It has been over a year since John and I received a preview copy of the 1907 trolley car footage of Vancouver on DVD. The film is the earliest footage of Vancouver and was shot with a hand-crank camera mounted on the front of a B.C. Electric Railway streetcar by William Harbeck of Seattle.

Included in the DVD liner was a Google map outlining the route the trolley took through Gastown and over to the West End.

Over the last few years the Vancouver Historical Society has recreated the route shown in the film and now 101 years later it will be screened for the public and available for sale on DVD.

What: City Reflections – Vancouver 1907 / 2007 movie screening
When: Thursday May 22nd 2008 @ 8:00pm
Where: Vancouver Museum, 1100 Chestnut Street
More Info: There are no tickets to the screening, it’s first come first serve. The DVD of 1907 – 2007 footage will be on sale for $20. View photos from the launch May 7th, 2008.

In the original film you can only spot one car and the city is bustling with people, bicycles, and some horse-drawn carriages trotting along the dirt-covered Cordova Street.

Here are some other events of historical significance that took place in 1907, courtesy of VancouverHistory.ca and soon available in the book, The History of Metropolitan Vancouver.

…The Montreal-based jeweler, Henry Birks & Sons, came to Vancouver in February of [1907] and bought the well-established shop of George Trorey, at the northeast corner of Granville and Hastings. They kept Trorey on as manager—and they kept his famous sidewalk clock, too. The Birks clock and the store can just be glimpsed as our movie-streetcar swings east onto Hastings from Granville.

…The most famous writer in the world at the time, Rudyard Kipling, visited Vancouver again. Kipling really liked this city; this was his third visit, and he even bought land here (at the southeast corner of East 11th Avenue and Fraser Street.)

…David Spencer, who had earlier (1873) started a store in Victoria, put his son Chris, 38, in charge of a big new Spencer’s on Hastings Street in Vancouver. Chris had started working for the Victoria store in 1882 at age 13. The new store was so successful that it eventually took up almost an entire city block. Today, the building is SFU’s downtown campus.

…A fellow named Richard Cormon Purdy opened a shop on Robson Street and began selling chocolates.

Photo credit: DaveO on Flickr

The electric trolley in Vancouver has had a sordid history, from the Interurban to the recent retirement of the old electric Flyer buses. Although this city has had a love/hate relationship with transit over the years, more than anything this film proves that it can provide valuable glimpse into Vancouver’s past.

(Hat Tip to Karen for the heads up about the event on Thursday)

In the summer of 2006 I joined the Metroblogging Vancouver team and over the last few years our network has grown to represent over 50 bloggable cities worldwide. Admittedly my participation has dwindled somewhat however I’m still pretty proud to be a part of this global community.

Tomorrow there will be a Vancouver Metblogs meetup at Library Square Public House. All readers, commenters, authors, and anyone in general is more than welcome (in fact encouraged) to stop by and have some food and drink with the Metblogs team.

I realize tomorrow is also Third Tuesday, which I am sponsoring with a live blog and prizes, but I think heading to Library Square afterwards would be pretty fun – here’s why:

Also the father of Metroblogging nation, Sean Bonner, is in town and will be at the meetup. Sean is also the co-founder of Bode Media Inc and he helped create the Los Angeles group blog, Blogging.la, the flagship site of Metblogs.

If you can make it on time at 7:30pm, awesome. If you’re going to Third Tuesday to hear Darren Barefoot speak – that’s cool too, however please consider heading over to Library Square with us afterwards if you’re not already social media’d out for the night.

The latest in the Day Tripping series takes us south of the border and to no real destination as the journey is the trip.

When most folks head across the border from Metro Vancouver they take the I-5 although I highly suggest that next time, if you have some time of your hands, you veer off the interstate and take the more scenic Chuckanut Drive.

Photo credit: clango on Flickr

Just south of Bellingham look for the signs for Chuckanut Drive, Route 11. Along the way there is the historical town of Fairhaven and 21 miles down the road you’ll eventually join up with the I-5 again in Burlington.

There is plenty to stop check out including picnic areas, various Oyster Bars, restaurants, and Larabee State Park with hiking, waking and biking trails.

Photo credit: candescence on Flickr

Meandering along cliffs above the ocean while hugging the rocky tree-lined curves the views from the Chuckanut are breathtaking. To me, the entire course resembles a lush Pacific Northwest version of the Pacific Coast Highway.

Winding down into the valley, there is a winery (Chuckanut Ridge Wine Co), cafes, antique shops, blueberry farm, apple farms, and agricultural land.

There is also amazing camping (should you decide to stay longer than a day) over at Deception Pass which is a jog off the Chuckanut at Burlington but is worth the extra miles. Deception Pass connects the mainland to Whidbey Island, Duane’s over there right now so I’m sure he’ll have a recap or some photos up after this weekend.

Photo credit: Duane Storey on Flickr

If you’re simply looking for an afternoon drive with amazing views and fresh sea air, Chuckanut is a great way to go – and you can still go to Target and Bellis Fair on your way back home.

Strolling through my WordPress categories the other day I came across “Beach Times” and reminisced about the summer of 2006 when John and I spent every weekend afternoon in the sand watching the waves roll in and enjoying each other’s company.

Last summer the weather wasn’t too cooperative and John had a gig that kept him working Saturday afternoons. However, with that behind us I’m officially re-opening the Beach Times category as we kick off what will be a truly Bollwitt Beach Summer (in Vancouver, around BC, and North America).

If you plan to stay in town to check out any of Vancouver’s eight ocean beaches, which will hopefully remain safe thanks to our new Baywatch-like squad – the VPD Beach Patrol. As you breathe in that fresh salty ocean air, also enjoy the smell of their ATV exhaust.

English Bay
Jericho
Kitsilano
Locarno
Second Beach
Spanish Bank (East, Extension, West)
Sunset
Third Beach

Those not planning on coming downtown should check out the ocean beaches over at Ambleside, White Rock and Belcarra in Port Moody. There’s also Crescent Beach in South Surrey (or the Naturist Beach nearby), Iona Beach, and Cates Park in Deep Cove – just to name a few.

Final note, please remember that sunscreen is your friend – happy beaching!

Does anyone remember last summer when the sun decided not to show up and city workers were on strike for months so park facilities, rec centres and pools were all closed? Well banish those sore memories from your minds and get ready for this weekend which is official kick off to outdoor recreation in the City of Vancouver.

Focusing on Outdoor Pools in Vancouver, here’s the rundown:

Photo credit: DaveO on Flickr

New Brighton Pool (#13 on the map – Opening May 17th, 2008
I forgot about this park entirely until we started taking the McGill exit off the #1 to get downtown recently. Tucked away behind the PNE, New Brighton park has lovely mountain views and is the only park in East Vancouver that has ocean beach access.

Second Beach Pool (#14 on the map) – Opening May 17th, 2008
Just like how the “First Narrows” is another name for the Lions Gate Bridge and “Second Narrows” is the Ironworkers Memorial, what we know as English Bay beach is actually “First Beach”. As you head toward Stanley Park the numbers go up, hence Second and Third Beaches. The pool is near a concession stand, has fun slides for the kiddies and since it’s pretty much located smack-dab in the middle of the sea wall, it is conducive to pre or post swimming strolls through the park.

Kitsilano Pool (#10 on the map) – Opening May 17th, 2008
Located at 2305 Cornwall Avenue Kits pool offers the best view of the city and also has beach access. It’s the “only salt water pool in Vancouver and one of the few in the world.” I also like to call it the “meat market” cause if you’re a single summer college student think Granville Street clubbing… but on a beach.

Kits Pool – Photo credit: Darren Barefoot on Flickr

Mount Pleasant Pool (#11 on the map) – Opening June 21st, 2008
I admit, I’ve never been to the Mount Pleasant pool, but from the looks of it there’s plenty to do. Diving towers, slides, and it’s adjacent to the Mount Pleasant Community Centre.

Maple Grove Pool (#12 on the map) – Opening June 21st, 2008
I had to look up information on this park until I realized I’ve been to this pool many times in my childhood years. This is a large heated wading pool (max 3.5 feet in depth) in a park complete with a playground for the kiddies. When I was little “wading pool” usually meant mom would tell me I could go in up to my ankles – next thing you know on the drive home I’m wrapped in a towel and my shorts are spread out on the dashboard catching sun in hope of drying out before we get back.

Aquatic Centre at Hillcrest Park (*New – Just added for 2011) Enjoy this new outdoor and indoor pool combo right new Nat Bailey Stadium. Complete with an outdoor waterpark, 70-person hot tub, change rooms, and a fitness centre inside.

Swimming lessons are also offered at all of the outdoor pools (listed above) and the first sessions start July 17th, 2008 (click for PDF schedule). Drop-in rates for the pools range from $2.50 to about $5.00 although you can get in with you Vancouver recreation pass or Flexi pass, which is good for most rec centre/community centre activities. You can also purchase books of tickets for 10 visits to save a bit on the cost – more info is available on the Parks n’ Rec website.