The Vancouver Traveler

2008 Lighting Contest

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 20:00:52 +0000

Being a retired Naval Vet, if there is one thing that I miss, it is this…the Christmas Lighting Contest. This year is the 21st Annual Navy Lighting Contest, in support of the Mustard Seed Food Bank, will take place nightly 6 – 9 pm from 11 – 24 December 2008.

Three buses will take visitors in a “loop route” throughout CFB Naden and then the Dockyard sections of of the base each night. A typical tour lasts approximatelu 25 minutes.

Visitors are to go to CFB Esquimalt main gates on Admirals Road for parking and to drop off non-perishable food items and/or cash donations for the Mustard Seed Food Bank, purchase hot chocolate, and board shuttles. Be sure you do not miss out on this event….the lights on the Destroyers are amazing!!

Photo Credit: CFB Esquimalt

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

It’s That Time of the Year Again

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:32:59 +0000

With just under a month to go until that special day, this weekend is the kick off in Vancouver for all the Christmas Craft Fairs and family fun….so make sure you do not miss out!!

The West Coast Christmas Pet and Craft Fair, is running on the 29 – 30 of Nov. Kids and pets are welcome to the fair. Be sure to get your pictures taken with Santa Claus, and visit over 30 pet related booths, there is on-going entertainment with agility fun match, dogwood pacesetters, K9 Drill Team performing between 12pm – 12:30pm both days.

Come out and support the various rescue organizations. This will be taking place at the Cloverdale Agriplex….for more information call 604.534.2344

Photo Credit: sxc.hu

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Twilight – The Movie With All Those Screaming Girls

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 19:29:19 +0000

I braved the long line up to take my girls to Twilight on opening night.
They were so excited and I was fully prepared for the crowds and a long wait in line to get good seats, but what I wasn’t prepared for was the constant and ear shattering amount of screaming that would spontaniously break out. It wasn’t so bad standing in line…but once we made our way into the theater it was almost unbearable.

I have read the Twilight series and was looking forward to the movie, I feel that the movie was lacking quite a bit and I was a little disappointed. I am wondering though, that if I was able to actually hear the whole movie, if I would have enjoyed it more?

flickr:ezy brenizzle

Between the screaming (which occured every time Edward appeared) and those yelling back at those screaming girls to “shut-up”, I am pretty sure I only heard about half of the movie. I am definatley going to go and see it again, once all the hype and long line of screaming girls are gone…..and I am sure I won’t have to force my girls to come with me!

Let me know what you thought of the movie and what your experience was like….

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Vancouver – Interactive

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:02:21 +0000

Found this great site that not only has a fantastic interactive map of Vancouver and its surrounding areas, but it also shows points of interest throughtout the city such as accomodations, the sky train, music venues, restaurants, etc.

Check it out HERE

flickr:tuchodi

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Festival Of Lights

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:42:36 +0000

The Festival of Lights creates a magical wonderland throughout Vancouver’s VanDusen Botanical Garden.
Thousands of twinkling lights illuminate just about everything in the park and the Christmas carols that play in the backgound set the tone for the Dancing Light show.

But the highlight for everyone (especiallly the children) will be the stories told by Santa himself in his very own cozy living room, followed by special appearances by Christmas Elves or by the great Magician David Wilson.

flickr:keepitsurreal

The Festival of Lights will be running from December 5 until January 4 from 4:30pm til 9:30pm.

The VanDusen Botanical Garden will be closed Dec.25
Cost for addmission is adults $11; youth and seniors $8; children $6 or you can get a family ticket for $25.

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Festival Of Lights

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:42:36 +0000

flickr:keepitsurreal

The Festival of Lights will be running from December 5 until January 4 from 4:30pm til 9:30pm.

The VanDusen Botanical Garden will be closed Dec.25
Cost for addmission is adults $11; youth and seniors $8; children $6 or you can get a family ticket for $25.

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

AC/DC at GM Place

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 07:22:23 +0000

Heavy metal Superstars AC/DC will be performing at GM Place
on November 28 at 7:30pm.
Tickets are $99.50 – call 604.280.4444 for tickets

flickr:maartinoo

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Hairspray

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 06:55:05 +0000

Get swept away to 1960’s Baltimore with the smash hit musical Hairspray!
Playing at The Center for Performing Arts in Vancouver from November 18th to 23rd.
Showtimes: Tues – Sat at 8pm ; Sundays at 7:30 ; with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm
Tickets are $55 to $85 and can be purchase by calling 604.280.4444

The Center for the Performing Arts is located at 777 Homer St in Vancouver.

flickr:thesolaris5

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Shopping for your Pet

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 04:08:03 +0000

With Christmas fast approaching, you better make sure you have something special for your four-legged friend.
Here are a few places where you will find everything that you need to spoil and pamper your pooch….

Barking Babies
With an exclusive clothing line from Tokyo and imported Italian leather carriers, Barking Babies is the Paris Hilton of Vancouver’s pet fashion royalty. They stock items from Little Lilly, Juicy Couture and PETote products ensuring that fido is fashionably ready for a 5 a.m. walk in the park. The store recently located to a bigger location at 1188 Homer St., Yaletown, 604-647-2275

flickr:ryarwood

Doggie Style Deli
Doggy Style Deli specializes in the Pandean dog diet that has been a basic must have for puppies in Australia for the last 10 years. Something like our raw food craze, the Pandean diet consists of fresh meat and veggies lightly cooked and served hot. The meals range from $2.50 to $6 and are available for eat-in or take-out. The deli’s liver brownies are top-sellers and run at $1.99 a slice. 985 Denman St., West End, 604-488-0388

Fetch
Everybody seems to be selling over-the-top and extravigant products for your pampered pooch, so to make an impression on your pooch, you will have to work hard to find something original. You can find Beanies and Belvedere’s traditionally styled trench coat (for Fido, of course) as well as the Petote dog carrier, which, while ventilated and padded for your puppy, looks an awful lot like your designer purse. Their in-house spa will ensure your pet is very well treated! 120 W. 16th St., North Van, 604-986-8302

sxc.hu
Mestisos
Mestisos is a full-service pet spa with a retail section. While they offer locally produced raw food and clay-free cat litter, they also offer healing Reiki massage and hydrotherapy rehabilitation for injured pooches. Dreading a long walk in the rain? Mestisos can set you up with a self-service treadmill. 3087 Oak St., Fairview, 604-738-0033

Three-Dog Bakery
Where else but in the heart of Kitsilano would residents line up to let their critters chow down on Bark ‘n’ Fetch Biscuits or chomp on some SnickerPoodles? Introduce pooch to Lick ‘n’ Crunch; the Oreo cookie made for dogs. 2186 W. Fourth Ave., Kitsilano, 604-737-3647

flickr:amateur with luck

Uptown Dawg
Uptown Dawg offers your four-legged friend long walks in Rocky Point Park and “relaxation” sessions in their Zen-inspired Doggysage Room. If driving out to Port Moody proves too time consuming, Vancouver residents can schedule pickup and drop off in the spa’s Puppy Limo. 2803 Murray St., Port Moody, 604-469-DAWG

Wolfgang Pet Supplies
100 percent natural, chemical-free pet food and treats, designer feeding bowls and pet grooming products. True love for your pooch comes in the form of specially formulated vitamins and organic wild salmon treats. 3356 Cambie St., South Cambie, 604-876-8759

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler

Clear Visibility….Lets go Diving

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:00:31 +0000

It’s been a long while since I made a post about the amazing scuba diving that can be found in British Columbia. What scuba diving?? I know everyone thinks us Crazy Canucks all live in igloos…and hunt polar bears!! But needless to say, that is a little off the mark!!

So, today was the great adventure day! Up early to catch the first ferry to Sechelt BC, where we met up with the guys from Suncoast Diving. With the boat all loaded up, we got on our way up the inlet to dive on the sunk destoyer HMCS CHAUDIERE. The Chaudiere, was sunk back in 1992 as an artifical reef, and this day would prove to be the best day of diving I have had here on the coast.

We had tied up to the midship mooring line, and it was out intention to do some outstanding wreck penetrations…but much to our surprise, we spent the first 20 minutes of our dive right at the bottom of the line! Crazy…but right there, at the bottom of the line, sat a Giant Pacific Octopus!!
Normally this guy would have left us in inky blotch…not this time. He or she stayed and played with us for almost 20 – 25 minutes!! We lucked out, as in our group of 5 divers, there were 3 digital cameras, and one HD Digital Video camera…needless to say, this big guy was blinded with all the flashes going off!!

You divers out there, looking for a great day!! Give Suncoast Diving a call…ask for Rob, and get out diving!! Visibility is currently greater then 100 foot!!

Ever been diving on the CHAUDIERE? got a good diving story?….stop by and let me know what you think of diving in BC…I would love to hear from you!!

Photo Credits: From my Personal Collection.

Post from: The Vancouver Traveler