Down in Chinatown tonight

I got a Travelzoo coupon for Sai Woo.  I haven't been doing many of these lately since somehow they seem to make it less of a good deal than it seems.  But I was especially attracted to the menu which had "Chinese Paella" and included two glasses of wine or beer...could we resist that...no!

We haven't been to Chinatown for a while and being in UBC we thought we probably wouldn't be going down there as much.  But, this is an amazing restaurant and we loved wandering around Chinatown.  It's nice to see this community coming back although many are complaining that it  is becoming too "gentrified".   Well,  it was almost dead when we came back to live in Vancouver 6 years ago and I was very sad to see that.   In my student days at UBC, I  had many wonderful meals with my friend,  Judy Hanazawa, and her Chinese friends, at the On On Gardens.  The menus were only in Chinese and no one spoke English so you pretty much had to go with Chinese speakers.   For a wonderful meal with an unbelievable amount of food and free tea of course was 75 cents each.  Them was days...

The City of Vancouver has put up a number of very interesting history notes.  We loved seeing these and I hope there will be more of this around the city.

This is a bit out of order...it goes with the photo of the men working on the railway.

Lots of colourful things for the eye in Chinatown!  It's a wonderful antidote from seeing all the fancy designer shops on Robson.  To think that Robson was "Little Italy" and cheap restaurants...ah,  how times change.

Now,  this is the building where the restaurant is and there is quite story about the neon sign.
http://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/searching-for-a-lost-piece-of-vancouvers-chinatown

I thought this was rather cute.  We didn't see "Pounce"

We walked into the public park at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Garden...lovely oasis in a busy city.

Jim and I were born in the year of the Pig.

Richard was born in the year of the Snake. It says you shouldn't have much to do with people in years of the Pig...well,  you can't choose your parents!

Saiwoo

I loved the real trees with light and the dragon...!

So,  the first course was sharing an appy.   This is about 1/3 of the portion of Korean Chicken.

This is the Chinese Paella.   I took half of it home.  Jim finished his as you would expect.

And we split this amazing chocolate dessert.  Jim had most of it,  of course.

Trying to find something or a photo of the On On Garden...no luck but brought this up.  Wow...I do remember so many of these places!  A trip down memory lane.

http://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/history-of-vancouver-restaurants-a-chronology-and-memories

Winter Holidays

Richard told us Grace's parents are treating them to a week in January to this fabulous looking all inclusive luxury resort in Mexico...wow...I know you'll all have a great time!

https://www.transat.com/en-CA/South/Mexico/Huatulco/Hotels/Secrets-Huatulco-Resort-Spa?opentab=photo

When they come to visit us in Palm Springs we're going to treat them to a couple of days in Joshua Tree Park for star gazing and all the other things you can do there.  They have done this and say the star gazing is amazing.  It will be a new experience for us and fun to share it with them!

Dunbar Lawn Bowling and Croquet Club

I asked the president of the Point Grey Lawn Bowling if there also was still croquet.  She replied there were still a few players but most have gone to the Dunbar Lawn Bowling and Croquet Club.  I think we may join both clubs for the first year because I think I could do the croquet.  The Dunbar group is very active socially so could be fun.  I noticed that on Sundays they require "whites" so I asked if my cousin, who lives in the area,  could wear his kilt instead of whites.  

His reply:

"We would have no problem with your cousin wearing his kilt, in fact it would add some character to our green!"

So,  John,  we're expecting you and Carol to join us as members.  I know you will be over the moon about this idea...

http://www.dunbarlawnbowling.com

http://www.dunbarlawnbowling.com

What a super day with Richard!

Jim and Richard had a lot of fun with the golf and Jim is amazed how well Richard plays given he really hasn't played much golf.  They are going to try to get in one more round before we leave the West End and I think he and Grace are going to try it out.  These pitch and putts can give people a lot of pleasure.  When my parents were in the apartment near Central Park they played a lot and it was a perfect activity for them.

Then we headed for lunch at The Park at English Bay for their Monday 39cent wing special.   They have 10 different flavours and we decided to try 5 of them.  You need to order a minimum of 10 wings so that was 50 wings.  We took home 7.  

The flavours we chose were salt and pepper, teriyaki, dill pickle,  sriracha-hoisin, blue moons...all excellent.  And we washed them down with the drink special of the day which was 24 oz beers.  The other flavours you can order are honey garlic, sour cream and onion, craft beer bar-b-q,  caribbean jerk, and something just called "hot".

Then we all went for an ocean swim as it was just the most magnificent day.  Richard loved it and he met quite a few of our "beach friends".

ServeTTT with blue cheese or ranch. From mildest to hottest: salt & pepper, honey garlic, teriyaki, dill pickle, sour cream & onion, craft beer bbq, caribbean jerk, sriracha-hoisin, blue moons and hot.

A super Sunday

We both got lots of thinning out of files and junk done and then treated ourselves to dinner and music at The Sylvia.  Bruce Gerish was playing...we always enjoy him and we lucked into one of our favourite tables...perfect!
http://www.brucegerrish.com

Richard has today off so he and Jim are going to do the Stanley Park Pitch and Putt then we'll all head to the Park Inn Pub at English Bay for the 39 cent wing special.   And we just might get an ocean swim....it's a gorgeous day!

Perhaps Jim will get another hole-in-one...well,  it's not a REAL hole-in-one like mine....

And they're off after a bit of a delay  because Jim needed Richard to do something with his computer...how unusual!

Minerva's last night with Donna and Linda and Cec

Jim and I love this restaurant so much.  We had our usual...chicken parmigiana for Jim and lamb souvlaki for me.  I can only ever eat half of mine and Jim can't help me out since his meal is so large so we have lunch today with my leftovers.

We began at Donna's and she always has some wonderful appy (quesadilla this time) and strawberry and rhubarb pie with ice cream and watermelon for dessert.   Thanks so much,  Donna.

Then we walked to the restaurant since it's just a few blocks.  It was a beautiful evening.  We shared lots of stories about our recent and distant travels in Europe....lots of fun!

My lamb...a big Greek salad with loads of feta come with it as well.

Jim's meal.  The chicken is in front and the spaghetti with meat sauce is behind.  There is so much wonderful meat sauce on the spaghetti you can't even see the spaghetti.  Jim is always in heaven at Minerva's.

Last Bar-b-q for our Stanley Park Lawn Bowling Club

They did a "Diner en Blanc" theme and most people did do some white so it was quite fun and they had white linen tablecloths.   The burgers were exceptionally good probably because the cooking team for the night was all male and they don't tend to overcook them to death.   Corn on the cob was served as well and bread pudding with ice cream for dessert....apparently a last bar-b-q of the season tradition.  Very yummy!

We don't really have all white clothes...unlike when we were members of the Racquet Club in Victoria and "whites" were de riguer.  So,  Jim got the idea of wearing his chef's jacket and black pants and I wore white pants and a black top.  So together we did both the Diner en Blanc and a tip to Ce Soir en Noir.

We took some photos on the balcony before we left.

It is the club's 100th Anniversary.

Me and Jim.

Maureen and Jim.  You can see a bit of the band that was playing behind them.

Me and Maureen.

Now,  this is kind of fun.  I was looking at the website for the West Point Grey Lawn Bowling Club and I noticed mention of a tournament called  Fleming Mixed Pairs and wondered if it had anything to do with my Grandmother Fleming who was a member.  I remember she died in the summer in 1959.  The president responded with this email.

Hi Janice,

Welcome to WPG! 

We will be delighted to have you join us next Spring. In fact, if either of you plays bridge, you might enjoy joining socially for the winter...the bridge players meet twice a week and we also have dinners etc. during the "off" season as well as a "Games" afternoon on Wednesdays. Let me know if any of these interest you and we'll take it from there.

And yes, the Fleming Mixed Pairs Tournament was played on July 29th; I'm sure it must be connected to your grandmother...but I'll definitely check that out. She'd be happy to know that we give money now, instead of tea! (Loved that story...)

Anyhow, looking forward to meeting both of you...call me if  you have any questions! 

Cheers, Cathleen