Archive for July, 2011

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

I subconsciously seem to gravitating towards photographs in an around Stanley Park lately. I would speculate that, if such data could be measured, that Stanley Park may be one of the most often-photographed locations in Vancouver – it is certainly well-represented in the VIA Flickr Pool. colink. set up his tripod near the seawall and looked west to create this long-exposure image – titled . – and achieved some really nice results. Some data that you may be able to measure here is how far a jet may travel during the 30 seconds that the shutter was open.

Gary

Vancouver is an amazing city, chockfull of creative talent. WE ARE VANCVR is a simple, elegant way to showcase all that talent in one place. Every Tuesday we profile one individual from the VANCVR community.  VANCVR.com is a Domain7 Labs project, inspired by PRTLND.com.

We’re always amazed at the breadth of talent that shows up every day on VANCVR.com, but when Kirsti Wakelin added herself a few weeks ago we spent ages drooling over her whimsical illos—which have appeared in all manner of books, magazines and displays in Vancouver and well beyond. Check out her work and scroll down to read why she likes being a creative in Vancouver.

…READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

The Pespi Youth Music Movement is a group of four dudes going across the country recording audio and video for 12 young Canadian musicians on the cusp of making it big… for FREE. Powered by a Pepsi Refresh grant they’re on their adventure right now, and a few days ago they passed through Vancouver to record a local group called The Broadway Bullies who we introduced you to not long ago. Below is the video that the YMM produced for their song Midnight Man…

Lisa Penz doesn’t belong in Vancouver. She belongs in places like New York, Los Angeles, Miami – locations in which fashion and art collide (which I’m sure Vancouver will be one day).  Her ability to integrate meaningful expressions with vibrant colours is rare talent that can’t be taught, only developed. Indeed, her evolution as an artist is exciting to watch and be a part of – you can see her confidence and energy grow in every new painting she produces.

She’s much more than an artist though. She is also a playful and kind-hearted individual with a quirky sense of humour that comes alive once you get to know her. And she’s creative in every aspect of her life – from performing in musical theatre to making gelato – and it’s that passion for exercising her creativity that makes her so dynamic.

Yes Vancouver, you are lucky that she chooses to live here. And you are lucky that you can experience her art here as well. For now anyway.
-C. Mitchell

The Proof

01 Sneak-peek of a new painting from my Indulgence series which will be on display this October at my Pop-up gallery at: 196 Kingsway (near Broadway).

02 This is my Maine Coon – “Anakin”. He loves hanging out in my art studio, preferably under my easel. I’m convinced he thinks it’s a tree.

03 Photo taken by hair & make-up artist Liz Dungate, from behind the scenes working with awesome photographer Fred Fraser.

04 I love my Pantone mug in lavender 3645 C. Lifelong infatuation with this shade of purple. A thoughtful gift given to me from my bestie in Australia.

05 Magnet schedule. Custom designed by me. I’ve tried a lot of scheduling systems and I think this one is the best for my dominant right brain. If you want to learn how to make one too — contact me.

06 Hand-painted, raven cedar box. So special, the only things I’ve put in here are my dreams and desires.

07 I’ve been on a gourmet smoothie obsession lately… Fresh fruit smoothies with rose water, home-made lavender honey, cinnamon & cardamom.

08 Aside from art and graphic design, and just to make things more confusing, I’m also in musical theatre. This summer I’ll be tackling Avenue Q!

The Questions

What neighborhood do you live in?
My neighborhood is Fraser & King Ed. Loving observing the evolution of this area. Spend a lot of my time downtown though.

What do you do and where?
I paint contemporary female portraits from my home studio. I also work as Graphic Designer and Art Director under my company: Touchpoint Creative. When I’m not in my studio (which is often the case) I’m on the move getting inspiration and connecting with other creatives.

What are you working on?
Opening up my own Pop-up art gallery on Kingsway & 10th for the month of October! Working on my new mixed media series “Indulgence” that will be featured at the gallery. Email me: lisa@lisapenz.com for an invite to the opening.

Where can we find your work?
my website: www.lisapenz.com

my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/LisaPenzArtworks

Pop-up Gallery: 196 Kingsway (near Broadway) — October 2011

Did you know that Eric Peterson, who played Brent Butt’s dad on Corner Gas, co-created and played 21 different parts as one of the two original actors of Billy Bishop Goes to War which premiered in Vancouver in 1978? The other actor was John McLachlan Gray, who wrote the play.

John Gray and Eric Peterson, the creators and original performers of the Canadian theatre classic Billy Bishop Goes to War, discuss the show’s origins and how they took the play to Broadway, Edinburgh and London’s West End.

True story.

We’ve partnered with FabFind, the premier Canadian social commerce site, to let you know all about their launch in Vancouver this week!

Already having roots in Toronto and Montreal, FabFind is bringing its giving ways to Vancouver with a week-long celebration of free deals. Each and every day, FabFind offers a limited quantity of heavily discounted certificates — 50-100% off — to the city’s best restaurants, spas, and retailers. For its launch, the deal site is taking the savings to the max and offering freebies at a variety of local hotspots! If you happen to be the type of person who likes to share a great deal, you can even register for FabFind‘s Save-it-Forward program (which is also free) and earn 5% of everything your friends and family members spend on the site for an entire year. Cha-ching! With this introductory week of freebies, FabFind will be delivering some much needed excitement to Vancouver’s inboxes.

Click below to learn more!

A couple of years back we took home the Georgia Straight’s BEST OF award for “Best Navel Gazing Web Site“, and while our non-profit organization that supports our web site (Vancouver Is Awesome, Inc) is focused on celebrating all of the awesome things that make up our city one of those things is it’s proximity to other awesome places. In Super, Neighbours in British Columbia we take you on adventures to other B.C. locales that we think you should check out. ********** I was recently invited to stay at The Fairmont Empress in Victoria, the city that I have no shame admitting is my second favourite in our province. If you remember the LAST story I did on Victoria, I was flown over in the lap of luxury via our friends at Helijet. This time around we took the perhaps more traditional method by way of BC Ferries, which I imagine you are all familiar with. I’m going to share a couple of my ferry secrets with you here, to help you make your next trip to the island, or islands, a better one.

Ferry Secret #1: This one should really be no secret at all. If you’ve read the Vancouver Book Club recommended Adventures in Solitude by Grant Lawrence (which they actually sell on the ferry, see it pictured top left in this photo below) then you know that having to sit around waiting for a second sailing because they couldn’t fit you on during a busy ferry day can result in hours and hours of boredom. The secret is that you can GO ONLINE and reserve a spot and GUARANTEE that you will not miss whatever ferry you make that reservation for. In recent years I have relied quite heavily on this “secret” to make sure my minutes waiting to get onto ferries don’t turn into hours.

Ferry Secret #2: Okay, if that first one shouldn’t be a secret then this one is absolutely not a secret at all – BC Ferries are incredibly family friendly. Pictured here is V.I.A.’s youngest blogger, Arlo (who you may remember MAKING PIZZA with last week), pictured with his mom, my wife. Every time Arlo takes the ferry he is thrilled because there are multiple play areas, a store that sells all kinds of books and toy ferry boats as well as restaurants that serve delicious and healthy meals for folks of all ages.

Ferry Secret #3: Again, …READ THE REST OF THIS ENTRY>>>

Below is a photo that was taken on the 11-day adventure tour of Vietnam that we’re giving away! Looks pretty lovely, doesn’t it? Read below for information on how to enter for FREE if you haven’t already…

Photo courtesy Adventure Center

Adventure Center and V.I.A. wants to send you on an incredible 11-day adventure in Vietnam. This amazing package includes the cost of the tour, international airfare from Vancouver to Vietnam return in economy class, some meals as well as all transportation while on the tour. Additionally our friends at Arc’teryx supply the winner with a jacket and backpack to round out this travel package. The total prize package is valued at over $3,000 and you can enter by filling in the form linked below. You can increase your chance of winning by visiting Adventure Center in Vancouver, located at 2227 Granville Street. Fill in a ballot at the office and additionally receive a coupon valued at $50 good towards a future Gecko’s adventure (some conditions apply). Click HERE to fill out an entry form!