Kidding Around Vancouver Island

I am thrilled to have gotten to know some other bloggers and Vancouver Island fanatics – VI Reviews (Shalyn) and Eyes On BC (Linda). These two women write about great happenings across the Island too. I encourage you to check out what they write about – they are a wealth of information! Oh – Shalyn has a penchant for a good breakfast – tell her about your fave spot and Linda loves good sushi – tell her about the best spot to eat Japanese food.

Downtown Nanaimo will be transformed into the Island’s largest backyard barbeque on July 14th and 15th , thanks to the people behind the Nanaimo Barbeque Festival.

Teams from around North America will descend on the city’s downtown core to compete in a Kansas City BBQ Society sanctioned event.

Local residents will get a chance to sample some of the best barbecue at the Thrifty Foods Nanaimo Barbecue Festival’s inaugural BBQ Cook-­Off.

I for one cannot wait to be there to smell the meat cooking and yes,to try EVERYTHING!!! The folks behind the festival have so much going on – there will be something for everyone – well, maybe not for vegetarians, but you know what I mean. Hmmm – wonder if they want another judge – pick me, pick me!!

Here are some of the things you can expect at the Nanaimo Barbeque Festival:

This from a magazine article I wrote late last year for a column I did called Class Acts. BLYS Yoga is now part of our lives. Our 10 year old takes the pre-teen/teen yoga classes and LOVES it. 2nd time for it and ask when it starts. We have other young friends going with her and they love April. I have to say, April is a huge bonus in their lives.

Here is the piece:

My next class took place in Parksville and was yoga. I have been trying to figure out my yoga style. Did I like hot yoga? Vigorous yoga? My yoga – The one that makes me feel the best. I have to say, my experience with April Kuramoto of BLYS Yoga (new studio opens on October 3 at #4 – 205 Jensen Avenue) was magical. Big words for a gal who can barely haul herself out of bed some days. I feel awkward in a fitness place at the best of times, but it felt different here. Her choice of music and conversation was not what I usually heard in a yoga studio, and I liked it. I tried the poses and transitions and she would say to us it does not have to be perfect, but you are here and in the moment. She had a gentle, guiding touch and I cannot wait to go back. I have even signed my ten year old up for her preteen/teen class. I want my kids to have the April experience. It is a good and wonderful thing. Here’s what I keep telling myself from my time in her class – “Her Practice made me feel Perfect”. High praise indeed. April I am your new groupie! All the class information – for kids, teens and adults can be found at www.blysyoga.com.

Ella Rose learns the marimba from Fahlon

We love the Craig Street Market in Parksville. So many great things to see, buy and eat! Also hear. We fell in love with the local youth group Kumbana Marimba, led by sisters Fahlon and Jasmine Smith from Errington. They play traditional African music along with some South American tunes for a fresh, upbeat, world music sound.

The group formed in 2009 and has an energetic group of young people playing. The not only perform around BC, but they also teach classes. Ella Rose, 7, wanted to try it out and Fahlon was a fantastic teacher. We got some good sounds coming from the various sized marimbas.

Fahlon encourages all ages to check it marimbas – and she has private sessions. Prices are not crazy (group class is like five bucks). The kids were having such fun playing music and talking about how to make the song complete. You can see the excitement in their eyes and hear it in the music. Phone Fahlon at 250-951-9886 to get your marimba on!

We have a yearly excursion to Mount Washington to do a bit of snow tubing. It is a whole lot of winter fun – and a great family outing. We skip out of school and work for the day and head to the hill. We wear our warmest snow gear and eye up our favourite tube – as I have an ample bottom, I need a certain type of tube that will accommodate my seat.

I also have another thing to consider – a 7 year old who will only go down the hill on my lap. It means I get lots of kidlet time as as fast as we go down the hill, we are up it again. The conveyance system they have is awesome. I think they should add a minibar and life would be grand!

Here is a video and some picture from last year – we really had a terrific time.

One of the awesome tree tapping experts at the Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan

5th Annual West Coast Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival

It’s that time of year again – a whole day devoted to Maple Syrup.  Taste maple syrup from Vancouver Island at the Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival at The BC Forest Discovery Centre in Duncan.

We loved it last year. Pleasantly surprised by the amount of Maple Syrup producers we have here on Vancouver Island. There were light syrups, dark syrups, molassesy syrup and we had a great time choosing the bottle of syrupy goodness that came home with us. Extra bonus – we got to go on the train! Very sweet indeed.

This year we are bringing grandparents, cousins, babies and more. We want everyone to come and celebrate the elixir created here on Vancouver Island.

Here’s the info from the website

Saturday February 4, 2012

 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

Visitors are invited to participate in mini-workshops facilitated by experienced maple syrup producers, including tapping demonstrations, presentations, and displays. This year’s event features cooking with local maple syrup and maple foods will be available.  The festival features a maple syrup competition with judging by celebrity chefs from Vancouver Island. The evaporator will be running all day so visitors can savour the warm maple aroma of sap and see how syrup is made.

Bigleaf Maple Syrup Festival Schedule:

Explore the sights and aromas of syrup making

Evaporator:
10:00 am – 4:30 pm

Find out more about maple tapping

Tapping Demonstrations:  
Every 20 minutes from 10:20 am – 3:20 pm
Approximately 15 minutes long

Maple Syrup Presentations
Approximately 15 minutes long

Taste Local Maple Syrup
10:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Maple Syrup Competition Awards  
12:30 pm
Train Rides  
10:30 pm – 3:30 pm every half hour

Special Admission Price:

$7 adult/seniors/student/youth

$5 per child (2-12 years)

children under 2 are free

FREE Events with the VI Symphony

Saturday, February 18, Port Theatre

Musical Instrument Zoo (11 a.m. -12 noon)

NoteworthyKids Music Club Family Event (11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.)

Open Rehearsal (12:30-1:30 p.m.)

Reserve your Complimentary Ticket: 250-754-8550

Info: www.vancouverislandsymphony.com

Not quite dead! I am back. So busy with work and life and let this slide. I keep hearing about so many wonderful events, places, ideas and fun here on Vancouver Island, that I have to write about it. So, I am back. I hope I keep you and your children entertained.

Lantzville, just north of Nanaimo, may not be a big town, but they know how to put on great events.  From the Rotary Club’s wonderful Breakfast with Santa to the Fire Department’s Halloween bonfire and fireworks, people come from all over to join in the festivities.  But the crowning event of the year is Minetown Day, which this year is Saturday September 12.

The day starts early with the traditional pancake breakfast at the Lantzville Legion (George says, see you there for the opening at 7am.  I say, see you later.)  Then at 10am there’s a parade down Lantzville Road ending up at the school grounds, where the rest of the day’s activities are centered.  The highlight of the parade is the several dozen decorated bikes that kids have entered in a contest, all riding down the street.

Years ago at our first Minetown Day, there were more people in the parade than watching it.  Now you need to get there early to get a good spot.  There are over 22 games and rides – all no charge – lots of music, storytelling and dancers.  Among our kids favourites:  the rock climbing wall, the velcro wall, the dunk tank, and the nail hammering contest.  They’ve always been fascinated with the 50/50 Chicken Poop draw.  I think the 50/50 stands for 50% interested in winning and 50% interested in seeing the chicken lay its… whatever.

Oh yes, there’s a watermelon eating contest that the kids love to enter – who cares if you win!  They also love making cars out of Zucchinis and then racing them for prizes.  And maybe, just maybe this year, Grace will be brave enough to take a spin on the human sphere.  I think George really wants to do it and is hoping to live the thrill vicariously through his daughter.

There’s also a main stage for musical entertainment all day from noon until 7pm, and historical displays of the town’s rich coal mining heritage, so bring your picnic blanket, a couple of chairs, and spread out on the school grounds to spend the day in Lantzville!

We all want to teach our kids the true meaning of Christmas.  What about teaching them the true meaning of Labour Day?  That’s George’s plan for the girls this year:  cutting the lawn, weeding the garden, ripping out that old fence and putting in a new one.  Some good old-fashioned labour.  Okay, while we see how that works out, your family might want to try:

The Lighthouse Country Fall Fair – Saturday Sept 5 in Bowser/Deep Bay.  Features plenty of activities for the kids, including pony rides, a petting zoo, and bouncy castles (how did we manage before bouncy castles came along?), and the theme this year is home gardening, with lots of tips and displays,  as well as fresh produce.  The fair is at the Lighthouse Community Centre from 10am until 4pm.  Adults are $5.00 and kids under 12 are free.

Port Alberni Salmon Festival – Fri Sept 4 – Mon Sept 7.  Grace will be too busy ripping out fence posts to be able to take part in the fishing – there’s a $10,000 prize for the largest salmon caught during the Festival and hundreds of other prizes.  Fireworks will be on Friday night, and there’s a dunk tank, lots of great food and entertainment all weekend long.  There’ s a free bullhead derby early Sunday morning.  All takes place at the Clutesi Haven Marina.

Labour Day Swim – Mon Sept 7, Nanaimo – With the Aquatic Centre closed for maintenance and the ocean losing its “make you think you’re living in Hawaii” temperatures, you can grab a good long swim between 12 noon and 5pm at the Beban Park pool.

Hike to Labour Day Lake – Ok, you’re really celebrating the weekend if you make the trek to this lake – yes, that really is its name – which is literally half way between Port Alberni and Nanaimo (as the crow flies – see the map below).  It’s a pretty hefty hike for a family, but what are days of labour for, as George would say.

Or you could just relax at home and have a nice barbeque – maybe do a New Year’s Eve kind of countdown to the kids going back to school.  Oh wait, that’s for later at night when they’re in bed.