“Back by Popular Demand for the 2012 PABC Provincial Festival in Nanaimo” Follow this link to find out more http://www.bcprovincials.com

And if you are looking for accommodation please contact us at www.bluemooncondos.com

Nanaimo Theatre Group Presents: Pack of Lies Wed. Mar 28th – Sat. Apr 14th Bailey Studio, Nanaimo

The Jacksons are a nice, middle-aged couple, and their Canadian neighbours the Krogers are their best friends. So what’s this got to do with Scotland Yard and a Soviet spy ring?

.:More Info:.www.harbourliving.ca

Dining Out For Life Thursday March 29th Various Locations – Vancouver Island

Join thousands of islanders filling their plates at over 50 generous restaurants, who will donate 25% of your food bill to AIDS Vancouver Island. Dine out to fight AIDS!

.:More Inf0:.www.harbourliving.ca

The Brant Wildlife Festival Thurs. Mar 29th – Mon. Apr 9th Various Venues – Parksville & Qualicum Beach

The festival celebrates nature, particularly Brant geese as they rest and feed on the shores of Parksville and Qualicum Beach. Wildlife viewing adventures, workshops, a big day birding…and more!

.:More Info:.www.harbourliving.ca

54-40 Live in Nanaimo:            30 Year Anniversary! Friday March 30th Port Theatre, Nanaimo

After 30 years, 16 releases and more than 2000 performances…their outstanding reputation for their live performances continues today. Experience 54-40 for yourself.

.:More Info:.www.harbourliving.ca

Win Passes to see Nanaimo Theatre Group’s “Pack of Lies”

We have two passes to give away to see the opening night performance of “Pack of Lies” on Wednesday March 28th at the Bailey Studio.            To be entered, email your name and phone# to contests@harbourliving.ca            with the subject: ”Good Neighbours!”

Entries must be received by Wednesday March 28th at 10am.

Re-posted with permission from Harbour Living.

Get in the Christmas spirit and celebrate Island artisan talent!  Join us for a fun-filled day on the popular  Yellow Point and Cedar Country Christmas self-guided tour.

Feast your eyes on Island-produced creativity and take in a unique Christmas experience.  Some of the mid-Island’s most celebrated artisans welcome you to enjoy the wonderful setting that they have created for you at their farms, studios, and shops. View each artisan in their own creative working environment, displaying their work, discussing and demonstrating techniques, answering questions and serving light refreshments.

This year visitors and locals will have the perfect opportunity to get ahead of the Christmas shopping rush as the tour will feature over 21 individual artisans and their original work for the public to view and purchase. A few of the better known artisans on this year’s tour include Yellow Point Cranberries, JoVic Pottery, Barton-Leier Gallery and Hazelwood Herb Farm. New to the tour this year is Lohmann Gallery and Noel Brown is back with his fantastic artwork that he started back in 1994.  He recently completed the artwork displayed in the new Nanaimo Port Authority building where the cruise ships land downtown and he also started commercial crabbing this year in March as he has always loved being on the water for any type of fishing and this is why he will also have fresh Dungeness Crab available on the tour.
Take this scenic road trip and experience locally produced edibles, native art, jewelry, original paintings, stained glass mosaics, pottery, quilts, woodwork , photography, handforged iron work Christmas crafts and more. From local gardens and fields, sample many of the homemade kitchen, bath, and beauty products.

We have made it even easier this year to load up your car with friends and family and plan a looping route that can be done comfortably in one day. Enjoy lunch or dinner out with friends at one of the many fine area restaurants like the Mahle House Restaurant now featuring a lunch menu for the first time during the Tour.  Or sample some delicious food at the Crow and Gate Pub, Wheatsheaf Pub, or the Cotton Club at Cottonwood Golf Course.

If you have always wanted to go on the tour but were planning to do it with children we’ve made some changes to make that easier for you to do.  On Sunday November 20th only from 12-3 we have two Artisans hosting Children’s Activity Stations. The Broody Rooster and Guesthouse and Yellow Point Cranberries are the two businesses available for a children’s activity on Sunday 20th from 12-3. We would love for parents to be able to bring their children along so that everyone can have some fun! Artisans amenities are clearly marked on the free brochures with maps that can be found at most South and Mid-Island Visitor Info Centres or at other locations listed on our website www.cyartisans.com

For more information about the tour check out our website at http://www.cyartisans.com/ .  There you can plan your tour at your own pace or request a map be emailed to you on the “Contact Us” page .

If you plan to come to this event you can book into www.bluemooncondos.com

Re-printed with permission from HarbourLiving.ca

It’s about gathering together in the kitchen when there is much more comfortable furniture elsewhere. It’s about recognizing life’s milestones with a celebratory meal. It’s about offering food when there’s nothing you can say.

Food brings people together.

As harvest time peaks, we’ve got some unique opportunities coming up to gather in the name of great local food. We’ve tossed together a handy list of them, so you won’t need to spend time foraging for information.

Share that list with anyone who’s ever told you it’s  wrong to play with your food. They’ve obviously never been to Vancouver Island in the fall.

See you there,
Kimberly Miller
Events Manager
HarbourLiving.ca
You can simply “Reply” to this email with any questions or feedback

This Week’s Feature Events
Yellow Point Cranberries Reveal Day
Saturday October 1st
Yellow Point Cranberries, Ladysmith

A unique British Columbian experience! Learn about the cranberry harvest, grab some fresh cranberries for Thanksgiving and taste all our delicious products… both new ones and old favourites.

.:More Info:.
Italian Wine Steam Train
Saturday October 1st
McLean Mill National Historic Site, Port Alberni

Celebrate this year’s grape harvest with a celebration of italian lifestyle! Featuring the best of Italian culture…with music, food and wine. Your ticket includes a steam train ride, wine tasting and traditional Italian foods and breads.

.:More Info:.

Thursday, July 21st, 2011 – Sunday, July 24th, 2011

 
Nanaimo harbor was the scene of a bathtub race extravaganza at the first race in 1967 Canadas’ 100 birthday and its’ Centennial year.. As the City of Nanaimo’s “Centennial Event” that year, close to 200 tubbers (in every type of craft imaginable) entered the fun competition and amazingly, 47 completed the 36 mile course to Vancouver’s Fisherman’s Cove across the straits of Georgia. Now the “Great RACE” finishes at Departure Bay in Nanaimo covering a very grueling course that leaves Nanaimo harbor circles Entrance Island and then up to and around Winchelsea Island and then back to Departure Bay in Nanaimo. In the early days it was indeed a challenge to just get past the starting line in the choppy confusion caused by an extra 785 small and large observation and escort boat in Nanaimo harbor. From the confusion of a first time bathtub race 43 years ago, the Nanaimo to Nanaimo “Great” INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE & 4 day Nanaimo Marine Festival has evolved. Where once a select band of tubbers were the highlight they now share the spotlight with many other land and water events which are interesting and often spectacular to watch.

years Nanaimo Marine Festival’s salute is to the “100th Anniversary fo the St John Ambulance Nanaimo Brigade”. The salute will also be the theme for the as well as the theme for the “SAIL PAST on WHEELS FUN PARADE” on the Saturday of Bathtub Weekend.

The various events through out the city in July culminate with the KICK OFF on Thursday, July 21st with the opening of the LNBS Marine Festival Food Fair, Kiddies Harborside Playdock, Kiddies Karnival, “TIM HORTONS” Marine Festival Entertainment Stage and the children’s programs at Maffeo Sutton and Swy-a-lana Lagoon parks adjacent to the Nanaimo Harbor. Also for your enjoyment are the many informative static displays on boat safety, military, water sports plus many others.
On Saturday, July 23rd at 10:30 AM the annual “Sail Past on Wheels Fun Parade” takes place through the Old City Quarter and the City Center. Followed by the the Marine Festival Food Fare, the Kiddies Harborside Playdock, TIM HORTONS Marine Festival Entertainment Stage, the Kiddies Karnival, along with many other static displays and the Loyal Order of the Moose Bavarian Garden held in Maffeo Sutton park and various events in the harbor.

In the evening Vancouver Islands premier fireworks display the spectacular “QUALITY FOODS” Festival of Lights & Music fireworks display takes place in the Nanaimo harbor at 10:00 PM. Then join the thousands of excited spectators as the 45th annual “Great” INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE starting at 11:00 AM sharp on the Sunday in Nanaimo harbor for the approximate 1 ½ hour challenge in the straits of Georgia to the “PEPSI FINISH LINE” at Departure Bay. After the tubs leave the excitement continues both on land and in the water with the Marine Festival Food Fair, the Kiddies Karnival, Harborside Playdock, If you prefer (and remember you can do both) you can join us at the always spectacular “PEPSI FINISH LINE” at Departure Bay beach and watch the finish of the “Great” RACE and enjoy the many food and refreshment booths

Four full days of fun and activities for the young, old and in-between, family oriented and held in NANAIMO, the Sun-Porch of Canada, the Jewel of the West and the Bathtub Racing Capital of the World, during the always (well almost always) sunny month of July. 

So come join us July 21st to July 24th, 2011 and take in the World’s Cleanest Sport, Bathtub Racing and the 43rd running of the “Great” INTERNATIONAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP BATHTUB RACE & Nanaimo Marine Festival and another bonus most of the events and activities are FREE.

This was reposted by permission from HarbourLiving.ca

My web guy, Jay at Webacom, suggested that I put  this very famous recipe on my blog page so all people can enjoy these treats, not just us Nanaimoites.

These are really yummy so go ahead and try them and send me feedback through my website email link. I sometimes add walnuts instead of coconut ~ just for a little change!

Here is one of the official Nanaimo Bar recipes below. Enjoy

Nanaimo Bar Recipe

Bottom Layer
½ cup unsalted butter (European style cultured)
¼ cup sugar
5 tbsp. cocoa
1 egg beaten
1 ¼ cups graham wafer crumbs
½ c. finely chopped almonds
1 cup coconut

Melt first 3 ingredients in top of double boiler. Add egg and stir to cook and thicken. Remove from heat. Stir in crumbs, coconut, and nuts. Press firmly into an ungreased 8″ x 8″ pan.

Second Layer
½ cup unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. and 2 Tsp. cream
2 Tbsp. vanilla custard powder
2 cups icing sugar

Cream butter, cream, custard powder, and icing sugar together well. Beat until light. Spread over bottom layer.

Third Layer
4 squares semi-sweet chocolate (1 oz. each)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter

Melt chocolate and butter overlow heat. Cool. Once cool, but still liquid, pour over second layer and chill in refrigerator.

Re-posted from the City of Nanaimo website.

If you want to come to Nanaimo and eat Nanaimo Bars on your holiday vacation, book Blue Moon Condos for your accommodation.

Nanaimo Port Authority’s 7th Annual Floating Boat & Marine Trade Show has something for every budget and for every level of boating.

The 2011 show builds on the incredible results of the previous shows and will feature a full house with participants from throughout Vancouver Island and the mainland. Brokers will show vessels small and large, new and pre-owned. If boating is your passion, this show has something for you with the latest in marine supplies, equipment and information. For the person new to the incredible world of boating, the Marine Trade Show offers information and education to get you on course and in a safe direction. Agencies that educate in basic and advance boating courses will be on hand. Meet the organizations that make boaters’ experiences positive and safe on the water for the whole family.

3500 feet of dock space in Nanaimo’s downtown Boat Basin will be filled with boats of every variety complimented with over 7500 feet of dock space featuring more than 60 vendors, experts and entertainment, all assembled in one convenient beautiful location. You’ve Got To Be Here!

The Van Isle 360 Race will be starting from our docks next to the boat show on Saturday morning June 4th…a spectacle you won’t want to miss!

http://www.vancouverislandboatshow.com/

If you are attending this event, book at Blue Moon Condos for your accommodation.

Re-posted with permission from Harbour Living.