Hummingbird604.com » Vancouver

Wordless Wednesday: Vancouver, I love you.

Raul — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 16:16:06 +0000

Hapa Umi (Waterfront)

Raul — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:53:00 +0000

A few months ago, I was invited to a preview of the Hapa Umi menu. I never actually got around writing about it, but when my friend Tanya came to Vancouver for a whirlwind tour, I had an opportunity to go for lunch with her to Hapa Umi. As I mentioned on Twitter at the time, I was pretty unimpressed at how slow the service was. The food is excellent, don’t get me wrong. But considering that (a) it wasn’t packed and (b) it was a work weekday, I expected faster service.

We both ordered the same, a Bento Box (traditional Japanese lunch box. Includes choice of daily features, miso soup, rice, and a selection of Hapa Umi specialties, which at $19 IS on the high end of the price point scale for lunch any way you slice it). Admittedly, Hapa Umi’s portions are abundant and flavourful, and the delicacies they serve are well worth it, but it’s on the higher end of the scale (e.g. no cheap $6 sushi boxes).

I enjoyed the fact that the bento box had 2 levels which made the amount of food we ate a lot more substantial. My favorite dish was, without a doubt, the salmon skewers and the elbow pasta salad. Given that I’ve tried other Hapa’s, I’ll agree that Umi is the higher end brother in the family. Worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. My only complaint in addition to the service (which that day wasn’t stellar) is the lighting – horrible for my indoor photos.

Disclosure: I paid for my lunch on my own dime.

Vancouver International Fringe Festival 2011: The Seminar

jessica — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 15:00:48 +0000

Photo Credit: Jason Benko for Poiema Productions

The Seminar is a play from Poiema Productions out of Edmonton that’s coming to Vancouver for the International Fringe Festival. Written, produced, and starring the girls of Poiema, this original production is sure to push boundaries and comfort zones as it attacks the state of media and marketing. This satire tries to expose the ugly truth behind ugliness.

How can someone improve their looks to rise above their own ugliness? Described as an “in-your-face” approach, this play plays around with surgeries and genetics to find beauty. If the possibility to change is available and within reach, why would anyone not take it?

Attention all UGLY PEOPLE: Come join our family and become a new you, a happier you, and an acceptable you. The Seminar gives all you ugly people out there an opportunity to change your lives. Don’t let your genetics define who you are. You can choose a better life when you choose to join our program. A photo speaks a thousand words, and they aren’t about your personality!

This sounds like it’ll be an interesting experimental piece.

Reminiscing about TV shows ABOUT Vancouver

Raul — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 16:20:02 +0000

Like anyone who has lived in Vancouver long enough and who has had the opportunity to enjoy this city as much as I have, and who has fallen in love WITH the city and with SOMEONE from this city, I am always looking for familiar references of Vancouver on film, TV shows, and theatre plays. Heck, even in my teaching and research, I get a little excited when my students analyze local policy issues. That’s who I am.

Since I got TV cable again, I have been watching re-runs of Cold Squad, a Canadian forensic science show (that the US Cold Case was modeled after, apparently). I get an extreme (and perhaps kind of stupid) sense of pride and excitement when I hear the names of streets, or references to stuff I know about this city. To the actual location of City Hall, to zones riddled with drug wars and crime.

I know of a few shows who are about Vancouver, like Cold Squad. I remember Da Vinci’s Hall and Da Vinci’s Inquest. I remember Robson Arms. But since I’m not a TV show buff, I’m not really sure about other shows. Which ones do you remember are ABOUT Vancouver (and yes I know Dark Angel, the Fantastic Four, Supernatural and Smallville have been filmed here. I’m more interested in shows, movies, theatre plays ABOUT Vancouver).

Thoughts?

Live at YVR (The Vancouver Internationa Airport Storyteller Contest)

Raul — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 17:00:09 +0000

If you remember the movie with Tom Hanks “The Terminal” (2004), you’d get a bit claustrophobic and somewhat not excited about the possibility of living in an airport. I did. When the PR company that is helping Vancouver International Airport promote their contest, Live at YVR, first pitched me, I said that the winning storyteller would feel claustrophobic. Kudos to them for answering my questions (scroll to the bottom of the post for more detailed information about the contest that was provided to me by the PR company of YVR).

This weekend (on Sunday), I came to the Vancouver International Airport (YVR) to pick up my Mom (who lives in Mexico, but comes to visit me every summer for about a month). I have been flying worldwide through YVR since 1996 (yes, 15 years already) and I still travel through at least a solid 20 times, if not more (in the past month alone, I went through the Vancouver International Airport 7 times). I have an extreme appreciation for our airport, I have to say.

As I was sitting in the International Arrivals I realized how much of a world-class airport YVR is. I’ve lived in cities with outstanding airports (Paris’ Charles De Gaulle, Madrid’s Barajas, London’s Heathrow and Gatwick’s and Mexico City’s Benito Juarez), and yet I’m still very impressed with Vancouver’s YVR every time I come home. Had the funky contest to find the Vancouver International Airport’s 80th Anniversary Storyteller (or as they call it, “Live at YVR”) happened during a time I don’t teach or when I don’t do client work, I probably would have applied to be the airport’s storyteller for 80 days and 80 nights.

Photo credit: Michael Wu (Singular Outdoor) on Flickr.

To celebrate YVR’s 80th anniversary, Vancouver Airport Authority is going to provide someone with the opportunity of a lifetime. They are running a contest to find YVR’s resident Storyteller to LIVE at the airport for 80 days and 80 nights. That’s right- Live.at.the.airport. For 80 days. But if you’re going to be a houseguest for 80 days, you’re going to have to earn your keep. The winner of the contest will be provided with an HD video camera, editing software and access to the people, places, and behind-the-scenes spaces most have never seen. Until now. The Storyteller will shoot video footage every day, editing together stories and uploading them to the Live@YVR website (LiveatYVR.ca) – an online channel where they will share their 80 day experience with the world…as well as the stories, people and secrets that make YVR the number one rated airport in North America.

The Live@YVR Storyteller will also tweet and update the Live@YVR Facebook page regularly, as well as turn the camera on him/herself with weekly video diaries. (we want to know how they will feel on day 1…and on day 40…?!) The storyteller will not be allowed to leave the airport and Sea Island for 80 days. But… the lucky Live@YVR storyteller will get to sleep at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel every night. Nice.
Do you love to meet people? Are you a storyteller at heart? Do you have strong video and editing know-how…lots of stamina…and most importantly, do you think that living at YVR for 80 days sounds pretty sweet? (Because we’re not kidding when we say that the winner can’t leave the airport or Sea Island for 80 days.) If this sounds like you, visit LiveatYVR.ca to learn how to enter.

Key dates:
· June 23 – July 18: Submit your video entry (all approved video submissions will be posted on the LiveatYVR.ca site for the public to view)
· July 25 - YVR will announce up to five finalists
· July 25 – August 5: Public votes on the finalists and chooses the Live@YVR winner
· August 17 – Live@YVR Storyteller is announced and he/she starts day 1 of 80 days at YVR (until November 4)

A discussion on the PR strategy behind Live At YVR

I wanted to add this bit at the end of the post, because it’s an indication of how a PR company changed my mind about a pitch that I originally was not going to write about. I include this information not only for the PR company to learn more about what they did right, but also for other PR companies as a case study.

I will fully admit that the copy submitted to me as a pitch totally hit me the wrong way (hence why I didn’t write about the contest at first). I’m not a fan of “you won’t be allowed” and “you’ll have to earn your keep” language. I prefer language that is much more “action-positive”, like “you will get to enjoy getting to know our airport better by staying within the bounds of Sea Island for a full 80 days“. But hey, I’m not the PR company behind the campaign, and I am not going to tell anyone how to do their job.

BUT. Here’s what the PR company did, after I responded the reasons why I didn’t think it was a good fit for my blog and why I didn’t want to blog about it. Below is an extract version of my online email conversation with the PR representative.

Raul - Saw your contest, and did retweet it. I’ll admit I find it a bit creepy. That’s why I didn’t blog about it. I find the contest kind of creepy. There must be ways to improve/redesign the contest with the client so that it doesn’t sound as claustrophobic as it sounds to me.

PR company - I really appreciate your feedback and can understand where you’re coming from. However, I just wanted to clarify that having to Live@YVR for 80 days and 80 nights doesn’t mean the contest winner will be stuck inside the airport. The assignment not only includes YVR proper but also the rest of Sea Island. Therefore, the contest winner will have ample opportunity to get out, explore and tell amazing stories about the beautiful area around YVR, as well. Hope this makes you feel less creepy about the contest and if you have any more questions/concerns, do let me know.

Raul - Does the blogger receive any sort of compensation? You do realize that this means that someone may not be able to work for a full month and a half – how are you guys dealing with this?

PR company – The Live@YVR contest has some fantastic prizes. The contest winner will receive a $15,000 (CAD) honorarium and for the duration of the 80 days, he/she will also receive: complimentary accommodation at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel, meals, a phone/data plan, and video editing equipment/software. If you would like more information about Live@YVR contest prizes, you can find it here: Prizes for the winner of Live at YVR

I think this is the way to go for any PR company. If I have concerns or questions about your project, have a conversation and build a relationship with me until I’m satisfied. And frankly, knowing that the winner is going to get some amazing prizes is what made me write about Live at YVR. Now, go and submit your entry!

The Greek Summer Festival 2011

Raul — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 14:00:32 +0000

photo credit: kevinpoh

Summer is apparently here, or so does the Vancouver weather seem to want to tell us. So I have been really delighted that so many awesome festivals are taking place during this period. The Greek Summer Festival 2011 is one of them, taking place from June 30th (yes, it started last week) up until July 10th, 2011.

he Vancouver Greek Summer Festival is an annual celebration of food, entertainment, and family fun — from the famous “Roast Lamb” and “Loukoumades” (a specialty Greek dessert) to the dozens of live singers and dancers on the Performance Stage to face-painting for the children (and adults!).

The first Greek Summer Festival was held in 1987 as a small weekend event, attended mostly by members of the St. Nicholas & Dimitrios Church as a fundraiser for the church. Since then, the festival (now simply known as “Greek Fest”) has grown to 10 days over two weekends, encompassing the Canada Day Holiday. It is now attended by almost 40,000 people from all areas of the culturally diverse Lower Mainland, as well as many visitors from around the world.

You have still a full week to enjoy the festivities. Hope to see some of you there!

DVBIA Busking Series on Granville (audition July 9th)

Raul — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 15:02:18 +0000

A former student of mine is working with the DVBIA helping the City of Vancouver to organize Viva Vancouver. They have made 5 blocks of Granville Street (Hastings to Smithe) pedestrian-only for every weekend this summer. Some very cool activities and events happening on the weekends. Last weekend was Latincouver (which I unfortunately missed).

My student is in charge of this busking series in which they hire professional buskers for $50/hr to busk an hour-long set on Granville Street from 5-6 or 6-7 pm on Granville. She mentions that she’s been meeting some great, talented musicians.

Major points:
- DVBIA is hiring buskers for Friday evenings this summer
- To be a part of the series, you must audition; the DROP-IN audition is at Tom Lee Music 929 Granville on Saturday, July 9th from 2 – 6 pm
- Bring amp + anything else you need for your performance
- Email Kimberly at hughes.i.kim@gmail.com if you have any questions

Whether you are musician, a busker, or both, or know one, can you please pass around? Thanks!

This post hasn’t been paid for by neither the City of Vancouver nor the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association. I’m writing it to support (a) the work of one of my former students and (b) help DVBIA find some great buskers who might find the busking series appealing to showcase their talent. As always, I retain full editorial control of content on my site.

From embarrassment to pride: #VancouverCleanup @VancouverClean

Raul — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 20:51:20 +0000

I responded to the call from a group that sprung on Facebook and Twitter (@VancouverClean). I had a meeting with the Invoke team for our City of Surrey project, and headed down right after. I had a number of conversations with people who were volunteering helping. I got talking with the folks who helped me clean up the area where I was working on (I spent a bunch of time on Richards between Georgia and Dunsmuir). Everyone was so happy about the overwhelmingly positive response to the call to clean up. Lots of youth were, and are still helping clean around (people from all ages, but in general, A HECK OF A LOT OF YOUTH).

I was chatting with a couple of girls who were maybe 13 or 14 and they both said “wow, this is embarrassing, what were these people thinking”. Others said “well, we were horribly embarrassed by what others did, but we can totally rebuild our city, and this is our city and we’re taking it back”. I felt an incredible sense of empowerment. I bumped into a number of people, Myke Ames and Spencer Chandra Herbert notably, with whom I chatted for a little while.

I was interviewed by Komo News (Channel 4 I think, Seattle) and I mentioned that I was completely overwhelmed and happy about the strong response to the call to clean up our city. By the time I got to the operations centre (which by now should be closed) where City of Vancouver staff were directing people and offering brooms, bags, etc., they were already saying “I have no clue where to direct you – so much of the city downtown core has already been cleaned and we have had so many amazing volunteers”.

Everywhere I walked, people said “thank you for cleaning up” and I did the same to anyone I bumped into. This collective sense of civic pride made my eyes well. A lot of people were emotionally overcome by the messages of healing, compassion and pride. So many people were writing on The Hudson’s Bay’s plywood boards, just expressing their love for our city, and their outrage at the rioters.

I feel so incredibly overwhelmed with pride. These people, everyone who helped document what was happening, who tried to help identify the rioters, everyone who cleaned up our city, and everyone in general who helped not destroy but rebuild our city, you make me proud and I thank you.

Responding to the Vancouver riots: Cleaning up our city

Raul — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 14:38:20 +0000

Photo credit: Mark Donovan Vancouver on Flickr

What happened last night (you have seen it in the news and all over Twitter. We even trended worldwide. How embarrassing) is just one of those things I can’t wrap my head around. With all the research that people have done on mobs, mob mentality and social networks, I don’t think anyone could have predicted the outcome of what happened last night in Vancouver. Personally, I think the response of the Vancouver Police Department was very measured and firefighters, police officers and heroes who tried to stop looting and attacks on businesses are to be commended.

I wasn’t in the thick of it. I was attending the President’s Ball at the Canadian Chefs Conference (CCFCC2011) at the Renaissance Hotel, near Thurlow and West Hastings, and thus not really in any real danger. I debated whether to stay downtown or head home, and thankfully Julia drove both Melody and myself home. As we drove through we realized that the riots had been mostly concentrated within the vicinity of Georgia and Hamilton, Robson and Granville, that 6-block-radius area.

Photo credit: Matthew Grapengieser on Flickr

I’m embarrassed by the actions of a few, but amazed and proud at the actions of thousands who are repulsed by the behavior of those thugs who initiated the riots. Two things that I would ask my readers:

1) If you have footage or photos, please submit directly to the Vancouver Police Department (robbery at vpd dot ca) – remember, they need more information and context. Uploading them to Facebook helps with identification but it would be more helpful if you can provide more information.

2) If you can, please join Vancouver Clean (Facebook page here) and help clean up our city. I’ll be joining after a work meeting I have at 10:30am.

And more importantly, let’s remember that this was just a few thugs, probably fueled by alcohol. They were certainly not Vancouver Canucks fans.

The Vancouver Lookout

Raul — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:00:09 +0000

I have always loved the Vancouver Lookout. It’s the place where I take out-of-town visitors whenever I want to give them a quick snapshot of how beautiful Vancouver and it’s surrounding area is. People associate Harbour Centre (the tower that houses the Vancouver Lookout and its revolving restaurant) with Vancouver almost in every single snapshot you can get from the city, and it’s literally kitty-corner from my office at The Network Hub, so it’s kind of surprising I don’t visit more often. Wait, I know why. Because in Vancouver, it rains almost 300 days out of 365. Which is bad. But when it’s sunny, bright and beautiful, you can’t get enough of it.

And seriously, there’s almost no way you can take a bad photo with a day full of sunshine, from the Vancouver Lookout. Exhibit A, see below.

Breathtaking, isn’t it?

I’m really glad we have an elevated lookout point at Harbour Centre, because it’s such a great place to take photos from and appreciate our beautiful city. A bit of history on the Vancouver Lookout:

The Vancouver Lookout opened on August 13, 1977. Astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon, cut the ribbon and welcomed a crowd of dignitaries, Vancouverites, and visitors. The Lookout tops Harbour Centre which, at 168.8 meters (553.16 feet) high, is one of the tallest buildings in Vancouver and British Columbia. It’s only slightly shorter than nearby Seattle’s Space Needle that rises to 184.4 meters (605 feet).

The cost for an adult trip up is $15 dollars (Canadian) and you can save your ticket and go up any time throughout the day (something I find extremely nice, as many other attractions don’t have in-and-out privileges). You can also find the Vancouver Lookout on Twitter (@VanLookout) and on Facebook.

Disclosure: I paid for my own trip up, out of my own pocket. I just thought it’d be nice to highlight a Vancouver landmark.

Be a tourist in your hometown: @HiddenVancouver and @TheWestinGrand

Raul — Tue, 17 May 2011 19:30:20 +0000

I had been planning to do a number of giveaways related to being a tourist in your own hometown but for one reason or another, I’ve been insanely busy (if you’ve read my blog recently, you may know the reasons why). But I really wanted to get this particular one launched and luckily, The Westin Grand in Vancouver has partnered with me to offer one lucky reader of mine a package so that they can be a tourist in their own hometown. The winning package consists of a one-night stay in a one bedroom suite at The Westin Grand, Vancouver with a $75 dining credit for Hidden Tasting Bar & Social Lounge. The winner will be awarded a gift certificate for the prize which must be redeemed within one year of winning. Room reservations will be based on availability.

To enter my giveaway, tell me what you think the most beautiful part of Vancouver is in the comments section. Personally, I’m definitely drawn to the Coal Harbour seawall. But I’m really a Vancouver boy. This is my city, this is my home. To gain an additional entry (total of 2, one via comment, one via Twitter), you can post the following on your Twitter stream:

Told @hummingbird604 my favorite part of Vancouver to enter to win a @TheWestinGrand prize pack http://is.gd/X2cewx What’s yours?

I’ll draw a winner on Monday May 31st at 2pm and I will announce it accordingly with Travel Tuesday. You can follow Hidden (Twitter/Facebook) and The Westin Grand Vancouver (Twitter/Facebook) on their social platforms, and be sure to check my review of Hidden. I will post the name of the winner here on Tuesday May 31st at 2pm, and the winner will have 24 hours to contact me, as per my Contests’ rules and regulations. If I don’t hear from the winner, I’ll redraw until I find one.

All photos on this post are property of The Westin Grand Vancouver and they have them licensed to use commercially (and I used them with permission)

33rd Avenue and Mackenzie Street (Mackenzie Heights)

Raul — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 15:00:49 +0000

In many respects, I’m an urban geography geek (not surprising given that my doctoral dissertation was majorly an environmental economic geography treatise on the transformation of urban and industrial structures). I’m thoroughly fascinated by the underlying reasons why we find small pockets of businesses/malls/markets within a primarily residential area.

The area around the crossing of 33rd Avenue and Mackenzie Street in Vancouver (Mackenzie Heights) is one such complex and interesting area. You will find a half a block chock-full with businesses dedicated to various things (including a pretty nice market). But if you continue walking or driving past 33rd Avenue and Mackenzie Street, you will find yourself again in a completely residential (and wealthy) area.

I find this kind of shifts (residential and then a bit of commercial then residential) extremely intriguing. You may recall a post I wrote about the economic geography of the Lower West End, which also showcases this type of mixed business/commercial and residential uses.

Happy Birthday Vancouver! Places That Matter in My Life

Raul — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:36:04 +0000

I moved to Vancouver more than a decade ago and thus whenever anyone asks me where I am from or where is home, I always respond “Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada”. This is my home and where my life took off. Vancouver is where I have been most successful, professionally, personally, academically and as a part of the social media community and landscape.

Today, April 6th, we are celebrating the 125 anniversary of the foundation of Vancouver as a city, and as part of the anniversary celebrations (Happy Birthday, Vancouver) there will be cake today and the Olympic Cauldron will be re-lit in the Jack Poole Plaza starting in the mid afternoon.

The voting for Places That Matter has begun, and I found several of the gems I love in there (Avalon Farm, Stanley Park, the Hastings Mill building). But I also want to list the Places That Matter in my life. First and foremost, The Network Hub (which is within a heritage building, the former Vancouver Antique Building) at 422 Richards Street.

The Network Hub is one of the Places That Matter to me the most because its cofounders (my friends Jay Catalan, John Van and Minna Van) have been my biggest promoters and fans, and I wouldn’t be half as successful as I am as a consultant and entrepreneur if it weren’t for them.

Granville Island and the False Creek Seawall is another of the Places That Matter to me. My family, close friends and loved ones and I have walked along this seawall numerous times. It represents to me the intersection of nature and urbanization.

Main Street in Mount Pleasant is another of the Places That Matter to me. I live near Main Street, and I’m a Mount Pleasant boy through and through. I love its ethnic diversity, its openness, its artistic flair and the many things that it has to offer to me. I love taking only one bus to UBC and to downtown, and I love the many places to eat, have coffee, see art and get groceries, all within walking distance.

Stanley Park’s Second Beach is one of my absolute Places That Matter in my life. It’s the place where I decided in 2010 that for 2011 my one priority would be taking care of myself before I took care of others. It was watching this sunset, on this particular day that I realized that I felt incredibly fulfilled and that it was time for me to take better care of myself.

The Koerner Library at The University of British Columbia is one of the Places That Matter in my life the most. I would have not been able to finish my PhD if I hadn’t spent countless hours reading books, poring over journal articles and asking reference librarians. I love ALL libraries, but UBC libraries and in particular, Koerner Library. Also, much love to Main Library (now the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, pictured below)

The Rose Garden at UBC is also one of the Places That Matter to me the most. It’s where my best friends and I have spent some time chatting about relevant stuff. It’s where I celebrated my graduation. It’s where I sat down and talked to my Mom to share some of my most important feelings and emotions regarding life as a graduate student and then as a faculty member.

These are some of the Places That Matter to me, in Vancouver. I have a fondness for all the Metro Vancouver region, but these are a few within Vancouver proper. Happy Birthday Vancouver! You have given me so many opportunities to grow and be successful, I am forever grateful.

Icicles at Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal and a cold snap in Vancouver

Raul — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 23:32:58 +0000

It’s so cold in Vancouver (well, technically in West Vancouver) that we found icicles at Horseshoe Bay Ferry Terminal. I am hoping the cold snap subsides. I had a chance to attend this morning a Tweetup Heatup organized by my good friend Shane Gibson. We handed out blankets and clothes and toques and they flew, completely.

I’m hoping that people will find it in their heart to not only retweet and say “you go!” but also take time to take action and help those in need who are feeling cold right now in Vancouver and are on the streets. I am enroute to Nanaimo and then Parksville with my good friend Cassandra Anderton to cover Parksville Uncorked 2011. But my head is still back and thinking of those in need and facing the cold. Congratulations to my friends Rina Chong and Shane Gibson for their good deed today, and I was so glad to see Wendy Hartley and even one of my current students!

Renfrew Ravine and Renfrew Park (Vancouver)

Raul — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:45:05 +0000

I never get tired of my walks around the city with my good friend Erica Hargreave. Actually, I never get tired of walking anywhere with my friends, to be quite honest. Particularly when it comes to discovering somewhat unusual places in the city. I’m a sucker for all things urban nature, and having a water stream flow through in such a distinct manner as it does through the Renfrew Ravine makes me go all giddy for no good reason. Plus, it’s in my neighbourhood of East Vancouver. Go East Vancouver!

I have written about the Renfrew Ravine Moon Festival before, but I wrote that post when I had actually not been there (though admittedly, my friend Tris Hussey and I gave a talk at the Renfrew Park Community Centre last year on how to grow your readership through blogging).

A couple of weeks ago, Erica and I wandered around to check it out. Walking through the ravine, we found a labyrinth, a German-Canadian monument and lots of beautiful, peaceful nature.

As you may (or may not know) my research encompasses the industrial/urban transformation of cities and its environmental effects, so I am always keen to explore urban settings and appreciate the intersection of nature with urbanization. Erica and I walked through the Renfrew Ravine Greenway all the way from 29th Avenue Skytrain station to the Renfrew Park.

Beautiful natural water streams and bodies within urban settings never cease to amaze me. I am just as fascinated with Renfrew Ravine as I am with my beloved Trout Lake. Both beautiful locations within my East Vancouver neighbourhood.

Vancouver’s 125 Anniversary Celebrations

Raul — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 17:21:43 +0000

I have lived in Vancouver (on and off, with moves to Europe and Mexico in between) for almost 14 years of my life. So, whenever I cross Customs and Immigration Canada and I get asked “what brings you to Canada” my response is always “I’m coming home“. This is my home. Vancouver has been my home for most of the time I have spent in Canada, so I’m excited to be part in some little way of Vancouver’s 125 Anniversary Celebrations.

My good friend Rebecca Bollwitt is involved in the Vancouver 125 Heritage Committee so I asked her to tell me a bit more about the initiative and the project they just launched, Places That Matter To Vancouver. Rebecca has been writing quite a bit on the topic. She told me:

Although Vancouver is celebrating 125 years since its incorporation, this is also a time to celebrate our rich past and heritage that goes back even further. Through First Nations partnerships, community events, art exhibits, performances, and two major city festivals (Birthday Live & Summer Live) Vancouver will be reliving the city pride felt last year during the Olympics — all year long. The City has at least 125 events planned so far most of which are free to the public. 2011 will offer the perfect opportunity to get to know Vancouver a little better, and celebrate the city which we call home.

There’s a number of great events that are coming up, including “Birthday Live” on April 6th, 2011 and “Summer Live” July 8, 9, and 10th, 2011. You can also check their Event Listings.

I love the city of Vancouver, a city I’ve called home for more than a decade. So I can’t wait to start celebrating its 125 Anniversary. I’ll be covering and writing about some of the events that will be taking place throughout the city. I already participated in the launch a couple of weeks ago, when the Vancouver PuSh Festival 2011 launched in conjunction with Vancouver 125. And I will continue to participate as events come along.

My trip with Helijet

Raul — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 16:45:42 +0000

I had already travelled by helicopter but I always knew JT wanted to fly by chopper and for his birthday I wanted to surprise him and give him a great birthday present. So for JT’s birthday, I accepted the kind invitation of Jay Minter, Director of Marketing and Product Innovation at Helijet International (also known as simply Helijet) and flew to Victoria.

When I first looked into taking the Helijet, I will fully admit that I had already flown via Harbour Air and Salt Spring Air. So I had already experienced float planes. But I hadn’t experienced this type of business-oriented air travel by helicopter. Considering the cost of my hourly rate, if someone needed me to undertake a speaking engagement in Victoria, it would be in their best interest to have me fly with Helijet.

Our trip was extraordinarily comfortable, and extremely fast. Without a doubt, it was a 35 minute trip downtown Vancouver to downtown Victoria. It’s not the first time I have considered taking the Helijet and it will definitely not be the last. I am 100% sure that for Social Media Camp Victoria 2011 I will be taking the Helijet, because I will be unable to travel the day before, and I will need to be there early in the morning. And the money I will pay will be worth it, every single penny.

I took video from our take off in the flight from Vancouver to Victoria (bear in mind this was taken with a Canon SD 1300 so it’s not absolutely stellar and it doesn’t justice to how smooth travelling on Helijet is).

It’s hard to believe that Helijet is such a young company (founded in 1986). My good friend Erica Hargreave and I drove past the Richmond terminal for Helijet this past weekend. The terminal looks pretty impressive, I’ll admit. And again, the customer service at Helijet is beyond amazing. The customer service representatives I dealt with were absolutely stellar. I will definitely be back, Helijet!

Disclosure: My trip to Victoria and back was sponsored very generously by Helijet International Inc. I wasn’t paid to write this review, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to describe and document my experience with Helijet’s service, and as indicated above, I would any day pay for the service. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

The Victorian Hotel (Downtown Vancouver)

Raul — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 22:21:49 +0000

A few weeks back, my good friend (and fellow academic) Christopher Parsons came to Vancouver to give a talk on digital privacy. I could have invited him over to stay with me but my apartment is too small. I approached The Victorian Hotel (where my good friend Jo VanEvery stayed about a year ago) and they were kind enough to sponsor Chris’ stay.

I went to visit Jo last year at The Victorian Hotel and noticed that the hotel is actually much bigger than you could possibly think from looking at it from the outside.

Breakfast is included in the price of your room, and can be taken in their first floor dining room.

In addition to the beautiful rooms they have, The Victorian Hotel offers two workstations with computers with internet access and a printer. All rooms have free wireless as well as the usual amenities.

There are two types of rooms: smaller ones with shared bathrooms (for $59 in low season, $99 in high season) and De Luxe with their in-suite bathroom (absolutely beautiful as well, $99 in low season, $169 in high season).

Overall, I would strongly recommend The Victorian Hotel for an affordable, inexpensive and beautiful option for lodging in the heart of the downtown core of Vancouver. Having had at least 2 friends stay there and tell me they really liked it, makes me think that it’s totally worth it.

The Victorian Hotel has a very long history, and it has great amenities and features.

Built in 1898, as one of the first guest houses in Downtown Vancouver, the Victorian Hotel has been revitalized with modern amenities yet maintains its historic authenticity with high ceilings, original hardwood floors, intricate woodwork, and majestically large windows.

Disclosure: Chris’ stay at The Victorian Hotel was sponsored very generously by the hotel in support of the Social Media Club Vancouver. I wasn’t paid to write this blog entry, nor was I required to do so either. The purpose of this blog entry is just to highlight a beautiful hotel in Vancouver that has also supported my efforts. In any review I write or publish on my site, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

Thunderstick at the Firehall Arts Centre (theatre review)

Raul — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:17:48 +0000

I am an incredibly lucky guy. Blogging has brought me an incredibly high number of opportunities. And last night I was rewarded with the chance to meet two of the best and funniest Canadian (and First Nations) actors: Lorne Cardinal (better known for his work on the TV show Corner Gas) and Craig Lauzon (also known for his work on Royal Canadian Air Farce).

Thunderstick, currently playing until October 30th at the Firehall Arts Centre, is a fantastic play. I can’t describe it as a comedy or as a drama. It’s complex, it’s delightful, it’s riveting and it makes you laugh so hard one moment and ponder and think the other. It’s Canadian theatre at its best, and I’m so thrilled that the chemistry between Lauzon and Cardinal is so amazing. If you are a journalist or have any interest in understanding the complexities of journalism in an world torn by war, you should see Thunderstick. If you are interested in First Nations issues and the treatment some Aboriginal people had in residential schools, you should see Thunderstick. If you want to see great Canadian theatre, in general, you should see Thunderstick.

Written by Kenneth T. Williams, Thunderstick stars Lorne Cardinal from the hit TV show Corner Gas and Royal Canadian Air Farce regular Craig Lauzon as mismatched cousins who are journalists on the trail of a scandalous political intrigue. This raunchy comedy starts as one cousin throws up on the Prime Minister and gets only more frenzied as the both are launched into jail, heartbreak and a road trip- all while chasing the story of their careers. A Persephone Theatre and Theatre Network Production

While viewer discretion is advised for coarse language, I strongly recommend that you see this play. Wednesday October 27th and today, October 20th, it’s Pay What You Can. You can also buy tickets online.

Disclosure: The tickets to attend Thunderstick for myself and my Plus One were sponsored very generously by Persephone Theatre and Theatre Network. They have made it explicit that I have no obligation nor commitment to write a review at all (although, in this case, I choose to do so). I am not paid to write the review either. In any review I write, I retain editorial control at all times. Should you have any questions/concern feel free to contact me via e-mail through my contact form.

An update on the Tsawwassen Quay Market amenities and wireless connections

Raul — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 23:02:37 +0000

You may remember earlier this year I blogged about how the Tsawwassen Quay Market needed some serious improvement (particularly for those of us workaholics who need to be connected at all time). I am right now sitting at the Tsawwassen Quay Market (thanks to having missed my 3pm ferry enroute to Victoria for Social Media Camp Victoria 2010, where I will be speaking), and I found myself pleasantly surprised with two improvements here.

First, I found that my laptop can grab the BC Ferries signal when close to the terminal (I’m at the easternmost point of the terminal, where the Salt Spring Island Cafe is, and where the second surprise resides – SSI DOES have wifi). I don’t know if it will hold the signal if I move (SSI doesn’t have power adapters near by), but for now, it feels great to be able to at least download my emails, check my Twitter account, and respond to a few urgent notes).

I hope the improvements continue. A walkway from the terminal to the actual market would be outstanding.

Delilah’s Conviction Kitchen (West End, English Bay)

Raul — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:45:34 +0000

There are many reasons why I love the concept behind Delilah’s/Conviction, or as the Canadian reality TV show calls it, “Conviction Kitchen”. The first one is that I believe in the rule of law. The second one is that I believe that people can change. And the third one is that Conviction Kitchen as a project provides ex-convicts with a new chance at life.

Mom and I had just arrived from Whistler (I went on a writing retreat with my Mom, in hindsight probably a mistake in regards to timing as I got about 321 emails about Mental Health Camp during the course of my pseudo-offline period – a wonderful opportunity, nonetheless – and I have my good friend Lisa Thomas-Tench to thank for the chance to go up to Whistler).

Being as stressed as I was, I told Minna and Jay (The Network Hub) that I needed a drink, and that Delilah’s was possibly the best place for a stiff martini. They agreed to join me. I am grateful to them that they did, because the experience was fantastic.

It’s not the first time I have been to Delilah’s, a reputed restaurant in the West End famous for its lethal martinis. I have been here many times before, the last one on the day of my birthday of last year (RaulCamp for those who may remember). But this is the first time I have been to Delilah’s since Delilah’s/Conviction opened (from my conversations with Chef Thuet, it’s been open for only a couple of weeks).

As I could expect, being all evening on-camera, and having their every movement videotaped did have a bit of a frazzling effect on the servers. I could notice that they felt somewhat under the microscope, particularly as I whipped out my digital camera and started snapping photos.

The great thing is that I was surrounded by wonderful friends of mine and by my Mom, and we all tried to engage the servers in conversation to let them know that we strongly supported the project. As the evening progressed, I noticed that the bartenders, the head server and the general manager, all started coordinating and synchronizing in a much smoother way, and we overall had a fantastic time.

It is noticeable that the project is still incipient, and that the waiting and kitchen staff are still feeling a bit tentative. But this did NOT detract at all from our experience. Mom and I had already had dinner at home so we only ordered drinks (I had a Black Widow to start, and Mom had a margarita, each $8.95), and a platter of mixed olives ($5.00).

Minna ordered a Brooks Peninsula ling cod poached in olive oil, crushed fingerling potatoes, niçoise olives ($22.00) and Jay had an Alsatian putta braised Fraser Canyon rabbit with morels ($21.00). Both dishes were delicious (I tried bits and pieces of them both). Jay ordered a Thai One On martini (vodka infused with Kamr lime & lemon grass, lime & mango juice, $8.95) and Minna had a Boston Tea Partini (citrus vodka with iced tea, lemon wedge & sugar rim, $8.95). She did not finish it so I had to (yeah I know, tough life I lead eh).

On my visit, I got the star treatment: the general manager scored me a chance to talk to Chef Thuet, introduce myself, have a photo taken with him and chat about the project itself (and congratulate him on a fantastic project and a great dinner).

For dessert, we ordered a chocolate tart ($8.00) and a chocolate coulant ($9.00), both of which were amazing.

I ordered a Pearl Necklace martini to accompany my dessert ($8.95) which was an absolutely blissful pairing. And after we had finished our dinner (which had amazing service, I might add), we still spent a few times talking to the general manager, to the head server and to our own server. I even had my photo taken with the bartenders.

Overall, I would very, very strongly encourage my readers to come down to Delilah’s/Conviction for dinner, with an open mind, a generous wallet and a kind heart. Remember, these people are being given a second chance at life, be there for them. Note, just in case my review sounds too sugary or nice or positive, and you think I was paid to write this post – I paid for everything we consumed, in full (the bill came down to $150 if you are totally curious, which isn’t really all that expensive if you think about how many drinks and food we consumed).

Kudos to Chef Thuet and his wife Biana (who is now acting as General Manager of Delilah’s/Conviction) for a fantastic, heart-warming and positive project. I will be back, for sure, and I will be bringing people along with me.

Vancouver is beautiful on a sunny day

Raul — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:27:35 +0000

There will be those who will argue that Vancouver is beautiful ANY day, but frankly, I prefer Vancouver when it’s sunny. Call me “fair weather Vancouverite” but it’s true. Also, I will fully admit that when the weather is cloudy or bleak, I feel really down (I think I have some degree of SAD). But when it’s sunny and warm and beautiful, there’s no city that compares.

Manhattan (Delta Suites Hotel)

Raul — Sat, 22 May 2010 23:00:27 +0000

I’m very lucky to have amazing friends. One of the closest friends I have (CB) came to Vancouver a few weeks ago for work, and on the last day of his stay, we went for breakfast downtown. Hard to find a reasonably good restaurant at the ungodly hour of 7:00am in the downtown core, so CB and I ventured into uncharted territory. After all, most of the places I know DT are mostly lunch/dinner oriented.

I am glad I decided on Manhattan at the Delta Suites Hotel in downtown Vancouver. Not only because the breakfast is, indeed, really good, but also because the Delta Suites Hotel is exactly 15 seconds away from my office downtown at The Network Hub. So, after breakfast, I could have quickly walked half a block and start working (I didn’t because I went to the airport with CB, but I could have).

Prices for breakfast at Manhattan are, surprisingly, quite reasonable and in line with most of the hotels I’ve had breakfast at and most of the middle-to-high-end brunch places I’ve visited. For my breakfast (scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, toast and ham with a little fruit salad on the side), the item was marked at $12 plus tax. Quite obviously

I would recommend Manhattan for breakfast even if the prices are substantially higher than the ‘greasy spoons’ – it will definitely be cheaper than Provence Marinaside and (in my opinion) better!

Where is your favorite patio in Vancouver?

Raul — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:45:19 +0000

photo credit: LornaJane.net

I have been walking around my neighbourhood with a t-shirt this past couple of days. I live in the Mount Pleasant/Main Street area, and my downtown office is in the urban core, near the Waterfront Skytrain and Canada Line stations. My UBC office is, of course, on campus, so when asking about your favorite patio in Vancouver, I’m kind of asking for those patios OUTSIDE of the actual core of UBC. I know that some folks tend to like Chill Winston’s patio in Gastown, and I am quite fond of Six Acres’ patio (also in Gastown). I had beers with Andy Peatling about 2 years ago (wow, that long ago!?) at Public Eatery on Main and 17th and it was a great little patio.

So now that it looks like summer is finally coming, Vancouverites – which restaurant has your favorite outdoor patio? Feel free to retweet and share this post, the more suggestions I receive, the richer this post will be and more options will be available for local folks. Also, if you don’t live in the city of Vancouver but have other spots to recommend (Coquitlam, New Westminster, North Vancouver), please feel free to do so.

Italian Kitchen on Alberni (@Glowbal_Group)

Raul — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 23:59:40 +0000

No, I am by no means paid by the Glowbal Group to write reviews of their restaurants, nor have they given me any complimentary meals. But by some weird, strange reason, I’ve ended up at three (yes, you heard that right, three) of their restaurants in the last three or four months. First, I was taken to Glowbal Grill by my good friend Liv Hung (A Beautiful Life). Then, I had dinner at Coast (again, invited this time by my best buddy from Mexico, CB and his boss).

A week or so ago, CB, CA and myself went for lunch to Coast, but it was closed, so we ended up across at Italian Kitchen. I remember hearing about Italian Kitchen as it had opened in Kitsilano a year or so ago. I love Italian food, and I have had food at other Glowbal Group establishments, so I figured it’d be a safe bet to take CB and CA to Italian Kitchen.

I started off with a spinach salad ($11, marinated radicchio, shaved parmesan, crispy onion rings, figs, balsamic vinegar). We then ordered a Pasta Platter (spaghetti and spicy kobe meatballs with truffle cream, braised veal cannelloni with wild mushroom cream, pappardelle with lamb sausage, cabbage and potatoes, rigatoni pomodoro, with a pricing of $ 16 per person, minimum 2 people). It was enough food for all three of us.

There are three things that I know now. First, that when I’m hungry I don’t even make the time to take photos of my food. Two, that I am completely and utterly a dessert addict. I love the creme brulee that Italian Kitchen makes. Third, I absolutely love the spicy kobe meatballs. I have had this flavor in my mouth before, at Glowbal Grill, but it’s the first time I try it at Italian Kitchen.

And the service was really good, so I can’t complain at all. All in all, a great experience. Now that I’ve had some time to think about the rest of the Glowbal Group restaurants I’ve visited, I think I’ve also been to AfterGlow. I’ll write about that one once I’ve actually been there more fully.

Tacos Mexico Rico(Downtown Vancouver)

Raul — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:45:13 +0000

Naturally, I love good Mexican food. And naturally, I love going out for lunch with my friends. Combine both and find me a location close to my office at The Network Hub, and you’ll definitely have a happy Raul. A couple of days ago, my good friend Jay Catalan (one of the cofounders of The Network Hub) invited me for lunch to Tacos Mexico Rico. This restaurant is actually rather close to our office, and we had been meaning to go there and try the food (there’s another Mexican restaurant near by, La Taqueria, which I’m not sure if I’ve reviewed on my blog, but if I haven’t, I will soon).

The food at Tacos Mexico Rico is fairly authentic Mexican. I will admit, this is a tad surprising to me. I have eaten at Latin American restaurants where the owners are Salvadorean or Nicaraguan and they cook quasi-Mexican food. In this case, I will say that this is, indeed, authentic Mexican cuisine. I ordered a torta de pollo (a chicken sandwich, $ 5.75) and a Sopa Azteca (Aztec soup $ 5.50), both of them sizable portions.

The Sopa Azteca wasn’t as red as I remember it should be (which probably means it didn’t have as much chile as the traditional recipe calls for, nor enough tomato). It was flavorful, though, as was the torta. I recall La Casita’s Sopa Azteca is more traditional than Tacos Mexico Rico’s, but I won’t complain. The prices are fairly affordable, compared to similar Mexican food places around the Vancouver area.

Within reasonable commute (e.g. one or two Canada Line stops) and still within the downtown core, I would probably go more often to Salsa and Agave, Don Guacamole, or even La Casita. But Tacos Mexico Rico won’t be far down in my list of where to go for inexpensive and tasty Mexican food. If you are downtown and in the neighbourhood of Homer and West Pender, you *should* drop by for a bite to eat at Tacos Mexico Rico.

True Confections (Denman and Alma locations)

Raul — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 18:15:26 +0000

I have had a love affair with True Confections for almost as long as I have lived in Canada (over 14 years of my life). A dessert place that has two main locations. The first one is at Broadway and Alma (near UBC, where I did my MBA, my PhD and where I currently teach), and Denman and Haro (the West End location where I have spent many memorable post-Valentine’s Day and birthdays).

I am a fan of True Confections’ English trifle. It’s fresh, filled with fruit and custard, light and it reminds me of good times in London and Manchester (yes, I also studied in England – I’ve had a long list of schools I’ve attended in various countries). At $6.75, I wouldn’t say it’s inexpensive, but it’s also not super pricey. I also had a chance to taste their White Chocolate Martini ($ 5.95).

I wanted to try the strawberry cheesecake but I just didn’t have room in my stomach. The White Chocolate Espresso Martini completely tasted like dessert on a martini glass. The best martini mixing chocolate and coffee flavors I’ve had ever in the city of Vancouver. And that includes Delilah’s and The Crime Lab’s and Cafe Crepe’s martinis!

The one thing that sometimes I don’t like about True Confections is that it’s so popular that I have to line up. And as many of you know, I’m not a fan of lineups. All in all, I would recommend True Confections for dessert.

If you have any favorites other than TC, which ones do you like? Chime on the comments.

I love you Vancouver

Raul — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 15:46:36 +0000

I have been walking around the city, mostly because I am invited to pavilions, houses, etc. and I want to check all the Olympic action, but also because even with public transportation, it’s almost impossible to get around without feeling like you are in a sardine tin.

The weather has been amazingly dry, sunny and not so terribly cold. So, I’ve had a chance to take a lot of photos. For some reason, I always end up walking along the seawall (from Granville Island to the bottom of the Cambie Bridge, near the Olympic Village). If I had the cash, I would rent or own around here.

These are some of the most recent photos I took around this area, and they reminded me that I love this city. It’s been my home (on and off, since I’ve also lived in Europe for a while) for over 13 years. This city, with its highs and lows, is my home, and I love it. And I’m happy to showcase it to the world during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

If you are from Vancouver, what is it that you love about it the most? And if you’re NOT from Vancouver, what have you liked the most about our fair city?

Molson Rickards Dark Launch

Raul — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 04:14:31 +0000

I had never been to any beer launch event where I was supposed to taste the beer in the dark. Well, that’s what my friends from Molson Coors managed to lure me and a number of other friends of mine to do. Mark Busse, Rebecca Bollwitt, John Biehler, Rob Lewis, Karen Hamilton, Lorraine Murphy, myself and a bunch of other local news outlets were invited to a paired tasting of Molson’s newest brand, Rickards Dark.

For me, it was an opportunity to see my good friend Tonia Hammer, who works for Molson Coors, meet Forest Kinney (one of Molson’s communications recent hires) and hang out with good friends, as well as eat fantastic food from The Irish Heather, very aptly paired with the beer. The sensation is, definitely, a different experience. I am the kind of guy who doesn’t really drink beer, but the pairings were outstanding. You can see the rest of my photos here. Thanks to Molson again for inviting me to such awesome event. As usual, it was a great time.

From what I learned, Rickard’s Dark is an ale with 4.8 % alcohol by volume It is indeed creamy with a hint of Quebec maple syrup. I enjoyed it with perogies, shepherd’s pie AND bacon ice cream. Yes, bacon. You heard right. The things we learn… The rest of my photo set is here.

The Perfume Shoppe (Sinclair Centre)

Raul — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:41:09 +0000

I think that, for all the hype about the business that the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games are supposed to bring to Vancouver, not many new customers have been dropping by Sinclair Centre, located literally half a block away from the IBC. It always amazes me that Vancouver has so many gems and people keep not knowing about them.

Sinclair Centre in downtown Vancouver (at 757 West Hastings) is the home to a gazillion fantastic little shops. The Perfume Shoppe is one of those gems. Located at the top of the second floor of Sinclair Centre, The Perfume Shoppe is owned by Nazrin, a lovely lady who took the time to show me a variety of very non-standard, rare fragrances. Her shop reminded me of Paris, and its parfumeries. I tried a couple of scents and we discussed the notes of what I like wearing, and I was positively impressed with Nazrin’s vast knowledge of the perfume world.

You won’t find your run-of-the-mill Carolina Herrera or Gucci fragrances here, but you may not want to, anyway. The Perfume Shoppe is a place where I would come to do what it took me 4 years of my undergraduate chemical engineering career to do – to find my perfect cologne. Right now, after having tested a variety of Kenzo, Calvin Klein and Issey Miyake’s, I have decided to go back to my Carolina Herrera for Men. But once I have the kind of cash you’d need to buy these rare, exotic and fantastic perfumes, I will go back to The Perfume Shoppe and ask Nazrin to find me the right scent for my skin.

I would recommend a visit, most of her customers are international and she has a website, but the parfumerie is absolutely exquisite.

False Creek on a rainy and gloomy evening

Raul — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 19:02:16 +0000

I am always puzzled by the strangest things. For example, I walk along the False Creek seawall quite frequently and it’s only until recently that I’ve discovered that I have no clue why some stuff is located there. For example, there’s a travel agency in the Southern side of False Creek (right to the east of Granville Island).

Even more fun for me, seeing Yaletown from False Creek really made some of my photos look somewhat HDR’d. They are all taken with the iPhone camera, alas.

Even on a rainy evening, I *love* my city.

The League of Kickass Business People event – Get in the Game

Raul — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:22:19 +0000

This past Thursday, I attended the League of Kickass Business People event “Get in the Game”. Erich Buchegger invited me and I joined Jay Catalan, one of the co-founders of The Network Hub, as well as numerous participants (we had a full house as The Network Hub was the space sponsor for the event). Jenn Lowther was an excellent bartender for the evening, and Eric hosted the evening.

From the invite:

Are you interested in what the next generation of business development, communications and marketing looks like? Are you interested in how the business model in your business could radically change? Are you interested in a silent revolution that is already happening around you, that uses that latest in technology, in psychology that finds recruitment and engagement easy?

We’re talking about bringing together the bright eyed and grizzled veterans who need and want to move ahead. This is an event that challenges computers to be more powerful, that makes the average website look like last year’s news, that’s makes traditional market research look boring, that teaches people without people thinking they are learning.

FEATURED PANELISTS

Steve Bocska
Steve is President of Pug Pharm Productions Inc., a company focusing on social networking online games. Steve is the past lead designer, producer, and executive producer at Disney Interactive, Black Box (E.A.), and Radical Entertainment respectively, and past-President and CEO of Hothead Games, winner of the Canadian New Media Association’s award for “Most Promising New Company of 2007”.

McElroy Flavelle
McElroy has been making games for 22 years. He is the CEO of Compass Engine, a company creating the tools and services that will allow developers to build the next generation of location based games.

Ian Clark
Ian runs RealSpace, a local interactive 3D studio that utilizes video game technology to train people. This can range from simulating life threatening situations to everyday tasks.

Victor Lucas
Victor is creator, executive producer and co-host of “The Electric Playground”, creator and executive producer of one of the world’s first High Definition videogame TV series “The Art of Play” for Gameplay HD, and creator and Emmy-winning executive producer and host of “GameTap News”. Over the years he’s worked with partners including Activision, Sega, Kojima Productions, Bethesda, Disney and Warner Brothers.

Mark Magnusson
Mark is a User Experience & Creative Consultant with Magnus Media. With a 15 year career in digital media, Mark has helped clients win awards from the World Media Festival, Popvox Awards and The Webbys.

I enjoyed all the presentations, but I was most impressed with RealSpace, particularly as I think it’d be rather applicable to the work of Preventable. All the speakers were from the videogame industry, one that I rarely have any interaction. It was nice to see several of my friends, including Jose Gonzalez from Tourism BC, Victoria Revay, the kids of Design Vetica and obviously, a few of the entrepreneurs of The Network Hub, as well as Mark Busse. Some of the my photos of the evening are here. Overall, it was a great event, very informative, and I gained some really good insights.

Pivo Public House

Raul — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:15:57 +0000

A few weeks back, Lorraine and I found ourselves walking back to our respective places by foot, and we walked right past Pivo Public House. We had been meaning to visit this bar for a while so we thought “heck, why not stop for a drink”. Frankly, I was very impressed with the place, until… I found out it had three big flat screens, like for hockey games. And while Pivo Public House is sophisticated and has great decor, and fantastic music, I was fully disappointed. It’s not that I don’t like hockey. It’s the fact that a posh bar is looking forward to become a sports bar. That’s what I can’t really stomach.

The place is gorgeous and the drinks are reasonably priced (the night we went there were beers at about 50% which also made me very happy). The ambient music is great, and the service is friendly. But … the flatscreen TVs. That’s what really does not excite me. I would come back to Pivo, but I’d make sure that there’s not a hockey game.

The Holiday Waste Reduction Campaign of Metro Vancouver

Raul — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:22:14 +0000

As many of you who read my blog and who have known me for a long while, the research study area with which I began my academic work was solid waste. I taught a Masters-level course in Waste Policy and Management, and one of my favorite sub-topics was landfill management.

Credit: D'Arcy Norman

I have been following the Metro Vancouver Solid Waste Strategy development (the Zero Waste Challenge) for a couple of years now (and yes, there is a lot of controversy around it, and the possibility of building a waste-to-energy facility). I will not address the controversy on this post, but I’ll just mention their holiday waste reduction campaign (which I learned about from Greg Valou, Communications Officer from Metro Vancouver).

Typically, Metro Vancouver has to deal with 5000 tons of extra waste during the holiday season. This fun video should give you more background and it is a good overview of the reduction campaign for Metro Vancouver over the holidays. Hope you enjoy it!

Gingerbread Lane at the @HyattVancouver

Raul — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 18:38:00 +0000

Last year, I was the judge of the Gingerbread Lane competition at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver. This year, I was invited by the Gingerbread Man (see photo) to the launch on November 24th. Unfortunately, that week (as you may recall) I was very sick so I couldn’t make it. But I just wanted to announce to you that the exhibit is on right now, and you should go and check it out.

My good friend Rebecca Bollwitt and I passed by on our way out from the Senior PR Communicators Roundtable, an event that our common friend Dixon Tam from Contemporary Communications invited us (both Rebecca and I spoke at the Roundtable). The Gingerbread Lane is a beautiful exhibit and it was nice to see it before it was officially launched. You can access the Hyatt Regency Vancouver via transit on the Skytrain (Burrard Station).

Resilient Cities: Urban Strategies for Transition Times [upcoming conference] #GGRC09

Raul — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:30:48 +0000

photo credit: Matti Mattila

I feel a bit guilty about not knowing earlier this year about the conference that starts this week“Resilient Cities: Urban Strategies for Transition Times”. Superbly organized by the Center for Urban Innovation, the conference looks like it’s going to be a fantastic hit. I feel even worse that I totally missed the opportunity to present at CANSEE.

The CANSEE (The Canadian Association for Ecological Economics) conference is coinciding with Gaining Ground: Resilient Cities this year, and I completely missed the chance to give a talk. This is shameful for me as I totally have stuff that I could present (a substantial part of my research is in urbanization and sustainability) and I completely missed deadlines, etc. Next year it won’t be in the city where I live in, so it’ll be my fault. Anyway…

I was invited to attend Gaining Ground: Resilient Cities by both Gene Miller (the main organizer of Resilient Cities) and Bill Weaver (Founder of the Media That Matters conference), both of whom I was delighted to meet at the Vancouver Observer relaunch. I’m really looking forward to the conference, it looks like it’s going to be great. Thanks to Gene and Bill for the invite.

Most likely, I will write either a day-summary or a liveblog of a couple of sessions, so track my tweets/liveblogs (and anything associated with the conference) by using the hashtag #GGRC09. You can learn more from the Resilient Cities conference blog.

And who knows, maybe I’ll give a talk at the next Gaining Ground conference!

National Coming Out Day ’09 #NCOD

Raul — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:57:04 +0000

In 2007, I think I wrote what I think is the best introductory paragraph ever written on my blog, on the issue of coming out.

Coming out of the closet (in the sexual orientation kind of way) means opening up a whole can of worms when it comes to acceptance by mainstream society, job security and the existence of glass ceilings, conforming to societal norms and dealing with potential rejection. The reason behind National Coming Out Day seems (in my interpretation) a celebration of that moment in a person’s life when it becomes important to embrace a whole identity, not just portions of it.

My thinking still applies. National Coming Out Day (which was celebrated in Vancouver in 2007 and I think 2008, but I haven’t seen anything this 2009) is a celebration of the diversity in our communities, and acceptance of that diversity. In coming out, LGBT people take a big risk The degree to which homophobia is still rampant in a country as accepting as Canada is appalling. I still wake up to headlines of gay men being bashed on Davie Street (in Vancouver) for holding hands. One of my very good friends was a target as well. Why do these incidents keep happening? Because not everyone is seen as equal.

While being gay, lesbian, trans, or queer in general does not define people, it is part and parcel of their personalities and it’s an inherent human right to have that element be a source of pride, not shame. It still is a challenge for gay people to come out, and I think the best way to summarize why some people don’t understand the struggle is to quote from my friend Cecily Walker, who said in a post about diversity in social media,

“Why aren’t there more discussions about diversity? Because it’s awfully hard to see the margins from the centre, and until more marginalized voices can fight their way to the centre and make changes to the status quo, that won’t likely change.”

With this post, I try to bring the conversation about coming out to shift to the centre and help make changes to the status quo. Join me, please (and thank you).

Win tickets to one of the Top 5 environmental movies of the Vancouver International Film Festival

Raul — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:45:30 +0000

On this blog, I write about a variety of themes, but I figured the predominant element that permeates anything that I do is the fact that my research is in environmental issues and that I have a doctorate in environmental studies. To that end, I used the same theme to choose the Top 5 environmental films I’m looking forward to seeing at the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF ’09).

The Backyard (El Traspatio) – A Mexican film that is situated in the Northern border region in Mexico (Ciudad Juárez) and speaks to themes of poverty, cross-border pollution and environmental justice. I really hope to have a chance to see this one, as it is in Spanish with English subtitles.

Around the World with Joseph Stiglitz: Perils and Promises of Globalization – I’ve followed the work of Professor Stiglitz and in particular, his work on poverty. I am really looking forward to seeing this one. I’m not an anti-globalization scholar, but I always have wondered how other people examine the negative effect of globalization.

Way of Nature – A Swedish film that looks at agricultural production and life on a farm as seasons pass through. I have spent many years studying the leather and footwear commodity chain yet I have neglected to explore more the environmental effects and the economic geography of farming.

At the Edge of the World – A documentary about the commercial whaling industry in Japan and the activists’ battles against this. I have conducted very, very little research on marine affairs despite the fact that my office was located in a building filled with some of the world’s best fisheries scientists. I’d like to learn more about these issues.

H2Oil – a Canadian documentary about the Athabasca tar sands. I have done research on pollution for many years, and in wastewater in particular, so this is the kind of film I should not be missing. This is definitely one I will do my very best to attend. And this is the one for which I could find the actual trailer to embed.

I will be giving away TWO pairs of tickets to one of these films. To win, all you need to do is drop a comment on this post. I’ll draw the winner tomorrow (Wednesday September 30th) at 4pm (given that VIFF starts on October 1st!). So act fast, and re-tweet at will!

Note – These tickets will grant access to any film except the galas, films that are sold out or that only have rush/door tickets available.

Create a new habit in 21 days through routines

Raul — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:50:04 +0000

I remember as a child having read an article about how“it takes 21 days to form a habit”. I think it might have been in “Reader’s Digest” (this magazine used to be extremely popular in Mexico, and particularly in my household). I have tested it before, with varying degrees of success (mostly, having succeeded, but sometimes not).

I always wanted to know if it rang true only because I was convincing myself that I already had a new habit or whether it worked and I was just verifying the existence of said habit. What did I do? I set out to prove this statement again, using myself as the lab rat.

You may remember that I used to be a night owl. I still think that, to some extent, I *am* a nocturne creature. However, because of the fact that in the past couple of months I have had many more client meetings to attend in the morning, I decided to start shifting my behavioral patterns and wake up early in the morning and work through the day.

I still put in 12-15 hours/day of work, and some nights I do some work late. But I still wake up early in the morning and follow the same routine. I’m working by (at the latest) 8:00am. And I have to say that all those entries I found on Google, and that magazine article I read when I was a child, do work. Today is the 21st day that I’ve been waking up early and starting work at the very latest by 8:00am regardless of how late I go to sleep, and I feel fantastic.

How is YOUR Monday morning looking?

Baker’s Market (Vancouver)

Raul — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 19:52:23 +0000

I’m not much of a baker, but I’ll admit that I love it when my friends bake goodies for me. So I was thrilled when Connie Mar informed me about Baker’s Market. Since it’s Saturday, I’m going to be lazy and just post the link so that you can check the dates (goes through the month of October 2009).

You can also follow them on Twitter.