OPUS Hotel is currently running a photo contest on Facebook and we thought that you the readers of Vancity Buzz might be interested in the contest. OPUS was the exclusive hotel included in the coveted 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards Presenter Gift Bags and we thought that everyone should have the chance to ‘Sleep where the stars sleep’, hence our Red Carpet Ready contest!

Two winners will have the chance to win the same exclusive MMVA gift package that was included in the MMVA swag bag for OPUS Hotel Vancouver and OPUS Hotel Montreal. We’re asking people to submit a “Fan Photo” of their best red carpet ready pose to the OPUS Hotels Facebook page and tag themselves in the photo. Whether it’s your most creative tails and top hat ensemble or you and your besties glammed up for a night on the town, we want photos rockin’ style worthy of a spot on the MMVA Red carpet next to your favorite celebs.

So what are you waiting for enter now.

Yesterday was another picture perfect day in Vancouver. It seems as though downtown has successfully transformed to an urban oasis as there were so many people out and about. Cosmopolitan indeed. The sheer number of people led tourists to believe that Vancouver is home to 4 million + individuals. I laughed at that assertion and told them that outside of Downtown and Uptown there isn't as much pedestrian activity, except for the capital of east Van, Commercial Drive.

Yesterday was a huge day in sports as UFC 100 had bars all over the continent packed. It is said the economic activity generated by an UFC event can be upwards to $10 million. The Montreal show did $3 million plus just at the gate. When will Gregor Robertson and the circle jerkers of Vision wake the fuck up. Instead of repositioning the homeless to a part of town without neighbourhood consultation or coming up with zany ideas such as a $45 million pedestrian/cyclist bridge, he should be lobbying to get UFC to Vancouver. Shit, with the money from 2 events could be used to build more social housing or cover half the costs of that pedestrian/cyclist bridge. I mean I've seen worse during Riot 2010 and APC "protests".




Go see Bruno, heard lots of good stuff.

BC Cancer Foundation’s Underwear Affair^®

presented by JOE BOXER

On July 11, 2009 hundreds of eager men and women will hit the Vancouver streets in a 10 km run/ 5 km walk wearing anything from underwear, costumes, or even plain old exercise gear. Together, they will raise crucial funds and awareness for the BC Cancer Foundation to fight cancers below the waist.

This is the fourth annual Underwear Affair event in Vancouver, a cheeky race where the fun continues well after the finish line with the EXPOsed afterparty. From beginning to end, this Affair is fun for a good cause and exposes these “taboo” and under-funded cancers like colorectal, cervical, prostate, testicular and ovarian among others.

In British Columbia, 38% of diagnosed cancers are “underwear” cancers. Participants in the BC Cancer Foundation’s Underwear Affair presented by JOE BOXER have the opportunity to make a difference in the fight against cancers below the waist right here in Vancouver by raising much needed funds and shedding some light on cancers “down there”.

DON’T MISS: Saturday, July 11, 2009

6:00 pm: 10 K run start time at the Seaforth Armoury

6:10 pm: 5 K walk start time at the Seaforth Armoury

6:45 pm - 7:15 pm: Runners and Walkers crossing finish line
6:30 pm - 10:00 pm: EXPOsed Afterparty featuring a live DJ

CONTACT: Kate Harbinson

Western Communications Supervisor

The Underwear Affair

T : 877-500-7545 (toll-free)

kharbinson@uncoverthecure.org

www.uncoverthecure.org

It looks as though the second tallest tower in Vancouver may be built after all and sooner than you think. http://www.news1130.com/news/local/more.jsp?content=20090708_183544_976

Developing...

Free Outdoor Yoga at Canada Place every Wednesday at 5pm

Canada Place proudly presents its second season of Free Outdoor Yoga every Wednesday from 5:00pm - 6:00pm on the Observation Deck at Canada Place.

Overlooking Stanley Park, the Burrard Inlet, and the North Shore Mountains, yoga participants can relax, de-stress, and meditate while practicing yoga beneath Canada Place’s brilliant white sails. This unique evening experience is open to all levels. Classes are free; however, donations are greatly appreciated and benefit Strathcona Community Centre’s Food Security for Children program.

Don’t forget to bring a yoga mat, water and a friend!

Location:

Observation Deck, Canada Place

Dates:

Wednesday's from July 15 to September 16

Please note classes are weather permitting

Time:

5:00pm - 6:00pm

For full event details, please contact events@canadaplace.ca or call 604.775.8100.

It's been a while since we've profiled a local beauty. So today we have Channa Shumaker. Look for a full interview soon until then enjoy these photos guys.

Photos courtesy: Bryan Ward (first 4) Larry Niven (last 2)

Girlicious Tickets can be purchased NOW.

Email: wakeupvanbc@yahoo.ca with your name and how many.

You must be 19+ for this event.

We all know Vancouver has the best beaches in all of Canada. The crap they call a beach out east is a laughable at best. However, a recent Forbes Traveler article claims that Kits Beach is among the sexiest in North America. With the amount of fake tits I see at that place, I'm not surprised one bit.

Photo courtesy of Vancouverinfocenter.com

This being summer things are real quiet in the office, I mainly just sit around playing video games on my new 36" plasma whilst sipping on some JD from my diamond encrusted goblet. Yep life is good. This year with Canada Day landing on a Wednesday I decided to make it an extra long weekend, smart move. With the weather the way it has been lately how could I pass up a golden opportunity to not work and still get paid.

Speaking of Canada Day the celebration downtown was simply one to behold. Granville Island was jam packed, Robson was busy, the VAG was hosting the annual Cannabis Day celebration and the newly expanded Canada Place hosted the largest party outside of Ottawa. Sorry mayor Watts but you no longer can claim to have the largest party in Western Canada, however you can continue milking it for future years as surely you know Surrey doesn't have much else going on. Oh wait you might soon get 16 large electronic billboards to distract already idiotic Lower Mainland drivers, score! Seriously, Money J Skeets was right when he said nothing is good out there except for Surrey girls.


Speaking of Money J Skeets he was passed out drunk after Canada Celebration somewhere in Newton. Me being the good friend that I am, I drove into Surrey (first time in over 2 years) to pick his sorry ass up. Upon entering it was obvious that Surrey doesn't know what it wants to be, the city is so poorly planned, no doubt due to the rapid cul-de-sac infested development that took place over the years. I think I saw one cyclist, a few pan handlers on Scott Road, more suburban style strip mall in development and SUV's galore. It felt like Prince George but with more people, not a good thing. As I approached Newton it was evident Mayor Watts has her work cut out. The urban decay in a suburban setting is truly horrendous. I pray I don't ever have to go back. Oh and where are all the buses in Surrey? 400,000 people and I didn't see a single fucking bus my whole time there. Egregious. If the future lives there we are in serious trouble...

Coming back to the north of the Fraser a new pedestrian/cyclist bridge is being envisioned by our cluster fuck mayor Robertson. I like the idea and aesthetically the project seems somewhat appealing. However, $45 million is a lot of money for cyclists that don't even pay insurance. Can't they just upgrade the Burrard Street bridge, it's due for one anyways.

The Little Mountain redevelopment is in the hands of Holburn, the same guys that fucked up the Ritz-Carlton and the Kingsway and Nanaimo development. For once I can understand the protest, however, in the end that parcel of land was definitely under utilized and redevelopment was necessary. Perhaps Gregor can throw some homeless individuals in there without telling the people of the neighbourhood again. It worked gloriously the first time.

Rappers Delight, nice.

Vancity Buzz staff are soaking in the rays next few days. UD will bring back regular scheduled programming starting Sunday with his musings.

Happy Canada Day from the Buzz!

Well the Tour De Gastown was canceled but this race is still on. Canada Day downtown is jam packed with events and the Yaletown Grand Prix is just one part of it.

Race starts at 1pm.

Happy Canada Day everyone!

Every year a 10 day Greek Summer Festival is held at 29th and Boundary on the Vancouver side. It is East Van's response to Greek Days in Kits.

If you got time check it out I assure you won't be disappointed as they have some amazing dishes along with their famous "Loukamades" desert.

The festival runs from June 26th - July 5th.

That's right the new convention centre just got another booking, but I thought that was supposed to rival Montreal's Big O in terms of financial disasters, how can it be that it is actually attracting new conventions. Who'd a thunk that. Where are all the naysayers now? Probably hiding behind a bag of bricks as they search for another project to spin and thus brain wash left leaning individuals with no hopes and dreams.

Yes the people that lack a purpose in life other than creating an affordable urban utopia. Affordable being the key as many don't like to work because well that is just too damned hard or perhaps they are too good to work. Case in point is the burrito boy (or man). Or is it Sandwich man, whatever the case may be please give your job to a more capable 16 year old.

3000 lawyers translates into roughtly $10 million in economic activity, at least. Not too shabby.

Further, to reiterate that Vancouver isn't a festering cesspool in comparison to other cities around the world I give you these quotes from the article:

How about the homelessness problem? Yes, it's "quite upsetting," she noted, but it's not so very different from that in the rest of the world.

What about the drug scene? "I'm afraid you've got a drug scene in so many places now," she replied.

Or how about the rash of recent gang killings? "I think, in international terms, that didn't feature very largely," she suggested, noting Vancouver is still perceived as a very safe city.

Not bad.

(Photo: The official Vancouver 2010 poster, shown with left and right halves together in one image. Courtesy VANOC.) see vancouver2010.com for more information.