Hustling and bustling with all sorts of social media, web, and internetty activity Vancouver’s Social Media dance card is rather full for the month of May. Here’s what will be happening around town (and what will more than likely be live blogged).
What: DrupalCamp Vancouver, Vancouver’s first ever Drupal Camp When: Friday May 9th at 10:00am running until Saturday May 10th at 5:00pm Where:Workspace More Info:Website, Facebook Event
What: Launch Party Vancouver 4 (LPV4) – follow up to the super fun LPV3 When: Wednesday May 21st from 5:30pm to 9:00pm Where: Republic, 958 Granville Street More Info:Website, Facebook Event.
How to get there on transit:1657 Charles Street (@ Commercial Drive). You can get to Grandview Park on the bus (20 Victoria or 20 Downtown) or taking the Skytrain to either Commercial Drive station or Broadway station (both stations are within a few steps from each other).
Size: 0.89 Hectares (it sounds tiny, but this park really gets totally crowded!). Source: Vancouver Park Board.
Features: Sitting in one of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in Vancouver. Grandview Park is one of the landmarks for anyone who walks around Commercial Drive. Equipped with playground, an amazing view of the city and close to just about every business you may need, Grandview Park offers you and your family numerous activities.
Grandview Park houses 3 tennis courts, and it is within walking distance from the Britannia Community Centre. It also features several family-oriented amenities, including a water/spray park and a field house, as well as playgrounds.
History: “Originally the site of the Irish Fusiliers Drill Hall, it was purchased by the Department of Militia and Defense between 1911 and 1913. Following World War I the military’s needs changed and the site was abandoned. The area was leased to the City in 1929 and named for the Grandview neighbourhood. A memorial cairn was located on Grandview Park until its replacement by a new war memorial on November 11, 1959.” [Vancouver Parks Board website]
The good folks at Brave New Code, specifically Dale Mugford and Duane Storey (or “D Squared” as I have just this minute decided to call them) have been working on a theme for mobile viewing of your WordPress blog.
Here’s how it works:
Coming this Wednesday WPtouch will be released to the world
Head to BraveNewCode to download and install like you would any other WP plugin
In your dashboard, edit the plugin by going to Options > WPtouch
Select which pages you’d like to be added to your menu
Chose an icon for each page or upload your own
Grab an iPhone or iPod Touch and check out how hot your blog looks to mobile users
I’ve had a chance to poke around the beta version this evening, here’s a look at my site on the iPhone with WPtouch installed:
I have to say it’s pretty slick. Duane also got me to add a page called “Photos” which was then immediately populated with thumbnails of my recent Flickr photos. Keep an eye out for WPtouch this week and also check out Brave New Code cause these innovative guys are mighty good at what they do.
Update: Brave New Code just launched! WPtouch is now available for your mobile WordPressing pleasure!
Nothing beats cruising the open road with the windows down, sun beaming in giving you a farmer tan on your driving arm, and the sound of rockin’ tunes to soundtrack your venture.
I’ve been road tripping since I could drive; I’ve traveled the highways of our Provinces and the Pacific Coast countless times and on every occasion there has been music to inspire my mission to that holidayland destination.
My all-time best road trip album to listen to front to back: Fully Completely, The Tragically Hip
Band that reminds of me driving the Crownest through Manning Park: Hum
Album that reminds me of driving the #1 from Salmon Arm to Revelstoke: Anthems, Less Than Jake
Song that makes you feel like you’re actually driving in Rad Racer: Map of the Problematique, Muse
New additions to the playlist this year include Shiny Toy Guns and Against Me! both equally fun in their own right when twisting and turning through those mountain passes and sun-kissed valleys.
Our mini vacations may come to an end but the next time I hear certain tunes it always reminds me of carefree afternoons on the road away from the daily grind and hopefully toward a beach with my man.
As far as wineries go, I would have to say I’ve been around. I’ve done Napa Valley over the course of several days, I’ve been to finest grape-growing regions in France, and I know the Okanagan and Fraser Valley vineyards like the back of my hand. I can swirl, swoosh, sniff, and taste tannins as good as the rest of them and I must say, I simply love coming to the Okanagan.
Our second stop on day two of SuperHappyBollwittTime was at Burrowing Owl Estate Winery, which is perched atop a hill just outside of Osoyoos’ city centre, off of Black Sage Road.
Burrowing Owl not only has a handsome wine tasting room, they have a small resort with rooms to let, an enormous swimming pool and a lovely restaurant view never-ending views of the Sonora Desert.
We popped in for a quick sip as the restaurant was closed for a private function, which we assumed was a wedding as a woman was walking around claiming to be the ‘mother of the bride’. There was a selection of 6 wines available for the tasting which was by donation, the suggested amount being $2. The reason for the donation is that aside from supplying the world with a hearty oaky 2005 Meritage they also spread awareness about the protection of the endangered burrowing owl species.
The Burrowing Owl Vineyards and Winery pay tribute to the little native burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia), which is currently being reintroduced into the Okanagan Valley. The Valley’s grasslands and sagebrush plains were once a breeding area for these birds.
“Contrary to what their name suggests, these owls don’t burrow” says proprietor Jim Wyse. “They let animals like badgers and gophers do that for them. Then, when the holes are abandoned, the owls move in and set up residence. The reason the owls are no longer found in abundance in this area is that the badgers and gopher populations have been depleted.” [Burrowing Owl]
The winery also has strict policies when it comes to creating a sustainable working vineyard that does as little damage as possible to the sensitive ecosystem in which it lies.
In the summer months (when that gigantic pool is up and running) I think it would be a lovely to getaway and stay in their guest house. Breathtaking views, hot and humid desert air, and all the wine you can handle.
