Eureka: all the rage – day zero

Greetings from Vancouver, where I sit high above the city, looking out over a balcony, through a sliding glass door that I dare not open, because single digit temperatures in Celsius are just as cold as their Fahrenheit cousins.

If you're joining the broadcast late, I'm here for an episode of Eureka, playing a brilliant-but-sarcastic scientist who is sort of a nemesis to Fargo, and my episode airs July 23rd on the Sci-Fi – *grumble* I mean SyFy – channel.

My day started at areyoufuckingserious in the morning, so I'm more than a little blurry in the brain, but I had some stuff I wanted to share:

The cast and crew of Eureka are, without exception, awesome. Every single person I've interacted with has been incredibly kind and welcoming, and I instantly felt at home on the set. I've only been here two days, but it feels like everyone likes each other, which confirms what I'd heard from people who have worked on the show when I asked about it.

We did a read through of the episode yesterday, but not all of the actors could be there, so a lot of the regulars just filled in for them. I thought I was going to fall out of my chair laughing when Colin Ferguson read one of them – who will remain nameless – in a voice that was disturbingly (or amazingly, depending on your point of view) similar to Mayor McCheese. After fifteen minutes with him, I could see where Carter's wry humor comes from.

Last night, I had dinner with my friend Aaron, who is also an actor and lives here. While we were waiting for our check, he asked me if I was excited to "go be an actor for a week."

"I really am," I said, "but I'm also a little nervous. I've spent so much time being a writer, I'm afraid that I'll get stuck in my head once I'm on the set."

I was talking about this thing that can happen to actors who are over-prepared or inexperienced. To really live in a scene and to really be connected to the other actors, we have to stay in each moment, reacting honestly and simply to what the other actors are doing. I do a ton of character preparation. In addition to knowing what my lines are, I know why I say each one. I know all sorts of stuff about my characters, because the more I know about a character, the wider my range is when I play him. I need to know what I want from each other character, what my purpose is in a scene, and then let all of that stuff fall away into some kind of subconscious background noise while I'm actually performing the scene … or I'm stuck in my head, thinking about things and watching things, instead of living in the scene.

I continued, "so I think I'll probably be a little rusty at first, but I've done this long enough to trust that I'll settle in. Not as quickly as I'd like, but I'll settle in."

"Well, I'm sure you're going to have a great time," he said, in that way one actor tells another to get the frak out of his own way, trust his instincts, and just enjoy the work, without really saying that. It's sort of a pep talk between friends, I guess, and it's one of those things that I just love about being an actor with some good friends.

I got to work with Neil and Erica for 6/8 of a page today, and though it took me longer to find my character and settle in than I wanted, it was, as they say, like riding a bike … and I didn't even fall off and scrape my knees.

Between rehearsal and filming today, I walked around the set a little bit. It's magnificent; I felt a sense of wonder and awe that I haven't felt since the first time I walked through the Enterprise on stage nine in 1987. The little details, like the signs on the walls, fingerprint scanners at the doors and the texture of the fake concrete make it feel like it's an actual building that happens to extend fourteen stories underground. I just love that I get to use my imagination to pretend I'm a person who works in this place. 

Vancouver is as beautiful as I remember it, and since I have the next three days off, I plan to put on my tourist hat (which is actually just a PAN Fleece to carry my geek gear) and see as much of it as I can.

If any locals want to mention some must-see places – especially art, non-touristy or geek-related – in the comments, I'd love that.

127 thoughts on “Eureka: all the rage – day zero”

  1. Wil, I look forward to seeing your episode. You were brilliant on Criminal minds as Floyde and great as the homeless man on CSI. You speak about how Spinner is a great character actor and you are following well in his footsteps. BTW how is part two of MotF coming along?
    Shawn

  5. I look forward to eventually seeing the episode on the Internets or DVD, but I’m only commenting for the first time out of curiousity as to why you chose 6/8 as your fraction up there.
    Um, yeah, cheers!

  7. Walk the Sea Wall around Stanley Park.
    Visit the VAG (Vancouver Art Gallery).
    Go to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Lots of Haida art there. And totem poles. *g*
    While you’re at UBC you could take a stroll through the Japanese garden there… Get your zen on.
    Granville Island…
    If the weather is nice, go up to Grouse Mountain.
    Ohh yeah, welcome to BC!

  8. Art, you say? There’s a Leonardo da Vinci exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery right now. That’s kind of geekery related. And the Landscape Manual exhibit on the 2nd/2rd floor is pretty awesome as well.
    http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/
    The gallery building itself is a heritage building (used to be the Vancouver court house) and tends to get used a lot as a big important building in various productions filming around town.
    Slightly less touristy/off the beaten path: Lynn Canyon Suspension Bridge — you get all of the suspension bridge, west coast rainforest awesomeness without the associated tourist trappyness of the more well known Capilano Suspension Bridge.
    http://lynncanyon.ca/

  9. Holy christables I actually have something to contribute here knowing your food preferences. Being a meatasaurus the last time I was in Vancouver a friend of mine who didnt know that took me to this vegetarian place called The Naam.
    http://www.thenaam.com/naam/
    I had the cashew and avacado enchiladas and A+++ would eat there without hesitation again.
    Great atmosphere and great food. We were there a bit early for beer since we planned to hit the bars later but I tried a tea called Mama and it was outstanding.
    If you can get out to Victoria for a day trip, do it. doooooooo eeeeeeeeet.
    S.

  10. Hey Wil
    I reside just east of Vancouver – definitely the Art Museum, Pacific Space Centre, Telus World of Science, Vancouver Public Library (not far from the Art Gallery), the EA Canada campus (can give you a contact there if you are interested), Granville Island (you can take the water taxi to get there), Lonsdale Quay (SeaBus will get you there), and failing that, you can get some ideas here: http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/
    Enjoy your visit to our beautiful province.
    Tami
    a.k.a. on Twitter as VillageGamer 😉

  11. Though you’ve probably already been suggested it – Kitsilano Beach area is a great place to just walk around in. I really dig the Quay ( http://www.lonsdalequay.com/ ) – added bonus, of course, that you get to also take the seabus over to yonder North Shore – is a great foodie/art place to be at.

  12. When in Van-cool-ver, a trip to the VAG (that’s the Vancouver Art gallery… not the other thing) is always a great trek.
    For the best Grilled Cheese Sand which of the face of the planet (I’m serious here) head to Burgoo located at 3096 Main Street. The gooey cheesy grillers will change your life.
    Also the Terminal City Rollergirls have their season opener on Saturday. I know there is lots of roller derby in California, but in Canada, you get a lot of ex-hockey girls that can really hit. Something to check out.

  13. You can’t get much geekier than Telus World of Science. Golden Age collectables on Granville street is one of the best comic stores in Vancouver where you can truly get your geek on. If they happen to have you downtown at the Sutton Place going to the Japadog cart which is usually outside is a must.

  14. Fine, no more nagging about that geekery meetup we’re doing on Friday. I get’cha.
    Best thing to do would be to head to University of British Columbia and visit the Museum of Anthropology.(http://www.moa.ubc.ca/) The Bill Reid exhibit will blow your mind. If you know who Dale Chihuly is, then you should visit the Solart glass studio (http://www.solmaya.com/glass.htm) and watch them blow art glass. I spent four hours there one day about a year and half ago but I’m not sure if they are doing tours until summer. Ask them.
    And at the Granville Island Public Market they have a 2 story mini mall made just for kids. (http://www.kidsmarket.ca/) Nothing like bringing the little kid in you to the surface, but make sure you use the special kids entrance.

  15. re: looking for things to do in Van:
    Not so much geeky, but one of the first things I did when I moved to Van was rent a bicycle and take a tour of Stanley Park. It’s great if you also want to hit the Vancouver Aquarium. There’s also the H.R. MacMillan Space Center. Science World is also kinda geeky.
    And then there’s “The Comicshop” on West 4th. Always fun to be had there.
    But for pure geek? Try hitting up one of the local game studios for a tour.

  16. There’s a great exhibit on at the VAG – da Vinci’s Mechanics of Man:
    It’s Vaisakhi this weekend – there will be a parade/festivities down south Main St and all sorts of amazing veg indian food to be had.
    Also, if you’re looking for something fun on Saturday night, there’s a Terminal City Rollergirls roller derby double header @ the Kerrisdale arena!

  17. Welcome to Rain-city!
    For an _awesome_ dinner and a fine selection of beer, check out the Alibi room in Gastown. Also, I would concur with others here who recommended Grouse Mountain (even if you dont ski, just take the gondola up the hill – the view is wikid). A walk around the seawall is definitely recommended as well.

  18. Hi Wil and welcome to Vancouver, eh. My suggestion is that you
    should check out the farmers market on Saturday: http://www.eatlocal.org; cool vendors, craftiness, plus the Commercial Drive neighbourhood is pretty interesting from a people-watching perspective. Ask the vegan baker lady for restaurant suggestions, she knows them all.

  20. Really Wil Wheaton? You’re just going to call him your friend Aaron who is an actor? You’re not going to get any more specific than that? However, your twitter feed betrays you.

  21. I definitely agree that you simply must “use the special kids entrance” at Granville Island Kids Market! Also while there, check out the Crystal Ark just outside!

  22. There's such a fine line between storytelling and namedropping, you know? I thought I'd err on the side I'm more comfortable with.

  23. I second checking out “The Comicshop”. Fantastic people, tonnes of fun. Also while you’re there check out the restaurant “Sophie’s” next door and wait for your head to geeksplode at the amazing decor. But go early or during the day on Friday. There’s usually a lineup on the weekends. (Their Falafel is good!)
    And to round it all off Zulu records down the street is cool too.

  26. Wil,
    You should check out Golden Age Collectibles on Granville Street. Great comic collection as well as figures/games/cards/posters/etc…maybe you can find a Wesley still in blister-pak!
    *edit* just realized I missed someone else mentioning Golden Age. Still a great place to check out!

  27. FYI: at the Museum of Anthropology, they quite often have an artist in residence who will be working right in the middle of the gallery. When at UBC, I took a course that happened to meet in the MoA & over 4 months watched a totem pole come to life. Very cool.

  28. In my experience Golden Age is not as cool as everyone thinks they are. They seem to have this idea that girls can’t be geeks, or possibly know what they are talking about/want in a comic shop. I choose to shop at more people friendly stores personally. And if it’s a Wesley in a blister-pak ye seek check out Toy Traders in Langley. I picked one up there just before ECCC. Also the displays (all the vintage Star Wars toys out in their glory, a borg cube, GI Joe battles, plus a life sized Terminator, C3PO and R2D2…) even if you’re not buying that place is just cool.

  29. Welcome to Vancouver Wil Wheaton!
    Things to do:
    Walk the seawall around Stanley Park (or rent a bike).
    The Vancouver Aquarium (also at Stanley Park)
    The DaVinci exhibit at the VAG
    Vegan fries and miso gravy at the Naam *(west 4th Ave in Kitsilano)
    Granville Island
    Science World
    Aphrodite cafe (4th Ave – Kitsilano again)
    As Charisse mentioned, the grilled cheese sandwich at Burgoo is seriously the best grilled cheese ever! and the Terminal City RollerGirls rock the house.
    Stroll around UBC (it’s beautiful)
    Vancouver Public Library
    Drink local beer, appreciate how gorgeous the mountains look with the fresh dump of snow on them and have fun.

  31. Others have suggested great places to see and eat in the city but from a gamers perspective I suggest EA Canada in Burnaby if you could score a tour. It’s the largest gaming studio in the world and still blown away by the place even after working there for three years.

  32. The Naam is indeed super tasty. If you need poutine – there’s a place on Davie St. called La Belle Patate that has 30 kinds of poutine…. that will blow your mind.
    Perhaps not the kind of geeky you usually go for but it’s wicked fun – the Museum of Vancouver (quickly becoming one of the coolest places around) is hosting a grown-up craft night (with alcohol) on Friday night: http://www.kimwerker.com/2010/04/07/vancouver-diy-mov-2/ Stupid fun.
    Otherwise, the DaVinci exhibit is super cool – it’s pages from his anatomy notebooks and they are incredible.

  33. You MUST go to Scoff’s on Hastings, just east of the old PNE where the Canucks of old played. Just walking into this shop is so … puttin’-on-the-foil-coach-old-time-hockey that words alone can not describe it. Even if you just wander around, eyeball the memorabilia on the walls, lurk to the point where you end up buying a roll of tape … just to go through the experience.
    Seriously.
    –chuck
    (oh yeah I almost forgot… [[secret goalie handshake]] )

  36. Hey Wil, Since your in Vancouver is there any chance you will go to Stanley park? If so please leave a flower or something at the memorial, if there is one, for Andrew Koenig. I know that during the days he was missing my heart went out to Walter and his family hoping that Andrew was OK. And growing up watching ‘Growing Pains’ I always thought Boner was a cool character. And yes his name make me snicker each and every time I heard it.

  37. I second Granville Island, especially since there’s a brewery there. ( http://www.gib.ca/taproom.php )
    If you’re in the mood for tapas, check out Bin 941. ( http://www.bin941.com/ ) Get there early though, it’s a small place and tends to fill up quickly after 7pm.
    The last time I was in Vancouver, I had a really awesome stout called “Back Hand of God.” It’s made by a local brewery ( http://www.crannogales.com/ ) that has lots of other good beers as well. More than a few places had their beers on tap, so I think they’re fairly common in the city.

  38. I took the Beloved Boyfriend to Vancouver (Which we call the cooler, more cosmopolitan Vancouver as opposed to the much lamer, American Vancouver, where we live.) a couple of years ago.
    We stumbled onto the Vancouver Police Museum. It’s in the old coroner’s court/morgue and it’s fascinating. (http://www.vancouverpolicemuseum.ca/)
    We’re looking forward to the new season of “Eureka” and seeing the episode you’re in. Continue to be awesome.

  40. Welcome to the Lower Mainland where you got three seasons in one day. Your day will start with an ice/snow storm (winter), proceed backwards in time to a really rauckus rain and wind storm (autumn), skip forward a bit to sunshine and sporadic showers for spring and then go back to the autumn for a second visit. We’re hoping for summer sometime in the next two weeks. 🙂
    Places on *my* list of things to do in Vancouver start with “Go see Acid Ocean> play” but since they don’t have a gig while you’re still in town.. 😉 ( http://www.myspace.com/acidoceanband )
    I’m not sure on your transportation situation, so I’ll try to group a little geographical. 🙂
    1) Downtown area.
    Visit the Steps (Art Gallery), Robson Square and the Library. Downtown’s library has been blown up by many in television and film, it’s truly nifty to stand in, to wander around. I’m not sure how much of the Olympic Spirit is left at Robson Square, but the revamped ice rink and stuff is DEFINITELY worth a visit. Beside it is the Art Gallery. Hug a lion, it’s good karma. 🙂
    Visit China Town. Down Pender, it’s the second biggest Chinatown in N. America. The food, the people, (and THE TEA!!) are incredible. http://vancouverchinatown.ca/
    2) False Creek
    Stroll along Bif Naked’s favourite dog walk ( http://www.bifnaked.com/ ) of False Creek.
    Visit Science World. ( http://www.scienceworld.ca )
    3) Heading south!
    Granville Island is the touristy / artsy destination. ( http://www.granvilleisland.com )
    ..and I can see this is already piling up in a list of suggestions, so I’ll leave you to slug through the rest. 😀 But really, my downtown suggestions would be where *I’d* start. 😀

  41. Come to the Astoria tomorrow nigh – it’s a sweet dive bar in east vancouver. Friday night is the best night for it.
    Also, budgies burritos has the best burritos ever.
    Alternately, dungeons and dragons 1st edition on Sunday. You are totally welcome to join.

  43. I’m not sure why people are recommending poutine for Vancovuer…wait till you go to Quebec to eat that to avoid disappointment.
    Golden Age collectibles isn’t really anything special, they’re a generic comic book/geeky things shop much like you’d find in any sizable city. And I’d say the Comicshop on 4th ave is probably better if you want to go to a shop like that(if you need a comic book fix while you’re in Van for example), the Comicshop has more…character. (Although, also, not really special in anyway.)
    If you go to the Comicshop, or are just in and around Kits, I’d suggest going to Jolly’s Indian Bistro for food near 4th and MacDonald.
    I also support suggestions of going to check things out at UBC.

  44. You lucked out with the weather on your days off. It’s going to be beautiful here for the next three days.
    I’ll heartily second the Farmer’s Market (http://eatlocal.org/) on Saturday followed by a stroll along Commercial Drive. It’s one of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday.
    If you’re hanging out downtown, check out the Railway Club (http://www.therailwayclub.com/) at the corner of Seymour and Dunsmuir, right above the 7-11. It’s a local hangout that’s one of the few places downtown that didn’t have “Olympic pricing” in February. They have a model train that runs around the room along a track hanging from the ceiling. Oh, and beer. Lots of beer.
    There’s also an awesome show going on at the Ayden gallery on Saturday night: Carded! (http://www.hotartcard.com). For $5, you can buy a pack of 5 random art cards, and then you wander around the gallery, trading cards to get the ones you really want. It’s exciting and geeky and totally fun.

  45. Glad to hear it! Perhaps they’ve finally changed. However the way they treated me and friends of mine has soured my opinion of them and I won’t shop there again. There are far too many really good shops to give my money to.

  46. If you like art and want to be outside there’s a cool city-wide sculpture display (http://www.vancouverbiennale.com/media/vb_map_v02.pdf) – I think my favourite this year is the A-maze-ing Laughter group (http://www.vancouverbiennale.com/sculptures_page.php?sculptureID=15).
    The seawall around Stanley Park is well known and well recommended, but there’s lots of other cool stuff in the park too – try the walk around Beaver Lake (http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/pdf/beaverlake_brochure2003.pdf) or some of the other interior trails (http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/publications/StanleyParkMapGuide2009.pdf)
    For lunch (or just beer – I like their Coal Porter) try Steamworks (http://www.steamworks.com/thirsty.htm) – local brews facing the North Shore mountains (they were unbelievably gorgeous today!) Also, it’s close to the waterfront terminal for the Seabus (http://tripplanning.translink.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineName=998&LineAbbr=998) which is a pretty neat ferry ride itself.
    Yikes! Time to quit before I get too lengthy & linky (I just love my city) – enjoy!

  47. Erg! Stupid close bracket errors!!
    Try the useful links here:
    Sculptures:
    http://www.vancouverbiennale.com/media/vb_map_v02.pdf
    Favourite sculpture:
    http://www.vancouverbiennale.com/sculptures_page.php?sculptureID=15
    Beaver Lake in Stanley Park:
    http://vancouver.ca/parks/parks/stanley/pdf/beaverlake_brochure2003.pdf
    Other Stanley Park stuff:
    http://vancouver.ca/parks/info/publications/StanleyParkMapGuide2009.pdf
    Local brew + views:
    http://www.steamworks.com/thirsty.htm
    Seabus/Ferry ride: (http://tripplanning.translink.ca/hiwire?.a=iScheduleLookupSearch&LineName=998&LineAbbr=998

  48. I’d have offered to show you some hidden parts of the city, all kinds of non-touristy, but wouldn’t be things to try to wander to on your own. Too bad you hadn’t been here months ago, could have taken you through some hidden tunnels, but they aren’t accessible now 🙁

  49. I second the Japanese garden at UBC (easy to get to–just bus west till you run out of city) and Casa Gelato. I’d also suggest the aquarium; I love it.
    And you must go to the Inukshuk. Seriously.
    We have a lot of really freaky art leftover from the Olympics, but some of it will give you nightmares.

  50. I happen to enjoy Queen Elizabeth Park in the heart of Vancouver, and happens to be the highest natural point in Vancouver. Its geek claim to fame is being used extensively for early X-Files shooting, among many other movie of the weeks and various other shows.

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