Playing at the Clova from April 29 2011 to May 5 2011

Playing at the Clova from Friday April 29 until Thursday May 5 is:

7pm - Arthur

9:05pm - Your Highness

Last show lets out at 10:50pm. Times are approximate. If its busy at the concession the Clova doesn't start the shows until the lobby is clear. Admission is $8 or if there are 2 people in your group $15. Add $4 for each extra person in your group. Bring your own reusable popcorn and drink containers and fill up at the concession for $2.50 each.

Army and Navy Shoe Sale

I've never gond to the Army and Navy shoe sale though I've certainly heard it being advertised over the years.

I'm not a huge clothes horse and I'm not big on buying shoes. When I need a pair I go and buy them. I don't like shopping that much.

I've known for about a month now that I need a new pair of running shoes but I kept putting it off and then when the commercials came on about the Army and Navy shoe sale I decided to give it a try. The closest Army and Navy store to Cloverdale is in the Langley Mall on the corner of 203rd Street and Douglas Crescent that can be reached by driving down 56th Avenue and it turns into Douglas.

I got there after 8:30am and the parking lot was really full but the further you got away from the Army and Navy the more parking spaces there were. When I came in the door a couple of employees were handing out complimentary shopping bags that said Langley Mall. There are a lot of aisles for shoes and many of the aisles by shoe size. Me being about a size 6 there weren't a whole lot of women in that area, which is where the size 5 to 6 shoes were set out.

Most of the shoes just weren't my thing. Sandals with spike heels or huge wedge heels. Lots of bling. I did manage to find a pair of black flat sandals and a pair of flats pink sandals. Not really my thing, but cute and not too bad for $9.99.

And I bought 2 pairs of running shoes, both under $20 each. But by the time you get to the running shoes and some of the other shoes that are displayed on top of a shelf, they are all sizes and those areas could get a little crowded. But it wasn't too bad. Most of the women I saw were descending on the sandals and summer shoes not the sneakers.

There was a lot of women in there. Surprisingly enough two men. Everyone seemed in good spirits and everyone had packed a lot of patience.

All the cash registers were open and the line I chose had 2 people in front of me and I didn't wait too long. Oddly enough the customer in front of me was a man buying a shirt. Boy did he pick the wrong day to go shopping!

The shoe sale runs for about a week.

Rico Burrito aka Clover Creek BBQ Kaput

I forgot to write about this earlier this month but I walked my dogs past the location of the former Rico Burrito which then became Clover Creek BBQ and it appears to have finally closed for good judging by the for lease sign that's up in the window. Both businesses had the same strange philosophy of being closed rather than open during normal business hours.

They were located on 176th Street closer to Highway 10, next to where the Salvation Army used to be.

I also noticed that the rub and tug next door to Rico Burrito/Clover Creek BBQ is closed and has a for lease sign on it too.

There are a lot of buildings in downtown Cloverdale that are sitting empty with for lease signs in the windows.

YMCA versus Cloverdale Rec Centre

I'm sure most people have seen the new recreational centre built in Cloverdale on the corner of 176th Street and 62nd Avenue. More commonly known to me as the street to the backstretch barns of the racetrack. The Cloverdale Recreation Centre has recently opened and here is a link to more information about it. I'm a member of the YMCA on the corner of Highway 10 and a couple of blocks east of 152 Street, on the other side of the Panorama Shopping Centre (or whatever that plaza calls itself!). The main reason I go there is because of the swimming pool and aquafit classes and yoga classes. Its open until 11pm and sometimes we go there later in the evening for a swim. I don't use the exercise equipment and weights. It costs $95/month for couples membership. The new rec centre in Cloverdale does not have a pool. It has an exercise room and equipment and offers some fitness classes but nowhere near the amount the Y offers. It closes at 10pm. No couples membership. Monthly fee per person is $57.25 or family $114.25. So 2 people, a couple, would save 25 cents a month by signing up as a family! It takes me about 5 or 6 minutes to drive to the Y. It would take about 2 minutes to drive to the new rec centre. For me the swimming pool is the deal breaker. Even if Cloverdale had a pool the monthly fee would be the next consideration. The new rec centre in Cloverdale is not for me but it might fit other people's needs better. Not everyone wants to swim and soak in a hot tub!

Crunching up the concrete at old Cloverdale mall

Its a little dark but here's a photo of the site of the old Cloverdale Mall I took with my iPhone. These two machines are crunching up the pavement and cement. There is a bulldozer pushing the ground up concrete around and flattening out the site. I guess they're recycling it as filler for the new buildings they'll be putting up here. Photo was taken from the parking lot of the legion on 57th Ave. The United Church can be seen in the centre. You can click on the photo to get a better view that's a little less dark.

Playing at the Clova from April 15 2011 to April 28 2011

Playing at the Clova until April 28 2011 is Rio. One showing nightly at 7pm. This is a new release which means the Clova has to play it for 2 weeks and can't show any other movie along with it. Admission is $8 or 2 people $15. Add $4 for each extra person in your group. Show lets out around 8:35pm.

BCLocalNews.com - Horsemen step up pressure to extend racing season at Fraser Downs

Just thought I'd share this link for anyone who is not aware that the horseracing at Fraser Downs was cut back to 6 months of the year. I rarely go to the races, less often than once a year, so I would hardly call myself a supporter of the racetrack, but I thought this was important enough to mention and if anyone is in any of the local stores that have the petition to sign it and help out. Its the job loss that concerns me plus what might happen to all the horses. Many of these people have been working in the racing industry for most of their lives. They have no other job skills and would likely have a very difficult time finding a job anywhere except for some high turnover minimum wage type jobs. Hopefully things will get better for these people soon. BCLocalNews.com - Horsemen step up pressure to extend racing season at Fraser Downs

Playing at the Clova from April 8 2011 to April 16 2011

Playing this week at the Clova until April 16: 7pm - The Lincoln Lawyer 9:15pm - Beastly Last show lets out around 10:45. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person in your party.