12th Annual Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Nov 6 - 9

Today is your last day to get Early Bird VIP passes for the 12th Annual Vancouver Asian American Film Festival!

Opening night starts Thursday, November 6th and the festival closes on Sunday, November 9th.  Closing festivities include a Wrap Party and and Encore Presentations of West 32nd and Permute.

Click here for Program.

Click here to buy your VAFF VIP Pass

More information

Great Beginnings first round project initiative announced

On Monday, November 3rd, Mayor Sam Sullivan and Councillor Elizabeth Ball announced the first round of projects under Premier Gordon Campbell's 'Great Beginnings' $10 million initiative for the province.

According to Mayor Sullivan, the City of Vancouver will allocate its funds to help revitalize Vancouver's four most historic neighborhoods: Gastown, Japantown, Chinatown and Strathcona to mark the province's 150th birthday celebrations.

The city will concentrate on making improvements to public and private property, arts and culture, community living and civic pride. The budget for the first round of projects is over $1.5 million and include employing local residents in easy-to-enter jobs.

First round initiatives are: on:

• Lighting & Signage - retro-style new neon signs at the Pennsylvania Hotel & the Chinatown Plaza Parkade

• Clean Streets Project - expanded street and lane cleaning to 40 blocks within the Downtown Eastside in partnership with United We Can and the Coast Foundation

• Graffiti Removal & Art Project - expanded mural program & removal of graffiti
  

• Community Gardens - convert vacant lots in targeted neighbourhoods into food production spaces and/or artist-designed community gardens

• Building Improvements & Awning Replacements - restoration funding for alcoves and worn awnings on select heritage & non-heritage buildings

• Princess Avenue - interpretive walk for children will includes murals, community markers and a structural children's silhouette sign

• Heart of the City Festival - expanded capacity with a focus on the 150 year anniversary and the vibrancy of traditional founding urban communities

• Blood Alley community greening in Gastown

More information.

Fall Mountain View of WestVan

Fall Mountain View of WestVan
Originally uploaded by DJ_Riel

Another great shot of the mountains from my perch.

I like the cloud ring just below the crest.

Heatley Block History Talk

If you have been curious just what all the fuss is about and want to learn more about the fascinating history of the Heatly Block, please come out to this presentation. I have found many archival images relating to people who lived in the two old houses, including a photo of the man who built the 1889 house...

Here is the blurb from the Heart of the City brochure...

History Talk

HEATLEY BLOCK HISTORY TALK
with James Johnstone

Tuesday November 4, 7pm - 9pm

Spartacus Books, 684 E. Hastings
Free

The 1931-built Heatley Block, along with its two attached pioneer period houses, is at the centre of a debate about its future. What is the history of these three buildings? To find out, come hear neighbourhood and house historian James Johnstone present some of his amazing findings from his research so far.

Spartacus Books, which recently opened their doors in the historic Heatley Block, has opened their doors to the festival.

fall in strathcona

fall in strathcona
Originally uploaded by DJ_Riel

I love the leaves that fall from the big trees on Princess Ave in Strathcona every year.