Christmas crafts sales are a one-stop shopping centre for all those people on your list that need something simple but festive. From ornaments, to wreathes, to salt and sweet treats, you’ll find everything under the broad blanket of Christmas crafts.
This weekend hosts a number of Christmas craft fairs around the city. Simmons Mattress Gallery suggests the following sales:
Friday, November 25th
-9th Annual Chilliwack Christmas Craft Crawl
Various times and locations in Chilliwack
-North Delta Potter’s Guild Christmas Pottery Sale
Since 1998, St. Paul’s Hospital in downtown Vancouver has been creating a public light display to raise funds for various projects and causes connected with the hospital.
This year, the ‘Lights of Hope’ display intends to raise $1.9 million in corporate and private donations. The St. Paul’s Hospital Foundation has already raised a total of $16 million since the conception of the light show.
The set-up for the lights began on November 5th, when a 100 volunteers helped erect the carefully planned display. It is estimated that the lights would span 10 kms, if attached as a single line. That would be quite the sight.
If you would like to donate, visit the charity’s website: http://www.helpstpauls.com The site suggest many creative ways to give, from security stock, to a mention in the will, to a monthly donation. Whatever you can afford to give, they’ll use.
The projects that the hospital wishes to fund are: the purchase of a new CT scanner, two 3D-capable echocardiography machines, bronchoscopy equipment, for the detection of lung disease and the completion of the Diagnostic Treatment Unit.
The official opening of this year’s Lights of Hope display will be on Thursday, November 24th.
The historic Yale Hotel and Blues Bar is closing its doors after 130 years of operation. One of Vancouver’s finest small-act musical venues, The Yale will close for twelve months to undergo a much needed renovation plan. November 21st will be the final show day.
Opened in the 1880s, The Yale was one of only a handful of buildings to survive the 1886 fire. It became a musical frontier in the early 1900s and has been supporting emerging and established blues, jazz, R&B and soul acts ever since.
The renovations will help The Yale take on Vancouver Heritage status. The renos will also improve the facilities in the club. Planned improvements include an upgraded sound system, a hardwood dance floor and a raised roof above the stage area.
Simmons Mattress Gallery is not usually a forum for gossip speculation, but the recent split of newlyweds Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries has us a little concerned.
The marriage lasted a total of 72 days. They didn’t even complete a financial quarter. Imagine what all the guests who attended that wedding are feeling. I bet a few of them are wishing they didn’t spend so much on their gift.
But the real question is: Why are so many celebrity couples calling it quits?
Is it the pressures of being in the spotlight? The legions of fans who bolster their egos? Is it that they were never in love to begin with? Are all these marriages simply grandiose publicity stunts?
No. Most probably started with love, but somewhere along the way, the fire died.
Sleeping apart from your partner can have that effect. We firmly believe the couple that sleeps together, stays together. Often celebrity couples are forced apart by the demands of their jobs. Without a permanent mattress to share, the individuals start to feel less like a union and more like two private enterprises.
Thankfully, most couples that buy our mattresses are able to enjoy the comfort they offer together. With non-flip pocket coils, designed to eliminate motion transfer, both partners can rise in the morning refreshed from an undisturbed sleep. When both parties in a relationship are rested, there is less chance of minor issues blowing up into major ones. There is also more energy for the other endeavors that mattresses provide.
Don’t model your life on the fleeting bond of two distant stars. Stay grounded on a mattress that supports the weight of a committed relationship.
When watching a film, our gaze is directed at a subject that has been chosen for us. We give the director free reign to control our sight line. This exchange encourages new experiences, some of which are cultural.
This week, the Vancouver Asian Film Festival hopes to direct our eyes towards the North American Asian experience.
In their 15th year of operation, the VAFF is intent on providing a cultural bridge between Asian and non-Asian communities. The Festival will run from November 3rd to November 6th, with all shows screening at Cineplex Odeon International Village, near Roger’s Arena.
The films range in subjects from cross-cultural love for the Vancouver Canucks, to a historical documentary on the migration of asian settlers to North America.
Also included in this year’s festival, as a part of Vancouver’s 125th celebration, is an encore presentation of “Love Letters,” the photo and video campaign shown last June. Love Letters was an open call for Vancouver citizens to submit digital records of images and video that conveyed their love for our fair city. VAFF will show Joanna Wong’s entry on the festival’s opening night.
Tickets for all the shows may be purchased online at the Festival site or the day of at the Festival box office. Passes are also available for the true film buffs.
An uninterrupted sleep can dramatically increase your daily health. There – we said it! But the next best thing is laughter.
We’re not 100% sure of the science, but we do know a good laugh is a great way to relieve anxiety. Forget the scented candles and bubble bath, grab a friend and find a local comedy club or check the events calendar for local comics coming to town. Then take a night-off from work/kids/bridge and laugh your way back to health.
This month, Paul F. Tompkins will be visiting the city and performing at the Rio Theatre, only a few km’s from our Broadway location. Tompkins’ humour is a little quirky, but if you have ever listened to his podcast or his appearances on Comedy Bang Bang, you wouldn’t miss this night for your Grandmother’s funeral. Tompkins will be taking to the stage on November 30th. For a little taste of his style, listen to the audio clip below:
Never been to the Rio Theater? You are in for a treat. Be forewarned, this is an adults only show and as a result, beer will be served. And yes, you may take your cans of PBR into the Theatre.
Another great venue for traveling comedians, as opposed to the community kind, is the River Rock Theatre. Last year, legendary comics Chris Rock and Jerry Seinfeld performed at the Rock.
If a smaller, more casual setting is more to your taste, check out the Comedy Mix in the Century Plaza Hotel downtown.
Out in the burbs? Try LaffLines in New Westminster. Tracy MacDonold, a fine Canadian comic, will be performing on November 4th and 5th.
Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is an area of the city that many of us choose to avoid. The poverty level scares us, the open drug market makes us nervous and the prostitution reminds us of the dangerous hold of addiction. So we divert our travel routes, choose alternative venues and leave the issues for the community to deal with on their own. It’s a coping mechanism that most of us subscribe to.
One thing we can’t forget, even if we choose to turn our backs, is that the DES is full of people. People who have a past, present and future. People who value the community they live in. People who are artistic, creative and passionate.
As a part of Vancouver’s 125th Anniversary Celebration, the DES community will be celebrating the ‘Heart of the City Festival.’ The festival will showcase the talents of many of the area’s current citizens, as well as document some of the rich stories from the neighbourhood’s past.
Events are running all week. For more details check the festival website:
Looking for a family scare this weekend? Check out the Dunbar Haunted House, which ironically, is no longer located in Dunbar.
The annual scare factory has moved locations, due to the increased volume of visitors that the house has received over the past seven years. The new location is 8934 Shaughnessy St., near the Marine and Cambie Canada Line station.
The house has now become a community project, taking almost four months to create.
With props, live actors, dramatic settings and an animated soundtrack, the walking tour is a theatrical buffet of scaredom.
This year’s theme is “Barbaric British Columbia.” The word from the crypt is the house will showcase a number of iconic images from BC history and culture – possible frights include the undead crew of the S.S. Beaver, the resurrection of Bill Vander Zalm’s Fantasy Garden and the impenetrable Tim Thomas.
The haunted house opened for business on Oct 14th and will close its doors at midnight on Halloween.
Entry costs $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. All proceeds are distributed between the B.C. Fire Fighter’s Burn Fund, the Christmas Bureau and the Vancouver Police Union Charity Foundation.
For younger visitors, the house offers a reduced rate, performerless walk through on Saturdays and Sundays, between 11am and 7pm. At 7pm, the actors take their place to offer the true, spine-tingling spectacle.
The British Academy of Sound Therapy has named “Weightless,” by the Marconi Union, to be the most relaxing tune ever.
The sleep-inducing track beat out offerings by Coldplay, Enya and Mozart.
Marconi Union produce ambient electronica. For “Weightless,” the group worked with a number of sound therapists to construct a song that soothed the listener through specifically chosen harmonic intervals.
The Telegraph, which reported the story last week, commented that the “carefully arranged harmonies, rhythms and bass lines help to slow the heart rate, reduce the blood pressure and lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.”
The eight-minute track is so effective, that drivers have been warned not to listen to the track while behind the wheel.
The study published the list of the top ten songs for inducing sleep like qualities. “Weightless” was number one. Coming in at number eight, was Adele’s current chart topper, “Someone Like You.”
When compared with other relaxation methods, “Weightless” trumped massage, walking and drinking tea.
Our rhyme scheme might stray, but our love for the mattress is unwavering. Come visit one of our two locations in the Lower Mainland to sample the large selection of Simmons mattresses on hand.
Language is a toolbox from which we borrow implements to cut, shape and model our thoughts. From Facebook posts, to journal entries, to private poems, our soul is portrayed through the words we connect together.
This month, writers and readers from around the province will have a chance to celebrate the expressive power of writing. The 24th Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival will be held on Granville Island from Tuesday, October 18th to Sunday, October 23rd. It begins with an interactive session with the children’s author, Paulette Bourgeois. Bourgeois is the creator of the ‘Franklin’ series that adults and their children have enjoyed since 1986. The discussion is aimed at young readers. Primary teachers and encouraged to bring their classes down for this midmorning discussion.
The final event of the festival is the Governor General’s Award Party, where four previous recipients of Canada’s highest literary achievement will discuss the award and it’s social merit. The four writers, Nino Ricci, John Pass, Joan MacLeod and John Vaillant, will each read a short passage from their decorated work.
In between these bookends, will be a number of author seminars, publishing and writing workshops, poetry slams and literary debates.
The Vancouver festival will also host a short story and poetry contest for emerging writers. Deadline for submissions is October 23rd.
But words are things, and a small drop of ink, falling like dew upon a thought, produces that which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think. -Lord Byron
The new moon has a special significance in October (and no, it has nothing to do with Vampires). It marks the date of the cultural festival known as Diwali. Observed by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains, Diwali is a fall festival that celebrates ‘good over evil.’
In traditional celebrations, the triumph of good is portrayed through the lightening of lamps and candles.
The new moon is the darkest day of the month. In a natural setting, void of electrical lights, the candles represent a defeat of the darkness that exists during the absence of the moon.
Like Thanksgiving, Diwali is traditionally a family occasion, with activities organized around the family unit. But it is also celebrated with community events and decorations.
The slogan for Vancouver’s publicly organized Diwali celebrations is “Light your Spirit.” There are five major events put on by Vancouver Celebrates Diwali. They run from October 15th to the 23rd. Here is a brief summary of the planned festivities:
October 16
“Dance All Sorts Diwali Style” (2:00 pm)
-The festival will begin with a performance by Bageshree Vaze, a contemporary kathak dancer, who will preform at the Roundhouse Theatre in Yaletown. Tickets at the door.
October 18
“Diwali Bright Lights” (4:30 pm)
-This night is dedicated to emerging South Asian artists in the Vancouver community. It will include classical Indian music and a variety of dance groups, including the ever-popular Bollywood style. The event will take place at the Heritage Hall on Main Street. This is a free event.
“Chai House on Main Street”
-This is an upscaled version of the earlier event. The headline performer will be Grammy winner Chin Injeti. Tickets are $10.
October 23
“Diwali Downtown” (12:00 pm)
This is a family event to close out the public festival. It runs from noon till 6:00 pm at the Roundhouse in Yaletown. There will be a variety of musical acts, dance teams, craft workshops and traditional Indian food. Tickets for this final event are by donation.
Shah Rukh Khan is one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. Appearing in over 70 Hindi films, Khan is considered by many to be the King of Bollywood.
With his new science fiction film, “Ra.One,” premiering on October 26th, the world media is obsessed with everything Kahn.
This week, an article in “Harper’s Bazaar” published some interesting facts about Kahn’s sleeping rituals.
Kahn was asked by Mala Sekhri to describe his bed attire. The middle-aged star, often referred to by his acronym SRK, revealed that he prefers to ‘dress up for bed.’
“I like to wear clean, really nice pair of clothes, so like my Dolce and Gabbana shorts, I will sometime . . . wear my Lululemon track pants and I’ll wear a nice, crisp white T-shirt.”
Kahn also went on to comment that he enjoys putting cologne on before crawling beneath the covers.
Cologne? Dress shirts? DG boxers? The ‘King’ knows how to push the boundaries of extravagant living. And a little shout-out to a local company.
We only hope his mattress is on par with his sweet-smelling wardrobe.
Vancouver is blessed to have so many diverse ethnicities infused into its kaleidoscope culture. Celebrating specific regions of origin helps Vancouverites appreciate the richness of our multicultural society.
This weekend, the city is proud to host Taiwanfest. With a variety of events planned around the city, Taiwanfest hopes to offer a sampling of the entertainment, food and art from the island of Taiwan and Mainland China.
Free musical performances will be held all weekend around the Vancouver Art Gallery. One of the anticipated highlights of the Labour Day weekend will be the Musou Girls. Starting at 8pm on Saturday, the Musou girls will play a mix of modern and traditional Chinese instruments. The music is composed by the founder of the group, Mr. Xue Xuan Liu.
For a deeper look into the Taiwanese culture, checkout the four documentaries that will be showing around town. Simmons Mattress Gallery suggests “Faces of Taiwan.” This film is made up of five mini docs that focus on overcoming adversity.
On the edible menu will be Vancouver’s first street banquet. This event is being sponsored by the city as part of Vancouver’s 125th celebrations.
Taiwanese ceramics will be on display at the Roundhouse theatre from September 3rd to the 10th.
Enjoy the festivities!
For a more detailed schedule of events click here.
Vancouver is a haven for public art. From “The Birds” at the Olympic Plaza in the Athletes Village complex, to the “A-maze-ing Laughter” men at English Bay, to the “Equestrian Monument” at the Yaletown Roundhouse Skytrain Station, art surrounds us.
Now BC Hydro is adding its own touch to the public art scene in our city. Hydro boxes are now being decorated with vegetation scenes, children’s art work and graphic design pieces. ‘Function’ is giving ‘design’ an opportunity to paint on its metal canvas.
Instead of random tags and garish graffiti, the boxes now display images that are more reflective of the community they are located in.
Often commissioned, public art is a way for large corporations and city planners to probe the imagination of commuters, homeowners and travelers. The installations encourage an interaction between the observer and the artist. They make us value our streets.
So lift your head from your smart phone browsing and take in the installations that pepper our city streets. They may inspire a response that could change your day.
This quirky little nonsense poem by Edward Lear inspired a Bill Manhoff’s Broadway hit that is now showing at the PAL Studio Theatre in Coal Harbour.
The play revolves around an odd relationship between a bookish writer, Felix, and a flirtatious actress, Doris. Through the course of the “Owl and the Pussycat,” the audience discovers the reasons why these two aspiring artists are failing to succeed at their dream professions. The work looks at identity and self-awareness.
Barbara Streisand played the role of Doris in the film adaptation, shot in 1970.
If you have never been to the PAL Theatre, the price of admission is worth the venue visit. Built on the 8th Floor of a residential tower on the North end of Cardero Street, the PAL theatre is an intimate setting that features a 120 seats, a floor to ceiling window of Lost Lagoon, a rooftop patio, and hardwood floor stage.
The show will run until September 3rd. Tickets may be purchased online for $20.
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon, the moon, the moon,
The Pacific National Exhibition is back to close out summer with a bang. The fun started Saturday and continues until Monday, September 5th.
Poke around the agricultural exhibits, take in the hilarious and amazing antics of the Superdogs and watch the night sky light up with Pop City’s nightly pyro celebration. With tons of activities for families during the day, including family theatre, the nights belong to the musicians. The Summer Night Concerts series will host a different performer every night until the final show on Labour Day. This year’s big draw is Kenny Rogers on Monday, August 29th, the Annual Evening with Elvis on the 31st, hosted by the immortal Red Robinson and the “Pretty Woman” soundtrack makers, Wilson Phillips, on September 1st.
General admission is $20, but all children under 13 are free. VanCity (the bank) is also offering $5 admission for there customers on Wednesday, August 24th. Another way to save on admission costs is to come on August 27th. If you are the holder of a Whitecaps ticket, you will receive free entry into the fairgrounds.
For more information on the Pacific National Exhibition, visit their website or check out their smart phone daily schedule.
You wouldn’t think the airport would be a weekend destination spot, but YVR has other plans. This summer, experience ‘Take-Off Fridays’ at the Vancouver International Airport for games, family events a live DJ and multicultural mingling.
The final Friday event is August 27th. The fun starts around eight in the morning and wraps up around four at night. The festivities are spread out over both the domestic and international terminals.
Activities include face painting, dancing, food specials and the ‘money machine.’ The latter offers each contestant a chance to grab as many YVR bucks as they can. The catch: you need to grab them while standing in a closed wind cylinder. Each ‘buck’ you grab can be used towards purchasing items at stores around the airport.
The backdrop to this event are the finely carved and crafted First Nation artifacts that routinely offer travelers a glimpse at the beautiful history of the first West Coast peoples.
Come and enjoy the richness of YVR with the whole family. Your kids will love it and you will be reminded of how lucky we are to have such an amazing airport to welcome and bid farewell to travelers from all over the world.
Zimbabwe is a country with deep political problems. It’s economy has been suffering for more than a decade and personal freedoms have been being steadily reduced as its president for the last twenty years, Robert Mugabe, struggles to retain control. It is far from a safe region to visit.
This is a tragedy for art lovers around the world, as Zimbabwe is home to Africa’s finest stone sculptors. The word Zimbabwe actually means, ‘Great House of Stone’ in the Shona language.
Fortunately, many of the stone pieces being produced in the country are now part of a traveling exhibition that will be visiting Vancouver for the next month. The works are being shown at the VanDusen gardens. It is the only Canadian stop on the world tour.
Two of the artists behind the works, Passmore Mupindiko and Patrick Sephani, are giving daily lessons on stone art. The two artists are currently traveling with the stones and the exhibitions two curators, Vivienne and Joseph Croissette.
There is no extra cost to see the sculptures or to attend the daily stone workshops.
The Vancouver Art Gallery is currently hosting “The Colour of My Dreams: The Surrealist Revolution in Art.” The exhibition began in May and will run until September 25th. Simmons Mattress Gallery encourages you to inspire your own dreams by witnessing the amazing works on display at the VAG.
Surrealism was a reaction to Sigmund Freud’s investigation into the meaning of dreams. André Breton wrote the manifesto of the movement in 1924 and encouraged artists to create works that focused on the unconscious mind over perceived reality.
Part of the exhibition highlights the connection between Pacific Northwest First Nations art and the Surrealist movement. Apparently, many of the contributing artists looked to First Nations art for inspiration.
Kwakwaka’wakw Headdress from Alert Bay
Another theme of the exhibition is the influence of cinema. Still a relatively new medium in the early half of the 1900s, film was able to put images in motion and create a fluid canvas on which perspective could be manipulated. From avant-garde films to Charlie Chaplin, to Betty Boop, cinema created a fictional world that the surrealists saw as similar to their own artistic ambitions.
Artists on display include: Salvador Dali, Max Ernst, René Magritte, Alberto Giacometti and many more.
Looking for an educational activity for the family this weekend. All Discovery Walks is offering a interactive tour of one Stanley Parks secret bogs. The tour begins at Lost Lagoon at 1:30 and ends around 3:30.
Vancouver Community College Science Instructor, Maria Morlin will be hosting the walk that will focus on the role of bogs and wetlands in forest ecology.
This is an excellent opportunity to subtly get your children back into an academic setting. You may want to research the topic of bogs beforehand with your family, to get them thinking about the subject matter. While on the trail, encourage questioning by modeling. Maria will be happy to answer any questions you or children bring to light.
Educators might also want to take part, specifically those working with students in Grades 3 and 4. ‘Habitats and Communities’ is a big part of the Science curriculum for these grades. Maria’s tour may inspire you to organize your own forest walk in the fall.
If you do plan on attending, you may want to wear appropriate footwear. We suggest boots.
Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the start of the tour.
The fireworks have come and gone, but there are still a number of free public events being offered around the city. The most popular are the Fresh Air Cinema screenings being shown around the Lower Mainland.
“Jaws” aired on Tuesday in Stanley park. Word has it there was more laughs then screams. Still a classic that everyone enjoys. The defining line: “We’re going to need a bigger boat.”
This Tuesday the classic urban Cinderella story comes to Stanley park with the screening of “Pretty Women.” We’ve never really been big Julia Roberts fans, but when Richard Gere snaps that jewelry box shut and Julia flashes those pearly whites, just for a moment we can see how she rose to fame. What a smile!
"Snap!"
The film we are dying to see airs on August 30th. “Stand By Me,” the quintessential end of summer/innocence film will closeout the summer series at Stanley Park. From “Chopper sick balls,” to the ‘barfarama,’ to the rail-tie sing-a-longs, “Stand By Me” has it all; even a few tears. Bring the family or a date and relive your youth in the open air of Stanley Park.
On Friday, August 28th, the Malkin Bowl Summer Concert Series welcomes Ben Harper to Stanley Park. This is one of the most anticipated outdoor shows of the season. Tickets went on sale in May, but there are still some being sold online. If you see one show this summer, catch Ben Harper’s set in the park.
Harper is touring on his most recent album, Give Till it’s Gone. Like most of his previous works, the album contains a strong message of hope, mixed with the pain of life. Always spiritual, Harper’s tracks reverberate with healing and religious conviction. But even with their strong Christian message, Harper’s words attract a strong secular audience that can relate with the pain and joy of love’s handiwork.
If you have never heard Harper’s music, download Live from Mars. Standout tracks include “Please Bleed,” “Women in You” and the quintessential mix-tape track “Walk Away.”
Harper will be playing between the cedars and beneath the stars at the beautiful Malkin clearing. Bring a blanket and some friends and let the one-man choir receive your heart.
This Saturday, the sky will once again be lit by exploding pyrotechnics, as the Celebration of Light returns to English Bay. This will be the twenty-first year Vancouver will host the event. It has become one of the must-see spectacles of the summer and major draw for tourist booking their Vancouver holiday.
The organizers of this year’s event are hoping to make a little more revenue by selling grandstand, V.I.P. seating at English Bay. The tickets are $45. The early bird seats have already sold, but Tickets Tonight is still selling.
Other changes include a shorter program. Instead of the standard four nights of explosions, this year’s festival will have only three; July 30, August 3rd and August 6th. Canada will perform on the final night.
A panel of judges chosen from the events corporate sponsors will evaluate the competing countries.
For more information on the Celebration of Light, check out their website. There is a really interesting section on the history of fireworks. There is also a full explanation of how the barge is loaded and prepped for each night of action. Apparently it takes a crew of 16 people, three days to prepare the show. There may be 2,000 to 4,500 bombs (that’s what they call them) used in one night’s performance. That’s a lot of gunpowder.
And just remember, if you are coming down to watch the fireworks downtown or at any of the beaches around English Bay, leave the alcohol at home. This is a family event and we want to keep it going for years to come. Enjoy Vancouver.
The Canadian Open returns to Shaughnessy Golf and Country Club this weekend. Some of the best in the game have already arrived in Vancouver and sampled Shaughnessy’s grueling fairways.
The talk surrounding the course is that the rough is extremely thick. Many in the field believe the difficulty of the course will level the playing field.
“I would say this is probably one of the toughest or the toughest course I have ever played,” said Anthony Kim, former U.S. Open champion. “I don’t think it’s so much the golf course length or the way it’s strategically laid out, it’s just that the rough is six or seven inches deep and we’re hacking out sideways.”
The world’s No. 1-ranked golfer, Luke Donald will be trying to return to form, after missing the cut at last week’s British Open. Donald played the course on Wednesday and commented that the rough was an issue, but the length was the more daunting feature. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had that many yardages of 200 and over into a lot of these holes and the ball is going short.”
Whatever their gripe, the men will need all their clubs this weekend, not just their low irons and wedges.
The tournament concludes on Sunday at 3:00pm. Global, TSN and the Golf Chanel will be sharing the coverage.
Two weeks ago, we posted a story on Randy Gardner, the official Guinness record holder for the number of consecutive hours without sleep. The young man attempted the feat as part of a science experiment.
Since writing that article, Simmons Mattress Gallery has received a number of emails about other famous insomniacs.
One story that stood out from the others was the story of Peter Tripp. Tripp was a disc jockey, who in 1959, stayed awake for 201 hours as part of a promotional stunt for a New York radio station. The stunt took place in a glass booth in Times Square.
Unlike Gardner, Tripp used pharmaceutical stimulants to stay awake. Doctors, who should have known better, supplied these.
By the fifth day of the stunt, witnesses claim Tripp took on a crazed look. He began to hallucinate, claiming to see kittens and mice scurrying around the makeshift studio. He also became spooked when a man in a trench coat visited. Tripp believed the man to be an undertaker and ran out into the street in fear. He was dragged back to his turntables.
The stunt was successful in raising money for the March of Dimes, a charity whose mission is to promote the health of young infants. Tripp’s health, however, declined after the stunt. Years later, he would complain of recurring headaches and emotional instability.
We think a car wash would have been a much healthier fundraiser.
In a province where you can ski the slopes in the morning, golf in the afternoon and spend the evenings on the beach, BC residents know that a comfortable mattress is an essential element to a busy day of west coast fun-and-play.
With the variety of activities that fill our waking hours, it is nice to have a consistent reliable mattress to collapse on when the sun finally sets.
Simmons Mattress Gallery has been providing BC residents with quality beds and exceptional service for years. In the last seven, we have distinguished ourselves from the competition by achieving the Consumer Choice Award for mattress store.
We are proud to carry all the top models from the Simmons Beautyrest line, a mattress series defined by the revolutionary non-flip pocket coil.
After the initial party on April 6th, Vancouver is planning a summer festival in Stanley Park to continue our city’s 125th birthday celebration. ‘Summer Live’ will take place over three days – July 8, 9, 10. The festival will showcase a number of artists, including an impressive line-up of local musicians.
The music will be the big draw of the weekend, with The New Pornographers, Said the Whale and Mother Mother sharing a stage. Local singer songwriter, Dan Mangan, will also play, along with the collective sound of Vancouver’s Symphony Orchestra.
Admission is free and the organizers promise that the event will be family friendly.
Party in the Park
The city chose Stanley Park as the site of the festival because of its beautiful setting, picnic capacity and its history with Vancouver’s city council.
Fact: The area of land now known as Stanley Park was delegated park space at the first Vancouver city council meeting in 1886.
There will also be a sports day like atmosphere, with hilarious relay races.
So don’t plan any getaways during the second weekend in July. You’ll want to stay home and enjoy this one with the rest of your fellow Vancouverites.
Fans of the UFC might be sad to learn that Brock Lesnar has pulled out of the main-event fight for UFC 131 in Vancouver. Lesnar was set to battle Junior Dos Santos, but the heavyweight star has fallen ill, due to a digestive disease known as diverticulitis.
This is the second time the disease has sidelined the big man. In 2009, Lesnar was scheduled to fight Shane Carwin at UFC 106, but pulled out. It was later explained that the heavyweight star was suffering from the above-mentioned intestinal disorder.
Lesnar was quoted as saying: “There isn’t a fight in this world that’s more important than my health.” Lesnar is considering surgery for a second time to deal with the illness.
With his health in limbo, one thing is certain – Lesnar will not be flying to Canada for his medical treatment. Lesnar has openly-criticized Canada’s health care system after receiving emergency treatment at a hospital in rural Manitoba.
Vancouver MMA fans will still be treated to a show on June 11th. Dana White has now booked Shane Carwin to fight Dos Santos at Rogers Arena.
The Queen of pop, Rihanna, has released a brand new video on a subject close to our hearts. Rihanna’s new single, “California King Bed,” details the relationship between two lovers who, even though they share a bed, are separated by an emotional distance.
The red-haired singer laments, “It feels like more than distance between us / In this California king bed / We’re 10,000 miles apart.”
In the video, directed by Anthony Mandler, Rihanna is seen lying in bed with a muscular model. As the song progresses, the bed widens and a physical separation appears between the couple.
Ironically, a California King, the largest mattress in the Simmons Beautyrest line, is four inches longer, not wider, than a regular king size mattress. Our Simmons’ mattress professionals recommend this mattress for individuals taller than 6’’.
The Barbados pop star measures in at 5′9”, a height that probably does not require the extra four inches in length. Our suggestion for Rihanna, go with a Queen size. It will bring you and your significant other closer and still allow for extended, after-hours play.
We understand her choice though, as ‘California king’ works more effectively as a symbol for her conflict and her lover.
The official video was released on Monday, May 9th. The single, we’re sure, will be the radio hit of the summer, adding to the list of hits that Rhianna’s Loud album has already generated.
Vancouverites will be able to see the singer live when she performs two sold out shows in June. We already have our tickets. Fingers crossed she encores with “California King Bed.”
Support comes from beneath. It stabilizes the main structure. It is the foundation on which outstanding achievements are made possible.
For the Vancouver Canucks, that support is the tireless playoff performance of Ryan Kesler. Bloodied and bruised, number seventeen is currently leading the NHL in playoff points, but most nights it is his work away from the net that is earning him respect around the league.
Killing penalties, winning faceoff’s and banging the boards, Kesler is giving it all this post-season. He is supporting a team whose top players (Daniel and Henrik) have mysteriously disappeared. He has stitches across his lip from an errant puck in Game Five; when asked if he wanted anesthesia for the wound, he refused it, saying it would only slow him down.
His fearless play and defensive stamina earned him over twenty-one minutes of ice time in Game Six against the Nashville Predators. Setting up both goals, Kesler earned the praises of Predator Coach Barry Trotz: “As I said when I was going by him, if he doesn’t play that way we’re probably going to Game 7 and we might win the series, but he played to a level that few people can reach in a series.”
Kesler, in a post-game interview with Scott Oake of the CBC, claimed that Trotz’s comments were humbling.
Now the assistant captain is carrying the Canucks into the Western Conference Finals, a feat managed only three times by the franchise.
Without him, the Canucks might be counting the clubs in their golf bag. With him they are the most powerful team in the NHL, destined to play for a chance at the Stanley Cup.
Good morning! Two words that sneak from our lips, but often mean far too little.
What is a ‘good morning’? Is it a greeting, a statement of fact or a question?
Well if the Viagra commercials are to be believed, it is a state of being; a post-performance glow. It has gentlemen in suits leaping over hedges, bounding down sidewalks and freely swinging their briefcases.
According to The Beatles it is a mundane rundown of your average day, mixed with a flirty skirt and a barnyard serenade.
Here at Simmons Mattress Gallery, we believe a ‘good morning’ is the product of a peaceful night’s sleep on our superior, non-flip pocket coil mattress. Nothing prepares your mind, body and soul for taking on the new day than an undisturbed rest. And quite simply, that is what a Simmons mattress provides. Our Beautyrest line will provide more spring than any blue pill will.
Try a Simmons today and you will never look back. You will greet your staff with a boastful ‘How was your sleep last night? Mine was amazing!’ That is how to start the day. Leave the chickens and the pill popping to the ill informed.
Are you looking for a unique theatrical experience that will arouse your senses, bring you to tears with laughter and inspire your passions at home? Of course you are!
This week, our city hosts the Vancouver International Burlesque Festival. For three nights, international stars will join the performers of Vancouver’s growing burlesque scene on two different stages.
On May 5th and 6th the show will take place at the Rickshaw theatre. There will be three performances each night, with single and ensemble acts.
On May 7th, the action moves to the Vogue Theatre. This night will include a long line-up of stars that will perform from 8:00 on.
If you are curious about the burlesque artistry and would like to get involved as a participant, there are workshops being offered on Saturday May 7th at the Chicken Coop at 2280 East Hastings. Tickets are $20 per class. There are three classes being offered at this location along with a make-up class at the Prophouse Café.
General Admission seats for the nightly performances are $20. There is also the option to purchase tickets at fourteen VIP tables.
So pull out your fans and your fishnets and take in some sultry theatre at the 6th Annual Vancouver International Burlesque Festival.
A Simmons mattress is a quality product. We have built our company name for over a hundred years making beds for families across North America. When customers see our brand, they know they are buying a dependable product that offers the industry’s highest level of comfort.
But we aren’t the only ones with a Simmons moniker. There are three individuals in the entertainment industry that share our famous surname.
There is Russell Simmons; a legend in the hip-hop community for his co-founding of Def Jam records. Russell is also the brother of legendary hip-hop star ‘Run’ Simmons, from Run-D.M.C.
There is Gene Simmons; the mighty tongue from Kiss and failed Celebrity Apprentice star. Gene may have seen a lot of different beds in his lifetime, but we highly doubt he had any hand in creating them.
And of course there is Richard Simmons; the pint sized personal trainer with a fondness for AM radio favourites. See the video below for one of the funniest TV moments ever recorded.
Simmons Mattress Gallery is proud to share our name with these three men and we feel honoured that many of you think of mattresses first whenever you hear the Simmons name.
The Demon
You can rock’n'roll all night, but eventually you’ll gladly return to your Simmons pocket coils.
The Waldorf Hotel has seen a resurgence in recent years, becoming the place to be seen for young hipsters around town. The redone Tiki lounge is the main attraction, serving pineapple swirly-strawed girly drinks alongside PBR’s.
Last week, the hotel added another hat to its already crowded rack. The latest enterprise, by the rejuvenated Vancouver landmark, is a film series being shown every Wednesday. The title of the series is “Vancouver Sometimes Plays Itself.” The weekly series will feature films shot in Vancouver between 1964-1988, the years before the X-Files got its claws in the Vancouver Film Industry.
The weekly MC will be the series creator, Elvy Del Bianco. Bianco will introduce each film explaining the areas where it was shot along with relevant history and trivia. Bianco will also be joined by a number of guest speakers including UBC professor Tom Scholte.
The films will be shown every Monday night. Last week’s feature was “Sweet Substitute.” This week will be “Explosion.” The following week is “That Cold Day in the Park,” a Robert Altman sexual thriller.
The series wraps on Monday, June 13th with the film “The Squamish Five.”
The National Hockey League has announced the schedule for the 2011 NHL playoffs. Your Vancouver Canucks will face the Chicago Blackhawks in the first round. The series begins on Wednesday, April 13th, in Vancouver at 7pm PST. Game two will start at the same time on Friday night. The Canucks will then have to fly to Chicago to prepare for Sunday’s bout, which will begin at 5pm PST. Game four will play out on Tuesday, and with any luck, that will be the last game of the series.
A Canucks sweep would put to rest the demons of the 2010 and 2009 NHL post-seasons. It would also be a major springboard for the Canucks to advance deeper into the playoffs.
To see how the drama unfolds, we will have to patiently wait for Wednesday’s opener. This may be easier said than done – especially since this town seems to be living off the current exploits of their favourite sons.
But don’t fret. If you’re finding it hard to sleep as the aniticipation builds,, you can always upgrade your mattress set. It may not alleviate your anxiety, but it will make the nodding off experience easier.
It’s official, the Canucks are the President’s Trophy champions. Currently holding 113 points they have the best record of any team in the National Hockey League.
Their remaining games are inconsequential. All they have left to play for is pride and statistics.
The Sedins have never been hotter, Luongo is clearly in the zone and the injured winter soldiers are slowly returning to the line-up.
Daniel has a firm grip on the scoring title with 102 points, Henrik is leading the league in assists with 74, and Luongo has the most wins with 38. Hamhuis should be back in the line-up this weekend after his second concussion this season and Samuelson has already started skating with the club. Alexander Edler could also see action by the end of the week, in time for the final game of the season against the Calgary Flames.
With the Western Conference still in limbo, it could take until Sunday for the Canucks to know whom they will face in the opening round. A loss to Calgary on Saturday could set the stage for Vancouver to ultimately face their old rivals from Alberta.
More than likely, our boys will be matched against the Blackhawks, the team that has secured our quick exit from the playoffs for the past two years. However, a series win against Chicago could be the perfect catalyst for a push to the finals.
No matter what the match-up, the Canucks are ready and willing.
(Sorry, we’re a little selfish. But like the rest of you who cursed that goal post in 94, we believe our city deserves this and we want to be there for the celebration!)
At Simmons Mattress Gallery, we deal with royalty on a daily basis. Kings, Queens, we work with them all. Of course we’re talking about mattress sizes.
But what about the actual royal figures around the world? How many kings are still wielding power out there? What countries still have a royal patriarch as their leader. Well, we did a little research and this week we thought we would share with our readers some of the most noteworthy Kings still ruling in the 21st Century. Of the forty-four monarchies still operating in the world, here are some of the most influential men still holding on to the title of King:
1. Mohammed VI – King of Morocco
-Mohammed has held the throne since 1999. A forward thinker and a progressive Muslim, the King has sought to end poverty in his country through reforms and job creation. Mohammed also created a new family code that gave women more rights.
2. Harald V – King of Norway
-Harald has very little power as a ruler, but enjoys all the pomp and historical prestige that comes with being king. He is also an avid sailor. His crew won the World Championship in 1987.
3. Bhumibol Adulyadej – King of Thailand
-Bhumibol is probably the richest monarch living today. In 2010, Forbes estimated his wealth at over $30 billion US. Fact: Bhumibol holds the world record for the most honorary degrees with 136.
4. Abdullah Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud – King of Saudi Arabia
-Abdullah is one of the oldest reigning monarchs at 87. He topped the list of the 500 Most Influential Muslims in 2009 and again in 2010. A powerful friend to the United States, Abdullah was the leading gift giver to the Obama family, donating over $300,000 in jewelry, artifacts and rare books.
5. Mswati III – King of Swaziland
-Mswati was made King at 18. He is worth over $200 million US. With a love for the ladies, Mswati has 13 wives. Do you think they each get a king size bed?
So we covered the Kings pretty well, but what about all the Queens? How many royal ladies are currently holding power in the world? Do they sleep on King size mattresses? Well we couldn’t come up with that information, but we did find a little info on a few of the world’s most powerful women:
1. Elizabeth II – Queen of the United Kingdom
-She is all over our money and for many Canadians, an important link back to European ancestry. Elizabeth is wort $650 million US. She is currently 84 years old and a mother of four. She is head of the Commonwealth
2. Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard – Queen of Netherlands
-Beatrix may not be Queen for much longer. It is rumoured that she may step down to make room for her son, Willem-Alexander. Her net worth is in the 300 milion US$ range. Fact: It is illegal to quote any statement that Beatrix utters. This law was put in place shortly after her inauguration. (Maybe she stutters? Geoffory Rush might be able to help her.)
3. Margaret II – Queen of Denmark
-Margaret is the first Danish monarch to be female. She has ruled since 1972. Margaret is fluent in Danish, English, French, Swedish and German. She is an established painter and costume designer. She also is said to have a strong addiction for nicotine. This is very evident on her teeth. You think a Queen could afford a better dentist.
4. Oprah Winfrey – Queen of American Media
-Well not quite royalty, Oprah is the reigning leader of a commercial empire that has its fingers in almost every form of media there is. She was the world’s first black billionaire and is rated by many to be the most powerful woman in the world. An endorsement from Oprah is more valuable than a 30 second Super Bowl spot, 2 million YouTube views or top spot on Google. But like the rest of us, she puts her pants on one leg at a time. She also needs a good eight hours of sleep each night to keep her head in the game.
“Think like a Queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another steppingstone towards greatness.” – Oprah
Where are you reading this right now? At the office? At home? Can you get to a window? Can you see the local mountains? Grouse, Seymour, Cypress – They are all still covered in snow! In fact the white stuff is dusting the higher areas of North and West Vancouver. Winter is still here and that means there is still time to board and ski for at least another month.
Want to get in on the action and save on your pass next year. Grouse is once again offering their Y2Play package that lets you carve for the rest of this seson for free, while getting your pass for next year at an 80% discount. It’s a complete win/win. The adult rate is $355, for a pass that is regularly $825. That’s a grand savings of $470, plus the ability to ride the rest of this season for free. Crazy!
And it doesn’t stop there. With your pass you will receive 20% off on your rentals, lessons, retail purchases and your mermaids elixir at Starbucks. And in the summer, 20% off Zipline tours. Enjoy the mountain for over a year!
This is an incredible offer and the packages are already 80% sold. So get in on the savings and enjoy the remainder of season at Grouse Mountain.
What’s the hottest team in Vancouver right now? Ok, the Whitecaps have won one game and yes it was impressive, but the hottest team is definitely the Vancouver Canucks.
With a 105 points, our boys are leading the league in points. THE LEAGUE!!! And who’s guiding that ship? Our very own Swedish twins, Henrik and Daniel.
The twins are hotter than a Cajun cookout. Henrik, last years Hart and Art Ross trophy winner, is leading the league in assists by a hefty margin. Our captain is also third in the NHL in points. Daniel is the league’s top offensive producer with 95 points. He is also second in goals behind Steven Stamkos. Never have two brothers dominated the league in such a manner. Thank god they play for us.
But with all the talk centering on Henrik and Daniel, we here at Simmons think another set of twins should get their fair share of time in the spotlight. Can you guess what we’re going to say next? Yes, exactly, twin mattresses. Twins are perfect for small college dorm rooms, spare rooms and couples that may need separate beds to receive a full nights rest. Spatially, they are amazing. Comfort wise, they offer the patented Beautyrest, non-flip pocket coils, that make every Simmons mattress a dream to sleep on. They also come at a considerably lower price than a king or a queen size mattress.
They may not originate in Sweden, but a Simmons twin is just as remarkable. When the playoffs start in April, rest up for the big games on your own twin. Head into a Simmons Mattress Gallery location to pick up your twin today.
In times like these, a little laughter is good for the soul. This week Ryan Kesler was providing Canuck fans with just that.
The athletic jokester was the key element in a montage video released by the Canucks. The video featured interviews with players from Vancouver’s team. The common thread between the interviews was Kesler’s appearance in the background.
In some of the tapes he is simply walking around shirtless, staring at the camera. In others, he is pranking the player being interviewed. The young American star asks Raffi Torres if he would like any pizza. In an interview with Cory Schneider, Kesler dons Luongo’s mask and walks into frame, testing the will of the interviewers themselves. In another, he skirts by with a popped collar and aviator shades.
Cluster Bomb
The collage video was added on Friday and was a viral sensation before the weekend was out. Kesler added to the hype on Saturday, when he appeared in a Daniel Sedin interview, slowly rising from behind the Swedish star.
Kesler has referred to his cameo technique as ‘videobombing.’
Good to know the Canucks are so loose heading into the playoff stretch.
The Westender Magazine has just published its annual Best of the City reader’s choice awards. From dining, to shopping, to health and fitness, the results are in and some of them are a little surprising.
In the people section, Mayor Gregor Robertson seems to be in every category. He’s third in the Most Wonderful Vancouverite category behind David Suzuki and our timeless captain Trevor Linden. He’s first in the Most Trustworthy Politician, in front of Spencer Chandra Herbert and ‘None’. But Robertson is also second in Most Spectacular Failure and second again in Biggest Windbag. Conflicting messages from the voters…
The city’s new bike lanes also seemed to be a dividing issue, with people either loving or hating them. The bike lanes won Best Use of Taxpayer’s Money and also came first in Worst Use of Taxpayer’s Money. The lanes also won Most Spectacular Failure, ahead of the wonderful HST.
Clear favourites in the foody section were Tojos for Chef and Japanese and surprisingly, the White Spot, which showed up on a number of the categories for casual fare.
We were a little surprised that Mattress Store was left off the list. We know it’s not nice to brag, but we’re pretty sure Simmons Mattress Gallery would have received top honours.
Interested in the historical past of many of Vancouver’s most prominent streets and sites. There is an excellent book out in publication called “Namely Vancouver.” It is written by Tom Snyders, with the help of Jennifer O’Rourke. The book is organized alphabetically and lists almost all of Vancouver’s street names and neighbourhoods. Each entry includes the origin of the name and when possible, a brief history of the site. You can flip through and look up different street names you’ve always wondered about, or look up all the areas you ever lived, or just start on page one and work your way through. Some of the entries are a little dense with their historical references, but the real gems are the stories that Snyder includes.
Jericho (Beach) – Named after Jeremiah (Jerry) Rogers, Jericho was once a thriving logging camp. Jerry ran the camp and according to Snyders, treated his employees with dignity and provided fair wages. The camp was given the nickname Jerry’s Cove. It seems that over time, maybe through slurred after work libations, the name morphed into Jericho. Jerry would later become a justice of the peace.
Jericho Beach (Looking Towards Downtown Vancouver)
Wreck (Beach) – This popular nudist spot is named after the man-made breakwater that was built in 1928 using three log barges, a floating grain elevator, four former U.S. World War I freighters and an ore carrier.
Broadway (Home to Simmons Mattress Gallery) – 9th Avenue was changed to Broadway in May of 1909, in hopes that the area would take on a New York Broadway kind of feel. The name change was also instituted to encourage American investment in the area.
“Namely Vancouver” is published by Arsenal Pulp Press
For the fifth year in a row, Vancouver has been voted the most livable city in the world! The poll was conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The group uses three broad categories to make its decision: stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure. Vancouver received a perfect rating of 100 in the categories of healthcare, education and culture and environment.
The second place finisher, just 2.3 percentage points below Vancouver, was Auckland New Zealand.
But what would Vancouverites say when asked ‘what makes us the best’? They would probably mention the cleanliness of our city, the mild weather, the security (you can basically walk down any street and feel comfortable), the dining options, the Olympics, the proximity to the mountains, the transit and bike lanes, the parks (Stanley being the jewel) and the people.
There is an infinite number of reasons why Vancouver is such an amazing place to live, but we like to think it’s the mattress shopping. Simmons Mattress Gallery has been providing quality beds and professional advice to Lower Mainland residents for years. This service has sent thousands of citizens off to work well rested and happy with their lives. We’re not saying we did it all, but we certainly played a part.
Romance is thick in the air this week, as lovers across the Lower Mainland profess their undying love for one another with heart felt cards and more than one or two sad clichés.
But if you are one of those absentminded folk, who may have forgotten to grab some overpriced flowers for your shmoopie, it’s not too late. For the flowers, maybe, but there are other gifts that can get you back in the good books with your significant other.
Our suggestion to you: head over to Simmons Mattress Gallery for a great deal on a new bed. Nothing says, ‘baby, I know I messed up, but I want to fix it so we can get back to having fun,’ like a new passion platform. Simmons has a massive variety of beds in ranging sizes, firmness and extravagance. Upgrade from your Ikea cast-off to a bed that will keep you and your loved one comfortable for years to come. Buy it before Friday and he/she will never remember your epic fail.
Want to make a romantic evening out of it? Pack some sexy nightwear, for both of you, and head into our showroom to sample some of our beds on display. We won’t judge your tiger print and we promise not to stare at your partner’s visible parts. Just hold off on the physical stuff until you get home.
Justin Bieber and Drake were denied Grammies this Sunday, but their more mature compatriots – Neil Young, Michael Bublé and the Arcade Fire – managed to nab a few of the show’s top awards.
Bieber and Drake both lost out to American bassist and vocalist, Esperanza Spalding, in the new artist category. This was a crushing blow to the Bieb Army and to the many fans of Degrassi: The Next Generation.
But it was the Arcade Fire from Montreal, who pulled off the biggest upset of the evening by taking home the award for album of the year. After the announcement of the award, the ensemble group played an encore of “Ready to Start,” with the ironic lyrics: “all the kids have always known / that the Emperor wears no clothes.” Guess they never thought their indie pop would ever land them on a stage with a naked Eminem.
Neil Young proved his resilience, winning in the best rock song category with his track “Angry World.” It was Neil Young’s first Grammy for music.
Bruce Allen’s protégé, Michael Bublé, took home the award for Best Traditional Pop Album, with “Crazy Love” and housewives across the globe swooned simultaneously.
Every night you enjoy the comfort of your Beautyrest NxG series mattress. Its advanced memory foam crowns the already cushioning cradle of non-flip pocket coils. With an ultra 360° foam encasement, it has a surface sleeping area that goes right to the edge of your bed. It is a mattress to come home to. A mattress to wake up on. A mattress that inspires each new day.
But while the NxG can guarantee you an undisturbed sleep, sometimes your schedule does not allow you to spend the optimal 8 hours in its comfortable womb.
Yes, we know you’ve been working rather hard these last few months. But thank goodness you have those two vacation weeks coming up. An all-inclusive resort in Jamaica?!? You’ll be sure to catch up on your sleep there.
Or will you?
Our advice. Be pro-active. Call ahead and find out what sort of mattress you will be spending your vacation nights on. Ask to speak to the hotel manager and find out what brands they use and how old the beds are. If you’re not happy with the answers, it may not be too late to change hotels. If rebooking is not an option, explain to the manager that your nocturnal comfort is extremely important. You might want to name drop the bed you lie on every night. That will get his attention. If all else fails, and you’re up for a little white lie, tell him you work for Trip Advisor.
We want you coming back rested and ready for the spring. So call today and make sure you will be sleeping on a Simmons.
And it’s no secret, a new mattress will help you reach that 7-8 hours of needed rest.
But what about the other two, a healthy diet and daily exercise? Those, our dear readers, are up to the individual. We can only help you during your sleeping hours. The rest are up to you.
Looking for inspiration? Check out CBC’s new program, “Village on a Diet.” Shot on location in Taylor, British Columbia, “Village on a Diet” documents an entire town’s commitment to shedding one ton of excess weight. There are 1,400 residents and it is estimated that at least 60% are overweight.
To help the Taylor residents meet their mark, the Canadian Broadcasters have supplied the town with two highly respected trainers from Vancouver; Mike Veinot and Garfield Wilson. Maria Thomas, who has signed on as the town’s dietician, joins Mike and Garfield.
The show airs every Monday at 9:00. So set the PVR to record it during your workout, or do some after dinner squats in front of the TV, and check out Taylor’s commitment to healthy living.
The City of Vancouver has announced plans to celebrate the one-year anniversary of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games this February.
The party will begin on the February 11th weekend. Free events are being planned that will take place at different locations around the city. Yaletown will have a nightly light display created by local artists, the Creekside Community Centre in the Athletes Village will be hosting a hockey sledge race and other Olympic activities for families, and Granville street will be closed between Smithe and Dunsmuir for the over 19 bar crowd.
The city will be announcing other events, closer to the date, at Vancouver.ca.
Some of the employees at Simmons Mattress Gallery are planning on reliving the magic of the Gold Medal Hockey Final by watching a taped copy of the game with a few friends. Remembering Crosby’s goal in overtime still brings shivers. The pride displayed that night by millions of Canadians was enough to warm the hearts of the most hardened separatists. That moment will never fade with time. It will always bind us as a nation; Canada’s Gold.
So pull out your red mittens, paint your face and share some memories of those two special weeks that we all shared together.
It started over drinks at Bin 942. They had been set-up by a mutual friend who thought their mutual love for indoor climbing and after-dinner mints made them a perfect match.
They shared the ‘picnic on a grilled flat bread’ and a bottle of Heartland Shiraz. The music was low and bass driven and the date ended with a kiss; a soft kiss, with the hope of more to come.
Three months later, after many trips to Cliffhangers and a plethora of after dinner mints from some of the cities finest restaurants, the two decided to move in together. But both had terribly small beds; being single for that long has its effect on furniture choice.
On the advice of one of the many in-house mattress professionals, the two finally decided on a mattress from the Cartier line; a king size bed, designed to eliminate motion transfer between couples and provide the ultimate in undisturbed sleep. With the non-flip pocket coil design, the Cartier would be their foundation for play and rest.
The first night of use, he made the bed and left a small mint on her pillow.
And when we are standing at the gates, who will judge us?
Apparently Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez.
The two aging megastars will be joining Randy Jackson on the three person American Idol panel. The judges will be critiquing the talent of the lucky few who make it past the initial screening process. Ultimately, they decide who will continue in the competition, until it is left up to the voting public.
Both Tyler and Lopez are expected to show a softer degree of criticism. The plan is to move away from the opinionated bullying often shown by judges from earlier seasons. Tyler and J. Lo are hoping to provide encouragement and career advice to the young up-and-comers. So look forward to a more cheerful production.
Gone from this years judging line-up are Simon ‘Always Negative’ Cowell and Paula ‘Fully Crazy’ Abdul. Both Cowell and Abdul are moving on to promote and star in their own televised talent shows. Cowell will be working on his own version of Idol in the U.K. The show is known as “X-Factor” and follows relatively the same format as Idol. Abdul is producing and starring in “Live to Dance.”
The first episode of this season’s American Idol will air Wednesday, January 19.
American Idol Panel (Plus Ryan Seacrest)
Oh and Ryan Seacrest is back… Was there even a doubt?
Though the boom years of the “X-Files” are over, Vancouver still is being sought as a shooting location for film and television productions. This past week, the big news around the city was that “Mission Impossible 4” had begun shooting. Tom Cruise was spotted at two public locations doing action scenes. The first was underneath the Burrard Bridge, just up from the Aquatic Center, in the West End. Tenants in the towers surrounding the set were able to watch Cruise perform a number of action sequences. The paparazzi arrived late and were under-the-gun to capture a shot of the megastar.
Later in the week, the crew set up outside the brand new Vancouver Convention Centre, across town. The neighbourhood was given a redress, standing in for an unknown city in India. Filming went late into the night, with Cruise performing a dramatic chase scene through parked traffic.
If you are looking to see Cruise in the flesh, you won’t be directed to set with giant signs that say Mission Impossible. The production company has chosen the code word ‘Aries’. So if you’re in the hunt, keep your eyes open for small white signs with green or orange arrows and the title “Aries” in the center.
Tom Cruise On Set In Vancouver
Other productions, currently shooting in Vancouver, are “Apollo 18,” a sci-fi picture concerning NASA’s last attempt to land on the moon and “The Grey,” a film about a group of stranded men who are stalked by a pack of wolves. “The Grey” stars Liam Neeson. It is expected to be released sometime in 2012.
There were many great stories in 2010. The Wikileaks escapade saw the world’s dirty laundry aired out for all the masses to read. Tiger Woods got busted without the help of Julian Assange. BP sprung a leak. Sabres were rattled in Korea. Miners were freed in Chile. And the Olympics were a huge success here at home, with Canada winning Hockey Gold.
But what about the movies? Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to spend a little time this week looking at the shining celluloid moments of 2010. Here are some of our favourite films from the year that was:
1. Inception
Christopher Nolan comes through again. Following his Blockbuster achievement with the Dark Knight, Nolan wrote and directed a sci-fi movie about dreams that had all the ingredients of a masterpiece. Like the Matrix, it pushed the limits of CGI while offering an engaging hypothetical storyline that was believable from its first ‘inception.’ If you haven’t seen this film, cross your fingers that they release it on the big screen. Our hat is off to you Mr. Nolan. The only question is: What will your next trick be?
2. The Social Network
A movie about a website that has become more addictive than cigarettes for its more than 500 million users. The film concerns the story of Mark Zuckerberg, ‘one’ of the handful of college students who helped create Facebook. It documents the many lawsuits that followed the websites release, when the world recognized the genius of a social networking tool that lets you stay updated with friends and associates from around the world. The movie has an excellent pace, intriguing characters and most importantly a heart. Even though Zuckerberg comes across as a total narcissistic —hole, he still, like all of us, just wants to be accepted for who he is.
[Friend Request Received]
3. Black Swan
From the director of ∏ and Requiem for a Dream, comes a movie that delves into the heart of madness. Natalie Portman is a ballerina who is vying for the lead role in Swan Lake. Perfectly suited for the white swan role, Portman must examine her darker side to come to an understanding of the black swan. There will be no question as to who will receive the best actress nod on Oscar night. It almost makes us forget those terrible scenes from Star Wars. Almost…
Feel free to comment and add your own review of a movie that moved you in 2010.
After publishing our Mattress Maintenance article last week, Simmons Mattress Gallery received some interesting questions from our readers. We thought, instead of answering them individually, we could share a few in a blog post.
1. “If I am unhappy with the support my box spring is providing, is it appropriate to add a layer of [plywood] between my foundation and my mattress?”
-NO! Absolutely not. If your foundation is so bad you need to beef it up with plywood, it’s time to buy a new bed set. You should never have to add anything to your bed set. Sorry to be so blunt, but your bed is not a sandwich.
2. “How do I prevent picking up bedbugs when I’m traveling?”
-Bed bugs are making a resurgence around the globe. Travelers can easily spread these annoying creatures. One way to minimize your chances of collecting bed bugs is to always store your luggage on a table or countertop. It may not be aesthetically pleasing to have your suitcase piled on the table, but the chance of bug collection dramatically decreases when you elevate your personal items. It is also a good idea to do a quick check of the mattress itself. Remove all the bed coverings and do a quick surface check. Bed bugs like the folds of the mattress, so always examine the hem lines just below the pillow top
Check Your Cracks and Folds
3. “My neighbour is offering to sell me his deluxe mattress of three years. What is an appropriate price to pay?”
-Zero. If it is a deluxe mattress, then there should be no reason why your neighbour would want to part with his bed after three years. He/She has probably damaged it. Either that, or it is not as deluxe as he/she claims. If you want to improve your sleeping conditions, purchase a ‘new’ mattress from a mattress dealer. If you want the best sleep possible, purchase a Simmons.
This was probably the comment made by many iPhone customers who failed to wake-up on time for work this past weekend. Apparently, a glitch in the iPhone’s iOS 4.0 operating system caused the alarm feature on the phone to malfunction. The single wake-up feature did not work on the phones after midnight on December 31st. If customers had set their phones for a certain alarm time, the gadget, that claims to make everyone’s lives easier, would not have responded.
Many customers, mostly young people who use the phone for organizing their hectic lives, rely on the alarm feature instead of a traditional alarm clock.
This is the second issue with the new iPhone’s alarm that has occurred in less than two months. The first was an issue with the daylight savings time change on November 7th.
iPhone customers took to the web to voice their grievances.
“Stupid iPhone alarm clock went off an hour late. What a great start to the week.” Messages like these were all over the social networking website known as Twitter.
Apple claimed to have fixed the problem by Monday, January 3rd.
Our advice. If you have a highly unsympathetic boss or an important meeting to attend, always use a back up. Alarm clocks cost less than twenty dollars and can be equipped with a battery incase of a power outage.
We know you love your sleep, but keeping your job is even more important.
“Every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings.”
With holiday consumerism in full swing, it’s nice to have classic Christmas tales to remind us of what is truly important – family, friends and community spirit.
George Bailey may not have the perfect life, but what he does have is all the ingredients for a ‘Wonderful Life.’ With help from his guardian angel, Clarence, George realizes that even dashed dreams of travel and higher education are meaningless when compared with the shared experiences and support of the loved ones that populate our waking moments.
“It’s a Wonderful Life,” is all about love, loss, hope and the realization that everyone makes a difference.
This timeless holiday film is now being preformed as a theatrical production at the Arts Club Theatre. With snippets of Frank Capra’s original film seamlessly integrated, the production is not to be missed. Bob Frazer does an amazing job in the role of George, filling the boots of the immortal Jimmy Stewart.
Peter Birnie, of the Vancouver Sun gushes that the play “soars on angel wings of innovation.”
Don’t miss your chance to get tickets. The production ends on January 2nd.
So take the whole family down to Granville Island and enjoy a classic story that resonates with everyday emotional truths.
The annoying cookie crumbs, the red wine stain on the sheets, the pastrami under your pillow, with all the culinary clutter it’s hard to enjoy your amazing new Beautyrest properly.
Maybe it’s time you stood up and said something.
You could confront the issue head on, banning all edible items from the bedroom. You could collect articles on how food attracts bugs and decreases the sanitary level of your sleeping quarters.
Or… you could plan a quiet vacation to Germany with a casual stop at The Food Hotel.
The Food Hotel in Neuwied, Germany
It seems counter-productive, but after spending a night in a room totally devoted to food, your partner could be scared straight.
One of the hotel’s highlights is a room produced by Chio, a German chip manufacturer. The room features a rotating mirror ball, strobe lights and an integrated sound system. Who knew potato chips were the life of the party?
You always knew the ‘man in the red suit’ loved his cookies and milk and the odd sip of bourbon, but do you also know that Santa is a huge fan of the flapjack?
Breakfast with Santa, since its inception at the old Eatons building, has been a tradition in Vancouver for years. This year Santa will be making a pre-Christmas visit to sample breakfast wares at four different locations around the city:
1. The largest and most established event will be held at the Vancouver Convention Center. There will be a exquisite buffet offering, live entertainment and of course a visit from the jolly one himself. There are two dates planned for this event: December 18th and 19th.
2. For a more scenic meeting place, Grouse Mountain will be hosting a meet-and-greet in the Lupins Café at the top of the gondola. Buffet brunch will be provided, along with children’s entertainment. This event will run daily from December 15th to the 24th.
3. For a more community feel, both Douglas Park and West Point Grey Community Centre will be hosting Santa on the 11th of December. Crafts will be on display for purchase.
Have your child bring their wish list down and their appetite.
The Christmas Season is here; Starbucks is offering their eggnog Latte, the stores downtown are staying open longer and the Christmas train is set to leave the station this Friday in Stanley Park.
Always a Vancouver favourite, the annual train ride is a holiday classic.
Titled ‘Bright Lights in Stanley Park,’ the train runs through the Stanley Park forest, which is lit by thousands of coloured lights.
It passes through different theme areas that are synched to the music being played from small speakers on the train itself.
There are interactive elements for the kids as well, with a costumed Gingerbread Man and a petting zoo.
The park employs student volunteers to act as festival ambassadors for the event. They are aided by the regular park staff and the other volunteers who help make Bright Lights one of the most spectacular lightening displays in all of Canada.
Tickets are $9.00 for adults and $6.00 for youths. They can be purchased online through Ticketmaster for any night as long as it is one day prior to the date you wish to ride. For day of tickets, you will need to head down to the park as early as possible, as most rides sellout hours before.
Even with the age of personal electronics in hyper-drive, it is still nice to relax before bed with a good book. The paper bound kind.
This week Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to post a few of our favourite reads to inspire this timeless nightly ritual.
1. The Millennium Series – This Swedish crime series has won fans all over the world. All three books are essential reading for literary lovers. Stieg Larsson has crafted a trilogy that throws you directly into a world of family intrigue, sexual exploitation and modern investigative practices. The strong female protagonist, Lisabeth Salander, is part Nikita, part Sherlock Holmes. Avoid the temptation to watch the films first.
2. Stanley Park – Nominated for the Giller Prize in 2001, this is the first novel by local writer Timothy Taylor. Set in Vancouver, the novel revolves around the factual unsolved murder of two children in Stanley Park. It has wonderful descriptive culinary passages, as the main character is a chef. You may also notice a strong resemblance between the novel’s description of the fictitious coffee company Inferno and the Northwest based barista house, Starbucks.
3. Mister Pip – This is an understated novel by New Zealand author Lloyd Jones. Set on an unnamed Pacific island in the midst of a civil war, “Mister Pip” details the power of a single piece of literature to educate, inspire and mystify. Mr. Watts, the only white man in a community of islanders, uses Charles Dickens’ classic, work, “Great Expectations,” to teach a schoolhouse full of forgotten children the value of life and the written word.
We would love to hear your own suggestions for essential bedtime reading.
Walking the streets this month, you may notice a few more Burt Reynolds impersonators than normal. No, it’s not the thirtieth anniversary of Smokey and the Bandit (well it might be…probably should look that up), no, it’s the return of Movember. It is the time of year when men across the globe let their upper lip go untamed for a good cause.
The idea is simple, 30 days to grow a moustache and promote awareness for men’s health. Sponsorship is appreciated. Funds collected go to helping fight prostate cancer.
The idea was first started in 2003. Although no money was raised that first year, the men behind the movement were inspired by the women around them who had done so much for breast cancer. The men decided to attach their facial fodder to the cancer fight and Movember became an official event.
Last year Canadians raised 7.8 million during the Movember campaign.
Let’s try and break that this year. Support your hubbies pencil thin stache, persuade a family member to join and encourage that cute guy at the office to let his inner Tom Selleck out.
Simmons Mattress Gallery has been sharing blog entries with our readers for over a year now. We have written on a variety of topics ranging from our showroom mattresses, to events around town, to the local sport’s stories. We have given you useful information about sleeping disorders, bedbugs and relationship advice. We have had a lot of fun writing and researching our articles. I hope you have enjoyed reading them.
For a quick look back at some of our posts, here is a thematic listing:
Sleep Disorders:
Grinding in the Night- ‘Bruxism’ is a term used to describe the practice of grinding one’s teeth during sleep
The Phantom Leg – This article talks about the neurological disorder, restless leg syndrome.
Mattress Guilt- For older readers, this article concerns sleepers who unknowingly engage in sexual activity while asleep.
Breathless at Night – Sleep apnea causes some individuals to pause their breathing during sleep.
If you find yourself wandering aimlessly this Saturday night, all dressed up in costume with no where to go, join The Secret Souls Walk. Formerly known as The Parade of Lost Souls, this interactive social gathering of artists, performers and creepy characters traditionally takes place on Commercial Drive.
In years past, the Souls Walk received permission to shut down Commercial for an all-engaging street party. This year, things are a little more subversive.
The parade route will not be announced publicly until the day of the event. Business owners and private homeowners who have buildings along the route have been contacted ahead of time. These folk have been encouraged to participate in the set decor of the evening’s events. The non-profit group Public Dreams has offered to lend props and supplies to anyone along the route.
Workshops have also been offered for those interested in building shrines, working with puppetry and or choreographed or individual zombie dancing. (Think Thriller meets Hipster)
The night will begin at Britannia Community Centre, between 5pm and 9pm. From this location, the damaged souls will be entertained with an interactive celebration of mysticism. They will then be given the deadly coordinates to navigate the parade route.
The main creative power behind this year’s movement is the Dusty Flowerpot Cabaret. They have been working hard to revive the Soul Walk, which was cancelled in 2009 due to lack of funding and organization.
So wander down to East Van this Saturday and take in a grassroots spectacle of bone-chilling entertainment.
The Lions have little to roar about this season, but one positive mid-season acquisition is giving them reason to hope that brighter days are ahead.
David Hyland, the young rookie out of Morehead State University, is impressing the Lions coaching staff and fans with his raw ability and patient, but explosive, defensive play.
After dominating in the Arena Football League’s 2010 regular season, with eight interceptions and 61 tackles, Hyland posted a YouTube video of his own highlights. The video was a savvy marketing tool and caught the eye of the Lions’ scouts.
On September 7th, Hyland signed a practice roster contract. He played his first game with the Lions on October 2nd, where he recorded an interception that led to the Lions only touchdown.
This past week Hyland laid a devastating hit on Edmonton receiver, Kelly Campbell. The Lions went on to lose the game, but the hit provided energy to a desperate football club. After the play, Hyland, showed his spiritual side by praying for Campbell’s healthy return.
“You like delivering those big hits. But you never want to end somebody’s career,” said Hyland. “This is such a precious game. And we have such precious bodies. I never want to end it for anybody.”
Hopefully Hyland’s defensive play can help the Lions make a push in the post-season.
Lion Cub
Interesting Fact: David Hyland has never had a sip of Pepsi-Cola. Not a drop. Ever. His father was a marketing executive at Coca-Cola for 28 years.
The twenty minutes or so it takes to put your kids to bed each night, can contain some of the most important parent-child moments in the day.
Taking time to read and talk with your children in a setting void of distracting stimuli is paramount for making strong connections that last a lifetime.
For the more poetic: Robert Louis Stevenson’s collection of poems, A Child’s Garden of Verses (The Land of Counterpane)
For a humerous poetic spin: Anything by Shel Silverstein
For a simple read: Beatrix Potter’s Tales (The Tale of Mr. Jeremy Fisher)
For a chapter book: Anything by Roald Dahl (make sure your children hear the words first and create their own visuals before seeing the movies)
For the older ones: Harry Potter (J.K. Rowling’s books are dipped in the magic she loves to write about it)
But if you have even an ounce of creative juice in your body, try, at times, to come up with an original work. You can personalize the story for your children and create characters that they will never forget. Try it.
Fright Nights are back at Playland. The fun and fear runs from October 16th to October 31st. Doors open at 6 pm, just the time of night when things start to get in-ter-est-ing!
New to Frightnights this year is the “Car-n-Evil,” hosted by the Scare Factory Inc. Scare is responsible for some of the craziest Halloween parties held at Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion. The “Car-n-Evil” will feature a 3-D segment that is already getting rave reviews from early attendees. The main characters featured in the freak extravaganza are clowns.
(Warning: If a regular clown brings you to tears, this may not be the show for you. The line-up at the swings seems to be quiet…)
The wooden rollercoaster will also be fully operational. Try keeping your eyes open at the first drop.
Tickets for the event can be purchased online.
A Frightpass will get you unlimited access to five haunted houses and sixteen rides.
So bring a date or the family or that friend who wets herself whenever you sneak up behind her and come down for some fear-inflicted screams.
Printers had returned to the Lions, just over a year ago, after leaving at the conclusion of the 2005 CFL season.
Printers’ departure in 2005 had coincided with a quarterback controversy between the up-and-coming Printers and the veteran Dave Dickenson. Wanting the starting role all to himself, Printers opted to tryout for the NFL and was eventually signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. He was moved up and down from the practice to the active roster, but never saw game time during the regular season.
Printers’ return to the Lions came with mixed reviews from fans and teammates.
After struggling with a knee injury and poor performances on the field, Printers was finally told on Wednesday that his services were no longer needed. The final catalyst to coach Wally Buono’s decision was an on-field tantrum that saw Printers toss his helmet and publicly reprimand a receiver. The childish display was caught on the TSN cameras.
“What happened at the end of the game unfortunately brought everything to a head,” said Buono.
Even his teammates, like veteran centre Angus Reid, saw the writing on the wall; “I think the real issue is when you have a guy that’s paid to be your leader, and he’s the one who ends up causing post-game problems – and I’m putting the performance aside – I think that’s when you have to say, well, we can’t have this guy as our leader any more.”
Editors Note: Please Wally, let this be the last time. Even if Printers is willing to play for less than a hundred dollars a game, is it worth it…? Let’s move on. Now get some rest boys. We want to crush Edmonton on Saturday. GO LIONS!
Obtaining a full night’s rest can become more of a difficult task as we get older. Many pharmaceutical sleep aids promise results, but come with a host of side effects. Other programs, that may have a higher success rate, are often accompanied by an expensive price tag.
So what is the answer?
Well, according to research conducted at Case Western Reserve University’s Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, securing eight hours of sleep may be as easy as turning on your stereo.
The study was done at the Buddhist Tzu-Chi General Hospital in Taiwan, where 60 volunteers, ranging in age from 60-83, were randomly put into two groups. One group was asked to listen to soft music for 45 minutes before they went to bed. The other group, the control portion, was given nothing.
The volunteers in the program were all individuals who had trouble sleeping in the past.
The music group reported a 35 percent improvement in their sleep potential. Researchers noticed physical changes in this group, including lower respiratory and heart rates.
After the results were collected, Marion Good, a Professor of Nursing at Case had this to say: “Music is pleasant and safe and the technique we used in our study is quick and easy to learn is low cost, and could be used readily by nurses.”
The only difficult part is choosing your music. Our friends at Simmons Mattress Gallery have a few ideas.
Find cineophile heaven at the 29th annual Vancouver International Film Festival. The opening gala, held last night, featured Barney’s Version, a film based on one of Mordecai Richler’s most adored novels starring Dustin Hoffman, Paul Giamatti and Minnie Driver. The closing gala, on October 15,th features the Illusionist, an animated French film about a magician who brings his magic to an orphan girl he encounters on a trip to Edinburgh.
In between, there are 359 films from 80 countries. Most of these are films that would not be shown at your local multiplex theatre. They are pictures without a heavyweight distributor. By showing at the festival, the producers hope to create a buzz and catch the attention of a larger studio.
One smaller film that looks intriguing is The Desert of Forbidden Art, playing October 9, 10 and 14. This film is the remarkable story of Igor Savitsky, who garnered a collection of suppressed Russian avant-garde art on the edge of a desert in Uzbekistan. He dedicated his life to seek out works by artists who had ignored Stalin’s artistic mandate of happy peasants and heroic workers. Many of the artists whose work Savitsky saved, were eventually sent to prison or executed.
“It is wonderful to feel the grandness of Canada in the raw,
not because she is Canada
but because she’s something sublime that you were born into,
some great rugged power that you are a part of.”
-Emily Carr
Sometimes, in the bustle and hustle of our daily routines, we occasionally forget we live in one of the most environmentally charged countries on the planet. Just behind those coastal mountains, that we often take for granted, are a host of diverse habitats teeming with untamed wildlife and vibrant ecosystems. Supporting them are river systems that run into three separate oceans and carry, what is soon to be the worlds most sought after resource, across North America. The water from this network feeds life into our forests, provides us with drink and powers our cities. These rivers are the veins of life that carry our Canadian blood to every corner of our country.
"Mount Cheam and the Fraser River" by EJ Hughes
On September 26th, British Columbia will be celebrating BC Rivers Day, a day to acknowledge the mighty power, fluid beauty and environmentally vital traits of the river systems contained in British Columbia.
This is the 30th year BC will be celebrating this event. Activities have been planned across the province for this Sunday.
Here are a few of the events taking place around the Lower Mainland:
Langley
BC Rivers Day Festival – live music and interactive displays including salmon habitat demos, streamside tree-planting and bird house building.
Location: Williams Park
Time: 11 am to 4 pm
North Vancouver
World Rivers Day – educational outing at the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve. Focus is on salmon in the Seymour Valley.
Location: Rice Lake Gate
Time: 10 am to 2 pm
Port Coquitlam
Rivers and Trails Festival – organized trail ride through Peace Park, community displays, local entertainment and boat building.
Location: Peace Park (1470 Kebet Way)
Time: 12 pm to 4 pm
If none of these activities attract you, grab a group of friends or some family and head up to the mountains on your own. Find a stream or major waterway and spend 15 minutes or more admiring its environmental impact. We guarantee the experience will renew your appreciation for Canada’s river systems.
There is a one time, five-dollar membership fee for attending the festival. The tickets themselves will only cost you $10 on weekdays and $12 on weekends.
Since there are so many shows, all performances will start exactly on time. No latecomers will be admitted. (They seem to be fairly strict about this.)
Some of the shows that are already creating a buzz are:
7 (X1) Samurai – A wordless show based on Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai film by mime and clowning expert David Gaines.
Freud vs. his Ego – Another one-man project about the most famous psychoanalyst of our time.
Miracle in Rwanda – Leslie Lewsis takes on the role of up to seven Rwandan genocide survivors who hide in a bathroom for 91 days to avoid being captured.
After each performance, the audience will be asked to rate the show. These reports will be used to select the Public Market Pick of the Fringe.
The festival will run until the 19th of September.
Beatirce had to think fast on her feet. The Gatekeeper was demanding a reason why he should let her enter, even though the torrential rain seemed to be the obvious answer.
“I’m a princess,” she said coldly, mustering a stare that demanded attention.
Half an hour later, her ruse had her inside the gates and heading to the castle. The king had apparently set aside a special room for her to sleep in.
Once inside, she was lead to a tower and asked politely to climb a long staircase. After five minutes of climbing, she reached a stone platform with a single door. A servant swung it open and motioned her in. The room was well lit with candles and from their glow Beatrice could see that the only piece of furniture was a towering four-post bed.
“This, your lady, will be your sleeping quarters.”
“You mean I am supposed to sleep on that? I don’t think so. How would I even get up there?”
“There’s a ladder my lady,” the servant explained, ” on the far side of the bed.”
“Is this any way to treat a princess,” she said, remembering her character.
“It is by the Queen’s orders,” replied the servant, shutting the door.
Beatrice stared back at the mattress stack and whispered under her breath, “Are they serious?”
Mattress Stack
Early the next morning there was a loud banging at the door. Beatrice climbed down from the mountain of beds and opened it, still half asleep.
As she did, a small crowd of royal dignitaries burst into the room, staring intently at her.
The Queen pushed to the front of the pack and addressed Beatrice: “So young lady, how was your sleep?” The others in the room leaned closer, as if Beatrice’s answer would change their lives forever.
“Not so great, now that you ask,” replied Beatrice.
A cheer erupted from the crowd at the back of the room, but was quickly hushed by the Queen. “And why would that be.”
Beatrice stared at the tower she had slept on and thought for moment. “Well, you may have stacked twenty mattresses and twenty feather beds on top of one another, but I don’t see a single Simmons in the bunch.”
If you are a dance enthusiast, who is staying in-town over the long weekend, you will not want to miss out on the annual Vancouver International Tap Dance Festival.
The festival runs from September 3rd to the 5th and features such talented international stars as Jason Samuels Smith, Dianne Walker and Harold Cromer.
Jason Samuels Smith
The Vancouver portion of the festival will open with a three hour Harbour Cruise on the Queen of Diamonds. The cruise will feature a tap jam and a buffet dinner. One lucky table will also be given the privilege of dining with a surprise ‘tap master.’
Saturday, the VITDF will host a collaborative performance by leading tap artists at the Norman Rothstein Theatre. Harold Cromer will showcase his talents along with Jeff Hyslop, who will perform a portion of his original presentation “On Tap.”
The festival will wrap up on Sunday with the Hot-Feet Showcase and Cutting Contest. The cutting contest will feature a battle of the feet, where young dancers will face-off and compete in front of a panel of judges. The final night will be hosted by Jason Samuels Smith.
There will also be a number of workshops held throughout the weekend for a variety of skill levels.
For more information and ticket info, check out the online brochure.
The Pacific National Exhibition is celebrating a 100 years of West Coast fun and entertainment. The party begins this Friday with the PNE parade at English Bay. The fair will officially open the following day, Saturday, August 21st. It will run for two weeks, concluding on the Labour Day holiday.
This year’s concert series includes Bryan Adams, Spirit of the West, Cyndi Lauper, Trooper, Little River Band and a can’t miss performance by the punk priestess herself, Joan Jett. Admission to the evening’s musical performances is free with your PNE day ticket.
The classics will be back as well, including the 4-H agricultural festival, the West Coast Lumberjack Show and of course, the Superdogs!
Nightly fireworks will be supplied by KABOOM!: A Pyro Musical Spectacular. The music selected for the ariel bombardment includes a wide spectrum of artists from the last century. The sky will be set ablaze each night at 10:15.
The PNE gate pass will be sold for $20.00 on site or $16.80 online. For a combination Fair/Playland Ride Pass, the price is $42.75.
For more information check out the PNE website: http://www.pne.ca/index.html.
While normally Simmons Mattress Gallery is keenly interested in securing the rest you deserve, this Wednesday and Thursday Simmons would like to suggest leaving the sanctuary of your Beautyrest to enjoy the celestial offerings being displayed in the night sky.
The annual Perseid Meteor Shower is at its peak on August 12th and 13th. There will be approximately 80 visible meteors (shooting stars) per hour. The show will begin after sunset and will continue to dawn. Luckily, Environment Canada is predicting clear skies on both nights.
The best viewing spots will be away from the light pollution given off by the city. For astronomy enthusiast, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada will be holding a function in the Aldergrove Bowl. Tickets are a mere $2, with the event running from 8pm to 6am.
There are no plans for a gathering at the Planetarium, due to the previously mentioned problem of viewing the night sky from within the city limits.
The meteors themselves are a by product of the passing comet Swift-Tuttle.
The annual meteor shower has been given the name Perseid because of the visible concentration of shooting stars around the northern hemisphere constellation Perseus.
If you are living an ample distance from the bright lights of the big city, you may want to lay a tarp down in your backyard and place your mattress on top. This way you can fall asleep to the heavens falling down around you.*
You got on at MacDonald and Broadway, heading for the fireworks. You were with your friends, I think one was named Olive. You wore a purple dress with white embroidery. I sat across from you pretending to listen to my iPod. You look tired, well beyond tired. Your friend was talking about her trip to India. I was listening, but you seemed to be having trouble. I saw your head bob more than once as you fought back sleep. It was only 7:30, but for you it looked like 3:00 in the morning. Your friends continued to talk with each other and you continued to bob. Then you looked up and saw me watching you and smiled…
I wanted to say something witty, to comment on your shoes, or make a joke about narcolepsy. But my tongue was tied, pasted to my mouth with the ease of your smile.
You were beautiful, but I could see the bags under your eyes and a secret behind your pupils.
“Why were you so tired? What had you been doing the night before? Why hadn’t you slept?” These were all questions that raced through my head until your friends dragged you off the bus, just after Pacific.
It’s been four days, but I can’t get you off my mind. You haunt my thoughts.
If I could rewind time, use the playback option on my PVR, I would offer one comment. One simple sentence. One piece of advice from a man across the aisle:
“You owe it to yourself to buy a new mattress, preferably a Simmons.” With that simple phrase I would stand up and move to the doors.
You would stand to thank me, but this time you would be speechless. All you would be able to do is smile. A thank you, with the lifted corners of your mouth. That’s all I would need. Content I would exit at the next stop, looking back only once to meet your tired eyes through the window. My gaze: A simple, you’re welcome.
Looking for a late night read? Something light, but not drivel, engrossing, but not a Stieg Larson page-turner? What about a light read on a topic many North Americans suffer from; A condition that has created a $24-billion dollar industry. The condition: insomnia. The book: Wide Awake: A Memoir of Insomnia. The author: Patricia Morrisroe.
A Review of the Remedies Offered To Those Suffering From Insomnia
Morrisroe is one of the many who lie awake at night praying for a miracle cure. A pill, or treatment, or piece of furniture that would offer a guaranteed eight hours of doctor recommended sleep.
As part of her research, Morrisroe attempted to try a number of different proposed insomnia remedies. She travelled to Sweden to stay at the Ice Hotel and talked with the Sami people about their coping mechanisms for the midnight sun. She went on a variety of prescription drugs, including Doxepin, Ambien and Lunesta. She was hypnotized, attended brain music therapy and was told by one doctor that she needed braces to correct her small jaw, which would somehow fix her insomnia.
She also purchased a deluxe mattress, which, she did claim made a difference, something we at Simmons Mattress Gallery have always known.
But in the end, it was a spiritual, meditative release that affected her sleep the most. We won’t give you the details. You’ll have to read the book.
“We make sacred pact. I promise teach karate to you, you promise learn. I say, you do, no questions. “
-Mr. Miyagi
The Karate Kid
For all those children of the 80s who were brought up on adventure classics like the Goonies and Star Wars, rejoice. FreshAirCinema is bringing classic popcorn films back to the big screen; well, back to a big blow up screen.
FreshAirCinema is hosting free outdoor movie nights around the province for the next month and a half. Locations and times can be found on the company’s Facebook page titled: Free Outdoor Movie Events in BC.
This week’s can’t-miss-feature is the ‘original’ Karate Kid, starring a young Ralph Macchio as Daniel Larusso and Pat Morita as the zen master, Mr. Miyagi. The movie will be screened at Ceperley Field, the large grassy area just behind Second Beach, in Stanley Park. The start time will be 9:30.
Last year’s performance of The Princess Bride brought out huge crowds to the same setting. So get there early, bring a blanket and spread out.
Other outdoor free shows around the Lower Mainland this summer are:
August 7th: Wizard of Oz at Holland Park in Surrey (9:00)
August 8th: Back to the Future at David Lam Park in Yaletown (9:00)
August 9th: The Never Ending Story at McSpadden Park in East Van
August 13th: E.T. at Harbour Green Park in Coal Harbour
“And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air
Gave proof thro’ the night” that Van City was still there
The Celebration of Light, formerly the Symphony of Fire, returns to Vancouver tonight for four nights of spectacular ariel visuals.
This year there will be four countries competing: United States, Spain, Mexico and China.
The United States will open the fireworks festival tonight with a tribute to the Big Band Era. The theme of their routine, put together by the Rozzi’s Famous Firework team, is ‘In the Mood.’
The shows will then run every Wednesday and Saturday till July 31st, when China will close out the festival.
The countries will be competing against each other under the categories of geneal concept, colour, originality, quality of production and correlation of music.
Last years festival was not judged, but the 2008 winner was Canada’s Archangel Fireworks Inc., with their theme of ‘Attack.’
This year the fireworks will be shot from two separate barges setup in English Bay.
Here is a list of some of the top viewing spots:
English Bay Beach
-You can hear the music from the loudspeakers, the waterfalls from the barge are all visible and the ariel explosions are directly overhead.
Burrard Bridge
-Spots fill up fast and you have to stand the whole time, but the bridge is an awesome elevated location.
From a boat in English Bay
-If you or a friend is lucky enough to have a boat, find a spot in the bay and enjoy the show from the water. If there is any extra room on your vessel make sure to call us.
(Safety note: Make sure your boat is equipped with a spotlight to find your way back through the maze of other ships once the show has wrapped)
Vanier Park
-Not as close as English Bay, but the crowds are more bearable and the sight lines are excellent.
(Musical note: If you are watching the fireworks from a distance, make sure to bring aportable radio and tune into Shore 104fm to listen to the corresponding music.)
Celebration of Light
If you have any opinions about the performances, feel free to share them with us as comments on our blog.
Orange is the colour of summer 2010; it denotes the Netherlands bold advancement towards the World Cup Final.
The colour, with no rhyming equal, represents the Dutch Royal Family and not the national flag, which is red, white and blue.
You see it everywhere on the streets of Vancouver, as everyone under the west coast sun, who has even the slightest percent of Dutch heritage, is expressing their pride in Holland’s soccer achievement.
To celebrate the Netherlands’ accomplishment, Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to discuss another proud product of Holland, the Dutch oven.
Literally speaking, a Dutch oven is a cast iron pot with a thick lid. It can be placed on or over coals to produce a casserole-like effect for cooking. Modern Dutch ovens are also designed to be used in conventional ovens and on stovetops.
While there may be a plethora of varieties, the main feature that is unique to this type of cookware is the pot’s ability to trap the moisture of the food inside. In doing so, it also contains and traps the smell of the items.
This is where the urban definition for the term ‘giving a Dutch oven,’ arises from.
In slang, the expression, ‘performing a Dutch oven,’ refers to a rather vile act where a pocket of flatulence is created and shared with a partner.
Specifically, it is when an individual passes wind underneath the sheets and then pulls the bedding over another person who is sharing the same bed. The recipient is trapped in a virtual chamber of gas.
While not recommended for some couples, performing this practice correctly can lead to more laughs than Mike Myers’ Dutch villain, Goldmember.
You may want to test out your partner’s comfort level with your own gas before performing this feat.
If you are successful and both you and your partner are able to share a laugh, give a quick thank you to Holland for their inspiring cookware design.
This weeks, ‘wow-that-can’t-be-real’ story, comes from Coney Island, where on the Fourth of July, the world of Major League Eating was shocked by scandal.
Takeru ‘Tsunami’ Kobayashi, a previous champion and star of the competitive eating circuit, stormed the stage of Nathan’s Famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest to protest his exclusion from the event.
Kobayashi had been barred from the competition after refusing to sign an exclusive contract that would forbid him from entering competing eating events.
Wearing a t-shirt that read ‘Free Kobi,’ the Japanese star was taken down by security and local police, as fans chanted,”Let him eat! Let him eat!”
With Canada Day just a day away, Simmons Mattress Gallery thought it would be fun to put together a small quiz to test your knowledge of the land and country you hold so dear. So without further ado, here are the questions:
What native artist designed the sculptures on the $20 dollar bill?
What is the highest mountain in Canada?
What is the capital city of Nunavut?
What year was “O Canada” proclaimed as Canada’s national anthem?
Who was the first team to win the Stanley Cup?
How many yards is a CFL field?
How many time zones are there in Canada?
Which province in Canada is officially declared bilingual?
Who was the longest serving Canadian Prime Minister?
What is the longest river in Canada?
Who is the author of Anne of Green Gables
What was Fredrick Banting and J.J.R. Macleod credited for creating?
What organization has the motto “maintien le droit” (uphold the right)?
What is the name of the schooner on the ten-cent coin?
-You don’t really know what that funky scent is from but it’s not good. Maybe it’s from the cereal you spilt, while watching the NFL in bed one Sunday. Maybe the smell from your forgotten gym shoes, the ones you stored under your bed for eight months, has seeped into the fabric. Or maybe it’s from that sweaty uncle who housesitted for you while you were in Europe. Whatever the case, no amount of Febreeze is going to hide it.
2. The size of your current mattress.
They say size doesn’t matter, but we all know they’re lying. Of course it does and sleeping on a mattress built for a vertically challenged 10 year-old is not healthy. You need room.
3. There are skid marks on the underside of your bed.
True story – there are people out there who use mattresses for surfing. (Many of these individuals tend to have a rosy tinge on their neck.) The act is preformed by towing a mattress from the back of a moving vehicle, while a rider kneels. The setting is usually a field or driveway. Don’t believe us? Watch this video.
*Simmons Mattress Gallery does not condone this activity.
4. Your significant other burned your last mattress on the front lawn.
-Was that really necessary? Breaking the Petro-Canada glasses you had since you were six was one thing… but the mattress? That’s just cruel. But then again, it was the scene of the crime.
5. That hole you cut to hide your baseball card collection
-First of all, are they really the most prized possession you own? And why the mattress? Well, we guess you found out the hard way (literally) that removing a section of coils from the inner lying would translate into a comfortless sleep. Try using the closet next time. Or if you feel like tearing something apart to build a secret compartment, go with the floorboards.
Priceless...
Whatever the case may be, Simmons Mattress Gallery has your new mattress ready and waiting.
“That time? O times / I laughed him out of patience; and that night / I laugh’d him into patience; and next morn, / Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed.”
-Cleopatra (Anthony and Cleopatra Act II, Scene 5)
This summer, under the peppermint tents, Ancient Egypt will come alive through the words of the world’s most famous playwright; William Shakespeare. Vancouverites will bare witness to Julius Ceasar’s greatest soldier falling from grace and Egypt’s last Pharaoh surrendering her once mighty kingdom to Roman rule. The tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra runs from June 17th to September 24th, at the annual Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in Vanier Park.
Accompanying this play will be three other productions all penned by the Immortal Bard: Much Ado About Nothing, Falstaff and Henry V. Falstaff, named after the clowning companion of Prince Hal, is a combination of Henry IV Part I and II, a definite bang for your buck.
The season begins with Much Ado About Nothing, on June 10th.
Included in this year’s program are the traditional Bard-B-Q (clever) & Fireworks night, Chatterbox Tuesdays and a Lecture Series.
Tickets can be purchased on line through the Bard on the Beach website:
Simmons Mattress Gallery suggests reading the plays before hand, or at least studying the short synopsis supplied on-line. You will take away much more of Shakespeare’s beautiful imagery and cunning word play if you already have a conceptual analysis of how the events will unfold. Just a tip.
So enjoy this summer’s offering of historical drama in one of the most beautiful theatrical settings in the world. And remember to bring your blanket.
There may be a few more tired bodies hitting the mattresses in Vancouver this month, as the UFC makes it’s inaugural debut in Western Canada on June 12th.
Already cited in town, Chuck Liddell has been training for his bout with Rich Franklin. The two veteran warriors will be the main event next Saturday. Liddell’s original opponent was Tito Ortiz. Unfortunately, Ortiz was forced to back out after undergoing surgery on his neck.
Ortiz and Liddell were the coaches for the latest installment of the “Ultimate Fighter” reality show.
The undercard will feature Mirko Cro Cop vs. Pat Barry, Paul Thiago vs. Martin Kamomann and eight other bouts.
The athletes competing will need to get all the rest they possibly can before heading into the Octagon.
Simmons Mattress Gallery is always on the lookout for bizarre tales of a sleep related nature. This week we found the Holy Grail.
It has been reported, that an exhibition in Tokyo, Japan, that features former possessions of the late pop star Michael Jackson, will be hosting a one-time sleepover event where fans will get to spend the night with various Michael Jackson memorabilia.
The exhibition is on display at the Tokyo Tower, where it has already had 300,000 visitors.
Titled the Neverland Collection, the exhibition contains costumes from Michael’s “Thriller” video, a 1967 Rolls Royce, an antique piano and many other artifacts owned by the ‘King of Pop.’
The sleepover will be held on June 25th, the one year anniversary of Michael Jackson’s death.
Apparently, in Japanese culture, spending time with the possessions of a loved one on the one-year anniversary of their death is an important ritual.
The sleepover will commence at 10:30 and will conclude at 8:00 in the morning the following day.
Fans will be able to purchase tickets for a lottery that will be held to determine the lucky few who will be given the privilege to spend the night amongst Michael’s . . . stuff.
It is not known where or what the ‘winners’ will be sleeping on.
We hope they are supplied with mattresses worthy of the former pop star; something from the Simmons Beautyrest NXG series would be appropriate.
Stanley Park is the royal crown that sits above the City of Vancouver. Mounted in that crown is the Malkin Bowl, the jewel that dazzles from its brim.
The 1,000 acre park was established at Vancouver’s first city council meeting in 1886. It is larger than New York’s Central Park and contains over half a million trees.
Along with the forested areas are 350 acres of recreational space.
Included in these 350 acres is the legendary Malkin Bowl, an outdoor theatre built to resemble the famed Hollywood Bowl in California.
Surrounded by cedars, douglas firs, hemlocks and maple trees, the amphitheatre is the perfect setting for an outdoor concert or summer musical production.
This year’s summer concert series begins this weekend with the U.K’s Massive Attack playing Saturday night.
Other concerts to follow are:
May 31st – LCD Soundsystem
June 4th – Xavier Rudd
June 11th – Metric
June 13th – Metric
August 28th – Vampire Weekend
September 10th – The National
The theater is also home to Theatre Under The Stars or TUTS, as it is known. This production company has been entertaining audiences since 1940, using local, up-and-coming stars, to headline their musicals.
Last year saw the success of both “Annie” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.”
This year the company will be presenting “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Singin in the Rain.”
Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to encourage residents of the Lower Mainland and visitors to our beautiful province to get out and experience the thrill of watching live entertainment in a stellar summer setting. We know your bed can be a strong draw, but listening to one of Canada’s hottest indie acts, in the company of raccoons, Canada geese, herons and distant beluga whales, is an opportunity not to be passed up lightly. So bring a blanket and your loved one and take in a show this summer.
You can purchase your tickets through Live Nation.
The 63rd Cannes Film Festival is underway in the south of France, as celebrities, industry workers and filmgoers from all over the world are treated to a week and a half of the finest celluloid offerings from around the globe.
This year’s festival opened with Ridley Scott’s historical fiction blockbuster, Robin Hood.
Scott was unable to make it to the premiere, an unprecedented occurrence for the opening-night film, but understandable, in wake of the director’s recent knee-replacement surgery.
One of the films receiving media buzz, is British director Mike Leigh’s new film, Another Year. The movie is an understated look at two content, future retirees, who despite their normalcy attract a handful of dysfunctional friends and colleagues.
Another film that is receiving excellent reviews is Sabina Guzzanti’s Michael Mooresque documentary, Draquila – Italy Trembles. This film covers the Berlusconi government’s mismanagement and personal profit of the 2009 L’Aquila earthquake.
The awards will be handed out at the conclusion of the festival, ultimately affecting the box office intake of a handful of lucky recipients. Tim Burton is this year’s President of the Jury.
Unfortunately, it may be a while before the international films reach our Canadian screens. Even then, some of the films might only receive a limited screening, so catching them on DVD or Blue-Ray might be you best option.
An excellent source for world cinema in Vancouver is Videomatica, on West Fourth.
You might have to wait months before they are available, but enjoying truly inspirational movies from the comfort of your bed is a wonderful luxury.
Why not prepare for this years award recipients with the purchase of a new mattress form Simmons Mattress Gallery?
