Vancouver is Triple the Fun

It was a "little person's" birthday today so I ended up at Crash Crawly. Their indoor playground is great for kids. It was lots of fun.

Then travelled across the Burrard Bridge to witness the new bike lane. It was almost 9pm and I was on a bus because I was in a rush to make it to Vancouver Museum's outdoor movie at Vanier Park, Triplets of Belleville. I was glad to see the movie which incorporated a bike theme and French, our other official language.

Happy 142nd Birthday Canada!

Bonne fête Canada! Hope you have a happy and safe Canada Day.

GG to open Vancouver 2010 Olympics

It seems the Governor General is everywhere these days. We have seen her eating seal meat and dress up in military uniform. Now she is going to open Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

OTTAWA – The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, is proud to open the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

“It is in a spirit of solidarity and with great enthusiasm that we are preparing to welcome youth and the world for the XXI Olympic Winter Games. I am confident that Canada will be able to make this gathering a celebration of winter, sports excellence and fellowship, and I am pleased to be a part of it,” the Governor General said.

The Opening Ceremony will be held on February 12, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

R.I.P. MJ

It seems everyone is talking about Micheal Jackson today. I was in the mood to hear some more of MJ's songs after hearing some yesterday.

Say it aint so MJ!

There was a news report that the ledgendary Micheal Jackson died. I was sitting at my desk when I received a call that told me MJ was dead. I could not believe it and initially thought it was a hoax because just a few weeks ago there was so much hype about his big comeback. However, as the day went by, I realized that it wasn't a hoax.

I remember wearing my MJ jacket with all the zippers and trying to imitate his dance moves as a child. He will truly be missed not only in Vancouver but around the world. R.I.P MJ.

Happy Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day!

Since I joined twitter, I have been following the politcal leaders of our nation:
I was interested in knowing how they were going to celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day and found the following:

@pmharper: Stephen Harper
No Comment posted.

@M_Ignatieff: Michael Ignatieff
Off to Beauce for St-Jean Baptiste celebrations after a great lunch at Ashton’s and a walk along the St-Laurence

@jacklayton: Jack Layton
Happy Saint-Jean-Baptiste day! http://tinyurl.com/ldxumg

Dear friends,
Today, I join you in celebrating this special day that is filled with tradition.

This holiday enables Quebecers to proudly celebrate that they are part of the Quebec nation.

I was born in Quebec, which makes me particularly proud to take this day to celebrate the diversity and the richness of culture that radiates not just in Canada, but across the world.

Quebec, the cradle of francophones in North America, is a unique place on Earth. Quebec's presence and vitality contribute to the growth of the French language across Canada, and Canadians are very proud of it.

I invite all Canadians from across the country to join in today’s celebrations, an ideal occasion to recognize the country’s unique history. Let’s take time with friends and family to celebrate the links that unite us.

On behalf of Thomas Mulcair (Outremont) and the New Democrat caucus, I join all Quebecers, francophones and supporters of French culture, both here and abroad, in celebrating a rich and vibrant heritage.

Happy St. Jean Baptiste Day!

Jack Layton

I was really surprised by how much Jack Layton had written.

Papa Day

Happy Fathers Day to all the fathers in Vancouver and beyond.

Enjoy the following poem:

The Child Is Father to the Man

"The child is father to the man."
How can he be? The words are wild.
Suck any sense from that who can:
"The child is father to the man."

No; what the poet did write ran,
"The man is father to the child."
"The child is father to the man!"
How can he be? The words are wild.

- Gerard Manley Hopkins

Can you Baseball or Dragon Boat in French?

Yesterday I blogged about some events happening around town and today I attended three of the best ones in Vancouver.

The Dragon Boat Festival featured tons of food, games, information booths...and boat racing. I won a shirt and got my face on a button courtesy of raiseyourhand.com. There were limited food selections and fewer tents but I enjoyed the race. I also ran into the editor of rabble.ca and co-chair of stopwar.ca, Derrick O'Keefe.

I also enjoyed Francophone celebrations at Vancouver`s Festival d'été. Thanks to some friends at Le Centre Culturel, I was able to enjoy a complimentary entrance to the festival and the show La petite fille aux Allumetters (The Little Match Seller) and was impressed by the performance. After the performance we were entertained by clowns, singers and one performer who was a jack of all trades who juggled, squeezed himself through a tennis racket and ran around blowing bubbles. Best of all it was in French, our other official language. I even learned how to say, "Je veux voler un cerf-volant"? I was also lucky enough to run into the Olympic mascots, Sumi, Quatchi, and Miga. The Festival runs until June 24th, so check them out if you can.

I finished off the day by attending the hottest ticket in town: the sold out Vancouver Canadians (also known as the C's) season opener. It was crazy at Nat Bailey Stadium. People had scribbled signs saying " Looking for tickets" and others were begging to be let in. When I finally got to my seat I discovered that we were sitting next to a professional recorder who was putting K's up on the rail. The seats were also great as they were very easy to jump in and out of. There were also some funny old ladies behind us yelling, "Mucho beuno!" every time the batter named Sosa came to bat. Although the C's lost 10-1, the C's gave everyone in the stand a burger and root beer from A&W. On another positive note, I met Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who was there to throw the first pitch of the game and then saw the night come to an end with some great fireworks.

Vancouver Event Mania

Summer is officially almost here and there is so much to do in Vancouver. Here is a list of things that are coming up:

FESTIVAL D'ETE FRANCOPHONE
(Till June 24 Le Centre culturel francophone de Vancouver)
West Seventh Avenue between Granville and Fir (www.lecentreculturel.com)

What is it: The 20th anniversary of the six-day festival celebrating francophone culture.

Who is it for: French speakers and francophiles who enjoy great music, both indoors and outdoors, and Canadians who are proud that French is one of the country's two official languages. Eh, oui! Years past have seen Quebecois legends like Robert Charlebois grace the outdoor stage. This year, Montreal band Malajube joins Karkwa and rising Quebec star Pierre Lapointe on the Air Canada Stage starting at 5 p.m., June 20. The festival culminates on St. Jean Baptiste Day, or fete nationale as Quebecers call it, with a June 24 fete at Richard's on Richards.

VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FLAMENCO FESTIVAL
(June 28 to July 5 at various venues)
www.flamencocorosario.org

What is it: Flamenco Rosario's annual event celebrating the traditional dance and music of Spain.

Who is it for: Fans of foot stomping and castanets, customers of tapas restaurants who want to branch out.


CRAB PARK CANADA DAY FESTIVAL
(July 1) Crab Park, Portside, foot of Main Street
www.bandcouver.com

What is it: The city's other Canada Day party. A free, all-ages celebration from 1 to 4 p.m.

Hosted by the Crab Water for Life Society and Bandcouver, the event supports keeping up this green space in the Downtown Eastside. There are events for the kids at this portside park as well as a number of Vancouver bands. At 1 p.m. Maria in the Shower will be playing, followed by Fuzzcat at 2 p.m. and then Blackberry Wood takes the stage at 3 p.m. And you'll still have plenty of time to make the Canada Day parade downtown at 7 p.m.

Who is it for: People who like to feel good about getting down.


BOLLYWOOD WEDDING
(July 23 to 26 at the Italians Gardens at Pacific National Exhibition at Hastings Park)
Admission is free, ph. 604-893-8875 for reservations

What is it: An interactive outdoor dance and theatre production about the engagement and wedding of two young Indians brought together in an arranged marriage.

Who is it for: People who like attending weddings but don't want to shell out for a gift, interactive theatre fans suffering withdrawal now that Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding has come to a merciful end.


2009 WORLD POLICE AND FIRE GAMES
(July 31 to Aug. 9, various venues around the Lower Mainland)
www.2009wpfg.ca

What is it: International sporting event for firefighters and police, customs and corrections officers to let off some steam and show off their athletic prowess competing in over 65 events including rugby, ultimate fighting, karate and, um, darts.

Who is it for: Family and friends of competitors, people who have a thing for authority figures.


VELO-CITY: VANCOUVER AND THE BICYCLE REVOLUTION
(Until Sept. 7 at Museum of Vancouver)
www.museumofvancouver.ca

What is it: Exhibit curated by Propellor Design that delves into Vancouver's bicycle culture and how it's shaping the city we live in.

Who is it for: Bike enthusiasts, guilt-ridden automobile drivers, future ministers of transportation.

I will probably go on a slow day.


CARIBBEAN DAYS FESTIVAL
(July 25 and 26, Waterfront Park, North Vancouver)

www.caribbeandaysfestival.com

What is it: The Trinidad and Tabago Cultural Society of B.C. throw the year's biggest Caribbean party.

There is a Caribbean cruise the Sunday before the festival, a multicultural parade on Saturday at 10 a.m. leading down to Waterfront Park and a children's parade on Sunday, July 26.

But the big event is an outdoor dance fest at the Marketplace Plaza near the SeaBus when the festival shuts down at 7 p.m. on Saturday night. You'll be jammin' to two bands and two DJs playing salsa to reggae until 1 a.m.

Who is it for: Anyone who likes a good party in the sun with spicy food and steel drums.

POWELL STREET FESTIVAL
(Aug. 1 and 2, Woodland Park, 700 Woodland Dr.)
www.powellstreetfestival.com

What is it: The 33rd annual festival celebrating Japanese Canadian heritage and culture in Vancouver.

The festival has moved to a new location this year but will also include a bicycle valet so getting there is easy. Some events will happen at the Britannia Community Centre.

The theme of this year's festival is migration--across Canada, back to one's heritage and into new media.

Past festivals have included demonstrations on martial arts, Kokoro dance, concerts and of course, there's the food. Sushi, anyone?

Who is it for: Those with a yen for karate and tasty Japanese treats.


MUSICFEST VANCOUVER
(Aug. 2 to 16, various venues)
www.musicfestvancouver.ca

What is it: Formerly known as Festival Vancouver, MusicFest "explores the connections between cultures, centuries and people" featuring more than 50 classical, world music and jazz performers from Canada and around the world.

Who is it for: Anyone who knows what a lute is, concertgoers not burned out by the folk and jazz festivals.



SUMMER CINEMA IN THE PARKS
(Mondays at 9 p.m., Aug. 11 to 18 at Grandview, McSpadden and Victoria parks)
www.thedrive.ca/event_cinema.shtm

What is it: A chance to get out of the living room and lounge in Eastside parks, watching old movies.

The event is free but cash and food donations are being collected by the Vancouver Food Bank. It's presented by the Commercial Drive Business Association.

The schedule is:

Aug. 11, Grandview Park, Wizard of Oz

Aug. 18, McSpadden Park, E.T. the Extraterrestrial

Aug. 25, Victoria Park, Shrek

Who is it for: The kids. The babysitter. The overly cute couple with a beach blanket on hand.


UNDER THE VOLCANO
(Aug. 9, Whey-Ah Wichen / Cates Park in Deep Cove, North Vancouver)
www.volcano.resist.ca

What is it: Canada's largest political festival. A grassroots celebration of arts and activism, taking place where Malcolm Lowry wrote his famous novel, Under the Volcano. Which is not about the festival.

In its 19th year UTV still has free shuttles leaving from Broadway SkyTrain Station every half hour, so leave the car at home.

Admission is by donation. The suggested amounts range from $10 to 20.

This year's lineup hasn't been announced yet but Tegan and Sara and Kinnie Starr have played previous festivals.

Who is it for: People who like their music with a dose of social justice.

There are many other Vancouver events. These are just a few that one of my favorite local papers, the Vancouver Courier, posted that I thought were worth mentioning since I am considering going to a few of these. Let`s enjoy this beautiful city.

2009 Car Free Vancouver Day

Car Free Vancouver Day put on street parties at four areas in the city. I attended the Main Street event near my home and volunteered at the Commercial Drive event with barricades. Both of these events were well attended and it seemed that everyone was having a good time.

Scoring Big

I am really excited that the city officials are exploring how Vancouver can implement a bike sharing program. My family and I went to the seawall near Science World where Bixi has demonstration bicycles this weekend. Each bike station includes a pay station, bike docks, and bikes, and is equipped with solar panels that power the station. I tried one of the bikes and it was easy to ride. It was also very comfortable and the seat could be adjusted with breeze. Although the ride was smooth, the bike only has 3 speeds so I think its limited in range. Otherwise it was a pleasant experience. I also found out that these bikes are made in Quebec and if the city goes ahead with a bike sharing program they will be creating some Canadian manufacturing jobs. The demonstration ends tomorrow.

We also attended The Official Canadian Street Hockey Tournament, Play On! Vancouver, which took place nearby on Abbot Street near GM Place. It was lots of fun to watch. I even caught a glimpse of CBC news anchor Ian Hanomansing reporting his results at the tournament.

We are all linked

Yesterday the Vancouver Aquarium announced that Beluga Whale Aurora gave birth to female calf and released a video of the birth too. It is great to hear that Vancouver has become the home of another beautiful mammal.

On the topic of home, Yann Arthus-Bertrand released a film called HOME which will be available on YouTube until June 14, 2009. You can watch a preview below.

Let's ride this heat out!

It's bike month and I have officially started to look for a new bike. I hope to get a bike that works well, was built to be fast, fits me well and is not expensive. Free would be even better. I am looking for inspiration and was thinking of visiting the Velo-City exhibit: Vancouver & the Bicycle Revolution at the Museum of Vancouver.

Vancouver’s human-powered revolution that's changing the way people experience and relate to the city, their neighborhoods, and to their own bodies.

The show opened today and runs until September 7, 2009. I enjoy taking the Translink because it allows me to read however I would like to be more physically active while doing mu part for the environment.