Tinkerblue

Saturday Night in the New Life of R

Saturday night at home.

Candlelight.

Blanket.

Book.

Baileys.

Highway 99 Blues Club

This weekend we are in Puyallup, WA for the Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show. Last night we went to the Highway 99 Blues Club in Seattle for dinner, drinks and music.

The night was okay.

GPS led us to Western Ave (the office address, not Alaskan Way (the club entrance). Not to worry there is an staircase from Western Ave to Alaskan Way.

$10.00 parking - not bad considering we were in Seattle. There is free parking down on Alaskan Way, although it was pretty full.

$14.00 cover charge

The regular chef had the night off, so there was a limited BBQ menu.
Food was okay. I had pulled pork sandwich. The pulled pork was really good. The hamburger bun it came in was dry. No worries.

Hubby ordered Jambalaya. They were sold out. He switched to Gumbo instead. He didn't get his meal until after we had all eaten, our plates had been cleared, and we asked the waitress 3 times for his food. Seriously his meal was a good 40 minutes, after everyone elses. He said it was amazing once it finally arrived. It was very spicy and half way thru he needed another beer. 45 mins. 45 mins to get a beer. We ordered 3 beers at the same time, 2 Fat Tires and a pale ale. 15 mins later we got 1 of the Fat Tires and the Pale Ale. It was another 30 mins and me asking for the manager to get Hubby his beer. By which time his gumbo was cold and congealed.

The service was bad. Really horrible. Which was a shame because music was great. Karen Lovely, followed by the Ty Curtis Band. I'd listen to both again.

Highway 99 is a well known blues club in Seattle both for it's food and the live music. Maybe we just caught the staff on a bad night. I'm not in a hurry to go back.

http://www.highwayninetynine.com
http://www.karenlovely.com
Http://www.tycurtisband.com

Holland Heineken House

I wish Holland Heineken House were setting up in both Vancouver and Whistler.   Alas, they will only be in Vancouver.  At the O Zone in Richmond.  Hubby will have to go and have a beer or two for me.  Anyone want to go with him?

Medal Ceremony Hall

The highlight of the Holland Heineken House experience is the main hall featuring celebratory medal ceremonies for successful Dutch athletes as well as nightly performances by renowned Dutch artists and DJ’s. It will be quite the party place, hosting 4000 people a night. The uniquely close relationship that Dutch sport fans have with their heroes - coupled with their penchant for the national colour of orange - makes for a vibrant and unforgettable atmosphere during celebrations and performances.

Epic Centre of the Dutch sporting world

Further features of the Holland Heineken House include a Lodge Restaurant and several food outlets, a Dutch Consulate information desk, ATP travel and ticketing desk, a special athletes’ room, VIP facilities for members of the Dutch royal family and government, a business lounge for partners and suppliers of NOC and NSF as well as facilities for Dutch media. 

Sports fans can follow the progress of their heroes live on dozens of large screens throughout the Holland Heineken House, sharing in the achievements and emotions that are part and parcel of the Olympic experience. Should you be unable to obtain a ticket for your favorite event, there is no better way to enjoy the action than in the company of fellow fans.

Opening hours

Open daily from 9 a.m. until 2 a.m., the Holland Heineken House is an ideal place to catch up on the latest Olympic news or to simply relax with something to eat or drink. Everyone is welcome, including international guests, and most especially all those with a Dutch Passport.

The refreshments offer a range from fast food and healthy snacks to the best of modern cuisine with a Dutch and Canadian flare. Food is combined - of course - with a fresh and cold Heineken draught beer. Table reservations for lunch and dinner at the Lodge Restaurant (capacity 150) can now be made by sending an e-mail to hhh@atp.nl.

http://www.hollandheinekenhouse.nl/uk_home.html

Surrey 2010 Celebration Site

Mum and Dad, Dave and Morag have a pretty full calendar for the Olympics already.  But just in case they have any spare time, they could head out to the Celebration Site in Surrey.  It'd be worth it for the RCMP Musical Ride alone.  I doubt very much that they will get a chance to see the Musical Ride in Hobart or London. 

When - February 12th to 28th (Closed Mondays and Tuesdays)

Where - Holland Park - corner of King George Hwy and Old Yale Road, King George Skytrain

 

Artwork by Zach Camozzi - click on the map to open a PDF file.

What - Celebration Stage, Skating Rink, Toboggan Zone, Curling Zone, Sustainability Way, Kids World, Meet the Mascots

Performances by 

• Blue Rodeo - Feb 12th
• Serena Ryder - Feb 14th
• Hot Hot Heat - Feb 17th
• Corb Lund - Feb 18th
• Jully Black - Feb 19th
• Sam Roberts - Feb 19th
• Malkit Singh - Feb 20th
• 54-40 - Feb 21st
• Marianas Trench - Feb 26th
• Wintersleep - Feb 27th
• Tokyo Police Club - Feb 27th
• Randy Bachman - Feb 28th
• and many, many, many more.

 

RCMP Musical Ride

• Wed/Thurs/Fri 8:00pm
• Sat/Sun 3:00pm and 8:00pm
• Feb 28th 4:00pm

www.surrey2010.com

Fairmont Whistler invites you to Paint the Town Red.

Grouse Mountain - Open 24/7 - Get a free pass with your volunteer accreditation

February 12th to 28th Grouse Mountain will be open 24 hours a day with a winter wonderland of activities.

 image Grouse Mountain
 

Doesn't matter what time you show up, there will be something for you to do.  Zipline, snowshoeing, skiing, snowboarding, ice skating, hockey tournament, entertainment and NBC's Today Show.

Click here to open a PDF schedule.

 image Grouse Mountain
 

You can buy an after hours pass which allows you to ski or snowboard to your hearts content from 8:00pm to 6:00am for $150.00. And better yet Grouse Mountain wants to recognise and celebrate the Vancouver 2010 athletes and volunteers. Visit Grouse Mountain Guest Services with your accreditation to receive a complimentary Grouse Mountain After Hours Pass.  How cool is that?

So how do you get up the mountain? On the DC All-Nighter Bus of course.

And if you're a fan of NBC's Today Show with Matt Lauer, Meredith Viera, Ann Curry, and Al Roker you can watch the live broadcast at 4:00 am PST everyday.

 image Grouse Mountain
 

If I wasn't already running on little sleep and didn't have to be on venue in Whistler at 7:00am, I'd be up for going skiing at 2:00am.

Some highlights from the Grouse Mountain website:

• NBC Today Show (excluded Sundays) – Chalet Atrium – 04:00 to 08:00
• DJs presented by Monster Energy – Altitudes – 22:00 to 02:00
• Olympic event viewing – Theater in the Sky – 09:00 to 24:00
• Torch Light Parade from 22:00 to 22:30
  
• Ice Skating Pond
• Sleigh Ride
• Midnight Snowshoe Tour
• Sunrise Snowshoe Tour
• Mountain Ziplines

• International Kids Hockey Tournament– Ice Rink – Feb 16th-28th, 2010 – 07:00 to 10:00
• Cultural Entertainment – Chalet / Atrium and Outside – mornings and evenings
• 11:58 Monster Energy Slopestyle– The Cut – February 18th, 2010 – 22:00-01:00
• Olympic Athlete Training for Ski Cross, Snowboard Cross and Snowboard Parallel Giant Slalom
• Valentine’s day dinner – Observatory – February 14th, 2010
• Olympian Katarina Witt & ARD TV – Ice Rink – Feb 18th, 2010 -  12:00 to 14:00
• Olympian Shizuka Arakawa & Nippon TV – Ice Rink & The Eye of the Wind – Feb 7th & 15th, 2010 – 15:00-22:00

Classified raps Oh...Canada

This is a fun video.  Not a Vancouver 2010 piece but lots of red mittens and a few official hockey jerseys.  

Majumder/Cullen/Payne: Laugh it Out! (with Ed Robertson and Tyler Stewart)

Saturday night hubby and I had the chance to attend our first event of the Cultural Olympiad. Technically I guess we saw two. 

We walked down Granville Street and took in the lanterns and lights of Lunarfest: Soul, Art, Life.  2010 lanterns designed by children of Canada and Taiwan create the Lantern Forest and totem lanterns with Canadian and Taiwanese indigenous designs greet spectators from around the world.

The main event of the evening was Majumder/Cullen/Payne: Laugh it Out! at the Orpheum.

I know everyone  will have a different opinion.  For me the night got funnier and funnier the later it went (and it had nothing to do with alcohol).   Nikki Payne was good - made me laugh, Sean Cullen was better- made me laugh out loud, and Shaun Majumder was bestest- made me laugh out loud a lot.

Ed Robertson and Tyler Stewart of Barenaked Ladies MC'd and they almost stole the show.  They were hilarious. It was an awesome night out.  We should do this more often.

Hubby in an art installation on Granville Street.  He wants to be a ski jumper.

The Torch Relay Comes to Whistler on February 5th

 

The Olympic Flame arrives in Whistler on Day 99 (February 5th) of the Torch Relay and Whistler will be celebrating in style.

The Torch Relay will be coming from the Sunshine Coast and will join the Sea to Sky Highway in Lions Bay on February 4th.  It will wind it's way through Furry Creek, Britannia Beach, Stawamus before overnighting in Squamish.

On Friday February 5th, the Torch will make its way from Squamish to Whistler via Brackendale, Brandywine Falls Provincial Park and Whistler Olympic Park. It will be carried on foot, logger climbing tree (?) and snowmobile.

  

3:30pm - 5:45pm Village Square

• Barney Bentall and the Cariboo Opry will perform
• Joined by local musicians Dana-Marie Battaglia, Greg Reamsbottom, Jon Shrier and Rachel Thom.
• The Olympic Mascots will stop by for a visit
• Visit the Spirit Tent and have your face painted.

 

6:17pm Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre

There will be a ceremonial pass off between a Squamish and a Lil'wat torchbearer in front of the welcome figures of the main entrance on Blackcomb Way.  Join in the celebration, wear red, and bring your drum.

6:00pm - 8:00pm Skiers Plaza

• Squamish Nation Eagle Song Dancers
• Ali Milner
• The Whistler Children's Choir and the Whistler Singers will sing "There's a Light/Cette Flamme"
• The Flame is expected to arrive at 7:00pm
• The community torch bearer, Tyler Allison will carry the Flame on stage and light the celebration cauldron

Check out Whistler2010.com fand Vancouver2010.com for the route and more information.  I

'm excited to see the Torch Relay again.  Although right now the plan is for me to be in Vancouver later this week so it looks like I'll be in Vancouver while the Torch Relay is in Whistler.  And I'll be in Whistler when the Torch Relay is in Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody. I'm having trouble getting all the schedules to match up!

Sarah McLachlan - One Dream

For those of you who don't know, Sarah McLachlan is a Canadian singer/song writer. She is awesome. At least I think so.  Between hubby and I we own pretty much every CD she has released.  Way back when, one of the first dates hubby took me on was to her show at the Orpheum, I think.  The summer of 97 he took me to the first Lilith Fair at Thunderbird Stadium. (wow that makes me feel old). We heard (but didn't see) Sarah play at the One Year Countdown to Vancouver 2010 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre as part of last years' Cultural Olympiad.    

Her song, One Dream, is going to feature in the NBC coverage of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  One Dream is inspired by the athletes striving to reach their goals. Download it from itunes.