Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Snow at UBC

Well well it has snowed again. We've got blossoms on our trees in February and another snow fall. The city workers seemed to keep up with the salting and plowing of the streets, most students made it on time to UBC. Congrats to the city workers for a good job.
Hey here is an idea, how about helping the elderly or disabled when they need to cross a slick intersection or board a bus. It'll make you feel good and really help them. A win win situation.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Britannia Sushi

Britannia Sushi is located at 1016 Commercial Drive Vancouver.
When Britannia Sushi first opened it was a nice improvement for sushi lovers on The Drive. The pricing was great and the sushi was excellent. I found back then the service was somewhat mediocre, the servers weren't customer friendly on the whole. You knew they (servers) didn't want to be there. Well not too long ago Britannia Sushi had some renovations done. I must say the interior decor has been upgraded a little from the cheap cheesy Asian flair it had before. The food is still great and the pricing is good as well.
Last time I was there, my wife ordered a bowl of brown rice, which ended up being quite disappointing.
Britannia Sushi has a sister location by broadway and commercial called Broadway Sushi. This restaurant started well but it's quality of food has gone down. I hope they will fix this soon.
I give Britannia Sushi a 6 out of 10

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Celticfest Vancouver 2012

Celticfest is back again this year. From March 10 - 18 you'll find some 70 celtic based free and ticketed venues.
The 8th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade is this festival’s largest and most popular no cost event, drawing people from all cultures and all walks of life. This colourful (mostly green) spectacle of fabulous sight and sound takes to the street on Sunday March 18, at 11:00 AM.
Check out: www.celticfestvancouver.com for details of events and locations.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Vancouver Snow

Central and Eastern Canada have experienced a very cold and tough winter. Europe has had a terrible snow storm leaving many residents dead. Here in Vancouver we've had it easy.
Today we had a slushy snow fall. It always amazes me how bad Vancouverites handle this small inconvenience. Riding on transit I see how bad the attitudes of the passengers are. It seems it's the transit employees fault that snow has come. Well it's about time Vancouverites grow up, face reality and realize this isn't all that bad!

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Vancouver is for the Rich

Ok, so I'm showing my age, but I can remember back to 1986 when Expo 86 happened in Vancouver. Those six months were great, even better than the 2010 winter olympics in my opinion.
Before 1986 Vancouver was considered a picturesque, sleepy west coast city. After Expo the rest of the world knew our secret and have come flocking into Vancouver causing high population density and high property values.
For instance a certain home I know that was assessed at $70,000 in 1986 is now assessed at over $1,000,000. No improvements done to the home it is actually a tear down but valued at over 10 times it's 1986 assessment! Some
may call this progress but to me it's making Vancouver become a mini New York city. But wait, that isn't what people originally liked about Vancouver and attracted them here. Hey we even have the most expensive street parking in North America.
Personally I don't like what is happening to this city. The ambiance that made Vancouver so unique is changing it's face forever. Vancouver is for the rich.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

In Memoriam of Travers Wimble

A regular fixture was Travers Wimble at UBC. He would sit close to the UBC cafeteria between two vending machines watching student life go on around him. Even though he was a regular many didn't take the time to get to know him. Upon his regular chair he sat in many students left notes of farewell and remorse of not having gotten to know him better.
Rest in peace Travers...you are missed.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Vancouver Missing Women

The newspapers are chronicling the how expensive the court costs are, regarding defending those who should have defended the women ended up at Pickton's pig farm.
Allegations are flying about how the police just didn't care to investigate those women that went missing.
The last couple of days there have been protests in Vancouver to continue bringing attention to the lethargic attitude towards these poor women.
Unfortunately these protests are very inconvenient to the public when entire streets and neighborhoods are blocked. But I suppose this is the way that change for the better will happen in our democracy.

Aristocratic Neon Sign

The Aristocratic restaurant was located in Vancouver. When the building it was in was replaced by a Chapters the old neon sign was preserved. Do you know where this sign is now displayed?

Sunday, February 12, 2012

People For Good

Finally we have some great advertising at the bus shelters. People for good is a wonderful concept reminding all of us to treat one another with respect. In a city the size of Vancouver with everyone being so busy and driven, looking out for the other guy often doesn't happen. Check out peopleforgood.ca. We all can make a difference one deed at a time.

Saturday, February 11, 2012

THE SUN is 100 years old!

The Vancouver Sun newspaper is celebrating 100 years of bringing trusted news. Happy birthday Vancouver Sun!
Photo taken at JJ Bean in Park and Tilford mall. The Sun employees where at JJ Bean locations on Main and 14th and the Park and Tilford location with free cake and pastries.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Lingerie Football

In the CFL and the NFL you'll find linebackers that are in the 300 pound range but not in the Lingerie Football League. Here you'll find athletic women scantily clad in bras and panties.
Somehow one can't imagine this league as a family TV watching event. Seems like men in sports bars would be the prime audience here.
Abbotsford a Bible belt community with religious conservative leanings has been awarded the latest LFL franchise. The ladies will be home in the Abbotsford Entertainment and Sports Centre.
Controversy exists because the community wasn't asked if they would want this. Presently there are franchises I'm Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Montreal and Quebec city.
If I were watching I'd route for the team with the biggest boobs.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Feeling a little crowded?

Are you feeling more and more crowded in Vancouver? The traffic jams are legendary. Granville mall is beautiful to look at but don't drive down there better take transit because it's CROWDED!
The Province newspaper reported that downtown Vancouver's density is the highest in Canada. Well no kidding everyone from Asia and other parts of the world just want to move here. The regulars like me who were born here can barely afford to live here. Seems like we'd have to move elsewhere to make big bucks and then afford to move back here.
To me Vancouver is turning into a mini New York city. On my opinion that's not so good. If you need some elbow room you'll have to move to the suburbs or even further away. Sorry about that.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

SWEATER DAY

We Canadians are known for enduring our cold winters. Even Vancouverites get cold once in awhile. With heating costs the way they are energy saving tips can help in the long run.
Sweater day is this February 9th. The premise is that if you turn down the thermostat 2 degrees you could save $150 per year. Just wear a sweater or cuddle up to keep warm.
Check out www.sweaterday.ca

Sunday, February 5, 2012

Commercial Drive

Commercial Drive located on the east side of Vancouver has become a very popular destination for people from all walks of life.
 I was raised in this neighbourhood and still live here.  The changes over the decades have been immense.  “Little Italy” was located on the drive with lots of Italian restaurants, cafes, meat markets and bakeries.  Today remnants of Little Italy still exist but many other ethnic establishments have sprung up as well. Plus there are  over two dozen cafes along commercial drive.  Today people often refer to this area as “The Drive” and enjoy its varied restaurants, cafes, clothes and shoe stores plus much more. 
 The drive is certainly an area worth checking out!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Neon Vancouver / Ugly Vancouver

For you history buffs there is an exhibition at the MOV Museum of Vancouver called "Neon Vancouver - Ugly Vancouver".  This exhibition covers the years from 1950's to the 1970's. During this time Vancouver had some 19,000 signs. Controversy came from those who thought the signs were unique and those who thought they distracted from Vancouver's natural beauty.  This one is worth checking out.

Neon Vancouver / Ugly Vancouver
Museum of Vancouver, 1100 Chestnut Street
Thursday, October 13, 2011 - Sunday, August 12, 2012

Friday, February 3, 2012

TRAVEL EXPO - Feb 4 & 5

Travel Expo is back and bigger than ever! Located at the new convention centre in Vancouver. In an atmosphere designed to excite and inspire you'll have the opportunity to chat with a variety of different exhibitors ranging from airlines to hotels, tourism boards to cruise lines, theme parks to tour companies and much more. To further enhance the event there'll be entertainment, informative travel presentations and lots of great prize giveaways.

Vancouver Travel Expo

Saturday February 4th, 2012, 10am - 5pm
Sunday February 5th, 2012, 10am - 4pm
Vancouver Convention Centre
East Building
999 Canada Place
Vancouver, BC

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Vancouvers South Granville

Vancouver's South Granville shopping district starts on Granville and 63rd avenue and goes to 71st avenue. This area is also called Marpole.

Many local individual businesses line this strip along with some franchises. This area will undergo some big changes when a new shopping and condominium complex will replace the old Safeway at 70th avenue.

This part of Vancouver has many old time residences with new multi-million dollar homes replacing the old ones. If you can afford owning a house here then you're in the the top 10% of income earners!

German Canadian Heritage Park

A nice little park located on Eastside of Vancouver.

SUNSHINE IN VANCOUVER!

After many rain storms Vancouver is under some sunshine.