The Hot House Martini is their signature martini on their menu. It’s rich, thick and sweet – you’ll love it.

• 1 oz Pomegranate Liquor
• 1 oz Blueberry liquor
• ½ ozSimple syrup
• ½ oz pomegranate juice
• ½ oz blueberry juice
• 1 oz Lemonade

Fill a martini shaker half full of ice. Add in all ingredients. Shake until the shaker begins to frost. Pour into a chilled, sugar rimmed martini glass.

• 1 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Cranberry juice
• 1 oz Orange juice
• 1 tbsp Blueberry puree

Pour all ingredients into a martini shaker half filled with ice. Shake well. Strain into a chilled, sugar rimmed martini glass. Garnish with fresh blueberries.

Smoked chicken liver and foie gras parfait

“I’ve wanted to run a casual place for years,” said John Blakely, owner of the trendy new French bistro located in downtown Vancouver, Le Parisien. The sidewalk café restaurant opened in early April 2012 with much fanfare and excitement. Until now, Vancouver hasn’t had a lot of options for old-world comfort food.

Albacore tuna tartar

Executive Chef Tobias Grignon has mined the bistro repertoire to bring the best of the best to Le Parisien. The menu boasts a wide selection of classic French cuisine – from smoked chicken liver and foie gras parfait to braised lamb gnocchi.

Braised lamb gnocchi

Other notable dishes include the potted duck rillettes, French onion fondue, and cassoulet de castelnaudary.

Cassoulet de castelnaudary

End the meal on a sweet note with apple tart tatin, citrus parfait or dark chocolate mouse.

Dark chocolate mouse, salted caramel and cocoa nib tuile

Le Parisien’s prices also reflect the French bistro ethos of good food at reasonable prices –is easy on your wallet.

The bistro is open Tuesday – Sunday from 8am – 11pm, with Saturday and Sunday brunch served from 10am – 3pm.

Chefs Across the Water is back for another year at Hastings Country House on Salt Spring Island. The third-annual guest chef program invites distinguished chefs from luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants to participate in a dinner series in June, September and October.

The 2012 Chefs Across the Water participants are:

• Chef Nicholas Nutting, The Wickaninnish Inn, Monday, June 11th
• Chef Lee Parsons, The Wedgewood Hotel, Monday, September 17th
• Chef Terry Pichor, Sonora Resort, Tuesday, October 16th

“We are thrilled to bring chefs with a diverse international repertoire, from the Relais & Châteaux family, here to Hastings House,” said Kelly McAree, Hastings House General Manager. “Our diners will enjoy an exquisite and memorable meal that compliments fully our Salt Spring Island pantry.”

Each chef will prepare a five-course dinner incorporating Salt Spring Island’s produce; seafood that includes, locally caught Dungeness crab and sable fish, as well as lamb and livestock for a foodie’s dream come true.  Wine pairings will be offered to complement the extraordinary menu.

When you’re traveling, sometimes you’re in a hurry, or like to treat yourself. It’s not always about the destination – it’s about the journey getting there. This summer if you have travel plans between Victoria and Vancouver, HeliJet is offering mid-week one-way flights from $179 per person!

It’s an amazing experience from the time you arrive until you arrive at your destination. Plan to arrive about 20-30 minutes before your flight time. After you check-in you can enjoy complimentary snacks and refreshments including coffee, tea, oatmeal, cookies and yogurt.

When it’s time to board, the passengers are escorted to the aircraft. It’s perfectly normal to get one of the staff to get your photo taken with the helicopter – after all, you want to document that you flew on a helicopter!

The Sikorsky helicopter is comfortable and very spacious. The pilots will take you through a quick briefing and then you’re off on your 25-minute harbour-to-harbour scenic journey. Remember to bring your camera!

Even during inclement and most rough weather conditions, daily scheduled flights continue to operate – ensuring passengers arrive safely and on-time.

Photo contributed

 “Telling LGBT stories of love has been a focus of our music since the beginning.” says Sugarbeach’s lesbian singer / songwriter, Marlee Walchuk. “We feel that although many aspects of our community are represented in the media, not nearly enough give us a glimpse of solid, loving relationships.

The openly out and married music duo, Marlee Walchuk and Tully Callendar reflected upon their own ‘love at first sight’ in their latest single, Led Me To You.

“I am so grateful for all the experiences that I had to have before I could be ready to be in this wonderful relationship,” said Callender. “It always amazes me how many things had to line up to make sure that we met and fell in love. It was no easy feat considering I lived in Australia and Marlee lived in Canada…oh and I was straight!”

Produced by Sugarbeach and Jim Walchuk, the song’s energy and ‘feel good’ message is pure Sugarbeach and is a more personal follow up to their gay anthems, “Living Out Proud’ and their 2011 North American Outgames theme song, “Come On Out.”

Winners of Song of the Year for both 2010 and 2011 on the OutVoice Top 40 Charts and 3 Pride in the Arts Awards from the Stonewall Society, Sugarbeach once again endorse a positive form of activism with their new single, Led Me to You.

“We hope that people take away the message from Led Me to You that our life experiences and choices have led us to where we are supposed to be and who we are supposed to be and there is no room in that for regret,” continued Callender.

• To Listen: http://soundcloud.com/sugarbeach/led-me-to-you
• To Buy: http://itunes.apple.com/ca/album/led-me-to-you-single/id525354333

CONTEST

Enter for a chance to win one of two Sugarbeach prize packages including a Sugarbeach tshirt, autographed Not Deserted album, and I Just Love Girls EP.

To enter this contest, subscribe to myWebbSite.ca (located in the top right hand corner).

Receive additional entries by doing the following after you have subscribed:

1. Tweet the following about the contest: “I entered for a chance to win an @sugarbeachmusic prize package from @br_webb #LedMeToYou http://ow.ly/aWj1u”
2. Leave a contest on this blog post on how you met your significant other.

Contest closes at 5:00pm PST, Sunday, May 20, 2012. One random drawn winner will be announced on this blog post on or before Monday, May 21, 2012.

Read the complete contest rules.

Available in red, blue, purple or white, the new jewel-toned Pocket Jockit by Australian designer and manufactuer, aussieBum, will never leave you without a pocket again.

The pocket has been cleverly designed at the front of the pouch. It’s probably not a place where you would want to store your car keys for a night out on the town, but it could be ideal for storing, say, Advil, a condom, or other small items you could imagine.

Made from 89% Supima cotton and 11% elastane, the Pocket Jocket is super soft. The double-stitching is a solid reminder of the quality aussieBum is well known and respected for.

If you like to show off your underwear brand, ‘aussieBum’ is written in big capital letters all the way around the 1.25” black waist band.

Pocket Jocket is only available in a brief style in sizes small through double-XL. For longer lifetime machine wash in cold water and hang dry.

Original Style / Design: ★★★★

Material / Workmanship: ★★★★

Makes a Statement: ★★★

Overall: ★★★★

The newest brand, O.N.E. 100% Coconut Water, has recently started to appear at Starbucks locations and major retailers in Ontario and British Columbia in both 330ml and 1L TetraPaks.  The 45 calorie beverage is packed with electrolytes and potassium that come from young, green coconuts grown and harvested in Philippines and Brazil.

Long distance runners loose a significant amount of potassium and salt because of prolonged insensitive sweating.  Typically sports drinks and other supplements are used to replace those lost nutrients. Coconut water is an ideal choice for those who strive to maintain natural or whole food diets while training, especially because it has no added sugar or flavours.

“Increasingly, consumers are searching for natural and highly-effective sources of hydration to look and feel their best,” says Chis Cook, VP of Marketing at O.N.E. Coconut Water. “We are excited to bring the O.N.E. difference to Canadians. O.N.E. is packaged to deliver the best possible fresh from the coconut taste. Teamed with its super hydrating benefits, there’s a good reason this natural and refreshing beverage is protected by the armour of a coconut!

Give it a try on your next LSD training run – it might just be the natural option that works for you. And if you pick-up some and you decide it’s not really your thing, you can always use it as mix for a cocktail.

Gigantic waterslides. Above ground pools. DJ’s. Bars. Hot guys. The fun, wet and wild times are hitting LA Pride for the first time as SummerTramp, a 10,000 square foot portable water park party, slides into West Hollywood for the first time ever for the June 8-10 event.

“West Hollywood Park has been totally renovated for 2012 and this wonderful space has allowed us to be super creative. SummerTramp is already a wildly popular downtown event and now our attendees can ‘Swim and Slide with Pride,’” said Jeff Consoletti, Event Producer. “SummerTramp will help LA PRIDE totally blow it out of the water.”

SummerTramp at LA PRIDE will feature the biggest water slide in California, two above ground pools and a mix of the hottest local DJ’s and hosts all weekend, including Aaron Elvis, Casey Alva, Josh Peace, Chris Bowen, Daisy O’Dell and more. Victor Rodriguez will host

‘The Mess Around Lot Hop’ on both Saturday and Sunday night. “SummerTramp is a hidden paradise where drag queens flirt with lesbians, leather daddy’s swim with WeHo boys, east-side hipsters hang with DTLA queens, jocks canoodle with twinks and gay guys meet ladies,” said co-creator Andres Rigal. “It’s an amazing mix of people of all stripes and dots celebrating summer… together!” Rigal created SummerTramp with international promoter Luke Nero.

SummerTramp, the official LA PRIDE water park, is free with event admission. Advance tickets are on sale now.

Originating from New Orleans, this is quite possibly the world’s oldest cocktail, and still one of the best. It’s like the Green Faerie visits the Whiskey A-Go-Go. See ya in the Big Easy!

• 2oz Rye Whiskey
• Splash Absinthe
• Dash of Bitters
• Twist of lemon

Fill a small rock with ice. Pour in whiskey, Absinthe and bitters. Squeeze in a twist of lemon.

• 7 Fresh Raspberries
• 1 oz Vodka
• 1 oz Chambord
• 1/2 oz Crème de cassis
• Squeeze Fresh lemon juice
• Squeeze Fresh lime juice

In the bottom of a martini shaker, muddle raspberries. Add a half a cup of ice and the remaining ingredients. Shake vigorously until martini shaker begins to frost. Strain into a chilled martini glass.

Raspberry puree can be substituted for fresh raspberries.

Give Chase Young a dance floor, play some good beats and hand him a slushed margarita and he’s content all night long. Yes, 19 year-old gay porn star, Chase Young loves to go out and have a good time with his friends. But he is also one of the most genuine and down-to-earth person you’ll ever meet.

From his home town in Montgomery, Alabama, Chase grew up surrounded by great friends and a warm, loving family.

“My favorite childhood memory is heading to the beach all the time with my mom and her friends,” Chase recalled. “I love the outdoors and anything outdoors. I exercise every day now.”

On top of his good looks, sexy eyes,  and his cravings of chocolate and junk food, Chase is a well-read individual.

“I am very book smart, which comes as a shock to most people,” laughed Chase. “I like reading about world culture.”

As much as Chase loves books, his ideal date won’t be at a library. No, he prefers places that are more social.

“Something besides a Ruby Tuesday’s,” Chase laughed as he described what would make an ideal first date. “A picnic under the stars, on a beach or a nice dim lit old café playing soft jazz in the background.”

If you ever get the pleasure to meet Chase on a dance floor, at a book store, or on one of his many adventures, he’s a great guy to talk to and is always up for a night of dancing.

Chase debuted on BoyNorthLive.com in 2011 and has done a number since with Helix Studios.

It’s the irresistible story and unforgettable songs of one of the most popular Disney films of all times, Mary Poppins, and Broadway Across Canada is bringing the show to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from July 17 – 22, 2012.

“This is the rare touring production that over-delivers on every level!!!” raved Variety.

Even the New York Post rated the show 4 out of 4 stars and called the show “a certifiable super hit!”

There will be brand-new dance numbers and spectacular stage-craft, making Mary Poppins everything you could ever want in a Broadway show!

Presale tickets:

• Time: May 11, 2012 at 10:00am  – May 13, 2012 at 10:00pm
• http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/139293/1320016?brand=bac
• Presale code: FLYING

This summer, some of the hottest acts including Marianas Trench, Joe Jonas, One Republic, Dragonette, Cobra Starship, and Carly Rae Jepson, are coming to perform at Playland from July 6-8, 2012.

The teen-targeted music festival is the first-ever of its kind in North America. All together there will be 21 exciting live concerts, seven each day over the three day event.

“We’re thrilled to be able to offer this incredible teen summer music festival and believe it will be a great way for youth to kick-off the summer season,” said Mike McDaniel, President and CEO, Pacific National Exhibition.  “We think it’s a fantastic addition to our summer programming at Playland and will be a great lead in to our 17-day Summer Night Concert Series that happens nightly during the Fair at the PNE.”

The PNE amphitheater stage acts include Dragonette, Carly Rae Jepsen, Marianas Trench, Danny Fernandes, Gym Class Heroes, OneRepublic, Hot Chelle Rae, Joe Jonas and Cobra Starship.

Park Stage acts: DiRTY Radio, Kaylee Johnston, Neverest, The Proper Villains, Jackie Valentine, Eric Solomon, Kristina Maria, Jesse Giddings, Victoria Duffield, and The New Cities.

Single and multi-day concert ticket holders will have full access to all the rides at Playland too.

Tickets are now on sale through Ticket Leader or and the PNE. Single Day tickets are $59 for Bleachers, $89 for Floor and $129 for VIP.  Three day Festival Passes are $159 for Bleachers, $229 for Floor and $329 for VIP.

Photo Credit: Jay Minter

After 17 weeks of training, and personal bests in 5km, 10km and half-marathons this spring running season, it all led up to my big moment – the BMO Vancouver Marathon – a brand new 42.2km course which garnered attention from the international running community and Forbes Magazine.

The day started off at a cool 4’c with clear, blue sunny skies as the race started off at 8:00am. Over 5,000 elite and dedicated marathon runners lined up for their big moment, myself included. With the singing of O’Canada by Mark Donnelly, the gun went off and the race for the finish line was on.

The course was fantastic and the energy was amazing. Passing through each neighbourhood there streets were lined with spectators the entire route enthusiastically cheering on the runners and holding signs of encouragement.

Photo Credit: Jay Minter

Of course the marathon would not have been such a success without the army of volunteers who helped put on the event. From handing out water, Gatorade, gels and bars, to ensuring the course was safely laid out and monitored throughout the morning – it was a job well done. Along the course the cheer stations and music challenges kept the participants motivated and spectators entertained and a great buzz in the atmosphere.

Also new on the course was the increase in water stations – every mile located along the 42km course. For this year the water stations proved to be invaluable as temperatures skyrocketed into the 15’c+ range. Many participants after the race comments how they quickly became dehydrated along the course, impacting their overall time.

Photo Credit: Jay Minter

The last 2.2km of the course was a gentle uphill slope, but the streets were lined with enthusiastic crowds. It was an emotional feeling of running through the streets of downtown Vancouver and feeling the overwhelming support along the final home stretch. It made the pain disappear and the finish line so much more rewarding.

Overall the new course has been welcomed by the running community and will be looked up as a new challenge and benchmark for the years to come.

Thank you for the encouragement from my online community who supported me on my marathon training journey, friends who endeared another season of my training, and the amazing pace-leaders and clinic members from Denman Running Room. A special thank you to everyone who came out to volunteer, cheer and help put on a fantastic race day.

Most importantaly, an extra big thank you for my race day hero’s, Jay Minter and Billy Hurr, for their outstanding race support. They were amazing – from grabbing my water belt that I forgot at home (which they delivered to me 7km into the race!),  and cheering me on at 5 separate locations along the course, to tossing me fresh water bottles, taking photos and keeping everyone informed on social media of my progress along the race.

Photo Credit: Jay Minter

Although I did not set a new personal best on this run, I really enjoyed the new course and I am looking forward to running it again. Here are my final results:

• Gun Time: 3:50:40
• Chip Time: 3:50: 36
• Place Overall: 1099 / 5000 (top 22%)
• Pace: 5:28 / km
• Male 30-34: 133/325 (top 41%)
• Male Overall: 835/2396 (top 35%)
• First Half: 1:45:48 / Second Half: 2:04:49

For two-time Olympic athlete, world champion and member of the Canadian World Cup mogul team, Canadian freestyle skier Kristi Richards is a person with a passion, dream and dedication to her discipline.

Kristi first set her feet onto a pair of skis when she was just three years old and from that moment onwards she has been in love with the sport.

“I want to go to the Olympics,” said Kristi, reflecting back on her dreams as a child. “I want to win a gold medal for Canada.”

After years of training, the Summerland, BC native knew she had to take her skiing career to the next level. In 2005 her community got behind her and helped raise the funds she needed to go to her first Olympics in Torino.

In the lead up to the Torino Olympics, Kristi suffered two major injuries.

“I knew I had to go to the Olympics,” Kristi said. “I didn’t matter if I won, lost, or crashed. If you’re going for greatness, that path will be worth it.”

Kristi recovered and continued to train for her first-ever Olympic competition. She knew she had to reach her childhood dream.

“I love to see what’s physically possible,” Kristi said as she recalled her training and what motivated her on her journey. “It came down to my values. I love to learn. I was learning so much about myself. It was great.”

Every race and competition for an athlete is exciting and emotional, and for Kristi, the Torino Olympics were no different.

“I was so nervous the day before the event, I couldn’t even ski three moguls,” Kristi said. “I was the first women to go on the first day of the competition. I knew this was my moment. I can open the games!”

As Kristi stood in the ready position at the gate at the top of the course she was nervous.

“I couldn’t train any more. This is it,” Kristi described the moment in vivid detail. “I saw my family in the crowd and I knew I could do no wrong.”

Kristi ended up reaching her goal of placing in the top 10 by placing 7^th overall.

In 2007, Kristi committed to participating in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. There were challenges for her there too. The Canadian womens freestyle mogul team was starting with all brand new members.

Kirsti was going in on a strong note. She had just won the gold medal at the 2007 World Cup and knew there was a lot of hard work in the years ahead.

“I was focused on the goal ahead,” Kristi said as she recalled all the physical and mental training she had to do along the way. “It’s not simple to get your mind to be quiet and to focus.”

Kristi decided to make some personal sacrifices so she could stay focused. She changed her cell phone number, paid attention to nutrition, and put her social calendar on hold in the year leading up to the Olympics. This was the dedication she has as an Olympic caliber athlete.

“I said not to media appearance,” Kristi said as she described her focused level of commitment to her training. “In the long run it’s not going to make me a better skier.”

Kristi decided that in order to make her Vancouver 2010 Olympic moment special she would attempt a jump no women in the Olympics had ever done before.

“I was confident because I didn’t miss a beat,” Kristi said. “I chose it because I was scared of jumping. If I kept doing all my regular jumps, then I’m just going to get by. Why not go to my full potential? I learned how to trust myself. My coaches. Others.”

At the end of her training Kristi learned something very valuable. To believe.

“I learned how to believe. For greatness. For myself. I wanted to see the sport grow and evolve. This is why Kristi pushed herself so hard.

The day before her big race the weather was not cooperative.

“I went through six pairs of gloves and goggles and I put on a trench coat after every run,” Kristi said. She knew she has a competitive edge because she had trained in these conditions before and as a seasoned pro, she was not going to be thrown off guard. “I knew I was going to rise above it or get over it.”

On the day of the race, Kristi was again full of confidence.

“I stood up there so proud of myself,” Kristi recalled as she stood once again at the gates at the top of the Olympic race course, this time in Vancouver. “I can remember the humidity in the air.”

As Kristi descended down the hill she was full of power and strength.

“In that spit second I was going for gold, not bronze.”

It started off so well, and then disaster struck.

“I skied that run so fast that I missed a few pole plants and crashed in the middle of the run. I knew when I crashed that gold was gone.”

Although the hearts of many Canadians sunk, Kristi wasn’t going to let it get her down. She trained hard for this moment and she wanted to finish what she originally set-out to do.

“Most people just get up and ski off the course, but I wanted to do this jump. I took in the engery from below. I remember taking four deep breathes. I counted them. I collected my thoughts and continued down the course. I did the best back fold of my life!”

Although Kristi did not medal at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics games she can be very proud of her achievements and acomplishments.

“I laid everything out on the table,” Kristi said, as she described how she overcame her fears and challenges and what she was able to do as an athlete. “I am proud of that.”

After taking some time off, Kristi has decided to try again to compete in another Olympic competition.

Kristi, I wish you good luck on your journey. You’re an inspiration.

Photo contributed.

Spring has sprung, and flowers aren’t the only beautiful things popping up this season! aussieBum has just released the new Journey collection of super cute briefs and trunks.

The 1.25” waistband has the signature white and red aussieBum logo with sporty pin-stripping on the elastic waistband. If you like people to know what brand of underwear you’re wearing, the aussieBum logo will certainly show-off perfectly with a pair of low-rise jeans.

Make a statement. Journey is available in sunshine yellow, fire engine red or royal blue. For the more conservative, they are also available in white or black.

Available in sizes small to extra large, the Australian designed and manufactured underwear are made from 90% nylon and 10% elastic. The material makes the Journey collection comfortable, form fitting, and durable. The thread is the same colour as the material, which makes your natural curves stand out.

Take care of your underwear; wash with care! The Journey collection is safe to wash in a machine on gentle cycle and are best hung to dry. Do not wring them out, tumble try or iron.

aussieBum offers free shipping world-wide when you order from their online store.

Review:

Original Style / Design: ★★★

Material / Workmanship: ★★★★

Makes a Statement: ★★★★

Overall: ★★★★

• 1 oz Raspberry Vodka
• 1 oz Raspberry Sour Puss
• 1 oz Blue Curacao
• 1/2 oz Grenadine

Add vodka, sour puss and curaçao in a martini shaker half full of ice. Shake. Pour into a chilled martini glass. Carefully and slowly, add grenadine.

• 1 oz Bailey’s
• 1 oz Sambuca
• Club Soda

Fill a cocktail glass with ice. Pour in Bailey’s, then the Sambuca. Top off with club soda. Garnish with a fresh strawberry.

Over the past four months myself and a group of official Run|Van bloggers have been documenting our marathon training. We have shared helpful tips, advice, and training guidance. On Saturday, May 5, three of the Van|Run bloggers, including myself, will be on the main stage at the Health, Sports and Lifestyle Expo to talk about our journey and the important role social media plays in our running and local communities.

Audience members are encouraged to participate and ask questions to the blogger panelists. Questions can range from how we got into social media and the role blogging plays in the marathon community, to our experiences in sports and running.

Date: Saturday, May 5, 2012
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Location: Hall C, Canada Place

I look forward to seeing you there!