Playing at the Clova from October 28 to November 3, 2011

Playing this week at the Clova from Friday October 28 to November 3 2011 at 7pm nightly is Puss In Boots. Show lets out at 8:30pm. This is a premier release which means its a single showing for 2 weeks. The Clova's contract for new releases is that they play only that one movie and its for a 2 week run. So even though the current play bill shows until November 3 I think we can safely say Puss In Boots will be playing at the Clova until November 10 2011. Admission is $8 or if there are 2 in your group $15. Add $4 for each extra person.

First Christmas Song of the Season

And the winner of the first Christmas song of the season goes to Global TV Morning News. This morning I heard them play a rendition of "Baby Its Cold Outside". Not a traditional Christmas carol but I hear this one played every day during December up to Christmas Day. They played it just before signing off for a commercial. Yup October 25. Not even Halloween yet!

Another Haunted House and Pumpkin Patches

I was driving down Highway 10 heading back into Cloverdale and I noticed a sign saying that Capella's farm is open from now until Halloween offering hayrides, pumpkins, and a haunted house. The hours are 9am to 6pm. Its still light outside at 6pm. I'm not sure what fun a haunted house will be in the daylight! They are located on 160th Street a couple of blocks south off Highway 10, cross the railway tracks and Colebrook Road and they're the first farm on the left (east) side of the road.

There is a pumpkin patch on 20th Avenue I think its called the Hazelmere pumpkin patch, about a block east off 184th Street. Their signs say they're open on weekends in October. However today for the first time in many years I decided to ride my horse up into that area and noticed they were open, this would be around 3pm Thursday. They have hay rides - a tractor pulling a wagon with some bales of hay on it - to their pumpkin patch and also have a petting zoo. I noticed goats but there were probably some other small farm animals too. A few cars were parked there and some kids moving around the field. I heard one of the patrons ask them about their hours and the woman said during the week it depends on the weather if they open for a few hours. It was a sunny afternoon. Friday its supposed to rain so maybe not open. Its supposed to rain all weekend so I'm not sure how that will go over. Wear gum boots!

I noticed pumpkins at Country Bob's produce - corner of 64th Avenue and 156th Street - for $2.99 each and also $2.99 at the Cloverdale supermarket on the corner of 176th Street and 58th Avenue.

Cloverdale Farm Market on the corner of Highway 10 and 168th Street has a corn maze set up in the parking lot and patrons go in to collect a pumpkin. I believe the admission is $5 and includes a pumpkin.

Playing at the Clova from October 21 to October 27 2011

Playing this week at the Clova from Friday October 21 to 27 2011 is:

7pm - The Help

9:35pm - I Don't Know How She Does It

Last show lets out at 11:05pm. Times are approximate. The Clova doesn't start the movie until the customers have finished their purchases at the concession. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person. Tuesday night is $5. Admission is for one or both movies.

Stores shutting down around Cloverdale

There seems to be a bit of a downturn in stores open for business in Cloverdale.

Something similar to what happened in the 90's when most of the antique shops in Cloverdale moved to Fort Langley or New Westminster due to their Cloverdale landlords upping the rent on their shops.

Dee's Brazilian Shoes used to be on 176th Street next door to Mallory's which is next to Hawthorne Square. In late August they had a sign on their door saying they'd be closed on Sundays for renovations. Then about a month ago I walked past and the storefront now says Anca's Bridal and there are wedding gowns in the window. I'm not so sure what happened to Dee's shoes. Perhaps they're still in the store because there's a sign in the window saying they have unconventional shoes for unconventional brides. A couple of weeks I walked past and Mallory's had the sandwich sign for Dee's Brazilian Shoes in front of their shop so maybe they took over the inventory.

The store where the Salvatian Army used to be has been empty ever since they closed down a couple of years ago. Then the store was split in half and that cheque cashing place moved in to one side. I've seen signs of renovations going on earlier this year but nothing since before the summer.

The store that's a couple of doors down that has been vacant for many years and the source of constant vandalism has also been having renovations done inside but no indication on what business is taking over and when.

The consignment store that is a little further down 176 street, next to the deli on the corner of 57th Avenue closed down at the end of July.

A business that opened up a couple of years ago called Living Well or something like that and sells Sage fragrances and offers life counselling and a sauna and massage closed down in mid-September but all their products and furnishings are still sitting there like they're ready to open for business tomorrow.

Haunted Houses near Cloverdale

Its that time of year again. October. Halloween. Haunted houses.

However I can't seem to find anything new in this department other than the usual creep shows around Surrey.

The Haunted Barn will be back October 28, 29, and 30 between 7 and 10pm. Located at 3048 192 Street, cost is $7.50.

Potters House of Horrors at 12530 - 72nd Avenue is open every night between October 14 and 31 from 6 to 10pm. The first hour is a tamer version of the haunted house. Friday and Saturday night the cost is $17 for adults and $12 for under 12 years. Weeknights adults $15 and under 12 years is $10.

The Haunted Train Ride at Bear Creek Park 13750 - 88th Avenue is running between October 14 and 31 every night 6:30 to 10pm but they might stay open later if its busy. Cost is $8.50 for adults and $7 for under age 12.

If you're willing to go a little further out I recommend the haunted house Ghost Ridge in the Maple Ridge Fairgrounds just off the Lougheed Highway near the turn off for the old Albion Ferry. 23500 - 105th Avenue. Open October 21, 22, 27, 28, 29, and 30 between 6 and 9pm. Cost is $8. They open at 4pm for a tamer version. Lights on and the actors not jumping out and scaring you. Kind of takes the haunted out of haunted house!

Playing at the Clova from October 14 to October 20 2011

Playing this week at the Clova starting on Friday October 14 until the 20th, 2011:

7pm - Dolphin Tale

9:10pm - Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2

Last show lets out around 11:20pm. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person.

Horse racing tonight

Fraser Downs racetrack is starting up again for the season after 6 months off. Tonight, October 7 2011, the first race starts at 7pm and the last race winds up around 10pm.

There is no racing on Saturday but the Standardbreds will be running again on Sunday October 9.

Pancake Breakfast at Cloverdale Legion this Saturday October 8 2011

The Cloverdale Legion is having a pancake breakfast on Saturday October 8 2011 from 8am to 11:30am. Cost is $4.50 per person and that includes pancakes, eggs, sausages, and coffee, tea and orange drink/juice. The Legion is across the street from the firehall on 17567 57 Ave.

Playing at the Clova from October 7 to October 13 2011

I'm not quite sure what's going on this week at the Clova. There is only one movie playing this week October 7 to 13 but its not a new release. Perhaps they couldn't come up with another movie for the second feature.

7pm - Dolphin Tale

Movie lets out at 8:50. No second show. Admission is $8 or $15 for 2 people. Add $4 for each extra person.

Thunderbird Drive In

When I was growing up on Cloverdale, back in the days before the Cloverdale Bypass came in and it was still called 176th Street for that 4 block stretch between HIghway 10 and 60th Avenue, there used to be a take out burger place called the Thunderbird Drive In. It was on the east side of 176th Street and 58A Avenue. It was a blue building with a signpost outside with a picture of a bird spreading its wings.

No inside seating. This was walk up to the window place your order at the outside counter. I think there was a picnic table or two near the building but I don't recall for sure. They sold burgers, fries, milkshakes, pop, and ice cream. In addition to selling ice cream cones they also served soft serve ice cream in pint containers to take home. A friend of mine worked there one summer during school vacation.

I don't recall when the drive in restaurant ceased to be known as the Thunderbird Drive In, but I think it was in the early 90's. Possibly late 80's. I vaguely recall a fire happening at this restaurant at some time. It didn't burn the building down but renovations had to be done and it was closed for awhile. At some point at least 20 years ago it was sold and the new owners named it Happy Face Burgers so that's why I'm remembering a fire and thinking the restaurant and building were sold after that. The old signpost with the soaring bird was taken down and another with a smiley face was put up in its place.

Rather silly looking actually. The bird was better.

As far as I know they sold the same fare: burgers, fries, and shakes. By the time they reopened with the name change I was a vegetarian and burger joints weren't on my radar any more.

The interesting thing is Happy Face Burgers was rarely open. It would be closed for a year and then on the rodeo weekend in May it would open for a few days and then shut down again for the year. In 1999 I met a woman who I don't really recall what her occupation was but she told me she'd been hired by the owners of Happy Face Burgers and had redesigned their menu. There's only so many ways you can dress up a hamburger and call it different names! I told her the restaurant wasn't open for business and she was quite surprised. I never remember seeing it open after that.

I'm not sure if it became harder for the business to survive after the Cloverdale Bypass was built in 1973 and the Thunderbird ended up on the wrong side of it and no longer catching customers driving through Cloverdale. . Perhaps Happy Face couldn't make a go of it either because its a bit of a pain to access from the Bypass. And they lost some of their parking lot to a grassy median.

The building has long since been torn down and a new building with a pub and beer and wine store with a fitness centre above was built in the spot.