The Vancouver Heritage Foundation presents their 10th annual Heritage House Tour on Sunday, June 3rd. This one-day self-guided tour leads participants through 10 different houses, a church that has been converted to strata units, Cedar Cottage homes, Shaughnessy mansions, and more.
Over 18,000 people have participated in the Heritage House Tour over the years which always features a different selection of privately-owned homes in a variety of neighbourhoods.
You can purchase your 24-page tour booklet (which is your admission ticket) for $40 (plus HST). Ticket purchases can be made online or by calling (604) 264-9642.
The Heritage House Tour is a fundraiser for the Vancouver Heritage Foundation which is a charitable organization that supports the conservation of Vancouver’s built heritage through public awareness, education activities and granting programs.
Follow the Vancouver Heritage Foundation on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Trapp + Holbrook is New Westminster’s latest real estate development that will build up modern living spaces along Columbia Street in our province’s original capital. This reconstruction of the historic Trapp building will be performed by Robert Fung and his team at The Salient Group who have transformed many prominent buildings in Gastown.
“The historic Trapp Block was built in 1899. Formerly home to Army and Navy, the site has sat empty since 1977. Facing Columbia Street and backing onto Front Street, Trapp Block is part of the historical Golden Mile, once a prosperous neighbourhood in New Westminster and once again, its charm is drawing us back!
What you can expect from Trapp + Holbrook is a marriage of the old and the new: 196 homes ranging from 500 to 1261 square feet, 20 storeys in height with panoramic views of the Fraser River. You will also find excellent value with homes starting at $219,900 and 100 homes priced under $299,000.” [The Salient Group Blog]
There has been an abundance of press coverage about the project, from the Georgia Straight talking about the revitalization of New Westminster, to the Royal City Record, and blog posts on 10th to the Fraser, BuzzBuzzHome, and Vancouver is Awesome.
The Revitalization
When I was young, my family spent every weekend in New Westminster and the Hyack Parade was an annual tradition for us. My first job in retail was at Royal City Centre shopping mall, and the first place I looked for a wedding dress was on Columbia Street. Since that time, I haven’t spent many days in New Westminster – we’ve just sped by on the SkyTrain on our way to the end of the line.
If you haven’t taken the time to explore New Westminster today, take an hour or two to discovering the changes along Columbia and the river. Towers now flank the SkyTrain tracks, there’s a full mini-mall of shops and services within the New Westminster SkyTrain station itself, a new movie theatre, and the Quay has been rebranded as River Market. The new Waterfront Pier Park will host a grand opening celebration June 16, 2012.
Our Day Out
John and I took the time to explore New Westminster a few weeks ago, from coffee and tea shops, to the River Market and Antique Alley on Front Street. We even stopped to take a few photos from the parkade along the water where scenes from Jackie Chan’s Rumble in the Bronx were filmed (with mountains in the background and all).
The Contest
If you would like to experience New Westminster for yourself, Trapp + Holbrook has offered up gift cards so that you can enjoy what John and I got to taste and sip in during our excursion.
This prize pack includes: $20 for Waves Coffee House, $50 for Drink Urban Lounge, and within the River Market the winner will receive $25 for KJM Urban Gardens, $20 for the Great Wall Tea Company, and $75 for Wild Rice. All of these establishments are within walking distance of each other.
Here’s how you can enter to win this ultimate “Day in New Westminster” prize pack valued at $190:
- Leave a comment here naming a highlight of New Wesminster for you (could be a park, shop, fond memory, or a place you hope to visit) (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
The Trapp + Holbrook presentation centre is located at 668 Columbia Street and is open from 12:00pm to 7:00pm, Monday to Thursday, and until 5:00pm on the weekends. They have staff on hand to answer questions and guide you through a display suite. Follow The Salient Group on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for more photos and information.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, June 1, 2012. If you enjoyed the photo in this post, you can view more in John’s Flickr set.
Update The winner is Tintin!
The nominations are in for the 30th Annual Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards which will take place on Monday, June 25, 2012 at the Commodore Ballroom. More than 120 individuals nominated performers and theatre companies in 25 different categories who all represent outstanding theatre in Vancouver.
Leading the pack of nominations is The Arts Club Theatre Company with 17 nominations, with 9 of those for The Penelopiad. Neworld Theatre (in association with Vancouver Moving Theatre) received 7 nominations for The Idiot, and in the ‘Small Theatre’ category, The Electric Company (in association with the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company) received 8 nominations for All the Way Home. For ‘Theatre for Young People’, Carousel Theatre has racked up 11 nominations for productions like The Wizard of Oz and Aesop’s Fables.
Here are a few more of the nominations: Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
The Rosewood Hotel Georgia‘s inner courtyard dining lounge, Reflections, offered its first brunch service this past weekend. Located on the 4th floor of the hotel, it’s perched between city towers and surrounded by a flowing stream. A rushing waterwall drowns out city sounds and smooth lounge music echoes from under the glass canopy.
John and I were seated under cover on the patio, around a flickering open fire pit. Although we were outside, the rain was not a deterrent and only added to the ambiance. Pillows, blankets, and overhead heaters kept us warm as we sipped our coffees and looked over the new brunch menu [click for PDF].
Chef Ken Nakano offers up West Coast inspired brunch tapas (crab legs, smoked and candied salmon) along with amped up twists on classic brunch items. John, though tempted by the spicy chorizo eggs benedict, went for the beef short rib benedict ($17) and I decided on smoked salmon hash ($19).
Our food was served on a warm tablet which I thought would turn into a mess when I cut into my eggs. However, the eggs were poached to perfection and everything stayed in place. The servings were generous and for the quality of the food and the atmosphere, the price points were very reasonable.
John and I spent a good two hours snuggled up in our little cabana, sipping Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial, which is featured at Reflections. It was served over ice, as intended, to bring out the essence of the champagne. Sliced grapes and fresh mint leaves were added to our glasses and we had the option to add even more local fruit. The selection of berries didn’t get muddled the in glass, flavours popped, and the champagne stayed crisp. We would have stayed for another two hours if we didn’t have a movie to catch.
The staff were very attentive, asking every guest if they were comfortable, warm enough, and if they were enjoying the first brunch service at Reflections. Sunday brunch is served from 10:00am to 3:00pm and Reflections is open Monday to Saturday from 12:00pm until late.
If you would like to experience this for yourself, the Rosewood Hotel Georgia has offered up an exclusive giveaway for one lucky Miss604 reader and their friends. The prize includes brunch for four (food only), and a glass each of Moet & Chandon’s Ice Imperial. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post naming who you would bring to brunch (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Rosewood Hotel Georgia on Facebook and Twitter for more information about the hotel and its dining options.
I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Wednesday, May 30, 2012 at 10:00am. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win. The Rosewood Hotel Georgia is located on the corner of West Georgia and Howe in Downtown Vancouver. Prize includes brunch for 4 (food only) and 1 glass of Moet & Chandon Ice Imperial per guest. Reservation booking required, subject to availability. Please enjoy responsibly.
Update The winner is @bookminder!
The Urban Tea Merchant is a take-out cafe, retail store, tea sampling salon, and tea room all in one. Located between Alberni and Georgia streets, this one-stop tea shop exclusively offers luxury TWG teas and tea-infused treats.
The Urban Tea Merchant is a family-owned business with all members being very active in every facet of providing tea to the masses in downtown Vancouver. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
