Bravo Restaurant and Lounge
46224 Yale Rd, Chilliwack. 604.792.7721

To the locals, Bravo Restaurant & Lounge holds the reputation of simply the best martinis in the area, and it is well deserved. Don’t let its location or outward appearance fool you – this award winning restaurant is a little piece of the big city right here in the Fraser Valley. Many of their martinis are made using their signature infused vodkas, which they’ve been creating in-house for years. Unwind and reconnect in this warm and relaxing atmosphere while sipping on a Fellini Martini.

by Ode to the Ordinary

The Vault
5764 176 Street, Surrey 604.576.4243

With its eclectic and funky décor, The Vault provides the perfect meeting place for those looking for a little something out of the ordinary. Grab the girls and head out on a Wednesday for $3.75 martinis, or on a Thursday for $4.00 cocktails. Atmosphere is casually upbeat and commonly accompanied by live entertainment in the evenings. Thinking about desert? Their Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie always gets rave reviews.

by Ode to the Ordinary

Eighteen 27
9185 Glover Road, Fort Langley. 604.455.0211

Leave the office behind and escape to Eighteen 27 for an evening of live music, great food and a fabulous selection of martinis. Located on the main strip in historic Fort Langley, this tapas and martini lounge offers a unique dining experience, and an incredible atmosphere showcasing local art. Thursday nights are ladies nights, and with social martinis on special for $5, you’ll want to try a few (they have 28 different kinds!).  Don’t miss their signature martini, the 1827 if you are looking for something unique. Its light and fresh taste combined with the sweetness of Asian pear and lychee flavours will certainly not disappoint.  Eighteen 27 fully embraces “share plate” concept dining, by making their varied menu items perfect for nibbling while sipping martinis. With their large selection of food items, it can be overwhelming just to pick a few. Our recommendations? Be sure to try the Truffled Gnocchi paired with the Braised Beef Short Rib. They melt in your mouth.

Ulounge
#10 16051 24^th Ave, South Surrey. 604-542-8580

A restaurant that doubles as a dancing lounge on Friday & Saturday nights, Ulounge is the perfect destination for a lively girl’s night out that has the potential to go until the wee hours of the morning. Dramatic décor and multi-coloured lighting adds class to this South Surrey lounge. Daily specials such as Thursday $5.99 martinis and wing Wednesdays makes things easier on the wallet. Plus, with martinis like Tiramisu and Strawberry Ripple, you won’t even need dessert (although they do serve them)!

Blustone Bistro & Lounge
2607 Ware St, Abbotsford. 604.851.2583

This bistro & lounge features New York style influences, offering a mixture of both high and low seating, ready to suit your mood. Their liquids menu is vast, including martinis by the names of Black Widow, Baked Apple Pie and their signature Blutini. If a man happens to crash your girl’s night out, you can always dare him to try the Mantini (a mixture of vodka, jager, raspberry flavours and red bull)!

by Ode to the Ordinary

Lava Dining & Lounge
22590 Dewdney Trunk Road, Maple Ridge 604.476.0056

With its brightly coloured walls, dark tables and low lighting, Lava Dining & Lounge has created an intimate yet casual fine dining atmosphere well-suited for catching up with friends. Servers are attentive and readily available to review the menu with guests. Their whimsically-named martini list (including  the Keylime Quickie and the infamous Gummy Bear Martini) make this a go-to destination for an original martini experience. Lava Lounge even caters to the coffee lover, with their delish Chocolate Latte. In fact, we recommend skipping desert and just having two of the Chocolate Latte Martinis because they are that good. Visit on a Wednesday for $3.95 house martinis, or on Thursday for All-You-Can-Eat Penn Cove Mussels.

For any fun night out in the Fraser Valley, remember to plan ahead, give your friends lots of notice and always make sure you have a safe drive home!

There is so much to do at this free Fraser Valley festival! Amazing local talent, a cruise in, pancake breakfasts, a kids carnival, the marketplace and of course the Torchlight Parade on Saturday night at 9PM. For a full schedule of Spirit of the Sea events, please click here.

by CanadaGood

www.spiritofthesea.ca

There is nothing quite like a plump, sweet or a small, tart blueberry.  We are blessed to live in the Fraser Valley where blueberries are abundant and farmers have perfected the crops of these delicious berries. Many years we find our freezers stacked with fresh blueberries collected from the local farms during the summer. This year will be no different, we’re sure.

Now in their 18th year of growing blueberries, the folks at Aloutte Tree Farm have just opened AloutteFresh. AlouetteFresh is a smoothie and fresh blueberry shack located at 23082 132nd Avenue in Maple Ridge.  Conveniently located at the roadside, this sweet little gem is somewhere quick, easy and awfully lovely to visit! Juicy smoothies are quickly prepared as you wait – a perfect summer refreshment. True Blue is for the blueberry lover and is only $2.25 including tax. The other flavours include a variety of other fruits and cost just $3.99.

You will find the freshest, loveliest blueberries at AlouetteFresh for just $1.99/lb and live blueberry plants are available for purchase as well. The fresh blueberries you buy from Alouette Tree Farm and AlouetteFresh are picked that morning or the morning before only. After that, the little delights meet the freezer and become ready for you to enjoy seasonal berries in any season! Blueberries are available May through September because they grow 10 different varieties. So if you’re looking for a specific berry to bake with or eat on its own or to put in compotes, etc – AlouetteFresh can hook you up with exactly what you’re after.

Every Friday these lovely folks deliver blueberries throughout the Lower Mainland to smoothie bars, local restaurants and individuals who really like blueberries You can order your blueberries online – so 2010!  Alouette Tree Farm and AlouetteFresh are supplying blueberries that are truly local, grown in Pitt Meadows and Port Coquitlam only.  No cross-country or cross-border travels for these little fine fruits.

We are thrilled to have found AlouetteFresh and Alouette Tree Farm.  We will be back for the pumpkin patch in October and Santa’s workshop and holiday trees in December! Lots of fun going on at this Maple Ridge gem! Be sure to check it out. We are also impressed by the generousity of this local company, who is very supportive of the Friends in Need Food Bank. Any donation that is made at AlouetteFresh, up to $1000, is matched by Alouette Tree Farm!

We tried the True Blue smoothie, since blueberries are a favourite!  It was refreshing, tasty and blueberry-tastic! It’s hot outside and we are sure you and your family could use a smoothie to cool down. Please leave a comment below to be entered to win smoothies for you and your family/friends (up to 5). A great way to cool off in this beautiful summer sunshine! Winner will be announced August 6, 2010.

AlouetteFresh
www.alouettechristmastreefarm.com
23082 132nd Avenue, Maple Ridge
Ring: 604.866.7413

Do you have a beautiful or fun photo of the Fraser Valley?  Kids eating ice cream at the beach, stunning scenery, local event photos – add them to the FVP Photos Flickr Groupor email to photos@fraservalleypulse.com!  Professional photographers, please feel free to watermark your submissions. Photos may be sent in any size, though thumbnails will be cropped to 250×250.

Summer has finally arrived in the Fraser Valley and it’s a hot one!  We headed over to Harrison Hot Springs to check out the offerings of Harrison Watersports. Our boat of choice was the Blaster Boat – complete with spray gun to cool one another off!

Check it out:

Thanks to Harrison Watersports for allowing us to try out your Blaster Boats.  We had a blast!

Harrison Watersports
www.harrisonwatersports.com
Ring: 604.796.3513

The Golden Chariot offers Fraser Valley winery tours, which is something we have been wanting to do for quite some time.  We hopped aboard to check out three of the Fraser Valley’s finest wineries, with a lunch stop at the delectable Milsean Shoppe!

What a fabulous way to spend an afternoon in the Fraser Valley!  A perfect idea for a day out with friends, a stag/stagette, staff appreciation events and birthday celebrations!

Thanks, Sherri-Lee!  We had so much fun

The Golden Chariot
www.thegoldenchariot.ca
Ring: 604.341.3387

The Delta Grand Okanagan Resort is a waterfront hotel with over seven acres of property.  260 hotel rooms plus 60 condos and suites means a lot of people can enjoy this amazing resort! We were treated to a gorgeous suite in the Royal Private Residence Club which offers 70 luxury waterfront villas.

When we arrived at the hotel, we immediately felt welcomed by the hospitable, attentive front desk staff. Our check-in was quick and easy, and we were off to check out our villa!

First impressions of the interior of our suite were… wow!  The bathrooms were grand and spacious, with walk in showers, modern fixtures and fluffy white towels. The master bathroom was gorgeous and came complete with a giant soaker tub. The two bedrooms were luxurious and comfortable and the third bedroom/den had a lovely desk (if one could get any work done in such a beautiful place!).  The full kitchen was modern, with every kitchen accessory you would require to cook a simple or extravagant meal.  The sitting room’s leather sofa, flat screen TV and fireplace made it very inviting! Everything about the suite said ‘come in, put up your feet, stay a while’.

As we explored our fabulous suite, we could see Okanagan Lake sparkling through the shades.  We pulled the curtains and headed out to a gorgeous patio overlooking the lake. This was our view:

This was where we were going to spend lots of our time, we decided, but first we took a walk around the vast property to check out what the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort had to offer!  Our first stop was the rooftop pool deck located in the Royal Private Residences Club. Check out this view!!!

The rooftop patio includes BBQs, an indoor/outdoor pool, comfy lounge chairs, an indoor and an outdoor hot tub, change rooms with showers, a private fitness centre and a fridge area for one to keep their drinks/food.  Alcohol is permitted, though no glass is allowed on the pool deck.

We then wandered over to the main hotel pool which is equally indoors and out.  It also includes a hot tub and the fitness centre is huge!  There is lots to do in and around the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort.  On site you will find boutiques, travel tour operators, a coffee bar, a casino, The Spa at the Grand, a few restaurants, a liquor store and the cutest little sweet and gelato shop: Sweet Cravings.

We enjoyed a walk around the neighbourhood, which took us to a fabulous art gallery, adorable little boutiques and a local brewery.  Located directly across the street from the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort is the Kelowna Art Gallery, the Rotary Centre for the Arts and Prospera Place. If you are traveling to Kelowna to catch a show or exhibit, there isn’t a better place to stay than the Grand!

Everything you could possibly want on an Okanagan vacation is literally right at your door at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort. Directly outside you will find rentals of sea-doos, power boats, paddle boats, waterskis and bike rentals. Or you could book a parasailing adventure on Lake Okanagan – looks like fun! There is something for everyone within the hotel grounds. Families, couples, friends – this is a great vacation destination for any group of people.

The dining at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort was fantastic.  We ordered room service in the evening and the pizza and sandwiches were fresh and yummy.  We very much enjoyed breakfast and dinner at the Grand Bay Cafe, the waterside restaurant in the hotel.  Breakfast sure set the bar high for dinner!  We enjoyed the buffet breakfast which included fresh Okanagan fruit, french toast, eggs, bacon, sausages, cereals and eggs made to order by two busy chefs.

Dinner at the Grand Bay Cafe was delightful. I enjoyed an exquisite salmon dish, which saw wild salmon wrapped in prosciutto. It was melt-in-your-mouth amazing! My husband enjoyed a steak that was cooked and seasoned to perfection. After all of that I fell deeply in love with the Grand Bay Cafe’s creme brulee for dessert. I don’t even have words to describe how luscious it was. We went home with happy bellies that night!

I was invited to experience The Spa at the Grand.  Their full service spa offers everything from facials to pedicures to body wraps. I enjoyed a delicious Equavie facial. My esthetician, Jamie, was lovely. Very knowledgeable, super friendly and made me feel completely pampered. In fact, all of the staff we interacted with at the Delta Grand Okanagan Resort were absolutely wonderful.  Everyone clearly loves their jobs. On our second day at the hotel, neither of us were feeling well so we had to cancel some appointments. Next thing we know, peppermint tea and Halls lozenges arrived at our door, followed an hour later by homemade soup, crackers and ginger ale. A really, really thoughtful team!

All in all, a very enjoyable field trip to Kelowna. Stay tuned for some additional posts on our adventures around the city, wineries and farms!

Thanks once again to Delta Hotels for inviting us on this adventure!

Delta Grand Okanagan Resort
www.deltahotels.com
Ring: 1.800.465.4651

Q. How can you tell if your pet is over-heated and what is the best way to keep them cool?

A. Panting is your first clue that your pet is over-heating! Some breeds like pugs, boston terriers and french bulldogs cannot tolerate heat at all. It can actually be fatal!

To keep your pets cool ensure they have access to water and shade during hot summer days. Make sure they don’t over-exert themselves, even in the ocean or lake. They can get heat stroke just like humans.

When taking your pet in the car, be aware of the dangers of heat because the temperature inside a parked car increases rapidly to deadly levels, within just 5 minutes!

It may also be necessary to use sunscreen if your dog’s coat is light in color. Dogs can become sunburned on their noses, ears and other pink areas. You can use human sunscreen products; choose one with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. It’s okay if your dog licks the sunscreen, because most are not toxic; however, you should avoid sunscreens that contain zinc or PABA. You can also dress your thin-coated dog in a t-shirt and hat to prevent sunburn.

by malias

Q. How do I know how much water my pet should be drinking?

A. It would all depend on what your pet eats and how much activity he is doing.

On average most dogs need about 30 ml per pound of weight in the summer if they eat kibble. Dogs that eat canned, home-cooked or raw food require less. Dogs that are active require more hydration.

Q. Is it normal for pets to eat less in the summer?

A. If your pet is too hot, they can lose interest in eating. Ensure that he is not over heated and comfortable. Check that any food has not been left out too long to spoil in the heat, and make sure he’s had enough to drink. If he doesn’t eat for more than a day, then a call to your veterinarian may be in order!

Q. What are some of your favorite dog parks in the Fraser Valley?

A. I have 2 French bulldogs, one with a back problem, so I like them to play with other small dogs only to avoid injury. There is a great new dog park in Clayton Park area in Surrey. It has an all dog area as well as a small dog only area!

Tynehead Park in Surrey has a great trail system and an off leash area, as well as Campbell Valley in Langley.

This is a great website that lists all the dog parks in your area. http://pets.ca/dogparks/bc.htm

by joysaphine

Q. Do you know of any pet-friendly beaches or lakes in the Fraser Valley?

A. Yes, there are a few:

• Jones Lake is beautiful and has no posted restrictions.

• Buntzen Lake is dog friendly.

• Some people go to Hatzic or Davis lakes near Mission, and Pitt Lake too.

• You can always go for a walk on the dykes that run from Pitt Meadows to Maple Ridge and doggies can swim in the Pitt River that runs alongside the dyke.

Q. Can you recommend any other summer activities to do with your pets?

A. Boating (with a lifejacket) is great fun for many dogs, as well as lounging in a kiddy pool in your back yard for the less adventuresome.

Leeloo and Gamble (my Frenchies) love the floating toys in their pool!

Camping, hiking and walking through the local farmers markets are a great way to share the summer with your furry friends.

Thanks for the great tips, Lisa!

Elemental Canine
www.elementalcanine.com
Unit #3 – 5723 176 Street, Cloverdale
Ring: 604.575.2614

You will enjoy the fun-filled midway; a bike show; horse, dog, sheep and lots of other animal shows; cow patty bingo; Ridge Meadows – Got Talent and many live performers.  There are lots of awesome things to see at this great family event.

Parking is $2.

Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows Country Fest
www.mrpmcountryfest.com
Maple Ridge Fairgrounds, 105th Avenue at Lougheed Highway
Ring: 604.463.6922

Check out all of the details at the Mission Folk Music Festival website, www.missionfolkmusicfestival.ca!