Another West Vancouver Home Demolition

I'll be the first to admit I've been lagging on these architecture posts - two reasons:

1. I'm just so p*ssed I don't even want to snap photos.
2. There are so many in West Vancouver I can't keep up! Seriously. Go down Marine Drive past 25th and it's like a bloomin' construction zone.

I have been saving cuttings from the newspapers about the needless rezoning of property and demolition of our West Coast heritage - the North Shore News and the Outlook have been doing a fabulous job writing stories and publishing letters. A few folks have spoken out in council meetings but apparently demolition permits are more important and garner more value than heritage.

stacy reynaud

Douglas Coupland - remember our chat at the Harmony Arts Festival? Come on - take a stand - and I mean something more than an interview in a local documentary, (that wasn't really about Vancouver anyway).

A couple weeks ago I went to a yard sale in which the house had a for sale sign out front with a big sold slapped on it. You know what that means in West Vancouver, bye bye house. I befriended the owners - a lovely elderly couple who weren't even thinking of selling their home until a realtor knocked on their door saying she had sold the neighbour's house and the buyers wanted theirs too. That's right - they bought the two houses - and both houses are going to be torn down. Sick, eh. Now we have realtors intimidating elderly folks into selling their homes!

It was hard to snap photos of the front of the house as there were so many large trees - which will also be torn down.

Here are a few from the inside. It was built in the 50s, is two storeys and pretty much all original - as you'll see by the washroom. A very clean, sturdy and sound house. What a loss.

 stacy reynaud

I bought this wicker lounge from them. They brought it back from the Philippines, where they had lived for 19 years. The gentleman of the house was a senior manager for a heavy metal mining company there.

Top photo is of Gordon Smith's note card before his speech at the Harmony Arts Festival in 2011. Take a read of it.

West End Building Sale | Come Say Hi

Well, not the actual building, but the tenants in Rachel's building are having their annual yard/sidewalk sale on Sunday (July 7th). This one I can make it to! Come hang out with the crazies - I mean this in camaraderie, of course. 9:30 - 12:30 (I can't believe I have to be somewhere before 9:30).

Come buy our stuff for super cheap! We're talking cents and small dollars here. I'm also open to trades like Vitamin Water Zero, unsweetened organic almond milk, dark roast coffee, and handmade soap. My tastes are simple.

Location: West End - Alexandra Park - behind the old bandstand.

See ya!

6 Things to Do in BC before I Die

Not that I'm planning on departing any time soon, I just don't like the term bucket list.
I was born and raised in the Lower Mainland and there are things that I've always wanted to do but haven't gotten around to.

Come to think of it, I can now see four of these six from my balcony. Nothing like a daily reminder.

1. Ride in one of those really big tug boats
2. Tour the BC Sugar Refinery
3. Hike up The Lions/Sisters
4. Tour the Mascot gold mine in Hedley
5. Go to Haida Gwaii
6. Tour the Port of Vancouver at night

Strawberry Mint Muddle is Not Leningrad Stew - Cocktail Recipe

stacy reynaud

Voila - mushy strawberry mint cocktail!

Ingredients:
1 - 2 ounces white rum
3 big ripe strawberries sliced
3 big fresh mint leaves
2 - 3 tsp. blue agave syrup
Add all ingredients to a rock glass and muddle with a wooden spoon
Add ice cubes
Top with soda and stir
Eliminate the rum if you don't want a boozy version.

Enjoy!

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My Kitchen Table

The other day I was catching up on blogs before they disappear from my Google Reader and I came across one from God knows who because now I can't find it! Anyway, it was a post on tables or work spaces or her table or something like that and she asked, 'What does the top of your kitchen table look like?' Well, I took a photo of what my kitchen table looked like just then - and still looks like now but the tabouli has been replaced by oatmeal. Who are you dear blogger? I want to link to your post!

This image reminds me of one of the vocabulary activities I used to give to a beginner ESL class - I gave them a photo and had them identify as many things as they could. Oh, the good old days!

Take Me With You | 5 Ways

I won't leave you in the Google Reader graveyard. The reader is toast as of July 1st, 2013. So, to follow my Bijou Living blog with another reader select that orange icon in the right hand column. Flipboard is also a cool platform to use.  Where am I posting when I'm not blogging? May I suggest subscribing to my other social media channels to keep totally up to date with my ramblings? You can do so right here: 

1. Twitter feed
2. Tumblr feed
3. Facebook feed
4. Blog feed
5. Email 

Whatever you choose, please know that I really appreciate you sticking around!

Design Traps for Birds

True or false? Birds can't perceive right angles as indicators of obstacles.
True. Right angles, glass, transparent windows - all are architectural obstacles that birds cannot perceive. When birds sees clouds and sky reflected in a glass high rise or trees and shrubs reflecting off your living room window they merely think it's a continuation of the sky or their reflected habitat. Reflected vegetation is the most dangerous, however, birds also try to fly through transparent windows as they try to reach a perch seen on the other side. For more dangerous architectural bird obstacles read this great article by Christine Sheppard on Architecture Week or Bird Friendly Building Design on the American Bird Conservancy site.

images top: Dundarave bungalow -  a 'tunnel' and a window reflecting tall trees and shrubs

center: Staples Residence West Vancouver - a bird death trap. Transparent windows, tunnels and reflective glass

bottom: Cordova St. Vancouver - a combination of architectural eras. Which is the least bird-friendly?

Annual Purge Yard Sale | Saturday June 8th

stacy reynaud

Coincidentally, I purged my closet last weekend, and our pal Rachel has decided to have a yard sale this weekend. It's a purge, so everything will be super cheap. I'm selling mainly clothes and some Danish stuff. We'll be set up by the West End Farmer's Market.


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A familiar pile of dirt - Another West Vancouver Home Demolition

Mansions of Vancouver Architect Dan White from bijouliving

  I'll give you a hint, I originally wrote about it in June 2010 and again in October 2011.  I wonder if I can get my hands on the blueprints now (West Vancouver City Hall wouldn't let me see them in 2010)?  Think the beautiful bird sanctuary of a front yard ended up in a Smithrite?  For more images, click one of the dates above.

My latest fix

You know me, I'm always getting into something! This time it's teak tables with tile tops circa early 1970s.

From the archives: A Collection of Rejection

Originally published April 14, 2011

One of the best things about writing your own blog is that you really save a fortune on self addressed stamped envelopes.





















But alas!