Winter Changes

Isn't he cute? The snow has fallen here, melted and now we are supposed to get more. The temperature has dropped and things are freezing, including me. For the winter months I will be writing Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays. There are days that it is just too cold for me to go out there.

During the summer and early fall months I enjoy nature's sweets. Wild berries are everywhere. Today I happened to see a bush with some berries still on it.

Those berries aren't bad even when they are frozen.

If you were a stranger visiting Vancouver or perhaps low flying over the city, you might wonder about this sight.

What in the world is that?

That is BC Place Stadium. This building was finished in 1983 in time for the 1986 World's Fair - Expo 86 and was the world's largest air-supported dome stadium. The reason those spikes are up there is that in May of this year the dome was deflated for the last time due to damage. A new one is being made.

(In this shot you can see the top of Rogers Arena, formerly GM Place. I'll write on that building when I get better photos of it.)

The stadium has a lot of history from Pope John Paul II hosting an event in 1984 to Prince Charles and Princess Diana's visit to Madonna's first ever Vancouver show -  during the Sticky & Sweet Tour on October 30, 2008 - that sold out in 29 minutes. However I don't want to go into detail yet. I would rather wait until the renovations, and the new roof, are completed sometime in 2011.

Alliance Grain Terminal is located on the south shore of Burrard Inlet. So I walk by it often and took this picture from Powell Street on my way home. The terminal is a 102,000 capacity tonne export terminal and part of a large consortium.



A couple of years ago I was walking by here and asked someone what those things were. He must have thought I was a real city slicker as he informed me they were grain silos.

This is the CIBC, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, at the corner of Main Street and E Pender. Alhtough I didn't find any information on this building I am guessing it was built in early 1900s. Banks were built like this at that time to remind people of classic structures that could give the impression of stability and trust.

The security guard outside the bank told me that people take a lot of photos of this building. The architecture impresses and intrigues people I would say.

Here is another example of buildings that were built as banks in the early twentieth century. Although this now is home to the prestigious jewelry merchant Birks and was renamed Birks Building in 1994, it was originally built for the Canadian Bank of Commerce later to become known as the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce - CIBC.

Architects Darling and Pearson used Ionic columns, decorative stonework and prominent roof cornice to create this example of revival architecture. The building was constructed between 1906 and 1908.

Vancouverites have, for many years, used the phrase 'meet you under the Birks clock'. And this is the Birks clock.
Originally it stood on the northeast corner of Hastings and Granville Streets when the Henry Birks and Sons establishment was located there. When Birks moved in 1913 to Georgia and Granville so did the clock. In 1994 when Birks relocated to the southeast corner of Hastings and Granivlle Streets the clock came along.

(this has nothing to do with the clock. It's just interesting and actually part of the Europe Hotel in Gastown)



E. Howard and Company from Boston Massachussetts designed this clock. It has four sides and has foliated capitals, columns, friezes and cornices. Made of cast iron this clock reflects the Victorian fascination with ornamental detail and historic style.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, CIBC, Birks,AGT,Birks Clock,Hastings,history,