Experiencing Greek Day on Broadway

What: GREEK DAY on Broadway
When: June 24, 2012
Where: From MacDonald to Blenheim on Broadway Street
Why: Share the spirit and tradition of Vancouver's Greek community
Twitter:  @GreekDay

Dancing, Music, etc. on the Main Stage at Greek Day 2012

The Hellenic Canadian Congress of British Columbia created Greek Day with the aim of increasing the cultural awareness of Vancouver’s Greek community which has been alive in the city for over 100 years.  The activities concentrate on art, history, crafts, dance, music, mythology, presentations/lectures, literature and learning about the social and cultural contributions the Greek community has made to the City of Vancouver.

Without a doubt, the highlight of Greek Day is the food.  Those wanting the 'Greek Day Experience' must try the following:

• Tyropitakia (Cheese Turnovers)
• Sahanaki (Fried Cheese with Lemon)
• Horiatiki Salata (Greek Village Salad)
• Lamb Souvlaki
• Kourabiethes (Greek Shortbread Cookies)

Images from the 2012 Greek Day on Broadway:

Dancers from Greek School at Greek Day 2012

Yummy Lamb Souvlaki at Greek Day 2012

Cooking Chicken at Greek Day 2012

Cooking Lamb at Greek Day 2012

Heating Pita at Greek Day 2012

Learning Greek Cooking at Greek Day 2012

Discovering Vancouver's Historic Royal Bank of Canada Building

What:  Royal Bank of Canada Building
Where:  685 West Hastings Street

Royal Bank of Canada Building
(Source: Vancouver Public Library; Ben Oliver)

One of the finer examples of early Vancouver architecture is the Royal Bank of Canada building at the intersection of Hastings and Granville.  The building was started in 1929 and was occupied by the bank in 1931.  From 1931 to 1973, this was the Main Branch of the Royal Bank's British Columbia District.  In 1973, the Regional Headquarters and Main Branch of the bank were transferred to the Royal Centre development at Georgia and Burrard.

The exterior of the building is a combination of Art Deco and Romanesque motif and was designed to be a replica of the bank's headquarters in Montreal.  The dual complex ceased development after just one tower was completed due to financial troubles brought on by the Great Depression.  The exterior underwent extensive repairs that were completed in 2000 by Vancouver-based architects Blewett Dodd.

The interior of the building is a mixture of the Classical and Moorish styles.

Visitor Highlights:

• Look at the entrance arch with its mythical beasts and plant forms.
• Search for the medallions with mottos such as "No Labour, No Bread", "Colonies and Commerce" and "Speed the Plough".
• Lower Floor:  Belgian black and gold marble of the downstairs counters.
• Lower Floor: The original doors on display on the lower floor.
• Upper Floor:  Travertine marble (imported from Italy) on the floors and counters on the upper floor. 
• Upper Floor:  Painted ceilings on the inside.
• Upper Floor:  Large brass chandeliers in the center of the Main Banking Hall (2,000 lbs each) and the smaller ones along each side (1,200 lbs each).
• The inside walls are variegated Indiana Limestone and include extensive use of Haddington Island sandstone on the interior walls.  Haddington Island was the source for stone of other historic buildings in British Columbia such as the Parliament Buildings in Victoria. 

Haddington Island

As photography is not permitted inside the bank, I am not able to provide photos of these highlights.  There is a small exhibit of photos in the Main Hall near the information desk where you can view historic images of the building and surrounding area.  I would recommend you take the time to visit.

Best Bakery for Apple Pie & Florentine Cookies in Vancouver

One of Vancouver's best bakeries is one you hear very little about, Patisserie Bordeaux in the city's Kitsilano neighbourhood. 

Name:  Patisserie Bordeaux
Location:  3675 W. 10th Avenue (Alma Place between 7-11 and Browns Social House)
Specialities:  Pastries & Pies, Cakes, Breads, Chocolate, Wedding Cakes

The apple pie is absolutely fantastic and I would highly recommend it.  You will be glad you made the trip to Kitsilano.

Another 'must have' is Patisserie Bordeaux's Florentine Cookie - an Italian biscuit made from setting nuts (almonds) into a caramel disc which is then coated on the bottom with dark chocolate.  Since initially trying them, they have become an immediate favorite.  While Florentine cookies are particularly popular during the holiday season, luckily Patisserie Bordeaux has them available year round.

DJ SHANTEL in Vancouver = Supa Goodie

Cover of Disko Partizani (2007)

On June 13, DJ SHANTEL brought his Balkan beats to the Red Room Ultrabar (@REDROOMVANCITY), and what FUN it was.  For his first visit to Vancouver, a good-sized crowd showed they were not scared to make Wednesday evening 'Club Night'.  He opened the show with an friendly introduction and soon brought the Red Room jumping with his Balkantronika.  I left the show with the feeling that more people should discover DJ SHANTEL!  

A special thanks to Caravan World Rythms and Beats Without Borders (especially Nils) for their commitment to bring such a great show to Vancouver. 

Images from the show by Shawn Scheepers (@ShawnScheepers):

In addition to playing my personal favorite 'Authentic', he performed an excellent remix of 'Disco Boy'. Check out a video of the original version:

Vancouver Welcomes Balkan Beat Maker DJ SHANTEL

What:  DJ SHANTEL
When:  Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Where: Red Room Ultra Bar, 398 Richards Street
Who: www.bucovina.de
Facebook:  ShantelBucovinaClub

Shantel: Live in Vancouver on June 13

Caravan World Rhythms and Beats Without Borders proudly present for the first time in Vancouver, internationally acclaimed and celebrated Balkan Beat master, DJ SHANTEL.  Shantel has taken concerts halls, clubs and festivals in Europe by storm since the early 2000s with his unique take on traditional Balkan music and club nights.

Famed for his Bucovina Club in Frankfurt, Germany, which he founded following a trip in search of his family roots in Bucovina - a region now split between Ukraine and Moldavia – Shantel has spearheaded the revival of Gypsy Music and Balkan Beats all around the world.  Through the Bucovina Club Orkestar live performances in Europe and the Bucovina Club album releases worldwide, this producer/musician/DJ has truly created his own genre. A BBC World Music award recipient, he has performed from Glastonbury to Roskilde and from East to West in Europe, with residencies in Istanbul, Rome, Vienna and Zürich, as well as several German cities.  His new brand of pop music covers the sounds of Central Europe, the Balkans, Greece, Turkey and beyond.

Also performing are Vancouver's Turkish DJ's Burinata Duo, and Beats Without Borders Lady Ra, plus the talented belly-dancer Rahel!

Shantel - Authentic

Official video of the single "Authentic" from the album Planet Paprika.

Italian Day on Commercial Drive

What:  ITALIAN DAY on The Drive
When: June 10, 2012
Where:  From Venables to the Grandview cut on Commercial Drive
Why:  Share the spirit, pride and tradition of the Italian community and its contributions to Vancouver

"Commercial Drive, the main street of the Grandview neighbourhood, is a retail andrestaurant-oriented street on the east side of Vancouver, British Columbia.  The Drive, as the neighbourhood is universally known, is a wildly entertaining multi-cultural, multi-ethnic, multi-sexual district with a reputation to match.  In 1997, the alternative magazine Utne Reader voted the Drive one of the fifteen hippest neighbourhoods in North America. For many years now, the Drive has been a first haven for many of the waves of immigrants - East European, South American, Caribbean, African - that arrive in Vancouver.  The present cosmopolitan armosphere has evolved in the last two decades directly out of an Italian ethnic tradition, a quarter century older, so strong that even the local Post Office stamped its envelopes as from Little Italy." (Source: The Drive by Jak King, 2011)

Images from the 2012 Italian Day on Commercial Drive:

View of Commercial Drive on Italian Day

Good Food at Italian Day on Commercial Drive

Salted Fish Being Served During Italian Day

Italian Day Smiles for the CBC

Family Fun at Italian Day on Commercial Drive

"Little Italy" Kids Singing

Crowds Crossing 1st Avenue

Commercial Drive Cowboy at Mintage