it's not your ordinary fun run (or walk). this one is on snow.

Off The Edge Adventure Sports - 2nd  Annual Snowshoe Race at Dakota Ridge
Saturday March 5th, 2011

Sign in 10:00am to 11:30am

What to do when there's black ice on the road and you can't run? Head up the mountain and strap on some snowshoes!

Off The Edge Adventure Sports in Sechelt is holding it's 2nd Annual Snowshoe Race at Dakota Ridge tomorrow at noon for all those crazy cats who managed to stay fit during Winter (unlike some of us who spent more time on our arses having snow picnics up at Dakota instead...mmm turkey soup, hot chocolate, mulled wine! So good!). The race course is 5km and 10km in length which you can run or hike or shuffle or walk or anything in between. The terrain is diverse offering single track, double track, cat track, up and down ski runs, open fields of fresh powder and much more. It sounds like exactly what's needed to shake off the Winter cobwebs on what is supposed to be a sunny day (fingers crossed). It's a magical place to be when the sun is shining.

For registration costs and details about the event please see Offtheedge.org 

get thrifted

 

 The celebs are doing it, the fashion bloggers are doing it, so why not get out there and do it yourself? Thrift shopping that is. Follow in Queen Kate's well-heeled vintage footsteps and check out the White Bag Sale at St Mary's Thrift Store in Sechelt today from 10am. It'll cost you $5/bag on all clothing items and footwear - not only could you find some bargains but you'll be doing your bit for the community as 100% of the proceeds go towards health care on the Sunshine Coast. Not to mention, it keeps some seriously cool, quirky and downright odd fashion out of landfill so you'll be helping the environment as well!

St Mary's Thrift Store, 5693 Cowrie St, Sechelt

Images via Knight Cat. Unsure of original source.

saturday's a laugh

Sometimes we just need to have a good laugh - whether it's at ourselves, or at someone else's expense. Tonight should offer some side-stitch funny moments as long as you're prepared to drag yourself off the couch. And really, there's no excuse cause both Gibsons and Sechelt are putting on the shows.

The totally cheesey Neil Diamond wannabe 'Nearly Neil' is getting his groove-on on stage at the Lighthouse Pub in Sechelt at 9pm. You gotta love a sparkly night out with Neil belting out his classics, Sweet Caroline and Cherry. It's the kind of thing that small towns excel at. There's no nightclub on the lower Sunshine Coast, but we DO have Nearly Neil who comes our way every now and again to save us from the Winter blues. The Lighthouse also has some great pub nosh on the menu - potato skins, chicken wings, and some totally indulgent burgers. So start fine-tuning your disco moves and bring them out with you tonight - the wackier they are, the more you'll giggle! The show costs $12 and is usually a sell-out.

For those in Gibsons who think the 25 minute drive to Sechelt is just too arduous, then try the laugh-out-loud, politically incorrect Yuk Yuk's stand up comedy show at Gibsons Cinema. Totally shameless about taking a dig at everyone and everything - ethnicity, lifestyle and political beliefs are all fair game during this 2-hour skit. Does anyone feel another Ricky Gervais Golden Globes moment coming on? Just be prepared to roll with the punches! Ticket prices range from $18 to $25 and the show is on at 8pm.

culture: friday night flix

Black Swan

Fri 4 Feb to Thurs 10 Feb, 7:00pm Raven's Cry Theatre, Sechelt

(Plus Mats Feb 6, 8, 10 @ 1:00pm)

After much anticipation, Black Swan finally hits the Raven's Cry Theatre tonight. Having lived the ballet world for 14 years, the teenager in me is pretty excited about the idea of an evil ballerina movie. What's not to love about ladies in cool costumes, dance themes, horror flix, and a totally confused sense of reality??? Throw in a Hollywood scandal, that being the real life romance that developed between Natalie Portman and her fiancee-to-be choreographer, Benjamin Millepied, and it's got the makings of the perfect gossip filled girls night out.

For more info see Ravenscrytheatre.com

And here are some pics from February Russian Vogue thanks to Fashion Gone Rogue. Totally ballet inspired and gorgeous.

home sweet home

My boyfriend's mom is about to undertake the daunting task of holding an open house. As to be expected, there's been plenty of talk recently about design and style and what people look for when they're thinking of buying a house. The thing is, she has the sweetest little home with some amazing vintage pieces but like most 1950s houses it needs a little refining before it's put on display. She also happens to be a fabulous artist (what to do with all the paintings?!). It got me thinking walls, colored cushions, textures, mirrors - all the things we can do to highlight the 'English Cottage' feel of the house while also giving it a modern twist. I found most of these images on Miss Moss' site. The girl has a wicked eye for design.

If you're on the hunt for house knick knacks on the Coast there are PLENTY of rad places so make sure you check them out. The Swallow's Nest in upper Gibsons is a must, as are ReDecor and Redfish in Sechelt. There are tonnes of others also worth sticking your nose into too (the Trading Post in Lower Gibsons is a guilty pleasure for vintage finds). Happy home styling!

Images: Miss Moss

farewell beautiful swan

I was saddened to hear today that Canada's first principal ballerina for the National Ballet, Lois Smith, passed away last weekend. Lois retired to Sechelt in 1988, though she continued to be involved in the dance scene on the Coast helping to establish the Sunshine Coast Dance Society.

A memorial will be held for Lois on Friday 28th January at 1 p.m. at Gibsons United Church and will be followed by a gathering. Everyone is welcome to attend. 

Images: Ballet.ca, Artsalive.ca

eat: pub grub

We're all feeling Oliver Twist poor after the holiday season but the sunshine is coming out this afternoon so why not enjoy the rays and take in a cheap bite at the Lighthouse Pub in Sechelt? They're continuing their Tuesday all day $6 rib special and a full rack is only 9 bucks. What's even better is that designated drivers get a free beer. There are some conditions so ask your server. Enjoy the chow!