Singing on the Sidewalk

Not a manhole cover, although it's about the same size as the ones I've photographed before. This is a decorative metal plate embedded in the sidewalk at the corner of Bute Street and Pender Street downtown. Identical metal plates repeat at seemingly random intervals up Bute St on both sides to Alberni Street. I've no idea why they're there, or if their positioning is random or has a pattern, or what, if anything, they signify. But they're pretty!

Post title from this song by Jeremy Fisher.

If I Only Had a Brain

This friendly scarecrow points the way to the Granville Island Farmers Market, on every Thursday morning all summer long. We're almost past blueberry season, and well into apricots, peaches, and fresh corn. This week saw the appearance of the first apples of the year. I'll miss the markets when winter arrives.

Post title from this song from the classic sung by Ray Bolger as The Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.

Reincarnation

Recently there was, mere steps from my apartment building, the Hare Krishna Chariot Festival held in Stanley Park. I wandered around to have a look. Wil Wheaton was there too, although I didn't run into him! He mentioned it on his twitter account - and his interpretation of a very similar photo to the one I took here says all that needs to be said, in my personal opinion.

Post title from this song by Roger Miller.

Slanted? Oh Yeah!!

Came across this oddity on Granville Street near Georgia Street, just a few steps away from this sculpture. I'm not sure what its purpose is - perhaps an information booth of some sort? I've never seen one that is intended to sit on a slant that way. But the sign says they'll be back at two o'clock, so I guess I can go back and figure out the mystery.

Post title from this song by The Time Lodgers.

Mosaic

Another mosaic from my wanders-about-town. This one's at the corner of Robson Street and Burrard Street - one of the busiest intersections in downtown Vancouver. Which means I have walked past it a kajillion times and never noticed it before. It's part of this series, and is called Sounds Around Town.

Post title from
this song by Laurence Juber.

Cheap Art on the Walls

Found these posters for an art show on a recycling bin on Comox Street near Denman, long after the one-day show was over - although I knew about it at the time, I just wasn't able to make it to
The Cheaper Show 9. I hope to be able to attend 10.


Post title from this song by Taxpayer.

Rivet

The same day I was wandering around Granville Island and took this photo, I also followed my feet to a spot almost directly under the Granville Street Bridge and pointed my lens straight up. I love being able to see the detail of all the many thousands of rivets holding the structure together.



Post title from this song by Praxis.

Fountain

I seem to come across a lot of mosaics in my daily wanderings - more things I've never noticed before. I had no idea the streets of Vancouver were so bedecked with shards of tile. This shot's taken looking at the bottom of the fountain in the Georgia Street plaza of the Vancouver Art Gallery. Until I googled vancouver art gallery fountain mosaic bc I had no idea this fountain was called Centennial Fountain. It was commissioned and installed in 1966; Canada's 100th birthday was July 1st, 1967.


Post title from this song by Sara Lov.

Like a Prayer

Ran across this mystery sculpture of giant praying hands on Granville Street near Georgia the other day. No idea why it's there; no sign, plaque or explanation of any kind. It's Sunday, so I thought the image was appropriate for those who believe.

Post title from this song by Madonna.

Holiday

Have been on a bit of a blog holiday for the last ten days or so. I'm back. Daily photos to resume immediately.

The photo above is not actually of Vancouver, but a shot from the deck of a friend's place, on one of the Gulf Islands mostly populated, in the summer, by Vancouverites. So I'm cheating, a little.


Post title from this song by Astrud Gilberto.

Forest Fire

There are, at last count, over 400 forest fires burning in the province of British Columbia at the moment. This can make for quite dramatic sunsets - including the orange haze in this shot of English Bay. The sun is still fairly high in the sky, but the light it's casting is very much like the "golden hour" light of later in the day due to the smoke in the atmosphere.

Post title from this song by Lloyd Cole.

Bridge

A few days ago I was lucky enough to be invited to join a friend on a Harbour Air flight to one of the Gulf Islands for a weekend away. On our way out of the city I took a few shots with my iPhone, including this one as we approached the Lions Gate Bridge. Behind the bridge is Prospect Point, and below it the seawall. Bottom right corner of the photo is the Beaver aircraft's port side pontoon (the floats the sea plane lands on, on the water's surface) and bottom left corner of the photos is one of the struts from the centre of the wing to the body of the plane. It was a gorgeous day, and a relaxing weekend away, but it's good to be back!

Post title from this song by Amon Tobin.

Carving

Grabbed this quick shot of some totem pole carving mid-process in the carving shed on Granville Island, located between the public market and the gates to the Ocean Cement plant. The sign saying "Gone Fishing" is dated July 23rd. It must be a long trip out on the water as I took this photo on July 29th!

I'll have to try and get back there while carving is actually taking place to take photos of the carvers in action.

Post title from this song by Opien.

Pride (In the Name of Love)

This is Pride Weekend in Vancouver, and today is the Pride Parade. At the intersection of Davie Street and Denman Street there is a stand of flagpoles. Through the year the Canadian flags on the taller poles stay the same, and the slightly shorter ring of poles surrounding them change according to what's happening in the city; Heart and Stroke awareness month in February, the Vancouver Marathon in May... For the last couple of weeks the Pride flags have been proudly, gaily flying.

I love my neighbourhood.

This photo also, coincidentally, fits in with the City Daily Photo Theme Day for August 1st: bright colours. Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Post title from this song by U2.