Earlier this year Eric Butow and I wrote an updated version of our book, Blogging to Drive Business. It recently hit store shelves (both virtual and physical) and I’m going to be celebrating at London Drugs this Thursday, November 29th.
What: Book launch for Blogging to Drive Business: 2nd Edition
Where: London Drugs on Georgia and Granville (downstairs near electronics)
When: Thursday, November 29, 2012 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm
Our book is a companion guide for businesses looking to get into blogging, wondering how they’ll find the time, how they’ll come up with topics, who should write the blog, tools they should use, and other helpful tips. I even included some local case studies such as Translink’s Buzzer Blog, Vancouver Film School’s successful YouTube channel, ING Direct’s CEO blog, and more.
Stop by throughout the evening on Thursday to pick up a copy of the book, get it signed, ask me any burning blogging questions, have some free cake and Commercial Drive Coffee, and enter to win exclusive giveaways that will only be available at this event. There’s no need to RSVP, just show up (it’s right near the Vancouver City Center Canada Line entrance too) and enjoy the festivities. I’d love to see you all there if you can make it.
London Drugs supported our first book by hosting my launch event (Eric lives in California) and having copies available in their stores across BC. They’re once again being fantastic partners by stocking our book and hosting this event with me once again. Check out their new website today for some fantastic Cyber Monday deals and follow them on Twitter @LondonDrugs for specials and store information.
If you’ve ever exited the Olympic Village Canada Line Station and looked south or looped off the Cambie Bridge and onto West 6th/West 2nd then you’ve probably spotted the Centennial Rocket. Modelled after a rocket made for a 1936 PNE float, it was installed in 1986 and contains a time capsule to be opened 50 years after Expo 86. The Centennial Rocket is this week’s Vancouver Icon photo feature:
The design was originally created in 1936 for the Sheet Metal Workers Local 280 float for the Pacific National Exhibition Jubilee Parade on the occasion of the City of Vancouver’s 50th birthday. It was designed by Lew Parry and made into a sculpture, built by Neon Products, which was sited at the first Vancouver Air Terminal from 1939 to 1972 when it was scrapped because of rust. In 1985 the Vancouver Transportation Club and the Sheet Metal Workers Union 280 decided to build a replica to celebrate Vancouver’s 100th birthday.
1938 Steel workers rocket ship parade float. VPL Number: 70994. Photographer: King Studio.
1949 Rocket ship model at Vancouver Airport. VPL Number: 80856. Photographer: Tom Christopherson.
They located Lew Parry and he still had the original plans. This time the rocketship was built from more durable materials by Terminal Sheet Metal and the Local 280 metal workers. The Rocket was exhibited at Expo 86 and then donated to the city. It was moved by helicopter to it’s current site. A Centennial Time Capsule is housed in the base of the rocket, scheduled to be opened 50 years from 1986. It includes items such as an Expo 86 passport with stamps of all the pavilions and recorded messages from local celebrities and many other things. [City of Vancouver Public Art]
Other Vancouver Icons posts include: Canada Place, Old Courthouse/Vancouver Art Gallery, Dominion Building, Science World, Gastown Steam Clock, SFU Burnaby, Commodore Lanes, Siwash Rock, Kitsilano Pool, White Rock Pier, Main Post Office, Planetarium Building, Lord Stanley Statue, Vancouver Library Central Branch, Victory Square, Digital Orca, The Crab Sculpture, Girl in Wetsuit, The Sun Tower, The Hotel Vancouver, The Gassy Jack Statue, The Marine Building, and The Angel of Victory. Should you have a suggestion for the Vancouver Icons series please feel free to leave a note in the comments. It should be a thing, statue, or place that is very visible and recognizable to the public.
The Vancouver Christmas Market is in full swing at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza until December 24, 2012. Styled after a traditional German Christmas market, you can find ornaments, crafts, jewelry, mulled wine, schnitzel, gingerbread, and more from a variety of vendors
Check out the Kids Market for hands-on fun and a carousel ride. Entertainment includes The XMas Factor singing competition, choirs, school bands, and more.
Admission deals include a season pass with the purchase of one regular admission, which means you pay once and you’re in free the rest of the season. They are also offering a 2-for-1 lunch admission with friends and colleagues. During the week admission is $2 between 11:00am and 4:00pm from Monday to Friday.
If you would like to check out the market, I have 10 tickets (5 pairs) to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post naming your favourite holiday decorations, crafts, or ornaments (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
Follow the Vancouver Christmas Market on Twitter and Facebook for more special event information. I will draw 5 winners on Friday, November 30, 2012 at 12:00pm.
Update The winners are Carolyn, @ak1net, Sunita, Christina and Harvey!
Scarves and mittens are out as temperatures drop and winter approaches. With the cooler weather and frosted north shore views, I thought old time images of ice skating around Vancouver would be appropriate for this week’s roundup of photos from the Vancouver Public Library and Vancouver City Archives:
1890s – Men Skating at Trout Lake. Archives item#: M-3-11.3.
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Last night I went to the season opener of BC Ballet’s In/verse, showcasing works choreographed by Italian-born Jacopo Godani and New York-born Nicolo Fonte, as well as a work choreographed by the company’s very own Artistic Director, Emily Molnar.
Photographer: Michael Slobodian. By Nicolo Fonte. Dancers: Darren Devaney, Alexis Fletcher, Connor Gnam, Dario Dinuzzi, Peter Smida & Alexander Burton.
First up was Godoni’s A.U.R.A. (Anarchist Unit Related to Art). At first, it looked like only the company’s male dancers were performing topless with lines drawn on their torsos; however, a closer look proved that the female dancers were up there as well with clever costuming to make them look like men, or androgynous under fluorescent lights, dancing as though in a warehouse, planning a revolt. The piece was set to a score composed and performed by German electro-acoustic duo 48nord, originally commissioned by Ballet Mainz in Germany. However, Godani re-choreographed many sections many sections for BC Ballet. All the dancers, both male and female, marched on the staged
The next work was Nicolo Fonte’s world premiere, Muse. A long white mat was use as what I interpreted to be a runway, a bed, a rug, and a tool to hide oneself from the world. Muse was the wet to a recording by New York-based ETHEL string quartet.
Before the final work, Aniel, I whispered to my mom, “This will be my favourite,” and I was right. A huge Molnar fan, I was delight to see the curtains raised to an all-white set–a stark contrast to the darkness of the previous pieces. When all the dancers ran onto the stage wearing brightly-coloured-borderline-hipster clothes (though admittedly, there was something reminiscent of a gap commercial) the audience applauded. Aniel was bright, quirky, funny (I laughed continuously) and touching. There was one particular moment that was really impressive –when the lights above went out and the backdrop was light–and the actors moved monochromatically across stage, then slowly the lights above were brought up and you could see the bright colours once again.
I’m always so inspired by the music Molnar uses. After Bliss last season, I come home and downloaded Icelandic cellist Hildur Gudnadottir and I can’t wait to downlaod U.S. avant-garde composer/saxophonist John Zorn’s Book of Angels.
What a great season opener, and I can’t wait for the rest.
Follow Ballet BC on Facebook and Twitter for more show information this season. There are only two remaining shows for In/verse — tonight and tomorrow, November 24th — and tickets are available now online.
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