Local

If you’re in the Metro Vancouver area, you can find anything from dining, to shopping and other events. There’s lots to see and do in Vancouver, and you’ll find some of it here.

Watching the Canucks outside

  Frederick Linsmeyer • May 31, 2011 • Local
TransLink bus with Canucks wrap

Follow the Canucks bus to Rogers Arena!

In a true hockey nation, the City of Vancouver is setting up two large screens to broadcast the Stanley Cup Finals between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins.

The first screen will be setup to compliment the existing one outside the CBC building on Hamilton Street between Georgia and Robson Streets.

The second screen will be placed on Granville Street, also between Georgia and Robson Streets. Food carts and portable washroom facilities are also being made available to make sure fans are well fed and looked after.

Georgia Street will be closed off between Richards and Cambie Streets

There’s also a display on the south-side of the Pan Pacific Hotel at Canada Place.

The Burnaby Public Library just west of Metrotown at the corner of Willingdon Avenue and Kingsborough Street is also bringing in a big screen for fans to watch.

If you don’t feel like travelling into the city for the party, Surrey is also showing the series at Central City Plaza on 10153 King George Boulevard. The City of Surrey web site mentions the first four games (which means they’re favouring a Canucks sweep).

TransLink will be offering increased SkyTrain and bus service to help get fans to and from the party zones.

All locations are free to attend.

Game 1 is on Wednesday at 5:00 pm PDT.

Celebration of Light 2011

  Frederick Linsmeyer • April 11, 2011 • Local
Celebration of Light 2010 - Spain

Spain's performance in 2010

The sky will light up over Vancouver once again as the Celebration of Light returns to English Bay this summer.

Last year’s winner of the fireworks competition, Spain, will join China and Canada with their explosive style. China is first on Saturday, July 30th, followed by Spain on Wednesday, August 3rd and Canada finishing off on Saturday, August 6th, 2011.

Looking for a great spot to view the pyrotechnics? Bleachers will be setup next to the English Bay Bathhouse on the hillside and will be available for $35.00 online for early birds. The new seating is being tested out and is a neat idea for those who don’t want to fight for a good spot or more space between your neighbours. Proceeds go towards running the Celebration of Light event.

Happy 125th Birthday Vancouver!

  Frederick Linsmeyer • April 6, 2011 • Local
Vancouver skyline

Vancouver looking north with the North Shore mountains in the distance.

On this day, 125 years ago in 1886, Vancouver was incorporated as a city on the south shore of Burrard Inlet. Since then, the fledgling community boomed into a cosmopolitan crossroads with people from all over the world.

Vancouver has welcomed the world twice: Expo 86 and the 2010 Winter Olympics. Millions of people come through each year to experience the beauty, the food and culture.

Come join the celebrations in Jack Poole Plaza west of the Vancouver Convention Centre. There will be music, ball hockey, food, artwork, cake and a relighting of the Olympic Cauldron.

The next station is Compass

  Frederick Linsmeyer • March 31, 2011 • Local
Compass

The new Compass card

The winner of TransLink’s smart card naming contest has been finally announced. Compass is the name of the new fare card being introduced in 2013 with the transit system’s upgrade to electronic fare media.

Burnaby resident Oleksiy Gayda came up with the name which then competed with the other two finalists Starfish and Tpass.

Source: The Buzzer blog

EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival returns

  Frederick Linsmeyer • March 10, 2011 • Local
EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival Rob Feenie

Rob Feenie demonstrates how to handle red beets at last year

Foodies, get your taste buds ready! The EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival returns for 2011 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The west coast’s best restaurants, kitchens, retailers, growers and brewers will be back showcasing their creations and wares.

Hopefully, the crowding issue that plagued last year’s festival will be addressed this time. Make sure you bring your appetite and a few friends along for a delicious day out.

EAT! Vancouver Food + Cooking Festival runs from Friday, June 10th until Sunday, June 12th, 2011 in the west building of the Vancouver Convention Centre.

Visit the festival web site for hours and a list of all the participating exhibitors. No word on who the celebrity chefs will be this time around.

Celebrate Vancouver’s 125 birthday

  Frederick Linsmeyer • March 6, 2011 • Local

Vancouver turns 125 on April 6th, 2011 and the city is planning a party to celebrate the milestone. From 2:00 PM PDT to 9:30 PM PDT a free, family friendly event will be held down at the Jack Poole Plaza west of the Vancouver Convention Centre. There will be music, ball hockey, food, artwork, cake and a relighting of the Olympic Cauldron.

See more at the Vancouver 125 web site.

Reliving the Olympic Street Party

  Frederick Linsmeyer • February 12, 2011 • Local
Hockey on Granville Street

Hockey on Granville Street

Unlike last year when Vancouver enjoyed a nice and somewhat dry Olympics, on the anniversary of the opening ceremony the rain made its presence known. This didn’t stop a crowd from coming out and enjoying the party.

There were a few hockey games on Granville Street along with free ice skating at Robson Square. The Vancouver Art Gallery opened with free admission and had a line up running down Hornby Street. On the Georgia Street side of the gallery, CIBC hosted LunarFest under a few tents with various illuminated lanterns. There was another line up to get in, but those who carried a CIBC bank card could take advantage of an “express” queue.

Ice skating at Robson Square

Ice skating at Robson Square

Down at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Vancouver Boat Show was in full swing, but most of the main floor was opened up allowing a peek into some of the cavernous ballrooms.

Outside in Jack Poole Plaza, the Olympic Cauldron remained out, waiting for the 4:00 pm PST ceremony to light it up.

The rest of the photos from around downtown are on Gallery.

Relive the Olympic street party!

  Frederick Linsmeyer • January 22, 2011 • Local
Robson Square during the Winter Olympics

Robson Square during the Winter Olympics

Remember last year how Vancouver held two straight weeks of partying during the 2010 Winter Olympics? The City of Vancouver is bringing back the party spirit with a number of events held on Saturday, February 12th, 2011.

Olympic Glory Relived on Granville Street
Starting at 12:00 pm PST and running through until 9:00 pm PST, Granville Street will reopen to throngs of pedestrians to celebrate the anniversary of the games. There will be performances from buskers, street hockey matches and a parade too.

Illuminate Yaletown
This event spans two nights starting on Friday, February 11th and finishing Saturday, brings out the best of Yaletown with entertainment and works by local artists.

Creekside Community Recreation Centre
Held at the Creekside Community Recreation Centre, this event will host a variety of family friendly activities based on the Olympics and Paralympics. The even runs from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm PST on Saturday, February 12th, 2011.

2011 CIBC LunarFest
The Vancouver Art Gallery will light up with the LunarFest, a celebration of Asian culture, from 4:00 pm until 11:00 pm PST.

There will be many other activities going on in the downtown core, with the Province of British Columbia hosting a few at Robson Square, which includes free ice skating and entertainment.

The Olympic Cauldron will also be lit by the Olympic and Paralympic torchbearers down by the Vancouver Convention Centre west building at 4:00 pm PST on Saturday.

Thinking of driving through Vancouver on that weekend? Granville Street will be closed between Smithe Street and Dunsmuir Street, while Robson Street will be blocked off between Howe Street and Seymour Street.

TransLink smart card naming contest finalists

  Frederick Linsmeyer • January 15, 2011 • Local

TransLink transfer purchased from ticket vending machine.When TransLink announced they would be moving towards a smart card-based fare system, a problem appeared: what would the card be called? The London Underground has the Oyster, Chicago has the Chicago Card and Sound Transit uses ORCA. So, last fall, TransLink held a contest allowing locals to submit their ideas on what the card would be named and now three finalists have been selected.

Between January 14th and 28th, 2011, you can visit TransLink’s contest web site and vote for the top three contenders: Tpass, Compass and Starfish. The winner will be announced sometime in March 2011.

Free New Year’s Eve rides on TransLink

  Frederick Linsmeyer • December 26, 2010 • Local
SkyTrain at Commercial Drive

SkyTrain at Commercial Drive

Heading out for a party on News Year’s Eve? TransLink is offering free rides after 5:00 pm PST until end of service on SkyTrain, SeaBus and normal buses.

The last Expo and Millennium Line train leaves at 2:16 am, with the last Canada Line train leaving for YVR at 2:05 am and for Richmond-Brighouse at 2:16 am.

On New Year’s Day, all buses and trains (excluding the West Coast Express) will follow the Sunday/holiday schedule.

See more information on TransLink’s Buzzer blog.

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