When the rest of Metro Vancouver is blanketed with centimeters of snow you’ll often find the streets bare or covered in slush downtown. Our snow build-up doesn’t usually compare to other parts of the region but that wasn’t always the case. I found a few frosty photos from the Vancouver Public Library archives that show a very snow-covered downtown Vancouver.
1909 – Granville at Hastings
VPL Accession Number: 7135
Photographer: Philip Timms
1916 – Robson and Thurlow
VPL Accession Number: 8302
Photographer: Philip Timms
1916 – Robson Street
VPL Accession Number: 8301
Photographer: Philip Timms
1916 – Granville Street
VPL Accession Number: 8303
Photographer: Philip Timms
1954 – Pender and Seymour
VPL Accession Number: 82437
Photographer / Studio: Artray
1971 – Robson and Burrard
VPL Accession Number: 9600M
Photographer: W. Roozeboom
Dine Out Vancouver sponsored by American Express Canada and presented by Tourism Vancouver is now in its 11th year and is the largest dine out celebration in Canada. Great deals, great food, and your choice of great local restaurants.
Running from January 18, 2013 to February 3, 2018 Vancouver-area diners can select from hundreds of local restaurants which will each offer up a set-price ($18, $28, or $38) multi-course menu. You might be trying something new or sampling your regular selection of courses from a favourite restaurant.
The menus for each establishment were posted in early January and each have pairing options for BC wines or Granville Island Beer. You can search menus based on price, neighbourhood, and even vegetarian or gluten-free options. Reservations are now being accepted at all participating restaurants so you’ll want to make your move as popular spaces are booking up quickly.
Dine Out Vancouver Events
American Express and Dine Out Vancouver love to bring exciting dining events to life, and throughout the festival there will be ticketed events like cocktail tours, wine and beer pairings, and the street food market. Some are already sold out but you can still get tickets to Best Eats of the East Village, Ravioli and Wine, Breakfast with the Masters at the Vancouver Art Gallery, the Secret Supper Soirees, and many more.
I did the Secret Supper Soiree in 2011 that combined a tour of unique and historic places in Vancouver with delectable bites of food along the way. Each stop is a secret so you won’t know your adventure until you’re living (and tasting) it.
Hotel room and dining packages are also available (from $78, $108, and $138) so that you can make a full night out of your Dine Out Vancouver experience.
Getting Social
One of the best parts of Dine Out is that your meal becomes even more social. Everyone’s talking about their menu selections, sampling from others, and of course taking photos and sharing them online.
I have partnered with the Premiere Sponsor, American Express Canada, to offer up some unique coverage of Dine Out Vancouver including details of a special dinner I’ll be hosting with some friends at L’Abattoir January 23rd.
Previously we have stayed in the West End and Yaletown for Dine Out but decided to go with Gastown this time around. The neighbourhood has such character and we’ve only ever been to L’Abattoir’s space when it was occupied by the Irish Heather. Last year L’Abattoir was voted the Best New Restaurant in Gastown and EnRoute Magazine name it one of Canada’s Best New Restaurants in 2011 so we can’t wait to see the change. We’re looking forward to going a little upscale and sampling some creations from award-winning bartender Shaun Layton. My guests and I will be posting updates on Twitter and Instagram using the #DineWithAmex hashtag.
Festival-goers can also get social and enter the American Express Canada #DineWithAmex contest on Facebook for the chance to win one of ten $100 American Express Gift Cards. Simply Instagram your Dine Out meals and upload them with the hashtag #DineWithAmex. Then visit DineWithAmex.ca to find the URL of your Instagram photo and submit your food photo entry. You can enter up to three times between January 18th and February 3rd for a chance to win.
Special Offer for Amex Cardmembers
Canadian cardmembers can earn a $20 American Express Statement Credit by being by being one of 5,000 to register your eligible American Express Card by February 3rd (at DineWithAmex.ca) and using your Amex card at three separate Dine Out Vancouver restaurants.
Try something new or visit an old favourite and support local eateries. Be sure to make your reservations now so that you can experience these great deals during the festival.
Follow all updates and information about Dine Out Vancouver by tracking the tags #DOVF and #DineWithAmex on Twitter and by following @DineOutVan and @AmexCanada on Twitter.
This post is sponsored by American Express Canada in partnership with Miss604 and Dine Out Vancouver.
Last year over 3,400 Canadian NFL fans packed into Official Super Bowl parties north of the border to have an ultimate fan experience. Returning for 2013, football festivities will one again take over the Commodore in Vancouver on game day.
Vancouver’s Official Super Bowl XLVII Party presented by Bud Light takes place at the Commodore Ballroom (868 Granville) on Sunday, February 3, 2013 with doors opening at 2:00pm. Tickets are currently available online via Ticketmaster for $28.50.
Catch the Super Bowl game on multiple HD big screens, mingle with the Seattle Seahawks’ Sea Gals Cheerleaders, former NFLers Shaun Alexander and Darren Woodsen, and enjoy a a New Orleans-inspired Super Bowl spread with plenty of Bud Light.
Vancouverite were probably more captivated by the NFL this year compared to other recent years due to the hockey lockout and given Seattle’s fantastic run up to the playoffs.
If you would like to win your way into this event, I have 6 pairs of tickets to give away. Here’s how you can enter my contest:
- Leave a comment on this post naming the NFL team you support (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw all 6 winners at random from all entries at 10:00am on Monday, January21, 2013. All attendees must be legal drinking age and provide government-issued ID at the door.
Update The winner are @Toshcyoung, @sanazj, @sasha604, Big Tuna, 12thManMike, Dennis.
Today’s Vancouver Icon photo feature subject can be found near the western tip of Harbour Green Park in Coal Harbour. Commonly known as the “crooked house on stilts”, LightShed by Liz Magor was installed in 2004 and was a gift to the city. Constructed mostly of aluminum, it is based on the shape of an old boat shed and at night it glows softly from the inside out:
Other Vancouver Icons posts include: Granville Bridge, 217.5 Arc x 13′, Canoe Bridge, Vancouver Block, Bloedel Conservatory, Centennial Rocket, Canada Place, Old Courthouse/Vancouver Art Gallery, Dominion Building, Science World, Gastown Steam Clock, SFU Burnaby, Commodore Lanes, Siwash Rock, Kitsilano Pool, White Rock Pier, Main Post Office, Planetarium Building, Lord Stanley Statue, Vancouver Library Central Branch, Victory Square, Digital Orca, The Crab Sculpture, Girl in Wetsuit, The Sun Tower, The Hotel Vancouver, The Gassy Jack Statue, The Marine Building, and The Angel of Victory. Should you have a suggestion for the Vancouver Icons series please feel free to leave a note in the comments. It should be a thing, statue, or place that is very visible and recognizable to the public.
Last night the Vancouver Canucks hosted a scrimmage that was open to the public. Those who signed up online in advance filed around Rogers Arena and entered the rink to claim general admission seats. The squad was split into two teams, grey versus blue, and they played two 10 minute periods, a 15 minute period, then a shoot out, which had the crowd standing at attention.
The audience of about 12,000 appeared to be mostly families with young children and it gave the organization its first opportunity to play Gangnam Style and scan the crowd for enthusiastic dancers to display on the jumbotron. There were cheers of “Luuuuu!” for the familiar goalie wearing #1, cheers for new players, and cheers anytime someone mentioned that Vancouver has the best fans in the league.
The goal scorers in the 2-1 game were Burrows, Ebbett, and Edler. In the shootout Edler, Daniel Sedin, Kassian, Ebbett, and Higgins all slipped the puck past the netminder.
Several local bloggers, myself included, were welcomed back as well and were invited to the Rogers Lounge for the evening (with a few quick escapades down to rink level for photographs). With crowd atmosphere, blue jerseys in the stands, and smiles on faces, it seemed most people were thinking Lockout smockout! NHL hockey is back!
Tonight the Canucks are hosting another free scrimmage for the public ahead of their season opener on Saturday at home against the Anaheim Ducks. A few spots may be available but I was told yesterday that they were already close to filling up. It will be broadcast on the Canucks website if you can’t make it out and the official @CanucksGame account on Twitter will do the live call.
