February 4th, 2012
We’ve Seen the Light
Being scared of the dark is no longer an excuse for putting off bedtime.
Meet the Glo Nightlight, a bedside lamp with removable glowing balls that act as portable nightlights. The phosphorescent balls aren’t electronic and don’t get hot, so they are safe to snuggle with when the room goes dark.
The balls’ light will fade 30 minutes after they’ve been removed from the base, and you can select one tone, or have a rotating array of colours. We suggest you choose the colour that will best ward off any monsters lurking in the closet.
Boon Glo Nightlight, $84.99 from Saf & Benjamin, 1081 Marinaside Cres., Vancouver, 778-328-8194 and online at www.safandbenjamin.com —Alexandra Suhner Isenberg
February 3rd, 2012
Collective Creativity
This weekend the talent comes to the table. Make that the 48 tables and six galleries at Market Collective.
The monthly showcase of local, independent artists and artisans is February 4 and 5. It is already a lovefest with shoppers chatting with the talented creators as they trade cash for everything from artwork to jewellery, but this month it gets a little gushier with the All You Need is Love theme. While you shop listen to a rotating schedule of live bands. Sundays showcase features an all female music line-up.
Shopping local doesn’t get much easier. —Jaelyn Molyneux
Admission is $3 or a food bank donation. 148 10 St. N.W., Calgary, www.marketcollective.ca
February 2nd, 2012
Where there's smoke, there's Chimney Cakes
The next stop on our international tour of pastry is Eastern Europe.
Chimney cakes (an ancient Transylvanian street food) are made by wrapping yeast leavened dough around a spool like a ribbon and baking it in a special rotisserie oven. The cake comes out piping hot and is rolled in your choice of chocolate, coconut, cinnamon, walnuts, sugar, or, my favourite, cinnamon. Tug on the top edge and the hollow treat unravels like a spring with steam rising through the middle.
Twist our rubber arm. —Jaelyn Molyneux
$5 or $3 for a mini-cake at Twisted Café in the Crossroads Market, 1235 26 Ave. S.E., 403-291-5208, www.crossroadsmarket.ca
February 1st, 2012
Glove love
May our fingers always be warm and able to operate our touch screen.
Having to choose between texting and frostbite is something we will never have to do again with Echo Touch gloves. The gloves have a special fabric tab in the index finger and thumb that work with touch screens to let you type or scroll. The gloves also look lovely with styles made from knits, boiled wool, cashmere or leather in colours that range from classic black to hot pink.
It’s always a win when fashion and technology work with each other. —Jaelyn Molyneux
$35 to $85 at Purr, Scotia Centre, 700 2 St. S.W., Calgary, 403-266-7587, www.purrclothing.ca
January 31st, 2012
Spell it Out
Word on the street is that Scrabble is cool again. Not that it was ever uncool.
Now we can show off our love of the letter with Scrabble mugs by Wild & Wolf. The ceramic mug in simple cream has a black letter on the front and the complete letter distribution chart on the back. Treat it like a monogram and gift a mug to a friend or yourself. Or, if you have open shelving in your kitchen like I do, buy a collection and put your favourite word on display.
High score! —Jaelyn Molyneux
$14 at Steeling Home, 1010 17 Ave. S.W., Calgary, 403-245-0777, www.steelinghomestore.com
January 30th, 2012
Let the App Be Your Guide
Calgary’s +15 walkway system is the largest of its kind in North America. A fun stat that is only useful if you know how to navigate the maze.
I aspire to be one of the downtown regulars who in the dead of winter know the 16 kilometres of indoor walkways so well they can keep their cute ballet flats on at lunch instead of changing into outdoor shoes to brave the elements. My aspiration is made easier by the +15 app that maps the pathway system and pinpoints your location using GPS. It colour codes based on access hours and pinpoints major buildings.
Now I can leave my parka in the car and walk confidently through the hamster cage that is downtown Calgary. —Jaelyn Molyneux
January 28th, 2012
DOTE In Style
If Suri Cruise taught us anything in 2011, it’s that stylish pre-school attire is just as important as learning to tie your shoes.
Inspired by shopping trips to Paris and, of course, les chic petits enfants, Canada’s Dote Baby was born, a brand-new online baby boutique for fashionable parents with a discerning eye.
The store’s extensive international brand selection (shipping to: everywhere) includes adorable, trendy pieces from Sweden’s Cheap Monday, Bébé by Australia’s Minihaha, as well as the must-have, celebrity-adored Minnetonka Moccasins.
For those who appreciate the finer things in life, for the little ones in your life, yourdoting hours are about to go into overdrive. —Caroline Gault
January 27th, 2012
Girls Night In
When the weather outside is frightful plan a pajama party in with girlfriends and games.
Wear
No one will be judging what you wear so throw on the comfiest clothes you have and keep your toes toasty with faux fur booties ($16) from Restoration Hardware. Southcentre Mall, 100 Anderson Rd. S.E., Calgary, 403-271-2122, www.restorationhardware.com
Drink
Keep it casual by serving beer, but instead of picking up a generic 12-pack, buy the Case of the Month ($65) at Zyn and sample the curated collection of a dozen domestic and imported brews. January’s case runs the gamut from the sweet Ommegang Witte to the spicy Birrificio New Morning. 1543 17 Ave. S.E., Calgary, 403-543-8900, www.zyn.ca
Eat
Make it a pizza party by preparing Jim Lahey’s no-knead pizza dough from his book My Bread ($27.27). The dough rises overnight in time to top and bake to each person’s tastes. At www.amazon.ca
Play
Card game Apples to Apples is an old favourite with easy instructions. It’s all about matching unconventional nouns with wacky adjectives. It doesn’t require any special skill set, but there is an element of judgment, which is when hilarity ensues. $34.99 at Revolution Games & Music, 100, 3400 14 St. N.W., Calgary, 403-282-5200, www.revolution-games.com —Jaelyn MolyneuxJanuary 26th, 2012
On the Scottsdale Food Trail
A recent trip to the “West’s most Western town” uncovered a hot new hotel, sizzling kitchens, and fab food carts.
Drinks
Does this outdoor fireplace look enticing? And so are the gorgeous pickled red and gold beets (served with whipped ricotta and crostini, $8) as well as the handcrafted classic cocktails at Old Town Whiskey, The Saguaro, 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro
Lunch
Overlooking a beautiful park, the patio at Distrito lures with the scent of barbeque from the smoker. Serving modern Mexican fare, the whimsical décor (like this wall of Mexican wrestling masks) compliments the fun, interactive tasting dishes. Tortillas are pressed inside the restaurant and delivered to tables still warm in baskets. Fill them with whatever is in the smoker and you will be one happy camper. Distrito, The Saguaro, 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro
Dinner
A play on “Food and Beverage,” FnB has been a hit with industry folks, serving street food dishes late at night on Sundays. But everyone will appreciate the chef’s hustle as she prepares delicious little dishes like braised leeks in mustard breadcrumbs topped with a fried egg ($14) in the salamander while grilling lamb tenderloin ($32) over charcoal in the middle of the room. It’s like dinner and a show, all in one. FnB, 7133 E. Stetson Dr., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-425-9463, www.fnbrestaurant.com
Room-Service
The new Saguaro Hotel is the place to stay so you can order the Old Town Burger ($12) with beef that’s coarsely ground in-house and tangy house-made Thousand Island, poolside or bedside, your choice. 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale, AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro
Breakfast
Old Town Scottsdale Farmers Market. Beautiful produce (pink grapefruit for a quarter each) plus a row of food carts around the perimeter make it a great way to start the day. Go early for croissants from the French bakery stall, and coffee from this retro trailer called Shine. Saturday, 8am to 1pm, corner of Brown St. and First Ave, Scottsdale, AZ, www.arizonafarmersmarkets.com —Sarah BancroftFor more photos from our Scottsdale trip, please visit our Editor’s Diary.
January 25th, 2012
Nailing Spring Trends
With major fashion houses dabbling in make-up, sampling spring trends is as simple as buying a bottle (or two) of nail polish.
Dior’s Garden Party collection includes fresh minty Waterlily as well as a vibrant lilac named Forget-Me-Not. Both the purple and green lacquers mask the usual chemical scent with a flowery rose aroma. $24 at The Bay, www.thebay.com
Chanel’s appropriately named April, May and June nail colours are the epitome of the upcoming seasons biggest trend that will have us all wearing vibrant pinks and tangerines. Start with the darkest shade in April and work your way to pretty peach for June. $27 at Holt Renfew, www.holtrenfrew.com
Yves Saint Laurent is sticking with colour blocking with its duo manicure set. Choose a colour pair — brown and mint or pink and orange — use one as the base coat and one for your tips. $32 for each pair at Holt Renfrew, www.holtrenfrew.com
We’re pointing our fingers toward spring trends. —Jaelyn Molyneux
