My Urban Suburban

Hi Everyone,

It has been several weeks since I last posted…sorry about that!  Things have been pretty crazy.

I wanted to let you all know  that I have decided to take a break from the blog for the next couple months, as we will be welcoming our first baby any day now!  I’m 4 days overdue as of today, so fingers crossed she arrives soon!  Once I’ve settled into mommyhood and am back on a regular schedule, I plan to get back to blogging and will once again be sharing with you all the info about the fun and fabulous shops, businesses, events and activities going on in the Fraser Valley! 

All the best for the next few months and as always, thank you for your support!

Erin

Ooooh, am such a fan of this show!  But the Dragons terrify me…I give major props to anyone who can face them.  I want to run and hide every time they challenge someone on their business model and valuation.

But if you have more guts than I do, and have a budding business you think is worthy of some added support, then you’re in luck.  Cause the CBC hit show Dragons’ Den is coming our Valley way at the end of this month!  While on their cross-country tour, they’ll make a stop in Abbotsford where you can audition and test your business-savvy with these tycoons.

Here are all the details:

Monday, March 29th
Best Western Regency Inn & Conference Centre
32110 Marshall Rd
Breakfast Room
11am – 6pm

Check HERE for all the audition details.

Good luck!!!

Organic food lovers rejoice!  Nature’s Fare Market, a vitamin and organic fresh food grocer, has officially opened its newest location in Langley!

Since 1994 Nature’s Fare has been servicing the Okanagan with fresh, local & organic food. They have made a name for themselves by choosing local farmers and producers whenever possible & they proudly display their names & faces throughout their stores.  Their latest and greatest store in Langley will boast the same great service.

Nature’s Fare also offers a full-range vitamin department where they strive to bring customers the best selection of the highest quality in vitamins and supplements available in today’s marketplace.

In addition to their groceries and vitamins, they boast a full service organic deli.  More than 700 square feet in the new Langley store is being dedicated to the Apple Organic Bistro, a take-out or dine-in eatery offering homemade organic soups, sandwiches, entrees, salads, and stews…and everything is made on-site, allowing them to use the freshest ingredients possible.

Can’t wait to check them out!

Nature’s Fare Market

#120 – 19880 Langley Bypass 200th St. Access
(behind Preston Chevrolet)
Langley, BC

Store Hours:
Mon – Fri — 9:30am – 6:30pm
Sat-Sun — 10am – 6pm

I’ve had my head down, focused on the 2010 Games for the last month.  Sorry!  My full-time job was 24/7 Games activities.  But I appreciate all you fabulous readers who have stuck it out and are still emailing me, checking-in, etc…  Love you!

I did find a little time recently to take a quick poke around the new Morgan Crossing development in South Surrey.  Was heading to my inaugural visit of the new Thrifty Foods (loved it), and decided to check things out and see what else was happening.  And boy, is there ever alot happening!  Have you seen/heard the shops that are currently slated to go in there?  Here’s a list, as of this week…lots of construction still to happen, but these are the folks who currently have spaces leased in this new, up-and-coming neighbourhood:

Ripcurl
Pure Nail Bar
Blo Blow Dry Bar (a MUST if you’re heading out on the town and need good hair.)
Roots
Gap Factory
Banana Republic Factory
Jacob
Town Shoe Company
Winners
Bopomo Pictures

Plus, coffee shops, hair salons, London Drugs, Best Buy, etc…

It’s shaping up to be quite the place!

Based on the concept of Village Life, Morgan Crossing invites you to “Live the life un-generic. Welcome to the Anti-Suburb.”  I’m looking forward to its completion!

One of my fave shops (and one of the first places I blogged about), Montage Home & Body in Fort Langley, is temporarily closed its doors on February 21st, while owners Lisa and Marshall give the place a facelift!  They will  re-open Saturday, March 6th.

During this time, the whole store will be totally renovated and refreshed. They’re looking forward to presenting a whole new look!  The concept of the updated shop is “product with provenance”. Their focus will centre on products with a story – where and how they are designed and made, and what purpose they serve. Who is behind what they sell?  This may be a local story, or one from afar, but there is a story just the same.

I love this!  I love knowing where my home decor items, jewelery, and products came from.  Which is why I so often buy locally-made products.  But regardless, knowing where your items come from, knowing their stories, makes life so much more interesting and intriguing, don’t you think?  I can’t wait to see what Lisa and Marshall have planned.  Be sure to stop by once they’re open to check out their new digs!

Here’s a pic of the shop under construction:

I was recently introduced to Casbah Day Spa in White Rock, as a place for maternity massage.  While there for my last appointment, I came across a brochure for their upcoming evening of Total Wellness.  Sounds like a great event with plenty of prizes to win, and featuring several of South Surrey’s wellness experts.  Find out about local yoga studios, yoga parties for kids, chiropractic treatments, BMI, weight and nutrition analysis, and much more!

In terms of my personal experience at the spa, I can only tell you about the maternity massage….which has been incredible!  I’ve been twice already and plan to continue until this little girl of ours arrives.  I have heard from others that the rest of their treatments are equally as fabulous.

If you can make it out for their special event, I hope you have a fantastic night…Would be a fun girls night out!

K, you might find it weird that I’m this excited for a grocery store…but I can’t help myself!

Growing up in Victoria, BC, I loved (LOVED) Thrifty Foods.  Especially when I moved out on my own into an apartment with my girls C & L.  We lived up the street from Thrifty’s and would go there daily.  I’ll be honest, at the time it was less about the food and more about the produce boys.  I spent more time pondering the firmness of peaches and the size of my button mushrooms during that time in my my life that I’m willing to admit…

But besides the cute produce boys, Thrifty’s maintained a stellar reputation as a bright and clean grocery store with great customer service, and shelves that were always stocked FULL (not like my current grocery story, who I won’t name, but where without fail I always go home without at least one item from my list.)  It’s just a nice, happy place to be!  And how could they not be with a slogan like “smiles every day”?

Needless to say, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opening of Thrifty’s in South Surrey…and they’re finally open!  Even though it requires an extra 10 minutes driving, I absolutely plan on shopping there.  Of course, now I’m less excited about the cute produce boys, and more excited about the food selection and customer service

Thrifty Foods
Morgan Crossing
#102 – 15745 Croydon Drive
South Surrey, BC, Canada
(604) 542-7851

I’m super excited about the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  Both personally and professionally, 2010 has been a year I’ve been looking forward to for several years.  I’m even more excited now that we’re getting so close!  The Torch Relay is a significant milestone in the lead-up to the Games, so I can’t wait for it to enter our community next week!

On Monday, February 8th, the Olympic Flame will visit the Township of Langley and make its way through the communities of Walnut Grove, Fort Langley, Aldergrove, and Willoughby during the official Torch Relay.

A free, outdoor Community Celebration will be held at the Langley Events Centre, from 10:30am to 1pm to welcome the Torch, then a kids-oriented Torch Festival will follow inside the Events Centre from 1 – 5pm.

At 7pm, an exhibition game between the Slovak and Russian women’s Olympic hockey teams will be held at the Langley Events Center!

For more information visit the official Vancouver 2010 Torch Relay website.

I was able to snag a pic with a torch last week when I attended a special event in Richmond.  So exciting!  Do you like how I strategically covered my baby bump with it?  LOL.

The 4th annual Bite of the Rock starts tonight (January 20th) and goes until February 9th!!  Sponsored by the Peace Arch News, this local event is hosted by the White Rock Business Improvement Association.  Featuring three-course meals for $15, $25, or $35 from 18 participating White Rock restaurants, including Pearl on the Rock, Giraffe, Five Corners Bistro, Uli’s restaurant, Onyx Steakhouse, Pavlos, and many more!

Or, make an extra special night of it by booking a room at the Ocean Promenade Hotel…ask for the “Bite of the Rock Romance Package” with any suite rental and they’ll extend a discounted rate off the Olympic Rates to local residents from January 20th – February 9th!

I wrote about NY Grill & Bistro when they opened last June.  At the time, we hadn’t actually eaten there.  Since then, there has been lots of chatter in the comments for that post and I’ve received many emails…and sadly, most of you agreed that their service and food is mediocre, at best.

Well, Bub and I finally took the time to check them out and I thought it only fair to post my personal reactions……………..you were right, it was bad.

I rarely post about bad experiences because I typically give everyone at least two chances to prove me wrong.  And usually they do!  I know sometimes businesses just have “off” days.  But in this case, given your feedback, as well as our experience there, I can’t help but feel as though “off” days are pretty typical there.

I ordered a burger, assuming you can’t go wrong with a burger.  But somehow, they managed to make it taste like cardboard.  Bub ordered a steak.  Bigger mistake than the burger.

Some may argue that when you’re paying $11 for a steak, you’re asking for it.  And I tend to agree.  But a burger? I’ve paid $5 for a burger in more than one local pub that tasted fresh, juicy and homemade.  So I can’t believe they have any excuse for screwing that one up.

All in all, our bill for an appie (terrible calamari), the burger, steak and two pops came to $29.  Cheap?  Yes.  Cheap tasting?  Definitely!  Bub and I often frequent a little sushi place across the street called Tanuki (my personal choice for best sushi in Langley) and our bill is typically around $33 for Rolls, Chicken Yakisoba, Gyoza & Tempura…and we always get at least one free piece each of their daily special, plus we take leftovers home.  For the difference of $4, the two restaurants are worlds apart.

I also have to question a restaurant that has a CASH ONLY policy…really?  No debit or credit cards?  I don’t understand…

Sorry to vent.  You know I love supporting local business and in particular, I’m all for new business in downtown Langley.  The area has such potential.  So I really hate to be a cow about this one…maybe it’s because I’m pregnant…but I’ve committed to being honest with my readers about my thoughts and feelings.  Some of you may disagree with this post, and that is just fine with me.  But I had to share…

NY Grill & Bistro
20204 Fraser Hwy
(across from Price Mart)
Langley, BC
778.278.2989