I began the Vancouver Icons series over a year ago to occasionally showcase photos of statues, buildings, and landmarks that we see everyday. They’re spotted in locally-filmed television shows and movies, and there are countless photos shared online. A perfect example is today’s feature subject, the Vancouver Public Library’s Central Branch.
Photo credit: FreeRishad – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool
Located at 350 West Georgia, the Central Branch is a meeting place, courtyard coffee spot, and hub of community and library activities. The current building opened in 1995 and the library moved over from its previous location at Burrard and Robson, where it had been since 1957. Prior to that, it was at the Carnegie library building on Main and Hastings, since 1903.
Vancouver Farmers Markets are returning for the summer with some only taking a short break from their winter market season. The first to open will be Trout Lake Farmer Market this weekend but here is a complete listing, thanks to EatLocal:
“Shopping at farmers markets is never a chore. Talking to farmers, tasting their wares & enjoying the beautiful setting makes it a joy.” – Roberta Laquaglia, @VanMarkets
Trout Lake Farmers Market
Location: North Parking Lot of John Hendry Park at Trout Lake Dates: Saturdays, May 12, 2012 to October 20, 2012 Hours: 9:00am to 2:00pm each week Notes: There is no parking in the North lot (that’s where the market is) nor is there parking on 13th Avenue. Organizers encourage walking, cycling, or transit options.
Kitsilano Farmers Market
Location: Parking Lot of Kitsilano Community Centre (2690 Larch at 10th) Dates: Sundays, May 20, 2012 to October 21, 2012 Hours: 10:00am to 2:00pm each week
West End Farmers Market
Location: 1100 Block of Comox across from Nelson Park at Mole Hill Dates: Saturdays, June 2, 2012 to October 20, 2012 Hours: 9:00am to 2:00pm each week
Main Street Market
Location: Main Street Station at Thornton Park (across from the train station) Dates: Wednesdays, June 6, 2012 to October 3, 2012 Hours: 3:00pm to 7:00pm each week
Kerrisdale Village Farmers Market
Location: East Boulevard between 37th and 41st (near Kerrisdale Arena) Dates: Saturdays, July 7, 2012 to October 6, 2012 Hours: 10:00am to 2:00pm each week
The Bicycle Valet offers bike parking at many of these markets, check out their community calendar to confirm.
The official Vancouver Farmers Market site (EatLocal) also has interactive maps of market layouts and information about bike valets. For all your farmers market information, follow @VanMarkets on Twitter and @ParkBoard.
Tonight marks the opening performance of BC Ballet’s season closer, Bliss, created by the company’s Resident choreographer José Navas.
Donald Sales and Alexis Fletcher. Photo credit: Chris Randle.
This has been my first year seeing virtually every performance by the company and I must say that it’s been an absolutely transcendent experience. I admire BC Ballet’s ability to break down old categories and assumptions of what ballet is and risking to deliver fresh, relevant dance to contemporary audiences.
Bliss is the first full-evening work by Navas for BC Ballet, who has very little experience with choreographing en pointe. In fact, in 2010, when BC Ballet first signed on the Montreal-based contemporary dancer and artistic director of Compagnie Flak as resident choreographer, he had never created a piece en pointe at all. His first short work, the bliss that from their limbs all movement takes, was spectacular, innovative and received a lot of accolade from both audiences as critics.
I’m looking forward to Bliss, an extended re-working of the short piece, and seeing what new ways Navas has the dancers move and what old traditions and categories he shatters with those pointe shoes.
Bliss runs today until Saturday, May 12, 2012. Ballet BC will return in November for the 2012-2013 season. Follow them on Twitter for updates and information over the summer.
Living in Vancouver, I think a girl needs at least four pairs of shoes in her arsenal. Boots for puddles, kitten heels or ballet flats for work, heels for nightlife, and flip flops for beach days. Shopping options are just as abundant as there are styles of wedges for summer, from famous shoe sales to the city’s best retail streets.
For those who like to shop online, there’s also ShoeMe who recently contacted me to do a giveaway and introduce Vancouver shoppers to their products and services.
Image supplied by ShoeMe Canada
ShoeMe Canada is the first 100% Canadian shoe e-tailer, with free shipping as well as a 100-day return policy. Taxes are also included in all prices so what you see if what you pay.
Shop for shoes online from home or on the go and enjoy a wide range of style selections including Jessica Simpson, BCBGeneration, Keds, comfort brands like Ecco, Sperry Top-Sider, Palladium Boots, and more for men and women.
If you would like to try out this online, Canadian, shoe shopping experience, ShoeMe is offering up a credit of up to $200 for one Miss604 reader and they’ll also take care of the shipping. Here’s how you can enter to win:
Leave a comment naming the style of shoe you would select from ShoeMe (1 entry)
Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
RT to enter to win up to $200 to spend at @ShoeMeCA from @Miss604 http://ow.ly/aPJmg
Follow ShoeMe on Facebook and Twitter for more shoe-related information. I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 10:00am on Wednesday, May 16, 2012. The winner will receive credit to spend up to $200 with ShoeMe.
Recently, I was invited down to check out Anthony Sedlak’s newest restaurant, The American Cheesesteak Co. (“ACC”) on Davie Street during the filming of Food Network’s You Gotta Eat Here with John Catucci.
Despite the title, it’s not a chain restaurant. Instead it’s a uniquely Vancouver spin on a Philadelphia tradition thanks in huge part to Anthony’s style.
Using locally-sourced and locally-made ingredients, Sedlak’s restaurant comes the closest to achieving a true Philly cheesesteak, while at the same time, being a completely different take on it. I should know as I’ve had them in Philadelphia and have compared every sandwhich I’ve come across with “philly” in the title to the first one I had 20 years ago from a hole in the wall place in Philly.
It appears that the quality of the food at ACC hasn’t gone unnoticed as I mentioned, John Catucci and crew were there filming for an upcoming episode of You Gotta Eat Here.
I asked John to talk about his visit to Vancouver:
I only got to spend a short time with Anthony and John but they had me in stitches the whole time…you’d think they were a comedy duo. I can’t wait to see the full episode when it airs later this year (broadcast details will be posted here when they are available).
