Archive for August, 2009

Vancouver based singer/songwriter HANNAH GEORGAS‘ song for a recent Walmart add is apparently blowin up on the internets and getting her name out there far and beyond.

“Vancouver artist getting noticed for Walmart jingle”

MORE HANNAH GEORGAS BELOW
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The cats rule East Vancouver. They’re everywhere…sidewalks, roads, hiding in doorways, supervising stores, sprawled out anywhere to have a bath. The cats I meet while wandering through East Van are probably all house-pets but it’s not clear who ‘owns’ them. Cats are all about territory, but all space is public to them.

Stay tuned…When the project is finished I hope to have photographed every one of the East Van Cats!

I’ve always driven by this spot and felt sad that I couldn’t skate it, it’s just a bit too rough.  So when I drove by the spot on the weekend and saw this, I had to stop to take a couple photos.

I’m not a real bike guy period, but based on this, it looks like the BMX scene in Vancouver is a healthy one.  Props to whoever is putting stuff like this on…you make Vancouver awesome!

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Better question…what don’t they deep fry at the PNE?  The cornucopia of food which the PNE offers is second to none, it will mess you up good.  The one strategic tip I’ll offer is when you go to the PNE, go with a few people, this way you really can eat the minidonuts, a funnel cake, cotton candy, some fish and chips….etc…etc…etc….

My personal favourite this year was the deep fried oreos.  They’re sort of like a donut or a fritter on the outside, and cookies and cream on the inside.  It’s way better than I thought it would be but I don’t know if I’m buying into their next creation…deep fried jelly beans?  Gimme a year to think about it….

Here’s the rest of the stuff that we ate…what’s your favourite thing to eat at the PNE?

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Smoking is bad… we all know that… but sometimes, a well timed pipe or cigar is a welcome addition to a great day.

I first went to RJ Clarke Tobacconist about 8 years ago. I was on the hunt for a pipe tobacco that I’d been looking for for years.
Like stepping back in time… going into the shop was like entering another world. The Gastown location had been a Vancouver tradition for years. I felt like I was in 1800’s England. Inside, it was dark but wasn’t intimidating, fragrant but not overpowering. The owner was friendly and informative, and I left with a smile on my face.
About a year later, I went down to Gastown to do some shopping, but the shop was closed. I was decimated… Thankfully, a few months later, the new shop opened up on Cambie street across from Oakridge… I was happy again.

If you’re ever in the market for pipes, tobacco or cigars (smoking is bad… remember!), RJ Clarke is definitely worth the check out, and
is located at 5844 Cambie street.

Bonus story here:
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Our very own Film and Video editor, Ben Stoddard, makes up one half of Don’t Sleep Productions, and they have a doozy of a video in the pipeline for this holiday season.

It’s a skateboard flick called TENS and in a nutshell it’s ten tricks from each of Canada’s best skateboarders. I’ve seen some rough cuts and holy crap this is going to be good. I don’t know why nobody has done this format before, but it’s perfect. Add the fact that it’s going to be a free DVD available in skateshops across the country and I believe we have a winner.

The official word:
“Don’t Sleep Productions is back with their latest offering “Tens”. Tens is a compilation of tricks from 50 of Canada’s best skateboarders featuring 10 tricks each. The rider list includes: Alex Chalmers, Alien, Bradley Sheppard, Brandon Del Bianco, Bryan Wherry, Cory Wilson, Derek Swaim, Deerman of Dark Woods, Hashbrown, Chris Haslam, Chris Connelly, Hill Sulphur, Hugo Balek, Ian Twa, John Hanlon, Jordan Hoffart, Kellen Chillibeck, Magnus Hanson, Matt Berger, Nate Lacoste, Nate Roline, Paul Machnau, Richard Sarrazin, Russ Milligan, Ryan Decenzo, Scott Decenzo, Sean Lowe, Spencer Hamilton, Stacy Gabriel, Paul Trepand many more. It will be available for free across Canada come Christmas so make sure you grab yourself a copy at your local skate shop. Also, if you live in a major city be on the look out for a premiere heading your way early December.”

My friend, local photographer Chris Bone, who you might know as the manager of Livestock, just created a web site showcasing some of his photography work. Stoked on Chris’s work, especially his nature stuff!

Did anyone else collect stamps in the Expo 86 passport? Looks like I nerded out a good amount.

Sometimes I just got the stamp and didn’t even wait to see the exhibit. Ramses II for sure.
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Japa Dog on Burrard and Smythe is hosting the Smile Championship right now. Unfortunately the championship is only open to Japa dog staff… but that doesn’t mean they don’t need your help, “It’s up to your voting”. Here’s how it works, pay attention now it’s complicated….. while you are waiting in line carefully observe each of the staff , when you get to the front of the “order” line there is a tube and some post it notes. Don’t worry if you haven’t made up your mind who to vote for yet because after you place your order it’s off to the back of the “pick up” line. From the “pick up” line continue to observe the staff, when you reach the front it’s decision time! The pictures on the poster are a little dark and low resolution but thankfully all staff are wearing huge name tags. Fill out your vote and place it carefully in the tube. I don’t even know what the staff win if they do win the Smile Championship, hopefully it’s a huge trophy with their name engraved on a plaque, but who knows. I was too caught up in the excitement of voting to ask.

The soon to be Mrs. Belmont and I voted for Koji, because he was grinning like a ten year old boy that just got an AFX race track for Christmas, and he was the one manning the grill.

Like Diddy says Vote or Die

Bonus Picture, I love this one of Ice Cube. It’s been updated with the frequency of his visits. Big fish in a small pond…. with a stomach full of Japa Dog! Wesssssiiiide!

I know you’re ignoring it but I’m embracing it….first it was the nip in the air, then it was the dew on the grass…now the urge to sit in an ice arena, eat a hotdog and SCREAM!

To fill my need, starting today, I’m going to take in some of the action at the 2009 Women’s Canada Cup.  This is going to be a good one, with arguably the biggest rival in hockey, Canada vs. the US.

While everyone’s getting so wrapped up deciding who’s going to make the men’s team in 2010, the women’s teams are actually playing each other….now…so it’s something that you can’t miss.  Tickets are only $10 for the prelims and $35 for the finals, I might ditch my media pass because I don’t think I can stuff my face with a churo up there.

Tix and schedule

One of the most epic ways to see Vancouver is by boat.  For under 70 bucks a person, you get a 4 hour coastal mountain fjord cruise from Coal Harbor up Indian Arm.  The cruise includes a catered buffet luncheon and commentary pointing out some of the raddest and most beautiful scenery this city has to offer.

A few cool highlights include McBarge, the floating McDonald’s restaurant once featured at Expo 86 that now sits empty and anchored near the Burnaby oil refineries, Vancouver’s abandoned power station, a picturesque mountain waterfall, and a completely solar-powered house that was featured on the Discovery Channel.

For more info, check out Harbour Cruises.

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Sign at the top of the stairs at Wreck….