Opening ceremonies in Vancouver - awesome...Canadian cuisine a big hit...

VANCOUVER – I've done a few of these, and I still get goosebumps - chicken skin if you like - at an Opening Ceremonies for the Olympics.

Yeah, some of it's sappy. But it's also cool. And say you weren't moved when Canadians gave the Georgian team a huge ovation when they marched in to the BC Place Stadium, just hours after one of their eight athletes was killed in a horrible accident in Whistler.

Lots of colour and drama in the introductory part of the show. I'd still love for VANOC chair John Furlong to stand up and welcome the Americans and tell them he hopes they enjoyed their four minutes of speedskating training at the Richmond Oval, but it's kinda unlikely.

Some cool moments; the snowboarder leaping thru the Oly rings was awesome. But seeing Clara Hughes carry in the Canadian flag was a huge thrill. She's as good as it gets as athletes go, and the crowd was NUTS.

Okay, there was something like the Coca Cola polar bear to wonder about. And, sorry, but those giant silver totems that slowly arose at the start looked, well, rather phallic. (And, yes, my children will HATE me for writing that. It embarrases them so).

I thought Sarah McLachlan looked kinda cute for a girl. And Bryan Adams and Nelly Furtado were rocking pretty good, although a friend thought her lip-synching was just off just a smidge.

Canoes, awesome fiddlers (Maritime Visigoths, someone next to me who shall remain nameless but is a columnist for the Globe and Mail named Christie).

Lots of cool stuff here, folks. Check Rosie DiManno's column in the Star on Saturday for lots of colour. And be sure to check out the photos from awesome shooters Steve Russell and Richard Lautens, too. Not to mention Rick Madonik, Randy Risling, Tara Walton and Rick Eglinton.

Great idea to have Rick Hansen, Wayne Gretzky, Nancy Greene Raine, Catriona LeMay Doan and Steve Nash all involved at the end. But too bad one of the hydraulic lifts appeared to falter, leaving only three folks out there to light the inside cauldron. A shame. But still a nice night, and something we'll remember for a long, long, long, long time..

CANADIAN CUISINE ROCKIN THE FREE WORLD?

I’m still full.

 

Thursday morning the folks at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada put on a terrific display of this country’s diverse food and beverage products, offering breakfast to a whole whack of media types and other hangers-on at the Pan Pacific Hotel.

 

The spread was remarkable. I had oatmeal-crusted French toast stuffed with blueberry, mint and crème cheese with a berry compote and a side of apple cider-braised pork sausage.

Chef Donna Dooher of Mildred’s Temple Kitchen in the west end of Toronto made a cumin-scented dosa with Canadian chickpea and buckwheat flours, wrapped around a sweet potato and roasted onion curry. Yum.

 

There was lots of seafood, of course, including salmon and Maritime lobster. And good old Alberta steak, too.

All in all, a nice way to start the day.

 

Of course, today is the big day. Arnold is carrying the torch for California, although we can't imagine why Vancouver organizers asked him. I can't see the relay from my hotel window but I can hear a bit of commotion and horn honking. Oh, wait, there's a big crowd gathering below my hotel on W. Georgia St., with lots of red-and-white fleece and flag waving and such. Here's a quick pic:

 

 

I'll be at the opening ceremony tonight (I know, lucky me), helping columnist Rosie DiManno and likely twittering for anyone who isn't watching on TV, and I can't imagine who that might be. I'll try to sneak in a couple photos, too.

 

HERE'S THE STORY, OF A LOVELY COUNTRY...

 

Good bit in the LA Times the other day by columnist Chris Erskine, who wrote that if the Brady Bunch had their own country, it would be Canada.

It's a great thought, although I can't quite picture who would play Marsha. Anyway, Erskine did a fine job, talking about how landing in Vancouver is "like landing on a piece of jewelry."

How's that for a nice mental picture?

 

PAINTING THE TOWN PINK

 

So, American skate Johnny Weir says he had to rush out and buy pink bathmats and candles so his room would smell nice. And he says he couldn’t POSSIBLY have roomed with a guy at the Vancouver Games but is thrilled to be sharing accommodations with Kingston-born Tanith Belbin. I know some some hate the guy, but I find him rather amusing.

 

HUDSONS  BAY SOIREE

 

Nice party Thursday night at the Hudsons Bay store in downtown Vancouver. Michael Ignatieff made an appearance, which I just missed.

But there were lots of athlete types and more than a few good-looking men and women.

Store officials said there was an hour lineup Thursday to get into the official Olympic Spirit shop at the store.

Yeah, this town’s pumped, all right.