Thursday, May 27, 2010
Playing at the Clova from May 28 - June 3, 2010
No big surprise that this coming week at the Clova from May 28 to June 3 is Shrek Forever After. The difference is its only playing at 7pm all week. No second showing. Movie lets out at 8:34.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Cloverdale Chili Cook Off
We went down to Clover Square tonight to check out the chili cook off contest. We arrived at 5:30pm and voting ballots had to be turned in by 6pm. I'm a vegetarian so I was unable to taste and vote but Kerry was quite happy to sample chili from the various chefs. Some of the companies taking part were: Rusty's, IGA, Rockwell's, Kevin Falcon MLA's office, ICBC, Fraser Downs, Shoppers Drug Mart, Antique Mall. Kerry liked them all but thought Rockwell's chili had a memorable taste so he voted for them. He liked the chili from Kevin Falcon's because it included a small dollop of sour cream. I liked them best only because they had chocolate chip cookies out and I managed to eat one about one minute before they ran out. Speaking of running out, several of the competitors had run out of chili before we arrived.
A band played in the parking lot and we waited while the votes were tallied to see who had one. Also wanted to be around in case Kerry's name was drawn for a prize. Apparently it was a runaway decision. The winner of Cloverdale's 2010 chili cook off is ---- Kevin Falcon's office.
A band played in the parking lot and we waited while the votes were tallied to see who had one. Also wanted to be around in case Kerry's name was drawn for a prize. Apparently it was a runaway decision. The winner of Cloverdale's 2010 chili cook off is ---- Kevin Falcon's office.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Playing at the Clova from May 21 - May 27 2010
Playing this week at the Clova is Shrek Forever After, a new run movie that is opening on May 21 2010 everywhere so that means the Clova should be playing it exclusively for 2 weeks. If it follows past routines it will be playing Friday and Saturday at 7pm and 9pm and the rest of the week at 7pm only. However, this being a long weekend, it might be playing twice on Sunday night, too. Best to phone their recorded message to find out for sure if you're planning to go. 604-574-1114. Admission is $7 or Tuesday nights its $4.
All this weekend at 1:30 the Clova is hosting a vaudevill act starring Susie Francis and the Versatiles. Shrek Forever After will be playing after their act is done. Tickets are $5.
All this weekend at 1:30 the Clova is hosting a vaudevill act starring Susie Francis and the Versatiles. Shrek Forever After will be playing after their act is done. Tickets are $5.
Former mailbox site becomes Now Newspapers
There used to be a mailbox on the corner of 176th Street and 58th Avenue, in the corner of the grocery store parking lot. Why can't I ever remember the new name of that store? It used to be the Shop-Easy when I was growing up in Cloverdale and that's the only way I can remember it.
Instead of the familiar red bin on the corner there is now a yellow bin. Closer inspection reveals it to be a newspaper box for The Now. Free newspapers of course.
I don't get The Now delivered to my house. Shortly after we moved in I found out the jungle that used to be a backyard, and what we're returning to a nice back yard, was being used as a dumping ground for The Now newspapers. I never actually caught the kid in action but he was tossing stacks of the current edition over the fence into what he thought was an unoccupied house, and I guess it was until we purchased it. I complained to The Now and told them to stop all deliveries of their paper to my house including the ones being tossed over the fence into the back yard. I've never seen it since, though its still the same boy delivering the papers. I assume he actually is now delivering them instead of dumping them. He cuts open the plastic zap straps and leaves them on our side lawn, ironically enough the same location he stood in to toss his papers into the back yard.
Oh well. If anyone desires a free copy of the Now, you know where you can find it.
I'd rather see the mailbox returned here.
Instead of the familiar red bin on the corner there is now a yellow bin. Closer inspection reveals it to be a newspaper box for The Now. Free newspapers of course.
I don't get The Now delivered to my house. Shortly after we moved in I found out the jungle that used to be a backyard, and what we're returning to a nice back yard, was being used as a dumping ground for The Now newspapers. I never actually caught the kid in action but he was tossing stacks of the current edition over the fence into what he thought was an unoccupied house, and I guess it was until we purchased it. I complained to The Now and told them to stop all deliveries of their paper to my house including the ones being tossed over the fence into the back yard. I've never seen it since, though its still the same boy delivering the papers. I assume he actually is now delivering them instead of dumping them. He cuts open the plastic zap straps and leaves them on our side lawn, ironically enough the same location he stood in to toss his papers into the back yard.
Oh well. If anyone desires a free copy of the Now, you know where you can find it.
I'd rather see the mailbox returned here.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
More events happening in Cloverdale May 2010 long weekend
I've just returned from a 3 week vacation and I have a few more additions to my previous post about what's happening around Cloverdale this May 2010.
To start off I still have been unable to find a map of the Cloverdale Rodeo Parade route, so I'm sticking with what I said before and hoping its staying to the same route. To be safe, find a spot on 176th Street between 58th and 57th Avenues. I'm pretty sure the parade is starting somewhere around 56A Avenue and 177B Street - the staging area. Parade proceeds south along 177B Street while everyone gets in line to Highway 10. Which means that the west bound lanes of traffic are closed and all traffic is diverted to the eastbound lane. Then its a couple of blocks west to 176th Street, north until 58A Avenue, then north again on 176A Street where the parade peters out by the time it reaches 60th Avenue and the fairgrounds.
Friday, May 21 - 4:30pm to 6pm its the Chili Cook off at the Clover Square Village on the south side of Highway 10 and 177B Street. Chili is free for the testing and voting. Sometimes free comes with a price and you have to listen to the chef's political agenda.
Saturday, May 22 - 8am to 10am is a rodeo pancake breakfast in Hawthorne Square on 176th Street across from the Clova Theatre. This is put on by the Cloverale Lions. Live music with Cloverdale's own Trailer Park Playboys.
Saturday, May 22 - 8:30am to 10am is another rodeo pancake breakfast, and this one is my personal favorite because its free. Its held at the Cloverdale Canadian Reformed Church at 17473 60th Avenue.
Saturday, May 22 - 1:30pm the Clova Theatre is hosting a vaudeville act Susie Francis and the Versatiles. Tickets are $5. This will be repeated on Sunday May 23 and Monday May 24, same time, same place, same act.
There are all kinds of activities happening in Cloverdale in conjunction with the rodeo. For more information see their web page. Apparently the free trolley rides will be running around Cloverdale all weekend. Unfortunately I can't locate their route, but a safe bet would be the stops are at Clover Square Village, Hawthorne Square, and the fairgrounds.
No matter what you have planned, I hope you have a happy and safe long weekend.
To start off I still have been unable to find a map of the Cloverdale Rodeo Parade route, so I'm sticking with what I said before and hoping its staying to the same route. To be safe, find a spot on 176th Street between 58th and 57th Avenues. I'm pretty sure the parade is starting somewhere around 56A Avenue and 177B Street - the staging area. Parade proceeds south along 177B Street while everyone gets in line to Highway 10. Which means that the west bound lanes of traffic are closed and all traffic is diverted to the eastbound lane. Then its a couple of blocks west to 176th Street, north until 58A Avenue, then north again on 176A Street where the parade peters out by the time it reaches 60th Avenue and the fairgrounds.
Friday, May 21 - 4:30pm to 6pm its the Chili Cook off at the Clover Square Village on the south side of Highway 10 and 177B Street. Chili is free for the testing and voting. Sometimes free comes with a price and you have to listen to the chef's political agenda.
Saturday, May 22 - 8am to 10am is a rodeo pancake breakfast in Hawthorne Square on 176th Street across from the Clova Theatre. This is put on by the Cloverale Lions. Live music with Cloverdale's own Trailer Park Playboys.
Saturday, May 22 - 8:30am to 10am is another rodeo pancake breakfast, and this one is my personal favorite because its free. Its held at the Cloverdale Canadian Reformed Church at 17473 60th Avenue.
Saturday, May 22 - 1:30pm the Clova Theatre is hosting a vaudeville act Susie Francis and the Versatiles. Tickets are $5. This will be repeated on Sunday May 23 and Monday May 24, same time, same place, same act.
There are all kinds of activities happening in Cloverdale in conjunction with the rodeo. For more information see their web page. Apparently the free trolley rides will be running around Cloverdale all weekend. Unfortunately I can't locate their route, but a safe bet would be the stops are at Clover Square Village, Hawthorne Square, and the fairgrounds.
No matter what you have planned, I hope you have a happy and safe long weekend.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Future of Cloverdale grandstand
These days the Cloverdale grandstand in the fairgrounds is a far cry from the grandstand that I knew as a kid. Today it is the home of Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino. The casino came into being in late 2003 after the racetrack and many of the backstretch workers petitioned city hall to allow slot machines to help revive the sagging racing industry. Over the next two years the grandstand was revamped into the casino that stands on the fairgrounds today.
But how much life is left in it?
Although the casino has helped the racing keep its head above water, the reality is that wagering is down 10% from the past year and customers have found other venues for sporting entertainment. Purses are dropping, there are fewer race nights, and horse owners are earning less. Many are getting out of the business or relocating to other racetracks where they have a better chance of earning a living.
I've heard that Fraser Downs wants to open a show theatre on the grounds, similar to the Red Robinson theatre in Coquitlam or the River Rock in Richmond. The entertainers that frequent these theatres usually do both of them over a few day period, such as Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys, and Air Supply. They would need to build the theatre on part of the racetrack ground. Probably be a bigger money earner that the end result between the wagers currently placed and the purse money paid out to the racehorse owners.
There are also grumblings from the provincial government in charge of gaming in BC about combining Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing onto the same racetrack because both breeds run about 6 months of the year, during the opposite months. Thoroughbreds race April to October, while Standardbreds race October to April. Sometimes with a few cross over weekends. The government said this will likely occur within the next 2 years. Between the racetracks in Cloverdale and Vancouver, the government prefers Vancouver - Hastings Park located on the PNE grounds.
More surprisingly the government says if all the horse racing is moved to Hastings Park, then the slot machines at Cloverdale will be relocated to the Great Canadian Casino's other location in Surrey.
So that leaves Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino without horse racing and without slot machines. What else is left there? No one's going to convince me they'll still build a show theatre without an attached casino to draw patrons in.
Were all the upgrades to the original grandstand worth it for what could very well be less than ten years of actual use? I haven't heard any news on what the fate of the old grandstand will be if the Standardbreds move to Hastings and the slots are moved to the other casino.
But how much life is left in it?
Although the casino has helped the racing keep its head above water, the reality is that wagering is down 10% from the past year and customers have found other venues for sporting entertainment. Purses are dropping, there are fewer race nights, and horse owners are earning less. Many are getting out of the business or relocating to other racetracks where they have a better chance of earning a living.
I've heard that Fraser Downs wants to open a show theatre on the grounds, similar to the Red Robinson theatre in Coquitlam or the River Rock in Richmond. The entertainers that frequent these theatres usually do both of them over a few day period, such as Kenny Rogers, The Beach Boys, and Air Supply. They would need to build the theatre on part of the racetrack ground. Probably be a bigger money earner that the end result between the wagers currently placed and the purse money paid out to the racehorse owners.
There are also grumblings from the provincial government in charge of gaming in BC about combining Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing onto the same racetrack because both breeds run about 6 months of the year, during the opposite months. Thoroughbreds race April to October, while Standardbreds race October to April. Sometimes with a few cross over weekends. The government said this will likely occur within the next 2 years. Between the racetracks in Cloverdale and Vancouver, the government prefers Vancouver - Hastings Park located on the PNE grounds.
More surprisingly the government says if all the horse racing is moved to Hastings Park, then the slot machines at Cloverdale will be relocated to the Great Canadian Casino's other location in Surrey.
So that leaves Fraser Downs Racetrack and Casino without horse racing and without slot machines. What else is left there? No one's going to convince me they'll still build a show theatre without an attached casino to draw patrons in.
Were all the upgrades to the original grandstand worth it for what could very well be less than ten years of actual use? I haven't heard any news on what the fate of the old grandstand will be if the Standardbreds move to Hastings and the slots are moved to the other casino.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
What's happening in Cloverdale in May 2010
Seeing as how I’m leaving for vacation in a couple of days, its time to post some events happening around Cloverdale for the month of May, which is an active month for our town.
May 1, Saturday – 9am to 2:30pm, Forklift Rally at the Cloverdale Agriplex. This is at the end of 62nd Avenue off 176th Street near the barn area of the racetrack. Admission is free. They also claim food is free (coffee, hot dogs, donuts, pop). I’m kind of skeptical of free events like this that claim the food is also free. Usually you show up and there is a sign saying the food is free but you need to donate $2 or $5 or whatever amount to the charity they’re sponsoring. For more information http://forkliftrally.com/events/forklift-rally-2010
May 20, Thursday – the Bed Races start at 6pm in Cloverdale on 176A Street inbetween 58th and 57th Avenues.
May 21, Friday – 4:30pm to 7:30pm is the Chili Cook Off in Clover Square Village. Highway 10 and 177B Street.
May 21 – 24 – the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair is back in town at the fairgrounds, corner of 60th Avenue and 176th Street. For more information on ticket prices and entertainment, please see their web page http://www.cloverdalerodeo.com/
May 21 - 24 – Pancake breakfast at the Cloverdale Legion from 7:30am – 11:30am. Pancakes, sausages, eggs, coffee or tea, and juice. $4.50. In honor of the extra people in town for the rodeo this pancake breakfast will happen all weekend.
May 22, Saturday – Cloverdale Rodeo Parade begins at 10am depending on where you’re waiting for the parade to pass you by. I can’t find a map up that shows the 2010 parade route, so maybe its just not posted this early. If the route follows the same path as previous years, the staging area is between 177B and 176A Streets from 56A to 58A Avenues. The parade goes down 177B Street to Highway 10 and then up 176 Street to 58A Avenue until 176A Street where it turns right and continues down there ending at the fairgrounds. Most people find a spot somewhere on 176 Street to watch the parade.
May 1, Saturday – 9am to 2:30pm, Forklift Rally at the Cloverdale Agriplex. This is at the end of 62nd Avenue off 176th Street near the barn area of the racetrack. Admission is free. They also claim food is free (coffee, hot dogs, donuts, pop). I’m kind of skeptical of free events like this that claim the food is also free. Usually you show up and there is a sign saying the food is free but you need to donate $2 or $5 or whatever amount to the charity they’re sponsoring. For more information http://forkliftrally.com/events/forklift-rally-2010
May 20, Thursday – the Bed Races start at 6pm in Cloverdale on 176A Street inbetween 58th and 57th Avenues.
May 21, Friday – 4:30pm to 7:30pm is the Chili Cook Off in Clover Square Village. Highway 10 and 177B Street.
May 21 – 24 – the Cloverdale Rodeo and Country Fair is back in town at the fairgrounds, corner of 60th Avenue and 176th Street. For more information on ticket prices and entertainment, please see their web page http://www.cloverdalerodeo.com/
May 21 - 24 – Pancake breakfast at the Cloverdale Legion from 7:30am – 11:30am. Pancakes, sausages, eggs, coffee or tea, and juice. $4.50. In honor of the extra people in town for the rodeo this pancake breakfast will happen all weekend.
May 22, Saturday – Cloverdale Rodeo Parade begins at 10am depending on where you’re waiting for the parade to pass you by. I can’t find a map up that shows the 2010 parade route, so maybe its just not posted this early. If the route follows the same path as previous years, the staging area is between 177B and 176A Streets from 56A to 58A Avenues. The parade goes down 177B Street to Highway 10 and then up 176 Street to 58A Avenue until 176A Street where it turns right and continues down there ending at the fairgrounds. Most people find a spot somewhere on 176 Street to watch the parade.
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