Over the Christmas break many are wondering (since I’ve been getting inquisitive emails) what there is to do around town while the kids are still out of school.

Here are a few activity suggestions:

If you have a New Years Eve celebration in your community and would like to get the word out, please feel free to contact me and I’ll include it in a post at the beginning of next week.

Since 1977 the Seabus has nautically connected downtown Vancouver and the North Shore.

With a lot of pressure on the Burrard Otter and Burrard Beaver, today Translink officially launched a third vessel into operation and I was there for the maiden (media) voyage of the Burrard Pacific Breeze.

My pal Dave, who has been covering all things transit in images, words and sketches since its inception into the transit fleet, was along for the ride.

We were invited up to the bridge and onto the outside deck for the run over to North Vancouver. The vessel itself was quiet and smooth as we made our run to Lonsdale across the Burrard Inlet.

The Burrard Pacific Breeze was immediately put into service once we reached the terminal on the other side and they handed out special “I was there” certificates for people who were on the departures that followed.

Having a third Seabus means that sailings will run every 10 minutes but after the Olympics either the Burrard Beaver or Burrard Otter will be taken out of service and sold off.

At $3.50 during peak times, my friend Dave notes that the Seabus is the ultimate harbour cruise. Hopefully the new ride (on those silky soft seats) will prove to be a smooth one for commuters and visitors alike.

Although we had a dusting of snow at the beginning of the month, a white Christmas doesn’t look very probably for Vancouver in 2009 (and Environment Canada only gives us an 11% chance each year anyway). 2008 was named “Canada’s Whitest Christmas” so in case you’re missing the powdery dustings around the city, I’ve rustled up a collection of winter scenes from Vancouver’s past thanks to the Vancouver Archives.

1889
View of Vancouver from Westminster Avenue South (Main Street & 6th)

Photo credit: Trueman & Caple, Item#: Str P125

1889
View of Vancouver from Richards Street and Dunsmuir Street

Item#: Str P123

1902
View of the North Shore from Robson & Jervis

Item#: Van Sc P123.2

1900s
Second Beach in Stanley Park after snowfall

Item#: Be P104

1900s
Horse and sleigh at the Hollow Tree in Stanley Park

Photo credit: Stanley Park Photographers, Item#: St Pk P46

1910s
Main and Pender after heavy snowfall

Item#: CVA 789-78

1916
Hastings and Richards after heavy snowfall

Item#: CVA 789-75

I’m still trying to be creative and think up my latest Then and Now post so if you have any theme suggestions (such as Hotels, Street Views, Apartments, Tourist Spots etc.) I’d love to hear them.

At the beginning of the theatre season in Vancouver I wrote a big directory listing previewing some of the shows that will be taking place around town. With Christmas around the corner, and theatre tickets being a fabulous gift or stocking stuffer, here’s another roundup of productions this winters.

Pacific Theatre’s The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

There are so many productions year-round and moving into 2010, especially with things like the Cultural Olympiad and the PuSh Festival, Vancouver’s arts scene will hopefully illuminate under one big spotlight. There are many more listings and community theatre groups in the City that I have not listed here but please check them out if you can.

Sometimes giving the gift of an experience, such as an evening of theatre on the town with friends or loved ones, can beat out the store-bought tangible gifts any day.

This evening I took my niece and nephews on the miniature train at Bright Nights in Stanley Park, which benefits the Burn Fund.

Activities include the farmyard, dazzling light displays, a Christmas light recycling station, and of course the miniature train.

I haven’t been on that train in at least a decade and I forgot how long the route actually is. With accompanying music piped into the cars, the train waves its way over through the woods, over bridges, and around wintery scenes from your favourite holiday movies.

From carolers to hockey players (including a good old hockey song) the train ride is enjoyable for young and old. Among the dozens of illuminated Santa Claus figures between Whoville and the North Pole there were also various ethnic themes and even a carol sung in a First Nations language.

When you’ve completed your lap on the train, you can enjoy refreshments such as organic popcorn (from Capers and the Stanley Park Ecological Society), pistachios, warm pretzels, chestnuts, and hot chocolate.

Photo credit: popejon2 on Flickr

You’ll need to purchase tickets for the miniature train as you will then be booked in for a specific departure time-frame, this can be done on-site or in advance online. Adults are $8, children, youth and seniors are $5. Parking is free after 3:00pm and your ticket on the miniature railway also includes admission to the farmyard. Admission to the entire plaza is free, although a $2 donation to the Burn Fund is suggested.

Bright Nights in Stanley Park will run until January 2, 2010. If you have the chance to go, please feel free to add your photos to the Miss604.com Flickr Pool and I’ll showcase them here.