The Georgia Straight’s annual Golden Plate Awards have been announced as Vancouverites voted, in 138 categories, for their favourite places to eat and drink around town. Here are a few highlights for me:
Best Richmond Restaurant
Tapenade Bistro (Steveston)
Best Korean
Jang Mo Jib
Best Middle Eastern
Afghan Horsemen
Best Neighbourhood for Restaurants
Gastown
Best Whistler Restaurant
Araxi Restaurant + Bar
Best Pre-Game Restaurant
Shark Club
Best Izakaya
Hapa Izakaya
Best Chain Restaurant
Cactus Club Cafe
Best Budget Restaurant
White Spot
Best Eatery with Live Entertainment
O’Doul’s
Best Ramen
Kintaro Ramen
Best Breakfast
Sophie’s Cosmic Cafe
Best View Restaurant
Seasons in the Park
Best Hamburger
Vera’s Burger Shack
Best Restaurant B.C. Beer Selection
Alibi Room
Best Coffee Shop with Wireless Internet
Waves
Best Restaurant for Cocktails
The Diamond
View a complete list of first, second, and third place winners online, on an interactive map, or in this week’s issue of the Georgia Straight. Remember to support local business and visit your favourites often for the best beer, cocktails, brunch, hamburger, or ramen in town.
I also wanted to make a special note about the Roaming Dragon food truck (that placed 3rd in its category). They catered Vancouver’s Twestival last night and were a huge success. To keep the momentum going, they’re donating 20% of their sales on Monday, March 28th, to our Twestival cause, Beauty Night. Please stop by and see them between 12:00pm and 3:00pm at 1075 West Georgia.
The Vancouver Whitecaps FC hosted its first MLS game at home last weekend at Empire Field. Although the opposing Toronto FC fans had a presence in the stands, it was quickly drowned out by the chants and cheers of Whitecaps fans.
The crowd of 23,000 on opening day was electric with excitement and anticipation. Scarves were removed from around necks and held up, flashing the Whitecaps FC logo with pride, songs were sung, and you couldn’t have asked for a better outcome in a soccer game, let alone a premiere home-opening game as Vancouver came out on top, 4-2.
In case you were wondering who that large group was that knew all the songs, had their own branded scarves, flags, and attention of the team, they were the Southsiders — the Vancouver Whitecaps’ loyal supporter group since 1999. You can find tickets in their section online, learn their songs, sign up for membership, and support the team at home and on the road.
If you were at the game or know someone who was, you can view a full panoramic photo of Empire Field courtesy of GigaPan. Click on the South or North views and zoom in to see if you can spot yourself in the stands.
The other day I visited the UBC Archives after messaging back and forth with archivist Erwin Wodarczak, who runs the @UBCArchives Twitter account. Being a big fan of local history, and having previously visited the Vancouver Archives, I was excited to discover artifacts from their vaults and see what kind of resources were available for research purposes.
I read the minutes of the first Board of Governors, perused old photo albums depicting student life over the last century, and tried out the automated archive retrieval system.
One important piece of Vancouver history that was highlighted for me was the story of “The Great Trek” or “The Great Pilgrimage”. This was a peaceful protest by UBC students in order to finish building the campus out in Point Grey. Up until that time, they use facilities in Fairview — on the site of what is now Vancouver General Hospital.
Although a site commission had, several years earlier, selected Point Grey as the location for the new university, the outbreak of World War I in 1914 halted development of the site following the initial clearing of the land and some preliminary construction. Overcrowded lecture halls and inadequate laboratory facilities characterized the University’s early years at Fairview. Additional space had to be found as the number of students grew. Professors held agricultural classes in a private residence, French classes in the basement of a church un-used by its congregation during the week, and chemistry classes in the famous chemistry tent erected on the site.
Students on framework of Science building during pilgrimage. Source: UBC Archives
Students and faculty alike viewed the “shacks” at Fairview as a temporary inconvenience and looked forward to what they felt would be an imminent move to the new campus. Unfortunately, the inadequate Fairview facilities would serve as home to the University for its first full decade of existence. As the number of students attending UBC expanded, the frustration with government inaction on the construction of a new university campus also grew so much so that the students decided to take action. [The Great Trek Remembered]
In the spring of 1922, the student-run “Build the University” campaign began. Each would collect signatures on a petition wanting the government to resume construction of the Point Grey campus. With the petition in hand, signs, banners, cars and horses, 1,200 students walked from Fairview to the Point Grey site. They gathered within the shell of the Science Building, where construction was halted so many years before.
Source: UBC Archives
By the end of the campaign and the trek, they had approximately 56,000 signatures which they took to Victoria and were granted government funding to complete UBC’s campus. The cover of the school’s paper, The Ubyssey, read “Government Sees the Point!” on November 9, 1922.
Source: UBC Archives
There is a cairn on campus (West Mall) dedicated to the effort of the students. I’m looking forward to uncovering more stories, photos, and documents in future trips to the archives.
Vancouver photographer Kris Krüg wrote to me this morning from Midway Atoll, one of the most remote places on the planet, to inform me about his latest project.
“He’s been mentoring me as a photographer, particulary in the area of printing my work for galleries, collections, and museums,” Kris told me, regarding Chris. “He asked me come along on the trip as a second camera and a social media documentarian.” Needless to say the offer was accepted.
What the team plans to do is create a feature-length documentary called Midway. Kris said they’re documenting the effects of plastic pollution in the ocean and after only day on the island, he’s already made grim discoveries. “Tens of thousands of baby albatross die each year of starvation and dehydration with bellies full of plastic. These babies have no feathers and have never left Midway. The mama birds and papa birds are out fishing at sea, picking up floating plastic garbage and debris, and bring it back to feed their babies. It’s horrific.”
I asked Kris how we at home and help, and the most support can come through simply sharing the images and updates he’s posting to his Flickr, Twitter, and blog. “For those with want to get involved at a deeper level we’ve received some grants and private finacing in addition to personally funding the trip out of our own pockets. Funds would help, but we’re making this movie one way or the other!”
The Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival returns in timely fashion this weekend as pink buds are already sprouting from tree-lined streets. Festivities will take place around town from March 26th until April 22nd including some of the following events:
Haiku Invitational
Submit your cherry blossom haiku online now until May 31, 2011. Sakura Days Japan Fair
VanDusen Botanical Garden hosts a family-friendly festival April 2nd and 3rd from 10:00am until 5:00pm. Cherry Jam Downtown
Burrard SkyTrain station downtown is home to dozens of blossoming trees. Enjoy festivities March 31st from 12:00pm until 1:30pm. Cherry Jubilee
The performance Violionpower with Edmund Chung takes place April 9th at 5:00pm in CBC’s Studio 700.
Visit the festival’s website to find out more about events, sign up to be a cherry scout, Bike the Blossoms, and locate blossoms around Vancouver. There’s also still time to purchase Birthday Blossoms in honor of Vancouver’s 125th anniversary, before March 29th.
Best Richmond Restaurant
Best Izakaya
Best View Restaurant
