Vancouver’s Commodore Lanes, Canada’s oldest surviving bowling centre, opened up below Granville Street on September 8, 1930. Since its neon sign has been advertising bowling and billiards in the downtown entertainment district for the last eight decades, I’ve decided it should be this week’s featured Vancouver Icon:
1946 – Theatres and the bowling sign on Granville. VPL Accession Number: 27166.
Commodore Lanes opened up as a place where “Pleasant Days May Be Spent”. Created to promote quality bowling and billiards in the heart of the city, It has prospered at its Granville Street location ever since. In [82] years, much had changed, but the original motto remains the same. [Source: Commodore Lanes]
The alley is still alive and kicking, attracting a downtown crowd that’s up for some good old fashioned fun, in slick shoes. They host league nights, parties, tournaments, and the Bowl for Big Brothers Classic in their 18,800 square foot venue with twelve lanes.
Sharpen your pencils and keep score on paper while the foosball table, pinball machines, and the jukebox provide a soundtrack. Vintage photos hang on the wall, cold beer is served by the jug, and all those who haven’t yet found their strike zone can roll the 5-pin bowling ball down the lane ‘granny style’.
You can find Commodore Lanes at 838 Granville and they’re open daily from 11:00am until midnight (from 10:00am on Fridays) and until 1:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. Get active, have fun with friends and family, or wait out some afternoon rain on the weekends at this legendary local — and Canadian — establishment.
Other Vancouver Icons posts include: 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.
Just east of the Surrey and Langley border, Campbell Valley Park is a 535 hectare green space with kilometers of trails for walkers, hikers, cyclists, and those on horseback. With its open meadow, bubbling Little Campbell River, and leafy marshland, it’s the perfect destination for late summer — and it’s today’s Metro Vancouver Park Series profile.
Campbell Valley Park
How to Get There
Take Highway 1 east to Langley’s 200th street exit and head south for 14.5km. Turn east on 16th avenue for the North Valley entrance. From Highway 99, take the 8th Ave exit east for 7.5km and follow signs to make your way into the park. You’ll pass 176th (where you would turn to go to the border) and the Campbell Valley Store, which is a sure sign that you’re in the right area — but just keep going a bit further.
View Larger Map
Features
There is a visitor centre and wildlife garden, reservable picnic area (with washrooms), and areas for dogs to roam both on and off leash. Popular trails include the Little River Trail, which is a manageable 2.2km long, the Ravine Trail, and the 14.4km-long Shaggy Mane Trail. You can walk under a crumbling forest canopy in the fall, along a boardwalk network, or stretch your legs in the meadow. Spot squirrels, beavers, birds, and other critters during your adventure in the park.
History
There are a few historic buildings in the park, accessible off 204th street: The Annand/Rowlatt Farmstead and the Lochiel Schoolhouse.
The farmhouse, built in 1888, is one of the oldest houses still extant in the Township of Langley. Both the Annand and the Rowlatt families were important pioneer families in the south Langley community. The first family to farm this site was Alexander Annand and his wife Sarah Ann, who homesteaded here in 1886. The Annands are credited with establishing the Langley Fall Fair in the 1910s. They sold the land to W.F. Taylor in 1905, who leased a portion of the farmstead and the house to Len Rowlatt in 1914. Rowlatt, renowned for his water divining ability, later purchased the house and farm and lived there until his death in 1972. [Historic Places]
Originally established in 1889, Lochiel School was one of the earliest schools formed in the new province of British Columbia. This later version of the school has a history of use and disuse (1925, 1986) and in being moved about to other sites (1950, 1975, mid-1980s). Built in 1924 to replace the first neighbourhood school house, Lochiel School is important because of its historic and educational significance and because it is one of two surviving examples of its type in Langley.[Historic Places]
We used to visit this park often when I was little and we always attended the Campbell Valley Fair (with hay rides, crafts, kite-making, and kettle corn treats). Now in its 34th year the Country Celebration at Campbell Valley Park is happening September 15th and 16th from 10:00am to 4:00pm. I highly recommend familiarizing yourself with this park at this event if you are not already. The event is $10 per family (children 6 and younger are free) and will feature performers, a ferris wheel and a llama obstacle course. Park off 204th to get to the Country Celebration which will be around the farmstead.
Check out all 50 entries in my Metro Vancouver Park Series for fun, recreation, and local day trip ideas.
The Vancouver Retro Cinema Fest is bringing cult classics and pop favourites to the Denman Cinemas this month. The 8-day festival will feature 15 hits at the West End theatre including:
- Sunday, September 23, 2012: An Opening You Can’t Refuse: Godfather I, II
- Monday, September 24, 2012: Tarantino Night: Pulp Fiction, Inglorious Basterds
- Tuesday, September 25, 2012: I Heart 80’s: Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal
- Wednesday, September 26, 2012: Spooktacular: Ghostbusters I, II
- Thursday, September 27, 2012: Trekkie Khaaan-athon: Star Trek II, VIII
- Friday, September 28, 2012: Fabulous Friday: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
- Saturday, September 29, 2012: Lebowski Bash Vancouver: The Big Lebowski
- Sunday, September 30, 2012: Back to the Awesome Night: Back to the Future I, II, III
You may have these films on DVD, you might have them listed as favourites on NetFlix, and you might have caught them outdoors during a Stanley Park summer movie night. You know all the best quotes so what would be better than seeing these flicks in the theatre with hot buttered popcorn and fellow fans? Soundtracks will be blaring, you can show off during trivia time, win prizes, and enjoy themed snacks and drinks.
This festival’s concept will be new to Vancouver by way of Australia. The idea to open a Retro Cinema Fest in Vancouver came to former theatre usher Ronald Tucker, originally from Canada, while working at the Orpheum Picture Palace in Sydney Australia’s North Shore. Starting with the roll-out of the Sydney Retro Cinema, Ronald and his business partners knew immediately they were on to something brilliant. “One of my favourite past times is getting together with old friends to celebrate classic films,” says Tucker. “The aim of Vancouver Retro Cinema Fest is to get film lovers from all over the province to come together and celebrate these classic films in true retro style.”
Catch the double-headers, triple-headers, and theme nights for $20 and two special events for $25: The Lebowski Bash and the Priscilla Queen of the Desert Drag Contest.
Tickets are now available online and showtimes for each day are posted. You can purchase a full Vancouver Retro Cinema Fest pass for all screenings and events for $149. Follow the festival on Facebook and the Denman Cinemas on Twitter and the tag #VRCF on Twitter for more information. Denman Cinemas are located at 1779 Comox Street just off Denman in downtown Vancouver.
Update I have two pairs of tickets to give away to any of the Vancouver Retro Cinema Fest events. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming the themed event you would most like to attend at the festival (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw two winners, who will each get a pair of tickets to the event of their choice, on Thursday, September 20, 2012 at 12:00pm. Update The winner is Dani!
Tomorrow is the 3rd annual Etsy Craft Party in Vancouver, a celebration of creativity that is held in communities around the world.
At the party you’ll be hands-on doing letterpress printing with Sam Bradd, button making with BLIM, collaborative canvas painting with Raw Canvas, glass jar decorating with Michaels, and much more.
The party will take place Friday, September 7, 2012 at BLIM in Chinatown (115 E Pender St) from 6:00pm to 10:00pm. This is a 19+ event as there will be a cash bar with refreshments, non-alcoholic and alcoholic.
Guests will received goodie bags and be eligible for prize draws at the event. Early bird tickets are sold out but a few $20 tickets still remain.
Follow @VanEtsyParty and the tag #craftparty on Twitter for more information.
Triple O’s, home of everyone’s favourite BC-born burger creations, has just announced its latest menu offering: The Peanut Butter, Bacon & Jalepeno Burger.
The 4 oz. 100% fresh Canadian beef burger comes with crunchy peanut butter, two bacon slices, jalapeno peppers, mayo, shredded lettuce, and tomato. Triple O’s has gone nutty for peanut butter as they are now whipping up Peanut Butter, Bacon & Banana Milkshakes as well.
If you would like to try out their new peanut butter and bacon creations, I have a $50 gift card up for grabs. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming some of your favourite bacon flavour combos (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at 12:00pm. Follow Triple O’s on Facebook and Twitter for more information about their menu, locations, and food trucks.
Triple O’s fact: In a parking lot on Granville Street, Nat Bailey took orders from parked cars using order pads that were printed with three X’s and three O’s. The phrase became part of the language as guests could choose specially made mayonnaise and relish for their burgers. X meant “hold” and O meant “extra” and Triple “O” meant “plenty of everything.” Hence, Triple O’s.
Update The winner is @SamanthaCacnio!!
