Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival: I SPY with UniverCity

Comments 28 by Rebecca Bollwitt

The Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival is coming up on Saturday, August 10, 2013 at Deer Lake Park with top acts such as Blue Rodeo and Charles Bradley (the Screaming Eagle of Soul).

Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival

A soulful mix of quality tunes, a green backdrop at the lake, the ability to bring your own blankets, low-back beach chairs and coolers, all make this one sweet summer festival in the heart of the city. Tickets are currently on sale for $70 (taxes/fees may apply) or $200 for a party park of 4. Single tickets are available at the door as well for $75. Children 12 years and younger are free at the gates with an accompanying adult.

Other performers include Shakura S’Aida, ZZ Ward, Ndidi Onukwulu, David Gogo, Jon and Roy, The Sojourners, John Lee Sanders, Vince Vaccaro, Brickhouse, and Shaun Verreault. Follow the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival on Facebook for more event information.

UniverCity’s I SPY Contest

UniverCity is an impressive new development atop Burnaby Mountain at SFU. I admit I haven’t spent much time at SFU recently and I couldn’t believe the changes throughout the last decade. Condominiums, plazas, beautifully-crafted buildings, grocery shopping, dining options, and my new favourite thing — Yeti Yogurt.

In the 1990s, SFU created its Community Trust to build a community that would generate income for the university from development without damaging the environment. That community became UniverCity, a model for practical and affordable sustainability.

SFU had two primary goals in developing a residential community: to create a more “complete community” on the mountain, with a diverse range of housing choices, shops, services, and amenities; and to establish an Endowment Fund to support teaching and research at SFU. Although the land remains under SFU ownership, fully serviced and subdivided parcels are available to developers through 99-year lease agreements. [Source: UniverCity]

This residential community is at one of the highest points in Burnaby and celebrates all the city has to offer including the showpiece of summer, the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival.

UniverCity is currently hosting I SPY, a contest to win tickets to the festival. To participate, search for UniverCity stickers hidden within the community each week. Once you have found the sticker, claim your tickets at the Trust office (#150-8960 University High Street) during office hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm).

Visit the Trust office or follow along on Facebook and Twitter (SFU Community Trust) for clues on the ticket whereabouts. A total of 8 (4 pairs) tickets are up for grabs. Participants are eligible to win a maximum of one pair (2) tickets. The I SPY contest runs until August 9th, 2013.

My Contest

To promote the I SPY contest, UniverCity has offered up a pair of tickets to one lucky Miss604 reader as well. Here’s how you can enter to win your way into the Burnaby Blues and Roots Festival on August 10th:

  • Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tickets to @BurnabyBlues from @UniverCity_SFU + @Miss604 http://bit.ly/bbyblues604

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Tuesday, August 6, 2013. The winner’s tickets will be available for pick-up at the UniverCity Trust office. Update The winner is: Judy Cupskey!

Metro Vancouver Trails: Quarry Rock

Comments 2 by Rebecca Bollwitt

There are a few photo themes you’ll come across pretty much every day when you join the popular mobile photo sharing site Instagram. Images of food, cats, feet (running shoes, heels, barefoot at the beach), airplane wings, and sunsets. In Vancouver, you can probably add Quarry Rock to that list. The main attraction of this North Vancouver hike are its panoramic Deep Cove and Indian Arm views.

Quarry Rock
Photo credit: PiscesDreamer on Flickr

Quarry Rock Trail

According to the BC Mountaineering Club this 2 hour hike is about 3.8km, it’s open year-round, it’s pet-friendly, it gains 100m in elevation and is considered “easy”. You can get to the trailhead in Deep Cove by transit and there are plenty of beaches around to cool off after your trek.

School group out for a morning hike

The Quarry Rock Trail is located at the start/end of the Baden Powell Trail, a 48km-long route that traverses the north shore from Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove. Points of interest along the Baden Powell Trail include the summit of Black Mountain, crossing the Capilano River by way of the Cleveland Dam, the Grouse Grind, Lynn Canyon suspension bridge, and Seymour Canyon.

The start of the Baden Powell Trail begins along Panorama Drive just beyond the park area. Look for the sign on the left side of the street and walk up the edge of the driveway towards the wooden steps. The first section of the trail climbs quickly up the set of stairs and then up and over the maze of tree roots.

The terrain is typical of North Shore hikes; densely wooded areas of Douglas Fir and Hemlock trees, small creeks from mountain runoff, and the smell of fresh forest air. [Source: Vancouver Trails]

Once you’re done taking in the views from Quarry Rock, you can enjoy a free summer concert in Panorama Park or stop into one of the local cafes for a treat.

Hiking on the North Shore
Photo credit: DTBの写真撮影 on Flickr

For more information about hikes this season, check out Tourism Vancouver’s Top 5 Easy Summer Hikes and sites like Vancouver Trails and Club Tread for detailed information.

Vancouver Fireworks Photos: Canada at the Celebration of Light

Comments 3 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Canada was on display last night at the Celebration of Light fireworks in English Bay as hundreds of thousands took to the shoreline to witness the show in the sky. Although the UK received praise for their James Bond-themed fireworks last Saturday, the chatter online seems to favour the home country:

https://twitter.com/ProtruckR/status/362873366140555265

This morning, a few fireworks photos of Canada’s turn at the Celebration of Light have been contributed to the Miss604 Flickr Pool:

Celebration of Light, CANADA!
Photo credit: Thomas Bullock on Flickr

Multi-colour Boom Purple Splash
Photo credit: Sliver of Light Photography & Sliver of Light Photography on Flickr

Celebration Of Light -Canada Celebration Of Light -Canada
Photo credit: Wynonna & Wynonna in Flickr

20130731 Celebration of Light
Photo credit: Ken Chow on Flickr

Honda Celebration of Light Fireworks An Engagement with Light
Photo credit: dons projects & Tom Wiebe on Flickr

Red Fireworks - IMG_8415_p
Photo credit: Claude Scheider on Flickr

DSC_1968-Edit.jpg DSC_2043.jpg
Photo credit: timothygarcia & timothygarcia on Flickr

Celebration of Light: Team Canada
Photo credit: Maurice Li on Flickr

Tonight in Vancouver: Celebration of Light from Cypress Mountain
Photo credit: [travelfox] on Flickr

Celebration of Light 2013, Day 2, Canada
Photo credit: Alexis Birkill on Flickr

Thailand finishes the Celebration of Light fireworks season on Saturday, August 3rd. Be sure to show up early on fireworks nights to enjoy free SHOREfest concerts and the Red Bull Airshow.

Molson Canadian Live Summer Concert Series at The Cellar

Comments 15 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Molson Canadian Live and The Cellar Nightclub on Granville have announced their Summer Concert Series line-up and it’s packed with local talent. After a day in the sun, duck inside to enjoy live music from the following acts:

Friday, August 2nd, 2013
We Hunt Buffalo, The Wild!,
Slow Wave Saga

Friday, August 9th, 2013
The Turn, Columbia, Pedwell, Matt Cairns

Tuesday, August 20th, 2013
Colleen Brown, Ben Parker

Friday, August 30th, 2013
Bleeker Ridge, Static in the Stars,
Gentle Machine, MG Graveyard

Wednesday, August 7th, 2013
Hunter Valentine, Set to Stun,
The Deadset

Friday, August 16, 2013
Fields of Green, Modern Limits,
This Side of Town, Quarterlights

Friday, August 23rd, 2013
Dear Rouge, The Oceanographers

Sunday, September 1st, 2013
Anami Vice

CellarMolsonWhen you attend a Molson Canadian Live Summer Concert Series event at The Cellar between now and September 1st, 2013 you will be entered to win a grand prize of a trip for two to Ontario’s Cottage Country for the Molson Live @ The Lake concert event in September.

Attendees at The Cellar specifically between now and August 7th also have the chance to win tickets to Squamish Valley Music Festival, which is coming up August 9th and 10th.

Tickets for the Summer Concert Series at The Cellar are available online in advance for $10. Doors open at 7:00pm on showcase nights.

If you would like to win your way into the Summer Concert Series on Friday, August 16th, 2013 with Fields of Green, Modern Limits, This Side of Town, and Quarterlights, I have a pair of tickets to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:

  • Leave a comment naming your favourite artist on the line-up for the Summer Concert Series (1 entry)
  • Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win tickets to a @cellarnightclub Summer Concert Series night from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/nt4cS

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, August 7th, 2013. Must be 19+. Please enjoy responsibly. Follow The Cellar on Facebook and Twitter for more special event info.

Update The winner is Tracy!

August Events in Metro Vancouver

Comments 4 by Rebecca Bollwitt

SeawallWake up, grab a coffee, slip on some sandals and head towards the water. Awake even before the hum of floatplanes fill Coal Harbour, but in time to catch the rising sun. A lap of the Seawall complete before breakfast, thousands of keystrokes on the laptop by lunch. A trip to the market, fresh greens, catch of the day. Dinner prep, pop a bottle of Howe Sound brew. Free outdoor movies, dancing, or fireworks. So many choices. From the balcony or the beach, watching the mountains turn purple as the sun ducks down to the sea.

That’s a summer day for me in Vancouver, what will yours include? For ideas, check out this month’s list of August Events in Metro Vancouver that have been submitted:

Multi-Day Events

Events that run for longer than three days in a row are highlighted in green below. A few features that run all month and into August include Theatre Under the Stars, Vancouver Canadians Promotions, Tours of the Orpheum, Kitsilano Showboat, free dancing lessons at Robson Square, and free outdoor movies.

August Events in Metro Vancouver

As usual, this list will be updated several times each week so be sure to check back often. Submit your event listings through the contact form for free.

Thursday, August 1, 2013
Queer Arts Festival Presents: Reflection/Refraction
56th Annual Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival
Meet the Neighbours: HUSH Magazine
Vancouver Pride 2013: G(RAY) and Glamourous
Vancouver Pride 2013: Pride Pavilion at the Library
Yellow Crane Festival of Art + Design
Eat It! at Dynamo Arts Association
Vancouver KnowShow
Friday, August 2, 2013
Vancouver Pride 2013: Davie Street Party
Harmony Arts Festival
Back to the Future at the Hollywood
Live in Lynn Valley Concert Series
Chicks Ahoy! Pride Boat Cruise Party
Shipyards Night Market
Take Off Friday at YVR Airport
56th Annual Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival
Vancouver Pride 2013: Pride Pavilion at the Library
Yellow Crane Festival of Art + Design

Saturday, August 3, 2013
Sponsored by Miss604: Free Outdoor Movies at Holland Park in Surrey
Jamcouver
Powell Street Festival
Vancouver Street Dance Festival
Vancouver Pride 2013: Terry Wallace Memorial Breakfast
SHOREfest at the Honda Celebration of Light Fireworks
Back to the Future at the Hollywood
Concerts at the Quay – New Westminster
Cates Park Concert Series
Portobello West Market: Granville Street
56th Annual Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival
Vancouver Pride 2013: Pride Pavilion at the Library
Yellow Crane Festival of Art + Design
Harmony Arts Festival

Sunday, August 4, 2013
Vancouver Pride 2013: Parade, Festival, Market
Blueberry Sale & Tea: Richmond Nature Park
Portobello West Market: Granville Street
Powell Street Festival
56th Annual Squamish Days Loggers Sports Festival
Yellow Crane Festival of Art + Design
Harmony Arts Festival
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