On a warm summer night out downtown, amidst blaming sirens, buskers’ beats, and the chatter of crowds on Robson, you will hear music in the distance. It will emanate from the domes that cover Robson Square and curious, you will follow your ears to the source. Aromas of hot dog carts and tantalizing food trucks will distract your nose but you’ll continue on. You’ll stop at the top of the Vancouver Art Gallery steps only to remember that it’s that time of year again — free ballroom dancing on the rink at Robson Square!

Photo credit: John Bollwitt on Flickr

Since 1991, residents and visitors have been invited to dance on Friday night at Robson Square. From June 29th to August 31st, 2012 you can join in the fun one more, starting a free lesson at 8:00pm. Dances will then run from 9:00pm until 10:00pm and all skills levels and ages are welcome to tango, waltz, cha cha, and more.

You can follow Robson Square Dance on Facebook and Twitter for more information throughout the summer, and track the tag #R2Dance on Twitter. Bag check, washrooms, and parking are all available.

VISA and Tim Hortons have recently announced that you can now pay for your coffee, baked goods, Iced Capps and more using your VISA or pre-paid VISA card in Canada. To celebrate this union, they’re running a contest for the ultimate cottage getaway. You’re automatically entered anytime you use your VISA at Tim Hortons between now and August 15, 2012.

There are 26 locations in Vancouver including 1753 Davie Street (on your way to English Bay), and 3250 Arbutus (on your way to Spanish Banks, Jericho or Locarno beaches).

Supplied by VISA & Tim Hortons

They have also reached out and offered up a prize package exclusively to one lucky Miss604 reader, which will come in handy for picnic days, outings to Cultus Lake, road trips, camping getaways, and any other adventures you might get up to this summer.

The prize pack (valued at $200) includes:

A $35 VISA pre-paid card; a large canister of Tim Hortons coffee; 2 Tim Hortons mugs; towel, lanterns, citronella candles and flower pots; a small shovel and pail, Frisbee, beach ball, and velcro glove catcher with ball; sun screen and bug spray; and portable speakers.

Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment naming your favourite day trip or local camping destination (1 entry)
• Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)

I will draw one winner at random from all entries next Thursday, July 5, 2012 at 12:00pm. Prize cannot be redeemed for cash value.

Update July 5, 2012: On a side note, Tim Hortons and Bell Mobility announced today that they’re bringing free WIFI to 90% of Tim Hortons locations across Canada by September.

Update The winner is Rajvir Boparai!

The 2nd Annual Indian Summer Festival starts next week and will showcase top talent from South Asia (music, dance, literature, film, arts, cuisine, wellness) in conversation with Canadian counterparts.

Running from July 5th to July 15th, 2012 at the festival begins with the opening gala: A Culinary Tour of India with Vikram Vij & Friends at W2 Media Cafe. Other events include Life in the Limelight: Sharmila Tagore & Five Decades of Indian Cinema at SFU Theatre Surrey, The Other Side of Silence, With Urvashi Butalia at SFU on West Hastings, the Lit and Sound Cabaret, and more.

Throughout Indian Summer there will be free Bollywood groove sessions and Bhangra moves for all ages in the Woodward’s Complex Atrium.

There is also an art installation at the Audain Gallery from Raqs Media Collective called The Primary Education of the Autodidact with a window installation that will be viewable from the street at 111 W Hastings Street (between Cambie & Abbott) through September 4, 2012.

Tickets for these events and more are currently available, ranging from $10 to $60, and the free events in the Woodward’s atrium do not require tickets — just drop in. Follow Indian Summer on Twitter and Facebook for more information and event updates.

Richmond’s Sea Island is home to more than our award-winning airport, it also has a lone residential area. The quaint community of Burkeville that hugs Russ Baker Way and was established in 1943 as a part of the Dominion Government’s Wartime Housing Plan. The federal government established the neighborhood and built 328 cottages for employees of Boeing, naming the development after Boeing’s president at the time, Stanley Burke.

Burkeville (aka “Boeing Village”) in Richmond. VPL Accession Number: 80801. Photographer: Artray.

All street names are based on the names of aircraft, and the main street is, not surprisingly, “Boeing”. Examples of other street names are: Catalina, Douglas, Handley, Anson, Hudson, Wellington, Stirling, and Lancaster. Architects McCarter & Nairn developed the design of the community, including the layout of the roads, sewers, pumping system and other services. It was designed with differing sized lots and curving roads to avoid a checker board appearance. (The Boeing Beam, Vol 1, No 10, May 12, 1943). Each house on its 50 x 100 foot lot was designed to provide the maximum allowed living space with ample fenestration and storage. All houses were between 700 and 900 sq. ft and had either 4 or 6 rooms. Each house fell into 1 of 3 designs, had 1 of 4 roof colours and 1 of 3 wall colours. [City of Richmond]

Ironically, the “plain, no-frills dwellings” were designed by McCarter and Nairne, who gave us the Marine Building. The name of the development was chosen in a competition among Boeing employees. [Darren Barefoot]

When the war was over, houses were sold to returning veterans. Eventually the airport expropriated and purchased several properties in the 1970’s, breaking up pieces of the neighbourhood for airport use. A new bridge and a new highway were soon to flood the area with traffic and residents of the community became concerned about the future of their homes. The Burkeville Taxpayers Association applied and received a $40,000 grant from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation to study their situation and make recommendations. The results were grim as the ensuing report recommended that Burkeville be “phased out” as a residential area over the next 20 years.

Photo credit: Ecstaticist on Flickr

Despite the recommendation, it was felt by residents and by Richmond planning staff that Burkeville had “valid social and personal financial reasons which warrant retaining Burkeville as a residential neighbourhood. Also, current land economics are such that redevelopment for industrial or commercial use is not feasible. Therefore, it is probably necessary to maintain Burkeville as a viable residential neighbourhood for some time yet, perhaps up to twenty years.” (Memo dated Jule 12, 1976 to William Kerr, Director of Planning for the Township of Richmond, regarding ‘Future of Burkeville and Related Matters’. p. 3). [City of Richmond]

To plan for the future, the community needed an overhaul. Burkeville’s bungalows and two-storey detached homes are still part of a family-oriented community today with playgrounds, tennis courts, a community centre, a church, and a school. There’s even an annual Halloween Mini Theme Park and the aviation-themed Flight Path Park that the kids love, and a Sea Island trail network.

Update: Did you know Burkeville could have been called Fog Gultch?
Related posts: Vancouver Airport History, Grant McConachie.

FOX’s Vancouver Seeds competition, seeking out the ultimate local band or artist, is currently in its showcase stage with the Top 20 acts taking turns playing The Roxy.

The Top 19 bands were selected by Fox Vancouver Seeds judges and the last spot to make the Top 20 was determined by fan votes online. Over eight nights, starting last night, the Top 20 bands will perform live and from the group, three winners will be chosen.

Participants will be judged on songwriting, stage presence, musicianship, originality, and marketability. Seeds has been a launch pad for musicians since 1979 with previous winners such as Nickleback, Bif Naked, Matthew Good Band, Gob, Daniel Wesley, Default, Faber Drive, Theory Of A Deadman, State Of Shock, Incura, Goodbye Beatdown, Louder Then Love, Head of The Herd, Gentalman Prefer Blonds, and more.

This year’s winner will head out on the road with The Arkells, receive $10,000 in brand new gear from Long & McQuade, do a 5-song EP produced by Gggarth Richardson which will be distributed by Maple Music, do songwriting sessions with Steve Bays of Hot Hot Heat, recieve $5,000 tour support and full radio play from CFOX.

Support local music by attending these showcase events at The Roxy (932 Granville). Doors are at 8:00pm each night, with the first bands hitting the stage at 9:00pm. No tickets are required, the event is free before 9:30pm. This is a 19+ venue. Follow FOX Seeds on Facebook for more information.