Explore and savour events this long weekend

Easter events this weekend

Photo: Contributed

There are plenty of Easter egg hunts planned throughout the Okanagan this coming long weekend.

The unofficial kick-off to the Okanagan’s annual season of signature events and stepping out for a day of savouring local sips is here—the spring (Easter) long weekend.

With three or four days to enjoy, there is plenty to do. However, a bit of planning might be helpful. On top of a number of events, advancing polls for the upcoming federal election will be 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 18 to 21 and some familiar facilities in your area may be in use by Elections Canada.

The weekend also invites you to explore Easter brunches, such as:

• Easter brunch buffet (or Easter dinner) at the Gulfstream at the Four Points Sheraton in Kelowna

• An Easter brunch buffet at the RANGE restaurant, bar + patio at Predator Ridge Resort near Vernon

• A two-course brunch at The Garden Bistro at Peak Cellars in Lake Country

• An Easter brunch buffet at the Penticton Lakeside Resort

• An Easter brunch at the Hotel Eldorado in Kelowna

For a little more extensive exploring, Summerland’s Bottleneck Drive is celebrating the opening of the season with a visit to its Spring preview weekend. Visitors can enjoy Easter egg hunts, exclusive tastings, behind-the-scenes tours, and more as they navigate any of the three distinct touring routes around the area.

Naramata has already been in the swing of spring with Naramata Blooms happening now until June 20, featuring events, special culinary events, plus staycation options. This weekend, take in the Great Golden Egg Hunt at Aikins Loop wineries.

Further south in Kaleden, Okanagan Warriors Adventure, and outdoor adventure course, kids (and their parents) can take part in Easter Adventure: The Chocolate Compass Quest! which begins with learning the basics of map and compass navigation before heading out to the course to finding hidden chocolates at each checkpoint.

The Grist Mill in Keremeos will host a family-friendly Easter egg hunt across its picturesque gardens and historic buildings. In Oliver, Riding 4 Life and Sagebrush Pony Parties will have an Eggscellent Easter Egg Hunt with pony rides, games, prizes, crafts, a photo booth, and more. In Osoyoos, the Osoyoos Festival Society invites you to its Easter Extravaganza in Gyro Park which begins with a pancake breakfast before a bike and trike parade, followed by an Easter bonnet parade.

And finally, stop by Vin Amité Cellars in Oliver on Sunday for its first Easter market. Sip a complimentary sample of Chardonnay while browsing local vendors. Bonus: Lewis Cardinal, will be playing a selection of covers and original songs as you sip and shop.

For specific times, reservations if required, and other info, visit the links above.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Remembering the heyday of the department store

Demise of department stores

Photo: Alistair Waters

If you are of a certain age, the following may evoke feelings of nostalgia.

If your shopping experiences have mostly ranged from big box to bargain outlets and online, you’ve probably missed out on a few iconic experiences.

Full disclosure, I recently grabbed an HBC Stripes scarf online before all of the HBC Stripes merchandise was gone. I picked it up in person in Penticton where the staff was jovial, albeit somewhat downcast at the same time.

As a kid, a trip to a shopping centre anchored by Eaton’s, Sears or Hudson’s Bay was a big deal – no pun intended – as it usually meant a short road trip, lunch at The Skillet in Zeller’s or The Bay’s food court and maybe a visit to an arcade in the mall.

One of my first jobs was at Woolco, in the electronics department. A teenager selling boom boxes, cameras, VCRs and cassette tapes, until for some reason I was moved to the automotive counter for the evening shifts. A few Woolcos still had the Red Grille, where you could get cheap milk shakes.

We now use apps to pick up our groceries in the parking lot but who else remembers that Woodward’s pioneered this? At the checkout, if you wanted car service, you’d be given a laminated number. The matching number would be attached to the front of your buggy with a big, black binder clip. Once the family car was retrieved, you’d simply drive through and hand over your tag.

If you weren’t on a grocery run, though, you might have been on a quest to discover the latest fashions on display at the top of the elevator. I think of the elevator in the former downtown Penticton Zeller’s more often than I care to admit and the anticipation of what might be on display as you crested the top.

The holiday season began in December when the Sears catalogue arrived and the window displays at ground level came alive at the flagship department stores in the nearest city. On Boxing Day in my family had all of the women piling into the biggest vehicle available to go stock up on wrapping paper and bows.

I learned to drive in a department store parking lot. I remember how cool it was to go visit my mom at work at a Calgary department store counter. Conversely, how my dad embarrassed my brother by pretending to worship a display of department store mannequins in Vancouver.

It wasn’t simply shopping at those stores. It was a social outing. And while I fully admit that my own consumer habits have changed, I can take some of the blame for the death of department stores while still missing them.

My silverware is from Sears. My Royal Albert China set was collected piece by piece from wherever it happened to be sale. My vintage kitchen hutch is from Eaton’s.

Now is a very good time to take out these special occasion dishes and put them to good use.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Wine Growers British Columbia recognize wine industry leaders

Wine industry champions

Photo: Contributed

Wine Growers British Columbia award winners (from Left) Michael Bartier, Leeann Froese and Robbie Hundertmark.

Earlier this month, Wine Growers British Columbia recognized a few individuals and organizations at its annual B.C. Wine Industry Insight Conference, held in Penticton March 12.

The B.C. Wine Industry Recognition Awards celebrate industry champions for their leadership, innovation and exceptional hospitality in three categories with the Ultimate B.C. Wine Ambassador Award, the Master Marketer Award and the Leadership Excellence Award.

There are many people, businesses and associations that both navigate and elevate our province’s craft beverage sector and its impact on culinary tourism. Some do that quietly, some are vocal and some are now getting louder as tariffs and trade war talk heats up.

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing this year’s award recipients in one way or another, and they all lead by example in their roles within B.C. wine.

Michael Bartier, co-owner, winemaker and general manager of Bartier Bros. Vineyard and Winery was awarded the Leadership Excellence Award, which recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond to take a leadership role and build great relationships within the industry, according to Wine Growers British Columbia.

An excellent winemaker, I’ve taken bottles from his winery with me to share at international conferences and competitions a number of times. Specifically, the Bartier Bros. Grüner Veltliner. Grüner, in my opinion, is a white wine that deserves more attention than it gets. Sharing a bottle with fellow wine judges from around the Pacific Northwest has sparked much chatter about the varietal and the Okanagan’s potential.

This year’s Ultimate BC Wine Ambassador Award went to Robbie Hundertmark of Crown & Thieves and Jason Parkes Customs.

Robbie once took me through a tasting, at a winery he left several years ago, during which he compared the wines to members of the Backstreet Boys. He did this with such subtlety and finesse that I barely noticed the comparisons at first but by the time I finished the portfolio, it all made complete sense. That was years ago and I’m still talking about it.

Behind the scenes, this year’s Master Marketer Award recipient, Leeann Froese of Town Hall Brands and her team have put their creative spin, storytelling and design touches on numerous wines, wineries, culinary tourism events and much more. The Master Marketer Award recognizes an innovative individual or organization that thought outside the box to promote the Wines of B.C.

More importantly, on a personal and professional note, Leeann has taken urgent I-have-a-last-minute deadline messages from me more than I care to admit and has never failed to come through with an interviewee and content.

While various challenges, paired with levels of uncertainty, continue to loom over the industry, I’d gladly put my proverbial elbows up with these three folks anytime.

Photo: Contributed

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.

Warming up to winter culinary adventures

Dining on area ski hills

Photo: Facebook/Gunbarrel Saloon

The Gunbarrel Saloon Ar Apex Ski Resort near Penticton.

If messages from my circle of friends are an indication that visits to the Okanagan may climb this spring and summer due to unexpected changes to this year’s travel plans for a myriad of reasons, the last weeks of winter may be an ideal time for locals to take advantage of a slower pace.

The recent snowscapes have been stunning and even if you’re skipping the outdoors and your focus is apres-ski, local hills have plenty of tasty options.

Apex Mountain Resort, mere minutes from downtown Penticton, is home to the Gunbarrel Saloon, voted 10 times in a row as the number one apres-ski bar in Canada, Longshots Steakhouse, which boasts a creative cocktail menu and the Edge Bistro, Steezy Slices and the Artisan’s Den, all for quick bites.

Save the date. On March 1, Brewski, Apex Mountain’s craft beverage festival will return, featuring 24 breweries, cideries, and distilleries showcasing their best creations. Tickets are now on sale.

From bistros to coffee spots to pubs to the Beavertails food truck, Big White Ski Resort near Kelowna has a plenty of culinary options, as well as horse-drawn sleigh dining tours on select days (advance booking required).

A little further north, Silver Star Mountain Resort near Vernon has its Paradise Camp dinner tour. First, you’ll take a gondola ride to the top of the mountain, then you’ll climb aboard the Paradise Express snow cat go to Paradise Camp for a three-course, lantern-lit dinner with a chef-prepared menu and an extensive drinks selection.

Skipping the ski hill? The Okanagan Wine Festival Society has two signature events coming up very soon. This coming Saturday (Feb. 22), the festival’s TASTE series heads to the Scenic Sip trail in Lake Country with a handful of wine and food pairings to explore, and on March 1, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay aficionados will enjoy Winter SIPS North at Kelowna’s Hotel Eldorado.

Speaking of hotels, the well-known Hooded Merganser restaurant at Penticton’s Lakeside Resort & Conference Centre has undergone a refresh. If it’s been a while since you’ve dined there, I hear it’s worth a return trip.

And two final suggestions for a staycation before summer guests arrive. Niche Wine Co., nestled above West Kelowna, is set to open its Outside the Inn cabins soon. They are described as “a taste of farm living with a modern twist.”

Noble Ridge Vineyard & Winery now has Stoneridge, which could be a home away from home in Okanagan Falls, if only for a few days.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.