Fusion Dogs Take Vancouver By Storm

Fusion hotdogs are all the rage in Vancouver, with Japa Dog leading the way. Come lunch or dinnertime, there's always a lineup for these hot dogs at one of their two downtown hot dog carts. The first appeared at the corner of Burrard and Smithe a few years ago, just outside the Sutton Place Hotel. The second popped up on the corner of Burrard and Pender this past year. With its popularity and rave reviews, owner Noriki Tamura says an indoor location will be opening soon somewhere in downtown Vancouver with possible future sites in the United States and Japan.

Menu items include Oroshi, a bratwurst with green onions, grated daikon and teriyaki sauce; and Terimayo, a beef dog with seaweed and wasabi mayo. These unconventional dogs cost anywhere from $4 to $6. If you're visiting Vancouver, or just happen to be in the downtown area, don't forget to try one of these out. Dee-licious!

Landmark Wind Turbine To Rise Above Vancouver

Metro Vancouver will get its first wind turbine this summer. Last month, three 37-metre fibreglass composite wind turbine blades were airlifted to the top of Grouse Mountain 1,250 metres above sea level. Next, a 65-metre main tower will be making its way from Anacortes, Washington. The facility should be built by August or September and generating power by early 2010. Tourists will be able to ride an elevator up the tower to a viewing area 58 metres above the ground.

The landmark wind turbine will have a maximum generating capacity of 1.5 megawatts and is expected to meet 20 per cent of the ski resort's power needs. More than anything, it serves as an iconic symbol for Vancouver about how we need to be viewed: as a leader in alternative energy and environmental technology.

"Vancouver Nicest Place We Know"

Read an article recently from Vancouver Sun columnist Peter Simpson where he asked readers what they liked most about Vancouver. The following excerpt from Bryan and Barbara Simmons of Memphis, Tennessee caught my attention.

"We own a condo in downtown Vancouver, but live in Memphis, Tenn. We love it when we can visit Vancouver because the city is so alive with young, active individuals and families out walking, riding bicycles or using roller blades. We use mopeds to travel but find walking along the seawall relaxing. The nightlife is just as good as the daytime activities with plenty of plays, shopping, cultural activities and good eating. We can spend hours in Stanley Park and never get weary of being there. The views of the mountains and ocean are constantly uplifting. Vancouver is indeed the nicest place we know."

From Vancouver Sun, Saturday, July 18, 2009

Amtrak Ready to Roll

A second daily Amtrak passenger train will begin service between Seattle and Vancouver, starting August 2009. It is estimated that this additional service will carry 50,000 passengers in its first full year of operation, injecting $13 million into the local economy. This expanded service is part of a seven-month trial that is expected to transport American visitors north for the 2010 Winter Olympics. The existing Amtrak Cascades train leaves Seattle early in the morning, and departs Vancouver for the return trip in the evening. It's expected that this second train will run a morning southbound trip, and an evening northbound trip.

And the local economy could get an additional boost down the line as the U.S. government is contemplating establishing high-speed passenger rail service from Portland to Vancouver.
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Vancouver Roller-Coaster Deemed "Landmark" and "Classic"

In 1958, experts bet $100 that Vancouver's wooden roller-coaster wouldn't make it through the first hill. Builder Walker LeRoy not only proved them wrong, but the roller-coaster is still going strong after 50 plus years. Last week, the coaster was given "classic" and "landmark" status by the American Coaster Enthusiasts, the first coaster in North America to be given both designations, and only 20 worldwide.

Playland, the home of the roller-coaster, is open throughout the summer until September 27th.

"Hell's Kitchen" Going to Whistler

Foul-mouthed international superchef Gordon Ramsay has chosen one of Whistler's high-end eateries, Araxi Restaurant, as the grand prize for his reality show kitchen competition. Sixteen chefs will duke it out this coming season, the sixth, for the chance to snag a prime job at Araxi. Besides having a great experience learning about Pacific Northwest cooking and ingredients, the winning contestant will have the added privilege of joining executive chef James Walt in welcoming the world for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The two-hour premier is set to air July 21st on Fox.

Economist Ranks Vancouver "Most Liveable" City

Vancouver snagged top honors as world's most livable city, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's global livablity poll. The poll ranks 140 cities on factors such as healthcare, stability, culture and environment, education, and infrastructure.

With a rating of 98 percent, Vancouver's only challenges as noted by the Economist were petty crime and availability of good-quality housing.

The top 10 cities are as follows:
1. Vancouver
2. Vienna
3. Melbourne
4. Toronto
5. Perth
Calgary
7. Helsinki
8. Geneva
Sydney
Zurich

http://www.economist.com/markets/rankings/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13809770\

Bachelorette Episode Boosts Local Economy

A single hour of prime-time television has resulted in a flood of business for Vancouver. Monday's episode of the Bachelorette, starring Jillian Harris, featured shots taken from Granville Island, Grouse Mountain, Coal Harbour, the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, and the curling club. Immediately following the show, Tourism Vancouver experienced a 25% bump in its website traffic, and local tourist operators such as the classic Pacific Yellowfin charter boat company were flooded with calls for rates. Inquiries have come from as far away as Miami, Kansas, Omaha and Seattle.

During the show, there were also numerous mentions of next year's Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. And after Jillian Harris wore a blue Vancouver 2010 zippered hoodie on the show, the calls have been pouring in inquiring about where the hoodies can be purchased. Aritizia, the Vancouver fashion store that licensed the Olympic hoodie, had originally planned to release the hoodie in the fall, but has since decided to release a limited edition starting on Thursday.

Next week's episode will be situated in Whistler, the co-host city of next year's Olympics. Tune in to see the show......and what happens on the local economic front.