So my goal is to make this a regular post. I'll basically list 7 songs that I'm obsessed with each week. When it comes to genres, decades and languages, my selections will be all over the place!!! Let me know if you like what you hear and more importantly, let me know of any uber cool songs you think I might like.
So there's been controversy over the Olympic Cauldron in Coal Harbour.
I FINALLY went and checked it out with Laurie Logan the other night. It's an amazing thing to see, no doubt about that. But the fence? Seriously? When Laurie and I tried to take a picture of ourselves in front of it...yeah...it didn't really work. I can understand that Olympic officials and police want to avoid vandalism and all that jazz, but that fence is kind of a slap in the face to ALL of us (in my humble opinion).
"The Olympic cauldron is a powerful symbol and the desire to get as close to it as possible has been remarkable — more than we expected," VANOC CEO John Furlong said in a statement back in February. Yeah...no SH*T!!!
So if you didn't know, VANOC officials got tired of hearing us all complain and they developed a new layout (a while back, during the Olympics actually. The surprising thing is that a lot of us here in Vancouver STILL didn't know about it!). The new layout provides access to an elevated viewing platform just to the west of the cauldron that allows unobstructed views of the flame, located at the International Media Centre in downtown Vancouver.
The viewing deck, which fits up to 150 cauldron lovers at a time and it'll be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and is accessible by stairs or elevator.
Apparently the cauldron is supposed to be a permanent installation. Even though we can't get close to it during the Games, it's supposed to stay where it is forever and ever.
The flames have been re-lit for the Paralympics and honestly? You've gotta go see it. According to "officials" the cauldron will be extinguished at the end of the Games and MIGHT be re-lit for other special occasions. Here's hoping.
Either way, grab yourselves some hot chocolate and some friends/loved ones and go check it out at night.
So Laurie Logan and I (and the rest of our entourage) went out to Live City Downtown to check out The Trews.
I'll keep this short. It was a great show and many adult beverages were consumed. The Trews rocked it. See a mini concert clip below.
There are also a TON of free things to do and cool places to visit. Here's a link to another blog that has helped me out, BIG TIME!!!
Some highlights include - LiveCity Downtown (obviously!). Canada Pavilion/Manitoba House on site as well.
Northern Canada House (on Seymore and Hastings). Open till April 17th. They have something cool happening just about every day. Make sure you stop by at least ONCE!
BC Pavilion (Vancouver Art Gallery) - you can check visit the Vancouver Art Gallery (sorry, just don't feel right calling it VAG) for free until 3pm, everyday. Expect a lineup on most days. There's also free skating at the GE ice rink. See video. The zipline is also up and running, but again, expect a lineup. Hey! What do you expect? It's free!!!
Korea House (in the Sutton Place Hotel). This venue is open till March 21st. So the deal is that Korea really, really, REALLY wants to host the next Winter Olympics (after Sochi, of course). They have interesting shows there and a few things to try out. It's ok. Just keep in mind that you'll most likely end up watching a video about what makes Korea the ideal country to host the Winter Olympics.
So I've gotta admit, I'm neither ON the Olympic Bandwagon or OFF it. I try to remain impartial. I have my reasons for liking it and reasons for hating it. But no matter how you feel (felt) about it, you have to admit that the city now seems so empty without it. That sense of excitement that used to linger in the air has now turned to boredom... maybe even sadness. Remember when your weekends consisted of figuring out which 'house' to go visit? Irish House? Nah, maybe Holland House. How about Saxony? Man. Those were good times...
So, if you had the Olympic blues, Good News!!!! The Paralympics kick off today! More of the world's best athletes are back in the city, competing for gold. So what does that mean to you? More cool, free stuff to do! More concerts! More fun! Yaaaaaaaaayyyyy!
Last night, after watching 'Alice in Wonderland' (more that half the theatre was on "E" or something...I swear!) some friends and I headed to Robson Square to see what was happening. We managed to catch the Paralympic flame passing by. No, there wasn't a mob of people swarming the athlete, but there were a bunch of us yelling out words of encouragement and the odd 'Whoot Whoot!!!'. Not the same turn out though. It's kinda sad. These athletes are the best of the best and deserve our support. OK. I'll get off my soap box now.
So I managed to snag a pic with one of the torch bearers (Hi Dominic!) and I chased down another torch bearer (see video).
There's also a Coca Cola booth set up on Robson and Burrard. There was a comedian there putting on a show, so I decided to heckle him a bit (;D). See video.
I know that a bunch of us here at the station are looking forward to the free shows!!! This Sunday, a bunch of us will be heading to the Trews concert at Live City Downtown. The concert starts at 7pm, but you definitely wanna get there early. I imagine the long lineups will start up again. If you see any of us Peak people down there, make sure that you come up and say hello!!!! We might have some Peak swag to giveaway... hint hint.
What a way to end our Olympic experience! Whether you love hockey or hate it (I'm personally not a fan of the game) it was hard not to catch 'hockey fever'... even if it was only temporary. The games were fast and intense. The fans, literally on an emotional roller coaster...but it was all worth it!!! See video.
What bothers me right now, is the way some of the members of the US media are belittling our victory. I have a friend who actually heard a famous TV announcer in the US say "We wanted it, but Canada needed it". HUH? Are you serious? Truth be told, that pissed me off.
I have to say that I'm also super proud of our closing ceremonies. They were witty and very tongue in cheek. The funny thing is that a lot of the international media just didn't get it! They've been calling us 'goofy' or 'weird'. What they don't understand is that that ceremony was FOR Canadians. We get it, we loved it and I think that's really all that matters. (Except for the Simple plan and Hedly performances. Really? Hmmm...). I also have to give a quick shout out to Marie-Mai, the French performance near the end of the ceremonies. Not only is she super talented, she's also my future sister-in-law. Yeah...kinda showing off there... sorry :P. AND HEY!!! You know those giant plastic balls that people were rolling around in during the closing ceremonies? Yeah, I was stuck in one of those!!! (That's what happens when you're a smart ass). Check out the video here.
Ok. So I hear all this talk about 'post-Olympic depression'. I understand. The city had this intense electricity running through it and now it feels as though we've been unplugged. But what everyone seems to forget is that the Paralympics is less than 2 weeks away! Now these are athletes who get the shaft. BIG TIME!!! I don't really understand why that is. Not only are they amazing athletes, but they've also had to overcome a physical obstacle to get to where they are. These are the best in the world and I think they should be just as respected as the Olympic athletes... but people just don't seem to care. I'm trying to change that. So here's the deal:
~The Paralympics takes place from March 12th till the 21st.
~ About 1350 Paralympic athletes from all corners of the earth will be coming to Vancouver & Whistler
~ Free performances in Whistler Plaza (for the first 5000 people) include appearances by:
Kathleen Edwards (March 13), the Weakerthans (March 14), Antoine Gratton (March 15), the Trews (March 16), Justin Hines (March 17), and Serena Ryder (March 18). (Can you say ROAD TRIP?!?!?! I'm calling dibs on Kathleen Edwards and Serena Ryder!!!)
~ The Paralympics flag goes up March 12th and the cauldron will be re-lit.
~ Ton's of free stuff to do and some houses will remain open. I'll keep you posted on those.
So I walk my dog past this display of 'Olympic Spirit' EVERY DAY!!!!
You know... I don't mean to put down the person who took the time to put this up. I mean, you can tell that it took a lot of time! The skates, the outfit, the wig, the thought and work that went into the placement and pose. The person who put this together worked VERY hard and had great intentions, and a whole lotta Olympic spirit. I totally appreciate and respect that! BUT... this thing is scary as hell!!!!
Blenheim and 21st Avenue is the scene of this.... artistic creation.
Friends and I decided to enjoy the last Olympic weekend (or Saturday at least) at Holland Heineken House in Richmond. WOW! It was pretty insane. Those Dutch know how to party! The highlights include:
~$4.50 beer (yeah, I couldn't believe it either! The best part for me was seeing the bartenders look of disgust when I'd ask for Orange Crush to be mixed in with my beer. It's a Chilean thing. Try it sometime. ) ~ The crazy Dutch techno music the DJ would play ~ The cover band ('The Coronas') who had a singer that pretended to play the bass guitar...on a ski pole. ~ The 'Kroket' sandwiches. Mmmmmmmmm... ~ Fries with mayo and ketchup (we ate healthy there) ~ The guy dancing on stage in a giant torch (?) suit.
See the video montage. It pretty much explains it all....
Overall, it was an absolute BLAST there!
Besos,
CC.
p.s: My first time taking the night bus from Richmond. Had a guy sleeping in front of me who went crazy when he woke up and a woman next to me barfing in the back. Can you say TRAUMATIZED?!?!?!?!
So here's a list to help you with you last minute Olympic plans:
Best Canadian House to Party At: 1) Ontario House 2) Atlantic Canada House 3) Alberta House
Best International House to Party At: 1) Saxony (German) House 2) Holland Heineken House 3) Irish House
Best Cultural Experience: 1) Northern Canada House 2) Discover Calabria 3) Atlantic Canada House
Keep in mind that the Olympic fun doesn't have to end! A few houses will remain open during the Paralympics (March 12- 21st). Robson Square will also remain a party zone with free concerts and shows, free skating, free admission to the Vancouver Art Gallery (get there BEFORE 3PM!!!) and of course, my favourite, the Ziptrek Zipline remains open (and yes, FREE!!!). The Royal Canadian Mint will also keep it's doors open, but their new location is still up in the air.
I started today at the Korea House (yeah, I didn't know that it existed either, until today!) which is on the second floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Burrard by Pender. I was encouraged by one of the organizers to 'stay for the bubble show!'... I had no idea what this meant but apparently, it's what this particular house is known for, so I grabbed a seat on the floor and waited for the show to begin. First, they made us sit through a promotional video that shows why the 2018 Winter Olympics SHOULD be in Korea (rumour has it that they've been bidding on them for a while now, without success). Then the bubble show began. I thought it was cool, but the kids there went nuts for it!!! See video. Korea house also has some cool tech stuff to check out (including a wifi camera that takes your picture and sends it to a touch screen computer in front of you), a hand acupressure area where you stick your hands into a machine that stimulates your pressure points in order to help you relax, OR you can hang out and make meditation beads. The lineups are really minimal. If you're in the area, stop by, but I wouldn't make this a destination point. Sorry Korea!
Next I headed to the Cedar Carving Pavilion, which is just outside the Vancouver Art Gallery by Georgia and Howe. It looks like a little log house. Inside, there are some amazing works of art by a collection of Musqueam artists, including Susan Point. This woman has been awarded the order of Canada and is an extremely talented artist and carver, and you can walk in and chat with her at any time. The lineups are minimal to non-existent and while you're there, take the time to watch some of the other First Nations carvers do their 'thang.' See Pictures.
So what's the deal with some of the sculptures and artwork on Granville? Some of it I get, some of it, I don't, and some of it just boggles my mind. Like the one on Granville and Georgia. It's this metal blob with no real rhyme, reason or explanation. See picture. I know art is subjective but does anyone GET this one? If you do, let me know...
One more thing. I hate to end this on a bad note but I've gotta say, what's with the barf piles all over the city? I've never had to dodge so many in my life! Is this what the Olympics brings out in us? People who have no concept of when to say 'Ok, I'm cut off'... I feel like I'm back in junior high/ highschool, watching some underage teen run out of a bar to puke in a parking lot. And c'mon people! Let's stop peeing in the streets. Ewwwwwwww.
So I started today with a visit to German Saxony House, which is in the rowing club in Stanley Park. Great atmosphere with a decent amount of space (don't know why, but I expected it to be bigger!). Really nice layout with a spectacular view (they also have a small, outdoor patio area. Nice!). So the obvious highlight here is the beer and bratwurst. I guess these people REALLY take their bratwurst seriously. The had the sausages made in Langley and German 'bratwurst specialists' were flown in (from Deutchland of course!) to oversee the preparation and to make sure that it was 100% true to the traditional way it's supposed to be made. Nope, they DO NOT mess with their bratwurst! This place is ideal for watching a game in a cozy environment where you can actually get to know the people around you. I like this place. So do many others, as you'll notice by the (surprise, surprise!) long lineups to get in. If you get a chance, swing by and check out their traditional German house band. I've gotta admit, it made me want to break out into a polka (I'm not ashamed to admit it. I know how to polka and I'm proud of it!!!). The staff that work there are pretty friendly as well. See video.
Next was the Irish House. You've probably noticed the lineup that goes past the Penthouse (at least, I THINK the line is just for Irish House! Unless the Penthouse has some sort of Olympic strip-off I'm not aware of). So the venue is on Seymore and Nelson. It's hard to miss with the flashing lights and rowdy crowd outside. We got a tour of the place and I've gotta say that it's HUGE! Lot's of room, lot's of people and above all, lot's of Canadian pride! I guess I pictured a bunch of Irish hooligans yelling and spilling beer everywhere, but nope, it's all about Canada. Don't get me wrong, they've got Celtic music and dancing, as well as a house cover band, but let me tell ya, this is the place where Canadians go to party! Consider it the Canadian spirit with an Irish twist. They have the usual pub style food, plus some traditional Irish food. I recommend trying the Guiness and steak pie with (what else) a glass of Guiness. See video.
Finally, Laurie and I were walking around downtown and ended up on Burrard street, right by the Scotia bank theater. Cars were passing slowly by with their drivers honking and yelling out their windows. People were running down the street waving Canadian flags, screaming and giving out the random high-five's. This is what happens when Canada wins a gold medal (yay to the womens hockey team!!!).
So I've lived in Vancouver for over 2 years and I've never had a Japadog. I decided it was time to change that but when I saw the lineup, I changed my mind. It was at least 50 people long! I guess it's kind of a right of passage here in Vancouver. Almost every Vancouverite has had a Japadog at least once. I'm still waiting...
So today my adventures took me to the Richmond Ozone.
It was South Asian Day, so it was all about Bhangra dancing and Bollywood movies. Very colourful and very cool!
The Ozone has it's own skating rink, which looks like a ribbon of ice wrapped around green grass. I asked several times how they managed to keep the ice from melting but the answers never really made sense. Ah well. We'll chalk it up to an 'Olympic Miracle'. (FYI: Skate rentals are just $2) See Video.
Next was a stop at the BCLC fun zone, which was pretty awesome. You can try your hand at the Biathalon, taking slapshots for prizes(See video), and experiencing the bobsled in 3D. You can also have an (unofficial) athlete badge made, which was probably the coolest thing we did there. I wonder how many places we can get away with using this? Mind you, I highly doubt that I can pass for an ice hockey player (as stated on my athlete pass). BTW: there's no way in hell that I'm posting a picture of it. It's so hideous that even my own mother would be ashamed to look at it.
Next was a visit to BC street where you can check out all the different regions of BC, including Comox, Tofino and the Okanagan. Did you know that Comox is the oyster capital of BC???? Neither did I. When you stop my these venues, you can try the odd food sample and enter to win a ton of prizes (which I did. Here's hoping they don't sell their email lists!!!).
I also wanted to thank Peak listener Leeann Froese for hooking me up with a yummy Icewine tasting at Inniskillin. Turns out that Inniskillin has an Icewine tasting area there (and has a commemorative Olympic Icewine) . It's not too expensive and definitely worth a visit, especially if you're a wino like me ;)
Last was a visit to the Holland Heineken House. I wanted to find out what the big deal was about this place. Why is the lineup always insane? Why did everyone and anyone want to try to get in there? I got the grand tour and I've gotta say that it's not too bad! Like most places, they have a merchandise and sponsor area (I guess they've gotta pay the bills right?) and a Dutch radio station that airs out of the house ~ straight to Holland. Their beer garden/ restaurant/ entertainment area is nice and big and has an overall good vibe. It also smells like Stamppot - a potato/ sauerkraut/ sausage in a cone combo that everyone tries when they walk in. (FYI: Their money system is different there. Be aware of this). Holland house is known for it's nightlife. This is one of the coolest places to party. In fact, it's so cool that one of the most famous Dutchmen in the world stopped by yesterday last minute; the #1 DJ in the world, Armin van Buuren surprised Holland house fans when he announced last minute that he was going to perform a set (is that what you call it in DJ lingo???). Either way, I found out about this in 'The Daily Dutch International' a daily Olympic newspaper put together by the Dutch and available at their pavilion (in both English and Dutch ~ The Dutch version is longer though). The Dutch consider themselves experts when it comes to their presentation at the Olympics (they've been doing it for a VERY long time) and it shows. Right now, all the Dutch are holding their collective breath and hoping that one of their athletes will help mark a milestone for their country: their 100th gold medal in their Olympic history. You know that's gonna be cause for a HUGE celebration at Holland House! So, the house itself is a blast and if you wanna go partake of a few adult beverages in the evening, I recommend you get there by about 5 o'clock (but still expect a lineup at that time, n'kay?).
I started today at the Royal Canadian Mint on Granville and Pender. First of all, there's ALWAYS a long lineup there. From open to close, long lines. You've just gotta accept that if you're headed there. The Mint is...ok. The highlight for me was getting the chance to hold the Olympic and Paralympic medals. (FYI: if you piece all the medals together, they make up a work of art. See the black and white picture to see what it that would look like). The giant Canadian gold coin (worth a million bucks by the way) was kinda cool to check out as well. Other than that, I was ready to go. Sorry to all of you who have a general interest in the Royal Canadian Mint. If it's any consolation, my dad is a coin collector. Me? Not so much. I prefer the spending aspect of it all... ;) See Video
Next Laurie Logan and I headed to the 4 Host First Nations House. There, you have a chance to watch a movie in their dome called 'We Are Here' (lineups aren't too bad). You also have the opportunity to try traditional cuisine and check out First Nations performers doing their 'thang'... rap, hip hop, blues, jazz, rock, etc. You name it, they're performing it. Free shows for the public every evening. There are also giant Coke bottles scattered at this venue, which have all been designed by First Nations artists and are all up for auction with proceeds going to charity. Cool. See pictures.
Final stop was LiveCity Yaletown. The lineup was actually minimal (a miracle!!!) and I've gotta say the the Coca-cola tent was the highlight (no endorsement intended here :P). There was this employee who actually had the word Coca-cola shaved into his head! Talk about dedication! Getting a collectible coke bottle and having your picture taken with the Olympic torch is one of the coolest things to do here, along with finding out about all the environmental initiatives that some of the sponsors at LiveCity Yaletown are involved in. A solar powered cell phone? Yup. Believe it. I also had the chance to see our Mayor (Gregor Robertson) drumming for a band called Bitterly Divine. It was kinda weird/funny to hear the bands lead singer call our Mayor, 'The Mayor of Rock'. See video.
So today, Monday, February 22nd, Laurie Logan and I head out to the Surrey Celebration Site to check out what's hot and what's happening. Turns out that the site is closed on Monday AND Tuesday (FYI!!!!) so we end up going on a tour.
It's a pretty cool layout and I've gotta say that it's definitely a more family friendly zone. With tons of stuff for the kids to try out (curling, tobogganing, skating, PLUS a kids zone!) the little ones will definitely be busy, just bring something to keep them entertained in those long lineups.
The concert lineup for this Saturday is STELLAR!!! Kuba Oms, Jon & Roy, Hey Rosetta!, You Say Party! We say Die!, Tokyo Police Club and Wintersleep. A solid lineup. So if you want to bypass the ridiculous lineups here in Vancouver, the Surrey Celebration Site is definitely where you wanna be. I say you try taking the skytrain there. If you're like me and foolish enough to pick the person with the WORST sense of direction to be your co-pilot (aka: Laurie Logan), then you'll spend a good 45 minutes lost and end up at a place called the 'T Barz'. See video.
So on Saturday, February 20th, my good friend Dar managed to get her hands on 4 tickets to a medal ceremony at BC place. Obviously, we were all PUMPED!!! Canada was getting a medal that night, so we were ready to hoot, holler and scream to our hearts content... PLUS, the Stereophonics were performing that night. It honestly doesn't get better than that right?
We had amazing seats but it turned out that the entire medal ceremony was being held in Whistler, so we watched it all on giant TV screens. Seriously? People PAY for this? Pppffffftt. If it weren't for the Stereophonics concert, I would have been pretty choked.
The band ROCKED and Laurie Logan, Sandra Klaric and I managed to snag an interview with Kelly Jones (dear GAD he's smokin' hot!!!!), lead singer of the band. See video....
Being the sneaky bunch we are, we managed to grab a picture next to the infamous opening ceremony cauldron (you know...the one that didn't work properly... :P) and I had a moment of insanity and managed to almost get myself stuck in a giant plastic ball (I'll look for it in the closing ceremonies and say, 'See? See? I was stuck in THAT....', like it's something to be proud of). See video.
Finally, after passing on a few lineups, the girls and I decided to walk around Downtown and found ourselves dancing in the streets. Literally. We came across a stage by the Plaza of Nations (right outside the casino) where there were singers belting out some vintage tunes. The girls and I joined the other random 12 people dancing in the street and well...you know... danced in the street! See video.
So I figured I'd try to put together a short, comprehensive list of what I'm recommending you visit/try and what you should definitely avoid this Olympics.
Here goes...
Best Houses to Visit (to experience the culture, learn, taste, enjoy, etc) - Northern Canada House on Seymore & Hastings - Discover Calabria House on Homer between Smithe and Robson - Atlantic Canada House on Granville Island
Long lineups that aren't worth it - Sochi House (Russia) at Science World - Saskatchewan House (sorry Saskatchewan!) - Molson Canada House (Seriously. Don't waste your $$$. You can have a lot more fun at other venues) - The Bay (Seriously? If you're a local, wait till AFTER the Olympics, or go to Roots. If you're not from here, go later on towards the evening, during the week. For some reason, the lineup isn't as bad then.)
Best Houses to Party at (Where you might actually get in) - Ontario House (Cheap beer, and a great crowd) - Alberta house (a dud during the day, but a par-tay at night!) - Atlantic Canada House (line up early. REALLY early.)
Attractions/ Stuff To Try that IS worth the lineup - The Ziptrek Zipline - Doing pottery with a Calabrese artist at Discover Calabria - The Food Tastings at Atlantic Canada House are mind blowing!!!!!
Sorry friends, but that's all I've got so far. I'll keep you posted on more.
I think today's theme was kissing. I'm not sure why, but for some reason, people kept smooching me on the cheeks. Could it be because I went to 2 Italian houses? Maybe. Here we go....
First stop was Ukraine House. It's located out of the downtown core, on Ash, just off 16th avenue. There's tons of free parking, but when you walk in, they ask that you 'donate' $5 for it. The house itself isn't too bad. It's pretty chill actually. Most of the Ukrainian seniors hang out there, and all those wanting to enjoy some authentic Ukrainian cuisine (like Baba used to make!). The have perogies, cabbage rolls, sausage, strudel, etc. They also have Ukrainian pop and juice, vodka (which they call 'fire water'), and beer. Their beer costs about $7, but the bottles are half liters, so the price isn't actually all that bad. They also have traditional dancers perform during the week, and you can watch the Olympics in both English and Ukrainian... BUT, here's the kicker. I was told that when CTV found out that they were broadcasting in BOTH Ukrainian AND English, they wanted to charge the organization to air their broadcast. They wanted to charge them about $8000!!!!! Can you believe that? SHAME ON YOU CTV!!!! The Ukrainians said 'screw you' to the network and are watching it through NBC. Good on them. I'm thinking that CTV isn't making too many friends right now...
Next stop, Italian house. It's in the Roundhouse in Yaletown, which is basically right across from the bank and Urban Fare. Not too much to see here. Mostly corporate stuff and sponsors. Kinder surprise is there (which I LOOOOVE!) and they pass out samples of chocolate, along with wine and cheese. The thing is, you have to be really vigilant and EARLY to be able to snag a bite of something. Personally, I don't plan on standing in line for a tiny slice of cheese. I managed to weasel my way into the room where the DJ's from radio Italia broadcast and I was able to interview them for 100.5 The PEAK. They were pretty cool guys who got a little bit fresh with me ;)
Now here's a little gem I managed to find completely by accident. It's called Discover Calabria and it's on Homer between Smithe and Robson. This place was awesome and an absolute MUST during the Olympics. These people have brought in famous artisans from Calabria who specialize in sculpture, pottery and glass blowing. The also have yummy bread and olive oil for you to enjoy, along with some REAL Italian expresso. They're super friendly and welcoming. You can also check out wood carvings, fashion designs and other delicious food samples. At certain times of the day, you can create your own pottery masterpiece using an old fashioned wheel that works on your leg power (your thighs will feel the burn) and Rocco, the pottery specialist will help you out if you need it. See video. I had a blast there and I'm telling ya, go there before everyone finds out about it and the line ups get out of hand (the line ups now are minimal to non-existent).
Last, I tried to get into the Saxony house, but the lines were out of control. Same thing for Live City Yaletown. Ah well. There's always next week!
We started out by hopping on to the Bombardier shuttle train, which goes back and forth between Granville Island and 2nd and Cambie. It's free and the train itself is much nicer than most of the vehicles I've ever owned. Nice leather handles to hold onto and comfy leather seats. A nice ride and lineups move pretty fast. Be prepared to get to know your neighbour pretty well though, because they pack you in like sardines.
Our first stop was over at Sochi House (Russia) which is basically in Science World. You walk in and are at first dazzled by the lights and music, but......that's about it. The people working there aren't what I'd call the most conversational or 'social'. Not that I have anything against Russians. I don't. I think they're pretty fantastic actually! Perhaps I caught them all on a bad day? Maybe. Either way, the security guards there were pretty intense. When I asked for someone to give me a tour and to tell me why people should come to Sochi house, I was immediately shot down (because I'm considered media. Boo-Urns!!!!) There's honestly not much to see, unless you're interested in checking out who the corporate sponsors will be for the next Olympics. If you're into reading up or finding out more about the Sochi Olympics, this might be a good stop for you. They also play Russian movies every few hours in their theater and once in a while, prominent Russian athletes visit the House during the day.The highlight of our stop was the gift shop. See video.
Next Sandra and I headed over to Saskatchewan house. Again, nothing crazy about that house, but at least the people were super friendly! The highlight there was the booth where you can get your photo taken with a giant fake fish (they make it look like you're in the great outdoors) and the beer tent, which definitely has potential.
Masion du Quebec or Quebec House is right next door. It's got a good mix of indoor and outdoor space, and free performances by some of Quebec's best and coolest musical artists. (I'm telling ya, give Quebecois music a try. I studied there for a bit and got hooked on it!). They also have Cirque-Du-Soleil style performers who come out every hour or so and put on mini performances. Cool. Their food is also fantastic. I highly recommend the sugar pies. They'll BLOW YOUR MIND!!!! FYI: Most performers hit the stage AFTER 5:30pm.
Nest Stop, Ontario House. We checked out the 4D Ontario ride, which was FANTASTIC! It's about 6 minutes long and you watch scenes of Ontario. What makes it 4D is that you can also small and feel what happens on the screen. Cool huh? It's definitely worth the line up (which yes, WILL be long). There's also a section where you can try out this weird headgear that transmits your brain waves so you can control the lights at the CN Tower, Parliament Building and Niagara Falls. Cool to try. The highlight of Ontario House is their Micro brewed beers, which only cost about $6. Wine costs about the same, which is a great deal. Most houses charge $8 - $10. Ouch! It's also the perfect venue to watch concerts and games, but line up early!!! (Line ups aren't as bad as Atlantic Canada House).
Final stop? Molson Hockey House. We had those $500 VIP tickets, but I can tell you this; the $99 ones are just as good, if not better. And to be honest, I had WAY more fun partying at Ontario House and Alberta House. At night, those places are THE PLACE to be. Reasonable drink prices and a cool crowd. How can you ask for more? So please, save your money for something that isn't just about status. Just have fun, n'kay? :)
First stop for Sandra, Laurie and I was the House of Switzerland (in Bridges). Ok. I've gotta say this and I truly hope that I don't offend anyone. That place stinks. Seriously. It reeks. It smells like funky cheese, which is understandable because they serve a lot of it, but truth be told, the girls and I just couldn't get used to the smell, so we headed outside. The cool thing about this venue is that they're giving away some type of free food everyday, and it's always something yummy. See video.
Next was the Place de La Francophonie. We were there in the afternoon and there really wasn't much to see. The highlight of the day was the Nazo Parade. A totally cool/insane parade put on by a bunch of volunteers. It happens almost everyday at 5:30pm. They basically march around Granville island and freak kids out. The stage for the pavilion there is huge, and I'm thinking I might stop by again to check out some of their singers (and remember the summer of my Quebec exchange... good times!). You should try to check out a few performers. You might be surprised to find that they're pretty amazing!
Last, was Atlantic House Canada (in the Arts Club Theatre). This is by far, the best PARTY/ FOOD TASTING ZONE. I'll warn you now. The lineups there are ridiculous. BEYOND ridiculous. I guess the Vancouver Sun gave this house a gold medal and now everyone wants a piece of the action. I don't blame them one bit. First there's the free food tastings they have almost everyday. I'm not talking tiny, bland samples either. You'll try food that you would find in a fine dining restaurant. Amazing wine too. No exaggeration. See video.
So here's an idea of how bad the lineups are there. The girls and I were there at 4:30 for the tasting and people were already lined up for The Trews concert that night (they hit the stage around 9:30-ish). 5 HOURS!!!!! INSANITY!!!! Overall, the pavilion has tons to offer. Music, amazing food and theme nights. Going there is a must, but dress warm and be ready to wait. Keep in mind, the wait it worth it.
Totally random run in: Nardwuar (The Human Serviette). He's putting on a show/ exhibit on Granville island. Check out his website for more info. I have to say, the true highlight of my evening was doing the "doot doodle doot doot.... DOOT DOOT!!!" with the guy. It was awesome-ness (yes, it's a word...) and made my night.
Have fun and stay warm amigos/ amigas!!!
Besos,
Carmen
One quick tip: Dress warm. Yeah, the sun is out, but the evenings get super cold. Trust me on this. Wear super comfortable shoes too. You'll regret heels in about 20 minutes.
I now have a couple of extra friends joining me on my Olympic Adventures.... (hello Byron & Carolina!!!).
We start things off at Pride house, which is on Bute, just off Davie street. It's literally right across the street from Blendz. If you're looking for a place to warm up, hang out and enjoy the games, I highly recommend this place. It's a bit small, but the people there are super friendly, they've got free snacks and cool stuff happening at certain times of the day. Check out their website for more info. (p.s: they also have SEATS!!! If you've been doing the Olympic thing like I have, you know how precious and few those are at most houses.)
Next, the long walk to Alberta house. What can I say without insulting my own 'hood' (yes, I'm from Edmonton and PROUD OF IT!!!!). The venue itself (on Cambie and Robson. Right across from BC place) was super nice, but there's not much to really check out during the day. They have quite a few performers hitting their stage, but it's mostly country music (which is cool if you're into that). At night, it turns into a nightclub, which is actually really cool. The music they play is pretty dance-y, but it's got a great atmosphere. Beers come out to about $7 each, which isn't too bad when you consider that most other houses charge anywhere between $8 and $10 PER DRINK. Yikes. All in all, Alberta is better at night. (FYI: The Dudes are playing there on Friday, February 19th. That show is a definite MUST!!!!)
Over at the Bell Ice cube (which is almost right across the street from Alberta House) there are ridiculously long lineups. It's kinda worth it and kinda not, depending on what time of day you go. Watch the video for more info.
There are people giving tons of stuff away on the streets, so you never know what you'll go home with. See video...
The line up for the Bay downtown is ridiculous!!!! Sooooo long. I recommend going later on at night. It's not nearly as bad as it is during the day. If you're ever in the area, just walk up to The Bay windows and watch people go nuts in the store. It's literally a shopping frenzy with people grabbing and shoving. Amusing to watch... See pic of lineup.
And last, but certainly not least, we headed to the Northern Canada House (on Hastings and Seymore). Culturally and visually, this is one of the best houses so far. Tons to see and do, and lot's of interesting facts. Seriously. The people who work there are passionate about the place and it totally rubs off on you. Plus, they have some amazing stories to tell. I think it's the must see house. See video. (FYI: They're staying open until about mid April, so now you have no excuses NOT to go. Plus it's FREEEEE!!!!)
Alright. Off to rest my tired toes. Walking all day. Buenas Noches!!!
