Well, I had a lot I wanted to get done to day and, although I didn’t accomplish everything, it was a nice, full day…
1) The Running of the Bulldogs
Akemi and I headed down to Yaletown early this morning to register our french bulldog, Lulu, for “the running of the bulldogs”, part of a HUGE dog-themed festival that included various vendor booths, complimentary dog treats, and doggy wading pools. I registered her at 11: 00 a.m. as per the instructions in the flyer, specifying her name, my name, her weight (21 lbs), and her nickname (LeLouche). Unfortunately, when it came time for the actual races, we could hardly hear the host and his ineffective bullhorn. Perhaps more frustrating was the fact that they were calling in the participants out of sequence, NOT in the order in which they registered but some weird, randomized order known only to them. I was eager to have Lulu run (she had carbed up that morning), but we were dog-sitting our old friend Petunia who was so exhausted that Akemi feared she might pass out. So we left early. Lulu missed out on her chance to run. And I had to carry Petunia back to the car.
2) Garlic Fest
We dropped off the dogs, then headed over the Richmond for the Garlic Festival – to try the much-hyped garlic ice cream. A potential weird-food-purchase-of-the-day perhaps? Alas, the garlic ice cream was sold out by the time we got there – so we had to settle for garlic scape pizza, roasted garlic, and six bulbs of Russian Red!
3) Pie Championship!
We returned home, walked the dogs, then hopped back into the car and headed over to the city’s east end for the Incredible Pie Championship! $5 got you a taste of all 21 pies competing across five categories: Sweet, Savory, Structural, Vegan and Best in Show. We met up with friends (Nicole and Lan), made new ones (Kirsten, Liz, Wendy, and guy standing in line who looked like Ronon Dex), and enjoyed A LOT of pie.
We came home, exhausted. Akemi took her shower and was ready for bed. At 8:00 p.m.! Also, she sunburnt her ears. 🙁
I love roasted garlic, the pizza looks terrific. I like that doggy who flashed his fanny defiantly in that bulldogs pic as if to say “My behind looks better than your face pal.”
In the bulldog run my fave is Little Slowpoke who hopped over the line marker to greet the onlookers. He doesn’t need to run, he’s there to schmooze with his fans.
Man those trees and that sky; Vancouver is spectacular.
pie! they should let you know to bring stuff to eat on/with.
Also, she sunburnt her ears.
aloe, either gel or cream, helps.
You see a guy standing there who looks like Ronon Dex and you don’t take his picture? Joe, have we not taught you nothing?! Make Akemi stand near him, pretend you’re taking her picture, then we get to see him. Next time, think man, think!
Pie shots sound fun. Not sure about 21,but still fun and filling. 😀
Sounds like a huge day, Joe – and a good one, despite Lulu’s no-show.
Hubby and I had a big day, too. Started out with the usual stuff (services, socializing, etc), but we ended the day up on the Boardwalk. They were supposed to have fireworks, but they were cancelled due to wind. It was more of a stiff breeze, but either way it was blowing onshore and that was too risky for the ‘works. Didn’t matter because Mr. Das was on a mission to play air hockey (his main reason for planning the night out), and I was bound and determined to win a Minion! Well…after hubby defeated me two games straight at air hockey I decided I didn’t feel like losing any more boardwalk games, so I opted to buy this little fella instead of trying to pop balloons or net basketballs for a bigger one:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v54/dasNdanger/MinionDave_zps0bbba223.jpg
🙂
Also discovered that Curley’s Fries are gluten free, so I was even able to enjoy boardwalk food – on the boardwalk! (And guess what? I DIPPED ‘EM IN MUSTARD!! 😈 )
‘Twas a good night. Even spent some time chatting up the boardwalk cops…what can I say? I have a thing for men in uniform…especially young’uns fresh out of the Academy. 😀 Mr. Das, on the other hand, seemed to have a thing for Eastern European hawkers with big boobies. 🙄
das
Too bad Lulu didn’t get to race…
I’ll make some roasted garlic ice cream! You were lamenting that the pie didn’t have ice cream, right? What kind of pie would garlic ice cream pair well with?
Went to the PNE and had my own weird food purchase of the day, Crocodile, Kangaroo and Ostrich burgers. Sadly the Game of Thrones exhibit was “sold out” they handed out tickets for time slots throughout the day. We arrived at 1pm and they were gone for the day, presumably everyone took all the free tickets to sell them to unsuspecting(desperate) fans. Probably going to have to go on a weekday to get into that exhibit.
P.S. WordPress is being weird and won’t let me login so i have to use a fake email address.
This is a pretty good Stargate Atlantis related video.
Well worth a *full* watch.
I’m still jealous that you got to go to the garlic festival. I guess no one thought to make a garlic pie either. =)
Lumberjack Royale sounds like a winner. Because bacon + anything is pretty much full of win.
The Vancouver Tourism board should put you on the payroll. Thanks for showing us your fantastic weekend!
I thought I was over bacon but I quite liked the Lumberjack Royale. The combo cake/pie pie was great too!
Just got back home from my long weekend in NH (volunteering at the hut). A lot of fun and the weather was very good overall.
I’ll catch up a bit later, but I did read this article from my FB feed which is interesting, if not entirely surprising:
http://www.businessinsider.com/cord-cutters-and-the-death-of-tv-2013-11
I’ve had garlic ice cream at the Garlic Festival in L.A. It was actually pretty good! I can see how it might be overdone, but whoever made what I tasted at the festival did a great job balancing the flavours.
Hi Joe
It was fun to run into you at the Pie Championship. I’ve got some friends coming back from the interior with peaches so I think I’ve got some pie making in my future.
Well, better late than never they always say. Took me a while to rummage up that stew recipe and lo and behold — it’s Italian! Ciambotta a la America’s Test Kitchen in fact. The major alteration I made was to substitute parsley for oregano in the pestada and to use red wine for half of the water the recipe calls for.
Whenever you want to hit up Peruvian food — we are game! 🙂
Cheers,
Kirsten
That was one full day! Sorry Lulu didn’t get to race.