The peaks of the North Shore mountains are mirrored in the towering glass of Downtown Vancouver, and the whitecaps on the water recreate the snow-capped Lions a thousand times over. We’re so lucky to see our city skyline twice on a clear day, once above us and once below in the calm waters of False Creek or Coal Harbour. Here are a few of my favourite reflection photos of Vancouver:
Vancouver Skyline Reflection Photos
The 11th St Patrick’s Day Parade in Vancouver will take place on Sunday, March 15th, 2015. As a part of CelticFest Vancouver, the parade is the festival’s largest and most popular free event.
St Patrick’s Day Parade Vancouver
Starting at 11:00am, the St Patrick’s Day Parade will follow its 2014 route, which begins on Howe and Davie, heads north on Howe to Georgia, and ends at Georgia at Granville Street.
Road Closures
Throughout the weekend, Granville Street between Robson and Nelson will be closed to vehicle traffic. On the day of the parade, Howe from Davie to the Granville Bridge will be closed from 8:00am to 2:00pm, all southbound traffic on the Granville Bridge and Granville Street (except buses) from Davie to West 4th will be closed, and Drake Street, one block east and one block west of Howe and Davie will be closed. From 10:00am to 2:00pm, Howe will be closed from Davie to Georgia; Georgia will be closed from Hornby to Seymour, and Granville will be closed from Georgia to Pender.
Organizers anticipate that crowds of 200,000 will come out to cheer on over 2,000 parade participants including award-winning pipe and drum bands, Celtic musicians, Scottish and Irish dancers, acrobats, stilt walkers, vintage cars, the Vancouver police motorcycle drill team and pipe band, fire and police dogs, mounted horse drill teams, multi-cultural organizations and performers, local businesses, distinguished guests and many more.
Throughout the weekend of March 14th and March 15th, you can stop by the Celtic Village and Street Market on Granville Street and at Robson Square for free entertainment. Follow CelticFest Vancouver on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
The Vancouver International Dance Festival (“VIDF”) is set to present a dynamic showcase from local, Canadian, and international artists from March 8th to March 28th at venues across Vancouver. Curated by long-standing producers Barbara Bourget and Jay Hirabayashi, this year’s festival will engage, intrigue, and inspire audiences through diverse, thought-provoking works.
Vancouver International Dance Festival
Festival highlights include legendary Japanese butoh performance group Dairakudakan, Montréal’s experimental and in-demand contemporary dance company Par B.L.eux, and Hungarian dancer-choreographer Ferenc Fehér, among many others.
VIDF 2015 will also include a series of free-for-member performances (membership fee: $3) at the Roundhouse Exhibition Hall, in addition to free site-specific works from Kokoro Dance at the Woodwards Atrium. Information on these performances and all festival events can be found online. Tickets range from free to $50 for VIDF shows, and a festival pass is $98.
Win Tickets
I have the exclusive opportunity to give away a three-pack of tickets to three highly-anticipated VIDF shows:
Dairakudakan:
Mushi no Hoshi – Space Insect
Vancouver Playhouse: March 20th and March 21st at 8:00pm
With 22 surreal, shape-shifting dancers, other-worldly costumes and body-paint, and a spectacular set, Dairakudakan exemplifies the transformative power of butoh through its imaginative blend of theatre and dance.
The Response (Vancouver):
Orbits: a movement study
Roundhouse Exhibition Hall: March 26th to March 28th at 7:00pm
This instalment, a duet, finds two atomic beings moving through space in relentless unison with moments of irregularity and reaction, the bodies of the dancers striving to portray the sense of chemical reactions we find internally and externally in our universe.
Par B.L.eux:
Snakeskins
Roundhouse Performance Centre: March 12th to March 14th at 8:00pm
This solo (actually a ‘fake’ solo, because he is accompanied on stage by dancer Daniele Albanese and musician / multi-instrumentalist Hahn Rowe), offers the choreographer the opportunity to point sharpen the strong lines of his work and reposition his approach in the present.
The winner will receive a pair of tickets to Par B.L.eux Snakeskins (March 12th at 8:00pm); Dairakudakan (March 20th at 8:00pm); and The Response (March 26th at 7:00pm). Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the VIDF on Facebook and Twitter for more performance, artist and schedule information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, March 6, 2015.
Update The winner is Kathleen!
Are you missing the Grouse Grind at this time of year? Have you been sneaking around the gate to do the trail anyway although authorities urge against it? Do you simply need to spend an hour walking up something after work? Do you like to see an awesome view of the city after you workout and reach the summit of something 553 feet tall? Then you should consider the Urban Grind at Harbour Centre.
Urban Grind at Harbour Centre
For a $5 admission you can climb the stairs at Harbour Centre and enjoy a beer, DJs, food court voucher, and more when you get to the Vancouver Lookout at the top.
The Urban Grind starts Tuesday, March 3, 2015 and will be open every Tuesday in March from 4:00pm to 6:00pm. Participants can complete unlimited circuits during that time, if the 360 degree views of the city if the Lookout don’t distract you too much. The $5 admission is also at least $10 cheaper than the regular Lookout adult fee.
Harbour Centre and The Vancouver Lookout are located 555 West Hastings. Follow along on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Things to do in Vancouver This Weekend
Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green below.
Friday, February 27, 2015
Sponsored by Miss604: Late Night Movie at the Rio Theatre
Pet Lover Show, Abbotsford
Dodging for Dimes
Dance House Presents: Compagnie Marie Chouinard
Vancouverite: A Comedy Show
Studio 58/Langara College presents Oklahoma!
37th Vancouver International Wine Festival
Festival du Bois, Coquitlam
Axis Theatre: Stella – Queen of the Snow, Port Coquitlam
Free Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
15th Annual Chutzpah! Festival
Talking Stick Festival
MPS: how to be Presented by Boca del Lupo
Saturday, February 28, 2015
UPS Anniversary Events at Robson Square Ice Rink, Free Rentals, Hot Chocolate, Toques
Pet Lover Show, Abbotsford
Monster Jam Vancouver
SFU Hockey Presents JDRF Night to Support Children with Type 1 Diabetes
CRAZY8s 2015 GALA Screening & AfterParty
Free ArtStarts Weekend
Contemporary Art Gallery Free Family Weekend
Hawkers Market
Vancouver Badass Short Film Festival
Continuity & Connection: Traditional and Innovative Japanese Noh Performance, Jazz Piano
Vancouver Shogi Club (Japanese Chess)
Highlands Preschool Children’s Sale
Workshop: Sing with Good Noise and Louise
Western Front’s Annual Gala Art Auction
Dance House Presents: Compagnie Marie Chouinard
Winter Farmers Market
37th Vancouver International Wine Festival
Studio 58/Langara College presents Oklahoma!
Festival du Bois, Coquitlam
Axis Theatre: Stella – Queen of the Snow, Port Coquitlam
Free Skating at Robson Square Ice Rink
15th Annual Chutzpah! Festival
Talking Stick Festival
MPS: how to be Presented by Boca del Lupo
Sunday, March 1, 2015
7th Annual Richmond Wedding Show
Viewing Party of Spurs vs Chelsea at Bimini’s
Hallelujah Praise: Motown Meets Gospel
Blackbird Academy Open House
The Little Prince with Monster Theatre at New Westminster River Market
Carousel Theatre for Young People Presents: Shakespearean Rhapsody
VSO: A Japanese Celebration
Kids 12 and Under Free Admission at VanDusen Garden in March
37th Vancouver International Wine Festival
Studio 58/Langara College presents Oklahoma!
Emily Dickinson Play at Roedde House
Festival du Bois, Coquitlam
Pet Lover Show, Abbotsford
15th Annual Chutzpah! Festival
Talking Stick Festival
Stay tuned for the March event listings, which will be posted within the next few days. If you have an event to include, please send it in by email for a free listing. Follow Miss604 on Twitter for more daily updates.
