Vancouver's Celebration of Light fireworks...

Unbeknownst to us this weekend, we arrived in Vancouver for the start of the Celebration of Light.

The first we heard about the yearly fireworks festival was from out taxi driver on the ride from the airport to out hotel in Downtown Vancouver.

The annual firework extravaganza is a competition between three countries and this year kicked off on Saturday night with China, followed by Spain and with Canada to finish later this coming week.

We were fortunate to join the thousands of spectators at English Bay Beach to watch the festivities kick off.

Not familiar with the proceedings, we watched from the road above rather than on the beach itself, as we hadn't arrived early enough to nab a prime viewing spot.

People had actually been camped out on the beach all day, enjoying the Summer sun until the 10pm show.

As you can see we still had a fantastic view of the Chinese fireworks display.

I cursed myself for not bringing my big Digital SLR camera to capture the light-show, so had to rely on my trusty Nikon Coolpix camera for these shots.

We won't get to see the next two shows, as we fly back to L.A. on August 3, but at least we were treated to this free twenty-five minute pyrotechnic spectacle.

We'll certainly know for next time. Enjoy this Celebration of Light...

Being a total tourist at Vancouver's Totem Poles...

This edition of Jason in Hollywood comes to you from Vancouver, on my very first visit across the border to Canada.

Imagine our surprise when we arrived yesterday to discover that not only is it a national holiday on Monday, but the annual Celebration of Light fireworks extravaganza kicks off tonight and it's also Vancouver's 33rd Gay Pride Parade tomorrow.

Sky Chief Pole

We couldn't have planned it better if we'd tried.

Not having a race to participate in or friends to visit we thought we'd follow our usual agenda and just meander through the streets of Downtown Vancouver, enjoying the local sights, sounds and eateries on offer.

Chief Skedans Mortuary Pole

With that in mind, this morning we headed off to Stanley Park for a relaxing stroll in the sunshine, admiring the snow-capped mountains in the distance and seaplanes arriving and departing from Coal Harbour.

Not far into our sojourn we came across British Columbia's most visited tourist attraction, the Indian totem poles at Brockton Point.

Obviously I couldn't resist taking a few photos for posterity.

We enjoyed the rest of the walk around the 8.5 km pathway along the Seawall to English Bay Beach where the fireworks display will be tonight.

It's the turn of the Chinese in the fireworks competition tonight, followed by Spain and host country Canada next week.

Kakaso' Las Pole

I'm sure the twenty-five minute show will be as colourful and creative as these totem poles.

Beaver Crest, Oscar Maltipi and Chief Wakas Poles

In the meantime I'm relaxing at the Shangri-La Hotel on the 9th floor of the 61-storey building in Downtown Vancouver, the tallest in the city.

Beaver Crest pole

It's not a bad life at all...

Stylish fashion and lifestyle billboards around L.A. in July...

After rounding up the coolest TV and film billboards around L.A. recently, today it's the turn of July's most stylish fashion and lifestyle billboards.

Fashion billboards

First up is this vibrant creative from Bebe which really pops along Sunset Boulevard.

Next is the chic stylings of Prada with their latest billboard ad.

Even though it's ultra stylish, Emporio Armani may have jumped the gun with this ad for their Fall/Winter 2011 line. Should they really be advertising winter coats in blazing sunshine in the height of Summer?

Guess opts for a retro look evoking Marilyn Monroe for their giant billboard at Sunset Boulevard and Doheny Road this month.

Calvin Klein continues their 'Box' campaign with a new creative. if you like this, be sure to also check out other CK One billboards at Daily Billboard.

Captain America himself, Chris Evans, and Evan Rachel Wood steam up the Sunset Strip with this fragrance billboard for Gucci Guilty Pour Homme.

And tattoos are always in fashion here in L.A., so here's a billboard for Body Electric Tattoo along Melrose Avenue.

Drinks billboards

In general people are not wearing that much in the hot Summer sun in L.A., especially at all the pool parties, but what they are doing is drinking, hence all the alcohol billboards around town this month.

This cool Corona Extra billboard looks inviting, mainly due to the beautiful sandy shoreline, but also that ice cold refreshing beer makes your mouth water (even if you don't like the taste).

Malibu tries to revitalise itself with a new 'Black' variant. Personally I've never liked the coconut taste.

I'm more a vodka connoisseur and Stoli has been advertising this month to compete with the recent glut of vodka brands like Skyy, Svedka, Belvedere, Absolut and Ciroc to name but a few, lining the skies of L.A. over recent months.

901 Silver Tequila adopts a smart and witty tagline for its new addition to the tequila market and apparently it mixes well.

Finally for drinks, this ad for Beau Joie champagne has been knocking around town for months now, so I couldn't resist capturing it before it disappeared, even if the billboard is a little uninspired and a tad old-fashioned.

Sports billboards

And to finish, I thought this tennis tournament billboard was very eye-catching and summed up the California setting with those palm trees at sunset. I'm also a sucker for ads with those special extensions which stick out beyond the dimensions of a standard billboard.

For more stylish billboards every day be sure to visit Daily Billboard and you can also follow Daily Billboard on facebook....

Cool movie, TV and music billboards around L.A. in July...

July has been a busy month for billboards with new and returning TV shows, summer blockbusters and more, creating an ever-changing skyline around L.A.

Sunset Strip July 2011

First up is a giant billboard for the final (eighth) season of Entourage, which is appropriately iconic.

Before Entourage, Curb Your Enthusiasm's eighth season billboard towered over the Sunset Strip with this fun Statue of Liberty homage.

Speaking of tributes, this My Little Pony 'Bridlemaids' parody of the recent Bridesmaids movie billboard was a favourite of mine.

Breaking Bad returned for a fourth season with this eye-catching yellow billboard, complete with danger signs, which really caught my eye.

More excitement came in the form of this cool Torchwood billboard for the fourth season of the Doctor Who spin-off and first to be co-produced by Starz and the BBC. Torchwood: Miracle Day is shaping up to be a great series, so let's hope it's a success and gets renewed.

Rizolli & Isles returned for a second season and the cute handcuff and scalpel earrings are a nice touch for the crime-solving duo if you look closely.

Not long now until my favourite reality show comes back for a ninth season. Heidi Klum and Tim Gunn certainly know how to brighten my Summer days with Project Runway. Make it work, indeed.

Finally for TV this month is another parody, this time for a new procedural crime comedy spinning out of Adult Swim's Childrens Hospital.

Be sure to check out even more television billboards from July 2011 at Daily Billboard.

Movie billboards

This cute billboard for The Smurfs really stood out this month, it's bright and vibrant and a fun homage to Charles Clyde Ebbets 'Lunchtime atop a Skyscraper' photograph from 1930's New York.

Captain America stood out patriotically over Sunset Plaza this month and I even got the change to attend the World Premiere of the movie which was amazing.

It's a really great Summer movie and makes me very excited for the forthcoming Avengers movie in 2012.

I loved the scenes-from-the-movie style of Crazy Stupid Love billboards this month. Be sure to check out all four creatives for the film and more movie billboards from July 2011 at Daily billboard.

Music billboards

In case you couldn't tell from the billboard, Beyonce has a new album out called '4'.

Performing Arts billboards

Shrek: The Musical is in town this month at The Pantages Theatre and had this fun billboard in Studio City.

Theme Park billboards

And finally, Universal Studios Hollywood advertised it's money-off entry promotion with Coca-Cola with this fantastic King Kong ride billboard which looks like it's crashing out the side of this building. If you like this, be sure to check out their King Kong 3D billboard installation which actually has real mannequins hanging from it - it's pretty cool.

Stay tuned for July's fashion and lifestyle billboards from around L.A...