In the past few weeks I have been either sick, overwhelmed with grading or simply exhausted and haven’t had the time to do anything that remotely resembles holiday traditions. So it was quite coincidental that I visited the Woodwards Windows that Canada Place has for this Christmas Season, with my very good friend Harmony and her family (who are in town visiting for a very short while).
In the 60’s & 70’s in Vancouver, Christmas meant heading down to the Woodward’s Department Store with your family or sweetheart and seeing the display windows come to life with Santa, his elves, “The Lamplighter”, teddy bears and more. When Woodwards’ closed in 1993, Canada Place purchased the windows and since then they have been a part of the holiday magic at Canada Place adding nostalgia and romance to Christmas in Vancouver.
Since I haven’t lived in Vancouver for that long, obviously many of these cultural references are foreign to me. But at least I’m really glad that I get to enjoy them while I live here.
More details on the program can be found on the Canada Place website. It was great to see these lights while visiting with close friends.
I love shopping, as you all steady readers of mine must know. So, it should come as no surprise to you that I bought something at Copper Sky Gallery and Cafe in Madeira Park on the Sunshine Coast.
It was a hell of a lot of fun to hang out in Madeira Park itself, but even more so as there are a number of cute coffee shops and the Copper Sky Gallery itself doubles as a cafe too.
While we were at Copper Sky, we had an opportunity to see a local artist carve a few sculptures in wood. It was mesmerizing.
We are so lucky to live in an area with so much artistic talent, both in the performing and in the fine arts. The photos below are some of the beautiful things I saw at Copper Sky.
And yes, I did buy a hummingbird. As always, when I travel anywhere. It was fantastic to meet so many wonderful people, and particularly the owner of the Copper Sky Gallery and Cafe in Madeira Park. I will certainly be back.
Disclosure: I participated on the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl 2011 as part of a media trip. My accommodations and transportation are compliments of our hosts and the tourism agencies in charge. I paid for a few miscellaneous expenses associated with this trip, specifically incidentals and my own shopping etc. You can follow along my adventures on the Sunshine Coast through this tag.
Given that we arrived late at night, my own photos of The Gumboot Cafe in Roberts Creek, on the Sunshine Coast, were actually kind of crappy. So I decided against using those, even though I know that it’s preferable to use my own photos (though my friend Robyn Hanson allowed me to use hers!). The photo below is mine and I just wanted to use it to mention that we listened to Mimosa while having a drink at The Gumboot Garden Cafe. Such a relaxed little cafe in a destination that very few people seem to know exists!
It was a packed house at the Gumboot Cafe to listen to Mimosa, such a great group! More information on Mimosa from their website:
If Cleo Lane, Jobim and Serge Gainsbourg all got together one night and jammed, they might sound like what Mimosa has to offer: gorgeous melodies, quirky lyrics, incredible groove and sky-high improvisations. The Vancouver quartet draws on Jazz, Brazilian Sambas, French 60ies pop and Cabaret music to concoct its own unique sound.
With three critically acclaimed Cds and festival appearances all over Canada (including the Vancouver and Montreal Jazz Festivals), they have become CBC darlings, selected first as the subject of a one-hour long documentary and most recently as one of four Western bands featured on television, radio and the web, in the popular “Mai de la chanson d’ici”.
The band is usually a quartet, though for bigger festival shows, they often add a vibraphone/percussion player and a stand-up bass player.
Mimosa at the Gum Boot Cafe. Photo credit: Robyn Hanson on Flickr.
Mimosa at the Gum Boot Cafe. Photo credit: Robyn Hanson on Flickr.
The vibe at the Gumboot Cafe is pretty eclectic, though I’d say is more on the relaxed side of things. Most of what I saw of offerings in terms of food were organic and/or had a sustainable vibe to them. I look forward to coming back some other time!
I think that one of the best ways to summarize 2011 for me is: amazing professionally, a lot of pain and personal loss on the personal realm. I set out to accomplish a lot of things that I am enroute to completing, I did a lot of stuff earlier this semester, and to a certain extent, I fulfilled all my goals for the fall (including coming back to competitive volleyball). But man, I really could do with a do-over on the number of losses I and my loved ones experienced this year.
This fall I got sick again (a week-long cold that put me out of my misery for a whole week, rendering me, for the most part, unconscious for the better part of that period), not surprising as this year I had a full 5 courses load (my normal load is 1-2, so 3 in total), on top of my own consulting and research. I have been waking up on weekends telling myself “I have so much work to do!” But in general, my health has been really good. Unfortunately, not the case with many of my loved ones.
Friends of mine lost their life partners in some cases, and in others other extended family members, close family members of mine passed away as well. This has been a terrible year in terms of how much personal loss there has been. And it affects me and my personal relationships as well because these losses have an impact on the people I love and on myself as well: how do I best support people who are in the midst of the pain of losing a loved one, when I myself have lost people I love this year? It’s been tough.
Here’s a hope that 2012 is better in all realms, not only the professional one.
One of my favorite wine and food festivals is Parksville Uncorked. I know the year has gone really fast when I realize that it’s only a couple of months away! Yes, you heard that right. Parksville Uncorked 2012 is coming up fast. And you can start buying your tickets soon. It’s a really good, value-for-your-money kind of festival. Takes place in two of my favorite hotels: The Beach Club Resort and the Tigh-Na-Mara, both of them in Parksville (on Vancouver Island). For the second consecutive year, there’s a Parksville Untapped (pairing great beers with awesome food). Then there is Swirl, one of the signature events, on Friday, and Saturday the Winemakers Dinners. And Sunday, the traditional Bubbles and Brunch.
This is one of the events I look forward every year and I will make sure that this year I will be there too. My good friends Cheryl Mackinnon and Cassandra Anderton often cover this festival (as do I) and thus this predicts to be a great time. For additional enticement, this is what the view from The Beach Club Resort looks like, in the morning.
That I have eaten pretty much at every single restaurant of the Sequoia Family of Restaurants is something most people seem to know. I’ve eaten at The Sandbar, Seasons in the Park, I think the only one I’m missing is The Teahouse in Stanley Park. But the one I had eaten at and never written about was Cardero’s. So I took JT here for dinner before heading to see The Temperamentals.
Reliable, tasty and comfortable. Those were characteristics I knew that Cardero’s had. Why? Because one night, I was invited by Ferg Devins from Molson alongside a few other Vancouver social media folks for dinner, and along with Shel Israel. We all loved eating there but I did not write about it. Until now.
I ordered a pretty normal Spaghetti Bolognese (beef & pork, grana padano, fresh thyme, which at $17 is on the regular price point for higher-end restaurants). The pasta was cooked perfectly and the meat sauce was exactly as I expected it: abundant and filling without being overwhelming. I ordered a chocolate martini that hit the spot (and was in the normal expected price range around $10). Overall, a great experience and I wouldn’t have any problem coming back. It was pretty busy, as Cardero’s tends to be, but the service and staff were simply very very good. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: I paid for both of our dinners on my own dime. As always, I retain editorial control over anything I publish on my site.
Weird. Totally weird. I did NOT expect to actually like Mucho Burrito. But I did. And the worse part? I enjoyed how authentic it tasted. I should have my Mexican card revoked! Large-sized burritos with healthy helpings of beans, guacamole and rice, as well as different kinds of meat (and they had my favorite, Tinga Poblana). So, I will fully admit, I will come back for lunch here.
Get ready to change your tune about what you think Mexican food is! Mucho Burrito™ hits just the right notes with our made-to-order gourmet Mexican menu. Just one taste of our hand-rolled burritos, tacos and quesadillas will tell you how much effort we put into our mouthwatering products. We’ve put a fresh gourmet spin on Mexican food! Our tender “barbacoa” (shredded beef) and “carnitas” (shredded pork) are slow-cooked (about 8 hours!), retaining the tantalizing flavor of the Mexican seasonings we amply apply. There’s a reason these meats are marinated overnight – it’s called “succulent!” Delicious salsas and guacamoles are made daily. Mucho Burrito™ offers it all in a bright, fun contemporary atmosphere you’re sure to love.
Johnny Mucho
So, before I go all giddy about how awesome this backpack case for your laptop is (which it is, I will fully admit), let me say out front that it *looks* like it’s out of stock and not produced anymore. At least, that’s what I found when I first searched for it on Google. The HP Esteem Backpack I purchased (for a 17.3″ laptop) at the HP Store in downtown Vancouver (on Alberni) is an extremely reliable, robust, ample and solid backpack for your laptop. From the Amazon review site, and from the actual HP site I could grab some characteristics:
A classic backpack designed with an interior padded, Velcro-secured notebook compartment, two primary storage compartments and adjustable ergonomic shoulder straps. This backpack is the perfect solution for staying organized and keeping your notebook well protected while on the go.
The characteristics as noted by the manufacturer:
Fits Notebook PCs with up to 17.3″ diagonal screen
Protect your notebook in the padded, Velcro-secured inner compartment
Dual padded adjustable shoulder straps help to evenly distribute your load
Includes two front pockets for easy access to your cell phone, keys, and airline ticket
Warranty:One-year, worldwide parts-and-labor limited warranty; 24×7 HP technical phone support during warranty period
I will fully admit, again, that I got this for a bargain. The price as noted online is $39.99 and I got a 50% discount on it at the HP Store (probably because either it’s no longer being produced or for some other reason). But I can totally vouch for this laptop bag. It’s probably one of the most sturdy laptop bags I have ever used. Maybe not as ergonomic as the Kensington that I used to have, but definitely robust.
My 17″ laptop is no longer working properly so I’m really not using this one very much (although what I love is that not only does it have enough room to carry lots of books AND my laptop bag). And as I paid a bit more attention, it looks from the HP Canada website that you can buy it online. I would definitely recommend it. It has lots of additional pockets, and the front pocket in the lap that covers the books zone is extremely handy for papers, passport or things like that.
The laptop itself is inserted into the back pocket (and it’s padded), and because of the design of the shoulder pads, it’s pretty ergonomic. I had absolutely no complaints. I also carried my coffee mug in the side pocket with mesh (which is for that purpose, I assume). Unfortunately I spilled coffee on this laptop bag and thus I had to give it a wash, but it seems to have resisted it pretty well. Recommended, definitely, particularly for those folks who like me, travel a lot. It is somewhat more professionally looking than other laptop bags I’ve seen or used (although the Spire is pretty good, but the Esteem looks more professional than the Kensington).
Disclosure: I bought this laptop bag on my own dime. I have no financial relationship (or otherwise) with Hewlett Packard Canada (although they have in the past sponsored giveaways of mine). I just thought I’d share with my readers my recent equipment purchases and how they’ve worked for me. As always, I retain full editorial control on my site of anything I have published.
JT said to me once that the one thing you should never be cheap about is your computer chair. You would think that with the amount of time I spend doing research, writing and blogging (as well as analyzing data), I would be smarter and spend some money on a good computer chair. Well, I will fully admit that for the past 6 years, I have been cheap about my computer chair. Not the one in my offices at The Network Hub or at UBC, but at my home office. I never felt I did actually have the financial resources to really implement the best home office I could afford.
And since I never really worked at home (since I graduated from my PhD) I didn’t think I would need it. But with my laptops (both of them) malfunctioning (one actually is about to be fully kaput and the other one has successfully been repaired and brought back to me), I had to re-furnish my home workstation. And I decided to give it a full refurbishing. After all, what is all the hard work I put into making money if I don’t spend it on the one who deserves it: ME? So I decided to buy myself a Staples Leather Multifunction Task Chair in Black, Model 16570. And I LOVE IT.
Now, before you run to Staples to buy the next one, let me tell you one little secret: I got about $99 discount on this beauty. This chair (which in fact does have ergonomic features, despite what the customer reviews on Staples’ website say – you need to check how it works, of course) is fantastic, and its price is around the range of how fantastic it is: $165.00 retail (plus obviously all taxes). I got it for about $70 on discount at Staples (if I told you that I saved about $900 on all the equipment I recently bought, you would not believe me. But I did).
If you love yourself (and I’m going to assume you do) you owe it to yourself to buy a new computer chair (in this end of the year, I am thinking you may want to give yourself an early Christmas present). This one has the seal of approval of Raul. I am having a great time working for extended periods of time at home with a much better workstation.
24 lb. Ready to assemble. 15-year limited warranty
Disclosure: I bought this chair on my own dime. I have no financial relationship (or otherwise) with Staples. I just thought I’d share with my readers my recent equipment purchases and how they’ve worked for me. As always, I retain full editorial control on my site of anything I have published.
I’m not one to be a country music fan, but this song totally gets to me. Need You Now by Lady Antebellum is one of those tunes that completely reminds me of why I moved to Canada: to get a different perspective on the world. I would have never listened to country music had I never met JT or my good friend Nathan Tippe. To both of them, thanks for getting me to appreciate the value of country music. Hope you enjoy “Need You Now” as much as I do. Beautiful song.
AND
I just realized that Adele covered this song with Darius Rucker – amazing, as anything that Adele does.
AND I just realized that this song (and the album in which it was recorded) won the Grammys 2011 for Best Album and Best Song. Amazing. No wonder I like this song so much.
In previous years, I have been invited to judge the Gingerbread Lane houses at the Hyatt Regency Vancouver, but this year all I did (because I am on hiatus) was to walk by and admire them. It’s amazing how something so simple can bring me so much joy and in some ways put me into the Christmas (or politically-correct, holidays) mood. For your viewing pleasure. If you do walk by, remember to make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for Children.
Painted Rock Winery is one of my favorite wineries, for a whole slew of reasons. Amongst them, the fact that they make some really good wines. Admittedly on the higher end of the scale ($40 for the Cabernet Sauvignon 2008, if I’m not mistaken), these are good wines for a nice occasion. Rarely do I drink much red wine, but I most often do when I want to celebrate. And at the end of this (very tough) academic term, I had to have a glass and I chose Painted Rock Winery’s Cabernet Sauvignon 2008.
From the winery’s tasting notes:
The rich, dark red colour of this Cabernet is indicative of there being plenty of character from start to finish. Roasted red bell peppers, blackberries and eucalyptus highlight the aromatics, with many ‘forest floor’ characteristics being evident on the palate, red and black currants, mulberry, clove plus hints of tobacco and cedar. Big and confident, this wine has a touch of spice, a good dose of minerality and firm tannic structure, begging for charbroiled meats with a peppercorn sauce or a heavier tomato-based stew like ratatouille
With a very decent 14.2% alcohol (not overwhelming and you won’t get drunk on your first bottle), it’s not a very acidic wine either pH 3.75, Titratable Acidity 6.2g/L. The residual sugar is at 1g/l which won’t make it too sweet either.
Aged 18 months in new French oak. Aromas of cassis, black cherry, cigar box and tobacco leaf precede very ripe dark fruit, leather and coffee bean. The mid palette is intense, dark and yet elegant. Acids are very much in balance and fine velvety tannins coat the entire mouth leading to a long rich, dark cherry and chocolate finish.
I thoroughly enjoyed a glass of this wine with a platter of chocolate-covered strawberries. That was the way I celebrated the end of my academic term. And I don’t regret it one bit.
If you fertilize the imagination of a child, you preserve the innocence of childhood and purity of the soul which allows the child to believe in the wonderment in small miracles instead of dwelling on unexpected disappointments that life will bring. Imagination is the fabric of life upon which we weave our hopes and dreams and to lose that is to lose our soul.
When I was invited to guest blog the Carousel Theatre production of the WIZARD OF OZ for Hummingbird604, I really didn’t think I would enjoy it as much as I did because well, truthfully at my age I have seen the original movie with Judy Garland and all it’s various remakes, so my only thought was “Golly, gee I hope I don’t snore too loud!”
Darren Burkett, Robyn Wallis, Mike Stack, Josue Laboucane. Photo credit: Tim Matheson
There is nothing that compares to live theatre when it is executed flawlessly from casting the perfect actors for each role, setting the stage, engaging dialogue and authenticity of costumes. I found myself being captivated by the youthful charm of Dorothy (ROBYN WALLIS – Hairspray) whose naïve demeanour and shrill-pitched voice made us forget that in reality, Robyn Wallis is years above the fictional Dorothy’s age.
From the menacing cackle of the Wicked Witch of the West, the pathetic tears of the Scarecrow, the comical whimpering of the Cowardly Lion to the lame brained ideas of the Scarecrow, their over-animated gestures and comical dialogue seemed to entertain the tiniest of tots who were too young to understand the dialogue and the most senior of us in the audience who are never too old to appreciate being entertained.
What always intrigues me the most is how a screenplay which has mythical creatures and magical sequences is adapted to create the same illusion on stage: the hurricane which takes Dorothy out of her beloved home of Kansas is represented by “leafed” -dancers who “pass” Dorothy back and forth in a frenzied dance; the comedic sight of people walking on knees that appear to be stunted leaves no doubt in our minds that these are the “munchkins” of Oz and my favourite scene, the luminescent glowing figurehead of the omniscient Oz who threatens us in his loud booming voice.
Carousel Theatre is a production company dedicated to captivating the hearts of children, young or old by tickling our imagination by with their live theatre performances of children’s classics that though once loved, remains never to be forgotten.
THE WIZARD OF OZ By L. FRANK BAUM. With Music and Lyrics by HAROLD ARLEN and E.Y. HARBURG. Background Music by HERBERT STOTHART. DANCE and Vocal Arrangements by PETER HOWARD. Orchestration by LARRY WILCOX. Adapted by John Kane for the Royal Shakespeare Company. Based upon the Classical Motion Picture owned by Turner Entertainment Co. and distributed in all media by Warner Bros
DECEMBER 2 to DECEMBER 31, 2011
At the Waterfront Theatre (1412 Cartwright Street on Granville Island)
For Ages 4+ (No Babies in Arms)
School Matinees November 30 – December 16, 2011 (Selling out fast!)
Tickets Adults $29, Students with ID/Seniors $25, Youths (Ages 4-17)
$15 Discounts Available for groups of 10+
For tickets contact Carousel Theatre Box Office @ 604.669.3410 or purchase online.
Credits
Carousel Theatre’s Artistic & Managing Director CAROLE HIGGINS directs, with Musical Director STEVEN GREENFIELD, Choreographer MELISSA YOUNG. Design Team HEIDI WILKINSON (Set Design), BARBARA CLAYDEN (Costume Design), and JEFF HARRISON (Lighting Design) will transport you over the rainbow.
ROBYN WALLIS (Hairspray) – Dorothy
DARREN BURKETT (Hairspray, Seussical) – Scarecrow
MIKE STACK (Henry VI, Richard III) – Tinman
JOSUE LABOUCANE (Henry VI, Seussical, Bird Brain) – Cowardly Lion
Other Cast Members: MEGHAN ANDERSSEN, TIMOTHY E BRUMMUND, DAMON CALDERWOOD, KAYLA DUNBAR, JANET GIGLIOTTI and CHRISTINE QUINTANA
This guest review was produced exclusively for Hummingbird604.com by Dianne Chow, who writes the blog Fabulously Frugal in Vancouver. You can follow Dianne on Twitter at @DianneChow and you can also like her Facebook Fan page here. Dianne was a guest of Carousel Theatre on media tickets for Hummingbird604.com. Thanks, Dianne!
Technically, Hemlock Valley Resort is located near Chehalis, between Mission and Agassiz. But we’re not going to get geographically technical here. All I can say is that as I was walking down the mountain with my good friend Christie Lohr, I told her “this is like skiing in Vail, Colorado or in the Swiss Alps, but just in the backyard of Vancouver, BC!”. And yeah, that’s what it is. If you want a quick day getaway (or 2 day, if you stay over at Rowena’s Inn), you can definitely feel like you’re in the Swiss Alps. Just in beautiful British Columbia.
Let me tell you one thing: if only for the amazing service and warm approach to dealing with their customers, you should go check out Hemlock Valley Resort. The group I was with (we all went to Harrison Mills for a familiarization tour) had a fantastic time, and I could not have asked for better hosts. Particularly if you consider this was my first time venturing in high terrain snowshoeing.
We were greeted by the general manager of the resort, who gave us the full 411 on what you can (and cannot/should not) do while snowshoeing.
Our guides (Brad, Steve and Hannah) were really sweet and very knowledgeable. I will fully admit that I fell a few times (four) and did the splits (gracefully, of course) twice. And did not break a single bone.
This could possibly be the worst ever photo of me, but hey, it’s a beautiful photo of Andrea and Steve with me!
We took the gondola all the way to the top, and then we started walking down. It was a beautiful walk that totally made it worth it. PRO tip: learn to layer and bring snow gear. You may not need it as they do have extra gear, but just in case: longjohns, warm gloves, and a jacket that definitely goes below -10 oC. And snow boots.
The views were completely amazing. And the company I kept (Melissa, Andrea, Christie, Catherine) were total troopers!
If anything, I totally want to do it again. Highly recommended. Get away from your city and head to Mission. There’s actually a shuttle from Mission to the Hemlock Valley Resort in case you don’t drive (but driving is definitely highly recommended).
Disclosure: I was invited to take a snowshoe tour as part of a familiarization tour for Christmas in Harrison Mills 2012. My travel to and from Harrison Mills was covered as part of the media tour. This post was neither paid for nor expected, but I do think that Hemlock Valley Resort is an excellent place for a local getaway and so do many people who I talked to while I was on the mountain (yes, I did my research!) As always, all views are mine, and I retain editorial control on anything I publish on my site.
After a long day of snowshoeing, walking around Kilby Historic Site and travelling from Vancouver, the only thing I wanted to do was to rest and take a nap. So the first thing I thought when I got into my cabin at Rowena’s Inn on the River (in Harrison Mills, just about 1.5 hours away from Vancouver) was “wow… this is where I want to write my book!”. I felt… home.
Rowena’s Inn on the River is a place filled with BC history. Charles Nelson Pretty and Rowena Elizabeth Peters were married October 10, 1917. Charles and Rowena had 4 children; Charles Watson born February 3, Rowena Charlotte born March 1 , James Ivan born June 12 and Elizabeth Anne (known as Betty Anne) born March 19. The only survivor from the family is Betty Anne, and she is still at the helm of Rowena’s Inn on the River. An amazing, vibrant, strong and sweet lady.
Nestled in a centuries-old forest of Douglas Firs and surrounded by the West’s most idyllic golf course, Rowena’s is the perfect escape. Here, indulgence is a way of life. You’ll find it in the tasteful tranquility that surrounds you and feel it in the attentive service that sets us apart. Make our historic Inn your own. Styled as a grand English manor house and secluded on a lush 160-acre estate complete with its own private air strip, Rowena’s evokes an atmosphere of understated elegance and traditional luxury. Laze in the coziness of a room in the Inn, or escape to the luxury of a chalet style cottage in the forest with its own stone fireplace & porch. Savour our unique West Coast cuisine and share cocktails on the lawn or poolside. Challenge your game at Sandpiper Golf Club, or surrender to an afternoon of aromatherapy with our visiting masseuse.
My cabin (“Nelson”) was already prepared. Knowing the obsessive, workaholic life pattern I have, I’m delighted that Rowena’s Inn on the River doesn’t have TVs in their cabins. But, do you really need TV when you have such peaceful environment?
Also, did I mention that the bathroom in my cabin had a jacuzzi? Yeah. THAT.
And this is the view I woke up to:
I had my own pond, right outside my deck. The next morning, when I woke up, I started the coffee maker, sat down by the window and let the sun rays shine through my cabin. Absolute bliss. After breakfast, I hopped over to my good friend Cheryl Mackinnon and her husband Bob’s cabin. Cheryl is one of my very good friends and a mentor in the travel writing world. We travel together really well (same as with Cassandra Anderton, another close friend of mine).
And breakfast was enough food for me and about 4 other individuals. Seriously!
While it was too cold to enjoy the pool, I’m sure over the summer this is totally delightful. I know for a fact it is because my good friend Karen Hamilton visited in 2010 (summer) and she wrote about Rowena’s (and also thoroughly enjoyed it). You can check her Flickr photo set here.
And the architecture is simply exquisite. In many ways, when I walked through the main Inn, it reminded me a lot of the kind of furniture and architecture that my parents like. Very European.
My visit to Rowena’s Inn on the River was amazing, and it’s the kind of getaway I needed, even if only for 24 hours. It’s right in the backyard of Vancouver (1.5 hours drive with traffic), and it’s completely and totally self-contained. Really, once you arrive to Rowena’s Inn, you really don’t need anything else. All you need to do is relax and take it easy. I will definitely be back. You can check the rest of my Flickr photo set here.
Disclosure: I was invited to stay over at Rowena’s Inn on the River and have dinner and breakfast there as part of a familiarization tour for Christmas in Harrison Mills 2012. My travel to and from Harrison Mills was covered as part of the media tour. This post was neither paid for nor expected, but I do think that Rowena’s Inn on the River is an excellent place for a local getaway and so do many people who wrote about this place (I did my research!) As always, all views are mine, and I retain editorial control on anything I publish on my site.
I love my neighbourhood, and I adore every single effort that people undertake to beautify it and to make it more livable. I live reasonably close to Kingsway and Fraser, and because of that, I am a fan of new restaurants that are slowly but surely making their way into this area (which once was showcased as a derelict place in a movie called “Mount Pleasant”, which I reviewed about four years ago, remember?)
Che Baba Cantina is one of those efforts to strengthen the community around this area, which is now blossoming. A small but extremely bright and cozy cantina, Che Baba Cantina boasts a French-inspired menu with a multicultural staff that is friendly to the bone. I took JT here for lunch as I was determined to try this new restaurant ASAP (sorry Annemarie and Gillian, the curiosity did kill the cat).
I ordered a Tartine with Seasonal Greens ($13, pulled Pork with red onion, pickled fennel and green apple served on toasted mustard seed bread) which was pretty filling and very well done. The pulled pork was deliciously well cooked with the red onion mixed for tart flavor. While for a lunch item this side of Main Street it seems to me a bit on the expensive side of things, I was perfectly full and able to undertake a reasonable walk around the neighbourhood. I cannot say the same for JT who ordered a platter of tartinettes ($12, smaller versions of the tartine, 5 in total) but without a salad, it would have been very little food for one person.
While I absolutely adored Che Baba Cantina, I think the price is a tiny spec on the side of slightly expensive, for a lunch menu. For dinner, I haven’t tried it yet. I would think that maybe there’ll be some adjustments on portions and what not, but it’s definitely a place to try with customer service and food that is totally worth the visit.
Disclosure: I paid for both of our meals on my own dime. I have no connection to the restaurant owners or anything like that, but I wanted to write about this place because it’s one of the great additions to my neighbourhood.
Through Stone’s Throw Productions, Pacific Theatre allows opportunities for fledgling thespians to practice their craft. Kimberley Dawn MacEachern makes her directorial debut with this apprenticeship program with “Twice and Twice: The Tennessee Williams Project”, playing December 8-10 at Pacific Theatre.
Two of Tennessee Williams’ most renowned plays are”The Glass Menagerie” and “A Streetcar Named Desire”. This project combines an iconic scene from each of these iconic plays, thus allowing the theatre-goer to compare and contrast them. Each scene is set in a somewhat shabby sitting room, and presents maximum dramatic interaction in a conversation between two women: the daughter Laura and the mother Mrs. Wingfield in “Menagerie”, and the two sisters, Stella and Blanche, in “Streetcar”.
A Greek-inspired chorus sings selections from the poetry of the tragic American poet Hart Crane at intervals. The melange of the scenes and the chorus is interesting, and the singing is excellent, but it can be difficult to pick out the lyrics. The lyrics, however, are provided in the programme, and the sense of
tragedy comes through. As someone who is very interested in 20th-century American writers, I appreciated that this little-known poet was highlighted.
Both plays present a world where would-be Southern gentility runs headlong into grim economic and social realities. In “Menagerie”, the desperation in Mrs. Wingfield’s assessment of Laura’s prospects is immediately apparent. Laura, the dreamy slightly-disabled girl who just does not and cannot enter the adult world, is well-presented.
In “Streetcar”, with the character of Blanche, her alcoholism and sense of ruin clearly comes through. Although the actress does some interesting voice work in her portrayal, I would favour a more ethereal, whispery approach for this character who is almost not of this world. Stella’s embrace of a baser, more physical world, as represented by her love for the off-stage Stanley, is clear.
I appreciated the chance to take in four of Tennessee Williams’ Southern women characters in one sitting. All share elements of a somewhat common culture, but respond so differently. That said, “Streetcar” is set in New Orleans, and “Menagerie” in a generic southern location, and the two plays feature women of different social classes. With an all-female cast, the theatrical dynamics are focused on women’s interactions with each other.
Although the selected scenes stand on their own, the theatre-goer who is already familiar with these plays will likely get more from the production. As always, theatre can prove to be an instigator for learning more.
As I said on Twitter, Sunset Burgers kind of looked pedestrian as I walked by, but the truth is, the local is extremely clean, well kept, kind of looks like a small diner (hey with Yaletown rent prices, I’m sure they can’t do more with the space they have!). And the burgers are DELICIOUS. I have been looking for an inexpensive burger I can grab on my way home when I am in Yaletown, and Sunset Burgers seem like they’ll be my go-to place for the time being. I’ve done Vera’s Burgers but as I add more and more things, my usual $9 burger goes up to almost $20, which is ridiculous for a burger joint. So, I’m quite pleased with having spent less than $11 for a burger combo here at Sunset Burgers. I’ll definitely be back.
I now understand why Arieanna said it was her favorite restaurant a couple of years ago when I requested a list of the favorite restaurants of people (remember that post?). We went for dinner to Hamilton Street Grill recently to celebrate Arieanna’s 30th birthday, and the experience was simply spectacular. The service was outstanding (my waitress was definitely an absolute sweetheart), and the company was bar-none. Airdrie and I had a fantastic time catching up at Arieanna’s birthday, and it was great to see other close friends of both the Schwebers and myself.
Located in the trendy Yaletown area of the city, the Hamilton Street Grill has a great location. It is close to everything, whether you are interested in sporting events, the theatre or a special concert by that big-name entertainer. This converted warehouse now features high ceilings, rich oak and a long bar where you can enjoy wines by the glass from the extensive wine list. The Hamilton Street Grill is a contemporary steakhouse featuring Certified Angus Beef along with a large selection of fresh seafood entrees.
Admittedly, the Hamilton Street Grill touts itself as a steakhouse, and I recognize if people think it’s kind of ridiculous that I stuck to seafood at a steakhouse, but I’m not terribly drawn to steak in Canada (Mexico, that’s another thing). Besides, the food was SO DAMN GOOD. I ordered Garlic Prawns (pan seared with garlic butter and lime) to start ($12, not a bad price point for an appetizer, but on the higher end of the scale – this is Yaletown, after all). I wish my prawns had had MORE garlic, but what they didn’t have in garlic sauce they made up with garlic bread. Really nice presentation too, and huge prawns. I could have had the prawns for dinner and be happy.
For dinner, I chose the wild salmon with vegetable risotto and balsamic reduction ($24, at the medium-high end of the scale, but pretty common for any restaurant that does fine dining, and a really big portion). The salmon was cooked perfectly, it was flavourful without being overpowering. It also included some shavings of green onion that complimented the slightly tart flavour of the risotto.
I could have stopped there but I ordered a chocolate mousse for dessert ($8, in hindsight a mistake because I was too full to eat it all). Drinks at the Hamilton Street Grill are delicious but lethal (I had chocolate martinis at $10 and a couple of other nice sweet martinis, which totally gave my wallet a big hit)
Overall, I totally would come back for dinner to the Hamilton Street Grill, but perhaps be a bit more frugal (there’s plenty of good items that are great value for money and that I could have had, but I went all out – also, the drinks added to my bill!)
Disclosure: I paid for my dinner on my own dime. No portion of our dinners was complimentary. We didn’t receive any special treatment even though it was Arieanna’s birthday (we didn’t expect special treatment either). Chef Neil Wyles did kindly recharge my iPhone for 30 minutes, though, as the battery was totally depleted.
Gordon Halloran is a Canadian artist, well known to world audiences as the creator of Paintings Below Zero. His monumental site-specific public art installations of non representational paintings in ice have fascinated audiences: in Chicago, 176,000 people came out to see his 200′ long x 14′ high Museum of Modern Ice; at Toronto City Hall, 50,000 people saw Paintings Below Zero an 80′ long x 10′ wide installation. In Turin, Halloran was Canada’s official representative to the 2006 Cultural Olympiad; his project filled an entire church with Paintings Below Zero. At the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games he created Icegate, a 100′ x 14′ frozen installation. At the 2011 Miami International Art Fair and Art Palm Beach, Halloran exhibited his new public art LOTUS IN MOTION for the first time.
Gordon’s wife, Caitlin Hicks, was kind enough to walk us through the work that Gordon has been producing in the past few years.
It was fun to visit Gordon Halloran’s gallery and know more about his work. One of the great attractions on the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl. You should totally do the 2012 version.
Disclosure: I participated on the Sunshine Coast Art Crawl 2011 as part of a media trip. My accommodations and transportation are compliments of our hosts and the tourism agencies in charge. I paid for a few miscellaneous expenses associated with this trip, specifically incidentals and my own shopping etc. You can follow along my adventures on the Sunshine Coast through this tag.
No, before anyone thinks that I’m all for corporate travel or that I’ve sold out, I have NEVER received any form of compensation from WestJet, neither in the form of payment nor as a complimentary flight. Hell, they haven’t even sponsored any of my events, or giveaways. But the fact is that this year I flew WestJet for the majority of my national travel (Montreal, Toronto, Calgary and Edmonton) and I had an excellent experience every time.
This time, I flew from Vancouver to Calgary to visit my brother and his family and attend my nephew’s baptism. And for the first time in MONTHS, almost a year, I had the chance to sit down, relax, have a cup of coffee and read the Vancouver Sun from cover to cover. I bought a pair of noise-cancelling ear buds ($10) and listened to my iPhone’s iTunes library on the way from Vancouver to Calgary.
The crew was incredibly friendly and our flight was absolutely flawless and seamless. The landing, the take-off and overall flight were extraordinary. I hope I will always have this level of good service from WestJet!
Disclosure: I have never received any complimentary items, or travel points, or free travel, or anything from WestJet. I have just received some of the best service whenever I travel. It may be just my sheer good luck, but I can’t recall ever having a bad experience with WestJet. As always, I retain full editorial control of anything I publish on my site.
When I teach Public Policy, I often explore feminist theories of public policy (well, technically not me – I always ask my good friend Janni Aragon to come and guest-lecture as she is an expert in feminist theories of public policy). To me, feminist lenses are important for the study of public policy and politics and the role of women in political life is relevant. I am the son of a political scientist (my Mom did her PhD in Government, Politics and Public Administration at Universidad Complutense de Madrid in Spain) and my Dad always made sure to instill in me and my brothers the sense that women had the same rights, capabilities, etc. than men.
Growing up, I became a chemical engineer and the top 5 grades in my cohort of 45 students were the 4 women who were studying chemical engineering and myself. So, I grew up without even remotely thinking that there was any reason to discriminate against women. I lived in a very egalitarian household. Thus, it is almost bewildering to me that the Montréal École Polytechnique massacre happened in Canada.
Even more shocking is the reason underneath it: an attack on feminism. Can you imagine? Being shot *just* for being a woman (in a supposedly male-dominated field, engineering). Today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, and I have those women in my mind.
December 6 is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in Canada. Established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada, this day marks the anniversary of the murders in 1989 of 14 young women at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women.
As well as commemorating the 14 young women whose lives ended in an act of gender-based violence that shocked the nation, December 6 represents an opportunity for Canadians to reflect on the phenomenon of violence against women in our society. It is also an opportunity to consider the women and girls for whom violence is a daily reality, and to remember those who have died as a result of gender-based violence. And finally, it is a day on which communities can consider concrete actions to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls.
I don’t there is an artist I love more than George Michael. His music is amazing, he was a visionary and definitely one of my favorite singers of all times. This song makes me want to dance in my seat, and I hope it has the same effect on you. Hard Day by George Michael (this one, live in concert).
