The Vancouver Heritage Foundation is putting a spin on their popular walking tours with guides Maurice Guibord and John Atkin by getting them up on two wheels to offer four new bike tours this summer.
Places That Matter Bike Tour
Guide: John Atkin
Date: Saturday, May 25, 2013 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm
Tickets: $20 + tax, available online
Tour: The tour starts at Canada Place and will travel through Vancouver’s bike lanes, across the Burrard Bridge, up into Fairview Heights, and curving back to Robson Square to explore the Places That Matter plaque project sites. Then you’ll stop halfway to join the Nellie Yip Quong House plaque presentation live.
Stanley Park
Guide: Maurice Guibord
Date: Saturdays June 15, July 20, and August 17, 2013 from 9:30am to 11:30am
Tickets: $20 + tax, available online
Tour: This ride ducks in from the busy city streets to explore the trails and history of Vancouver’s crown jewel, Stanley Park. Spokes Bicycle Rentals will be offering a discount on bike rentals for anyone attending one of these tours.
For more information about these bike tours and other Vancouver Heritage Foundation events, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Back in 2010 we acquired the best pairs of sunglasses we’ve ever owned. I am still wearing my Claudia Alan AYA sunglasses and although John managed to squash his during our recent trip to Austin, they were quickly replaced.
John wearing the Brandon style sunglasses
Over the last three years John’s received so many compliments on the design of his sunglasses (thanks to Corinne Hunt‘s artwork) and aside from being comfortable, they look great.
Another bonus is that when you purchase AYA eyewear you’re not only supporting BC artists and designers but partial proceeds from the sale of all AYA eyewear and accessory items is donated to the ONEXONE First Nations nutritious breakfast programs.
The ONEXONE First Nations School Breakfast Program was developed in partnership with the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and PepsiCo Canada with the goal of ensuring the availability of healthy food to all First Nations children in the school setting.
My Felicity sunglasses
There is a new collection of styles for 2013 so I scooped up Felicity (with a hummingbird design) while John stuck with Brendan (with a killer whale design), and thanks to AYA by Claudia Alan I’m giving away 3 pairs:
Brendan:
This aviator frame was designed for men but we have both men and women loving it. The frame is a mid size fit and has a very comfortable fit. Brendan features a killer whale design that is beautifully frosted on the temples. Brendan is available in a silver, gun metal or brown. Impact and scratch resistant acrylic lenses – UV400.
Marilyn:
Aptly named, Marilyn is a glamorous over-size frame featuring quality polarized lenses and a Heron design along the arm. It is available in black, olive green demi, and burgundy demi.. Impact and scratch resistant acrylic lenses – UV400.
Tia:
Slightly cateye this feminine frame features crystal fronts in teal, red and black. A Frog design is enameled onto the metal temples in corresponding dramatic colours. Impact and scratch resistant acrylic lenses – UV400
These pairs start at $35, which is very affordable considering the artwork (Corinne Hunt was also the Co-Designer of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic medals), the cause, and their durability. You can purchase sunglasses, reading glasses, and frames online and every pair of sunglasses comes with a free microfibre case.
I have hard cases to give away with each of my contest pairs as well, here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment here naming which pair of AYA sunglasses is your favourite and/or which of the three pairs I have available you would like to win (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow Claudia Alan accessories on Twitter and Facebook for more information about styles and availability.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries on Friday, May 10, 2013 at 12:00pm. Winners will be assigned a style and colours are already pre-set based on my inventory, matching the image above.
It’s the first of May and over the last century Vancouverites have been celebrating May Day by crowning dancing around the Maypole, crowning a May Queen and ringing in springtime. To this day you can catch May Day festivals around the world and a few locally, like May Day Celebrations at Trimble Park in Point Grey where the Vancouver Morris Men performed this morning or New Westminster‘s May Day (that will be May 25th). New Westminster’s is actually one of the Commonwealth’s oldest, ongoing May Day celebrations.
May Day is also known as a day to honour workers. The following images from the Vancouver Public Library have all captured May Day throughout the city’s history:
1906 & 1907: May Day New Westminster. Archives item# CVA 677-759 & CVA 677-753.
Photographer: W.T. Cooksley.
1948: May Day ceremony in Burnaby’s Central Park. VPL# 80580 & 1950 May Day parade
on Marine Drive. VPL# 81314. Photographer: Artray.
1935: Men and women marching in May Day parade for unemployed during the Depression. VPL# 8814.
1936: May Day labour demonstration at the YMCA. VPL# 13320.
1930s: May Day Parade on Burrard at Hastings. VPL# 8090. Photographer: Leonard Frank & 1920s:
Stanley Park May Pole Dance. VPL # 30200. Dominion Photo Co.
1936: May Day celebrations at Hastings Park. Archive item# CVA 260-390 & CVA 260-392.
Spring blossoms and fresh-cut grass are signs that summer is on its way but you could say the same for itchy watery eyes, congestion, and runny noses if you’re an allergy sufferer. For the next few days you can find refuge in Pacific Centre in the Allergy Relief House.
This free, interactive experience is to help Canadians manage (and perhaps prevent) their allergy symptoms. The Allergy Relief House is setting up in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal this week and it features:
- Top brands like Aerius®, Claritin® and hydraSense®
- Three different environments to get you better acquainted with each brand
- Profiling stations to help you better understand your specific symptoms
- Interactive touch screens with presentations on allergy symptom management
- An on-site allergy expert to answer your questions
You can stop by for free at Pacific Centre from 8:00am to 9:00pm today until Friday, then from 10:00am to 7:00pm on Saturday and Sunday this week.
The Honda Celebration of Light fireworks return this summer, filling the sky with bursts of colour as thousands gaze upward along the shores of English Bay. The participating countries for the the world’s largest offshore international fireworks competition along with the concert headliner have been announced for 2013.
Participating Countries
During last year’s barge tour Pyrotechnic Producer Patrick Brault introduced the concept of having different competing countries from different continents every year for the next nine years, which rings true this year.
For 2013, we’ll see displays from the United Kingdom, Canada, and Thailand on each of the three fireworks nights July 27, July 31, and August 3rd.
SHOREfest Concerts
“Stompa” your feet because four-time JUNO winner Serena Ryder will be headlining the opening night of SHOREfest this year. The free concert series presented by SHORE 104 will feature local and emerging talent on the English Bay stage and the Rogue Stage in Kitsilano. More SHOREfest artists will be announced as the fireworks nights draw closer.
You can also listen to the soundtrack for the fireworks displays on SHORE 104.3FM, on SHORE’s website, and through the Honda Celebration of Light app. Follow @CelebofLight on Twitter for more information about the fireworks, participating countries, free concerts and activities this summer.
