Vancouver: No Car Day on The Drive

[entheosfog]

Today was the annual Car Free Day on Commercial Drive in Vancouver where 'The Drive' was shut down for the better part of the day for a street festival of sorts. Today's Car Free Day happened not only on Commercial Drive, but Main Street, Kitsilano and the West End had similar events take place in their neighbourhood.
This year though, the city is going to look at a trial run of having these things be a regular basis through the summer in select neighbourhoods. Commercial Drive/Grandview is one of such neighbourhoods.

If any other Vancouver people want to add pics of the other street parties, please add them to this thread!

So, here we go, on with the pics....




C'mon banner, stop blowing in the wind for 1 second please! Oh never mind...
http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6083/68225683.jpg

VIP Bicycle parking. This is a no-car day after all!
http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/834/46339498.jpg

A DJ out on the street in front of one of my fave place to grab a drink on The Drive, Wazubees:
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4250/16342785.jpg

There were more rollerskating chicks earlier but by time I showed up most were taking a break:
http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/6136/86314990.jpg

Break time for me already! Had to grab a cool bevy in the corner store. So why not a pic as well!
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5817/66178076.jpg

Huge turnout of people, and a perfect day for it as well:
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/140/53931707.jpg

Healing Garden, sounds delightful!
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8679/97900812.jpg

It was nice and calm over here:
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/6910/79710083.jpg

Back to the 'pushing a couch on wheels down the street' action:
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/5506/85178100.jpg

Quite a nifty contraption but I didn't stick around to see what it actually does:
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/559/53839432.jpg

Another pic of it:
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/826/35331682.jpg

It's hard not to feel claustrophobic:
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/4509/61783817.jpg

The people in this bus, promoting transit use I assume, were having too much fun bopping around in that thing! Good on 'em, i say:
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/8589/80917719.jpg

Some sort of anti-corporation float thingy. I think it was supposed to parody The Apprentice:
http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/2357/60901029.jpg

Chicken, glistening in the hot sun:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4625/94189557.jpg

Some people catching some shade in front of Joe's Cafe and eating some ice cream:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9281/64477924.jpg

Lots of dogs, too. This guy didn't feel much like posing for me though....:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5821/48834128.jpg

But this handsome dude was more than happy to be my model:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/7899/95285665.jpg

Lots of anti-Olympic sentiment around, especially in this neighbourhood:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6030/51346877.jpg

Nothing like a little public line dancing! The old guy in the red shirt was hopelessly lost but having a good time, which is what it's all about:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/5259/65230166.jpg

Some guy 'MC-ing'. Not my bag but he was actually pretty decent:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/1264/93581079.jpg

The guy looking out the window seems to enjoy it:
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/971/66623829.jpg

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9663/38872212.jpg

http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/5506/16531044.jpg

A salon offering salon services on the street in front of their shop:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/1111/60749386.jpg

Nothing like enjoying a beer on an oversize patio with no car exhaust to deal with!
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/707/65882554.jpg

Taking a break:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/6583/48449899.jpg

This part of Vancouver hasn't seen any rain in over 3 weeks so things are turning a little dry:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9041/22718703.jpg

These guys had a pretty cool sound, I think:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/8404/59041991.jpg

They had a pretty good crowd at least:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/9237/44620541.jpg

Lots of cleanup required though:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/115/54839792.jpg

I scream! I bet this guy was busy today:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/6214/95029391.jpg

This dog may be a little jealous of that little dog up the street getting some scraps from the patio:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/5671/97021529.jpg

Parting shot, a little context to where Commercial Drive is located to downtown:
http://img29.imageshack.us/img29/7886/20188807.jpg

Okay, I lied, this has to be the parting shot. By far, the creepiest thing I saw all day. These realistic looking dolls were in a store window. They look so real!
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/7340/63627651.jpg

[zivan56]

Very nice!
That kid is freaky...I thought it was real until I read the caption. If you had a polarizer I would have though it was someones kid in the backyard. :P

[raggedy13]

Great shots, entheosfog. I was on Commercial today as well and had a great time. I considered posting some photos of mine in here but I think I'll slow things down too much. Based on the look of your pics, I think you were there a bit earlier than I was. Can't see myself in any of your pics either!

I saw that "Mondo Spider" machine in action last Sunday outside the VAG. It was pretty crazy, like a go-kart with legs. I'd love to take it for a spin sometime.

[Kingofthehill]

My kind of event..

[agrant]

Love these. So when is the next car free day event?

[entheosfog]

hey thanks for the comments!!

I'm not sure when the next one on Commercial will be as details seem to still be vague in regards to the Summer Spaces events (from what I can dig up!), just that they'll happen a few times over the summer. Hmmm...

[mSeattle]

Very nice. They should do them more often.

[bulliver]

Great pictures entheosfog, thanks for this!

[alps]

http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/6030/51346877.jpg

Wha? Homelessness? Colonization?? :koko:

[entheosfog]

Wha? Homelessness? Colonization?? :koko:

ha, yeah I dunno, I just take the pics and ask questions later!


thanks for the additional comments everyone!!

[alps]

Ooh yeah, nice photos, too :) looks like great weather