I walked home last night just as the US election results were being finalized, the streets were empty and it began to rain hard, hopefully not a complete foreshadowing of what’s to come in this new era of Trumpism. We can only hope that the ugly thoughts of those who who seem to feel that hatefulness has any place in this world and will serve anyone well in any manner at all, can be peacefully addressed and dissipated, but this is very hopeful thinking. I am sad and shocked that this is where we find the world today and don’t look forward to the empending and shocking reality tv we will now be subjected to, no matter what channel we turn to. Please take a moment to project some good this week (and always), hug your neighbour, smile at that stranger and perhaps just help someone that you have the energy and resources to assist.

Umbrella Day

The one day we should hope for rain Vancouver Firefighters will be selling $15 umbrellas and handing out Clif Bars (by donation) at major intersections in the business district of downtown Vancouver. All proceeds go to the Snacks for Kids program. Each Umbrella sale provides 45 snacks to Vancouver’s vulnerable children!

Vancouver Firefighter Charities’ volunteers can be found in the following locations on that day:

• Main Tent: Granville & Georgia Streets (in front of London Drugs)
• Granville Station (Dunsmuir and Granville)
• Waterfront Station (W Cordova between Seymour and Granville)
• Yaletown Roundhouse (Davie and Mainland)

Umbrella Day Gala – The Flying Pig Gastown
November 9, 2016 | 6:00pm – 10:00pm

The team at The Flying Pig in Gastown will host an additional event to support the Umbrella Campaign and Snacks for Kids on the evening of November 9. Guests will enjoy plenty of entertainment, refreshments and the delectable hors d’oeuvres The Flying Pig is famous for. Tickets are $75.

Corncucopia – until November 20 Whistler

 #Cheersto20Years Cornucopia is the True North of food & drink festivals – a place of culinary reckonings, where the wild meets the refined and the epic and the epicurious come together.

NOT TO MISS!

Women of Whistler: Wine 101 with Joanne DiGeso 

Joanne DiGeso hosts this fascinating look at the real-life stories of women who have made their mark on the world of wine as winemakers, winery owners, and industry trendsetters. Through the ages, women with a passion for wine have frequently needed to break social and economic barriers, and to defy conventions and expectations, in order to exercise their talents and skills. Seminar guests will enjoy sipping the fruits of their groundbreaking work while they hear behind-the-scenes stories of some of these important women’s lives. This is a great opportunity to discover some off-the-beaten-path wines that will make a splash on any occasion – and you’ll love sharing the stories with your guests while you entertain. Men are welcome to join us at this engaging event. Don’t be shy!

5:30pm – 7:00pm Seminar
7:00pm – 7:30pm Networking Session with Dames Wines, presented by Mireille Sauve

Winery dinners, grand tastings, culinary demonstrations and events, industry gatherings – including the brand new Cornucopia Wine Summit, all running alongside Cornucopia’s wellness microfestival, Nourish and the Cornucopia Kids cooking day, Cornucopia’s rich and wide-ranging 11 day and night program will deliver its fill of new discoveries and deeper connections with locally inspired and globally relevant ingredients, destinations, flavours and makers.

11 day festival of food + drink, Cornucopia brings together the wild and the refined, and puts the art of eating and drinking centre stage.

Christmas in November – Jasper

Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Edmonton Journal, Calgary Herald and BellMedia invite you to experience the magic of Christmas in November, and I’m so excited to be heading up there tomorrow!