World Cup + summer activities
"Ca-na-da! Ca-na-da!" The patriotic cheers are still echoing in my ear.
I have just filed my story re: fan reaction on the round-of-16 game between Canada and the Switzerland at B.C. Place. I am not a soccer fan so I had to do some basic research about the FIFA women's World Cup and Canada's national team. Now I know more than I did three hours earlier. Now I can say things like: "Quebec's Josee Belanger drove the ball into the Swiss goalie's net in the 52nd minute with a powerful left-foot kick." And "With this win, Canada breaks a 10-game winless streak against European teams and advances to the quarterfinals against either England or Norway." Haha, basic stuff, but way beyond the things I usually know, or bother to find out.
I had hoped for a win since a happy story is much less tedious to write than a sad, we-lost piece. And we did! Canada won 1-0. It was a blast watching the crowds at the fan zone at Larwill Park. It was also great to see all that red and white. Some people broke out into impromptu chants of "Ca-na-da! Ca-na-da!" A couple bare-chested fans waved the maple leaf flag on the sidewalk, egging on motorists to honk their cars in celebration. A mini-parade of red Vespas were particularly enthusiastic, honking away like it was an Olympic/Stanley Cup win. It's as if Canada Day came 10 days early.
I failed to add in the story, however, that the fervour was mostly limited to B.C. Place, the fan zone, and the surrounding streets (that would be very killjoy) I focused on the feel-good bits. Such as, the sold-out audience at B.C. Place numbered 53,855, apparently a record for the national women's soccer team. Several people have also said they've been very impressed at the turnout, both at the stadium and at Larwill Park - considering this is soccer, this is North America, and this is the women's team.
Anyway, here's my story. I'll likely do it all over again on July 5, during the final match. Chances are slim that Team Canada will advance that far so it won't be as fun and likely won't be the front page.
---
Aside from the Canada vs. Switzerland game, it's also Father's Day. I'm avoiding Facebook and Instagram today. After a while, all the happy-daddy photos and greetings get to be too much. Nauseating, almost. I don't begrudge posters and their dads this day - if my dad was still alive and if I was the type to blab on and on on social media - I might even jump on the bandwagon. But he isn't and I'm not, and it's not easy reading all those messages. Best to take a brief hiatus.
Also, it's the summer solstice! I'm loving the long days and could get used to all this sunshine. Today got me thinking about what my plans are for the rest of this 37th summer of mine.
Some thoughts:
- There's some good acts coming to town for the International Jazz Fest, including a Brazilian singer named Eliane Elias (Friday, Vogue, $40+) and Pink Martini (Saturday, Orpheum, $49+). I've seen Pink Martini ages ago, so would not mind a repeat performance. But maybe I should try something new. Starting to feel slightly stuck in a rut; will be good to go out of my comfort zone of usual haunts and interests.
- I definitely want to catch an outdoor flick at Stanley Park this year. This year's lineup seems better than in years past, with Pitch Perfect, The Breakfast Club, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and an Avengers movie on the big screen at Second Beach every Tuesday this summer starting July 7. I'm especially stoked for Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones (you can tell I have the movie-going taste of a 13-year-old!) There are more outdoor movies scheduled in different venues and other cities (see complete list here). What's missing, however, is Harbour Green Park as a venue. Bring it back, City of Vancouver! Hmm. I should start a petition. There is no Coal Harbour residents association, unlike Marpole or Yaletown etc. Maybe I should start one. Ha! NOT.
- On Saturday, my cousins, sis and I went to False Creek for the Dragon Boat Festival. The race itself is only exciting when the CBC Wavecatchers are paddling, but the entire event has such a chill, laid back atmosphere. I like watching on the rocks behind Creekside Community Centre; it has a great vantage point of the finish line. However, this year, there was a new dock that extended quite close to the water and offered prime views of the paddlers, especially the teams slotted in the first few lanes. K. and I watched the CBC team's second race from there. Unfortunately, they didn't do as well as last year's. They placed in the consolation final only, not the medal rounds. Ah well. There's still races in Steveston (Aug. 22) and Penticton (Sept. 12 and 13) coming up. I'm already looking forward to going to the Okanagan. I just wish we weren't staying in that dumpy motel.
- For restaurants, we need to go to Acorn, where we got a gift certificate as a wedding gift. I'd also like to try Big Trouble, which replaced my beloved The Parker. Also, I recently got a major hankering for the churros and yogurt dessert at Espana. I hope to do some lady-drinks with some journo girls I haven't seen in a while.
- I'd like to get up to Whistler one weekend. Scandinave Spa, I miss you!
- I also wanna do the West End architectural walking tour offered by the Architectural Institute of B.C. I've done the AIBC's Strathcona and Chinatown tours before. They're great fun, super informative, and a bargain at only $10. I thought it might be nice to learn more about my (neighbouring-ish) hood, perhaps the July 11 tour. The Downtown tour could also be an option (see more info on the walks and schedule here). The Vancouver Heritage Foundation also offers some interesting walks, including an Aug. 15 walk in the East Van/Burrard Inlet neighbourhood near Wall and Yale Streets. The walk, called Sunrise: At the Water's Edge, promises examples of renovated heritage homes. I'm a sucker for those (just to view, not to live).
- What would a Vancouver summer be without fireworks? The Celebration of Light is still weeks away, and too early to plan at this point. Who's in: China (July 25), Brazil (July 29) and Canada (Aug. 1). The preliminary plan: Brazil at Sunset Beach and Canada from the rooftop?
I'm sure there's other things. But this is a good start.
I have just filed my story re: fan reaction on the round-of-16 game between Canada and the Switzerland at B.C. Place. I am not a soccer fan so I had to do some basic research about the FIFA women's World Cup and Canada's national team. Now I know more than I did three hours earlier. Now I can say things like: "Quebec's Josee Belanger drove the ball into the Swiss goalie's net in the 52nd minute with a powerful left-foot kick." And "With this win, Canada breaks a 10-game winless streak against European teams and advances to the quarterfinals against either England or Norway." Haha, basic stuff, but way beyond the things I usually know, or bother to find out.
I had hoped for a win since a happy story is much less tedious to write than a sad, we-lost piece. And we did! Canada won 1-0. It was a blast watching the crowds at the fan zone at Larwill Park. It was also great to see all that red and white. Some people broke out into impromptu chants of "Ca-na-da! Ca-na-da!" A couple bare-chested fans waved the maple leaf flag on the sidewalk, egging on motorists to honk their cars in celebration. A mini-parade of red Vespas were particularly enthusiastic, honking away like it was an Olympic/Stanley Cup win. It's as if Canada Day came 10 days early.
I failed to add in the story, however, that the fervour was mostly limited to B.C. Place, the fan zone, and the surrounding streets (that would be very killjoy) I focused on the feel-good bits. Such as, the sold-out audience at B.C. Place numbered 53,855, apparently a record for the national women's soccer team. Several people have also said they've been very impressed at the turnout, both at the stadium and at Larwill Park - considering this is soccer, this is North America, and this is the women's team.
Anyway, here's my story. I'll likely do it all over again on July 5, during the final match. Chances are slim that Team Canada will advance that far so it won't be as fun and likely won't be the front page.
---
Aside from the Canada vs. Switzerland game, it's also Father's Day. I'm avoiding Facebook and Instagram today. After a while, all the happy-daddy photos and greetings get to be too much. Nauseating, almost. I don't begrudge posters and their dads this day - if my dad was still alive and if I was the type to blab on and on on social media - I might even jump on the bandwagon. But he isn't and I'm not, and it's not easy reading all those messages. Best to take a brief hiatus.
Also, it's the summer solstice! I'm loving the long days and could get used to all this sunshine. Today got me thinking about what my plans are for the rest of this 37th summer of mine.
Some thoughts:
- There's some good acts coming to town for the International Jazz Fest, including a Brazilian singer named Eliane Elias (Friday, Vogue, $40+) and Pink Martini (Saturday, Orpheum, $49+). I've seen Pink Martini ages ago, so would not mind a repeat performance. But maybe I should try something new. Starting to feel slightly stuck in a rut; will be good to go out of my comfort zone of usual haunts and interests.
- I definitely want to catch an outdoor flick at Stanley Park this year. This year's lineup seems better than in years past, with Pitch Perfect, The Breakfast Club, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, Harry Potter, and an Avengers movie on the big screen at Second Beach every Tuesday this summer starting July 7. I'm especially stoked for Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones (you can tell I have the movie-going taste of a 13-year-old!) There are more outdoor movies scheduled in different venues and other cities (see complete list here). What's missing, however, is Harbour Green Park as a venue. Bring it back, City of Vancouver! Hmm. I should start a petition. There is no Coal Harbour residents association, unlike Marpole or Yaletown etc. Maybe I should start one. Ha! NOT.
- On Saturday, my cousins, sis and I went to False Creek for the Dragon Boat Festival. The race itself is only exciting when the CBC Wavecatchers are paddling, but the entire event has such a chill, laid back atmosphere. I like watching on the rocks behind Creekside Community Centre; it has a great vantage point of the finish line. However, this year, there was a new dock that extended quite close to the water and offered prime views of the paddlers, especially the teams slotted in the first few lanes. K. and I watched the CBC team's second race from there. Unfortunately, they didn't do as well as last year's. They placed in the consolation final only, not the medal rounds. Ah well. There's still races in Steveston (Aug. 22) and Penticton (Sept. 12 and 13) coming up. I'm already looking forward to going to the Okanagan. I just wish we weren't staying in that dumpy motel.
- For restaurants, we need to go to Acorn, where we got a gift certificate as a wedding gift. I'd also like to try Big Trouble, which replaced my beloved The Parker. Also, I recently got a major hankering for the churros and yogurt dessert at Espana. I hope to do some lady-drinks with some journo girls I haven't seen in a while.
- I'd like to get up to Whistler one weekend. Scandinave Spa, I miss you!
- I also wanna do the West End architectural walking tour offered by the Architectural Institute of B.C. I've done the AIBC's Strathcona and Chinatown tours before. They're great fun, super informative, and a bargain at only $10. I thought it might be nice to learn more about my (neighbouring-ish) hood, perhaps the July 11 tour. The Downtown tour could also be an option (see more info on the walks and schedule here). The Vancouver Heritage Foundation also offers some interesting walks, including an Aug. 15 walk in the East Van/Burrard Inlet neighbourhood near Wall and Yale Streets. The walk, called Sunrise: At the Water's Edge, promises examples of renovated heritage homes. I'm a sucker for those (just to view, not to live).
- What would a Vancouver summer be without fireworks? The Celebration of Light is still weeks away, and too early to plan at this point. Who's in: China (July 25), Brazil (July 29) and Canada (Aug. 1). The preliminary plan: Brazil at Sunset Beach and Canada from the rooftop?
I'm sure there's other things. But this is a good start.