Channel Your Inner Beethoven with Keys to the Street

Photo credit: Steve Chou Photography

Vancouver's public spaces are once again alive with the tinkering of the ivories!

A public piano project that started as a student initiative in 2013, Keys to the Streets, have placed 10 pianos around Vancouver to encourage improvisational gatherings, spontaneous connections and free enjoyment of music in an urban setting.

The program was inspired by similar pop-up piano initiatives, which have cropped up in New York, Toronto and Montreal and is entirely run by volunteers. The pianos were all donated and decorated by a team of local artists.

You can find the pianos here:

• Canada Place at 999 Canada Place
• Spyglass Dock at 1800 Spyglass Place (under the Cambie Street bridge)
• Strathcona at 898 Prior Street
• Chinatown at 188 E. Pender Street
• Robson Park at 525 Kingsway
• Vancouver Public Library at 401 W. Georgia Street
• Creekside Community Centre at 1 Athletes Way
• Nelson Square at 808 Nelson Street
• Lot 19 at 901 W. Hastings Street
• Stanley Park at Vancouver Aquarium 845 Avison Way

The pianos will be available until August 24.

So whether in tux and tails or jeans and a t-shirt, grab a seat at the pianos and channel your inner Beethoven. For more info on the initiative, click here.

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Win a Chef's Longtable Supper with Dubh Linn Gate!

Did you know that Dubh Linn Gate Irish Pub, located at Pan Pacific Whistler Mountainside is opening up a second location? And that location will be in Vancouver at the crossroads of Main Street and Terminal Avenue? The pub is scheduled to open mid-August, but they've got a delicious contest giveaway right now!

Enter to win a personalized, family-style Chef's supper for you and nine of your closest friends by heading to their Facebook page,  giving them a like and completing the contest form. (value $1000)

The promotion closes at 11:59pm July 29. Winner will be drawn and contacted on August 6.

Limit one entry per person. Share the link for extra entries - for each friend that enters the contest, you will receive one additional contest entry.

For more info on Dubh Linn Gate, click here.

Honda Celebration of Light Kicks Off Tonight!

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans as they take their spot down at English Bay for the 25th anniversary of Vancouver's spectacular fireworks competition!

Honda Celebration of Light 2015

• Saturday, July 25: China by Team Lidu
• Wednesday, July 29: Brazil by Group Vision Show
• Saturday, August 1: Canada by Archangel Fireworks

The fireworks will begin at 10pm each night - rain or shine.

Here are some helpful tips:

It the weather calls for rain, it's recommended to bring a hooded rain jacket with you. Leave the umbrellas at home, as they impede the view for other guests.

It's recommended to walk, bike or take public transportation to English Bay, as there will be major road closures from 730pm until 11pm.

To listen to the music simulcast, tune in to LG104.3FM - either on the radio or through their mobile app. To download for iPhone, click here. To download for Android, click here.

As an added bonus, there will be a free community concert series preceding the fireworks. SHOREFEST, presented by LG104.3FM, will be showcasing some of Canada's top musical talents on the Key Lounge stage at 830pm each night of the fireworks.

• Saturday, July 25: Platinum Blond
• Wednesday, July 29: Randy Bachman
• Saturday, August 1: Chilliwack

Follow all the excitement of BC's largest public event at #celeboflight!

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay in the loop with everything going on at the Hotel and around Vancouver!

Waterfront Cinema at Canada Place

Vancouver and summer outdoor movies go hand-in-hand like peanut butter and jelly.

This summer, there are plenty of FREE outdoor movie locations to choose from: EVO Summer Cinema Series at Second Beach in Stanley Park and various locations around Metro Vancouver.

If you're feeling nostalgic and are mobile, you can hit up the FREE drive-in movies at the River District or Lansdowne Centre in Richmond.

The closest outdoor movies, however, is literally right in our own backyard. Every Thursday evenings, from July 9 through to August 27, the Waterfront Cinema will take place at the North Point at Canada Place. (you can't get much closer than that!)

So, lay down your blankets or prop up your lawn chairs for this family-friendly event every week, starting at dusk.

Barring any inclement weather, the schedule is as follows:

• July 9 - Despicable Me
• July 16 - Austin Powers - The Spy Who Shagged Me
• July 23 - Mean Girls
• July 30 - The LEGO Movie
• August 6 - The Proposal
• August 13 - Back to the Future II
• August 20 - Dumb and Dumber
• August 27 - The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

See you at the movies, under the stars and by the water!

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Introducing the Newest Pan Pacific Vancouver Member

Pan Pacific Vancouver is pleased to introduce a new hire - Ling Chan, Social Media Manager! 

Ling will be managing the blog and social channels, bringing you all the latest news about the many exciting events at the hotel, as well as, featuring some of the 400+ amazing associates who work to make the Pan Pacific Vancouver one of the city's leading hotels.

Ling officially started on July 1st and to launch her new role, spent Canada Day at Canada Place, experiencing the crowds and festivities of the day. So Ling, without further ado, we pass the torch over to you!

Hello, everyone! My first day as Pan Pacific Vancouver's Social Media Manager and wouldn't you know it, that happened to be on Canada Day! A day in which over 450,000 proud Canadians descended on Canada Place for fireworks and holiday festivities.

While Vancouverites partook in the live musical acts, street hockey, circus performers and food cart, I was getting a behind-the-scenes orientation of the hotel.

I was welcomed warmly into the family by everyone. I met with the concierge, the valets, reservation agents, housekeeping department, servers, pastry chef (I may have even sampled the delicious biscotti), and security team - all dedicated staff who are committed to providing a superb hotel experience to guests.

I even got to explore "the bowels" of the hotel - a place guests rarely get to see.

Dinner at the Cafe Pacifica was delicious. An order of the cobb salad on a hot, summer day hit the spot, followed by a trio of sample-sized desserts of panna cotta, red velvet cake and creme brulee.

The highlight of the day was, of course, the fireworks. And what better place to watch than from the 8th floor swimming pool deck with unobstructed view? I joined the many hotel guests who oooh'd and ahhh'd at such a fantastic display.

Some photos from my first day:

What a wonderful way to welcome me into the family. I am thrilled to be a member of such an iconic hotel and I look forward to sharing with our dear readers the stories behind what makes Pan Pacific Vancouver such a wonderful place to work and stay at.