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 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.
February 21, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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On the far side of False Creek, on Quebec Street, sits Vancouver’s reflective dome – Science World. During the 2010 Olympics it’s been transformed into the Russian Sochi House, the focus of the next Winter Games in 2014.
We took an Aquabus ferry from Granville Island, docking at Yaletown and strolling along the seawall under blossoming cherry trees. A flood of red outfits and flags filled our view as Canada hockey fans were preparing for a game and the Russians had just finished one.
At the Sochi House we browsed through their merchandise shop (the Russian designs are red and white with swirly patterns) and had our photos taken with Olympic torches from Beijing and Vancouver. On giant screens, we learnt all about the Krasnodar region, location of the 2014 Games. A Russian couple, Talia and Igor, who now live in Vancouver told us that’s where they were from and urged us to visit. “You have to go to the Black Sea –Sochi is like Vancouver because it’s just by the sea and mountains,” said Talia.
As a Vancouverite, I’d urge people to visit the Science World, which opens again to the public on March 8. Along with its OMNIMAX Theatre, the TELUS World of Science offers unbeatable interactive games, experiments and exhibitions.
In the meantime, check out Science World’s free exhibition Cool Globes – a series of giant globes outside the venue. Designed by artists, communities and school kids, each one features its own solution to global warming. For Unplugged Fun, students have created cool pictures and captions all about how to have fun without watching TV.
February 21, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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“Anybody here from Wales?” asked Stereophonics frontman, Kelly Jones. “YEAHHHHHHH!!” shouted a tiny minority, me among them. A huge Welsh flag was proudly waved in front of the stage, and further back fans wrapped in Union Jacks, Australian flags and of course the Canadian maple leaf, demonstrated just how multi-national these Winter Olympics have been.
We were in BC Place, the cavernous white dome at the far western end of Robson Street and also the venue for the Olympics opening, closing and nightly medal ceremonies. Tonight the medals were being awarded in Whistler ski resort so we watched it all on the big screens, humming or singing along to the British, Canadian, Austrian and Swiss national anthems.
Music of a different sort followed as the Welsh indie-rockers took to the stage. Bashing out old faves, and newer tracks, the Stereophonics kept the crowd happy with hits like: The Bartender and the Thief, Just Looking, and Maybe Tomorrow. Explosions of light as indoor fireworks and streamers filled the dome were a cool reminder that the party just never stops at Vancouver’s Winter Games.
BC Place isn’t normally a music venue though, home instead to the BC Lions Canadian Football team. We normally watch bands at venues like the art-Deco-style Commodore, Vogue and Orpheum theatres on Granville Street. Bigger acts often play at the General Motors Place (next to BC Place) and the Pacific Coliseum (out near Burnaby).
Annual music festivals are a great way of catching bands we’d otherwise miss – we always try to get to the Vancouver Folk Festival at beautiful Jericho Park in Kitsilano – and the jazz, World & classical MusicFest Vancouver is held all over town.
February 20, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
West Vancouver, Festivals & Events
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On yet another gloriously sunny day we rose at dawn for our first 2010 Winter Olympic event: Womens’ Freestyle Skiing at Cypress Mountain. From the Waterfront Station, near historic Gastown, we took the Seabus ferry over to North Vancouver. Pristine views unfurled of the North Shore Mountains ahead, and behind, of the Vancouver city skyline, including the iconic white sails of Canada Place exhibition centre – and the green expanse of Stanley Park.
We docked at Lonsdale Quay, passing through its bustling market, before boarding a shuttle bus up to Cypress Mountain. In all, getting from Downtown to the ski slopes only takes about half an hour, making Vancouver a uniquely accessible winter sports destination.
The Womens’ Aerials were fantastic. Amid beautiful alpine scenery, we watched awestruck as the athletes turned elaborate somersaults high in the air. And the fans were out in force; a group of Ukrainians had a hilarious song and dance number going, and draped in a huge green flag, was Fiona all the way from Australia. “This is the only event we’re going to but we’re loving all the free parties and sights in Vancouver,” she told us.
Despite experiencing the mildest weather in 100 years, Cypress Mountain has gone all out to create enough snow for the Olympics, and on March 9 it opens again to the general public for downhill skiing and snowboarding. I love the Nordic area too and highly recommend the chocolate fondue snowshoeing tour, as well as the cross-country ski trails and snowtube park.
For now, nearby Grouse Mountain and Mount Seymour ski resorts are open to all and offer the same exhilarating range of snow sports.
February 19, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Theatre & Performing Arts
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Anyone experiencing a sense of humour failure from waiting in too many Olympic lines – needs a dose of Teatro Tatro – the Magical Theatrical Vending Machine from Slovakia. My absolute favourite of all the free Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad events – this live improv comedy troupe are hilarious.
Using their rustic truck as stage, backstage and even home, these Slovakians dress in baggy woolen jumpsuits and re-enact Olympic sports as spoofy sketches. A small child usually gets to spin their wheel of chance – and the winning number dictates the winter sport. Cue ski-jumping from the top of their caravan, fighting off aggressive seagulls, or dubious looking luge positions. Meanwhile, Josef the giant polar bear keeps sweeping the stage of imaginary snow – a joke on the lack of white stuff at Cypress Mountain.
For more comedy improv in Vancouver, I love the TheatreSports League who perform on Granville Island (audiences throw out scenarios and the actors take it from there). Yuk Yuk’s at the Century Plaza hotel downtown, is great for stand-up comedy, attracting local and international stars.
Come summer, I usually head outdoors for my theatre fix, catching Shakespeare plays at Bard on the Beach in Kitsilano (tip: go on a fireworks night) or musicals at Stanley Park. For Broadway hits, the Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts is the place to go – and the Vancouver Playhouse puts on quality classical and contemporary plays.
February 19, 2010 | 2010 Olympics >
Vancouver, Dining
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While at the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion in Vancouver for their Globespotting show, we decided to make a night of it and sample some Aboriginal food too. As it turns out, ‘Lounge Night in the Jack Poole Hall’ was the best choice we could have made.
Situated near the Romanesque-style Vancouver Library, Queen Elizabeth Theatre - and not far from trendy bars and boutiques in Yaletown, and historic Gastown – it turned out that the Jack Poole Hall was just about the ONLY place to eat, drink and sit and watch the Games. There was no cover charge and even a DJ. Every other bar or restaurant was jam-packed and the streets were alive with jubilant hockey fans.
Run by the Olympics four host First Nations: Lil’Wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh, the Aboriginal Pavilion offers a full schedule of fashion shows, cultural films and music. And of course food! We tucked into pizza made with BC forest mushrooms, bison skewers, ‘bear paws’ – fried bannock (flat bread) and little quiches made from Salt Spring Island cheese.