Aside from the trek to Mexico in my last post, I have no great travel plans for this year, despite an itch for a few places. I've been lucky to find easy accessible fun in town.
Vancouver Police Pipe Band's Robbie Burns Dinner - I don't know how widely publicized this event was, as I got wind of it through friend-of-a-friend, and they filled the church hall it was held at. It was their 100th year anniversary too, and they're the oldest non-military pipe band in BC. The evening included all traditions of piping in the haggis, the reading of Ode to a Haggis, the Toasts to Laddies/Lassies, and bagpipes, highland dancers and folk dancers. An appearance made from a few rare scotches, and my annual dose of haggis.
Music @ the Sylvia Hotel - Just a few blocks down from me, the historic Sylvia Hotel opened the first cocktail bar in Vancouver. Classy yet friendly, and cozy with live music featured Wed and Thurs - I'm all for promoting live music venues to support musicians amidst the sea of clubs and sports bars popping up. The duo played bluegrass/folk/blues on guitar and steel guitar, with guests on violin. According to the website this was not a one-off occasion and I'll be sure to check them out again.
Chinese New Year in Chinatown - I attended the parade with some friends, and am reminded that I am getting too old for this... Getting up early(ish) to stand in the cold for two hours amidst a sea of strangers to see special interest groups walk by. Perhaps parades have lost their magic for me. There were even a few vendors handing out free samples from trucks, but the lineups were so phenomenal that it wasn't worth it. I stayed a half hour in line for a bau because I had a craving for one and I am stubborn in my own traditions! The joy came of visiting the Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, which is open by donation for some occasions throughout the year. They had two fellas pouring tea in a Chinese tea ceremony. He'd refill my teeny cup for as long as I sat there - I never turn down a cuppa tea - and learn about different teas and teapots. The sun emerged from beneath the grey, and I heard some more bagpipes and an accordion performing traditional songs from some of the other ethnic groups that flourished around the Chinatown neighbourhood - Jewish, German, Irish, Scottish, Hungarian, Ukranian, Italian. And some Chinese songs too.
