ariane c design, a communication design studio specializing in art direction, graphic design, logo identity, copy editing, proofreading and web design

  • Charity

  • Jun6

    No Comments

    Nat Bailey Celebrity Softball Game

    Posted in: Charity, Events, Sports, Vancouver

    Vancouver Canadians

    The Vancouver Canadians’ Strike Out Heart Disease Celebrity Softball Game aims to raise funds for the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation in supporting research and awareness on the risks of heart disease.
     
    On June 12, two teams of local media (TV, print, and radio) as well as local celebrities and dignitaries will compete at Scotiabank Field at Nat Bailey Stadium in a five-inning celebrity softball event. The public is welcome to enjoy this fun battle and inaugural event.
     
    Admission will be by donation (suggested minimum donation $2). 100% of proceeds will go to Saint Paul’s Hospital Foundation. Gates open to the public at 6 pm; first pitch will be at 7:05.

    The Celebrity Softball Game is a great way to gear up for the Vancouver Canadians’ home opener on Monday, June 17. This summer, the Canadians will defend their record-breaking back-to-back Northwest League 2011 and 2012 Championship wins.

    The sushi rolls
    [The sushi rolls]

    Expect the same great energy as at any Vancouver Canadians home game, including the dancing groundskeepers, sushi races, and a full concession.
     
    The game will also kick off the in-season Vancouver Canadians Strike Out Heart Disease campaign. A cash donation is made per strikeout, with Vancouver Canadians owner Jake Kerr matching all funds up to $25,000 through his family’s Foundation.

    During last year’s season, the Canadians threw 570 strikeouts, raising $14,250 for the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation.

    Save the date for the Annual Father’s Day catch on Sunday, June 16 between 1 and 3 pm.

    Strike Out Heart Disease Softball Game
    Date: June 12, gates at 6 pm; first pitch at 7:05 pm
    Venue: Nat Bailey Stadium, 4601 Ontario Street, Vancouver
    Admission: Suggested $2 minimum donation; all are welcome

  • May24

    No Comments

    Fable Kitchen Turns One!

    Posted in: Charity, Dining, Events, Kitsilano, Vancouver, Wine

    Fable Kitchen opening-1
    [Fable's Executive Chef Trevor Bird]

    On Thursday June 6, Fable Kitchen Restaurant will celebrate its one year anniversary with a charity event to benefit FarmFolk CityFolk.

    Fable, brought together by Top Chef Canada Season 2’s Chef Trevor Bird with partners Ron MacGillivray and Kathy Schleyer has struck a cord with Vancouver diners.

    Fable Kitchen opening-8

    Fable was voted Best New Restaurant of 2012 by both The Georgia Straight (Golden Plates Award) and West Ender Magazine. Where Magazine voted Fable as last year’s Best New Restaurant; it also made the top 10 Canadian restaurant list. Additionally, The London Financial Times highlighted Fable as one of the five restaurants to visit in Vancouver.

    A canapé and wine charitable event will be held in celebration of Fable’s highly successful first year. All profits from the event will benefit FarmFolk CityFolk, a not-for-profit society that works to cultivate a local, sustainable food system. FarmFolk’s projects provide access and protection of our food sources, support local growers and producers, and engage communities in the celebration of local food.

    The evening will be sponsored by Vintage Corks, featuring Intersection wines from the Okanagan Valley. Live fiddle music will serve as the evening’s entertainment.

    Your ticket will include wine, food, and entertainment.

    Fable Kitchen opening-5

    Fable’s One Anniversary Party Benefitting FarmFolk CityFolk
    Date: Thursday, June 6, 6 to 9 pm
    Venue: Fable Kitchen, 1944 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver
    Tickets: $45; phone the restaurant for tickets at 604.732.1322

  • Apr29

    No Comments

    Vancouver Food Talks Volume 8

    Posted in: Charity, Events, Vancouver

    Chef Karen Barnaby
    [Chef Karen Barnaby]

    Vancouver Food Talks returns in June with its eighth edition in the series, celebrating one year of hosting inspiring speakers from our local food community! This edition of Food Talks is themed 5 Iconic Women Chefs. 

    Each of these inspiring women will talk about what they do and their role as a woman chef in the food community. 

    Volume 8’s five women chef speakers will be:
    Chef Karen Barnaby
    Karen has lived and worked in Toronto, cooking at The Rivoli and the David Wood Food Shop. In Mexico, she worked as a private chef. Vancouver has been her home since 1991 where she has held the position of Executive Chef at both the Raintree Restaurant and the Fish House in Stanley Park. Her current role is Chef of Product and Business Development for Albion Fisheries, Intercity Packers, and Fresh Start Foods under the Gordon Food Service umbrella.

    Chef Meeru Dhalwala
    Meeru Dhalwala was born in India and moved to Washington, DC, at a very young age with her parents. In DC, she worked with various international non-profit organizations on human rights and economic development projects. She received a Master’s degree in Development Studies from Bath University in England. In 1995, Meeru moved to Vancouver and joined her husband, Vikram, to work at his newly opened restaurant, Vij’s. She quickly took over the menu responsibilities and has been creating new dishes since the summer of 1995.

    Chef Susan Mendelson
    Susan has shared her recipes on radio, television, and in her 10 cookbooks. After 30 years, Susan still feels passionate about delicious and beautiful food and believes that only the finest ingredients should go into any food that is created. Susan has supported several key organizations, donating a percentage of her book royalties to Big Sisters of BC, the Vancouver Jewish Family Service Agency Food programs and others.

    Chef Angie Quaale
    Angie Quaale founded Well Seasoned in 2004 after working for several years in hotels and fine dining. Her successful career has focused on commercial food sales, menu development, and retail food distribution.

    Chef Merri Schwartz
    A deep passion for food and agriculture led Schwartz to found Growing Chefs! Chefs for Children’s Urban Agriculture in 2005. This Vancouver-based, non-profit organization pairs chef volunteers with elementary school classrooms, where chefs help students plant, grow, and cook their own vegetables. Schwartz founded Growing Chefs! with the hope that sustainable practices will become integral to living and cooking in Vancouver and beyond.
     
    Enjoy tasty appetizers prepared by the chefs at The Westin Grand followed by the talks. After the speakers, Richard Wolak, Founder of Food Talks, will moderate a Q&A, offering the audience a chance to ask questions and engage with the speakers. There will also be a draw for prizes. Wine, beer, cocktails and other beverages will be available for purchase.

    Growing Chefs will be the event’s designated charity, an organization that educates children on the food community in public schools.

    Food Talks Volume 8
    Date: Tuesday, June 11, 6:30 to 9:30 pm
    Venue: The Westin Grand, 433 Robson Street, Vancouver
    Early Bird Tickets: $18 per person before April 30 (11:30 pm); Advance Tickets: $30 per person after April 30. After June 8, regular tickets will be $40 per person.
    All tickets exclude Eventbrite fee.
    A donation of $3 from each ticket purchased will go to support Growing Chefs.

  • Apr23

    No Comments

    Rare Finds 2013 at VanDusen Garden

    Posted in: Charity, Cocktails, Dining, Events, Fundraising, Vancouver, Wine

    Executive Chef Dana Hauser, Pastry Chef Stephanie Greenslade
    [Executive Chef Dana Hauser, Pastry Chef Stephanie Greenslade at 2012's Rare Finds]

    Rare Finds is an annual fundraising cocktail party to benefit the Rare Disease Foundation. The 2013 event will be held at VanDusen Botanical Garden, hosting many of Vancouver’s top chefs and pastry artists in a naturally beautiful setting. Now in its fourth year, this popular event will include both a silent and live auction, delicious bites, and open wine and rare martini bars. I attended last year—it was a fabulous night on the town. Here’s a photo set from that memorable evening as well.

    little girl

    The Rare Disease Foundation is committed to growing and developing a community that provides a new approach for rare disease research and care. The organization provides funding to inspired clinicians and scientists for their patient-focused projects.

    small boys

    These studies directly impact the care and the quality of life of a child affected by a rare disease. Event proceeds will benefit these extraordinary children.

    As a media sponsor this year, I chose to highlight a few of the chefs that will be creating their rare finds at the upcoming event.
    Read the rest of the post »

  • Mar8

    No Comments

    2nd Annual Jour de Macaron

    Posted in: Bakery, Charity, Events, Vancouver

    Jour de Macaron banner

    Jour de Macaron returns to Thierry on March 20, a new annual tradition in Vancity inspired by the Relais Desserts International Association.

    “We want to celebrate both the delight of this simple pleasure, and show our support for a great cause,” says Chef Thierry. “We invite all of our friends to drop by the shop and join in the fête.”

    For the occasion, Chef Thierry has created a spring-inspired “Cherry Blossom” macaron, featuring a honey bush tea shell, honey butter cream, and the chef’s signature cherry jam in the centre, with 10% of that day’s macaron proceeds to be donated to the St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation.

    Known for using fine artisanal ingredients, a selection of Chef Thierry’s wonderful, colourful macaron creations will also be available in other flavours, including house favourites Chocolate, Pink Praline, Lime, Salted Caramel and others.

    Thierry is located at 1050 Alberni Street in downtown Vancouver.

  • Feb25

    No Comments

    2013 Dining Out for Life

    Posted in: Charity, Dining, Events, Lower Mainland, Vancouver, Whistler Blackcomb, White Rock

    Dining Out for Life launch-6
    [Sheena Sergeant, Lisa Martella at Dining Out for Life 2012 launch, Coast Restaurant's O Lounge]

    Dining Out For Life, BC’s largest restaurant fundraiser, returns for its 19th year on Thursday, March 7. Nearly 200 restaurants have signed on to contribute 25% of their total food sales from breakfast, lunch, and dinner to two great Vancouver charities, Friends For Life and A Loving Spoonful.

    Both vital organizations support people living in our communities with HIV/AIDS.

    Forage/Executive Chef Chris Whittaker
    [Forage Executive Chef Chris Whittaker]

    “The loyalty and commitment of our long time participating restaurants, from White Rock to Whistler, never fails to amaze and inspire me,” says Sheena Sargeant, Executive Director of Friends For Life. “And the support of our Honourary Executive Chef, Chris Whittaker, from forage Restaurant, who’s commitment to sustainable farm-to-table dining, helps draw attention to our focus on living well and supporting our local community.”

    “And it is so wonderful that our twelve new restaurant partners, who have been drawn from across the Lower Mainland and the downtown communities, recognize that there is an ongoing need to support people living with HIV/AIDS in our communities,” adds Lisa Martella, Executive Director at A Loving Spoonful.

    Forage/Pacific provider salmon, Pemberton potatoes, sea asparagus, pickled huckleberries
    [Forage’s Pacific provider salmon, Pemberton potatoes, sea asparagus, pickled huckleberries]

    2013 also marks a new bonus for those dining out on March 7: the Vancity 20% Off Tuesday Savings Card, offering a 20% saving on food purchased every Tuesday until February 2014 at the 15 participating Lower Mainland restaurants. The card is just a small token of appreciation to those guests who visit a participating restaurant on March 7.

    Don’t forget to fill out the form at any of the Dining Out for Life restaurants for a chance at some great prizes including two roundtrip flights on Helijet and dinner for two at Victoria’s Blue Crab Bar and Grill plus an Ocean Magic Cruiser Tour from Prince of Whales Whale Watching Tours, tickets to a BC Lions or Vancouver Giants game and more.

    “When you dine out on March 7th you are putting food on the plates of many individuals and their families living with HIV/AIDS,” says Martella. “A couple spending $80 at a Dining Out For Life restaurant will provide meals for 5 people through A Loving Spoonful.”

    Follow Dining Out for Life updates on Twitter and Facebook.

  • Feb22

    No Comments

    2013 Spring West Coast Women’s Show

    Posted in: Charity, Cocktails, East Vancouver, Events, Fashion, Health, Music, Wellness

    Joshua Morrow
    [Joshua Morrow. Photo credit: Charles William Bush]

    Get ready for the ultimate girls’ weekend as the inaugural Spring West Coast Women’s Show comes to town next week. Western Canada’s largest and most successful women’s consumer event is set to premier its much-anticipated Spring Show at Vancouver’s PNE Forum.

    The 2013 Spring West Coast Women’s Show will feature celebrities, fashion, food, décor, health and wellness, fitness and a wide variety of products and services for women in the Lower Mainland. Over 200 exhibitors will showcase the latest trends and the hottest products. Get inspired, shop ‘til you drop, nourish your mind, body, and spirit, and enjoy celebrity speakers and high-energy fashion shows on the Main Stage.
    Read the rest of the post »

  • Feb19

    2 Comments

    FWE Gala: La Dolce Vita

    Posted in: Charity, Cocktails, Events, Fundraising, Networking, Vancouver, Wine

    2013 FWE Gala

    This is my third year covering the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs Gala; each year, the theme and guest speaker changes however the message and camaraderie don’t.

    2013 FWE Gala-13

    This year, a La Dolce Vita theme was chosen to highlight the 11th annual event that raises funds to help support women in their journey to entrepreneurship.

    2013 FWE Gala-4

    A silent auction was held throughout the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel’s ballroom lobby while an accordionist entertained guests.

    2013 FWE Gala silent auction 2013 FWE Gala silent auction 2013 FWE Gala silent auction 2013 FWE Gala silent auction

    By 6 pm, the room was fully packed with women (and men) from all industries, mingling and networking over wine and canapés.

    eBay Canada founder/Gilt Groupe's Alexis Maybank
    [eBay Canada founder/Gilt Groupe's Alexis Maybank]

    I had a few moments to sit inside the beautifully decorated ballroom with keynote speaker Alexis Maybank. Alexis started eBay Canada in 1999, leaving the US for one year to live in Toronto. She’s currently part of the Gilt Groupe duo, an online shopping site currently worth over $1 billion dollars with more than five million members. Together with fellow New York City mom Alexandra Wilkis Wilson, they started with a combined passion for sample sale shopping that’s led to an enormously popular “flash sale” e-commerce site. Gilt Groupe is now the go-to source for online fashion deals.

    2013 FWE Gala: Alexis Maybank, Emcee Monika Deol, Pamela Martin
    [Alexis Maybank, Emcee Monika Deol, Pamela Martin]

    Alexis has a business background, and spent the 90’s in Silicon Valley, honing her e-commerce, product development, and marketing background. She’s all about creating online experiences.

    As I spoke with Alexis, it dawned on me that even though last night was her first Canadian speaking engagement, she does as much as possible to support female entrepreneurs as a member of New York City’s FWE. She’s also involved with two organizations, Springboard Enterprises (on the Media/Tech Council), and Girls Who Code (on the Board of Directors), fostering high school girls to continue their tech/coding interests, even though “it’s not cool”.

    And if that’s not time consuming enough, she’s recently been added to the Audubon Society’s board of directors.

    We also bonded over our former beloved San Francisco neighbourhood, Noe Valley, and learned that we lived about four blocks away from one another (though at different time periods)! Alexis is an easy-going, soft-spoken woman who’s given a tremendous amount of her time and talent to several organizations throughout the States.

    2013 FWE Gala: Christina Anthony, CFA, Premier Christy Clark, Gilt Groupe's Alexis Maybank
    [Christina Anthony, CFA, Premier Christy Clark, Gilt Groupe's Alexis Maybank]

    The evening continued with a delicious supper and live auction. Premier Christy Clark gave a speech at this year’s gala as well. Clark’s most memorable comment? “I believe that government should get out of the way of entrepreneurs like you”, with regard to Alexis Maybank. Alexis seemed to engage the Twitter crowd as well, proclaiming “It’s no longer OK to have a 30 second pitch. Find a way to get your message out in 5 to 10 seconds”.

    2013 FWE Gala dinner table

    As if 140 characters weren’t hard enough to formulate a brilliant thought.

    The sold out gala saw over 500 attendees. That’s truly amore.

  • Jan7

    No Comments

    2013 Taste BC at Pan Pacific Hotel

    Posted in: Charity, Craft Beer, Events, Vancouver, Wine

    Best of BC Terrine
    [Best of BC Terrine Appetizer]

    Looking to help raise money for a worthy cause in the new year? Check out Taste BC on January 15 at the Pan Pacific Hotel. I attended this event in 2011 and found it an enjoyable evening of tastes and conversation.

    Therapy Wine selection
    [A Selection of Therapy Wines]

    Together with several prominent BC wineries, craft breweries, and cider makers, this event will feature tastes from Rodney’s Oyster House, Hagensborg Chocolates, Savoury Chef, The Vinegar Lady and others, all in support of BC Children’s Hospital’s Oak Tree Clinic.

    Oak Tree Clinic interior
    [Oak Tree Clinic photo courtesy of BC Children's Hospital]

    This clinic offers the following valuable services to women and children:

    - Provides specialized clinical care for women and children living with HIV/AIDS including adult, pediatric, and OB/GYN physicians, dietitians, outreach workers, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers
    - Improves access to care in a safe environment
    - Educates patients and their families, other health care workers, organizations and institutions, and the public about the complex issues of HIV infection in women and children
    - Advocates for improved prevention, diagnosis, care and support
    - Contributes to clinically oriented research and improved access to clinical trials and other research for women and children

    Taste BC poster

    Tickets are still available at Liberty Wine Merchants locations. Taste BC is supported by the Get Home Safe Program.

    Taste BC
    Date: January 15, 4:30 to 7:30 pm
    Venue: Pan Pacific Vancouver, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver
    Tickets: $49.99; purchase at any Liberty Wine Merchants location

« Previous Entries
return home