Robson St.

Reliving The Gold Game

Sam Roberts, Daniel Wesley & Mini Donuts

If you haven't gotten a chance to get out to Surrey Celebration Site or 'LiveCity Surrey", you really should. I've been out for a couple of events now. The first being Daniel Wesley and Mini Donuts and then Sam Roberts and Mini Donuts last week.

Unlike most of the free events downtown that are seeing long waits and lineups from food to bathrooms, Surrey is completely different. It's more family friendly, the crowds were manageable and the staff and facilities are top notch.

I showed up for Sam Roberts to find a large crowd at the front gate and was a bit worried I wouldn't get in in time because of security. After asking around with my True North Media Badge, I was directed to a different gate. I explained the situation to the guard and before I knew it he was calling his supervisor to the gate. Thankfully no one was around in case she came down and did the "sorry,not on the list" and me doing the inevitable walk of shame to the back of the line. A woman came down a few minutes later,looked at my badge,smiled,introduced herself as Melissa and handed me a Surrey 2010 Media badge. And before I had a chance to pick up my jaw, she told me to follow her as she escorted me backstage and out into the crowd.

Which brings me to the Mini Donuts or Do Nots as I call them. Seriously, they could lace them with arsenic and we'd still all be eating them. So good. And here is my only complaint. I had to wait 33 minutes in line for donuts. Ok, another...the food prices were insane. But it has been crazy expensive everywhere, so I've come to expect it, but come on, $9 for poutine? That's sacrilege. But I digress.

So both Sam Roberts and Daniel Wesley put on really great shows and I wish I had more to say about it,but the secondhand high I got from the crowd was so good, I spent the majority of the show in line for those damn donuts.

(Thank you to Melissa Snow and the staff @ Surrey 2010)

Patriot Games Part 2

The World Needs More Chris

Meet Chris. Chris and his friends have spent almost everyday downtown on Granville giving away free hugs during the Olympics. The world needs more Chris.

He even offered to give me the sign to try. Being an inhibited Canadian, I passed. But I kinda wished I did it now. Maybe tomorrow...

I have no idea what they are called, but you can find them on Granville. Great folk sound.

These guys were cool. They talked to the crowd through song,hilarious.

Local Aboriginals/ First Nations on Granville doing a drum/chant circle. Forgive my ignorance.

Good looking dude. 'nuff said. Homeboy in the striped toque ain't bad either.

Panasonic screen showing some cool animated sports.

Welcome to Vancouver. Cottonmouth Smoke Shop, highly recommended.

Street Magic

If you get a chance to check this guy out near Robson, do so. He's quite funny.

TMI

I mean really, it's a family show.

Around The City

The Olympic Flame that was lit by Wayne Gretzky.

Granville Street

Why so angry, Carter? His menacing face I will not miss outside The Bay.

Foxtrim indeed. Traditional Hudson's Bay Co. wear...from 1867?

The coveted Pin Wall. Seriously people, it's just pins.

Outside Canada Place.

Well hello, Officer, Protector of The Flame.

This was taken with my lens poking through the fence...yes fence. I know.

Woohoo!

Surprisingly, Mikhail was quite lovely. If not paranoid..

No clue. Just looked cool.

It's always outside Starbucks though...

I called this guy Radio Raheem. Right on.

As opposed to American..or Portuguese?

This was taken in White Rock, it looked like cement up close.

The Royal Hudson Steam Train was brought out of retirement for a voyage from Seattle to Vancouver, here it is stopped in White Rock.