Winter Olympics

Top Fine Restaurants in Vancouver

Filed under: Dining

Watching the Olympics can be hungry work. These restaurants in Vancouver offer a wide sample of the best this city has to offer. Many of the restaurants listed below offer special reservations and menus for visitors in town for the Games.

West Restaurant + Bar
Recognized as the "jewel in Vancouver's culinary crown," West's outstanding contemporary regional cuisine and seamless service has garnered much critical acclaim. Pristine local ingredients are sourced by Executive Chef Warren Geraghty to deliver superbly conceived dishes offering modern interpretations of classics. 2881 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3J4, Canada‎ -(604) 738-8938‎

Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar
An anchor in Vancouver's culinary landscape, Blue Water Cafe + Raw Bar is lauded as the City's definitive destination for seafood. Executive Chef Frank Pabst brilliantly executes innovative West Coast plates, insisting on using seafood from wild and sustainable harvest. At the raw bar, cut master Yoshi Tabo has his own dedicated following for his expert sushi and sashimi. 1095 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5T4, Canada‎ -(604) 688-8078

The Pointe Restaurant at the Wickaninnish Inn
Chefs John Waller and Nicholas Nutting and their kitchen brigade serve outstanding Pacific Northwest cuisine in this charming restaurant. A focus on farm-fresh, organic Vancouver Island ingredients defines the experience at The Pointe Restaurant. Sublime dessert & extensive wine list. Spectacular view with over 240 degrees of Pacific Ocean. 500 Osprey Lane, Tofino, BC V0R 2Z0, Canada‎ -(250) 725-3100

Tags: british columbia, BritishColumbia, restaurants vancouver, RestaurantsVancouver, vancouver, winter olympics, winter olympics 2010, WinterOlympics, WinterOlympics2010

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Laphroaig Celebrates Scottish Heritage with Curling Partnership

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Sports

Talk about "Scotch on ice" - with the excitement of the 2010 Winter Olympics upon us, Laphroaig single malt Scotch is kicking off a year-long celebration of Scottish heritage with its official sponsorship of the United States Curling Association (USCA). At an event to kick off the partnership, bringing together two of the greatest traditions from Scotland – Laphroaig and curling – Scotch Malt Master Simon Brook (right) engaged guests in a Laphroaig tasting while Jessica Schultz (left), 2006 Winter Olympics Curling Team Member, led a hands-on curling demonstration.

Rich, smoky Laphroaig, established in 1815 on Islay, holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales and bears his heraldic three-feather badge on its label. "There are few brands out there that have as deep a Scottish history as Laphroaig," notes USCA President Leland Rich. "We are honored to have such a respected brand sponsor the United States Curling Association. This truly brings the spirit of the winter games to new heights." Often referred to as "chess on ice" or "winter golf," curling originated in Scotland in the 16th century.

Tags: curling, Islay, Laphroaig, Olympics, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Scotch, Scotland, single malt, United States Curling Association, UnitedStatesCurlingAssociation, Winter Olympics, winter sports, WinterOlympics, WinterSports

Luxurious Places To Stay in Vancouver

by Yevonne Hale (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

This month the world's eyes turn to Vancouver, British Columbia as the Winter Olympic games begin. Vancouver, being such a cosmopolitan city, offers the finest in the boutique hotel experience. We'll be looking at two very special boutique hotels that certainly set the pace.

The Wedgewood Hotel and Spa is the perfect combination of that luxury "get away from it all feeling" combining with all the convenience necessary for the business traveler. The lobby is beautifully appointed with overstuffed furniture, several antique pieces, original works of art, and an abundance of floral arrangements. The staff pays attention to every detail. They are well acquainted with the city, and will offer every assistance possible to make your stay an enjoyable one.

The hotel is small, and intimate in size with only 83 rooms, but huge on the amenities they offer. Each room has its own walk-out balcony, a large limestone shower, and a separate soaking tub. The rooms are also provided with plush bathrobes, towels, and slippers. If your aim is pleasure, begin to de-stress with the complimentary steam room, arrange a massage, or other spa service.

The Wedgewood is located in the heart of fashionable Robson Square providing Vancouver's best in restaurants and shopping, but the Wedgewood itself provides an excellent choice for dining in the Bacchus. The Bacchus cuisine is modern french, and offers a wide variety menu. For the best in luxury comfort, this is definitely one of the finest Vancouver has to offer.

Tags: british columbia, hotels, vancouver, winter olympics

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Whistler Blackcomb Facing Foreclosure Auction

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Next month's Winter Olympics have been anticipated for years in Whistler. But one resort is facing an unexpected snag, foreclosure. Whistler Blackcomb, which will be hosting part of next month's games may end up being auctioned off in the middle of the Olympics. The owner, private equity firm and hedge fund Fortress Investment Group, has failed to make payments on a $1.7 billion loan. The company bought resort operator Intrawest for $2.8 billion in 2006 back when everything was smooth sailing in the real estate world.

Flash forward to now and Fortress is trying to refinance the loan and lenders to Fortress have been publishing notices of foreclosure in places like the Wall Street Journal announcing a public auction of the assets of Intrawest which includes a bunch of winter resorts sprinkled across North America. The auction date of February 19 puts the sale of Whistler Blackcomb smack dab in the middle of the Olympics. Intrawest is said to be negotiating with the lenders but plans to continue with business as usual and the auction likely won't affect the running of the event. Intrawest properties also include the Whistler Sliding Centre, shown at right, which is the site of the Olympic bobsled and luge events.

The Globe and Mail reports that Intrawest ULC has sold its Panorama Mountain Village resort as part of its effort to stave off the auction. Panorama is located in eastern British Columbia and neither the buyer nor the price have been revealed. Intrawest already sold Copper Mountain in Colorado last November.

Tags: foreclosure, fortress, hotel foreclosure, HotelForeclosure, hotels in trouble, HotelsInTrouble, intrawest, OlympicGames, olympics, whistler, whistler blackcomb, WhistlerBlackcomb, winter olympics, WinterOlympics

Celebrating The Olympics In Whistler

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

If you were waiting to see if a friend, family member or favorite athlete makes it into the Olympics before booking a trip, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler wants people to know that it has accommodation available for select dates during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The Fairmont Chateau Whistler is at the base of Blackcomb mountain and guests can get to downhill Olympic events on Whistler Mountain by taking a 11-minute ride on the Peak 2 Peak gondola which connects the top of the two mountains. If you want to do your own skiing most of Blackcomb will still be open during the Olympics.

Accommodation at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler is available from February 11 to 28 and includes Fairmont, Deluxe and Deluxe Slopeside rooms, Suites and Fairmont Gold rooms. A three-night minimum stay is in effect on most dates. Rates start from CDN $899 per room per night and full prepayment for all reservations is required three days after time of booking and is non-refundable. Rooms at other Olympic adjacent properties, The Fairmont Vancouver Airport and The Fairmont Empress, Victoria also have availability. The Fairmont Vancouver Airport has Fairmont Gold rooms starting from CDN $599 per night with a minimum four-night stay and set arrival dates. Reservations must be fully prepaid at time of booking. The Fairmont Empress in Victoria located a floatplane ride away has all room categories available with no minimal night requirement.

Tags: fairmont chateau whistler, FairmontChateauWhistler, olympics, olympics hotels, OlympicsHotels, vancouver, winter olympics, winter olympics 2010, WinterOlympics, WinterOlympics2010

Your Second, Winter Olympic Home is Ready

by Jonathon Ramsey (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Real Estate Developments

Admit it, the biathlon has always fascinated you: skiing, spandex, and guns -- what's not to make a heart flutter? Vancouver, Canada isn't so bad either. With the Winter Olympics headed that way in sixty days you can add Granville Street and massive natural beauty to that fetching, dual-sport combination -- if only you had a place to stay...

Enter Evolution Whistler, a mountain home development just over a year old in the away-from-it-all Whistler Creekside. Evolution houses seventy residences from 590 sq. ft. up to 1,630 sq. ft., with 1 bed/ba units at the low end and 3 bed/ba units at the high. Some of them will be available during the Olympics, so when you're not slopeside at the ski jump or hoisting a nostalgic Jamaican flag at the bobsled, you can enjoy Evolution's own exercise facilities, outdoor sauna and hot tubs, or the eucalyptus steam room.

And if you decide you just can't get enough of Evolution or Vancouver, you can take a quarter ownership in one of Evolution's offerings -- there are 280 on offer -- with serious discounts from last year's The-Gods-Must-Be-Crazy prices. What better way could there be to remember the city where you jilted the biathlon and fell in love with the luge? (Don't worry, you will...)

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Tags: canada, evolution, olympic, vancouver, whistler, whistler blackcomb, WhistlerBlackcomb, winter olympics, WinterOlympics