It was the last March open house in 2013… I think I first came in the week before the Raspberry Pi evening. I had barely scratched the surface of Vancouver, and yet, by suggestion of Derek Anderson, I made it from what feels like all the way from Killarney to Stadium and then through Abbot Street to West Hastings. Remembering that the entrance was in the back alley, I passed the pot smokers standing outside of the pub on the corner and entered the darkness, the unknown. Looking for the door, I heard noise coming from upstairs and if I recall correctly found a VHS sticker on the door. Press the door bell, not hearing anything, pressing it again… until I heard a voice coming from the window… The key being winched down. No, a little bit more line please! There! Got it! The key got hoisted up again. Enter the door. No one…no signs… Well, they were up there! Up the stairs I go then! Hmm, still nothing…better follow the noise! More stairs… Ah! A door! I recall saying something like “I come in peace!”, a few heads turning, replying a brief hi before people got back to what they were working on. Dumping my jacket and backpack by the couches at the front of the space, I finally had a moment to take it all in and saw a familiar sight, part my room and part labs I had seen in The Netherlands, but filled with activity and awesome people!
I can’t recall if it was that time, or 2 weeks later, but I helped Dan redo the wiring for one of the MakerBots and helped put in labeling as well. I only signed the waiver at the Raspberry Pi night, because IIRC Fishboy was getting everyone to sign it if they hadn’t already. The first people I really talked to were Dan, Goldfish, Miriam, Matthew (Lai), Inez and Janet.
The rest…well…is pretty much history.
One notable thing is… I did the majority of packing the bench PSUs; my back still hates me for that
I’m pretty sure I was just trying to go to Save on Meats for dinner, but Funvill was like, “Nooooo, come to the hackspace, I have a project to finish up, and I can show you all of our cool toys.”
The alley, with its sketchy appearance and smells of various wastes creeped me out that first time, but now I feel sort of… nostalgic for it.
My first time was also at the old downtown place. I saw the how-to-get-there video and successfully made it in my first try. I have no recollection of what awesome things went down that night, but since I’m pretty shy I probably walked around and wondered at all the labelled boxes, overheard some interesting conversations, and left.
A couple of months later my sister and her husband were in town and while walking in gastown I decided to take them to the hackspace. I remembered that it was one of the alleys near Abbot and Hastings, but my dice roll failed and we went through the SW one instead of NE. It got really sketchy. Two dudes came out to aggresively ask what we were doing there, my sister was pretty sketched out despite my insistence that Canada was not like back home, we were cool. Eventually a sort of head gangster came out and in not uncertain terms told us we were in the wrong spot, and we should leave right away. We did, found the right alley, and ran into funny people doing 3d printing and soldering tiny things.
I went back a few times, Dan eventually sold me one of his v1.0 Makelangelos, I saw the talk by the Raspberry pi dude, and one day learned about the change to the new space. I understand the nostalgia about the old place, they key on a string was great, the whole mystery place vibe. I’ll say though that the new space is amazing, right on my favorite bike route, close to the breweries, the climbing gyms (one of these days…), and good icecream just a couple of blocks away.
Went to 45 W Hastings looking for some help with the Arduino UNO that I just had purchased at Lee’s. Raymond of Lees suggested VHS as a great resource with Arduino-knowledgable people. Got the grand tour by Ninety Nein. Came back the following week with a Playstation3 displaying the “Yellow Light of Death”. Within minutes had help from about 6 people (and an audience of many others) in taking apart the playstation to reflow the solder on the main board. A couple of hours later and we had the playstation working! Unfortunately it only worked for another 3 weeks before the dreaded YLOD came on again. But, I was hooked, the camaraderie, the collaboration amongst complete strangers. I found the members, for the most part, to be friendly and respectful (even when attempting to kick out a non-respectful, rude, personification of a dick, person). The move to the bunker had its own surprises.
@MiriamVHS First Impressions Haiku is the winner of the mysterious dev board for the best submission by likes. Everyone that participates get a “The Mysterious Visitor” badge. You can still participates in this thread and receive the badge.
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My first visit to VHS was at the old space off of Abbott Street. I thought the key being reeled down was something out of a Batman movie (was impressed :)). It was just a regular night, not a SHHH, but I thought it was super cool. I think I played some video games and looked around. Steven was an awesome host as usual and showed me some cool stuff that people were working on. I was glad I didn’t go or leave alone, that alley was sketch! The old place had it’s charms, but the new place certainly seems a lot more safe
I first came to VHS in late Spring, soon after it moved from old location. It was an interesting place, certainly the one that cognition wondered around. My first impression was too many things, too many tools, and too many electronic devices, a bit of mess. People were friendly. I was immediately introduced to space and undergone safety orientation. I met Dan who told me about computer. Ty spilled his coffee on his PC and, I had to educate him not to drink around electronics. He did not listen any way. Soon I got familiar with the important new politic called Doocracy. It was new location for VHS; though, it was certainly the space seen before, including the stairs, the laser room, the faceless peg man, the machines and the people, more than you know.
I was interested in 3D printers at that time. They were the reason I came at first place; though, not a single 3D printer worked at that time. It was OK though because, I soon discovered new way of making my thing.
I have to say I heard of VHS from secret press, from open source on cable TV channel…
I became aware of the VHS at the 2012 Vancouver Mini Maker Faire where I met and talked at length to Dallas about the possibility of Nokia donating equipment and phones to VHS. My first visit to the VHS was a week or two after the Maker Faire. I attended a Tuesday open house at 45W and was immediately blown away by the people I met and the enthusiasm they showed both for their individual projects and the VHS. I was also drawn in by the incredible number of people named Steve that were VHS members at the time and figured that was a sign that I belonged at the VHS. I became a member that night.
I suppose it’s ok to bump if there are so few topics.
I must have heard about VHS while volunteering at freegeek and asking about circuit bending or something.
It took a long time to get around to participating I don’t live in Vancouver so I need a multi-purpose mission to bring me to the city.
I found out if the space was open with the special url, picked up a waiver, and remarked that the MAME cab probably deserves better controls.
Ah onto overdue assignment 2, I’ve got a really good one, even if it takes a whole season to get around to it.
Just returned from my first trip to VHS. I join in December while the space was in a packing/moving/limbo state. Regrettably did not get a chance to help with the moving, but I did pitch in tonight. Things are still in chaos from the move, but it was great to see the energy of the community to get the space in order.
Looking forward to coming regularly, meeting more people and participating in many of interesting workshops.
My first visit to VHS, at the Ever-Loved 45W location, was the Raspberry Pi Meetup, first one I think. Blinkenlites FTW!
At the time I was using both a plug-in and battery setup for the pi, as well as a teeny car-reverse-camera screen.
I’ll never forget the sketchiness of ringing for a key, and watching it being lowered down from the heavens. The Key-Drop should be integrated into all VHS-entries!
I suppose better late than never though whenever someone says that to me I answer “says who” in my head…
I have been lurking on the list since just before VHS moved to 45W (as I recall but it’s a bit foggy)
My first VHS visit was to 45W for a Laser Spirograph (I think that was what it was called) workshop that Karl put on. Don’t remember how I got in but I do remember the laneway…
Found it very interesting but didn’t really have the time to get more involved till recently…
And two moves later…
The first time I visited VHS was years ago in the back alley off Hastings. I can’t really remember what I was there for or what I talked about.
The second time I visited VHS was last night where I was very excited to discover that more or less all the tools I need to do a project I’m starting (make-my-own-shave-brush) are available.
I’ve sent a note to become a member and will be keeping an eye out for the upcoming lathe training. Can’t wait!
First visit was really enlightening! Rob showed me around, gave the grand tour as it were, and really made me feel at home. Signed up the next day. thanks!
My first visit was a few months ago. I looked up the hackerspace after having been to Noisebridge in San Francisco a few times, wondering if there was something similar in Vancouver. I was really impressed by the organization of the space and I was interested in learning how to lasercut and 3D print, so I was very excited by what I saw. I unfortunately can’t remember the name of the man who showed me around (maybe possibly Michael?), but he was extremely friendly and helpful. As soon as I left I knew I wanted to sign up.
I met the robot maker, Dan Royer, and a very experienced programmer (who’s name embarrassingly escapes me for now…)
I brought my friend Eric with me. He sat there blankly. Bored. The culture was just too different for him.
I selfishly ignored his awkwardness and went around mingling with a number of different people. There were visitors in from the Calgary Hackspace. We stood by the vending machine and had a lengthy discussion on how bots will eventually lead to mass unemployment and the attendant security issues humanity faces as machines get smarter than us…
There seemed to be a small laser training session going on. I quietly stood nearby and gleaned whatever knowledge I could for a few minutes.
A lady came in with an oldish looking electronic drumming machine. Dan set about helping her try to hack it back to life. I think they hit a snag when they couldn’t find any 1/4" cable connectors to plug into the thing.
I skimmed over the library and couldn’t resist taking some books for a donation. Most of them were fairly dated, but they seemed to be on more timeless issues than the latest high level programs & chips in vogue and were more about basic electronics theory & machine shop equipment…
I had a nice chat with a young man trying to hack together a homebuilt pickup wiring it into his arduino to make a digitally synthesized guitar simulator. (or something approximately like that…)
Later on in the evening, some folks showed up and brought their kids. That was cool. One day I hope to bring my son along too.
I first heard of VHS on a google search.
The only bad thing about my visit was that it eventually had to end !!
I was welcomed by en eyeful of fuchsia and if those walls hadn’t made me feel happy enough, Andrew (the first guy to welcome me) gave me an orientation and then took it to the next level by offering me some of his home made Ginger Ale! Although secretly hoping it was going to be alcoholic, it was still very tasty. Past the ‘clever guys’ at the computers where I found Luke and Logan playing in the wood workshop. I instantly felt at home as they talked me through what they were working on; Logan was knocking up a workbench for the space and Luke was making a series of mazes for robots. Down to the end, aaah there it was, the lasercutter. “Looking forward to playing with that” I thought to myself. I got a great vibe from the VHS and it wasn’t just from the walls; friendly people, chilled environment, helpful attitude; “This beats MakerLabs and CoLab any day” I thought to myself and sign up I did the following week!
Epic response!