It’s become a tradition for John and I to return to his hometown in Iowa to ring in the new year. During our winter visits, we usually do our first photowalk of the year, sliding around the ice-covered streets and crunching through knee-deep snow.

Winter 2009-2010 in Iowa

When we arrived this time around, we were welcomed by some very Vancouver-ish weather instead and while we haven’t gone on a winter wonderland stroll just yet, we did drive over to the Mississippi today with our cameras ready to fire. I wrote the following post on my iPhone as John took the driver’s seat:

Summer’s thousand shades of green are muted as winter paints the patchwork countryside with a dim and faded brush. Hills roll by capped by farmhouses, silos, cherry-red barns, and groves of bare-limbed trees.

The odometer drops as we enter river towns that share names with other places. Each has their own gas station, food mart, and bubbled water tower. Steeples on main street churches are the closest thing to heaven around until you pass another network of industrial silos.

After about hour of heading East, the Mississippi appears at the foot of the highway exit. The water reaches right up to land, appearing to lack any type of bank or slope.

We explore antique shops, have some lunch by the river, and stop at the gas station for a pit stop — and to soak up some free WIFI from the car.

The highway slips under us once again as we make the slingshot trip home, chasing the fiery orange sunset as it dips behind hills and bends in the road.

While it lacks majestic peaks and sea-sprayed shores, Iowa is full of heartfelt beauty in January – even without its usual white blanket.

Thanks to Bob from Vancouver is Awesome, I discovered a new blog to add to my link list. It’s Changing Vancouver and it features “then and now” images of our city.

As Bob kindly noted in his post, I’ve had my own Vancouver History: Then and Now series, I’ve helped the North Vancouver Museum promote their Then and Now Digital Photo Contest and Entheos Fog has an amazing Flickr set where he personally takes the present day photos to match the historic photos.

Changing Vancouver launched on Boxing Day and they have already published a month’s worth of posts. It’s being run by local historians Andy Coupland and John Atkin – two men who definitely know about this city’s 125-year history.

What impressed me, aside from 27 posts in 2 days, is that they’re not just publishing photos. They’re writing out the history of the locations as well:

“The Alhambra Hotel at Maple Tree Square where Carrall and Water Streets meet looks almost identical today to the 1931 photograph on the left. That’s because it’s recently had a comprehensive restoration by Acton Ostry Architects for Salient Developments, who seismically upgraded the building while putting it back to close to original appearance. In the meantime it didn’t look quite as tidy – as this 1968 image shows.”

Changing Vancouver even shares its secrets about how the image comparisons are captured and aligned. The authors state that: “it’s a companion blog to the Changing City blog which tracks contemporary development projects in Vancouver BC and buildingvancouver a blog that looks at who built some of the heritage buildings that are still standing in the city.”

If you’re a fan of local history, would like to learn more, or would like to see how our city has changed over the years, this new blog is worth bookmarking. And, if you haven’t already done so, check out AuthentiCity – a blog by the City of Vancouver Archives.

Watching The Nutcracker on TV is a holiday tradition my mother and I always had. Each year, we’d cozy up on the couch, under blankets, and watch a recorded performance or an animated version of the story. So when I was given the opportunity to watch and review Alberta Ballet’s 1.5 million dollar ballet live, I knew immediately who I’d bring as my date.

Photo courtesy of the Alberta Ballet. Credit: Darren Makowichuk

Admittedly, I was filled with trepidation as I arrived at the Queen Elizabeth theatre. After all, this ballet holds great sentimental value to me not only because it’s connected to a mother-daughter tradition, but also because as I child, I used to put all my dolls under the Christmas tree, thinking they would all come to life in a very Nutcracker kind of way. It’s deeply connected to childhood magic – something nothing can really compete with in a grown-up world.

From the truly magical and ethereal movements by the dancers to transcendent Tchaikovsky score played live by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, to the adorable children in rat costumes, Alberta Ballet’s the Nutcracker, presented by BC Ballet, not only exceeded every expectation I had, but blew them out of this world.

Photo courtesy of the Alberta Ballet. Credit: Darren Makowichuk

I think the small differences in this production from other versions definitely helped keep me (and the other audience members who know the story well) on my toes. For instance, most versions of The Nutcracker are set in Germany; however, this version takes place in turn-of-the-century Russia, where it was first performed in 1892, adding an opulent grandeur to the performance.

I had a truly wonderful time and more importantly, so did my mom. She hugged me right after the performance saying, “It’s really, really beautiful. I’m too excited to sleep,” she says to me now (at 12:20am!). I think I might try, maybe after putting some dolls under the tree.

Ballet BC presents the Alberta Ballet’s The Nutcracker until December 31, 2011 with Thursday and Friday performances at 7:30pm and two early shows on Friday and Saturday at 2:00pm. Tickets are still available including family packs. Follow @BalletBC on Twitter for additional information.

Translink is offering extended service on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2011 to ensure that revelers can get home safely.

Photo credit: Pisces Dreamer on Flickr – Submitted to the Miss604 Flickr Pool

Cab companies will have their hands full and Operation Red Nose will be busy as well. As such, Translink will be providing the following Holiday Services:

• Free transit from 5:00pm on December 31, 2011
• Bus service will run usual Saturday schedules with some routes running additional evening/late-night trips after their normal schedules. Use the Trip Planner to check your route and bus times, or read our New Years Eve Additional Bus Service sheet for a list of bus routes that will run more evening/late night trips on December 31.
• SkyTrain will run usual Saturday schedules with more frequent evening trains and will extend service by approximately one hour on all lines. The last Expo Line train to King George leaves waterfront at 2:16am; the last Canada Line trains leave Waterfront at 2:05am (to YVR) and 2:15am (to Richmond-Brighouse).
• SeaBus will operate a normal Saturday schedule but will extend service by about one hour with the last sailing from Lonsdale Quay at 2:06am and Waterfront at 2:20am.

For up-to-date information you can follow the @Translink Twitter account, call (604) 953-3333, or check out the Translink Alerts page.

As 2011 winds down, I have decided to do my annual “year in review” posts. While it’s tough to select the best moments (that I have blogged) over the last year, this week I’ll profile the following categories: Travel, Food, Music, and Entertainment.

I think the story of the year was the explosion of street food options around downtown Vancouver. Scout Magazine‘s Andrew Morrison has a great “Year in Review” article available from WEVancouver as well where he writes: “But was 2011 better than 2010? I’d like to think so. There were definitely more exciting openings than there were sad closures, with one nearly always following the other at the same address. Evidence that we’re still very much a small town abounded, wherein the regular six-degrees-of-separation rule is whittled down to just one or two. To wit, the end of Corner Suite Bistro (closed Jan. 4) allowed for the launch of Ensemble (opened May 10) because of the death of Lumiere (euthanized on Mar. 13).”

For John and I, we kept most of our dining secrets to ourselves but there were a few blog-worthy gems. 2011 was the year that we became regulars at Wild Garlic on Denman — due mostly to their tapas menu, basil and walnut gnocchi, and post-meal limoncello. We also explored more of Steveston and became more involved with the local brew scene, with Miss604.com sponsoring Vancouver Craft Beer Week.

“The soup was smooth yet textured with tiny bits of pancetta and small potato cubes. John’s fish was tender, crisp, and the eggplant soaked up delicious flavours yet maintained its crispy shell. Our mains were the mushroom and arugula crepes along with the flatiron steak salad. The crepes were rich and creamy, and the steak was succulent and tender. Without leaving any room for dessert, we enjoyed a glass of wine as we looked out the rustic shuttered windows to watch the fishing boats dance in the wind.” – An Afternoon in Steveston

“The soup was fresh, fruity, smooth and creamy, and the crunchy apples garnish with crusted toast added a delightful contrast in textures. Chef Bell created the soup’s stock from the chicken that was our tender and juicy second course and more apples were used in our sweet and salty dessert.” – Hester Creek Winery – Guest Chef Ned Bell

“The family-style breakfast, lunches and dinners were complete with fresh fruit, vegetables, grains, and cheeses. We also enjoyed one of the best traditional Thai meals I’ve had to date.” – Echo Valley Ranch Resort

“Aside from the hillside meadow dotted with sheep, the edible flower gardens, the sculptures, and the unobstructed harbour views, our favourite part of Hastings House was meal time. After a morning hamper was delivered to our suite each day including fresh-baked muffins and coffee, we could then head down for breakfast (included with your stay) which was served with farm-fresh eggs.” – Our Weekend at Hastings House on Salt Spring Island Continue reading this post ⟩⟩