Welcome to the blog section. In this blog I’ll be posting about what is happening around my neighbourhood (Yaletown & False Creek North), Vancouver luxury real estate, real estate and related issues. If you have any suggestions, please let me know, have fun.
Johanna Ward hosts The Express in Yaletown for this neighbourhood special Yaletown - Community - Johanna Ward looks at how Opus Vancouver is a trendsetter www.opushotel.com
Planning what to do on Halloween night? Yaletown will bring together trick or treaters once again on October 31st from around 3:30pm until the children are finished (usually 6:30pm). Expect to be immersed with more than 500 children that arrive to haunt Yaletown.Joining the children this year will be roving music makers in the heritage district from 4pm until 5pm.
Other fun activities in Yaletown include: Great Pumpkin Giveaway @ Century 21 In Town Realtysupporting Easter Seals When: Saturday October 22nd, 12:00pm to 5:00pm Where: CENTURY 21 In Town Realty, 421 Pacific St Pumpkins are by donation, min $5.00 per, and all donations go to the Easter Seals.
Pumpkin Carving Contest @ Society When: Sunday October 30th, 4:00pm to 6:00pm Where: Society Restaurant, 1257 Hamilton St A $5 donation to Union Gospel Mission gets you a pumpkin for your ghoulish creations. Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places. Call Society at (604) 629-8800 for more information.
Childrens' Pumpkin carving @ The Flying Pig When: Sunday October 30th, 10:30am to 2:30pm Where: The Flying Pig, 1168 Hamilton St Email The Flying Pig in advance to order a pumpkin and join children at the communal table to carve your unique creation.
Halloween Festival @ Yaletown Roundhouse Community Centre When: October 31st, 4:30pm to 7:30pm Where: Indoors, Yaletown Roundhouse (181 Roundhouse Mews) Includes free photos by Yaletown Photography
The 4th annual Outdoor Movie Night in David Lam Park is scheduled for August 21st. Once the sun sets, the film will be projected onto a huge 40 foot by 20 foot screen in the park.
Last year's event feature drew thousands of friends and customers into the park. Although David Lam Park will be only partially available due to construction, we expect a great turnout once again for a family-friendly movie!
Celebrating Vancouver’s 125th birthday, the Yaletown Business Improvement Association (YBIA) has commissioned new benches for Yaletown.
Come take a look! The “Rail Benches” are installed along Mainland Street, between Helmcken and Nelson. The benches are created from reclaimed warehouse beams from Yaletown. To tie in Yaletown’s history, the benches were designed to be reminiscent of past Yaletown industries, as a warehouse district and rail yard. The benches installed on June 21st were created by the City of Vancouver’s Manitoba Works Yard. Although primarily fabricated from wood, the craftsmen also incorporated railway steel, railway spikes, and metal washers recovered from the old beams.
The old beams had looked like this:
The new “Rail Benches” look like this:
Coming soon! More benches of different designs to be installed along Hamilton Street.
Yaletown has been selected as a finalist in the Keg Spirit Foundation neighbourhood improvement campaign. We want to make Yaletown shimmer with holiday lighting next winter and we need your votes to make this happen. The most number of votes wins the competition, so this is your chance to get involved and help make this neighbourhood a bright spot during the long winter nights ahead. Voting has now opened and you can vote once per day until the voting closes on June 14th. If we win, the YBIA will provide additional funds and resources to make this a bright holiday season.
The Keg Spirit Foundation has created the Thanks a Million campaign to celebrate their 40th anniversary by giving away $25,000 grants to 40 winners in Keg communities across North America! The Thanks a Million campaign is about strength of community and empowering people to get involved and create a positive impact on the lives of others.
Please take a moment to vote for Yaletown to grant us some fantastic Winter lighting! To Vote, please click here.
April 29 - May 8, 2011 Yaletown Mother’s Day Week features great shopping, world class dining, daily prizes and super Yaletown-exclusive Groupon specials. Here’s how to find all the deals:
1. Be in the ‘hood The fun begins in Yaletown on April 29th, as our I Yaletown street teams roam the area giving out freebies and specials every day until Mother’s Day. They’ll help you find the perfect gift for Mom, and can even guide you to deals of the day. Online or in-store, Yaletown has great gift ideas for Mom. For all the details, visit www.yaletowninfo.com/mom-gift-guide
2. Check out Yaletown Groupon Week – Canada’s first. You can get special Yaletown Groupon deals just for mom. Everyday from May 2nd until May 8th, Groupon will feature a special deal in Yaletown. To find the Groupon of the day, check: www.groupon.com/vancouver
3. Mother’s Day Social Media Contest The Yaletown BIA is giving away $5,000 in prizes in a daily contest from May 2nd through May 8th! To enter: on Twitter – mention @iyaletown Mother’s Day using the hashtag #yt4moms
On Facebook – Like Yaletown and tell us why your mom deserves to win. Extra points are given to entries with the most unique comments and likes!
4. Grand Prize Package to be won Win a $5,000 “Yaletown Experience Grand Prize Package” for your mom! The package includes: Yaletown MINI’s Mini Cooper for the weekend, a night at the Opus Hotel, an exclusive salon makeover, brunch and dinner at Yaletown’s top restaurants and a fashion shopping spree! Enter at facebook.com/yaletowninfo Enjoy all that Yaletown has to offer, for yourself or for your Mom! Happy Mother’s Day from the businesses of Yaletown.
Yaletown Business Improvement Association #003 - 1290 Homer Street Vancouver, BC V6B 2Y5 604-683-7473 • www.yaletowninfo.com
We have been informed by the City of Vancouver that two construction projects are going to be taking place simultaneously on the 1100 block of Mainland Street tomorrow (Friday April 15th) between 7:00am and 3:30pm.
The road cut will be done in two stages (half at a time) to allow traffic access on Mainland. Some parking spaces will be removed while the road cut is being done, and returned to normal use once the work is completed.
Check out all the interesting sights from this year's (2011) illuminate yaletown. Illuminate Yaletown Illuminate Yaletown brings talented artists to Yaletown's heritage district to showcase their craft and introduce Vancouver to contemporary, interactive light art.
Yes… Illuminate is coming back to Yaletown!! After a hiatus in 2010 for the Olympics, Illuminate Yaletown will be happening once again on February 11 and 12, 2011 – 5:59PM until 10:30PM
Illuminate Yaletown is a free winter party in Yaletown featuring contemporary light art installations to explore.
The Yaletown Business Improvement Association will be hosting a Flickr Photo Contest once again, with over $500 worth in prizes for photos of Illuminate Yaletown 2011.
This contest will accept submissions until March 6, 2011.
This contest is meant to promote great photos of a fantastic event in Yaletown. To protect photographers, the contest rules allow users to retain the rights to their photos, but the Yaletown Business Improvement Association will have the right to use the submitted photos in their blog, websites and publications.
Read the full rules for the Illuminate Yaletown photo contest here
Please post discussion topics on the Flickr discussion board or email info@yaletowninfo.com with specific questions regarding the Illuminate Yaletown Photo contest
What is happening? The Yaletown BIA has located an authentic, decommissioned railway caboose near Mainland and Nelson, alongside Yaletown Park. This is part of a “heritage street furnishings” program undertaken by the Yaletown BIA to commemorate Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary in 2011.
What is it for ? This caboose is an icon and a landmark, recalling the railway history of Yaletown and the connection that Vancouver has long had with rail transportation. The caboose will initially serve as an event centre for community events such as Christmas Toy Drive, Halloween and some celebrations of Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary in 2011.
What is a caboose and what is it used for ? This is a railway caboose from the mid- 1900’s that travelled the rails throughout Vancouver and western Canada. The caboose or “brake car” was the final rail car in a train, and served many purposes such as crew quarters, a mobile office and was the brake van for trains on steep inclines and sharp corners. Cabooses were required safety equipment on all trains until the mid-1980’s, when advances in technology made cabooses obsolete.
Why is it located here ? The caboose is located here to celebrate Yaletown’s heritage as an important railyard and transportation hub, as well as being the westernmost terminus of the first national railway in Canada. Being sited beside Yaletown Park will allow easy public access to the caboose, as well as support special events and gatherings in the area. Mainland Street is also an important segment of the Steamline walking route, Vancouver’s newest walking route, connecting the heritage districts of Yaletown and Gastown.>
Bring the kids out this Halloween through Yaletown! Dress up in your creepiest costume and come enjoy the event. Yaletown merchants will be handling out treats for all the neighbourhood kids.
Participant merchants:
Pacific Boulevard
Century 21 In Town Realty 421 Pacific St.
4Cats Art Studio 427 Pacific St.
The Dog and Hydrant 1146 Pacific Blvd.
Salsa and Agave 1223 Pacific Blvd.
Pharmasave 1251 Pacific Blvd.
Star Pets Only 1255 Pacific Blvd.
Waves Coffee House 1263 Pacific Blvd.
Yaletown Insurance 1283 Pacific Blvd.
Mainland Street East Side
Global Atomic Designs 1006 Mainland St.
Vasanji 1012 Mainland St.
Fine Finds 1014 Mainland St.
Rowan Sky 1026 Mainland St.
Jennyfleur Loves 1058 Mainland St.
Canadian College of Shiatsu 1058 Mainland St.
Bentro-Vato 1072 Mainland St.
Design House 1110 Mainland St.
Goldfish Pacific Kitchen 1118 Mainland St.
R.TL 1130 Mainland St.
Mainland Street West Side
Section (3) 1039 Mainland St.
Glowbal Grill & Satay Bar 1071 Mainland St.
Yaletown Brewing Co. 1111 Mainland St.
Mortgage Evolution 1145 Mainland St.
Homer Street
Book Warehouse 1068 Homer St.
Jennifer Kostuik Gallery 1070 Homer St.
Barking Babies 1188 Homer St.
The Cross Décor & Design 1198 Homer St.
Luxe Beauty Lounge 1208 Homer St.
Hamilton Street West Side
*Hamilton Street Grill* 1009 Hamilton St.
Sweeney’s Yaletown 1091 Hamilton St.
Blue Water Café 1095 Hamilton St.
Milestones Restaurant 1109 Hamilton St.
Urban Thai Bistro 1119 Hamilton St.
Hapa Izakaya 1193 Hamilton St.
Marimekko 1233 Hamilton St.
Society Dining Lounge 1257 Hamilton St.
Hamilton Street East Side
Frame by Frame 1060 Hamilton St.
Citrus Hair Salon 1068 Hamilton St.
Yaletown Liquor Store 1116 Hamilton St.
Luscious Salon 1120 Hamilton St.
Beauty Mark 1120 Hamilton St.
Noir Lash Lounge 1150 Hamilton St.
Bernstein & Gold 1168 Hamilton St.
Goorin Bros. 1188 Hamilton St.
Stripped Wax Bar 1226 Hamilton St.
Boudoir 1230 Hamilton St.
Is.Salon 1260 Hamilton St.
Helmcken Street
Mavi Jeans 333 Helmcken St.
Davie Street
Reckless Bike Stores 110 Davie St.
Urban Fare 177 Davie St.
Quizno’s Subs 206 Davie St.
Brooklyn Clothing 418 Davie St.
Masc 433 Davie St.
Robson, Cambie & Smithe Street
Pharmasave 238 Robson St.
Exhale Studio 1083 Cambie St.
Toosheh Coffee House 191 Smithe St.
*Halloween charity photo booth with proceeds
going to the Vancouver Food Bank at Hamilton St. Grill – 1009 Hamilton St.
The tastes, treats, sips, sights and sounds of Vancouver’s most desirable neighborhood will come alive again at Taste of Yaletown 2010! The 6th Annual Taste of Yaletown event will take place October 13 – 31, 2010.
The popular community-based event invites the public to discover and enjoy culinary offerings and delectable wines from over 20 of Yaletown’s best restaurants, each presenting an exclusive three-course menu at pre-fixed prices of $25, $35 or $45.
Once again, a portion of the profits from each participating restaurant will be donated to The Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Since the event began in 2005, Taste of Yaletown has raised over $100,000 for the food bank.
People sampling the wine pairings during Taste of Yaletown next week will get a boost towards a safe ride home.
In light of the province’s new penalties against drinking and driving, the Yaletown Business Improvement Association announced it has donated $10,000 in taxi vouchers for all event participants.
“This initiative is being launched by the YBIA to encourage diners to enjoy all of Taste of Yaletown’s offerings including the cocktail, beer and wine pairings, and have the peace of mind they can get home safely in a taxi,” said event spokeswoman Nicole Hall.
In the annual event, where the public is invited to dine at various Yaletown eateries at a discount, each restaurant will get a certain amount of vouchers to hand out to visitors who stop by.
“The YBIA has acknowledged and anticipated that the new laws may impact the flow of business for the neighbourhood’s restaurants and is using the Taste of Yaletown event as a platform to support them,” Hall said.
Under B.C.’s new penalties, which came into effect Sept. 20, a blood-alcohol level of 0.08 or higher will net a driver an automatic 90-day driving ban and a 30-day impound on their car, while a level between 0.05 and 0.08 gets a three-day driving ban.
In the first week alone, nearly 275 motorists were written up under the new rules, according to provincial numbers.
We’re celebrating Bike Month in Yaletown with a photo contest to find the images that best capture the spirit of cycling in Yaletown. From commuters to kids on the seawall, from racers heading out on a ride to cruisers rolling slowly, bicycles are a key part of the fabric of life in Yaletown, and we’re looking for the photos which capture the spirit of cycling in Yaletown.
We’ll be collecting photos throughout the month of June and announcing the winners at the end of the month. Adding your photo(s) to the Yaletown Bikes Flickr group with the tag "Yaletown Bikes" constitutes entry into the contest. You should designate which category or categories you want your photo(s) to be included in, judges may however decide they also belong in additional categories. Photos would ideally also be tagged with "Yaletown" and "Vancouver."
Photo license settings on Flickr should be set to "Attribution Creative Commons." Attribution definition: "You let others copy, distribute, display, and perform your copyrighted work - and derivative works based upon it - but only if they give you credit."
Before you start taking photos you need to know the following: 1. It must be a bicycle or tricycle. Nothing motor assisted. 2. It must feature part or whole of a bicycle or tricycle but you can add other elements into the photos. 3. The photo must be taken outdoors within the Yaletown boundaries. (Robson-Drake; Homer-Pacific) You are allowed to upload a maximum of 30 photos per day to the group so be picky on which photos you add. There are 10 categories in the Yaletown Bikes Photo Contest and winners in each category will receive $50 cash plus gift certificates. Photos will be collected on Flickr only. Start looking for the definitive picture that shows us how Yaletown Bikes! THE CATEGORIES 1) Best In Show Winning Best In Show in the Yaletown Bikes Photo Contest is the highest honour an entrant can receive. 2) Best Action The winning photo in this category can be humorous, exhilarating, candid or staged but should show someone or something with the whole or part of a bicycle. 3) Best Yaletown Bike The winning photo will best feature Yaletown as a bike friendly neighbourhood. More points will be given if a Yaletown business or building is prominently seen. 4) Best Bike & Dog The winning photo should include but is not limited to 2 elements: bicycle and a dog. Use your imagination! 5) Best Bike & Food The winning photo should include but is not limited to 2 elements: bicycle and food. Use your imagination! 6) Best Bike & Fashion The winning photo should include but is not limited to 2 elements: bicycle and fashion. Use your imagination! 7) Best Digital Art Manipulation This category is for photos and images that have been digitally altered using software like Adobe Photoshop. Digitally manipulated images are allowed in the other categories but this is a category exclusively showcasing such art. 8) Best Decorated Bicycle The winning photo in this category should feature imaginative alterations and/or accessories attached to the bicycle. 9) Best Bicycle Photo Doing a Non-Bicycle Thing The winning photo in this category will be the photo that is inventive, creative or unique. 10) Best Camera Phone Photo
The winning photo in this category is the best one that's taken with an iPhone or other similar type camera. Must show proof it is taken with a camera phone.
The contest is being organized by the Yaletown Business Improvement Association and supported by Yaletown Grand Prix. Any questions should be directed to Jillian Ong (festival@yaletowninfo.com).
Yaletown BIA supported by Yaletown Grand Prix is celebrating Bike Month in Yaletown with a photo contest hosted on Flickr to find the images that best capture the spirit of cycling in Yaletown. From commuters to kids on the seawall, from racers heading out on a ride to cruisers rolling slowly, bicycles are a key part of the fabric of life in Yaletown, and we’re looking for the photos which capture the spirit of cycling in Yaletown.
We’ll be collecting photos beginning June 1st and announcing the winners at the end of the month. Cash prizes and gift certificates generously donated by Yaletown business will be awarded to the winners. To join the contest or to learn more submit your photos here: Yaletown Bikes Photo Contest
We invite you to join the Yaletown BIA and Johnsen Archer Chartered Accountants LLP, who will be offering a brief presentation on the new HST rules, followed by a Q&A session lasting approximately 1 hour. Effective July 1, 2010, the government of British Columbia will be harmonizing the Provincial Sales Tax with the federal Goods and Services Tax to create the Harmonized Sales Tax (HST). Learn how the HST will affect you and your business. Date: June 3, 2010 (Thursday) Time: 9:30am-10:30am Location: V at Earls - 1095 Mainland Street, Vancouver BC Please RSVP to festival@yaletowninfo.com as seats are limited.
City crews will begin removing poles on Monday May 3 starting in the 1000 block Mainland, then the 1100 block, and then progressing onto Hamilton Street. The work will consist of a crane truck lifting and removing the old green "gooseneck" poles on the east sidewalks. Ground crews will then jackhammer each pole area (this will take approx 60 minutes per spot). A junction box will then be installed into each hole, and capped off with cement. All work should be completed in about 14 days.
You may notice that some meters have already been hooded for access for the pole and concrete trucks. The YBIA has been working with City requesting that as much as possible, the very noisy work to occur as early in the day as possible (7am-10am), followed by the inground and capping work later in the day. Crews will also complete each block totally before moving on so that parking disruption is minimized.
This work is necessary to remove the de-commissioned poles, and every effort has been made to impress upon the City work crews that our merchants need open, inviting streets.
Please call the YBIA @ 604-683-7473 if you have any concerns or issues that we can assist you with.
NEWS RELEASE For Immediate Release 2010PREM0070-000325 March 26, 2010 Office of the Premier BC Pavilion Corporation
BC PLACE COMPLEX TO CREATE THOUSANDS OF JOBS VANCOUVER – A new 680,000 square foot entertainment complex attached to BC Place will create more than 8,500 direct and indirect jobs during construction and ongoing operation, increase tourism and build a more vibrant downtown, announced Premier Gordon Campbell and David Podmore, chair of BC Pavilion Corporation (PavCo).
PavCo, the Crown corporation that manages BC Place, confirmed today a 70-year lease agreement with Paragon Development Ltd. for two acres of the BC Place west side lands – the result of a competitive bidding process that attracted multiple proposals. The $450-million proposed project will feature two new internationally-branded hotels and a new gaming facility, subject to municipal approval.
“This project will create literally thousands of jobs and be an important generator of tourism and economic activity for Vancouver and the entire province,” said Premier Campbell. “During the Olympic Winter Games the streets of Vancouver were alive with the Olympic spirit – and we hope this entertainment complex will help recapture some of that excitement.” The project is expected to create an estimated total employment of more than 3,200 direct and 2,200 indirect jobs during construction and an estimated total employment of more than 1,900 direct and 1,300 indirect jobs during facility operations. The facility is expected to generate up to $130 million in gaming revenues that will be distributed to the Province in the first full year. Pending City of Vancouver approval, Edgewater Casino will be relocated as part of the rezoning process.
“This unique development will further enhance the new BC Place as a world-class facility.” said Podmore. “In addition to gaming revenues for both the Province and the city, this complex brings additional economic benefits in both tourism and event opportunities.” “Together with the incredible changes being made at BC Place, this iconic venue will draw visitors and residents to enjoy an entertainment destination unique to Canadian cities,” said Scott Menke, president, Paragon Development. “The business case was evident to us, and we’re looking forward to working closely with PavCo and BC Place in redefining Vancouver’s entertainment epicentre.”
Pending the rezoning application to the City of Vancouver, construction is planned to begin in early 2011 and be completed in mid-2013. Events will continue to be held during construction.
The $6-million per year (plus inflation) in lease revenue from the development will, together with other development, sponsorship and new event revenues, help to defray the cost of the retractable roof at BC Place. In October 2009, the Province and PavCo announced a $458-million fixed-price contract between PavCo and PCL Constructors Canada Inc for a new retractable roof. Beginning in April 2010, BC Place will undergo a major revitalization with the installation of the largest cable-supported retractable roof of its kind in the world. The new roof will cut energy costs by one-quarter, $350,000 annually and a further $100,000 annually will be saved through operational savings. The roof project will create approximately 3,000 person-years of employment, attract an additional 41 event days to Vancouver annually and increase the annual economic impact of the stadium from $60 million to $100 million in economic activity every single year. It will also extend the life of BC Place for an additional 40 years. BC Place is the largest sports, exhibition and entertainment venue of its kind in British Columbia, hosting the province’s most notable events, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Upon re-opening in 2011, BC Place will be the new home for the Vancouver MLS franchise, will continue to be home to the BC Lions Football Club, the 2011 Grey Cup and many other exhibitions, community and entertainment events. Paragon Development Ltd. is one of North America’s leading destination resort developers, with special emphasis on gaming-based destinations. Paragon currently operates casinos in Western Canada including River Cree Resort outside of Edmonton, Alberta, and purchased Edgewater Casino on Vancouver’s False Creek waterfront in 2006. That casino will be closed once the new development is ready for occupation.
Media contacts: Dale Steeves Director of Communications Office of the Premier 250 387-1715 Trevor Pancoust BC Place 604 646-3567 Sherri-Lyn Brown Aerial Communications Group for Paragon Development Ltd. 416 787-6577 416 371-7765 (cell) For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
Great location, North of 4th, steps to beach, Tennis & Yacht Clubs at Jericho Beach & 4th Avenue shops & restaurants. High ceiling, granite countertops,...
