BC Place Stadium Open House

BC Place Stadium Roof under construction, July 31, 2011


















On July 31, 2011, I visited the Open House at BC Place Stadium. In May 2010, the era of the familiar sight of the 'marshmallow' roof for BC Place came to an end when construction began on a new roof structure.

A lot of hours of planning, engineering, work and money have gone into creating this roof and new interior for BC Place. It will look like a brand-new stadium because it will be a brand-new stadium.

I was very impressed with the look of the new roof and all the modern amenities that are being added. Wider seating, cup holders, a new sound/lighting system and score board. It is a feat of engineering. Just standing on the floor of the stadium looking upwards, I had a bout of vertigo. To see the workers move in and around the roof structure was amazing.

The completion date is set for fall, the first home game of the BC Lions is September 30, 2011.

Roof taking shape as panels are being lifted into place.
The colour will fade to white in the sun.



 





The new score board, sound & lighting system. Workers were
walking around in it - no fear.

New concrete, new private suites and new, roomier seats with cupholders.



Matt and Kim

Last night on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, a musical duo called Matt and Kim performed 'Block After Block' a very catchy tune. Of course, I had to find out who this dynamic duo is. According to Wikipedia Matt and Kim are a dance punk duo residing in Brooklyn, New York City. The group was formed in 2004 and is composed of Matt Johnson (vocals/keyboards) and Kim Schifino (drums/vocals).

I thought their performance was energetic and fun (starting to feel like an old fuddy duddy).

Jimmy Fallon & Justin Timberlake - History of Rap Parts 1 & 2

Last night, Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake continued their History of Rap with a second installment, it was so good. Just love when these two guys perform together, who can resist their Barry and Robin Gibb sketches on SNL?!

Enjoy!



and Part 1

The Dark Knight Rises Teaser Trailer

Source: Warner Bros.

The teaser trailer for "The Dark Knight Rises" debuted before the final installment of Harry Potter this past weekend. I was doing jumpy claps in my seat when I saw the trailer on the big screen. The audience appeared rather quiet even though all of us were adults, so not sure if people were caught off guard or what. I knew that it would show before HP so was prepared to be dazzled.

The trailer shows elements of the past two Christopher Nolan directed installments, combined with quick succession of snippets of the current movie "The Dark Knight Rises". Batman is my favourite super hero and love how Nolan has breathed new life into this franchise. I am a bit sad that this is his last Batman film, at least for now. Warner Bros., please no reboot for at least 5 years or until Chris will direct another.

Warner Bros. will not allow to embed the official teaser trailer, so click here to be dazzled.

Robert Redford Coming to Vancouver

Source: Google Images

This is great news, Variety reports that Robert Redford will direct and star in "The Company You Keep"...with Shia LaBeouf, which will be shot in Vancouver this September. I know that this is not the first time Robert has filmed a movie here, ten years ago he and Brad Pitt filmed part of the movie "Spy Game" here.

In case you are not aware, Robert Redford has been, and remains to this day, my favourite actor. Fangirling over an actor in high school who is older than your parents is not exactly cool when everyone else is going gaga over the Brat Pack, however, that did not deter me from seeing all of his films (starring in and/or directed). Yes, it was me cheering like crazy in 1981 when he won the Best Director for "Ordinary People" which also won Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor for Timothy Hutton and Best Adapted Screenplay.

My first recollection of seeing Robert Redford in a movie was on TVO Saturday Night at the Movies, which at the time was hosted by Elwy Yost (trivia: his son, Graham wrote the screenplay for "Speed"). That movie was "Little Fauss and Big Halsy" and must have had something to do with him taking off his shirt :) The second film was "The Great Waldo Pepper" which was also my first introduction to Susan Sarandon.

Anyway, I could go on and on about the many films Robert has starred in and directed. A complete listing is available at IMDB. Okay, a few of my ultra fave Robert films are (in no particular order): "The Sting", "Ordinary People", "A River Runs Through It", "All the President's Men", "The Way We Were", "Downhill Racer", "The Candidate", "The Electric Horseman", "Barefoot in the Park", "Out of Africa", "Legal Eagles", "The Natural", "Sneakers", "The Horse Whisperer" and "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". Basically anything he has ever made or starred in.

Aside from his work in film and setting up the Sundance Institute and other philantropic pursuits - it would be so cool and my ultimate thrill to at least see him in person. Hopefully, I will have the good fortune to happen upon a set this fall :)

Stratford Festival's 'Twelfth Night' - Play On, Play On

My mom, sister and I attend at least one Stratford Festival play per year, as I live in Vancouver, this involves a bit of planning. The trip to Stratford has been part of our summer or fall ritual since the mid-1980's and is one of the highlights of our year.

This year, we had the pleasure of attending the third preview of 'Twelfth Night'. "If music be the food of love, play on" these are the words uttered by Duke Orsino and have never rang as true as in this truly musical version of Des McAnuff's 'Twelfth Night'.

'Twelfth Night' is the story of Orsino, Duke of Illyria, who pines with unrequited love for the Countess Olivia, who has shut herself up at home as a mark of mourning for her deceased brother. Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch, is egging on another suitor for her hand: his drinking companion Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Complications ensue when a shipwreck causes the twins Viola and Sebastian to be washed up on separate parts of the coast, each fearing the other to have been drowned. To protect herself, Viola assumes male disguise and, as the youth "Cesario", enters the Duke's service. Her disguise, however, soon proves more effective than she had bargained for. Source: Twelfth Night Stratford Festival Program

Director, Des McAnuff, explains that "The idea of 'Twelfth Night' suffuses the play: the last giddy day of holiday time before you go back to work. this is a world of play - or eating and drinking, of gambling and sportive pranks and, particularly, of music. Music abounds, not only in the multitude of songs but in the poetic imagery as ell. Mellifluous sounds drift through the air and at times Illyria seems to float in space, as if we've all entered some kind of musical dream." Source: Twelfth Night Stratford Festival Program

Music is definitely the heart of the play, influences from the last 60 years of popular music create a very original, harmonious, toe-tapping and hand-slapping play. Outstanding performances by Brian Dennehy as Sir Toby Belch, Stephen Ouimette as Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Ben Carlson as Feste, Tom Rooney as Malvolio and so many more. The chemistry between Brian Dennehy and Stephen Ouimette especially is a pleasure to watch. Ben Carlson is amazing as Feste, he balances playing the jester/fool with kernels of truth and reason when everything around the characters seems a bit out of whack. Plus that voice, what more is there to say.

I am definitely hoping that there will be soundtrack released for 'Twelfth Night' for it will be played on and on for many years to come. If you find yourself near Stratford, Ontario this year, do yourself a favour and go see 'Twelfth Night' it will not disappoint.

Summer Vacation in Ontario - June 25-July 8, 2011



Mom's Garden



My annual trek to see my family in Ontario went very well. It was a lot of fun to catch up with my two nephews who are 7 and 11, they are growing up so quickly. This year, included a day trip to Stratford to see 'Twelfth Night' which was amazing. As well, my mom, sister and nephew visited Niagara Falls/Marineland and the Butterfly Conservatory. Two weeks just flew by. Below are some pictures from my trip.



My dad's golf course-not really, parents' front 'yard'

  



Sea lion performance at Marineland

Dolphin duo

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Niagara Falls Butterfly Conservatory - one of my fave butterflies