Ronnie Miranda from Active Computer Services has been at it again: He’s captured a 180-degree view of downtown Vancouver form the Fairview neighbourhood. The image is 1,026 megapixels and is made up of 100 photos taken February 27, 2012.
Check out city panoramas from the same vantage point during the day, at dusk, and at night. Be sure to zoom in as far as you can to see if you can spot night skiers on Grouse or Cypress and dog-walkers on the False Creek sea wall.
Ronnie told me that these three images could possibly be the largest photos/panoramas (in megapixels) that have ever been created of this particular view.
Related posts: Gigapixel Time-Lapse of Vancouver, Gigapixel Photography Exhibit, GigaPan Epic Giveaway (now closed), Vancouver Video Collection, Canucks Fan Time-Lapse, Vancouver Time-Lapse Videos.
Fan Expo is coming to Vancouver April 21st to 22nd, 2012 as the Comicon-style event hosts workshops, panels, gaming, Sci-Fi film and television celebrities, and more.
Where Vancouver Convention Centre
Date April 21 to April 22, 2012
Times Saturday 10:00am to 7:00pm
Sunday 10:00am to 5:00pm
Tickets Available online. Single day tickets $20, weekend pass $30, kids 12 and under are free.
Previously known at the Canadian National Comic Book Expo, Fan Expo (now in its 18th year in Toronto) is the 3rd largest event of its kind in North America and it will be taking Vancouver by storm.
Confirmed guests so far include: Adam West (Batman), Burt Ward (Robin), Nicholas Brendon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Kristen Bauer (True Blood), Colleen Clinkenbeard (Fullmetal Alchemist), Veronica Taylor (Pokemon), Richard Cox (Inu Yasha), Trevor Devall (Mobile Suit Gundam), Mike McFarland (Dragonball Z), Brian Froud (Bakugan & Jimmy Two Shoes), Mike Choi (DC/Marvel Artist), Pia Guerra (Y the Last Man), Ian Boothby (Simpsons), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules, Andromeda), and Marina Sirtis (Star Trek: The Next Generation).
Key attractions will be celebrity autographs & photo opportunities, sketching duels, costumes, workshops and seminars, retailer/exhibitor area, voice acting 101, the ultimate Fan Expo party, horror author panels, and more.
The 3rd annual Canadian Videogame Awards will also be hosted by Fan Expo on Saturday night, April 21st.
I had the chance to chat with Lou Ferrigno, The Hulk himself, who is currently on Celebrity Apprentice about coming to Vancouver for Fan Expo.
“I come to Vancouver maybe once every 10 years,” Lou told me over the phone. He previously filmed three Hulk movies around town including The Trial Of The Incredible Hulk, and Death of the Incredible Hulk in the 1980s.
“I’ve never done a comic convention in Vancouver and I’m looking forward to it because I’m sure there’s a lot of fans out there who want to get in contact and see me and the other celebrities at the show.” Having never hosted an event like this (of this scale) before, there will definitely be crowds of fans at the ready here in town. Lou sounded very prepared for the opportunity. “I come down there with my Hulk posters, pictures, memorabilia, and everything.”
At 61 years young, and after starring in over 40 films, Lou Ferrigno still holds the Guinness Book of World Records title for being the only person to ever win two consecutive Mr. Universe titles. He’s always stayed true to his bodybuilding roots so I had to ask him what his fitness schedule is like these days. He said that he trains five to six days a week for about an hour or an hour and fifteen minutes at a time doing cardio, free weights, and machine weights. “I still train with the same passion — like I have done for the last 50 years.”
For someone who has been such an icon in American action-hero film, Lou is also a big fan of the genre. He said that he’s read comic books his entire life (naming The Hulk, Fantastic Four) and loves being involved with science fiction. You’ll soon be able to hear him in the all-star blockbuster The Avengers as he lends his voice to The Hulk (Mark Ruffalo plays Bruce Banner). “I know how The Hulk thinks and feels,” Lou added. “That’s why they wanted me to do the voice and that’s something I’m pretty happy with.”
To kick off the excitement for Fan Expo Vancouver, I have the opportunity to give away a pair of weekend passes along with a meet and greet with Lou Ferrigno. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment naming your favourite graphic novel character or hero (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw 1 winner at random from all entries next Wednesday, March 14, 2012 at 12:00pm.
Update The winner is Gordon Johnson!
My Vancouver Icons series began as a way to showcase photos of buildings, statues, and everyday Vancouver scenes that have a history that most don’t know. However, there are some subjects are captured more than others when I browse the images that have been added to the Miss604 Flickr Pool. One that keeps popping up at least once a week is Douglas Coupland’s Digital Orca, which was installed at Jack Poole Plaza in 2010.
From BC Living: “Douglas Coupland’s first piece of public art in Vancouver, Harbour Spirit Digital Orca, is both beautiful and bizarre, appearing as digital art in the three-dimensional world. Made using a steel armature with aluminum cladding, black and white cubes comprise the orca’s body, “making a familiar symbol of the West Coast become something unexpected and new,” Coupland writes on a plaque near the sculpture. It also touches upon the importance of technology and nature in the province.”
From Vancouver Observer: “One of Vancouver’s most beloved and well known public art pieces is the Digital Orca at the new convention centre. The familiar symbol of the West Coast is represented by 3D cubes, giving the appearance of a 2D object. It’s kind of like looking at a photograph with really bad resolution.”
From Jaunted.com: “Most people call the Digital Orca either “Lego Orca” or “Pixel Whale,” a sure sign that, once again, a Douglas Coupland creation is drawing attention and sparking a reaction. There’s a clear “do not climb” plaque at the foot of the inviting square “steps” that form the whale’s tail, yet invariably people climb it to pose for pictures. It’s just too much like a fun, gigantic toy!”
If you’re not a fan of the whale itself, you can’t help but love the view. I noticed that the majority of Digital Orca photos that I came across are all shot facing north, capturing the mountains in the background. The piece is only two years old but it’s quickly turned into a true Vancouver Icon.
Previous Vancouver Icons posts include: The Crab Sculpture, Girl in Wetsuit, The Sun Tower, The Hotel Vancouver, The Gassy Jack Statue, The Marine Building, and The Angel of Victory. Should you have a suggestion for the Vancouver Icons series please feel free to leave a note in the comments. It should be a thing, statue, or place that is very visible to the public every day.
Federico’s Supper Club on Commercial is presenting a celebrity comedy roast dinner where local comedians, lead by Patrick Maliha, will celebrate Terry David Mulligan with sharp humour — all in support of the Vancouver Food Bank.
Photo credit:
jmv on Flickr
Where Federico’s Supper Club (1728 Commercial Drive)
When March 23, 2012 from 7:00pm
Tickets Available for $115 and include cocktail appies, 4-course dinner, complimentary glass of Prosecco, tax & gratuity, entertainment and dancing after the show. Call (604) 251-3473 to reserve. Partial dinner proceeds and all silent auction proceeds to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.
Terry David Mulligan is a local radio legend (CKLG/CFOX) and former music video program producer with MuchWest, preceded by Good Rockin’ Tonight on CBC. Over the last 40 years he’s been producing and hosting music and pop programs across Canada. Most recently he “smuggled” wine from BC to Alberta and hosts the widely-syndicated Tasting Room Radio.
Vancouver’s comedy champion, Patrick Maliha (who crowns comedy champions himself), will host this special evening. Roasters will include David Pratt, Linda and Bob Robertson (Double Exposure), Glen Schaefer, Erica Sigurdson, Tanyalee Davis, Urban Rush’s Michael Eckford and Fiona Forbes, and Carter Hortie.
Update Tickets are available just for the roast now, for $20. Call Federico’s at (604) 251-3473 to book and arrive around 8:00pm.
L’Arche Greater Vancouver is hosting its 3rd annual Art of Being Together fundraising art exhibit this weekend. The event features artwork by some of Vancouver’s emerging artists along with pieces created by team of people with and without developmental disabilities.
When Saturday March 10, 2012 from 1:00-5:00pm
Where National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre (6688 Southoaks, Burnaby BC)
Ticket A $5 donation is suggested
The Art of Being Together is L’Arche’s signature event that brings together the arts community and people with developmental disabilities in a celebration of community and our need of each other.
Artists were invited to submit an original work of art to L’Arche inspired by community and
togetherness. A panel of judges will award a winning piece at the event and attendees can vote for what they like the best for People’s Choice. Several of the pieces will be for sale along with other silent auction items.
Award presentations will take place at approximately 4:30pm. There will also be refreshments and musical performances throughout the afternoon including a special performance by the Tetsu Taiko Drummers.
L’Arche is an international organization that assists and supports those with developmental disabilities. They have been based in Greater Vancouver for over 30 years and run community homes, day programs, and are involved in an array of community outreach programs. They are a Christian-based society however they assist and support members from a rich diversity of religions, races and cultural backgrounds.
Check out L’Arche’s blog, and the Art of Being Together on Facebook for more information.
Photos by John Bollwitt for Miss604.com
Two years ago I was invited to be the emcee at their inaugural event and we had a great time with community members, bidding on silent auction items, and viewing the beautiful artwork that was on display. Take some time to explore the venue itself (National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre) which can be found at the end of a cherry blossom-covered street.
If you would like to check out this event, here’s how you can enter to win a pair of tickets:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw a winner at random from all entries on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 10:00am.
Update The winner is Stephanie!
