February 25, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
On any trips to Vancouver a must see place to visit is Robson Street. There is great shopping, pubs, and people watching. During the Olympics you have to check out the great storefronts (complete with enough pizazz to make Simon Doonan smile). One one stroll down this street to pick up the iconic red mittens we crossed this impromptu sing-a-long to "Oh Canada."
Other notable things to do while visiting Robson Street during the Olympics:
1. Check out the live, CTV set
2. The nightly light and fireworks show
3. Skating and zipling
Ready. Set. Go!
February 25, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
Vancouver has been a wonderful host to the Olympic games. From the wonderful hospitality, fabulous scenery, and efficient organization I was blown away. But the icing on the cake for me was how much attention was paid to every last detail. Along the way to events there were unique vignettes that just added to the excitement and energy. And spoiler alert, for any of you "Glee" fans out there this might sound and feel familiar. This chorus was performing on the night we walked up for the Pairs Figure Skating Free Skate. Enjoy!
February 24, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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On a trip to North Vancouver, I couldn’t resist lingering at Lonsdale Quay. At any time of the year its market is fantastic, selling all kinds of farm-fresh goods and gourmet fare from exotic spices, to Italian sausage and artisan wines. I love Crepe Escape’s chocolate pancakes and browsing the hand-crafted jewelry stalls.
During the 2010 Olympics, Lonsdale Quay has been celebrating WinterFest. Along with live Games viewing, I caught a great First Nations drumming group and event and joined in a big group salsa class. Around me kids were having their faces painted and as it got dark, fire performer Miss Molotov threw some daring pyrotechnic shapes – juggling and flame swallowing included.
February 24, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Richmond, Festivals & Events
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Aside from hosting the speed skating competition, Richmond has a variety of events and attractions throughout town to celebrate the Olympic Winter Games, including a demonstration of water bombing by the Martin Mars planes based at Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island.
On Feb. 22 and 23, the Hawaii Mars demonstrated its water scooping and dumping ability off the shore of Garry Point Park. Usually reserved for fighting forest fires, these planes are a real spectacle to see in person as part of a fun demonstration.
The massive flying tankers have four propeller engines that can carry the plane fully loaded with 7200 gallons of water. It's no wonder you can feel your rib cage rattle when they fly low and close. Be advised: if you get a chance to see a demonstration, be careful where you stand. The 7200 gallons tend to drift once they have been released from the plane.
Getting to Richmond is a simple 20-minute train ride on the Canada Line from downtown Vancouver to Richmond's city center. If you exit the train at the last stop (Brighouse), you can cross the street and catch the 410 bus to Garry Point Park. The park is on the waterfront near where the Fraser River meets the Pacific.
February 24, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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Although no 2010 Olympic events are being held at Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain, there’s plenty of Winter Games action running 24/7, as I discovered.
Taking the Seabus across to Lonsdale Quay in North Vancouver, I caught a bus straight up to the base of Grouse Mountain which towers up to 1,253m/ 4110ft. Then came the fun part; taking the Skyride cable car up to the summit, with unbelievable views over Vancouver from the top.
NBC’s Today Show broadcasts at 4-8am every morning during the Olympics and anyone can watch the live broadcast and meet athletes as well as the show anchors.
I was in time to see the Grouse Mountain Kids Hockey World Cup competing on the outdoor ice pond - a jovial crowd cheering them on. The skating pond was then free for the general public to show off their moves (or in my case - a desperate dash from one side to the other). Admission is free with Grouse Mt admission or Lift Ticket and rentals are available.
Skiers and snowboarders can max out on Grouse during the Games. The After Hours Pass lets you ski or ride from 8pm-6am and make the most of the DJs, bands and Games coverage. Night skiing (with shorter hours) is available in season on all three local ski hills: Cypress Mountain, and Mount Seymour too.
My friends and I were booked on a beginner snowshoe clinic. Tramping along in the sparkling snow, we learnt how to walk up and down little hills (just trust your ‘shoes!), basic avalanche awareness and about local wildlife. By the end we’d worked up enough of an appetite to enjoy a large plate of nachos at Altitudes Bistro. And plan a Snowshoe Fondue Tour for next time.
February 24, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Museums
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Hello BC!
I was one of the lucky winners of Tourism BC's Twitter contest. During my recent trip to Vancouver I soaked up as much Olympic magic as possible. One of my favorite things was hanging around all the various pavilions and "houses." Here is a fun clip from an impromptu sing-a-long outside of "Sochi House." Due to time and lines I wasn't able to snag a peak but the culture and energy outside of the building was infectious!
February 23, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Professional & Spectator Sports
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It was a nail-biting start to the Olympic Men’s Hockey playoffs in Canada Hockey Place (also known as GM Place). Over 12,000 fans filled the stadium to see if Canada could recover from their loss to the USA on Sunday and beat Germany. Win they did – with the score an impressive 8-2.
The jumbotron egged us all on to “Make Some Noise,” and in an interview, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson thanked everyone for being such great Olympic hosts. The Winter Games mascots danced around and the ‘Kiss Cam’ embarrassed loads of non-couples. At every goal the stadium erupted into a sea of flag-waving, cow-bell shaking and clapping. Totally crazy!
Great cries of “Luuuuuu!” came from Canadian fans as Vancouver Canucks goalie, Roberto Luongo was between the pipes. He’s practically a god here in Vancouver as Captain of the Canucks, the city’s National Hockey League (NHL) team. You can catch them during their home games from October to April at General Motors Place.
Sports fans have plenty of options to catch games in Vancouver. For cheaper hockey tickets, head to the Pacific Coliseum to see the Vancouver Giants – part of the Western Hockey League – and striving to be tomorrow’s NHL stars (September – April). The BC Lions, the city’s pro (Canadian) football team play at BC Place from June to November.
In the summer, baseball fans can watch budding major league stars at the Nat Bailey Stadium. The Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club offers affordable tickets and plays 38 home games.
February 23, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Dining
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One of the most coveted passes in the Vancouver Winter Olympics – apart from tickets to men’s hockey finals – has got to be entry into the Molson Canadian Hockey House at Concorde Place in False Creek.
With 65,000 square feet of club & dining areas, VIP sections, giant high-def screens, plus celebs and hockey legends dropping by – it’s a big draw. The only snag being the cost – it starts at $99 for a full day Fanzone pass (including food).
Hockey being Canada’s national game, it’s surely what’s creating the biggest crowds and most outrageous costumes during the 2010 Olympics. The question is: where to watch the game if you don’t have tickets to the real thing?
Here are five of Vancouver’s best sports bars:
G Sports Bar & Grill (1208 Granville St) – A great spot on the Granville Strip, perfect for clubbing afterwards. Loads of big screens with HD TV, decent pub food and $4 Jager shots.
The Score (1262 Davie St) – the Official Pride House for the 2010 Winter Games, the Score offers 71’ Plasma TVs, PPV Canucks games, a long range of local brews, and specialty beers.
The Shark Club (180 West Georgia Street) – Just two blocks from Vancouver’s major sports venues: BC Place and GM Place, this is the ‘go-to’ place to either watch the game on banks of HD TVs or for post event beer & nachos.
Yagger’s (433 West Pender) – Get comfy on a high back cushioned bar stool and tuck into Jagermeister glazed chicken wings as well as specials on shots. Catch all the major sports games on big screen, followed by a round of Rock Band.
The Sunset Grill (2204 York Avenue) – my local pub in Kitsilano, the Sunset is a lot like the Cheers bar, where everyone knows your name soon enough. Great for a Sunday roast, big screens are strategically placed so no one misses a goal.
February 23, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Sightseeing Tours
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On the north banks of False Creek, at the colourful Concorde Place, sits the enormous white, ice-cube-like Maison du Quebec. Of all the cluster of Olympic pavilions in this area, I’ve found this to be the most accessible and have dropped in for beers and poutine without having to line up.
The atmosphere is friendly and buzzing, and by day I’ve caught a few acts on their stage, including Inuit artists Beatrice Deer and Etua Snowball. By night, their modern circus acts are hilarious – involving extras like cheeky nurses!
From Concorde Place, it’s a short walk to Vancouver’s exotic Chinatown, North America’s third largest. Stick to main, Pender and Keefer streets and browse shops selling the works from stinky dried fish and durian fruit to silks and Hello Kitty purses. Steamy-windowed wonton and dim sum restaurants are plentiful – one of my favourites is Hon’s Wun-Tun House on Keefer St. In the summer this area comes alive during weekend night markets.
For an hour or so of utter peace, the Sun Yat Sen Classical Chinese Garden is an oasis of calm amid its noisy surroundings. Located at Columbia & Keefer Streets, it’s full of Taoist symbolism, with gnarled pine trees, bamboo, turtles in jade green ponds and Ming Dynasty-style architecture.
February 22, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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Anyone gazing skywards over English Bay during the 2010 Olympics can be forgiven for assuming aliens have landed in Vancouver.
Huge, blue laser beans shoot into the night sky, in rotating patterns, each one unique. The fun part, as we learnt is that anyone can participate in this interactive artwork. By logging on to vectorialvancouver.net, we designed huge light sculptures by directing the 20 robotic searchlights stationed along English Bay and near the Vancouver Museum in Kitsilano.
We’ve also enjoyed evening strolls, just for the views of these powerful lights. From Kits Beach, and the gorgeous Watermark Restaurant that looks straight over the sea, we follow the coast path through Vanier Park and around towards Granville Island. From here there are terrific views of downtown Vancouver, hundreds of apartment windows lighting up the horizon.
On a clear Saturday evening it’s possible to get a close up view of the starry sky and learn about astronomy at the HR MacMillan Space Centre & Observatory.
From Kitsilano we catch a little ferry across the water to English Bay and continue along the seawall towards Stanley Park, one of the largest urban parks in North America. By day English Bay is bustling with walkers and joggers and during the summer the beaches are packed. Dining options abound; West Coast stalwart, the high-end Raincity Grill restaurant overlooks the bay, as does the more casual Boathouse. We sometimes end our evening with cocktails at the ivy-clad Sylvia Hotel.