Beyond Robson
Morning Brew: May 16th
Gordon Campbell’s Free Ride. Leave the guy alone, he's giving BC Place a retractable roof by 2011.
Maker of HPV Vaccine Under Fire. Ow. That burns. That is itchy and it burns.
Tyee does a piece on bed bugs, about 6 months after mine. Owch. You couldn't have linked? That really bites.
Peak-oil spike reshapes the suburbs. Peak oil was on my list of top underreported news of 2007. Just saying.
"Why is a Crown corporation investing in tobacco stocks when the B.C. government is suing tobacco companies?" "Well, I mean, we also invest in the Iraq war, the search for Osama, the US Dollar, sub-prime mortgages, oil, wheat, Hells Angels. So, we really just like to keep our portfolio diversified. Not too many hedge funds, not to many bonds, a couple of lofts in Gastown...
Woodward's redevelopment project came very close to collapsing. Unfortunately, they weren't talking about that massive 42 floor condo that is blocking my morning sun. Not that I want it to collapse or anything...
Concert BReak Meets New Music West: May 15 - May 22
New Music West has officially begun. I enjoyed a great show last night and am hoping for another tonight. The first half of this week's CB is dominated by NMW so I thought I should throw in a link to the festival's schedule. Video and more dates after the jump (included non-NMWers).
Thursday, May 15
Here are tonight's concerts.
Friday, May 16
♦ Brasstronaut @ Media Club (NMW): You may have seen Jon mention these guys, or you may have seen them here on CB. An offshoot of a group called The Clips!, this band mixes modern indie pop with jazz. They'll be on with Pete Samples,Chantel Upshaw, Jason Crocker, Winston, and Aaron Nazrul.
♦ Anna Vandas @ Backstage Lounge (NMW): A local singer-songwriter, Anna will be joined by Aeroplane, GhostBrothers, Eileen Rothe and My Dearest Friends.
♦ Jarimba @ Fairview (NMW): A Mix of world music and jazz will be featured at the Fairview this Friday. Jarimba (as you might have guessed) is a local African world-music group. You can expect Dilvog, Diano Garcia, Fur Bearing Animals, Sinistrio and Dirty Bottom to play as well.
♦ FreeFlow @ Penthouse (NMW): These six locals play a mix of reggae and pop. Also on: Arkells, Kuba Oms, Redeye Empire and St. Alvia Cartel
♦ Missing Starla @ Purple Crab (NMW): There's upbeat folk-pop going on at the Purple Crab. You can mingle with Caroline Spence Band, Paul Filek, Jupiter Sunrise and Honey & the Money.
♦ Nat Jay @ The Libra Room (NMW): This local songstress has claimed minor success of late. She can be seen with Ali Milner, Dani Jean and Cindy Davis
♦ Kay Kay and his Weathered Undergound @ Royal Unicorn (NMW): This talented and eclectic Seattle group will be joined by fellow Americans: Chicane Theory, Stuporhero, The Color Bars and Portugal The Man.
♦ Tokyo Police Club @ The Plaza (NMW): Part two of the Vancouver segment of their tour.
A Tale of Two Shitties: Part 2
Spacial relationships are entirely different in Toronto than in Vancouver. Most of the Lower Mainland's rapid transit is based on the suburbs, so there is a north-south dynamic that entirely leaves out the downtown core/Broadway-UBC corridor. Its as though the Go Train was our only mass transit. We have no subway, so to walk for half an hour is not considered far. The conversion of brownstones into duplexes have allowed the city develop in a more dense, organic, community oriented manner; there are no front lawns and everything looks like it has been slowly added to, giving it a strange look. The resulting network of neighbourhoods makes up the city as a whole. On our first day it seemed every single neighbour was out of their house discussing their new gigantic recycling bins. Speaking of recycling, not only are TO's bins the size of Tie Domi, but they also have composting. And they have these monstrous public garbage/paper/cans bins everywhere. Toronto also appears to be a pretty good town to ride bikes in, but that's mostly because its flat.
Morning Brew: May 15, 2008
The future for Insite doesn't look so bright, a fact made all the more obvious as the Feds beef up their funding for alternatives (i.e hospital beds). A trans-Canada convoy just started to raise awareness for the organization, with the first attention-grabbing stop taking place tomorrow in Calgary.
People want more public art, but the jury is still out on that upside-down church named "A Device to Root Out Evil". I'm willing to try anything at this point.
Apparently, the police have been instructed that candidacy for tasering is a state of "excited delirium". I can't wait for the inevitable mass taserings at the Madonna concert (best mental picture ever). Aside: I keep getting stuck on this: do you tase someone, or taser someone?
In the wake of growing ridership and rising gas prices, Translink cuts all advertising and begins encouraging people to carpool, cycle, and 'telecommute.' Wheres Scotty? And I thought they already encouraged this every time the #99 pulls away with someone's arm lodged in the door. Meanwhile, part two of "Make Transit Free" gets the re: post.
Screw gas costs, this one's for the bikers: have you thought about the cost of the fuel it takes for all that pedaling? I hope you're not buying 'organic' you selfish, selfish hipsters. Okay, to make up for it: cycling makes you a better lover, great Euro bike propaganda.
New Music West: Is it worth your time?
Last night, as I watched Texas rockers White Denim effortlessly win over an audience who had clearly gathered to see Tapes N' Tapes (watch this video and kick yourself for missing it). I was reminded of the greatest in indie-music highs: seeing an unknown band for the first time and being completely blown away. From a regular concert-goer's perspective, theres nothing nicer than coming home with a new disc and trying to match each track to the songs you heard live, rather than mumbling now nonsensical lyrics to a melody you and every undergrad in Vancouver has listened to online...
29 Productions will try and recreate this elusive feeling for fans once again this year, as from May 14th-19th they present the latest incarnation of the annual New Music West festival; a celebration of up-and-coming, often unsigned local talent. With 265 bands spread out over the next four days, including a plethora of local unknowns and a few international showcases, the schedule is pretty overwhelming. There'll also be free pre and post-show "networking parties," with a festival-covering wristband running you $30.
However... with a list of acts that will leave temples scratched (and beer flowing?), a clear focus on the commercial side of things, and Music Waste just around the corner... for the local gig-lover is this 'festival' really all for naught?
Morning Brew: May 14th. The Return.
Thanks to Jon for filling in, and now for doing Tuesdays and Thursdays. Good to see Vancouver's still as absurd as ever.
Why I do Morning Brew: Media makes promise to Tourism Vancouver.
BC Liberals set to three peat. How much was that flat in Parkdale again?
What do the Gateway Program and Iraqi reconstruction have in common? Other than the collusion of government and private contractors? Or is that one just assumed?
Bill 42 to Stop Homeless People from Voting in BC Elections. What? They were allowed to vote? Disgusting.
Credit Check:
With all this talk and bullshit about being green, it’s appropriate and timely for the BC Government to use more wood to make slightly taller condos. They’ve just brought so much to our communities, condos. We owe it to them.
Morning Brew: May 14th. The Return.
Thanks to Jon for filling in, and now for doing Tuesdays and Thursdays. Good to see Vancouver's still as absurd as ever.
Why I do Morning Brew: Media makes promise to Tourism Vancouver.
BC Liberals set to three peat. How much was that flat in Parkdale again?
What do the Gateway Program and Iraqi reconstruction have in common? Other than the collusion of government and private contractors? Or is that one just assumed?
Bill 42 to Stop Homeless People from Voting in BC Elections. What? They were allowed to vote? Disgusting.
Credit Check:
With all this talk and bullshit about being green, it’s appropriate and timely for the BC Government to use more wood to make slightly taller condos. They’ve just brought so much to our communities, condos. We owe it to them.
A Tale of Two Shitties: Vancouver versus Toronto Part One
First of all, I'm a hater. We all know that. Second, everyone loves to hate Toronto, especially if you're from Vancouver. They even made a movie about it. Third, I didn't hate Toronto. I know. It doesn't add up. Sure, it had some spectacular moments of ineptitude which of course I will elaborate upon, but how refreshing to be in a city with a real taste for all things cultural, not just spirit orcas, and accidentally seeing the Choir Practice at a Canucks game.
Unlike my brief visit to Montreal, and unlike Vancouver it seems, Toronto doesn't appear to have vast segments of population that exist in isolation, or in autonomy, of the wider population. In Vancouver however, this exists in the psyche, manifesting itself in anti-social solitude for fear that someone will ask you for change, for your signature, to buy whatever they're giving out, or to to buy drugs. My god, in Toronto its actually possible to start up a random conversation with a stranger on the bus, or in the street.
A Tale of Two Shitties: Vancouver versus Toronto Part One
First of all, I'm a hater. We all know that. Second, everyone loves to hate Toronto, especially if you're from Vancouver. They even made a movie about it. Third, I didn't hate Toronto. I know. It doesn't add up. Sure, it had some spectacular moments of ineptitude which of course I will elaborate upon, but how refreshing to be in a city with a real taste for all things cultural, not just spirit orcas, and accidentally seeing the Choir Practice at a Canucks game.
Unlike my brief visit to Montreal, and unlike Vancouver it seems, Toronto doesn't appear to have vast segments of population that exist in isolation, or in autonomy, of the wider population. In Vancouver however, this exists in the psyche, manifesting itself in anti-social solitude for fear that someone will ask you for change, for your signature, to buy whatever they're giving out, or to to buy drugs. My god, in Toronto its actually possible to start up a random conversation with a stranger on the bus, or in the street.
Morning Brew: May 13, 2008
Sorry about the lack of a Monday Morning Brew -- with Sean's return from Toronto, the wires got a little crossed. He told me he'd write it, but that was over beers (jet lagged beers, no less)... and the man had a weekend of birthdays and mothers to celebrate. For the time being, we'll be switching it up; I'll be giving you the Tuesday/Thursday lowdown while Sean will keep the sarcasm flowing on all those weekdays surrounding mine.
So the VPD are catching criminals via CrookTube, promoting via Facebook and have tried to round up recruits via Second Life. What's next... viral videos? "The Vancouver Police Department is fucking Matt Damon?" I totally see a Robert Downey Jr. cameo... And what ever came of that Second Life-VPD thing? I find it hard to believe they're still paying some of their men in blue to lurk around a virtual world avoiding item-spam from 12 year olds and unemployed graphic designers. Or do the recruits they picked up in Second Life last year merely explain the force's new love of Facebook? I have too many jokes.
On a more serious note, the RCMP have heavily censored their report on the Dziekanski incident. Meanwhile, on Friday a cardiologist testified that tasers were potentially fatal, while on Monday the chair of Taser International... the guy who probably makes the most money off the damn things... defended them. Maybe the cops just needs to develop a Facebook app to check their agression: "You've just been tased by the Vancouver Police Department! Would you like to install the Vancity-Taser application so you can join in the fun and tase your friends too?"
I'm not gonna link to it, but why is half our media devoted to a dead monkey? I hope these monkey-killers weren't looking for lots of attention/media-celebrity status, cause boy did they get it...
Keep It 4REAL This Summer.
First of all, let me point out that no, I have not recently adopted the use of Internet Slang nor am I so lazy that I cannot type out 3 letters. I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt here and assume most people are already familiar with 4REAL and their mantra. If this is the case, skip the next two paragraphs. For the rest, 4REAL is a documentary television project turned international success story and this summer they are turning up the good time vibes.
Vancouver History: Stanley Park Board Minutes II
Continuing last weeks Vancouver History, here are the Board minutes from 1920 all the way to 1956 from A Guide to Stanley Park by Lynn Vardeman and Freda Carr. Note the increase in absolutely ridiculous proposals, along with the usual array of Vancouver-specific issues, difficulties, and frustrations - some things never change.
Gateway Crasher
If you build it, they will come.
That's precisely the theory that many active opponents of the Gateway Project are putting forth to warn BC residents of the impending failure of the proposed $3 billion road expansion plan if it goes through. They prophesize that the additional road capacity will simply become congested soon after completion due to new commuters being attracted to the shiny new pavement. At a time where gas prices are the topic of choice at a water cooler near you, this issue and many others relating to our transportation infrastructure have all become paramount to Vancouverites as of late.
Recent SFU Communications grad Ryan Longoz has chosen to tackle this controversial topic and has tied it in nicely with a little bit of economics 101 in a compact nine-minute video. Instead of putting the blame for traffic congestion squarely on the government and (get ready for the "c"-word) corporations, he goes a step further, and essentially points the finger at every single one of us iPod-using, gas-guzzling, fashion-wearing consumers. He mentions that "we are all complicit, because we are all complacent" (my favourite quote from the clip) when referring to our transportation and consumption habits.
Yukon Brad is a Good Ole B.C. Boy
Photo courtesy The BCLC
When you think of great poker players, the names Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson are names that come up and there are some good Canadians too like Daniel Negreanu.
But just like Steve Nash to the NBA, British Columbia has made a contribution to the game of poker.
Brad "Yukon" Booth is a regular on television poker appearing on the Game Show Network's High Stakes and NBC Poker After Dark's second season.
Currently, Booth is taking part in the Coast to Coast Poker Championship at the River Rock Casino.
Here is an abridged version of Booth's poker origins:
Beyond Robson: "How did you get started playing poker?"
Brad Booth: "When I was a kid my father used to take me to my grandpa's, who was a barber. He said, 'Play on your own,' so they'd give me some cards and chips and I'd be off in the corner when my grandpa had customers."
"I learned how to shuffle and chip tricks and I learned the basic probability of poker."
This Week in Film: May 9 2008
I love a good David Mamet movie. His dialogue and plot twists are always top-notch, putting his signature speech patterns on every character he writes. Witness The Untouchables or Glengarry GlenRoss or The Spanish Prisoner, movies with plots that are not dumbed down for a mass audience. They're full of smart, intellectual characters who speak in rhythms and puzzles, pushing the viewer to use their brain rather than give standard expository dialogue to move the story along and make it easier for a wide audience to digest. Luckily for us, his new film Redbelt opens this week. It stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as a martial-arts instructor who gets forced into participating in a prize bout against his will through a series of typically shady Mamet-esque circumstances. Featuring a supporting cast that includes Joe Mantegna, Emily Mortimer, Ricky Jay and Tim Allen (!) as a washed-up actor, Redbelt has been getting slightly mixed reviews, but for Mamet fans, like myself, that won't stop us from going to see it first weekend.
Ashton Kutcher returns to give more reasons for an assassination attempt in his new film What Happens In Vegas..., starring with his female equivalent Cameron Diaz. It's about two predictably zany people who get drunk and wake up to find out they got married. My question is didn't this already happen in an episode of Friends? I hate to defend that show but you know generic Hollywood comedies are running low on ideas when they start ripping off a 10-year-old episode of Friends.
Emily Carr Undergradu-Art
I have a confession to make.
I secretly long to be a student at Emily Carr.
And although I love my job as a happily-employed engineer, there are times where my creativity lacks a certain outlet. I mean, just think about it, instead of performing complex Fourier transforms and utilizing Bernoulli's equation in ways I couldn't care less about, I could have been making great profound art or designing the next big sustainable thing-a-majigger at a fantastic institution. Many of my friends, who have attended or are attending the newly-minted university have always done such cool and funky shit.
Attending Saturday's Emily Carr Undergrad Exhibition definitely reaffirmed these beliefs of mine. To say it was an overcrowded zoo would be a serious understatement - it was uber-busy. But that was just indicative of how popular this yearly show has become. The $3 wine and beer made it all the better too... From a sock ball a gynecologist could only love, to massive sized sugar cubes (I confirmed that it was indeed sucrose) strategically placed in a symbolic pattern, to a sod patch complete with boxing gloves - it was all there.
Handmade Yumminess at Legendary Noodle
I ended up at Legendary Noodle because I had been bugging my Chinese-teacher-turned-friend to take me for Chuan'r, a type of Chinese meat-on-a-stick street food. It's very popular and available all year round, but is best had on late summer nights, while sitting outside with a bottle of Tsing Tao beer. When we got to Legendary Noodle on Main Street, we were informed that Chuan'r was only available at their Richmond location. A little disappointed but very hungry, we decided to stick around and give the handmade noodles a try.
There were three of us, so we ordered three appetizers and three noodle dishes. We started with the Tudou Si, a type of shredded potato dish available in pretty much any restaurant in China. It was very well done, with just the right amount of spice and flavor. We then tried the Pea Shoots with Garlic, which were fresh and incredibly tasty. I would go back again just to have them. We also had Guo Tie (fried dumplings) - these were a favorite of mine in China, but the ones at this restaurant had just a little too much ginger for my liking.
More on the main dishes after the jump...
Lunch Break: Salty Tongue Deli will spice up your sandwiches
Are you a picky eater? No? Well then, do you like eating really creative sandwiches perhaps? The Salty Tongue Deli might be the spot for you. Unlike other sandwich options in Vancouver the Salty Tongue Deli serves up exactly what you want on demand. That's right - they have a selection of sandwiches but you can substitute everything on the menu.
When you are ready for a REAL adventure I would take things a step further and use the handy form to create a sandwich from scratch. To do this you must pick up this piece of paper near the till and check off what sandwich options you are craving. For my selection I chose some turkey, cranberry relish, humus, banana peppers and some greens. Sound gross? It was! I did enjoy it though because I picked everything myself so I had nobody else to blame.
Morning Brew: May 9, 2008
Whalley to be designated Metro Vancouver's second downtown core. Looks like they're well on their way... Whats their dog boutique and "dollar" pizza count? I know they got Starbucks. (Thx to miss604 for those second two links.)
People in Vancouver would choose more transit over more roads, and apparently they want that transit free. Re:place re-posts this well written, in depth article, which includes a list of 17 reasons why transit fees should be covered by taxation. The Tyee originally published this series in 2007, but I missed it the first time around; kudos to re:place for resurrecting an idea that deserves renewed attention. Any thoughts in the wake of climbing fees and taserings?
How about a footbridge underneath Burrard instead of that expensive expansion?
The press is all over Salvia Divinorum lately. An extremely intense and mysterious psychoactive herb that's evaded criminalization. This was some seriously hot stuff five years ago at UBC, when people were picking it up from the (now relocated) 'Urban Shaman' out on Commercial Drive. I did it once, and never again. Not recommended for anyone but the most schizophrenically-inclined. Although I'm against it, I'm a sucker for a good link: videos of people smoking the stuff. Oh how glad I am we didn't have YouTube in my dorm days.
So Wal-Mart is looking at some mega Canadian expansion. Well, you might want to consider the environmental cost of shipping all that shit around. Essential viewing: Where do Wal-Mart products come from?. A list of Wal-Mart resources, including an article on how the business 'caught the China bug.' Update: they've announced a new Wal-Mart at Grandview and Boundary.
How conscious are you of buying locally? It's something I only really hear about when it comes to food...
Concert BReak: May 8 - 15
Last night, I was lucky enough to be a part of Beyond Robson's staff meeting at the Cambie. I had a great time, and am pleased to know we all have heads larger than 1cm tall!
...and with that, I bring you (a New Music West infused) Concert BReak.
Thursday, May 8
Here are tonight's concerts.
Friday, May 9
♦ NOFX @ Commodore: These satirical punks have been at it since the early 80's.
♦ You Say Party! We Say Die! @ Astoria: Abbotsford's dance-punksters unite with Better Friends than Lovers and Wintermitts for a Vancouver indie extravaganza.
♦ Dawntreader @ Railway Club: This bunch of locals are celebrating their album release with Cinderpop, The Top Drawers and Empire Alley.