Asian restaurants in Richmond?

It always seemed too far for me to go, really its only 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver. So, really not far at all! However, I would drive by Richmond to White Rock for dinner or to Whistler for a day of skiing – so my “too far” excuse didn’t really hold up under closer examination!

Recently, I started a new job in Richmond and decided that I have no more excuses! My co-workers opened my eyes, and now I finally understand what my friends and family have been telling me for years! The food really is amazing!

Dim sum like I have never tasted before and so many choices! Fisherman’s Terrace in Aberdeen Centre and the Gingeri in Landowne Centre are two of my favourites! I love the hustle and bustle of dim sum! You are surrounded by the sounds of clinking of chopsticks, slurping of tea, shouts of greetings and the crashing sounds of tables be cleared and set. So many people gathered together to enjoy a meal and bit of gossip! It’s always a mixed crowd of family or friends or business groups gathered together, all ages.

It’s been a wonderful to share the dim sum experience with my friends. A few are seasoned dim sum connoisseurs (because I dragged them kicking and screaming to go to dim sum with me many years ago) and others have never been. Among the many bamboo steamers and plates with metal lids are exotic smelling dumplings, noodles, pork spareribs, sticky rice and much more. Hidden within a rice wrapper dumpling is a tasty mixture of seafood or meat and spices. Haw Gow (shrimp dumplings), Sui Mai (pork dumplings), Haw Chung Fung (shrimp rice rolls), deep fried tofu with spicy sauce and even marinated spicy chicken feet – only for the adventurous! With the variety of dishes, there is something for everyone to try.

I also get to impress and amuse my friends with my ordering skills all done in “Chinglish”! My friend, Cathy was the one who dub my ½ Chinese, ½ English conversations, “Chinglish!” My friends think it hilarious since they can follow bits and pieces of my Chinese conversation. However, I am sure that my mother would be horrified if she knew! Being a Canadian born Chinese gal, I don’t get much opportunity to use my first language now that I am living away from my family. I’ve gotten a bit rusty but I am still able to order my favourites. Dim sum brings back memories of my childhood and good times that I have spent with friends and family!