Archive for October, 2010

Just wanted to give a quick shout out today for a new, growing, Gastown-born online community: Cargoh.com!

What they are is “A social marketplace for independent art + design + culture”. If you are creative and are looking for somewhere to buy and sell the things that you create, then you should definitely consider opening an account. Or if you’re simply a consumer with an appreciation for design then you’re going to want to bookmark Cargoh and check back regularly for creations you won’t find anywhere else.

Last night the nice folks at Metropolis At Metrotown had us in to have a look at their executive suite that they’ve got at Rogers Arena for the season. Okay, we were mostly in to have a look at the Canucks VS Avalanche game (overtime win! Woot! Woot!), but it wouldn’t have happened if not for the new promotion that they’re doing. Basically how it works is this: go to Metropolis At Metrotown and fill in a ballot at the customer service desk and you’re entered to win. They’ve got the suite for the entire season which means that they’ll be giving away Canucks tickets as well as a bunch of concerts, and these are truly great seats. While I’m used to being in the “other” upper level (the nosebleeds, as it were) amongst people like me (regular people) the perspective from these luxury seats and the comfort of the suite they’re attached to is second to none. They’ll even be serving up food for all the winners of each draw.

One of my favourite things about being afforded this view was looking down at all of the people in the arena and seeing how their hairlines were doing. Looking directly down offered the best perspective (that’s Fin dressed up as Johnny Canuck sitting on the step there):

And looking sideways also offered an interesting look:

And of course there was the hockey game to …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Welcome to The Playground, a place for Vancouver families. 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. THE PLAYGROUND IS SPONSORED BY:

In The Playground for the week of October 27-November 2: Halloween, Halloween and more Halloween.

“Never jump into a pile of leaves with a wet sucker.” Linus shares this bit of wisdom in It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown and it’s worth remembering as you move from one Halloween event to another this week—and there are plenty.

…READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

I went to the Canucks game last night (and sat in the Metropolis Hot Seats, more on that later) and as I waded through the throngs of scalpers outside was reminded of this clip I found of a BCTV News piece that went to air 4 days before the closing day of EXPO 86. It’s all about ticket trading and it ends with naysayer editor of Saturday Night who gets “Skyped” in by landline but it’s a great history piece.

See anybody you know in this clip? I mean aside from Tony Parsons and Jimmy Pattison. Relatives? Friends? YOU?

“Comedy is tragedy plus time.” It’s been said many times by many comedians. I believe the original usage dates back to the great Carol Burnett. It’s a quote I have borrowed from to title this column about the wonderful talent in the comedy community right here in Vancouver.Since I’ve lived in Vancouver, I’ve heard a lot of people say that they had a bad experience at a comedy show and never went back. This is as ridiculous as swearing off restaurants as a whole because of one case of food poisoning. It’s my hope, that the profiles here will bring back those who have turned away or open the door for those who have never seen live comedy.

Finally, for those out there that don’t like to laugh, they might be best served by a quote from another lady of show business, Julia Roberts:
“Show me a person who doesn’t like to laugh and I’ll show you a person with a toe tag.”

Feels Like Home is a new monthly radio show (and podcast) produced and hosted by our friends and co-conspirators Lizzy Karp and Amanda McCuaig. It’s created and aired on CJSF Radio, Simon Fraser University’s campus/community radio station located in Burnaby/Vancouver, and in it they share stories of home centered around specific themes, mixed with great Canadian music.

I’m happy to announce that we’re now the official media sponsor of Feels Like Home and will be sharing each and every episode with you in case you miss them when they air! This month’s theme is Haunted Houses, and it’s scary. Okay, aside from the story that I shared with them it’s scary. Like hairs standing up on the back of your neck scary. They talk with people who share their homes with ghosts and poltergeists and they talk to the guy who started the company who does Fright Nights at the PNE and more. This is great radio, and we are excited to offer it for you as a podcast. Enjoy!

An Amanda’s eye view of Lizzy in the radio fort working on the Haunted Houses episode

In this episode you’ll hear from
- Me, about my ‘gang’ in first grade
- Ayla, who’s trip to the PNE’s Fright Nights was ‘scary’ for the wrong reasons
- David, the CEO of the Scare Factory, who puts on Fright Nights at the PNE (he took over after Ayla had her bad experience, FLH are sure they’re directly related).
- Hans who’s childhood home was haunted by childhood characters
- Carol, who has lived with a ghost in her house for 20 years

Music played in this episode
- Ghosting by Mother Mother
- I’m So Afraid by Jane Vain and the Dark Matter
- Ghost Get Out of My Apartment by Apollo Ghosts
- Scared at Night by Kathleen Edwards

Learn more:
CJSF.ca
FeelsLikeHomeRadio.wordpress.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Every day we share a single photo from our Flickr Pool shot by one of our faithful and talented readers (that’s you!).

Every year people dress up in their scariest outfits and cover themselves in fake blood trying to strike fear in the hearts of everyone who sees them, but you know what’s really frightening? Whatever is going on in that house. I wonder if Kyle Skully knows.

Dano

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!

[Click HERE to see all the East Van Cats to date]