There will be over 35 free workshops around town on Saturday, June 15th as a part of the 4th annual Vancouver Draw Down. These events challenge everyone to channel their creative side, no matter what your age or skill level, and just have fun with putting pen to paper. The day will see various arts and cultural organizations hands-on drawing workshops in community centres, parks, schools, art galleries, cemeteries, and on the street.
You can create a flipbook, do a diorama, draw with an iPhone, create your own pigments, design a hotel, participate in inventing creatures never before seen, generate a moving mural, draw with massive crayons, and much more. The workshops are designed with a come-and-go atmosphere, and participants are encouraged to move around to different events throughout the day. All workshops are open, inclusive, and free (or free with admission).
Every community centre in Vancouver is also participating so you can visit one near you or get to as many as you can in the day. Other locations include ArtStarts in Schools, Collage Collage, Contemporary Art Gallery, the Main Street Poodle, Emily Carr University of Art + Design, Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, Mountain View Cemetery, Satellite Gallery, UBC Learning Exchange, and the Vancouver Art Gallery.
Do Collaborative Strathcona Dragon Drawing (10:00am and 12:00pm), check out the Comic Jam at Mount Pleasant (10:30am to 12:30pm), do Straight Line Scribbles at The Gathering Place (12:00pm to 2:00pm), Blind Countour Drawing at Renfrew (11:00am to 1:00pm), and much more. As a sponsor, Vancouver is Awesome has been profiling participating artists in an online series to get you excited about some of the talented people you could meet this weekend.
Follow Vancouver Draw Down on Facebook and Twitter for updates and check out the full schedule of events online.
Two local women, Joanne Greenwood (President and Co-Founder of Bully Free Zone Canada) and Susan Gable (Yellow Balloon Photography), started a unique anti-bullying campaign, Be BOLD, back in April and since that time it has caught on around the globe.
They put together anti-bullying messaging through photography that has individuals holding framed chalkboards featuring one word turned into an anagram that relays a brave, positive, and empowering message.
The campaign started with just one photo of Joanne, taken by Susan, and the theme has been catching on, garnering more Be Bold photos and messages from young and old, musicians, athletes, artists, and local celebrities.
While Be BOLD is still fairly new, they’re moving quickly to reach more communities around the province and host public photo shoots. At these events you can put your message on their signature frame and get your photo taken by donation. Proceeds are contributed to the Amanda Todd Legacy Fund. You can check out the events page for information about public photo shoots.
The first Be Bold Gala will also be held this Saturday, June 15, 2013 at the Westin Bayshore’s Marine Room from 3:00pm to 8:00pm. Tickets are available online for just $15. Here you can learn more about the campaign, get your photo taken with your message, enjoy appetizers, entertainment, and a silent auction.
For more information about Be BOLD, follow the campaign on Facebook and Twitter.
Victoria is one a great getaway destination for those of us on the coast, providing beautiful island scenery, delicious locally-sourced food, craft beer and brew pubs, family attractions, and plenty of history. When my sister, mother, niece, and I began a tradition of “girls weekends” over 10 years ago, the first place we stayed was at the Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites in Victoria, which is located right on the inner harbour between Laurel Point and the legislature buildings.
Panorama from the Harbour Towers. Photo credit:
John Biehler on Flickr
With various room options (pet friendly), views of the harbour, and its convenient location so that we could walk to the Royal BC Museum, to downtown shopping, etc. it was a great pick.
If you’re planning a trip to Victoria in the coming months, here are just a few events and festival that you can experience on top of the city’s usual culture, history, and culinary adventures:
Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites would like to invite one Miss604 reader and their guest for one complimentary night at the hotel so that they can enjoy what our province’s capital has to offer. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all comment entries at 12:00pm on Thursday, June 20, 2013. Based on availability. Gift certificate for one night’s accommodation at the Harbour Towers Hotel & Suites will be mailed to winner. Does not include transportation to/from Vancouver Island. All residents of BC are eligible to enter/win.
Update The winner is Richard! (Comment June 11)
John and I enjoyed a few days exploring “The Other Vancouver”, which is Vancouver, Washington. Located about two hours south of Seattle along the I-5, this Vancouver sits along the Columbia River and was incorporated in 1857, 29 years before Vancouver, BC.
On a bright late spring morning we made our way down Evergreen Boulevard and stopped in for breakfast at The Grant House at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. This grand residence on Officers Row is named after Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States. While he never lived in this house he was stationed at Fort Vancouver, arriving in 1852. Simply walking between the car and the house, we must have passed half a dozen plaques, monuments, and dedications, which emphasized the national and historical importance of this area (which I’ll share in my upcoming post about Fort Vancouver).
The Grant House itself is on the National Register of Historic Places, originally built of logs in 1850, serving as the Commander’s Quarters until 1886. Today, it’s a restaurant with dining room, lounge, sunroom, and garden patio.
Breakfast menu items included a Waffle Benedict, Chicken and Waffles, Chef’s Choice Quiche, Oatmeal, The Grant House Breakfast (two eggs, country red potatoes, bacon, ham or sausage, and choice of toast), Scrambles, or Omelettes (you choose the ingredients from a list of 15 items).
I went with an omelette ($9) and picked out my four ingredients (mushroom, tomato, spinach, and cheddar) and my toast. John also did a custom omelette (mushroom, sausage, spinach, swiss) but he opted for a biscuit. Both the toast and biscuits came with deliciously sweet apple butter.
We made our way through the very generous portions (that included a healthy heap of seasoned country red potatoes) and slowed down to savour our apple buttered goods with our coffees. Easy listening classics from the 1960s and earlier added a soundtrack to our morning meal as sunshine broke through the clouds and warmed the dining room.
John and I have also been to Galena, Illinois where Ulysses S. Grant also lived, after his time in Vancouver. As someone who loves Pacific Northwest history (and a hearty breakfast) this was such a great experience. If we had more time we would have returned in the evening to enjoy a refreshing beverage on the porch as the wind rushed through the field across the road and made the house’s flags dance.
The Grant House is open Monday to Saturday and they host live music (bluegrass, jazz) from Tuesday to Saturday. It’s worth a visit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner especially if you’re out and about experiencing Fort Vancouver.
Car Free Day Vancouver is Sunday, June 16, 2013 with events on Main Street, Commercial Drive, in Kitsilano and the West End. These free festivals will feature live music, food, local vendors, and plenty of room to walk about with streets closed to car traffic. It’s also Father’s Day so it’s a great way to explore your neighbourhood — or a new one — with the family.
Car Free Day Commercial Drive
Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter.
Features: DJs, parading drummers, fish fries, roller disco, yarn bombing, a kidzone, and more all along Commercial Drive from Venables to North Grandview Highway/Central Valley Greenway Bike Lane. The festival here runs from 12:00pm to 7:00pm with The Drive closed to traffic from 10:00am to 9:00pm. The Main Stage at 7th Avenue will be hosted by Joel Liman, there will be a Community Stage at 2nd Avenue, a Family Stage at William Street hosted by Katy Schroeder of Vancouver Performing Stars, and the Tribal Harmonix DJ Stage at Venables hosted by Timothy Wisdom.
Car Free Day on Main Street. Photo credit:
Photocat62 on Flickr
Car Free Day Main Street
Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter.
Features: LOVE Youth Against Violence Festival, Village Vancouver Demonstration Village, The Beaumont Studios Picnic Area and Stage, Granville Island Toy Company Kids Zone, Rifflandia Festival Stage, Neptoon Records Stage, Red Cat Records Stage, Anza Club Stage, Cottage Bistro Stage, Our Community Bikes Pedal Powered Stage, Bohemia Gallery Acoustic Stage
Giving Gifts Stage and Market, Roller Derby, Temple of the Modern Girl Fashion Show, Sonic Planet Rock School Stage, The Reef Restaurant Caribbean Zone and Stage, BLIM Market, Canvas Handmade: A modern local market, OMG (On Main Gallery) Social Media Art Zone, The Drift, and much more.
The Lily Stage will be setup at 14th Avenue with performances by local artists from 12:00pm until 7:00pm. The Gratitude Groupies Stage at 24th Avenue will feature The Land of Deborah, Gratitude Adjustments by Kemila Zsange Hypnotherapy, and Bre McDaniel.
Car Free Day West End
Links: Website, Facebook, Twitter.
Features: Celebrate Car Free Day in Vancouver on Denman Street between Davie and Robson from 12:00pm to 6:00pm. There will be a pet parade, a penny drive, live music at Central Bistro at Comox, Squares Across the Border, a Kids Zone, info from West End Seniors, Gordon House, and Qmunity, Stanley Park Ecology Society, West End Residents Association (WERA), and Theatre Under the Stars. Stop by the Haro Street Entertainment Tent and grab some treats at the Tango Meats BBQ.
Car Free Day Kitsilano
Links: Website
Features: Kitsilano will host two neighbourhood block parties on Saturday, June 15th and Sunday, June 16th.
View Kitsilano Car Free Block Parties – 2013 in a larger map
Volunteers signed up to host neighbourhood parties, which are pin-pointed on the map (above). Locations include Hadden Park, West 6th Avenue between Blenheim & Trutch, Waterloo between 15th and 16th, Trafalgar between 8th and Broadway, and several other locations. Road closures are highlighted on the map and be sure to check out both days of the festival in Kits if you can.
If you’re posting content from any of the Car Free Festivals use #CFMain #CFCommercial #CFKits #CFWest when tagging your updates and photos.
