The 102nd Grey Cup Festival has arrived in Vancouver bringing with it four full days of free activities, live entertainment, and of course the championship game on Sunday. One can’t-miss tradition is the Grey Cup Festival Parade, which will take place on Saturday, November 29th.
Grey Cup Festival Parade
Presented by Save-On-Foods, the Grey Cup Festival Parade starts out from Smithe and Hornby streets in Downtown Vancouver at 10:00am and will finish at Dunsmuir and Granville streets by 12:00pm.
The parade will head up Smithe to Burrard, turning right and following Burrard until Dunsmuir where it will turn right again until Dunsmuir meets Granville.
The fun won’t stop there as there is a full lineup of festivities on Saturday. Walk over to Canada Place Way for the TELUS Street Festival (free), the PlayNow.com Main Stage (free), the Nissan Family Fun Zone at Jack Poole Plaza (free), the Cheerleader Extravaganza (free) at the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Red Truck Tailgate Concert Series (ticketed), and Team Parties (ticketed).
Follow the 102nd Grey Cup Festival on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more information and coverage.
Related Post: Check out photos from previous Grey Cup Festivals in Vancouver over the few decades.
The holidays are about spending time with family and friends, and what better way to enjoy a night out in the city than to catch a show at the Stanley Theatre? The Arts Club presents Mary Poppins from December 5th until January 4th bringing P.L. Travers’ writings and the popular Disney movie to life on stage.
2013 cast of Mary Poppins. Photo by David Cooper, courtesy of
The Arts ClubThe Arts Club Presents Mary Poppins
Practically perfect in every way, the tale of everyone’s favourite magical nanny will sweep you off your feet.
Watch Mary Poppins (Sara-Jeanne Hosie) fly over the rooftops of London once again this holiday season and feel like a kid again. Remember, anything can happen if you let it. This family musical based on the writings of P.L. Travers and the popular Disney film features the unforgettable songs “A Spoonful of Sugar,” “Chim Chim Cher-ee,” “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious,” plus some catchy new ones. Practically perfect in every way, the tale of everyone’s favourite magical nanny will sweep you off your feet. Original music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman
Book by Julian Fellowes. New songs and additional music and lyrics by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe. Co-created by Sir Cameron Mackintosh.
Disney and Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins will be on the Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage (2750 Granville St, Vancouver) from December 5th, 2014, to January 4th, 2015. Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7:00pm, and Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00pm. Tickets start at $29, inclusive of taxes and fees. Call the Arts Club Box Office at (604) 687-1644 or book online.
Win Tickets
The Arts Club has offered up two pairs of tickets (value $144 each) to the December 10th performance at 7:00pm for me to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming your favourite Mary Poppins song (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow The Arts Club on Facebook and Twitter for more information about Mary Poppins on stage and other performances this season. I will draw two winners at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, December 3, 2014. Each winner will receive a pair of tickets to the December 10th performance exclusively.
Update The winners are Kristy and @MomToSons!
St Paul’s Hospital will shine bright again this season as Lights of Hope illuminates Burrard Street starting November 27th. With 10 kilometers of string lights and more than 100,000 bulbs, this display is to dazzle and also inspire passersby to donate to St Paul’s in recognition of their support for our community.
Photo credit:
qasic on Flickr
Lights of Hope at St Paul’s Hospital
Lights of Hope has been going strong since 1998 and this year it will kick off with an outdoor celebration on Thursday, November 27th from 6:30pm until 8:30pm. The display will be lit between 6:30pm and 7:00pm and fireworks will help ring in the season with an extra burst of colour.
St Paul’s Hospital is located at 1081 Burrard in Vancouver and Lights of Hope will be shining everyday from dusk to dawn until January 12, 2015. To make a donation towards the campaign’s goal to raise $2.5-million visit the Lights of Hope website and follow St Paul’s on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Lougheed Town Centre is gearing up for the holiday shopping season now that Santa arrived last Saturday. It all starts with Black Friday on November 28th when doors will open at 7:00am and the first 200 people to visit Guest Services will receive a gift card up to a $200 value. Throughout the month of December, there will be live entertainment and holiday promotions to keep your spirits high.
Photo courtesy of Lougheed Town Centre
Enjoy “Feel Good Friday” lunch deals and live music from 12:00pm to 2:00pm on Fridays, entertainment from DJs, a saxophone player, stilt walking violinist, and Christmas carollers on various days from December 5th until December 21st, and a “Guaranteed Snowfall” daily at 11:00am, 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 5:00pm, and 7:00pm.
On Mondays (until December 15th) get free digital photos with Santa and enjoy a “shop while you wait” system so you can avoid waiting in line. Santa’s hours and photo prices are available online.
Shop at Hudson’s Bay, London Drugs, Walmart Supercenter, Sport Chek, Footlocker, H&M, Body Shop, The Children’s Place, Aldo, and over 100 other shops and services.
At any time of year you can take advantage of Lougheed’s free gift wrapping service (for gifts purchased at Lougheed), stroller/wheelchair rental, electric vehicle charging station, bottle warming station and emergency infant supplies, the family lounge, a holiday wireless lounge, children’s play area, and more.
Lougheed Town Centre Giveaway
To make the very best of your holiday shopping experience, Lougheed Town Centre is offering up a $100 gift card (valid at all retailers in the shopping centre) and a Santa Photo Package (includes a photo spend up to $25) for one lucky Miss604 reader. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Sunday, November 30, 2014. Follow Lougheed Town Centre on Twitter and Facebook for more information about their holiday deals, hours, entertainment, and special offerings. Lougheed Town Centre is located at 9855 Austin Ave in Burnaby and is accessible from the SkyTrain Millennium Line’s Lougheed Town Centre Station.
Update The winner is Jennifer P!
Our first trip to the Rose City in September was successful, despite the outcome of the soccer match we were in town to support. We walked to Providence Park for the aforementioned game, took the Tri-Met Max streetcar to Washington City Park, the Japanese Gardens, and the International Rose Test Garden. Craft beer was enjoyed along with food truck fare, pub favourites, French bistro brunches, and tax-free shopping. Of course every successful trip needs a solid home base and ours was at the Westin Portland.
Staying at the Westin Portland
We pulled up to the front on Southwest Alder Street, sent the car away with the friendly valet, and were greeted by the Westin’s sweet white tea aroma as we opened the double doors into the lobby. On the right, the contemporary Lobby Lounge’s tall windows illuminated the regal space filled with gold and blue furniture, wood-panelled walls and a corner I made note of for later where we would sip cocktails.
After checking in with the front desk, and hearing about their Green Choice option that lets you decline housekeeping for a day in exchange for points or vouchers for the hotel’s Daily Grill restaurant, we made our way up the elevator to our Studio Suite.
The room was bright and spacious, with a decor that mixed textured fabrics, metals, and warm colours. On one side the fluffy and inviting Heavenly Bed, and on the other a sitting area where an orchid leaned gently over a thoughtful bottle of bubbly that had been delivered for John’s birthday — the real reason for the trip, the soccer match, and the experience of the new-to-us city.
The bathroom was stocked with amenities, from cotton swabs and conditioner to a loofa by the bathtub, which was next to the rain shower stall. The desk in the room had every plug and hookup we could have asked for right on the table top so that we didn’t have to go digging around on the ground and behind furniture to find an outlet.
The room looked out on one of Portland’s famous food cart pods located between SW Alder, SW Washington, 9th Ave and 10th Ave where dozens of food trucks served their street-side fare, giving us inspiration for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Being so comfortable, and with every amenity we required, we could have stayed in the room longer than we did each day, lounging in our robes in the morning while planning our next move in the city.
While it was tempting to lay in the pillowy soft comfort of the signature Westin Heavenly Bed from sunrise until sunset, the Westin Portland’s location was ideal for starting out on foot to explore the city or to loop around the block and purchase a $5 streetcar day pass from a kiosk on the sidewalk that could take you all corners of the city.
This boutique Westin felt luxurious without being over the top to the point where amenities and technology seemed superfluous — it also reminded us of staying at the Magnolia Hotel in Victoria, which we adore.
Coming Up in Portland This Season
It’s safe to say that Portland is so hot right now. Everyone wants to experience its culinary culture, craft beer scene, arts, and much more so if you’re planning a trip to Portland this season, here are some upcoming holiday events:
The Westin Portland is also offering a holiday shopping package that includes a $50 Nordstrom gift card for each night you stay, with rates starting at $239/night and complimentary 4:00pm checkout. Visit their offers page online for details.
Follow Travel Portland on Twitter and Facebook along with the Westin Portland on Twitter and Facebook for more information about visiting Portland this season.
