Yesterday we attended the launch of Granville Island Brewing’s latest seasonal creation, Raspberry Wheat Ale.
This pink summer beer combines water, malt, hops, yeast, and Fraser Valley raspberries. Pairings include a variety of fresh fruit dishes, fresh salads, chicken or light meat.
I’ve tried fruity-flavoured wheat ales before and they usually just taste like beer with a bunch of fruit dumped in. This carefully crafted brew is smooth and not too sweet. It has a tartness that refreshes and makes it one of my top selections to enjoy on a patio this summer in Vancouver.
Raspberry Wheat is available through August 2010 in select LDB stores and the GIB store on Granville Island.
Special Offer Today at 12:00pm there is a preview tasting at the Granville Island Brewery. They have 20 litres for the tasting so head down on your lunch break (which is probably right now) if you would like to sample the Raspberry Wheat Ale.
Yesterday I began a new Readers’ Choice series where I answer questions that my readers or Twitter contacts have about local history. Continuing on today I’ll tackle another question:
TylerIngram: @Miss604 What about the old ferry that used to go from vancouver to dunderave (West Van)?
1920s, West Vancouver Ferry crossing the Burrard Inlet, Archives Item#: SGN 1123
The West Vancouver Ferry began service in 1909 and ran across the Burrard Inlet from Vancouver to Dundarave.
From the West Vancouver Library: “The first ship was a 35-passenger boat called the West Vancouver, which ran between the 17th Street dock and Columbia Street in Vancouver. The ferry fleet was expanded in later years to run between the Vancouver Wharf, English Bay, Hollyburn, the Great Northern Cannery, and Caulfeild. These ferries were directly responsible for the growth in the Hollyburn and Dundarave areas and the development of businesses around the 14th, 17th, and 25th streets.”
1919, West Vancouver Ferry passing Prospect Point, Archives Item#: CVA 1123-7
By 1912 the ferry service had fallen on hard times. VancouverHistory.ca reports that it was then taken over by the municipality and would lose money for another 12 years. By the mid 1920s the ferry service was thriving once again as people along the West Coast were moving about (and the border crossing at the Peace Arch was constructed). The ferry service was eventually replaced entirely by the Lions Gate Bridge crossing, ending service in 1947.
1938, View of Lions Gate Bridge construction from the West Vancouver Ferry dock, Archives Item#: CVA 265-51
In 1988 the former ferry building at 101 14th Street in West Vancouver, built in 1913, was rehabilitated by Howard/Yano Architects to become an art gallery. The ferry terminal is now the Dundarave Pier.
I have a few more questions on deck to answer however if you would like to submit a topic or question for the Readers’ Choice history series, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me directly.
Vancouver Parks Board Commissioner Stuart Mackinnon has put forward a motion that could see the public voting on whether or not we should have whales in captivity in Vancouver [source]. The referendum would take place during the next municipal election in 2011.
The Vancouver Aquarium has been around since June of 1956 and in 1975 it was the first aquarium accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). In 1987 was designated Canada’s Pacific National Aquarium by the Canadian Federal Government [source].
When I was young they used to have Orcas in the main tank (Hyak, Finna and Bjossa), performing shows that would splash the crowd. The last Orca was removed from the Aquarium in 2001 as they sought to take on a more educational aspect of their marine life displays rather than entertainment-oriented spectacles.
They’ve have dolphins throughout the years (who are now in the old Orca tank) which are part of a smaller presentation about marine conservation and rescue. There are a few Belugas still at the Aquarium although there have been several baby Beluga deaths recently, which prompted the timely call for action from the Parks Board.
The Aquarium released an official statement yesterday: “The Vancouver Aquarium strongly opposes the plebiscite motion on the July 19th Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation meeting agenda. The Aquarium believes the discussion of the motion should take place at the Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation meeting, and will address the motion at that time.”
Update July 20, 2010 CTV Reports: “Vancouver’s park commissioners have rejected a motion urging a non-binding plebiscite on the issue in next year’s civic election.”
Translink is celebrating its second annual I Love Transit Week with a meetup event tomorrow night for all transit enthusiasts.
It’s our yearly chance to celebrate transit—because while there are many things we don’t like about transit, there are still many things that we do like! So come out for some food, fun and games during I Love Transit Night, and look out for some lovely rider-submitted essays and photos in the blog next week and in the August Buzzer.
Where Heritage Grill, New Westminster [Google Map] When Games at 6:30pm, 7:30pm and 8:30pm Extras Food will be provided at this meetup
You can meet up with the Buzzer Blog crew at 5:30pm at Edmonds SkyTrain station bus loop (Bay 5) to ride a Nova Hybrid bus to the event.
The third annual Fusion Festival happens in Surrey this weekend with two full days of entertainment, activities, pavilions, shopping, and food choices from over 25 countries. John and I have covered this event each year and it’s always a good time.
Live entertainment will take place on four stages: the Concord Pacific World Music Stage, Coast Capital Savings Celebration Stage, Chevron Cultural Community Stage and BC Hydro Local Champions Stage. Saturday night headliners include We Are the City and Brasstronaut.
Aside from the music, I think each year our favourite part has got to be the food choices; from Jamaican smoothies, to the empanadas, the tacos, the blueberry cookies, the bannock and exploring delicacies from every continent.
Head over to Holland Park in Surrey this weekend for this free cultural festival. There’s parking but you can leave the car at home as it’s located right between Central City and King George SkyTrain stations. Remember to bring your sunscreen and your apetite.
