Holland Heineken House and Me...

by Lisa Ovens

I am still feeling the effects from my time spent at Holland Heineken House on Friday. It was the "Hockey & High Heels House" party, and let's just say I really showed up. As a long time lover of Heineken Beer, it was my night to shine in the happening house at the O Zone.

It's funny but today I read some reviews of HHH, and I was surprised at some of the negativity I saw. From the gate keepers, to the Lodge Restaurant staff, to the bands on stage, I was happy with their service. And those tiny glasses of beer? Well for my small hands they were perfect (don't ask me how many I drank though).

I should say we had dinner reservations, so we were able to by pass waiting in line, and I am sure the perpetual line up in front of HHH might contribute to a negative experience. But here's something people should know...2010 Vancouver's Holland Heineken House is one of the most popular ones ever (and HHH has been an Olympic staple since 1992) Check out this quote...

"We try to make operations as smooth as possible, but we've been embraced by Canada and overwhelmed at times. This is one of the most popular Heineken Houses ever." - Heineken spokesman Freek de Wetta
click here for the full article, Molson Hockey House vs. Holland Heineken House

We dined and drank. We drank and danced. We danced and laughed and made some new friends. The band, De Coronas really contributed to the party atmosphere, and those adorable $15 dollar orange hats have something to do with the fun loving, upbeat mood as well.

So happy I made that reservation last month!

Train ride home was a riot - our car sang three songs  Oh Canada, This land is Your Land, and an instrumental rendition of the theme from Hockey Night in Canada.

Lisa Ovens' 2010 Winter Olympics Bucket List

By Lisa Ovens

Back in October I began a list of things to accomplish before the 2010 Winter Olympics end. Sure the list has things like magically scoring free tickets to events like the Opening/Closing Ceremonies, the Women’s and Men’s Gold Medal Hockey Games. Some of it was more like a wish list, while other items involved some work.

After reviewing my list the other day, well, things are not going so well for my bucket list. Here’s the list....

Lisa Ovens' 2010 Winter Games Bucket List

1) Have my hockey art hanging in Molson Hockey House (click here for my art gallery)




2) Spend a day in Molson Hockey House (but get in for free)


3) Watch a Hockey game from the lux perches of the Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge


4) Get a gig reporting from the games, in addition to my work here at 2010 and High Heels


5) Win a Trip to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games


6) Have an Olympic Fling with a sexy and single French Canadian man “Behind the Rings”!

7) Go To Whistler without a single ticket to an event


8) Enjoy a Cold Heineken over dinner with friends at reserved table at the Lodge Restaurant in Holland Heineken House


9) Have my very own Hockey and High Heels House



Here are the updates...

Art in Hockey House

I did try to do this, but I did not succeed. I contacted Molson Blogger/Twitter Adam Moffat and asked about displaying my work. Within seven minutes he responded, and within 30 minutes, the assistant producer from Vision Co, the Toronto based PR/ branding firm contacted me and requested to see some of my hockey art. Now, even though my art was ultimately turned down (mostly bureaucratic reasons), at least this Big Toronto Company gave a little guy like me a chance, and I am very appreciative of Vision Co for doing that.
Remember what Wayne Gretzky said...“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” I’m sure Molson Hockey House is going to look fabulous.
Be in Molson Hockey House...for free

Okay, I humored myself thinking if my Hockey Art got in, well that would be an automatic buy for me to get in...

Game at 2010 Premier Lounge

So far, I haven’t seen these expensive tickets drop down in price to $0, but here’s hoping...

Get a Gig Reporting from the Games

I tried here, too. I entered a video into a Petro Canada Family Correspondents contest, but I didn’t win. It would have been pretty cool, but I am excited for the winners and will follow them as they follow our Canadian Winter Olympic athletes. At least I still have this blog, and my beautiful followers around the world...hi beautiful followers...thanks for your support ;o)

Win a Trip to Vancouver

Now before you all say “But Lisa, you are already in Vancouver”, let explain my stance. You know that old saying “be a tourist in your own town?” Well, I’m just trying to exercise that popular expression! Weirder things have happened. Downed by the Petro Canada Contest again...winning the Petro Canada contest would have made this bucket item come true as that was part of the prize...

Olympic Fling with sexy, single, French Canadian man

Hey, can’t be the athletes in the Village getting all the action, many of us civilians are, and to put a spin on the Bode Miller quote, keen on cuddling at the "Olympic level". Now this item is cascading (just like buying Olympic tickets online) meaning Feb 12th...he’s a sexy, single French Canadian man. Feb 19th, he’s a boom microphone operator from the Mid West and his nickname is Frenchie. Feb. 28th he’s a man and hopefully has a part time job ;o)

Go To Whistler without a single event ticket

This would be fun...who doesn't love Whistler when there is a big event going on? The whole village is one big hospitality house! I was in Whistler watching the 2002 Salt Lake City Men's Gold Medal Hockey game when Team Canada won Gold. Of course this time could prove to be a logistical nightmare for me.
Here's hoping!

Reserved Table at Holland Heineken House
Done!


Hockey and High Heels House

I had this idea a few years back, have my own Hospitality House, in a white tent, and throw a super fun party! But, sadly my mom got sick and I needed to be with her as much as possible over a year’s time as she fought cancer. Recently she passed away. There was no time to plan the house. But I have a house now, however it's a little small...and its secret nickname is Stella’s House (my wonderful mom’s name). Perhaps with a little work, I can grow it bigger...

Olympic Ticket Update

Email message from vancouver2010.com...

Phase 3 Tickets On Sale November 7



The third and final phase of Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games tickets will go on sale to Canadian residents on Saturday, November 7 at 10:00 am (Pacific Time). What will be available? More than 100,000 tickets to Olympic events in city venues plus thousands of great seats to cheer on our Paralympic athletes in ice sledge hockey, alpine skiing and more!

Locals' Ticket Offer


For one weekend only, "locals" from Squamish to Mt. Currie will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase Whistler-based Olympic tickets.

Step 1: Pre-register your ticketing account by October 23 at 7:00 pm (Pacific Time)
Step 2: Purchase your Whistler Olympic tickets from October 24 at 10:00 am to October 25 at 5:00 pm
Step 3: Celebrate! Get two tickets to a Whistler Victory Ceremony!*

*Visit vancouver2010.com/tickets for more information and conditions, or check out the FAQs to learn more!


Pre-Sale Offer: Molson Canadian Hockey House

Vancouver 2010 account holders have been offered the chance to purchase individual day passes for Molson Canadian Hockey House at Concord Place Exposition and Activity Zone prior to the general public. This is a great chance to experience an unprecedented venue that will feature 80,000 square feet of club space, gourmet dining, entertainment, giant high-definition screens, celebrities, hockey legends and heroes from Team Canada past and present as well as live music.

Molson Canadian Hockey House: Canada's Biggest Hockey Party Ever

by Lisa Ovens

photo by Lisa Ovens

Here's more Olympic hockey news...Molson Canadian announced details regarding the 81,000 square foot Hockey House being built just a slap shot away from Canada Hockey Place. This hockey party place features...

- 57,000 square foot sports bar/ restaurant with a 2000 person capacity
- Three 40 foot High Definition TV screens
- Tyler Stewart, drummer, the Bare Naked Ladies appointed as entertainment director, with performances from comedians, Brent Butt and Sean Cullens
-Trevor Linden and Stan Smyl are house ambassadors
- Former NHL stars will drop by at game time. (Paul Coffey, Cam Neely, Luc Robitaille, Peter Mahovlich, Danny Gare and Russ Courtnall)
- Karaoke, comedy and beer...lots of beer
- A Wolfgang Puck Catering menu - is anyone chuckling at this yet? Hockey is played with a puck...Hockey House chef's last name is Puck...anyone...Bueller? Oh, I guess everyone is still in shock over the $500 ticket price.

Yes, a one day pass at M.C. Hockey House will set you back $500.00. However, for that $500 dollar ticket you can arrive at 11:00 am, eat, drink, cheer, dance, drink and sing your face off and then shut'er down at 2:00 am when the joint closes. Think of it like a serious party day at an all inclusive resort in Mexico but instead of the beach, swim up bar, sunshine, and nearly naked bodies, you get better quality food, lots of over sized jerseys, a bald guy named Tyler, and two chubby faced guys named Brent Butt and Sean Cullen.

Have I got you excited about this yet? So excited that you want to sign up for the full meal deal, a 17 day pass at da House? The pass costs $8500.00 and with that you'll get your own private booth along with the food, beer, and entertaining bald and chubby guys. This seriously is Hockey in Canada, folks.

Okay, I am teasing the entertainment guys a bit. Doesn't mean I don't want to check out the Hockey House, though! I love the idea of such a huge dedicated hockey space. And if ticket sales are slow we can expect the price to drop, which is good.

This will be the largest temporary building/ pavillion ever built in Canada. 15,000 square feet of this space will be sacred hockey ground: Hockey Canada's Olympic Headquarters. That's right, a portion of the house is reserved for our Team Canada (women's and men's) and their families. It will be their place to kick back and chill out. The International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) will have a cozy 9000 square feet to call their own as well.

photo by Lisa Ovens

If I remember correctly, the Hockey House decor will include hockey art. Now, if I can't manage to get inside the Hockey House for some serious indoor hockey fun, I would like to at least see my hockey art hanging on a wall. These are my second and third Olympic Challenges:

Lisa's Olympic Challenges

Spend a day at Molson Canadian Hockey House
Get the person  in charge of decor to accept a piece of my hockey art for display
Watch a game from the perches of the Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge

Wish me luck ;o)

To see more of Lisa's hockey art, please visit her online art gallery, Mesh Galleria at hockeyandhighheels.com

Fan's of Lisa's hockey art are invited to purchase a Mesh Galleria blank greeting card set available exclusively at The Shop at hockeyandhighheels.com