Most people shower their four-legged friends with affection during the holidays, but not all animals will be surrounded by love this Christmas. The Smash Gallery (580 Clark) is putting on a dog-friendly fundraiser for Lower Mainland animal rescue charities VOKRA (Vancouver Orphaned Kitten Rescue Association), SARS (Small Animal Rescue Society), CritterAid and Greyhaven Exotic Bird Sanctuary. Guests can enjoy a silent auction of local artist-decorated doggie jackets (12 Midnite, RotNHell, Pilar Alvarez, Megz Majewski, Andrea Tucker), gift baskets, raffles and DJ Spooky. A $15 entry fee gets you a free doggie jacket and beverage. Bring pet food donation. The Dec. 8 event goes from 5 to 11pm.
The popular eight-block shopping district along West 4th Avenue is taking on cross-border shopping with its own Black Friday the only business street in BC taking part in the annual shopping blitz. Beginning Friday, Nov. 23 and running all weekend long, customers looking to support local retailers, avoid long border lineups and packed shopping malls can revel in local deals and discounts in an effort to divert Black Friday crowds. Many Canadian big box and department stores this side of the border have been competing with the US shopping event over the years, but this year will mark West 4ths first Black Friday. A recent Bank of Montreal 2012 Holiday Spending Outlook suggests Canadians will spend 15 per cent more this year than they did last year, and West 4th has gained 28 new retailers and restaurants within the last nine months to help keep those dollars in the area. Boutique clothing stores (Kate French, XO Bella), acclaimed restaurants (Fable, Burgoo) and lifestyle outfits YYoga, O5 Rare Tea Bar, Urban Outfitters, Esscents Aromatherapy, Different Bikes and Vital Wellness are attracting consumers with all needs and demands, making the shopping destination one of the hottest in the Vancouver area and a great place to tackle the Christmas wish list. ShopWest4th.com
In other Kits news, Paboom Design Store is back on West 4th for the Christmas season. After closing in the Spring and spending the summer relocating and rebranding their Victoria headquarters, Paboom has made the hop back across the water in pop-up form for the next two months. Just two blocks from where they were for more than 12 years, theyre back, providing an edited selection of all their past favourite lines as well as new brands and products. The opening party is Nov. 24 from 7 to 10pm, with the more casual vibe downstairs giving way to an OLIO Arts Cooperative show upstairs, consisting of serigraphs by more than 20 artists. Open now, theyll be at 2028 W. 4th until Dec. 30. PaboomPopUp.com
Last week, Holt Renfrew opened its first-ever home décor pop-up shop, showcasing Gastowns Orling & Wu. An exclusive seasonal collection of many first-in-Canada and limited-edition European imports has been curated around the theme of celebration, entertainment, hostess gifts and Holts itself. Featured products, many of which are new to Orling & Wu, include purifying white charcoal in glass bottles by Sort of Coal, hand-crafted coat buttons by Dominique Serrano and holiday decorations by Jan Constantine. Bone china mugs by Cole, featuring colourful historical characters, and the brightly patterned ornamental offerings of Italys Miho Unexpected bring a punch of personality to the season. Located on Holt Renfrews second-floor skybridge (737 Dunsmuir) until Dec. 24. OrlingAndWu.com
The Portobello West holiday market, featuring 50 of Vancouvers best fashion designers, jewelers, artists and craftspeople, will make it easy to fill those stockings. This Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 5pm, pick up a Shop-Local Passport and wander the Creekside Community Centre in the Athletes Village (1 Athletes Way), visiting vendors and getting it stamped to be entered to win a Portobello gift basket. Entry is $2. More info at PortobelloWest.com.
Graduating students from John Casablancas Institute present a Narnia-themed fundraiser fashion show for Covenant House Nov. 22 at 6:30pm at Villa Amato Ballroom (88 E. 1st) Tickets are available at the front desk at JCI (220 Cambie) for $25/$30. JCInstitute.com/blog
The inaugural Vancouver Alternative Fashion Week(end) takes place Nov. 23 to 25 at the Ironworks. Originating in London and making waves in Toronto as Arts & Fashion Week, AFW promotes unrecognized local designers and artists. Tickets start at $20 per evening. VALT.ca
