Happy Valentine!

Saw this elderly couple walking ahead and on impulse this photo. They seemed to support each other as hey slowly making their way through the mall. Can't helped but wondered whether this is the secret to their marriage?

Vancouver specials

This is the typical houses built on Vancouver, especially the Eastside, after WWII and during the 1950's. Then a new design came upon the scene which maximizes the standard city lot, 33 x 120. These houses have no below grade basement. Just a two level structure and the entrance level is generally considered to be the basement. This design is unique to Vancouver as the houses with outdoor staircases are unique to Montreal.

The next two photos are variations of the Vancouver Specials built in the 1960's and 1970's. The last one is of the ones from the 1990's.

Union building

This is the BC Principals and Vice-Principals Union building on West 10th. The bright yellow support beans and purple coloured wall certainly are eye attracting. So is the huge glass front.

Pay phones

In recent years cellphones had become so prevailing that telephone companies are seriously considering withdrawing from that segment of the market. It was a big surprise to see this bank of pay phone booths inside Metrotown. These belong to Bell may be the explanation for this unexpected because Bell is fighting Telus for market shares in Telus' home turf, no less.

Mist

The temperature had started to rise and the snow started to disappear rapidly. This is the residual snow on a play field. The upper air mass is still cold enough to prevent the evaporating moisture from escaping entirely and resulted in the thin mist.

Starbucks

These are just two of the Chinese New Year related displays I found inside a Starbucks. It did come as a surprise. Sure this Starbucks location is just on the fringe of Vancouver's Chinatown. Nonetheless it was a surprise, a pleasant surprise.

More on the way

With Chinese New Year falling in the middle of the week many organizations and commercial centres are scheduling celebrations this weekend. Above photos are taken at Tinseltown on Thursday, February 7, New Year's Day. As you can see the place was in the process of getting ready for a celebration starting today and runs for the entire weekend.