Two years ago, I attended the opening of Olympic Pride House, a safe haven for queer athletes worldwide who would be participating in the Vancouver and Whistler 2012 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games. It made me swell with pride (pun intended) because the mere existence of an Olympic Pride House was pioneered by Canadians, in the city that I have called home for more than a decade, Vancouver. It showcased how open-minded and amazing Vancouverites (and Canadians in general) are. Gay marriage has been valid for more than a decade in Canada, and it’s been a nation that has pioneered rights.
Yet, as our hearts swell with pride for our Canadian athletes, a question lingers in my head: why aren’t we hearing much about Canadian queer athletes? I am pretty sure that, just probabilistically, there *must* be some queer athletes in the Canadian delegation. And yes, I know that their sexual orientation has nothing to do with their athletic prowess. But I haven’t seen much emphasis on the queer aspects of competitive sports. Being a gay athlete still has a lot of stigma attached. Admittedly, an openly gay former athlete is the chef de mission (Mark Tewskbury, an idol of mine and someone I have met in person before).
Mark is amazing and I think his work has been groundbreaking in furthering the good fight. In enabling any Canadian athletes who may be queer be openly so.
I don’t have an answer to this question, but it is burning in my head and in my heart. Matthew Mitcham was one of very few openly gay athletes at the last Summer Olympic games (and he became an Olympic Diving Champion). It’s 2012. Isn’t it high time that we have more openly gay athletes?
When I played highly-competitive volleyball, the thing that kept me (and my team) going was the fact that we were representing our school, our city, our state and in several tournaments our nation. So, for me, cheering for athletes is actually something I’m really keen on. RBC informed me of their upcoming RBC Cheer Tour stops in Vancouver on July 1st and 2nd (more information below).
Check out this video featuring Canadian Olympic swimmer Scott Dickens (whom, for some reason, I feel as though I know – maybe I bumped into him when I was swimming at the UBC Aquatic Centre?).
RBC is traveling across Canada in three London cabs, asking Canadians to send a cheer to our Olympic athletes for the RBC Cheer Tour, and they are asking you (my dear readers) to participate in one of their Vancouver stops:
We’d like to invite you and your local readers to attend a stop on our RBC Cheer Tour to send a cheer to members of the Vancouver Olympic team (like swimmers Savannah King, Paralympic swimmer Paul Gauthier or soccer player Shannon Woeller, who is still qualifying) on the following dates:
July 1: 1-5 pm, Granville Island (1661 Duranleau Street) and 6-830pm, Canada Day at Gastown (332 Water Street)
July 2: 12-3pm, Stanley Park and 4-8pm Robson Park
If I were in Vancouver right now I totally would but I am not, but don’t let this preclude you from attending!
In previous instalments of my “Managing Yourself” series, I have written about the things I do to be able to accomplish as much as I do in the time I have. One of the most important ones, and one I discussed with my fellow international travel writers at our recent Puebla Tweetup sponsored by the Mexican Tourism Board, was my morning routine.
4:45am: Wake up, write, answer emails, write blog posts, schedule tweets and posts
6:00am: Go to the gym
7:30am: Shower, breakfast
8:00am: Head to the university (or my office at The Network Hub)
– Research
– Prepare lectures
– Work on client projects (if there are any)
– Meet with students
5:00pm: Head out to events, theatre shows, etc.
– Sometimes, have work meetings in between
10:00pm: Work until about midnight, although most of the time I like to sleep early.
If you notice, the first thing I do is I wake up and write. I may write sections of an academic paper I’m working on, I may answer emails related to my research or to my academic activity. Sometimes, I use that time to schedule tweets for the day. But the first thing I do, is brew a cup of coffee and write. Writing is the one activity I do 99.99% of the time and thus I need to use as much of my early day time to write and build concepts as I can.
As you know, I am a superhero geek. And I have reviewed most of the last 5 years’ worth of superhero movies so I guess that also adds to my superhero geek cred. The only problem is that I’m not sure when exactly The Amazing Spiderman is going to be released (it says July 7th, 2012 but if you read this review, it appears the writer has already seen it). Are you excited about The Amazing Spiderman? I am, definitely! And not because of Andrew Garfield. More because, well, I am as I have repeated 3 times on this post, a superhero geek.
Dear God. I always have felt British Columbian. I came here more than a decade ago, I fell in love here, I have some of my best friends here, I have succeeded as an academic, a human being and I graduated from two of my degrees here (most importantly, my PhD!). So, when I took the rather unscientific Canada Day Quiz by the Globe and Mail, I almost fainted when I saw the result. Check for yourself. I think I’m going to go and have some sushi and drown my sorrows in BC wine.
Click on the photo to check out the Globe and Mail quiz.
HIV/AIDS is one of the causes I am most passionate about, and I just realized that today is US National HIV Testing Day (June 27th, 2012). I am also friends with a lot of folks who are working on the science of fighting HIV/AIDS and thus this is an important occasion to mark and remember.
National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign coordinated by the National Association of People with AIDS to encourage people of all ages to “Take the Test, Take Control.” Too many people don’t know they have HIV. In the United States, nearly 1.2 million people are living with HIV, and almost one in five don’t know they are infected. Getting tested is the first step to finding out if you have HIV. If you have HIV, getting medical care and taking medicines regularly helps you live a longer, healthier life and also lowers the chances of passing HIV on to others.
At the end of 2008 there were an estimated 65,000 people in Canada living with HIV – up from 57,000 in 2005. Of these, around 26% were unaware of their infection. It is estimated that between 2,300 and 4,300 new HIV infections occur in Canada each year, though many of these are not reported right away.
From the start of testing in November 1985 until the end of December 2008, there have been 67,422 positive HIV tests reported to CIDPC (Centre for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control). In 2009, there were 2,417 positive test results. This figure includes some persons not featured in the table below since they were under 15 years old; their gender was not reported; or they were reported as transgender.
I encourage you to think and reflect about these statistics and to take the test.
Every year, thespians and theatre-lovers alike don their swanky threads and gather together to celebrate another season of Vancouver theatre excellence at the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards. For the second year in a row, I was delighted to be covering the ceremony and festivities for Hummingbird604.com. (I was also delighted to be tweeting them, #Jessies12.)
“La Cage aux Folles cast members perform in a musical tribute to the Vancouver Playhouse.”
Photo credit: Lauren Kresowaty in exclusive for Hummingbird604.com
The winners of 2012 Jessie Richardson Awards include:
Outstanding Production
Large theatre: The Light in the Piazza, Patrick Street Productions
Small theatre: All the Way Home, Electric Company
Theatre for young audiences: Le portrait Gooble, Théâtre la Seizième
Outstanding Performance by Actress, Lead Role
Large theatre: Meg Roe, The Penelopiad, Arts Club Theatre Company
Small theatre: Meg Roe, All the Way Home, Electric Company
Outstanding Performance by Actor, Lead Role
Large theatre: Greg Armstrong-Morris, La Cage aux Folles, Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company
Small theatre: Andrew Wheeler, Re:Union, Pacific Theatre/Horseshoes and Hand Grenades Theatre
Outstanding Performance by Actress, Supporting Role
Large theatre: Colleen Wheeler, The Penelopiad, Arts Club Theatre Company
Small theatre: Nicola Lipman, All the Way Home, Electric Company
Outstanding Performance by Actor, Supporting Role
Large theatre: Jonathon Young, Intimate Apparel, Arts Club Theatre Company
Small theatre: Michael Kopsa, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, Pound of Flesh Theatre
Outstanding Direction
Large theatre: Craig Hall, Snowman, Rumble Productions
Small theatre: Kim Collier, All the Way Home, Electric Company
Outstanding Original Script
Bill Richardson & Veda Hille, Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craig’s List Cantata, Arts Club Theatre Company (in association with the PuSh International Performing Arts Festival).
In a night filled with actors and theatre practitioners, I expected the hilarity, hijinx, and big personalities (looking over my tweets from the night, it seems there was a lot of making out happening onstage around the presentation of the awards for Actor(s) in a Leading Role). We were also treated to a musical tribute to the Vancouver Playhouse (including cast from La Cage aux Folles) and mock Jessies-related tweets courtesy of emcees Vancouver TheatreSports.
Though the levity and occasional irreverence made the evening entertaining, what struck me most about the 2012 Jessies were the sincere and heartfelt expressions of gratitude which became a main theme of the night. Not one award winner failed to acknowledge that their outstanding achievements were possible only through the assistance, hard work, and support of others. With the loss of the Vancouver Playhouse fresh in our minds, a real sense of community permeated the event, coupled with an acknowledgment that the theatre communities in Vancouver are closely intertwined. The excellence of our peers encourages excellence in us. The success of our peers in reaching new theatrical possibilities facilitates our attempts towards our own artistic goals. The evening presented a lot of laughter, a few tears, and a lot of love.
Though I have not yet had the opportunity to take in a show by Théâtre la Seizième, I have heard great things about this TYA (theatre for young audiences) company and was pleased to see them acknowledged with an award for Outstanding Production. It was also great to see Rachel Peake (director of the award-winning Le portraitGooble with la Seizième), recognized as the recipient of the The Ray Michal Prize for Most Promising New Director. In her acceptance speech, Peake spoke passionately about TYA’s place in the world of theatre. Like me, Peake is a small-town Saskatchewan girl, and she credits her childhood experiences with TYA for giving her the understanding that there is a world of imagination beyond the world she knew, and for inspiring in her the desire to make a life for herself living in this world of imagination. Her words struck close to home, and I’m sure she and I were not the only artists and art-lovers in the room who felt them ring true.
As with last year, each new category brought pangs of regret as I realized that while I did see some great theatre this past season, I also missed some exceptional shows. The moral of the story is that everyone in Vancouver needs to see more theatre (the more we see theatre, the more there will be to see!). The bright side, of course, is that each year brings new heights: new technical brilliance, new outstanding scripts, new magical performances, new ambitious direction, and new truly special theatrical experiences. The Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards are a way to celebrate these heights, drink and dance with people whose work we admire, and set our sights on new exciting artistic peaks, whether as an artist or an audience member.
Lauren Kresowaty (Nifty Not Cool) covered The Jessies 2012 in exclusive for Hummingbird604.com for the second year in a row (thank you again, Lauren!). Lauren Kresowaty is a writer, theatre artist, and blogger based in East Vancouver. She posts weekly on her personal blog, NiftyNotCool.com, and tweets from @niftynotcool. Lauren is currently working on an adaptation of the Greek tragedy “The Libation Bearers” for her friends in Rice & Beans Theatre and following her imagination wherever it leads.. You can get in touch with Lauren by commenting on a post on her site or following her on twitter. As always, I (Raul) retain full editorial control over anything published on my site.
My most recent press trip to Puebla, Mexico, was pretty magical in many ways. The group of international travel writers I came with to visit Puebla were all incredibly sweet and we got along famously. It will be hard to match this trip with any other, as I definitely think this ranks up high as one of the best press trips I have been in. Lucky for me, and for my fellow travel writers, I happen to love food, architecture, archaeology and history, and Puebla was rich in all of these elements. The press trip design enabled us to have a taste of all of these components. Furthermore, it was a delight to have an opportunity to showcase Mexico to my new friends from the perspective of a Mexican national with international travel experience who lives in Canada (and feels as Canadian as they come).
Over the past few years I have begun to realize how important chemistry is in a media trip. And I’m pretty lucky that I have always been able to hit it off with anybody I have travelled with. To be quite honest, I don’t envy the challenges facing public relations companies nor destination marketing organizations (DMOs) in designing press trips. Making sure that everyone gets along, as well as having a great itinerary, creating opportunities for travel writers to highlight whatever clients require, is a lot of work. I will have to say that DMOs and PR agencies/specialists I have worked with in the past have always done a tremendous job.
I will miss my new friends from the #WeVisitMexico trip, and most definitely have missed some of my friends with whom I have travelled within Canada while I have been away. Look forward to the next opportunity to see you!
Jazz is one of those types of music that I have always loved and will continue to love forever. In previous years I have not only attended but also covered the Vancouver International Jazz Festival. This year I’m a little bit late to the party as I have been travelling (if you have noticed my tweets and blog posts) but didn’t want to miss out on sharing information about this fun event: the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2012.
The story of Coastal Jazz and Blues Society is the story of determination, passion, idealism, community, and of course, music. Incorporated in 1986, as a community based, not-profit, charitable arts organization located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the society, from the very beginning, has worked diligently to establish Vancouver as a center for the creation and exchange of sounds and ideas between the local, national and international music community. Our mission is to not only increase the appreciation of the music, but to strengthen the arts community by developing special projects, artistic exchanges, partnerships, educational initiatives, community programs, and collaborations that further the art form. Our vision encompasses a wide spectrum of jazz, blues, world, creative, and improvised music, including evolving forms of jazz and the technologies and media that influence jazz as an art form.
Today, the Society ranks as BC’s largest music presenter producing the annual TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the Music Series at the Winterruption Festival on Granville Island, the Time Flies Improvised Music Festival and several year-round concerts. Along with music presentation, the Society also has a long standing commitment to music education, presenting the TD High School Jazz Intensive Program exclusively for high school students, the Creative Music Think Tank Symposium exploring the nexus of innovation and social practice, regular workshops by local visiting international artists, children’s music programs, and more.
The Society is also a significant part of Vancouver and BC’s economic engine and tourism industry, attracting over half a million people to the annual jazz festival and generating over $35 million in economic activity.
To celebrate the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival 2012 I am giving away a pair of tickets to the July 1st concert of Los Amigos Invisibles (The Invisible Friends). Check out below their tune Vivire Para Ti (I will live for you) with Natalia Lafourcade.
Latin Grammy award winners Los Amigos Invisibles have been spreading their fiery dance band grooves around the world ever since they roared out of Venezuela in 1995. The band actually got its first break when David Byrne discovered one of their albums in a record shop and shortly after signed them to his label, Luaka Bop. Years later, these Latin alternative kingpins continue to electrify audiences with their explosive live shows.
To enter my giveaway all you need to tell me is what you love the most about the Latino culture. Most people seem to love the food (personally, that’s one of the elements that makes me proud of my Latino heritage, but I am most proud of the culture, dance, architecture, history and archaeology). How about you? What fascinates you the most of Latino culture and society?
You can earn up to 2 entries (one by commenting, one by posting the following on Twitter):
Shared what I like about Latin culture @hummingbird604 and @vanjazzfest http://is.gd/ymWLFe 2 enter 2 win tix to Los Amigos Invisibles
I will draw winners on June 29th at 4pm. Please check back here frequently as this is a quick contest. If you drop your Twitter handle on your comment here, I can contact you via Twitter as well.
While I was completely and entirely put off by Velo-City Global Vancouver 2012‘s ridiculous requirements for media accreditation (and while I wasn’t even going to look for media accreditation despite the fact that I vastly exceed their requirements), I know that Vancouver is strongly pushing for a stronger cycling culture. I am also a scholar of environmental studies, and I do strongly endorse non-fossil-fuel forms of transportation, specifically biking. So I decided to put my strong dislike for their media policy aside and write about Velo-City Global Vancouver 2012.
Check out the program at a glance. It looks like it’ll be an interesting event. Let me know if you end up checking this commuter-cycling conference!
I love site-specific plays. They are very unique and Vancouver actors are particularly good at executing these wonderful shows (I saw Robin Hood at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre produced by ITSAZOO and it was pretty fantastic). I also love Theatre Terrific, particularly because their mission is to enable folks who face mental health challenges and/or developmental barriers or disabilities. Their newest show is a site-specific production with the theme of what I study in my scholarly research: water.
Theatre Terrific was founded in 1985 by Connie Hargrave to provide theatre training and performance opportunities to disabled persons in the Vancouver region. At the time, no theatres in Vancouver were accessible, and the idea of disability and theatre interacting in innovative ways had yet to gain hold. Theatre Terrific was a pioneer; it is Western Canada’s oldest theatre company that works with mixed abilities casting.
That Theatre Terrific has decided to make the vital liquid whose proper governance keeps me awake at night is a testament to their vision and ability to produce awesome plays.
WATER constitutes the existence of our world as we know it. Our weather, our food, our transportation, our health, our surroundings, the essence and quality of our life–floats on the waterways of the world. WATER tells the story of one river-the gods that fought, the fish that swam, the fishermen that fished, the water-carriers that fetched and water buyers who bought; all deeply affecting the very life and soul of the river’s flow. With songs, dance, celebrations, large puppetry, raging passions, and live music- the rivers journey in WATER is a microcosm of civilization’s greatest and most precious element on this planet.
Water is presented by Theatre Terrific, and is directed by Susanna Uchatius. It features an ensemble of all abilities – actors in wheelchairs, developmental, physical, mental health challenges along with professional actors. The creative team includes James Coomber (Sound Design & Co-Director), Tim Gosley (Puppeteer Master of The Muppets fame) and Lois Dawson (Production Manager) with stage management by Diana Magallon.
Water is a site-specific play created by Theatre Terrific, and opens June 29. It runs Friday-Sunday at 2pm until July 8. It takes place at Andy Livingstone Park (89 Expo Blvd (at Carrall St). The venue is wheelchair accessible. Bring a chair or blanket, and perhaps a picnic or a snack. Admission is by donation (suggested $10). I strongly encourage you to attend WATER.
You know those municipalities you wish you knew more but you somewhat shunned because you weren’t a winter sports buff? Whistleris the one, in my case. I have extensively written before about Whistler, don’t get me wrong. Even more, I have written about what you can do in Whistler even if you are not a winter sports person. But I still feel there is SO MUCH MORE to do in Whistler that I haven’t covered. And since culture, travel and lifestyle are my beats, I figured I should also write about the upcoming Whistler Intercultural Forums and Festival 2012, taking place on the 28th of June.
On June 28, 2012, Whistler will host the second annual Whistler Intercultural Forums & Festival. A diverse group of locals from all across the world will be gathering on Main Street from 4pm-10pm to showcase their cultures through food, music, and dance. The festival is open to the public, free of charge, and everyone is invited to share in the experience.
Whistler is such a beautiful and vibrant community, and I am sure that this festival will just make things even more exciting for everyone. People in surrounding municipalities should consider participating.
During the Festival, vendors will be selling their culturally inspired food creations, while musical and dance talent will be showcased throughout the evening. Entertainment for children and adults will ensure a good time for everyone involved. Last year the Festival attracted over 2,000 attendants. The family friendly event received rave reviews about the delicious food, cheerful music, and the surprisingly perfect location on Main Street.
Since I was a child, I remember my mother loved Talavera pottery and ceramic. So when I was told that part of our Puebla Tweetup #WeVisitMexico press trip would involve a visit to a Talavera factory I could not contain my excitement. It is quite a unique experience to explore a small-scale industrial facility like a Talavera pottery factory, in a guided tour by the actual owner.
Moreover, because of my own personal connection both with chemical engineering (the basic principle of pottery making) and with Puebla (as I noted in my preliminary post). Our first stop on the Talavera tour was Talavera Santa Catarina, located in Santa Catarina Cholula, where the University of the Americas Puebla (UDLAP) is located. Fernanda, the owner, guided us throughout.
As a chemical engineer (yes, before I did my PhD I was originally a chemical engineer), I knew a little bit about the process, and the uniqueness of Talavera. You can’t say that you produce Talavera pottery if the raw materials (clay) aren’t from the Cholula region (thus requiring a Denomination of Origin). According to our guide, there are only 9 Talavera workshops in the city of Puebla that make real, legitimate Talavera pottery. Each piece is hand-crafted, and requires an extensive and delicate, labour-intensive process at each and every single step.
Once the clay is prepared (washed, matured and decanted), it can be stored as bricks, or can be processed right then. Each piece is prepared by hand and designs painted on to them are unique, and non-repeatable. The process can take up to 7 weeks.
The part that really touched me profoundly was the hand-painting. Paint colours are prepared in-situ, as this is a requirement for the Talavera pottery to be able to have the denomination of origin. You can literally see each artisan swelling with pride as they studiously paint each element of their Talavera pottery.
Pieces can be either designed in-house or commissioned by a client, who is naturally reassured that each piece is unique (and you can see the intense labour that goes into each piece!).
The final pieces are then either sent to clients or showcased in the factory showroom.
Overall, the experience was phenomenal, and I thoroughly recommend you to check out Talavera Santa Catarina if you are ever in Puebla. It was a memorable experience to go through the process of Talavera pottery-making from the inside. And yes, Talavera pottery can be very expensive, but once you witness the actual production process, you realize how much work has been put into it and it becomes very clear that it needs to be rewarded.
Disclosure: My trip to Puebla, sponsored by the Mexico Tourism Board, includes transportation, activities and meals. However, my posts are written in my own words and everything I write is entirely my own opinions. Any out-of-pocket expenses are paid out of my own dime. As always, anything that I post on my site is entirely my responsibility and I retain full editorial control.
I always loved Gloria Estefan‘s music, from her early beginnings with Miami Sound Machine to when she went solo. I remember I used to sing her songs in English to improve my spoken language skills. I remember clearly that the first time I took someone out for coffee on a romantic basis, I listened to this song. Almost kismet-like. Hope you like this song as much as I do. Falling In Love (Uh-Oh) by Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine.
Two of hearts, lace and satin, something in the air
Feel like another crok that’s been captured by your stare
Uh-oh, uh-oh
Falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, and i don’t wanna no, no, no
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling, falling
Jealous feelings, reappearing, such a wicked dare
I’m just so damned confused and i wonder, do you care?
Uh-oh, uh-oh
Falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, and i don’t wanna no, no, no
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling, falling
Like walking in the park
Or dancing in the dark
Just wanna hold you through out the night
Prince of fire, sweet desire, with devil may you care
Release me from your spell
I don’t want this, love ain’t fair
I’m falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh
Falling in love
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling, falling
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again uh-oh, uh-oh, and i don’t wanna no, no, no
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling in love, falling in love again
Uh-oh, uh-oh, falling, falling
The Puebla Tweetup #WeVisitMexico press trip was pretty magical in many ways. The group of international travel writers I came with to visit Puebla were all incredibly sweet and we got along famously. It will be hard to match this trip with any other, as I definitely think this ranks up high as one of the best press trips I have been in. Lucky for me, and for my fellow travel writers, I happen to love archaeology and history, and it was a delight to have an opportunity to showcase Mexico to my new friends from the perspective of a Mexican national with international experience who lives in Canada (and feels as Canadian as they come).
I am always lucky that every press trip I have includes local architecture, history and in this case, archaeology. We visited a rather unexplored side of Mexican history by visiting Cantona, an archaeological site located about 94 km from the city of Puebla. From the Spanish-language Wikipedia entry on Cantona, I gathered that Cantona was considered one of the cities with the highest degree of urbanization in the pre-Hispanic epoch. While ethnic composition details are sparse, most scholars seem to agree that Cantona was probably founded by Olmeca-xicalanca groups towards the end of the late pre-classic period.
Cantona is considered to have reached its peak around the Mesoamerican epi-classic period, characterized by Teotihuacan’s loss of stronghold over political and commercial power. Small regional centers became central nodes for cross-regional commerce, and Cantona was one of these centers. Conflicting opinions on how much of the site has actually been excavated and revealed range from 1-10% of the total actual site surface (around 14 square kilometers).
Ball games (juegos de pelota) were very popular, apparently, with about 24 ballcourts accounted for throughout the entire Cantona site. From the English-language Wikipedia entry on Cantona, it appears that Cantona’s main economic activity focused on obsidian, a rather coveted material used to produce weapons, cooking utensils and other various artifacts. In recent epochs, obsidian has been used to manufacture fine pieces of jewellery.
We were given a guide tour of the site, and learned first-hand about how well designed this city was (I wish current city planners were as smart as the Olmeca of this era were!). I immediately noticed a very smart city layout, and was delighted by how Cantona gives the visitor an opportunity to imagine what living in this era would have been. Instead of just focusing on the major worship sites and centres of political power (usually done in Teotihuacan), Cantona’s city layout enables you to view the overall city in context.
Arriving to Cantona is a bit difficult if you don’t have a car, but you can get a taxi/tour operator for $500 Mexican pesos (about $35-40 USD), round trip. This price, as you can see, is pretty inexpensive. You may want to pack a lunch if you visit Cantona, but I would also recommend LOTS of sunscreen (SPF 60 or higher), comfortable travel/walking shoes, lots of water and enough memory in your SD card to store the many photos you will want to take.
I can guarantee that visiting Cantona will be an extraordinary experience. I had a blast, and I think so did my fellow travel writers!
Disclosure: My trip to Puebla, sponsored by the Mexico Tourism Board, includes transportation, activities and meals. However, my posts are written in my own words and everything I write is entirely my own opinions. Any out-of-pocket expenses are paid out of my own dime. As always, anything that I post on my site is entirely my responsibility and I retain full editorial control.
Vancouver’s (and in general, I would have to say British Columbia’s) arts scene is vibrant and strong despite the many challenges that have plagued it recently (more acutely, housing unaffordability, low wages and a society that sometimes seems to be much more excited about paying $400 for a hockey ticket than they are to pay $85 for a fantastic theatre show — em>there, I said it, so sue me). So I am always excited to be invited to cover the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards in Vancouver (or as they are affectionately known, The Jessies). I am, in fact, friends with many of the nominated companies and actors, simply because I have spent the last 6 years covering Vancouver’s (and often, BC’s) theatre and arts. Unfortunately, I am NEVER able to attend, but luckily and for the second year in a row, my dear friend Lauren Kresowaty (Nifty Not Cool) will be covering The Jessies in exclusive for Hummingbird604.com.
The Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards began in 1982. The purpose of the Awards is to honor the many artistic achievements of the dedicated artists whose work has helped create a vibrant theatre community for Vancouver. The “Jessies” take their name from Jessie Richardson, one of Vancouver’s theatre pioneers who played an active role for over four decades in the beginnings of theatre in this city. Her contributions are the foundation on which our current thriving theatre community was built.
Some of the nominees are in fact, good friends of mine. Bob Frazer, whom you can see right now in Macbeth at Bard on the Beach, is nominated in the Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Lead Role, Large Theatre. Warren Kimmel, who made me cry in Next To Normal, is also nominated in this category.
As I suspected, Caitriona Murphy is nominated for her outstanding performance in Next To Normal. I am a very big fan of Murphy and I think she did justice to the challenges that bipolar folks face, in a respectful and compassionate manner. Another favorite of mine, Terra Macleod is nominated for Blood Brothers, which also made me cry. I have heard amazing things about Marci T. House and this category will be a very tough one, I think (Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Lead Role, Large Theatre). Marci is nominated for her role in Intimate Apparel.
Of course, I’d be lying if I didn’t publicly and openly say that I have a soft spot for Next To Normal (The Arts Club) for Outstanding Production, Large Theatre. I’ve been told by my former intern Jessica, who reviewed The Light in the Piazza that it is such a lovely production that it probably would be a good candidate to win in this category.
In Outstanding Direction, Small Theatre, I have a soft spot for the directing work of Catriona Leger who made me laugh uncontrollably with her Bomb-itty of Errors. I’m not surprised at all that David A. Kaye, Jameson Parker, Brian Cochrane, Niko Koupantsis & Oker Chen are all nominated for Significant Artistic Achievement, Small Theatre. They were really, REALLY GOOD.
There are additional awards that will be presented at the Jessie ceremony – the Georgia Straight Patron of the Arts Award, the Mary Phillips Award for Behind-the-Scenes Achievement, the Ray Michal Prize for Emerging Director, the Sam Payne Award for the Most Promising Newcomer, the Sydney Risk Prize for Outstanding Original Script by an Emerging Playwright, the John Moffat & Larry Lillo Award, the Colin Campbell Award for Excellence in Technical Theatre, and the GVPTA Career Achievement Award.
The 30th Annual Ceremony will again be held at the beautiful Commodore Ballroom, 868 Granville Street, on Monday, June 25, 2012, doors open at 5:30pm, ceremony at 6:45pm. Tickets are $28.75 plus service charges, through Ticketmaster 1-855-985-5000 or online at Ticket Master. The ceremony is being produced and directed by Vancouver TheatreSports who will produce a festive evening. For further information visit The Jessies’ website.
And again thanks so much to Lauren for covering The Jessies in exclusive for Hummingbird604.com. You can follow Lauren on Twitter at @niftynotcool.
I remember laughing uncontrollably when I saw a segment of the TEDxHouston talk of my friend Dr. Brene Brown on vulnerability where she says that she is a researcher and a storyteller. I laughed because I identify with that statement SO MUCH. I am an academic researcher AND a storyteller (I have blogged about storytelling both here on my personal blog and on my research blog). Storytelling is an extremely powerful tool to build robust communities, and in particular, online communities.
When I lost my iPhone, I was coincidentally at River Market, where The Network Hub Campus New Westminster is located, and I was telling Minna (my good friend and one of the cofounders of TNH) that I felt completely helpless. Without a smartphone, I don’t think I am equally able to be a digital, multimedia, interactive storyteller. I like telling stories that include video, sound, images, and that are in-real-time. I have suggested that using this approach can in fact enable and grow solid online communities.
So, I was delighted when I found that Tylor Sherman and Todd Sieling (Denim and Steel) decided to organize a Digital Storytelling Unconference with the help and space sponsorship of my beloved The Network Hub. The unconference will take place at the New Westminster campus of The Network Hub, a most lovely setting and definitely the right place for this type of unconference.
Digital tools have opened up an entire world of potential for storytelling, but we’re still in the very early days of this new cultural moment.
So, you may wonder who should be coming to this unconference:
Technologists, publishers, branders, historians, and anyone else who recognizes the importance of storytelling and realizes the potential of digital tools to do so in new and innovative ways.
Join for what sounds like it will be an amazing one-day experience in one of the Lower Mainland’s most beautiful and accessible spots. I particularly loved how Tylor and Todd promote the event, because it is true:
We don’t know what you’ll learn, but we know you’ll leave with a good story to tell.
More information about the rationale behind this unconference:
The basic elements of storytelling are timeless, but every new shift in technology changes the way we create, convey and keep our stories. Digital tools have opened up an entire world of potential for storytelling, but we’re still in the very early days of this new cultural moment.
We’re pulling together others who want to explore this new land in the first Storytelling Unconference specifically focussed on digital in the Vancouver area. For a full summer’s day at the Network Hub, located in New Westminster’s historic River Market, attendees will share ideas and experiments in using digital tools to tell both new and old stories.
I should also note that your ticket gets you one of four lunches provided by local vendors: FATHOM SEAFOOD – Fish n’ chips: One piece cod and chips + soda RE-UP BBQ – Pork plate: Pulled pork meat and black bean chili + soda TRE GALLI GELATO CAFFE – Vegetarian Panini: Marinated egg-plant, artichoke hearts, roasted red pepper, provolone cheese & pesto + soda CREPE DES AMIS – Bordeaux Crepe: Fresh whole wheat vegan crepe with spinach, mushrooms, and vegan cheese + bottled water
Hummingbird604.com has an exclusive contest for 2 tickets to the Digital Storytelling Unconference 2012 on July 7th and you can enter to win them simply by commenting on this blog post telling me what kind of thing you would like to learn at the DSU. Personally, I wish I could learn how to tell better stories with video, because that’s the one tool I really don’t use a lot. I am very good with multiple platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and my own blog, but I am lacking on the video side of things. How about you? What would you like to share or learn at the DSU? If we talk about sharing, I would totally share a refined version of the talks I gave at the International Association for Business Communicators British Columbia Chapter a few months ago and at Social Media Camp Victoria 2012 on digital storytelling with multiple social platforms.
Earn an additional entry for a total of 2 by sharing the following on Twitter:
Told @hummingbird604 and @denimandsteel what I’d like to discuss @dsuvancouver http://is.gd/jN8gBA 2enter 2win tix 2 DSU @thenetworkhub
I will draw a winner of all entries on July 4th at 2pm. Good luck everyone!
I met Katharine Horsman (Bullet with Butterfly Wings) at a Painted Rock Wine event a couple of years ago, and we hit it off tremendously. She’s lovely, has a fantastic sense of humor (sometimes as dry and sarcastic as mine!) and is now running a half-marathon (tomorrow, June 24th) to fundraise for the United Gospel Mission (UGM), a charity I have supported in the past and I continue to support.
I know that Kate has already raised enough funds for her cause, but it doesn’t hurt to support more given the goal of the fundraising project, and I know how much these funds could be helpful to UGM. So please consider supporting her worthy half-marathon fundraising project by clicking here and donating.
I write all sorts of things, and rarely do I rant, but this one merits two blog posts, one when I am actually going to complain about the specific hotel, and another one being this entry. The reality is, I don’t function without coffee, and I don’t function BEFORE I have had my first coffee in the morning. My morning routine includes ALWAYS a cup of coffee (and normally, either answering emails or writing, or blogging, or doing some sort of online activity). I even have coffee before I hit the gym. So when I travel (which I do quite often), I pretty much EXPECT that the hotel I am staying at (unless it’s a total dive, which I wouldn’t stay in anyways) will offer me *some* form of complimentary coffee in the morning.
When I recently stayed at the Camino Real Aeropuerto in Mexico City (review blog post forthcoming), there were no coffee makers in the room. I repeat, NO COFFEE MAKERS IN THE ROOM. Every. Single. Hotel. I have stayed at, in the past 6 years of so, and even beyond, before I started blogging, has had some form of complimentary morning caffeine provision.
So you can imagine my dismay when I realized that the Camino Real Aeropuerto doesn’t provide coffee makers in their hotel rooms. They *used to* (yes, I did interview the staff) but apparently they do not anymore. I just can’t fathom this. Be it a thermos, or bottomless coffee at the dining room or restaurant, as I say every single hotel I have stayed at has had some form of coffee in the morning.
Why would any hotel remove such a basic staple, one that actually one writes about when one does travel writing (I do write about it, and even if I think they should be mandatory, I do appreciate it). In fact, in my posts I normally explain in a couple of paragraphs the differences in coffee provision across hotels. For example, in Quebec every single hotel I visited and stayed at had one-cup espresso machines. Same in Paris.
But not at the Camino Real Aeropuerto. WHY NOT? So, my question to you dear readers, is this a #FirstWorldProblem? Should some form of morning caffeine be mandatory in hotel rooms (well, not mandatory but an expected level of comfort?). Share your thoughts on the comments section.
About a year ago, I auctioned my 100,000th tweet for charity to raise funds for the British Columbia Cancer Foundation (the successful bidder and awesome all around guy, @BobSongs was kind enough to donate $300 AND the 100,000th tweet to the BC Cancer Foundation). I am about to hit another milestone: 150,000 tweets. So, maybe it’s time I do another bidding for charity. Remember, I don’t make any money nor do I gain anything from this, other than feeling really good.
The obvious question that everybody asks me is what do bidders gain from bidding for your 150,000th tweet? The answer is simple: Given the size of my online following on all of my combined social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Flickr, and obviously my blog) chances are that the particular tweet will be widely retweeted, reshared, repinned, etc. This is an excellent promotional tool.
I am also upping the ante: I will add a blog post to go with the highest bid, but to entice people to place bids, I will provide 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes to the top 3 bids. So, even if you don’t win my actual 150,000th tweet, you could place the second highest bid at the time of closing the auction and you still would get rewards (as long as, of course, you donate your bid to the cause). And so on with the third. And the rewards of course would include promotional support here. So, for example, if Molson Coors placed the highest bid for my 150,000th tweet, they could win a month’s worth of advertisement space on my sidebar, the 150,000th tweet and a blog post about their most recent campaign (or something relevant to them). And obviously cross-platform promotion in all of my channels. The second highest bid could come say, from Four Seasons Hotels, and they could win for example, 2 weeks of advertisement space on my sidebar, and a few mentions on my social platforms, etc. And so on, for the third place.
I thought of different ways to find the charity, and much as I hate “popularity contests”, I figured I could do a “show of hands” or voting on charities based out of British Columbia. I could narrow down the top 5 charities, and have folks who are associated with the non-profit sector (but not of the charities that are participating) to help me decide on the top 3. And then, assign bidding prizes to the top 3 bidders.
In my view, everyone wins. So, I’m issuing a public request for suggestions of charities to consider auctioning my 150,000th tweet for. It can also be charitable projects or campaigns, even if they’re not established charities. I would also appreciate if you can reshare, “Like” on Facebook, Pin on Pinterest and +1 on Google Plus so that this campaign goes wide.
“A friend is one who walks in when others walk out”
-Walter Winchell
Social media has brought me, undoubtedly, a number of amazing friends, and for that I am incredibly grateful. But at the same time, it has also enabled a number of people in my social circles to either believe they are my friend or pretend they are my friend. Both cases are pretty bad, but I think that of the two, I rather have people who think we are Best Friends Forever than folks who appear friendly on the outside but are ready to stab me in the back on the inside.
My friends don’t sugar coat things for me, trust me. My actual, real, trusted friends. Not the people I am friendly to. The people who are MY FRIENDS. It irked me a few years ago that Facebook and other social media outlets had eroded the meaning of friendship. I maintain this is the case, regardless of what other people say. Admittedly, having a very full online life has enabled me to keep in touch my friends despite my inability to see them on a regular basis. But at the same time, it has degenerated into a fake “friendship-fest”.
Recently, and at about the same time, 3 very different people who were in my social circles (and social media circles) had temper tantrums that enabled them to publicly demonstrate that they were not, in fact, my friends but that they maintained a “friendship” with me because we are linked through social platforms and circles of acquaintances. And I had to thank them, as well. I much prefer to know when I have an enemy than have a thousand fake friends.
And trust me, when I say someone is my friend, I actually mean it. But my best friends, as indicated in a quote I read last night, are those who have actually lived my life with me. You know when you are one of my best friends, simply because I demonstrate to you quite frequently how much I care and how much I value your place in my life.
To my frenemies – thank you! It’s been a blast getting the chance to unveil your false pretenses. And to my friends, my real friends, and more importantly, my best friends: thank you for always having my back, instead of stabbing me in the back! 🙂
“Anybody can sympathise with the sufferings of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathise with a friend’s success.”
– Oscar Wilde
I love the Neanderthal Arts Festival, now in its 2012 edition. I have covered the festival before, but this year the line up looks a lot more awesome. Besides, Left Right Minds produces Neanderthal Arts Festival and thus I have a personal stake (both Allyson McGrane and Shane Birley from LRM are good friends of mine).
The festival will run at The Cultch from July 19th – 29th, 2012.
Neanderthal Arts is emerging from the Cave for our third year! We’re bringing back summer theatre for Vancouver running July 19 – July 29, 2012 at the Cultch.
Co-producers Left Right Minds and Upintheair Theatre are thrilled to announce the line-up for the third annual Neanderthal Arts Festival which takes place this July at the Cultch. This year’s Mainstage Series will feature four local companies and one national company producing an eclectic range of cutting edge theatre.
Neanderthal Arts is a curated, developmental arts festival. The professional series provides a platform for theatre artists and companies to showcase and try out new and experimental work. Our objective is to feature primarily new Canadian work, although we welcome submissions from companies wishing to premiere new international work or re-interpretations of classics from the theatre canon, especially Canadian works. In particular, we encourage work that takes risks, is creative and has a clear artistic vision. At the same time, Neanderthal Arts is looking for work that is accessible and engaging for our core target-demographic of 20-40 year olds.
For our part, Neanderthal Arts will provide successful companies with venues, technical staff, publicity and marketing, ticket sales, equitable performance scheduling and front of house management. Neanderthal Arts’ goal is to provide the best possible production resources at the lowest cost, attract the largest audiences possible to the work we present and create an environment that will support artistic and professional career development.
Neanderthal Arts Festival 2012 is a really fun festival and you should check it out.
Sorry folks, but I can’t let go another Wine Wednesday go without providing you with suggestions for your wine drinking activities, particularly now that Vancouver’s weather seems to be a little bit nicer, and sunnier. I thoroughly enjoyed the 2011 Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, as it is a very sweet wine. I have always loved Rieslings, but I recognize that not everybody likes the degree of sweetness I like. With an alcohol content of 10.0%, it packs a little bit of a punch but it’s not overwhelming. A Total Acidity index of 0.78g/100 ml and a bit more acidic pH of 2.98, what gives this Riesling a delicious flavour, I think, is the Residual Sugar (substantially higher than most Rieslings, I think at 5.22g/100 ml)
Our Harvest Select Riesling is made in a slightly sweeter style than our ‘Columbia Valley Riesling’ but still shows the elements of classic Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling. It offers beautiful crisp Washington Riesling character with rich flavors of ripe pears and peaches. The fresh fruit punch and richness is balanced with crisp acidity to keep the wine in harmony. This is a perfect patio sipping wine or would be a great match with Thai food.”
– BOB BERTHEAU, HEAD WINEMAKER
I thoroughly enjoyed this Riesling and I probably would pair it with fresh salads, or fish. Or drink on your sunny deck.
Whenever I think BBQ, I actually think of my friends Ianiv and Arieanna Schweber. They love to BBQ and they invited me to their place a few times for BBQs. It’s perhaps one of the activities that totally reminds me of my friendship with them. So, when I heard about Meal Exchange’s National BBQ Day 2012 I thought of them.
June 23rd marks Meal Exchange’s third annual National BBQ Day™, a nation-wide celebration of locally-sourced food. Individuals, organizations and communities are encouraged to sign up, and host their own BBQs with as much locally raised and grown food as possible. Share your stories, recipes and photos on Twitter (#NationalBBQDay), Facebook and email them to us for a chance to WIN a Napoleon BBQ Grill! On June 23rd, Meal Exchange’s National BBQ Day, proudly presented by Napoleon Gourmet Grills, will be asking people to celebrate locally grown food with a BBQ and a few friends.
This year’s National BBQ Day, presented by Napoleon Gourmet Grills with support from Château des Charmes’ Generation Seven wine, will be tasking BBQers with cooking up a meal using locally sourced food.
Taking part in National BBQ Day is simple:
Step 1: Register your BBQ event for a chance to win a Napoleon Prestige® Series 500 Grill and other prizes
Step 2: Invite your friends & family and stock up on locally sourced food.
Step 3: Fire up that grill!
About Meal Exchange:
Meal Exchange is a national youth-driven, registered charity that engages, educates and mobilizes youth to work with their communities in order to alleviate hunger locally and achieve food security. Its programs have been run in over 100 communities across Canada and generated over $3 million worth of food. We believe that when you buy local, it’s not just the producers you are supporting; it’s the processors, the manufacturers, the distributors, the retailers, and all of the associated businesses. The entire local supply chain benefits and that’s money that stays in the community to help create jobs.
About Napoleon Fireplaces & Grills
It all began in 1976 when a small steel fabrication business launched by Wolfgang Schroeter started manufacturing steel railings in Barrie, Ontario, Canada. At that time, no one could imagine the incredible future that lay ahead for Wolf Steel Ltd. and eventually Napoleon(r) Fireplaces and Napoleon(r) Gourmet Grills. Since the first wood stove rolled off the production line over 30 years ago, Wolf Steel’s commitment was to be distinctive and successful in everything they do. The Napoleon’s commitment to producing quality products combined with honest, reliable service has proven to be a successful framework to ensuring the continued rapid growth of the company. Napoleon(r) is an ISO9001 – 2008 registered company and now operates with 500,000+ square feet of manufacturing space and over 500 employees. We are North America’s largest privately owned manufacturer of quality wood and gas fireplaces (inserts and stoves), gourmet gas and charcoal grills, outdoor living products and waterfalls.
I am definitely not a saint, and I am way more trouble than I would like to admit. But it’s always nice to see that there are other folks who can be equally trouble as me and be fun. The lovely musical Altar Boyz (The Arts Club) is coming back to the stage and I have very fond memories of the very first time I attended it (and I met my friend Jeremy Crittenden there precisely as he was one of the leads in the musical show). Altar Boyz reminded me why I love theatre so much.
IN BRIEF: Arts Club Theatre Company’s Altar Boyz at the Revue Stage (1601 Johnston Street) from July 5 to September 1, 2012 (OPENING NIGHT: July 11). Monday at 8 pm, Tuesday at 7:30 pm, Wednesday–Saturday at 8 pm, and Wednesday & Saturday at 2 pm. Tickets are $29 and $49, inclusive of taxes and fees. Call the Arts Club Box Office at 604.687.1644 or visit The Arts Club website.
The sinfully funny musical. Yo, Vancouver, the Altar Boyz are back in town and they’re better than ever! Intent on saving souls and raising spirits with their ability to “drop the funk” in freaky five-part harmony, Altar Boyz is a delicious send-up of boy bands, full of sharp parody, sinfully spectacular dancing, and infectious energy. With lyrics like “Girl, you make me wanna wait” and “Jesus called me on my cell phone,” this irreverent musical comedy will wash your soul clean with laughter.
These pop heartthrobs first hit Vancouver in the summer of 2009 at the Arts Club’s Granville Island Stage, following an Arts Club tour. In total, over 34,000 audience members saw them “raise the praise” across the province.
Altar Boyz ran Off-Broadway from 2005 to 2010, gaining rapturous critical and audience acclaim while becoming the 9th longest-running Off-Broadway musical of all time. It won the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, as well as both the 2006 and 2007 Broadway.com Audience Favorite Award. Kevin Del Aguila’s book was also nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book in 2005.
Book by Kevin Del Aguila. Music and lyrics by Gary Adler and Michael Patrick Walker. Conceived by Marc Kessler and Ken Davenport. Starring Jak Barradell, Jeremy Crittenden, Michael Culp, Brandon Eddy, Geoff Stevens. Director Bill Millerd. Choreographer Sara-Jeanne Hosie. Musical Supervisor Sasha Niechoda. Musical Director Jim Hodgkinson. Musicians Buff Allen, Doug Balfour, Jim Hodgkinson, David Sinclair. Set Designer Ted Roberts. Costume Designer Sheila White. Lighting Designer Marsha Sibthorpe. Sound Designer Andy Horka. Stage Manager Louis-Marie Bournival. Assistant Stage Manager April Starr Land
I have a pair of tickets to give away to a lucky reader of mine for opening night, July 11th, 2012. All you need to tell me is an anecdote of how you have been mischievous in the past. It can be in your childhood or recently. Of course, I mean mischievous, not pure evil! For example, I once put a nail in my teacher’s seat. So totally evil. That’s not mischievous, that’s being plain mean! Basically, you can tell me just why you’re trouble. I am, in fact, totally trouble. Just ask anybody who goes out for drinks with me!
I will draw a winner on July 6th at 2pm.. You can earn an additional entry by posting the following on Twitter:
Shared a mischievousness anecdote with @hummingbird604 to enter to win tickets to @TheArtsClub Altar Boyz http://is.gd/lUvWI3
Yet, as our hearts swell with pride for our Canadian athletes, a question lingers in my head: why aren’t we hearing much about Canadian queer athletes? I am pretty sure that, just probabilistically, there *must* be some queer athletes in the Canadian delegation. And yes, I know that their sexual orientation has nothing to do with their athletic prowess. But I haven’t seen much emphasis on the queer aspects of competitive sports. Being a gay athlete still has a lot of stigma attached. Admittedly, an openly gay former athlete is the chef de mission (Mark Tewskbury, an idol of mine and someone I have met in person before). 
