Located at 918 Granville Street, the Vogue Theatre is an icon of Vancouver’s entertainment district.
For decades its neon sign topped by the Roman Goddess Diana has stood the test of time and acted as a beacon for everything from theatrical performances and punk rock shows.
The 1,178-seat theatre opened its doors for the first time in 1941 and was a movie house operated by Odeon. According to VancouverHistory.ca it was a response to the Capitol and the Orpheum movie houses operated by Famous Players at the time.
The Georgia Straight reports that the first film screened there was the 1938 hockey-themed romantic comedy I See Ice. Dal Richards and his band were the first live act to play the Vogue in April of 1941.
Originally owned by the Reifel brothers, the Vogue was sold to a development company in 1987 and would lay vacant and silent until 1992 when it became a live performance venue.
It has also hosted big-time events such as the Vancouver’s ComedyFest, the Vancouver International Film Festival and Vancouver International Jazz Festival.
In 2002 the building (exterior) was officially recognized as a National Historic Site of Canada. It’s also the home-base for Vancouver’s “Star Walk” which is currently being re-installed since the Granville Street reconstruction project.
I was at a friend’s house a few weeks ago and she lives on Seymour, just behind the Vogue. Big red “V”, “O”, “G”, “U”, “E”, letters sat on the roof as they began to prepare for a restoration in time for the Olympics. I haven’t been by to see the rejuvenated sign but if you have, please feel free to link your Flickr image in the comments.
You can find current information about performances by following @VogueTheatre on Twitter.
The Olympic Zipline is coming to downtown Vancouver. Something usually associated with soaring high above mountain treetops on Grouse or in Whistler will be flying high above Robson Square courtesy of Ziptrek Ecotours.
Early reports said the line would run across Robson Square and over to Chapters at Robson and Howe, however the Ziptrek Ecotours website illustrates things differently. Starting off atop the steps of the Law Courts (between Robson and Smithe) it will cross over Robson and end up on Howe across from Sears (via on Google Maps).
You can view the landing tower (on the right) in this photo that I took on Saturday:
The line is 170 meters (550′) and will be open from February 12th until February 28th. Daily hours of operation are 10:00am – 9:00pm and the cost to ride is FREE. During the games Ziptrek will also have a live webcam running so you can get a view of the line.
Update January 27th, 2010 Here are a few photos of the lines going up via Susan Gittins on Flickr.
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Update February 4th, 2010 I took some photos today (above). They were testing the lines again today and I’ll be heading to the media event tomorrow. Looks like things are good to go for this free attraction!
Update February 5th, 2010 This morning the Premier of BC, Gordon Campbell, along with Canadian Olympian Charmaine Crooks were some of the first to ride the free Olympic zipline across Robson Square in downtown Vancouver.
Update February 11, 2010 I rode the zipline first thing this morning with John Biehler – it was pretty awesome. He took some video of our ride as well:
Here’s my video, which is quite a bit shakier:
The zipline opens to the public tomorrow, February 12, 2010.
Update February 25, 2010 The zipline will be open during the Paralympics as well – March 12 – 21st, 2010 from 10am until 9pm daily.
Update April 1, 2010 Unfortunately I had to republish this post and comment were removed.
Here’s a rundown of where the torch will be as it comes to the South Coast of British Columbia.
Day 99 – February 5th, 2010
Squamish
Brackendale
Brandywine Falls Provincial Park
Whistler Olympic Park
Whistler*
Day 100 – February 6th, 2010
Whistler
Pemberton
Lil’wat
Chalath
Sekw’el’was
Lillooet*
Ts’kw’aylaxw
St’uxwtews
Cache Creek
Ashcroft
Logan Lake
Swxexmx
Merritt
Day 101 – February 7th, 2010
Merritt
Princeton
Hope
Seabird Island
Harrison Hot Springs
Agassiz
Rosedale
Chilliwack*
Abbotsford*
Day 102 February 8th, 2010
Mission
Maple Ridge
Pitt Meadows
Walnut Grove
Fort Langley
Aldergrove
Langley (Township)*
Langley
Cloverdale
Surrey*
Day 103 – February 9th, 2010
Peace Arch
White Rock
Surrey
North Delta
New Westminster*
Tsawwassen
Tsawwassen (FN)
Ladner
Richmond*
Day 104 – February 10th, 2010
Bowen Island
Horseshoe Bay
North Vancouver (District)*
Tsleil-Waututh
North Vancouver
Squamish (Xwemelch’stn)
West Vancouver*
Day 105 – February 11th, 2010
West Vancouver
Belcarra
Anmore
Port Moody
Port Coquitlam
Coquitlam*
Burnaby
Musqueam
UBC
Vancouver*
Day 106 – February 12th, 2010
Vancouver
BC Place Stadium
*Community Celebrations: Day 99 – February 5th, 2010 Whistler: 3:30pm – 5:45pm Village Square, 6:00pm – 8:00pm Skiers Plaza. Day 100 – February 6th, 2010 Lilooet: Celebration at the Old Mill Plaza at 11:20am with torch arrival at the mall by 12:30pm. Day 101 – February 7th, 2010 Chilliwack: 1:00pm – 3:00pm at The Landing site (Ashwell St. & Hodgins Ave). Abbotsford: Celebration Event at Abbotsford Exhibition Park. Day 102 February 8th, 2010 Langley (Township): 10:30am – 1:00pm at the Langley Events Centre (7888 – 200 Street) moving inside at 1:00pm. Surrey: 5:30pm at Holland Park (between Central City & King George SkyTrain stations). Click here for route maps. Day 103 – February 9th, 2010 New Westminster: Queen’s Park at 10:15am. Richmond: 7:00pm at the Richmond O Zone in Minoru Park . Day 104 – February 10th, 2010 North Vancouver (District): 8:42am flame arrives Lonsdale Quay, 9:30am celebration at Cates Park, 12:30pm celebration at Lynn Valley Center Mall. West Vancouver: 7:00pm at the West Vancouver Community Centre Spirit Square Day 105 – February 11th, 2010 Coquitlam: 8:00am – 10:00am at Mackin Park (1046 Brunette Ave). Vancouver: Celebration at LiveCity Yaletown from 5:00pm.
These community celebrations are free and open to the public although in some cases space may be limited. You can follow the Torch Run via CokeNews.ca as well.
I was only there for a short time but managed to squeeze in the “Icewines and Nothing More” workshop as well as the Winemasters’ Dinner featuring a 7-course meal, Okanagan wines, and Canadian cheeses.
The menu
Croquembouche with roasted garlic, pear & goat cheer, spiced maple syrup (paired with Summerhill Cipes Brut 2007)
Dungeness crab salad with cucumber, tomato confit & mustard vinaigrette (paired with Twisted Tree Viognier Rousanne 2007)
Truffled organic potato veloute with forest musehroom ragout (paired with Summerhill Pinot Noir)
Blood orange panna cotta with pink peppercorn & mint syrup
Pentangle bison with double smoked bacon, barley risotto, and black current jus (paired with Howling Bluff Winery “Sin Cera”)
Dairy Farmer’s of Canada Cheese Course (paired with Twisted Tree Tennat)
Passionfruit tart with chocolate spehere (paired with Summerhill Riesling Icewine)
It was a lovely evening as I was sat with other journalists, locals, tourism folk, Dieter from Thistle Farm, and the resort’s own official “ski bum”, Thiago. Sun Peaks ran a contest this year to win the ultimate seasonal job being their “ski bum” for 3 months. In the same vein as the “best job in the world” from Queensland Tourism.
Thiago, who hails from Brazil, is currently enjoying the experience of a lifetime hanging around Sun Peaks. Every day they have new adventures planned for him including events like the Winter Wine Festival or hopping on a helicopter. He is spending a few weeks in each hotel and his meals are courtesy of all the local restaurants and pubs. You can read about his adventures on the Ski Bum Canada blog.
Participants at the workshops and the dinner ranged from local wine enthusiasts to international travelers making the Winter Wine Festival their destination. Taking a ski getaway and pairing it with a wine festival seems to be a winning combination.
This was my first time up at Sun Peaks and I have to say, I fell in love. It was serene and peaceful in the village while my heart raced as I peered up at the slopes I so desperately wanted to carve up. The village itself has a delightful European influence with a sloped corridor which provides ski-in / ski-out convenience. The exterior of each hotel and shop is crafted perfectly to mimic cozy alpine lodges and the snow coats each rooftop like a fluffy down comforter.
I think the best thing about the resort, from my brief experience, was the people. There is a year-round population of 500 and those I met are all passionate about two things: Sun Peaks and skiing.
The Winter Wine Festival wraps up this week but if you would like to explore the next Okanagan Wine Festival you can check out their event listings online or follow @OKWineFests on Twitter. Also, the snow is powder-fresh on Sun Peaks if you’d like to head upbefore the end of the season. You can drive there from Vancouver in about 4 hours, take a Greyhound to Kamloops, or hop a flight.
You can view their webcams if you want to catch a serious case of snow-envy and check out their terrain map (above) to ogle the second largest recreational ski area in the province.
I’d also like to send a quick word of thanks to Tourism Sun Peaks who helped me triage a canceled flight out of Kamloops. I didn’t have a phone number or email handy but I did have my iPhone and access to Twitter. I sent @SunPeaksResort a direct message telling them I was pretty much stranded and they relayed my message to my contact within minutes. Big thanks to Melanie Simmons for being a great hostess and also being so responsive to my situation.
Disclosure: cmp.ly/1 – Unpaid. My accommodation was covered.
The Olympics are a time for the host nation and city to shine brightly but they are also about bringing the world together.
Vancouver will be a temporary home for athletes and visitors from dozens of countries during the 2010 Olympics and there are many who have rented spaces around town to showcase their culture, cuisine, and hospitality for visitors and residents a like.
Aboriginal Pavilion Location: Georgia & Hamilton (in the plaza at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre) Events:Daily concert series and exhibits. Cost: Unconfirmed Website, my post
Aboriginal Artisan Village Location: Vancouver Community College on Dunsmuir Events: Open daily 10:00am – 10:00pm Cost: Free Website
Atlantic Canada House Location: The Arts Club Theatre on Granville Island (accessible from the Olympic Line Streetcar) Events: Their Daily Schedule is still in the works but they’ll be featuring all the best from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador. Cost: The daily concerts are FREE Website / Twitter, my post
British Columbia Pavilion Location: Vancouver Art Gallery, 4th floor (Located between Hornby & Howe, Robson & Georgia) Events: A showcase of the “Best of BC” in terms of sustainability, new media, tourism and culture. Activities daily and a 4D theatre. Cost: FREE admission daily Website / Twitter, my post
Canada’s Northern House Location: 602 West Hastings (at Seymour) Events: Open since January 14th, here you can meet performers and artists, buy handmade crafts, watch demonstrations of traditional Arctic games. Featuring the best of the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Cost: Unconfirmed Website / Twitter, my post
Canada Pavilion Location: Located at LiveCity Downtown (Georgia & Cambie) Events: Open February 13th until March 21st, “All Canadians and international guests are invited to visit the pavilion and discover our country’s excellence in sport!” Cost: Unconfirmed (although LiveCity is a FREE celebration site) Website, my post
CentrePlace Manitoba Location: Located at LiveCity Downtown (Georgia & Cambie) Events: Open January 22nd to March 21st, featuring concerts from 30 Manitoba artists. Cost: Unconfirmed (although LiveCity is a FREE celebration site) Website, my post
Quebec House (Maison Quebec) Location: Concord Pacific (between Science World & GM Place) Events: “Expect it to become a centre piece of Quebec culture and food over the course of the Games.” – VancouverAccess2010.com. Cost: Unconfirmed Website
Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion Location: 500 Granville Street (at Pender) Events: View the medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, children’s activities, coin collection station, boutique. Cost: Admission is FREE and mention “Mint.ca” at the Pavilion Boutique for a 10% discount on all purchases. Website / Twitter, my post
Saskatchewan Pavilion Location: Concord Pacific (between Science World & GM Place) Events: “The pavilion will consist of two structures. One will house a business centre, the other an entertainment venue featuring Saskatchewan entertainment and food. There will also be a pavilion at Whistler during the Paralympics.” Photos of the pavilion are up in a Flickr set by CityCaucus.com. Cost: Unconfirmed Website
Czech Tourism Exhibition Location:Delta Burnaby Hotel, 4331 Dominion Street, Burnaby Events: Open February 12 – 28, 2010 Cost: Unconfirmed Website
Saxony House (Germany) Location: The Vancouver Rowing Club (Stanley Park) Events: “A place to exhibit the prowess of Saxony’s art, culture and booming economy, its sports and the innovative drive of Saxon inventors!” – Saxony in Vancouver. Cost: FREE admission every day Website
German Fan Fest Location: 555 West Cordova Street in the Steamworks parking lot Events: Live band, food and drinks Cost: Unconfirmed Website
Holland Heineken House Location: The Richmond O Zone (7551 Minoru Gate) Events: “The refreshments offer a range from fast food and healthy snacks to the best of modern cuisine, of course with a Dutch and Canadian hint. Combined -of course- with a fresh and cold Heineken draught beer.” Medal hall and daily entertainment. Cost: Unconfirmed Website
House of Switzerland Canada Location: Bridges Restaurant (Granville Island) (accessible from the Olympic Line Streetcar) Events: Also located at the Mountain Club in Whistler the House of Switzerland Canada will feature cuisine and entertainment including Swiss Day in Vancouver (February 6th) and a grand opening celebration (February 5th). Cost: FREE admission every day Website / Twitter
Irish House Location: Doolin’s Irish Pub (620 Nelson) Events: To be announced Cost: Daily and weekly passes will be available Website / Twitter
Japan House Location: Empire Landmark Hotel (Robson) Events: Unconfirmed Cost:Unconfirmed
Korea House Location: 2nd floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel Events: Open 11:00am until 6:00pm Cost: Unconfirmed
Sochi House (Russia House) Location: Science World Events: Daily entertainment and unique events including a table hockey tournament, games with hockey pros (such as Pavel Bure), autograph signings, chant & dance contests and more. Cost: Visitors must obtain accreditation (permanent access) or day-passes (single-use access) Website / Twitter
Slovak Representative House Location: Vancouver International Film Centre (Davie & Seymour) Events: Unconfirmed Cost: Unconfirmed Website
Ukraine House Location: Ukrainian Catholic Centre (3150 Ash Street) Events: Ukrainian House Ball, Ukraine House Valentine’s Day Cost: Some free, some special events are ticketed (paid) Website
USA House Location: Unconfirmed although CityCaucus is reporting it will be near Nelson & Seymour. Events: Unconfirmed Cost: Unconfirmed (rumour has it there will be no public access) Website / Twitter
The Hospitality Houses are refuges and hang-out spots for athletes and citizens but also venues for countries and provinces to showcase themselves. Each will have different levels of access. With international pavilions, your best bet for getting in is having a passport for that host nation. For example, show your Dutch passport and you’ll be treated like gold in Holland Heineken House.
Update February 17, 2010 – The following are pavilions and hospitality houses in Whistler, BC. Whistler Canada Olympic House
Whistler Public Library Alpine Canada Alpin House
FireRock Lounge, The Westin Resort & Spa – Home of the Canadian Alpine Ski Teams USA House
In a private log home south of the village Austria House
In a purpose-built ‘passive’ house at the entrance to Lost Lake Jamaica Bobsleigh House
Savage Beagle nightclub Switzerland House
The Mountain Club Restaurant Norway House
Maurice Young Millennium Place Slovenia House
Mountain Club, The Westin Resort & Spa Bavaria House
Nicklaus North Golf Club, Whistler base for the German Bobsleigh Team France House
21 Steps Restaurant Italian House
Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa
Should you have additional information about these pavilions and hospitality houses, please feel free to leave a comment or contact me, all sources will be credited. This post will be updated as more information becomes available.
Located at 918 Granville Street, the Vogue Theatre is an icon of Vancouver’s entertainment district.
1967 – City of Vancouver Archives location: F14-E-1 file 1 
