126 replies to this topic

[Nparker]

Some south of the border promotion for the dowager of the Inner Harbour. 

https://youtu.be/-vyecMjgivM

[AllseeingEye]

I wonder if they got rid of the rats since I worked there. ....

As for the reno, I have to admit that the moose head on he front desk is a nice touch

When did you work there and in which department manuel? Is that a talking moose-head, one that speaks "gooood Eenglish?"

 

When I was there 1983-5 working my way through UVic the big issue was the indestructible cockroach population that infested the old main kitchen. For fun staff would chase them down and pour melted candle wax on them - then scrape up the wax at the end of their shift hours later and sure enough the little buggers would scurry off completely no worse for wear....

[Nparker]

...Is that a talking moose-head, one that speaks "gooood Eenglish?" ....

He learned it from a buuuk.

[VicHockeyFan]

When did you work there and in which department manuel? Is that a talking moose-head, one that speaks "gooood Eenglish?"

 

When I was there 1983-5 working my way through UVic the big issue was the indestructible cockroach population that infested the old main kitchen. For fun staff would chase them down and pour melted candle wax on them - then scrape up the wax at the end of their shift hours later and sure enough the little buggers would scurry off completely no worse for wear....

 

It's no secret to most in the industry that we have a pretty serious rodent and cockroach problem in town.  It's contained, and will never be defeated.  But nobody is all that worse off for it I don't think.

[AllseeingEye]

It's no secret to most in the industry that we have a pretty serious rodent and cockroach problem in town.  It's contained, and will never be defeated.  But nobody is all that worse off for it I don't think.

Still it was weird if not somewhat disconcerting to see one of those industrial litre-sized mayonnaise containers filled to the brim with 'defunct' cockroaches meanwhile not 50 feet away on the other side of a wall people were happily and blissfully enjoying their expensive meal, heh. As you say its very likely much more common than most consumers care to admit.

 

Was sitting inside Bridges bar/restaurant on Granville Island a few years ago in summer when they literally roll the west facing wall back and link the inside part of the bar to the outside patio. G-I is infamous for its rats and sure enough in spite of the joint being stuffed with probably 300 humans, presumably because of the aroma of food in came waltzing papa, mama and a bunch of baby rats not the least bit timid nor afraid - never saw so many people get so vocal, so excited and jump so high so fast in my life.

[HB]

Now that the tourist season is over the $40 Million reno is resuming.

The temp fencing is now up and soon the scaffolding will return.

I sure hope they continue purging the hotel of the remaining Ivy on the 1989 addition where the lobby is

 

[Mike K.]

I was talking to one of the guys involved and they anticipate another seven or eight months of work.

[HB]

Yes that is accurate they are somewhere near the halfway point. The plan was to stop everything in June so as not to disrupt the tourist season then carry on again Oct to June 2017

[tedward]

I sure hope they continue purging the hotel of the remaining Ivy on the 1989 addition where the lobby is

 

I seem to recall that earlier news items mentioned that the ivy on the "new" lobby was a different species and was not only going to stay but be introduced to the renovated section as it was less damaging.

 

The building looks wrong without ivy to me.

[57WestHills]

Any idea if the skating rink is returning?

[HB]

it didnt last year and highly unlikely this year due to the ongoing renovations...this year will be cold so some of the farmers fields will freeze

[Nparker]

it didnt last year and highly unlikely this year due to the ongoing renovations...

My thoughts as well. Funny, one of my co-workers asked me this exact question earlier today.

[lanforod]

it didnt last year and highly unlikely this year due to the ongoing renovations...this year will be cold so some of the farmers fields will freeze

La Nina apparently was a bust, so we are more likely to have a normal, mild winter. Still, I wouldn't be surprised to get a cold snap, it's been a while for one those.

[Mike K.]

We could do with a nice chill for a couple of weeks.

[mbjj]

I'm surprised that as the front of the hotel looks so bare and stark without some plantlife that they didn't put up planters full of flowers on that long balcony over the front entrance. Many hotels have that in Europe and it certainly improves the appearance.

[sdwright.vic]

Bare and stark to some is clean and crisp to others!

[Gary H]

Wow, they're making some substantial changes to the lobby by removing a huge chunk of the mezzanine - that's going to open it up and make it feel really spacious.  Putting a gigantic 6m wide, 1,300 kg chandelier in the middle will make it even more Trump like luxurious.

 

I grabbed a couple of frames from the time-lapse that's part of the TC article - and there's still more mezzanine to remove.  http://www.timescolo...ation-1.2404240

 

 

 

Edited by Gary H, 03 November 2016 - 11:06 AM.

[Nparker]

I'm a little surprised not to have seen any discussions about this on yet on VV .

http://www.timescolo...s-off-1.4007168

I like it. The main entrance needs to be grander. It's not as though a "porte cochere" isn't already an element of the hotel

 

ps: now bring back the Bengal Lounge and all will be forgiven. 

[Jill]

I think that will be a huge improvement to the underwhelming "new" lobby.

[Bingo]

I like everything that has happened at the Empress since Bosa took over. It's just that simple.