In Vancouver, Stanley Park is a close to a “Happy Place” as I can find. Forest trails, hidden creeks that come alive after a rain shower, and sweeping views of the North Shore. It’s full of life but it’s peaceful at the same time. So, when I come to New York, I always go for a stroll in Central Park (which is actually just a tad smaller than Stanley Park).
We entered from the south, off West 59th, and went past the outdoor ice rink, which is apparently the largest of its kind on the East Coast. Grey squirrels dashed around among fallen leaves and toppled trees, which appeared to be victims of Superstorm Sandy’s winds just a few weeks ago. It’s a little-known fact that Stanley Park’s grey squirrels originated from New York. In 1909, eight pairs of grey squirrels were given to Vancouver from New York, for Stanley Park.
My mother and I are in New York all week and since she’s never been to the Big Apple, I knew we had to start out with a walk in the park. There’s so much to see, you get a sense of the city (with a healthy mix of locals and tourists) and it’s absolutely free.
View the rest of my photos (and the photos still to come this week) on my Flickr account and follow me on Instagram for mobile pics.
Bright Nights in Stanley Park return for the 15th year to illuminate the forest with holiday cheer. Benefitting the British Columbia Professional Fire Fighters’ Burn Fund, the miniature railway and surrounding area have been transformed into a festive wonderland fit for Santa and his elves.
New this year is extended weekend hours with Bright Nights staying open until 11:00pm. Matinees are also being offered Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays in December from 11:00am to 3:00pm.
Funds raised through the donations bins on site all go directly to the Burn Fund, which provides life saving, life supporting and life enriching services to the people in BC. This year the Burn Fund is also encouraging visitors to bring food items and baby supply donations (formula, diapers) for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.
Bright Nights in Stanley Park will be open from November 29, 2012 until January 1, 2013; Sundays to Thursdays 3:00pm to 10:00pm, Fridays and Saturdays 3:00pm to 11:00pm, along with the matinees.
Admission is $10 (adults 18-64), $7 (children & youth 3-17), free (children under 3 years), $6 seniors (over 65), and $5.50 for just the matinee train (all ages).
Advance tickets are available at Ticketmaster by calling 1-855-985-5000 or going online. Same day tickets available, starting November 29th, at the on-site Miniature Railway Box Office in Stanley Park from 12:00pm, (604) 257-8531.
If you would like to enjoy Bright Nights in Stanley Park with your friends and loved ones this year I have 4 family packs of tickets available (that each contain 4 tickets). Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming your favourite outdoor holiday activity (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw 4 winners at random from all entries next Friday, November 23, 2012 at 12:00pm. Follow Bright Nights on Twitter and Facebook for more information.
Update The winners are @AngieQuaale, Michael Kwan, Monique, Coby.
Candies and costumes have been replaced with wreaths and ornaments on store shelves as we shift into the holiday season. Popular opinion is that it’s still too early to hear Christmas music but with December being just over two weeks away, plans are being made, gifts are being purchased, and many are ramping up for the festivities that will come.
The Vancouver Christmas Market opens next week, the Surrey Tree Lighting Festival is in a week, and two big parades will soon ring in the season:
Rogers Santa Claus Parade Vancouver
Website
When: Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 1:00pm
Where: Starting at West Georgia and Broughton, traveling east along West Georgia, turning south on Howe and finishing at Howe and Davie.
Visit the Coast Capital Savings Christmas Square at the Vancouver Art Gallery from 10:30am to 1:00pm for pre-parade festivities and entertainment. Bring donations for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Non-perishable food items will be collected along the parade route, near the front of the curb or at the Coast Capital Savings Christmas Square.
Surrey’s Santa Parade of Lights
Website, Facebook
When: Sunday, December 2, 2012 at 5:00pm
Where: The parade will start at 5:00pm from the Cloverdale Fairgrounds parking lot and will start down 176A St. It will then make its way to historic 176 St in downtown Cloverdale via 58A Ave.
The traditional parade with floats, marching bands, antique vehicles and horses will be joined by an amazing lighted Truck Parade. Everyone is encouraged to bring either a non-perishable food item or a children’s toy that will get picked up by one of the members of the Surrey Food Band and the Surrey Christmas Bureau.
Don’t worry kids! Santa will be able to make both events as the Vancouver parade is in the morning and Surrey’s is later in the evening.
Legendary Canadian musician Barney Bentall has just released his ninth studio album Flesh & Bone which was recorded in Vancouver. Currently touring through Alberta, Bentall will be playing a very special concert at the Vogue Theatre on December 8, 2012.
Richardson GMP and Potluck Café Society, in association with Paul Mercs Concerts, are proud to present Barney Bentall and The Grand Cariboo Opry at The Vogue Theatre on Saturday, December 8. A treasured tradition among Vancouver’s local community, this fundraiser and one-of-a-kind variety show brings over 800 concertgoers together to support Potluck Café Society.
The Potluck Café Society is a social enterprise that works to transform lives in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside by providing people in the community with stable employment and free, nutritious meals through its café and catering business. Over the past six years, the proceeds of Barney Bentall & The Grand Cariboo Opry have helped to create jobs and serve over 40,000 nutritious meals to people living in the Downtown Eastside.
At the Christmas show Barney Bentall will host an evening of entertainment with special guests like Ridley Bent, Dustin Bentall, Wendy Bird, Kendel Carson, Matt Masters, and more. Tickets are currently available for $39.95 to $49.95 through the Vogue Theatre box office.
I have 5 copies of Barney Bentall’s CD Flesh & Bone to give away along with a pair of tickets to this event. Here’s how you can enter to win one of these prizes:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw 5 winners: 4 will receive a CD and the fifth will receive a CD and tickets to the show. Winners will be drawn at random from all entries next Thursday, November 22, 2012 at 12:00pm.
Update The winners are Mary (CD + tickets), Ramona (CD), Bonnie (CD), Shara (CD), Bluesman (CD).
I remember a time when I could ride the SkyTrain for 75 cents. Mind you, the SkyTrain ended at Scott Road and there was only one line, not three. Fare hikes are an inevitable part of life in a major metropolitan area with the last one around here taking place April 1st, 2010. The Translink Buzzer Blog has laid out the changes that will take effect January 1, 2013:
There are some questions in the comments of the Buzzer Blog post that Jhenifer from Translink has answered such as:
Q: “I have a few $9 DayPasses saved on hand just in case. If I don’t use them by January’s fare increase, will I still be able to use them?”
A: “You can still use old DayPasses and FareSavers even if the fare increase has already taken effect. This happened during our last fare increase in 2010—FareSaver prices were increasing on April 1, 2010, so lots of people stocked up on FareSavers at the cheaper price before that.”
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For additional comments or answer options not given in the poll, please use the comments to discuss. Read more about the full changes that will be happening in the New Year and follow @Translink on Twitter for daily route information and general questions.
