On Sunday, January 29th, I spent my evening doing exactly what I wanted to do. I sat for two hours listening to music with my Mom. I was fortunate enough to win Hummingbird604’s contest and attended Turning Point Ensemble’s Colourful World. I was drawn to the contest due to my love of Claude Debussy, but found I enjoyed other pieces presented, as well.
The night began with a performance of Morton Feldman’s A Very Short Trumpet Piece. Sitting in the third row, I viewed a stage devoid of performers and heard the trumpet play somewhere in the darkness behind me. In those four minutes, I felt somewhat disconcerted, but enthralled by the haunting melody. The stage was lit and filled with performers for Rain Coming by Toru Takemitsu, but it was Debussy’s Cello Sonata that truly illuminated the room. Accompanied by the piano, the piece is challenging for the performers, but incredibly engaging for the listeners. Cellist Ariel Barnes certainly rose to the challenge and played the piece magnificently. The first half of the evening concluded with Rodney Sharman’s Chamber Symphony. Unfortunately, for me, I found the piece impenetrable. It was like looking at a blue dot on a white canvas that you know should have a hidden meaning, but you conclude it is too well hidden for you to find. By contrast, my mother seemed to discover it and found a great deal to interest her in the symphony.
The second half of the concert began with another Takemitsu composition, Archipelago S. I enjoyed this considerably more than Rain Coming. According to the program, “the title describes an imaginary archipelago made up of five real islands, widely separate in the natural world, each island’s name beginning with an ‘S’.” The ensemble was grouped into sections, including two clarinets played on either side of the theatre, above the main stage. I really felt as if the islands were having a dialogue with one another across the windy ocean and that was incredibly powerful. Finally, the performance ended with Debussy’s Jeux. I enjoyed the playfulness of the piece and the constant changes in tempo. It was a nice, light ending to a truly enjoyable evening.
I’d like to thank Raul for the opportunity to attend the concert and write this review.
Disclosure:Rebecca Saloustros was the winner of my tickets’ giveaway for Turning Point Ensemble’s concert Colourful World. She kindly agreed to write a guest review for my site. You can read her bio below:
Rebecca Saloustros is a writer and has recently co-authored and edited a series of textbooks. She loves classical music and jazz and studied singing, piano, and music theory. You can check out her blog at How Lucky and follow her on Twitter @rsaloust.
I am not immune to feeling sorry for myself, on very rare occasions. I am human, after all. And I live in a city that is unaffordable, that is expensive, where people sometimes don’t smile back when you smile at them (I joked on Twitter and said that I lived in Frownyville). The damp and cold weather, dealing with too many things and trying to juggle hats while trying to maintain balance and sanity, it’s not always an easy ride.
Sometimes it gets bumpy. And while I’m pretty successful, sometimes there are disappointments and letdowns. At times, things don’t turn out the way I want them. And on very, very rare occasions, I feel the desire to just do absolutely nothing. Stay still. Sleep for hours and hours and not wake up until the worst has passed.
But the reality is, I am always inspired by the love that surrounds me. The excitement of the projects I am working on. The eagerness of my students. The smart brains of my colleagues. And in the worst of adversities, I am reminded of people who day after day, struggle with their lives and keep going. They never stop. They never give up. Some people I am close to (and I won’t name them to respect their privacy) have been dealt pretty bad cards in the game of life. And yet, they keep going. They wake up in the morning, and make sure to continue on. If they are unemployed, they send resumes. They work on polishing their skills. They find other sources of engagement with society, like volunteering, or collaborating on non-profit projects.
I am always in awe of people who, while struggling to keep their heads above water, they still do it. I have been dealt amazing cards in my own life. I have an amazing family, wonderful friends, a job I love, students who value my mentorship and teaching, and opportunities in all the different worlds I navigate. Far from me to complain about anything, really. But whenever I feel even remotely the slightest desire to feel sorry for myself (for being overworked, for being too busy, for any of the minutia that often pass through our lives), I always look around. I look at my fridge and see the photos of my nephews and nieces, and they inspire me. They inspire me to keep going, to thrive, to be a success and to be a role model to them.
I look at my neighbour who has overcome so much and completed her undergraduate degree even later in life. I look around and see how many people keep the good fight. And then all that I get drilled into my brain is these five words: never stop, never give up.
And I do. I keep going. At the usual, fast-paced velocity of the hummingbird.
As someone who takes the value of mentorship at heart, and who values the relationship between mentee and mentor, RED (presented at the Vancouver Playhouse) resonated with me very, very strongly. RED is a two-man play about Russian-American expressionist painter Mark Rothko and his apprentice Ken. Both Jim Mezon (as Rothko) and David Coomber (Ken) are sublime in their respective roles.
RED is an intellectual play, admittedly, but not an inaccessible one. It paints (allow me to use the metaphor) a rich profile of Rothko as a little bit of a ruthless mentor to his apprentice, Ken. The play develops an interesting storyline that is very nicely complimented with an amazing set design and scenography. Throughout two years of apprenticeship, Ken comes to learn from Rothko about painting, inspiration, the undeniable tension between painting for a living (e.g. commercializing art) and living to paint (e.g. creating art through painting because you NEED to create). Ken (and Rothko) both learn from each other to confront their own demons, fears and needs.
One of the elements of the play that also resonated with me enormously was the need for cultural and artistic enrichment that derives from the teachings of Rothko. Rothko asks Ken if he has read Nietzche (allegedly, one of Rothko’s inspirations). What he really means is is Ken really well-rounded, well-cultured, well-prepared to be a painter by having experienced a broad variety of learning experiences?. I think that’s part of the reason why this play resonated with me so much: my parents insisted we HAD to be well-rounded, artistically, intellectually, and in sports and humanitarian work. We couldn’t JUST be good at one thing. And Rothko’s teachings actually enhance the life of Ken. But Ken’s eagerness to learn from Rothko also transform the otherwise grumpy painter.
By John Logan, and directed by Kim Collier, RED is a co-production with Canadian Stage and The Citadel Theatre. It’s on at the Vancouver Playhouse until February 4th, and you REALLY should see it. It’s worth every single minute of the 100 minutes it runs (without intermission). Below a vignette of both actors learning to paint like Rothko.
You can buy tickets to RED at the Vancouver Playhouse with this link.
Disclosure: My guest and I attended RED on media tickets. As always, I retain editorial control over anything posted on my site.
In the past few years, I have assembled numerous packages of dinner and a theatre show and given them away as a package for my readers, and they’ve been wildly successful. This year, I have partnered with Tourism Vancouver, The Arts Club and the Dockside Restaurant to give away one wonderful package (branded Act I, Eat 1) for dinner at the Dockside and then the wonderful “Do You Have What I’ve Got: A Craigslist Cantata” which is presented by The Arts Club within the context of the Push Festival 2012. I’ve heard that Craigslist Cantata has been wildly successful and dinner at the Dockside is always spectacular.
Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata & Dockside Restaurant
The Arts Club Theatre Company
Revue Stage
January 30
Dinner served at 5:30pm
Dockside Restaurant (1253 Johnston Street, Granville Island)
Performance at 8pm
The Revue Stage (1585 Johnston Street)
$78*
The Arts Club Theatre Company pairs the premiere of Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata with a delicious three-course long table dinner at Dockside Restaurant on Granville Island.
Your personal ads set to music! Irregular hats for cats, mounted lobsters, autographed copies of the Bible: this premiere, from composer Veda Hille and the CBC’s Bill Richardson, explores what humanity has to offer and turns it into side-splitting musical fare. Who wouldn’t want a broken time machine, for free? Come and take a look at the vagaries and intimacies of the internet! Featuring original songs including “Six Toes in Langley,” “Children’s Guillotine,” “Free Man’s Toupee” and “You Dropped Your Bible.”
* includes three-course dinner at Dockside Restaurant, performance (A-category seat), HST, gratuity and ticket fee. Beverages not included.
You can book online for Act I, Eat 1, but in case you are the lucky winner of my giveaway (which I will be drawing winners on Sunday January 29th at 8pm), you will get to enjoy this for free (the certificate is for 2 people, obviously, the lucky winner and a Plus One)
All you need to do to enter my giveaway is share with me your favorite thing about Vancouver, in general. I will have to admit that one of the things I love the most about this city is how beautiful it is, at all points, even when it’s raining! You can earn up to a total of 2 entries (one via Twitter, one via comment) by posting the following on Twitter:
Entered 2 win a #DineOut Act I, Eat 1 prize pack via @eatDockside @TheArtsClub @MyVancouver & @hummingbird604 http://is.gd/DiNbrY
Given the power and reach that the Vancouver Canucks have, I’m really thrilled that they have thrown their support behind one of the causes most near and dear to my heart: mental health. You may (or may not) know that I co-organize (with my dear friend Isabella Mori) Mental Health Camp, an unconference focused on the intersection of mental health and social media, and on de-stigmatizing mental illness. In the course of their life, 1 in 5 Canadians will suffer of some form of mental illness, yet we continue to stigmatize them and avoid talking about them.
Professional sportspeople are not immune to being afflicted by mental illness, and the late Rick Rypien was one of these, an amazing Canadian hockey player with the Vancouver Canucks, who died last year. Rypien reportedly had a long history of having suffered from depression.
Both the Canucks of Kids Fund in conjunction with BC Childrens Hospital Foundation are proud to support the promotion ofMindcheck.ca, a web site for youth and young adults that offers tools to check mental wellbeing and support for mental health challenges.
Vancouver Canucks are calling on BC residents to add their video to the “In One Voice” campaign with Fraser Health’s Mental Health Services division. From what I have read, Kevin Bieksa was the first of his teammates with whom Rypien confided battling depression, and it is really encouraging that Bieksa and the Vancouver Canucks support this campaign so boldly. Kevin Bieksa’s In One Voice’s pledge is shown below.
I really hope this campaign takes off, because if there is one thing that we need more is awareness and resources to support folks who are struggling with mental health issues. A video that explains the campaign in more detail is shown below. Please feel free to share this post with your networks.
So, I have to say I didn’t find the National Chocolate Cake Day on Wikipedia and I’m kind of pondering if this is just a gimmick to make us buy chocolate cake today and eat it (it’s not like that’s hard with me – I *love* chocolate cake). But I have seen posts on Huffington Post Canada and other sites where it’s being promoted so I guess … Happy National Chocolate Cake Day 2012! How are you going to celebrate it? As a Mexican, I am proud of the role that Aztecs had in the development of chocolate. And I do admittedly have a sweet tooth, so I’m sure there’ll be chocolate cake in the menu tonight!
on the edge at The Belfry (review) (yes there is no capital to the title)
Hi everyone! So glad to be back on Hummingbird604 to review on the edge by Michelle Riml, a local playwright from Vancouver.
on the edge explores the lives of three women: a fashion addict, an RCMP officer and a housewife learning yoga. Funny at first, the three segments quickly move to touching and even tragic. Through imagined dialogue with the audience or invisible characters, these women eventually reveal their flaws, hopes and tragedies.
The writing was impressive. The room could move from roaring laughter to deep silence in the space of minutes. The three women all felt different and yet could all be sides of the same person, at one point or another in their lives. I liked the last segment a little less than the first two because it was a bit too metaphorical, but I also realize that it was necessary in the development of the character and of the play as a whole.
Susinn McFarlen was magnificent in her portrayal of the three characters. Each had a soul of her own and she moved from a Loboutin-wearing West Vancouver wife to a manly RMCP officer as easily as we change clothes. Vancouverites will have the chance to see her in The Arts Club’s forthcoming production of Henry and Alice: Into the Wild!, also my Michelle Riml.
The set was simple and effective, respectively portraying a podium, an office and a yoga studio. The prominence of white emphasized the blank slate and the epiphany that each woman experiences at the end of her segment. Black accessories accented it when necessary: a black table and chair, black yoga mats. The whole was appropriate and did not distract from McFarlen’s performance.
on the edge is on at The Belfry in Victoria, until February 26th. Please do have a look if you want some touching and provoking theatre!
Disclosure: Anabelle attended on the edge on media tickets generously offered by The Belfry Theatre. As always I (Raul) retain full editorial control on what is published on my site. You can read more of Anabelle’s writing on her own blog and follow her on Twitter. Also, if you are in the Victoria area, Anabelle is on the job market! Consider hiring her. Thanks as always for writing a guest post, Anabelle!
As many of you may have noted, I’ve been trying to do a lot more fashion events and stuff (I may not come back to modeling, but I will definitely show up to some fashion events). I just found out that Canadian fashion wonderboy Mark Fast is bringing his collection Faster to Vancouver on February 4th.
Rihanna, Ciara, Avril Lavigne, Courtney Love, Julia Roitfeld, Nicki Minaj, and many more have been spotted wearing Faster. Now the latest designs of Winnipeg-native designer, Mark Fast, will be showcased in a unique event in which his designs will be made accessible to the public. The event will take place at the Westin Bayshore Hotel in Vancouver from 10-2pm on Saturday, February 4.
You can check out Jessie J in Faster for her new video Domino:
Mark Fast is a 30 year old Canadian knitwear designer. He grew up outside the city of Winnipeg, in the countryside along a highway next to a forest. This minimal, peaceful lifestyle led him to wonder what life might be like beyond the familiar frontiers of Canada.
I remember a couple of years ago I saw a video of the Candygram.ca website with my friends Jonny Staub and Fred Lee in it, and I thought “maybe I should send a couple of Candygrams myself for Valentine’s Day”. This year, the wonderful campaign that encourages you to send a candygram via the website Candygram.ca has partnered with Yelp, Purdy’s, and Shamin. My friend Tyrell Witherspoon led a flash mob to promote the Candygram, recently (read about it on Homorazzi).
Photo credit: ArtNoose on Flickr
“CandyGrams” are a playful throwback to grade-school love notes, and include a special-edition Valentine’s Day card, two delicious Purdy’s heart-shaped chocolates, a Yelpstick lip balm, Shamin’s perfect-kiss mints and a $15 gift card for Shamin Jewellers or Shamin.ca. Senders can select a friendly, flirty or frisky message from 150 options (filed under Like, Love and Lust) and can include their name, or send it as an anonymous secret admirer. For a cost of only $10, they can be sent anywhere in Canada.
Thanks to the generosity of the campaign sponsors, proceeds from the sale of CandyGrams will go directly to help those living with HIV and AIDS, supporting the amazing charity A Loving Spoonful. You may remember I’ve Blogathoned in the past and raised funds for them too. It’s a charity I’m proud to support. Last year the program raised over $20,000, and this year A Loving Spoonful hopes to top that and raise over $28,000 through the CandyGram campaign.
A Loving Spoonful is the only organization in Metro Vancouver that delivers nutritionally planned and ready-made meals to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Each year they deliver over 100,000 meals to those in need, and with very little government funding, they rely on the generosity of community and corporate partners alongside fundraising events or programs such as this campaign.
CandyGrams are on sale now at Candygram.ca, and a limited number of 3500 are available for 2012. For on-time delivery (via Canada Post) by Valentine’s Day orders must be placed by February 6th for Eastern Canada, and February 9th for Western Canada.
About A Loving Spoonful
A Loving Spoonful is a volunteer-driven not-for-profit organization that provides free, nutritious meals as well as nutritional support to people living with HIV or AIDS. On a weekly basis, and for the last 20 years, A Loving Spoonful volunteers deliver frozen meals and snack packs to men, women and children who are primarily homebound and living with HIV/AIDS. Maintaining superior health standards in each and every meal, alongside a minimal cost per plate, A Loving Spoonful provides for those who most need it; supporting their healthy living and healing efforts. A LovingSpoonful offers the priceless peace-of-mind granted by always knowing where one’s next meal is coming from, even if they lack the resources or physical ability to provide for themselves. For more information, please visit A Loving Spoonful’s website.
So, I’ve been to Pourhouse a few times but never wrote about it. Weird, huh? And it’s so close to my office. The first time I came here was for drinks with my good friend Jason Sanders and recently I went there for lunch with my good friend Degan Walters. Degan is, like me, a food writer and thus, when she says something is good, I listen.
We both ordered their special for lunch (sandwich, a side and a beer for $14, which I find is really great value for your money). Neither of us felt like alcohol, so I ordered a soft drink (which was refilled at no charge) and the meatloaf sandwich (which I also ordered without cheese – so sue me). Loved the meatloaf, which was juicy without being overly spiced up. The bun could be a little bit less toasted, but overall, a delicious lunch that then Degan and I had to walk off, because despite the apparent size, it’s actually bigger than you think.
Overall, a nice find in my area for lunch, though I know that many people may like it for drinks. I’ll definitely come back at some point for dinner. More relevant to me was to have the opportunity to catch up with Degan, someone who is a loved friend of mine but we rarely have enough time to hang out!
Disclosure: I paid for both Degan and my lunch on my own dime. As always I retain full editorial control over anything I post on my site.
I can’t imagine a more deserving nomination in the 2012 Oscars (with the exception, of course, of my beloved Meryl Streep) than Demian Bichir, the Mexican-born (now US-citizen) actor who has worked for decades in the US, precisely trying to make a name of himself and (possibly and potentially) have A Better Life (many Mexican actors move to the US to try and further their careers, as Salma Hayek did and following in the steps of other famous Mexican actors in the US like Ricardo Montalban and Anthony Quinn before them).
One of the things that has made me think and ponder for years is the decision that Mexicans make to migrate to the US. It’s clear that it is very challenging and, while I haven’t seen the movie, it looks like A Better Life does make a good job of portraying the challenges that Mexicans face in the US, particularly illegal immigrants. Demian Bichir’s performance has been hailed and praised, so much so that he is the first Mexican male in recent history to be nominated to the Oscar for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Salma Hayek was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for Frida recently).
I’m sure you know who my heart is vying for this Oscars 2012 season! The trailer for A Better Life shown below
I travel quite a lot, as you can see by reading my “Travel” category posts, and whenever I travel, it’s almost a pre-requisite for me to have internet access. Not only for ease of writing in the case of media or familizarization trips, but also to take care of my consulting and academic business. So, whenever I read descriptions of hotel amenities, I almost always overlook the “free wireless access” point. UNTIL… the point, of course, when I *have* to pay for my own wireless access (in some cases, up to $15.99 for 24 hours).
Since I really can’t be without internet access, and I can’t afford to use the data from my iPhone, more often than not, I fork the cash (obviously, rather reluctantly). But the truth is, in the majority of hotels I have stayed at in the past 5 years, wireless is free. Should we assume it’s always free or should it be a requirement for hotels now to provide it for free?
Executive House Hotel in the downtown Victoria core was a total surprise to me in many ways, all of them positive.
My first surprise was how close it was to everything in downtown Victoria: the Inner Harbour, James Bay, Fort, etc. It wasn’t really difficult to walk from there everywhere. And it’s pretty much 1 block away from the Greyhound bus terminal (for those of us insane enough to travel using Pacific Coach Lines for ease of transfer).
My second surprise was how spacious it was, and the good taste and design. I could have easily hosted a dinner party in my room (which perhaps is even a bit bigger than my own apartment in Vancouver).
The second surprise was just how nice the staff and service were. I felt like I was at home, and not only did I feel that way. I noticed that many of the guests felt the same way. As I usually do whenever I travel I talked to several guests. Since I travelled over the Christmas holidays, I wanted to see how they felt about spending their Christmas at Executive House. Everyone I talked felt that they were at the right place (it also helps that the Executive House Hotel is very family and pet-friendly).
Executive House Hotel is a family owned business that has been serving Victoria and her visitors since 1965. As a team, we strive to make sure your experience meets every expectation for service and quality. Your comfort is very important to us, and we have implemented many changes to accommodate this based on guest comments and feedback. Over the last two years we have upgraded our rooms, elevators, exterior windows, bathrooms and kitchens in order to enhance our guests’ experience. We are committed to providing you with a relaxing, enjoyable stay and are prepared to assist you in any way possible to ensure that your visit to Victoria, British Columbia, Canada is a memorable one! We are proud to be a ‘3 Key’ Green Key certified property. Our location, just one block from the Inner Harbour, gives you direct access to the best of Victoria’s restaurants, shops, tour companies, museums, theatres and more without the need for transportation. Those wishing to travel further afield, to visit the incredible Butchart Gardens for example, need only ask our helpful Concierge.
As I said, the suite I stayed at was so big that I could have easily hosted a dinner party without detriment to my own relaxation (I could have just closed the door and if there were guests, I would have had no need to interact with them). This helps if you plan a trip with a bunch of friends or with your family. The fully equipped kitchen also helps a lot (and it’s quite sizable!).
And despite the dreary and dismal weather, I had a lovely view.
Many of the amenities that we take for granted everywhere are also present here, with a very nice and elegant touch. Plus there are 3 different bars/lounges/restaurants within Executive House Hotel where you can eat, drink and be merry. I’d definitely come back to the Executive House Hotel, and I’m glad I finally accepted their invitation (it’d been too long!).
Disclosure: 2 nights of my stay at The Executive House Hotel were compliments of the hotel, as they had extended an invite a while ago to come visit. My expenses to travel to and from Vancouver Island and every other expense I incurred on during my trip I paid on my own. I also paid for one extra night at the hotel. 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 my experience at the hotel. 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.
Our Accent Inn Victoria BC Hotel is the ideal place to stay during your visit to BC’s garden city. The Victoria BC hotel is centrally located to all the city’s major attractions. Two of Victoria’s largest shopping malls are right nearby within easy walking distance. Mayfair mall is just one block away and only three blocks from the Victoria hotel is the new Uptown. A short distance away is the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre, home to the Victoria WHL and venue for great concerts. The University of Victoria, the spectacular inner harbour and Victoria’s downtown business district are minutes by car. Check out our fabulous Whale Watching and Butchart Gardens packages. Rent a Kayak or a Bicycle and enjoy another fantastic way to see the city.
I must admit and disclose that I was upgraded to the one bedroom suite, and all I was asked in return was to provide honest feedback, and I’ll have to say – I’m glad that Accent Inns Victoria is moving towards these units. They are so comfortable and spacious! My only complaint is that there is no dedicated chair for the desk area. But other than that, having the mini-bar/fridge in-suite plus the microwave really make the experience of a seasoned traveler quite more comfortable.
Free wireless access available in all rooms & lobby
Ample free parking
Fully air conditioned
Free local phone calls and faxes
Seasonal shuttle service to downtown
Free access to Steve Nash Sports Club
ABC Restaurant (Licensed)
Pet Friendly designated rooms available
Bike Friendly
I want to highlight a few features that really made my stay very comfortable: in-room fresh brewed coffee and tea is definitely something I require. And the fact that I had an ironing board in room also made my “getting ready to go and speak at WordCamp” much easier as I didn’t have to worry about whether I would have wrinkly clothing. The free wireless access available in all rooms & lobby made my creating my presentation much easier. I have to say that as geeks, we usually take solid wireless access for granted. Don’t ever do that. Trust me on that one.
While I did not make use of the complimentary access to the Steve Nash gym facility, located only one block away, trust me, that’s a definite incentive. Plus, in addition to ABC Restaurant, you have Luca’s Cucina about 2 blocks away. So, definitely, next time I’ll have to come back to Accent Inns. Notes for transportation: it’s not right downtown, but it’s a short (15-20 min) bus ride, and definitely on the route for the 72 Express to/from Swartz Bay. Finally, I paid less than $11 in cab ride to get me to/from the hotel into downtown. And I walked the distance between Veneto Lounge and the hotel in about 30-40 minutes.
Disclosure: I was a guest of the Accent Inns hotel as they sponsored my stay because I was a speaker at WordCamp Victoria 2012, thus my stay was complimentary. The front desk was generous enough to upgrade me to one of their future suites. A review was neither expected nor a favorable one even expected. As always, I retain full editorial control of anything I post on my site.
So, unless you have hidden under a rock or have never followed me on Twitter or read my blog, you probably know that I attend hundreds of theatre and dance shows and write reviews. I grew up with artists – my parents were a concert piano player and a soprano coloratura. My brothers play piano at the concert-level (one of my brothers has a degree in Music on top of his PhD in Mechanical Engineering). I am a former competitive dancer and theatre actor. So, I love the arts and I do my darnedest to promote the arts in perhaps the toughest destination of them all, Vancouver, where people drop $450 dollars a ticket for Canucks games yet complain about $35 tickets to dance/theatre shows. Yes, I went there. So sue me.
Photo credit: Bjørn Molstad (bareform) on Flickr
People have asked me whether I think live-tweeting a theatre show is a good idea or not. Lots of people have their own opinions, and I have had good and bad experiences with Vancouver crowds, so I’m just going to narrate two or three of my stories. The first one comes from my recent experience at the Vancouver Opera for West Side Story. We (well, JT) paid for our tickets and we were assigned what I would consider pretty bad seats. Granted, I’m always spoiled because most arts companies invite me to their shows on media tickets and thus I’m assigned great seats. So, experiencing this at the Vancouver Opera was kind of a let down (but that is a whole other story). But my point here was that, my seats were in the balcony and thus I could have easily live-tweeted without bothering anyone (the lights right beside me were intense enough that they would have overpowered my iPhone).
The second story I have comes from a recent show, The Nutcracker (at the Alberta Ballet). Because I have to write my notes about the show, I often seat on isle seats so I can bend over and catch some light and scribble a few thoughts. I have photographic memory, yes, but if I am supposed to write a good, solid review that touches on the technical aspects of the show, I need to write down my notes. I am always hopeful to move down, bend over and write my notes in a way that is not disruptive. But the couple sitting behind me (in their late 60s probably) complained to me that I was moving too much. I tried to explain why I did it, in hopes they’d understand that I wasn’t purposefully trying to disrupt the show. They didn’t, so I did them a favour and moved away. This is a first in 5 years I’ve reviewed arts shows, and I had NEVER had anyone complain about me moving in my seat to take notes about a show, EVER. This experience left a really bad taste in my mouth.
So, while I recognize that Vancouver crowds are extremely heterogeneous, generally I think most people try to NOT disrupt the show. Certainly, I do my very best not to! And I recognize that live-tweeting MIGHT make the actors/performers/attendees feel like we are indeed disrupting. Some theatres are now experimenting with live-tweeting (just Google the proper search terms and you will find oodles of posts about the topic), and I always post a pre-show, intermission and post-show tweet. I don’t do this because I *HAVE* to. I do this to promote the show. I have a large audience and I do whatever I can to push theatre shows and motivate people who follow me to attend them. I *COULD* not tweet from the theatre, but I choose to do so to ensure that people who only follow me and don’t really read my blog can be aware of the caliber of the show I am witnessing.
Back to the discussion – so, should theatres allow live-tweeting of their shows? Well, I am of several minds on this one. First, if the live-tweeting is limited to in-between-scenes, sure why not. If it’s in assigned seats that don’t reflect and that the performers can’t be disrupted, of course. But if in any way it disrupts the show, then it’s an absolute no-no.
Since I’m all about the discussion, have at it on the comments section. Should we or should we not have assigned-seats for live-tweeting in arts shows? I can assure you it happens at live music concerts. I live-tweeted the Chromeo concert, and also I did the same with Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD).
Obviously because of my good friend Cassandra Anderton, anything with the name “Cassandra” and “wine” makes me turn my head twice and think of her. Well, recently my good friend Minna Van and I went for dinner to Scoozis Mediterranean Grill, which is also (on the other side of the restaurant) Cassandra’s Wine Room. Located at the very heart of the Downtown Vancouver Financial District, Scoozis is a total gem. Even more amazing, it wasn’t packed at the time we went for dinner (5:45pm or so). It was semi-full both on the side of Scoozis Mediterranean Grill and on the side of Cassandra’s Wine Room there was ample space.
Minna ordered an orange juice and I had a glass of Zinfandel (delicious, I might add). Minna ordered a Minestrone Soup with a Greek Salad side order and I had a Spicy Meatballs Platter, which comes with a lot of salad and tzatziki sauce. Having had all sorts of Greek food, I’ll say that Scoozis ranks high on my list the next time I have to come for dinner downtown. It’s really a hidden gem, and the owner warmed our hearts by welcoming us saying “I am very glad you are here for dinner tonight”. Genuinely interested in their customers.
The Spicy Meatballs Platter ($13.50) worked perfectly I think because I wasn’t terribly hungry, but I probably would have ordered a larger portion size dish had I been really hungry (for example, I saw a delicious salmon dish that looked totally like a dinner plate). My meatballs were very well cooked and the tzatziki was of really good quality. Even though they weren’t super busy, I have to admit that the speed at which they served us was really impressive.
Overall, a very nice gem of a find. I did not realize that a downtown restaurant in the very core of the Financial District would be so nice. And so welcoming to children. Moreover, if you are downtown on a weekend working at your office, they also offer lunch AND brunch. I’ll have to come with Ianiv and Arieanna some day as it’s literally 2-3 blocks from Waterfront Skytrain Station. Scoozis and Cassandra’s Wine Room are great finds for dinner in the downtown core, and great value for money.
Disclosure: Minna paid for both of our dinners on her own dime. We were generously offered a complimentary dessert, but we did not expect this, nor does this influence my review. As always, I retain full editorial control over anything I post on my site.
One of the best things you can do: build community online by creating events offline.
In the past 6 years I’ve been blogging and growing my own online community, I have had a chance to execute some projects on building online communities (I participated, for example, in the design and implementation and growth of the Community Against Preventable Injuries‘ online community alongside the folks of Wasserman and Partners, and trained some of the City of Surrey staff and elected officials on how to build their online community, alongside the folks of Invoke). I also have given keynotes and taught courses on how to use social media to building online communities for other organizations, including WorkSafe BC, several departments within UBC, etc.
And I have also mentored young, up-and-coming folks on how to become better online community managers. Community is something that is inherent to me and to the way I think and approach social media. I use social media in academia, for example, to build robust online communities of research collaborators worldwide. So, to all of you who execute the sometimes not-so-very-well-appreciated role of community manager, I salute you.
Apparently this year is the Year of the Dragon (celebrated on January 24th, 2012) and although I’m not extremely well versed in Chinese culture, I have a lot of friends (and readers) who celebrate Chinese New Year. So, in celebration, may you live long and prosperous, and may this be the best year of your life! Happy Chinese New Year!
In Vancouver, one of the most popular ways of celebrating took place on January 22nd, Gung Haggis Fat Choy. While I didn’t attend, it looked like an amazing event.
Graph credit: Bobbi Newman (Librarian by Day) on Flickr.
Amazingly, someone who never used to be a big believer of cloud computing (you would see me bringing my USB sticks everywhere, or in old, ancient times, 3.5″ floppy disks) is now a full-on convert. For the past 2-3 years I have executed projects in the social media space that have required me to make use of collaborative tools. To this day, I’m still not a fan of wikis (except I do use them in my teaching at UBC).
But the two tools I find myself using for my academic work more and more are Google Docs and Dropbox. Dropbox has saved the day a few times not only for my teaching (I save my lecture slides, graphics and other data on Dropbox), but also my academic research (I collaborate with my students by saving academic journal articles in PDF format and sharing them with my colleagues and students). I also co-write journal article manuscripts by either co-editing online at the same time on Google Documents or saving draft after draft in Dropbox.
I find that more and more, I make use of cloud computing, and while I expected I would use it in my consulting work, it’s the positive impact it’s having on my academic life that has me completely surprised.
So, depending on how you count, I’m approaching my 124,995th or 124,989th tweet. Either way, I’m close enough to 125,000 that I can write the celebratory post right now. Last year, I auctioned my 100,000th tweet for charity to benefit the BC Cancer Foundation. This year I wanted to do the same, but unfortunately, I am a bit too talkative and I am literally at 125,000 and didn’t have the time to do a fundraiser.
So, what have I learned in the 4 years I have been on Twitter and what would be my advice for someone new on Twitter (and for anybody who is already on Twitter and considers him/herself a veteran or a social media guru). Here are 6 tips for newbies and not-so-newbies on Twitter. A few people have asked me “how did you get so many thousands of followers” or “what do you say that makes you so interesting?” or “why should I read your blog” (the two latter, recently told to me by someone to whom I answered “you don’t actually have to follow me on Twitter or read my blog – thousands of people CHOOSE to do so, but YOU don’t have to. It’s not mandatory.”. The reality is, I don’t know why so many people choose to follow me, but I’m glad and grateful that they are, because my online community makes me a lot stronger. I have been able to do a lot of good thanks to my online connections (be it 90 or 9,150). Whatever I do, I try to abide by the following 6 guidelines.
1. Be yourself.
Whatever you use Twitter for, use it to tell YOUR story. Twitter is nothing if a social tool. A medium to connect people through distances and spaces that ages ago were considered impossible to reach. I started using Twitter to connect with my friends, and I am still like that. A few of my own friends seem to dislike the Hummingbird604 persona, but the truth is, the Hummingbird604 and I are one and the same. And I love being who I am. Because online and offline, I’m always myself.
2. Be generous.
Retweet other people’s content. Share tips, views, opinions. Enable others to join the conversation. Be gentle and delicate with those who are just starting. Don’t just broadcast your own content, make sure to share other people’s. For a long time, I didn’t want to label myself as a community builder. I still don’t want to do it, but I can see the power that the size of my audience on Twitter can have. So, I try to always be generous. I try to harness my online power for good. I’m sure you can do the same.
3. Have your own style.
Don’t copy anyone. It’s not a good idea. People are able to spot fakes a mile away. Make sure that whatever you do online, it suits your style and your persona. Don’t think that by copying the way other people tweet, or behave online or offline, it will benefit you. Be distinct. I have my own style, and it saddens me when I see other people trying to copy me. Not because I fear anyone copying me, but because that means they haven’t found their own persona. I can tell you something: Your style will shine through once you find it.
4. Eschew drama.
Social media is an amplifier. It can enable good people to do a lot of good, the same way it can enable bad people to do A LOT of bad. Leave the passive aggressive behind. Make sure that your tweets reflect a positive attitude overall (I know there is a lot of angry people who have made that their brand – snarky is not really my brand – I tend to be snarky but trying to be ironic and funny). I have decided to let go of any online criticism. If I’m criticized, so be it. You can eschew drama too.
5. Be conversational and bidirectional.
Sometimes people ask me why I don’t retweet the content of others, when their own audience sizes are also substantial. I don’t support people who behave unilaterally. If you ask me to retweet something of yours and I have noticed in your stream you don’t do the same, you don’t build community, you can be sure as hell I won’t retweet you either. The conversation goes both ways, make sure to keep it that way. I am super busy all the time and I make the time to answer my @ replies. If I can (and my time is incredibly limited), so can you.
6. Lead by example.
If you want to be a social media superstar, make sure that whatever you do, is consistent and reflects your brand in a positive way overall. Be the first one to tweet at someone who is a newbie. Be the first one to follow someone with just a few followers. Encourage other people to be generous by being generous yourself first. I always try to introduce people who are new to Twitter (particularly my students) and encourage others to follow them because I know that I have a sizable audience and that they listen to me. You can do the same, regardless of your audience size.
I am not sure how long I will be on Twitter or what the next big thing in social media will be, but at least I can tell you – I have had and plan to continue to have a lot of fun on Twitter.
Most of the people I know now have either an iPad or a Playbook or a tablet personal computer of some sort. On my blog, I have reviewed the HP TouchPad (which I own) and I have been given other tablet equipment to review. I have to say, I love tablets. The first question people ask me when they know I have an HP TouchPad is whether I find any use for it. As an academic, the first and foremost use for me is to take notes on the go (albeit slower than normally I would on a laptop) and to read student papers’ and grade them as well as read academic journal articles. Or, as in the example shown below, grade papers while reading Twitter as I go.
A tablet computer, particularly of the size of an iPad or the HP TouchPad is large enough to read without having tired eyes, and small enough that I can carry it on a case and take it everywhere, or even just in my hand (or my jacket). Of course, I have several secure features on it (like a robust encasing!).
My good friend Janni Aragon (also an academic) showcased at the recent WordCamp Victoria 2012 how you can use a tablet (she has an iPad) with a keyboard to live-tweet a conference (she did a marvelous job throughout the conference, but even more so, during my talk on Growing Robust Online Communities with WordPress.
I was really impressed with Janni’s technical savvy and dexterity in maneuvering through the use both of the touch screen of the iPad AND the keyboard. I think this is one of the best uses I have seen for a tablet. I do find my HP TouchPad useful.
On to you, dear readers… do you have a tablet computer and if so, what do you normally use it for?
When I tell my married friends (married with children) that I work 16-18 hours a day, some of them look at me a bit incredulous. How can I possibly be working that much? After all, I’m not married, I don’t have kids to look after, etc. But the reality is, there are house chores to do: Prepare food, pack lunches, clean the apartment, do laundry. The other day I tweeted so happy because I had had the time to actually do laundry. Sometimes, I work from home simply because that’s the only way I can get laundry and other things done. And when I make phone calls, I usually wash dishes on the go. So yeah, I do between 16-18 hours of work. But some of those, do include house chores. I wish there were House Chores Fairies. And yes, I do have a house cleaner but she doesn’t come every day and not even every week!
Caffé Barney is one of those solid, Vancouver institutions that serves reliable, comfy, honest-to-goodness food that doesn’t break your wallet. BUT it surprised me (very pleasantly) when I invited my friends HF and family for brunch along with our common friend ML and they were INCREDIBLY accommodating to HF and IT’s children (4 and 2 if I recall correctly). So, they earned brownie points on my book.
Long story made short? Also, short post because I can’t find the damn website for Caffé Barney. Brunch was fabulous, chorizo scramble on a bagel with potatoes, and I really enjoyed it. The chorizo was quite authentic (I’m not sure if it was Mexican or Spanish, but it did taste spicy just like I prefer it), and the scrambled eggs were fluffy and savoury, without being runny. I would definitely give Caffe Barney a try again.
Considering how little time academics have to eat, let alone eat AND socialize, I feel blessed that my good friend Janni Aragon (Political Science, University of Victoria) had the time to come meet me at The Bengal Lounge at the Fairmont Empress in Victoria, BC, for lunch. We both teach in respective Political Science departments and carry a fairly busy research, community service and teaching agenda.
But we had the chance to meet for lunch and we decided to splurge and go to The Bengal Lounge at The Fairmont Empress. I had stayed at the Empress before, but never made the effort to eat at the Bengal Lounge. So, I’m glad we did. We both ordered the buffet and I can tell you, I have NEVER had THIS MUCH FOOD in my entire life. Even as I was full I kept going back.
The Bengal Lounge : Drawing inspiration from Queen Victoria’s role as the Empress of India, this colonial style lounge is known throughout Victoria for its authentic curry buffet and signature cocktail menu. While new restaurants and lounges appear in Victoria regularly, The Bengal Lounge is a favourite of residents and visitors alike. Overlooking our stately gardens, the richly appointed Bengal Lounge offers not only a delicious curry lunch and dinner buffet but also an impressive international à la carte menu. Cocktail and martini aficionados will appreciate our vast selection of signature drinks.
Oh, and the desserts. Did I tell you about the desserts?
If you are hungry and it’s my fault for showing you just how delicious the Bengal Lounge’s buffet service is, you’re welcome.
Disclosure: I paid for both Janni and my lunches on my own dime and did not receive any special treatment by the Bengal Lounge. As always I retain full editorial control of anything I write on my site.
I had my heart set on trying Tapastree (the former incarnation of now Tavola) and I never had an opportunity to do so. But I have eaten at Nook before (the brother restaurant of Tavola), loved it and Minna had really wanted to try Tavola so we set out to walk (in the cold!) from our office at The Network Hub to Tavola (which is slightly west of Denman and Robson – if you know how much of an urban geography nerd I am, you’ll know that I also love that, like Adesso Bistro, Tavola is technically in the actual urban residential area of the West of Denman side – following the steps of Cardero Bottega which is on Cardero and Nelson).
Tavola is a terrific West End neighbourhood restaurant, serving modern Italian food. Welcoming you is the team who brought you previous local heroes Tapastree and Nook. Tavola continues the tradition of sharing food – family-style, in a warm, contemporary environment at value-conscious prices. The dining room reflects this convivial atmosphere with a 25-seat shared table that is perfect for both groups and casual diners.
The antipasto bar is the place to start as we feature Mozzarella di Bufala, Burrata, artisan proscuitto and salami – sliced to order, along with an constantly changing offering of crostini and salads. Also setting Tavola apart is the commitment to house-made Pastas and sauces – toothsome and hearty. Share some with friends and family along with one of our Big Plates – steak, roast chicken, braised meats and fish, prepared as classic Italian platters.
I loved the concept of a communal table for dinner at Tavola. I’d probably bring my friends here for dinner. For Minna and I it was a great opportunity to just spend time together and sharing a meal as we had not spent any time together since late October.
I started with an arugula salad with pomegranate seeds ($9, in a vinaigrette that had chili flakes – I fell in love with the chef because he adds that extra spicy kick to almost every dish, and it is, for someone like me who love spicy stuff, a glorious experience). I followed with a Spaghetti which anchovies, chilies, garlic and lemon (at $18, probably more inexpensive than many of the local Italian restaurants, at a decent dinner price). The flavour was extraordinary (who doesn’t love anchovies with garlic and chilies and lemon), although the consistency is not of a sauce, but it’s drier (and I like it like that). Almost like a ragout.
While Tavola’s menu is intended to share, both Minna and I had our own dinners and we loved both the size and the flavour. I totally would recommend visiting Tavola if you have the opportunity!
Disclosure: Minna paid for her and my dinner on her own dime. As always, I retain full editorial control of what is published on my site.
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