John “Gassy Jack” Deighton had a saloon in New Westminster but it wasn’t until he headed around to the Burrard Inlet that he left an indelible mark on our city. In 1867 he told mill workers along the harbour that they could have all the whiskey they could drink if they helped him build a saloon. The Globe was up and running in 24 hours [source].
1909 – Bus for the Dominion Hotel in Gastown. Archives Item #Trans P149.01
Nowadays Gassy Jack’s town is still a hub for good times, spirits, and sudsy beverages – and The Lamplighter has had a lot to do with that atmosphere over the last 85 years.
1905 – Hotel Dominion and Mainland Cigar Factory. VPL Accession Number: 55287
“The Lamplighter Pub opened its doors on the ground floor of the Dominion Hotel in 1925, obtaining British Columbia’s first liquor license and becoming the first speakeasy of its kind to serve alcohol to women. The pub is named after John Clough, who lit the coal oil lamps along Gastown’s brick streets in 1887 before Vancouver introduced electric lights. Today, much of the original exposed brick, tin stamped ceilings, stained glass windows and railings still remain, with the addition of a new sound system, flat screen televisions, French doors and garden-style patio. Located at 92 Water Street, this Gastown institution is now the go-to place for live music, DJs, sports or hanging out with friends, old and new [source].”
Photo credit:
bmann on Flickr
On November 7th, 2010 The Lamplighter will host an anniversary celebration in honor of its history thus far – through prohibition and endless transformations of our city.
Many have been concerned about the fate of Vancouver’s only memorial for Terry Fox on Beatty and Robson as BC Place undergoes a massive renovation. However PavCo, the operators of BC Place and coordinators of the stadium and plaza’s revitalization, has just announced that they have commissioned local author and artist Douglas Coupland to create a new Terry Fox memorial.
Terry Fox Plaza is slated for renovation as part of the current revitalization of BC Place and surrounding grounds, and the existing memorial must be removed as part of the upgrade to the plaza. Both PavCo and the Fox family have agreed that removal of the current memorial provides an opportunity to replace it with a new and lasting commemoration of Terry Fox’s “Marathon of Hopeâ€. Coupland, who wrote the 2005 fundraiser tribute book “Terryâ€, was retained by PavCo to create the new memorial in consultation with the Fox family.
Coupland’s latest piece of public art is the “Digital Orca” at the Vancouver Convention Centre. In 2005 he published “Terryâ€, a tribute book in collaboration with the Terry Fox Foundation.
Slated to re-open in November, the Waldorf Hotel in East Vancouver is currently undergoing major restorations and renovations. Located along a lonely stretch of East Hastings, this historic landmark is set to revitalize creative arts and nightlife in this area of town.
Photo credit:
kk+ on Flickr
While it features a dining room, hotel, cafe, cabaret, salon, and gift shop, by far the most unique feature of the Waldorf is its Tiki Room.
Photo credit:
kk+ on Flickr
“The Waldorf Hotel, designed in 1947 by architects Mercer & Mercer, was remarkable from the beginning for its modernist style. In 1955, capitalizing on an emerging interest in Polynesian culture, the complex was transformed into one of North America’s most renowned tiki themed bars and hotels. A post-war phenomenon, tiki culture was rooted partially in the nostalgic tropical memories of returned soldiers but also in the erotic fantasies of a middle class fascinated by the exotic and forbidden. The original architects reworked existing interiors, creating a space dedicated to artifice and escapism.” [source]
Photo credit:
kk+ on Flickr
The Tiki Room has remained intact during the renovation process and for good reason, as its historic significance is unmatched. Themed in the early 50s, it is one of the oldest Tiki Bars of its kind in the world (rumoured only to be surpassed by one San Francisco establishment).
Photo credit:
kk+ on Flickr
Aside from cashing in on a trend, I was once told that the artifacts found in the room are from the owner’s trip to the South Pacific, including a painting of a naked Polynesian woman that hangs on the wall. The small flower garland worn by the woman was painted-on after it was hung up at the Waldorf (this was to comply with BC liquor board laws at the time).
Photo credit:
kk+ on Flickr
The Waldorf’s multi-room grand re-opening party will take place October 30th and after that it will be a new hub for dancing, DJs, coffee chats, workshops, unconferences, tweetups, meetups, rock shows, and more.
Photos and fact-checking courtesy of Kris Krug.
Psychic and medium Chip Coffey, known most recently for his consulting on A&E’s Paranormal State, will be coming to town today to seek out the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver‘s “Lady in Red”.
Back in the 1940s, a lady by the name of Jennie Pearl Cox was a regular at the Fairmont Hotel’s ballroom. Tragically, she was killed in a car crash outside the hotel in 1944. She died in her favorite outfit, an elegant red dress. Her ghost has been seen on the 14th floor of the hotel where she causes the elevator to make unscheduled stops and is seen gliding down the hallways, her long red dress flowing behind her. [source]
Chip will host a Q&A session with guests at the event, with the “VIP Experience” you can meet Chip, and with “Super VIP” you can join Chip in his investigation of the hotel at around 11:30pm tonight. Tickets range from $49 to $149 for the Super VIP experience.
I have been to the Hotel Vancouver several times and have only had the elevators open inexplicably on the 11th floor, not the 14th. However, it is common knowledge among locals and hotel staff that the Lady in Red does exist and all reports have been that the spirit is not harmful.
On October 22nd the Olympic Cauldron will be lit during the dedication of Jack Poole Plaza. While the flames have been ignited since the Games for Canada Day and a few other occasions, this celebration will commemorate the memory of Jack Poole, architect of Vancouver 2010, as the plaza has finally been completed.
The ceremony will take place at 7:30pm and everyone is encouraged to bust out their red mittens for the occasion.
Even though it’s been eight months since we hosted the world, and plush toy mascots are now in the clearance bins of local stores, many who were unable to see the cauldron during the Game will now have a chance. If the event also manages to rekindle a bit of the spirit that was around town in February, be prepared for a sea of red shirts, maple leafs, and a whole lot of high-fives.
Jack Poole Plaza is located at the North end of Thurlow at Burrard Place (just North of Cordova).
In related news, the Canadian Paralympic Committee will host its first Awards Ceremony the following night to celebrate the accomplishments of those who made an impact at the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games.
