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:

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!

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.

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

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

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!

Of course I use “grab a handful” very metaphorically.  We’ve been perfecting our technique the last few years to minimize tears from prickles and the stains from handling.  You have to grip those berries enough to pull them off, but not too hard that they instantly become jam in the hand (known as ‘mushers’ in Ella lingo).  As for prickle protection, our trick is to use a glove on one hand to grip the branch and then angle it in such a way that your bare hand can easily get at the berries.  Result?  Less tears, more berries!

Another tip is to use your shortest child as the spotter.  Quite often, the nicest berries are the ones hanging underneath leaves – they’re hard to spot unless you get right underneath.  Ella has become quite good at her scouting job, though she gets a bit tyrannical when she spots a batch:  “There it is, get it!” or “I see some, pick them now!”

Being the taller of the two, Grace is more focused on the highest berries possible.  When she saw at tip on Shaw TV about using a step ladder to compete with the birds, she was all for it; when she had to carry the ladder, the enthusiasm waned.  I suggested to her that Daddy would make a very good step ladder.  Grace thought that was great, George not so much, until I told him it was kind of like a free massage.

Now it’s a frenzied race to do something with all these berries.  Jam is the old stand-by (good for Christmas prsents!) and then there are the pies, and the crumbles, and the syrups.  But this year, a little something for mummy and daddy, which is fermenting as I write.  Gotta love those blackberries!