I advertised this event last year although we didn’t end up going… someone also criticized it for being “only 3 hours long” but if it’s 3 hours of fun times in the neighbourhood, I’m game.
Gordon Neighbourhood House is holding its 9th annual West End Summer Block Party and 65th Birthday Celebration on Saturday August 11th, 2007, from 11 am until 2 pm on the 1000 block of Broughton Street. This is a free event with live street entertainment featuring Eve Smith, Taiko Drummers, a clown, and much more!!! There will also be a huge children’s carnival with games and prizes, face painting and tatoo booths, 25 cent hot dogs, senior’s tea and tarts, and a youth center! [Upcoming]
I was totally in until the word “clown” but perhaps I can try to avoid it. 25 cent hot dogs? Yeah, I’ll try my best to swing by this year to check it out – here’s a google map for anyone else that’s interested.
While you’re in the West End on a Saturday, also check out the Farmers Market, which runs from June 16 to October 6, every Saturday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. Visit the West End Business Improvement Association‘s site for more details and happenings around the ‘hood. Also be sure to stop by when Midnight Kitchen is there and pick up some of their to-die-for cookies.
Did you know Sparta was coming to town again for the 3rd time in a year? That’s pretty sweet news for John and I who have been lucky enough to interview Jim and Keeley on the previous 2 occasions.
Want to know what makes this even better? They’ll be opening for Alice in Chains. Yes, Alice in Chains.
Jerry Cantrell, Mike Inez and Sean Kinney will be joined by William Duvall, who will handle lead vocals for the group’s five U.S. club shows and overseas festival performances in Europe and Southeast Asia. [Alice in Chains]
Doors: 6:30pm / Show: 7:30pm / Tickets (reserved seating) on sale now for $75, $55 AND $39.50 + service fees.
Unfortunately they’ll BOTH be opening for Velvet Revolver, against whom I have no qualms but I wouldn’t normally jump at the chance to see them live. A look at the first two bands on the bill however, makes me change my tune and as John puts it, it wouldn’t be bad to see Slash play. Now if only we can muster up the $100 + it will take for us both to attend, or maybe my husband’s fancy new job will be able to pull some strings – here’s hoping.
And now, some more from Sparta…
If there is such a thing as an epic music video, this would be one. Based on the autobiographical events that shaped the life of Sparta’s drummer, Tony Hajjar, “Eme Nakia” tells his deeply personal story of how the Hajjar family fled Lebanon during a brutal civil war, and the lasting scars it inflicted upon his kin. [Atom Films]
Trailer for Eme Nakia, the short film mentioned above.
We don’t nearly spend as much time on Commercial Drive as we should. I can probably only name two occasions in the past year when we ventured over that way and each time we say we should return, and for longer [1]. Taking in a movie at the RIO would be the perfect excuse. Aside from being several dollars cheaper than seeing a show at the Googoplex downtown or in the ‘burbs, it’s got a whole lot of character.
First opened in 1938, the RIO theatre returns as a landmark theatre in the heart of Vancouver’s Commercial Drive. The RIO is a single-screen theatre with 20 speaker Dolby surround sound and the most comfortable seats in Vancouver [RIO]
We’ll be heading there tomorrow (if I can get someladies to go with me) for some Rush Hour 3 action, and although the movie isn’t one I would normally want to pay money to see, it’s all part of an experience I’m hoping will be very worthwhile.
The RIO is located at 1660 East Broadway, near Broadway & Commercial. Catch the Simpsons Movie there now for only $8 for adults.
Friday night after being totally Duff’ed out, I met up with John at home (after he had a busy day up in Whistler). We packed up the car and hit the road, heading deep into those dark mountain passes. John was by my side the whole way, telling me stories about work and playing some awesome tracks on the ipod via the transmitter in the car to keep me awake. We rolled into Osoyoos by 4:00am, just as the sun was rising and the last shooting star sailed across the sky for the night.
The following 3 days were wonderful. We had no plan, no agenda, we both just knew we wanted sun, sand and good times.
John cooking up the good eats on the grill.
From Osoyoos we took a mini road trip up to Penticton on Sunday
John introduces me to Rickard’s White. It was yummy.
All photos taken with the Nokia 6682, almost time for a new camera phone but this one’s served us well over the last year. I have so much blogging to catch up on, hence the photo-heavy post. It was awesome to disconnect for so long and to spend time with the person I love, I’m actually not too happy to be home but here’s hoping we can get the heck outta here again some time soon.
No, that’s not a title of a Shaw On-Demand program that will cost you $10.99.
John had left the room and I was sitting on the couch, watching the evening news when the story hit: the Vancouver SPCA has a rescue chihuahua. As I was retelling the story to Trevor this evening he thought the entire thing was a figment of my imagination. I then realized… I was the only person who witnessed this and couldn’t wait to come home and get Google to back me up.
Manuel the chihuahua was rescued himself once, and he returned the favour recently by helping bring a disoriented beaver to safety from the waters off Vancouver’s Stanley Park. [Times Columnist]
That’s right, Manuel the rescue chihuahua rescued the disoriented beaver. Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.
Leung figured the beaver needed a companion animal to swim toward, and decided Manuel was the perfect choice. He put a chihuahua-sized life-jacket on the pet, and let him out into the waters a few metres from shore. Within minutes, the beaver began swimming toward Manuel as a crowd on the seawall cheered on the pooch. [Times Columnist]
I heard on the news that the beaver died later that night, but Manuel is still being praised as a hero.
