This ad is a work of art!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
One week to go...
... and the city's transforming before my eyes!
I write to you from 22 floors over downtown Vancouver where the perpetual sound of helicopters buzzes from outside and giant beams of light dance in the sky.
The Olympics are really taking over this city.
It's pretty exciting actually!
It was yesterday when I was really starting to notice an influx of tourists - athletes, reporters, and so on. People in matching jackets. Women with too much make-up, blonde hair and Euro-savvy fashion sense to be locals. People with their noses in their maps navigating on the sidewalks. And the Yaletown Mini dealership turning into "Yahoo! Sports - Live from Vancouver" media center. And the pedestrians? They're actually smiling!
Yesterday we had our first glimpse of sunshine in a few days. It was also the first day of road closures - closures that will continue until March. Entire stretches of downtown are closed to traffic. Entire entrance ramps are blocked to incoming and outgoing traffic. The major arteries cutting across the city have turned into no-stopping, no-parking zones...
... and you'd think this would be a nightmare, except driving has been a breeze! In fact, I've been able to cut 10 minutes off my commute on my drive home. Who knew?!
And because of yesterday's sunshine, I was able to get an unobstructed view out my window of all kinds of things I missed.
For example, in between the Yaletown condos, I can spot Olympic rings hanging off BC Place. Next door is the big blue Q on the Quebec pavillion.
David Lam Park? Well, we know what that's become...
If I look carefully across the street, the Roundhouse has transformed itself into the Italian pavilion...
But wait a sec...
Did you see that?
Look again...
Yup. That's my unobstructed view of the the boxing kangaroo flag that the Australian team has set up outside their False Creek Olympic Village condo.
It's all over the media, but the IOC want it removed because apparently it's trademarked, but it's not an official Olympics sponsor, blah blah blah...
Read the story here. And here. And here, here, here, here, and here.
But it makes me smile. Perhaps because the Australian team's response to the IOC threat was for them to "stuff it"! Needless to say, the whole situation's ridiculous and now there's a lot of support here for the Australian team. If that flag doesn't stay put, I guarantee you'll be seeing it flying from many a Yaletown condo. Heck, if anyone has one to donate, I'll happily fly it out my window! Back at'cha IOC!
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
If Meals Won Medals: Vancouver cuisine as explored by the New York Times
Yesterday the New York Times published an article about Vancouver's dining scene. When these articles get published (like Condé Nast Traveler magazine claiming that the best Chinese food in the world can be found in Vancouver), the local media laps it up while Vancouverites use it as an excuse to justify their smugness. However, this article (so far) has flown under the radar, and I think it summarizes what Vancouver cuisine is all about:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/dining/03note.html?pagewanted=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/03/dining/03note.html?pagewanted=1
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
24 hour party people
Last night I quickly popped into Choices to pick up some groceries for dinner. I live a block away from that store yet somehow I haven't shopped there since before Christmas. So I really noticed all the sprucing up they've been doing in preparation for the Olympics.
Outside, for example, their windows were painted with hockey players and red Canada maple leaves.
Now, I've noticed this a lot around downtown. A lot of shops are decorating their windows with "Go Team Canada!" or "Welcome to Vancouver! Enjoy your stay!" Other companies have plastered their windows with Visa-sponsored "Go Le Monde!" posters.
But anyhow...
As I walked into Choices, I noticed there were skis and snowboards hanging over the produce section.
At the checkout, there was an entire display of Canadiana items: "Whistler Smoked Salmon" gift packs and Quatchi maple syrup canisters.
At the till I mumbled out, "This is kind of surreal, all these Olympics decorations". A stupid thing to say, sure.
The girl looked up from the cash and said, "Yeah! And we now have expanded hours... we're now going to be open from 7am until midnight, just for the month of February. At least we're not open 24 hours like some businesses."
The girl at the next till joined in. "Well some Subways are going to be open 24/7. So if you want a sandwich at 3 or 4am, you know where to go. Man, I wish we were open 24 hours. I love working graveyard."
I walked home and began to wonder what other shops were extending their hours. Probably many. Probably so many that for 2 weeks, we may get a glimpse of what Vancouver could be as a proper 24 hour city. No Fun City? Not for those 2 weeks.
Some people are citing that the Olympics will be like Expo 86, where cynicism drains and the city turns into one big party. Those feelings are starting to creep up on me already.
Later that night when Josh got home, I mentioned what I had learned about the extended hours. He seemed to know more about it than I did. "The Blenz downstairs (on Helmcken & Hamilton) is already open 24 hours!"
Great for a video game studio in the midst of major deadlines.
Great for the urban environment?
Certainly.
In the next few weeks I managed to schedule 2 days of vacation. I'm almost wondering if I should have scheduled more.
Outside, for example, their windows were painted with hockey players and red Canada maple leaves.
Now, I've noticed this a lot around downtown. A lot of shops are decorating their windows with "Go Team Canada!" or "Welcome to Vancouver! Enjoy your stay!" Other companies have plastered their windows with Visa-sponsored "Go Le Monde!" posters.
But anyhow...
As I walked into Choices, I noticed there were skis and snowboards hanging over the produce section.
At the checkout, there was an entire display of Canadiana items: "Whistler Smoked Salmon" gift packs and Quatchi maple syrup canisters.
At the till I mumbled out, "This is kind of surreal, all these Olympics decorations". A stupid thing to say, sure.
The girl looked up from the cash and said, "Yeah! And we now have expanded hours... we're now going to be open from 7am until midnight, just for the month of February. At least we're not open 24 hours like some businesses."
The girl at the next till joined in. "Well some Subways are going to be open 24/7. So if you want a sandwich at 3 or 4am, you know where to go. Man, I wish we were open 24 hours. I love working graveyard."
I walked home and began to wonder what other shops were extending their hours. Probably many. Probably so many that for 2 weeks, we may get a glimpse of what Vancouver could be as a proper 24 hour city. No Fun City? Not for those 2 weeks.
Some people are citing that the Olympics will be like Expo 86, where cynicism drains and the city turns into one big party. Those feelings are starting to creep up on me already.
Later that night when Josh got home, I mentioned what I had learned about the extended hours. He seemed to know more about it than I did. "The Blenz downstairs (on Helmcken & Hamilton) is already open 24 hours!"
Great for a video game studio in the midst of major deadlines.
Great for the urban environment?
Certainly.
In the next few weeks I managed to schedule 2 days of vacation. I'm almost wondering if I should have scheduled more.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Starting off February with the same old
Yes Vancouver, you have winters of endless overcast skies.
What Vancouver winters typically don't have, however, are weeks on end of 9, 10, or 11 degree Celsius (45-50 Fahrenheit) temperatures, or spring flowers blooming in January.
Check out the weather forecast for the next four days:
Vancouver skipped past January and February and went straight into our typical March and April weather.
On travel forums, people from supposed "warmer" countries are concerned about dressing warm enough for Vancouver during the Olympics.
Yes, dress for warmth.
Bring your t-shirts, your jeans, and your hoodies. Save your swimsuits and shorts.
Meanwhile, I spoke to a woman today who went without power for 4 days due to an icestorm in her home state of Oklahoma.
Back in Vancouver, Cypress Mountain has lost all its snow and is looking past Plan B to option Z: helicopter/truck in snow from neighbouring mountains.
What is it? 11 days to go.
11 days to go before the Olympics.
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