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

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

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.  

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.

Bell Ice Cube - an Olympic fanzone in Vancouver

You really don't need tickets to the events to enjoy the Olympic Games.  I still think that's the best way, but if you don't want or have the cash to spend, or don,'t want to stick to a set schedule then there are still lots of ways to enjoy the Games.

There's the LiveCity sites in downtown and Yaletown, the celebration site at Robson Square, the Whistler Live sites,  the Richmond O Zone, the Surrey 2010 Celebration site, the Aboriginal Pavilion, and the West Vancouver Spirit Square.  And there's bound to be lots more that I've missed.  

Today Bell Canada announced an Olympic fan zone in Vancouver.  The information below is taken from the press release.

Bell Ice Cube, located at Robson and Beatty, will be the place to be to connect live to the Olympic experience

VANCOUVER, Jan. 7 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell today unveiled plans for Bell Ice Cube, a public showcase located at the heart of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, where visitors can watch Olympic events live in HD, cheer on Team Canada with the latest products from Bell, listen to live music and meet some of world's best athletes, all under one roof.

Housed in a 3,000 square foot (280 square metre) structure, the Bell Ice Cube will open to the public on February 11. It will serve as the ultimate viewing centre and meeting place for those wanting the next best thing to a front-row seat at the 2010 Winter Games.

Bell Ice Cube will be open daily from February 11 to 28 from 11 am to 11 pm and will feature entertainment, Olympic ticket giveaways and interactive product demonstrations. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience the very best of Bell's communications solutions including Bell Mobility, Bell Internet and Bell TV products and services.

Every day at 3 pm, there will be a live show called Ice Talk, where Olympians will be interviewed by five-time Olympian and Bell Champion Charmaine Crooks. Athletes will share their own Olympic stories and sign autographs for Games fans. The line-up of athletes will include Susan Auch (speed skating), Duff Gibson (skeleton), Nancy Greene (alpine skiing), Clara Hughes (speed skating), Johann Koss (speed skating), Chris Lori (bobsleigh), Karen Magnussen (figure skating), Ashleigh McIvor (ski cross), Steve Omischl (aerials), Joannie Rochette (figure skating), Beckie Scott (cross-country skiing) and Hayley Wickenheiser (ice hockey).

Bell Ice Cube will also feature guest performances by internationally acclaimed vocal play group, Naturally 7. In addition to brilliant harmonies, every instrument sound is created by the human voice. From musical styles that range from pop to R&B, Naturally 7 has charmed fans around the world.

There's more to Vancouver 2010 than just the sport events

No tickets to events? You can still get that "Olympic Feeling".

Go skating in downtown Vancouver at Robson Square.  Opening November 24th GE, free public skating will operate noon to 9:00 pm daily.  Rentals are $3.00.

Take a sleigh ride or go skating at Grouse Mountain. Morag and I did both last year, it was a lot of fun. You can also go snow shoeing or skiing.  Grouse Mountain will be open 24/7 throughout the Olympics.  The NBC's Today Show will be broadcast from the top of the mountain at 4:00am.  So if you're inclined to be an early bird you can go up and watch the live broadcast.

 Morag Dec 2008

You can also go snowtubing, snow shoeing or skiing at Mt Seymour.

Hang out at the O Zone in Richmond.  There'll be outdoor skating, exhibits, athlete appearances, ice carvers, ice art, entertainment, food and fireworks. You can try out (virtual) bobsledding and ice hockey at The BCLC Winter Games Dome.  Don't forget this is home to Holland Heineken House too.

Four Host First Nations Pavilion - located on the plaza of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, the pavilion will open in February 2010 and run throughout the Olympic Winter Games.  Not yet complete, the pavilion will include a 3000 sq ft sphere surrounded by a Coast Salish Long House.  It will showcase Aboriginal art, sport, business, and culture from across Canada.

 

The 2010 Cultural Olympiad presented by Bell will bring art, theatre, dance, and music to Vancouver and the Sea to Sky corridor from January 22nd to March 21st 2010. Checkout the event listings here.  I won't be able to make it, but some events that caught my attention:

Feist - February 17th at the Orpheum

Blue Rodeo- February 28th in Whistler

Fear of Flight- February 9th to 13th.  I don't think I'd actually want to to see this, but the aviation thing is large in our household to I had to mention it.

Cirque Eloize: Rain- March 18th to 20th.  Because I like the circus.

The Only Animal: Nix- January 22nd to February 22nd.  Because I never seen snow and ice theatre before.

 
Livecity Vancouver - Livecity Yaletown (B David Lam Park) will be open during the Olympic Winter Games.  Livecity Downtown (A) will be opening during the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. From the Livecity Vancouver website:

• High-quality, secure, family-friendly environment that showcases the arts, culture, entertainment and Olympic sponsors
• Schedules and content built around Games-time events
• Events that are open, accessible and free of charge
• Planned on-screen programming on large LED screens showing Olympic and Paralympic events and track the progress of Canadian athletes
• Live programming featuring the very best local, national and international performing artists, as well as special appearances by past and present Olympians, Paralympians and other special guests

Whistler Live! - I posted about the Whistler Live! sites a few days back.  You can read it here.

And finally don't forget to go shopping for all your souvenirs at the Olympic Superstore.

 

Whistler Live! Sites

During the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games there will be six different Whistler Live! sites throughout Whistler Village. 

 whistler2010

Whistler Medals Plaza

• an official Vanoc venue
• Medal Ceremonies
• Paralympic Closing Ceremony
• Live competition broadcasts
• Concerts and performances
• is a ticketed venue, however tickets are free

Town Plaza

• family oriented programming
• interactive kid zone
• story telling
• Omega bobsleigh photo station

Village Common

• art exhibitions
• fringe theatre

Village Square

• live musical performances
• large screen showing post medal concerts, competition highlights, and short films

Mountain Square

• street theatre
• circus arts
• dance
• Aboriginal performing arts
• demonstration sports
• street hockey

Skiers Plaza

• street performers
• short films
• broadcast of live sport competitions and medal ceremonies

Counting down to 100 Days to Go

Tomorrow, Wednesday November 4th marks the 100 day countdown to the Opening Ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.  If you are in Whistler you are invited to help celebrate.

 image Fairmont

800 am to 1000 am Spirit Program Breakfast, Fairmont Chateau Resort

• Register with the Whistler Chamber of Commerce for a presentation on "Creating Service Magic" by Doug Lipp, former head of corporate training at the Walt Disney University.

 image SLCC

100 pm to 300 pm Citizenship Ceremony, Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre

• This invitation only event will welcome 40 new Canadian citizens.

 image VANOC/COVAN

400 pm to 700 pm Community Apres Celebration, Whistler Conference Centre

• Meet 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games hopefuls
• Chat with VANOC venue teams from the Whistler Sliding Centre (bobsleigh, skeleton and luge), Whistler Creekside (alpine skiing) and Whistler Olympic Park (ski jump, cross country and biathlon).
• Mingle with the Vancouver 2010 mascots
• Learn more about the Whistler Live! sites
• Ask Whistler Blackcomb questions about the upcoming ski and board season.  Over 90% of the mountain will be open during Games time.
• Eat snacks and countdown cake
• Live performances by DJ Foxy Moron, the Hairfarmers, Kuba Oms and Whistler Children's Chorus

And every guest at the door will receive a voucher redeemable for 2 tickets to a victory ceremony at Whistler Medals Plaza during the Games.

 image Whistler Blackcomb/Coast Photo

700 pm to late Ullr After Party at Garibaldi Lift Co.

• A Whistler tradition.
• Ullr is the Nordic God of Snow.  
• Just before the start of each season mountain folk pay homage to Ullr by sacrificing skis and snowboards in a great bonfire in the hope that Ullr will deem their offerings worthy enough to cover the mountains with snow and bring a long powder season.

I have to work in Whistler tomorrow, and hubby has a free night at the Holiday Inn SunSpree, so Hubby and I are going up after work tonight.  Maybe we'll see you at the countdown event.