Archive for November, 2010

Read All Over celebrates the bookworm in all of us, showcasing readers in Vancouver and the books they love most. I’ve only been a citizen of Vancouver since September, but already feel more at home here than I ever did in my ‘hometown’ of Kelowna. I spend a lot of my time playing music with my band Treelines, but also with other friends, acquaintances, strangers… pretty much anyone who will have me. I love photography, cooking, bike rides, and the humour of Larry David. I currently live in a big house in East Van with the best roommates a guy could ever ask for. Also, currently reading: Breakfast Of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut. - Matt Kelly

What book makes you feel like a kid again?

A  Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L’Engle. I must have read it 10 times when I was a kid. My mom told me that she read it when she was young and loved it. Although I was never into science fiction or fantasy (and never have been since), I took her word for it and dug in right away and couldn’t put it down.

What books have changed your life?

Anything by David Suzuki.

The one book you always recommend is…

The Catcher In The Rye. I actually can’t imagine anyone not enjoying it.

How do you like your books served up best – audio books, graphic novels, used paperbacks, library loaner, e-reader…

Definitely used paperbacks. I’ve still never used an e-reader… I can’t stand the thought of it.  There’s something so satisfying about turning a page – the feel, the smell, I suppose just the aesthetic as a whole. I appreciate it more and more as technology keeps lowering the demand for printed media.

Your life story is published tomorrow. What’s the title?

Oh gosh.. I don’t know. “Broke But Happy” seems about right.

Librarian vs. English Professor – who is sexier?

I’ve met very few librarians who aren’t leathery, ancient, and unfriendly. I have, however, met many attractive english professors, yet somehow I’m still wanting to say librarian… I know you’re out there sexy librarian.

Where is your favorite place to crack open a good book in Vancouver?

My bedroom is always my first choice. Second place goes to Turks on Commercial.

SCENE AND HEARD showcases the independent music scene here in Vancouver. With 24,101 artists, boasting 108,547 tracks, the CBC Radio 3 web site is the absolute ultimate authority, and the home, of independent music in Canada. With that massive library along with tools for members (free to join!), we’re taking advantage of what they’ve set up by bringing you a fresh batch of music every week featuring local groups who have tracks (entire albums, even!) on the R3 site.

This week we are presenting you with a sneak peak into the Vancouver Is Awesome Magazine with a special edition playlist. Our joint issue with Discorder launches on December 1st, so be sure to find yourself a copy and come check out the bonus material on the online version. Enjoy!

For 12 hours on a cold and rainy September Sunday, 60 resilient photographers braved the elements to capture their interpretations of 12 randomly drawn themes with only 12 exposures of 35mm film. The rolls have been developed and judged and in Part 12 of 16 presenting the results of the 2nd annual 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon is Marathoner #02’s winning photo for Theme #08: Dog Eat Dog.

“It’s bold,” said 12×12 judges Adam & Kev of Robert Fougere’s theme interpretation. “It’s playing on a stereotype and using humour to poke fun at it. I would understand if some people found it a bit offensive, but we felt like the intent was clear. It’s also a well lit, well composed shot. Dealing with a dog for a portrait with only one frame to play with? Risky, but brilliantly done.” Fellow 12×12 judge Erin Cebula is in agreement about this “cheeky idea with a studio look.”
To see the rest of Robert Fougere’s photo series, click here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/vancouverphotomarathon/sets/72157624976630016/)
The annual 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon is a not-for-profit community-building initiative that celebrates the art of film photography. For more information, visit www.VancouverPhotoMarathon.com

Words: Jason Vanderhill

One of the intentions with my Illustrated Vancouver blog is to expand the definition of art to include items or objects that might normally get excluded from fine art circles, but pay just as much love to the subject matter of the city. This includes souvenir art, the occasional kitsch object, and extraordinary examples of advertising or commercial art. This vintage Eaton’s ad is the perfect example of this, and an über rare one at that!

It was an advertising insert, announcing the grand opening of the Eaton’s Pacific Centre on February 8, 1971 (date, publication, and artist unknown). Odds are, this was printed by the thousands, most of which would have ended up in a landfill within a month. Fortunately, at least one copy was spared to decorate the room of a new baby boy circa 1972.

Take a close look at the styling fashion illustrations of the early 70s! I love the fact that an Emily Carr sneaks in the background of the lady’s fashions, while the men’s side features all manor of extreme plaid, with a few Vancouver landmarks appearing in the background. Good to see cycling was considered high style in 1971 as well! Special thanks to the young woman who saved this in 1971 for all of us to enjoy today!

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

In case you missed it, Ted happened in West Vancouver yesterday. Here is Narduar making his “presentation“. Thanks to kk+ for the shot.

Dano

A new kitty twice a week! Yup, we want YOUR cat photos and stories! Click here to find out how your cat can appear on Van City Kitty.

Name: Hax0r Breed/Colouring: Black and white Hood: Main Street Habits: Born in Salmon Arm, he was adopted to me from the Vancouver SPCA at 6 months old. We have lived happily together on Main Street for 2 and a half years now. He is a very large, tank of a cat. Not fat by any means, just built like a football player. He enjoys making threatening chirps at the crows from my balcony, playing with small electronics like flash drives and usb cables and killing any and all bugs that enter his home. He is very cuddly, sleeping in the bed with me all night…every night. When he was little we would go out on adventures togerher. He would ride in my purse on walks and riding the bus. This is HaxOr. My Van City Kitty!

Are you looking for a (or another) little furry beast to love? Please check out Happy Tails, our weekly segment featuring the BC SPCA and one of the animals they currently have available for adoption. (You may have noticed that many of the Van City Kitties came from the SPCA!) Check back every Saturday for a new Happy Tails segment!

And if you adopted your pet from the SPCA and would like to share your awesome story on Happy Tails, send an email to vancitykitty@vancouverisawesome.com or Rory.Blanchard@novusnow.ca.

For 12 hours on a cold and rainy September Sunday, 60 resilient photographers braved the elements to capture their interpretations of 12 randomly drawn themes with only 12 exposures of 35mm film. The rolls have been developed and judged and in Part 11 of 16 presenting the results of the 2nd annual 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon is Marathoner #56’s winning photo for Theme #07: Persistence.

“This shot is a slick as the ad it features,” said 12×12 judge Erin Cebula of Matthew Smillie’s theme interpretation. “It’s a great commentary on the persistence of advertising,” added fellow 12×12 judges Adam & Kev. “You can’t walk down a street without being bombarded with messages, and often this is relentless. It’s also a well composed shot – getting the guy walking past at that point in the frame, ignoring the multiple ads brings the shot together.”
To see the rest of Matthew Smillie’s photo series, click HERE.
The annual 12×12 Vancouver Photo Marathon is a not-for-profit community-building initiative that celebrates the art of film photography. For more information, visit www.VancouverPhotoMarathon.com

Vancouver’s own Kyprios recently won first place in the Peak Performance Project, taking home a much deserved $100,500 to further his career as an artist. He blessed us with a few songs after the second break today, and continuing on my theme of footwear I imagine he may have chosen celebrate his Peak Performance win by buying himself the fancy pair of Jordan 1’s in phat blue that he wore during his performance here today. They look green in this photo due to the filter applied to it but I assure you they are quite phat blue.

Photo by KK on Flickr