It was two years ago that a guy came up to me at Northern Voice and told me he enjoyed my live blog from the previous summer. We chatted about that event, about the conference, and he said he was going to head out and buy a MacBook, which he did (and he hasn’t looked back). Over the next few weeks we chatted on iChat and when Duane Storey invited us out to his birthday party we showed up with bells on. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
A few years ago John and I participated in numerous fundraising runs around town, from the Run for Light (a personal fave) to the Science Fair Fun Run and the Run for the Cure. We know Vancouver is a city for runners so it’s no wonder that many more fun runs and fundraisers are popping up this season.
Here’s a quick rundown of events currently on my radar and feel free to add any others you might know of or would like to promote. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
On Feburary 12, 2009 Twestival took place in over 200 cities around the world and was organized, arranged, and attended all thanks to people and companies on Twitter. With a ton of help, I put together Vancouver’s event and thanks to the 200+ people who showed up at the Opus Hotel that evening, our city was really able to make an impact.
Globally, Twestival raised over a quarter of a million dollars (US) for charity:water and on April 11th, 2009 they will be drilling their first well (in Ethiopia), which was made possible thanks to the Twestival effort.
They will be drilling for four days and will post daily videos about the work and to introduce the Twitter world to the community it is helping. You can even email the drilling group in Ethiopia via [email protected] and they’ll address those correspondences on the third day. 100% of worldwide Twestival funds went to providing clean, safe drinking water – thanks again to everyone that supported Twestival and YVRTwestival.
Update: Clean water springs forth from the first Twestival well- read the news here.
This month’s Vancouver Blogger Meetup is taking place Wednesday April 8th at 6:00pm. I’d like to try and attend since there are so many new bloggers in town that I’m keen to learn about and my Link Love page needs revamping.
These meetups are casual and discussions flow regarding anything from content writing, comments, themes, and social media for beginners to experts. April’s event will be extra-special since Raul (the organizer) has also planned the inaugural VanTechKaraoke. “I have wanted to help organize something fun and team up with Maura. So, after the last Launch Party Vancouver, Maura and I got talking about doing something fluid, something fun that people could just attend and let loose and not have something super-structured. The idea of doing Vancouver Tech Karaoke (#vantechkaraoke) arose…”
You can RSVP online for the Vancouver Blogger Meetup and although a venue is not currently chosen, I believe Raul was planning on having it somewhere in the vicinity of the karaoke. You don’t have to be a blogger or in tech to attend – all are always welcome.
I took full advantage of the Orange Day initiative today and went on two photowalks in lovely public spaces in New Westminster and downtown Vancouver. This morning there was brunch at the Quay along the Fraser River with my mother and later this afternoon John and I roamed around Barclay Heritage Square in Vancouver’s West End.
Sometimes on lovely spring days such as these, it’s the simplest of activities that can delight, relax, and bring a smile to your face. It definitely helps when the bright sun is blanketing our soggy city to boot.
The Barclay Heritage Square is a public park with small playground, on-leash dogs are welcome on its lawn, and its highly conducive to activities such as playing catch, badminton or Frisbee.
The three heritage houses that border the park on Barclay Street are Barclay Manor, Roedde House, and Weeks House (on the Nicola corner). There are also 6 other heritage houses (private residences) that surround the perimeter, all of which date as far back as the 1890s.
I have yet to have tea at the historic Roedde House but it’s near the top of my must-do list and I have profiled it in one of my Vancouver History pieces:
In 1990 the restored Roedde House Museum opened its doors for community events and tours. Having done many tours of Victoria during our girls weekends, I’ve become pretty familiar with the architects that formed our big coastal cities in BC, however I had no clue that there were murmurs that Francis Mawson Rattenbury built Roedde House. Rattenbury being the designer of the Vancouver Art Gallery (former Court House) and Victoria’s Parliament Buildings and Empress Hotel [VancouverHistory].
I would also love to read “More Than a House” The Story of Roedde House and Barclay Heritage Square by Janet Bingham (whom I met at the CBC Radio event).
Feel free to browse the rest of John’s Flickr set, as well as my own for more photos.
