Join an Evening with Roy Forbes to celebrate the release of this long-awaited album Edge of Blue on February 21st. The new songs all grew from Roy and his Gurian guitar and that’s how you’ll hear them at this special event. One guy, one guitar.

An Evening with Roy Forbes

When: Friday, February 21, 2020 doors at 7:00pm
Where: Mel Lehan Hall at St. James (3214 West 10th Ave, Vancouver)
Tickets: $32 / $28 Rogue Folk Club members, available online now or by calling (604) 736-3022

A new Roy Forbes recording is a rare occurrence, he takes his time, working slowly to get it right. Edge of Blue may just be the Vancouver singer-songwriter’s best yet- a summation by an artist who has been doing this for a long time. On this album both Roy’s roots and routes are showing; the influences he’s absorbed and where he’s been. Edge of Blue is 10 songs full of wisdom, confessions, vulnerability, sensuality, self- reflection and celebration. More of a soul album than country or folk; it has nothing to do with what is ‘hip’ and ‘happening’ in the mainstream music business. This is art song – memorable words, compelling compositions, spare production and a voice every bit as original as when the “Kid Full of Dreams” first came to town almost fifty years ago- pure Roy Forbes.

Roy Forbes (formerly known as “Bim”) is one of Canada’s best known and best loved songwriters and performing artists. He’s been at it for almost fifty years and has picked up some tokens of appreciation from his peers. There is a street named after him in his hometown of Dawson Creek in Northern BC and a star on Vancouver’s Granville Street where the names of the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame members are enshrined.

Roy has made his mark for generations of listeners as a solo, band leader, ensemble member, interpreter and songwriter. This is not to mention his work as a record producer, radio host at CBC Radio & CKUA, and popular music historian of 78 RPM records.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to this special event, here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Friday, January 31, 2020. For more show info, follow Rogue Folk Club on Twitter and Facebook.

UPDATE The winner is Linda M

This morning I asked Tony Pierce, a former Uber and Lyft driver in L.A., for some insights since ride hailing/ride sharing has just come to Vancouver. He provided so much info (cause he’s awesome and generous like that) so I knew I had to create a separate guide for his tips for Uber and Lyft passengers in Vancouver:

Tips for Uber and Lyft Passengers in Vancouver

The following was contributed by Tony Pierce, who drove for Uber (5 years) and Lyft (4 years) in Los Angeles and completed over 5,000 trips:

1. Don’t drop your pin at an intersection. Walk up about half a block if you can and summon your car there. Intersections are the worst place to get picked up or dropped off. Plus your driver can often get confused on exactly which corner you are standing on.

2. Drivers don’t make money unless the wheels are turning. This is a huge difference between rideshare and taxis where that meter clicks as time passes. Technically the meter is also clicking in rideshare, but it’s pennies. So if you MUST make a driver wait as you run into a store or fast food joint, do yourself and your driver a favor and tip them in cash before you make them wait. It will cool them off and it is the right thing to do.

“Here in L.A. Lyft passengers are a bit more laid back and fun,” my pal Tony told me by email this morning. I sent him some questions about Uber and Lyft since he drove for both in Los Angeles for 4-5 years, and they’ve both just arrived in Vancouver.

Uber and Lyft Come to Vancouver

I’ve had Uber on my phone since 2012. It made a very brief appearance in Vancouver and then it disappeared, only to return 8 years later after a very long campaign through red tape. Led by public cries for ride hailing, the BC Passenger Transportation Board’s official approval came through on Thursday, January 23, 2020 announcing that Uber and Lyft could operate in BC’s Lower Mainland and Whistler [Source: CTV] By 8:00am today (within 24 hours) Uber was online in Vancouver. Lyft was online at 11:00am.

Like most other Vancouverites who travel, I have used Lyft and Uber for years in other cities. My favourite ride ever was with an off-duty driver, and blogging mentor, Tony Pierce in Los Angeles in 2016.

Insights from an LA Driver

Rebecca: How long were you a driver?
Tony: “I drove for Uber for about 5 years and for Lyft for about 4 years. I drove about 5,000 trips. Most for Uber, but I probably had better experiences with Lyft.”

Rebecca: What made you want to be a driver?
Tony: “I always wanted to be a cab driver. That is something my grandfather did in Washington D.C. in the ’60s and ’70s. I love people and weirdly I love driving, even in L.A. where traffic can sometimes be terrible.” 

Rebecca: Did you start with one then go with the other or drive for both on any given day? 
Tony: “I originally signed up with Uber but learned that it is best to have both apps running if you are a driver because it cuts down on downtime in between rides. Here in L.A. Uber was much more popular so for every 1 Lyft ride I would get 4 Uber rides.”

Rebecca: What are some pros/cons for each service?
Tony: “Both companies are relatively the same. Because Uber is the big dog, if they change a policy or lower the rates (they hardly ever go up), Lyft will quickly follow. Recently though because of a California law that came into effect a few weeks ago both companies have changed a lot of things that benefit drivers. These features will probably not be implemented in Canada any time soon, but they include allowing drivers to see what the trip will entail *prior* to accepting the ride. It is revolutionary and just might get me out of retirement.”

I turned 40 a few weeks ago and the best present my husband gave me was that he took time off work. He told me about a week in advance, and although he originally wanted to surprise me, he figured if he gave me notice then I could plan something — and plan I did! I was given a blank slate: A 4 day weekend and the chance to do literally anything I wanted to do with him by my side. So, of course I picked mud and rain, sandy beaches, lush forests, and nightly soaks in a hot tub. I picked a B&B on the Sunshine Coast.

Winter Getaway at a B&B on the Sunshine Coast

I knew exactly where I wanted to stay. My sister and I enjoyed a visit to Shades of Jade Inn and Spa a few years ago while on a press trip with Sunshine Coast Tourism. I looked them up on my Booking app, and on their website and they had availability, which is very exciting since they always sell out in the summer — they have 5/5 on TripAdvisor with good reason.

I selected just a few other places I wanted to visit on my actual birthday once we got off the ferry at Langdale. The first was the Gibsons Public Market so we could pick up some provisions for our mini vacation. We hit the butcher, the baker, the fishmonger, and the cheese shop (all in one place, it’s so convenient). I knew the suite at Shades of Jade had a kitchenette with fridge so we planned accordingly.

The next stop was up to the Gumboot in Roberts Creek for brunch. I went to summer camp in Roberts Creek (from 1988 until 1998) and this seaside village holds a very special place in my heart. We both had the Gumboot Hash (two eggs over easy, avocado, diced tomato, aged white cheddar, on a pile of spuds, gumboot multi grain toast) which I admit, was better than anything I ever had at summer camp.

With full bellies we continued along the Sunshine Coast Highway, through Sechelt, and over to Porpoise Bay Provincial Park — with an enviable oceanside campground, beach, and trail network. I was last there in 2018 with Candace Campo from Talaysay Tours who guided me around this traditional Sechelt First Nation village site. It’s a gorgeous park and during the second weekend of January is was bright green with mosses, lichen, leaves, grasses, and the salmon spawning creek rushed along through the woods and out to the inlet. I was very happy to spend a few hours there with John.

Our shopping and outdoor adventures complete, we checked into Shades of Jade back in Roberts Creek.

There are two guest-rooms available (Tea Garden Suite and Tall Cedars). I selected Tall Cedars, which was upstairs. King size bed, fireplace, free WiFi, kitchenette with microwave, sink, and fridge, and the bathroom – oh the bathroom. It has a jacuzzi tub, steam shower, bidet, double sinks and vanity, and heated floors.

Everything you could possibly want in a getaway B&B, they have at Shades of Jade. Individually packaged coffee grounds for the coffee maker in the morning, little LED candles that can turn on by remote, spa mood music with adjustable volume via a switch on the wall, delicious and nutritious breakfast baskets with pastries, yogurt, fruit and juice each morning. They also encourage recycling and composting, which is nice to see (especially since we’re used to doing at home).

We sat by the fireplace, turned on some music, and read for hours. John got me a copy of Call of the Wild since our last getaway like this was to the Yukon in August, where we visited Jack London’s cabin in Dawson.

Together, quietly, just being with each other. We’re also fans of card games and I figured, there had to be cards in the room – Shades of Jade is literally perfect (again, check their Trip Advisor, it’s flawless). I found a small box on a shelf and when I opened it there were dice, dominos, cards, note paper and a little golf pencil. See? Perfect.

After hiking, reading, and playing cards, there was only one thing left to do. Pop open some prosecco, pour it into the stemmed ‘glasses’ provided, and head down to the hot tub. We walked outside, past our private heated patio, down the stairs, and into a little alcove between buildings where the hot tub was prepped and ready for guests.

The rain fell around us outisde, steaming up the cedar lodgings and providing an incredible aroma and ambiance while we floated in the bubbles, while sipping our bubbles.

Like I said, the best gift John gave me was his time and this was the best time. In the morning we went for a few walks, the inn is just a few hundred meters away from Henderson Beach and down the road from Roberts Creek Beach (aka “the sandy beach” we called it when I was at camp). In the evenings, we retired to the room, our robes, and our bubbles. It was the perfect getaway.

Rates for Shades of Jade as of January 24, 2020 are $189 per night ($10 for the breakfast basket per night for 2 people) for the Tall Cedars Suite that we had. I’m sure the inn is lovely in the summer too, especially with the proximity to the beach, but I really did love our winter getaway at this B&B on the Sunshine Coast.

Honourable mention: Cliff Gilker Park – home to one of my favourite little waterfalls on the Coast. In the summer the water slows to a trickle and glides down the smooth rock face. In the winter, it’s as rushing a waterfall as you’d want in the middle of a forest – where you can’t tell if it’s raining a bit or the mist from the cascade is tickling your cheeks. Always a worthy place to stop for a walk (and photo op) in Roberts Creek.

Thanks to Honda Canada for the use of the Honda Passport for this trip. All of our groceries tucked nicely into the sub-floor bins in the back of the hatch, the seat and steering wheel warmers were nice on cold mornings. When we returned during beginning of snowmageddon, the Snow drive mode and winter tires gave us the traction we needed to get home. Miss604 is a proud partner of Honda Canada, watch for campaigns throughout the year on Twitter and Instagram.

Carousel Theatre presents BEEP, the BC premiere of A Windmill Theatre (Australia) Presentation. It’s a story about unexpected friendship, finding where you fit, and learning how to mix things up.

Carousel Theatre Presents BEEP

Where: The Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright St on Granville Island)
When: February 15, 2020 February 23, 2020
Tickets: Available online now. Adults: $35; Seniors/Students: $29; Young People (Ages 3-18 years): $18. Recommended for ages 2 to 7, and fun for adults too!

“In Mort’s Village everything has its place, every day is the same and everyone likes it that way. Until one morning, crash, boom, bang! Down comes Beep from the sky. Who is this noisy robot, and how will she find her home? A story about unexpected friendship, finding where you fit, and learning how to mix things up.” 

Featuring incredible puppetry by the acclaimed Windmill Theatre will enchant children and adults alike. If you liked WALL-E, you will love BEEP! 

Created by: Sam Haren, Jonathon Oxlade, and Katherine Fyffe. Follow Carousel Theatre on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook for more information and show details.

Win Tickets

I have a pair of tickets to give away to the opening performance at 11:30am on Saturday, February 15, 2020. Here’s how you can enter to win:

• Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
• Click below to post an entry on Twitter

I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Wednesday, January 29, 2020. UPDATE the winner is @leorafenner!