The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival is right around the corner as the brown branches we’ve known throughout winter turn various shades of pink. Vancouver boasts 40,000 trees that will burst with blossoms over the next few weeks and there are dozens of ways that you can enjoy the sights, from community events and walks to bike rides, picnics, and photo ops.
“In the cherry blossom’s shade there’s no such thing as a stranger.”
-Kobayashi Issa
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival was founded by Linda Poole in 2005 and since that time it’s become a kickoff to spring for locals.
“I believe in the power of the blossoms. It’s appreciating the beauty in life that makes life worth living,” says Linda. “In our universal response to their beauty, we are united. Especially during these times we must connect back to nature. The ephemeral nature of the blossoms reminds us to seize the moment and celebrate life now.” Here are just a few of the festival’s major events:
Sakura Night
What: Sakura Night Gala
Where: Tojo’s Restaurant on 1133 W Broadway, Vancouver
When: Sunday, March 30, 2014. 6:30pm: Cherry Blossom Martini Welcome, 7:00pm to 9:00pm: Standing Dinner Reception.
Let the celebrations begin this spring with an extraordinary dining experience hosted by Tojo’s Restaurant, featuring sensational Japanese cuisine created by Tojo’s Restaurant, Zen Japanese Restaurant, RawBar at Fairmont Pacific Rim, Seventeen89, Miku Restaurant as well as Zakkushi and Bella Gelateria.
Cherry Jam Downtown at Burrard Station
What: Cherry Jam Downtown Concert
Where: Indoor concourse of Burrard Skytrain station
When: Thursday, April 3, 2014 from 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Cherry Jam will showcase performances by the Yayoi Movement Theatre, Folk artist Michael Averill, 2013 Haiku Invitational celebrity readings and Haiku Bard by Christopher Gaze of Bard on the Beach, an energetic dance performance by VanCity Soran and the thunderous sounds of Richmond’s Tetsu Taiko to warm up the scenes of Cherry Jam.
Sakura Days at VanDusen
What: Sakura Days Japan Fair
When: Saturday, April and Sunday, April 6, 2014 from 10:00am to 5:00pm
Where: VanDusen Botanical Garden
Haiku Invitational
What: Poetry Competition
When: March 1, 2014 to June 2, 2014
Where: Online
The 2014 Haiku Invitational will accept up to 2 unpublished poem submissions (in English only) from each individual, online from March 1 to June 2, 2014. The theme is “Meet your neighbours.”
Consult the Community Events calendar and the VCBF Neighbourhood Map online for more activity ideas.
Guidebook Giveaway
To assist you with your search for cherry blossoms around Vancouver I have a copy of the Ornamental Cherries in Vancouver guidebook to give away. Written by Douglas Justice, Associate Director & Curator of Collections at UBC Botanical Garden, this book is Vancouver’s most comprehensive guide to the city’s 40,000 ornamental cherry trees and embodies a lifetime’s worth of work by Douglas Justice and 8 years of research by Festival Cherry Scouts. The guidebook is for sale online for $30 or at the UBC Botanical Garden shop for $25 (plus tax).
The copy I have to give away is signed the author, Douglas Justice, and it include exact location information for each type of tree. Here’s how you can enter to win:
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, March 21, 2014. Be sure to follow the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival on Facebook and Twitter for the latest event and blossom-viewing information.
Update The winner is Cheri-Anne Watson!
This morning I met a Canadian entertainment legend, a member of the Order of Canada, and one outstanding Ghostbuster. Dan Aykroyd is in Vancouver today for a public appearance at the BC Liquor Store to promote his Crystal Head vodka. You’ve probably seen it and wondered about its curious shape and Dan is here to tell you about its benefits and all around coolness.
Things I Learned From Dan Aykroyd Today
It’s not every day that you walk into the Vancouver Club on West Hastings, walk down a quick set of stairs and enter a brightly-lit room surrounded by crystal heads filled with vodka… and Dan Aykroyd is behind the bar. With whole-hearted passion Dan told a small group of Vancouver media about his venture with Crystal Head, focusing on its merits as a spirt and asserting its purity and Canadian heritage.
Crystal Head is 100% Canadian goodness
“Our theory with Crystal Head is that you’ll need additives to make a great cocktail so why not start with a vodka that has no additives?” High quality Canadian Peaches and Cream corn is used to produce Crystal Head, it’s gluten free, additive free (no glycol or citrus oils or added sugars), is made with pristine Newfoundland water, and is distilled four times.
As Dan puts it: “If you open products that are the norm — lesser products, less expensive products, lesser quality — you will know that they smell like Chanel No 5. When you open our bottle it smells like alcohol because we do not mask the alcohol.”
What’s Dan’s favourite sound in the world?
As the Vancouver Club‘s Master Barman Jonathan ‘Johnny’ Richard shook up a “China Head” cocktail for us Dan said: “Here now comes my second favourite sound in the world,” which was followed up with, “my first favourite sound is that of the Harley Davidson motorcycle.”
“I am always trying to do something better in life. I always try to collaborate with people to do a better bit. That might have been a number one movie, a number one television show, a number one record, a number one radio show, I have always chosen great collaborators and we make great products.”
You can submit your own Crystal Head art
The shape of the vodka’s bottle is based on the legend of the Crystal Heads, which carries its own mystery and allure. I asked Dan about the culture of the bottle that is emerging, as I’ve seen art pieces created by people around the world using it as a canvas. He said that the skull shaped bottle project came from two artists, himself as an actor and writer, and the bottle’s designer and creator John Alexander.
“We knew that it would be well-received in the design and artistic community and if you go on our site you’ll see we’ve had thousands of submissions from all over the world. They put it in leather, they put in bronze, they put it in rhinestones, they paint it, they put gold plate on it.” In fact a forensic scientist in Scotland even re-created a face for the skull.
Crystal Head celebrates the Rolling Stones’ 50th anniversary
A natural fit, Dan loves great music and great vodka. The Crystal Head Rolling Stones Gift Pack is available at Duty Free stores in Surrey, Aldergrove, and Abbotsford.
Sherlock Holmes has a Ghostbusters connection
Dan Aykroyd is also known for his spiritualism, and for being a UFOlogist, believing in mediums, psychics and other paranormal communications. Ghostbusters, written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, brought some of his beliefs to light.
“There’s a book my dad wrote called History of Ghosts you can get it on Amazon. It tells the whole story of how it’s really my family business, and how we originated Ghostbusters from just my dad’s research, my grandfather’s research, and my great-grandfather’s research.”
Dan’s great-grandfather actually corresponded with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes. When I asked if he was a Holmes fan (on behalf of my Stormy Petrel friends) Dan replied, “Oh yes. Absolutely, sure. Who isn’t really?!”
The role for which most people recognize Dan Aykroyd
“Men, aged 25 to 40, it’s Ghostbusters. Women aged 20 to 30, it’s My Girl. They don’t know me from anything else – ‘you’re the dad in My girl‘. That’s it.”
Then he continued and I’ll never forget the big, proud smile on his face when he told me this. “People in the intelligence community in the United States and Washington, DC it’s Spies Like Us. Some of them have said to me, ‘I went into this community and this business because of Spies Like Us‘. So… I am responsible in part for the careers of young intelligence agents that are defending our freedom throughout the world because they went into that business.”
How You Can Meet Dan Too
Meet Dan tonight for a bottle signing event at the BC Liquor Store on at 5555 Cambie in Vancouver from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. He will then head to Victoria tomorrow, March 15th, for an event at Liquor Planet from 1:00pm to 3:00pm. He is absolutely genuine and gracious, and he definitely knows his spirits (both of the drinkable and paranormal variety). Crystal Head is a home-grown Canadian product worth celebrating, especially with such a fantastic icon like Dan Aykroyd at its core.
Please enjoy responsibly! Must be 19+ to attend the public liquor store events.
Today the CBC launched a very handy map, one that shows where the best (and worst) parking deals are located in Downtown Vancouver.
The Google Map shows meter parking as well as city-run EasyPark lots, where you might find a better deal parking in a lot than a nearby meter — or vice versa. The cheapest parking downtown can currently be found for $1 an hour at Powell and Cordova. However, supply in demand is at play so when meters are packed or empty, the city can put the prices up or down.
The Province put together their own Cheap Vancouver Parking map as well, which covers a smaller portion of downtown but includes monthly and daily parking rates. Other resources for cheap parking in Downtown Vancouver include “15 Top Parking Secrets” and these “Parking on the Cheap” tips.
The largest automotive event in Western Canada, the Vancouver International Auto Show, returns to the Vancouver Convention Centre from March 25th to March 30th. Leading global manufacturers will be showcasing the hottest new models and trends, with the latest design and technology innovations.
Presented by the New Car Dealers Association of BC, the Vancouver International Auto Show provides the best opportunity of the year for a hands-on experience with some of the world’s most popular brands.
It all kicks off with the Auto Show Preview Gala on Monday, March 24, 2014 then special features at the show will include the Exotics, a selection of truly exhilarating automobiles; Classic Alley, a tribute to our shared automotive history and the summer’s collector car shows; the Green Ride and Drive, offering guests the opportunity to test-drive the latest eco-friendly vehicles from top manufacturers; and the Red Line Stage, presenting special guest speakers and events.
Auto Show Hours
March 25-30, 2014
Vancouver Convention Centre West
Tuesday to Friday: 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am to 10:00pm
Sunday: 10:00am to 4:00pm
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Auto Show Tickets
General Admission: $15
Seniors (65+) and Students (w/valid ID): $10
Kids 7-12 (accompanied by an adult): $4
Kids 6 & under FREE (accompanied by an adult)
Family Pass (2 adults +2 kids 12 & under): $30
Multi-Day Pass (good for any 2 days): $25
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Last year we had a great time at the Auto Show and I even interviewed Ford Canada’s CEO Dianne Craig. I’ve been working with car companies a lot more recently, especially Honda Canada, so it’s been great to see the latest technology, features, and eco-options on new vehicles.
Auto Show Contest
If you would like to check out the Vancouver International Auto Show, I have a family 4-pack of tickets to give away. 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 Wednesday, March 19, 2014. Follow the Vancouver International Auto Show on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Update The winner is Greg N!
Rain City Chronicles, Ken Tsui & Bestie present Das Lexikon — a mix of stories, supper, and German appreciation. Happening March 22nd, this event will be infused with Krautrock, German beer, entertaining stories inspired by German vocabulary handpicked by Rain City Chronicles, and a delicious bratwurst dinner by Bestie.
After staging a memorable two night popup restaurant in a school cafeteria this past November for Rain City Chronicles’ “Tales from Public School” show series, edible popup producer Ken Tsui continues his partnership with Rain City Chronicles for Das Lexikon. In working with Lizzy Karp, the event transforms a culturally treasured space into a playful and energetic experience unlike any other in the city.
Rain City Chronicles, Vancouver’s premiere storytelling night, is pairing a diverse roster of Vancouverites with a collection of unique German words that spark captivating stories. From tales inspired by moments of “schadenfreude” (the pleasure derived from someone’s misfortune) to “waldeinsamkeit” (forest solitude), the evening revels in the idiosyncrasies of the German language.
With a casual, friendly and fun approach, the local German street food wunderkinds of Chinatown, Dane Brown, Clinton McDougall and chef Colin Johnson will serve up their take on the traditional German supper. Bestie’s dinner for Das Lexikon is a unique menu that celebrates the fundamentals of German comfort food, served one night only and created exclusively for the event. And yes, vegetarians are welcome.
Das Lexikon will take place on March 22nd at the Vancouver Alpen Club, an institution of a century’s worth of local German history. Bestie’s menu is available online now so you can see what delectable German treats will be available to devour — including all natural, gluten free, dairy free, free range bratwurst.
Tickets for Das Lexikon, at the Vancouver Alpen Club (4875 Victoria Drive), are on sale now for $38 (plus fees). Be sure to select your meal preference, meat or veg, when booking your spot. Follow Raincity Chronicles and Bestie for more information about the event including more entertainment announcements this week.
