We all love a good celebrity name change. From Prince, to P. Diddy to Cat Stevens, er… Yusuf Islam, changing names signifies a fresh start.

A key member of Vancouver’s robust magazine community, one cool word is exchanging its full name for simple initials – OCW. The new name is like your dapper grandfather’s monogrammed shirts or the way your mom tagged your undies before you left for summer camp, only cooler. But unlike those celebrities listed above, the lovely people behind OCW aren’t re-branding for record sales or new lines of energy drinks. They’ll continue to showcase the artistry and innovation of this city.

Since 2006, the pages of OCW have been celebrating Vancouver’s thriving creative community including artists, musicians, comedians, crafters, designers and writers. The name of the magazine may be changing, but the mantra is staying the same – “Don’t just receive culture – participate in creating it”.

Put together by a staff of dedicated volunteers, OCW is an artistic and literary mash-up worthy of any backpack, coffee table or busride.  And along with that front page renovation comes a not-to-be-missed party.

Fridays OCW Magazine Relaunch Party brings the pages of the magazine to life featuring acclaimed Vancouverites including Parlour Steps, Vincent Parker, Charlie Demers, The Sunday Service and Bronx Cheer.

The details:

Friday, July 23, 2010 7:30 PM

Rickshaw Theatre, 254 E Hastings St

$15 (which gives you a subscription to OCW magazine!)

Tickets available here.

Follow a countdown about the event and learn more about the new issue on ocwmagazine.ca.

For those Facebook types check out the pages for the relaunch event and OCW magazine.

Hello friendly Vancouver Is Awesome readers,

My name is Lizzy Karp and I am a book lover.

I don’t wear glasses, but I’ve got the credentials: I know all the words to the Reading Rainbow theme song, lose hours in the basement of MacLeods Books, and flash my library card on a weekly basis. I studied books at University, mostly for the promise of an excellent book collection, but also for the elbow-patched professors. I’ve worked at a bookstore. I’ve dragged boxes of books across the country when I moved from another Canadian city to Vancouver, picking up more for my collection on the way. And the books I love the most I give away to friends, hoping they will devour and enjoy them as much as I did.

I’m thrilled to put my bookishness to use as the new editor of Vancouver Is Awesome’s Imprint and Vancouver Book Club!

VIA’s Imprint is a celebration of all things in print that have something to do with the city we love most. Alongside book reviews, we’ll be talking about local magazines, publishing houses, bookstores, literary events, and writers from around here.

And since I’m not the only one who is proud of their book lust, we’ve started the Vancouver Book Club! In the next few weeks we will be announcing our first Vancouver Book Club Book and event details. All reader-types are welcome – from casual beach readers to librarians.

If you’ve got some favourite local writers, books, magazines or festivals let us know! Email us at books@vancouverisawesome.com or post in the comments below. We are also on Twitter @VIAReads and have a fresh Facebook page that you can join right here.

The Vancouver Public Library is hosting its quarterly book sale. If you haven’t been before you’re in for a real treat! Good fiction (and I’m NOT talking yellow, smelly romance paperbacks here!) are…wait for it…$0.55! Most expensive book (ex: hard cover cookbook) is only $2.25! Bring cash and your own bags. The sale is located at the Central Branch on the lower level. Hours are Thursday the 8th from 10:00am-9:00pm and Friday the 9th from 10:00am-6:00pm. Be prepared to (possibly) wait in line. Totally worth it though! Admission ends 30 minutes before closing. Click here for more info!

While I’m on the subject I’d like to take this opportunity to let you know that we have a new Books editor! Lizzy Karp, of the Rain City Chronicles, is now heading up all things bookish (reviews of books like Darwin’s Bastards, features, etc) and is working on our upcoming book club that we’re launching later this month.

Welcome, Lizzy! And stay tuned, readers!

He has recently written a book of short stories which is guaranteed to make you wonder.

You can pick up a copy through Anteism.

Nice one Scott….

What I did know is that the VPL is on Twitter, and they’re one of my favourite organizations that I follow. They @VPL.

You may already be familiar with the Vancouver Public Library’s very cool “One Book, One Vancouver” program (if not, click here for the 411) but did you know that this time round you can vote for the winner! Once selected, the VPL will host various “programs and events to bring the winning title alive for readers”. There are three titles to choose from. Voting closes June 24th. Click here to vote!

Being a CBC Radio 3 personality and former frontman of The Smugglers you might expect Grant’s first book to be about… well… music. Right? Not so! According to Grant “…while it is filled with music references (including the title) [inspired by a New Pornographers song], Adventures In Solitude is not a music book. It’s a book about the Canadian cottage experience from my perspective, both as a nerd kid and an adult, set on the wild west coast beyond the end of the road in Desolation Sound, BC. Desolation Sound is the central, bi-polar character of the book. The supporting characters are myself, my family, friends, and all the salty Beachcombers-come-to-life inhabitants of this lonely stretch of coastline where no roads lead in or out.”

The last time I was this excited about a book release was when David Sedaris‘ When You Are Engulfed In Flames was announced. Stay tuned for my review of Adventures In Solitude this fall… or earlier if I can get my greasy hands on an advance copy!

grant lawrence at a night at mov volume 1. photo: lindsay dianne

And a few more of my favourites from the series…

A “HOW TO” video guide for young writers. Grant lawrence shares his wisdom on focus, commitment, and what it takes to be a published writer.