Produced by the Vancouver Concert Cooperative, Trouble in Tahiti is an opera by Leonard Bernstein and performed by local opera artists.
With past performances described as “riveting, passionate, poignant and totally satisfying” (Opera Canada 2011) this is a show not to be missed! A suburban opera for the 21 century. Join our hip Greek chorus (Katherine Landry, Paul Just, Grant Wardlow) as they observe a day in the life of Sam (Ed Moran) and Dinah (Natalie Burdeny), two Vancouverites who are desperately unhappy, lonely for love, and unable to communicate. Will they find a way to resolve their issues and live happily ever after? The jazz influenced score by Leonard Bernstein, creator of West Side Story, will leave you? Come and find out!
You’re in luck, dear readers: two of you will find out for free with our two-ticket giveaway* for any of these representations (you choose):
Saturday, September 10 6:45pm
Sunday, September 11 9:30pm
Friday, September 16 11:00pm
Saturday, September 17 11:00pm
To enter the contest, tell us about your favourite opera in the comments. For an extra entry, tweet the following:
Told @hummingbird604 about my fave opera for tix to @Vancocoop @VancouverFringe. Tell us yours at http://is.gd/MobOOQ!
As usual, a valid email address is necessary to enter the contest. We will draw a winner on September 7th at 2PM.
*As with all our Fringe giveaways, it must be noted that a 5$ membership fee is required to attend any Fringe play for the first time, even if you win giveaway tickets. The membership fee is only due once.
As a part of Vancouver International Fringe Festival 2011’s Onsite Program, Stay Away From My Boat @$$hole will be running at the water below the Alder Bay Bridge on Granville Island. The site-specific performance requires the audience to sit on the bridge and watch the show from above. The theatre company, ITSAZOO Productions has partnered with The Only Animal to make this concept a reality.
ITSAZOO is known for some non-orthodox and wonderful shows in unconventional, open-air locations, but this is their first ever in the open water. SAFMB@ runs along the same lines as the production company: witty, satire, and humour. The press release claims that the inspiration has been found in “silent films, clowns, radio dramas and the apocalypse.” The dramatic story includes the flooding of Vancouver, a mysterious stranger, and times of war. Oh, and the entire thing is lit by flashlights.
Stay Away From My Boat @$$hole offers a showcase of Vancouver’s rising talent including David Benedict Brown (Performer), Colby Wilson (Performer), Sebastian Archibalt (Playwright), Chelsea Haberlin (Director) and Chris Adams (Sound Design). this production was created under the guidance and mentorship of Vancouver’s premier site specific theatre company the Only Animal and was developed as part of The Fringe’s Onsite Program. The show runs September 8-18 and advanced tickets can be purchased through the Vancouver Fringe Festival, check out itsazoo.org for more information.
Here at Hummingbird604.com, we are doing a giveaway for a pair of tickets to the play! Comment on this post about an open-water adventure you’ve had or would like to have to enter to win! Mine (Anabelle) would definitely be sitting in a truck that was sitting on a barge crossing an inlet on the Sunshine coast. Contest will close Wednesday, September 7th at 1PM.
10 years ago, an innovative and unique dance centre opened its doors on Davie Street, almost at the corner of Granville Street: the Scotiabank Dance Centre. To celebrate this decade of supporting the Vancouver dance community, the Centre has prepared an extended Open House with a ton of activities and performances.
From Thursday September 15th to Saturday September 17th, come see a performance of the Aeriosa troupe titled Being.
Aeriosa’s spectacular aerial dance events combine the athleticism of rock climbing with the grace and artistry of dance: the company was one of the highlights of Scotiabank Dance Centre’s opening festival in 2001 and now returns for the 10th anniversary with a new work. Choreographer Julia Taffe’s Being unfolds inside the performance space, and then takes the audience outside to watch the company dance down the seven-storey exterior wall in cascading duets, trios and quartets. Imagining who and what will exist in the space in the future, Being is created in collaboration with animator Michael Mann, projection designer Tim Matheson and composer Jordan Nobles, with costumes by Kate Burrows and lighting by Jason Dubois.
Credit: Scotiabank Dance Centre
If that isn’t enough to whet your appetite for dance, a variety of classes, workshops, studio showings and events will take place on the 17th and 18th; most are free.
From ballet, contemporary and salsa to Bollywood, Flamenco, Nia and classical East Indian dance there will be opportunities to take part in open classes and watch studio showings and events. Participating artists and companies include Ballet BC, Dance 4U, Flamenco Rosario, Kinesis Dance, Mandala Arts and Culture, Modus Operandi, Raven Spirit Dance, Shiamak’s Bollywood Jazz, the 10x10x10 Project, and more.
Credit: Scotiabank Dance Centre
We also happen to have a pair of tickets for the Aeriosa performance on Friday September 16th. To enter, tell us in the comments about your favourite style of dancing. Is it tap, contemporary, Bollywood, ballet, West Coast swing or anything else? For an extra entry, tweet the following:
Told @hummingbird604 about my fave style of dancing for tix to @dancecentre. Enter at http://is.gd/VGN5pH for a chance to win!
We will draw a winner on Monday September 12th at 2PM. As usual, give us a valid email address and check your tweets and inbox on the day of the draw!
The Scotiabank Dance Centre has been central in the development of the Vancouver dancing community in the past ten years, and now here’s your chance to participate. You might even see Jessica or Anabelle at one of the dance classes!
What: Scotiabank Dance Centre Open House When: September 15th to 17th Where: 677 Davie at Granville More info: The Dance Centre or 604-606-6400.
EDITOR’S NOTE: You totally should take advantage of the Scotiabank Dance Center Open House. As a former dancer, I (Raul) can tell you it’s TOTALLY WORTH IT.
I call the area near Broadway and Cambie “Crossroads”. Maybe it’s the improper name. But it’s not the Olympic Village. So technically, it’s a little bit of “no-man’s-land”. Yet it houses some really cool shops, restaurants AND the best hidden gem in regards to coffee shops this side of Take 5 Cafe. Yes, I’m talking about Caffe Cittadella espresso-bar & bistro.
I loved this little coffee shop ever since I walked past it with my friend Erica Hargreave (and once I was there I realized, it’s really not THAT small of a coffee shop). While I didn’t get to try all the extensive menu, I managed to get an iced mocha coffee that tasted like pure glory on a hot afternoon.
I sat with one of my very best friends, AF (who has been my friend through thick and thin, and whom I met WAY before I was ever online), to enjoy a lovely coffee and relax at Caffe Cittadella.
The patio is extremely spacious and is very receptive to all sorts of people. I saw young families with their kids, elderly people, young people, folks from all walks of life. I really love Caffe Cittadella and I will have to bring more friends by and perhaps have lunch here.
The fact that the owner is extremely friendly, the staff is super prompt, the coffee is fantastic AND the decoration is sublime (you should know that Cittadella Caffe is housed in the Shaw House, which received a certificate as designated heritage from the City of Vancouver). I’m totally fascinated and charmed by this wonderful coffee shop.
My good friend AF paid for her and my coffee on her own dime.
While I’m totally happy that there are many businesses flourishing on Cambie Street (apparently, Biercraft being one of them), I’m not that happy when the establishment has really expensive beer. Maybe because (a) I’m not a beer drinker (b) I’m not a beer snob and (c) I am there just primarily for the food. And while the strawberry beer (Fruli) was pretty good, I’m totally flabbergasted at $7.50 for ONE beer. Regardless of whether it’s a specialty beer or not.
The decor at Biercraft is pretty good. Actually I came here once with Susie Gardner to have a beer, but wasn’t impressed with their drinks assortment. This time I had brunch with Cisco Grajales III and we had a pretty enjoyable brunch, although again, I’m not totally impressed with brunch places where they don’t have my usual staples (hot sauce that isn’t Tabasco, etc.) – but that’s totally my own bias.
I ordered a Biercraft brunch (scrambled eggs, potatoes and toast, $9.50). Since they didn’t have hot sauce that wasn’t Tabasco, I had to order a side order of salsa (which, while generous, I was still charged with). And then I got overcharged with one more pop than I ordered (while the server swiftly reimbursed me, I was less than impressed). I can’t fault her as she was incredibly sweet, but the beer being so expensive and the fact that I had to pay for something I usually get free other places (a hot sauce that I like) sort of tarnished my experience. I have had better brunch at The Nice Café for half the price. My scrambled eggs were fluffy and well done, but the potatoes were hard to chew and without much flavour, although I will admit the rye bread was pretty nice.
Overall, I’m glad Biercraft is doing well, I’m glad we have a good place for an extensive selection of specialty beers and decent food, but for what I ordered, I can easily name 5 places on Main Street that are (a) closer to me and (b) less expensive than Biercraft. Visited, checked it out, tried it out, not coming back unless it’s for beers with my friends. And hanging out with Cisco made it all worth it.
Disclosure: I paid for my brunch ($27) on my own dime.
It’s only when I don’t need it (i.e. having a media pass) that I win things, like last night’s raffle at the presentation of Operacion Diablo.
I should watch more documentaries. They often present an issue or an event that no one ever heard about, thus bringing awareness to it. And obviously, I’d never heard of Peru farmers’ efforts to keep a big mining company away from their mountain. But here’s a better synopsis of the story:
Father Marco Arana is being followed. A private investigative firm is photographing and videotaping his every move. This humble priest has spent two decades defending Peruvian mountain farmers from a US -owned gold mine, earning him the nickname “El Diablo.” When Father Marco’s allies are tortured and assassinated, he and his supporters take action and develop a counterespionage plan. They obtain graphic footage, photos and reports taken by the spies worthy of a Hollywood spy flick. This real-life thriller exposes the new wave of corporate terrorism faced by Latin America’s human rights defenders.
The movie is short (1 hour) but packs a lot of content in it. After setting the background story, the movie moves on to the heart of the matter: how Newmont, an American mining company, hired private “security” companies (more like mercenaries and ex-intelligence officers) to intimidate, capture, torture and even murder those people involved in stopping the company from exploiting a nearby mountain for gold.
What’s most shocking about Operacion Diablo is that it’s not a movie. It’s real life, real people, real women being abused and raped by these para-military groups protecting Newmont’s billions. The movie exposes how money can make people do these horrible things to each other, how the lure of gold and more billions can ever justify such a flagrant disrespect of basic human rights. Because it’s not a war against terrorism fought in Peru: it’s corporate terrorism used against the poorest farmers in rural Peru.
Operacion Diablo is part of the Al Jazeera Documentary Competition and is definitely worth watching. The next (and last) showing is Monday September 5th at 1PM at the Pacific Cinémathèque on Howe Street, downtown Vancouver. More information on the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival 2011 website.
Hummingbird604.com is a proud media sponsor for the 2011 edition of the Vancouver Latin American Film Festival. Follow all our coverage here on the VLAF2011 tag or on the Hummingbird604.com Facebook page. Anabelle attended on Hummingbird604.com’s media pass.
Back in July, Anabelle attended a fusion music show at the Waldorf and enjoyed it very much. So now it’s Hummingbird604.com’s chance to give you a pair of tickets for another Eastern fusion music show featuring Raquy & The Cavemen and the amazing Luciterra Fusion Belly-Dance troupe. If only for the belly-dancing, this show will be worth it!
Raquy and the Cavemen of Brooklyn, NY, bring traditional Middle Eastern music and modern drumming to a heady peak. Raquy has travelled to many distant countries including those in the Middle East, Egypt, Turkey and India, where she has experienced and absorbed vast amounts of musical culture. She uses all this knowledge to bring an amazing act to the stage. Raquy Danzinger performs with the Dumbek (Arabic hand drum) and the Kamanche (Iranian spike-fiddle).
Photo credit: Chris Yetter. Used with permission.
Raquy’s musical partner is Israeli percussionist and guitarist Liron Peled’s, performing on his unique dumbek-drumset, influenced by his hard rock drumming background, and his recent exploration of Tuvan throat-singing. The name Cavemen is appropriate due to the rawness of the beats, and there is also a timeless element to the music that raises the listener to an uplifted state of trance. Their sound is a deep stare into the eyes and soul of the Middle Eastern culture that lives inside the music. The love that each band member has for their instrument is especially evident when they are all on stage. They move fluidly through their masterful enchanted drumming and mystical kemenche and Tuvan throat-singing. Find one of their shows and be enriched, encouraged and energized.
We have a pair of tickets for their September 8th show at Wise Hall. To enter the giveaway, mention something you enjoy about Middle Eastern culture in the comments. For an extra entry, tweet the following:
Told @hummingbird604 about Mid Eastern culture http://is.gd/NlnKGR to enter to win tickets to Raquy and The Cavemen. You should enter too!
There will be an after-show dance party led by DJ Lizard of Oz, so it should be an awesome night. Remember to use a valid email for the comment so we can reach you, and check your inbox and tweets on September 6th after 2PM to know if you won.
Photo credit: Pixie Vision Productions. Used with permission.
Acrobatics are always exciting to watch and we’re really excited to feature one of the most original acrobatics show at this year’s Vancouver Fringe Festival 2011 (or is it the only one, perhaps?): Barely Balanced.
We’re already sitting at the edge of our seats just reading their troupe bio:
Three friends at Hocking College decided to combine their daredevil antics and reckless stupidity to create an acrobatic show that would strike fear into the hearts of insurance adjusters everywhere. They drew their inspiration from a variety of characters such as Jackie Chan, Cirque Du Soleil, and the Marx Brothers. Combining this inspiration with years of experience gained in detention due to class clowning, they created an award winning show that has toured the country entertaining audiences for nearly a decade.
And you should be excited too, because we have one pair of tickets to give away for this incredible show! To enter, complete the following sentence in the comments: “I’m a daredevil because…” For an extra entry, tweet the following:
I posted why I am a daredevil http://is.gd/Y8DXU4 on @hummingbird604 to enter to win tix to Barely Balanced @VancouverFringe !
The pair of tickets is for a night of your choice–check the schedule here and search for “Acrobatic Daredevils”. We will draw a winner on Friday, September 9th at 2PM. Make sure to use a valid email address in your comment and check your inbox and tweets!
*As with all our Fringe giveaways, it must be noted that a 5$ membership fee is required to attend any Fringe play for the first time, even if you win giveaway tickets. The membership fee is only due once.
Photo credit: Heather Armstrong for Rolling Stock Theatre
Fortunate Son tells the huge story of the Trudeau family, a story that touches and affects Canadians across the country. Playing for two weeks in September, this will definitely be a show to see for anyone interested in Canadian history, politics, and family matters. This performance is presented by Rolling Stock theatre company, a nonprofit theatre organization.
The show is part of Vancouver International Fringe Festival, but I expect it will be very much on the heavier side of the spectrum, as opposed to many of the hilarious and entertaining other plays at the festival.
Set after the state funeral for Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Fortunate Son is about how his son Justin gave a speech and inherited a nation. Written by Peter Boychuk. Directed by Fran Gebhard. Starring Michael Armstrong and Drew Staniland.
You should check it out, we will be reviewing a number of the Vancouver International Fringe Festival 2011 shows, including Fortunate Son.
I love the fact that my friends almost always have the same adventurous approach to eating out. I hadn’t checked out Sea Monstr Sushi in Gastown, and I had wanted to try it for a long while. My good friends Ashleigh Smith and Chris Walts had just returned from a month in Peru, and thus we agreed to meet at Sea Monstr Sushi for a bite to eat. Not sure why, I wasn’t really too hungry, but I wanted to see them, so we met up there. Sea Monstr Sushi is a quaint little place, so don’t expect huge decorations or a very fancy, flashy restaurant location. But the sushi it serves is very good and the service is really excellent.
I ordered a Sushi Combo ($9.00) and 1 piece of salmon nigiri ($2.50). My combo brought along a few pieces of California roll, spicy tuna roll and some salmon roll bits. It also included a miso soup.
I loved in particular the spicy tuna sushi roll, fresh, tasty, spicy and just the right amount of rice. The miso soup was really flavourful and not very salty (a negative characteristic I have found in some restaurants’ sushi combos).
For the past couple of years, I’ve been analyzing myself more in-depth, and looking for ways to improve what I do and ensure I grow continuously. This fall 2011, I have decided on 3 things I am doing to improve myself and for me and myself only. The first one is – I am going to continue investing in my own professional (academic) development. That means, I’m going to make sure to go to the academic conferences I want to go and that are valuable for me. No external pressure. Just the conferences I know I’m going to get something out of. Second thing, I’m going to go back to competitive volleyball.
And the third thing, I will be taking 3 weeks off in December. And by off, I mean I will not be available for ANYONE other than my family. I already did one crazy thing that I think is really helping me reframe how I feel: I shaved my head completely. And in doing so, I’m also re-arranging my personal circle of close friends. You may not realize this, but I’m doing it the way I usually love doing things: in secret.
I don’t know if it’s coincidence, but I’ve been thinking a lot about freelancing lately. It’s probably because I have been pondering about the fragmentation of work and the decline of permanent jobs. I wrote about it on my research blog (my day job is consultant and academic, for those of you who think I blog for a living). I even noticed an article on The Atlantic on the emergence of freelancing.
So when Minna (dear friend of mine and co-founder of The Network Hub) reminded me about organizing Freelance Camp Vancouver 2011, it totally resonated again with me. Last year, we had a fantastic turnout (I was the event main wrangler and we sold out so fast that we had a LONG wait list). I suspect this year we will be selling out as well, so I would encourage you to purchase your ticket RIGHT NOW. The $10 you pay for your registration goes to charity in its entirety. Last year, FreelanceCamp Vancouver 2010 sponsored Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2010.
Freelance Camp Vancouver 2011 will be a day-long unconference-style (remember BarCamp, in its beginnings) where freelancers from Vancouver, the Lower Mainland, etc. will gather and share thoughts, skills, methods and suggestions on how to operate their freelance business. Come prepared to share some of your own knowledge, and to pitch a session. If you need to learn what the unconference (BarCamp) style of conference is, you can check the Wikipedia entry.
And for a pair of lucky freelancers out there, I’ll be giving away 4 (yes, you heard it, 4) tickets to Freelance Camp Vancouver. To enter to win, all you need to tell me is an idea of what you would like to learn at Freelance Camp Vancouver 2011. This year, thanks to my intern Project Manager, Anabelle, I’ve learned about a new project management software called 5pm, and I would like to share what I learned from implementing a project management software with my interns. That’s what I’m prepared to come and share, as I have also used BaseCamp with other colleagues. What would YOU like to see talked about? Also, last year I led a session on How Freelancing is NOT Free, based on a series of posts that I wrote a couple of years ago.
To earn an additional entry to my contest, you can tweet the following:
Posted on @hummingbird604 ‘s blog an idea of what I want to learn at @604freelancers to enter to win tickets http://is.gd/11V0Ov
Freelance Camp Vancouver 2011 takes place on September 10th from 9am to 5pm at the New Westminster campus of The Network Hub, in River Market. 5 minutes walk from New Westminster Skytrain station.
Disclosure: While I sit on the executive board of The Network Hub, this post is neither paid for nor expected. I am paying for the 4 tickets I am giving away on my own dime. I retain full editorial control on anything that is posted on my site.
As you know, I’m totally fascinated by little things. I have made it my purpose to ALWAYS be fascinated and amazed at the beauty of the world (you *must* have read that story I wrote about how, since I was like 5 I decided I would be amazed at something EVERY DAY? A few decades later, I still am able to do that). When I visited Drink Urban Lounge with my lovely interns Anabelle and Jessica, I noticed a bridge connecting New Westminster and Surrey.
Curious as I always am, I wanted to take a photograph and was able to picture the Skytrain travelling from New Westminster to Surrey. I wondered if it had a name, and lo-and-behold, Twitter had the answer. I’m actually quite impressed how many people responded extremely fast (Sean Orr and Henry Lee, amongst them – Jennifer Siddon works for Translink specifically for Skytrain so I figured she might know).
The Skybridge is a cable-stayed bridge in Metro Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Built between 1987 and 1989, it spans the Fraser River and connects New Westminster with Surrey. The Skybridge opened for revenue use on March 16, 1990 with the second half of the Phase II extension of SkyTrain to Scott Road Station.
Did you know this? I totally didn’t. And that’s what I love about my blog and Twitter. They always teach me something new.
Favorite new chic drinks lounge, for sure, the lovely Drink Urban Lounge. I recently took my 2 lovely interns, Anabelle and Jessica, out to New Westminster. We are working on a project for The Network Hub New Westminster campus, so we went to check out what is around Columbia Street. We actually calculated the time it takes from the New Westminster Skytrain station to the new campus of The Network Hub in River Market (by the Quay): 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Walking. WHOA.
Anyways, I digress. We went to Drink Urban Lounge on the recommendation of lots of friends from Twitter: Briana Tomkinson, Pamela Findling, Brigette Mayer and Rob Jones. And I’m glad we did. Inexpensive drinks made exactly the way I like them.
Drink Urban Lounge is the newest member of The Arbuthnot Group of pubs and liquor stores. We are a Yaletown bar in your backyard. We are located at 609 Columbia Street in New Westminster, just steps away from New Westminster Quay Market and Boardwalk.
I should probably tell them it’s not anymore the New Westminster Quay Market but River Market. Anyways…I ordered a Chocolate Goddess, made to perfection with Van Gogh Double Espresso, Creme De Cacao, Cream and Chocolate Shavings (at a very reasonable $ 7.25). Delicious. And the waitress was amazing (Julia was her name, I think?!).
I think that in the future, The Network Hub New Westminster campus will probably partner with Drink Urban Lounge to offer specials to our Passholders. Which would make for amazing Friday Liquor O’Clock. I will definitely be coming back to Drink Urban Lounge in New Westminster with frequency. Great service, great drinks, extremely comfortable and chic atmosphere (my photo doesn’t do it justice)
Disclosure: I paid for my drink and those of Anabelle and Jessica. All views on this post are mine, and I retain full editorial control on anything I post here.
The highest concentration of hipsters per square foot in a room, the friendliest and nicest service, and the tastiest burgers in a fairly large perimeter around Mount Pleasant can be found at The Rumpus Roomon 11th Avenue and Main Street. Recently renovated, apparently, because I recall that there was another establishment there (one that I thought of writing about because it always seemed so… lonely).
I asked around on Twitter on where to have dinner close to my house (I have been working from home for a day and a half, when I’m polishing papers, literature reviews, journal articles or syllabi I often do this – lock myself at home). But nobody mentioned a restaurant I hadn’t visited yet, so what I did is I went to The Rumpus Room (on my friend Heather Watson‘s suggestion).
The restaurant itself is decorated totally hipster, but it’s so relaxed it’s almost unnoticeable. I sat on a very comfy reclining chair and ordered a standard burger ($9) with a potato salad side. I found the prices extremely reasonable. The potato salad was extremely well done, perhaps one of the best I’ve ever tried. Not crazy about the celery, but the creamy dressing complimented very nicely the sometimes a bit dry kaiser.
It was totally my fault that I didn’t order any toppings on my burger (speaking of which, they use hormone-free, free-range meat, just as an FYI – important these days). I felt a lot of garlic flavour and the beef patty was very moist and cooked (as they say) to perfection. I definitely think if I add roasted garlic (one of the toppings that The Rumpus Room offers) and probably some avocado, a basic burger can be a total heaven.
After dinner I absolutely had no space for dessert. The bartender and server both were extremely sweet and told me about their Sunday movie nights. Good times, I’ll definitely be back to The Rumpus Room.
I’m a bit of an Italian food fan. I love anything that has to do with Italian cuisine, in particular pasta Puttanesca (a type of pasta that I am sure anyone in the Vancouver Italian restaurateur community know I love and adore). I told JT that before we attended the last show of Theatre Under The Stars (Anything Goes), I wanted to try and eat at Nook on Denman, between Robson and Melville. Given that they don’t take reservations we weren’t really hopeful that we’d find a seat. But we did, at the bar, and it was a great experience.
I ordered a Gnocchi with Baby Meat Balls (very, very reasonable at a price point of $16), which I didn’t know how it would turn out. The truth of the matter is – it turned out incredibly tasty. The tomato sauce wasn’t overwhelmingly heavy drenched in garlic and oil (which I would probably have expected, and even would have welcomed it, but the flavour was really delicate). Gnocchi are a tough type of pasta in some cases, because it can be easily screwed up. Luckily, that wasn’t the case.
JT ordered a Margherita pizza ($15, very reasonable as well) that was extremely tasty (I had a bit of a morsel from his pizza). Overall, beyond the tasty food (which was really good), I think what I liked the most was the family ambiance. At Nook, you can tell that the owners have a really good relationship with their customer base and with their staff, current and former. The day we showed up, a former chef dropped by with her daughter. So cute.
I would strongly recommend that people go and eat at Nook. Authentic Italian fare that won’t break your wallet. And a service that really counts at the best moment.
Disclosure: JT paid for both of our dinners on his dime. A review is neither expected nor paid for. All opinions are my own, and I retain editorial control at all times over anything published on my site.
When I was a child, I used to play baseball. But I really didn’t pay much attention to it simply because I was first drawn to basketball (my Dad’s sport and afterwards, my brother’s main sport) and then to volleyball (the sport I played at highly competitive levels) and tennis (which I still play). So when JT asked me if I’d like to see a Vancouver Canadians game, I totally said yes.
Seeing a baseball game live is one of those things that you need to do at the very least once in your lifetime. While I really didn’t understand very well how the game went (I had to remember what an inning was, when it was top of the inning and bottom of the inning, what a foul ball was, when it was a strike or a ball, etc.) Absolutely delightful.
The game JT and I witnessed was the 2-0 Vancouver Canadians win over the Tri-City Dust Devils. It was beautiful seeing how people sang the Chubby Chicken song, how everyone was so enthralled with the game. And of course, it was a lot of fun to see JT how excited he was with the game. Of course, he had to basically explain the game piece by piece, which was in and of itself fun.
And of course I had to take a photo with the mascot 🙂
Seeing a Vancouver Canadians game is a spectacle in and of itself, to be quite honest. It’s the whole deal: the cotton candy, the burger combos, the hotdogs, the 50/50 draw, the waves and the music. It’s one of those really fun, family or friends’ oriented, very clean, very “wholesome” activities that you can do either with a friend or a group of friends, with your children, or your parents if you are (like me) close to them.
Disclosure: JT paid for both of our tickets. I am neither obligated nor expected to write about the game, but it’s something that I love doing: promoting local sports teams. As always I retain full control over anything that is published on my site.
So strange. I swear to God Goldfish used to call itself Goldfish Kitchen. But since the last time I visited (which was A LONG TIME AGO, when Steve Jagger invited Rebecca and me for lunch), Goldfish has experienced some rebranding and relaunching of menus and is now Goldfish Seafood and Chops. The very first people I saw right after my head shave were my good friends Mat Wilcox, Erin McConnell and Wendy Hartley (Erin and Wendy both formerly worked at Wilcox PR) who were there with another couple of friends (one of them, Lecia Stewart with whom I had an absolutely wonderful chat.
Mat and Erin
Me and Mat
Wendy Hartley and me
Wendy invited me along to join their “Girls Night Out” at Goldfish Seafood and Chophouse for a glass of wine, which I accepted as I hadn’t seen them in months, and wanted to catch up. And of course, show off my new hairless do. Interestingly, I can tell I blog about food because I totally went in to take photos of the food before I even let anyone sample it.
We ordered a few appies and shared a couple of bottles of white wine. I’ll have to say, Goldfish definitely has upped the ante on the seafood menu. I hadn’t had any of their food recently and came to be quite surprised.
The marinated Tiger prawns with chili (available on the Happy Hour Menu) were to-die-for. Even if you aren’t a fan of the BBQ short ribs (which I’m not), they were still very tasty. But again, those marinated Tiger prawns totally captivated me. We also sampled some scallops with capers and a creamy dill (those were also to-die-for).
Overall, my verdict on the new Happy Hour Menu at Goldfish Seafood and Chophouse? I like it. I’ll have to come back for dinner!
And also… who doesn’t love dinner companions who are bright, smart, opinionated, entrepreneurial AND who are thoughtful enough to make me pull my gut so I don’t show like I weigh 300 pounds on photos? 😉
Disclosure: My appies and drinks were compliments of Wendy who would NOT let me pay (thanks, Wendy!). While not a full review of the Goldfish Seafood and Chophouse menu, I sampled and loved the Happy Hour menu and will have to come back for dinner on my own dime and taste the rest of their food after the rebranding. As always, I retain editorial control on anything I publish on my site.
This guest post was written exclusively for Hummingbird604.com by Minna Van, co-founder of The Network Hub and one of my absolute best friends. Thanks Minna for sharing your experiences in Gibsons BC with my readers!
“Thinking means concentrating on one thing long enough to develop an idea about it” – W. Deresiewicz
In a time when ease of access to Twitter, Facebook and Youtube means you can be dispersed everywhere and at the same time being nowhere. Solitude and concentration becomes cumbersome, arduous compared to being everywhere on the cloud where all the fun and excuses to run away from yourself belong. How many times have you scheduled time alone or find yourself daydreaming for time off but it never really happens because you agonize over the practical responsibilities, duties and the long checklists you have? Well that was me.
The answer was Gibsons, Sunshine Coast. The decision to go was definitely a difficult one but when I realized that it was easier to quote an article or regurgitate an important someone or other’s thoughts from a well-known blog or magazine about an important issue, I knew I forgot the ability to think for myself. I need to hear my own voice and formulate my own thoughts. I wanted to think for myself again. Let’s clear up any perceived conceptions you might have, I am not trying to be introspective or needed to resolve some deep dark situations but rather just finding quiet time to hear my own voice.
Laying on the beach with a book listening to ocean waves while watching boats go all day was simple perfection – it was a vacation for my soul. Nothing mattered at the moment because I was present.
Photo credit: Minna Van for Hummingbird604.com
I started building inukshuks randomly because I remembered they help guide boats to shore and a simple symbol of peace. Impractical fun activities because 30 minute later the waves came and wash them away. A lesson in detachment perhaps?
Photo credit: Minna Van for Hummingbird604.com
Gibsons is a beautiful town with wonderful friendly people who always stop to say a Hi or Hello. Not the kind that people do at a passing but a full-stop with a friendly smile and a warm greeting.
Photo credit: Minna Van for Hummingbird604.com
No town visit is complete with the sampling of the local cuisine, with its close proximity to the ocean means seafood is the specialty here. Of course I love gelato so the first thing I had to try was Mike’s Place – the BEST gelato place in Gibsons according to the locals but I suspect it might be the ONLY gelato shop here.
Photo credit: Minna Van for Hummingbird604.com
Of course there is also the famous landmark Molly’s Reach where the longest-running comedy-drama television series “The Beachcombers” was filmed from 1972 until 1990. It was the first time ever I had a crab cake sandwich, it was tasty but I wasn’t a huge fan of the combination. I was however a HUGE fan of their mixed berries pie, I think I inhaled it and then thought of getting seconds.
Photo credit: Minna Van for Hummingbird604.com
According to my cab driver, I absolutely had to visit Smitty’s Oyster House for their fresh seafood. Clams and Corona on a pier – why not.
Photo credit: Minna Van for Hummingbird604.com
And after dinner and lunch, I take a nice stroll along the seawall back to the beach where I do some more reading or just stare off into the distance and most of the time, I find myself completely hypnotized and lost in the sound of the clapping waves.
While there was no grand epiphany or realization to tell you about, I did however regain my ability to concentrate for long enough to do some thinking. I can hear my own voice for the first time in a while. While however fleeting my renewed ability to concentrate, I do know Gibsons will always be there for me when I find myself lost in the digital clouds.
Now starting its 49th season (that’s a long time for a theater!), Metro Theatre invited Hummingbird604.com to see the premiere of their opening show, False Pretences.False Pretences is a comedy by one of England’s best-known sitcom writers, Eric Chappell. The play is set in suburban England, and all the action happens in Kevin’s drawing room.
The plot is typical comedy material: one day, Kevin comes home to learn that his brother-in-law Victor, recently freed from prison for fraud, has moved in for a few weeks. This spells danger for the recently bereaved and fragile Lucy, a wealthy widow. Seeing an easy way out of his money problems, Victor sets his sight on Lucy and attempts to seduce her.
Photo Credit: Brian Campbell
This was my first “traditional” play since I started writing for Hummingbird604 and it was absolutely refreshing. A nice comedy after the shock of CATIVO was very welcome. Don’t be fooled by the drawing room set: False Pretences shows a masculine world where women answer the door, serve tea, wear pretty dresses and whine about not getting enough sex or jewelry. I wouldn’t call it sexist per se, but I felt the lack of strong female presence. Even the ending plot twist didn’t redeem this fault. The writing was witty and funny when it was delivered correctly, which was most of the time. However, some acting blunders sometimes distracted and slowed down the pace of the play.
Since this was a premiere, I expect that they will be ironed out quickly. Also, take your English slang dictionary with you; this is a British play and it uses several words that you may not be familiar with. As I watch a lot of British TV, I didn’t have a problem catching up.
The actors were competent, with Robert Sterling (Kevin) and Christopher Dellinger (Victor) stealing the spotlight. They make a great comic duo, with the constantly thwarted con man taking advice from the conservative real estate agent. Tom Kavadias in the role of the slippery Soapy Simpson was delightful–a shame his character doesn’t appear earlier in the play.
Credit: Brian Campbell
Overall, I had a great time at False Pretences. A funny play put together simply without anything flashy. There’s a good mix of verbal and physical humour that will please most viewers. It won’t make you think very hard, but it will make you laugh. Although I appreciate the efforts of avant-garde theatre and understand the importance of pushing the boundaries of any art form, sometimes there’s nothing like sitting down in a regular theatre to watch a more traditional comedy.
What: False Pretences by Eric Chappell
When: Until September 24th
Where: Metro Theater, 1370 SW Marine Dr, Vancouver
More info: Metro Theatre website
Disclosure: Anabelle covered False Pretences at Metro Theatre for Hummingbird604.com on complimentary media tickets to attend the play. We were not paid to write a review nor were we required to do so (and a favorable review is not expected, even with complimentary tickets). Raul maintains editorial control over all content posted on Hummingbird604.com.
Tough! is not the kind of play you would want to see on a first date. Despite the characters coming through as genuine people doing the best they can in life, there is an intimacy between the audience and their lives that’s very emotional and heavy. The trio of actors definitely used their quarrel and conversation to stir up everyone in the room. I wouldn’t really classify this play as humour… dark humour at best, but mostly a tangle of teenaged drama mixed with the scariness of facing an unplanned pregnancy. The situation described the hardships that each young character just leaving high-school is facing: the pregnant girl, Tina, with her questionable future; Bobby, the father and boyfriend with his insecurities and indecision; and the best friend Jill who wants to kick Bobby’s back end.
TwentySomething Theatre definitely put on a great show, and the seating area was filled up for the opening night of Tough! More information about the play below:
Bobby and Tina are nineteen. Bobby gets caught cheating. Tina finds out she’s pregnant. Jill, Tina’s best friend, hates Bobby and welcomes the opportunity to kick his ass. Sometimes life is tough. First written in 1993 this dark comedy by George F. Walker is a wrenchingly funny, painful, and honest depiction of the conflicting desires and troubled relationships that continue to epitomize young people today. Featuring performances by Marlene Ginader as Tina, Timothy Johnston as Bobby & Katherine Gauthier as Jill.
EDITOR’S NOTE AND DISCLOSURE: Jessica covered Tough! on media tickets for Hummingbird604.com. A review is neither expected, nor paid for, nor a favorable outcome is an expectation either. You can check out Tough! until September 3rd. Tickets: $22 Adults, $18 Under 35/Seniors, $12 Previews. Tickets available through Tickets Tonight or by phone at 604.684.2787 and at the door. At Studio 1398 (formerly PTC STudio), Granville Island. Personally, I (Raul) love the work of Twenty Something Theatre and I commend them for the excellent theatre they bring to us
Fringe is one of Vancouver’s most loved and celebrated theatre festivals (the Vancouver International Fringe Festival in its 2011 edition). This yearly event happens over the course of 11 days, in different venues across the city, offering over 600 performances.
Basically, over 80 different groups and theatre companies come together to celebrate the art. It’s such a huge success that attendance is expected to be around 30,000, and for the past 5 years it has been named Vancouver’s Best Arts Festival by the Georgia Straight. This is it’s 26th year running.. As a matter of fact, one of the first plays I (Jessica) ever saw in Vancouver was a Fringe production, and I still remember it clearly.
Fringe is also a charity that relies on volunteers and donations to keep running. The vision behind the mission is that new and established participants are drawn into the festival, and that new and seasoned viewers come out to see them. The entire environment revolves around community, collaboration, supporting artists, and having great quality and uncensored shows.
Another great aspect, aside from the hilariousness and great values, is that each play is selected by random lottery. That means no judges were used to decide the lineup. There is a mix between Mainstage plays, which are the traditional type of theatre where the audience goes to a Playhouse or stage to see the performance. There is also another type called BYOV (Bring Your Own Venue) where the producers create site-specific performances around the city in unconventional ways.
There is a lot more that can be said about Fringe, so we would definitely recommend their website to do so. The last big thing to know and not to miss is the Pick of the Fringe: pretty much the most popular shows that go on during the festival. They get an extra little run at the end of September, giving everyone a second or third time to see them, or a first if you missed it! If nothing else, this is the place to be. The best shows of a very popular theatre festival.
VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FRINGE FESTIVAL
September 8-18, 2011 — Pick of the Fringe September 22-25
The Quattro family of restaurants is one of my favorite, and I’m pretty sure everyone who reads my blog knows this. I took my Mom to Quattro on Fourth (in Kitsilano) for her birthday 2 years ago, and I took JT for dinner for a special occasion to Quattro al Centro on Richards Street (in Yaletown/Downtown). I hadn’t seen my good friends Ianiv and Arieanna Schweber and their little one, Aiden (whom I affectionately call my nephew, as I am very close and I do feel he is like my actual blood nephew) so they joined me for dinner at Gusto Di Quattro.
Going to Gusto Di Quattro was a big gamble. Not because of the food (I’m pretty sure that the food at ALL Quattro restaurants is consistently good). The gamble was – would Gusto Di Quattro be child-friendly-enough? We were all very surprised by the really great food available on the menu for the little ones, and Aiden loved his dinner. As for us the adults, Arieanna and I shared a Combinazione (at $24 per person with substitutions $2 per, with a minimum of 2, a fairly decent price for a higher-end, high-scale Italian restaurant). We enjoyed a combination of rotolo farcito, fusilli salsiccia, penne arrabiata, linguine pesto, and fettuccine caprese. Ianiv ordered their risotto with fruti di mare.
I’ll have to say that I knew the Combinazione would be a winning combination. Both Arieanna and I love pasta, and this particular combination of pastas was a definite winner. In particular, I’m in love with the rotolo farcito. The fusilli salsiccia (with sausage) is a popular one, flavourful and strong (but bear in mind – I LOVE strong flavours). And even the linguine pesto had enough garlic that I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Overall, as I knew it would be the case, Gusto Di Quattro was a big win. Great food, really nice upscale decor, and a service that has nothing to ask other restaurants. The staff was incredibly sweet and kind to Aiden, and we didn’t face major issues (with obviously the exception that the restaurant isn’t really well equipped for changing toddlers, but that’s not even an issue as Arieanna and Ianiv have handled these situations before and they totally adapted quickly). The staff was very apologetic for not having the changing station for toddlers, but as I said, it’s not an issue to dampen our dinner. Overall, great experience at Gusto Di Quattro in the Lower Lonsdale area of North Vancouver. You should try it out.
Disclosure: We each paid for our dinners on our own dime. All views on this post are mine and mine only. A review is neither expected, nor has it been paid for (since, as you can see, we paid on our own dime). I retain editorial control at all times on anything published on my site.
Bard on the Beach is one of my absolute favorite theatre companies, and by and large, one of my closest collaborators and partners. Bard on the Beach has always given me great treatment and appreciated my work promoting the local theatre community. So, I was delighted to find out that they have 2 performances of the Marriages of Figaro. One of them already passed (August 29th), but the next one promises to be amazing (and you shouldn’t miss it), September 5th.
AND…
I have a pair of tickets to give away for the September 5th, 7pm performance of this amazing show. Yes, it’s an opera. And yes, it’s at Bard. As you may have realized, in the past few years, Bard on the Beach has revitalized much of their artistic programme, enhanced their programming with academic discussions around Shakespeare, paired many of the performances with picnics with Emelle, and in the past couple of years, offered operatic performances.
For this summer’s Opera & Arias concerts, Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival presents a staging of Mozart’s delightful comic opera “THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO” performed by the UBC Opera Ensemble and members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. UBC’s Nancy Hermiston directs this fully-costumed in-concert staging and conductor Leslie Dala leads the musicians. Shows are Monday August 29 at 1:00 & 7:00 pm and Monday September 5 at 1:00 & 7:00 pm in Bard’s new, updated Mainstage Theatre tent in Vanier Park. Tickets: $40 (evenings) & $35 (matinees) at 604-739-0559 or online at the Bard on the Beach website. Evening youth price available.
I have previously seen The Marriage of Figaro at the Vancouver Opera, but I am always keen to see the amazing finished product that the theatre troupes that Bard on the Beach hosts offers. This time it will be performed by the UBC Opera Ensemble and members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra. As a UBC faculty member (and alumnus), I am keen to check this one out.
To enter to win my giveaway all you need to tell me is whether you believe in marriage or not (some of you may already be married! you can gush about your partner here all you want).
Personally, I would like to believe in marriage, but I think that there’s a lot to be said for having undefined partnerships that may resemble a marriage. To each, their own 🙂
I will draw a winner on September 3rd at 2pm. I know it’s a Saturday, but I can draw winners on Saturdays too! Check this blog post and your email so you can know that you won! Good luck everyone!
To earn an additional entry you could post the following on your Twitter stream:
Do you believe in marriage? I told @hummingbird604 if I do for a chance to win tickets to @BardOnTheBeach. Enter here: http://is.gd/XX4iPL
More on Bard on the Beach’s The Marriage of Figaro:
The gifted young stars of the UBC Opera, accompanied by members of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra, bring Mozart’s delightful comic opera to the Bard Mainstage. There’s a rakish count, a broken hearted countess, boorish social climbers, a sex-charged teenager – and at the centre of the whirlwind, Figaro and his bride-to-be, the servant girl Susanna. Will Figaro ever have his long overdue wedding? UBC’s Nancy Hermiston directs the fully costumed, in-concert staging of Mozart’s timeless masterpiece, with conductor Leslie Dala leading the musicians.
Two evening concerts and two matinees are scheduled: Monday August 29 at 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm and the holiday Monday September 5 at 1:00 pm & 7:00 pm. The opera is staged in Bard’s new and updated Mainstage Theatre tent in Vanier Park, where the backdrop to the stage is a spectacular vista of mountains, sea and sky.
Honey is one of those things that brings me back to Mexico and to my childhood. Growing up, my family (e.g. my 4 brothers, my Mom and I) travelled to Celaya (one of the towns in central Mexico where you could visit honey bee farms). We walked through the honey bee farm, sampled propolis, different types of honey and a broad variety of honey and we even tasted a bit of honeycomb.
At Campbell’s Gold Honey Farm & Meadery, we were able to sample a broad variety of honey flavours and a few meads. What is mead, do you ask? It’s basically honey wine. We sampled through a variety of samples of meads, and the one that particularly impressed me was the super dry (e.g. -2 in sweetness scale) yet the fact that it was a mead made it so tasty.
We also learned a little bit about the environmental certifications that this honey bee farm has, as well as the production process. Campbell’s Gold Honey Farm also has numerous community activities, which makes this a perfect family (and singles) destination.
It was an absolute delight to be part of this visit to Campbell’s Honey Farm and Meadery. I do look forward to coming back maybe with a group of my friends, as I’m sure they’d love doing this kind of visit.
Disclosure: My visit to Campbell’s Honey Farm & Meadery was one of the stops of a media trip for Circle Farm Tours. You can read all of my Circle Farm Tours coverage here. I received a small bottle of mead compliments of our hosts. This post is neither paid for nor expected. All views are mine.
