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.
February 22, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Beaches & Swimming
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If the Vancouver 2010 Olympics crowds are getting too much, a great way to escape is to walk or jog along Jericho Beach to Spanish Banks in laidback Kitsilano.
On (yet another) perfect sunny morning, I took the dog for a walk down to Jericho Beach, passing the Jericho Sailing Club, whose diner/bar, the Galley offers one of the best patio views of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains. During the Olympics they’re offering buffet breakfasts and are open to 10pm, serving burgers, fish & chips with big screen TVs to watch the Games.
I discovered the Jericho Beach parking lot had been converted into an RV park for the Olympics and got chatting to Jean and her husband who’ve come all the way from Scotland. “It’s far cheaper to stay here than in hotels and it’s such a beautiful, quiet spot,” she said. “It means we had more to spend on Olympics events tickets.” A friendly community had formed, with RV residents hanging flags out and standing around, chatting to their neighbours.
Continuing on, we strolled along Locarno Beach and on to Spanish Banks. Huge logs lie on the sand as shelter for sunbathers and in the summer, this area is packed with volleyball players, joggers and families barbequing. To make a day of it, we sometimes walk right around the coastline to the clothing-optional Wreck Beach and up to Pacific Spirit Park, then back through Kitsilano.
Wildlife-watching opportunities here abound, look out for herons, Harbour seals, and even the odd Bald eagle.
February 22, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Dining
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Taking over the red brick Roundhouse community centre for the Vancouver Winter Games is Casa Italia, and hearing about some decent food sampling – I headed down to Yaletown to check things out.
One of the more impressive Olympic pavilions, the Italian house offers air hockey, Italian lottery tickets, clothing and merchandise and even a cool art exhibition of retro-looking chairs, vases and sports gear.
As for the food, I happened to be there at lunchtime which is when they dish up free tastings of wine, delicious parmigiano reggiano, salami and bruschetta. Benissimo!!
Trendy Yaletown itself, offers some of Vancouver’s best restaurants, including the Italian celeb-hangout, Cioppino’s. For oysters and hearty chowders, try laidback Rodney’s Oyster House, or for West Coast and Asian fusion, head to Goldfish Pacific Kitchen or Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar. After dinner, the neighbourhood’s hip lounges come to life. Some, like the Keg, Earls and the Opus Hotel (where U2 recently stayed) offer view-tastic rooftop lounges.
It seems every whim is catered to in Yaletown. Salons are springing up devoted solely to eyebrows or blowdrys as well as full-service spas. And pampered pooches even have their own bakeries and spas. One quirky venue I love is the Raw Canvas Café on Hamilton Street. Customers can express their artistic streak by paying for a canvas, then, armed with a set of oil paints – produce their masterpiece.
February 22, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Car / Truck / Motorcycle
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Day 8 of the games...And I've spent the last 4 days recovering from the first 4 days. Not sure if I have it in me to keep up the Olympic pace for 17 days straight, and I still feel like I've barely scratched the surface. Favorites so far include watching the Opening Ceremonies, watching and celebrating moguls gold in Yaletown and the impromptu dancing courtesy of the DJ's showcasing as a part of Made in Vancouver Festival.
Stealing a note from the guys from the buried life (the boys from Victoria BC travelling North America to complete their 'must do before I die' list) I've compiled a list of the things I MUST still do before the Olympics are done:
1. Take advantage of my free Lululemon/YYoga free pass.
2. Spend time exploring the pavilions and fun on Granville Island.
3. Check out Canada's North Pavilion - I've heard it's great!
4. Check out one of the JetSet Crew Parties. They've been doing a great job attracting athletes to Canvas lounge. Would be fun to celebrate with them.
5. Get to the Richmond Ozone and Heineken house and BC street.
6. Ice skate at Robson square or in Richmond.
7. Ziptrek over Robson at BC pavilion (such a great idea - wouldn't it be cool to replace public transit with ziplines!!).
8. Check out a Yaletown livecity show and stay for the end of day fireworks and light show.
9. Check out an athletic event. I've got my eye on women's figure skating tickets - feeling the need to show Joannie Rochette some support this week.
February 21, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Ferry
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On the way to visit the Russian Sochi Olympic House at Vancouver’s Science World, we took a leisurely tour of False Creek by ferry. Starting at Granville Island (home to loads of boutique art galleries, microbrew pubs and great seafood restaurants) we hopped on the little rainbow-striped Aquabus and puttered across the water.
On our right we passed the pretty Charleston Park, with the Olympic Athletes Village further ahead. A brand new complex, the apartments will be snapped up by local residents after the Games. We continued across to trendy Yaletown, towards glossy pale green skyscrapers. Local author Douglas Coupland’s book City of Glass also captures this unbelievable, sparkly view of the city when the sun shines.
After our visit to the Russian House, we got back on the ferry (all rides are just a few bucks - great value) and chugged back down, past expensive looking yachts, sleek kayaks and dragon boat teams in training. We passed English Bay on our right, with its huge statue of an Inukshuk (an Aboriginal symbol of friendship and welcome). Crossing the water, with beautiful views of the North Shore mountains and beyond to Howe Sound, our final stop was the Maritime Museum in Kitsilano.
Amid a collection of restored wooden sailing boats, we stepped back onto dry land. A great fun and cheap way to check out the heart of Vancouver and its Olympic celebrations.