Carfree Day on 'the Drive'

Thousands of people cram Commercial Drive on Car-free Day.

Carfree Day and the World Cup make for a potent combination. The Drive has strong ethnic roots, Italian and Portuguese predominating. Brazil was playing on Sunday.

Lots of folks get dressed in their Sunday best.

Lots of food including BBQ'd sardines. These are not your mother's teeny sardines crammed in a can.

I expect I'll be milking this event for a few days.

Juggling

Juggling on 'the Drive'

Pachiel

Last Saturday marked the annual Stone Soup Festival at Britannia Community Centre.

When he's in town Pachiel is usually playing alto sax with his band Bolting Brassicas. When he's band-less he plays with the Carnival Band. On Saturday he and Simmah, clarinetist with BB (and CB) juggled instead.

Check out the Bolting Brassicas website, especially the Bios, I personally guarantee you'll get a chuckle out of them. And you'll learn a little about life in the hinterlands of B.C.

Simmah

Car Free Days 3

This shot needs embiggening to see just how many people turn out for Car Free Day on Commercial Drive. It's people as far as the eye can see for the 8 hours that the street is closed.

Even back when I thought I was cool I was never this cool.

That's it for Car Free Days for this year.

Car Free Days 2

Dozens of groups performed up and down the Drive throughout the day. I didn't catch the name of this group but several musicians jammed with them for a great sound.

Fantasy Land

What guy couldn't use a little help around the yard?

On Sunday, June 14 Vancouver had it's first Car Free Day Festivals of the year. Commercial Drive was closed from 1st Ave. to Venables St., 8 blocks. Main St. was closed from 12th Ave. to King Edward Ave.,13 blocks. Denman St. was closed in the West End and many different blocks were closed to traffic in Kitsilano. Rumour has it that there may be more Car Free Days this year.

The Drive

Commercial Drive looking North from 6th Ave.

I'm no expert on what goes on up on Grouse Mountain. But I know they have snow making equipment and it looks like they might be using it on the runs.

Typical of a Vancouver Spring, one person in a ski jacket and the next one in shirtsleeves. 

Hooked On Yellow

It's pretty obvious by now that I can't walk past anything painted bright yellow without taking a picture of it. Especially if it's a sunny day with the sky as a background.

It could be worse. You know you've really got a problem when you start trying to photograph the centre line on a busy road.