Jak's View of Vancouver v.3

More Dates For The Calendar

jakking — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:39:34 +0000

Tomorrow (Tuesday 31st) between 4:00pm and 6:30pm Andrew Pask and the Grandview Community Plan folks will be hosting an Open House at the Family Activity Room at Britannia. At the meeting they will introduce the material they have collected from focus groups. It is hard to emphasize how important it is to have public participation in these Community Plans that will govern zoning etc for the next generation.

Next Monday (February 6th) at 7:00pm is the next meeting of GWAC, also at Britannia. The agenda this month will include potential development of the Kettle-Astorini’s site at Commercial & Venables.

In a couple of weeks, on Thursday 16th February at 7:00pm, the Grandview Heritage Group holds its next meeting in the Board Room at Britannia. Plan to join us for a discussion of the one-hundredth birthday campaign, the GHG website, and a whole bunch of other stuff to do with Grandview, Commercial Drive, history and heritage. They are always fun!

The NFL Will Pay A Pedophile For Super Bowl Music

jakking — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 01:36:04 +0000

I won’t be watching the Super Bowl; American Football holds as much interest for me as professional wrestling. However, all of you who do will be helping the NFL pay royalties to convicted pedophile Gary Glitter.

Glitter’s song “Rock and Roll Part Two” is a theme song for the New England Patriots, played after each touchdown. His music has been banned on British TV and radio since his molestation convictions and even the NFL started using a cover version. However, as writer he will still receive a huge whack of cash for its use on one of the largest-TV audience shows of the year.

The BBC owns the Super Bowl rights and there is a campaign in the UK to have them black out any use of Glitter’s music. It would save us all a lot of trouble if the NFL did the right thing and told the Patriots to change their song of choice.

Upon Reflection: Downtown

jakking — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 23:35:06 +0000

The VHS Speech

jakking — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:59:47 +0000

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

jakking — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 20:19:49 +0000

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

jakking — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:25:30 +0000

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!

jakking — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:38:25 +0000

Etta James

jakking — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 18:09:20 +0000

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

Dates For The Diary

jakking — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:15:42 +0000

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

jakking — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:35:24 +0000

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