Get to know your city with free lunchtime walking tours of historic West Hastings hosted by the Vancouver Heritage Foundation.
1940: West Hastings Street looking east. Campbell Studio. Archives# CVA 371-2183.
Every Friday in July, guide Samuel Mickelson will lead a group to newly installed Places That Matter plaque locations where you will learn about historic trends such as global trade, immigration and the transformation from wealthy residential area to financial centre, along with modern questions about growth, development and the effect of the 2010 Olympic Games.
Dates July 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st Times Registration 12:00pm, Walk 12:15pm to 1:00pm Details The tours are 45 minutes long and are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration will be at Lot 19, the parkette at the foot of Hornby at West Hastings.
The tours are sponsored Hastings West. Follow the Vancouver Heritage Foundation on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
The incredibly popular, adults-only, Vancouver Aquarium After Hours event happens again on August 13th and will be the last chance for you to experience the groundbreaking Sea Monsters Revealed exhibit before it ends in September.
Through the groundbreaking polymer preservation technique, commonly known as plastination, Sea Monsters Revealed shows you the inside and outside of some of the most intriguing aquatic life ever to be featured on dry land. Get up close with full-sized, preserved specimens of sharks, squid, fishes, rays and more and learn about how science and ocean exploration have dispelled the myths of monsters of the deep.
When Thursday, August 13, 2015 from 6:30pm to 10:00pm Where Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park (845 Avison Way, Vancouver) Tickets $29 for non-members; $21 for members (prices include tax)
Wander the exhibits with a beer or glass of wine in-hand, or take in Sea Monsters 4-D: A Prehistoric Adventure in the 4-D theatre.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit the Vancouver Aquarium online or call (604) 659-3400. Note: This is a 19+ event. Photo ID required for entry. No tickets available for purchase at the door. Membership cards will be required for member priced ticket holders.
UPDATE The August 13th event is sold out so there is another event added on August 20th. Purchase tickets through the link above.
I had the pleasure of attending an advanced screening of the new crime drama Mr. Holmes with BC’s official Sherlock Holmes Society, The Stormy Petrels, last week at the International Village Cinemas. Opening in theatres on July 17th, the film stars Ian McKellen as Sherlock Holmes and Laura Linney as housekeeper Mrs. Munro, and is based on the 2005 novel A Slight Trick of the Mind written by Mitch Cullin.
In 1947, the long-retired Sherlock Holmes, aged 93, lives in a remote Sussex farmhouse with his housekeeper, Mrs. Munro, and her young son, Roger. Holmes reflects on his life while writing in his journals, tending to his bees, and dealing with the deterioration of his once incredible mind. The film, like the novel, uses flashbacks to reveal events of the past, when he was still at the height of his fame and mental ability at his Baker Street consulting rooms, and during a visit to Japan.
Having grown up with Sherlock Holmes stories, told so frequently at one point I thought John Watson was an uncle of mine over in England, I tend to be critical of new fan fiction. However, I have learned over the years that new interpretations, movies, shows, and stories are always welcome as long as it helps the propagate the legacies of Holmes and Watson. Fran Martin, the President of The Stormy Petrels wrote this in her review of the film:
“If you plan on going into this film expecting to see the same Sherlock Holmes that you are used to, except a little older, you will be disappointed. This is not your usual action-packed, thrill-of-the-hunt-grab-your-toothbrush-Watson type of story.
Holmes, like the rest of us, is human after all. Even the sharpest of minds lose their edge. Even the heartiest of souls can weaken. Memories fade, but regrets can linger. Vulnerability takes over. We all need someone.
We still cheer on our hero as he tries to right the wrongs. After all, he is still our Holmes!”
Martin adds that the acting was superb and she recommend the film to everyone: “You needn’t be a Holmes aficionado to appreciate it.”
Win Passes to Mr Holmes in Vancouver
If you would like to see an advanced screening of Mr Holmes, I have 5 double passes to give away for July 15, 2015 at Fifth Avenue Cinemas, 7:00pm viewing. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post with a Sherlock Holmes quote or story title (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win movie passes for #MrHolmes from @eonefilms @Miss604 http://ow.ly/PlPCf
I will draw all 5 winners at 12:00pm on Monday, July 13, 2015. Winners are encouraged to get to the theatre at least 1 hour in advance to claim their tickets.
Update The winners are Stacey, Derek, Monique, Steph, and Samantha!
When it comes to historical months with many newsworthy items of note, it’s hard to follow June. There was the Great Fire, the discovery of coal in Coal Harbour, the founding of the Vancouver Archives, and more that led to the creation of “Vancouver Day” on June 13th. July has typically been a much more stable month, with progress, rebuilding, dedications, openings, and royal visits.
July 29th, 1938 Anne Mundigel became the first person to swim from Vancouver to Bowen Island
July 30th, 1967 The Bathtub Races, one of the weirdest races in Canadian history, began an annual tradition in competition between Nanaimo and Vancouver.
The second annual Squamish Wind Festival is happening July 24th to July 26th celebrating local arts, music, wind and water sports in Howe Sound. Take in two days of free live music in the park with food vendors and a top notch beer garden; three days of art in the park with musical theatre, buskers, kids crafts, sports demos, kite flying, and a farmers market; and three days of sailboat racing, presented by the Squamish Yacht Club.
Win a Squamish Wind Festival Prize Pack
Enjoy guided tours, concerts under the stars, yoga, and more all for free! To make the best of your trip to Squamish, I have the opportunity to offer up a $50 food credit + a $40 beverage credit that one lucky winner can pick up and use at the festival.
Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win food + bev credits for @squamish_wind from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/PjgNm
Follow the Squamish Wind Festival on Twitter and Facebook for more information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 11:00pm on Sunday, July 12, 2015. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly.
“If you plan on going into this film expecting to see the same Sherlock Holmes that you are used to, except a little older, you will be disappointed. This is not your usual action-packed, thrill-of-the-hunt-grab-your-toothbrush-Watson type of story.
