BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Blog

Where to Watch the Superbowl in Vancouver!

The Edge Social Grille & Lounge, 1100 Granville Street Catch all the excitement inside on big screen tv’s while munchin’ on some the finest nachos and calamari this side of Heaven! Super Bowl Specials: Pints of Budweiser for $3!

Library Square, 300 W. Georgia St: Just two blocks from Rogers Arena and always packed for big sporting events, Library Square is a big, boisterous, high-energy pub. They’ve got 13 TVs, two projection screens and one big-screen HDTV. Super Bowl Specials: Sunday brunch starting at 10 a.m.; Old Milwaukee all day for $3; special tailgate-style menu; $15 Sunday roast after 5 p.m.

Red Card, 900 Seymour St: One of the more refined options, the Red Card is on the ground floor of the classy Moda Hotel downtown and has 18 HDTVs, including two projection TVs. Super Bowl Specials: Doors open at 10 a.m.; $5 pints of Stanley Park Amber and Pilsner; $13 Super Bowl chili with braised angus, $14 touchdown pizza.

Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville St.: Better known as one of downtown’s best venues for big-name live music, the Commodore on Granville is home to Vancouver’s official Super Bowl party (hosted by the NFL and Bud Light). Super Bowl Specials: If you want to a) meet Seattle Seahawks cheerleaders, b) rub shoulders with NFL players and c) listen to The Sheepdogs rock out all at the same time, this is the place for you. Expect a wild party with 850 fellow fans. Just don’t forget to watch the game. Tickets are $52.50.

Forum, 1163 Granville St.: A downtown favourite among fans who want a good game and a good party, Forum on Granville is another spot for a loud, high-energy atmosphere with plenty of drink specials. It has four 120-inch projector screens and 15 58-inch HDTVs. Super Bowl Specials: Doors open at 10 a.m.; drink and food features all day; special Super Bowl promo girls.

The Charles Bar, 136 W. Cordova St.: Located in the new Woodward’s Building, the Charles is one of the only sports bars in Gastown. Atmosphere is upscale – halfway between a club and a pub – and they boast what may be the city’s largest screen (a nine-footer), as well as at least 10 other TVs. Super Bowl Specials: $3.99 pilsners, Caesar’s and Molson Canadians; jersey draws; promo girls.

BC Brawl Crawl

Everyone should sample the handiwork of the bartenders that are at the front of the city’s cocktail movement. To help you get a taste of this unique cocktail culture of British Columbia’s biggest city, the BC Brawl Crawl has organized a wild romp through the streets of Vancouver as they hit the city’s top bars. Join them as they sip our way through the city getting a taste of how cocktails are done Vancouver style.

With the generous spirit of their partners, each participating bartender has selected a spirit to create a new original creation to be served February 12th -15th. On the night of the Tuesday, February 14th, you will receive a special price on the bars’ specialty cocktail.

Once you fill your passport with all BC Bar Crawl Participants’ special stamps, turn it in at the Farewell Vancouver, Hello New Orleans Brunch on Wednesday, February 15th to win the grand prize, a trip to Tales of the Cocktail® 10th Anniversary Celebration in New Orleans, July 25-29, 2012.

Participating Bars and their Specialty Cocktails:

Gastown

L’Abattoir

217 Carrall Street

Meat Hook with Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey created by Shaun Layton

The Diamond

6 Powell Street

The Syracuse with Buffalo Trace Bourbon Whiskey created by The Diamond Bar Team

Pourhouse

162 Water Street

CRIT MILANO with Canadian Club Whisky and Maker’s Mark 46 Bourbon created by Lachlan MacKenzie

Boneta

12 Water Street Courtyard

Callejón de la Sangre with Scorpion Mezcal created by Ben DeChamplainClough Club

214 Abbott Street

QCBC with Collingwood Canadian Whisky created by Sam LacroixRevel Room

238 Abbott Street

Inquisition 43 with Licor 43 created by Robyn Gray

East

The Keefer Bar

135 Keefer Street

Ma Mong O with Don Julio Tequila created by Danielle Tatarin

Bao Bei Chinese Brasserie

163 Keefer Street

Rickey #7 with Belvedere Vodka created by Ron Oliver

Chambar

562 Beatty Street

Hogarth’s Mistake with Beefeater 24 created by Jacob Sweetapple

Calabash Bistro

428 Carrall Street

Bajan Fingasmit with Mount Gay Rum created by Jason Browne

The Union Bar

221 Union Street

Manila Galleon 43 with Licor 43 created by Arthur Wynne

Downtown East Side

The Tiki Room at the Waldorf Hotel

1489 East Hastings Street

The Charlie Brazil with Domaine de Canton and Flor de Cana created by Steve Da Cruz

Central

Hawksworth Restaurant

801 West Georgia Street

Last Taboo with Taboo Absinthe created by Bar Team of Hawksworth

1927 at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia

801 West Georgia Street

The Hunter’s Rose with Grand Marnier Liqueur created by Derek Vanderheide

Xi Shi at Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver

1128 West Georgia Street

The Four Horsemen with Angostura Bitters created by Jay Jones

Lobby Lounge at Fairmont Pacific Rim

1038 Canada Place

You-Zu with ZU Vodka created by Max Borrowman

CinCin Ristorante+Bar

1154 Robson Street

The Bounty with Wiser’s Legacy created by Colin Turner

Main Street

The Cascade Room

2616 Main Street

Kir Royale with Cheese with Sobieski Vodka created by Nick Devine & Paul Clark

South Granville

West Restaurant

2881 Granville Street

Geishagave with T1 Tequila Uno created by David Wolowidnyk

Granville Mall

Blue Water Café

1095 Hamilton Street

1849 Fix with Cointreau created by Colin MacDougall

The Refinery

1115 Granville Street

Shou mei snap with Marie Brizard created by Joel Virginillo

Granville Room

957 Granville Street

Trader Joey’s Granville Spice Dram with Havana Club created by Trevor Kallies

UVA Wine Bar

900 Seymour Street

Madonna Noir with Fee Brothers Bitters created by David Bain

Monster Jam Maple Leaf Tour!

Get out your ear plugs - this is gonna be fun!!

Coming this Saturday, February 4th, the Monster Jam Show is being held at BC Place. Now with this international tour expansion, new fans of all ages are enjoying the shows in the United States, Canada, South America, Europe and soon Asia. Monster Jam fans are loyal and dedicated because they enjoy access to the performers and their amazing machines. Every fan attending a Monster Jam event is given the opportunity to meet the stars of the show during the unique "Pit Party" and autograph sessions. The stars of Monster Jam will stay until the last autograph is signed, and no fan leaves unsatisfied.

For more information and tickets: http://www.ticketmaster.ca/event/11004761F0D0ED87

Vancouver Comedy Festival!

Vancouver sets the perfect backdrop for the 8th annual conglomeration of entertainments’ funniest people. This year’s line up includes “Betty White, David Hasselhoff, Margaret Cho, Carol Burnett, David Cross, Jeremy Holtz, and many more.

Venues Include The Center,The Orpheum, LaffLines, the Vogue Theatre and many others.

For tickets and additional info visit: comedyfest.com

$100 Hot Dog Vancouver, World’s Most Expensive

Vancouver is known for being an expensive city (see how it made the list of 2nd most expensive city in the world). So why not take the world’s easiest and cheapest food and put an astronomical price twist on it. Welcome to DougieDog, a downtown hot dog eatery in Vancouver that is now selling the world’s most expensive hot dog.

For a mere $100 (a Guinness World Record) you can get the Dragon Dog, a foot-long bratwurst that is infused with 100 year old Louis XIII cognac. The Dragon Dog also includes Kobe beef seared in olive and truffle oil, fresh lobster and a secret picante sauce.

“In designing this hot dog I wanted to come up with something super tasty and high-end that stays true to the traditional identity of the hot dog — a hot dog that any hot dog lover would enjoy,” DougieDog proprietor Dougie Luv.

The dragon dog will be a regular menu so if you fancy a $100 hot dog, DougieDog is the place to be.

The current titleholder for the Guinness World Record for most expensive hot dog is New York City restaurant Serendipity 3, which introduced a $69 hot dog to its menu in the summer of 2010.

Five Industry Trends from the AMEX 2012 Meetings Forecast

American Express Meetings & Events has unveiled its 2012 forecast—so what does that mean for our industry's trends? The report goes on to describe five changes that will have the greatest impact on meetings and events in 2012. They're going to be:

Shorter and Smaller: The number of attendees per meeting will likely decrease as will the number of days, according to 40% and 33% of hotel suppliers respectively. Driving this trend is a demand to do more with less as companies look to hold a higher number of meetings.

Closer to Home: Suppliers indicated planners want meetings closer to their businesses, with 53% of their clients requesting more local meetings. This is also likely tied to the effort to keep individual meeting costs down.

Fuller Agendas: Noting that their clients' ‘focus on meeting content is more critical than ever,' hotel suppliers expect to see more incentive programs infused with business focused content, with 47% of customers planning to combine meetings and incentives.

More Green: Hotel suppliers noted 47% of meeting clients have green request/requirements for their events. Meeting planners corroborated this trend with 73% indicating clients are showing increasing interest in reporting green measures. However, it's not yet impacting property decisions.

More Thoughtful: The Meetings Forecast reveals a shift away from bookings in luxury or resort properties with the exception of meetings within Asia Pacific and Latin America. According to suppliers 40% are seeing an uptick in demand for these properties.

Vancouver Cupcake Throwdown 2012!

This annual event will take place February 16, 2012 at The Chapel and will benefit H.A.V.E. Culinary Training Society in the Downtown Eastside. H.A.V.E. “has been changing lives by training and placing employment barriered individuals in BC Restaurant and Food Association sanctioned kitchens since 2007.” This non-profit hosts a cafe that serves breakfast and lunch, and they do catering as well.

You can witness this cupcake baking challenge from 7:00pm to 10:00pm on February 16th. The $10 admission (donation) gets you 5 tastings and additional tasting tickets are available for $1 each. Each audience member will receive a ballot on which to rate the cupcakes. A fan-favourite winner will be crowned in several categories and prizes will be awarded.

Hotel Built in 30 Days!

The Chinese construction company Board Group has done what seemed impossible. They’ve built what they call the strong, sturdy, earthquake proof and energy efficient hotel in just 30 days. The Ark Hotel is located in south central Hunan province, near Lake Dongting.

It took 200 workers just 360 hours to completely build the hotel with prefabricated sections. Checkout the time lapsed video, from start to finish.

Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year falls on January 23, 2012, and Vancouver has several events to celebrate the Year of the Dragon, from the famous cultural mash-up Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner to the free, annual Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade.

Top 5 Vancouver Chinese New Year Events 2012

1. Chinese New Year Bazaar – January 16 – 20, 2012 – FREE
Take pictures with a Dragon and browse loads of discounted merchandise at this festive bazaar in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown. Takes place from 10:30am – 3:30pm daily from January 16 – 20 at 28 West Pender Street.

2. Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner – January 23, 2012
One of Vancouver’s most-beloved and quirkiest Chinese New Year traditions is this cultural fusion dinner at Chinatown’s Floata Restaurant that honours both Scottish-Canadian and Chinese-Canadian heritage. Features a full dinner plus lots of live entertainment.

3. Year of the Dragon Celebration at Chinatown’s International Village – January 27 – 29, 2012 – FREE
One of Greater Vancouver’s largest New Year’s celebrations happens at the International Village in the heart of Chinatown, where over 150,000 visitors drop in over the three days of free fun. Festivities include live performances, entertainment, shopping, kids’ activities, and more.

4. Vancouver Chinatown Spring Festival & Cultural Fair – January 28 – 29, 2012 – FREE
Due to popular demand, the Chinese Cultural Fair that usually follows the Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade has been expanded to two days: the Saturday before the parade and Sunday, the day of the parade (see below). The Spring Festival & Cultural Fair takes place at Chinatown’s Sun Yat-sen Plaza (50 East Pender Street) and include multicultural performances, a special lion dance grand finale, and martial arts demonstrations.

5. Vancouver Chinese New Year Parade 2012 – January 29, 2012 – FREE
Vancouver’s annual Chinese New Year Parade features the largest assembly of traditional lion dance teams in Canada, plus multicultural dance troupes, the Vancouver Police Department Motorcycle Drill Team, marching bands, and many local community groups, attracting over 50,000 spectators each year. Parade route details here.

Vancouver Motorcycle Show

Calling all motorcycle buffs: Vancouver Motorcycle Show comes to Abbotsford’s Tradex Exhibition Centre January 19-22 with a packed schedule of stunts, races and vintage bike exhibits.

If you’re looking to gear up for spring and summer touring, Vancouver Motorcycle Show also showcases the latest releases from manufacturers including Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki, BMW Motorcycles, Yamaha, Ducati, Victory and more.

Although films and shows like The Wild One with Brando and recent Fox hit Sons of Anarchy tout brooding biker subculture, Vancouver has a historically strong and welcoming mainstream motorcycle enthusiast scene. The Greater Vancouver Motorcycle Club, for example, celebrated its 90th anniversary this year.

Best Western is giving away travel cards of up to $500 a day at the event – drop by our booth and say hi!

Flamenco Anyone?

When it comes to authentic, riveting flamenco, it doesn’t get better than the world-renowned Spanish flamenco company Noche Flamenca and their star Soledad Barrio, arguably the world’s most celebrated flamenco artist. The winners of audience adoration, critical praise and multiple dance awards, including the National Dance Project (2006 & 2009), the Lucille Lortel Award for Special Theatrical Experience (2003), and annual awards from the National Endowment for the Arts since 2007, Noche Flamenca garnered a large following in Vancouver after a sold out, standing-room-only engagement during the 2009 Cultural Olympiad.

This month, Noche Flamenca and Soledad Barrio return to Vancouver by popular demand to perform at UBC’s Chan Centre, in partnership with the 2012 PuSh International Performing Arts Festival, for one night only on January 21, 2012.

Good Eats for Cheap!

Eat your way through a full menu of culinary events, classes and tours! Our schedule of festival events are delicious fun and include repeat favourites from last season, and some new adventures. These are only here during the 2012 Dine Out Vancouver Festival... so book one, or book many. You're about to experience the tastiest 17 days of the year!

From January 20 through to February 5, the wildly successful Tourism Vancouver initiative will once again celebrate our burgeoning food culture in massive fashion, attracting tens of thousands of diners to the tables of the city’s greatest eateries by way of three course prix-fixe menus priced at $18, $28 or $38 per person.

For more information: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/dine/dine-out-vancouver-2012/

Best Western will launch $300 million expansion in India

Best Western International has announced plans to open 66 new hotels in India over the next five years, including about 20 new Best Western Premier properties in fast-growing cities. The company intends to spend more than $300 million in the expansion. "The company plans to open 10-15 hotels every year in India, and it will also focus on the growth opportunity beyond the metro cities where quality hospitality is just emerging," said Best Western International President and CEO David Kong.

Check out our properties: www.bestwesternindia.com

No Pants Skytrain (Subway) Ride

The No Pants Skytrain (Subway) Ride is an annual global event started by Improv Everywhere in New York in 2002. Since then it’s spread worldwide as people from all walks of life take off their pants and ride public transit. Vancouver’s No Pants Skytrain Party is this Sunday January 8 at 1pm at the Broadway Skytrain station (Commercial/Broadway). Don’t be late or you’ll miss the train and remain pantless waiting on the platform.

Requirements for participation are as follows:

1) Willing to take pants off on the Skytrain

2) Able to keep a straight face about it

When: Sunday, January 8th at 1:00 PM.

Where: Broadway Skytrain station, ground level by the escalators on the South side Broadway (opposite Shoppers).

Bring: A backpack and paid fare/transit pass.

Wear: Normal clothes. (Wear something appropriate.)

Fun Facts about Best Western

· Based on distribution and number of locations, Best Western International is THE WORLD'S BIGGEST HOTEL FAMILY® with more than 4,000* hotels in 100 countries.

· Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, Best Western International corporate employs 1,190 people and offers 311,598 quality guest rooms located in 100 countries and territories worldwide.

· American Automobile Association and Canadian Automobile Association rate 95 percent of Best Western hotels in the US and Canada; more than 1,000 of these properties receive a three-diamond rating.

· Best Western is The Preferred Lodging Partner of AAA/CAA.

· In conjunction with Best Western’s partnership with Harley-Davidson, more than half of the Best Western hotels in North America are rider-friendly, offering special benefits for motorcycle riders and enthusiasts.

· All Best Western hotels in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean offer free high-speed Internet access to guests.

· More than 90 percent of our hotels in Europe have three or four-star ratings.

· Best Western was one of the first lodging brands to provide booking capabilities to Internet users around the world when the hospitality giant added this service on Dec. 19, 1995. On average, bestwestern.com has been booking more than $1 million in revenue per day for the hotel chain since January 2005.

Why Complicate Life!

Meeting Planning Tips

Yikes! Your boss put you in charge of planning the next big company meeting. It's an important event with executives traveling from far and wide to collaborate and exchange ideas. Everyone is counting on the event to run smoothly, especially your boss.

That's a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. Where do you begin? Start right here! Before you jump in, we’ve got a few helpful tips from meeting planning professionals on how to successfully pull together an event that's professional, well executed and within budget.

Tasks and Responsibilities

Who is responsible and who will do the work?

· The success of a meeting, regardless of its purpose, its size and its target requires leadership and effective planning.

Objectives - Why are we having this meeting?

· The development of a program that will enable you to reach your goals is the most important task and one that takes the longest time to prepare. You begin your planning only when the objectives of your meeting are officially determined.

Budget - What will it cost?

· Costs vary widely depending on the importance of your meeting, its location, its program, the speakers, the number of participants, and so on. By planning ahead, by budgeting and by negociating, you can save a lot.

Communications - Who, what, where, when, why and how?

· Members of your planning team should meet on a regular basis to discuss the evolution and the implementation of your project.

Selection and Management of the Location - Hotels, meeting rooms, and where can we park?

· The location should be in accordance with your budget, your program and the number of participants.

Food & Beverage - Can we afford a whole meal?

· It is best to choose food and drinks with five important key factors in mind: your budget, your participants, the purpose of your meeting, the framework of your logistic and the current food trends.

Audio-Visual Presentations - Who turned off the lights?

· Determine the specifications of your audio-visual requirements, find out about the possible options, inquire about the costs, test each piece of equipment, prepare extra material such as batteries and power cords, get the name and cell number of your operator, and find out where urgent help is located.

Evaluation - Great success?

· An evaluation is an ideal way to find out how people feel about your meeting and whether they liked it or not and why.

15 Vancouver Happenings in January 2012

1) Sports | Canucks vs. San Jose Sharks January 2; Canucks vs. Minnesota Wild January 4. Canuckery goes down at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.

2) Sports | If you’re interested in Vancouver’s thriving roller derby scene, Raw Meat rolls every Saturday (January 7, etc.) at Thunderbird Community Centre with non-contact, two-hour skating sessions for women who want to learn roller derby skills.

3) Art | Catch the Bill Reid and the Haida Canoe exhibit before it leaves the Bill Reid Gallery January 8. Reid portrays the elegant traditional Northern-style sea-going canoe and it’s pivotal role in Northwest Coast art, cultures and communities.

4) Entertainment | The acclaimed company Blackbird Theatre’s presentation of Waiting for Godot, by Samuel Beckett, runs December 29, to January 21, at the Cultch.

5) Food & Drink | The Chinese Restaurant Awards, the unsung but highly influential arbiter of fine North American Chinese cuisine, reveal their Critics Choice Awards January 12, at the River Rock Casino Resort.

6) Entertainment | LA band Steel Panther owns 80′s glam-rock mockery on stage at The Commmodore January 12-13. Expect wildly decadent get-ups, antics and, most especially, lyrics.

7) Entertainment | Vancouver Playhouse presents the Tony Award-Winning Drama Red, January 14 to February 4. Red, which is a close look at abstract-expressionist Rothko, is a moving account of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century.

8) Entertainment | WWE Smackdown World Tour arrives at the PNE Agrodome January 14. Experience the showboating of Slam Bang Wrestling by the big dudes of World Wrestling Entertainment: Randy Orton, the Big Show, Christian, Mark Henry and Sheamus.

9) Entertainment | From January 17, to February 4, the annual PuSh International Performing Arts Festival will present groundbreaking work in the live performing arts: theatre, dance, music and various hybrid forms of performance. PuSh’s theatre cred attracts acclaimed local, national and international artists. Find out more here.

10) Festival Event | Santa is wrong. It’s possible to be naughty AND nice. Just ask Taboo, the host of the Naughty but…Nice (sex) show at the Vancouver East Convention Centre, January 19-22.

11) Food | Vancouver’s 10th annual Dine Out runs January 20, to February 5. Dine Out, if you haven’t been initiated, is the yearly festival where the city’s top restaurants offer three-course menus at discounted prices. In short: it’s a chance to “taste drive” the best of Vancouver’s culinary scene without breaking the bank.

12) Entertainment | If you attend MythBusters January 22, at Queen Elizabeth Theatre, expect to participate. Special-effects experts Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman involve audience members in their gleefully curious, onstage experiments.

13) Sports | Canucks vs. Edmonton Oilers January 24; Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks January 31. Canuckery goes down at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena.

14) Art Event | Hide from January rain in the Vancouver Art Gallery. Current exhibits you should take a gander at include Shore Forest and Beyond from Audain—a seminal private collection of historical and contemporary BC art (there until January 29). Ever wondered how art galleries decide what to display? Don’t miss the VAG’s An Autobiography of Our Collection which explains the rationale behind art collecting at the museum (open until April 15).

15) Culture Event | Stop by the Museum of Anthropolgy to view ???? hiroshima, Ishiuchi Miyako’s installation of 48 photographs of possessions left behind by victims of the 1945 atomic bomb at Hiroshima. The exhibit leaves MOA February 8.

Beauty & the Beast!!!

Coming in February!!!

Disney's Beauty & the Beast, the smash hit Broadway musical, is based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film. This eye-popping spectacle has won the hearts of over 35 million people worldwide. This classic musical love story is filled with unforgettable characters, lavish sets and costumes, and dazzling production numbers including “Be Our Guest” and the beloved title song. Experience the romance and enchantment of Disney's Beauty & the Beast in Vancouver at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre!

Disney's Beauty & the Beast is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

Tickets available through Ticketmaster: http://www.ticketmaster.ca/venueartist/139293/849724

The Canucks on your iPad!!

The Vancouver Canucks, in partnership with the National Hockey League (NHL), are pleased to announce that a Live Game app is now available. The Live Game app, powered by Rogers, allows fans in British Columbia and Yukon Territory to watch Canucks games from their iPhone or iPad.

The Live Game app, powered by Rogers, can be downloaded through Apple’s app store and will enable fans to watch all Sportsnet and Vancouver Hockey channel games through the 2011/12 regular season.

For more Canucks content, fans can also access the Canucks free app, powered by Rogers, which includes behind-the-scenes video, photo galleries and player cards among many other new features and is available for Android and Blackberry devices as well as iPhones and iPads.

For more information on the Canucks free app, powered by Rogers, please go to www.canucks.com/app

Top 5 Vancouver New Year’s Eve Events for Kids & Families

Practically every nightclub and bar in Vancouver hosts a New Year’s Eve 2012 party for adults, but it can be difficult for families with kids to find events that the whole family can enjoy.

Luckily, this year there are five fabulous options for family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebrations in and around Vancouver, so even the littlest kid can welcome the New Year in style!

Free Party at Robson Square
The Province is hosting a free, all-ages New Year’s Eve party at downtown Vancouver’s Robson Square. Not only can everyone skate for free at the outdoor Robson Square Ice Rink, there will also be live music, stilt walkers, sorcerers, witches, and a magician’s stage show, plus free glow sticks and noisemakers for kids during the early NYE countdown at 8pm.

New Year’s Eve Sleepover at the Vancouver Aquarium
Families can ring in the New Year and celebrate the Vancouver Aquarium’s 25th anniversary at this special, all-night sleepover that includes kids’ activities and a chance to sleep with the Belugas!

Family First Night on Mount Seymour
Mount Seymour’s Enquist SnowPlay Park hosts a special family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration from 6pm – 9pm on December 31 that includes tubing and tobogganing, live big band music, free s’mores and apple cider, and free party hats, sparklers and blowhorns for an early NYE countdown at 9pm.

Bright Nights at Stanley Park
One of the best Vancouver holiday attractions for younger kids, Bright Nights transforms Stanley Park’s Miniature Train park into a winter wonderland of lights and live-action tableaux (thanks to the amazing performers of Mortal Coil). Open until 11pm on December 31.

Whistler First Night 2012
For a huge, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration, head up to Whistler for First Night, a 100%-alcohol-free party that takes over the entire Whistler Village Square and Convention Centre. Features live music, comedians, artists, kids’ workshops, and fireworks, plus an early NYE countdown at 9:30pm.

Inuit Artist Showing!

If you see one exhibit of aboriginal art this year, this should probably be it. Through Jan. 28, the Marion Scott Gallery in Vancouver is showing the work of Kananginak Pootoogook, one of the most prominent Inuit artists of the last 50 years.

His work diverges radically from traditional expectations of aboriginal art. You won’t find carvings or masks at the exhibit, and Pootoogook’s style does not incorporate the bold lines, shapes and colours associated with first nations art. Instead, his medium is line drawings – relatively simple sketches on paper that offer an intimate, personal view of life, landscape and fauna in the Far North.

The exhibit runs through Jan. 28, with a break for the holidays from Dec. 24-Jan. 3, at the Marion Scott Gallery on 2423 Granville St.

Neiman Marcus Christmas Book

First published in 1926, the Neiman Marcus Christmas Book has become the gold standard of Christmas catalogs. It is sent to more than 1 million households worldwide (you can also check it out at www.neimanmarcus.com), where it tempts with an assortment of high-end and unusual merchandise.

For the first time the company will create a personal-scale fountain for a private residence, showcasing two of its underwater individually programmable robot nozzles. The pair can be had for $1 million, and Neiman Marcus will donate $10,000 of the proceeds to Water.org, a nonprofit organization that provides safe drinking water to people in developing countries.

A Neiman Marcus-edition Hacker-Craft mahogany speedboat is $250,000, and $125,000 will buy a custom-built library by Assouline, stocked with 250 Assouline volumes. Nine friends can join you on a private jet for a tour of Europe's most celebrated flower shows ($420,000), and $395,000 is the sticker price on a 2012 Ferrari FF.

On a budget? A private Scotch tasting featuring a bagpiper and the premium Johnnie Walker portfolio can be staged for 20 guests in your home, with 100 percent of the $5,000 price going to amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research.

Holiday Gift Giving!

Can't decide on what to get that person that seems to have just about everything?

May we suggest a Best Western Travel Card!

Anywhere, anytime: You can use Best Western Travel Cards toward stays at more than 4,000 Best Western hotels in more than 90 countries throughout the world, restriction-free.

Flexibility: Travel Cards can be purchased in any denomination from $25 - $1,000 USD. Virtual Travel Cards can be purchased online in any denomination between EUR/USD 25 and EUR/USD 500, or the equivalent in other currencies.

Availability: You can purchase Travel Cards at Best Western hotels, online at travelcard.bestwestern.com, or by calling Travel Card Customer Care at 877-CARD-2TVL (227-3288).

Shopping in Vancouver!

Calling all shopaholics! From independent designers and high-fashion labels to global retailers and coastal-lifestyle brands, shopping in Vancouver is all about diversity—which is what you should expect from Canada’s only major metropolitan city on the Pacific Coast.

Vancouver is Canada’s playground and its proximity to the ocean, mountains and forest is reflected in almost every facet of the city’s culture. You’ll be hard pressed to find a more beautiful shopping destination in any other major city in North America.

As most travelers know, neighbourhood shopping is a great way to discover a city. It’s also a great way to meet some of the people who live here. We also are home to Metrotown, the second largest mall in Canada—so for all you one-stop, shop-till-you-drop visitors, we’ve got you covered too.

Check out the great video made by folks at Tourism Vancouver!

Dine Out Vancouver!

Caution: Reading this post may make you hungry. Details on Vancouver’s 10th annual Dine Out (Jan. 20-Feb. 5) are beginning to surface, and it looks like it might be the best one ever.

Dine Out, if you haven’t been initiated, is the yearly festival where the city’s top restaurants offer three-course prix-fixe menus at deeply discounted prices. For people who love food, it’s a chance to “taste drive” the best of the culinary scene – everything from haute cuisine to intimate bistros, trendy lounges and ethnic fare – without breaking the bank.

This year’s Dine Out runs Jan. 20-Feb. 5. Prices for the special three-course dinners are set at $18, $28 or $38, depending on the restaurant. In total, 225 restaurants in the city will be participating – a new record. The names of these restaurants – as always – are a hotly guarded secret . . . for now.

Free Vancouver Holiday Events

There are just nine more days to Christmas 2011 (December 25) and Vancouver’s biggest Christmas and Holiday attractions are already in full swing. But what about free things to do between now and the end of December? Yes, there’s the free ice skating at Robson Square (which runs through February 2012), but there are also five fun, free events happening around Vancouver that will get you in the seasonal spirit without touching your wallet.

5 Free Things to Do in Vancouver in December
1. Take a free horse-and-carriage ride around Vancouver’s Kerrisdale Village, see Santa, and be serenaded by a roving quartet at Christmas in Kerrisdale, on Saturdays through December 31.

2. Watch the Carol Ships sail by at the free North Vancouver Annual Carol Ship Celebrations along the shores of gorgeous Deep Cove on December 17.

3. Tour the neighbourhood lights of Vancouver’s Trinity Street and see private homes decked out in holiday splendour. Runs through January 3.

4. Enjoy live music, fire displays, lantern processions, and dance performances at the free Winter Solstice Lantern Festival on December 21.

5. Visit the 50-foot Shaw Holiday Tree at the Jack Poole Plaza in downtown Vancouver, then take a walking tour of the historic Woodwards Windows at Canada Place.

Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree!

If you plan to do a bit of rockin’ ’n’ rollin’ and poppin’ and lockin’ before Christmas, here are some of the happenings you may want to check out before you sit down to fill yourself with turkey and gravy.

Keithmas, Dec. 17 at the Fairview Pub: You know that any Keith Richards-themed holiday concert has to be good. In honor of Keith’s 68th birthday, several Vancouver bands will be coming together at the Fairview for a holiday-themed tribute. Doors open at 9 p.m. $10 ($5 with food donation).

The Santa Fox Ball, Dec. 20 at Commodore Ballroom: This is the Fox radio station’s 24th annual Christmas show. The historic Commodore is a fantastic venue and the great lineup features Saskatoon-based rockers The Sheepdogs, as well as Monster Truck, Louder than Love and others. Show starts at 7 p.m. $20 (This appears to be sold out, but you can always check Craigslist).

Biltmore Cabaret Pre-Christmas Show, Dec. 16 at the Biltmore: The funky Biltmore (located below the Howard Johnson on Kingsway) is doing a fundraiser for the Vancouver Food Bank featuring rockers Portage & Main, White Ash Falls and Evan Way. Starts at 7 p.m. $12 ($8 with food donation).

Winter Harp, Dec. 14-18, various venues: This isn’t a rock show, but it’s definitely in the alternative category. Winter Harp – an ensemble of harps, medieval instruments and percussion – performs a blend of Celtic, folk, classical and medieval music, plus poetry readings. They perform at Capilano University Dec. 14 and 15 at 7:30 p.m.; St. Andrew’s-Wesley church on Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m.; and The ACT in Maple Ridge on Dec. 18 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets from $32.

Christmas Carol Project, Dec. 18-20 at the Cultch: East Vancouver’s edgy/alternative theatre, The Cultch, hosts this reinterpretation of Dickens’ classic. It’s the familiar Christmas Carol story set to contemporary folk and roots music played by musicians from Edmonton. Starts at 8 p.m. $28.

Polar Bear Swim - Do You Dare?

This year marks the 92nd annual Vancouver Polar Bear Swim at English Bay. At the beginning of each new year thousands of Vancouverites descend upon English Bay to take a dip in the frigid water. Will you be taking a dip? I know it sounds a little insane, however, each year a record for attendance is broken so it can’t be that bad. Can it?

The Vancouver Polar Bear SwimClub is one of the largest and oldest Polar Bear Clubs in the world. Its initial swim was in 1920 when a small number of hardy swimmers took the plunge into English Bay on New Year’s Day. Led by their founder, Peter Pantages, the swim has grown from around 10 swimmers in that year to the record number of 2,128 official entries in 2000.

Will we see you there?

Chocolate Fondue Snowshoe Tour on Cypress Mountain

What better place to celebrate the holidays than high up in the mountains? Located only 30 kilometres from downtown Vancouver, Cypress Mountain's Chocolate Fondue Snowshoe Tour offers a truly magical winter experience.

After sundown, guests snowshoe through the towering forest and glades of Hollyburn plateau on their way to a rustic warming hut. Surrounded by candlelight, they will enjoy a mug of hot apple cider before indulging in chocolate fondue. The three-hour tour is $50 (plus tax), and is available Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm. To book, call 604.922.0825.

Sting Performs in Vancouver!

Sting will be performing his greatest hits “stripped down and raw” at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from Dec. 8 – 10^th.

Sting will celebrate his 25th anniversary as a solo artist this fall with his “Back to Bass Tour,” which includes a Dec. 2 performance at the Nob Hill Masonic Center in San Francisco.

Back to Bass finds Sting performing songs spanning his solo career, from his 1985 debut The Dream Of The Blue Turtles to his latest release, Live in Berlin, plus a selection of The Police's greatest hits.

Highlights include the Grammy winners "Brand New Day" and "If I Ever Lose My Faith In You" plus fan-favorites "Englishman In New York," "Desert Rose" and "Roxanne." Sting will be joined by a band including his longtime guitarist Dominic Miller, Rufus Miller (guitarist), Vinnie Colaiuta (drummer), Peter Tickell (electric fiddle), and Jo Lawry (vocalist).

The tour features Sting, backed by a five-piece band, performing his hits in a series of small, intimate theater venues. The songs will be “stripped down and raw,” promoters promise.

Tickets available at http://bit.ly/vVIF2q

Stuart McLean Vinyl Cafe

Stuart McLean is a best-selling author, award-winning journalist and humorist, and host of CBC Radio program The Vinyl Cafe. Close to one million people listen to The Vinyl Cafe every weekend on CBC Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio and on a growing number of Public Radio stations in the United States.

The program is also broadcast on an occasional basis on the BBC. New Stories and music with Hawksley Workman. A Vancouver Christmas tradition continues!

He will bring his show to the Orpheum Theatre, just a couple of blocks from the Hotel.

For information on tickets: http://bit.ly/trHHlF

Purple Rain!

Few artists have created a body of work as rich and varied as Prince.

Prince, one of the most prolific and groundbreaking artists of our time whose recorded music, live performances and powerful artistry have affected music and pop culture like no other, will bring his extraordinary live production to Canada with his spectacular tour, WELCOME 2 CANADA. This is Prince’s first multi-city national Canadian tour since 2002.

During the '80s, he emerged as one of the most singular talents of the rock & roll era, capable of seamlessly tying together pop, funk, folk, and rock. Not only did he release a series of groundbreaking albums; he toured frequently, produced albums and wrote songs for many other artists, and recorded hundreds of songs that still lie unreleased in his vaults.

With each album he released, Prince has shown remarkable stylistic growth and musical diversity, constantly experimenting with different sounds, textures, and genres.

See him live in Vancouver on December 16^th at Rogers Arena – tickets are available at http://bit.ly/tIllEf

Upcoming Holiday Events!

Incredible holiday light displays, Vancouver’s own 50-foot Christmas Tree, free outdoor ice skating, sleigh rides on Grouse Mountain, and the ancient tradition of celebrating the Winter Solstice are just a few of the amazing events happening this December. Use this Top 15 list to find the perfect way to celebrate Christmas and the winter holidays in Vancouver. (And yes, many of these events are free!)

Top 15 Christmas & Holiday Events in Vancouver 2011

1. Vancouver Christmas & Holiday Craft Markets – November 24 – December 24, 2011
Shop for unique holiday gifts at Vancouver’s winter craft markets, including the German-style outdoor Vancouver Christmas Market.

2. Christmas at the Vancouver Aquarium – November 24, 2011 – January 2, 2012
The Vancouver Aquarium’s winter exhibit, Luminescence, examines how sea creatures create light, while the Aquarium’s traditional holiday attractions include Scuba Claus and a Christmas Tree switched on by two electric eels!

3. The Peak of Christmas at Grouse Mountain - November 26 – December 24, 2011
Grouse Mountain takes advantage of its natural winter bounties to become the ideal holiday spot, complete with outdoor ice-skating, sleigh rides, real reindeer, live choral music, Santa, and more.

4. Heritage Christmas at the Burnaby Village Museum – November 26, 2011 – January 1, 2012 (closed December 24 & 25)
Enjoy a 1900′s-style Christmas at Burnaby’s adorable outdoor Village Museum, complete with festive decor, children’s theatre, and visits with Father Christmas.

5. Free Ice Skating at Robson Square – December 1, 2011 – February 29, 2012 – FREE
Skate for free in the heart of downtown Vancouver at Vancouver’s only outdoor ice rink. Skate rentals are $4; helmets and ice cleats are $2.

6. Christmas at Canada Place: Woodward’s Windows – December 1, 2011 – January 4, 2012 – FREE
Downtown Vancouver’s iconic Canada Place celebrates the holidays with the free-to-see Woodward’s Window Christmas displays.

7. Bright Nights in Stanley Park – December 2, 2011 – January 2, 2012 (closed December 25)
Kids and families will love riding Stanley Park’s Miniature Train through a winter wonderland of lights and holiday tableaux. Also includes live music and a visit to the “North Pole” featuring Santa and a parade of trees.

8. Canyon Lights at Capilano Suspension Bridge – December 2, 2011 – January 1, 2012
Vancouver’s iconic Capilano Suspension Bridge and its eponymous Park transform for the season with over 250,000 sparkling holiday lights.

9. Carol Ships Parade of Lights – December 2 – 23, 2011
One of Vancouver’s most unique holiday attractions, the Carol Ships are brightly decorated boats that cruise Vancouver’s coastlines in a “Parade of Light.” Dine, dance and carol on board, or enjoy the beautiful Parade shoreside for free.

10. Christmas in Kerrisdale – Saturdays, December 3 – 31, 2011 – FREE
Vancouver’s charming Kerrisdale neighbourhood village celebrates the season with free horse-and-carriage rides, photos with Santa, and roving string quartets.

11. Rogers Santa Claus Parade – Sunday, December 4, 2011 – FREE
The 8th annual Santa Clause Parade is one of Vancouver’s top Christmas events, attracting over 300,000 spectators. The Parade through downtown Vancouver includes Santa, marching bands and festive floats. Parade route details here.

12. Vancouver Tree Lighting – December 9, 2011 – FREE
The 5th annual Vancouver Tree Lighting–a free party to light a 50-foot, Rockerfeller-style Christmas tree–has a new location for 2011: the Jack Poole Plaza at the Vancouver Convention Centre. The 2011 tree-lighting ceremony includes live performances by the Vancouver’s Children’s Choir and special guest appearances by the BC Lions, the Felines and Bro Jake from Rock 101.

13. Festival of Lights at VanDusen Botanical Garden – December 9, 2011 – January 2, 2012 (closed December 25)
One of Vancouver’s most popular holiday attractions, the magical Festival of Light covers VanDusen Botanical Garden in twinkling holiday light displays that are definitely a sight to behold! Also includes Santa’s Workshop for kids.

14. Winter Solstice Lantern Festival- December 21, 2011 – FREE
Celebrate one of the world’s oldest traditions by welcoming back the light after the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. This free festival includes events in Chinatown, Yaletown, the Downtown East Side, Granville Island, and S.E. False Creek.

15. Holiday Theatre, Musicals & Music – Various Dates, December 2011

Grey Cup Stats!

The Grey Cup crowd is expected to chow down on:

- 20,000 hotdogs

- 10,000 hamburgers

- 17,000 litres of soft drinks

- more than 6,000 slices of pizza

- well over 4,500 orders of nachos

- more than 6,000 buckets of popcorn

- 35,000 litres of beer.

It`s gonna be one big party!

We figure a whole lot of folks are gonna be calling in sick on Monday!

Deck the Halls with Gales of Laughter

The Vancouver TheatreSports League is proud to present the funniest holiday show this season!

Off-White Christmas takes a humorous, alternative look at Christmas that turns the snowy-white holiday on its head (hence “off-white”). Grab drinks, sit back, and prepare to laugh as the improv players explore Christmastime cultural phenomena and stereotypes.

Off-White Christmas also features a one-act improvised musical, based on an audience member’s Christmas wish – narrated by jolly old Saint Nick himself. Who knows where the holiday merriment will end up; no two shows are the same!

For more information: http://www.vtsl.com

Art for Life Auction

Build your art collection at an evening of art-inspired performances, cocktail-style bites, sweet treats and libations. With an exciting intimate performance by Vancouver’s own Bif Naked, Public Dreams and Joan-E and friends, this is the art event of the season you will not want to miss!

The 18th Annual Art For Life Fine Art Auction and reception will showcase a collection of 90 artworks valued close to $200,000, donated by Vancouver’s top artists and galleries. 100% of art sales benefit the Vancouver Friends For Life Society. Friends For Life is a non-profit organization which enhances the wellness of individuals living with very serious illnesses, by providing complementary and alternative health and support services.

For more information: www.artforlife.net

Vancouver’s Floating Christmas Parade

It’s a holiday fantasia, staged on the high seas. Every December, dozens of cruise ships sail out of Vancouver’s harbor each night at dusk. Carrying thousands of passengers and decorated with hundreds of thousands of brightly colored lights, the festive ships embark on a slow procession along the city’s shoreline.

Christmas carols echo from the boats, glasses clink with toasts to the season and lavish meals are served inside: all part of the cherished Vancouver tradition known as the Carol Ships Parade of Lights.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the parade, which will depart nightly at approximately 7 p.m. from Dec. 2 to Dec. 23. Each evening the regatta of ships sets off for a different part of the city’s coast. Some nights, passengers are taken along the beautiful inner harbor and beneath the iconic Lion’s Gate Bridge. Other nights, the ships sail downtown’s False Creek, flanked by towering high rises, or else motor deep into the Burrard Inlet, where forested mountains meet the waterline.

Raise the Roof!

There's no doubt who the fans' choice will be for the 99th Grey Cup.

The home-town B.C. Lions will be the Western representative in the CFL's marquee event next weekend after downing the Edmonton Eskimos 40-23 on Sunday. They'll face the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who dispatched the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 19-3 in the Eastern Final.

The Lions will attempt to become the first CFL team to win the Grey Cup on home soil since they beat Baltimore 26-23 on Lui Passaglia's last-second field goal at B.C. Place in 1994.

And the Lions will be led by rising star Travis Lulay, threw for more than 300 yards and two TDs on Sunday but put Edmonton away with a sparkling 61-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. It will be quite a week for Lulay, who will go up against Montreal's Anthony Calvillo for the CFL's outstanding player award Thursday night.

This will mark only the second time in CFL history that B.C. and Winnipeg have met in the Grey Cup. The Bombers edged the Lions 22-21 at the 1988 game in Ottawa.

Slap on the Boards!

The wait is finally over..... Grouse Mountain and Whistler/Blackcomb are finally open for skiing! (Well, Blackcomb is another week but Whistler is open!)

And believe it or not, Cypress Mountain opened on November 9th. Its gearing up for a fantastic ski season.

Wrap it Up!

Today, Emily Carr University of Art + Design and the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) ‘unwrapped’ the first of 12 newly re-purposed electrical boxes located on Granville Street to help curb graffiti while adding a public art collection to downtown Vancouver.

Each of the utility boxes located on the sidewalk along ten blocks between West Cordova and Drake Streets have been covered in a vinyl overlay with unique designs created by students from Emily Carr’s Illustration program.

The $20,000 cost of the project was paid for by the DVBIA, which is funded by its member businesses in its 90-block area. Selected artists received an honorarium for their work, which will be displayed for a two-year period. The aim of the project is to both deter graffiti and add colour and art to the street.

Robson Square Ice Rink

Since its re-opening for the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, the Robson Square Ice Rink (located at 800 Robson Street, across from the Vancouver Art Gallery) has reclaimed its spot as a beloved Vancouver winter tradition. The open-air ice rink is the only spot for outdoor ice skating in Vancouver (the next nearest outdoor rink is on Grouse Mountain), and it’s completely free!

Weather permitting, the Robson Square Ice Rink’s 2011 grand opening will be December 1, 2011.

Ice skaters can enjoy the rink from 9am – 9pm Sunday – Thursday, and from 9am – 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Though the rink is open-air, it’s covered by a clear dome, so you can enjoy the downtown lights while still being protected from the rain. Skating is free; skate rentals are $4, helmets and ice cleats are $2.

Skate your heart out at downtown Vancouver’s free Robson Square Ice Rink from December 1, 2011 – February 29, 2012.

WWE Smackdown World Tour

Don’t miss your favorite Smackdown Superstars including: The “APEX Predator” Randy Orton, “The World’s Largest Athlete” The BIG Show, Christian, “The World’s Strongest Man” Mark Henry, “The Celtic Warrior” Sheamus, the WWE Divas and many more!

It all goes down on January 14^th at the PNE Agrodome!

For tickets: http://bit.ly/sgrE5f

We can hardly wait for this market to open!!!

Located in downtown Vancouver on the Plaza at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre (on Georgia, between Cambie and Hamilton), the Vancouver Christmas Market will be returning from 24 November to 24 December 2011 and will be open daily from 11 am to 9 pm. Sign up for our newsletter and get more details when they become available.

Named as one of the 10 most Spectacular Holiday Markets Around the World, the Vancouver Christmas Market is a new, can't miss Vancouver Christmas event!

It is so much more than just a craft fair. An authentic German Christmas Market creates the perfect atmosphere for purchasing Christmas related merchandise and food. It also serves as an ideal setting for multiple cultural activities and events. The romantic setting of the Christmas Market with its customary rows of little wooden huts that are decorated in pine branches, strung with little white lights showing off the merchandise, will develop into the focal point of the holiday season in the city.

During the pre-Christmas season the market is the perfect destination for combining a family outing with some Christmas shopping. A special children’s area known as the Kids Market will give youngsters the chance to make their own Christmas gifts. Business people will find a fun meeting place for a quick bite during lunch time or a drink after work. Companies will host their Christmas parties there. With a wide variety of entertainment offered, it also becomes a place for young people to enjoy and mingle before a night on the town. School groups of all ages, social clubs and senior organizations will incorporate a visit in their holiday activities.

Grey Cup!

The 99th Annual Grey Cup, Canadian football’s signature event, is set to touch down in Vancouver on November 27. With tickets to the eagerly anticipated event selling out in just 30 days, the game will see a capacity crowd of 54,500 cheer on Canada’s top two football teams in the country’s newest stadium - the recently renovated BC Place.

After a $563-million upgrade, BC Place re-opened in October with a new retractable roof (the largest of its kind in the world, supported by 36 masts); new lighting; new FIFA-certified, two-star turf; and a new video-board (the second largest in North America). BC Place will become the permanent home of both the BC Lions football club and Vancouver’s new Major League Soccer franchise, the Vancouver Whitecaps.

Grey Cup fun runs from November 24 to 27 with the Grey Cup Festival. In keeping with the theme of "Raise the Roof," the festival will feature free and ticketed events for the whole family.

Asteroid Fly By!

An asteroid the size of an aircraft carrier is heading toward Earth and will pass closer to our planet than the moon on November 8th at 4PM (EST) per NASA. It's the closest approach to Earth of an object this size in 30-plus years.

Asteroid '2005 YU55' will zoom past at 30,000 mph, but at a safe distance of 202,000 miles - so it will pose no threat of an Earth collision. The next such encounter with an object this big won't happen for 100 years....or so we're told.

For more information: www.digitaljournal.com/article/314031

Status Match...No Catch ®

With our Best Western Status Match...No Catch ® program, we will match your ELITE status in any other hotel loyalty program, FREE of charge.

You'll begin earning Best Western Rewards® points at the Elite level instantly—and watch them add up even faster.

To match your ELITE status in any other hotel program please download the status match form. Once you have completed the form, please send it back to us at the address listed on the form.

Or you can email our Customer Care team at StatusMatch@bestwestern.com, or call 1-800-444-7646.

Just tell us you want to upgrade your membership with Status Match...No Catch ®, provide us with proof of elite status with another hotel program and we'll take care of the rest!

Michael Jackson Immortal Tour!

An electrifying production that unfolds inside the creative mind of the King of Pop will be performing at Rogers Arena, Nov 4-6, 2011.

A riveting fusion of visuals, dance, music and fantasy that immerses audiences in Michael’s creative world and literally turns his signature moves upside down, Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour unfolds Michael Jackson’s artistry before the eyes of the Audience.

Fastest Way to a Free Night

As part of Best Western's efforts to help travellers earn the "Fastest Way to a Free Night," we have launched a "Virtual Accelerator" app on Best Western`s Facebook page that allows Best Western Rewards members to earn up to 100,00- rewards points with the click of your mouse. New and exisiting Best Western Rewards members can get behind the digital whel and take a spin of the "Virtual Accelerator" dashboard to win rewards points, which are redeemable at more than 4,000 Best Western hotels worldwide.

For more information: www.bestwestern.com/fall

Happy Thanksgiving!

On behalf of everyone at the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville Hotel we wish your family and friends a safe and Happy Thanksgiving weekend!

BC Place is ready to go!

BC Place stadium reopens today when the B.C. Lions kick off against the Edmonton Eskimos in the first game on the new turf in more than a year. The Vancouver Whitecaps soccer club will also call the venue home.

Over 40,000 tickets have been sold for the first game at the newly renovated stadium. Sarah McLachlan, the Juno and Grammy award-winning performer, will sing the national anthem prior to the game.

The newly renovated stadium features one of the largest cable-supported retractable roofs in the world, new wider seats, some of the world's largest television screens and windows that turn on a high-tech light show. Specials screens will reduce the seating capacity of the venue during soccer games.

The National Folkloric Ballet of Chile

We're excited about the upcoming visit to Vancouver of The National Folkloric Ballet of Chile (BAFONA.) This, outstanding, group of young performers will be touring 7 Canadian cities as a fundraiser to rebuild a school in Chile.

“BAFONA Tour 2011” is sponsored by “Together for Chile,” which is a foundation formed by Canadian citizens after the Feb 27^th, 2010 earthquake and tsunami with the common purpose of long term rebuilding projects for the residents of Chile.

The National Folkloric Ballet of Chile will perform in Vancouver on Thursday, October 6^th at 7:00 PM – Queen Elizabeth Theatre.

For more information: http://bit.ly/q4MOG3

Stay for Free Faster!

Stay at any Best Western Hotel, two separate times and you earn double the rewards points!

You need to be a Best Western Rewards member to qualify. Its a simple process that takes only moments but the rewards are great! You earn double points for your second qualified stay or triple points if they stay at two different types of Best Western branded hotels (BEST WESTERN®, BEST WESTERN PLUS® or BEST WESTERN PREMIER®) during the promotion period.

To become a Best Western Rewards member, go to: https://goldcrownclub.bestwestern.com/

TaiwanFest this Weekend!

The Vancouver 125 Banquet on Granville during TELUS TaiwanFest will feature Taiwanese delicacies with Vancouver flavours. A street banquet is one of the most important forms of celebration in Taiwanese culture; weddings, birthdays, religious rituals and business grand openings are occasions to celebrate with street banquets. Granville was once the name for Vancouver before the city’s incorporation in 1886 and memories of Granville Street for Vancouverites past and present are very colourful and splendid. TELUS TaiwanFest aims to reinvent the popular Taiwanese tradition of the street banquet to celebrate Vancouver’s 125 birthday by integrating the two cultures and creating a new tradition on Granville Street.

Bill Reid & the Haida Canoe

Bill Reid and the Haida Canoe conveys the pivotal role of the canoe in Northwest Coast art, cultures and communities. Bill Reid was in awe of the elegant traditional Northern-style sea-going canoe and what it represents visually, symbolically, and culturally. To him, the canoe was more than a means of transportation; it was art. In his words, "Western art starts with the figure - West Coast Indian art starts with the canoe." Through works of renowned photographers Phil Hersee and Robert Semeniuk, and sketches by Bill Reid, we experience the revival of canoe building and paddling along the coast and beyond.

Check it out: http://www.billreidgallery.ca

Labour Day Sales

Labour Day weekend is just a week away, which means all of Vancouver’s top shopping destinations will be having sales on end-of-season fashion, back-to-school fashion, and more.

Top 5 Vancouver Fashion Destinations for Labour Day Sales

1. Brand Name Shopping: Robson Street & Downtown
Vancouver’s most famous shopping mecca is downtown’s Robson Street, along with the Pacific Centre Mall and department stores around Granville Street & Robson. If you love big, international brands, this is the place to go. And don’t forget to check out the luxury Canadian department store Holt Renfrew. End-of-season sales are the best time to find deals on Holt Renfrew’s (otherwise very expensive) high-end designer fashion and accessories.

2. Brand Name Shopping: Metropolis at Metrotown
Another great option for big brand names is the enormous Metropolis at Metrotown. With 450 stores, this shopping behemoth is B.C.’s largest shopping centre and it’s just 15 minutes from downtown Vancouver by SkyTrain.

3. Boutique Shopping: South Granville & Yaletown
If stylish boutiques are more your scene, head to South Granville (Granville Street between the Bridge and 14th Avenue) or Yaletown. Both neighbourhoods are home to a wealth of one-of-a-kind fashion boutiques. South Granville is the better choice for variety (it’s home to menswear, shoes, housewares, and more) and shoppers on a budget: in addition to more expensive boutiques, South Granville is also home to mid-range shops like Purr and TNA.

4. Menswear & Cutting Edge Fashion: Gastown
For serious fashion fanatics—including men—head to Gastown. These independent boutiques may not be able to offer the deep sales chain stores can, but they make up for that by offering fabulous fashion you won’t find anywhere else in Vancouver. Men should check out Roden Gray and Inventory Stockroom; ladies should check out Obakki and Narcissist, and everyone should check out dutil.denim.

5. Independent Canadian Designers: Main Street
Main Street, between 20th & 23rd Avenue, is packed with a variety of original Vancouver and Canadian fashion boutiques, all very reasonably priced (this is a less expensive shopping destination than Gastown). Personal favourties include Twigg&Hottie, Life of Riley and Eugene Choo (both of which include menswear), Two of Hearts—which carries only locally-designed wares—and Bodacious, one of the few independent clothiers in Vancouver to offer plus sizes (they specialize in sizes 10 – 24). If you’re on a budget, check out the high-quality second-hand wares at Front & Company.

Free Salmon for Everybody - Sunday August 28th!

Vancouver is a fishy town and salmon is king. Residents here know their sockeye from their chinook from their coho. But one variety that hasn’t gotten a lot of attention is the mysterious pink salmon.

That’s all about to change. The second Pink Salmon Festival is this Sunday at oceanside Hadden Park, by the Maritime Museum in Kitsilano. More than 1,400 kilograms of pink salmon will be grilled and sauteed for visitors. And the best part: You can get a plate of pink salmon for free. The idea is to get more exposure for pink salmon and introduce diners to its unique virtues. In flavour, pink salmon is a little like trout, much lighter in colour and taste than sockeye salmon, for instance. And, for fish lovers on a budget, pink salmon is only about one-third the cost of more popular wild salmon varieties.

Free barbecued salmon sandwiches, served on a bun with coleslaw, will be available for anyone who wants a taste. According to a great article by the Vancouver Sun’s Mia Stainsby, there will be plenty of salmon available if you’re in the mood for seconds. The food is actually being prepared by one of Vancouver’s preeminent chefs, Robert Clark of C Restaurant, who has pioneered the use of sustainable seafood in the city.

There will also be live bluegrass music and exhibitions on sustainable seafood. The festival is this Sunday, Aug. 28, from noon-5 p.m. at Hadden Park, which is right next to the Maritime Museum in Kitsilano (the museum is shaped like a big A-frame house).

Karaoke Kiosk!

Add one more free activity to the list of summer freebies this August: Free karaoke on the 700 block of Granville Street (between West Georgia and Robson) in downtown Vancouver.

Organized by Vancouver’s Urban Republic Arts Society as a public art project titled Sing!, the free Karaoke Kiosk is open to everyone and will include songs in English, Cantonese, Filipino, French, Japanese, Hindi, Mandarin and Spanish.

The object of the free Karaoke Kiosk is to “use a renowned and beloved form of entertainment to activate Granville Street in a fun way that crosses borders between ages and cultural backgrounds. Sing! celebrates and shares the pop cultures of Vancouver’s diverse population.”

The free Karaoke Kiosk will be open from 4pm – 8pm on August 20 and August 27, 2011.

Triple O Mobile

Apparently there’s a new player – with a familiar name – in Vancouver’s street food scene. Earlier this month, White Spot, Vancouver’s historic burger chain, launched the big green Triple O mobile. The truck debuted at one of the Celebration of Light fireworks events at English Bay.

The Triple O mobile offers a full lineup of Legendary Burgers, Double Doubles (two quarter-pound patties with two slices of cheese and bacon), fries and milkshakes made with real ice cream. It’s also serving as a kind of mobile research-and-development lab where diners will be able to try out new, experimental dishes like the mysterious Nacho Burger.

Salsa Dancing in Downtown Vancouver

One of the highlights of the year for salsa dancers, Vancouver's largest and most popular annual salsa event Sunday Afternoon Salsa at Robson Square is BACK this Summer!

They're excited to announce the 2011 season will be even longer than before: 9 weeks! Come dance outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine.

Summer Sippers!!

Nothing says summer like a crisp, refreshing pint on a sunny patio. Vancouver has no shortage of pubs serving a great selection of local and international ales and lagers. But for the consummate beer experience, head to one of the city’s signature brewpubs, where passionate brewmeisters serve up their latest creations. Here are just a few local favorites, all of which boast great patios:

• Yaletown Brewing: Housed in a historic 19th-century brick warehouse, this lively brewpub has been serving up some of the province’s best beers for more than a decade. The huge Yaletown patio is great for people watching, and the menu embraces everything from pub fare to duck confit and Asian stir-frys. Summer sipper: Try Hills Special Wheat, a Bavarian hefeweizen with a refreshingly spicy, fruity character.

• The Edge Social Grille & Lounge: Granville Street’s largest outdoor patio affording 90 seats for its patrons to people watch all day long. The menu is extensive and the service is fast. Check out the establishment’s flat breads paired with beer on tap. Summer sipper: Granville Island Hefeweizen to forget about our lack of sun this Summer.

• Dockside Brewing: Located in the Granville Island Hotel, this pub gets honors for best location, with an enormous patio overlooking False Creek inlet and the downtown skyline. Beers range from standbys like the Cartwright Pale Ale to local favorites like Alder Bay Honey Lager, made with real B.C. honey. Drinks are complemented by a basic menu of salads, pizzas and sandwiches. Summer sipper: Try the hibiscus-infused Jamaican Lager for a taste of the tropics.

Picnurbia!

While Viva Vancouver pedestrian-friendly activities continue every weekend through Labour Day on Granville St. from Smithe to Hastings, Picnurbia hit 800 Robson Street last week. An urban temporary 'pop up' park, the interactive art piece is installed above Robson Square while the street remains closed to traffic. Robson will re-open to traffic on September 6. Activities on Robson Street are part of the City's Viva Vancouver trial activations. They complement the programming the Province of BC is hosting at Robson Square including ballroom dancing, salsa dancing, Monday movie nights and weekend artisan markets.

Come Celebrate the Fair at the PNE!

Saturday, August 20 - Monday, September 5

New this year, children 13 and under get in free with the purchase of a Fair Gate pass (maximum 5 children per one adult). So gather your family and friends and come out for the best part of summer!

The Fair at the PNE features hundreds of performances for all ages such as daily and nightly concerts, an expanded family theatre line-up, cultural programming, Peking Acrobats, and of course, the beloved Superdogs. We’ve added several great new shows and attractions including Pop City, a pyro celebration and the 1st Annual Rib Fest featuring top Champion BBQ Pit Masters from across North America and over 50 amusement park rides. There’s something for everyone!

Vancouver Downtown Ambassadors!

Lost your way on the streets of Vancouver? Need assistance crossing the road with your handicapped grandfather? Not sure where to find the nearest public restroom? Never fear -- just look for the guys (and gals) in the bright red shirts. They’re the Vancouver Downtown Ambassadors, and they’re here to help you.

Equipped with cell phones, first aid kits, digital cameras, maps, and more, the Ambassadors bike and hike the streets of Vancouver on a daily basis, ready to aid persons in distress and to address “quality of life” issues like litter and panhandling. They are also charged with monitoring and deterring criminal activity on public property, from graffiti to illegal parking. The Ambassadors even partner with the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia by carrying handheld Casio computers, which track stolen vehicles, and in this way have recovered 5 - 10 stolen autos each month!

Kissing Flash Mob in Downtown Vancouver!

New York had one, but Vancouver's gonna do it better! Pucker up for a spontaneous expression of love at the scenic North Pier at Canada Place.

THE LOW DOWN:

Step 1: Show up early and mill around the area enjoying the view, taking photos of the scenery, act natural!!!

Step 2: At noon, Canada Place's Heritage Horns will sound the first three notes of O Canada. Kiss your honey for one minute.

Step 3: Stick around.. They have roses from Vivio Flower Gallery, and handcrafted Mink Chocolates for all liplockers.

A professional photographer will available to take photos of you and your BF/GF/wifey/hubby/complica?tion at this picturesque location for you to keep as a keepsake. You can download the photo from the Canada Place Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/C?anadaPlace.

Two Nights Left!!

Saturday night it was China, coming up next on Wednesday night - Spain.

And for the grand finale - its Canada!

Fun Facts:

Number of person-hours involved in setting up each show: Approximately 600 person-hours. It takes a crew of 16 people, three days (12 hours minimum) to prepare the barge for each show.

Number of bombs (shells) in each show: Anywhere from 2,000 to 4,500 bombs, depending on the show.

Come check out the 21st Annual Celebration of Light!

Best Western and World Vision

Best Western and World Vision, an international relief agency, continue to partner on a large-scale child sponsorship campaign. Through the program, hundreds of needy children from around the world are being helped by Best Western.

However, more children need our help; to sponsor a child, visit www.worldvision.org/bestwestern

Yoga at Canada Place!

Namaste! Yoga by donation in a gorgeous setting, Canada Place! Instruction by Tedi Martin of Lululemon and Steve Nash Sports Club. Every Thurs and Monday starting Thurs July 28th until September 19. Don't miss it!

Awesome Line Up!

Looks what’s happening in Vancouver!

Jul 26 Steve Martin

Jul 29 Soundgarden

Aug 3 Rob Zombie & Slayer

Aug 5 Sarah McLachlan

Aug 12 Power of Women with Ellen DeGeneres

Aug 13 Sade

Aug 20 PNE Opens

Aug 27 Santana

Aug 30 Josh Grobin

Aug 31 Blink 182 with My Chemical Romance

Sep 9 Keisha

Sep 10 Taylor Swift

Sep 11 Taylor Swift

Sep 14 Kings of Leon

Sep 26 Keith Urban

Oct 3 Avril Lavigne

Book your accommodations early - http://bit.ly/oV2trV to avoid disappointment!

Best Family Friendly Hotel for 2011

Best Western has again been named the “Best Family Friendly Hotel” for 2011 and received the Hotel Vikas Diamond Award. Hotel Vikas Awards are awards of excellence presented to extraordinary individuals and companies in the U.S. hotel industry that have made a vital contribution to the hospitality field.

Best Western International is the world's leading hotel chain with more than 4,000 hotels in 80 countries. Best Western is a family of hotel owners and hospitality professionals from around the world. Here primarily focus is on delivering the best value, excellence and superior customer service.

She Thinks my Tractor is Sexy!

Guess who is in Vancouver?

The man that sings "She Thinks my Tractor is Sexy!" is playing tonight at Roger's Arena in Vancouver!

Kenny Chesney has recorded 15 albums, 14 of which have been certified gold or higher by the RIAA. He has also produced more than 30 Top Ten singles on the U.S. Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, 20 of which climbed to the top of the charts.

Over the life of his career, Chesney has been honored with numerous awards from the Academy of Country Music (ACM), Country Music Association (CMA), American Music Awards (AMA), Country Music Television (CMT), Billboard Music Awards (BMA), People's Choice Awards (PCA), and the French Country Music Awards (FCMA).

The Country Music Association honored Chesney with the Entertainer of the Year award in 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2008. Other notable awards include the Academy of Country Music's 1997 New Male Vocalist of the Year, 2002 Top Male Vocalist of the Year, and the Triple Crown Award in 2005. He was awarded his fourth consecutive Entertainer of the Year award from the Academy of Country Music on May 18, 2008.

For tickets: http://bit.ly/oyqQEZ

Fireworks!

Guarantee the best seats and view at the 2011 Celebration of Light!

So you want to enjoy the fireworks but don’t have time to head down to the beach hours ahead of the big show?

This is your exclusive opportunity to secure a limited number of reserved seats in the new Celebration of Light grandstand, located at the heart of the action in English Bay! From your reserved bleacher seat you will enjoy a fantastic view of the fireworks while listening to the musical simulcast through our bleacher sound system. Get your friends together, head to the beach, and enjoy your reserved seat, front and centre, as we celebrate the Spectacular 21st Annual Celebration of Light fireworks festival!

Net proceeds from the sale of these tickets go directly to the Vancouver Fireworks Festival Society to help keep this event alive for years to come!

All ages welcome. Children under 2 years of age do not require a ticket if they will be sitting on a parent’s lap.

July 30th:
Country: China

August 3rd:
Country: Spain

August 6th:
Country: Canada

Important: Event will proceed rain or shine, please dress accordingly. Show starts promptly at 10:00pm, please give yourself plenty of time to arrive.

Price:
$45.00
(not including tax and fees)

Biggest Conference to Come to Vancouver Ever!!!

SIGGRAPH 2011 will bring thousands of computer graphics and interactive technology professionals from six continents to Vancouver, Canada for the industry's most respected technical and creative programs focusing on research, science, art, animation, music, gaming, interactivity, education and the web from Sunday, 7 August through Thursday, 11 August 2011 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

SIGGRAPH 2011 includes a three-day exhibition of products and services from the computer graphics and interactive marketplace from 9-11 August 2011. More details are available at SIGGRAPH 2011 or on SIGGRAPH 2011 Facebook

This Friday & Saturday!

Get a sneak peak of what you'll see at this year's Folk Music Festival! FREE performances on Granville Street, 11-2pm.

Explore the streets of Vancouver with a local guide who’s sure to knock your socks off.

Gastown is where the city of Vancouver began, and where some of our more “colourful” history exists. Meet some of the interesting characters that have helped shape the city, walk the cobblestone roads, get a picture with the famous Steam Clock and get insider tips on where to eat and drink on the cheap.

Starting from the Vancouver Art Gallery, this fun, interactive tour moves North along Granville Street to introduce you to the history of neon signs in the entertainment district, visits the site of one of Vancouver’s biggest protests, introduces you to our railroad history and takes you for a stroll down the infamous Blood Alley.

This is a FREE tour, guide-tipping is welcome. For more information: http://bit.ly/pT03FR

Commodore Ballroom

If you were not yet convinced just how much of a gem Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom really is, then the folks at Billboard just provided you with another reason.

In its July 2 issue, the famed music magazine named the Commodore one of North America’s 10 most influential clubs alongside New York’s Bowery Ballroom, Chicago’s Metro, Los Angeles’ Troubadour and San Francisco’s Fillmore.

The Commodore is the only Canadian venue to make the list, which was cobbled together after Billboard consulted with influential talent agents from the Windish Agency, Billions Corp., William Morris Endeavor, the Agency Group and Paradigm Talent.

Check out their roster of talent playing soon, just blocks from the Hotel: http://bit.ly/qCUr5N

Vancouver Folk Music Festival

Named one of the ten best outdoor concerts in North America by USA Today, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival is one of the highlights of the summer music season. This three-day festival at Jericho Beach Park features an eclectic range of folk and roots music performed on eight outdoor stages, all overlooking the picture-perfect vistas of downtown Vancouver and the North Shore mountains.

At this festival, “folk” has an expansive meaning, covering an enormous range of sounds, from gospel to blues, rock, world music, spoken-word poetry, and African- and Latin fusion. The diverse 2011 artist line-up includes Dan Bern, Jim Bryson and the Weakerthans Band, Rosanne Cash, Alpha Yaya Diallo, Freshlyground, The Fugitives , La-33, New Country Rehab, Tim Robbins & The Rogues Gallery Band, and Mary Gauthier, to name just a few.

Tickets to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival are on sale now; get discounts by buying “advance tickets” before July 14, 2011.

The Vancouver Folk Music Festival runs from July 15 – 17, 2011.

Five Hole for Food!

This Saturday Five Hole For Food, the purveyors of sweet street ball hockey at our Olympic Anniversary Event, will be returning to Granville from 12-6pm.

C'mon down in your jersey with a donation of food for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society and get your game on. Mascots Winger, Spike and Hawkey in attendance.

Vancouver is where the idea of Five Hole for Food was born, and where the trip will finish. After starting the trip on the very East Coast it is all going to culminate in the biggest game of the trip as we play hockey in the home of the Vancouver Canucks and do battle for the last time on the trip.

Granville Street was home to some of the most fun and pure ball hockey we have ever played while the 2010 Olympic Games were in town and their looking forward to taking back Granville Street!

If you’d like to participate in their media game, please click here for more information.

Where: 800 Block of Granville Street (Three blocks from the Hotel)

When: Saturday July 9th, 2011

Time: 12:00 PM to 18:00 PM PST

Food Bank Beneficiary: Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society

Special Guests: Hawkey and players off the Abbotsford Heat, Winger from the Surrey Eagles, and Spike from the Coquitlam Express amongst others!

Post Game: Their wrapping up the 2011 tour in style with a party you won’t want to miss!

North America Outgames!

17 days till Vancouver hosts the North America Outgames.

The largest LGBT sporting event of 2011 will descend on Vancouver this month, when 3,000 athletes come to town to participate in 18 different sports as part of the North America Outgames.

Started in 2006 to celebrate LGBT athletes and culture, the Outgames are open to all participants, regardless of sexual orientation. Anyone can take part, regardless of experience, and competitions are arranged according to skill level.

Sports range from traditional activities, including softball, swimming, tennis and track and field, to less conventional offerings, such as dragon boat racing, ten-pin bowling and poker. There’s even a 4-kilometer recreational walk planned in picturesque Stanley Park. Early bird registration for athletes is going on now, with entry fees as low as $15.

Of course, the Outgames is much more than just an athletic event. As in the past, this year’s games will include both a cultural celebration and a human rights conference. The three-day conference from July 26-28 addresses diverse topics, ranging from bullying to workplace rights. Nightly social events, opening and closing ceremonies and even special theatre performances round out the week’s festivities.

Best Burger in Vancouver?

Is it just me, or has Vancouver undergone a burger renaissance in recent years?

It seems like not too long ago, hamburgers were pretty much strictly fast food fare. You’d get your Big Mac or Whopper – with a hockey puck patty that had been frozen for who knows how long – and that was it. No one thought of burgers as gourmet. Fresh beef was unheard of.

Now, suddenly, everything has changed in Vancouver. Dozens of chain and independent restaurants are serving deluxe burgers made with fresh beef and served on artisan buns. It’s truly the golden age of the hamburger in Vancouver. There are almost too many choices. Which is why I’d like to hear from you:

Who makes Vancouver’s best burgers, the ones with the tastiest beef and best toppings? Share your pick by leaving a comment below.

Come Help us Celebrate!

Vancouver’s 125th anniversary and year as Cultural Capital of Canada will be celebrated throughout 2011 with Vancouver 125: a year-long program of anniversary initiatives and events.

Two major events in honour of Vancouver’s 125th anniversary are planned for the spring and summer. Birthday Live will celebrate the city’s 125th birthday on April 6, 2011 with a free party at Jack Poole Plaza (pictured above). Summer Live will showcase Vancouver’s vibrant arts scene through a free, multi-stage celebration in Stanley Park on July 8, 9, 10, 2011.

In addition to the Birthday Live and Summer Live events, Vancouver 125 is supporting the work of dozens of cultural organizations who will present events, exhibitions, festivals and other artistic projects throughout the anniversary year. Vancouver 125 also includes community events and civic initiatives that bring opportunities to explore Vancouver’s history, diversity and innovative cultural scene in neighbourhoods across the city.

For more information: www.celebratevancouver125.ca

Ohhh say can you see!!!

Some fun US trivia for you:

The "largest" city in the United States is Juneau, Alaska. It covers about 3,000 square miles.

Venus Fly Traps only live in the wild in the Carolinas and nowhere else in the world.

Amelia Earhart designed her own line of clothes that were sold all over the United States.

There are no poisonous snakes in Maine.

In 1971, cigarette ads were banned from television in the U.S.

The first gold rush in the United States happened in Dahlonega, Georgia, 1828.

The oldest capital city in the U.S. is Santa Fe, New Mexico, founded in 1610.

Peanut butter was invented by the brilliant African-American scientist George Washington Carver.

The tallest point in Florida is only 345 feet.

Iced tea was first served at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. A British businessman wanted to increase tea sales in America.

Beautiful Vancouver!

If you can't make it to Vancouver, its our pleasure to bring it to you!

Canada Day on Granville Island 2011

Canada Day—Friday, July 1—is fast approaching, and the Top 10 Canada Day Events around Vancouver include two huge celebrations right here in the city: Canada Day at Canada Place and Canada Day on Granville Island.

Canada Day on Granville Island is an all-day celebration packed with fun for all ages. There’s a free Canada Day Parade, an official Canada Day Ceremony (complete with cake), free concerts from the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, and much, much more. Here’s a quick guide to the essentials:

Where: Granville Island, located just south of downtown Vancouver, on False Creek. Because Canada Day attracts large crowds, nearby parking will be extremely hard to find. Get there via bus or take the Aquabus (which has a 2-for-1 Canada Day Special) from downtown / Yaletown. Or, ride your bike and take advantage of the free bike valet.

When: Friday, July 1, from 7:30am – Midnight

7:30am – 11am Truly Canadian Pancake Breakfast – Enjoy Canadian bacon, fresh pancakes, and real maple syrup for $8 per person.
1:30pm – 2pm 12th Annual Canada Day Parade – The free parade includes stilt walkers, lion dancers, decorated bikes, and more. Starting at Ocean Construction and ending at Ron Basford Park.
2pm – 2:30pm Official Canada Day Ceremony – Get patriotic with a round of the national anthem at this free ceremony, which includes free cake for kids.

Highlights:

Jazz on Canada Day – Enjoy an all-day roster of free, live music courtesy of the Vancouver International Jazz Festival at four different venues. Performances include the Ribcage Trio at the Market Stage, Birds of Paradox and the Peggy Lee Band at the indoor Performance Works, and B Funk and L’Zo at the Railspur Alley Park Stage. Find a complete line-up here.
Voiliers Spectacle – Breathtaking French acrobats Franck and Delphine present two, silent acrobat shows, both performed behind the Market: The Navigators at 5:30-5:50pm, and the Entre Île et Aile at 7:30pm – 7:50pm.
MELA! Festivals International Pavilion – Celebrate world cultures from 10am – 7pm at the MELA! Pavilion, which features a lively bazaar filled with music, dance, arts, crafts, and mouth-watering food from around the globe.
Children’s Pavilion – Catch two fantastic kids’ performers in action from 10:30am – 3:30pm: the French music group JouTou and the incredible Jacky Essombe and friends, who perform dance, virtuoso percussion, and call-and-response singing from the African countries of Cameroon, Guinea, and Zimbabwe.

Squamish for Dummies!

So, have you picked up your copy of the Skwxwu7mesh Snichim-Xweliten Snichim Skexwts yet?

In case you’re not fluent, that translates as Squamish-English Dictionary. The book, containing about 8,000 words in the Squamish language spoken by B.C.’s Aboriginal Squamish peoples, has just been completed by a team of elders, linguists and researchers after 18 years of work.

The challenges facing the team were enormous.

First of all, Squamish is an oral language, which didn’t even have a written equivalent until one was adopted in the 1980s. Not to mention that there are only about 10 people on the planet who are actually fluent in Squamish – mostly elders living in the Lower Mainland and B.C.

Squamish is one of an amazing diversity of 32 languages and 59 dialects spoken in B.C. before the arrival of Europeans, according to a great article on the subject in the Vancouver Sun. More specifically, Squamish is one of 10 languages in the Coast Salish branch of the Salish language family. There were once 23 Salish languages in total.

PNE - Kids get in FREE!

Starting this year, The Pacific National Exposition is letting all children 12 years of age and under to enter the fair for free!

Instead of kids only getting to access the fair once with the one ticket they would receive every year, they can now come on any day they like for free!

With hundreds of performances and exhibits, more than 50 thrilling rides & attractions including ATMOSFEAR and all that food, the Fair at the PNE is definitely the best part of summer! Make sure to check out the diverse Summer Night Concerts, legendary Superdogs, and the night time finale, Pop City!

Between 700,000 and 900,000 British Columbians attend the annual fair, now in its 101st. year. The Fair runs from August 20 to September 5.

Bring on the corn dogs and those little donuts!!

Vanlover!

It’s not just business as usual downtown – it’s more. Summer’s here and it’s going to be a lot of fun. Come downtown and see for yourself what’s happening in our vibrant and beautiful city right now.

If you love Vancouver, show us! Take photos of yourself on an outdoor café patio, attending an art exhibit, shopping, people watching - or anything - and share the love.

Carnivale!!!

The Village on False Creek is proud to present it's first Village Carnivale! Four days filled with fun for all ages, Downtown Vancouver will be treated to a 65 foot high Ferris Wheel beside the beautiful waters of False Creek.

Come down and enjoy food from some of Vancouver's best public vendors and free public art making and entertainment by the renowned Public Dreams!

For over twenty-five years, Public Dreams has maintained a focus on showcasing a wide range of artistic activity, working in collaboration with professional and community artists, and encouraging thoughtful participation from diverse audiences. Over the years, Public Dreams has produced hundreds of community events and celebrations, including Illuminares Lantern Procession (since 1989); Parade of Lost Souls (since 1994); Mountain Mardi Gras (1996); and Circus of Dreams (1997 to 2004).

Carnivale is a fun free festival for all ages. Rides on the Ferris Wheel are $4.00 per person (cash only) and free for children under 6, accompanied by an adult.

We looking forward to seeing you there!

Carnivale:
Thursday June 16th - 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Friday June 17th - 4:00pm - 9:00pm
Saturday June 18th - 11:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday June 19th - 11:00am - 7:00pm

Carnivale is located in the Olympic Plaza down at The Village!

Free Concerts at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival

For live music fans, this is a very exciting time of year. The Vancouver International Jazz Festival - probably the city’s premier music festival – kicks off on Friday, June 24. Over the next 10 days, fans are treated to 400 separate concerts featuring big-name jazz, blues, funk, Latin, fusion, electronica and world musicians from around the globe.

Among the ticketed headliners at this year’s festival is trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, performing with the 15-piece Lincoln Center Orchestra at the Orpheum on June 26. Another legend is Spanish flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucia, who will be playing with his band at the Orpheum on July 3.

Now, tickets to either of these concerts won’t come cheap. But, as any true Jazz Festival fan will tell you, one of the real highlights each year are the free performances. This year, there will be around 150 free concerts.

The free music starts with Gastown Jazz on opening weekend (June 25-26). Two free stages bookend Water Street’s three blocks for a New Orleans-style street party. There’s continuous music both days from 1 p.m. to around 8 p.m., plus street performers and plenty of vendors selling snacks and drinks.

FUSE

Get your Dada on with this surrealist-inspired FUSE. Art, music, performance will collide in the galleries and under the stars on Friday, June 17th at the Vancouver Art Galley starting at 8PM. So trade in that iPhone for a lobster and leave expectations at the door. Performers include MOVE the company, House of La Douche, The Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret and many more.

Vancouver Art Gallery starts at

For more information: http://bit.ly/medzJX

The Canuck's Prayer

Our Father, who art in GM Place
Hockey be thy name.
Thy will be done, the cup be won
On ice, as well as in the stands.
Give us this day, our hockey sticks,
And forgive us our penalties,
As we forgive those who cross-check against us,
Lead us not into elimination,
But deliver us to victory.
In the name of the fans, Lord Stanley,
In the name of the Canuck's

Johnny Canuck!

A short film chronicling the legendary Johnny Canuck, his years of triumph and turmoil, and how they mirror the history of the Vancouver Canucks franchise and their Stanley Cup run in 2010-2011.

What are YOU doing this weekend?

Vancouver is gonna be so much fun this weekend!

A line up of various events is as follows:

Vancouver Canucks vs. Boston Bruins

Roger's Arena - 5:00 PM

June 10^th

http://canucks.nhl.com

Eat! Vancouver

BC Place Stadium

June 10-12th

www.eat-vancouver.com

Rio Tinto Dragonboat Festival

False Creek

June 11-12^th

http://dragonboatbc.ca/the-rio-tinto-alcan-dragon-boat-festival

UFC - 131 Dos Santos vs. Carwin

Roger's Arena

June 11^th – 6PM

www.ufc.com/event/UFC131#/fight

Star Trek Convention

Sheraton Wall Centre

Jun 10-12th

www.creationent.com

VIVA VANCOUVER

Starting on Saturday, June 25, Granville St. in downtown Vancouver will be for pedestrians only. Enjoy swing dancing, busker concerts, interactive performances and additional seating for lingering. Events change each weekend through Labour Day. Buses will be re-routed onto Howe and Seymour.

Come down and be part of the fun!

Rio Tinto Alcan Dragon Boat Festival!

If you haven`t witnessed this event you gotta get to Vancouver!

Dragon Boat racing has its roots in ancient myths and legends. It began more than 2,000 years ago in the valleys of southern China as a fertility rite held during the Summer Solstice to ensure plentiful crops and to avert misfortune. Early dragon boat races were mock battles to awaken the hibernating Heavenly Dragon.

This weekend, thousands of Dragonboat enthusiasts from around the World take to the shores of False Creek in what will be fun weekend of friendly competition.

Best Western wins Awards!

For the third straight year Best Western was named Lodging Partner of the Year by AAA/CAA. In addition, our hotel chain won awards for Best Marketing and Best Sales. This recognition is quite significant as the awards we won are the result of voting by AAA/CAA executives and staff across North America – who clearly have a favorable impression of our brand.

World Premiere of our New Hotel Video!

Mother's Day!

The day sneaks up on us every year!

But were here to help you out and for you to help the kids at the same time.

Bring Mom to The Edge Social Grille & Lounge on Sunday and order an Eggs Benedict. We`ll donate $3 from each order to BC Children`s Hospital.

For reservations, please call (604) 681-3343.

Pixies Bow at Vancouver Orpheum Theatre

Just down the street from us last night the world famous band The Pixies performed at the Orpheum Theatre to a sold out house.

We had folks in from all over BC and from the reviews we heard in our lobby, it was a heck of a show!

Rainbow!

Our Hotel at the end of a rainbow!

Rainbows are optical illusions and meteorological phenomena that cause a spectrum of light to appear in the sky when the Sun shines onto droplets of moisture in the Earth's atmosphere. They take the form of a multicoloured arc, with red on the outer part of the arch and violet on the inner section of the arch....quite simply we think they look great over our Hotel!!

First Best Western Premier Hotel Opens in Canada

Best Western introduced its newly developed upscale brand to Canada with the launch of Best Western Premier Freeport Inn & Suites in Calgary.

The hotel chain has opened seven Best Western Premier hotels in North America since the beginning of the year.

The property’s 97 guestrooms and suites feature 42-inch flat-screen televisions, premium clock radios with an MP3 connection, contemporary furnishings, luxury bed linens and a functional desk with complimentary wireless high-speed Internet access.

On-site dining, complimentary breakfast, an exercise facility, an indoor heated pool with a waterslide and a cocktail lounge are among the amenities available for guests. The hotel also offers free parking, a complimentary airport shuttle, meeting facilities that can accommodate up to 80 people and a business centre.

The property is conveniently located three kilometers from the Calgary International Airport and is just minutes from Canada Olympic Park, Calgary Aero Space Museum and the Calgary Zoo.

Check it out: http://bit.ly/jWkpeo

Only 2 days until Playland Opens!

Playland’s Opening Day is Saturday April 30! Don’t miss out on this year’s exciting season as they introduce a new thrill ride this summer! Opening in July, ATMOSFEAR will take riders up 218 feet in the air and swing them 70km/hr while spinning 360 degrees.

Buy tickets to Playland now! http://bit.ly/iA2T7r

Ohhhhhh Lou!

Who knew Luongo did poetry!

Check him out! youtu.be/Iw1vJfCn-ko

TSN Presents, A collection of short poems by Roberto Luongo. This video is property of the NHL & TSN. No Copyright infringement intended...

Go Canucks!!

We haven`t really recovered from Round One with the Canucks vs. Blackhawks and here we are ready to take on the Nashville Predators.

First game is tonight starting at 6PM (Pacific Standard Time)

Rest of schedule is as follows:

Saturday, Apr 30 (Canucks Home Game)

Tuesday, May 3 (Canucks Away)

Thursday, May 5 (Canucks Away)

Saturday, May 7 (Canucks Home Game)

Monday, May 9 (Canucks Away)

Wednesday, May 11 (Canucks Home Game)

We`ve got rooms available if you are lucky enough to get tickets or join the rest of us in our restaurant where we are raffling off a Canucks jersey with each game!

Go Canucks!!

Hotel Staff Celebrate!!!

Our guests and staff celebrated Best Western's 65th Birthday with a cake in our newly renovated lobby.

"Best Western is 65 years young--we've been around long enough to know what our guests expect, yet we've never been more dynamic in terms of enabling guests to get the most out of our large and diverse hotel portfolio," said Dorothy Dowling, senior vice president of marketing and sales.

For more Best Western birthday celebrations, click here www.youtube.com/watch

We ran with 49,365 of our closest friends!

Pictured above - Rennie Li, Sunny Lam, Brent O'Connor, Fernando Florian and Nora Uy.

On Sunday, April 17th a dedicated team from the Hotel walked and ran 10 kilometres through the streets of the city for the annual Vancouver Sun Run.

Organizer Jamie Pitblado says it has become the largest 10K road race in Canada and second largest timed 10K in the world. "Behind the Boulder to Boulder race down in Denver, Colorado.

The first Sun Run was held back in 1985 and at the time only 3,500 people showed up. Pitblado explains that's a stark contrast from today's numbers.

We are already training for next year's Run!!

Best Western Celebrates World's Biggest Birthday Bash!

Best Western's World's Biggest Thank You is a special week-long event - a unique opportunity to personally thank our most valued travel agent partners and customers throughout North America.

To make the event truly memorable we’re linking it to our World’s Biggest Birthday Bash, celebrating 65 years of Best Western hospitality.

Best Western Hotel in Munich

10 Things We Love About Meeting Planners

Always Prepared: No matter how compact the bag, if you need something, a meeting planner can reach into his/her "Mary Poppins" bag and produce it in a matter of seconds.
Composed: While others scramble if things don't go according to plan, meeting planners never let you see them sweat. They're armed with a Plan B... and a Plan C, D, E & F, too.
Wired for Possibilities: Where others see obstacles, meeting planners see potential. They can take the biggest hurdle and turn it into something positive in a matter of minutes.
Masters of the Palate: Even on a shoestring budget, they can whip up a banquet feast that's delicious AND healthy, too!
Destination Divas: Wondering where to go on that next vacation? Go find a meeting planner and you'll have destination suggestions to fuel vacation choices for the next decade.
Protectors of the Planet: Meeting planners always have a keen eye for protecting the environment, taking the Green path at every opportunity. They waste not, yet manage to do so with great flair.
People Connectors: If you have a meeting planner in your circle of friends, you're just three degrees from anyone in the world. They know people who know people and they take great delight in helping others make meaningful connections.
Generous Hearts: Meeting Planners are Go-Givers. They're always looking out for others, even the quietest sheep in the flock. They see the unseen and they will do whatever it takes to help others in need.
Extra-Mile Team Players: Do you need to get something done? If a meeting planner commits to do something, there's no need for reminders. It will get done, on time (or ahead of time) and in the best possible way.
Friendly & Fun: Meeting Planners aren't just experts at creating delightful experiences for others. They are natural born party people, smiling and finding fun, even in the least likely places.

New Guestroom Furniture Arrives!

To compliment all the renovations we've made at the Hotel, we received our first shipment of new and stylish furniture for our Tower Accommodations.

Designed with a Westcoast influence of tones and design, the custom built new furniture is a welcome edition to what our guests expect when staying with us. The accommodations were designed to offer a respite from the chaos of the city by immersing our guests in soothing colors and textures inspired by nature.

More news to come.....

Rod Stweart and Stevie Nicks: Heart & Soul

The tour will unite two of music’s most legendary forces!

THE HEART & SOUL TOUR will treat audiences to a once-in-a-lifetime concert experience featuring both artists performing rock & roll sets from their incomparable catalogs of hits and backed by an incredible band of musicians and stage production.

For tickets: http://bit.ly/fVg1BM

Playoffs are ON!

April 13 - Vancouver Canucks Home Game

April 15 - Vancouver Canucks Home Game

April 17 - Vancouver Canucks travel to Chicago

April 19 - Vancouver Canucks travel to Chicago

April 21 - Vancouver Canucks Home Game

April 24 - Vancouver Canucks travel to Chicago

April 25 - Vancouver Canucks Home Game

Come check out the action at Roger's Arena and be a part of history.

Accommodations are going fast. Book your room today: http://bit.ly/h20qGU

The Oooooooooh Ahhhhh Show!

For the 21st spectacular year, the Celebration of Light fireworks festival will take place over English Bay on Saturday July 30th, Wednesday August 3rd and Saturday August 6th, 2011. The three night, free, family fun oriented festival brings together competing teams from several countries, with the 2011 event featuring operational enhancements and increased artistry, further enriching Vancouver’s signature summer event.

China kicks off the Battle of the Champions celebration July 30th, followed by Spain August 3rd, and Canada on August 6th. All three teams have won the competition before.

For more information: http://bit.ly/fNb1ou

UFC is coming back to Vancouver!

As Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos battle it out as coaches during season 13 of the “Ultimate Fighter” their real fight takes place on June 11 at UFC 131, which will take place in Vancouver, Canada at Rogers Arena.

The event has long been rumored for Vancouver, but now it’s official with tickets going on sale for UFC Fight Club members on Thursday, April 14.

General ticket sales will begin on Saturday, April 16 at 10am.

The card will mark the promotion’s second appearance in Vancouver. A very successful debut happened last year in June as well with former champions Rich Franklin and Chuck Liddell squaring off in the main event.

The last event sold out in under an hour and ended up bringing in a reported gate of over $4 million.

Several fights have been confirmed for the card beyond the Lesnar vs. Dos Santos fight including Mac Danzig vs. Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone, Mark Munoz vs. Demian Maia as well as Kenny Florian’s debut at featherweight against Diego Nunes.

For more information and tickets: http://bit.ly/fKaxWz

YVR Voted Best Airport in North America

Vancouver International Airport (YVR) has been named Best Airport in North America for the second year in a row as part of the 2011 Skytrax World Airport Awards.

More than 11 million passengers from 100 countries participated in the independent survey, which ranks airports worldwide based on 39 criteria including cleanliness, design and layout, retail facilities, clarity of flight information and signs, luggage handling and transportation. YVR also won second place for Staff Service Excellence in North America.

Both awards are a testament to the strong partnerships in place at YVR with the airlines, government agencies, business partners, retailers and volunteers who work on Sea Island every day.

Vancouver is 125 Years Old Today!!

Happy birthday Vancouver! The City is celebrating its 125th anniversary today! The celebrations coincide with Vancouver's designation as a Cultural Capital of Canada this year.

To mark the day on which Vancouver was incorporated, the City will hold free public events, in addition to supporting the work of cultural organizations which will present events, exhibitions, festivals and other artistic projects throughout the anniversary year.

Visit the new Vancouver 125 website for details on events and celebrations happening all year long: www.CelebrateVancouver125.ca

Nine Green Ways to Experience Vancouver

Rent a bike or a pair of rollerblades and self-propel your way around Vancouver's Stanley Park seawall, marveling at Vancouver's green, urban, ocean-wrapped sanctuary.
Get a view of the city from the water by kayaking your way through the waters of False Creek. If you're lucky, you'll spot some of the seals, otters, eagles and fish that make this urban waterway their home.
See Vancouver from the highest point possible atop Grouse Mountain's new wind turbine, the Eye of the Wind. The turbine has the capacity to produce enough energy to supply the needs of 400 homes over a year.
Enjoy the vast choices in fresh, sustainably-harvested seafood by choosing a restaurant participating in the Vancouver Aquarium's Ocean Wise sustainable seafood program.
Marvel at giant cedars, towering Douglas firs and hemlock, as you explore one of the world's most primitive ecosystems on a guided walking tour of Vancouver's rainforests.
Travel by a 25-foot, First Nations canoe through the waters of Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm while guides from Takaya Tours - an Aboriginal eco-tourism company - share legends, songs and stories from their rich history and culture.
Bus, SkyTrain or SeaBus your way around Vancouver's neighbourhoods and attractions. Best of all, present your transit pass at a number of Vancouver's top attractions and you'll receive a discount on admission.
Indulge in the 100-Mile Tasting Menu at Raincity Grill where all dishes are inspired by sustainable aquaculture, local farmers and the book 100 Mile Diet: A Year of Local Eating written by Vancouver-journalists Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon.
Understand what makes Vancouver a top city for green building and design by touring some of its state-of-the-art LEED gold-grade buildings, including the Vancouver Convention Centre, the Vancouver Aquarium's Aquaquest building, and the Olympic Village neighbourhood.

A Sign of the Times!

Early this morning, history was made on Granville Street when our old hotel sign of 35 years was taken down and our new sign promoting our new hotel name - the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville was installed.

World Congress of Nephrology 2011

The BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granvill extends a warm welcome to all the delegates of the World Congress of Nephrology to Vancouver!

Granville Street 2.010

GRANVILLE 2.010 from Three Piece Media on Vimeo.

Luck of the Irish to all on this special day....

St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by the Irish and Irish at Heart in big cities and small towns alike with parades, "wearing of the green," music and songs, Irish food and drink, and activities for kids such as crafts, coloring and games. Its a time for fun. Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green!

Send us your pictures (sales@chateaugranville.com) of how you celebrate St. Patrick's Day and be eligible to win tickets to the world famous Vancouver Theatresports!

You can donate BWR points to Japanese Relief Efforts!

Members of Best Western Rewards®, the company’s global frequent-stay program, can now contribute Rewards points to earthquake and tsunami relief efforts underway in Japan. Best Western Rewards members can go to www.bestwestern.com/japanrelief to make a donation of 4,000 points, equal to $15, or more to World Vision, Best Western’s official charity partner.

“The scope of the devastation is heartbreaking, and Best Western is mobilizing to aid in this crisis,” said David Kong, president and CEO of Best Western International.

Best Western is the second-largest international hotel group in Japan. At this time, there have been no reports of guest or employee injuries or significant damage to any of the 13 Best Western hotels in the country.

We changed our name ........ kinda!

You knew us before as the Best Western Chateau Granville and now we have been renamed the BEST WESTERN PLUS Chateau Granville.

“BEST WESTERN PLUS” indicates well appointed rooms with modern amenities, and an enhanced level of comfort that you are looking to get when you stay in Vancouver! Your home away from home!

Now with our name change comes a whole lotta of renovations that are almost finished. More on that in our next post!