Lisa's Whistler Advice for Luger, Reagan Lauscher

By Lisa Ovens

Whistler Mountain, as seen from Meadow Park Sports Centre photo: Lisa Ovens

It’s been a catty couple of days in Luge Land. Canadian Olympian luger/ journalist, Reagan Lauscher lashed out at Olympic Host town, Whistler, BC for not ladling out the 2010 love. What she wrote in her blog did turn into some sort of Whistler/ Vancouver, BC vs. Calgary, Alberta rant, so I am a little unclear on what is really going on up there in the mountains.

As reported in her CTV.ca blog, Lauscher and friends (or entourage...its unclear) received criticism on their equipment etiquette from local Whistler gym users at Meadow Park Sports Centre, leaving the luger lonesome for Cowtown (Calgary...her hometown) and seriously questioning the spirit of British Columbia.

My advice to Lauscher is simple: You are new to Whistler and may not be aware of the changes the community has endured over the years. The lean years with lousy snow falls, and then the NHL lock out. Not to mention the invasion of retail chain stores, killing off the mom and pop businesses. And then there was the great weed drought of 2003 (okay, I’m kidding on that one).

You may have experienced the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. But remember, that was a much bigger city absorbing Olympic sized aches and pains, and not a small resort town home to just 10, 000 people.

Remember Reagan, you are a free woman, with your own passport and the opportunity you have had to follow your dreams was unimpeded by no one. And by no one I mean governments, military, religious leaders, laws or dictators.

And you are letting a few Whistler “Nimby’s" get to you?

Reagan, please go into your purse right now, and get that Canadian Passport out, open it up and look at that picture. There you are, a free woman living your dream. Your time in Whistler is temporary, and it will fly by. Before you know it, you’ll be back in Calgary. And hopefully showing off a beautiful gold medal.

If that pep talk doesn’t work, and you are still homesick, I don’t know...try the Longhorn? Or hit The Keg for a big, juicy steak?

   _____________________________________________________________________________

Note from Lisa...

I realize all prior posts here at 2010 and High Heels have focused on 2010 in Vancouver, but that doesn't mean I am forgetting Whistler, the co-host city. I have been visiting Whistler since 1987, on recreational, business and creative trips. I have plenty of Whistler content I am putting together to feature over several "Whistler Weeks" leading up to the 2010 games.

Look up....Wa-a-a-a-y Up....It's the Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge

by Lisa Ovens

I caught the Vancouver Canucks home opener on Monday night, and took a pic of what will be the Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge during the 2010 Winter Olympics Mens and Womens ice hockey touraments.

If you are not sure where it is, look at the United States flag. Now look slightly down from that and you'll see the two levels (the top level has a white underbelly). People with vertigo issues may want to pass on this location and try to find something a little lower.

Friday October 9th is the last day for Canuck season ticket holders to take advantage of Olympic ice hockey pre-sale ticket packages for the Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge. For more information on the Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge, please click here.

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 

It's Starting...

by Lisa Ovens

                                photo: Lisa Ovens

I spent some time in the newly expanded 2010 Winter Olympics Superstore at The Bay downtown this afternoon. If there are Vancouverites out there who need a shot of 2010 fever, this is the place to get it.

La Superboutique Olympique (en Francais)  is colourful, hot, cool and cozy all at the same time. I felt so, so athletic cruising through the aisles. It might have been the pumpin'  DJ tunes, or maybe the oversized images of snowboarders and skiiers that put me in such a great state of mind. Seeing the downtown store decked out like this should convince the locals that the pre-Olympic build up is in full swing.

photo: Lisa Ovens

The Canadian Olympic Team apparel section was missing something. Where are the sweaters?

I asked a staff member about the status on the sweaters. She said as of saturday afternoon they were sold out, along with the matching toques. Wow, all gone in two and a half days! There are two versions of the sweater: machine made (CDN $125) and hand knitted (CDN $350). She didn't have an E.T.A. on the next shipment.

I didn't have time to try on the clothes, but here is a guy's perspective on how he felt donning the cool threads.....

"As soon as you pull on these colours, you think about Canada and what it stands for - quiet determination, hard work and sharing the load... These are values all Canadians share. You think of heros like Gordie Howe, Terry Fox and Rick Hansen."  -Steve Yzeman, Executive Director Canadian Men's Olympic Hockey team

Canadian Athletes...this is your look....and ours too!

By Lisa Ovens

This is good. Not only do I love the new look for our Canadian Winter Olympic athletes, but I'm very impressed with the man modeling the collection! Steve Yzerman, you are looking very good!

Just for the female readers, at 2010andhighheels, I give you the guys. This cozy and sporty collection is only available at The Bay and Zellers stores. Check out the Bay's website here.

To see more and read the story behind the clothing, please visit olympic.ca    

The sweater below reminds of a beautiful Cowichan sweater my grandma knitted for me when I was 12 years old. I still have the sweater, correction, my sister has had it for like, the last ten years!

Now that we know what we are wearing this winter, The Hudson's Bay Company wants to know what we're made of. This is a cool contest....

Hey Canada, what are YOU made of?

Upload a story, photo or video. The best entry will win a trip for two to the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games to watch the men’s gold medal ice hockey game, including flights, cash, 2010 Canadian Olympic Team Apparel and more!

Time to unleash your creativity, Canadians...check out the contest, and the latest entries at whatareyoumadeof.hbc.com



The Launch
 Here is a photo from the launch event earlier today at the 2010 Olympic store in the downtown Hudson's bay store. Unfortunately, yours truly wasn't able to attend, but I talked about it all day!

photo credits: olympic.ca, globaltv

One Way to Move it and Shake it during the Men’s and Women’s Olympic Hockey Tournaments

By Lisa Ovens

In order to find new streams of revenue, the Vancouver Canucks began construction on a new club section high above the ice, close to the General Manager’s box. The Best Buy Club, formerly known as  the“Top Shelf Club” (great name by the way; not only is it a goal scoring reference, but this club is literally located on the top shelf, level 500 of GM Place) is an exclusive place offering food and beverages , a concierge all included in the member ticket prices (I know what some of you are thinking: a perfect place for rich, douchebag guys... haha!).

During the 2010 Winter Games, the club will become “The Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge,” and if you were not able to score any hockey tickets during the pre-sale phases, this lounge could be your in. But, only after Canucks season ticket holders are done purchasing the packages. They were given first crack, and they have until October 9th, 2009 to buck up. And buck up they will.

Check out the packages, which include Men’s and some Women’s Olympic Tournament games. Seating is limited to 188 seats.

Prices (includes food, non alcoholic beverages, a Team Canada jersey, concierge, and chefs, yes, there will be chefs up there)

Full package 33 games —  $9750 per seat (includes men’s gold medal game)

Half package 16 games — $4500 per seat

Sport package 8 games — $2400 per seat

If there are any Men’s Gold Medal game tickets remaining in the Premier Lounge, there will be a lottery held for Half and Sport Packages holders. Lottery Winners will be able to purchase those remaining Men’s Gold Medal game tickets for $900 each.

Lisa's Tiny Rant

Just one tiny thing I consider controversial here, and I found it in the marketing materials: They push the men’s hockey as the big benefit (Follow your favorite NHL players as they compete for their country..., ... Coveted men’s gold medal game). The only time they mention the women’s hockey is in the package game lists. Come on, copy writers...this is Canada, it was our women that brought the Gold home from Torino last time, not the guys for crying out loud!!!

Half Pack 2 and Sport Pack D both include the Women’s Gold game. I’m sorry, but if the Women’s Team Canada wins Gold in Vancouver, mark my words, everyone in the arena, including you big tough guy hockey fans (and you douchebag guys, nursing the Grey Goose in your high ball glass, wearing your D&G sunglasses up there in the 2010 Premier Lounge) will be balling your eyes out with tears of joy, hearts all a glow, and you will never, ever forget such a monumental moment and feeling. Therefore it is only logical to promote the heck out of female players, too.

End tiny rant.

I have to admit, I'd love to be up in the Vancouver 2010 Premier Lounge for any Olympic game...or more. The question is how to get there. Now there's a challenge...

What to Wear: Canadian Olympic Athlete Uniforms to be revealed

By Lisa Ovens

A big Olympic happening will be going down on Thursday Oct. 1st, 2009 at the Hudson’s Bay Department store, downtown Vancouver. It’s time to see what Canadian Winter Olympic Athletes will be wearing at the games. Plus, the store is now decorated with huge Olympic Banners I am told (I will get pics very soon).

The Canadian Olympic Team Style Kits will be revealed with pumping DJ Music (DJ Hedspin) in the background, and guest appearances from the Cowboy Junkies at 12:15pm (remember them?), singer Dan Mangan at 3:30pm and Sam Roberts Band (5pm- don’t be late for the bearded one)

The first 500 people who show up at noon at the concierge desk will receive a free toque!

OMG, it’s going to be a “love it hate it weekend” I can see it all now!!

Just a heads up, but this Olympic clothing event does happen on the same day as Opening night of the NHL season on Hockey Night in Canada. Early game: Montreal Canadiens at Toronto Maple Leafs 4:15 pm PST. Vancouver Canucks at Calgary Flames 7pm PST.

So, it’s a tough choice for some: Free Sam Roberts concert in a store, or Habs and Leafs on the tube....