The "Hood" and why I love it here...

November 17 to 20th was the celebration of the 20th anniversary for the Eastside Culture Crawl. What a stellar exhibition the Eastside Culture Crawl Society did this year with the Crawl program and their extended programming!!   -- as the Crow Flies, Firehall theatre exhibition and the Cultch as well... oh and Studio 101 yet to take place.

I had the opportunity to visit many amazing artists in their studios and am happy to share some of the images taken!!  ... so many missed, but there is always next year (smile) crawlin' my way there.

My earings are from Raven Eye studio, gifted to my by a dear dear friend!!  I adore them!

but wait there's more...

and more...

Oh ya and more...

One of my favourite photos!

Photo credit: Esther Rausenberg

Thanks Eshter -- it's a beauty!

In honor of the upcoming Eastside Culture Crawl....................(20th anniversary)

As the Nov. 17 - 20th exciting event nears..........I've decided to showcase photography.  The 20th anniversary for the Eastside Culture Crawl Society, is quite the achievement for this wonderful neighbourhood.  The beautiful photos shared are  taken by a truly talented artist/photographer Esther, who is a neighbour to 851 Union St. 

 Esther Rausenberg, is the Executive Director of the ECCS and her partner Richard Tetrault is one of the founding member of the organization.  Esther has lived in the neighbourhood for 35 years or more and a passionate Vancouverite, through and through.  Esther has photographed 851 Union st. over the years and generously shared some of her images with me.  Here are 5 featured this week; actually more than 5 but......oh take a look for yourself (smile).

This is Mrs. Lau, who lived in the house for many years (see the Big House section for the history of who has lived here over the years).  Mrs. Lau, from my understanding, took great pride in her home and was often seen tending her garden and fussing in the yard.

These 3 images show the yard and back of the house (for closer view check out the Images section).  The centre photo is a lovely perspective of the shed that is no longer there;   the blueish green color of that structure is so stunning.  It's interesting that when I went to the City to see what was on file for the house and property the only thing on record was a reference to this structure and how it once existed.  In our project it will be the space of an artist studio.

In this last set of images I love how Esther has captured such a playful charming side of Mrs. Lau's life at 851 Union St.  I am grateful to Mrs. Lau for her time lived in the house and Esther Rausenberg for capturing these moments!!        Thank you Esther!!

Halloween............

On the eve of "all saints" (Halloween)  it seems appropriate to honour an amazing architect, Bing Thom, who has recently passed on.  It has been a delight to have experienced  Bing through talks, events and discussions with others who were his friend.  I want to share something that stands out for me  from an article where Bing described his work.  He stated that in his architecture he wished to create a space where people would enter and feel tall, a grandeur of a place that would make one feel proud to be there.  

Returning from my travels in Croatia I have decided to share a place that gives me a special feeling that perhaps somehow will be captured in 851 Union st. (the short video is of the Velebit Mountain range taken from Pridraga)