The results of the Georgia Straight’s 2011 Best of Vancouver are now in and I’m very thankful to all who have once again voted Miss604.com Best Local Blog for the third year in a row, and Best Local Twitterer for the second.
Best local TV personality (English): Dawn Chubai and Riaz Meghji (Citytv)
Best local performing-arts festival: Vancouver International Fringe Festival and Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival
Best local theatre company or theatre production: Arts Club Theatre Company
Best local dance company: Ballet B.C.
Best local street/community festival: Car Free Days
Best afternoon radio host(s): James Sutton (The Peak)
Best late-night radio host(s): Cory Ashworth and Laurie Logan (The Peak)
Best local band (signed): Mother Mother
Best restaurant/café with free Wi-Fi: WAVES Coffee House
Best locally brewed beer: Granville Island Honey Lager
Best patio: Local Public Eatery
Best restaurant to take out-of-town guests The Sandbar
Best kid-friendly restaurant: White Spot
Best B.C. wine/winery (red wine): Burrowing Owl Estate Winery
Favourite Canucks player: Ryan Kesler
Favourite B.C. Lions player: Geroy Simon
Favourite Whitecaps player: Jay DeMerit
Favourite Vancouver Canadians player: Drew Permison
Best wedding photographer: Blue Olive Photography
Please check out the full list of winners in all categories courtesy of the Georgia Straight.
I’d like to add in a few shout outs. The first being to Vancouver is Awesome who I had the pleasure of sharing the Best Local Blog title with last year. It’s is a fantastic resource for unique events, community news, and over a dozen informative, quirky, and loveable features from a cast of authors. VIA is an official non-profit society to boot. Be sure to check out their latest addition, Whistler is Awesome as well.
Second, here’s to the food bloggers in Vancouver who have come on the scene and provided us all with drool-worthy photos and tantalizing write-ups for everything from our finest gourmet offerings to finger-licking food carts. A few suggestions for you to follow would be Follow Me Foodie, Sherman’s Food Adventures, Gourmeted, and Gourmet Fury (just to name a few, there are many great ones out there). Also, if you haven’t yet tried Erin Ireland‘s banana bread, you should get over to Commune Cafe and pick up a loaf as quickly as possible.
Last but not least, my readers help me promote local non-profits, organizations, and community services along with sharing information about our city, then and now. You are a very generous bunch and I thank you for your continued support, and for your votes again this year.
Grocery stores have had their Halloween candy out since the last week of August so I figure with autumn arriving on Friday, it’s fair to announce this year’s Stanley Park Ghost Train. Running from October 7th to 31st, the theme this year is Circus of Disaster.
Just reading about “a spine-chilling circus carnival” makes me think of seemingly blood-crazed clowns running through the forest — clowns being scary to me regardless of their demeanour. Thanks to the creative team at Mortal Coil (who presented Alice in Nightmareland last year) riders will witness dark circus acts and performances throughout the forested route.
For the price of the train ticket, families (yes it’s still, certainly, family friendly) riders can can also enjoy face painting, crafts, pumpkin carving, costume contest and the Haunted Maze.
The train and surrounding activities are open from 6:00pm to 10:00pm on Sundays to Thursdays in October and 6:00pm to 11:00pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Tickets are available online, by phone (1-855-985-5000), or in person at a Ticketmaster outlet. Adults are $9.82, children (2-18) and seniors (65+) are $6.25 however parental discretion is advised on the train for kids 5 and under.
Same-day tickets are available at the train booth from 3:00pm. There is parking in the adjacent lot or you can ride the #19 bus into the Stanley Park bus loop – it’s just a short walk over from there.
If you would like to experience the Circus of Disaster I have 10 passes each valid for 4 admissions to give away to my readers. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment here naming something that frightens you (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw all 10 winners (whose passes are good for 4 admissions) at 10:00am, Wednesday, October 5, 2011. You can follow the Stanley Park Ghost Train on Facebook or Twitter for sneak previews and updates.
Update The 10 winners are: @kinseySS, @gloomybb, Deidre, nm, AJ, Christine, Jennifer V, ho, Karla Shannon, Dilara.
On this day in history, September 21, 1980, the Stanley Park seawall loop was officially completed. To avoid erosion around Stanley Park, work began on the first part of the seawall in 1917 thanks to the vision of W.S. Rawlings and James Cunningham’s initiatives with the Vancouver Park Board. Over the next several decades it would be reinforced, extended, expanded, and repaired.
(Left) 1920s – Archives item# CVA 99-1476. Photographer: Stuart Thomson.
(Right) 1930s – Archives item# CVA 677-762. Photographer: Burns/Miller.
Thousands of feet were added to the seawall in the 1950s and again in 1968. The final portion near Siwash Rock was completed in 1980, closing the loop. You can see a plaque commemorating Cunningham’s efforts in this location today. [source: VancouverHistory]
This 8.8km route around Vancouver’s crown jewel is one of the city’s most popular attractions that is enjoyed by locals and visitors alike. It’s where you can go to get exercise, see more of the inlet and the park, or just find some peace gazing into a glistening sunset.
Since 1980, the seawall has been extended outside of Stanley Park and now includes 2.2km around Coal Harbour and an 11km stretch from English Bay to Kits Beach.
The Vancouver International Film Festival (“VIFF”) is coming up September 29th to October 14th, 2011 and Miss604.com is once again a proud sponsor.
Festival series include Arts & Letters, Canadian Images, Cinema of Our Time, Dragons & Tigers, Heaven & Earth, Nonfiction Features, and a Spotlight on France along with Films for Youth and a High School Program.
This year, VIFF is presenting more than 360 films and as always, has a spotlight on homegrown content. The Canadian Images line-up alone has over 80 films, 24 of which are BC productions. I also have the pleasure of sponsoring the world premiere of Everything and Everyone directed by Tracy D. Smith.
While I have yet to sit down with Marina Antunes from the Row Three to do a film preview (as we have done for the last few years) I’m going to jump right ahead to the gala information. The glitz and glamour of the silver screen will gather on red carpets across Vancouver as VIFF celebrates international cinema with five galas this year.
Opening Gala
Film: The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito)
Country: Spain
Director: Pedro Almodóvar
When: Thursday, September 29, 2011 at 6:30pm
Where: Vogue Theatre on Granville St
Buy Tickets / View Trailer
Canadian Images Gala
Film: Take This Waltz
Director: Sarah Polley
When: Friday, September 30, 2011 at 6:30pm
Where: Vogue Theatre on Granville St
Buy Tickets / View Trailer
Dragons & Tigers Awards Gala
Film: Mitsuko Delivers (Hara-ga Kore Nande)
Country: Japan
Director: Ishii Yuya
When: Thursday, October 6, 2011 at 6:45pm
Where: Vogue Theatre on Granville St
Buy Tickets
Anniversary Gala
Film: Starbuck
Country: Canada
Director: Ken Scott
When: Friday, October 7, 2011 at 6:30pm
Where: Vancity Theatre on Seymour
Buy Tickets / View Trailer
Closing Gala
Film: The Kid with a Bike (Le gamin au velo)
Country: Belgium/Italy/France
Director: Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Luc Dardenne
When: Friday, October 14, 2011 at 7:00pm
Where: Vogue Theatre on Granville St
Buy Tickets / View Trailer
When you purchase your gala ticket you will receive information about any parties that follow. These are fantastic opportunities to get dressed up for a night of international and local film celebration in Vancouver.
Since I won’t be in town, I’d like to give up my two sponsor tickets to the opening gala film and party to a lucky reader and their guest.
Last year’s VIFF opening night gala at the Rocky Mountaineer station. Photos by John Bollwitt for Miss604.
The winner will receive two tickets to the screening of The Skin I Live In (La piel que habito) at The Vogue Theatre and two tickets to the red carpet opening gala party that will follow at a fabulous location. The value is $175 each (total $350). Here’s how you can enter to win:
I will draw one winner at 10:00am next Monday, September 26, 2011. Must be 19 years of age to enter and win. Please enjoy all VIFF events and galas responsibly and plan a safe ride home.
Follow the Vancouver International Film Festival on Twitter and Facebook.
Update The winner is Laura (@ywozb)!
Patrick Maliha is becoming the Patron Saint of Comedy in Vancouver. An award-winning on-air host, columnist and comedian, Patrick created the annual “People’s Champ of Comedy” comic search, hosted benefit showcases for charitable causes, and is one of the city’s biggest promoters of amateur and professional comedy. His latest event is the return of the dinner show at the fittingly classic Federico’s Supper Club in East Vancouver.
I’ve known Patrick for several years and I was a weekly guest on his Talk 1410 radio show. Audience members will certainly be treated to a great evening of food, laughs, and entertainment.
Tickets are $50 plus tax and gratuities and include a three course meal and entertainment. Call (604) 251-3473 to book.
