Vancouver BC – Canada by Kevin Mcneal

There’s something about a reflection photo which is beautiful, yet calming and simply an artform in itself. After a little surfing around on Flickr, I wanted to share a few great reflection shots I found from the Vancouver area. Do you have a great reflection photo? Be sure to add it to the Pan Pacific Flickr group and I’ll include it in the post!

Vancouver Skyline by Clayton Perry

Reflection on Granville and Georgia by: JimP (in Sarnia)

Canada Place Sails: by Natalia Mihai

This photo was taken by one of our very own server’s Natalia Mihai from the Cascades Lounge in the Pan Pacific Vancouver

On Golden Pond by Eyesplash

Carnival Splendor III by ecstaticist

Vancouver Reflections by Dripps

Christmas 2011! by: Clayton Perry

Reflection by Michael Whyte

We love nature and the outdoors, we appreciate multiculturalism, we drink coffee (lots of it) and endure the rain no matter how unexpected the notice.

Quite often I get asked at the Hotel (and via Facebook and Twitter): “What do locals do in Vancouver?”. To answer that question isn’t easy as we’re all unique in so many ways – However there are a few commonalities and trends we usually see in Vancouver…

So here it is, a few fun ways to blend in and act like a local, (with a couple helpers from our Twitter followers!):

1. Get outdoors and Ride a Bike!

- Recommendation by @Eva_zhu

There’s a few reasons Vancouverites like to ride bikes everywhere:

1. Parking isn’t cheap!
2. It’s great exercise
3. We’re environmentally conscious!

Riding a bike is a great way to explore the city while getting in a good workout. There are plenty of dedicated bike lanes for convenient transportation and lots of great trails worthing checking out. In Vancouver, bikes aren’t just for kids!

2. Have Sushi for Lunch….and Dinner!

Sushi is the staple food…and the comfort food here in Vancouver. To get an idea of how much locals love it, there are over 225 sushi restaurants in the Vancouver area alone!

Being on the West Coast, you can hardly blame us – We have the best access to local fresh fish and our large Japanese population means we know what we’re doing! If you’re visiting Vancouver, be sure to try some of the local fresh sushi. Here’s a list of 10 great sushi spots to consider when in Vancouver.

3. Try Your Hand at Yoga

A few years ago, yoga in Vancouver was the latest craze…now it’s part of the routine. If you’re looking to fit in around Vancouver – getting fit is a good start. All you have to do is carry around a yoga mat, where Lulu Lemon clothing and have a slight look of enlightenment when you walk about the city.

But seriously, try your hand at a beginner Yoga class and you can see for yourself what all the fuss is about. To get started, check out Yoga on the Flow or Yyoga Vancouver.

4. Drink Coffee!

- Recommendation by @Queenofaura

Vancouverites are known for always having a cup of coffee in hand. It’s a great way to keep warm, connect with friends or just to relax and enjoy with a nice book outside.

5. Embrace the Rain!

- Recommendation by: @Vc_ken

I’m not gonna lie to you here..it rains in Vancouver….a lot!

Local weather forecasts are about as accurate as a broken watch, so be sure to have an umbrella close by at all times (especially on the days you think you’ll need it least!).

6. Watch Canucks Hockey…duh!

You’ve probably heard that Vancouverites are obsessed with hockey and the Canucks. Well – it’s true.

Watching the Canucks game is a must if you want to experience Vancouver like a local. Head downtown and catch the Canucks playing LIVE at one of the top places to watch the game. The atmosphere is intense, the action is incredible and you may just fall in love with two telepathic twins from Sweden.

So there it is, 6 great ways to experience Vancouver like a real local. Are there any fun ways to act like a local that I missed? If so, let me know in the comments below! ↓↓↓↓

Recently she stopped by the Pan Pacific Vancouver and told us a little bit about herself, her passion and the music industry in British Columbia. She also gave us a little taste of her amazing voice and guitar skills!

Here’s a look at her interview with Aaron Alexander of BC Buzz:

Each year, the Celebration of Light event is held in Vancouver which includes 3 countries competing in a pyro-musical fireworks competition which attracts the worlds leading firework designers and an estimated audience of 1.5 million annually.

The battle this year is between Spain, China and Canada. All countries will be judged on colour, originality, quality of production and correlation of music. Last year’s display was one of the best I’ve seen in recent years and this year is expected to be no different.

The Festivities

With a fireworks display of this size, there are a few hot spots in the city to catch the show.

If you’re looking to be in the center of the action and enjoy the crowd atmosphere – English Bay is the place to be. For something a little more low key and family oriented, I would recommend John Lawson Park in West Vancouver or Vanier Park. For a full list, check out Vancity Buzz’ Best Places to watch the 2011 Fireworks.

The Lineup:

Saturday July 30: China “China Storm” 10:00 – 10:25

Wednesday Aug 3rd: Spain “Odyssey” 10:00 – 10:25

Saturday Aug 6th: Canada “Then and Now” 10:00 – 10:25

SHOREFest: Live Music and Entertainment

Shorefest is back at the VCL!

Musical artists will be performing live for the crowds (for FREE!) in three locations from 7-10pm before the fireworks on July 30th, August 3rd, and August 6th. Locations include: Vanier Park, Kits Beach, and English Bay. Here’s the full concert line up and schedule.

SHOREfest will also be hosting an invitation only convert event at The Keg Lounge in English Bay. Listen to Shore 104.3 for chances to win All Access Passes to this exclusive event.

Transit Information & What to Remember

*Note – The streets are going to be PACKED! Think Olympics and Stanley Cup hockey on this one (minus the riots). There’s gonna be a sea of people on the streets and plenty of road closures. The best way to get around is by walking, public transportation or bike.

Vehicle access into the West End will be limited to residents who can prove residency through car registration or a resident permit parking decal from 7:30PM on event nights.

Here’s a look at the full list of road closures and parking for people with disabilities.

Location: English Bay, Vancouver

Start time: 10:00 p.m. rain or shine

Best viewing points: English Bay, Kitsilano, Vanier Park, Jericho Beach.

The event is free to watch from public parks and beaches. Music simulcast begins at 10:00 p.m. on radio station SHORE 104fm.

So while you can find beauty in just about any area in Vancouver, I’ve narrowed down my Top 5 places to take great pics in the city. These areas are definitely profile pic worthy!

1. Gastown Vancouver

To me, number 1 has to be Gastown Vancouver.

The brick cobbled town is rich in history and distinct in its culture and appearance. You can find the perfect balance between old and modern with some of the more unique architecture and monuments our city has to offer. Home of the famous Steam Clock and Gassy Jack statue, there are plenty of great pics to load up your camera with.

2. Stanley Park

The mother of all parks. Vancouver’s version of Central Park….only better!

Beautiful Stanley Park is the ultimate place to capture epic scenery and great backdrops in Vancouver. The park is located amidst the core of Downtown Vancouver and is located right on the waterfront. To fully photograph this park can take much more than a few hours as Stanley Park boasts over 1000 acres (400 hectares) of vast forestry and grassy pastures. A few great spots in Stanley Park include: Lost Lagoon, Prospect Point and the Siwash Rock. Also be sure to take in the seawall for great photos and a beautiful walk.

3. Vancouver Waterfront

Capture Downtown Vancouver, the Vancouver harbor and the Coastal Mountains, all in one photograph.

The Vancouver waterfront is home to the Vancouver Convention Center, Canada Place and of course US – the Pan Pan Pacific Vancouver! Walk along the Convention Center Pier or Canada Place Pier for some great shots right on the water; if you’re around in the spring or summer, be sure to capture the cruise ships leaving the harbor.

4. Granville Street

One of the more underrated places to take photos in Vancouver is Granville Street in the heart of the Downtown core. Known for being the entertainment and nightlife district of the city, there are plenty of sights to see and interesting people to watch.

The architecture ranges from modern to historic and in the evenings the neon lights brighten up the scene. Pound the streets of Granville and you’ll be sure to get the shot you’re looking for.

5. Dr. Sun Yat Sen Gardens

Guaranteed to take your breath away, Dr. Sun Yat Sen Chinese Gardens is an authentic representation of the “garden tradition” during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

With its asymmetrical arrangement of rocks and plants, its winding paths and corridors, and the vistas that overlook its courtyards, the Garden emulates the rhythms of nature.

Photo opportunities at the Garden are great during any season and offer a different effect in any weather. Also located smack in the middle of Downtown (Chinatown), the gardens are easy to access and reachable by transit.

And those are my Top 5 spots for photos in the Downtown area. If you have suggestions for great places to snap photos in the city, let us know in the comments!

This year 49,365 runers, walkers and wheelchair racers pounded the streets of Vancouver in a 10km race to promote health, fitness and community spirit and to support amateur athletics.

This year the Pan Pacific Vancouver sponsored 10 Associates to participate in the event. Team PPV was captained by Robert Murray (Quality Assurance) and made up of Associates from a variety of departments. Congratulations to Trevor Booth (Security) for finishing the Sun Run in 41 minutes and 30 seconds, and to all of Pan Pacific’s Sun Run participants!

To celebrate this historic milestone, a celebration will take place today at Jack Poole Plaza, (site of the Olympic Cauldron), outdoor plaza at Thurlow & Canada Place, adjacent to the Vancouver Convention Centre (1055 Canada Place).

The Birthday Live celebration begins with a street hockey tournament for youth and adults at 2pm and continues until 10pm with live music (including 54-40), DJs, food, street arts, spectacular video art, special performances and more. Vancouver’s Mayor, Gregor Robertson and other dignitaries will be on hand for official ceremonies including lighting the Olympic cauldron and cutting a BIG birthday cake!

The event is family friendly, fun and FREE so be sure to come down for a visit!

View the location map and full schedule of events and activities

Here’s a before and after shot from the roof of the Pan Pacific Vancouver:

The New Sails

Replacing the sails wasn’t as easy as most would think. Despite the fluffy-pillow look, the sails are actually 27 fiberglass and teflon coated sheets that are stretched across steel cables and are supported by 40 foot steel masts.

To ensure the structure wouldn’t blow away during the replacement, they had to first build the new sails underneath the old ones. The project took several months and around $20 million from the federal government’s Infrastructure Stimulus Fund.

For a closer look, check out this video from the Daily Planet on how they replaced the sails:

After only 1 year, Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries and territories participating.

On March 26 from 8:30pm – 9:30pm, the Pan Pacific Vancouver will shut down all power and lights that are not essential to our guests and associates comfort, safety, security and operations.

The Pan Pacific is participating in this event and is inviting our guests to join us in our Atrium Lobby and Cascades Lounge to enjoy a very special candle-lit ambience and listen in on live opera entertainment unfolding at Café Pacifica’s Italian Opera Buffet.

We encourage our guests to participate in this meaningful cause by turning off or dimming the lights in their guestrooms between 8:30pm to 9:30pm on March 26th.

Free Spa Utopia Mud Bath

As an added treat, the Spa Utopia has teamed up to provide guests with a 100% organic, purely Canadian Mud Bath in the privacy of their own rooms. Choose from Moor Mud Chocolate, Moor Mud Pine, or Moor Mud Lavender.

Spa Utopia Moor Mud products help to restore the body’s natural balance by encouraging detoxification. The mud’s high humic acid content acts as a natural anti-inflammatory helping to reduce pain and muscle aches, minimize joint inflammation, and control cellulite. And it feels great!

And remember, if you enjoy the free trial, bring the empty 100ml bottle downstairs to Spa Utopia for recycling on Sunday March 27th and receive a 10% discount on a larger 16 or 32 ounce size.

For more information on Earth Hour and how you can contribute, click here.

The mission of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide.

A new 3 course menu is now being offered at the Café Pacifica Restaurant where $2 from every Kidney Smart Menu purchased will be donated to the International Society of Nephrology and the Kidney Foundation of Canada.

Included in the menu is the: Pan Seared Arctic Char w/ wilted baby spinach, yuzu infused quinoa & red pepper coulis.

For dessert, try the Natural Sweetened Raspberry and Green Apple Sorbet garnished with a vacherin meringue twig, fresh berries.

The Kidney Smart 3 Course Meal is 48$ + tax and is available till April 12. Fore more details and look at the full menu, click here.