As Vancouverites, we accept 10 months of rain and mild weather. We come to live with the fact that if there’s frost on the ground, no one can drive properly and if it’s rainy from October to June… at least there will be sun in July and August. This year I don’t think Mother Nature lived up to her end of the bargain.
There were highlights this summer, a couple beach days and a mini trip to the Okanagan but somehow it feels like the season is almost gone and I don’t have enough of a tan to show for it. Also, about a dozen people I know (including myself) have come down with a cold or flu… in the middle of August, what gives? Of course, summer lasts well into September but with Labour Day fast approaching and the kiddies going back to school, I feel a little ripped off. Surprisingly, I think I’m okay with that because I’ve come to the realization that I actually, honestly, truly love autumn.
I love watching the leaves change, wearing cute sweaters, drinking a warm beverage while wrapping both my hands around the cup, and buying more closed-toe shoes (much to my husband’s chagrin). The air smells crisp, there are no forest fire threats, and when you step out of the house to head to work, a visible puff of your breath leads you out the door and down the street.
Thanksgiving, raking leaves, turkey, scary movies, Halloween, what’s not to love about the time of year that’s fast-approaching? Sure I haven’t had enough summer and I don’t even get to go back to school shopping to make up for my lack of sun exposure, but I’m not going to complain. Vancouver autumns are beautiful and I’m lucky enough to have experienced two of New England’s as well.
When the frost comes out and the walk to work in heels because a sidewalk balancing act, maybe we’ll be able to jet off and fly South. Escaping, just as super hot and sunny days have done to us this year.
In true Miss604 fashion I couldn’t just leave this post as-is; I had to add a poll.
[poll=5]
To view and vote on past polls, visit the Miss604.com poll page.
It was 35 years ago that our nation rallied behind a group of hockey players in games taking place from Vancouver, to Moscow and in between. The series was East vs West, Communism vs Democracy, and more importantly… who was the world’s ‘Hockey Nation’.
The Summit Series was the first competition between full-strength Soviet and Canadian national ice hockey teams, an eight-game series held in September of 1972. Canada won the series four games to three, with one tie…
…The Series was played at a time when only amateurs were allowed to play in the Olympic Games. [wiki]
Today is the first match of the Canada-Russia Super Series, a part of the Summit Series’ legacy.
The 2007 Super Series is an eight-game Under-20 ice hockey challenge between Russia and Canada. It will be held from August 27 to September 9 in various venues in both countries. The event commemorates the 35th anniversary of the 1972 Summit Series between the USSR and Canada. [wiki]
The series kicked off today in Ufa, will move to Omsk, then Winnipeg, Saskatoon and Red Deer before game 8 in Vancouver at GM Place on September 9th.
The Vancouver Giants’ own Milan Lucic is playing for Team Canada along with many other U-20 stars such as New Westminster’s Kyle Turris.
It’s pretty nice to wake up to hockey on TV, and the games are going to be about every 2 days over the next couple weeks. It should be a nice warm up to the NHL’s pre-season, for all those counting down the days. Good luck to Team Canada, and no matter how poorly our boys do… please try not to boo, they’re giving it their 150% and we appreciate that.
The CBC is all into testing us Canadians with their interactive programming. The first of the ‘Test the Nation‘ series was a giant nation-wide IQ test where you would watch the program on TV (live), follow along on the web, or grab a paper copy to record your answers. Then your score would be compared with everyone else’s coast-to-coast [Miss604]. A little graph would display in which percentile you ranked and who was the smartest in the country. The results were broken down in to several categories including male or female, left or right handed, meat eater or vegetarian/vegan and folder or scruncher.
The second installment is called “Watch Your Language”, testing Canadians and their grammar [InsidetheCBC]. Immediately I thought of an episode of 30 Rock.
Tracey:So how you doing over there Theo Huxtable?
Twofer: I’m doing good.
Tracey: Nuh uh. Superman does good. You’re doing well. You need to study your grammar son.
Frank:Wow, that was embarrassing for you.
Test the Nation’s talking and writing things goodly edition will air September 9 at 8:00pm (local time) and you can download the scorecard to get a head start.
I knew there was something missing but I never realized it until now, well until my sister sent me a text message this morning. Aside from the garbage piling up, libraries being shut down and public pools not being filled with youngsters splashing around, there’s something else that’s happening because of the civic strike in Vancouver. Actually, it’s something that’s not happening concerning the 9 o’clock gun.
It’s been a fixture on the Seawall for over 100 years, it was made just one year after Napolean was defeated at Waterloo.
[…]
Park Board general manager Susan Mundick said there’s a specially trained person who looks after the charges. “Because of the strike, that person is not working at this point and so the gun will not fire until the staff return to work and can package up the gun powder and put it into the gun.” [News1130]
You’ll hear the cannon fire at 9:00 every evening, its booming sound echoing and ricocheting off high rises downtown and often heard from far and wide. If you’re in Coal Harbour looking over at Stanley Park when it happens you’ll also notice a plume of spoke, but not anymore. Obviously I can survive without the gun (although I like it so much that I wrote about it in April 06), but it’s just ‘one of those Vancouver things’ that you can count on every day, like the “O! Canada” horns at noon.
Looking for a funky web savvy boutique hotel in downtown Vancouver that won’t break the bank? Recently Mark from Chicago contacted me through the blog to ask about such a place since he’ll be coming to town this fall.
I don’t want to pay stratospheric prices […] Is there a smaller, classy, tech-friendly place you could recommend?
Mark’s email stated what he was looking for:
– Close to downtown city center.
– Not a corporate chain ( i.e. no Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, etc.).
– Ideally something more “boutique”, artsy, good for a web 2.0 geek.
– Close to public transportation and ethnic restaurants.
– Maybe close to Stanley Park.
– No stratospheric prices, but something between 3 and 4 star.
Although there’s no shortage of amazingly tasty ethnic food everywhere you go, I’ve done a little digging, put the word out, and come up with the following places to stay (with help from Dave, and Jordan).
The Kingston ** I know the restaurant/pub has a fantastic rooftop patio but didn’t know there was a hotel/b&b at that location as well, go figure. Rooms appear to be from $55 to $160 a night, with continental breakfast and yes, they do have wifi. [Google Map]
Pacific Palisades **** Just off Robson street it’s in the downtown core but still a nice walking distance to Stanley Park. From $220 a night, ADSL internet in room. [Google Map]
Blue Horizon **** Located near the Palisades on Robson, I always see people doing brunch outside when I walk by. From $164 a night during peak.
[Google Map]
Opus Hotel **** Slightly pricey (from $300 during peak season) but hip and full of style. High speed wifi and wired internet throughout the hotel. 1 restaurant and 2 bars, and the manager’s even got a blog. [Google Map]
The Listel Hotel **** Artsy hotel on the inside but not so much on the outside save for a giant orange, metal pretzel-looking piece. Rates from $209 a night ($50-$150 during the off season). It’s got a great location though, on the “quieter” side on Robson and close’r’ to the park. [Google Map]
Le Soleil **** Beautiful little boutique hotel tucked away in the financial district. From $260 a night during peak tourist season it also has wifi.[Google Map]
The Buchan Hotel *** Tucked away among the walk-ups of the West End, only 2 blocks from Stanley Park and Lost Lagoon, everyone always forgets about the Buchan. Looking at their rates they seem pretty reasonable ($90 to start, during the season) and it’s also only 2 blocks from Denman Street – where you can catch any bus and eat anything from African Fusion to Montreal-style BBQ. (Unsure about internet availability though) [Google Map]
The Sylvia Hotel **** Charming heritage hotel right at English Bay and beside the entrance to Stanley Park. Rates during the season start at $110. Do a Flickr search for photos to see the Sylvia [Google Map]
I can think of a couple more hotels but the goal is to be “non-chain” but also “non-nasty”. If all else fails, stay outside of downtown and just hop a bus in, I hear the view from the Holiday Inn on Broadway is lovely…
If anyone has any more to add to the list (downtown only to start) please feel free to submit it in the comments, thanks!
At this point I’m seriously wondering when Tourism Vancouver is going to start sending some monetary love my way, this is the second out-of-town reader I’ve helped within the last week. At least I hope this helps, have a good time in Vancity, Mark!
Updates and reader submissions below:
Wedgewood Hotel ***** Submitted by Charlene – Starting at $308 during the season, The Wedgewood is centrally located downtown across from Robson Square, just South of the Vancouver Art Gallery. It looks super nice from the photos yet I’m unsure about internet access — note to hotels in Vancouver, this is a big selling point. [Google Map]
Carmana Plaza **** Submitted by Mom604 – Rooms start at $350 during the summer and seem to book up pretty fast so they must be doing something right. Off Robson, near lots of restaurants (and a liquor store…), view of the mountains. No word on internet access on their website [Google Map]
Update: A nice mention of this post by Vacant Ready “100% Occupied by Hotel People”. They suggested the following hotel, which I’ve added to the list:
“The only addition I would probably make would be Moda Hotel on Seymour Street. This is a renovated heritage property with still more interesting reno projects to come in the restaurant and wine bar. Rates are definitely on the budget side (summer rates start at $119), so it might be worth checking out.” [VacantReady]
