Before you move into a furnished home there are three things you should consider about the mattress you will be sleeping on for the next three to twelve months:
1. Its Condition – What is the age of the mattress? Are the springs in good condition? Does the mattress have a disturbing odour? When you remove the sheets, are there stains covering the surface?
2. Mattress Size – When you lie down on the bed, are your feet sticking out over the end? Is there enough room to stretch out? Is the bed an appropriate size for the room it’s in?
3. Bed Bugs – Is the mattress currently in a building that is on record with the Vancouver Bed Bug Registry? Did the mattress come from another location that may have had a bed bug issue? Is their evidence of bed bugs along the seams of the mattress?
If any of these questions cause you concern, discuss them with your landlord, home-stay parent or placement supervisor. If you need to buy a new bed, a Simmons Mattress Gallery professional can help recommend the perfect mattress for your Canadian lodging.
Your time abroad should be spent in comfortable setting. Consider a new mattress.
As a consumer in a capitalistic society, you have choices for what you buy and where you buy it. There is no one warehouse for shampoo or light fixtures and fortunately we all don’t have to buy the same ugly trainers. We are free to spend our money on any product we deem economically superior.
The consumer’s responsibility is product comparison. Finding the lowest price and best terms is a demanding second job. Fortunately, some companies are making it easier for the consumer. Their prices and the quality of their products places their item or service on a level far above their competition.
The recent discovery of bed bugs in a Vancouver library book has embarrassed the city’s lending service and reopened the inquiry into how prolific the bed bug problem is in our city.
The bugs were found in a book borrowed from the Mount Pleasant Library.
Since the incident, the library has done a thorough search of their stacks. Their work has turned up no evidence of further infestation. It may have only been the one book, stored near an infected mattress or couch that acted as a temporary home for the critters – unlucky for the library.
The fact that the bugs were found in an item other than furniture or clothing illustrates how prolific the problem is in our city. Bed bugs are everywhere, but those infected are keeping their mouths zipped.
Unlike a public library, homeowners can silently try to deal with bed bug issues without the prying eye of the public. Victims call a pest control service, they move to a hotel for a few days or go on a ‘vacation’, they buy all new mattresses and when they get back, the Taylors will ‘still’ be sending little Jenny over for play dates. A convenient solution with little-to-no public humiliation.
Until there is a strategy to wipeout the bugs for good, private pest control will be the public’s best option.
We have just over a month to go till Christmas. Are you ready?
The Starbucks cups were out on the 1st, St. Paul’s Lights of Hope turns on next Thursday and the Christmas Train starts up on December 2nd, Each unique event reminds us of how close we are coming to the family holiday.
And there’s so much to do…
The cleaning is what stresses us out. Vacuuming, scrubbing, dusting, polishing – it all must be done before the family arrives.
Then there are the lights to be hung, the tree to buy and the sweets to be baked.
Finding time to rest over the holidays can be a chore in itself. To improve your horizontal hours, purchase a Simmons Beautyrest mattress from Vancouver’s mattress store. It will be a gift that you can enjoy every day of the year. You can’t say that about the Rudolph-themed slippers you received from Uncle Rob.
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
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.
Warning: A deadly virus is finding its way into homes across Vancouver. Families are being warned to educate their loved ones before the viral outbreak reaches epidemic levels.
The symptoms are tired springs, midnight sag and motion distrubance. These three manifestations have caused many citizens to lose a full night’s rest. Sufferers may appear bag-eyed, lethargic and irritable. Any person displaying these signs should not be approached.
The outbreak is thought to be contagious, with many homes having two or more affected beds.
The Beautyrest mattress line can rejuvenate the energy depleted by the infected beds. With the purchase of a Beautyrest mattress, sufferers can return to their regular sleeping schedules overnight. Patented non-flip pocket coils will support the weight of the inflicted patient, offering a comfortable layer of cushion. The coils’ individual nature limits motion transfer between sleeping partners. Beautyrest’s quality design will prevent sagging over time, keeping the virus at pay.
Prescriptions can be filled at the Simmons Mattress Gallery on Broadway in Vancouver and on Schoolhouse Road in Coquitlam.
The Virus Is Not Yet Airborne. No Need For Radiation Suits.
Let’s take a look back at the beds that defined you:
The Wooden Prison – Your crib provided you with a confined space to for those short periods of sleep between epic crying bouts. The upside: you never had to get up to go to the washroom in the middle of the night. The downside: lack of freedom.
The Layer Cake – All of your friends were envious of your bunk bed, but sharing a bedroom with your older brother quickly lost its novelty. You dreamed of the top bunk, but sadly were forced to settle for the lower class bottom bunk for eight long years.
Puberty Plank – Pimples, emerging hair and voice crackles were manageable, but your Grade Ten growth spurt put your feet off the end of your twin mattress; it left you with 3/4’s of a comfortable night’s rest.
College Daze – If your dorm room mattresses could speak, we’re sure it would utter something along the lines of Kurtz’s final words; “The horror….the horror.”
Young Professional - Independent enough to buy your first bed – too poor to shop anywhere but IKEA.
Marriage Bed – She insisted on going to a proper mattress store. Together, you picked out a Beautyrest. Everything up to that point was…history.
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:
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
Tired of taco night and boring pasta dishes? Want to rekindle your culinary passions? Looking for things to do around Vancouver that don’t involve a mattress?
The Arts Club Theatre Company is hosting celebrity cooking classes for Vancouverites to learn and indulge in the fine art of food preparation. Head chefs, from a variety of restaurants around the Lower Mainland, are teaching the classes. The lessons include a full meal, wine tasting and a hands-on learning experience.
Hosted at private homes, the lessons are an opportunity to learn cooking techniques in a casual environment, where the product can be enjoyed in the setting it was intended for.
Tickets are $125 per person. There are five planned events being offered before the New Year. Each class is unique and specific to the chef who is hosting.
Your PVR recordings of Hell’s Kitchen can only take you so far. Learn how to cook extravagant meals without Gordon Ramsey telling you where to stick it.
For more information, visit the Arts Club Theatre website.
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.
Summer is winding to a close and fall is starting to show on the leaves. This is great news for corn lovers in B.C. as the fields are filled with this year’s crop. It’s also the time of year when farmers with an entrepreneurial artistic side, can turn their land from simple fields of corn into complex harvest labyrinths.
One of the largest mazes in the Pacific Northwest is located in Pitt Meadows. Appropriately titled the ‘Meadow Maze,’ this year’s design boasts 6.3 kms of pathways. The theme is the Vancouver Zoo. Previous themes include: the PNE, the Golden Ears Bridge and ‘eat local.’
The corn maze design begins on a computer, where a designer creates an image and then maps out the pathways. The maze is then cut when the corn is a foot high using a tractor with GPS compatibility. Before the cut, there are nearly 1 million plants in the field.
Visitors to the maze are encouraged to bring water and a hat. The Pitt Meadows location occasionally closes when the temperature is too high. The average walker takes about 1 1/2 hours to complete the maze. The fastest time for this years design is 35 minutes.
The Meadow Maze also boasts a full concession and market area, plus a petting zoo and hay rides.
Pitt Meadows Maze
*From Experience: Do not watch “Children of the Corn” before a trip to the Pitt Meadows maze.
Nanaimo is quickly becoming the Mecca of education on Vancouver Island. With Malaspina’s transformation from a community college to Vancouver Island University, students from across the country are making the Harbour City their home.
The University has nursing programs, trade opportunities and one of the most respected Ed programs in the province.
But unfortunately, unlike many European countries, education comes at a price. This month scores of students will be looking for ways to pay their tuition, textbook and living expenses.
If you have a child who will be attending VIU or if you are planning to return to school, you may need to look beyond the usual student loan option. A Nanaimo second mortgage can aid you in your quest to come up with the funds.
A Nanaimo mortgage financing package is a viable option for paying for education costs. All that is needed for the loan is home equity.
If you own your home outright or have a current mortgage package, a Nanaimo mortgage credit loan can be yours with a quick five-minute application.
Amateur and pro cycling enthusiasts around the Lower Mainland have been training, tuning and timing for months in preparation for this weekend’s Gran Fondo ride from Vancouver to Whistler. The ride is 120 km, along one of the most beautiful highways on the planet. Take part or encourage a friend or family member as they climb towards Whistler Village.
This is the second year of the mass cycling event in Canada, a phenomenon that was born in Europe and given the Italian name of Gran Fondo – roughly translated as ‘Big Ride.’ The event is not a race, but awards are given to the top finishers. It features riders from a variety of skill levels and backgrounds. This year’s amateur category is sold out, but the pro category still has room for last minute entries.
The race will start at Thurlow and West Georgia at 7:00 am, with amateur riders staggered back to Seymour Street. The race will finish in Whistler Village, with the finish line closing at 4:00 pm. There will also be a celebration event afterwards, featuring the music of 54-40.
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.
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.
Acute illness is usually connected with the winter months, when our bodies react to the change in temperature. The common cold usually strikes us somewhere between the months of October and early December, when our immune system is weakened due to the seasonal climate change.
But the summer months can be just as deadly on our immune system. During summer, we often treat our bodies with less care. We indulge in greasy food, we neglect the gym and we also sleep less. Reducing our sleeping hours is the major cause of summer immune deficiency.
The temptation to sleep less is high in July and August because of our activity loaded days and nights. A fireworks show, two barbecues, a staff party and a wedding can run a hefty sleep debt. It is important to make time, even when the weather is nice, for a few early nights.
A consistent eight hours of sleep can keep our bodies running at maximum capacity. This may mean going home a little early from the party or declining the odd invitation for dinner, but it could also mean not getting sick.
What could be more comfortable than a layer of 80 individual pocket coils? A double stack of coil on coil springs to ease your body onto. Add a 360° memory foam encasement and top it with a hi-loft pillow top and you have the finest Beautyrest mattress available in our showroom.
The Beautyrest Exceptionale series is the jewel in the Beautyrest line. It is designed to offer the most comfortable sleep imaginable. No other mattress comes close to the pampering offered by an Exceptionale mattress.
The stack begins with two layers of four-inch coils; that’s a full eight inches of support. The foam layer adds another three inches of cushioning. And the pillow top is half an inch. The total sum: eleven and a half inches of mattress heaven.
Add a Triton foundation, and your bed is suddenly a tower of clouds so soft and supportive, an angel would be envious.
If you feel you deserve the best mattress possible, select the Beautyrest Exceptionale mattress. It is comfort taken to the highest level.
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.
Before you come into shop for a new mattress at Simmons Mattress Gallery, it’s a good idea to compile a few notes on the specifics of what you will be looking for in your new bed. This will help the Simmons professionals suggest the perfect mattress for your needs.
Here is a list of questions you should consider:
1. What sort of sleeping position do you prefer? Do you sleep on your back, your side or on your stomach? Some mattresses are specifically designed for certain sleeping positions, so knowing which one you prefer helps with selection.
2. Do you have chronic back pain? Memory foam is an excellent addition for those suffering neck or back pain.
3. Do you and or your partner move around in your sleep? All of the Beautyrest models are made with non-flip pocket coils that help reduce motion transfer, but some are more sensitive than others.
4. What firmness do you prefer? Think about the most comfortable sleep you’ve had. Was the mattress extra firm or was it the softness that made it so cozy?
5. How much room do you have in your bedroom for your new mattress? You don’t want to buy a king size mattress if it will not fit in your room. Use a tape measure and record the dimensions you will need.
6. How much are you willing to spend? Figure out a budget beforehand. Knowing this number will help the mattress professional suggest mattresses within your price range.
Bring all these facts in with you when you visit one of our two locations. Make sure to sleep test at least five different mattresses in our showroom. Again, this will help you decide on what qualities you prefer.
A new baby can turn your sleeping schedule upside down. Finding ways to help your infant fall asleep at times that are suitable for you is a challenge. New research is showing that one of the best aids you can use is soothing noise. This calms the baby and encourages sleep.
The makers of baby related products have reacted to this research and have started producing high-end white noise machines. These little items might make great shower gifts, but for those mothers who don’t receive one, the cost can be a little excessive. Babies are an expensive enterprise and finding ways to cut down on costs is a necessity for new parents.
Good news! A new app for your android phone called Relax and Sleep Plus can play soothing sounds through the speaker in your phone for a fraction of what it would cost to buy a white noise machine. The app costs $2 and is available at the Android Marketplace.
The app lets you set how long you want the ambient noise to run. It also has a number of various sounds to choose from. You can mix them together, or have them play one after another. Examples of available sounds are: acoustic guitar, aquarium sounds, ocean and rainforest. There are also animal noises such as frogs and birds. The most bizarre option is the sound of wolves howling, for those Farley Mowat fans.
Consumer guides suggest setting the volume at a low level and keeping the phone well away from the sleeping infants head; the debate on cell phones and stimulating brain cancer is ongoing.
Another tip is to set your phone on airplane mode. You don’t want your infant interrupted by one of your friends calling or texting.
Unfortunately for iPhone users, this app is not currently available on Apple products. We’re sure they will make something similar in the coming months.
Simmons Mattress Gallery professionals are always being asked the same age-old question: “How do I fall asleep at night when my body won’t turn off?”
Are answer always starts with a question: “What kind of mattress are you sleeping on?” After suggesting a switch to an ultra-comfortable Beautyrest, we widen our advice to include a few tips that have been passed down to us from our many satisfied customers.
One tip is specifically formulated for those nights when you have an important business meeting or presentation the following day.
Our anxious nature occasionally inhibits our mind from slipping into a state of unconsciousness. For those nights when we are consumed by the pressure of our work, we offer this tip:
Don’t lie in bed trying in vain to fall asleep. Get off your mattress, go to your desk or kitchen table and take out a pen and paper. Do not work on the computer; that will just add more distractions. Write out everything you will be doing the following day. Include all the details you can think of. If need be, include a timeline.
With that done, return to bed and switch your brain from logical functioning to creative. Imagine a picture or scene and place yourself in it. Let your mind relax and drift away.
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.
These are the profound words offered by James Maas, Ph.D., coauthor of Sleep for Success! Like eating right and getting adequate exercise, the hours you spend asleep are critical for the maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.
When we are behind on our sleep, we often neglect our healthy habits. We start making poor choices due to our fatigue.
These poor choices could include missing various appointments for physical activity. This can have a snowball effect and before we know it, two months have passed since we’ve made a trip to the gym.
With a lack of sleep comes a lack of energy to prepare nutritious food. Instead of making a stir-fry and a summer salad, we hit A&W for a double teen burger and onion rings. Poor choices…
We also suddenly crave quick hits of caffeine to keep our mental activity alert. Again, this has a compounding effect. The crash is inevitable.
To avoid this dangerous cycle, make time for at least seven hours a night. The necessity, not the luxury.
British Columbia issued license plates for the Olympic year with the slogan, “Best Place on Earth.” Many Easterners saw this as another west coast hyperbole that proved the level of our conceitedness.
But for those of us who call BC home, the phrase holds more truth than the sharp-tongued retorts of the critics.
BC is one of the most diverse provinces in the country. It has the mildest winter weather and the least humid summers. It is is home to the country’s most beautiful city, Vancouver, and It is also the proud parent of the Vancouver Canucks, the only Canadian team to get past the opening round of the 2011 NHL playoffs.
Our province has some of the lushest parks in the country, the most epic skiing conditions and one of the only stretches of shoreline worth surfing in Canada.
We showed the world we could host a party in 1986 and we did it again in 2010. The BC acronym is synonymous with a higher level of living that folks from all over the world recognize.
Part of that living experience is the proximity to the most elite mattress store in the country, Simmons Mattress Gallery. The BC mattress store, offers the top Simmons Beautyrest beds at prices that are worth the drive from St. Johns.
If you’ve never slept on a Simmons, you’ve never experienced the west coast. Come see why this truly is the best place on earth. We’ll be waiting with a mattress, two free pillows and some of the BC’s finest (mattress professionals).
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.
Pink is the colour of spring in Vancouver. It floats above our heads and flutters to our feet. It lines our streets and patches our parks. It brightens the grey skies of April and whispers in our ear, “May is not far off.”
The Cherry Blossom Festival is a unique celebration of Vancouver’s relationship with the pink flowers of the Japanese Cherry Tree. This year the festival is running from March 26th until April 22nd. On April 16th, at the VanDusen Botanical Garden, the city will distribute 3,000 new cherry trees to property owners who have paid a reduced rate of $40 per tree. The trees are being sold as part of the celebration around Vancouver’s 125th birthday. They are the pink candles on our cake.
The festival is also hosting a public bike ride on the same day as the VanDusen handout. ‘Bike the Blossoms’ will begin at 11am at Devonian Park in the West End. If you can’t make this date, you can download a PDF of different blossom bike routes for your own private viewing.
Need to express your love of the pink? Enter the Haiku Invitational poetry contest. Put your thoughts into three simple lines of 17 moras and submit your poem before the May 31st deadline. The winning submissions will be featured on Translink spaces around the Lower Mainland.
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!)
If you happened to go for a beach stroll along English Bay last Friday morning, you may have noticed some extra “wrapping” around some of Vancouver’s public sculptures. Five figures were wrapped with plastic ribbon to announce the sad, expected departure, of the 40 pieces of public art involved in the Vancouver Biennale outdoor exhibit. The ribbon was labeled with the phrase, ”It’s not the same without sculpture.” The situational irony is heavy, as Vancouverites will have to say goodbye to a number of massive sculptures that shared their community for the last two years.
Commissioned for the years surrounding the Olympics, the Biennale art added a sense of humour and fun to a city that has often been lacking in both of these areas. The project reflected cultural influences from around the world by using the work of 37 artists from 15 different countries. The pieces lined our beaches, sat in public parks and spoke to us from the sidewalk.
Now with the project timeline coming to a close, the sculptures that many of us enjoyed on a daily basis are being auctioned off. The proceeds, collected from the sale of the current figures, will finance future projects, educational packages and artists in residence programs.
Simmons Mattress Gallery’s three favourite pieces from the first round of sculptures were:
This Wednesday, April 6th, marks the official start to Vancouver’s 125th Birthday celebration. There will be an all-day event at Jack Poole Plaza, the site of the Olympic Cauldron. The festivities will begin at 2pm and continue until 10pm.
The opening event will be a drop-in street hockey tournament. This will be followed by an organized youth tournament featuring teams from Thunderbird, Sunset, West End, Britannia, Riley Park and Killarney communities.
From 6:00 to 7:00 will be the Official Ceremonies, with a giant birthday cake and speeches by Mayor Gregor and other dignitaries.
The big draw will be a performance by Vancouver’s own classic rockers, 54-40. They will hit the stage around 8:45 and will play until 10:00. During the performance, the plaza will become the backdrop for a video and light installation titled Time Drifts, by Berlin-based artist Phillipp Geist.
In the spirit of our ever-loving cycling mayor, there will be a bicycle valet option for those of you choosing the two-wheeled commute.
Gregor has also promised to unveil other events as the year progresses.
The Olympics were just the beginning Vancouver! Let’s celebrate who we are and where we came from!
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.
When a couple move in together, they often stumble upon the issue of a new mattress. ‘What size should I get, what firmness, what make?’ These are all important questions to consider, especially if you consider you will spend the majority of your time together sleeping on your new bed.
Well let’s tackle the last question first. ‘What make,’ that’s a no-brainer: Simmons. They make the most comfortable, durable, technologically sound mattresses in the business. With their non-flip pocket coil springs, a Simmons mattress will also limit the amount of motion transfer between sleeping partners. Rest easy and undisturbed on a Simmons.
The firmness question is a little more difficult. Try the different firmness ratings at your nearest Simmons Mattress Gallery. Try to compromise on a bed that is somewhere in between your ideal compression. If you both enjoy the same level, you’re set!
Then there is the question of size. Twins are out of the question. You want to be close, but some nights you’ll need your space. Especially when your partner has a cold. King size? You still want to be close enough to spoon. The perfect solution: a queen. A Vancouver queen size mattress will give you just enough space, while still offering an intimate sleeping surface.
Come down to one of the two Simmons Mattress Gallery locations in Vancouver to find your queen.
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.
As the world tries to come to grips with the damage caused by the recent earthquake and resulting tsunami in Japan, here at home, people are starting to fear that the next big quake could occur somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. This has many Lower Mainland residents thinking very seriously about their preparedness level.
To address these concerns, citizens can visit the British Columbia Earthquake Preparedness website for tips on what to have ready and what actions to take in the event of a massive earthquake. The site is an excellent resource for preparing your loved ones for an environmental disaster.
Remember to Hold On!
Here are a few quick tips for your family to work on:
1. Know the safe areas of your home that can be used for cover.
(heavy tables, desks, archways)
2. Know the dangerous areas of your home.
(near windows, beside large appliances, near shelves)
3. Signup for a first-aid course.
4. Plan and practice safe evacuation routes from your home.
5. Have a plan in place if your family is separated. Organize a contact number of a family member or friend who lives in another area of the Province.
7. Have a list of emergency contacts posted near your main phone. You can also add these numbers to the contact list on your cellphones.
8. Prepare emergency supplies for at least 72 hours.
This should include: first aid kit, tarp or small tent, water (lots of it), water purification tablets, non-perishable food, flashlights, am/fm radio, batteries, toiletry items, fire extinguisher, wrench, shoes, gloves and if possible, sleeping bags.
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
One of the most alluring aspects of Vancouver is our dedication to the Arts. All around our city, there are indoor and outdoor installations featuring the work of local artists. From the public statues erected for the Olympic year, to small galleries on Granville Island, to the always-inspiring work of Bill Reid at the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver is proud to display the talents of Canadian artists.
One of the smaller galleries that is making a name for itself for its historical and cultural exhibits is The Pendulum Gallery. The Pendulum is located at the base of the HSBC tower. It is a seven story, glass-covered atrium, created with the help of the City of Vancouver to promote cultural and historical exhibitions.
Last month, the Pendulum showed a photography exhibit titled “Swedes in B.C.,” which documented the life of Swedish immigrants.
This month, the gallery will be showing the work of Taizo Yamamoto. Yamamoto has produced an exhibition of intricate drawings titled “Shopping Carts and Recent Drawings.” The works present artifacts and single subject sketches of downtown life. The shopping carts are presented as still lifes, a vehicle holding the possessions and survival instruments of absent figures. The detail is truly amazing and worth the trip downtown.
So come out and support the work of local artists. You will walk away with a new appreciation for your own community and the projects it inspires.
At Simmons Mattress Gallery we accommodate all comfort levels to find our customers the perfect bed for their lifestyle. In the food world, this task is often a little more difficult, especially if your chosen lifestyle is vegan. Finding goods that meet your ingredient standards can be a difficult task. Finding baked goods – almost impossible.
Well that is all about to change, with the opening of Edible Flours (cute little pun), the first all-vegan retail bakery in Vancouver. The bakery will launch in late March, on Broadway, between Vine and Yew. Edible Flours will offer sweets of all sorts that are dairy and egg free. This includes cupcakes, cookies, muffins, loaves, brownies and even birthday cake. All the sweeteners used in these products will be un-refined.
Their menu will also include items for specialty diets, with the option of gluten, wheat, soy and sugar free products.
Unfortunately, the bakery will not initially produce bread, but co-owner Paul Briggs claims it may be a possibility further along.
Briggs and Alli Neville started the project with a make-to-order bakery a year ago.
What do you wear to bed on a nightly basis? Simmons Mattress Gallery wants to know.
Each one of us has a certain bedtime uniform that we feel the most comfortable in after-hours. Some of us retire to our bed wearing half of what we wore that day. Others spend each night in pajamas. Others still, sleep in boxers and a t-shirt.
Feeling sexy? There is always that lingerie at the back of your sock drawer. Feel like a fabric hug? Pull out the hoodie from College. Cold feet? Those wool socks you bought for skiing in 2007 are great!
And then some of us feel the most comfortable with nothing on. Commando!
Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to conduct a poll of what the majority of British Columbians wear to bed. Join our Facebook group and post your answers on our wall. Following us on Twitter? Send us a message or @mention us on your own feed. Just give us a brief description of what you wear on a regular night when you go to sleep.
Feel like doing some mattress shopping in your nightly garbs? Bring them down, change in the back and try out some of the finest beds in the business in your most comfortable evening attire. We won’t judge.
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.
Tossing and turning with a basketball glued to your stomach is a difficult task!
Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to make your pregnancy more comfortable. A quality spring mattress with a memory foam top is just the thing for finding the ideal sleeping conditions during your nine months of growth.
A Simmons non-flip pocket coil mattress will keep you properly supported through the entire night. With individual springs, your mattress will respond to your movements with soft fingers of compression. The coils will reduce motion transfer, so your partner can sleep through the night as well.
For an extra layer of comfort on top of your springs, take the memory foam option. Nothing moulds to your changing figure quite like memory foam.
You may find that you will require additional firmness at points during your pregnancy. Just remove the foam top and store it carefully in an elevated area of your closet.
One thing you definitely don’t want to invest in is a waterbed. Though the idea of floating while sleeping may seem intriguing, waterbeds do not supply nearly enough support for pregnant women. They can also be dangerously hard to get out or off of. Stay away from the 80’s fad and live in the present with the latest innovations from Simmons.
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.
Well Vancouver, it has almost been a year since the opening of the 2010 Winter Olympics. How do we feel? Are we proud of the job we did on and off the podium? Were we gracious hosts? Will we be remembered for the party?
This week, Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to look back at those two weeks in February to see how our games measured up:
-Millennium Line built on time.
Athlete’s Village squeaks in just under the wire.
-John Furlong and the rest of the VANOC team prepare the city for the crowds.
When the time comes, Vancouverites are so fearful of traveling by car that the streets are near empty.
-Beautiful weather makes for excellent conditions down in the city.
Lack of snow on Cypress results in a convoy of trucks transporting snow from the interior to the local mountains.
-Venues shine with the colours of the Northwest.
Tragedy hits before the games even begin, as a Georgian luge competitor dies while practicing on the Whistler track.
-The Opening Ceremonies are a huge success, showcasing Canadian talent and large scale media theatrics.
Three out of four torches light.
-K.D. Lang sing “Hallelujah.”
Hedley lip synch.
-Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir steal our hearts and the gold in ice dance.
Dutch Speed Skater, Sven Kramer, makes a major lane mistake that costs him a medal. His coach is blamed.
-Canada’s women destroy their competitors in ice hockey and the men take it to overtime, with Sid the Kid ending the game for Canada.
Apart from a few speeches and Neil Young’s performance, the Closing Ceremonies were tragic.
"Long May We Run"
All and all, we here at Simmons feel the good well out weighed the bad. Fingers crossed that Sochi doesn’t pull it together on time and the games return to Vancouver. Just kidding. We’re sure the Russians will do a great job!
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.
With the dramatic rise and fall of temperatures that we have been experiencing over the last few weeks, it’s a miracle that we aren’t all out with the sick bug. For those few who haven’t been affected, Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to provide a few strategies for retaining your health.
1. Wash your hands regularly.
-There is a great commercial for Science World, where these four business exec types meet up in an office and instead of shaking hands they each exchange open mouth deep throat greetings. The text reads: “shaking hands spreads more germs than kissing.” The final tag line: “Science World – We can explain.”
2. Eat healthy foods
-One more reason to stick to your New Years diet. Keep your immune system well nourished with a variety of fruits and veggies. Skip the McDonalds lunch.
-Have your first glass with the vitamin. Then at least one glass with lunch and dinner. If you have a relatively strong bladder, drink another before bed.
5. Go to sleep early
-Nothing wears out your immune system like a lack of sleep. Fight the cold bug by tucking in a few hours early. If you can’t fall asleep, chances are you’re sleeping on an uncomfortable mattress. UPGRADE at Simmons Mattress Gallery and work through the winter strong and cold free.
In the City’s continuing effort to reduce landfill waste, a new surcharge will be laid on any mattress being discarded at the Delta landfill. The charge is $20 per bed.
Mattresses will no longer be considered general garbage at all Vancouver Transfer Stations and landfill sites. There will now be a limit on the number of mattresses that one customer can drop at a time. The mattresses will also be left in a separate area from the regular waste. These limitations were put in effect on January 1st.
Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to applaud the city for implementing these measures. Mattresses are almost 100 percent recyclable or compostable and make up a significant portion of the waste dumped in our local landfills.
If you have just purchased a brand new Simmons and are looking for an ethical way to dispose of your old mattress, contact Mattressrecycling.ca. They are the first and largest mattress recycler operating in British Columbia. The price for a mattress drop-off is $14. The warehouse is located at 7885 North Fraser Way. If you would like your mattress picked-up, Mattressrecycling.ca charges $55.
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.
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.
With thirty-five games ticked off, the Canucks are nearing the halfway mark of the season. They are finishing up a stellar December that saw them lead the league in power-play percentage. Their goaltending is two-tier, there seems to be strong leadership in the dressing room and one of their only losses this month was one of their best games (Dec. 22 / Detroit).
For a team that has gone its full existence, forty years, without a cup, it finally seems like Vancouver has put together a winning line-up. Not since the days of the West Coast Express, has Vancouver looked so poised for a deep playoff run.
And… we know it’s early and any number of things could happen to disrupt the near perfect chemistry that the team is currently showing, but really, if ever there was ever a time… this is it.
Well here’s a list of ten reasons why 2011 might just be THE year.
1.Luoooooo
-He may not be Captain, but he is still the pivot point on which the Canucks turn.
2. Super Twins
At the time of writing, the Sedin twins sit fourth and fifth in league points. Out of the bunk beds and onto a Beautyrest Black, the Sedins are showing the world that they have finally come of age. Thank you Sweden!
3. Malhotra in the Face-off Circle
What a pick-up! This guy is dominating the circle with the second highest percentage in the league. Don’t think that face-off percentage is an important stat? Back to your European handball.
4. Kes
That deflection goal last night was sick! And then one post away from a hat-trick. With none of the pressures of being Captain, Kesler is leading by example. We’ll forgive him for those few offhanded remarks he made about Canadians during the Olympics.
5. Fortunate Son
The son of former great Steve Tambellini, Jeff Tambellini is part of the new young breed energizing Vancouver.
6. Coach V
In his fifth season behind the bench, Alain Vigneault isn’t putting up with anything. Quick to send players down and even quicker to change line combinations, Vigneault is still keeping it fresh, while maintaining that mischievous grin.
7. German Efficiency
Christian Ehrhoff is giving the Canucks blue line a scoring touch. Night-in and night-out Ehrhoff stops them at one end and adds an offensive presence in the other.
8. Big Mike
All Mike Gillis needs to do is to maintain a steady course. “Please Mike don’t dump a bunch of contracts and snap-up another has-been like Mats. Just let the boys you have play.”
9. The Green Men
Nothing says intimidation like two dudes in full-body, fluorescent green, spandex suits. “What silly antic will they think up next.”
10. 40 Years
Enough is enough. It’s been FORTY YEARS! The time is now. The window is open.
“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.
Under a canopy of lush greenery, trees, and meticulously manicured gardens, ethereal lights, and softly falling snow, VanDusen Gardens offers the ideal backdrop for an elegant Christmastime stroll.
And the perfect evening for walking in a Winter wonderland.
So put on your scarves and mittens, warm your spirits with hot cider, and bundle up the whole family, or that special someone, for a night to remember amidst the magical festival of lights.
Here are a few of the highlights to anticipate:
See how the other half lives at Santa’s Living Room: Dec. 10 – 24 with Santa appearances 5:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 p.m.
Visit with Svend and Jens, the Scandinavian Christmas Elves. They make appearances nightly in the Centre Court.
Starting at 4:30 p.m. every evening, you can enjoy the Dancing Lights on Livingstone Lake. There are two different shows – one on the half hour and one at the top of the hour.
Take a mysterious wander through Gingerbread Wood.
Take in the lights on Golden Chain Walk.
Sing along or just enjoy the music with the Community Choir Concerts on the Deck at 6:00 pm and 7:30 pm.
Other highlights include the Make-A-Wish Candle Shrine, Candy Cane Lane, Sparkling Spruce in the Centre Court and the whimsical Candy Cane Express model train.
To find out more about the VanDusen Botanical Garden Festival of Lights, check their website at www.vandusengarden.org
Enjoy the festival every evening from 4:30 to 9:00 pm. It is open every night except December 25, when the garden is closed.
Tickets are now on sale.
Adult: $15.75 Senior: $11.75 Youth (13 -18): $11.75 Child ( 6- 12): $9.25 Family (2 adults and their children 6-18): $33.50
Once you finish dinner, pack the kids in the car, put on a CD of Christmas classics and drive through the city on a treasure hunt
Document your adventure with a digital camera.
Have a ballot sheet, where your kids can vote on the most creative, the most absurd, the most classic.
A great starting or ending point is the tree at English Bay. Park the car and take a walk underneath the strings of lights.
If you’re looking for a longer walk, take the family to the Vandusen Garden’s Festival of Lights. The light display will run from December 10th till January 2nd. The lights turn on at 4:30 and shut off at 9. The family rate, for two parents and their children is $29.75.
Time a factor?
Try going for a walk in your own neighbourhood. Check out all the displays and appreciate the effort that went into the many multicoloured mosaics of light.
You left work at noon on the 24th. You arrived home to a house of screaming children and a half packed minivan. After three or four loads to the car you finally filled it – presents, coolers, snow gear, toboggan, booze: CHECK! Oh and the kids.
After more than six hours on the road, you arrived at Williams Lake. The kids sprinted into your parent’s house and your wife went to talk to your brother’s fiancé. That left you with the unpacking. Great.
Thirty minutes later, you walked into the living room and were ambushed by your sister’s twin girls. They had you on the floor in a matter of seconds and then all the other young ones piled on.
Around eleven you had your first taste of scotch. It numbed the pain, but instantly reminded your brain how tired you were.
That’s when you saw your father eying you from across the room.
He pointed outside and you knew you were in for another long talk about your underachieving brother.
An hour later with your ear still ringing, you were finally dismissed. You checked on the kids, set the presents out and then went back to the spare room that your parents had just redone.
After a quick clothes removal, you collapsed on the bed and were out in a matter of seconds.
Then you awoke. The clock said 2:30. You fell back asleep.
Then you woke again. The clock said 2:42. You struggled, but finally fell back asleep.
Then you woke again. The clock read 3:27.
You listened for a disturbance… Nothing.
“Why,” you asked yourself, “do I keep waking up when all I want to do is sleep?”
Just then your wife rolled over and the bed began to rock like a rowboat in two-foot swells.
An hour later, you contemplated the floor. Two hours later, when you heard the kids running for their stockings, you had hardly slept a wink.
Getting dressed, all you could think of was the gift you would be getting your parents next Christmas: a new mattress – a Beautyrest, like your one at home.
Another successful Movember has come and gone. Men all over the world spent the last month growing out the hair on their upper lip to help raise awareness and donations for prostate cancer.
The totals from registered donations have been tallied at the Movemeber.com website and Canada has come out on top.
Donating over 19 million, Canadian companies and private citizens have shown their support for finding a cure for prostate cancer by opening up their pocketbooks.
Canada also had the most registered mustaches; 118, 727 of them. The single greatest haul by a corporation was CIBC. The banking firm was able to raise $251,356 towards the cause.
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.
The first thing you did after buying your new home: purchased a new mattress from Simmons Mattress Gallery.
“If this is going to be a fresh start,” you thought to yourself, “I should probably buy a mattress that takes advantage of the increased bedroom size.”
We couldn’t agree more. That tired old relic you have been sleeping on for years needed to be tossed.
The Dreaded Hide-A-Bed
But what about all your other personal belongings you plan to transfer over to your new place? Have you made arrangements to move them? Are you stressed just thinking about the prospect of loading all your furniture into a rental van?
Rid yourself of this unneeded anxiety. Hire a moving company to transport your furniture to your new home.
Simmons Mattress Gallery suggests going with Careful Movers.
Careful Movers are a Western Canada based company that specializes in local and long distance moving across North America.
They offer free estimates and provide advice and assistance from your first consultation till the last box is placed inside your new home.
Like the mattress professionals at Simmons Mattress Gallery, the men and women that work for Careful Movers are all trained moving professionals.
Visit their website for more information or call them direct.
Their toll free number is 1-888-801-0581.
Don’t stress over your move. Let your mind focus on that beautiful new Beautyrest and all the tranquil nights you will spend on it.
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.
You decided to go big with your home renovations last spring. You chose granite over tile, upgraded all your fixtures to brass and added a jacuzzi in the en-suite of the master bedroom.
Now, six months after signing off on a private contractor, you are struggling to pay your bills. You already took a loan from the bank to pay for the initial reno payment and the bank has refused to lend you any more cash. So what are your options?
You could ask your family if you could borrow money.
You could apply for a second job.
You could look into prospecting as a fun new hobby.
But before you rush into any of these, Simmons Mattress Gallery would recommend you talk to Alpine Credits about receiving a home equity loan. This would let you borrow against the money you have already put towards paying off your house.
Your home is an investment. Let Alpine Credits supply you with the funds needed to finance your home renovations.
This is what ‘Yes’ feels like!
Just remember to put aside a small amount for that new mattress in your bedroom. It will complete the room and your reno project.
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.
Simmons Mattress Gallery has a long and proud history with the City of Vancouver. It is not only where our business is located, it is also the city we call home. When issues arise concerning the identity of our community, we naturally have an opinion.
This week, Simmons would like to touch on PavCo’s decision to remove the Terry Fox Memorial Monument in front of BC Place.
To rebuild the roof, PavCo needs to place a crane on the site of Franklin Allen’s monument to the late Canadian hero, Terry Fox. Instead of moving the piece to another location, PavCo has decided to dismantle the monument.
Current public feeling, concerning the fate of the monument is mixed, as it was when it was originally erected in 1983. Many feel that the piece, a postmodern take on the Roman triumphant archway, is unreflective of Fox’s humble character. Others believe that Allen’s work is a strong representation of the triumphant spirit shown by thousands of Canadians who battle cancer on a daily basis.
PavCo has contacted local artist and writer, Douglas Copland, to create a modern day monument to Fox. Copland is responsible for the Lego Orca, now on display in the courtyard of Vancouver’s new Convention Center. Copland’s piece will replace Allen’s as a monument inside Terry Fox Plaza.
Simmons would like to see the arch moved to another location, somewhere on the stadium site. While we recognize the need for change, we understand that many in the Vancouver community feel connected to Allen’s work through their own struggle with cancer.
That being said, we are sure Copland will create an excellent piece, one that honours the young Canadian who showed such amazing courage in the fight against cancer.
With rain sputtering against your windshield, terrible rush-hour DJ’s on the radio and traffic lined-up farther than you can see, it’s nice to know, that after that long drive home from work, there are 800 perfectly designed pocket coils waiting to cradle your tired body to sleep; that is, if you own a Simmons Beautyrest mattress.
Simmons is the leader in providing a full night of undisturbed sleep.
Our patented non-flip pocket coils minimize the motion transfer between you and your partner. If one of you moves during the night, the independent coils react and cushion at impact, allowing little to no transfer to the opposite side of the mattress.
Sleep for a full eight hours and wake up ready to take on whatever crap assignment your boss throws at you.
And remember, the weekend is only days away. Make sure you have enough energy to enjoy it.
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.
You’ve just signed a two-year lease on an apartment in Yaletown. You finally get to move out of that dark basement just off Commercial. You’re young, single, and moving up in the world. But what now?
Before you go moving all your old stuff to your new pad, Simmons Mattress Gallery would like to offer a few hints on how to pimp your new bedroom:
1. Buy a new bed. One that says I am a lover not a wuss. Your single mattress from when you were sixteen is not going to fly. (Tip: the lower the frame, the more fun you can have without worrying about a falling Fail.)
2. Bed placement is key. Put the bed in the middle of the room. That’s where it belongs. Now lets get down to business.
Bed Placement is Key
3. Lose all memorabilia associated with your ex. That means get rid of the cute picture frame, the stuffed orca and that concert t-shirt you still go to bed in.
4. Go to a furniture store, we won’t mention the ‘I’ word, and buy some ambient lighting. Japanese style floor lamps are good for setting the mood.
5. Sell off your cumbersome stereo and buy a simple iPod dock with some decent speakers. Then download some Drake.
That’s a start. We’ll let you handle the rest. Just remember, start with the mattress.
-British Columbia is at the top of the world for breast cancer research innovation. Work that is being done in our province is being shared and used around the globe.
-New rapid access breast clinics are drastically reducing the amount of time it takes for doctors to diagnose new patients.
-B.C.’s Screening Mammography Program is the largest in North America and one of the best in the world
-The five-year survival rate after treatment for localized breast cancer is 93%.
-B.C. has the lowest death rate for breast cancer in Canada
-Last Sunday’s ‘Run for the Cure’ raised over 1.7 million for breast cancer research in B.C.
-What used to be a virtual death sentence is now a 75% survival rate.
-New alternative education programs are being established around the province. One Vancouver Company, InspireHealth, offers a variety of shared learning experiences, including yoga, meditation classes and non-traditional complementary medicine.
The Simmons mattress brand has been making quality-sleeping products since 1891. Known worldwide for their mattresses, the Simmons Company is also keenly devoted to creating superior products for the young ones in your household.
In 2006, the furniture division was renamed Simmons Kids Furniture.
Today, they offer a wide range of wooden cribs, chests and armoires for your toddler’s nursery.
Simmons Mattress Gallery in Coquitlam, is proud to sell the Simmons Kids crib line. We believe in selling only the finest sleeping products and Simmons Kids Furniture is no exception.
Sausalito Crib N More
All of the items in our showroom have received the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association certification. This means they have been thoroughly tested for safety and quality. To indicate our standards, each approved item bares a gold seal with the acronym JPMA. Viewing this seal, on any product in our store, communicates one thing: “Rest easy. It is a Simmons.”
So next time you’re in need of a new sleeping platform, shop for the whole family, at Simmons Mattress Gallery, where quality, craftsmanship and competitive pricing go hand-in-hand.
Eco-fashion and art merge in the work of Natalie Purschwitz, a recipient of a 2010 BC Creative Achievement award. In a yearlong research project called Makeshift(September 2009-Sept 2010), Natalie wore only clothing and accessories she designed and made herself. This included her shoes, undergarments and coats. Natalie documented her journey on a blog that gained worldwide attention.
Natalie Purschwitz on Her East Van Rooftop
She described her project as part conceptual art, part fashion design, and part social experiment. Having taken training in anthropology, visual art and design she wanted to examine the convergences of ‘clothing,’ ‘living,’ and ‘making.’ Only three weeks into the project Purschwitz confessed to being very tired. The steep learning curve and the task of maintaining a high level of creativity and innovation were not easy. As an example, her first shoes were rudimentary foot coverings, constructed of leather and wood. In addition to making clothing for herself, Natalie was still operating her own business, the Hunt and Gatherclothing line.
Purschwitz’s clothing, as you would imagine, combines the functional with the conceptual. Utilizing used, found and organic materials her clothes are contemporary and futuristic, while maintaining a hand-made feel.
A $2,500 prize accompanies the award Natalie received this week. She also now has the honour of using the BC Creative Achievement Award seal, signifying creative excellence.
Simmons Mattress Gallery applauds Natalie Purschwitz and wishes her continued success.
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.
When you think storage accessories, what is the first store that comes to mind: IKEA.
They seem to have a two-fisted lock on the cabinet, shelving and drawer industry. But then there are their other endeavors, like the Sultan mattress line.
The IKEA Mattress Showroom
Swede’s may know a thing or two about saving space and organizing the family home, but when it comes to mattresses, wouldn’t you rather shop at a store that deals specifically with securing you a restful night’s sleep each and every night.
Simmons Mattress Gallery is that store. We don’t spend our time worrying about all the other nooks and crannies in your house. We’re really not that interested in your bathroom set. And we don’t need to know any details about what you’re hiding in your closet. No, our only concern is your bed.
We want to improve your sleep. That’s all. And we can accomplish this task by outfitting your bedroom with the perfect mattress for your comfort rating, budget and aesthetic preference.
Our sales staff is all trained mattress professionals. This means that they can address all the questions you have with educated answers. They can listen to your needs and suggest beds that will fill them. They can explain the motion separation offered by our patented pocket coils, while you lounge on the actual item.
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.
Regular season hockey is just over a month away and Vancouver sports fans couldn’t be any happier. It has been a dreadful summer for the 1-7 B.C. Lions, as Wally Buono continues to tinker with a team that just can’t seem to get it done.
Mike Gillis Addressing the Media
Across town, Mike Gillis is assembling his crack squad of sports professionals for another successful regular season run (we won’t talk about the playoffs). Part of that mix includes a specialist, whose job it is to analyze the schedule and make important decisions regarding the team’s movement.
This specialist, whose name we cannot print, is known as the ‘sleep doctor.’
The sleep doctor is a Gillis addition to the player management team. His/Her job is to determine whether it is better for the players to leave a city the night of the game or fly out the morning after.
These decisions are made using data collected from previous games. The Canuck players are asked to wear ’sleep bands’ which monitor the wearer’s sleep patterns, the length of their rest and the quality. The science behind the monitoring is referred to as ‘actigraphy.’
Cross-referencing the individual player data helps the sleep doctor determine the team’s optimal resting time.
It is then the sleep doctor who decides what time the team boards the jet for the next game.
Simmons Mattress Gallery hasn’t been able to reach the mystery man or woman, but we are sure the boys’ sleep could only be improved with a restful night on a Simmons mattress.
Buono, if you are reading this, the same applies for the Lions.
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.
On an average night in Greater Vancouver, how many people do you think are sleeping on uncomfortable mattresses?
With an estimated population of 2.1 million, Simmons Mattress Gallery would guess that about 10% of Vancouverites, that’s over 200,000 people, are not receiving the comfort they deserve from their bed. Seems like a large number to us.
But why? Is it apathy? Do they know their mattress is not up to par, but choose not to do anything about it?
Possibly.
Maybe they believe there aren’t any alternatives – that all mattresses are lumpy and sagging.
Friends, there are better mattresses out there. And you need to try them.
Simmons Mattress Gallery has a showroom full of mattresses that will make you wonder why you ever slept on anything else. From the top-of-the-line Beautyrest Black, to the economically priced DeepSleep, Simmons mattresses provide an unparalleled level of comfort.
If you are one of the 200,000 people sleeping on a less than adequate bed, make the short trip to the nearest Simmons Mattress Gallery to experience horizontal heaven. Don’t settle for mediocrity, when you can have the best in the business. Let the mattress professionals find the ideal bed for you.
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.
Just before dozing off on your Simmons, you may have noticed an odd sight on the skyline, these last couple of nights. A giant orange-red ball has replaced the sinking sun in the westward sky.
Red Sky at Night
No, smog levels have not risen to apocalyptic proportions. And no, it’s not a harvest moon (wrong side of the horizon).
The reason for the burning ball: the forest fires in B.C. are sending so much ash into the atmosphere that they are affecting the way we view the fading sun.
There are now over 400 active forest fires blazing in our province.
This may be a staggering number, but in reality, the figure is close to par for this time of the year.
Showers could come as early as Saturday, but till then, enjoy the new occupant of the evening sky and remember to take care of your lungs. If you’re feeling any new discomfort you should definitely contact your doctor immediately.
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