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by Rebecca BollwittDisclosure: Review — This is not a paid post. Views are my own. Our package was compliments of Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver. Please review the Policy & Disclosure section for further information.
Ending a busy work week with sparkling wine, a view of twinkling city lights, and a multi-course meal at a three-star Michelin chef’s restaurant sounds like a dream but it was a much-enjoyed reality a few weeks ago when John and I spent the night at the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver.
Always up for a quick “staycation” to try out the best our city has to offer — and so that I can accurately offer suggestions and recommendations to visitors — we checked into our posh executive suite on the 14th floor (of 62) in Vancouver’s tallest tower to experience the Romance Package.
This $525 offer for a luxurious date night at Shangri-La’s AAA 5 Diamond accommodations includes:
One night accommodation with a complimentary one category upgrade (subject to availability)
Five-course tasting menu dinner for two at MARKET By Jean-Georges
Romantic arrival amenity of sparkling wine and chocolate-dipped strawberries
Daily valet parking for one vehicle
Daily a-la-carte breakfast for two at MARKET By Jean-Georges or in-room dining
Complimentary in-room high-speed internet access
Complimentary local and toll free phone calls
I checked in on a Friday afternoon during a week that was so busy I had only seen John for about one waking hour each day as he completed a big project at work. Usually when I walk into a hotel room I drop my bag near the door then run to the windows to see what the view is like. However, I had to spend a few minutes soaking in the inspired decor before finding the automatic switches for the shades and curtains. I then took to one balcony, followed by the other, to get a view of my city that I had never previously seen from that angle.
Automatic switches for lights and shades. The clock lit up when touched, a modern twist on a classic.
Doreen Reitsma was the first woman from BC to enter Canada’s postwar Navy and although I came across her story in a very roundabout way, I am certainly glad that I found it. I was originally searching the Vancouver Archives for photos of hats — one of my very rare fashion posts sourced from scanned historical photos. A result that came up was a picture of Eleanor Roosevelt in Vancouver. This led me to look up more information about the longest-serving First Lady of the United States’ visit to our city and how she inspired a local woman who wore a very important hat:
1951 Naval Portrait of Doreen Patterson Reitsma
“Doreen Nettie (Patterson) Reitsma was the first woman from BC to enter Canada’s postwar Navy. In 1949, while working at the front desk of the Hotel Vancouver, Doreen Patterson met Eleanor Roosevelt, who inspired her to follow her dream of a career in Canada’s military.
Two years later, in 1951, Doreen Reitsma made history as the first to enlist in the new Women’s Division of the Royal Canadian Navy. She received her basic training at Cornwallis, Nova Scotia and was trained as an elite radio intelligence operator for the top-secret wireless communications base in Coverdale, New Brunswick. (Coverdale was part of the Canada-USA Atlantic High Frequency Direction Finding Network responsible for intelligence collection.) She also served a term at the Naval Radio Station at Churchill, Manitoba in 1953-54.
On January 26, 1955, Doreen Patterson helped inspire Prime Minister Louis St. Laurent and his cabinet to create a permanent and fully integrated regular force for women in the Royal Canadian Navy. This decision—the first in the Commonwealth—paved the way for thousands of Canadian women to follow in her footsteps. Doreen married Gerard “Bill” Reitsma, a Korean War veteran, on August 18, 1960 and was the mother of two adopted children.”
The Cambie Bridge as we know it is the third iteration of a crossing in that particular area connecting south east False Creek with the downtown peninsula. The first Cambie Bridge, named after Cambie Street’s namesake Henry John Cambie, was built in 1891.
1920 – Connaught (Cambie) Bridge horses and streetcars. Vancouver Archives # CVA 92-1
In 1911 it was replaced by the Connaught Bridge, named in honour of the Duke of Connaught’s visit to Vancouver where he dedicated the new structure in 1912. The Connaught Bridge was still referred to as the Cambie Bridge by locals, and in 1985 it was replaced for Expo86 and officially called the Cambie Bridge once more.
I recently came across a batch of scanned images of the Cambie Bridge’s construction (1983-1985) in the Vancouver Archives. These photos are all attributed to Al Ingram.
1983: Looking south from the Connaught Bridge. Archives# CVA 800-2573.
A cast of world-class skaters will bring Disney Pixar’s magical characters to life in Vancouver this month with Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After. This new show will feature moments from Brave, Tangled, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and more.
Image courtesy of Feld Entertainment/Disney on Ice
Jam to a Scottish jig as a group of royal contenders from the Academy Award-winning Disney Pixar film Brave competes to win the heart of adventurous, sharp-shooting Merida, making her on-ice debut! Experience a show-stopping performance as Sebastian breaks out of his shell for one night only to make waves with Ariel. A chorus of harmless hooligans from Tangled unleashes musical mayhem when they get a visit from the sassy and spirited Rapunzel and her charming ally Flynn. And, get your feet moving as the Beast and his castle’s enchanted entourage take center stage in a spectacular show for Belle. It will be a rockin’ remix of royalty when Disney On Ice brings this superstar line-up to Vancouver!
Performance Schedule
Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at 7:30pm
Thursday, November 28, 2013 at 7:30pm
Friday, November 29, 2013 at 7:30pm
Saturday, November 30, 2013 at 11:30am, 3:30pm and 7:30pm
Sunday, December 1, 2013 at 11:30m, 3:30pm and 7:30pm
Tickets
Tickets are currently on sale from $24, $32, $55 (VIP) and $80 (Rinkside). Kids tickets available for only $15 each for select seating and performances (discount not valid for Saturday & Sunday 3:30pm shows). Special Opening Night discount tickets available for $14 each (not valid for premium level seating). Purchase tickets online, charge by phone at 604-757-0345 or in person at the venue box office.
Contest
I have a family 4-pack of tickets to give away to Disney on Ice: Rockin’ Ever After at the Pacific Coliseum. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment naming your favourite Disney Pixar character (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win a 4-pack of tickets to @DisneyOnIce in Vancouver from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/qDCAD
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Saturday, November 16, 2013.
We Vancouver (the Westender) recently published the results of their annual “Best of the City: Dining” survey. For those looking for top-notch recommendations about where to get brunch, enjoy Mexican cuisine, grocery shop, or where to dine in Kitsilano it’s a great one-stop resource. Here are just a few of this year’s results:
Westender Best of the City Dining
Neighbourhoods
Best Dining in Coal Harbour
1. Cardero’s, 1583 Coal Harbour Quay
Best Dining on Commercial Drive
1. Havana, 1212 Commercial Drive
Best Dining Downtown
1. Hawksworth, 801 West Georgia St
Best Dining in Gastown
1. L’Abattoir, 217 Carrall St
Best Dining in Kitsilano
1. Fable, 1944 West 4th Ave
Best Dining on Main Street
1. The Reef (tie), 4172 Main St
1. East is East (tie), 4433 Main St
Best Dining in the West End
1. Espana, 1118 Denman St
1983: Looking south from the Connaught Bridge. Archives# CVA 800-2573.
