If you’re taking the Hullo Ferry on foot to Nanaimo from Downtown Vancouver you have a new option to get around the Harbour City! Evo Car Share, created by BCAA, has launched a new Evo Return round-trip car share service at the Nanaimo Hullo ferry terminal.
Evo in Nanaimo – Photo submitted
Hullo Ferry to Nanaimo and Evo Car Share
Those heading to Vancouver Island can use the Evo app to reserve an Evo Return up to 30 days ahead for a guaranteed Evo at the Nanaimo Hullo terminal when they arrive. While normally you can pick up/drop off an Evo anywhere in the service area, an Evo Return requires you to start and finish your trip in the same spot. This will ensure that Hullo passengers will have access to a car right at the terminal.
Two Evo Returns are already on site and bookable, with the possibility for Evo to add more based on popularity.
For Hullo passengers looking for an active way to get around Nanaimo, a second BCAA service – Evolve E-Bike Share – is also available through the Evo app and has just launched in Nanaimo with 16 parking zones around the city. Locate an available Evolve E-Bike, unlock it by scanning the bike’s QR code, wear a helmet (available in each Evolve E-Bike basket), and start riding. Riders can pay per minute ($0.35) or hour ($12.99) or opt for a monthly subscription ($9.99/mo) for a $0.10 per minute rate. *Prices in this post are reflective of those available at time of publishing.
Where to Drive to Around Nanaimo
If you’d like to go beyond Downtown Nanaimo and need the vehicle to hit the road during your stay on the island, here are some spots to check out:
On the third Saturday of each month, the Chinatown Storytelling Centre presents Family Saturdays, with hands-on activities where guests can learn about Chinatown’s vibrant heritage. Activities are suitable for preschoolers and school kids. Fun for all ages, all visitors are welcome to participate. The next event is coming up on May 18th.
Family Saturdays at the Chinatown Storytelling Centre
Chinatown Storytelling Centre exhibit. Photo by Lucas Aykroyd.
Dragonboat Festival Traditional Crafts and Tasting
Date: Saturday, May 18, 2024 drop in 11:00am to 1:00pm
Location: Chinatown Storytelling Centre (168 East Pender St, Vancouver)
Tickets: Free with admission to the Chinatown Storytelling Centre. Youth aged 17 and under will be admitted for free.
Experience some of the stories, seasonal foods, and crafts made during this time of year. You’ll get a chance to make an auspicious perfumed sachet and participate in a tasting of sticky rice dumplings (粽子, zung, zongzi) and the in-house “Gold Mountain” tea. All materials will be provided, while supplies last.
After making a perfume sachet, you can also go enjoy lunch at Chinatown BBQ or DD Mau Chinatown, where you’ll receive 10% off your meal as a Family Saturdays attendee.
The Chinatown Storytelling Centre documents and shares the cultural stories of the Chinese Canadian community as experienced and witnessed through its historic epicentre, Vancouver’s Chinatown. It’s open Fridays to Mondays, 11:00am to 4:00pm.
The is monthly series features the latest updates and news from Covenant House Vancouver. Miss604 is proud to be their Official Blog Partner. This month’s post has been written by Jason Bosher of Covenant House Vancouver.
Healing Through Compassion
The theme of this year’s Mental Health Week (May 6th and May 12th) is healing through compassion. But what does that mean?
Last night nature put on a show with a G5 geomagnetic storm casting a wide array of Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) across Metro Vancouver, and many other parts of the world. Even downtown, where the light pollution is greatest, we still got to see the purples and greens of this celestial event.
The aurora over Coal Harbour in Downtown Vancouver – Miss604 photo
The solar storm prompted NOAA to issue a severe geomagnetic storm watch, the first watch of its kind to be issued in almost 20 years, with the last being triggered in 2005. We were seeing photos online from London, South Carolina, Alabama, and beyond.
Power systems: Widespread voltage control problems and protective system problems can occur, some grid systems may experience complete collapse or blackouts. Transformers may experience damage.
Spacecraft operations: May experience extensive surface charging, problems with orientation, uplink/downlink and tracking satellites.
Other systems: Pipeline currents can reach hundreds of amps, HF (high frequency) radio propagation may be impossible in many areas for one to two days, satellite navigation may be degraded for days, low-frequency radio navigation can be out for hours, and aurora has been seen as low as Florida and southern Texas (typically 40° geomagnetic lat.)
Rebecca Bollwitt/Miss604 iPhone Photos
Northern Lights in Vancouver Friday Night Photos
Usually, we’d have to head out to where there is little light pollution, such as the Dark Sky Park in Abbotsford, at Iona Beach, Burnaby Mountain, or Porteau Cove up the Sea to Sky. In previous years, some dedicated aurora photographers have snapped some streaks from Spanish Banks. Last night, however, they. were. everywhere. You didn’t even need to look to the north, there was a colourful dome on top of the city.
Can We See Them Saturday Night Too?
Maybe! The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center is reporting that the extreme geomagnetic storm continues and will persist through at least Sunday. If it’s similar to Friday night, you’ll see the most activity around 11:30pm once darkness has fully set in.
Update: As of 9:30pm Saturday, the NWS Seattle says the Kp index was 7 (lower than Friday’s 9 which was full of colour) but it will go back up to 9 around 2:00am-5:00am Sunday, May 12th. However, the NOAA aurora forecast doesn’t look the best for Vancouver now even during that window.
Northern Lights/Aurora Borealis in Downtown Vancouver
Many people heading up a mountain (even a Little Mountain in QE Park) or over to the beach will contend with traffic so try to take transit, walk, or cycle if you can to avoid the crowds on the roads.
Photo Tips
I haven’t picked up my DSLR in years and all of my photos posted on social media are from my iPhone. Here are some tips, and what I did to get these shots from Downtown:
Check the Light Pollution Map to find a dark(ish) spot you can get to when the skies are clear (like they will be in Metro Vancouver Saturday night).
If you’re discouraged that you don’t see the aurora in the sky with your naked eye – don’t be! Pick up your phone or camera anyway and just snap away capturing the sky. I did this last night and once I got home to review, that’s when I saw the lights in detail.
Long exposure is key so let the most light into your photo. Not by using a flash, but by exposing the shot to what you want to capture for the longest time possible. Use Night Mode, especially if you can control the exposure time.
Stay still or use a tripod. Since you’re setting the exposure for longer, the slightest movement could blur the image. If you don’t have a tripod, use a shoe (I’m not kidding) or anything else to anchor the camera in place when you take the photo.
Bonus: If you have iPhone, try taking a few in Live Photo mode then afterwards select the option for Long Exposure and see what you get! You can also turn those into GIFs if you set to Loop or Bounce.
Some of the popular spots might be very busy with traffic again so plan ahead, and be safe out there. Have fun and enjoy this spectacular, and historic, event!
We have once again curated a list of our current and upcoming culinary favourites and notable limited edition menus, into one convenient spot for the Foodie Friday May feature. Here are our updates for all foodies alike:
Via Tevere Pizzeria Napoletana to Open on Main Street this May
When: Slated to open in late May 2024, open from Tuesday to Sunday from 4pm until late.
Where: 3240 Main Street, Vancouver
Details: Via Tevere Pizzeria Napoletana is very excited to open a second restaurant location at 3240 Main Street, this May! The East Van location opened their doors in 2012 and quickly earned brand recognition from their homemade Neapolitan-style pies and authentic Southern Italian flavours. Via Tevere Main Street will feature 32 indoor seats in addition to two outdoor spaces: a 12-seat side patio and another 12-seat curbside patio. Plant based / vegan options are available on their menu. Learn more.
Vancouver International Airport (YVR) celebrated the highly anticipated opening of Hula Poké in its domestic terminal. The new restaurant, located post-security, provides another option for travellers departing for Canadian destinations with breakfast, lunch and dinner items offered over extended hours to better serve travellers. Hula Poké is the 12th local brand to open a storefront at YVR since 2022.
