Coquitlam Centre Free Drive-In Movies 2010

Comments 2 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Free outdoor movies are a smash hit in Metro Vancouver this summer in Stanley Park, in Burnaby, at Nat Bailey, at Holland Park in Surrey, and in Yaletown. Now, they’re coming to Coquitlam Centre with a unique twist.

Solano Drive In, 18
Photo credit: Thomas Hawk on Flickr

Summer drive-in movies will be presented every Wednesday in August in the Coquitlam Centre parking lot outside H&M and Zellers (just off Pinetree Way).

August 11th – Action/Thriller Night: Iron Man

August 18th – Date Night: The Notebook

August 25th – Family Night: How to Train Your Dragon

Admission is by donation to SHARE Family and Community Services and you can book a “preferred” parking spot for $10 in advance from Coquitlam Centre Guest Services. All funds raised by donations and preferred parking passes will go directly to SHARE. In 2009 alone, SHARE served 8,175 individuals, out of which 1,110 were children under 6 years old and 3,330 were children under 18 years old. Currently, SHARE is providing a minimum of 800 households with food relief every two weeks and forty five percent of the recipients are children.

Full details on preferred parking passes are available on the Coquitlam Centre website. The parking lot will be open for general admission cars at 8:00pm each movie night or 6:00pm for those cars with passes.

Long Weekend Events, BC Day 2010

Comments 2 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Somehow one of the busiest long weekends of the year as crept up on us and is ready to pounce. With blazing temperatures and lively festivals it’ll be one hot weekend for events.

Photowalking from Granville Island to the West End
Photo credit: John Bollwitt

Friday, July 30th
Pride Week events
Spirit of the Sea Festival in White Rock
Canadian National BBQ Championships in Whistler

Saturday, July 31st
Cates Park Concert Series in North Vancouver
Powell Street Festival
Pride Week events
Writer Evelyn Lau will be at the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre for a reading/talk
Carnaval del Sol
Spirit of the Sea Festival in White Rock
Canadian National BBQ Championships in Whistler
Celebration of Light fireworks finale

Sunday, August 1st
Powell Street Festival
Pride Parade
Spirit of the Sea Festival in White Rock
Canadian National BBQ Championships in Whistler
Jamaican Festival in Surrey
12th Street Festival in New Westminster

Monday August 2nd, 2010
Free admission at Fort Langley for BC Day
BC Day festivities at Lonsdale Quay
Granville Island Waterpark open until September

View full event listings for the month of August here.

On Monday you can hit the beaches, try out a Day Trip, visit a local park, or rest up that sunburn. The Province put together a nice roundup and Vancouver is Awesome has event listings under their newest feature, The Paste Up.

Should you have any events in August that you would like listed (there’s never a charge) please feel free to send the info my way.

Tom Larscheid Set to Retire

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

It was announced late yesterday that local hockey broadcaster and Canucks commentator Tom Larscheid is set to retire at the start of this coming NHL season.

“He was the colour-man on Vancouver hockey broadcasts for all but four NHL seasons since 1977, and for more than a generation of hockey fans Larscheid’s insight and instincts provided a blunt barometer of the team’s performance – good or bad.” [Canada.com]

The ever-enthusiastic “Tommy”, as fans and colleagues affectionately call him, has several Facebook and forum pages dedicated to some of his colourful quotes which are fun to browse. He’s passionate, has an infectious laugh, big bright smile, and he always has time to pose for a photo with me.

Tommy and Shorty of Sportsnet and Team1040 Canucks Broadcasts

Larscheid’s character and enthusiasm will definitely be missed as he has been such a big part of Canucks hockey in Vancouver. Taking over will be Dave Tomlinson, former NHL player and current Team 1040 host.

I’m not going to lie, this quote from the Canada.com article got me pretty choked up:

“I’m grateful to the listeners and honoured to have worked with three of the very best play-by-play men in the business in Jim Robson, Jim Hughson and John Shorthouse. And Rick Ball is going to be right up there, too. I always called it the way I saw it and I had a lot of fun doing it. My only regret is I never got to say: `The Vancouver Canucks are Stanley Cup champions.’ ”

Celebration of Light 2010 Fireworks Photos: Team Mexico

Add a Comment by Rebecca Bollwitt

Last night Team Mexico rocked the Celebration of Light fireworks in English Bay. While I haven’t heard any official feedback from those who attended, the shouts and applause from hotel balconies around us seemed to praise the show.

Mexico Night
Photo credit: on Flickr

It’s always a treat to wake up and see some fantastic photos added to the Miss604 Flickr group and I’m impressed that these photographers captured the fireworks so well (and processed then uploaded the photos with such speed). I’m enjoying all of the different vantage points as well, hopefully it gives some inspiration for unique viewing spots to check out.

2010 Celebration of Light, Vancouver
Photo credit: Uncle Buddha on Flickr
Celebration of Light: Mexico
Photo credit: Tyler Ingram on Flickr
IMGP0255 Celebration Of Light IMGP0211
Photo credit: Elvis_Hitler & Clayton Perry Photoworks
IMG_3052
Photo credit: Nicolas Demers on Flickr
Celebration of Light - Mexico 4
Photo credit: kiwi_cam on Flickr
Celebration of Light - Mexico
Photo credit: Alain Limoges on Flickr
Mexico Night
Photo credit: Morisawa81 on Flickr
Team Mexico
Photo credit: Wasney Photos on Flickr

Please be sure to click-through on the images to view more from each of these photographers. Should you take any photos of the Celebration of Light fireworks Saturday (during the grand finale) please feel free to add them to the Miss604 Flickr group.

Celebration of Light Fireworks, the Garbage Aftermath

Comments 11 by Rebecca Bollwitt

This morning our pal and local photographer Tyler Ingram took to the shores of English Bay to capture some of the Celebration of Light fireworks aftermath. Crowds seemed to have ignore most of the black trash bins, some of which were toppled, as litter was strewn across the streets, sand, and grass.

Crowds have no Respect
Photo credit: Tyler Ingram

It doesn’t matter where the crowds came from (whether it was from up the street or across a bridge) everyone needs to do their part in this situation. I passed quite a few garbage cans that were overflowing with bottles and recyclables on Davie Street the other night, which means many do have the right idea. However when you have this number of people, everything can simply pile up.

_MG_9950
Photo credit: Tyler Ingram

Crews are out there this morning picking up the mess that was left behind. The other two fireworks nights were no exception.

_MG_9948
Photo credit: Tyler Ingram

If you can carry food and drinks down to the beach, you then have the ability to carry the garbage you produce back up to a trash bin. Instead of packing that extra bottle of Crown Royal or six-pack of light lime beer (that will get confiscated or poured out by police) please pack a garbage bag and be a hero for those around you.