My boss sent me an IM on Skype the other day talking about how fun it would be to work with the following people – and I wholeheartedly have to agree. I mean my office is pretty fun, very relaxed, but this is just hilarious.
So thinking about what my office could do, if we had maybe 20 more people and were so bold, John suggested the Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby [Audihertz]. This would be particularly fun since our realtime payment management suite is built using Ruby on Rails. Somehow though, I find it highly unlikely that my office would put together something like this, now Bryght on the other hand, I can see. That, and I think we all might get a kick of out “karaoke Boris”.
Speaking of offices and work, I’ve been at my new job just over a month now and I think it’s going pretty well. I’m not excruciatingly bored and they’re not tired of me yet so that’s a good sign. I’ve been tinkering so much with WordPress that I’m going to start applying some of my new tricks to Miss604.com and see where that gets me. I’ve had this current theme for almost a year and I might just spruce it up a little. I really enjoy the minimalist look and feel and I think I can probably make this here site a little more fancy by way of a couple plugins. It’s really great that John is expanding his knowledge, in the realm of WP and Drupal, as well.
Although my blogging has slowed down a little recently I think it’s the “Facebook Syndrome” as Corinna [GusGreeper.com] pointed out to us the other day. Ever since Facebook came on the scene traffic’s been a little slow in blog-ville. I think the two can play together very nicely and I haven’t even begun to lose faith. All of these tools are just that, tools to help grow social networks and it’s all about cross-promotion. Now, it’s back to the land of WordPress for me and I must admit, I’m growing more and more envious of Dave’s shirt (above) with every passing day.
Duane and John picked me up from work on Friday afternoon then we all headed East on HWY 1 and didn’t stop until we saw Cottonwood Mall. No, we weren’t camping out in the Wal-Mart parking lot, we just needed to get some provisions. We bought two sleeping bags, tarps, rope, a tent, chairs and stocked up on food for the weekend. By the time we got to the campsite we realized by looking at our wallets that we could have just flown down to Vegas for the weekend for the same amount we just spent.
Friday night was overcast but the rain held off. My sister and her kids were camping at the same grounds and their site was only about 200 meters away. The kids would come running up to our site, completely over stimulated by being out of the city, in the woods, near a lake and well, full of marshmallows. We had some good times, played some badminton, kicked around lots of dirt and scoured the paths nearby for the biggest juiciest slugs.
Saturday morning Jen and the kids packed up and headed home, while we got a visit from Duane’s dad and his wife who brought us morning coffees and a new tarp. The tarp we originally setup over our eating area was less than ideal and upon first glance Duane’s dad said something along the lines of, “So I brought you a new 20′ tarp to replace this one, what is this a 2 x 2?”. He then proceeded to string it up from the trees spanning across our entire site – it was the best tarp-job ever and we agreed that next time all we need to do is pack a “dad” and we’ll be okay.
Later on that day Duane’s mom and grandma stopped by – their hometown of Chilliwack is only a few minutes away from the lake. He and his mom have such good-humoured relationship and the same dynamic spans all generations in his family. His grandma is hilarious and would really like to see Duane with a nice girl so ladies… head over to www.duanestory.com to find out more.
For lunch I made the boys some sandwiches, which John immediately tossed on the fire to toast. Best. Idea. Ever. Campfire toasted ham and cheese bunwiches mmmm, we’re so going to have to do those again. A short while later we were joined by Duane’s sister and her family. His niece and nephew experienced the same joys mine did just the day before. With their uncle Duane to take them down to the lake they were in heaven – exploring, climbing and of course giving us all heart attacks when they got too close to the drop off to the lake or the crackling fire. His family really was hospitable, although I think they were just worried about us being out in the rain. We were then brought dinner and treated to more dry firewood before saying goodnight.
John and I went for a walk that evening and decided it was time to jump in the lake – at this point we were so dirty and full of campfire smell it was for fun and our own wellbeing, really. We grabbed Duane and walked down a neck-breakingly steep path to a private stretch of beach below our campsite. Jumping in was easy, trying to regain feeling in your frozen limbs was tough. Being the troopers that we are, we stayed in for quite a while and enjoyed the scenic mountain views from across the calm and foggy lake. Climbing back up the path was a challenge, but having done it a few time already during the trip we knew just what root systems to grasp to pull ourselves up and which rocks were steady enough to be used as footholds.
The final night around the campfire was dry, the skies let up for a bit and allowed us to relax and enjoy drunken campfire ramblings. It was a great time but we’re glad to be back home and showered – I tell gotta tell ya, you probably didn’t want to share the car ride home with the three of us being dirty, stinky, and campfirey. There will be another trip as after purchasing all this gear we decided that we are now committed to at least another camping expedition this summer. Big thanks to Duane’s family for stopping by, to Duane for driving and initiating this little trip, and to John for not harming himself with the hatchet while chopping wood (we haven’t got him a Care Card yet). Here’s to another drunkcamp and remember, what happens at drunkcamp stays at drunkcamp.
*A few of my pics are up on Flickr in the drunkcamp set, and I’m certain official photographs of the weekend will soon be up on Duane’s Flickr as well.
For a while now I’ve been adding to my “Cheap Fun” and “Cheap Things to Do” blog post categories. Cultural festivals, ice skating, swimming, and taking advantage of the hundreds of parks in the Lower Mainland are just a few off the top of my head. I’ll try and add more items to this as the summer progresses and I have to give big thanks to DaveO [Uncleweed][HockeyNW] for his contributions to the list.
Part 1 of this guide was mostly about events happening on specific dates, things to mark on your calendar and be sure not to miss. Part 2 is for those ongoing activities, some of which you can take part in year-round.
UBC Museum of Anthropology
Although this usually costs about $9 for adults, they do have a FREE night Tuesdays from 5:00pm to 9:00pm. “The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia is world-renowned for its collections, research, teaching, public programs, and community connections. It is also acclaimed for its spectacular architecture and unique setting on the cliffs of Point Grey.” [MOA] (Listen to our archive podcast including audio from the Museum on RadioZoom / Read about Cheapie Tuesdays on Metblogs)
UBC Pacific Museum of the Earth
I really didn’t know this existed so this is definitely thanks to Dave – and it’s completely FREE. “The Pacific Museum of the Earth is the result of the amalgamation of two pre-existing Museums: The M.Y. Williams Geological Museum and the Pacific Mineral Museum.” [PME]
Fort Langley
[FortLangley.com] The village itself is full of unique shops, antiques and diners but then there’s the actual Fort, which is a National Historic Site with interpretive center , as well as various other attractions in the area like Aldor Acres and the Fort Wine Co. Follow Hwy 1, just East of Surrey – about 45 minutes from downtown. (Listen to our archive podcast soundseeing from the fair on RadioZoom / Read my blog post about the Fort Wine Co’s “Very Berry Fair” last year on Metblogs)
Ambleside Park
West Vancouver’s seawall with sandy beaches, walkways, golf and it’s transit accessible. [WestVancouver.com]
Steveston Village
The Southern portion of Richmond, just minutes from downtown. Village, museum and seaside views, check their website for events throughout the summer. [StevestonVillage]
Bowen Island
Day trip on ferry from Horseshoe Bay – parks, village, artisans, food, brewery and much more. [BowenOnline]
Canucks Equipment Sale
Saturday June 23rd, 11:00am to 3:00pm [Canucks.com]
Vancouver Canadians Baseball
Vancouver’s own professional baseball team playing at the historic and incomparable Nat Bailey Stadium. Tickets start at only $7! Home opener June 19th [CanadiansBaseball.com] (See last year’s post about a game we attended)
I also have an ongoing list of posts pertaining to Summer events and good eats at the top of my sidebar. Stay tuned for Pt. 3 where we’ll cover festivals, lots and lots of festivals.
This weekend we were dying for some patio times and really couldn’t think of anywhere to go. We didn’t want the usual place so I Googled to see what I could come up with. I found had success at VancouverPlus and the Georgia Straight’s Patio Guide [Straight.com]. We ended up at Tanpopo, which I learned has a surprisingly big rooftop overlooking Denman Street.
The Straight’s Patio Guide is a little outdated (from 2005 and 2006) so I’ve decided to list it up here, including Google Maps to make things that much easier.
Just click on the neighbourhood (I’ve only included a few, sorry) and you’ll be magically transported to a list of establishments with patio drinking/dining. Feel free to comment, or add any more names to the list.
Downtown
BREAD GARDEN – Street-level patio. 889 W. Pender
[Google Map][Website]
CANADIAN MAPLE GOURMET DELIGHTS – Street-level patio. 769 Hornby
[Google Map][Website]
CASSIS BISTRO – Patio. 420 W. Pender
[Google Map][Website]
CACTUS CLUB CAFE – Small street-level patio. 1136 Robson
[Google Map][Website]
CINCIN – Above street-level balcony. 1154 Robson
[Google Map][Website]
DIVA AT THE MET – Street-level patio. 645 Howe
[Google Map][Website]
DON FRANCESCO RISTORANTE – 40-seat solarium. 860 Burrard
[Google Map][Website]
EARLS – Heated patio above street/balcony level. 1185 Robson
[Google Map][Website]
GALLERY CAFE – Patio seats up to 250 people. 750 Hornby
[Google Map][Website]
GOTHAM – Hidden patio/courtyard. 615 Seymour
[Google Map][Website]
IL GIARDINO – Open-air inner courtyard. 1382 Hornby
[Google Map][Website]
JOE FORTES – Rooftop garden patio. 777 Thurlow
[Google Map][Website]
KINGSTON TAPHOUSE & GRILLE – Hidden rooftop deck. 755 Richards
[Google Map][Website]
LE CROCODILE – Street-level patio. 909 Burrard
[Google Map][Website]
LUPO BAR CAFFE – Street-level patio. 1016 W. Georgia
[Google Map]
MONA’S LEBANESE CUISINE – Courtyard patio. 1328 Hornby
[Google Map][Website]
REX ROTISSERIE & GRILL – Patio with waterfall. 1055 Dunsmuir
[Google Map][Website]
ROSIE’S ON ROBSON – 60-seat sidewalk patio. 298 Robson
[Google Map][Website]
SAVORY COAST – Rooftop deck 1133 Robson
[Google Map][Website]
TSUNAMI SUSHI – Rooftop deck 238-1025 Robson
[Google Map]
West End
BOATHOUSE – Large rooftop deck, English Bay views. 1795 Beach
[Google Map][Website]
BRAVO BISTRO – Seawall-level patio. 500 Denman
[Map][Website]
BREAD GARDEN – Small street-level patio. 812 Bute
[Google Map][Website]
CARDERO’S – Coal Harbour patio, park and mountain views. 1583 Coal Harbour Quay
[Google Map][Website]
DENMAN STREET FREEHOUSE – Small patio. 1780 Davie
[Google Map][Website]
FIDDLEHEAD JOE’S – Seawall-level patio 1012 Beach
[Google Map][Website]
FISH HOUSE IN STANLEY PARK – Decks with views of park and beach. 8901 Stanley Park Dr.
[Google Map][Website]
FOGG AND SUDS – Above street-level patio, covered. 202-1323 Robson
[Google Map][Website]
FOUNTAINHEAD PUB – Street-level 20-seat patio. 1025 Davie
[Google Map][Website]
HAMBURGER MARY’S DINER – Street-level patio. 1202 Davie
[Google Map][Website]
LIFT BAR & GRILL – Patio with park and mountain views. 333 Menchion Mews
[Google Map][Website]
MARIA’S TAVERNA – Sidewalk patio. 1037 Denman
[Google Map]
MILESTONES – Non-smoking patio. 1210 Denman
[Google Map][Website]
OLYMPIA – Street-level patio. 998 Denman
[Google Map][Website]
PACIFIC CRAB CO. – Balcony with English Bay views. 1184 Denman
[Google Map][Website]
PROSPECT POINT CAFE – Large 250-seat deck with Lions Gate Bridge view. Stanley Park
[Google Map][Website]
ROMANO’S MACARONI GRILL – Outdoor dining in private yard. 1523 Davie
[Google Map][Website]
SEAWALL BISTRO – Seawall-level patio with park and mountain views. Westin Bayshore Hotel, 1601 Bayshore
[Google Map]
SEQUOIA GRILL – Patio in the heart of Stanley Park. Ferguson Point, Stanley Park
[Google Map][Website]
SPOTTED PRAWN BISTRO – Patio dining. 1055 W. Hastings
[Google Map]
SYLVIA’S – Patio with English Bay views. Sylvia Hotel, 1154 Gilford
[Google Map][Website]
TANPOPO – Rooftop patio. 1122 Denman
[Google Map]
TC LIONS PUB – Street-level patio. 837 W Hastings
[Google Map][Website]
TRUE CONFECTIONS – Street-level dessert dining. 866 Denman
[Google Map][Website]
WHITE SPOT – Non-smoking patio. 1616 W Georgia
[Google Map][Website]
ZIN RESTAURANT & BAR – Street-level patio, 1277 Robson
[Google Map][Website]
Gastown
ALIBI ROOM – Street-level patio. 157 Alexander St.
[Google Map][Website]
CHILL WINSTON – Large street-level patio. 3 Alexander
[Google Map][Website]
DEIGHTON’S WELL – Sidewalk Patio. 131 Water St.
[Google Map][Website]
INCENDIO – Street-level patio. 103 Columbia
[Google Map][Website]
IRISH HEATHER BISTRO – 45-seat glass solarium. (Shares tables in Blood Alley with sibling Shebeen Whiskey House). 217 Carrall
[Google Map][Website]
JULES BISTRO – Street-level patio. 332 Water
[Google Map][Website]
SIX ACRES – Street-level patio. 203 Carrall
[Google Map][Website]
SO.CIAL – Street-level patio. 332 Water
[Google Map][Website]
WATER ST. CAFE – Street-level patio. 300 Water
June 5th Update: The wiki has been updated, as of 7:00 this morning here’s what 95.3 on your dial will get you:
CKZZ-FM (identified on air as 95 Crave) is a Canadian radio station in the Greater Vancouver region of British Columbia. It broadcasts at 95.3 megahertz on the FM band with an effective radiated power of 71300 watts from a transmitter on Mount Seymour, and its studios are located in Richmond. The station was owned by Standard Radio. It went off the air at midnight, June 3, 2007. It has been replaced with “Crave,” a rhythmic AC station – “music to move you.” [wiki]
So far I’ve heard C&C Music factory (which was the first group played on the original station when it came to life on Vancouver airwaves) and now Pointer Sisters – Jump (for my love). For now it’s just music while they gather their troops over the next few weeks, which seems like a novel idea… Vancouver radio actually playing music.
Stations in this city are constantly changing – whether it be personalities, call signs or format. I grew up with LG73 and the Morning Zoo and soon grew into a Fox listener for those teenage-angst years. There was a while there when we had two “new rock” stations in Vancouver with the brief introductions of xFM 104.9. Later on, LG73 became MOJO sports radio and for the last year now it has been purely traffic updates [Metblogs] . 96.9 used to be Kiss FM, which my mother was a fan of, and now it’s Jack. All of these changes I’m mentioning are basically within the last 10 years and now the latest station on the chopping block is Z95.3
We wanted you to know that the time has come for a change. As of Sunday at midnight, Z95-3 is no longer.
We can’t thank you enough for your support of Z over the years. We really appreciate it.
On Tuesday you will hear a new radio station on line (here), and on your radio at 95-3 FM. We hope you really like it. We think you will. [Z95.com]
Now I wasn’t a Z listener per se but they’ve been around since at least my elementary school days so there’s a bit of sentimentality there [wiki]. Although they were known for their bumper sticker contests and for playing the pop artist of the day at least 4 times per hour, they certainly were not the worst that Vancouver radio had to offer. John and I don’t listen to much commercial radio except a morning program here or there while getting ready for work. I’m just hoping it doesn’t turn into a) streaming Christmas music 2) another traffic station. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
June 4th Update: From Buzz Bishop’s MySpace
“Now, you may or may not have heard about the staff changes at the station over last week. Nat Hunter, Drew Savage, Kelly Grant and Remo were all let go.” “…I wish I could tell you more, you just gotta listen tomorrow morning at 7.”
