Archive for September, 2010

Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver parents and their awesome kids. Every Wednesday I post a roundup of upcoming family-friendly events and activities. I’m always on the lookout for fun stuff to do, so if there’s something happening that you think I should know about, contact me at theplayground@vancouverisawesome.com. Because Vancouver is awesome for kids too! THE PLAYGROUND IS SPONSORED BY:

In the Playground for the week of September 29-October 5: Baker’s Market, kite-making, Main Street Art Drift, the 32nd Annual Motorcycle Toy Run and more. But first –

UPCOMING AWESOMENESS ALERT! Tickets are now on sale for the Stanley Park Ghost Train. This year’s theme is Alice in Nightmareland: …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Eggs. So many exotic eggs.

One of the places I love most in Vancouver is T&T Supermarket. Apart from having the most incredibly “specific” and diverse selection of food all in one spot, I quite enjoy the fact that when I go there I feel like I am somewhere else … somewhere exotic.

Also – word to the wise – their prepared food all goes on mega-discount after, oh, 9:00 pm or so. If you are hungry, lazy, broke or a bit of everything you should check it out. There are some deals to be had, friend!

This sign cracked me up. (Get it? See what I did??)

I had to take a picture of this display’s sign, for it is truly awesome. I have never tasted the Asian delicacy known as balut, and I am going to have to cling tightly to Moses and his many rules for my people as an excuse to removing myself from any debate surrounding it for ever and all time. I’m sure it’s delicious.

But really, all I could think about is the customer service nightmare that must have predicated this sign appearing on the shelf. The eggs are a delightfully cheery hue… I wonder if they were used by some unsuspecting Easter revelers by mistake? Again… awesome.

Has anyone ever tried one? Thoughts, please.

Not sure how this one got past us…..I think Bob lives like two blocks from this place, and I’ve been religiously picking up my weekly produce co-op box  all summer, yet somehow neither of us has posted anything about this place.

Home Grow-In is a grocer which specializes in BC produce and products from BC farms.   They also run a farm co-op program ,which brings in fresh products on a weekly basis for members.  My wife Sue Choy, and I, were members for the summer, and it was an delightful experience.  While I’ve been known to have a melt down while madly packing up my bags alone at the Superstore, or getting my elbows up while shopping at Donalds, having my own little box to pick up at Home Grow-in, was a pleasure, like a consumer version of yoga class.  And you know how you just love picking up stuff at the post office?  It’s like that, but every week, and the produce is delicious.  I even enjoyed cooking more, it was like a weekly iron chef, ‘o.k., I got four pounds of beets, seven carrots, a head of cauliflower and  four nectarines…..what can I make? ‘  Knowing that it’s all locally grown too, you really don’t want any of it to go to waste, and you feel good about where you’re money is going.  They’ve expanded for the winter with winter boxes, and a meat box as well, which I’m looking forward to posting about soon….mmmmm….meat box…

Eco-Fashion Week Vancouver is happening now, Vancity! Go HERE to read all about it.

The University of Victoria’s Dr. Andrew Weaver was on the committee that won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize (along with Al Gore) on the issue of climate change. As Eco-Fashion Week’s keynote speaker, he will be addressing climate change and the fashion industry tomorrow morning at 10:00 am at Creekside Community Centre. For ticket information, go HERE.

How did you get involved with Eco-Fashion Week? It doesn’t seem like what you do has much to do with fashion.

I read an interesting article by David Suzuki in my local paper, The Saanich News, where he was talking about Myriam Laroche [the founder of Eco-Fashion week - RF] and her efforts to raise awareness in the fashion industry in respect to ecological issues. I thought, “Well, that’s kinda cool.”

I use Facebook, like she does, and we connected that way. I’m not involved in the fashion industry and I am probably the last person ever you would want to use as a model, but she asked me if I would like to come and speak and I agreed. I have spoken on the issue of climate change to many different people – from schoolchildren to politicians to those in industry – a real diversity of audiences. This is a very influential group so I was delighted by the opportunity. People look to fashion as a trendsetter and if you have fashion being done in a sustainable way and you make that cool then you can set a trend. I think what they’re doing is wonderful and I am happy to support them.

You are more geared towards “climate change,” is that right?

I’m a scientist, that’s right.

And … a Nobel Peace Prize winner.

I was part of the intergovernmental panel on climate change and that organization received the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. I don’t like to say, “I got it” because I didn’t, the organization got it.

You’re very humble and modest. If I was in your position it would be different. I would tell everyone I knew that I won a Nobel Peace Prize.

Well, you can’t do that. My colleagues and I know exactly how it rolls in all of this. And I have to work with my colleagues and they would not respect me if I were to say that and I wouldn’t respect them if they said that. We are a team.

That is lovely and beautiful and completely indicative of why I will not be winning the Nobel Peace Prize anytime soon.
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SCENE AND HEARD showcases the independent music scene here in Vancouver. We interview some of our favourite local artists, and ‘Last Week in Music’ highlights some of the concerts happening around the city.

This week I finally got to see the Dudes after missing them at LIVE at Squamish (to be fair, they put them on at the same time as Hollerado), and they rocked the SFU Woodwards campus despite the drizzly weather. Later that night (after Rain City Chronicles) I booked it over to the Rickshaw to see Ghostkeeper and Chad VanGaalen (a show mysteriously full of that new hybrid the “indie bro”). On Saturday I caught one of my favourite Vancouver bands, Yukon Blonde, who were starting their tour with The Wooden Sky. If you haven’t heard either of them, I recommend checking them out.

THIS WEEK IN MUSIC: This week I don’t have a whole lot on the docket. School is kicking into high gear and I’ve got to catch up on the ol’ reading. I probably won’t be getting to much else than the fourth Peak Performance Showcase. Christine will be back on Saturday, so soon we’ll be back to our regularly scheduled programming. It’s been fun, kids! If you see me out at shows, feel free to say hi!

…READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Last Thursday was the third Peak Performance Project Showcase, which featured Christina Maria, 41st and Home, Ben Sigston and Adaline. Overall, I felt like this showcase had the most energy so far. Every week the bands have been setting the bar higher and higher, so I can’t wait to see the last two showcases.

…READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Have you entered Vancouver is Awesome‘s giveaway for one copy of every album shortlisted for the Polaris Prize? Go HERE to find out more and enter.

Read about Tegan and Sara‘s album Sainthood HERE.
Listen to Veda Hille‘s musical thoughts on Owen Pallett‘s album Heartland HERE.
Read TJ Dawe‘s thoughts (and see inside his brain!) on The Besnard Lakes album The Besnard Lakes are the Roaring Night HERE.

Two of Vancouver is Awesome’s Most Awesome: Bif Naked and PD.

Bif Naked is definitely one of Vancouver’s – let’s just say Canada’s – most awesome. When she’s not busy tending to her fur baby, her husband, being a punk rawk songstress, kicking cancer’s ass (and inspiring others to do the same with a well-spring of her uniquely amazing attitude and optimism which you can read all about in her interview with VIA HERE) or doing some advanced yoga she can be found in the bath… listening to Karkwa‘s entire discography by candlelight.

Les Chemins de Verre

Karkwa ended up winning the 2010 Polaris Music Prize. Despite the hardcore atmosphere of PD’s Hot Shop, dishing on the band manages to get Bif to transform from steely goddess to a puddle of unabashed fangirl goo. En français, s’il vous plait!

@BifNaked is on The Twitter.

Thanks to everybody who came by the Vancouver Book Club and V.I.A.’s table at Word On The Street this past Sunday! Our book club president, Lizzy Karp (pictured right) was there all day with help from Michelle Morinaga (left) and we had appearances by and help from Charles Demers (who was signing books) and Pat Kelly (who was talking in his fake news voice). Also, a huge thanks to the Magazine Association of BC whose tent we were under amongst a bunch of our peers who happen to be the province’s finest periodicals, online and in print.

A bunch of you have signed up for the Vancouver Book Club which is meeting for the very first time this Saturday at W2. It’s FREE to join and this event is FREE. Come meet Charles Demers, talk about his book, get your membership pin and be a part of this new thing we’re doing. It’s gonna be fun. Promise.

RSVP on FACEBOOK