The Rosewood Hotel Georgia has quite the Hollywood pedigree. John Wayne was a guest, the Beatles were supposed to be (until a hoard of fans chased them away), and Katherine Hepburn's request to dine alone prompted the hotel to start offering room service.

It was at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia that I met Shannon Lee, a woman with quite the Hollywood pedigree herself. She is the daughter of Bruce Lee and executive producer of the bio-pic I Am Bruce Lee, which had its world premier in Vancouver. In the hotel's Lord Stanley Suite (once home to Elvis) we chatted about fitness, philosophy and flowy caftans.

Kelsey Dundon: While we all know the legend of Bruce Lee, we didn't all grow up on Bruce Lee films. What does I Am Bruce Lee hold for those who are new to his work?

Shannon Lee: My father was quite the philosopher and thinker and that track of personal evolution is woven throughout the film. It captures an era and how my father influenced not only his time, but our time as well. If you're not a big martial artist or you're not a big action film person, there is still a lot here because of his philosophy and his perspective on life.

KD: Are martial arts a big part of your fitness routine?

SL: I like to do a lot of things and, actually, my father was similar. He was obviously a martial artist but one of the things he always thought was that a lot of people work toward the attainment of a certain skill, whether that's martial arts or basketball or what have you, but they ignore the preparation of the body for the performance of that skill. He was very much into all different kinds of physical training so that you're in peak form. I like to do a variety of things when I work out -- everything from dancing to running to boxing to swimming.

KD: You have described yourself as the lazy one in your family. How do you find motivation to stay active?

SL: One thing that has been helping me recently, and it's something that I took from my father, actually, is to not get overtaken by how I feel about it. I just decide there's a window of time here, I'm either going to go for a run or I'm not, but I'm not going to make myself suffer emotionally for it. Once you've put on your shoes and you're out the door you always feel better.

KD: You live in Los Angeles, you're working on a Bruce Lee Museum in Seattle and you're holding the premier of I Am Bruce Lee in Vancouver. Do you notice a common thread that ties together the West Coast lifestyle?

SL: There's a certain casualness that seeps into us all on the West Coast. And that sense of ease seeps into our fashion too. My father was an extremely fashion-forward guy. Even though he came from a very tailored background in Hong Kong, when he was in LA he took to wearing the more 70s hippie caftans, flowy garments and open-toed strappy sandals.

I Am Bruce Lee opens in Canadian Cineplex theatres on March 8th. Now playing in select US theatres.

Celebrate amour with the BETA Valentine’s Day Event where you (and the one you love) can learn how to apply BETA's hand-painted finishes to their delectable treats.

Paint your own cocoa butter transfer sheets, and then apply them onto the delicious selection of Valentine’s chocolates (port, tobacco, cognac, cinnamon, ginger and 85% dark).

They'll also be serving their fave chocolates while you are creating your Valentine's Day masterpiece (does it get any better?).

Tickets are $125 per couple, and can be purchased through BETA's webstore. 

Saturday, February 11 or Tuesday, February 14th from 8:30pm until 10:30pm, BETA5 Workshop, 413 Industrial Ave., Vancouver, 604-669-3336, www.beta5chocolates.com

Last week we attended a preview of Sancha jewelry's recent collections. Not only did we love the shapes and styles of her gorgeous collection, but the story behind the materials was very intriguing. Designer Sancha Tatlock (pictured above), whose name sounds Spanish but actually has Croatian heritage, sources her beads from some of the most interesting places. 

The collection, on show in the beautiful Hawksworth Restaurant, included pieces made from vintage chandeliers and beads that were over 100 years old.

Some of the beads are handmade in Burma, and most of her mateirlas are fairtrade.

Our favourite piece was this necklace (below) featuring a pool tile reclaimed from a Kitsilano home whose pool had been built in the 60's.

Sancha Jewelry is available from Tenth & Proper, 4483 10th Ave W., Vancouver or Spill It Sister, 5589 Dunbar St., Vancouver.

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Dashing English singer-songwriter Charlie Winston just finished his Canadian tour with a show in Vancouver. While he ate breakfast at 3:00 in the afternoon (such is life on the road), I joined him to talk about his prolific songwriting, how Canada reminds him of Ireland and why he chops up his favourite designer sweaters.

Kelsey Dundon: You've got quite a following overseas but in Canada many people are hearing about you for the first time. How would you introduce yourself?

Charlie Winston: That's tough because my style is so varied. In my song "Boxes" I talk about how I don't want to be put in a box because that takes away the fun. I'd hate to write within a niche. But I think the most important element of my sound is my voice, it's the one constant.

KD: You've worked with Peter Gabriel, you've written a sort of love song to Beethoven, needless to say your influences are varied. What are you excited about now? What's on your iPod?

CW: Let's see -- Jono McCleery, Bon Iver, Black Keys, Feist, Little Dragon, and M83.

KD: What's your favourite part of the process -- writing, recording or performing?

CW: Definitely writing. It's the bit which is the most mine, it's the most personal. To write is to get all those ideas out and encapsulate them so they can be explored by other people. I very rarely play my songs for myself. I guess when a dream's been realized it's dead. When I started recording this album I went to the studio with 27 songs and I had to be quite cutthroat about which ones I threw away.

KD: Vancouver is the last stop on your tour through the Great White North. Has Canada surprised you?

CW: I like that Canada's schizophrenic with the French and the English -- in some ways it felt like two different tours. Canadians have a general friendliness, it reminds me a lot of touring through Ireland, actually, people make you feel welcome. I'm surprised by how much my popularity is growing in Quebec, Montreal and Toronto. To play sold-out shows here was a pleasant surprise.

KD: What's the story behind your signature half-undone tie?

CW: I love fashion, I've even thought about starting a fashion line one day. I guess I like that you can wear plain block colours and add a little fun with ties so I started wearing them with everything. I cut these holes in my shirts myself. I cringe when I cut up my really expensive sweaters, but I do it anyway.

Charlie Winston Running Still is available from Universal.

Third photo by Andrew Gura.

After reading Derek Blasberg's new book, Very Classy: Even More Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady, we began to ask ourselves "would a lady do this?" before we made any moves. So we loved the opportunity to sit down with him and ask a few questions about being classy in Vancouver.

Vitamin Daily: It rains a lot in Vancouver, does a lady wear a raincoat or carry an umbrella?

Derek Blasberg: I love a raincoat. I love a trench coat. I think every woman should have a trench coat in their closet, a trench coat can hide a multitude of sins. I also think a trench coat can be thrown over jeans to go to the deli, and over a cocktail dress when you go out at night. I am the biggest proponent of the trench coat, which is why you can invest in a good one. You want it tailor fitted, with the right armhole. You don't want to look like Inspector Gadget or Columbo. A good trench coat is a good thing to have around.

Vitamin Daily: Vancouver was recently named second worst dressed city in the world...

Derek Blasberg: Because of Lululemon?

Vitamin Daily: Yes, because of the yoga pants. Where is it acceptable to wear yoga pants?

Derek Blasberg: In yoga class!

Vitamin Daily: Anywhere else?

Derek Blasberg: You know what is funny, I read that when I was researching Vancouver. In New York, I go to some gyms, and it is actually the reverse. You get girls in tube tops and clear bra straps, itty-bitty shorts that don't leave a lot to the imagination...Full faces of makeup. There is a whole chapter in my book about what is appropriate to wear to the gym and what isn't. When I think about Lululemon, I think, I wish there were more yoga pants in New York than Daisy dukes and tube tops and the hooker gym look. To be honest, I think there is a fine line between a very messy yoga pant look and something that is more structured and cute. I have seen some cute leisure wear, and I have seen some messy, dirty, baggy, sloppy yoga wear. I think a lot of people confuse comfortable with not very well thought out. You can still be comfortable and wear something that looks good, feels good, fits well. Comfortable does not equal sloppy. It is the same thing at the airport. I have seen some devastating outfits...

Vitamin Daily: You talk a lot about dinner etiquette in your book, and in Vancouver we eat a lot of sushi and do a lot of sharing plates in restaurants. Is there any etiquette when you are sharing plates?

Derek Blasberg: Don't be a piggy. Sharing is caring. My biggest pet peeve when having dinner with several people is the one who whips out their cell phone. That's more important than leaving the last egg roll for me... One of the things I say in the book is that person to person interaction is now so rare. I understand the attraction of being on your phone all through dinner, I suffer from it too. If my phone goes off, if I hear the beep, my instincts are to check it immediately. But I really make the effort to spend some quality time with friends. Also, if you don't know how to use chopsticks, don't be embarrassed, ask for a fork.

Vitamin Daily: Vancouver has a reputation for having a lack of men, so there are a lot of single woman. Is it acceptable to flirt using social media?

Derek Blasberg: There is a fine line between flirting, making plans, and I don't think it is inappropriate for a girl to ask a guy out... I think the problem with online interaction with the opposite sex, or the same sex, if that is what you are into, is when it crosses the line into indecency. First of all, no one should be taking nudie pictures of themselves unless it is with a real camera, a real airbrush, some digital retouching... Times change, the proactive bird gets the worm. Actually, that is probably a terrible analogy. I think it is very modern for girls to ask boys out, but when it comes to the online stuff, you shouldn't put anything out there that you wouldn't want your grandmother to see. Don't say it, don't send it.

Vitamin Daily: For our readers with kids, do you have any tips on being a lady with small children in tow?

Derek Blasberg: I am at that age where a lot of my girlfriends have babies, and I love being that surrogate uncle, where you can spoil them, and then say goodnight! There are so many tips on being a yummy mummy, and I often feel it is inappropriate telling young mothers to make time for themselves because I know the constraints and I know the stress of raising a child. It is like that Jackie Kennedy quote "If you bungle raising your children, I don't think whatever else you do matters very much." The classiest thing you can do is be good mother, even if that is having more yoga and sweat pant days than you like to, then make sure your nails are clean and your hair isn't too dirty... a little mascara goes a long way. I don't think a stressed mother wants to hear my opinion, but I really do think, that if you can make a little bit of time for yourself, then if you feel good you look good. You don't need to get your hair done every day or get a weekly pedicure, but if you make time for yourself, you make better time for your child.

Last night The Bay's The Room hosted an elegant cocktail party to celebrate the launch of Derek Blasberg's book, Very Classy: Even More Exceptional Advice for the Extremely Modern Lady. The question of the evening was "Classy or Trashy?" Judging by the photos below, we can confidentally say the night was VERY classy.

Waiters handed out pins that allowed us to identify who was classy and who was trashy.

Above, our beauty editor Anya Georgijevic (right) with local blogger Solo Lisa (center.)

Vitamin Daily editor-in-Chief Sarah Bancroft with The Room's creative director Nicholas Mellamphy.

We love that it is classy to eat carbs....

DJ Leigh Lezark.

And finally... a photo with the author himself. 

Check back for our interview with Derek Blasberg.

We caught up with designer Mark Fast, one of the Canadian stars of London fashion, in Paris last weekend!

We've got the details on his pop-up shop happening in Vancouver this weekend (you'll want to be there!) as well as Mark's take on his collection, the celebrities who wear it, and what's inspiring him right now.

With the Faster pieces being quite sexy and revealing, how does a woman style it for winter?

One of the best things you can do is to layer different deniers of tights under the pieces themselves. For example, because the knit is open, you can layer up a hot pink tight underneath the tights we have.

What's inspiring you right now?

I am inspired by collaborating with current artists. There are a bunch of collaborations that are happening at the moment, which I can't talk about, but its the dream scenario of working with Hollywood actors and designers that I have always wanted to work with is coming to fruition. I am really excited to be taking some stuff off the catwalk, and bringing them into a different stage-like setting.

You've had a lot of celebrities support your brand. Is there a particular celebrity that
really represents Mark Fast?

My work is like a chameleon, it blends into different lifestyles and different artists. The clothes sculpt into the characters... Nicky Minaj is an inspiration, Kylie Minogue. And I am really inspired by Jen Brill (photographer's agent and Chanel ambassador) from New York, she's got that intelligence, that hard edge, but also she is really fun. She knows how to style a garment, work it, and just be natural and effortless with her style.

Tell us a bit about the collection selling in Vancouver.

A lot of the Faster pieces are quite classic and seasonless because it is more about the body and being body conscious. They feature intricate stitches, lace up on the side, and are quite revealing. I describe my Faster range as Wolford on acid.

Pick up some pieces from the Mark Fast Faster range this Friday from 4pm to 9pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm at the “Try and Buy” event at the Westin Bayshore, 1601 Bayshore Drive, Vancouver. Cash only. Prices are 50 per cent off regular retail and range from $80 for a pair of signature cut out tights to $350 for a dress.

www.fasterbymarkfast.net

How's this for an enticing scene on a dreary January day?

The new Saguaro hotel in Scottsdale got around the city's strict building colour palettes (restricted to desert neutrals) by painting in the colour palette of the local wildflowers and cacti. 

The lobby and lounges are set-decked with locally sourced vintage cowboy art.

Destrito, the Mexican restaurant, features brightly-painted Mexican day-of-the-dead skull candle holders (which we picked up in the local tourist shops for $5).

Vintage Western novels are on the bedside tables while the bright colour scheme extends to the beautiful throw blankets.

Cocktails made with fresh fruit are the order of the day at the hotel's Old Town Whiskey Bar.

Although this was technically Christmas decor, it sure summed up our stay.

The Saguaro, 4000 N Drinkwater Blvd., Scottsdale Blvd., AZ, 480-308-1068, www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/saguaro

For our Scottsdale dining itinerary, please click here.

Gastown's new Clough Club is a gem.

Named for John Clough, 19th century Gastown's lamplighter and jailer, it is small, eclectic and filled with curios. Neon art installations (barely) illuminate the 110-year-old space.

I stopped by for cocktails, quinoa fritters and crispy plantains.

And followed the not-so-secret passage to a back room so tiny it fits only a few tables, the perfect, private little spot for a date or drinks with friends.