SwankyBlog

Christmas Craft Craze!

2010-11-10T08:36:00.000-08:00

It's Christmas craft fair season and lots of events have popped up on SwankyAnts.com. If you haven't added yours do it now . . . it's free! Also, our mascot Swanky is now on Facebook. Become his friend and follow his adventures . . . you never know where he will show up next!

Here are some of the Christmas craft fairs that have caught out eye:

Puget Sound:
December 11th & 12th  Chimacum Arts & Crafts Fair Chimacum WA
December 11th  Fox Island Holiday Gift Bazaar   Fox Island

Seattle:
November 20nd - 21st   YULEFEST at the Nordic Heritage Museum Seattle
December 17th -30th  Seattle Christmas Holidays  Seattle
December 4th & 5th  Urban Craft Uprising 2010 Winter Show   Seattle
December 1st & 5th    A Victorian Country Christmas Festival   Puyallup

Vancouver Island
Nov 6th:  "On The Ridge" Christmas Craft Fair Saanich
Nov 6th   PARKSVILLE LIONESS CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIR  Parksville
November 6th & 7th  25th Annual Strawberry Vale Craft Fair Saanich
November 5th, 6th & 7th 21st Annual Nanaimo Professional Craft Fair!   Nanaiamo

November 13th  SAANICH PENINSULA HOSPITAL AUXILIARY ~ ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BAZAAR & CRAFT FAIR Sidney
November 13th  2nd ANNUAL CHRISTMAS AT THE LAKE CRAFT FAIR Saanich
November 12th, 13th & 14th   CREATIVE CRAFT FAIRS ~ 33rd ANNIVERSARY SHOW  Saanich
November 12th, 13th & 14th    CHARLES DICKENS CHRISTMAS CRAFT FAIRE   Courtenay

November 20th Victorian Craft Fair Saanich Commonwealth Place Saanich
November 20th & 21st  All Sooke Christmas Craft Fair Sooke

November 27th Christmas Faire 2010   Hornby Island
November 26th, 27th & 28th  Out of Hand: 22nd Annual Christmas Fair  Victoria

Vancouver:
November 27th  Steveston Christmas Craft Fair Richmond

Fraser Valley
November 6th & 7th  Country Garden’s Gift, Craft & Antique Fair Chilliwack

Okanagan
November 13th & 14th Art and Craft Sale   Kelowna
November 27th & 28th  Okanagan Potters Association Pottery Christmas Sale   Kelowna
November 27th & 28th Christmas at the Courthouse Kamloops

Top 10 Cool Halloween Events

2010-10-21T11:22:00.000-07:00

Halloween is second only to Christmas in the number of events that are happening this time of year. In fact, in recent years, creative and fun events are popping up that revolve less around the traditional house-to-house trick-or-treating and more around community and neighbourhood activities. Wherever you live be sure to check-out what's happening around you at swankyants.com. In the mean time, here is my top ten pick of Halloween events happening in the Pacific Northwest:

10. Kids Halloween Festival Features (Surrey, BC)- Wonderful daytime Halloween activities for kids young and old. Hitch a train ride through the forest displays. Runs now until October 31st.

9. BC Forest Museum Halloween Train (Duncan, BC)- Train rides a popular feature of both Christmas and Halloween. Ride the vintage steam train through ghostly and scary displays! After 4:30 things get REALLY SCARY!

8. Enchanted Halloween at Heritage Acres (Saanichton, BC) - Imagine the vintage-era village of Heritage Acres, bathed in dramatic lighting and accented by glowing, handcrafted lanterns, carved pumpkins and creative decor. This is the backdrop for costumed performers, projections and artistic installations, which enliven every beautifully weathered corner of this heritage setting for Enchanted Halloween at Heritage Acres.

This event promises to be a beautifully eerie event with enough festive fun to make it a treat for visitors of all ages. Event highlights include train rides, a Trick-or-Treat trail, displays such as Day of the Dead, Lady of the Lake and many other activities and attractions.

7. Kilby’s Haunted Halloween (Harrison Mills, BC) - Be prepared to be scared! Kilby’s 102 year old general store and hotel will be transformed into Kilby’s Haunted Halloween house from 2PM – 8PM on October 22, 23, 24, 29 and 30th. This year’s theme is Pirates of Harrison Bay. This is a fantastic family event with crafts, kids activities, treats and a Halloween movie that begins at 6:30PM.

6. Halloween Carnival (Seattle, WA) - Check out the spooooky haunted house at the South Park Community Center.

5. Halloween Spooktacular at Huble Homestead (Prince George, BC) - Join us for the scariest Halloween location in town! Take our spooky haunted house tour, go trick or treating, carve a pumpkin & roast some marshmallows! There will be lots of activities for both young & old, however; parental supervision is required for young children.

4. The Great Escape Halloween Party (Langley, BC) - Check out the family-friendly Halloween party at The Great Escape in Langley. On October 29th from 6PM – 9PM come in costume to enjoy $2 off admissions.
Best costume prizes will be awarded to one lucky girl and one lucky boy.

3. 2nd Annual Halloween Mash-up (Hornby Island, BC) - Time to get spooky and head to the Ballpark for a night of zombies, beauty queens and the downright ghoulish!

2. Halloween Hysteria (Burnaby, BC) - Come have fun with superstitions, legends and the magic of Halloween. Witches, trolls, gravediggers and under takers greet you as you walk through our haunted village in the dark of the night. Entrance includes unlimited carousel rides and for the children, treat-or-tricking.

1. The 2010 Stanley Park Halloween Ghost Train (Vancouver, BC) - Accompany Alice and hold onto your head as you travel down the rabbit hole into a dark forest filled with demonic playing cards, a disturbed Caterpillar and a Queen with an axe to grind.

All this and more is in store for those who dare to climb aboard this year's Stanley Park Hallowe'en Ghost Train. Since 1999, the Ghost Train has been an annual tradition for thousands of families craving thrills and excitement. Reinventing itself each year with new themes, sets, costumes and many more surprises conjured up by the creative team at Mortal Coil Performance Society, the Ghost Train is a uniquely wonderful and fun experience every trick-or-treat season.

Remember to post your upcoming events on SwankyAnts.com . . . it's always FREE!

Funky Fremont Walking Tour with Seattle By Foot

2010-07-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

I visited Seattle a couple of months ago and loved it! There is so much to see and do and here is yet another great way to see Seattle. We received a note from Seattle By Foot about one of their new walking tours . . . sounds like fun! Don't forget to check out their website for more tours at www.seattlebyfoot.com.

From Seattle By Foot . . .

Seattleites and visitors alike can now explore the Center of the Universe with an experienced guide to lead the way. Seattle By Foot has added another entertaining walking tour to its portfolio with the Funky Fremont Tour, the first public tour of one of the city’s most famous neighborhoods.

The two-hour tour prowls the heart of Fremont where Vladimir Lenin still stands tall and an 18-foot-high Troll reigns. Along the way we take walkers to hidden spots for sublime views while dishing out plenty of history and lore about what makes Fremont special. We wait for the Interurban, brave the Troll, taste some Theo Chocolate and finish up at the Fremont Sunday Market. Locals can even relive their childhood by viewing J.P. Patches and Gertrude through the ICU2 TV and hanging a pin on the clown so beloved in Seattle that no one has been able to fill his shoes.

The tour meets each Sunday at 10 a. m. in downtown Seattle on the corner of Third and Pike. Bus transportation to Fremont is included in the tour's $19 price for advance reservations and $23 for walkups.

This is Seattle By Foot’s fourth tour. Vicki Schuman began the company two years ago with the Original Coffee Crawl, which offers a popular blend of Seattle coffee tastings, history and culture. The Seattle Pub Crawl – an evening tour of some of downtown’s best bars and microbrews – and the Scenic Seattle Tour – an afternoon tour of the city’s history and sights – were both added last year.

Reservations for all tours can be made at SeattleByFoot.com or Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006.

For more information visit the website www.SeattleByFoot.com.

Summer Music and Art Fun: Plan Now!

2010-06-01T15:48:00.000-07:00

It's only three weeks to the official start of summer and although our weather on the West Coast hasn't felt much like summer there is lots of music and arts fun coming up that you won't want to miss. Toward the latter part of June is the TD Victoria International Jazz festival that runs from June 25th to July 4th. Various venues throughout the City will host over 350 musicians.

The City of Port Angeles, WA is hosting Concerts on the Pier throughout the summer nightly from 6PM-8PM and also check out the Summer Sounds at Skansie in Gig Harbor, WA with concerts every Tuesday night.

Summer is also a great time to visit the many visual art festivals and walks. One of my favorites is the Cowichan Bay Art Walk July 10th and 11th. Not only will you find wonderful art works but Cowichan Bay itself is a special place to visit with loads of beauty, character and great food! Don't forget to have an ice cream at Udder Guys!

Another perfect place to visit for a wonderful art and music experience this summer is the Harrison Festival of the Arts in Harrison Hot Springs in the upper Fraser Valley in BC. A beautiful setting and village atmosphere, you won't be disappointed! Once you've made the rounds of the festival you can also relax in the famous hot springs!

Tell us about your favorite art or music festival and don't forget to check out the other events throughout the summer on SwankyAnts.com.

Fresh to You - Locally!

2010-05-04T13:33:00.000-07:00

I live in a rural area not far from many urban centres and I've noticed new farm markets popping up everywhere while old ones are being refurbished. Clearly the demand for locally grown food is, well, growing! At SwankyAnts we noticed that more and more markets were opening with special events highlighting their products so we decided to add Markets as a new category. Check out the many markets going on in and around Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and Seattle at SwankyAnts.com . . . you'll find lots (tip: Uncheck all events then click Markets)! Also, I came across this article - The Savvy Shopper’s Guide to the Farmers’ Market. Although written for our U.S. friends the advice is equally applicable to markets wherever you are and contains tips on making the most of your visit.

Of course, when visiting a farm markets it's helpful to know what's in season. At earthseasons.com you get a weekly update along with the odd feature article on your favourite veggie. Check out the article on artichokes that are in season now; you'll be amazed at what you'll learn!

Finally, if you run a farm market and hold events that feature your products help people know about your by posting your events on SwankyAnts.com for FREE!

Visiting Seattle? Check out this deal.

2010-04-15T09:47:00.000-07:00

With the dollar at par, it's a great time for Canadians to visit the U.S. If you are planning a trip to Seattle, CityPass is an inexpensive way to see the many attractions in the Seattle area. CityPass is a ticket booklet containing an actual admission ticket to the top attractions in Seattle. With CityPass, you pay one substantially reduced price and avoid main entrance ticket lines at most attractions. Once you start using the CityPass, you have nine days to visit all of the attractions included in the program. Attractions include: Space Needle, Seattle Aquarium, Argosy Cruises-Seattle Harbor Tour, Pacific Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo, The Museum of Flight OR Experience Music Project/Science Fiction Museum.

I'll be heading to the Museum of Flight soon so I'll be sure and fill you in on the experience. For more events happening in the Seattle area be sure and visit SwankyAnts.com and enter "Seattle" and press the "Go" button.

Time to Venture Into the Garden

2010-03-23T14:37:00.000-07:00

I happen to wonder out into the front garden today and noticed . . . things are growing!! I always find it amazing how quickly after the change to daylight savings time that the garden seems to leap into life again. It's getting to that time to venture out into the garden and clean up all that winter has left and start thinking about what to plant this year. Before things get too crazy in the garden there is still time to brush up on your skills and check out the latest and greatest for your yard at many up coming events. Here is a sampler of home, garden and food events coming up that are listed on SwankyAnts:

Organic Master Gardener Course in Courtenay starts March 29th. Learn to garden without pesticides and earn your SOUL Organic Certification for land care professionals. Program runs in other areas (sorry, Victoria course has already started).

The Yard, Garden & Reno Show in Chilliwack, March 26th to 28th. Go crazy for all kinds of things for the yard. This is the 8th annual show held at the Chilliwack Heritage Park.

Cooking Fresh from the Field in Vancouver, March 26th and 27th. Learn to cook with all the fresh veggies you'll be planting this year! Learn the delicious essentials of contemporary coastal cuisine and experience the true joy of cooking inspiring meals using fresh, local produce and unprocessed organic ingredients.

Best of the Northwest Spring Show, March 27th. At this art show you will find beautiful jewelry, designer clothing, bronze sculpture, photography, woodwork, amazing glass, functional decor for your home and garden.

As always, visit SwankyAnts.com to find out more events that are happening around you!

Spring Break Sanity

2010-03-10T19:13:00.000-08:00

My son and I recently returned from a tour of the Vancouver Aquarium as part of our Spring Break activities. It was an awesome visit and amongst the amazing displays was an opportunity to see a 4-D Sponge Bob movie that was the highlight of my son's day for sure! However, despite arriving on a Tuesday it was very busy with long line-ups and crowded displays. You need to pick your times during Spring Break arriving either shortly after opening or later in the day I was told.

If crowds are not your thing and you are still looking for ideas to fill-in your Spring Break activity list I've come across a few interesting events you might want to try.

Vancouver Maritime Museum Spring Break Family Crafts: Make your very own pirate hat, flag or treasure map with a visit to the Maritime Museum. Everything you need is included with the price of admission. A similar event is also being held at the Maritime Museum in Victoria. Learn to be a pirate! Arrrrr

Kid's Swap Meet in Langley: Want to trade in those toys no one plays with for something new? Check out this swap meeting either as a purchaser or sell those little used treasurers. Small admission fee and only $20 to rent a table as a seller.

5th Annual LEGO Exhibit at the Sidney Museum: Always popular! Check out this amazing exhibit of LEGO in Sidney, BC. Kids of all ages will enjoy the creative and exciting displays many which are original. Runs through the end of March.

Children's Museum of Tacoma: Open year round, the Children's museum offers not only exhibits but a host of fun activities for the whole family. While in the Seattle area also check out the Science Center for more fun!

For more fun activities in your area go to http://www.swankyants.com/.

Steven
One of the Ants

Post-Olympic Festival Fun

2010-03-01T14:56:00.000-08:00

Suffering from post-Olympic withdrawal? Nothing on TV? It's a great time to catch some of the festivals that are coming up around the Pacific Northwest. Check these ones out:

Pacific Whale Festival in Tofino, March 6th to 14th. Come have a whale of a time at the annual celebration of the grey whale migration as they make their way up from Baja California to Alaska. Events include whale sightings to hands-on education about whales and the traditions of the Nuu-chah-nulth people of the West Coast, cultural, culinary, and fun for kids – of all ages. Events all over Tofino and many are free!

Belfry Theatre Presents: 2010 Spark Festival in Victoria, March 9 to 21. The popular SPARK festival returns with a series of mini-plays, play readings, professional workshops and more.

BRAZILIAN CULTURAL FESTIVAL in Victoria, March 14. Celebrating 10 Years of Capoeira in Victoria BC. Professor Testa & Axé Capoeira Victoria invite you to join Mestre Barrão and over 35 other teachers for this Historic occasion and our biggest event ever.

Words on the Water 2010 Festival, Campbell River, March 19 and 20. Hosted at the beautiful Campbell River Heritage Marine Centre, come and enjoy this festival of contemporary writers and readers in this spectacular West Coast setting.

Of course, the Paralympic Games are also coming up in Vancouver March 12 to 21. Along with the sporting events are a number of Cultural Olympiad music and art activities in downtown Vancouver. Go to swankAnts.com and search "Cultural Olympiad" so see a map of what's going on.

More to Olympics Than Games

2010-02-15T12:35:00.000-08:00

I had a great chat with someone just back from Vancouver. She wasn't able to attend any of the Olympic events however she did soak up some of the atmosphere in the city and noted it's something not to be missed. That reminded me that there is much more to the Games than the sporting events (although they are fun too!). The Games are also a festival celebration of Canada and include many events and feature pavilions demonstrating the many cultural aspects of the country.

Keep in mind that getting around Vancouver right now by car is difficult (if not impossible!). Use transit including the city's wonderful SkyTrain. Remember too the BC Ferries is running special late night sailings to get people back and forth from Vancouver Island.

Go to SwankyAnts.com and enter "Vancouver" to see what's happening where.

Culinary Tours of Victoria's Chinatown

2010-02-08T15:49:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Chef Heidi for her guest post on her Culinary tours:

You are boggled. Standing in the aisle of a Chinatown market, staring at the bewildering array of unfamiliar foods for sale, you hesitate over the smallest purchase. You know that this place holds undiscovered treasures - exotic fruits and vegetables, delicious bottled sauces, unusual fresh noodles, and hanging sides of crispy pork – but how does a Western cook get started? How do you make sense of all the different ingredients? Which brands to buy? And what to do with all this stuff once you get it home?

Chef Heidi’s Culinary Tours of Chinatown will give you the answers to all these questions and more. An overview of the ways and means through Chinatown’s culinary treasures, each tour is a mine of information for beginners and foodies alike. Creating a warm and friendly atmosphere, Heidi will guide you through a variety of stores and help take the mystery out of the aisles of unfamiliar ingredients. You will learn the best places to buy fresh Thai ingredients, which brands of Chinese sauces to buy, where to go for Chinese tea or barbecued duck, where to find fresh noodles, what to do with all that lovely Asian produce, and much, much more. Heidi will be providing answers to all your questions, samples of Chinese barbecue, baked goods, and specialty teas, as well as a comprehensive shopping guide and recipe package for you to take home. Chef Heidi’s Tours are guaranteed to give you the confidence and inspiration you need to cook Asian food at home!

Visit http://tiny.cc/9v8CE for more details.

Feature Event: The Bee Eaters on Bainbridge Island

2010-02-02T11:45:00.000-08:00

We feature events periodically on our blog to highlight some of the great things that go on in the Pacific Northwest. You can submit your own description of your event or, if you host lots of events, send us a short description of your organization and we'll feature it on our blog.

The Bee Eaters (formerly New Old Stock) return to Bainbridge Performing Arts for an evening of acoustic music featuring Bainbridge Island grown banjo and hammered dulcimer virtuosos Wesley Corbett and Simon Chrisman with six time Grand National Fiddle Champions Tristan and Tashina Clarridge. The Boston Globe calls them “Captivating... the quartet combines chamber music's finely calibrated arrangements with bluegrass' playful virtuosity and pop music's melodic resourcefulness.”

Performances: Friday @ 7:30 p.m.

Tickets: $15 for adults, and $10 for seniors, students, youth, military, and teachers @ 206.842.8569

For more check out the event on SwankyAnts.com

A Hope for Haiti

2010-01-25T10:38:00.000-08:00

It's hard not to be touched by the unimaginable pain and suffering that has taken place in Haiti. I heard one person who has over 30 years experience in attending to disasters around the world describe Haiti as the worst thing he had ever seen. Even so, today, two weeks after Port-au-Prince was flattened, life is returning. Markets are popping up and people are getting on to rebuilding as best they can. I heard one speak of rebirth. One cannot help but be touched by the endurance of the human spirit and, indeed, the people of Haiti. History has not been kind to that country . . . let's hope that "rebirth" is what comes to Haiti.

Haiti Relief Fundraiser in Abbotsford

Steven
SwankyAnts Contributing Editor

Take a Cruise for Next to Nothing

2010-01-08T18:09:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year from the Swanky Ant farm! After enjoying a nice relaxing break over the holidays we are back taking note of all the interesting things to do that are popping up on SwankyAnts.com. Last year, the Coho (a passenger/car ferry that links Port Angeles, Washington with Victoria, British Columbia) celebrated its 50th anniversary of operation. Now, that's not only 50 years of service but the ship, itself, is also 50 years old and still looks like it could run another 50 years!

Anyway, the fact that the Coho plies one of the most beautiful stretches of water in the world got us thinking about all the opportunities that exist on the West Coast to take a ferry and create your own mini-cruise. In the case of the Coho you can make the perfect day trip and feel like you've been on a mini vacation. You even have time to check out the many events that are going on on whichever port you are going to (of course you can check that all out on SwankyAnts.com before you go!).

Another option is a BC Ferries trip through the Gulf Islands either on the main route between Swartz Bay (just north of Victoria) and Tswwassen (south of Vancouver) or on one of the many shorter routes that service the individual islands. Pick your day and you will see stunning scenery and an abundance of bird life. If you are really lucky you'll also get a glimpse of Orcas as they make their way around their watery home.

Finally, you can also make your way through the U.S. Gulf Islands on Washington State Ferries connecting Seattle, the Gulf Islands and Sidney, B.C.

In every case you'll find an affordable trip on the water that won't take you too far from home but you'll feel like you have!

Thanks to the Black Ball Ferry Line for the picture of the Coho!

Black Ball Ferry Line (the Coho)
BC Ferries
Washington State Ferries

People and Maps

2009-12-29T10:42:00.000-08:00

SwankyAnts has not only been a labour of love for those of us involved it has also been a huge learning experience. There are few textbooks on how to create a business on the Internet although you will find plenty of bloggers who will tell you they know how it should be done. In the end, there appears no magic formula to success . . . there are things that work and others that don't and no one really knows why.

One aspect of SwankyAnts that has surprised is the different reaction people have to the concept of a map as the event calendar. Nowhere is the difference highlighted more than between men and women. Do a Google search on the spatial perception differences between men and women and you soon find a lot of research to support differences between the two. Men and women tend to perceive maps differently.

As we put the site together we take these differences into account. We combine the two perspectives to create a different way of looking at things that speaks to both perspectives. It's what we hope that makes SwankyAnts stand apart from other calendar-based event sites. It's all part of the adventure and the learning experience our site has become.

Swanky Review: Butchart Christmas

2009-12-21T13:22:00.000-08:00

Visiting the seasonal light display at Butchart Gardens has become somewhat of a holiday tradition for our family. In a place that rarely gets snow, the display and atmosphere created by the gardens provides that taste of a traditional Christmas that one might only experience in a snowy Bavarian village. From the outdoor skating rink (a challenge in a place that rarely goes below freezing) to the live music and theme of the "12 Days of Christmas" . . . it's all there.

A new addition this year is the feature Rose Carousel done in traditional grandeur with comically and beautifully sculptured animals for young and old to ride. I got the biggest kick of watching the adults (many over 70 I'm sure) who rode the carousel with what must have been memories of years gone flooding back on their faces. In fact, the time that I was watching, adults outnumbered kids on the ride at least two to one!

Even the building that houses the carousel is impressive. A large circular structure built primarily with vaulted post and laminated beams that give a sense of openness and craftsmanship that is fitting for the setting. I wounder, though, whether the carousel would not be as impressive in the summer given that it is located inside and not set within the beautiful gardens.

In past years our visit to Butchart Magic of Christmas would have lasted about an hour and a half but with the addition of the carousel our visit stretched to over two hours.

If you are wanting a dose of traditional Christmas and live or are visiting Victoria, make sure you check out the Magic of Christmas at Butchart Gardens!

How to make the most of your post

2009-12-14T11:08:00.000-08:00

SwankyAnts is a great way to post your events and get noticed. Even so, there are a few things you can do to make sure your event posting sizzles and gets noticed. Here are our top 5 tips for posting your events:

1. Make sure your event is mapped in the right location. Sometimes when you add an event SwankyAnts will map your location in the wrong location if you have not specified the town or province/state that your event is located. If there is another address in another place that is the same as your event it may map to the wrong location. Make sure you check the address when you click the "Map Your Event!" button.

2. Add as much detail as possible in the Event Description. Remember to include the times of your event and contact details. People might also want to know about parking so include those details as well.

3. Add a website link. If you have a website for your event make sure you include it in the website field on the Add Event page.

4. Add pictures to your event. You can add photos to your event that will really enhance your posting making it much more interesting.

5. Share your event with Facebook, Twitter, Email or other sites. Once you have created your event you can share it will all the popular sharing sites by clicking the share button on the event details page. You can do this with any event that is posted on SwankyAnts.

Have anymore tips for posting events? Let us know!

What's in a name?

2009-12-14T09:57:00.000-08:00

We've had lots of feedback about our name; SwankyAnts. Most people want to know what it means and how we came up with the name. Well, here is the story . . .

SwankyAnts is about helping to build community by showing you what's happening around you or what's happening around places you plan to visit. We are big on the community piece and when we thought of the ultimate community builders we thought of ants! Ants represent the ultimate in social cooperation by working together to build their communities. Just what we are all about! Because we also think that our site is pretty cool, as are the people who use it, what better word to describe it all than - Swanky!

After coming up with the name we also needed a symbol that spoke to the character of the site. "Swanky", our ant mascot, was born and he's all about having fun. You will actually see him popping up in some unsuspecting places and, in the future, you'll see more of Swanky as he grows up.

Tell us what you think! Where would you like to see Swanky? What do you think of the name?

SwankyAnts 1.5 Goes Live

2009-12-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

Since launching SwankyAnts.com in the Spring of 2009, we quickly realized that we had a great site. Even so, we began to come up with more ideas to make the site even better. We recently launched the latest version of SwankyAnts with some tweaks to make it even easier and fun to use. Here's some of the things we've done:

- Symbol clusters have been updated with a star that shows a count of the number of events in an area. As you zoom into the map the clusters will break apart. You can also click a star and automatically zoom into all those events

- We've added the balloon symbol to the event listings in the search results window. You can now tell at a glance what type of event is in the listing

- We've added a share button on the main page and on each event details page so you can easily share your events on Facebook, Twitter, email or a multitude of other social networking sites

- The event input form has been tweaked to make it cleaner and easier to use

We already have a list of great new features we want to add in the near future. We also love hearing your suggestions for the site. Let us know what you think!