Showing posts with label vancouver. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vancouver. Show all posts

May 14, 2014

Where have all the Conversationalists gone?


Last Wednesday, I was feeling good. The sun was out, I was in my favourite part of downtown, and I felt inspired and alive - like my good old manic days that would last for weeks. The ones where I'd start four businesses, thrift shop for 12 hrs straight and forget to eat. Am I in denial to miss that? Anyway, feeling so inspired and alive, I automatically thought of my friend Ken and our hours-long vintage and fashion conversations, so I headed off to shoot the shit with him down at Deluxe - then I remembered Ken was dead. So I thought, well Rod will be there, I'll go shoot the shit with him, then I remembered Deluxe was gone - closed due to a $3000 a month rent hike. Okay, no need to get down, I'll go talk design with someone at Inform. Well, the only bodies at Inform were ones glued to computer screens behind cash desks. Five bucks, they're practicing the snobby sales technique identified in the UBC study, Should the Devil Sell Prada? Retail Rejection Increases Aspiring Consumers’ Desire for the Brand?

Well whatever, not yet feeling deflated I thought, 'Okay I'll go sit down and have a coffee somewhere.' Somewhere, conversation was already flowing, and I could at least be part of it. Uh, since when have coffee shops been so quiet? Not one person was engaged in vocal conversation with anyone. Not because they were glued to a book, writing, or staring off into space thinking, but because their heads were bent down, staring into their phones. Holy crap, people get with it. My public library has more conversations going on! I left without buying a coffee (or tipping someone for bending their arm beyond 85 degrees).

Highly irritated, I turned around and headed back home. On my way, a homeless man complimented me. (I was hoping to run into you, but I'd put a little extra effort in that day.) I turned around and said, 'Thanks.' He said, 'Anytime, sweetheart'. So, from now on, when I want to have a conversation, face to face with someone, I can feel confident the homeless guy at Water and Cambie will participate - and I guarantee he has a hell of a lot more stories and opinions to share than the dipsticks glued to their screens. What's that old saying, 'All text and no talk makes Jack a dull boy'?

God, I miss hanging out and just talking.

Stacy Reynaud
image: Simone Signoret, Marilyn Monroe, Arthur Miller, Yves Montand

May 7, 2014

12 Best of Craigslist Vancouver May 7th


Glass and chrome table with chrome cantilever chairs - and sumptuous ruby velvet cushions
Folding Indian table aka nomadic furniture
 one here too

Bentwood antique theatre chairs
An old door - throw some wheels on the bottom and voila - a table.
and a 1971 VW van-cum-juice bar


Mar 19, 2014

Wink and Howie's Place - A West Vancouver Mid-Century Home Demolition



You remember this home. In 
February 2012, I posted about Wink and Howie's cute little place they'd lived in for 40 years. They sold in the summer of 2011 because of declining health (I bought their teak bedroom and dining suites). Well, last weekend, we decided to do a drive-by to see if the home had been restored - as we thought it would be back in 2012. Good God - no. It's been replaced by a concrete monstrosity with Parthenon-worthy Doric columns (the most massive Greek temple columns) and Baroque balconies. First image of the series.



Jan 3, 2014

Quote of the Week - Henry David Thoreau


There is no remedy for love but to love more.







Nov 16, 2013

BC Binning Residence SOLD


BC Binning Residence, West Vancouver, BC image Stacy Reynaud


A Canadian National Historic site is headed to the Supreme Court on November 18.


I first wrote about the BC Binning home, located in demolition permit happy West Vancouver, in 2010 - the post is below. 


Ironically, I spent Friday at the Association of Fundraising Professionals' National Philanthropy Day luncheon. Awards were presented to x for raising x amount, y for raising y amount, etc. 


The Land Conservancy, the nonprofit that owns the Binning home, is $7.6 million in debt (as I noted back in 2010, they were headed for trouble). 


Listening to the keynote speaker, Dan Pallata (the guy whose TED Talk has over 2.5 million views), break down salaries for top earners in the US blew my mind. 


The developer offered the TLC $1.6 million for the home - rumour is that he bought the house next to the Binning residence. 


Checked out Crack Shack or Mansion lately - there's a Part Deux

You'll see what $1.6 million buys you in Vancouver.


BC Binning is almost always a favourite. He's a local hero. Kate Barron Gallery Manager Art Emporium.

It's too bad the TLC didn't hand the Binning Home over to the District of West Vancouver as they did with the Arthur Erickson designed Baldwin Home in Burnaby in May 2013


West Van is a corporation and could hold it as an asset - not to mention it'd be a perfect public relations and marketing tactic for them. 


Suppose West Van is opening a Centre for Art, Architecture and Design. In that case, you'd think a home listed on the Canadian Historic Sites registry would be a top priority for acquisition. 


Come on West Van - offer the TLC $7.6 million for the Binning Home and write it off as an advertising and marketing expense.



For a story in the Vancouver Sun from 2007 see here.

Nov 5, 2013

Yes - Another West Vancouver Home Demolition - and Chestnut Tree History

There's a cute 1930s home at the end of our block. I always wondered how long it would be before it fell victim to a McMansion. Well, it's yellow-fenced now, so it won't be long. As I was taking photos of the outside, the demolition contractor came by, and we chatted. I asked why the home wasn't being offered up as a demolition sale before it was torn down (I could see furniture, doors and fixtures through the smashed-out windows - much reminisce to this home that I contacted the then West Vancouver Mayor about, but she wouldn't reply. I brought up the issue of sustainable demolition practices with her when we were at the same cocktail event two summers ago - tongue-tied and red-faced, she excused herself. However, it could've been the wine talking). I digress.


The contractor was nice enough. He said the owner felt it wasn't worth it (money-wise) to have a demolition sale. I said it shouldn't be about the money. I also asked him why it was okay for the neighbourhood to be disrespected by having garbage thrown all over the property and not in bins - he said the asbestos removers did it (I don't think they were actually there because the home was just fenced up last Wednesday and you need a work permit and none were posted). Why don't we offer rebates or something to contractors who adhere to sustainable demolition practices? I have no idea. The Corporation of the District of West Vancouver is into making money - albeit at the loss of heritage/culture. I remember the old mayor bragging about issuing a couple hundred demolition permits in one summer alone. After all, there's no financial gain in heritage preservation, correct? I hear the same thing repeatedly - 'It's not worth it [architectural/heritage preservation].'



That big chestnut tree is one of many planted up either side of the entire street. I was told by a neighbour that the trees actually have some protection (although this one isn't cordoned off as it should be). Even BC Hydro couldn't cut them down. Each chestnut tree is groomed straight down the middle of its canopy - the hydro wires pass between the canopy - you can see them in the photo above.


Here's a little history on the infamous trees I pulled from a website here:


The Horse Chestnut trees, lining 17th Street, were planted by the Boy Scouts on May 24, 1935 to raise funds for their organization. The trees were donated by the Provincial government, and local home owners were encouraged to sponsor a tree for 25 cents. Many people associate the planting with a visit by Lord Baden-Powell, founder of the Boy Scouts. However, although the Baden-Powells toured Vancouver in 1935, they did not visit West Vancouver in an official capacity. The double rows of these ornamental shade trees frame shaded avenues up 17th Street past the Gertrude Lawson House and Municipal Hall, and up 14th Street past Hollyburn School. The species is native to Greece and Albania, and can grow as large as 30 meters tall. Over the years, the trees have succumbed to a number of diseases, compounded by heavy pruning resulting from their initial planting directly under electrical wires. As early as 1980, there were problems with falling branches and debris, and obstructions for bus routes. On April 19, 2004, Mayor Ron Wood, former Boy Scouts Jack Leyland and John Gibson, resident Katerine Dickinson and the 2nd West Vancouver Boy Scout Troop planted a new tree and unveiled a rock bearing two commemorative plaques to mark the beginning of a program to replace trees that had been lost over time.

all images by Stacy Reynaud

The contractor took me on a little tour of the house so I could take some quick photos with my phone.


Original 1930s dining room chandelier - headed to the dump.


Bedroom chandeliers. I mentioned he should take these for his sixteen year old daughter's bedroom.



Bathroom. The toilet and sink were dumped on the lawn.


I didn't want to go down there.


Original immaculate hand laid oak hardwood floors


Original hardwood flooring - headed for the dump.


The kitchen. Not sure why there's a big hole in the middle of the floor.


Front room. Original 1930s French doors with glass, iron and the original glass door knobs (with brass). Also, headed for the dump.


One of those ceramic fake log fireplaces. Look at the mantle piece. All original and headed for the dump. See how gorgeous the flooring is!


Another door headed for the dump.


Look at those oak floors. I want to cry. The contractor said it's too much work to pull them up so they'll be demolished with the house.



Original flooring. It must've been restored at some time because it was in immaculate condition.


There was probably carpet over this one. Pine perhaps? Headed for the dump.


Gorgeous corner lot with mature trees - okay it needs a little TLC but big deal. The contractor said the new house wasn't going to be 'too big'. I'll keep you posted on that!


There's a full bamboo hedge - that will be headed to the dump.

Oct 12, 2013

Heritage Status for Canada's Oldest Skate Park?


A lot of my friends skated this park in the 1980s. Now, we middle-aged Gen Xers are rallying behind it. Seylynn Skate Park was built in 1978 and is Canada's oldest concrete park. 

The concern is that the rapid condo development in the area will level Seylynn to a plaque in the ground. However, seeing as we degenerate, skateboarders are all grown up, many of us successful entrepreneurs, PhDs, or working in influential industries. 

The opportunity has arisen for us to assist in the preservation of the park—possibly even as a heritage site. So phooey to all those name-callers in the 80s who thought we were good for nothing—we're still here, strategically sneaking up behind you.




 
If you want to get involved in the planning workshops for Seylynn, head out to the North Vancouver District Operations Centre @ 1370 Crown St on October 23 at 5:30. More info in the above pdf and at the District website.

Thanks for sharing the image, Dr. Chapman





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Oct 10, 2013

My Top Picks from Interior Design Show West

Stacy Reynaud

First, I'll tell you what wasn't my favourite - the Mah Jong sofa by Roche Bobois. I've idolized this sofa on pages of magazines for years. I've even posted about it here in 2008, (and how I sold all my furniture when I was in a mood). This is the most uncomfortable thing I've ever sat on (even more than my peacock chair).

Please pardon my 2013 crappy phone photos.



There was a table-setting competition, and this woodland theme was by far the most popular.

The feature wall of the woodland room.

Do you ever feel like sometimes skulls are the equivalent of birds, as in, 'Put a bird on it.'?


This was cute. A table with a terrarium built in - sans bird.



I liked this textured fake brick for a wall in our apartment 
(the wall is concrete, and we can't hang anything on it).


This was the Scandinavian table in the table-setting competition.

These were the best truffles I've ever had in my life. 
Bowen Island Chocolatier Cocoa West. They have an online shop and a B&B.





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