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NEW ORBITS, ENDURING GRAVITATIONS

The pandemic had so many trajectories. In the beginning, it was going to be a short journey. “Only a few months”, we said. The quick hop then turned into a full rotation. It wasn’t long before the rotation became an orbit, and for a time, it was difficult to see our path to reentry and a landing back on solid ground. And yet, here we are. Descending towards a location we know so well.

As we return to larger organized events this year, we wanted to share our excitement. But like any great adventure, you don’t return from new locales without picking up a few good stories, new friends and interesting curiosities.

As we build toward the summer, we thought it was appropriate to give our core community a sense of what we have been up to, who we have been working with, and what new ideas we have circling around our sphere.

Here’s to re-entry, new orbits and enduring gravitations.

 

You weren’t part of the pandemic unless you tried to socialize on Zoom. And try, we did.

Two years before Facebook renamed themselves Meta, and dedicated themselves to the future of human connection in digital worlds, we set out to see if we could translate our passion for bringing people together, while physically apart. We put hundreds of hours into difficult digital experiments. We raised millions of dollars for charities with virtual broadcasts. And we even found energized communities in deep rabbit holes, such as Discord servers and amongst the non-fungible token craze. 

We’ve come out the other side with an even stronger grasp of how technology plays a lead acting role in our social lives, what works, what doesn’t, and where we are going next. 

While we return our social festivals, you can be sure there are experiments in our innovation lab that might surprise you in the future. Read below for a summary a few of the things we are currently most proud of.

NFT Music Collectibles

 

Love ’em or hate ’em, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and the broader Web3-branded technology sphere captured our attention during those long pandemic months.

It didn’t take long before we realized that NFTs and Web3 is a new layer of social technology that will be as large, or quite possibly more impactful than was Web2 (better known as social media). Soon after our epiphany, we found ourselves at the emerging global gathering NFT.NYC in November 2021, only to come back with more opportunity than we knew how to handle. 

Distilling down our learnings and our fortunes, we partnered with the renowned Railtown record label, Monstercat, on a NFT music collectible project called RELICSxyz. The new venture, which is still in its very earliest days, is a music collectible experience utilizing full-length, complete copyright licensed, digital audio visuals. RELICS are music NFTs that play on their own, but collectors can also pair their RELICS (visual music records) with IDOLS (virtual record players) to create a musical atmosphere in the Metaverse. 

One of our experiments that will continue into our post-pandemic days, you can follow along at www.relics.xyz or, on Twitter or via the project Discord

A Signature Virtual Event Series

Only weeks after the onset of the pandemic, we hosted our first exclusively virtual event. We chose to bring back a long-time favourite from the early days of The Social Concierge, in Candlelight Club.

The first edition of the event brought over 2,000 households together to light a collective candle, raise money for charity, and share a meal across boundaries. It was a strange experience, but one that felt good.

We quickly followed up with a national edition, bringing together restaurants across the country and in multiple time zones for a much larger virtual celebration. We deployed new technology that allowed guests to walk through a digital event space, decoupling them from the dreaded Zoom camera. We were experimenting, and trying to innovate in artistic ways.

In the end, we learned that virtual gathering technology is still very nascent. And the feelings of joy, emotion and belonging don’t translate digitally as well as we might want to hope. At least not yet. But that didn’t stop us.

You can watch the highlight reel of our National edition below. 

 

 

The National Summer Soirée

 

Virtual Broadcast Expertise

As the pandemic drew longer, it became clear that our charity and non-profit partners needed support. Funding for critical causes was drying up as uncertainty flared, and we needed to bring a sense of mission and a clear message. Even if that meant it had to be exclusively virtual.

Over the course of a number of high profile fundraisers, we raised nearly two million dollars for charitable causes using a virtual format. And while we are excited at the slate of in-person galas planned for this year, are without a doubt convinced that virtual fundraising is a new tool that will stick around long-term.

Dimensional Realities

We continue to be fascinated by the ways we can gather virtually. Over the past two years, we took it upon ourselves to dive extremely deep to understand the nuances of the medium. What we came away with? An obvious and clear intrigue for virtual worlds, and how immersive realities can be built using technology tools that get stronger, quicker and more user-friendly each month.

We’ve included images from a few virtual world building endeavours we undertook that all centred around the focus of bringing people together.

The Lucky Few

It wasn’t all Metaverse undertakings, and we were lucky enough to latch onto the important trend of small, intimate and outdoor pandemic events.

The combination of less risky-sized crowds matched with free airflow exterior spaces truly worked. These new formats achieved a level of togetherness that was amplified by the intimacy of the events, while mitigating serious physical harm. And in the process, gatherings that never would have been so small had a chance to realize just how magical tiny events can be.

Our crowning achievement in this category was a custom-designed and hand-built hosting venue on the 18th floor terrace of an existing downtown commercial tower. A hospitality space for Bosa to host key client and prospective buyers for the soon-to-be-built Ole Scheeren Fifteen Fifteen building, the program ran for almost 60-days over the summer of last year.

The Social Concierge was the lead designer and production agency for the physical environment, and play lead role in the daily operations of the event space during the run of the show.

We know that intimate, premium experiences will continue to trend even as we come out of the pandemic. The outcomes are hard to argue with.

 

We wouldn’t be The Social Concierge, without returning a few of our timeless classic festivals over the summer months in Vancouver.

First up in July will be the event formerly known as the Deighton Cup. Don’t worry, you can expect the same ol’ fashionable day at the races. But this time around, our festival will be more inclusive and welcoming to all. You can read more about our inclusivity commitments, and our decision-making around the coming name change here. As always, you will be able to come get fancy.

And of course, the well-known (and in our opinion, most incredible) summer dinner party, Dîner en Blanc will make a reappearance on your social calendar in August. Stay tuned for more information on the date and details for the one night each year where we walk away from a sparkler moment in awe of the vibe.

 

All of this said, we recognize that many things have changed. In fact, we spent the pandemic writing about the shifting trends and latest happenings around the spheres of gathering design. Through this routine writing, we are certain post-pandemic gathering design will be forever altered:

  • We believe that legacy ways of bringing people together have been shattered;
  • We believe that the Metaverse and digital ways of coming together had its moment; and
  • We believe that the way we organize ourselves has fundamentally changed.

What does this mean? Well, for starters, it means that we are taking on new project styles, event formats and gathering mechanisms. We see an emerging new layer of technology that will rise up to dominate as heavily as social media did in the late ‘00s. If you want to read our long-form argument on how this technology layer will transform events, you can take a look at that here.

As always, we will continue to drive innovate around new technologies, form fresh combinations of artistic outputs and present exciting new ways to inject fun, vibrancy and good vibes into your life. We seek those who share this mindset, and we hope that is you.

ORDER YOUR MODERN BURGER MEAL AT 403.244.3600


ORDER YOUR MODERN STEAK MEAL AT 403.244.3600


ORDER YOUR MODERN OCEAN MEAL AT 403.670.6873

REGISTER NOW | AUGUST 20th 2020

The Social Concierge continues to design reimagined experiences for this unique time in history. Once again reviving a fan-favourite, we bring you a virtual summer soirée edition of Candlelight Club.

 

What is Candlelight Club, you ask? A “can’t miss experience” that is:

  • A COLLECTIVE EVENING: one massive, nationally-connected socially distant dinner party;
  • AN INTERACTIVE SHOW: a virtual broadcast in multiple time zones that celebrates music, cuisine and each other by way of candlelight;
  • A NEW SOCIAL EXPERIENCE: beyond Zoom video rooms, this event brings you new gathering technology that you do not want to miss;
  • A LIVE MEMORY: meant to be experienced in the moment, unable to view it later with both participatory, surprising and collective interactions;
  • AN EVENT FOR FOOD LOVERS: integrating top restaurants, introducing chef personalities and bringing together a cuisine-focused experience;
  • A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK: non-profit fundraiser for two local charities;

 

Read on for full details.

 

A community effort presented by The Social Concierge, National Bank Private Banking 1859, Red Bull, Botanist Gin, Orbiiit, Carmen Wines, Cointreau, Remy Martin Cognac, Dona Paula Wines, Daily Hive, Drink Wicks, Blue Light Studio, TDM, Camber Communications and ZLC Financial. Restaurant partners across the country including St Lawrence, Modern Restaurant Group, Parlour Restaurants, Fable Kitchen, Nightingale, Keefer Bar, Pawn Shop, Antler Kitchen and Bar, MARBL and others. Raising funds for Music Heals

 

#ItsMoreFunInTheDark  #CandlelightClub

 

BOOK YOUR SEAT

(Capacity is limited. Reserved tickets get priority registration access)

 

Candlelight Club Highlight Reel | Social Distancing Edition Pt. I

(note: the social technology has changed. Expect new things. Scroll down to learn more)

 

Why should you attend this live experience?

 

These are the reasons why. Are you a fan of:

  • Culinary Experiences,
  • Tablescape Preparations and Design,
  • New Social Technologies,
  • Nostalgic Broadcast Locations,
  • National Music Talent,
  • The Pre-Event and In-Event Contests,
  • Outdoor Picnic Dining, and
  • Giving Back to Charity? 

 

Many virtual events can be viewed at your leisure. This event is a collective, social moment only experienced once, live.

 

On August 20th, Candlelight Club is a celebration of culinary arts, musical entertainment, interactive engagement, outdoor dining, giving back to charity and new social technologies. Skim ahead to the sections below to find out more about each one! 

 

To participate, your “Candlelight Commitment” is simply the following.

 

The Commitment:

  • Register for free and join the live stream entertainment broadcast; OR
  • Choose to purchase a ticket to our virtual reality social experience; AND
  • Get ready to donate live during the experience, raising funds for charity.

 

Cross reality, hybrid events are new for everyone. We understand this is a very different way to gather. To ensure we can all enjoy each other’s company most easily, we have created a “how to” guide that explains how to prepare for this event.

 

READ THE “HOW TO” GUIDE

 

For those of you like us, we like details. And of course we have created a more in-depth FAQ document for those looking for increased certainty. You can find that document here.

 

Book your seat now. 

 

REGISTER NOW

(Capacity is limited. Reserved tickets get priority registration access)

 

 

We were listening.

 

After the first virtual Candlelight Club on Earth Day in April, we took your feedback and solved your biggest digital event shortcomings.

 

This is not your standard Zoom party. Remove your preconceived expectations on what a virtual event looks like, as the technology is evolving rapidly and is very socially exciting.

 

Intrigued? Well, after weeks of running focus groups in our latest social reality environments, we can attest that the feedback is strong. Join in and experience the latest in simple-to-use, virtual reality technology: explore a large virtual space, fluidly meet new people and interact with a variety of sponsor activations and digital art installations.

 

Check out the links below to experience a demonstration and a sneak peak at what’s to come. 

 

Best experienced on a desktop or laptop computer. Headphones required.

 

FIRST TRY THE DEMONSTRATION

 

CHECK OUT THE SNEAK PEAK MAP

 

 

Candlelight Club is a celebration of the culinary arts, local chefs and inspired by the need to support our food and beverage industries in this time of need. Below you will find menus for each of the broadcast regions. We recommend you order a multi-course meal and cocktail kit from one of our partner restaurants. 

 

Vancouver Restaurants

The following menus are available for order and delivery in Vancouver, BC:

 

Calgary Restaurants

The following menus are available for order and delivery in Calgary, AB:

  • Modern Burger Menu Link (ORDER at 403.244.3600)
  • Modern Steak Menu Link (ORDER at 403.244.3600)
  • Modern Ocean Menu Link (ORDER 403.670.6873)

 

Toronto Restaurants

The following menus are available for order and delivery in Toronto, ON:

 

BOOK YOUR SEAT

(Capacity is limited. Reserved tickets get priority registration access)

The Candlelight Club Summer Soirée includes a huge variety of artists from across the country. 

Feature Artists

The soul of a great evening lies in its ambiance and Candlelight Club is proud to expand our diverse roster of musical talent for the National Summer Soirée. Featuring 10 unique live musical performances, the evening draws you in with beautiful sultry vocals perfect for summer cocktails and wine. As dusk settles and candles are lit, the tempo evolves into sophisticated dinner music before culminating in a high energy set of sing-a-long of hits with Fully Loaded, the fantastic house band from the legendary Roxy Cabaret in Vancouver. After dessert, the dance party vibe takes over with a special live DJ set by TDM.

In collaboration with Bluelight Studios and Music Heals, the broadcast entertainment over the event highlights top notch talent representing a variety of genres, with each live performance curated to amplify your dinner and cocktail experience.

Our Candlelight Club musicians for this National Summer Soirée edition include CBC Searchlight Searchlight Competition winner Desirée Dawson, the R&B vocals, lyrical vividness, and melodic finesse of Makadi, Vancouver’s indie darlings The Big Coast, to rap and soul artist Missy D, who dropped her second EP entitled “Yes Mama” to its debut during the COVID pandemic. So grab a glass of wine and turn up the volume as we present a variety showcase of Canadian talent as the soundtrack to your candlelit night

Candlelight Club encourages you to give back. The Summer Soirée edition supports musical arts and music therapy for those in need via Music Heals. 

 

About Music Heals

 

Since 2012, Music Heals Canada has raised awareness and funds to increase access to music therapy for vulnerable Canadians. Music Heals Canada supports a wide range of music therapy services in communities in BC and across Canada.

We increase access to music therapy for patients in children’s hospitals, seniors centres, palliative care, AIDS & HIV programs, at-risk youth, rehabilitation, and bereavement support. To date Music Heals Canada has funded over 32,000 music therapy sessions for Canadians in need.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CHARITY

 

Picnic Experiences Available in Vancouver

 

Intimate pop-up picnics. A curated way to date night, celebrate with friends or make any occasion extraordinary. Our Collective Experience provides a turnkey picnic experience, and is available for booking on August 20th in Vancouver. 

 

BOOK YOUR PICNIC SET

Email: [email protected]

 

BOOK YOUR SEAT

 

Register now for the summer soirée edition of Candlelight Club in one of two time zones: Toronto (Eastern Standard Time) or Vancouver-Calgary (Pacific Standard Time). Pacific Time Zone timing will be suitable for participants in both Vancouver and Calgary.

 

Read on for details or visit our registration portal to learn more.

 

Complimentary Broadcast Access Ticket

 

The Social Concierge invites you to celebrate a national, summer edition of Candlelight Club. This ticket provides you the following:

  • A live interactive experience;  
  • Access to a 2-hour dinner party broadcast featuring multiple national artistic performances, culinary arts and creative ways to connect with each other;
  • Access to a 30-minute pre-show DJ set and a 60-minute post-show virtual music lounge;
  • A collective candle lighting moment, going “lights out” together at 8:30PM (local time);
  • An opportunity to prepare an at-home, multi-course meal or purchase a multi-course meal from one of our restaurant partners (specific partners coming at time of formal registration)
  • An opportunity to create your own at-home cocktails, purchase a cocktail kit from one of our spirit partners or a pairing kit from our wine partners;
  • A set of contests and engagement moments during the broadcast, on social and within the live stream chat;
  • A stream of unique live surprises that make joining the live stream worth it.

 

Pre-show begins at 6:30PM Eastern, 6:30PM Pacific and 7:30PM Mountain;
Live broadcast from 7:00PM Eastern, 7:00PM Pacific and 8:00PM Mountain, with
Post-show entertainment from 9:00PM Eastern, 9:00PM Pacific and 10:00PM Mountain onwards.

 

Virtual Reality Social Experience Ticket

 

Note: no special hardware is required to use this technology. You will access this social environment from the comfort of your internet browser, combined with a pair of regular headphones or earbuds.

 

The Social Concierge invites you to celebrate a national, summer edition of Candlelight Club. This ticket provides you the following:

  • All of the inclusions of the Complimentary Broadcast Access Ticket, plus:
  • Access to brand new, revolutionary social technology that gives you a chance to explore virtual activations, meet new acquaintances and mimics a social cocktail party. This is so much more than a Zoom video call;
  • Experience a pre-event demonstration to familiarize yourself with the experience and maximize your social enjoyment.

 

Pre-show begins at 6:30PM Eastern, 6:30PM Pacific and 7:30PM Mountain;
Live broadcast from 7:00PM Eastern, 7:00PM Pacific and 8:00PM Mountain, with
Post-show entertainment from 9:00PM Eastern, 9:00PM Pacific and 10:00PM Mountain onwards;
Access to the virtual reality social experience will begin at 6:00PM local time (all time zones) and extend into the later evening.

 

BOOK YOUR SEAT

(Capacity is limited. Reserved tickets get priority registration access)

 

 

BOOK YOUR SEAT

(Capacity is limited. Reserved tickets get priority registration access)

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Earth Day, and to bring us together in a time of social distance, we revive a perennial favourite from year’s past. Of course, with a virtual twist. 

From 2013 to 2016, Candlelight Club celebrated fine food, great drinks and beloved friends within the sanctuary of a radiant candlelight glow. Unplugged, conversing to the melodic sounds of acoustic entertainment, the dinner dialogue was rich and abundant. We felt like the timing was right to bring back the haven of light, reconnecting us to those amorous vibes on a day that is also about our Earth. 

After over a month in quarantine, have you had a romantic candlelight dinner party yet? We feel it’s time to romantically unite, intimately virtual. 

On Earth Day 2020, April 22nd, from the comforts of our homes, we aim to create the largest virtual candlelight dinner our city has ever experienced. Connect to our live streamed entertainment, join our dinner dialogue thread and let’s celebrate how great it is to be together, while apart. 

Aside from an optional donation to one of our charities, all we ask is a little effort. Design a candlelight dinner experience that you will be proud of, so much so that you are willing to show it off. 

#ItsMoreFunInTheDark #Candlelight Club #EarthDay50

 

REGISTER NOW

(Your participation is carbon negative: read how)

To participate, your “Candlelight Commitment” is simply the following.

The Commitment: 

  • Register for free and join the 5-hour entertainment livestream; OR 
  • Choose to donate to one of our three timely charities to engage more deeply with the experience

The Meal: 

  • Prepare or purchase a multi-course meal that will last 3 hours 
  • Avoid beef in your meal to support climate change action 

The Setting: 

  • Set a unique and intimate tablescape that represents your style, with at least one unlit candle
  • Get your candles this weekend! Vancouver Candle Co is hosting a sample sale from their local studio. Found out more here (they also offer free shipping on regular online orders over $100): https://www.vancouvercandleco.com/pages/sample-sale
  • Be prepared to turn all of your lights off at 8:15PM, and to collectively light our candles together

The Technology: 

  • Display the Candlelight Club entertainment live stream (both audio and video) on a larger device within your home
  • [Optional, access by donation only] Each participant in your household joins one of our “cloud cocktail tables” and dialogue chat thread with their mobile device or secondary computer.

The Action: 

  • Register and prepare your meal, your setting and your technology before April 22nd at 6:30PM
  • Join in on the Healthcare Heroes Cheer at 7:00PM, from a window or a balcony
  • Take a photo of yourselves and your meal prior to turning the lights off for the 3-hour dinner and share to Instagram #CandlelightClub #ItsMoreFunInTheDark #EarthDay50. Follow-and-tag @TSC_Agency and @vancouvercandleco to be entered into a contest to win
  • Host your own “cloud cocktail table” or Dinner dialogue conversation thread. We encourage all attendees to gather their closest friends and host their own virtual social space (via video conference technology) and/or their own conversation thread (via chat application). Make it public and allow new friends to join! We will share a list of all those who are willing to invite new people into their social spaces.

Here is your complete guide to your commitment and preparations.

You can join for free, or you can choose to make a donation in these times of crisis to the hospitality industry through Mind the Bar, to the planet through Oceanwise or to food security through the Giustra Foundation. Learn more about each charity and what they mean to us, below. 

Complimentary Registration includes: 

  • Participation in the “Candlelight Commitment”, a bit of preparation before #EarthDay50
  • An opportunity to support one of our restaurant partners by purchasing a multi-course meal from them (more information below);
  • Access to the @TSC_Agency Candlelight Club DJ Live Stream, led by Man About Town Entertainment;
  • Access to the social contest #Hashtag campaign 

Donation Registration includes: 

  • Participation in the “Candlelight Commitment”, a bit of preparation before #EarthDay50
  • An opportunity to support one of our restaurant partners by purchasing a multi-course meal from them (more information below);
  • Access to the @TSC_Agency Candlelight Club DJ Live Stream, led by Man About Town Entertainment;
  • An invite link for each person in your household to the @TSC_Agency “cloud cocktail lounge” (via Zoom) and the master dinner dialogue thread (via WhatsApp)
  • An opportunity to host your own “cloud cocktail table” for friends and strangers
  • Access to a comprehensive list of other open attendee-driven virtual social spaces
  • Access to the social contest #Hashtag campaign and additional giveaway campaigns in the cloud cocktail lounge

     

REGISTER NOW

(Your participation is carbon negative: read how)

The virtual social space is evolving fast in this new world. In the past weeks we have learned that virtual experiences requires participation. And we encourage you to participate by hosting your own virtual social spaces to connect with friends and strangers during this experience. 

How this would work: 

  • You set up a Zoom, Whereby, Houseparty or other virtual video space that is able to long stream and include multiple friends 
  • You setup a WhatsApp, Messenger, Telegram or other virtual conversation thread to host chat conversation during the experience
  • You choose to make these spaces either private (your friends only) or public (open to anyone attending Candlelight Club)
  • For those who choose to open their spaces to other attendees, please share your invite links with us and we will securely publish this list to all attendees. You might meet a few new friends over the course of the evening!

The Social Concierge has partnered with four local restaurants we hold near-and-dear to our hearts. As we all know, hospitality has been deeply impacted by this pandemic and we want to show love for a few teams that we cherish!  Instead of preparing your own multi-course meal, choose to support one of four local restaurants by ordering a multi-course meal from Belgard KitchenChambarWildebeest or Cactus Club Cafe

Each candlelight club menu and ordering links are found below: 

Belgard Kitchen Menu

Ordering Link: http://www.belgardkitchen.com/to-go 

Chambar Menu 

Ordering Link: https://www.chambar.com/take-out-delivery/pick-up/ 

Wildebeest Menu

Ordering Link: https://www.exploretock.com/wildebeestrestaurant

Cactus Club Cafe Menu

Ordering Link: https://www.cactusclubcafe.com/order-online/

The experience will last for five plus hours. All event times are published in Pacific Time (PDT). 

Virtual Arrival / Logging on Period: 6:00PM – 6:30PM
Virtual Connection Begins: 6:30PM 
Healthcare Heroes Cheer: 7:00PM 
Dinner Begins: 7:15PM
Candle Lighting Ceremony: 8:15PM
Dinner Service Ends: 10:00PM
Social Distance Candlelight Dance: 10:00PM – late

Attendees are encouraged to join from any location, but timing likely works best for those located on the west coast of North America. 

The entertainment lineup for the evening includes: 

Man About Town Entertainment (Candlelight Club Live DJ)

A leading force in the Vancouver entertainment scene, Michael of Man About Town Entertainment has been working in the industry for over 15 years. Never one to be boxed in, Michael’s diverse sound is truly what sets him apart. Best known for his live DJ sets at events like Dîner en Blanc – Vancouver, Harvest Haus, and the Urban Grind, Michael has now taken the online live stream world by storm, hosting over 5000 people from around the world in just 4 short weeks. Tune in to his sets 90’s at Noon, FUN-raiser Fridays & Social Distance Dance Party every week on Twitch: www.twitch.tv/themanabouttowndj

David Morin 

Morin’s unique fusion of soul, hip-hop and jazz… That voice: melodic and as smooth as honey, reminiscent in sound and vibe to the likes of D’Angelo and John Legend. A guitar virtuoso with a knack for making a solo performance sound like a whole band.  Morin’s riffs bring to mind the licks of blues and funk masters. Playful hints of disco and pop add retro flavour to a contemporary pop aesthetic that’s as accessible as it is seductive. Listen to his many channels here: https://davidmorinmusic.com/

Shylo Sharity 

Country Singer Songwriter. A mix of Confetti, Caffeine and Adventure. Check her out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSYpubof1oI

Rozie

A blooming singer songwriter whose sun tinged R&B sound seeks to convey the best aspects of her bubbly personality. Subconsciously drawing influences from artists like Erykah Badu, Tom Misch, SZA, The Internet, Sade, and Alicia Keys;  Rozie blends multiple sounds together while injecting a brand new spin all her own. Check out her music here: https://www.officialrozie.com/

Tonye Aganaba

Tonye Aganaba is a multidisciplinary artist, musician, and facilitator residing on the unceded territories of the Squamish, Musqueam & Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. Their new album ‘Something Comfortable’ is an intentional and devotional endeavour inspired by their battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Check her out here: https://tonyeaganaba.bandcamp.com/

The following charities have been selected by Jordan and Tyson at The Social Concierge to achieve three goals: 

  1. Support the struggling food and beverage hospitality industry (Mind the Bar); 
  2. Support a food program that promotes planet sustainability (Oceanwise); and 
  3. Support low-income resident food security (Giustra Foundation)

Below you will find a short description of each charity. If you choose to donate, you may pick one of the charities for your donation, or spread your donation equally over all three. 

Mind the Bar

At its core, Mind The Bar is a mental health resource, information & support system, and community hub designed for the hospitality industry. The organization focuses on the major issues of depression, anxiety, addiction & workplace harassment. Mind the Bar’s goal is to ultimately dismantle the negative stigma associated with mental health by changing the way we discuss, address & cope with it.

Giustra Foundation

“In response to the COVID-19 crisis, The Giustra Foundation has been working with the private sector and other non-profits to establish an emergency feeding program that provides healthy meals to low-income women and children, vulnerable seniors, and others in need in our community. Many of us are in the position to lend a helping hand. Now is the time to step up and do our part.” Donate HERE

Ocean Wise 

Ocean Wise Seafood is deeply touched by the restaurant community coming together in such a meaningful way during these uncharted times.  The COVID-19 pandemic is shining a bright light on the fact that we are all tightly interconnected; with each other, the planet, and the food systems that nourish us. The Candlelight Club event is a wonderful example of positive action that is being taken to bring people together in creative and delicious ways. Bravo!” – Sophika Kostyniuk, Manager, Ocean Wise Seafood

 

REGISTER NOW

(Your participation is carbon negative: read how)

As the Social Concierge prepares to host our upcoming special Social Distancing edition of Candlelight Club, we are committed to ensuring that the climate costs of bringing people together digitally for the 50th anniversary Earth Day celebration are not only fully offset, but negative. 

By bridging the distances erected by critical social distancing with Zoom calls, Whatsapp threads, and Twitch streams we want to ensure that each person’s participation will be CARBON NEGATIVE. Therefore, all required electricity, connectivity, and meal costs incurred for this special evening will be offset by our purchasing of carbon credits at $20 per ton of CO2 via the Gold Standard. 

Take a look below at our calculations so you can get a sense of the total costs of running this unique program on a very special Earth Day anniversary.

Our Carbon Credit Calculation: 

  • Core use assumptions: 
    • Calculation based on number of households attending (registrations): ~350 
    • Average number of person per household attending event: 2
    • Attendance based on 4.5 hour average 
    • Participating restaurants: 6 total (multiple Cactus Club Cafe locations)
    • Average C02 emissions for non-beef diet for the entire year, per person: 2 tons of C02. Calculated at a 2600 calorie daily intake, accounting for 3900 calories of food required (accounting for food waste, source)

       

  • Household electrical use calculation: 
    • Wifi usage: 6 watts per hour per household
    • Internet service, server infrastructure and streaming platform: 2 watt per hour per household
    • Television: 120 watts per hour per household
    • Laptop or computer: 75 watts per hour per household (assumes one large device used)
    • Oven use, 30 minutes: 1200 watts 
    • Watt use per household: 2114 watts for event per household
    • kWh per household: 2.114 kWh for event per household 

       

  • Restaurant electrical use calculation (source): 
    • Half day of refrigeration use: 35 kWh
    • Half day of fryer use: 5.5 kWh
    • Half day of oven use: 17.5 kWh
    • Half day of grill use: 18.5 kWh
    • Total kWh per restaurant (average): 76.5 kWh

       

  • Event electrical use calculation: 
    • Total registrations / households involved: ~350
    • Total restaurants involved: 6
    • kWh per household for event: 2.114 kWh use 
    • kWh per restaurant for event: 76.5 kWh
    • Total estimated event consumption: 1198.9 kWh total

       

  • Household meal consumption emission calculation: 
    • Non-beef dinner meal making up 50% of daily calorie intake: 0.00273973 tons of C02
    • Attendance per household: 2 people average per registration / household 
    • Total emissions for each registration: 0.00547946 tons of C02
    • Total registrations / households involved: ~350
    • Total estimated meal emission load for event: 1.9178 tC02

       

  • Total C02 emission calculation: 
    • Total estimated power consumption: 1198.9 kWh total
    • Power consumption translated to tC02 emissions: 0.01 tC02 (calculator used: https://www.carbonzero.ca/calculate/
    • Total estimated meal emission load for event: 1.9178 tC02
    • Complete C02 emission for event: 1.927811 tC02 

 

The Social Concierge will purchase carbon credit offset from the global provider, Gold Standard offsets at $11.00 USD per ton. To ensure all carbon from the event is captured, The Social Concierge will purchase twice the number of carbon offsets to ensure a carbon negative event. 

This page will be revisited as the assumptions of the event become more clear, and a final carbon offset will be showcased during the event itself. Check back to this page for more information soon. 

 

Our Purchase

Passion for the details of a celebration often drives as much conversation as the overall experience. The elements that make the heartbeat of a culture are both our curiosity and our inspiration.

The Social Concierge lifestyle is rooted in creative design, spontaneous moments and spirited by a knowledgeable amount of food and champagne. Over the years we have gotten to know some fascinating people with sophisticated perspectives. If you like a good story with beautiful pictures, read on.

As the Social Concierge prepares to host our upcoming special Social Distancing edition of Candlelight Club, we are committed to ensuring that the climate costs of bringing people together digitally for the 50th anniversary Earth Day celebration are not only fully offset, but negative.

By bridging the distances erected by critical social distancing with Zoom calls, Whatsapp threads, and Twitch streams we want to ensure that each person’s participation will be CARBON NEGATIVE. Therefore, all required electricity, connectivity, and meal costs incurred for this special evening will be offset by our purchasing of carbon credits at $11.00 per ton of CO2 via the Gold Standard.

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