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muertawrites · 4 years

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Two Halves - Chapter Three (Zuko x Reader)

Part Two

Word Count: 2,450

Author’s Note: Something very important to note about this series is that in it Zuko has very long hair. I’m talking like feudal era Japan hair (use this post from @frogydraws for reference. It is *chef’s kiss* gorgeous). Also, I feel like I’m missing people who asked to be on the tag list - if you asked but don’t see your name, PLEASE direct message me so I can fix that! Other than that I don’t have much else to say about this chapter. It’s mostly exposition but who doesn’t love some good plot speculation?

~ Muerta

Everyone gathers in a sitting room in Zuko’s personal wing of the palace, clustered in groups or pairs in an attempt to create some sense of comfort after the night’s discord. Katara, Aang, and Sokka gather in the center of the room - their typical formation, still very much a reflex due to years of working as a team. You sit with Iroh and Toph to one side of the room, Iroh sharing a chaise with you and Toph seated on the floor beside you, one hand laid protectively over the top of your foot. Zuko stands at the room’s fireplace, passing a ball of flame between his hands; you watch him closely, already innately drawn to him as your partner, noting that while the others (mainly Katara, Aang, and Sokka) discuss the evening’s events, attempting to formulate a plan for whatever should come next, he remains silent, secluded deep within his own thoughts. He looks every part the leader you’re now married to, in a way you hoped you’d only see much later in your relationship.

“It had to be someone within the palace,” Sokka states. “The gates were too heavily guarded for anyone to get in from the outside.”

“But how could they commit a murder without being seen?” Aang wonders. “There were too many people around for something like that to go unnoticed.”

“That’s just the thing,” Katara counters. “There were enough people to create a big enough distraction that nobody saw until whoever did it wanted us to.”

“And we’re absolutely positive it was that specific guy who was the target?” Sokka proposes. “It wasn’t just a random attack to make a statement against the whole government?”

“No,” Zuko chimes in. “They meant to kill him. When I proposed making someone from outside the Fire Nation queen, he was the only one in favor of the idea. He convinced the rest of the board to support me.”

“Do you think maybe they wanted to make a statement against just you, then?” Aang asks.

“It wasn’t just a statement,” you tell him, speaking for the first time since entering the room. Everyone turns their heads towards you; the only one who doesn’t show any surprise is Zuko. “It was a threat, meant for both of us.”

“And probably on behalf of Ozai or Azula,” Toph adds.

“Do you think he’d really still have followers within the palace?” Katara questions. “Everyone who served him was imprisoned after the war.”

“It’s possible,” Zuko responds. “My father radicalized more people than we could possibly know of. I expected his resistance at some point.”

“If Ozai intended to stage any resistance, he would have done it much more gruesomely,” Iroh interjects. “He wouldn’t have wasted time with threats. He would have killed one or both of you, if not everyone in attendance tonight.”

“But who else could hold that much of a grudge against not only the Fire Nation, but the alliance with an outsider?” Sokka asks.

“It could be someone from the Water Tribe,” you suggest. Your words are deadpanned and grim. “It’s very possible they see this as another form of colonization.”

“Nobody else from either tribe is here, though,” Katara says. “It’s just me and Sokka.”

“I don’t think they’d be here officially if they planned to kill someone,” Aang reasons. “If it was someone from the Water Tribe, they’re probably in disguise.”

“They couldn’t have been,” Sokka replies. “They’d have to have been inside the palace, and nobody got in without official documentation.”

“Our concern right now should not be the manhunt,” Iroh speaks up in his firm, tepid way. “It should be the safety of our loved ones; our lord and lady especially.”

“He’s right,” Toph agrees. She stands, placing a hand on your shoulder. “I think she should stay with me tonight. I have the best chance of seeing someone and stopping them before they can do any harm.”

“She’s staying with me,” Zuko quips.

The entire room falls into a heavy silence, the air itself seeming to drop to the floor. Everyone stares at Zuko in shock, yourself included.

“We’re married,” he explains. “It’s our responsibility to look after each other. She’ll stay with me in my chambers.”

Five sets of eyes shift to focus on you. You meet Zuko’s gaze, the steely determination within them only serving to remind you of the bond you now share. You nod, keeping your eyes locked with his as you speak.

“It’s okay,” you affirm. “I’ll stay with him.”

After a few more minutes of deliberation, everyone parts ways for the night - Sokka is sent with Katara and Aang to provide them extra defense, and Toph goes with you and Zuko, moved to the guest chamber just outside his sleeping quarters so she can monitor any movement that happens during the night.

You follow Zuko into his rooms, arms linked together in a mutual nervous embrace. His chambers are divided into three spaces; two rooms connected by a sitting room and a large, covered porch. Zuko leads you down a short hall off the right side of the sitting room, opening a set of doors to reveal an ornate bedroom - your things rest at the foot of the four poster bed, your sleeping clothes already laid out on the mattress.

“This used to be a sunroom,” Zuko tells you. “But I had it converted into a bedroom. I figured it would be weird sleeping together, but also weird keeping you in your own wing across the palace, so… this seemed like a good way to be close to each other without making it too awkward.”

You squeeze his arm in a gentle, appreciative hug, turning to look up at him.

“Thank you,” you say. “I really appreciate all you’ve done for me.”

Zuko nods, laying one of his hands over where yours rests on his bicep.

“Let’s get changed,” he murmurs. “I’ll call for some tea and we can try to have a normal night.”

He leaves you, and you draw the curtains of the room’s sweeping windows so you can dress in peace; one side overlooks a garden courtyard, while the other gives a view of the ocean beyond the palace’s farthest wall. The sights are stunning, but the suspense you feel building in the pit of your stomach makes it hard to enjoy them in full.

Your hands shake as you undress, letting the layers of your wedding robes drop to the floor and leave you naked at the foot of the bed. You stare down at your night dress, the pristine white fabric glaring virginally up at you. You warily slide yourself into it, then cross the room to the vanity that’s been set to the left of the bed.

You can hardly control the shiver of your fingers as they work the beads out of your hair, taking the freed locks behind your head into the single braid you typically sleep in. You stare at yourself in the mirror, clutching the totems Katara gave you to your chest; your eyes are wide, your cheeks sunken, your knuckles white. A small voice, somewhere in the far reaches of your mind where the sound can hardly carry, tells you to have faith in your new husband; he’s treated you with nothing but kindness since even before the moment you set foot on his soil, and has showed nothing but the utmost respect for you - he wouldn’t be the man your family loved and trusted with your life if he shifted his behavior in such a sudden, drastic way by forcing you into his bed.

Despite these cries of reason, all you can hear is the voice of the beautician who prepared you for tonight - she hovers behind you in the mirror, her face contorted into a heinous, scowling grin as she cackles with laughter. She reminds you of the children you’re meant to bear, her nails digging into your shoulders as she goes on to tell you that, as the Firelord’s wife, he’s entitled to all the pleasure your body can give him, and will take it at any cost.

Your terror turns the man who’s been so endlessly sweet to you into a monster.

Through the bedroom doors, you hear a servant enter with a tray of tea, followed by Zuko’s gentle voice thanking them. You swallow, taking the strands of beads in your hands and twining them together, forming a necklace which you place over your head and tuck into the front of your night dress. After a few deep, quivering breaths, you stand, making your way out to the shared sitting room.

Zuko sits on the side of the room closest to his bedroom, head turned towards the now lit fireplace and eyes lost within its glow, his gaze distant and glazed with worry; he snaps back to the present when he notices you enter, giving you a faint, slightly defeated smile. His military uniform has been replaced with a simple set of pajamas and a robe, his long hair free from its knot, now hanging loosely about his shoulders and down his chest; he’s even more handsome this way, his features contoured by the darkness of the room and the light of the fire. You feel a rush of lightheadedness as you lower yourself across from him, nervously returning his smile.

“Uncle took the liberty of preparing our tea,” Zuko greets you. His voice is soft and welcoming, tinged with a mirth that feels almost ironic given the circumstances. “He didn’t want to subject you to my awful cooking skills so early in the marriage.”

You huff amusedly, sharing a genuine smile with him as he serves you. You sip the scalding liquid slowly, letting it ease down your throat and warm you from the inside out; it relaxes you, the shaking in your limbs disappearing.

“I’m glad we have him,” you say. “I don’t think we’d know what to do with ourselves otherwise.”

Zuko chuckles, his grin causing a manic tremble to erupt in your chest.

“He’s definitely the romantic one in the family,” he agrees. “He hasn’t stopped talking about you since he met you. I think if he were forty years younger, he’d have married you before I could.”

You giggle, a timid blush coloring your cheeks.

“I never thought I’d be so popular among Fire Nation men,” you tease.

Zuko smiles, wistfully and exhaustedly, letting out a soft breath of laughter; you can tell the nights events anchor his thoughts.

“I’m sorry tonight ended the way it did,” he tells you. “I wanted your arrival to be a source of happiness for our people. Maybe I was too hopeful.”

You sigh heavily, running a finger along the brim of your teacup as he meets your eyes; you can tell he blames himself for what happened.

“A hundred years of hatred doesn’t end in a decade,” you console him. “It isn’t just here, either - many people in the Water Tribe feel just as divisive as people do here.”

You cautiously reach forward and take his hand, letting your thumb stroke over his knuckles. His fingers tighten around your palm, and you can feel every callous and scar that marks his alabaster skin.

“We have to stand together,” you say. “We have to show the world that we can overcome the past; that things are different now, for the better.”

Zuko nods, raising the back of your hand to his lips and pressing a light, tender kiss to the knuckle of your forefinger. He smiles faintly, letting his mouth linger on the bone for a long moment before placing your hand back where it was on his knee, still twined with his.

“I really did make the right choice in a queen,” he muses. Heat spreads across your skin, your lips curling up slightly at his endearing remark.

“It’s late,” Zuko says after a beat, letting his fingers slip away from yours. “We should both get some rest.”

He stands, leaning over you and placing a docile hand at the back of your head. Your heart leaps from your chest and into your throat, your fingers curling to grip the skirt of your night dress as anxiety rushes to your head. You deny every instinct you have that tells you to fend him off. If this is when he chooses to take you, you have no choice but to go willingly - you can’t form any rifts in a relationship that’s already somewhat fragile, especially when doing so would mean driving a wedge through the center of an already divided country.

Zuko lowers himself and rests his lips to your forehead, etching the phantom of a kiss just below your hairline; he parts almost as soon as he arrives, leaving you dazed and flustered in his wake.

“Sleep well,” he murmurs, offering his arm to help you to your feet. You accept it, feeling much smaller beside him than you did only hours before. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

You each return to your respective bedrooms, your legs floating towards your bed of their own accord and dropping you backward onto the mattress. You stare up at the sheer, billowing canopy hung from the ceiling as the shivering in your limbs returns, your body completely unable to accommodate with what your mind can barely seem to process.

He didn’t force himself onto you. He didn’t violate the comfort between you simply for the sake of tradition and lineage. The extreme relief you feel is overwhelming, so much so that you think you might throw up or faint.

You fall asleep to the sound of the ocean beyond the palace walls, the danger that looms within them doing little to deter the peace that washes over you as you drift into a pleasant dream.

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blogbyliv · 3 years

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Personal Reflection

Liv Gardner

Women’s Writing Worldwide

Prof. Richard

30 July 2021

Personal Reflection

Growing up as a young woman in a conservative town where feminism is seen as an outlier, devil-made, radical set of ideals, my understanding of the term has always been mixed. From birth to age 14, the concept was somewhat foreign. What little I knew about it did not bear a positive connotation and it seemed to always loom in the background, an uncomfortable topic, like race or sex, that no one seemed to want to discuss. As I moved into a different high school, one away from my hometown, one advanced and labeled as a college preparatory school, things changed. I was exposed to new teachings, new ideas, new people, and the connotation and anonymity of the word in my life changed. As we fast-forward to today, I look at things like this course, one that my pre-teen self could have never imagined would exist or let alone would be one that I was taking, and I admire the impact it has made on my overall body of knowledge. While the world around me has not changed, the community still bearing the same traditional and sexist sentiments as always, it seems as if I have, undoubtedly for the better.

As I searched for inspiration for such a project, I tried to look back through the TedTalks we often annotated this summer. Many struck me again with the veracity of their messages, but there was one in particular that moved me just as it had the first time: a young woman who was speaking about her Indian heritage and culture. I listened as she talked about the traditions that involved the garments and accessories of the women. She explained how Indian women took pride in their beautiful bangles and colorful saris, but how this would so quickly change once their husbands passed. Their saris would only be allowed to be white and their bangles would be broken. Their lives were seen as irreparable once without a man. This struck me then, just as it did again recently. The clothing, shoes, and accessories that women wear can often say a lot about their culture, how their culture views them, and what they value. At the same time, there can also be heavy misconceptions about these garments that can mark a group of women indefinitely. In my commonplace project, I wanted to explore all of these things. There are countless cultures across the world that are often overlooked, or, conversely, noticed, quickly misunderstood, and then passed by. Coming from a household where my mother owned her own boutique, I knew this was a topic I wanted to explore. Through my blog, I worked to highlight specific garments of different groups of women and look at what each said explicitly about their circle. In my choices of cultures and clothing, I also sought to find pieces that represented various topics and concepts that we had learned and explored throughout the last eight weeks.

There were various objectives I wanted to meet with my writing for this project. The first one was to highlight misconceptions that we commonly have about certain cultural garments. One example that I used for this was the hijab. Through our unit on Islam and our extensive readings on the wearing of the hijab, I was drawn to highlight its ability to be a fashion statement just as much as it is a religious one. Society, because of media misrepresentation and single stories of the culture, has often linked the hijab to the idea of subjugation. Many see it as the antithesis of feminism. In reality, it is quite the opposite. Musliim women who choose to wear a head covering do so by their own free will. While some states do still exist that make it a mandate to cover, most are progressing away from this traditional and sexist way of operating. For the majority of Muslim women, covering is seen as a privilege and a religious duty that exhibits their dedication to their faith. This dedication, as mentioned before, does not mean it has to be unfashionable. I wanted to highlight through my blog the many prints and styles of hijab that exist for Islamic women to dress and have fun with. Another misconception surrounds the kimono of Japan. For many, the depiction of the kimono often stems from some form of fighting movie that was Americanized and popular in the states. It also typically pictures only a male wearing such garments. Through this blog I wanted to show that traditional garments do exist for women and in actuality are much more complicated than the males. While this might simply be a stylistic detail, it seems to be the culture’s own reflection of how they view women as a whole, touching on another objective I sought to meet within my project.

Throughout this project, I also wanted to achieve a series of connections between the garments and some of the specific topics we learned throughout the summer. One of these was colonialism and post-colonialism. We can look specifically at the dress of the Herero women to see this illustrated. Mimicking much of the 19th century Victorian women’s dresses, the Herero women are known for their clothing called the Herero dress. The garment that identifies the women are not of their own creation, but yet a piece of German socialization that was left behind following their early 20th century invasion. The Herero dress still exists today, but not for the reasons one would assume. In their pursuit to convert and conquer the Herero tribe, the Germans were the perpetrators behind a mass genoicde that wiped out a majority of the tribe. Not only did they leave behind trauma and pain, but also their style. The Herero women of today wear the dress not to show that they were products of cultural diffusion, but rather as a symbol of rebellion. By wearing the piece on their own terms and in their own styles, they believe they have taken back a bit of their history and made it their own. Another piece of clothing that we can see through the eyes of post-colonialism is the maasai shuka. The Maasai are a group of semi-nomadic people residing around the area of Kenya in Africa. Brough to the area by both Scottish missionaries and colonizers, the shuka resembles a blanket and can be draped in various ways to cover and protect the body. It is known for its bright colors and prints that can vary based on location in the region and the group of people within the Maasai that wear it.

Aside from connections to our learning topics and exhibiting the misconceptions of some cultural pieces of clothing, I also wanted to highlight basic garments that were traditional in some popular nations, but are often overlooked within the eyes of Americans. These are pieces like the Ao Dai in Vietnam and the tichel in Judaism. While the garments can be interwoven into the themes and objectives mentioned prior, the emphasis on their existence is what I really sought to highlight within the blog.

Growing up in a household dedicated to profiting off of and maintaining what you look like, I have always understood the power, both positive and negative, that clothing holds. Fashion gives us confidence. This can be confidence in ourselves, confidence in our faith and religious ties, or confidence in our culture and nationality. Regardless of its form, it gives us a boost, a push that allows us to feel empowered in all that we choose to do. Yet, there is another side to its power. Fashion also creates divides. It can separate one class from another, one nationality from its neighboring state, and even one age group from those above and below it. Regardless of its purpose or the role it plays for the women and other individuals who wear the pieces, all fashion can be united under one word: beauty. Each piece featured within this project shows dedication to a variety of things. There is dedication to the garment itself, dedication to a nation of origin, and even dedication to a specific religion. Each of the pieces show intricate designs and bright colors, all of which represent those who wear it and the regions from which they originate. They also embody the strength of the women who wear them. For the Herero women, we see the capability to overcome cultural subjugation and persecution. For the Muslim women, we see the power to separate themselves from society and profess their faith and beliefs through the covering of their hair. For Jewish women, we see the fortitude to break a tradition long dominated by men, and the slow and progressive adoption of the tzitzit into daily wear. Each has their own story, their own origin, their own connection to those who wear them, yet all embody beauty and promote the strength of the females who are fighting for a place within their own cultures and within society as a greater whole.

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thejoonmoon · 6 years

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1) but why is the korean japanese a grey area and the white chinese not?? its essentially the same situation ! in fact the japanese have arguably been more horrendous to korean people than white people to asian americans.. more than just systemic oppression and erasure of korean culture, they raped and pillages and in fact completely colonized korea (basically the treatment of white people against native americans) im not trying to fixate on your grey area statement (i guess i am tho lol) but

2) I think that you should treat the situation equally. also on a greater note, this basically means that the japanese cant wear any other asian cultures clothing unless they are invited to because they… imperialized… basically all of asia… as an asian american, i personally dont find this situation that offensive because she didnt sexualize the dress but i can understand where people are coming from. it bothers me though that there was a situation exactly like this a while ago with a

3) black person except she sexualized the clothing and put chopsticks in her hair but nobody called her out. while i can understand if your going to be mad, you need to be mad about things equally..

I called it a grey area because a lot of Koreans, especially the newer generations, are actually not holding as strong as a grudge as the previous generations did. Koreans go to Japan for weekend trips all the time, Kpop is becoming huge in Japan, Koreans still enjoy and immerse themselves in Japanese culture without having Japanese imperialism in mind. The tension between the two nations are murky and have just grown to have sensitive topics (eg: Dokdo or Kimchi or Comfort Women) that trigger that tension to be activated. Some Koreans genuinely do not have a problem with Japanese people wearing hanboks and walking around the palaces while others do. It all depends on the person. Which is why I’m calling it a “grey area.” The two country’s relations to each other are really weird.

On the other hand, Korea/Japan’s situation differs from the white girl wearing the qipao because the white girl is living within America, a country that has a much more defined definition of cultural appropriation. She, being raised in a melting pot of nations, has all the resources available that should make her place known to her.

Treating situations equally is difficult because there’s always context that has to be kept in mind.

#also i saw the photo you were talking about in 3! a lot of people were really heated about it?? i was too???? she even said some corny ass #shit like sweet and sour of course everybody called her out #ask #anon

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healthandfitnessrecipes-blog · 6 years

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How to Properly Store Bulk Herbs and Loose Tea

https://healthandfitnessrecipes.com/?p=9519

By Dr. Mercola

Herbs and teas contain a wide variety of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants that help maximize the nutrients you consume each day. They help to upgrade your nutrient intake without adding calories. One 8-ounce cup of tea contains only 2 calories. Both herbs and teas have unique medicinal value as well.

For instance, herbal teas may help you relax before bed, making you feel drowsy, allowing you to fall asleep faster. However, some may also cause sleep disturbances, so it's important to know the actions you might expect from the herbs or tea before using them. Fresh herbs add flavor and have been used for thousands of years as natural treatments.1

While herbs are short on calories, many pack a powerful vitamin punch, such as parsley, which has significant amounts of vitamin K, C and A.2 Remember too that while they are natural, herbs and teas may interact with prescription medications you may be taking or with an underlying medical condition. Not all herbs or teas are appropriate for children either.3

Eating fresh herbs adds depth and flavor to your dishes, but may be more difficult to find in the winter months. Growing and drying your own herbs may offer you the benefits of fresh in the summer and healthy dried herbs through the winter. However, before jumping into purchasing loose tea leaves or drying herbs this summer, it's important to know how to best store your products so they retain the greatest amount of flavor and nutrition.

Loose-Leaf Tea Healthier Than Tea Bags

While steeping tea from a bag is slightly more convenient, especially when you're away from home, loose-leaf tea, also known as whole-leaf tea, has some distinct advantages. Whole-leaf tea is made from an entire leaf of the plant, or at least the majority of the leaf, while tea bags are often filled with very small pieces of the tea leaves, sometimes having been reduced to powder.4

When the leaves are broken, they have a larger surface area with greater opportunity for the essential oils that add to the flavor of the tea, to dissipate. When packed in a paper box with paper wrapping, the oils have ample opportunity to be absorbed. This means tea made from tea bags may taste dull and stale sooner than loose-leaf tea that has been properly stored. Some tea bags are made with whole leaf tea, although they are the exception and not the rule.

Tea bags are also blended so the taste is standardized from one box to the next, wherever that brand of tea is sold. Unfortunately, this standardization may come at a price to the quality of the tea, as many manufacturers place a premium on the flavor and price of the final product and not on the nutrient value.5 Tea bags may also contain added toxins and fillers as they are often not organically grown and fillers are added at the point of manufacture.6

There are several ways of using bulk whole-leaf tea to make your own tea bags, thus enjoying the benefits of high-flavor tea and the convenience of being able to steep your tea. One way is to use coffee filters or muslin cloth to make your own tea bag.7 Put your tea in the center of a rectangular cut cloth or filter, fold the sides in toward each other and staple together. Fold the top down twice with string in the fold hanging out, then staple.

If you'd like the do-it-yourself project to be a little easier, consider single-use, drawstring tea bags. You fill the bag with your favorite tea leaves, draw the string closed and pack away for use when you leave home. A morning or afternoon tea is an easy way to incorporate a healthy habit into your daily routine and enjoy the benefits of antioxidants and great flavor.

12 Easy Ways to Use Herbs in Your Kitchen

One of the strongest selling points for eating organic foods is to reduce your exposure to pesticides and insecticides. Organic herbs and teas offer you the same benefits. If you've been cooking with processed flavorings, consider these simple suggestions to incorporate healthy herbs into your cooking.8,9,10

Add chopped fresh or dry parsley or dill to your scrambled eggs.

Add one or two leaves of basil, mint or cilantro to your sandwiches.

Add fresh cilantro, parsley, mint or basil to your salads.

Add a generous amount of oregano or thyme to your homemade salad dressings.

Make fresh pesto with basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese and raw walnuts; add over chicken.

Rub a mixture of dried thyme and rosemary on your chicken before roasting.

Add fresh mint to iced tea or sparkling water.

Add fresh basil to your tomato sauce.

Sautee green beans or zucchini and basil, parsley or mint for added flavor.

Combine basil with raspberries or strawberries.

Rosemary works well with chicken, pork or salmon; it blends with tomatoes and spinach or add it to your quinoa.

Sage works well with squash and sweet fruit like apples. It holds up well in cooking and adds a flavor punch to sausage and cheeses.

Consider Stocking These Herbs

One of the best ways to keep fresh herbs handy for your dishes is to grow them yourself. Many herbs will grow throughout the year indoors when given a window with direct sunlight. They brighten your kitchen and provide inspiration for your cooking. Whether you snip them at home or purchase at the store, fresh herbs are relatively fragile and don't usually last more than a week after cutting.

To keep the fresh flavor longer, cut them and place in ice cube trays with bone broth. Freeze, remove from the tray and transfer to a plastic bag and keep frozen for use in soups and stews.11 Different herbs offer unique benefits to your health. Consider keeping these at home, whether fresh or dried:

Sage — Used in the Middle Ages to help prevent the plague, sage has a long history of medicinal benefits. Current research has demonstrated that sage may help prevent dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease.12 In a four-month study, sage extract was also shown to improve cognitive function in people who already suffered from Alzheimer's disease.13

Holy Basil — This is a different type of basil than regular or Thai basil. Small studies have demonstrated an improvement in immune function, an inhibition in the growth of bacteria and yeasts14 and a reduction in blood sugar levels.15

Thyme — A member of the mint family, thyme contains a potent antioxidant oil called thymol. Teas made with thyme may be used to treat vaginal yeast infections and athlete's foot, and may be consumed to help speed recovery from an illness.16

Rosemary — This robust herb has anti-inflammatory effects that help suppress seasonal allergic responses, including runny nose and itchy, watery eyes.17

Peppermint — Peppermint helps relax the smooth muscle in your colon, reducing pain and bloating associated with irritable bowel syndrome,18 but not the diarrhea often associated with the condition.19 As an aromatherapy agent, it helps reduce nausea.20

Oregano — Commonly found in Italian and Greek cooking, oregano has antiviral and antibacterial properties. It is high in antioxidants and the oil of oregano has been used for treatment of fever, cough and congestion.21

Five Teas to Boost Your Health

Tea is a tasty and healthy way of consuming antioxidants that help prevent damage from oxidation of your food during digestion. Consider drinking a couple of cups throughout the day. Different tea leaves offer different benefits you may find help you to sleep, reduce anxiety or calm an upset stomach.

• Chamomile — This is one of the most popular teas in the world, with a hint of apple flavor and naturally sweet taste. Chamomile tea is a good source of magnesium that may help you de-stress at the end of the day and has a mild soothing and sedative property to help you sleep at night.

• Matcha — This is the most nutrient-rich green tea and will come in the form of a stone-ground fermented powder. The best quality Matcha teas come from Japan. This tea has up to 17 times the antioxidants of wild blueberries and seven times more than dark chocolate.

• Mint — Mint tea is popular for soothing your stomach and helping to alleviate heartburn, indigestion and nausea.

• Lavender — Too strong to be used in tea alone, you may mix dried lavender leaves with four times the amount of mint leaves. Lavender has many health benefits I've covered in "Lavender: The Flower With Many Faces."

• Black tea — Made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the leaves are rolled, fermented, dried and then crushed before being added to tea bags. You may purchase black tea as whole-leaf tea and make your own bags at home. It has a slightly bitter flavor and contains the highest amount of caffeine of any tea.

How to Preserve Bulk Herbs and Teas

The purchase of quality bulk herbs and teas may be expensive, especially when the products oxidize and become unusable. Incorporating these plants may help improve your physical and emotional health, as well as reduce your reliance on Western medicine. Properly stored, many herbs and teas may last up to nine months, but they are best used in the first three to five months after purchase. To preserve your investment, you'll need to take some simple steps to maintain potency and flavor.22,23,24,25

Dry — Before storing herbs or teas they should be in the driest form possible if you are harvesting from your own garden. A good way to test is to crumble a leaf between your fingers. It should crumble easily and be almost crisp to the touch. Your herbs and tea should also remain dry in storage. This means keeping them in an airtight container to retard moisture and air, which can cause the product to oxidize, losing flavor and health benefits.

Keep out of direct sunlight and heat — The sun hitting jars of teas and herbs may look pretty, but the light will destroy the benefits and reduce the flavor. Instead, store in dark containers and keep away from sunny areas. Consider using small jars of herbs or teas on your counter space for decoration only, leaving the usable product out of the sun.

Some teas may store best in your refrigerator or freezer to reduce moisture and keep them cool. To do this, squeeze as much air out of a single-use package as possible before placing in your refrigerator or freezer. Remove the package several hours before use and keep unopened until the package and leaves reach room temperature to reduce the risk of condensation of the leaves.

Stay cool and dry — Your herbs and teas will retain their potency best when stored away from areas that may retain moisture, like a bathroom or even kitchen. Store on the coolest side of your home.

Watch the temperature — The best temperature for your teas and herbs is at a steady 65 to 75 degrees F (18 to 24 degrees C). For this reason bathrooms and kitchens, where the temperature often fluctuates, may not be your best option. If your home's seasonal fluctuations vary more than 1 or 2 degrees outside this range consider a root cellar or the addition of an air conditioner.

Keep away from strong odors — Teas and herbs may absorb odors from their surrounding environment, reducing the flavor. Store your ready-to-use herbs and teas in a cabinet away other foods.

Consider the container — The best containers are colored glass or stainless steel with airtight seals, completely dry and odor free. The worst containers are clear glass that let in light, containers that leak, paper or plastic.

Date the canister — To ensure healthy, flavorful herbs and teas, date your storage canister with the date you purchased or harvested from your garden to ensure you use the oldest canister first and within the first five months after purchase or harvest.

Teas Can Be Infused or Fermented

Consider fermenting the herbs to add probiotic and enzymatic elements or making an herbal infusion. Infusions are made with boiling water that is allowed to cool. The initial heat releases any dissolved gasses from the herbs and then as the water cools, a tight lid restricts the gas from re-dissolving into the water. This is known as the "wonder water" effect.26

Using dried herbal leaves, add 1 ounce to a 1-quart Mason jar and fill to the top with boiling water. Screw the lid on tightly and leave it at room temperature for four hours. Once cooled, you may strain out the plant. Drink approximately two cups per day until it has been finished. Infusions spoil rapidly, so store the unused portion in the refrigerator for 24 hours and make a new batch when you need one.

Fermenting herbs for herbal tea is yet another way of consuming herbs and tea, with additional benefits and flavor. This recipe for fermented herbal tea is courtesy of Cultures for Health.27

Ingredients

1 quart of clean, fresh water

1/4 cup loose herbal tea (your choice)

3 tablespoons honey or unrefined cane sugar

1/3 cup whey from yogurt or kefir or 1/8 teaspoon powdered starter culture or a few tablespoons of lacto-fermented vegetable brine

Instructions

Prepare the herbal tea by bringing the water to a boil. Add the 1/4 cup herbs to a quart jar and pour boiling water over herbs.

Cover and allow to steep for at least 10 minutes to extract the properties of the herbs.

Strain the tea from the herbs into another quart jar. Add sweetener while still hot in order to dissolve the sugars. Allow to cool to room temperature with a lid on to keep out dust and bugs.

When the tea and sweetener have cooled add the whey or other culture starter. Stir well with a wooden spoon, cover loosely with either a towel and rubber band or a canning lid that hasn't been tightened all the way.

Place in a dark, warm place for a couple of days and check for fermentation. Is it slightly sour or slightly fizzy?

If you desire a more carbonated drink you can add a bit more sweetener and cap the jar tightly. After another day (three total, depending on temperature) you should have a bubbly brew.

Drink immediately or move to cold storage.

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jakehglover · 6 years

Text

How to Properly Store Bulk Herbs and Loose Tea

By Dr. Mercola

Loose-Leaf Tea Healthier Than Tea Bags

12 Easy Ways to Use Herbs in Your Kitchen

Add chopped fresh or dry parsley or dill to your scrambled eggs.

Add one or two leaves of basil, mint or cilantro to your sandwiches.

Add fresh cilantro, parsley, mint or basil to your salads.

Add a generous amount of oregano or thyme to your homemade salad dressings.

Make fresh pesto with basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese and raw walnuts; add over chicken.

Rub a mixture of dried thyme and rosemary on your chicken before roasting.

Add fresh mint to iced tea or sparkling water.

Add fresh basil to your tomato sauce.

Sautee green beans or zucchini and basil, parsley or mint for added flavor.

Combine basil with raspberries or strawberries.

Rosemary works well with chicken, pork or salmon; it blends with tomatoes and spinach or add it to your quinoa.

Sage works well with squash and sweet fruit like apples. It holds up well in cooking and adds a flavor punch to sausage and cheeses.

Consider Stocking These Herbs

Sage

Used in the Middle Ages to help prevent the plague, sage has a long history of medicinal benefits. Current research has demonstrated that sage may help prevent dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease.12 In a four-month study, sage extract was also shown to improve cognitive function in people who already suffered from Alzheimer's disease.13

Holy Basil

This is a different type of basil than regular or Thai basil. Small studies have demonstrated an improvement in immune function, an inhibition in the growth of bacteria and yeasts14 and a reduction in blood sugar levels.15

Thyme

A member of the mint family, thyme contains a potent antioxidant oil called thymol. Teas made with thyme may be used to treat vaginal yeast infections and athlete's foot, and may be consumed to help speed recovery from an illness.16

Rosemary

This robust herb has anti-inflammatory effects that help suppress seasonal allergic responses, including runny nose and itchy, watery eyes.17

Peppermint

Peppermint helps relax the smooth muscle in your colon, reducing pain and bloating associated with irritable bowel syndrome,18 but not the diarrhea often associated with the condition.19 As an aromatherapy agent, it helps reduce nausea.20

Oregano

Commonly found in Italian and Greek cooking, oregano has antiviral and antibacterial properties. It is high in antioxidants and the oil of oregano has been used for treatment of fever, cough and congestion.21

Five Teas to Boost Your Health

• Mint — Mint tea is popular for soothing your stomach and helping to alleviate heartburn, indigestion and nausea.

How to Preserve Bulk Herbs and Teas

Dry

Before storing herbs or teas they should be in the driest form possible if you are harvesting from your own garden. A good way to test is to crumble a leaf between your fingers. It should crumble easily and be almost crisp to the touch. Your herbs and tea should also remain dry in storage. This means keeping them in an airtight container to retard moisture and air, which can cause the product to oxidize, losing flavor and health benefits.

Keep out of direct sunlight and heat

The sun hitting jars of teas and herbs may look pretty, but the light will destroy the benefits and reduce the flavor. Instead, store in dark containers and keep away from sunny areas. Consider using small jars of herbs or teas on your counter space for decoration only, leaving the usable product out of the sun.

Stay cool and dry

Your herbs and teas will retain their potency best when stored away from areas that may retain moisture, like a bathroom or even kitchen. Store on the coolest side of your home.

Watch the temperature

The best temperature for your teas and herbs is at a steady 65 to 75 degrees F (18 to 24 degrees C). For this reason bathrooms and kitchens, where the temperature often fluctuates, may not be your best option. If your home's seasonal fluctuations vary more than 1 or 2 degrees outside this range consider a root cellar or the addition of an air conditioner.

Keep away from strong odors

Teas and herbs may absorb odors from their surrounding environment, reducing the flavor. Store your ready-to-use herbs and teas in a cabinet away other foods.

Consider the container

The best containers are colored glass or stainless steel with airtight seals, completely dry and odor free. The worst containers are clear glass that let in light, containers that leak, paper or plastic.

Date the canister

To ensure healthy, flavorful herbs and teas, date your storage canister with the date you purchased or harvested from your garden to ensure you use the oldest canister first and within the first five months after purchase or harvest.

Teas Can Be Infused or Fermented

Fermenting herbs for herbal tea is yet another way of consuming herbs and tea, with additional benefits and flavor. This recipe for fermented herbal tea is courtesy of Cultures for Health.27

Ingredients

1 quart of clean, fresh water

1/4 cup loose herbal tea (your choice)

3 tablespoons honey or unrefined cane sugar

1/3 cup whey from yogurt or kefir or 1/8 teaspoon powdered starter culture or a few tablespoons of lacto-fermented vegetable brine

Instructions

Prepare the herbal tea by bringing the water to a boil. Add the 1/4 cup herbs to a quart jar and pour boiling water over herbs.

Cover and allow to steep for at least 10 minutes to extract the properties of the herbs.

Strain the tea from the herbs into another quart jar. Add sweetener while still hot in order to dissolve the sugars. Allow to cool to room temperature with a lid on to keep out dust and bugs.

Place in a dark, warm place for a couple of days and check for fermentation. Is it slightly sour or slightly fizzy?

If you desire a more carbonated drink you can add a bit more sweetener and cap the jar tightly. After another day (three total, depending on temperature) you should have a bubbly brew.

Drink immediately or move to cold storage.

from HealthyLife via Jake Glover on Inoreader http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/08/20/how-to-store-bulk-herbs-loose-tea.aspx

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sherristockman · 6 years

Link

How to Properly Store Bulk Herbs and Loose Tea Dr. Mercola By Dr. Mercola Herbs and teas contain a wide variety of minerals, vitamins and antioxidants that help maximize the nutrients you consume each day. They help to upgrade your nutrient intake without adding calories. One 8-ounce cup of tea contains only 2 calories. Both herbs and teas have unique medicinal value as well. For instance, herbal teas may help you relax before bed, making you feel drowsy, allowing you to fall asleep faster. However, some may also cause sleep disturbances, so it's important to know the actions you might expect from the herbs or tea before using them. Fresh herbs add flavor and have been used for thousands of years as natural treatments.1 While herbs are short on calories, many pack a powerful vitamin punch, such as parsley, which has significant amounts of vitamin K, C and A.2 Remember too that while they are natural, herbs and teas may interact with prescription medications you may be taking or with an underlying medical condition. Not all herbs or teas are appropriate for children either.3 Eating fresh herbs adds depth and flavor to your dishes, but may be more difficult to find in the winter months. Growing and drying your own herbs may offer you the benefits of fresh in the summer and healthy dried herbs through the winter. However, before jumping into purchasing loose tea leaves or drying herbs this summer, it's important to know how to best store your products so they retain the greatest amount of flavor and nutrition. Loose-Leaf Tea Healthier Than Tea Bags While steeping tea from a bag is slightly more convenient, especially when you're away from home, loose-leaf tea, also known as whole-leaf tea, has some distinct advantages. Whole-leaf tea is made from an entire leaf of the plant, or at least the majority of the leaf, while tea bags are often filled with very small pieces of the tea leaves, sometimes having been reduced to powder.4 When the leaves are broken, they have a larger surface area with greater opportunity for the essential oils that add to the flavor of the tea, to dissipate. When packed in a paper box with paper wrapping, the oils have ample opportunity to be absorbed. This means tea made from tea bags may taste dull and stale sooner than loose-leaf tea that has been properly stored. Some tea bags are made with whole leaf tea, although they are the exception and not the rule. Tea bags are also blended so the taste is standardized from one box to the next, wherever that brand of tea is sold. Unfortunately, this standardization may come at a price to the quality of the tea, as many manufacturers place a premium on the flavor and price of the final product and not on the nutrient value.5 Tea bags may also contain added toxins and fillers as they are often not organically grown and fillers are added at the point of manufacture.6 There are several ways of using bulk whole-leaf tea to make your own tea bags, thus enjoying the benefits of high-flavor tea and the convenience of being able to steep your tea. One way is to use coffee filters or muslin cloth to make your own tea bag.7 Put your tea in the center of a rectangular cut cloth or filter, fold the sides in toward each other and staple together. Fold the top down twice with string in the fold hanging out, then staple. If you'd like the do-it-yourself project to be a little easier, consider single-use, drawstring tea bags. You fill the bag with your favorite tea leaves, draw the string closed and pack away for use when you leave home. A morning or afternoon tea is an easy way to incorporate a healthy habit into your daily routine and enjoy the benefits of antioxidants and great flavor. 12 Easy Ways to Use Herbs in Your Kitchen One of the strongest selling points for eating organic foods is to reduce your exposure to pesticides and insecticides. Organic herbs and teas offer you the same benefits. If you've been cooking with processed flavorings, consider these simple suggestions to incorporate healthy herbs into your cooking.8,9,10 Add chopped fresh or dry parsley or dill to your scrambled eggs. Add one or two leaves of basil, mint or cilantro to your sandwiches. Add fresh cilantro, parsley, mint or basil to your salads. Add a generous amount of oregano or thyme to your homemade salad dressings. Make fresh pesto with basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese and raw walnuts; add over chicken. Rub a mixture of dried thyme and rosemary on your chicken before roasting. Add fresh mint to iced tea or sparkling water. Add fresh basil to your tomato sauce. Sautee green beans or zucchini and basil, parsley or mint for added flavor. Combine basil with raspberries or strawberries. Rosemary works well with chicken, pork or salmon; it blends with tomatoes and spinach or add it to your quinoa. Sage works well with squash and sweet fruit like apples. It holds up well in cooking and adds a flavor punch to sausage and cheeses. Consider Stocking These Herbs One of the best ways to keep fresh herbs handy for your dishes is to grow them yourself. Many herbs will grow throughout the year indoors when given a window with direct sunlight. They brighten your kitchen and provide inspiration for your cooking. Whether you snip them at home or purchase at the store, fresh herbs are relatively fragile and don't usually last more than a week after cutting. To keep the fresh flavor longer, cut them and place in ice cube trays with bone broth. Freeze, remove from the tray and transfer to a plastic bag and keep frozen for use in soups and stews.11 Different herbs offer unique benefits to your health. Consider keeping these at home, whether fresh or dried: Sage Used in the Middle Ages to help prevent the plague, sage has a long history of medicinal benefits. Current research has demonstrated that sage may help prevent dementia, specifically Alzheimer's disease.12 In a four-month study, sage extract was also shown to improve cognitive function in people who already suffered from Alzheimer's disease.13 Holy Basil This is a different type of basil than regular or Thai basil. Small studies have demonstrated an improvement in immune function, an inhibition in the growth of bacteria and yeasts14 and a reduction in blood sugar levels.15 Thyme A member of the mint family, thyme contains a potent antioxidant oil called thymol. Teas made with thyme may be used to treat vaginal yeast infections and athlete's foot, and may be consumed to help speed recovery from an illness.16 Rosemary This robust herb has anti-inflammatory effects that help suppress seasonal allergic responses, including runny nose and itchy, watery eyes.17 Peppermint Peppermint helps relax the smooth muscle in your colon, reducing pain and bloating associated with irritable bowel syndrome,18 but not the diarrhea often associated with the condition.19 As an aromatherapy agent, it helps reduce nausea.20 Oregano Commonly found in Italian and Greek cooking, oregano has antiviral and antibacterial properties. It is high in antioxidants and the oil of oregano has been used for treatment of fever, cough and congestion.21 Five Teas to Boost Your Health Tea is a tasty and healthy way of consuming antioxidants that help prevent damage from oxidation of your food during digestion. Consider drinking a couple of cups throughout the day. Different tea leaves offer different benefits you may find help you to sleep, reduce anxiety or calm an upset stomach. • Chamomile — This is one of the most popular teas in the world, with a hint of apple flavor and naturally sweet taste. Chamomile tea is a good source of magnesium that may help you de-stress at the end of the day and has a mild soothing and sedative property to help you sleep at night. • Matcha — This is the most nutrient-rich green tea and will come in the form of a stone-ground fermented powder. The best quality Matcha teas come from Japan. This tea has up to 17 times the antioxidants of wild blueberries and seven times more than dark chocolate. • Mint — Mint tea is popular for soothing your stomach and helping to alleviate heartburn, indigestion and nausea. • Lavender — Too strong to be used in tea alone, you may mix dried lavender leaves with four times the amount of mint leaves. Lavender has many health benefits I've covered in "Lavender: The Flower With Many Faces." • Black tea — Made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, the leaves are rolled, fermented, dried and then crushed before being added to tea bags. You may purchase black tea as whole-leaf tea and make your own bags at home. It has a slightly bitter flavor and contains the highest amount of caffeine of any tea. How to Preserve Bulk Herbs and Teas The purchase of quality bulk herbs and teas may be expensive, especially when the products oxidize and become unusable. Incorporating these plants may help improve your physical and emotional health, as well as reduce your reliance on Western medicine. Properly stored, many herbs and teas may last up to nine months, but they are best used in the first three to five months after purchase. To preserve your investment, you'll need to take some simple steps to maintain potency and flavor.22,23,24,25 Dry Before storing herbs or teas they should be in the driest form possible if you are harvesting from your own garden. A good way to test is to crumble a leaf between your fingers. It should crumble easily and be almost crisp to the touch. Your herbs and tea should also remain dry in storage. This means keeping them in an airtight container to retard moisture and air, which can cause the product to oxidize, losing flavor and health benefits. Keep out of direct sunlight and heat The sun hitting jars of teas and herbs may look pretty, but the light will destroy the benefits and reduce the flavor. Instead, store in dark containers and keep away from sunny areas. Consider using small jars of herbs or teas on your counter space for decoration only, leaving the usable product out of the sun. Some teas may store best in your refrigerator or freezer to reduce moisture and keep them cool. To do this, squeeze as much air out of a single-use package as possible before placing in your refrigerator or freezer. Remove the package several hours before use and keep unopened until the package and leaves reach room temperature to reduce the risk of condensation of the leaves. Stay cool and dry Your herbs and teas will retain their potency best when stored away from areas that may retain moisture, like a bathroom or even kitchen. Store on the coolest side of your home. Watch the temperature The best temperature for your teas and herbs is at a steady 65 to 75 degrees F (18 to 24 degrees C). For this reason bathrooms and kitchens, where the temperature often fluctuates, may not be your best option. If your home's seasonal fluctuations vary more than 1 or 2 degrees outside this range consider a root cellar or the addition of an air conditioner. Keep away from strong odors Teas and herbs may absorb odors from their surrounding environment, reducing the flavor. Store your ready-to-use herbs and teas in a cabinet away other foods. Consider the container The best containers are colored glass or stainless steel with airtight seals, completely dry and odor free. The worst containers are clear glass that let in light, containers that leak, paper or plastic. Date the canister To ensure healthy, flavorful herbs and teas, date your storage canister with the date you purchased or harvested from your garden to ensure you use the oldest canister first and within the first five months after purchase or harvest. Teas Can Be Infused or Fermented Consider fermenting the herbs to add probiotic and enzymatic elements or making an herbal infusion. Infusions are made with boiling water that is allowed to cool. The initial heat releases any dissolved gasses from the herbs and then as the water cools, a tight lid restricts the gas from re-dissolving into the water. This is known as the "wonder water" effect.26 Using dried herbal leaves, add 1 ounce to a 1-quart Mason jar and fill to the top with boiling water. Screw the lid on tightly and leave it at room temperature for four hours. Once cooled, you may strain out the plant. Drink approximately two cups per day until it has been finished. Infusions spoil rapidly, so store the unused portion in the refrigerator for 24 hours and make a new batch when you need one. Fermenting herbs for herbal tea is yet another way of consuming herbs and tea, with additional benefits and flavor. This recipe for fermented herbal tea is courtesy of Cultures for Health.27 Ingredients 1 quart of clean, fresh water 1/4 cup loose herbal tea (your choice) 3 tablespoons honey or unrefined cane sugar 1/3 cup whey from yogurt or kefir or 1/8 teaspoon powdered starter culture or a few tablespoons of lacto-fermented vegetable brine Instructions Prepare the herbal tea by bringing the water to a boil. Add the 1/4 cup herbs to a quart jar and pour boiling water over herbs. Cover and allow to steep for at least 10 minutes to extract the properties of the herbs. Strain the tea from the herbs into another quart jar. Add sweetener while still hot in order to dissolve the sugars. Allow to cool to room temperature with a lid on to keep out dust and bugs. When the tea and sweetener have cooled add the whey or other culture starter. Stir well with a wooden spoon, cover loosely with either a towel and rubber band or a canning lid that hasn't been tightened all the way. Place in a dark, warm place for a couple of days and check for fermentation. Is it slightly sour or slightly fizzy? If you desire a more carbonated drink you can add a bit more sweetener and cap the jar tightly. After another day (three total, depending on temperature) you should have a bubbly brew. Drink immediately or move to cold storage.

#VitalityPath

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gunboatbaylodge · 7 years

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Things To Do In Vancouver This Weekend: January 5, 2017

Happy 2017! It’s time to dig yourself out of the pile of cheese rinds, chocolate wrappers and wine bottles (if you want, I’m not judging) and head out for the first weekend of the year. ‘Tis the season for outdoor ice skating – either at Robson Square or up on Grouse Mountain, the holiday lights are still up at Capilano Suspention Bridge, and the Vancouver Italian Film Festival begins.

Friday | Saturday | Sunday | Ongoing

Friday January 6

Vancouver Italian Film Festival | Roma

Vancouver Italian Film Festival Where: Various locations What: Contemporary films from the past two to three years are merged with Italy’s rich history of classic avant-garde, and neo realism cinema. Runs until: Thursday January 12, 2017

And Bella Sang with Us

And Bella Sang with Us Where: Firehall Arts Centre What: A stylish play with a dark and wicked sense of humour with a shot of song that celebrates two of Canada’s unsung pioneers: Constables Lurancy Harris and Minnie Miller, Vancouver’s first female police officers. Runs until: Saturday January 14, 2017

Ellis Hall: Soul Unlimited

Ellis Hall: Soul Unlimited Where: The Orpheum What: Superstar vocalist and instrumentalist Ellis Hall channels the greats in a concert with soul. Get your groove on to classic music by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Otis Redding, and Ray Charles. Runs until: Saturday January 7, 2016

My American Cousin

My American Cousin Where: The Cinematheque What: A free screening of a classic of our national cinema. An affecting coming-of-age tale and a witty meditation on Canadian-American cultural tensions.

The first RAPP BATTLEZ of 2017 Where: The Fox Cabaret What: A comedy showdown, where some of the city’s best comedians face-off in high concept, no-holds-barred spit fests.

Vancouver Canucks vs. Calgary Flames Where: Rogers Arena What: Western Canadian cities compete in a game of hockey.

Saturday January 7

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The Wheelgrinders

The Wheelgrinders Where: The Emerald Supper Club What: Local rockabilly.

Tim Hicks and Chad Brownlee

Tim Hicks and Chad Brownlee (show 1 of 2) Where: The Commodore What: Two Canadian country singers.

The Shooting

The Shooting Where: The Cinematheque What: With Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus as avowed influences, the odd, existential Western — written by Five Easy Pieces’ Carole Eastman — casts Warren Oates as an ex-bounty hunter escorting a mysterious woman (Millie Perkins) across the desert to settle a score.

Sunday January 8

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The Enchantment Theatre Company and the VSO: The Firebird

The Enchantment Theatre Company and the VSO: The Firebird Where: The Orpheum What: An enchanted tree bears golden apples and an evil magician conjures a terrible storm in this imaginative production about Prince Ivan and the fabulous Firebird.With puppets, masks and magic, Enchantment Theatre Company presents the classic Russian tale The Firebird set to the evocative music of Igor Stravinsky.

Golden Globes at The Rio Where: The Rio Theatre What: Dress up and get ready for trivia, prizes, good times and more as you watch the Golden Globes on the big screen. Admission is free.

No Pants Skytrain Ride

No Pants Skytrain Ride Where: The Skytrain, 2:30pm What: Ride the Skytrain with no pants with a group of other pantless people.

Tim Hicks and Chad Brownlee (show 2 of 2) Where: The Commodore What: Two Canadian country singers.

Ongoing

top of page

Ellis Hall: Soul Unlimited

Ellis Hall: Soul Unlimited (this weekend only) Where: The Orpheum What: Superstar vocalist and instrumentalist Ellis Hall channels the greats in a concert with soul. Get your groove on to classic music by Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Smokey Robinson, Otis Redding, and Ray Charles. Runs until: Saturday January 7, 2016

Canyon Lights

Canyon Lights (ends this weekend) Where: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park What: The suspension bridge, Treetops Adventure, Cliffwalk, the rainforest and canyon are transformed into a world of festive lights in the trees, over bridges, and in the little village. See the world’s tallest living Christmas tree (153 feet) go on a Snowy Owl Prowl, decorate gingerbread cookies and make your own Christmas card. Runs until: Sunday January 8, 2016

All Together Now: Vancouver Collectors and Their Worlds

All Together Now: Vancouver Collectors and Their Worlds (ends this weekend) Where: The Museum of Vancouver What: 20 beautiful, rare, and unconventional collections, with something for everyone including corsets, prosthetics, pinball machines, taxidermy, toys, and much more. In this exhibition both collector and collected are objects of study, interaction, and delight. Runs until: Sunday January 8, 2016

White, Steel, Slice, Mask

White, Steel, Slice, Mask (ends this weekend) Where: Contemporary Art Gallery What: Working together for over a decade, the duo’s interdisciplinary practice typically instigates community-based models of participation in order to re-imagine a material record of the present. They investigate tactics of cultural representation while utilizing the methods of anthropology to examine various forms of collecting, interpretation and display. Runs until: Sunday January 8, 2016

Vancouver Italian Film Festival | Roma

Vancouver Italian Film Festival Where: Various locations What: Contemporary films from the past two to three years are merged with Italy’s rich patrimony of classic avant-garde, and neo realism cinema. Runs until: Thursday January 12, 2017

STOMP Out Hunger Where: Red Truck Brewery What: Everyone who drops off a cash or non-perishable food donation at the Red Truck Brewery before January 13th will receive a coupon good for $ 5 off a ticket to see the touring production of STOMP during its January 13th-15th run at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. In addition, Red Truck Beer will donate $ 1 from each pint of its seasonal beers sold in the Truck Stop during the month of December to the Vancouver Food Bank. Runs until: January 13, 2016

And Bella Sang with Us

Walker Evans: Depth of Field

Walker Evans: Depth of Field Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: The American photographer Walker Evans (1903–1975) is among the most influential artists of the 20th century. Covering the full arc of his career, Walker Evans: Depth of Field presents the most comprehensive look at Evans’ work ever mounted in Canada. Runs until: January 22, 2017

Alexine McLeod

Alexine McLeod Where: Monte Clark Gallery What: The artist presents wall-mounted abstract compositions that combine everyday materials including plastic, fabric, found objects, and light. Runs until: January 30, 2016

In the Footprint of the Crocodile Man

In the Footprint of the Crocodile Man Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology What: The Sepik River of Papua New Guinea is one of the largest river systems in the world, extraordinarily beautiful, but seldom visited. It is here that the Iatmul people, who live along its banks, have created internationally renowned works of art primarily inspired by stories of the majestic crocodile as the primordial creator. This unique exhibition will showcase the most comprehensive collection of contemporary Sepik art in North America for the first time. In addition to highlighting the exquisite carvings of Papua New Guinea’s latmul people, the exhibition will delve into their economic, cultural, and spiritual connections to the river system, drawing urgent attention to the logging and mining operations that pose environmental threats to the region. Runs until: January 31, 2017

Juxtapoz x Superflat

Juxtapoz x Superflat Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: A manifesto for new creative practices that can no longer be adequately described by the traditional categories of art and production. Presenting the work of more than 30 artists from Japan, China, Korea, Europe and the United States this remarkable exhibition offers a unique insight into contemporary art and its place in cultural life. Runs until: February 5, 2016

As Heavy as a Feather

As Heavy as a Feather Where: Centre A What: Indigenous Taiwanese artist Chang En Man is having her first exhibition in North America. Chang’s practice is characterized by a dynamic interplay between story, tradition, and the struggles of indigenous peoples in the face of ongoing experiences of colonization. Runs until: February 11, 2016

Robson Square Ice Rink

Robson Square Ice Rink Where: Robson Square What: Ice skate for free or rent a pair for $ 4 on this outdoor, covered public rink right downtown. Runs until: February 14, 2017

Judy Chartrand, What a Wonderful World Where: The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art What: Her beautiful and provocative work presents her own personal history and insights into life in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, and commentary on racism and post–colonial relations between Indigenous and non–Indigenous cultures. Runs until: February 19, 2016

Layers of Influence

Layers of Influence Where: UBC Museum of Anthropology What: This stunning exhibition will explore clothing’s inherent evidence of human ingenuity, creativity and skill, drawing from MOA’s textile collection — the largest collection in Western Canada — to display a global range of materials, production techniques and adornments across different cultures and time frames. Runs until: April 9, 2017

Vancouver Special Where: Vancouver Art Gallery What: The first iteration of this series and it features works by 40 artists produced within the last five years—Vancouver’s post-Olympic period. The exhibition includes many emerging artists as well as those who are more established but whose ideas were prescient. Some are recent arrivals to Vancouver, while others are long-term residents who have already made significant contributions. Others are nomadic, less settled in one place and are working energetically between several locations. Runs until: April 17, 2016

Nat Bailey Stadium Winter Farmers Market

Nat Bailey Stadium Winter Farmers Market Where: Nat Bailey Stadium What: Don’t fret the summers Farmers markets packing up – winter is here, and you can still shop local for fresh produce, preserves, baked goods, and crafts. Runs until: April 22, 2017

Hastings Park Farmers Market

Hastings Park Farmers Market Where: Hastings Park (near the PNE) What: The Hastings Park Farmers Market features a great selection of local produce; nursery items, fish, meat & dairy; artisan prepared foods, baking and treats; local crafts, and of course, food trucks. Runs until: April 30, 2017

What are you up to this weekend? Tell me and the rest of Vancouver in the comments below or tweet me directly at @lextacular

Inside Vancouver Blog

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