When I was growing up we didn't have McDonald's restaurants on practically every street corner. There was only one in Surrey and none in Langley, so I really didn't grow up with the fast food joint.
Of course, we saw the McDonald's commercials on TV and wanted milkshakes, fries, and burgers. The closest McDonald's was in Whalley on the King George Highway and about 102nd Avenue. It still stands there today. Occasionally we'd get a meal from McDonald's, usually in Vancouver or some other town we were visiting. Maybe once at the Whalley McDonald's.
By the mid-70's a few more McDonald's had popped up around town. There was one at the Scottsdale Mall, Scott Road and 70th Avenue that I used to go to from time to time when visiting the mall. Back then I got a hamburger, large fries, and a large coke for one dollar.
That was around the time McDonald's was running the commercials about how you always get change for a dollar. Those days are long since past. Maybe change from a ten or twenty now depending on if you're eating alone or with someone else.
The first McDonald's in Langley opened around 1978, the one on the corner of the Fraser Highway and the Langley Bypass, so now we finally had a McDonald's that was somewhat closer to home. Though I think the one across the street from the Guildford Mall opened around the same time, perhaps a year or two earlier.
The McDonald's in Cloverdale opened around 1980 with a decidedly Western theme. Stools shaped like Western saddles adorned the counter tables. The Ronald McDonald statue wore a cowboy hat. Little things keeping with Cloverdale's country western town, and possibly a tribute to the Cloverdale Rodeo which was the second largest in Canada at the time.
I'm a vegetarian so I rarely go into McDonald's. I still like their fries and McFlurry's so I visit about 2 or 3 times a year for a snack. I was last in the Cloverdale McDonald's a little over a year ago and the stools shaped like Western saddles are gone, as is most of the other decor I remembered from after it opened.
But if you go through the drive-thru at McDonald's, you'll be on the east side of the wall at Stampede Tack and the mural is full of McDonald's characters in Western attire.
And why the sudden interest in McDonald's? Darned if my father didn't phone last night and is bringing his car into the mechanic around the corner on Wednesday morning and he wants to take us out to breakfast at McDonald's.
Hmm. I'm hoping I can persuade him to go to another fine dining establishment in town....
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
A new Holiday Inn coming to Cloverdale
Awhile ago I wrote about where to stay in Cloverdale. Pretty much slim pickings.
However a new building going up on 64th Avenue, just west of 176th Street kept us guessing about what was going in there. Condos? Offices? Hotel? A few weeks ago the mystery was solved when a sign for Holiday Inn went up. And then we figured the race was on and that they'd be hoping to be open in time for the upcoming 2010 Olympics and catching out of town visitors.
A Google search shows it was supposed to open in November 2009. Not likely. It was still under exterior construction. Not to mention the sign only showed up about a month ago. The exterior looks pretty much done but no telling what's going on in the interior. Beds, linens, plumbing, flooring, etc. I've been on enough construction sites to know that if one trade gets behind, then they all get behind. And sometimes it gets behind enough that the trades have moved on to their next job = occupancy delays.
Even Holiday Inn's website doesn't say when its opening, but says its accepting reservations for after March 12, 2010. Whether or not that's the new opening date or whether they are fully booked for the Olympics, I don't know. I'll have to keep an eye on the parking lot next month and see if it is full of out of town vehicles or trucks belonging to the trades.
But with 76 rooms it looks like Cloverdale finally has a full service hotel. I bet this one will be solidly booked during the long weekend in May when the rodeo comes to town.
However a new building going up on 64th Avenue, just west of 176th Street kept us guessing about what was going in there. Condos? Offices? Hotel? A few weeks ago the mystery was solved when a sign for Holiday Inn went up. And then we figured the race was on and that they'd be hoping to be open in time for the upcoming 2010 Olympics and catching out of town visitors.
A Google search shows it was supposed to open in November 2009. Not likely. It was still under exterior construction. Not to mention the sign only showed up about a month ago. The exterior looks pretty much done but no telling what's going on in the interior. Beds, linens, plumbing, flooring, etc. I've been on enough construction sites to know that if one trade gets behind, then they all get behind. And sometimes it gets behind enough that the trades have moved on to their next job = occupancy delays.
Even Holiday Inn's website doesn't say when its opening, but says its accepting reservations for after March 12, 2010. Whether or not that's the new opening date or whether they are fully booked for the Olympics, I don't know. I'll have to keep an eye on the parking lot next month and see if it is full of out of town vehicles or trucks belonging to the trades.
But with 76 rooms it looks like Cloverdale finally has a full service hotel. I bet this one will be solidly booked during the long weekend in May when the rodeo comes to town.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Playing at the Clova from January 29 - February 4 2010
Two movies playing this upcoming week at the Clova starting on Friday Jan 29:
7pm - Its Complicated
9:10 - The Blind Side is making a return performance
They're both fairly long movies. The second show lets out at 11:20pm. Times are approximate. The Clova staff usually don't start the movie until there are no more customers at the concession in the lobby. On busy nights sometimes the delay is 15 minutes or so. Don't forget to bring your own reusable drink and popcorn containers and fill them up for $2. Admission is $7 for one or both movies or $4 on Tuesday nights.
7pm - Its Complicated
9:10 - The Blind Side is making a return performance
They're both fairly long movies. The second show lets out at 11:20pm. Times are approximate. The Clova staff usually don't start the movie until there are no more customers at the concession in the lobby. On busy nights sometimes the delay is 15 minutes or so. Don't forget to bring your own reusable drink and popcorn containers and fill them up for $2. Admission is $7 for one or both movies or $4 on Tuesday nights.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
More on the Cloverdale fairgrounds grandstand
With a couple of recent posts about the grandstand at the Cloverdale fairgrounds and how we enjoyed playing there as kids, I got to thinking about when that grandstand became fully enclosed.
When I was growing up, the grandstand was covered with a roof on top, but overwise open to the elements. After the Standardbred horse racing started in the mid-70's, the grandstand remained open for a few years, but eventually was partly enclosed, leaving part of the grandstand open to the elements and where the smokers had to sit.
But when was it entirely enclosed? I really don't know for sure, but my guess is around 20 years ago. So say somewhere in the late 80's to early 90's.
I started thinking about that because of the recent updates on the news about the Olympic torch making its way around British Columbia. Back in early 1988 or maybe it was late 1987, another Olympic torch was making its way around BC on its way to the winter Olympics in Calgary. My mother was quite excited about it and was planning to go to the fairgrounds for a torch event while it passed through town. It didn't interest me, but I happened to be shopping at Willowbrook Mall a day or two beforehand, and some volunteers were selling candles with a handle to make it look like a torch, proceeds going to some Olympic event. The idea was that you'd be able to light your candle with the flame from the Olympic torch. They were $2 apiece so I bought one and gave it to Mother to take to the Cloverdale fairgrounds for the festivities.
So this is the only evidence I have that the grandstand was still not fully enclosed because Mother was outside while the Olympic torch came into the track area in front of the grandstand. Many in the crowd had the same candles that I'd bought for Mother and some were able to be lit from the torch. From there everyone in the grandstand passed the flame along from candle to candle until they were all lit. There's no way that would have happened if they'd been inside the enclosed section of the grandstand.
As for a repeat performance at the Cloverdale fairgrounds this year, I don't see it listed on the Olympic torch's route. The torch will be going through Cloverdale on Monday February 8, running along Highway 10 at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon and is supposed to stop briefly at the Surrey Museum.
When I was growing up, the grandstand was covered with a roof on top, but overwise open to the elements. After the Standardbred horse racing started in the mid-70's, the grandstand remained open for a few years, but eventually was partly enclosed, leaving part of the grandstand open to the elements and where the smokers had to sit.
But when was it entirely enclosed? I really don't know for sure, but my guess is around 20 years ago. So say somewhere in the late 80's to early 90's.
I started thinking about that because of the recent updates on the news about the Olympic torch making its way around British Columbia. Back in early 1988 or maybe it was late 1987, another Olympic torch was making its way around BC on its way to the winter Olympics in Calgary. My mother was quite excited about it and was planning to go to the fairgrounds for a torch event while it passed through town. It didn't interest me, but I happened to be shopping at Willowbrook Mall a day or two beforehand, and some volunteers were selling candles with a handle to make it look like a torch, proceeds going to some Olympic event. The idea was that you'd be able to light your candle with the flame from the Olympic torch. They were $2 apiece so I bought one and gave it to Mother to take to the Cloverdale fairgrounds for the festivities.
So this is the only evidence I have that the grandstand was still not fully enclosed because Mother was outside while the Olympic torch came into the track area in front of the grandstand. Many in the crowd had the same candles that I'd bought for Mother and some were able to be lit from the torch. From there everyone in the grandstand passed the flame along from candle to candle until they were all lit. There's no way that would have happened if they'd been inside the enclosed section of the grandstand.
As for a repeat performance at the Cloverdale fairgrounds this year, I don't see it listed on the Olympic torch's route. The torch will be going through Cloverdale on Monday February 8, running along Highway 10 at approximately 2:30 in the afternoon and is supposed to stop briefly at the Surrey Museum.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
More Tim Hortons around South Surrey
There are a few more Tim Hortons within easy driving of Cloverdale. We have a lot of customers in the White Rock/South Surrey area and often stop at these restaurants.
There are 2 restaurants at Grandview Corners - 24th Avenue and 160th Street.
The first Tim Hortons is in the plaza close to 24th Avenue and 162 Street. Restaurant service only. They usually have 2 cashiers, sometimes 3 when its busy. This restaurant offers fast service and has a lot of tables for eat it customers.
The other Tim Hortons is on the other side of the street, inside Wal-Mart. Restaurant service only. There is usually one cashier and several other staff running back up getting the orders together quickly. Only a few tables for sit down customers. This is one of very few Tim Hortons that does not offer 24 hour service. They are only open when Wal-Mart is: 7am to 11pm.
There is a Tim Hortons in Southpoint shopping centre located on 152 Street and 32nd Avenue. It was built about 7 years ago, during the time when Wendy's and Tim Hortons still operated under the same parent company. The split happened shortly after that restaurant was built because with Tim Hortons selling chili and sandwiches they were competing too much with Wendy's menu. This restaurant is the only one in South Surrey with a drive thru. Generally both the drive thru and inside restaurant offer quick service. Line ups go down quickly no matter if you walk in or drive thru. Large table area to accomodate the customers for both restaurants, but may be hard to find a seat during lunch time.
The last Tim Hortons is almost in White Rock, located just outside Semiahmoo Mall on 152 Street and about 17th Avenue. Restaurant service only. There are only a few tables inside the restaurant, so coming during lunch or dinner rush may result in having to take out your food. Service is generally pretty quick here with 2 cashiers serving customers.
There are 2 restaurants at Grandview Corners - 24th Avenue and 160th Street.
The first Tim Hortons is in the plaza close to 24th Avenue and 162 Street. Restaurant service only. They usually have 2 cashiers, sometimes 3 when its busy. This restaurant offers fast service and has a lot of tables for eat it customers.
The other Tim Hortons is on the other side of the street, inside Wal-Mart. Restaurant service only. There is usually one cashier and several other staff running back up getting the orders together quickly. Only a few tables for sit down customers. This is one of very few Tim Hortons that does not offer 24 hour service. They are only open when Wal-Mart is: 7am to 11pm.
There is a Tim Hortons in Southpoint shopping centre located on 152 Street and 32nd Avenue. It was built about 7 years ago, during the time when Wendy's and Tim Hortons still operated under the same parent company. The split happened shortly after that restaurant was built because with Tim Hortons selling chili and sandwiches they were competing too much with Wendy's menu. This restaurant is the only one in South Surrey with a drive thru. Generally both the drive thru and inside restaurant offer quick service. Line ups go down quickly no matter if you walk in or drive thru. Large table area to accomodate the customers for both restaurants, but may be hard to find a seat during lunch time.
The last Tim Hortons is almost in White Rock, located just outside Semiahmoo Mall on 152 Street and about 17th Avenue. Restaurant service only. There are only a few tables inside the restaurant, so coming during lunch or dinner rush may result in having to take out your food. Service is generally pretty quick here with 2 cashiers serving customers.
Tim Hortons around Cloverdale
It wasn't all that long ago when Cloverdale residents had to drive 10 or 15 minutes to reach the nearest Tim Hortons. Through the nineties the closest Tim Hortons were located in Fleetwood on the Fraser Highway and about 156 Street (still open) and in Langley on the Fraser Highway, about a half block east of the Langley Bypass, next to the Husky gas station. That one closed down about 5 years ago.
In the past few years Tim Hortons are sprouting up everywhere. There are 2 in Cloverdale within a 5 minute drive of each other. And a third one could be in the running too if you count the one on Highway 10 near 152 Street.
I'm not a coffee drinker. Kerry loves Tim Hortons coffee so he stops in almost daily. Of course if I'm along, and often one will be near a job site, I may join him and have a Boston cream donut or sometimes a bottle of green tea citrus iced tea or a mocha if its a cold day. We often enjoy soup for lunch at Tim Hortons. I've been to the Tim Hortons around Cloverdale many times and consider myself to be a pretty good judge of the service, so here's a little run down.
The Tim Hortons on Highway 10 just east of 177B Street, next to Lordco, has a drive thru in addition to walking in the restaurant. The drive thru is usually faster. Overall fairly quick service inside the restaurant too.
Tim Hortons in Clover Crossing Mall on 64th Avenue just east of 176th Street can get busy both in the restaurant and the drive thru. The drive thru is usually faster even if there are lots of cars in the line up. Sometimes inside the restaurant one staff is handling a cash register and all the rest of the staff are rushing to serve the drive thru customers. Generally during busy times there are 2 cashiers helping walk in customers. I find the staff at this Tim Hortons usually more friendly and energetic than in any of the other restaurants.
Tim Hortons on Highway 10 and 152 Street is one of the slowest restaurants I've been to. Both in the drive through and inside the restaurant. I don't know what it is with the staff here because I've been here on different days and different times but they are so slow.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway and 166th Street, in front of the Super 8 Motel, across from Rona. Without a doubt this is the worst Tim Hortons in the area. The staff at Highway 10 and 152 Street move lickety split compared to these people. And yes, I've been here different times of the day and different days of the week. It is the worst, both drive through and walk in. If you walk in to this restaurant and see one person in line, you can expect a good 10 minutes wait to be served. Forget the drive thru if there are more than 3 cars. You'll be waiting 20 minutes. I was there about a year ago and the parking lot was in icy, trecherous condition. Inside the restaurant, during the 10 minutes or so I waited for the one cashier to finish the customer ahead of me, I watched several male staff chatting, including one who appeared to be a supervisor. Surely one of them could have gone outside with a bucket of ice melt or sand or whatever the restaurant uses to make the lot and sidewalks less slippy. This was really bad. I complained to Tim Hortons. They said the manager would be in contact with me. A year later and I'm still waiting. Definitely pass this one by. Go a little further up Fraser Highway for better service.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway and 156 Street. This oldie but goodie is still standing. No drive thru service, which possibly is the reason why the staff can serve customers quickly.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway near 188th Street. This is a newer Tim Hortons in the Clayton Heights area and has a drive thru. I find service quick and pleasant either inside or in the drive thru.
In the past few years Tim Hortons are sprouting up everywhere. There are 2 in Cloverdale within a 5 minute drive of each other. And a third one could be in the running too if you count the one on Highway 10 near 152 Street.
I'm not a coffee drinker. Kerry loves Tim Hortons coffee so he stops in almost daily. Of course if I'm along, and often one will be near a job site, I may join him and have a Boston cream donut or sometimes a bottle of green tea citrus iced tea or a mocha if its a cold day. We often enjoy soup for lunch at Tim Hortons. I've been to the Tim Hortons around Cloverdale many times and consider myself to be a pretty good judge of the service, so here's a little run down.
The Tim Hortons on Highway 10 just east of 177B Street, next to Lordco, has a drive thru in addition to walking in the restaurant. The drive thru is usually faster. Overall fairly quick service inside the restaurant too.
Tim Hortons in Clover Crossing Mall on 64th Avenue just east of 176th Street can get busy both in the restaurant and the drive thru. The drive thru is usually faster even if there are lots of cars in the line up. Sometimes inside the restaurant one staff is handling a cash register and all the rest of the staff are rushing to serve the drive thru customers. Generally during busy times there are 2 cashiers helping walk in customers. I find the staff at this Tim Hortons usually more friendly and energetic than in any of the other restaurants.
Tim Hortons on Highway 10 and 152 Street is one of the slowest restaurants I've been to. Both in the drive through and inside the restaurant. I don't know what it is with the staff here because I've been here on different days and different times but they are so slow.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway and 166th Street, in front of the Super 8 Motel, across from Rona. Without a doubt this is the worst Tim Hortons in the area. The staff at Highway 10 and 152 Street move lickety split compared to these people. And yes, I've been here different times of the day and different days of the week. It is the worst, both drive through and walk in. If you walk in to this restaurant and see one person in line, you can expect a good 10 minutes wait to be served. Forget the drive thru if there are more than 3 cars. You'll be waiting 20 minutes. I was there about a year ago and the parking lot was in icy, trecherous condition. Inside the restaurant, during the 10 minutes or so I waited for the one cashier to finish the customer ahead of me, I watched several male staff chatting, including one who appeared to be a supervisor. Surely one of them could have gone outside with a bucket of ice melt or sand or whatever the restaurant uses to make the lot and sidewalks less slippy. This was really bad. I complained to Tim Hortons. They said the manager would be in contact with me. A year later and I'm still waiting. Definitely pass this one by. Go a little further up Fraser Highway for better service.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway and 156 Street. This oldie but goodie is still standing. No drive thru service, which possibly is the reason why the staff can serve customers quickly.
Tim Hortons on Fraser Highway near 188th Street. This is a newer Tim Hortons in the Clayton Heights area and has a drive thru. I find service quick and pleasant either inside or in the drive thru.
Friday, January 22, 2010
The grandstand at the Cloverdale fairgrounds
When I was growing up in Cloverdale the grandstand was a lot different than the one that is standing there today. The grandstand back then were rows of bleachers, undercover with a roof overhead, but still open to the elements. In other words if it was raining, one could stay reasonably dry in the bleachers depending on where you were sitting, but if it was cold and windy, everyone was subject to that. This was where people sat and watched the rodeo and other events that might be happening in the infield throughout the year.
At the top of the grandstand, the nosebleed section, the building had window openings. No glass in them. People standing at the top could hang outside and wave to people below in the parking lot or out on 60th Avenue.
There were washrooms on the parking lot level that were open year round. Unlocked. Very convenient when we were playing over at Greenaway Park and someone needed to use the toilet, everyone would walk over to the grandstand. And then we'd continue playing in the grandstand, running up and down the steps, and along the benches.
I guess if there were any homeless people in Cloverdale back then this would have been an ideal place for them to stay. A covered place to sleep and washrooms.
By the time Standardbred horse racing came to Cloverdale in the mid 70's, the grandstand underwent a renovation. Seeing as how back then the racetrack charged patrons $2 admission to come in and watch the horse races, it wouldn't do to have open gates with access to the grandstand. Half of the grandstand was completely enclosed so patrons could sit and watch horse races in the winter months in warmth. Though I'm not exactly sure when that half was enclosed, whether or not that was the year horse racing started or a year or two later. The other half of the grandstand was left as it was - covered roof but otherwise open to the weather. Better known as the smoking section. The curling rink was attached to the original grandstand. A new building was built closer to 176th Street in its current location, to make way for the renovations for the racetrack.
By that time I was too old to be playing in the grandstand, running up and down the bleacher stairs and jumping from bench to bench, and then hanging out the window at the top watching the traffic go by on 60th. So I guess the renovation process kind of passed me by. The last generation of Cloverdale kids who got to enjoy playing in the grandstand before the renovations and locking it off to the public.
At the top of the grandstand, the nosebleed section, the building had window openings. No glass in them. People standing at the top could hang outside and wave to people below in the parking lot or out on 60th Avenue.
There were washrooms on the parking lot level that were open year round. Unlocked. Very convenient when we were playing over at Greenaway Park and someone needed to use the toilet, everyone would walk over to the grandstand. And then we'd continue playing in the grandstand, running up and down the steps, and along the benches.
I guess if there were any homeless people in Cloverdale back then this would have been an ideal place for them to stay. A covered place to sleep and washrooms.
By the time Standardbred horse racing came to Cloverdale in the mid 70's, the grandstand underwent a renovation. Seeing as how back then the racetrack charged patrons $2 admission to come in and watch the horse races, it wouldn't do to have open gates with access to the grandstand. Half of the grandstand was completely enclosed so patrons could sit and watch horse races in the winter months in warmth. Though I'm not exactly sure when that half was enclosed, whether or not that was the year horse racing started or a year or two later. The other half of the grandstand was left as it was - covered roof but otherwise open to the weather. Better known as the smoking section. The curling rink was attached to the original grandstand. A new building was built closer to 176th Street in its current location, to make way for the renovations for the racetrack.
By that time I was too old to be playing in the grandstand, running up and down the bleacher stairs and jumping from bench to bench, and then hanging out the window at the top watching the traffic go by on 60th. So I guess the renovation process kind of passed me by. The last generation of Cloverdale kids who got to enjoy playing in the grandstand before the renovations and locking it off to the public.
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