Sign O' the Times

 

I've posted about the Woodward's building before, and its iconic W sign. The old sign that sat atop the Woodward's store for decades was removed before the original building was demolished, but it was too decrepit to return to service atop the new construction. A new sign, a replica of the old, was put there instead. I didn't realize until recently that the old sign has been installed as a public art piece on the ground adjacent to the new building. It's a relic, pockmarked with rust, red paint flaking, but I'm glad in a self-servingly nostalgic way that they kept it and have put it on display. I managed to find an angle, while walking through that area one day, that included both signs, the old one at ground level, and the new shiny one perched atop its tower. On the left is the new residential Woodwards development.

Post title from this song by Prince.

The Words Don't Fit the Picture

This large installation outside the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch, called, obviously enough, "The Words Don't Fit the Picture" is by Ron Terada. It's a part of the city's Olympic public art project, like this piece on the opposite side of the main library building. It's meant to be evocative of Vancouver's neon sign history.

Post title from this Willie Nelson song.

Lost Hiker

A few days ago I decided to tackle the Grouse Grind (previously mentioned here) for the first time since 2007. About a hundred yards up the trail from the entrance is this sign, basically telling you that the owners of Grouse Mountain will take no responsibility whatsoever for any potentially dangerous choices you might make or mayhem you decide to perpetrate as you ascend. I took it fairly easy, and completed the hike up in 1 hour 22 minutes. The fastest people do it in just over half an hour. That's not me!


Post title from this song by Liz Durett.

Lost in the Supermarket

The weather for the last several days here has been dismal. People have taken to calling it Junuary, what with all the rain and gloom. So I look for other ways to put a smile on my face, and one of the things I love most about Vancouver, especially living downtown, is being in the midst of such a multi-cultural environment. On any given day I hear about a dozen languages spoken around me in my neighbourhood, and today I passed by this sign on Seymour Street. I don't know what the Arabic says, but I love that it's paired with a shout-out for Mexican products in the same store. (Foodness Supermarket)

Post title from this song by The Clash.

Gimme A Sign

I took this photo quite a while ago outside a church on Cambie Street near West 20th Avenue. It seemed to fit in with this month's City Daily Photo theme: Funny Signs. I'm guessing that this was a fundraiser for a Boy Scout troop who were selling animal manure for people's gardens, and not actually a sale of Boy Scout poop!

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Post title from this song by Ryan Adams.