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Cold weather warms dates

Vancouver has much to offer during the winter for couples going out

By ALEXANDRA GRANT

hough it might be tempting to curl up inside with yet another holiday movie, add some fun to a winter date night with the holiday events the city has to offer.

From a delectable gingerbread lane to musi- cally timed light shows, Vancouver is brim- ming with holiday happenings.

The Hyatt Regency Vancouver is featuring its 21st consecutive Gingerbread Lane in the hotel’s lobby. With coffee shops surrounding the holiday attraction, grabbing a hot choco- late while navigating through the masterpiec- es on display would be an easy and cost-effec- tive winter date.

Down the street from the Hyatt’s display is the B.C. Children’s Hospital Foundation’s spec-

tacular Festival of Trees, which is ringing in its silver anniversary this year. It features 46 dec- orated trees that are sponsored by individuals and corporations in the city. The display cov- ers Pacific Centre’s upper level and both the upper and lower lobbies of the Four Seasons Hotel.

BCCHF philanthropy coordinator Ainsley Dowle said there are a number of interestingly decorated trees this year, including a cham- pagne-shaped tree which was created by a lo- cal wine group.

Couples who want to truly get into the holi- day spirit can also visit The Peak of Christmas, which runs from Dec. 3 to Dec. 24, at the top of Grouse Mountain.

With the purchase of general admission, at approximately $40 per adult, couples are

transported by gondola to a veritable winter wonderland. The peak features a Santa’s workshop, choirs, and a skating pond. On Sat- urdays, famed ice skater Karen Magnussen will be on hand to give skating lessons.

“We have snowshoe tours which can be a lot of fun,” said Grouse Mountain’s public rela- tions coordinator Sarah Lusk. “People can grab snowshoes and go off as a couple through the forest and then have dinner at one of our restaurants afterwards.”

The Van Dusen Botanical Gardens will be featuring the Festival of Lights again this year.

The Festival of Lights features seven minute light shows every half hour, which are timed to a variety of Christmas music. This year, the garden and a new visitor centre has expanded the size of the display.

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ALEXANDRA GRANT and GROUSE MOUNTAIN submitted photos The winter months have much to offer couples looking for a romantic date night. Grouse mountain offers attractions such as Santa’s work- shop (top left) and an outdoor skating rink (bottom). Gingerbread Lane in the the Hyatt Regency lobby (right) is a holiday attraction.

Eat, drink and be thin

The holiday’s bring with them unhealthy food, but you can avoid extra inches

By MORNA CASSIDY

hatever you celebrate, be it WU cine or Kwanza, the next

few weeks will be filled with gluttony, but there are ways to avoid the bulge.

The Dieticians of Canada, in their an- nual “How I can survive holiday eating” guide say planning ahead and pacing are the key.

UBC nutrition expert, Gwen Chap- man said “people need to find a balance between enjoying the season and the foods, but not giving up and let every- thing go,” but “it’s equally important not to obsess about food one way or the other.” Don’t be too rigid.

A disciplined holiday eater thinks ahead and decides before heading out for the night, how many glasses of wine they'll have or how many mouth-water- ing appetizers to allow.

The manual recommends factoring healthy snacking into your day-to-day practices. Whether you’re a host or a guest, stock your fridge with healthy snacks so your only option is to eat well.

When you’re hosting, use colour as your guide, the more colourful your spread the more healthy it is likely to be. Use fresh-cut vegetables and fruity desserts.

The Dieticians of Canada guide doesn’t recommend skipping meals. Eating at regular times will help your metabolism stay on track.

And, when it comes to holiday cheer in the form of spiked eggnog, pacing is key. Alternate your libations with a glass of water. And if you’re playing host make sure to have more than one non-alcoholic option for your guests.

Trainers at Steve Nash Fitness World came up with a tip sheet for keeping your health on track, but also recommend getting at least 30 minutes of moderate activity a day. The activity will help to burn those extra calories and keep you stress levels in control. Turn exercise into family fun, such as heading to your local rink for a family skate.

“Tm planning on avoiding chocolate and exercising,” said Melissa Pepito an accounting student at Langara College.

HEALTHY snacks

Eat air popped popcorn, sans butter of course.

HE Unsalted pretzels with a vegetable dip such as hummus

ME Keep fresh fruits and veggies in the fridge.

MM Decreasing the amount of sugar in recipes by up toa third hardly affects the flavour.

Source : Gaston Gazette

Winter vacation means getting to work

counts, which can help with gift-buy-

ing.

Students who can bake, knit, sew or build birdhouses and spice racks

Gifts for the By EMMA CRAWFORD upcoming o-ho-hold on to your money - the holidays Hyesiersive holiday season is here can be and it can be tough getting . through December on a tight budget. expensive, Students may be feeling a little strapped for cash as they try to buy 50 students presents for family and friends, go toa find ways ton of parties and still manage to pay the bills, but there are ways to earn ex- to earn . tra money. cash dur ing December is the busiest month for holid ays many restaurants and retail stores and

a lot of them pick up extra short-term help. Not only can students make mon- ey, but they can often get great dis-

A manager at Sephora at the Pacific Centre location in Vancouver said that all of their stores pick up temporary help in December, and not only do the staff get discounts, they also get lots of freebies.

Angel McNeil from Manpower, a temp agency with locations all over North America, says they often place students who apply for temporary holi- day work because a lot of companies hire extra help for administrative and warehouse positions.

“It’s their busiest time of year,” Mc- Neil said.

should think about selling their wares at a farmers market or craft show. Roberta LaQuaglia is the operations manager for Vancouver Farmers Mar- kets. She said although it can be diffi- cult to get a foot in the door of the larg- er markets, students should definitely consider selling the fruits of their la- bour at some of the local community craft shows or church bazaars. LaQuaglia recommended the Blim Monthly Community Market. She said it is perfect for young people or those just starting out in the market scene. Another option for students to pad

their wallets is to sell things on eBay. Old CDs, books, clothes, games and knick-knacks can be sold.

Niqash Najimudeen, a first-year gen- eral arts and sciences student, already has a job lined up. He has been working at A&W for the last two weeks and plans to continue working there after the holiday season is over.

He plans to use the money for “living expenses.”

Langara student Martina Nova works as a server. She wants to work as much as she can over the holidays to make extra cash.

“People feel the giving season in- cludes giving more in tips,” Nova said.