Posted on
September 28, 2018
by
Keith Vines

Yes, for those of you who didn't know, Ladner does have a drive-thru window for liquor purchase at 'The Landing'. And yes, recently a man riding horse was spotted taking a trot through it.
The man of the horse is perhaps a little harder to explain...but the local who look the photo captioned it" 'When people ask, "What is Ladner like?"'
Hmmm, maybe it will go viral? Other sightings of the horse and rider and been spotted at local spots like Safeway.
Posted on
September 26, 2018
by
Keith Vines

After a somewhat lacklustre summer performance, is Metro Vancouver's $1 million - plus real estate market set to see an even greater decline this fall?
Patterns in 'top-tier' real estate activity over the summer, across all 3 property types suggests that the market will weaken further.
The top-tier market saw low sales in July and August with sales of single family homes over $1 million dropping 27% from the previous summer to 213 units and detached sales of over $4 million falling 38% to just 24 homes.
Now we are seeing the more robust condo market, which has continued to increase being affected.
It is clear that the 'high-end' sales and selling prices in Vancouver are softening, not only in the single family segment, but across the city's heated condo and attached home market as well. It will most likely be the buyers holding the upper hand this fall.
With new listings inventory being added to the market and cooling demand, Metro Vancouver's top-tier market will shift towards a 'buyers market' probably to the end of the year and beyond.
Posted on
September 24, 2018
by
Keith Vines

Nineties nostaligia is real, but things get really intense when you double down and throw back to the 1930's in a photographic then and now comparison.
That's the premises of this video from the early 1990's, that takes a look at landmard Vancouver locations sixty years apart... and now that's all in the past as well.
The 1930's footage was shot by Sidney Groberman, and the video produced in 1993 for the Knowledge Network. A lot of changes have taken place in 80 years. Take a look!
Posted on
September 21, 2018
by
Keith Vines

A massive celestial affair takes place this week in the Lower Mainland. On Monday, a beautiful harvest moon will illuminate Metro Vancouver skies.
What's more, this dazzling lunar event takes place much lower in the sky, and therefore you'll have a much easier time viewing it. With that in mind, the moon didn't take any growth hormones; its angle in the sky simply makes it appear huge.
Stargazers should opt to travel as far away from city lights as possible in order to avoid light pollutions that will obscure the clarity of heavenly bodies. While this works best in more remote places, anywhere that has a higher elevation will also provide more ideal viewing conditions.
Posted on
September 19, 2018
by
Keith Vines

Have you ever seen anyone brave the Grouse Grind wearing a ball gown?
That's what a group of 13 women will be wearing when climbing the Grind on September 29th for the inaugural 'Gowns on the Grind' fundraiser.
It's the brainchild of Karen Stark, from North Vancouver, who works in the sports and clothing industry and has a penchant for contributing to - and organizing-worthwhile causes.

Stark asked some of her longtime friends in her life to join her for the event which will see them adorn the gowns and conquer the Grind in an untimed, zero pressure setting.
While not looking for outside participants, the gown-Grinders will have a videographer and photographer on hand when they take off.
Rather than trying to show off high fashion and experience the great outdoors, the group is just going to start hiking as a nice big group and draw some attention. Any money raised will go to KidSport, a not for profit organization the provides financial assistance for kids who want to play sports but might not be able to otherwise.
Posted on
September 17, 2018
by
Keith Vines

A proposal to stop observing daylight saving time in B.C. was narrowly approved by the Union of B.C. Municipalities last Friday.
The resolution said daylight saving time and the resulting time changes twice a year no longer serve a purpose and affects peoples health when the time changes.
The resolution was approved by 52.3% and the B.C. provinicial government will continue to consult with other jurisdictions before make any decisions on the issue.
Posted on
September 14, 2018
by
Keith Vines

The lease is up and the restaurant that has been in Vancouver's English Bay for years will close on Octoboer 6th. Known for their seafood by-the-shore locations, The Boathouse originally opened in Vancouver's Coal Harbour in 1981, then relocated to English Bay in the late 80's.
I wonder what the rent increase was?? What's going to replace it? Another change in the name of progress!
There are 5 other nearby Boathouse locations in Kitsilano, White Rock, Richmond, New Westminster and Port Moody.
Posted on
September 12, 2018
by
Keith Vines

Vancouver has been named as the Best Beer Town in Canada, an accolade and ranking for Vancouver in the number one spot comes thanks to the team at Expedia, who factored in the following criteria: the total number of breweries and brewpubs where you can grab a pint; awards; and originality, whether that meanes creating unique flavours or building a brand new beer following.
A spokeperson from Expedia explains that it's hard to dispute that Vancouver is the craft capital of Canada - singling out the city for neighbourhoods like Mount Pleasant's historic Brewery Creek zone and the east side as 'Yeast Van, as well as a number of great brews.
Craft beer is definitely on an upward swing that seems to have no ceiling, and the game is contantly being improved with new developments like brewing collectives-bold new moves that keep the industry on its toes.
The Best Beer Towns in Canada included 17 places coast to coast. Other B.C. spots that are brewing up the good stuff are Nelson (11), Abbotsford (6) and Penticton (2).
Posted on
September 10, 2018
by
Keith Vines

The rate for the maximum allowable rent increase has been set for B.C. in 2019.
The government uses the B.C. Consumer Price Index and the formula for rent increases, which adds up to a top annual rent increase of 4.5%. But it's the largest allowable rent hike in more than a decade.
The maximum percentage allowed each year is 2% plus the inflation rate using the 12 month average percentage change in the Consumer Price Index ending in July at 2.5%.
Landlords must provide tenants with 3 full months' notice using the correct notice of rent increase form.
Posted on
September 7, 2018
by
Keith Vines

With the rainy season again upon us, it's time, once again, to take shelter inside the Vanouver International Film Festival. Now in it's 36th year, the VIFF returns with another phenomenal selection of features from home and abroad, along with festival hits from Cannes, TIFF, Sundance and Venice, all of it beginning on September 28th with a gala screening on Mina Shum's Chinatown-set Meditatioon Park.
There is no question that VIFF is a heavy hitter, with more than 140,000 film fans enjoying 380 movies screened during the 16 day festival.
Where most film festivals seem to about more about celebrities walking red carpets, VIFF is staged for those that love and make films. Enjoy!
Posted on
September 5, 2018
by
Keith Vines

It's shouldn't be a surprise that people who live in a slightly warmer climate live happier and more engaging lives.
Well this has now been scientifically confirmed. A recent study of about 1.7 million people found that 22 degrees celsius was the perfect temperature to harbour residents that were more agreeable, emotionally stable and extroverted. The logic is somewhat straightforward: nicer weather leads people to go outside more often and interact with other members of their community.
This information also revealed why people from cold and warm climates have different personalities, and as global warming heats the earth, human personalites will probably change as well.
22 degrees celsius has been discovered as the least taxing temperature for the human body to regulate.
If you are keen to live in areas with the most ideal temperature, then Athens is most suited with an average temperature of 22 degrees on the dot. Barcelona, Monaco, Naples and Malta are also ideal, all hovering between 20 and 22 degrees.
Australia has several locations, including Adelaide, Sydney and the Gold Coast. Canada doesn't have any cities with anywhere near an average of 22 degrees celsius.
Vancouver would be one of Canada's warmest cities with an average annual temperature of 11 degrees celsius, similar to other coastal or near coastal cities such as Seattle, Portland, Amsterdam and London, England. The only time the average temperature in Vancouver hovers around 22 degrees is in July and August.
Posted on
September 4, 2018
by
Keith Vines

The number of new homes being built in Richmond is on the rise, while the number of existing homes being sold is declining.
Construction started on 1,413 new houses, townhouses and condo units in the first 6 months of 2018, according to a quarterly report from Business in Richmond. That's 60% more starts than this time last year.
Richmond has the biggest growth of new homes in the region. Other areas in the Lower Mainland a showing a slow down.
The areas of Richmond seeing the most new development are Capstone, City Centre and the area around the Richmond Oval.
At the same time as this development boom, fewer exisitng homes are being put on the market. Only 1,810 homes were sold in Richmond from January to July this year. That's 27% less compared to last year.
Measures like the foreign buyer tax and tightened mortgage rules may be factors contributing to the slowdown.
Although the number of homes sold has decreased, prices they have sold for haven't changed dramatically. The average price of a detached home in Richmond sits at $1.98 million and the average selling price for a condo is $576,000.
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