A lovely Sunday in Vancouver

There’s something special about Downtown Vancouver when the sun decides to show off.  Yesterday was one of those days—the kind that reminds you why people travel halfway around the world just to stand on our seawall and breathe in the clean Pacific air.

The weather was absolutely gorgeous: crisp but bright, with that early‑season warmth that makes the glass towers sparkle. You could feel the energy the moment you stepped onto the street.  Some tourists were seen —cameras out, maps in hand, and big smiles as they discovered the city’s corners for the first time.  It’s always fun watching people fall in love with Vancouver in real time.

On our trip from South Surrey, we took the double decker bus to Skytrain.  The bus we were on was almost full.  Those buses are rarely full even through the work week at rush hour.   Locals were out in full force.  When we were walking the seawall, cyclists zipped past on dedicated lanes, and families wandered through the waterfront taking in the views.  Even the street performers seemed to have a little extra spring in their step.

Notice the yoga class on top of the Cactus Club

I've never gone to Nanaimo on Hullo but plan to sometime this summer

You don't see Canada Place when there are cruise ships in town.  

The mountains have very little snow for March 1st!

Always nice to see Stanley Park

I wandered through some of my favourite spots—Waterfront Station, Coal Harbour, and Canada Place—and everywhere I went, people were soaking up the day.  

Days like this remind me how lucky we are to live so close to a world‑class city that still manages to feel welcoming and walkable.  Vancouver shines brightest when people are out enjoying it together, and today was one of those perfect snapshots of what makes this place so special.

Neil Sedaka

I was very sorry to hear about the death of Neil Sedaka.  Few artists have woven themselves into the fabric of popular music as seamlessly as Neil Sedaka.  His career spans more than seven decades, crossing genres, generations, and continents — a testament to both his talent and his ability to evolve with the times.  Sedaka’s story is not just about hit records; it’s about resilience, reinvention, and the enduring power of a great melody.

Neil Sedaka was born on March 13, 1939, in Brooklyn, New York, to a close-knit, working-class family.  His musical gifts emerged early. By eight, he was studying classical piano at the prestigious Juilliard School’s preparatory division — a rare opportunity for a child from his background.

But while classical music shaped his technique, it was pop that captured his imagination.  As a teenager, Sedaka teamed up with lyricist Howard Greenfield, forming one of the most successful song writing duos of the Brill Building era.  Their partnership would define the sound of early American pop.

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, the Brill Building in Manhattan was the beating heart of American pop songwriting. Sedaka and Greenfield were at its center, penning hits for artists like Connie Francis — including “Stupid Cupid” and “Where the Boys Are.”

Sedaka soon stepped into the spotlight himself.  His early singles — “Oh! Carol,” “Calendar Girl,” and “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do” — became international hits.  His voice, bright and unmistakable, paired with his knack for irresistible melodies, made him one of the era’s defining stars.  I still sing his wonderful songs.

The arrival of the British Invasion in 1964 changed everything. Like many American pop artists of the early ’60s, Sedaka found his career suddenly overshadowed.  But instead of fading away, he adapted.

He moved to the UK, collaborated with new songwriters, and experimented with fresh sounds. His comeback was cemented in the 1970s when Elton John — a long time admirer — signed him to his Rocket Records label. The result was a second wave of hits, including “Laughter in the Rain,” “Bad Blood,” and a reimagined, slower version of “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” which made him one of the few artists to hit No. 1 with two different versions of the same song.  This era proved Sedaka wasn’t just a relic of the past — he was a master craftsman capable of evolving with the musical landscape.

Beyond the spotlight, Sedaka has always been known for his warmth, humour, and devotion to family. He married his wife, Leba, in 1962, and their partnership has been a steady anchor throughout his career.  Their children, Dara and Marc, have both pursued creative paths of their own.  Even into his 80s, Sedaka continued performing, recording, and connecting with fans — including through charming at-home concerts during the pandemic that introduced him to a new generation of listeners.

A wonderful artist with a fabulous life and he will be sadly missed.  

Casa Mia

 

🌺 Casa Mia: A Mansion of Music, Mischief, and Vancouver Legend

In 1975, I was in the hospital having surgery.  I was in a two bed ward and the nice older lady I was with told me her son bought Casa Mia but had sold it.  She said it needed a lot of repair work.  She also said, if he owned a couple of animals, he could claim it as a farm and pay very low taxes, which he did.  She also said he founded "Happy Honda" that existed at that time in North Burnaby.  I don't remember her name, but she was a lovely lady and I loved this story.  I believed it at the time and it probably was true but I could never verify it.  It doesn't really matter.  Every time I drive down SW Marine Drive, I remember that lady.

If you drive along Southwest Marine Drive — that elegant ribbon of road once known as Vancouver’s “Millionaire’s Row” — you’ll eventually come upon a grand pink‑hued estate perched above the river. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking for it, but once you see it, Casa Mia has a way of staying with you.

It isn’t just a mansion. It’s a time capsule.  A whisper of jazz-age glamour.  A reminder that Vancouver’s history is far more colourful than its polite exterior suggests.  And at the centre of it all is the Reifel family — brewers, builders, philanthropists, and, depending on who you ask, a little bit of trouble.

🍸 A Mansion Built on Beer, Grit, and Guts

Casa Mia was completed in 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression — a time when most Vancouverites were tightening belts, not commissioning Spanish Colonial Revival palaces. But the Reifels were not “most Vancouverites.”

The family fortune came from brewing and distilling.  They ran the Canadian Brewing and Malting Company, the BC Distillery, and several other ventures that kept Vancouver well‑supplied with beer — even during the awkward years of prohibition, when “near beer” was the only legal option.

Let’s just say the Reifels understood supply and demand better than most.

George C. Reifel, the man behind Casa Mia, wanted a home that reflected both his success and his taste for the theatrical. So he hired architect Ross A. Lort, who delivered a mansion that looked like it had been plucked from the hills of Santa Barbara and dropped gently onto Marine Drive.

🎶 The Ballroom Where Vancouver Learned to Dance

Step inside Casa Mia and you’re greeted by a sweeping staircase, ornate plasterwork, and a sense that the walls have stories they’re dying to tell.  But the real magic lies downstairs.

Hidden beneath the main floor is a full Art Deco ballroom, complete with a sprung dance floor, gold‑leaf ceiling, and acoustics designed for big-band music. It wasn’t just a room — it was a stage.

And the Reifels knew how to use it.

They were the same family behind the Commodore Ballroom, the Vogue Theatre, and the Studio Theatre. Vancouver’s nightlife — its pulse, its rhythm, its swagger — was shaped by the Reifels long before neon signs lit up Granville Street.

So when they threw a party at Casa Mia, it wasn’t a quiet affair.  Politicians, entertainers, business leaders — they all passed through those doors. The ballroom became a kind of unofficial cultural salon, where deals were made, gossip flowed, and Vancouver’s future was shaped over cocktails and jazz.

🎨 A Disney Surprise in the Nursery

One of Casa Mia’s most charming secrets sits upstairs: a nursery painted in 1938 by artists from Walt Disney Studios.  Imagine being a child waking up to Snow White and woodland creatures dancing across your walls — a private fairytale created just for you. It’s one of the few Disney‑designed residential murals in Canada, and it remains protected to this day.

🕰️ From Family Estate to Heritage Treasure

The Reifels lived in Casa Mia until 1965, after which the mansion passed through several hands. By the early 2000s, its future was uncertain — too large for a single family, too important to lose.

Heritage advocates stepped in, and after years of planning, Casa Mia found a new purpose:

a seniors’ residence that preserves the mansion’s historic heart while adding modern care facilities behind it. Today, the ballroom still gleams.  The Disney murals still charm.  And Casa Mia continues to watch over Marine Drive, a grand old dame with stories to spare.

🌟 Why Casa Mia Still Matters

Casa Mia isn’t just a house.  It’s a reminder of a Vancouver that dared to dream big — sometimes too big, sometimes boldly, always colourfully. It tells the story of a family who shaped the city’s nightlife, its architecture, and even its scandals.

It shows how heritage can be preserved not by freezing time, but by giving old places new life.

And it stands as a testament to the idea that behind every grand façade, there’s a human story — full of ambition, creativity, contradictions, and heart.

Cruising news

The passengers on the Royal Princess raised a salted-rim glass to National Margarita Day in record-breaking style, breaking a new GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for the Most Margaritas Sold in 8 Hours. The celebration sold 3,410 handcrafted 24K Margaritas featuring Pantalones Organic Blanco Tequila, surpassing the previously held record of 2,728.

Disney Wonder sailing into the Port of Vancouver, February 26, 2026, first cruise ship of the season

As I stated on my blog yesterday, cruise ship season has started.  If you want a link to the Port of Vancouver 2026 cruise ship schedule:  https://www.portvancouver.com/about/cruise/cruise-schedule

🛳️ How many cruise ships are docking at the Port of Vancouver in 2026?

According to multiple 2026 port and industry reports, the Port of Vancouver is expecting nearly 360 cruise ship calls during the 2026 season.  This is a significant increase from the ~300 calls in 2025.

💰 How much revenue do cruise ships bring to Vancouver?

The Vancouver Fraser Port Authority estimates that the 2026 cruise season will inject more than $1 billion into the economy.  This includes spending by passengers, crew, cruise lines, and the supply chain that services the ships.

Additional economic impact details from the same sources:

• Supports over 17,000 jobs in the region

• Boosts local businesses (hotels, restaurants, attractions)

• Cruise lines re‑stock ships using Canadian supplier

A lovely afternoon in downtown Vancouver

 

Yesterday, my Red Hat group had a lovely lunch downtown at The Lion Club.  We've been to a lot of downtown pubs, but this one had the best pub food.  It's part of the Terminal City Club.  I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of the food.  This English style pub served many British dishes.  Two ladies had fish and chips, others had beef dip and Guinness Steak pie!  I had the  Mediterranean Bowl.  It had warm hummus, red pepper, zhug, green pea falafel pickled shallot, crispy chickpeas, maple onion arugula salad and grilled pita!  It was the nicest bowl I've ever had.  It was so large, I couldn't eat it all!  

The Telephone Room

The location is on Cordova Street between Waterfront Station and the Convention Center.  

On our way back to Skytrain, we stopped at the Mounted Police Post

A great selection of badges!

This store is very close to the cruise ship terminal and gets a lot of out of town visitors.  Today is the day the Port of Vancouver gets it's first cruise ship.  The Disney Wonder comes to town.  It departs in the early evening for a four day cruise to San Diego.

Puerto Vallarta update

I've never stayed at an all-inclusive in Mexico.  I have visited Mexico many times by cruise ship.  I've done the Western Caribbean and the Pacific Coastal so I've seen both sides.  I prefer a cruise ship because you only unpack once but see many different cities.  I love the Entertainment and all the activities that a cruise ship has to offer.  Many people I know enjoy the all-inclusive resorts.

Western Caribbean cruises going to Cozumel are docking.  All tours to the mainland have been cancelled.  I assume they feel the island of Cozumel is safe.  One ship on the western side of Mexico cancelled Puerto Vallarta yesterday and spent an overnight at Cabo San Lucas.  Cruise ships will never go anywhere where passenger and crew safety is at risk.

The problems in Mexico with the cartels are troubling.  You wonder if they will recover to where tourists will find it a place they want to return.  Time will tell.

Here is another post I read that was positive:

When the cartel chaos began in Puerto Vallarta, we weren’t at our condo. The street we were heading toward was one of the areas where the explosions were happening. Not knowing where else to go, we ran to the closest place — Secrets Vallarta Bay Puerto Vallarta.

They didn’t hesitate.

They brought the four of us in for safekeeping, welcomed us to enjoy their all-inclusive amenities, and gave us a beautiful room for the night. While chaos unfolded outside, they created calm inside.

What moved me most was this: their staff couldn’t leave because the Resort was looking after their safety — the resort’s top priority was everyone’s safety. Yet the next morning the staff were smiling, gracious, and treating us like honored guests… all while their own homes and families were unsettled.

That is leadership. That is heart. Management stood strong and supported their team — and the team showed up with dignity and grace.

For everyone asking if we feel safe — we do/we did!!

The helicopters overhead aren’t symbols of fear; they’re protection. The presence of Mexican military and security forces is reassuring. You feel watched over, not watched.

But beyond security, it’s the community that defines this place.

Restaurants reopening with limited supplies. Neighbors checking on neighbors. Strangers offering help without hesitation. There is no panic here — there is solidarity.

Puerto Vallarta isn’t broken. It’s united.

This is a place you return to — not just for the ocean and sunsets, but for the people. Loving. Kind. Resilient.

If anything, this moment has reminded us why we hold Puerto Vallarta so close to our hearts.

With deep gratitude, thank you to Secrets Resort and every single staff member who chose courage, compassion, and professionalism in a moment of crisis. You didn’t just give us a room — you gave us safety, dignity, and peace when we needed it most.

This is Puerto Vallarta ..... hospitality and kindness!!

If you are thinking of booking a trip to Mexico, check your travel insurance. This is what mine says:

Any medical condition you suffer or contract, or any loss you incur in a specific country, region or area while a travel advisory of “Avoid non-essential travel” or “Avoid all travel” is in effect for that specific country, region or area and the travel advisory was issued by the Government of Canada before your departure date, even if the trip is undertaken for essential reasons. This exclusion only applies to medical conditions or losses which are related, directly or indirectly, to the reason for which the travel advisory was issued. If the travel advisory is issued after your departure date, your coverage under this insurance in that specific country, region or area will be restricted to a period of 10 days from the date the travel advisory was issued, or to a period that is necessary for you to safely evacuate the country, region or area, after which coverage will be limited to medical conditions or losses which are unrelated to the reason for which the travel advisory was issued, while the travel advisory remains in effect.

https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/mexico says:

Regional Advisory - Avoid non-essential travel

Avoid non-essential travel to the following states due to high levels of violence and organized crime:

• Chiapas, excluding:
  • the city and ruins of Palenque (and highway 186 leading there)
  • the city of Tuxtla Gutiérrez (and its airport and the main road leading there)
  • the city of San Cristobal de las Casas (and toll highway 190D between this city and Tuxtla Gutiérrez)
• Chihuahua, excluding Chihuahua City
• Colima, excluding the city of Manzanillo only if accessed by air
• Guanajuato, in all areas south of and including highways 43D and 45D
• Guerrero, excluding the cities of Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo only if accessed by air
• Jalisco, within 50 km of the border with Michoacán state
• Lagunas de Zempoala National Park in Morelos
• Michoacán, excluding the cities of Morelia and Patzcuaro
• Nayarit, within 20 km of the border with the states of Sinaloa and Durango
• Nuevo León, excluding the city of Monterrey
• Sinaloa, excluding the following areas, and only if accessed by air or sea:
• the city of Los Mochis
• specific areas in and around the city of Mazatlán:
• Centro Histórico south of Avenida Gutiérrez Najera
• the road connecting Centro Histórico to the airport
• the main coastal roads from Centro Histórico to Playa Delfines, including Zona Cerritos and Zona Dorada (the Golden Zone)
• the resorts on Playa Estrella del Mar and the road leading there from the airport
• Sonora, excluding the cities of Hermosillo, Guaymas/San Carlos and Puerto Peñasco
• Tamaulipas, excluding the city of Tampico only if accessed by air or sea
• Zacatecas, excluding the city of Zacatecas

Black Diamond Cheese

I only buy Canadian cheese.  I buy Balderson brick cheese and Black Diamond Cheese Slices.  

From school lunches to holiday cheese boards, Black Diamond has been part of Canadian kitchens for more than 90 years and its story is as rich as its flavour.

Black Diamond began in 1933 in Belleville, Ontario, when Robert F. Hart founded Belleville Cheddar Cheese Limited with a clear goal. To export aged Canadian cheddar to Britain at a time when Canadian cheese was highly respected overseas. What started as an export focused operation quickly became something bigger. Black Diamond emerged as Canada’s first nationally recognized brand name cheddar, helping set the standard for consistency, aging, and quality in Canadian cheese making.

The name itself came from tradition. In early cheese making, wheels were dipped in hot wax to protect them during aging and transport. When the wax met the rind, it often turned black. Cheeses with that dark rind were associated with longer aging and stronger flavour. The result was a name that suggested both quality and character. Black Diamond.

While many small Canadian cheese factories disappeared during the Depression and postwar consolidation, Black Diamond endured by modernizing early and building trust with consumers. Its reliability made it a staple in rural communities, lunch pails, and family kitchens across the country. It was cheese Canadians could count on.

Today, Black Diamond is still made in Belleville and remains a familiar presence across Canada. Now produced by Parmalat Canada as part of Lactalis Canada, the brand’s roots and production stay firmly Canadian. From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, Canadians grate it, melt it, slice it, and yes, squeeze it into countless favourite meals.

It is more than just cheese. It is a reminder of a time when Canadian food brands were built on patience, craftsmanship, and pride. A local product that earned global respect and never forgot where it came from. 

Another great Canadian company to support!