I wanted to write a post to address the recent attacks on Miss604.com. These weren’t your regular spam or virus attacks, these were mighty serious. There wasn’t much I could have done to prevent these, or to get my site back online, but by detecting vulnerabilities or even the attack early, you have a better chance at a speedy recovery. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
A spring and summer highlight for many, great getaways at 78 BC Provincial Park campsites are now available to book.
Today the reservation system begins taking your requests for the upcoming season which will open up for the May long weekend.
How to reserve your campsite
The reservation system is open April 1, 2010 until September 15, 2010.
If tent camping isn’t your thing, some BC Provincial Parks also offer yurts. You can book a yurt (see a photo of some in my Sunshine Coast post) at any of the following campgrounds: Allison Lake, Ellison, Fintry, Kekuli Bay, Kikomun Park, North Okanagan Lake, South Okanagan Lake, and Wasa Lake.
I personally love camping although I (haven’t been in about two years) and I’ve slept in tents from Norbury Lake to Wells Grey. I have heard that the reservation systems are pretty busy today but I encourage you to try again tomorrow if you can’t get through. Camping in BC is just absolutely the best experience.
The Arts Club is presenting the California Wine Fair April 7th from 7:00pm until 10:00pm at the Vancouver Convention Centre.
This is the 30th anniversary of the fair that tours around showcasing premium wines from over 100 California wineries. Tickets can be purchased for $60 (or $50 for groups of six people or more).
Attendees get the chance to sample 350 wines from the region and bid on silent auction items that include everything from a bottle of 2005 Silver Oak – Cabernet Sauvignon, a Whistler getaway, or Canucks tickets. Proceeds from the auction support the Arts Club Theatre Company.
I have two pairs of tickets to give away and you can enter to win them by leaving a comment or re-tweeting the following:
You must be 19+ to enter and I’ll draw the winners Monday, April 5th at 5:00pm.
Update I have drawn the winner at random and it’s Nicole (comment entry) – congratulations and have fun!
We may know it as a single complex but the Sinclair Centre started out as four separate buildings, built around 1910 and brought together in the 1980s.
I recently featured the buildings in one of my Then and Now posts so when Marc invited me down for a private tour of the heritage building I jumped at the chance.
The Sinclair Centre joins together four buildings with a glass atrium:
The Post Office (1910)
It’s style is described as Edwardian Baroque and was the main post office in Vancouver until the late 1950s. Its 12-foot diameter clocks, which sit in the tower above Granville and Hastings, were restored in 1986.
The Winch Building (1911)
Located on the corner of Howe and Hastings this building was built by cannery pioneer Richard Vance Winch. It was designed by Thomas Hooper and was completed for $700,000 and sold to the federal government in 1925.
Customs Examining Warehouse (1913)
Sitting Howe and Cordova, this building was designed by Public Works’ Chief Architect David Ewart and was built by the federal government as a warehouse to handle federal requirements on imported goods. It was used by Customs until 1958. Until recently it was also the home of Morton’s Steakhouse.
The Federal Building (1937)
At the corner of Granville and Cordova this was built as an extension of the Post Office.
In 1983 it was announced that a block of four buildings downtown (between Granville, Hastings, Howe and Cordova) would get a $40 million facelift. This brought them together under one glass atrium roof, and one name. James Sinclair, a businessman from West Vancouver and also the father of Margaret Trudeau, was the development’s namesake. [source: VancouverHistory.ca]
The tour took us through the food court, past the Government of Canada Passport office, onto the roof of the Winch Building. The architecture in the Post Office and Winch Buildings is absolutely beautiful. Marble staircases, brass fixtures, copper roofs and the tiniest engraved details.
From the roof we went back inside and over to the tower entrance to get an inside-out look at the timepieces.
As I stood atop a spiral staircase at the very peak of the clock tower I looked out windows at the street below. The seabus passed from one side of the North-facing window to the next while a horn honked at a pedestrian crossing the street down below. A carving on a wooden side panel told me that Clint wuz here before me and I could only imagine those who must have stood here a hundred years ago.
The offices are still used by various arms of the Federal Government while boutiques and shops (such as Leone and Armani) are over in the Winch Building. The original bell from the tower is on display in the Sinclair Centre food court.
I made my descent with hands covered in dust and the smell of old library books in my nostrils. I write quite a bit about our city’s history but it’s opportunities like this, through hands-on exploration, that keep my passion (and curiosity) brewing.
The rest of my photos from today are online in this Flickr set.
The Sinclair Centre will have a special announcement in about a week so I will write a follow-up post at that time.
The 20th anniversary of Jeans Day is coming up Thursday April 29th benefiting the BC Children’s Hospital. Purchase a button for $5 to support the hospital and their efforts then wear your jeans to work or school to show your support.
Team Leaders can sign on as Jeans Day Champions to rally Jeans Day initiatives with co-workers, colleagues or classmates.
Where to get your button
You can purchase the Jeans Day button online or from any of these retailers: Save-on-Foods, Overwaitea, PriceSmart Foods, Cooper’s, Costco, Urban Fare, Thrifty Foods or London Drugs.
Every person who buys a button and fills in an online survey will receive an entry for a grand prize trip for two from Air Canada.
Jeans Day activities
On April 29th stop by any of the following BBQ locations to enjoy a smokie, chips & pop for $3 if you have a Jeans Day button or $8 if you don’t.
Fin from the Vancouver Canucks will be in attendance at the Vancouver Art Gallery location.
Share with social media
Follow Jeans Day on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube or add your denim-clad photos to their their Flickr group. Sign up for the Facebook event and add #jeansday to your Tweets on April 29th.
Last year, more than 72,000 children were treated at Children’s Hospital. Since 1982, BC Children’s Hospital Foundation has worked with children, families, caregivers and hundreds of thousands of British Columbians to give Children’s Hospital, and the Child & Family Research Institute the resources they need to excel.
