The VHS Speech

I had a great time last night delivering the Vancouver Historical Society’s monthly lecture.  I talked about the history of Commercial Drive in the 1930s and 1940s. It was standing room only and I really want to thank everyone who came out for it. Thanks!

Morning Radio Date

In advance of my talk for the Vancouver Historical Society tomorrow (Thursday) evening, I am being interviewed on CBC Radio 1 at 8:15 tomorrow morning by Rick Cluff for the Early Edition.

I’ll be giving away a copy of my “Encyclopedia of Commercial Drive to 1999” as part of the show.

Waldorf Hotel’s Birthday

I have a new posting at the Grandview Heritage Group about the original opening of the Waldorf Hotel on East Hastings.

 

Happy Year of the Dragon!

Etta James

The extraordinarily wonderful Etta James has died of leukemia.  The beauty of the world is lessened by her loss.

Dates For The Diary

I mentioned in an earlier post a City Council meeting today that is of interest to residents of Grandview.  Here are a couple more dates to note:

This coming Thursday (19th January) at 7:00pm is the next meeting of the Grandview Heritage Group  at Britannia Info Centre.  We will, no doubt, discuss a wide range of heritage issues and plans.  We will also have Andrew Pask, City Planner for the new Grandview Community Plan, asking specifically about our concerns for heritage in the new Plan.  Everyone is welcome and it should be very interesting.

The following Thursday (26th January) is the date for my Vancouver Historical Society talk on Commercial Drive in the 1930s and 1940s. The talk begins at 7:30pm and everyone is welcome!

Palms in Hawai’i

I thought this would be suitable for a snowy week here in Vancouver!

Port Traffic in Grandview

I have written here and here about the problem of trucks on Nanaimo Street and on other residential streets in our neighbourhood.

I just heard that Jerry Dobrovolny, City Transportation Director, will present the City’s plan on this issue to the City Finances and Services Standing Committee tomorrow (January 17th) at 1:30pm at City Hall.   Citizens are welcome.

To get on the speakers’ list email lori.iseld@vancouver.ca ASAP.

Thanks to GWAC for the heads up.

4th and Commercial

I have posted a short history of the Highland Block, 4th & Commercial, at the Grandview Heritage Group block.  You might find it of interest!

Teepee

“Teepee” (2008), 16″ x 20″, acrylics on canvas, in private collection

More Community Gardens For Grandview

One of the items that came up at the GWAC meeting last night was a plan to develop more community gardens in Grandview.  Wonderful idea!

Carolyn Shaffer is trying to organize a new garden and is looking both for ideas of where the garden should be and general interest from the community.  The suggested places, so far, include Woodland Park (Woodland & Adanac) and Alice Townley Park (Woodland & 2nd).

Ms. Shaffer can be contacted by email at jordan@villagevancouver.ca and on Facebook under “Let’s start a new community garden in Grandview-Woodland.”

There is also an interesting site called City Farmer where you can ask for and find local gardening plots.

GWAC Meeting

Last night we had the monthly meeting of the Grandview-Woodland Area Council.  It was well-attended by three dozen or so residents from all over the neighbourhood.

The main topic last night was a talk by City Planner Andrew Pask who gave a very useful presentation on the new Grandview Community Plan process.  It was detailed, informative, and Andrew answered a wide range of questions.  Good stuff.  This is perhaps the most important business facing Grandview and a lot more will be written about it as the process continues.

We also discussed community gardens, the development of multi-family housing in the 1500-block, and the possibility of the Kettle site being redeveloped. Some of these matters will be subject of posts here as time goes on.

I would urge any readers from Commercial Drive and elsewhere in the Grandview district to come along to GWAC meetings and be part of the process to bring both necessary change and desired continuity to the wonderful neighbourhood we all share.  Stay in touch with the GWAC website and get yourself on their mailing list to make sure you get notices of meetings and other events.

Wikileaks and Woodrow Wilson

94 years ago yesterday, Woodrow Wilson gave his “Fourteen Points” speech to a joint session of the US Congress.  The speech aimed to give a moral value to the First World War and to set the terms for a world after the war.  I was fascinated to read the very first of those Fourteen Points:

Open covenants of peace, openly arrived at, after which there shall be no private international understandings of any kind but diplomacy shall proceed always frankly and in the public view.

The Fourteen Points became established US policy and Wilson managed to persuade France, Italy and the UK to accept them, too.  No longer, alas.

It seems to me that Wikileaks is simply pursuing what used to be a good US policy.

Heritage Renovation

There are a lot of fascinating pictures and anecdotes from the ongoing heritage restoration of Dr. Jeff’s 1907 house at Charles & Salsbury at the Grandview Heritage Group website.

Treeline

Commercial Drive in 1912

I have a new post at Grandview Heritage Group about Commercial Drive one hundred years ago.

 

Rope Metal Wood Water

Changes On The Drive #5

The last day of 2011 was clear and cold as I wandered down the Drive on my monthly look at what’s happening on the street. Not many changes in December.

The Far East Building is still under construction and the same vacancies appear as last month: 2137, 1840 and 1830 Commercial are still empty, as are the old Leira Cafe, DQ and Sumo Teppanake sites. Also empty is the brand new storefront next to the refurbished Liberty Wines.

The old Videomatics store at the NE corner of Commercial and Kitchener is still behind construction boards.  I hear it will be an East Side Mario’s pizza joint, which I cannot imagine will please Marcello’s on the opposite corner — and seriously, do we need another pizza place, even if it does pretend to be a little up-scale?

Better news is that the Brandon Block’s repairs seem to be complete and the beautiful old building is available for a clear view once again.  Also good is the work that has taken place at Triple A Produce. I haven’t had a chance to chat with them and see if new management is involved, but the store is a lot cleaner and better organized than it has been for years.

Equally pleasant is the new building-long awning that has welcomed the opening of the Windjammer Fish & Chips restaurant in the 900-block.

Finally, while we are talking about the 900-block, I noticed on the opposite side of the street that the storefront housing Bump n’Grind is for sale.  The asking price is $775,000 (yes, just the storefront at 916) and the coffee shop has a lease for another few years at about $41,000 a year rent.

Previous “Changes on the Drive” posts.

 

 

Happy New Year!

Thanks to everyone who read my blog during the past year.  I hope that 2012 will be even better.  My thoughts and posts on Commercial Drive and life in general will continue to be aired here.  News and events on the publishing front will be at The Drive Press, and my meanderings about local history and heritage will be found at Grandview Heritage Group.  Come read, enjoy and share!

Tree At Garry Point #1