It's A Dog Day!

Hydro Lines And Back Lanes: Goodbye Wooden Frames

BC Hydro is taking on the ambitious task of removing 350  old wooden H frames and elevated transformers from downtown lanes and installing electrical services underground. This 5 year project with a projected cost of $350 million will change the face of Vancouver's downtown alleys. A few will be left standing in Chinatown and Gastown to preserve ambience for filming in these areas.  The rest will slowly begin to disappear as work begins.

Relief: Rum Runners Of The Past

Tucked away and retired under The Granville Street Bridge is the boat Relief.  Built and launched in 1929, this boat has definitely seen more exciting days.  It's first owner, Merrill Sollows, used her as a rum runner, transporting illegal alcohol from Nova Scotia, Canada to the US.  Prohibition was in full force and penalties were high for selling and transporting alcohol, yet it was also very profitable.  In the 1920's alcohol was seen as the main source of societal problems including poverty, disease and crime.  The belief was that if you banned alcohol, then all of these problems would go away.  Story has it that after a strong machine gun warning by the US Coast Guard, the captain decided that fishing might be a safer way to earn a living.
Relief spent most of the remainder of her sea days fishing off the west coast from Cape Fairweather, Alaska down to Crescent City, California.  She now rests under The Granville Street Bridge.

Granville Island: A Joe Average Moment

Every time I see a Joe Average work of art I can't help but smile.  Often referred to as the Andy Warhol of Vancouver, his bright, cheerful,  cartoon like images  have been visible on the streets of Vancouver for many years.
Diagnosed with HIV at age 27, Joe Average made a commitment to spend the rest of his life committed to art.  As a result, we in Vancouver have benefited from this commitment.  Along with having his work displayed in public spaces, he also donates work to numerous charities including Art For Life, the Vancouver International Children’s Festival and A Loving Spoonful.  It is not uncommon to see someone wearing a Joe Average tshirt promoting a local fund raiser or to walk by an art store and have one of his images brighten it's window.

Even In The City......

Even with all the hustle and bustle of our large city there is time for serenity.  This buddha was sitting outside a healing center near Commercial Drive.

HMV Closes, Power Block Renovations Granville Street

HMV on Burrard Street closed it's doors yesterday for the last time.  Rumors are flying as to who will rent out the space with over 50,000 square feet covering 3 floors.


More retail space will come available once renovations/demolition is completed at Granville and Robson Street.  The Power Block Art Deco facade at 817-819 Granville Street has heritage status and therefore will be retained.  The remainder of the building did not get off as lucky and will be demolished.  The building next to it, at the corner of Robson and Granville also does not have heritage status and is slated for demolition.  A five storey building has been proposed for this site with two floors of retail space and three of office space.

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