Vancouver – Page 8 – JohnBollwitt.com

2007 Sep 122007 Sep 12

Sparta at the Pacific Colosseum

It’s true that Sparta was opening the show for Alice In Chains and Velvet Revolver last Friday, but I think my mind went in reverse for this show. We caught the first half of Alice in Chains and missed out on all of Velvet Revolver. We got in there just in time for Sparta to take the stage, though.

Actually, RadioZoom was slated to have yet another interview with the band[RZ#118, RZ#130], this time with Keeley and Tony. Sadly, and you can read Rebecca’s post about the whole night, it just didn’t work out. This was night number one of being on this tour with VR, taking them around various parts of North America.

Combine the working out the kinks and a big arena show, it wasn’t the strongest performance I’ve seen from Sparta. Don’t get me wrong, they played really well, and the last few songs all seemed uber tight and rocking. I chalk it up to first show jitters. The quarter full Pacific Colosseum received them very, very well.

As an extra mention, Alice In Chains, believe it or not, were pretty amazing. I was a total, non-believer of them going back out on the road without Layne Staley[wiki]. At the same time, we have to be honest to ourselves and understand that Layne is gone forever, so that this would happen isn’t all too surprising. You can’t expect it to be the same or as good as it ever was, so the show must go on, right?

Photo credit: Jenya Campbell on Flickr

Well holy crap, was I ever blown away. William DuVall[wiki] actually works. The guy has a voice that fits with Alice In Chains, and stage presence never hurts. Even though he has big shoes to fill, I think he is doing a hell of a job making a mark for himself. When they opened up with Again and then busted into Grind right after that, I looked at Rebecca and asked, “Remember when we were sixteen?” To me, that means something. I wanted to keep hearing them rock out and relive my glory days in the nineties, but I had a job to do.

As a side note, I can also say that I’ve seen Jerry Cantrell[wiki] play. Maybe not one of the biggest guitar gods in the world, but a prominent person, to me, in rock and roll history when it comes to the heyday of the Seattle grunge scene. He’s really skinny, too.

2007 Aug 23

Wireless Internet on Vancouver buses

It’s not what you think, at least initially, but I find this application incredibly interesting. Plus, it’s another step closer to having mobile WiFi for the rest of us commuting around Vancouver via TransLink.

Novax Industries of New Westminster is in negotiations with TransLink to install what’s called Trans-POD. It would give buses intersection priority.

Novax CEO David Atnikov says it would also alert transit passengers on their laptops or cellphones on where their bus is and how long it will take to arrive. He says it would be like making your time more efficient.

The system could also be used for parking meter reading, gas meter reading, or checking your hydro consumption.

Atnikov says because the transmitter is on the bus, it creates a wireless connected neighbourhood wherever transit is. Edmonton and Toronto already have the Trans-POD system up and running. [news1130]

I’ve written about the need for a city-wide, wireless Internet system in Vancouver, and it’s high time that we stop thinking about catching up with what other, major metropolitan areas are doing on the other side of the Rockies.

I’m already using the MyBus application on Facebook quite a lot. It’s incredible useful to see how soon the next bus is supposed to arrive when heading to work on a rainy day. I can only imagine how useful that would be to get on my cellphone, not needing wireless access on an iPhone to do so.

2007 Aug 21

Putting the new Canucks jersey hoopla to rest

The Canucks organization knows exactly what they are doing when it comes to everyone’s interest to the new jerseys for the upcoming season. Ever since the RBK design was announced, everyone knew that things were going to change. This is also combined with all the hints that coach Alain Vigneault made about going back to the old threads of the stick-in-rink. Truth be told, it’s a cash cow that makes the team some nice coin when everyone updates their wardrobe.

Still, I give them some mad props for doing an official event for fans to attend at GM Place for the unveiling of the new look.

Canucks TO UNVEIL NEW HOME AND AWAY SWEATERS AT GENERAL MOTORS PLACE

The Vancouver Canucks announced today that they will unveil their new home and away sweaters to their fans and media on Wednesday, August 29th at General Motors Place.

Canucks fans are encouraged to join their favourite team for a tailgate party prior to the sweater launch at 12:30 pm. The tailgate party which begins at 11:30 am on the South Plaza will include free hot dogs provided by Grimm’s and Save-On-Foods, Coca-Cola beverages and Canucks prizing courtesy of McDonald’s and The Beat 94.5 FM Street Squad.

Canucks mascot FIN will be taking part in all of the activities and will be available for photos following the Sweater Launch on the South Plaza. [canucks]

All of this makes me start to ask, why would you have such a big event if the change was going to be subtle? There are a lot of rumors about potential designs and simple color changes to the existing logo. Seems a bit much if you are going to give away free tickets for the event, not to mention free hot dogs and soda.

Still, go on ya, Canucks. Instead of a simple media event and press conference, you’re inviting us fans in to partake in the fun. I can dig that. Now just to see what all this hush-hush is about and if it’s worth waiting for.

Something else worth mentioning, at the bottom of the page for the event, something new is about to happen from the Canucks official site. This whole event is going to be streamed live.

Watch the jersey launch live as Canucks.com broadcast straight to you for the first time right from General Motors Place.

We’ll bring you the action right from the bowl and bring you behind the scenes at the post-event media press conference from the Canucks dressing room.

Tune in to Canucks.com on Wednesday, August 29th at 12:30 pm PST to watch the event and catch all the buzz of the new Canucks jersey with some of your favourite Canucks players and staff. [canucks]

If I were you, I’d check it out online because all the tickets are gone for the event. Well, you could always pay $10 for a ticket off Craigslist. They were on there as soon as the word got out about the event being “sold out”.

2007 Aug 192007 Aug 19

Working the fair at the PNE

Finding time and energy to make posts has been tough in the past few weeks because of the day job, and all of that has led up to this weekend. The Fair at the PNE has kicked off in full force, and I’ve been on the forefront of getting things in place for the few weeks that it runs. To be quite honest, it’s not unlike the county fair that I grew up with every year, just down the street from my parent’s house.

There are a lot of agriculture related things here combined with the huge amounts of food vendors and people trying to sell the products that you don’t really need but find yourself unable to live without. Truthfully, it’s more like a glorified carnival on steroids, and the only thing that makes me say that are the rides that make you contemplate the ratio of bolts to nuts. They could probably use my leatherman on the hour, every hour for some added insurance.

In all honesty, I appreciate the fair to the extent of what it means to summer. They basically run hand in hand, and it’s not a stretch to say that it wouldn’t be summer without one. That being said, it doesn’t mean that I love every minute of it.

It’s like the line from Clerks[imdb]:

Dante Hicks: You hate people!
Randal Graves: But I love gatherings. Isn’t it ironic?

It’s tough to appreciate fighting the foot traffic, getting bumped, pushed, or waiting in lines. Only having one place to be isn’t as bad, but depending on that location, the non-stop noise can get to you. Sometimes you get lucky, and so far, so good. With even more hope, these next few weeks go by pretty quick because the $7 I had to throw down for my lunch time burrito didn’t impress me. Makes me really lose my appetite for my yearly corn dog.

2007 Aug 192007 Aug 19

Third Tuesday in Vancouver

As if there aren’t enough things going on in Vancouver that relate back to technology, social media, or something to do with Facebook, Twitter, or whatever social networking tool you use, here comes another one.

Third Tuesday in Vancouver is an event that focuses on bringing people together to share ideas and concepts about various things relating to the online world. In fact, let me allow the Facebook group to explain it better.

THIRD TUESDAY is a monthly meetup for communications and marketing folks interested in learning/sharing more about the practical applications of social media in business.

Third Tuesday has real world chapters and meetups in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Montreal and Halifax.

Third Tuesday meetups typically include a guest speaker who talks with the group about different social media technologies and trends ranging from blogging, podcasting, social networks to influencer marketing and online WOM techniques — and how these things apply to communication, marketing, community building and society. We really try to encourage group discussion and learning, and we do this by keeping our meetups very casual and open, but focused too so that our members walk away with new insights and actionable ideas for their businesses.

Third Tuesday is also an opportunity to simply network with industry peers, to share knowledge, experiences and perhaps a few laughs and drinks too. So, if you’re interested in some thought provoking discussion about new media marketing and communications, please join us for Third Tuesday.

Even though I was (depressingly) unable to attend BarCampVancouver due to my work schedule, this will be a neat opportunity to not only experience this realm of meetups, but I’ll also get to see some of those folks from BarCampVancouver as well. I’m also curious to hear about what tools or methods people are using for the realm of business, especially when it comes to thinking outside of the box to do unique, successful things. Should be good.

2007 Jul 29

All the way from Smithers, B.C.

Sean, aka Zanstorm, is on holidays with his wife, taking a road trip through southern B.C and the island. I’ve been reading his hockey blog, most for the Canucks content and not the Leaf stuff, for a long time. Waiting For Stanley is clever, funny, passionate, and very informed, even for a fan who is up in the interior.

Photo courtesy of miss604 on Flickr

Sean has been on The Crazy Canucks just once, but with the coming season on the horizon, watch for him to make another appearance or three. We’ve also told him that he needs to really get down here for a game.

This was the first time that Sean has ever stepped beyond the realms of meeting people online and meeting them in real life. Sadly, we were still pretty groggy from the late night Blogathon adventure. Next time, we’ll get hockey crazy, Vancouver style.

Hope you enjoy the vacation, Sean! Come back soon!

2007 Jul 262007 Jul 26

Watching stuff blow up in the water

Photo credit: duanestorey on Flickr

Basically, that sums up the Celebration of Light. You take a barge, stick it in the ocean, lace it with fireworks, call 500,000 of your closest friends, and watch someone light the fuse.

The pre-game mayhem is annoying, and the post-game crowds is almost made up for by watching the pretty lights in the sky. Last night being the first night of four, I wish we had sat closer to the music being played over the loud speakers. Could have brought a radio, but the last thing I want to be carrying around is a ghetto blaster. Although, that would be cool, especially if I had some high-tops, track suit, and a bandanna.

Photo credit: duanestorey on Flickr

Living in the west end, we understand what it is that we have to deal with. Getting to sleep last night wasn’t too hard, and I assume that the Saturday night performances will be much crazier than the mid-week displays. Still, I’m not complaining. Argue if they are good or not for the city, I was hanging out with a wicked group of people last night. Summer is made for things like this.

Photo credit: duanestorey on Flickr

Corinna and Adam picked us up on the way to meet up with Keira, and then we proceeded to Duane’s to chill and enjoy some beverages. He and Rebecca had the opportunity to meet Mr. Tony Pierce while in Las Vegas a few weeks ago, and the man is in Vancouver for the next few days. He brought along a local friend as well, and good times were most certainly had.

Photo credit: duanestorey on Flickr

Spain had their turn last night, and it started out slow. I was feeling a little let down towards the beginning, but it didn’t last long. There’s something pretty cool to be said about thirty, simultaneous explosions that will always put a smile on my face. Forty and I’ll clap.

Kudos to you, Vancouver, for taking your trash with you. Being that the garbage workers have been on strike for nearly the whole week, there wasn’t a ton of Starbucks cups left everywhere. I still can’t understand what possesses someone to just toss their waste where they are sitting. Morons.

And next time, I’ll think to take more pictures with my own camera. You can see even more of Duane’s fireworks pics here.

2007 Jul 18

Extend the SkyTrain towards UBC, but go all the way

It’s no secret that I have become fascinated with the SkyTrain since coming to Vancouver. It’s easy to do, and maybe it has something to do with a love I had for trains as a kid. I don’t know all of the technical ins and outs, nor do I own a set of train engineer pajamas. However, I have a certain appreciation for mass transit.

Suddenly, there is debate to extend the SkyTrain west to the UBC campus. This would be an add-on to the existing Millienium Line that has long been discussed as being extended, but I’m surprised to hear the sudden press for it.

Another transit line could also be extended through Vancouver. TransLink will vote this week on whether to approve a $1 million study into running the Millennium Line from Commercial Drive to central Broadway, and eventually out to UBC. Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan supports the idea. If the expansion is completed, it should be done by 2009. [news1130]

This is causing a battle between mayors because of the long, on-hold project of building the Evergreen Line that would connect the Millennium Line with out laying communities on suburban commuters.

Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan supports a $1 million TransLink study looking at extending the Millennium Line west towards UBC. But politicians in other cities say it’s too soon to start thinking about that, while the Evergreen Line remains on hold.

The Millennium Line proposal would extend rapid transit from Commercial Drive to central Broadway and eventually west to the university. But Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan says the focus should instead be on getting the line to the northeast sector off the ground, which was promised ten years ago. The Evergreen Line still needs $400 million in government funding before it can go ahead.

TransLink Chair Malcolm Brodie says the Evergreen Line is a top priority, and the potential expansion of the Millennium Line is still many years down the road. [news1130]

All of these stories came out today, so it gets really confusing as to what’s going on where. Still, if there is a plan to push for the extension to UBC, the current plan only sees it to reach to Arbutus Street, barely half way to UBC. Chances are, the extension might never reach that far, a combination of construction issues seemingly the reason.

Like I said, I am all for expanding mass transit. I’m a firm believer that more should be done in extending services to outlaying areas and suburbs where commuters clog up the roads on a daily basis. More so, I think expanding SkyTrain service throughout Surrey and Langley would be a far better option than twinning the Port Mann[wiki], but the ball already seems set for that project.

However, if you are going to help fix the situation, then go all the way. Stopping at Arbutus would seem half-assed, and even the news reports all say, “and eventually out to UBC.” Traffic is rough in Vancouver, but providing just partial fixes isn’t going to make it any better.

2007 Jul 10

Reasons to love getting up in the morning

I’m an early riser, for the most part, and there is something to be said about running in the mornings. This picture that I’ve had sitting on my desktop for a while, and rediscovered today, is a reminder of that.

Thanks, KatKam.

2007 Jun 282007 Jun 29

Matthew Good, “Hospital Music” streaming and album release

June 29, 2007: Rebecca is rocking a live blog from a private performance by Matt in Las Vegas. Check it out here.

Getting the note from his website, Matthew Good is now streaming his entire new album, “Hospital Music”, on his website and on iTunes. You can purchase your own copy on July 31st, but singles and the full record will be available via the iTunes Music Store slightly sooner in the states than the hard copy release.

Additionally, Rebecca has just started her journey to Las Vegas to catch a private performance by Matt. I just saw her off on the first leg, and she will be live blogging the whole event in a bit of a whirlwind tour. A very nice follow up to her first live blogging adventure, all because of the same guy.

It would be poor of me to not mention this new album, and I should really have posted more about this than I have. In fact, I’ve talked about it more on RadioZoom, but that’s a different sphere altogether than my blogging efforts.

A lot of Vancouver is synonymous with Matt for me. He was the first rock show I saw here, and I got to meet him for the first time in August of 2006 at the little show he gave for a select group of fans on the last night he lived on the cusp of the west end. We’ve hung out since then, he’s chastised our preference of wine, and we come to a lot of the same conclusions on political issues. The only thing on that last point is that he is generally much smarter than me. I know the overall concept that fuels my opinion, but the guy is so, incredibly informed that I can only nod my head in agreement.

Matthew Good, November 2005 at the Commodore Ballroom I reviewed “Beautiful Midnight” during my days at KRUI, picking that album out of the pile for the only reason that I had a fascination with the Canadian music scene that was a completely different world than the mainstream of America. That was my introduction, and Rebecca taught me a lot more. I’m still getting more and more familiar with his library every single time it comes up in my library.

On this new album, however, I was actually there when parts of it were being made. I’ve even been able to sit through a private listening of it while Benji fell asleep on Rebecca’s lap. Every single time, there is something that amazes me, and I haven’t had that feeling about an album for a long time. Call it what you will, but listening to the stream of it right now, I know what it is that I’m talking about. That’s all that really matters.

I want to do some sort of music review of this album. The sad fact is, one, I’m not very good at those sorts of things. Second, I hate music reviews. I like what I like based on a matter of personal preference, and you should, too. I will say, however, brilliant. That’s the only word I can think of while I listen to this.

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