George Stroumboulopoulos (known affectionately as “Strombo”) will be returning to Vancouver next week to film his show, George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight at the CBC.
Guests will include Sandra Oh, Daryl Hannah, Jim Treliving, Paul Franklin, and Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson. There will also be special features with comedian Brent Butt, former prime minister Kim Campbell, CBC Radio 3’s Grant Lawrence, actor Cameron Bright, Dr. Julio Montaner, Jane Goodall, Ian Hanomansing, Mark Donnelly, and those infamous Green Men. Musical guests will include Mother Mother and Nick Gilder.
All of the audience tickets have been scooped up but you can still get on the waiting list.
George will also be on CBC Radio One on Friday, March 30th at 4:00pm with Stephen Quinn and on the Early Edition with Rick Cluff Monday, April 2nd at 8:00am. Follow @Strombo on Twitter, for updates anytime and while he’s in Vancouver, and use the tag #gtonight when talking about the show.
Legendary elusive billionaire Howard Hughes once holed up in Vancouver’s Bayshore hotel (now Westin Bayshore) for six straight months. It’s been 40 years since his stay and Heritage Vancouver is hosting an anniversary tour to commemorate the unusual event.
1961 – Bayshore Inn, Coal Harbour. Archives item# 2010-006.046.
What Howard Hughes at the Bayshore: 40th Anniversary Celebration
When Wednesday, April 4, 2012 from 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Where Meet at the Westin Bayshore, 1601 Bayshore Drive just east of the main entrance
Cost Tickets are available online for $20 or $15 for Heritage Vancouver members. UPDATE: Tickets are now sold out but they are thinking about adding another tour – stay tuned!
It was 1972 and Hughes—the movie producer, the aviator, one of the richest men in the world had not been seen in public for years. Yet he walked into the hotel on his own without being noticed. Rumors swirled as to why he was here. What was he doing? Who were the strange security staff that took over the hotel and guarded him with a security detail of that of a president or prime minister? Was it true he was sneaking out at night to drive around Stanley Park?
The tour will be lead by local historian and self-confessed “Hughes-ologist” Aaron Chapman who will separate fact from fiction. He will also be joined by former Bayshore staff members who were there during Hughes’ famous stay.
Chapman published an article in the Vancouver Courier in December 2004 which is referenced in Chuck Davis’ VancovuerHistory.ca:
“On an early and rainy Tuesday morning, March 14, 1972, an older man in an old bathrobe, pajama bottoms and sandals walked into the side lobby of the Bayshore Inn in Vancouver. Surrounded by a half-dozen bodyguards and staff, the tall, oddly dressed gent casually strolled around the nearly unoccupied lobby, commenting, ‘This is pretty nice.’ He moved into the elevator with the men and up to the penthouse suite where he would remain unseen, never leaving his single room for the duration of his six-month stay. Howard Hughes had arrived in Vancouver.”
The Westin Bayshore is also marking the occasion with a special “40th Anniversary Howard Hughes” package. You can book the aptly-named Howard Hughes Penthouse Suite, receive dining credits and a spa package, for $799 a night or book a harbour view room from $189 a night, with dining credits and more.
Look at an image of Vancouver before the 1990s and you’ll notice a very different landscape. Apartment towers have sprouted up at a rate of 3,000 units per year, which is 1,000 more annually than twenty years ago. Moving away from brick and stone, transforming into a city of glass. Apartment-dwellers outnumber those in row houses, semi-detached and detached homes combined in the city so I thought it might be worth a look back at apartments over the years, many of which are still-standing.
1910s – Mt Stephen Block (7th & Quebec). Archives item# SGN 1028. Photographer: WJ Moore.
1917 – Manhattan Apartments, 784 Thurlow at Robson. Archives item# CVA 99-346. Photographer: Stuart Thomson.
1919 – Washington Court, 998 Thurlow. Archives item# CVA 99-264. Photographer: Stuart Thomson.
1920 – Florence Court, 1201 W Georgia (at Bute). Archives item# CVA 99-1298. Photographer: Stuart Thomson.
1945 – Hornby at Robson. Archives item# CVA 586-4162. Photographer: Steffens Colmer.
1928 – Queen Charlotte Apartments, 1101 Nicola. Archives item# Bu N261. Photographer: WJ Moore.
Thanks to the City of Vancouver Archives for their resources.
Those little blue boats that transport you from the Aquatic Centre near Sunset Beach to the Maritime Museum or Granville Island are celebrating their 30th anniversary this week. False Creek Ferries started out in 1982 with only two boats and two destinations. Now, they have ten vessels and half a dozen routes.
THe original route was from Granville Island to the old Boaters’ Village Marina on the North Shore. Today you can ride the little blue boats to Granville Island, the Aquatic Centre, Maritime Museum, David Lam Park in Yaletown, Stamps Landing, Science World, and the Plaza of Nations. The little boats dance across False Creek carrying visitors and locals alike.
Hitting the water to cross the creek is a nice change of pace. Leave the car at home, walk down to the dock, and hop a ride to your destination. It can also be complimented with a transit ride to get you where you need to go.
View False Creek Ferries! in a larger map
You can also take a 20 or 40 minute sightseeing tour, pick up an all-day pass, or check out their sunset mini-cruise option. Follow @FalseCreekFerry on Twitter to find out more about their anniversary deals and discounts and add your own photos to the False Creek Ferry group on Flickr.
Sarah McLachlan will be hosting a concert this September in Stanley Park. All proceeds will benefit the Sarah McLachlan School of Music in Vancouver, “which aims to use the power of music to inspire youth in under-served communities by offering free music programs.”
Sarah’s 2009 outdoor concert series “Summer Session” at Ambleside in West Vancouver were a big success, drawing the likes of Sheryl Crow and Neil Young to perform with a host of others. If you attended last year’s “Summer Live” in Stanley Park you can appreciate how this is shaping up to be a fantastic event.
The line-up for the “Voice in the Park” concert, happening September 15, 2012, will be announced in April with tickets going on sale in May but you can sign up today to receive news and notifications.
The Sarah McLachlan School of Music is a registered charity and offers free music programs for underserved and at-risk youth in Vancouver. The school focuses on inspiring confidence and success in students, while promoting a lifelong love of the arts. Funds raised from the concert will be used to further expand the free after-school music programs available for students and to increase the number of students.
Update June 18, 2012: The star-studded line up was also revealed today and features Sarah along with Stevie Nicks, Jann Arden, Hedley, The Boom Booms, Grammy Award winning producer Chin Injeti, along with a special appearance by former president and long-time friend Bill Clinton.
Tickets go on sale at 10:00am on Friday June 22nd and start at $85, inclusive of all fees via Ticketmaster. A limited number of general admission tickets for kids 12 and under will be available for just $10.
Update July 5, 2012: Just two weeks after the first announcement of artists performing at the Voices in the Park fundraising concert, Sarah McLachlan has revealed the newest addition to the show is none other than Vancouver’s own Bryan Adams.
Update September 14, 2012: There was a sound check with morning for media and special guests. Sarah sounded amazing and the venue is beautiful.
With no rain in the forecast, concert-goers are in for a treat. You can still get tickets and tickets will be available at the gate.
