Update December 19, 2008: The new Robson Safeway is now open.
It’s been just over a year since the Safeway on Robson and Denman closed down. People have started to get excited about its re-opening as signage is put in place, windows are being set and polished, and there’s a career ad on Craigslist for a resident sushi chef.
The new building is pretty impressive and it looks as though there’s even a balcony portion up top, as side rails are in place outdoors on the second level.
Since the Safeway shut down, two Urban Fare locations have sprung up in Coal Harbour; there was one on Hastings and Bute, and another opened last month on Alberni near Thurlow. I’m not sure if regular Safeway-ers headed over there, or if they’ll come back with the re-opening. Side note: This also makes me wonder how Save On Foods on Cambie will be affected when Whole Foods opens up across the street.
I’ve kind of missed the Safeway although with it being gone we have been encouraged to check out many more small, independent grocers. We love the Robson Market for produce, and also get meat at the butcher shop, then there’s also a European deli on Bidwell. I don’t think we’ll stop going to these places at all when the new Safeway opens up – it’s just nice to have options.
Update: The store will be open in “preview mode” December 18th at 4:00pm and will have its official opening Friday, December 19th.
In just two days the Bear Creek Park Christmas Train will ride again for this holiday season. From December 6th until January 4th you and the kiddies can ride this miniature railroad through the woods, in and out of tunnels, and around lighted paths and decorations.
The train is $4.00 for children and $4.50 for adults and is a great alternative to the mayhem that is the Bright Nights Train in Stanley Park (based on crowds, line ups, and ticket prices). The kids also get a free candy cane, reindeer antlers, and “reindeer food” to leave out for Santa’s crew on Christmas Eve.
Also, in case you’d like something a bit more active, they’ve opened up a 18-hole mini golf course near the train. I’m a sucker for mini golf. It’s open through January and with this weather, it seems like it won’t be snowed out any time soon.
Bear Creek Park is located just off 88th Avenue, between King George Hwy and 140th [Google Map].
As of midnight December 4th, voting is now open for the Best of 604 people’s choice awards for their favourite sites and blogs in the region.
Quick Facts:
Voting will be open until 12:00pm December 11th.
You may vote once in each of the 14 categories.
Prizes so far include: A gift pack from Kiss My Face, Cromwell & Cruthers, Yardley, and J.R. Watkins for each category winner, along with separately sponsored prizes such as two tickets to an Arts Club production, two passes for a Social Bites dinner, hand-crafted items from Magic Woodworks, jewelry from Sheila Christie, two Vancouver Giants tickets (from Canucks and Beyond), gift certificates for Howie’s Bistro and Bar, tshirts and (EA) Xbox games from 6S Marketing, passes to Mount Seymour… and more!
More sponsors are still welcome.
Results will be announced at the awards reception.
Admission is by any (monetary) donation to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.
Big thank you to The Cellar for hosting the awards reception, which will take place at 6:00pm on December 11th. Please RSVP on the Eventbrite page, even if you’ve spotted the event listing on Facebook or Upcoming as well.
Good luck everyone, I’m really looking forward to getting together, supporting a great cause, and celebrating all of your very hard work.
December 4th, 2008 at 4:15pm you will be able to head to the official Canucks website to catch a live blog of the Vancouver vs Detroit game.
The Fan Zone will be hosting several live blogs throughout the season and I’ll be the first moderator tomorrow, using the Cover it Live system.
I’ve reviewed Cover it Live before and since then they’ve done a bunch of upgrades and added features so I’m looking forward to giving it another go. Fans will be able to log on, join the discussion, share photos, participate in polls and much more – on the fly.
Since the Red Wings/Canucks game is also a pay-per-view I’m hoping to have lots of participants/readers and other Fan Zone’rs on the website tomorrow for live discussions, chat, and commentary.
You can check it out now (although the live blog is not yet in progress) and set yourself a reminder.
Update: Other bloggers joining me will be Yankee Canuck, Humming Giraffe and Thomas Lupton, it should be a really great time!
Update: We’re live now.
A few weeks ago I got the heads up about re:place Magazine. It’s an amazing local site that shares stories, thoughts, discussions and ideals about Vancouver’s ever-changing urban landscape.
Mission Statement:
To be a forum for discussion on relevant issues pertaining to Greater Vancouver’s public spaces and urban landscape.
To educate citizens about the workings of the public realm, and to encourage interaction and engagement in cities.
To explore the ever-changing look and dynamic of Greater Vancouver.
They’re having a re: connect event tonight at The End Cafe (on Commercial Drive, right near the Skytrain station) with a super all-star cast.
Robert Hackett – Campaign for Democratic Media
David Beers – The Tyee
Chuck Davis – The History of Metropolitan Vancouver (one of my personal Vancouver History mentors, that I would really like to meet someday)
Andrew Pask – Vancouver Public Space Network
Karen Quinn Fung – Independent initiative (Karen recently organized the Skytrain Security Unconference as well as TransitCamp)
Jason Robinson – Sustainability Television
Michael Klassen – Vancouver City Planning Commission (On my radar since the “Vancouver Blogger” Google battle pre-Northern Voice)
Presenters will have five minutes to share personal or group initiatives, ideas or projects and that will be followed by a Q&A session. Things kick off at 7:00pm, admission is free and everyone is welcome to attend although please be sure to RSVP to contributors [at] regardingplace [dot] com.
This would totally be a not-to-miss event for me however I have already have an engagement tonight at the Vancouver Aquarium. I’m certainly going to keep my eyes on these re:connect events in the future.
