by Joy Metcalfe
(click images to enlarge)

THE BAYSHORE TURNS 65

It's hard to believe that the elegant Bayshore Hotel is sixty-five years old this month.

Inside the seaside structure, you are away from the endless noise of traffic, in the lap of everything elegant. Welcoming, along with an air of subtle refinement. Being on the waterfront enhances the fresh feeling of freedom and newness.

That's what initially attracted Hollywood's John Wayne, aka The Duke.

At 6 feet 4 inches and brawny to boot, he was starring successfully in such movies as True Grit, The Quiet Man, The Alamo, and Reap the Wild Wind and, when not filming, he loved sailing the scenic West Coast.

In 1962, John bought a former WW2 Minesweeper, reconditioned and refurbished and renamed Grey Goose. One of his favourite yearly stops while sailing along the west coast was The Bayshore Resort and Marina, and especially Trader Vic's where the entire staff of the beloved restaurant, especially Stan Yip and Larry Wong (who were awarded the Lifetime Award for Service at the hotel's 40th anniversary) waited in anticipation.

Off John would come from the big boat, happy, happy, along with his celebrity pals and two bottles of tequila, one in each hand, before settling down at his favourite table and happily tucking into his favourite Green Goddess Chicken Salad.

What brought John Wayne to mind is that the Bayshore Hotel will be celebrating its 65th birthday on Wednesday, September 9. That, and the fact that John's former Grey Goose yacht was found drifting in the San Juan Islands just a few years ago.

It was a fruitless effort to try and find out exactly what happened to that ship. It's a very big ocean. And there were a lot of mysterious disappearances...

John Wayne wasn't the only notable nosher at Trader Vic's.

Other hungry VIP diners included Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Paul Newman and Joanne Woodword, Hal Halbrook, Rosemary Clooney, Mitzi Gaynor, Bill Gates, and Ringo Star.

Ringo had just arrived from a two week unhappy stay in Toronto, and promised that he would extend his stay at the Bayshore if I (as the hotel's first in-house publicist) could keep the media away from him. I did and he did.

But every noon hour, Ringo would mosey over to Trader Vic's wearing his sequin jacket, with his name emblazoned on the back! He was so irritating!

After 38 wildly successful years, Trader Vic's closed, was sold, and floated away, just like John Wayne's Grey Goose...

**joy with king richard brodeur in his studio.**

HARMONY ARTS FESTIVAL

It's always exciting to have a star in your midst, especially when it's the Harmony Arts Festival in Ambleside, which attracts a huge crowd. One of the many attractions this year was a very good natured skating star in the form of King Richard Brodeur. And his spot in the lineup of sellers of goods was jammed.

Nicknamed King during his eight National Hockey League seasons, Richard played the Canucks No. 1 goaltender. When the team went to the Stanley Cup Final against the powerful New York Islanders, the 1982 Islanders won but Brodeur was a standout hero for Vancouver and everybody loved him.

When retirement finally came, Richard gave in to his long held ambition to be a painter. He'd always wanted to be a successful artist, but put that thought aside while the hockey world awaited.

His lively, colorful paintings of happy children playing in the snow are so touching and so real. He really is a handsome, caring human being who is a pleasure to know. The next time I am over on Vancouver Island, I'm going to drop by his workshop.

It's in Parksville and it's called Gallery 35 because Richard wore No. 35 throughout his hockey career... You can't miss him. He has the whitest silvery hair and twinkling blue eyes...

FAREWELL MEL

It was a perfect summer day as the late humanitarian and dedicated workaholic, Mel Zajac, was laid to rest in the same spot that he opened for disabled children years ago in Mission at the Zajac Ranch For Kids. His wife Wendy attended, as well as his daughters and close friends like retired priest, Father James Comey, who was a very dear friend and was able to give Mel the Catholic Church's Last Rites before he passed away in St. Paul's Hospital... So sudden and so sad.

Mel himself felt so fortunate, since he was born in the tough times in Winnipeg and went to work as a teenager to help his family and put food on the table. But you just know that Mel will be comfortable up in Heaven, thinking of new ways to keep the Zajac Ranch going and help assist all the needy kids.

As a longstanding friend of Mel's for the past 25 years, I should have been there, but I had suddenly come down with that awful flu. But I was really sad to think that someone I'd known and cared about for so long was no longer there. My deepest sympathy to his wife, Wendy, and his three daughters and their families...

NEWS FROM THE FIVE SAILS

Alex Kim, Vancouver's award-winning Chef, has decided to expand his resume and has officially become Chef-Partner and Co-Owner of the Five Sails restaurant in the Pan Pacific Hotel, and is determined to evolve and to reflect his culinary philosophy there.

Under Alex's leadership, Five Sails is focusing on seasonality, curiosity, and genuine hospitality. Alex's new role at Five Sails will involve overseeing every aspect of the restaurant, from menu development and kitchen operations to service, wine, and culinary direction.

This transition has the full support of the restaurant founders, Emad Yacoub and Jake Lamont, who will continue as owners while stepping away from the day to day operations...

**legendary vancouver broadcaster jack webster.**

THE JACK WEBSTER AWARDS

How time flies! It's the 40th anniversary of the Jack Webster awards!

The awards were established in 1986 upon Jack's retirement to foster and celebrate excellence in journalism. Webster was one of a kind, dedicated and determined and dogged. When someone called or wrote to him in desperation about some urgent problem, Jack was right there along with his ever-present and overworked secretary, Gladys.

And every time we met at some gala, the first thing Jack would say to me was, "Have you got your comb?" I finally bought him a new comb, but he refused to take it. "I really like using yours."

I vividly recall spending time with Jack and his daughter, Linda, when he was seriously ailing in VGH's University Hospital. I was determined to take the bus and ride over and see how the old curmudgeon really was. He really wasn't that well at all.

Linda was happy to see me since it gave her a much needed break and I could talk about all the good times in the past with Jack and keep him involved and happy. Particularly about his passions for the lassies and his fascination for actress Shirley MacLaine. He loved her spontaneity. And we, his listening audience, loved him...

The Webster Foundation always attracts a huge crowd and Executive Director Janet Mitchell expects another sellout on Monday, November 2 at the Hyatt ...

THIS JUST IN …

Word from France is that former top sports guy at CKNW, J. Paul McConnell, is not doing well at all in a hospital. Wife Alix will keep in touch and we'll send our prayers ...