VIBRANT. VANCOUVER. VIRANI Summer | 2007 | $ 5.55
WHO’S ON THE V LIST?
V List / lifestyles / homes / happiness
Here Comes the Sun!
mercedes-benz.ca /b
BUILT FOR LIVING. THE B - CLASS. WITH 1,530L OF CARGO SPACE.
Whether you're taking care of projects around the house or off on an adventure, go in style in the very versatile Mercedes-Benz B-Class. With a height-adjustable floor and split-folding rear seats, its impressive cargo space converts to a perfectly flat surface providing easy loading and unloading. And, with 1,530 litres of space to work with, there's room for just about anything. Visit your local Mercedes-Benz dealer and test drive one today.
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604-984-9351
Own the ultimate Vancouver
CITY EXPERIENCE Previewing this September
Living centrally at Patina in a home of rare luxury and comfort, refinement just comes naturally. From Patina’s setting on Barclay Street a few steps
Homes at Patina range from sophisticated pied-à-terres to luxuriously spacious view homes.
from Burrard, the refined textures and experiences of a globally renowned city may be savoured with uncommon ease.
Priced from $375,000 to more than $6 million
A 42-storey landmark residence rising from the heart of the downtown peninsula, Patina affords views of extraordinary scope and beauty. In design, the approach is subtle sophistication, creating spacious and exquisitely livable homes that are the very definition of contemporary
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This is not an offering for sale. Such offering may be made by Disclosure Statement only.
HOTEL VANCOUVER
SOFA UNLIMITED 1882 marine drive, north vancouver, 604.980.8712 1555 united boulevard, coquitlam, 604.523.0100 www.ilovemysofa.com open 7 days a week
CONTENTS
KARIM’S NOTE CHARITIES Special Olympics
WINE Browns Summer Picks
>8
TRAVEL Burj al-Arab
>28
>12
BUSINESS E Marketing
>44 Dear Readers,
AUTOMOBILE BMW Hydrogen 7
>14
HEALTH Natural Wonders
>46
ART FUSE
>17
ENVIRONMENT Clean Green
>58
FASHION Summer Must Haves
>24
ON THE V LIST Lifestyle Choices
>66
Summer is the time for a little less work and more play, so in this issue we are thinking about travel. Dubai is an endlessly fascinating city getting a lot of attention these days for its astonishing wealth and incredible development. Here we look at one of its stunning hotels, the Burj al-Arab, a place that redefines notions of luxury. For a delightful and relaxing experience closer to home, see our article on B.C. resorts for some getaway ideas. These places are further reminders of how fortunate we are to live in this beautiful part of the world. For any length of trip, our gadgets page presents useful and stylish accessories to take along. We also have our usual mix of stories on health, business, community, and people. We look at innovative new cleaning products and services, ebusiness, the Special Olympics, and North Shore resident Charmaine Crooks. I wish you all the best on your travels, either near or far! Warmest Regards,
Karim Virani Publisher
Burj al-Arab
28
Annabel Hawksworth 50
Charmaine Crooks 53
The V List Magazine by Virani Real Estate Advisors The Village at Park Royal | J4-925 Main Street West Vancouver, BC V7T 2Z3 | Canada Publisher Karim Virani | Creative Director Gwen Webster Design Julius Kiskis | Reporters May Globus and Free Lee Contributing Writers Marcie Good, Scarlett Ballantyne and Virginia Leeming Photography Doug Doyle, Dave Delnea and Daniel Alexanader © 2007 Virani Real Estate Advisors. The V List Magazine does not assume liability for products or services advertised herein.
06 | THE V LIST | SUMMER 07 | www.thevlist.com
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CHARITIES
Special Olympics 2007 BC: North Shore Annual Walkathon On Saturday, May 5, 2007 at 10 a.m. in Ambleside Park, Special Olympics BC North Shore’s fund-raising coordinator Molly Evanshen celebrated her fourth year volunteering for the charitable organization with another North Shore Annual Walkathon. For over 20 years, the association has been offering interactive sports programs and competitions to fulfill the athletic dreams of individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, who otherwise may not be given a chance to participate in competitive sports. As a mother of four and sister to a Special Olympics athlete, Evanshen and a team of board members, coaches, administrative staff and other hardworking volunteers take the time to provide these sporting opportunities. They include Aquatics, Bowling, Floor Hockey, Rhythmic Gymnastics, Soccer, Snowshoeing, Alpine and Cross Country Skiing, Softball, Speed Skating, Youth Sports, Track and Field, as well as two new additions of
“For anyone wanting to see what puts the ‘Special’ in Special Olympics, I encourage [them] to volunteer their time to our very worthwhile organization or come out to our Walkathon.” –Molly Evanshen 08 | THE V LIST | SUMMER 07 | www.thevlist.com
Golf and Basketball. “Volunteering with Special Olympics BC North Shore has been gratifying on many levels, such as giving back to an organization that has given my brother the opportunity to develop his athletic ability while providing amazing travel opportunities and enrich his life with wonderful friendships he would not have otherwise had,” says Evanshen. Each year, the committee and the community band together to organize and run a two, four or six kilometre Walkathon designed to raise funds for the over 130 Special Olympic BC athlete establishment. This event (the largest funds provider for the organization) helps build not only sporting confidence in its athletes, but self-confidence as well -- athletes are supportively encouraged to raise pledge money by relying on themselves. The raised money goes toward providing transportation to the Summer and Winter Games, supplying new equipment and uniforms, covering facility fees and giving the Special Olympics athletes the environment and resources they rightfully deserve. Last year, the Walkathon event raised $16,000. With the sponsorship of Collingwood Independent School, Keith Nicoll of North Shore Athletics and Karim Virani of Virani Real Estate this year, hopes are high that raised funds will exceed those of last year. Nicoll’s North Shore Athletics has consistently been the ultimate source for footwear, sports medicine and run clinics on the North Shore. Karim Virani and his firm provided t-shirts, refreshments and support for the 2007 event. “I have also richly benefited from the dynamic relationships I have developed with the athletes, the tireless volunteers and generous sponsors. They are all a true source of inspiration to me,” concludes Evanshen. “For anyone wanting to see what puts the ‘Special’ in Special Olympics, I encourage [them] to volunteer their time to our very worthwhile organization or come out to our Walkathon.”
