Earlier this week, I came across a video online that made me hit the repeat button a few times over.  And NO, it wasn’t the latest Youtube sensation “Double Rainbow” which has been forwarded to me nearly a dozen  times. (13 million hits is no joke people!)

Rather it was a video on Vancouver taken by Kelowna local, Brandon Moza.

Amazingly enough, Brandon shot this video on his rollerblades and with nothing other than his Canon 7D SLR.

I find this video really captures the feel of Vancouver, especially on a cloudy day in Fall.  A great combination of beauty, poverty and the city of Vancouver.

If you’re in denial that summer is almost over, look away!

Vancouver – Testing the Canon 7D from Brandon Moza on Vimeo.

In a few hours, August will be officially over.

For most, September marks the closing stages of summer, going back to school, and yes – a little more rain to come.

Even though summer is slowly wrapping up, there are still some things to look forward to.

September is a jam packed month filled with fun activities and interesting events. And oh yeah, did I mention the Canucks will be back on the ice? *Mark down September 21st for the first pre-season game.

So here it is, my list of some of the better events taking place this September. If I missed anything, let me know in the comments and I’ll be sure to get it up!

Events in September

September 2

Ultimate Improve Championships

UIC is Vancouver’s most dangerous improv and pits two blood-thirsty teams of improvisers against each other in a non-stop timed challenge. At the end of each performance the audience votes who will be the Ultimate Improv Champion, with the winning team returning the following week to defend their title.

To find tickets, click here.

September 4

Steamworks Concourse d’Elegance

This display of 75 to 100 Classic and heritage cars will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the Gastown district of Vancouver. Water Street will be closed off for the day and cars will be displayed from the Gassy Jack statue all the way to Granville Square.

Kerrisdale Antiques Fair
Vancouver’s favorite antiques fair, held in the charming and historic neighborhood of Kerrisdale, features 60 specialty vendors with over 250 tables of 18th, 19th and 20th century antiques and vintage collectibles.

September 8 – September 9

Vancouver Fringe Festival

This year’s Fringe Festival will feature over 600 performances by more than 80 groups over 11 days, and is expected to attract nearly 30,000 attendees.

The Vancouver International Fringe Festival was voted Vancouver’s Best Arts Festival for five years in a row by Georgia Straight readers.

September 16 – September 26

ComedyFest Vancouver

Don’t miss out on 10 days of pure laughter from all over Vancouver. Performers include Tom Green, Charlie Murphy, Gerry Dee and many more.

To view the schedule and book your tickets, click here.

September 17 – September 19

Eat! Fraser Valley

The 3rd Annual EAT! Fraser Valley – Food + Cooking Festival returns Sept 17-19 at the Tradex in Abbotsford offering up three delicious days full of local foods, live cooking demonstrations, wine and beer tasting and lots more.

The top attraction at EAT! Fraser Valley Food Network Celebrity Stage this year will be acclaimed chef Lynn Crawford, host of Pitchin’ In on Food Network.

September 19

20th Annual BMO Grouse Grind Mountain Run

Terry Fox Run

Photo: Terry Fox Run / Lefty ‘Spider’ Aiman

It has become a fall tradition in Canada to gather your friends and family, lace on your shoes, bring out your pledge sheets and attend your favourite Terry Fox Run site.

To find a run site near you, click here.

September 19 –  September 22

Twelve Angry Men

Watch a great theatre performance as 12 angry men battle it out in a court room.

September 23

6th Annual ChefmeetsGrape

A food and wine festival where the top chefs from Vancouver’s best restaurants pair BC cuisine with BC VQA wines.

September 26

Word on the Street

The Word On The Street is a national celebration of literacy and the written word. On one extraordinary Sunday each September, in communities coast to coast, the public is invited to participate in hundreds of author events, presentations and workshops and to browse a marketplace that boasts the best selection of Canadian books and magazines you’ll find anywhere. There is always plenty to see and do at Canada’s largest book and magazine festival, and best of all, The Word On The Street and all of its events are FREE!

September 30 – October 15

29th Vancouver International Film Festival

Photo: Vancouver International Film Festival

Vancouver’s premiere film festival.  Watch some of the year’s best and more unique films from over 60 countries.

Ongoing through…

- September 6

The PNE

You know the deal here…be sure to get in your annual PNE day before the 6^th!

- September 25th

Vancouver Bard on the Beach

Bard on the Beach is one of Canada’s largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare Festivals.

Presented in a magnificent setting on the waterfront in Vancouver’s Vanier Park, the Festival offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas, and several special events in two performance tents from June through September.

- September 26

Richmond Night Market

Zimsculpt at VanDusen Botanical Garden
Back for its second year, Zimsculpt is an exhibition and sale of 150 to 200 shona stone sculptures from Zimbabwe, beautifully placed throughout the landmark VanDusen Botanical Garden.

Cost: $9.75; $7.25 for kids, students and seniors

Today I got a chance to spend my afternoon at the Canucks Children’s Hospice Family Day at the Van Dusen Botanical Gardens.

Canuck Place Children’s Hospice provides specialized pediatric palliative care for children living with a life-threatening illness and offers support for their families throughout British Columbia.

The event was a celebration of the Hospice’s 15th year of helping BC children and families embrace life.

Today the kids were out in full force, enjoying the entertainment and activity zones with their family and friends. On hand was an art exhibition, a craft section, a face painting booth and a Memory Lane – A collection of pictures and Canucks memorabilia from the past 15 years.

It was humbling experience to see so many underprivileged kids enjoying themselves outdoors and interacting with the crowds. When speaking to some of the families, they all agreed today’s event was a huge lift in their spirits and great way for them to get outside and meet their friends.

Later in the afternoon, guests were treated to a BBQ sponsored by MarketPlace IGA and food stations held by various sponsors.

On hand providing some tasty dessert items was the Pan Pacific Culinary Team, including Executive Chef Daryle Nagata and Pastry Chef, Hans Pirhofer.

Chef Daryle and Hans were on hand offering several treats including fresh marshmellow and macaroon smores dipped in chocolate sauce.

Mmmm…Have a look!

Before the afternoon came to an end, Canucks Hospice CEO, Filomena Nalewajek spoke about how far the Hospice has come in the last 15 years and how many families their program has touched. Canuck Place offers a comprehensive continuum of care to over 370 children and teens with life-threatening illnesses and their families throughout British Columbia. The program is unique in that it offers world-class health care within a home-like environment.

Canuck Place encourages each child to ‘embrace life’ and believes in enhancing the quality of whatever time a child may have left by empowering them to live fully and joyfully.

If you’d like to make a donation to Canucks Place, click here.

Have you ever visited the popular growing discount site Livingsocial.com?

No?

It’s pretty cool!  LivingSocial offers one deal every day in Vancouver with discounts up to 90% off. Past deals have included popular local restaurants, bars, spas, theaters, and more.

This Friday and Saturday only (August 27-28), LivingSocial will be offering the Café Pacifica’s Italian Opera Buffet at 50% off the regular price.

The Italian Opera Buffet takes place every Saturday night at the Café Pacifica Restaurant, located in the Pan Pacific Vancouver.

During the evening, guests are treated to an authentic Italian Buffet while tenor Edd Wright and the Burnaby Lyric Opera perform some of the best Opera numbers in town.

Here’s the Deal:

2 tickets to the Italian Opera Buffet (w/ 2 sparkling wine cocktails) – $49

Or

$98 can be used toward A La Carte menu (food items only) – $49

(Your vouchers can be used anytime till February 2011)

So if you’re tired of the same ol’ wine and dine Saturday night, give the Opera a try.  It’s a new take on a romantic evening you and your partner will be sure to remember.

For more details and to purchase tickets, click here.

Each week I update readers with some of the latest news and events taking place in and around the Pan Pacific.

In this week’s installment, I thought I’d share a few things about the hotel you may not have known about.

Here are 7 neat facts about the Pan Pacific:

1. We Get Tons of Cool Guests!

Quite often at the hotel, we get some really cool guests who stay with us.  Some are celebrities, athletes and famous artists.   Just recently Alex Bilodeau, Drake and the Canada Mens Basketball Team stayed with us for an extended period of time.

Some other notable mentions in years past include: Princess Diana & Prince Charles, Bill Clinton, the Agha Khan and the Dalai Lama.

2. We have a Spa Utopia Located in the Hotel

Guests and those in the Vancouver are always pleased to discover that we have a beautiful Spa Utopia in the Pan Pacific Vancouver.

The spa has a wack load of fancy and luxurious treatments to choose from – and right now if you book any service, you get a complimentary pass to the Pan Pacific Pool for the day.  The pool is sweet for these hot summer days!

3. We Love Giving Away Freebies!

Interested in some cool prizes and giveaways?

Check out the Pan Pacific’s Twitter and Facebook page to stay up to date with our latest contest offers.  Trust me, it doesn’t take a genius to win these prizes!

Just recently we held an Eat Pray Love Re-tweet contest and the Canada Day Photo Contest.

Some of the prizes included a free weekend stay at the hotel, movie tickets, passes to our Saturday Night Opera Buffet and more.  Today on Facebook, we’re giving away a signed copy of Drake’s new album ‘Thank Me later.’

We also have some great offers for our social media followers.

This week we’re offering a free complimentary cocktail or glass of beer with any food purchase at the Cafe Pacifica Restaurant and Patio or the Cascades Lounge.

4. The Pan Pacific has 6 different Pillows to choose from

We haven’t had a pillow complaint in YEARS!

Guests at the hotel can request up to 6 different kinds of specialty pillows:

• Premium heavy (firm)
• White goose down feathers: (medium firm)
• White goose down feathers: 100% soft
• Hypo-allergenic
• Orthopaedic
• Tempur-pedic classic

5. The Annual Christmas Wish Breakfast

For the last 22 years, the Pan pacific hosts an annual Christmas Wish Breakfast where thousands of toys and cash are donated to needy children. All of those who donate as well are invited to a complimentary breakfast buffet in the Cafe Pacifica Restaurant.

Photo: Pan Pacific Lobby / Ron Sombilon Gallery

6. The Burnaby Lyric Opera Plays every Saturday Night

Each weekend, the Cafe Pacifica hosts the Saturday Night Italian Opera Buffet with tenor Edd Wright and the Burnaby Lyric Opera.

Guests are invited to enjoy one of the finest Italian buffet spreads in the city, accompanied by the majestic sounds of the Burnaby Lyric Opera and other weekly special performers.

If you’re looking some great food and a new experience, be sure to check this one out!

7. The Daily Horns

Every day at 12 noon, there is a set of horns on the roof which plays O Canada.

If you’re in the area, (pretty much anywhere around Downtown) try and listen for it!

With the weather FINALLY making a turn for the better over the past month, Vancouverites are getting a taste of summer.

The rain complaints have now officially turned into heat complaints and the umbrellas are (temporarily) in short term storage. We spend more time on the beaches, lakes and of course – your favourite local patios.

To cool off in the summer heat, the Pan Pacific is offering its social media followers a new summer drink special.

Starting next Sunday (Aug 22 – Aug 29) buy any food item at Café Pacifica Restaurant and Patio or the Cascades Lounge and receive a free Hi-ball or glass of beer.

Fine print: The special is on all regular cocktails and is limited to one per person.

All you have to do is tell your server that you follow the Pan Pacific on Facebook or Twitter.

And I would recommend having your meal on our new patio (one of the best in the city!) You’ll enjoy a 180 degree ocean view of the harbour and the cruise ships in port.

New Alize Drink Menu:

Also on till August 31, the Cascades Lounge is featuring a brand new Alize drink menu.

A few items will include (along with my sensual descriptions):

Blue Lagoon – Lift your spirits and float into paradise with an idyllic blend of Orange Vodka, Alize Blue

Red Passion – Caress your senses with an enticing union of Butter Ripple, Red Alize

Atomic Iced Tea – Rock your tastebuds with deliciously delectable flavours of Red Alize, Amaretto

Sunset Boulevard – Sublime, sophisticated and delightful fusion of Red Alize, orange juice, bitters & Santa Margherita Prosecco

Cheers!

This past weekend the multi-platinum artist known as Drake stayed at the Pan Pacific Vancouver.

Yesterday, I got a chance to catch up with him before he left for a flight back home to his native Toronto, Ontario. Drake was a humble guest who raved about the city of Vancouver and its friendly people.

Drake was also recently in Vancouver a few weeks ago, performing on tour for his award winning album, Thank Me Later.

Normally on my lunch break, I head across the street of the Pan Pacific and pick one of the 500 conveniently located sushi restaurants around the Downtown Waterfront area.

Today was different.

On a great day like this, I decided to ditch the Miso Soup and surf around the hotel with my digital camera. Even in a 5 block radius, there’s of plenty cool things to see around the area and pictures worth sharing.

Here are a few photos I took in the last hour:

Digital Orca

Here’s an image of the Digital Orca which lies in front of the Vancouver Convention Center West Building – our friendly next door neighbours at the hotel.

According to artist Douglas Coupland, the Orca “breaks down a three-dimensional Orca whale into cubic pixels—making a familiar symbol of the West Coast become something unexpected and new.”

There are definitely some mixed reviews on this piece of art. I personally think it’s pretty interesting.

Robson Square

Just a few blocks south, is Robson Square. For the past few months the garden area has been under construction.

The project will mostly repair leakages which are affecting nearby tenants. Here’s one blogger’s take on what they “should” do with the area. I’d have to say, I agree.

Native Artwork

I tried to get this guy’s name…but it was too hard to pronounce let alone remember!

Here’s a look at a few hand made Native Indian carvings from this Vancouver local. Upon a closer look, the masks had a ton of details and intricate wood carvings – worth checking out if you’re around Robson Square.

The Vancouver Art Gallery

As I strolled around, I noticed many office go-ers deciding to take their lunches to the gallery steps and fountain. The art gallery is a great place to just chill out and relax.

The Pool Deck

Super refreshing! Here’s a look at the Pan Pacific Pool on the 8th floor of the hotel.

Right now, you can use the hotel pool for free when you book any service at the Vancouver Spa Utopia. Great for one of these scorching afternoons.

Coal Harbour

Here’s a look at the Coal Harbour Marina and Float Plane Terminal.

The Harbour Seawall is a great place to take a stroll and snap a few photos.

Hornby Street

A look down at Hornby Street from the Pan Pacific rooftop.

From up here you can hear nothing more than a few car horns and the seaplanes taking off from the harbour.

So in the end it took me 47 minutes to take all these photos. I got skills right??

Guest post by Ian MacKenzie.

I didn’t tell her when we left our apartment in the suburbs of Vancouver.

I didn’t tell her when we stood waiting on the Skytrain platform, when she attempted to ask probing questions. I didn’t even tell her when we stepped out of Waterfront station, 30 minutes later, amid the hustle of the downtown crowd.

In fact, I didn’t have to tell her, because as soon as we rounded the corner of Howe St, a knowing smile slipped across her lips, and I could tell, she had guessed correctly.

To celebrate my wife’s 30ish birthday, I decided to treat her to a night at the Pan Pacific Vancouver. We would play tourists in our own town – nay, tourists with a taste for luxury.

Now you may be wondering how I define luxury, since it is regularly overused in everything from travel agents to toothpaste. To simplify, I’ll say luxury means:

• pillows so comfortable they can induce cryogenic sleep
• views overlooking Coal Harbour that would make Justin Bieber weep
• scrambled eggs that arrive garnished with strawberries. Yes, the best kind of berry.

My wife and I like to think we’ve traveled a fair bit (over 15 countries and counting), though we rarely stay in such nice accommodation. But this was a special occasion, and Vancouver in the summer is a special time.

We decided to play tourists in our own city, and I highly recommend you do it as well. The following tips will help you start planning:

1. Go online and look up the most popular (or unusual) attractions in the city.

Sure, you’ve probably been to the Vancouver staples, like the Capilano Suspension Bridge, or Granville Island. But what about the lesser trodden attractions, like Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s Chinese Garden, or the Starbucks that’s across the street from another Starbucks? (Robson & Thurlow) Or find a bookstore and browse the Lonely Planet guide to Vancouver and marvel how they write about familiar places with fresh eyes.

2. Spend a night at a nice hotel.

When attempting to be a tourist in your own city, local accommodation is essential. This prevents you from worrying about parking your car, or making the drive back home later in the evening. For my wife’s birthday, the Pan Pacific was a nice surprise, (and I’m pretty sure my accumulated brownie points have yet to wear off).

3. Leave your work at home.

You probably have a Blackberry. Or an iPhone. Or one of the lesser popular phones that nobody knows. But if it’s classified as “smart,” it’s crucial to leave it at home. There’s nothing that kills the vacation vibe like checking your email and stressing about the report due by Monday. This was actually easy for me, since my phone is actually…just a phone. (In social status, it’s like carrying a beeper).

4. Take your camera, and buy some postcards.

When I’m anywhere near home, I find it difficult to drum up the motivation to snap photos. Perhaps it’s because everything is “too familiar.” In reality, it just means I’ve become too lazy to use my photographer’s eye. Rekindle your inspiration and pretend you’re on the road in a dazzling new city. Before long, you’ll be capturing memories, and earning good-natured disdain from other locals in no time.

5. Eat at fancy restaurants

After lounging at the Pan Pacific rooftop pool, my wife and I cabbed over to English Bay to watch the sunset. It was one of those perfect Vancouver evenings, when the air wafts in the ocean salt, and the view stretches clear to the islands in the distance.

Our first choice for dinner was the 5 Sails restaurant inside the Pan Pacific, but at that time we were across town, and my wife was becoming dangerously hangry (hungy + angry) – therefore it was fitting that we strolled up the street to Raincity Grill. My wife ordered the 3 course feature menu with the wine pairings. I matched her choice, with a wheat microbrew to wash it down.

The conversation was almost as sweet as the dessert. By the time the bill arrived (with triple digits) I had almost forgotten the reason we only do this once a year. Which brings me to my last point.

6. Take your time and enjoy the moments

Considering the amount of money saved by not jetting to a far-flung destination, playing tourist in your hometown is actually quite economical. My wife and I took our time waking up in the morning (remember, those pillows), and treated ourselves to breakfast in the downstairs Cafe Pacifica (eggs + strawberries).

By the time we arrived home, barely 24 hours had passed. Yet, we felt as renewed as a weekend in wine country, and less sunburnt than an escape to Mexico.

***

Ian MacKenzie is a local blogger and Vancouver filmmaker. Disclaimer: He provides social media strategy for the Pan Pacific, and seriously loves eggs and strawberries.

Do you have any tips for playing local in Vancouver? Share your thoughts in the comments!

On August 13, Julia Roberts’ highly anticipated film, Eat Pray Love will debut in theaters.

Based on the bestselling Elizabeth Gilbert novel about a woman travelling the world to find her soul, Julia Robert’s stumbles upon love and an authentic Italian food experience when she visits the city of Rome.

Eat Stay Love

Inspired by the film, the Pan Pacific Vancouver is hosting Eat Stay Love: A genuine Italian experience with a delicious buffet spread and live music from tenor Edd Wright and the Burnaby Lyric Opera Society.

Executive Chef Daryle Nagata has created a brand new menu debuting this Saturday.

Our revitalized Italian Opera Buffet reflects traditional fare from the regions featured in Eat Pray Love, as well as many of our guests’ favourite Italian dishes. Our team, inspired by the passion of Italy, will present a diverse array of food including a fresh pasta station with sumptious sauces, fresh vegetables, meats and seafood. We will also feature some delectable entrées including roast leg of duck and backed Gorgonzola polenta. With a lavish dessert table put together by our pastry chefs, it’s really an experience you’ll remember.

Win a Free Night Stay, 2 Tickets to the Italian Opera Buffet and 2 tickets the movie

It’s easy! Here’s how you enter:

Re-tweet this post to your Twitter followers:

Or join the Pan Pacific Facebook page.

The winner will receive a free night stay at the hotel, 2 tickets to the Italian Opera Buffet and 2 tickets to the movie – Eat Pray Love.

HURRY! CONTEST CLOSES AUGUST 20.

Rest assured, even if you don’t win, you can still book the Opera Buffet by calling 604-662-8111, 1 (800) 663-1515 CAN | 1 (800) 937-1515 USA, or by visiting the website.