The Land That Ugly Forgot The Bewildering, Beautiful and Blithe Happenings Around Vancouver, BC

18Jun/110

Granville Island

Granville Island definitely is an eyeful. There's musicians of all sorts, crafts, food, shopping, art and niche stores dedicated to umbrellas and sake and hats. Sitting out by the water watching the birds is a fantastic way to spend a nice afternoon on the island if it's not too busy - which it does get on summer weekends. Best to take public transit to the island, or cycle over if you're able because parking spaces get to be a hot commodity.

24Jan/114

Gabby’s Country Cabaret; Rules are Meant to be Broken


Gabby's Country Cabaret is apparently an institution of sorts in Langley City. Having not been there before, we thought we'd check it out on the weekend. We stood in line for about 45 minutes with little on us besides some cash and our phones and keys, only to be met, finally, at the front of the line by a security guy pointing us to a sign by the entry barricade that said "photo id required". We were turned away after standing there all that time yet a) we certainly don't look like hooligans, b) we look like we finished high school many years ago so no worry on the under age thing, and c) we're respectable people there to check out the local entertainment. But the sign says a rule is a rule. I appreciate that there's rules, and I'd be more than willing to adhere to them, but when I saw these posted beside the photo identification required notice, this place lost all credibility:

27Jun/102

The BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival

For all you Scots out there an assortment of activities were held yesterday at the 2010 BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival in Coquitlam to celebrate your heritage. I was hungry and ready to partake in loads of haggis, but I found nary a bite of it available. There was lots of other fun to observe regardless:

The RCMP Pipe Band.

Highland dancing competition.

Falconry demonstration with the largest of the falcon species - the Gyrfalcon.

A practice session by the world championship SFU Drum Corps.