Once Upon a Time in Steveston

Are you swept up in the excitement generated by the TV series Once Upon a Time?

I admit it. I enjoy sitting on my sofa and spotting all the familiar scenes as they parade across the screen. Like a child on Disneyland's Main Street USA, I find myself pointing out a street corner here and a shop there, with widened eyes and unbridled delight.

On a few occasions, when shooting was in progress, I felt minor annoyance as traffic officers waved my car off Moncton Street. But, I suppose that's the price we pay for having our stomping ground under Hollywood's glamorous spotlight. And the inconvenience is well worth it when you realize that weeks, perhaps months later, glimpses of your 'hood will be broadcast internationally through billions of flat screen TVs and , may be, even handheld devices.

And the production company has been more than accommodating to casual passersby, never barring us from getting too close to the crew and their tangle of equipment. Sometimes those posted as sentries on the sidewalks would ask us to pause until someone of authority would clear the pavement for foot traffic. I often wonder what they would do if I were to suddenly give a loud cough in the middle of a movie shoot.

It's really quite amazing how they can transform Steveston to Storybrooke by sprucing up some of the local stores and buildings. Which gave me an idea...

Given that I have been capturing Steveston's historical buildings and landmarks for close to two years now, why not start a Storybrooke line, featuring - ta da! - the TV version of our familiar haunts.

In this post, I will show images that are unique to the show itself, such as:



Mr. Gold - considering how much gold is worth today, he would be the richest man in Storybrooke. OK, second only to King Midas.



Worthington's Haberdashery - offering a whiff of nostalgia. I bet only those who had lived through a more genteel era would know what a haberdasher is.

And...



Storybrooke pets shelter - a place that would be dear to animal-loving Stevestonites - which is just about everyone I know.

In the next post, I will show familiar buildings and landmarks as they appear in Steveston and in Storybrooke. You can compare how the TV production professionals have transformed our little corner of the world into a fairy tale world. Stay tuned!

It's a doggie dog world in Steveston

It’s not Paris but dogs are obviously very near and dear to the Stevestonite heart.

Just take a walkabout on a sunny day and your legs might get tangled up in a leash or two.



A short jaunt past the waterfront restaurants and you risk kicking stainless steel water dishes and even a doggie biscuit.

And guess what’s the most popular ice breaker when two dog walkers come head to head on the street?



I don’t know how many canines call Steveston home and the ratio of owners to dogs, but a friend hires herself out as a pet boarder and care-giver. Let’s just say that if she were to strike the word “no” from her vocabulary, she would spend her days – and evenings – jogging beside, tripping over, and having her shoulders pulled out of their sockets by a convoy of canines. Or even by one solitary pooch. There is no shortage of clients, it seems.

For those of you who are ailurophiles, take heart. Steveston is not an exclusive bark community. Now and then, you can see a furry face with whiskers atwitchin' in a window.



Or see a bushy striped tail brushing past someone’s flowerbed. But cats prefer to preserve their dignity by keeping a low profile.

I often bemoan the fact that mine refuses to walk beside me on a leash, peek out of a pet tote, ponder the road ahead from a bicycle basket, or just press itself next to my ankles while I read a book in an outdoor café.

Instead, he prefers his own company. In fact, his favourite indoor activity is to perch himself atop his favourite stool and spy on Mr. Crow or Mr. Squirrel on our front lawn - while his whiskers tremble and his tail swishes back and forth.

An early Steveston Christmas greeting!

Some of you will be going through this front door in the coming weeks.

You will be hugging Christmas cards and parcels as you figure out whether you have enough days till December 25th.

I was walking past this beloved landmark when I decided to deck it out in seasonal decorations and see what happens.

First I came up with a postcard:



Then I added a dolly and a couple of parcels and made up a Christmas art card:



If you like them and want to send them out to spread some Christmas cheer, they are available for sale.

I will be participating in the South Arm Community Association Christmas Craft Fair on November 19th and the Steveston Community Centre Christmas Craft Fair on November 26th.

If you can't make it on both days, no worries - just email me through this website and we can make it happen.

Hope to see you at the fair!

If not, let's plan to bump into each other in the post office.

Bare Basics: silk, lace, and a lot of spirit

Looking into Bare Basics' front windows is like peeking into the pages of the Victoria Secret's catalog.

Only better.

You still get to see some lovey lacy lingerie, but without the gorgeous models that make you feel, well, less than perfect.

There is nothing judgmental about a set of mannequins. And you can actually imagine yourself wearing the same things that they do, well, may be not the more skimpy ones. Not me, anyway.



Those belong on long and lean ladies, like this one...



I find Bare Basics' window displays very pleasing to the eyes.



One in particular, really lit the entire village's imagination. Was it just the 2010 Olympics spirit that had its grip on all of us British Columbians?



I may be biased but, I think that Bare Basics' display trumped all the others. Who else could have expressed our pride and hope with nothing more than feather boas and lace.