The Final Issue (Winter 2012)

SANDBOX 2012

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SANDBOX JEFFREY VALLIS Editor-in-Chief

SUZY BODIROGA and BRADEN ALEXANDER Creative Directors VANESSA KUNDERMAN Art Director BRENLEE COATES Arts/Culture Editor DANIELA BUTCURA Beauty Editor ANDREA KIRBY Account Manager

WRITERS Aisha Alfa Raezavel Argulla Megan Dee Benedictson Ethan Cabel Sabrina Carnevale Kristy Hoffman Lindsay Hughes Tania Kohut Gillian Leschasin Riel Lynch Rhéanne Marcoux Christine Mazur Sarah Petz Holly Rose Pamela Roz Courtney Rutherford Conrad Sweatman Rich Thomas Scott Thomas Niki Trosky STYLISTS Casey Downes Emilie Hayward Alex Needham Chelsea Neufeld Niki Trosky Meaghan Waller MAKEUP Nicole Avillanoza Aimee Cardinell Carly Gaspur Jessica Kmiec Michael Kovalik Rachelle Lazar Haley Menkis Meagan Perron Chelsea Sanderson Jackie Tsouras Cherry Vicente COPY EDITOR Camille Dupas PRINTER Winnipeg Sun Commercial Print Division

PHOTOGRAPHERS Brittany Alyse Rejean Brandt Brad Cerasani Kristi Church Meganelizabeth Diamond CiJae Filipchuk Susie Fisher Stoesz Tadao Horikawa Samata Katz Janine Kropla Mike Latschislaw Georgia Morrison Len Peterson Izabela Rachwal Kate Rifkin Nate Rollo Dennis Sapong Matthew Sawatsky Riley Stewart Chance Taylor Kyle Tolentino Lisa Varga Charles Romero Venzon Sheila Wagar Ryan Wibawa Clayton Winter Katy Winterflood Kirsten Womb Kirsten Edelvang-Young HAIR Melissa Bortoluzzi Cait Bousfield Haley Golin Leanne Grapentine Rachelle Lazar Hanna Little Roger Medina Andrew Oliver Cara Olson Amy Wynn WEBHOST MyNetMojo.ca

SANDBOX Magazine was founded in 2009 by Jeffrey Vallis and Braden Alexander. SANDBOX Magazine, PO BOX 48127, RPO Lakewood, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2J 4A3. Contents copyright © 2012. May not be reprinted without written permission. All reproduction requests must be made to SANDBOX Magazine at mail@sandboxmag.com.

SANDBOX

contents

SANDBOX MAGAZINE 2012 | final issue

departments 10 FAREWELL OUR TEAM SHARES THEIR FINAL THOUGHTS

20 ABOUT TOWN FROM DUSK ‘TIL DAWN: WE COVER TWO HIP COFFEE JOINTS AND TWO NIGHTLIFE GAME-CHANGERS

30 THE SOUND IT’S A BATTLE OF THE BANDS WITH JODI KING, IMAGINARY CITIES, THE TREBLE AND EMPTY STANDARDS

42 BY DESIGN OUR FAVE LOCAL ONLINE RETAILERS ARE FEATURED ALONGSIDE THE BRILLIANT ORIGINAL WORK OF DESIGNERS

52 THE SCREEN WINNIPEG’S FUNNIEST BIG-BUDGET FILM STARS ARE JUXTAPOSED WITH A BUDDING EXPERIMENTAL FILMMAKER

62 THE STAGE SING YOUR HEART OUT, DANCE YOUR ASS OFF AND BUST A GUT LAUGHING WITH THE BEST OF THE STAGE

72 STREET STYLE CANADA STREET STYLE SHOWS US WHO’S LOOKING GOOD WHILE KEEPING WARM

94 BEAUTIFUL MAN STUNT BROTHERS, A SEXY SINGER/ SONGWRITER, AND HANDYMAN HAVE US SWOONING

134 LIFE STORY TWO WINNIPEG INSTITUTIONS SAY GOODBYE, AND A WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE REFUSES TO GIVE UP

142 HOW TO HOW THE QUEEN OF THRIFTING DEALS WITH CLOSET KARMA

144 COLUMN NIKI TROSKY SHARES HER FAVOURITE MEMORIES OF WINNIPEG

146 BUCKET LIST TEN REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD START A MAGAZINE

148 THE GUIDE OUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ONE GREAT CITY

86 TALENT & TITS THE STAR ON ICE, A DANCING QUEEN AND FLOWER CHILD ARE ALL MASTERS OF THEIR CRAFTS

girl crush The gender lines are blurred in this androgynous shoot

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circus chic Clown-faced men take the stage in even more unexpected fashions

features BEAUTY

FASHION

76 BEARD STYLE

104 SHE’S GOT GAME

THESE MEN CREATIVELY SPARED THEIR CHEEKS FROM THE COLD, AND WE THINK IT’S ABOUT TIME YOU NOTICED

OUR FAVOURITE VIDEO GAME CHARACTERS TURN INTO HIGH FASHION DARLINGS

77 MEN’S GROOMING

WINNIPEG’S TOP FASHIONS ARE PICTURED IN SOME OF OUR MOST TIMELESS SETTINGS

WWW.sANdboxmAg.Com

SANDBOX THE NEW CULTURE

WWW.sANdboxmAg.Com

KIRSTEN AND FURHEAD WERE PHOTOGRAPHED BY KATY WINTERFLOOD IN WINNIPEG. MAKEUP BY CHERRY VICENTE AND HAIR BY KRISTIN FLIGHT FOR REVOLUTIONS HAIR SALON. KIRSTEN’S SHEER WHITE BLOUSE Lucky, lucky us.

IS FROM HUSH. THANK YOU TO CINDY TITUS AND MARK REIMER.

SANDBOX THE NEW CULTURE

A WINTER WONDERLAND GETS A POP OF COLOUR FROM THE GINGER-HAIRED STARS OF THIS PHOTO SHOOT

117 ISN’T IT ICONIC

ON OUR COVER THE WAKE

78 HAIR TRENDS

UNFORGETTABLE FACES THAT GRACED THE PAGES IN TWO YEARS

WINTER 2012

STAYING TRIM IN THE WINTER JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT EASIER

110 GIMME SOME FACE

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Photography by RYAN WIBAWA

Have you ever been bungee jumping? Standing on the edge, heart racing, holding your breath, wondering how the hell you ended up in this position, and knowing that there’s no turning back? It’s now or never – the only way out is down!

Neither have I. But I can only imagine that the terror and exhilaration feels something like what Braden and I felt when we decided to launch SANDBOX in the summer of 2009.

At the time, we were just two students with the dream of creating a magazine – no money to make it happen, and no time to do it, but a wide-eyed self-confidence that led us to believe we could actually succeed. And – somehow – we did.

But we certainly didn’t do it alone.

The support from our families and friends, loyal readers, and, of course, our incredibly talented and dedicated team of contributors, has been the driving force behind our vision, and the sole reason we made it through the past two year of eight print issues, eight online issues, and six release parties.

We knew when we were just starting out that Winnipeg is home to some incredible talent and a distinct diversity that is all our own. This magazine was our outlet to foster the sentiment that led us to launch in the first place: Winnipeg is truly amazing.

And now we must bid adieu. In two years, SANDBOX

has seen incredible growth, which is really amazing. But it’s become a full-time job in itself. With work and personal priorities, we simply can’t dedicate the amount of time needed for it to flourish. So, we chose to end it while we were still able to give it our best, and ensure we went out on a high note.

This doesn’t mean, however, that it’s over, because SANDBOX has become more than just a magazine. It’s become a community of talented and creative local artists that will live on far beyond the final issue. Without their energy, commitment and raw talents, SANDBOX wouldn’t exist. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for all of your contributions.

So what’s next for us? Well, we’re still trying to figure that out.

But that’s the most exciting part of the adventure – when you don’t know which way the wind is going to blow, how far you can push your limits, or when you’ll reach the end of your rope – all you can do is trust your instincts, take a deep breath, and jump.

Oh, and one final thank you goes to the woman who told Braden and I that we were like “two children playing in a sandbox, with no idea what the real world is like.” Not only did you inspire upon us the grit and guts to launch our own magazine, you also inspired the title.

Eat your heart out, babe.

EDITOR’S PICKS FOR 2012 With the release of Goldfrapp’s The Singles album, people can once again rejoice in the workings of these synth-pop pros including their newest single, the tranquil “Melancholy Sky.” Blazers are hot for 2012, and local outfitters eph Apparel are offering some of the hottest styles with a “flawless fit guarantee” on their custom tailored suits. I’ll take three, please. Body by Vi is the latest in weight loss trends. They aren’t kidding when they say “it’s the shake mix that tastes like cake mix.” Although, I have yet to locate an actual Body by Vi cake.

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JEFFREYVALLISEDITORINCHIEF

TWO CHILDREN PLAYING IN A SANDBOX.

it, SANDBOX became real, and very quickly. Winnipeg, as it turns out, is home to a horde of alarmingly talented young people who were just waiting for their chance to prove themselves. Writers who churn out heart-wrenching stories in a matter of hours; models who travel hundreds of kilometres outside the city to pose in the rain; and photographers, stylists, makeup artists and hairstylists with passion and belief in what they do.

It’s these hardworking contributors that we’ve had the honour of working with that have made this whole experience worthwhile. I’m proud to have been a part of something that brought so much talent and creativity together.

We set out to make something fun – something that could make Winnipeg proud of itself and of its creative community – and guess what? We actually did it.

Thank you, everyone.

Photography by JANINE KROPLA

“Are we actually doing this?” I asked Jeffrey the day we decided to start our own magazine. We looked at each other and could see, in a flash, the mountain of work and unpredictable obstacles that lay before us. I had the same mix of feelings you get in your stomach when you have one foot on and one foot off the 10-metre diving board.

Terror; excitement; dread; and, a very strange feeling of being free.

Our adventure into the world of magazine publishing started with a lot of begging. We had to convince people that a new magazine was around the corner – if only they would let us borrow clothing for a photo shoot that involved my grade eight girlfriend modeling boyfriend jeans in the basement of Red River College. And, nonetheless, in front of a tacked-up Wal-Mart bed sheet we had planned to return the next day.

But even though it felt a little bit like we were faking

BRADENALEXANDERCREATIVEDIRECTOR

ARE WE ACTUALLY DOING THIS?

EDITOR’S PICKS FOR 2012 I’ve got Youth by Foxes on repeat. It’s this pop masterpiece that came out of nowhere, with a middle eight that makes my eye well up. 1Q84, by Haruki Murakami, the latest from Japanese master of the bizarre yet believable, is waiting patiently on my nightstand. And I’ve got a slick sewing machine waiting patiently for me to reach “learn to sew” on my to do list. For me, 2012 is all about DIY. SANDBOX MAGAZINE 2012

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A few years ago, my good friend Katrin and I were sorting through piles of boxes as she was preparing to move in with me. Upon leafing through elementary math assignments, old photos and hand-written notes, we uncovered the most beautiful piece of literature I have ever laid eyes on.

Here’s a small preview of the 300-word proposal (cleverly) named “Suzy and Katrin = 2015.” The crumpled notepad letter dates back to 2001: “Suzy, living on America’s west coast in Santa Barbara, California, has a boyfriend named Josh, whose ocean-blue eyes and rippling abs are competition only for his quivering loins.

She is the west coast correspondent for Marie Claire magazine. She enjoys day trips to Beverly Hills, mainly to shop on Rodeo Drive.”

The fact that the letter was so well written and wittily crafted for a couple of 11-year-old girls is beside the point.

What was most striking was that it reinstated a wish that I had been dreaming of for years.

And no, I’m not talking about Josh.

Since the early days when I stole

my older sister’s YM and Seventeen magazines and hide them under my bed, I wanted nothing more than to work for the magazine industry.

In early 2010, I was introduced to the very early stages of SANDBOX magazine. A friend of mine from work had brought in a handbill with the image of the very first cover, which she had modeled for. I couldn’t believe that such a professional-looking fashion, arts and culture magazine was circulating in the city, and was created and managed by two students (who I might add are incredibly charming, gay men). I harassed her, as well as Braden and Jeffrey, until they let me intern for the team.

My very first task was working on the spring fashion shoot for the very first print issue. The excitement was overwhelming – I was surrounded by beautiful models, racks of clothing, boxes of shoes and the most qualified team of stylists, makeup artists, hair stylists and a photographer. I arrived, notebook in shaky hand, intimidated by the talented and creative masterminds that stood in front of me.

SUZYBODIROGACREATIVEDIRECTOR

SANDBOX IS MY BOYFRIEND. Once I became comfortable, I realized they were people just like me. Passionate by nature, and driven by the talent existing in our city, we had a common goal in mind: work together to create something truly beautiful.

Looking back at the last two years of SANDBOX, I can’t believe how lucky I am to have been a part of it. Winnipeg is such a humble city; it’s filled to the brim with the most brilliant artists of their own craft. And not only did I meet just a small group of the talent our city has to offer, I met some of my very best friends.

The SANDBOX team – Vanessa, Jeffrey, Braden, and more recently, Brenlee and Daniela – quickly became a family, and I’m so thankful for their love and support, as well as the love of our readers and supporters. If it wasn’t for the big hearts in our little city, we could have never done it.

Since the early days, the fam has had an ongoing joke that SANDBOX is my boyfriend – let’s just say we’ve been through a hell of a lot together. And although our relationship has come to an end, I can’t imagine having dated anyone else.

EDITOR’S PICKS FOR 2012 Lime Crime’s line of opaque lipsticks come in brilliant colours like Chinchilla (grey), No She Didn’t (a vivid azure shade) and my favourite D’Lilac (lavender). They’re full of pigment and go on incredibly smooth. Florence and the Machine’s new album Ceremonials has been on heavy rotation lately. The acoustic versions of “Heartlines” and “Shake it Out” are two of my favourite tracks. Sud Pacifique Vanille Abricot Perfume has a warm scent with notes of jackfruit, apricot, papaya pulp and vanilla. Amazing.

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* Source: I’m Worth It - Financial Stories, Ideas and Strategies for Women, published by The Manitoba Securities Commission, 2011

and we had this understanding that I’d take over the art direction once he left for his world travels. But there was just one thing he needed first. I received this Facebook message in 2009: “For the glamour issue, I want YOU to write the Life Story. You know which one.

What I’m imagining is a 1200 word piece on how you, this beautiful Italian princess, were diagnosed with cancer and how glamour was important to you throughout your treatment and suffering. You know how they said you wouldn’t graduate high school that year? And you said, ‘oh hell no,’ and put on your fierce wig and got through that shit? That’s what I mean.”

I had written for the magazine before and done some videography, but this THIS was different.

It was unbelievably scary.

And then the phone calls started coming in. Teachers I hadn’t heard from in years, parents of my friends, young girls I had never met.

How many people were reading this?

My article opened up a door that allowed me to provide motivational speaking to youth with cancer. It also launched me out of my magazine career and into a world of finances targeted toward women.

Quite the change, hey?

I flip between talking to young women about investments to wrestling with software to make these pages.

Most people don’t know that we have completely different day jobs. That we make the magazine while sitting on a bed scattered with sheet music, Forbes and Flare magazine, a sleeping dog, Apple gadgets and unlimited charcoal powersuits.

All after a day’s work.

Here’s what I do know: SANDBOX has touched people. It has moved them to try new things, to break the box they were confined in, and to board the ship that held no captain.

SANDBOX hasn’t sunk. It’s just reached the other side of the ocean.

Photography by JANINE KROPLA

Every team needs a freak.

And I definitely sported that tiara.

Do you remember that shift in the magazine? It suddenly became twice the size; app, art, book and music reviews meandered onto the pages; and the layout started to spin on its head? And fashion week? That’s when this freak mounted the ship.

I still remember my first meeting with Jeff and Suzy. I was barking about “twice the page count!” and “high-gloss!” and “give it a spiiiine like the real magazines!”

Suzy’s face will forever be emblazoned in my memory. And I’m pretty sure Jeff thought, “What did Braden do to us?”

For a reason that I’m still trying to figure out, Braden Alexander has taken a liking to me. In college we’d do our assignments together, him taking on the clever, charming bits – and me, the technological crumbs.

It was the perfect team.

I had been working at another magazine when he started SANDBOX

VANESSAKUNDERMANARTDIRECTOR

EVERY TEAM NEEDS A FREAK.

EDITOR’S PICKS FOR 2012 I’ve always wanted to be a conductor. Instead, I took to collecting instruments. This winter I found myself a cello. It’s the instrument that most closely resembles the human voice, you know. How neat is that? Kimbra’s incredibly infectious album Vows was on constant repeat while I created the pages for our final issue. Check out my blog chroniclingkunder.com to hear some of her stuff. I picked up a nifty trend on my trip to Paris this year with BFF and arts & culture editor, Brenlee Coates — the ever-flattering Peter Pan collar.

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1 HOLLY ROSE WRITER PHOTO: COLIN VANDENBERG 2 MEAGAN PERRON MAKEUP ARTIST PHOTO: REJEAN BRANDT

1 2

3 CLAYTON WINTER PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTO: BRITTANY ALYSE

3 4 5

4 KATY WINTERFLOOD PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTO: DWAYNE LARSON 5 CASEY DOWNES STYLIST PHOTO: KRISTIAN JORDON 6 JANINE KROPLA PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTO: LISA VARGA 7 RILEY STEWART PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTO: RILEY STEWART 8 CHELSEA NEUFELD STYLIST PHOTO: LISA VARGA

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9 HANNA LITTLE HAIR STYLIST PHOTO: VERONIKA ANGELATOS

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10 HALEY GOLIN HAIR STYLIST PHOTO: LISA VARGA 11 IZABELA RACHWAL PHOTOGRAPHER PHOTO: IZABELA RACHWAL 12 MEGAN BENEDICTSON WRITER PHOTO: HEATHER BAYS

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13 GILLIAN LESCHASIN WRITER PHOTO: GILLIAN LESCHASIN

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | LOVE LETTERS THIS CBC FILMMAKER WAS THE COVERGIRL FOR OUR MAY 2010 ONLINE ISSUE. HER MOST CELEBRATED WORK TO DATE HAS BEEN HER AWARD-WINNING DOCUMENTARY MEMERE METISSE. SHE ALSO RUNS CANADASTREETSTYLE.COM WITH BROTHER JÉRÉMIE.

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ALEX ESPINOSA IS A LONGTIME STAPLE OF THE LOCAL FASHION SCENE AND A BIG SUPPORTER OF SANDBOX. FOR OUR SUMMER 2010 BODY ISSUE, HE EVEN CRAFTED A CUSTOM-MADE DRESS FOR COVER MODEL CHRISSY TROY. PHOTOS BY KATY WINTERFLOOD.

ABOUT TOWN LET THEM EAT AT CAKE-OLOGY, THE BLISSFUL BAKERY SWEETENING UP THE EXCHANGE DISTRICT. AS FEATURED IN ABOUT TOWN IN THE JULY 2010 ONLINE ISSUE. PHOTO BY LISA VARGA.

LUCKY, LUCKY US | ABOUT TOWN

POP SODA’S

Y

A new coffeehouse and gallery that’s opening its doors, and walls, to local artists

ou would never know, walking past Pop Soda’s unassuming Portage Avenue storefront, that a cozy little community of art, food and music lays within its cleverlycamouflaged walls.

The exterior of this coffeehouse and gallery is so underwhelming and the interior so overwhelming that the brief transition between the two might cause you to pause awkwardly in the entrance, stunned by the immediate comfort of your eclectic surroundings, and contemplate taking off your shoes.

It’s a disarming experience of etiquette confusion caused by entering a space you know is public, but that feels as private as someone’s home. Walking into Pop Soda’s is like walking into someone’s 7,000-squarefoot living room.

Filled with an assorted selection of thrift furniture, art and books, the coffeehouse is a treat to the senses. The smell of Italianinfluenced cuisine politely engulfs you along with the sweet sounds of live music and the murmur of a diverse set of patrons reading, studying, eating, chatting and even nursing babies in various nooks throughout the space.

“The idea of what we wanted evolved in a crazy way,” says Christine Boss, part owner of Pop Soda’s. “It’s supposed to feel like a community centre for creativity, for people of all ages. We encourage people to come and share their craft, even if it is a craft they haven’t perfected.”

A community centre for creativity is exactly the way the space feels. Since its

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Words by HOLLY ROSE Photography by CHARLES ROMERO VENZON opening in October, Pop Soda’s has become somewhat of an artists’ collective. Musicians can pop in and hop right on stage to play a tune. Book lovers can read in the comfy cove of couches and exchange their book for another when they’ve finished. And artists can use the walls to display their artwork, or even to create new artwork.

“People are welcome to come in and paint one of our walls if they want to; we have art supplies for all sorts of things and welcome customers to use them. We’re really laidback people and try to make this a laid-back place,” says Christine.

“We’ve had to include a bit of structure and scheduling because we’ve had a lot of bands and artists interested in performing in a slot and submitting art and everything else, but, for the most part, it is a polite free-for-all.”

This exceedingly interesting and slightly off-the-wall coffeehouse is also home to some great food. Pelligrino Santorelli, son of the late Ana Maria (of Mamma Mia’s on Corydon) and former chef/owner of Roma Café, Rogue’s Gallery and Tomato Pie Company, has created an incredible menu of classic Italian treats worth trying (like the scrumdiddlyumptious lemon cannoli Christine so kindly offered up).

All in all, this unofficial community centre for creative minds is worth checking out. Bring some friends, a good book and an open mind, and experience something different, unique and good.

For a list of upcoming events, visit popsodascoffeehouse.com, or pop on in for a visit at 625 Portage Avenue.

“It’s supposed to feel like a community centre for creativity.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | ABOUT TOWN

PARLOURCOFFEE

T

Innovative architect switches focus to slinging superb coffee

here has been a shift in retail land. Baby Boomers have dictated our retail landscape for a long while and are now retiring, bringing in a new crop of business owners. In comparison to previous years, younger generations have lived a pretty good life. We’ve been spoiled with a decent economy, stable disposable income, travel opportunities and have grown up with the Internet as prominent as the pimples once were on our cheeks.

But the world is smaller now.

“Our ability to acquire knowledge is insane.

Our ability to learn about other cities, other styles and trends is beyond… anything.”

Parlour Coffee owner Nils Vik is one of the innovative pioneer’s leading the way down this foreign road, mug in hand. And the mastermind only began sipping Joe a few short years ago, thanks to an adamant university professor.

Vik is educated in environmental design and spent time doing product design and development for EQ3. His work took him around the world as he saw his designs being created from pen to paper, and then sold and into the homes of his buyers.

“Life is too short to not be surrounded by beautiful things – it doesn’t cost more money to make something beautiful. We should be demanding that things look good,” says Vik. This mantra led him into his next venture: Coffee.

“It was really important for me that the actual space itself would be really striking. I wanted to make sure that the architecture represented the vision of what I wanted the shop to be.”

From the cast-iron candelabra from Hut K, to the Parisian stools made for the outdoor decks of European ships, to the innovative iPad cash

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Words by VANESSA KUNDERMAN Photography by MATTHEW SAWATSKY register app and the gorgeous burr oak hub that slices through the intimate coffee shop; a lot of thought went into the industrially elegant space.

Not to mention Vik built it himself with the help of a handy father-in-law and a couple pals. It’s not hard to see his design background needling its way into his caffeine-induced foreground.

“It wasn’t so much the coffee, but also the experience. You go to places in San Fran and New York and it’s like; these drinks are to go, they only come in one size and there is no altering it. It’s just the way we do it. And I kind of like that.”

Depending on the day you visit Parlour coffee, you may taste notes of strawberry or pineapple in your beverage, much like the way you would in a glass of wine. Vik wasn’t only focused on the experience his shop would give others, but also how great his coffee would taste. It needed to be as good as the coffee he had around the globe.

Vik had a list of requirements that needed to be met before he chose what coffee to stock his shelves with. It had to be fresh, it had to be tasty, and it had to look good. The reward? The coffee isn’t over roasted, the freshness is stamped on the bag – and there isn’t an ugly package in sight.

“I don’t think I’m that snobby but I just couldn’t find what I had in other cities. I bought a home espresso machine and became really obsessive about making excellent espresso,” says Vik. “No one is pushing to do really, really proper coffee or bringing in multiple roasters or proper equipment, so that got me thinking: Winnipeg is just waiting to have something like this.”

Parlour Coffee is currently grinding, dosing, tamping, pulling, dripping, serving and selling coffee at 468 Main Street. Visit parlourcoffee.ca for more.

“LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO NOT BE SURROUNDED BY BEAUTIFUL THINGS.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | ABOUT TOWN

w

PANGÆA This DJ trio pumps out eclectic beats to a Legion of fans

andering through Osborne Village, it’s rare to stumble upon a place with low cover admission, a great crowd and no queues, not to mention great music.

Reminiscent of the Die Maschine Cabaret that used to occupy the American Apparel storefront and its upper level, the legion A.N.A.F. Club 60 at 3-433 River Avenue revives that energy twice a month with the help of local spinners that form the group Pangæa.

“We’re not necessarily trying to compete with Big Dancing (at Ozzy’s Bar and Nightclub), but we’re trying to be an alternative,” says Tony Neu of the group’s Thursday night slot.

While the popular Big Dancing occurs every Thursday, Pangæa does its thing biweekly.

Pangæa consists of three 20-something guys who met in the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Manitoba: Tony Neu, Evan Burgess (or Burglar) and Jason William (JPEG).

The DJs provide danceable music without being predictable with their libraries, and even entice sitting patrons to bob their heads to remixes of Faith Evans’ 1998 mega-hit “Love Like This” or Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’” off the 1982 Thriller album.

While many of their other songs are by artists without household names or which are harder to search online, they encourage people to ask them what song was just played.

“There’s almost always someone seeing what’s next, or asking ‘What song is this?’ and you see them on their phone right after… I think we do a pretty good job of playing stuff that we think no one has heard,” says William.

That being said, William especially, the group

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Words by BRENLEE COATES Photography by GEORGIA MORRISON

as a whole isn’t afraid to give a different take on a catchy pop song.

“I will usually drop one Rihanna song per set. I have kind of a soft spot for Rihanna,” he says.

William generally closes the night with his dance beats, and Burgess’ hip hop-driven set usually serves as a precursor.

William recently sold out of CDs at a single release party for his track, “Drown”, at Greenroom and anticipates a summer 2012 release for his complete CD. Neu likes to start the night as he often plays slower, more ambient tracks.

“As people show up, we sort of bring up the speed. You try to be appropriate,” says Neu. “A lot of it is picking songs; it’s like ninety per cent of it.”

Neu even served up some conceptual ambience at last fall’s Nuit Blanche, setting the soundtrack to the pop-up art display in a tunnel in the Exchange District. The audio was derived solely from radio noises from Berlin.

The DJs keep their libraries fresh by contributing an hour-long radio program at 11 p.m. every Friday night on the university’s radio station, UMFM (101.5 FM).

In case you miss a Thursday, you can often catch a recording compiled from their set the night before at the legion.

The Pangæa DJs update their Facebook group page with a poster to promote each show. They often feature guest DJs and encourage aspiring new DJs with good libraries to contact them to collaborate.

Find “Pangæa” on Facebook for news on upcoming events.

I’LL DRINK TO THAT “I WILL USUALLY DROP ONE RIHANNA SONG PER SET. I HAVE KIND OF A SOFT SPOT.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | ABOUT TOWN

PREP HAIR

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Sisters Chelsea and Allison have their fingers on the pulse, offering evening prep service

ike many women in Winnipeg, Chrystal Neault-Lount has trouble fitting everything into her schedule. She’s 30-something, works fulltime, and, every so often, likes to treat herself with a trip to the hair salon. But, penciling in a hair appointment doesn’t always work out.

“I like getting my hair done because no matter what I do, my hair never looks as good as it does after having it blown dry at the salon,” says Neault-Lount. “But getting to the salon is pretty hard with my schedule.”

Loads of girls like to get their hair styled for a night out, but most either don’t have the time or the cash to do it. Enter sisters Chelsea and Allison Marinelli and their new venture, Prep –– a hair salon that specializes in “blow outs.”

Blow-dry bars are the latest in salon concepts and have been very successful across Canada and the United States. No cutting, no colouring.

Just wash, blowout and go. The goal is to get you in and out quickly, and to make sure you leave looking runway-ready.

“Prep is the only salon of its kind in Winnipeg,” says Chelsea. “It’s for girls who want luxury treatment at an affordable cost; it’s like having your own private prep area before your night out.”

If you’re opening a business, it’s a bonus if you can do it in a city where word spreads like wildfire. When Chelsea and Allison mentioned the salon idea to their friends, within days, girls were booking appointments and parties to get their hair done. “Our website hasn’t even gone live yet,” says Allison. “It’s all been word-of-

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Words by SABRINA CARNEVALE Photography by SUSIE FISHER STOESZ mouth.”

By day, Chelsea is a hair stylist at 261 hair company on Lilac Street and Allison is a secondyear Creative Communications student at Red River College. By night, Chelsea and Allison rent the same salon space to accommodate Prep, which will be open solely on Friday and Saturday nights between 6 p.m. and midnight. The salon officially opened in December.

Chelsea takes care of the styling, while Allison is in charge of Prep’s marketing and online presence.

“A lot of my clients are females who go out at night. I’ve been asked to style their hair before, but my hours never really allowed it,” says Chelsea. “But with Prep, I can be available during later hours.”

Whether it’s a wash, blow out, waves, bouncy curls, sleek and straight look, or hot rollers, the girls at Prep have it on their menu. The salon also accommodates groups between five and fifteen, and, at an extra charge, they offer makeup application or touch ups, hair extensions, beverages and snacks. Chelsea says her services are less expensive than your traditional blow out/ style or updo as most salons charge $50 plus for the same service.

“We want to help girls look fabulous for their night out,” she says. “They’re in and out in thirty minutes for thirty dollars.”

Find “Prep Hair” on Facebook for more information, or call (204) 955-0934 to book an appointment.

GETCHA HAIR DID STYLIST SISTERS CHELSEA (LEFT) AND ALLISON MARINELLI.

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TH SOU BADASS BEER-SLINGING BABES THE EXGIRLFRIENDS SOAK IT UP AS FEATURED IN THE SOUND IN THE AUGUST 2010 ISSUE. PHOTO BY LISA VARGA.

HE UND

LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE SOUND

EMPTY STANDARDS

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Roots rock band hit the studio to polish their gravelly live sound into a record

he long road to the Empty Standards CD release party in December wasn’t without its bumps and turns; but that’s what gives their album Waiting Out The Flood so much character.

The Standards are a foursome born out of a group of longtime friends, who jammed regularly together before forming the band close to three years ago. Aaron Mallin sings lead and plays guitar, Rich Bolton plays bass, Sam Klassen plays drums, and Graham Crellin, last to join the band, plays lead guitar.

They describe their sound as roots rock, weaved with country, folk and blues influences. Inspiration from classic artists like Johnny Cash can be heard in tracks that simultaneously lament while remaining upbeat, such as “Love You All the Same.”

Their love of the past is also visible in the band’s style, which has a hip, throwback-look that jives well with their sound.

Recording began on Waiting Out The Flood in summer 2010, with Len Milne of Bedside Studio. It was eight months before they were back in the studio though, due to the members’ other time commitments: Bolton is a full-time masters student and the other three have full-time jobs.

“It can be pretty difficult at times, with my job especially,” explains Mallin. “When I’m working, it’s really long days, and erratic hours, and it’s difficult to make commitments for shows and stuff like that. Or even practice.”

The solution, as Crellin says, is: “Just give ‘er while we can.”

Though juggling can be hard, the group is undoubtedly progressing. In late 2009, they put out an EP for mainly promotional

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Words by MEGAN DEE BENEDICTSON Photography by DENNIS SAPONG purposes, and they admit much more sweat and passion went into this most recent recording.

You can hear the evolution.

Earlier songs are appreciable for a simpler folk sound, compared with new, highlyorchestrated, gritty tunes like “Sitting with the Devil,” a gravelly track you can slink your way across the dance floor to, or through the streets like some vintage Jarmusch character, alive in black and white.

“Recording made us a lot more polished. It brought a lot of things we had going on out, and helped us with our live show,” says Crellin.

The band collaborates on writing, although the new disc contains songs that both Mallin and Crellin wrote by themselves.

The band also welcomes outside collaborators, and their high-energy CD release show brought in artists including Alex Campbell, who performed keys on nine of the album’s 11 songs; Bill Western, who came in on pedal steel; and Jess Rae Ayre and Amber Nielson who sang back-up vocals. The show opened with a set from another Winnipeg roots rocker, Vince Andrushko.

Next up is exposing people outside of Winnipeg to their sound. The Empty Standards have played only a handful of out-of-town gigs before, so they’ve deviated from their DIY routine and hired a promoter to book a western tour for this spring. But Winnipeggers shouldn’t worry if they missed the CD release – more local shows are on the horizon.

For more on The Empty Standards, visit emptystandards.com.

SNOW MEN FROM LEFT: AARON MALLIN, RICH BOLTON, GRAHAM CRELLIN AND SAM KLASSEN.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE SOUND

imaginary cities

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Local group has found its rhythm, charting with a first album and touring internationally with the legendary Pixies Words by PAMELA ROZ Photography by LISA VARGA

orn from an attraction to a timeless voice followed by an all-night writing session, Imaginary Cities has grabbed Canadian music fans’ attention in less time than most new bands manage to survive.

Coming together in late 2009, Imaginary Cities – with their refreshingly old-school yet modern, indie-pop sound – signed to Hidden Pony Records shortly after forming. Releasing their debut album Temporary Resident just over a year ago, founding members Marti Sarbit (vocals) and multiinstrumentalist Rusty Matyas have managed to land at the top of multiple college radio charts and commercial radio lists; including CBC Radio’s Top

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50 artists of 2011.

“It’s hard to say exactly what people might like about our music because everyone has their own opinions,” says Sarbit. “I feel that it’s the combination of both mine and Rusty’s styles and backgrounds in music – the soul and the pop/rock – that pulls people in. We’re always trying to create songs that we love and hope that others will feel the same.”

Before those feelings can be formed and expressed, though, the songs need to be written: a process the band is obviously comfortable with, considering the criticial acclaim they’ve received from their first release, with media calling it

VILLAGE PEOPLE FROM LEFT: RYAN VOTH, DANA MATYAS, MARTI SARBIT, DAVID LANDRETH

“unselfconscious music” (Hour) and “anthemic and pslamic” (Paste Magazine).

“I guess you could say that it’s both organic and a process,” says Sarbit. “Organic in the sense that the original thought and basis of the song can come from anywhere and anything.

We’ve even gone into the studio with nothing and just added instruments and vocals until we feel we’ve got a final product that we’re pumped about. Once we’ve established the sound and style of the song, we’re able to delve into the real recording process.”

In these days of short musical attention spans, it may be sad to say, but fans often need more than a few spins of an album and a handful of successful radio singles to keep listening – so luckily Imaginary Cities has also had early success when it comes to touring.

The duo, along with fellow band members David Landreth, Ryan Voth and Zack Antel, have already made their mark across Canada, the United States, Australia, and Germany; even supporting the Pixies on a North American tour.

Besides the language barrier, the energy of the more distant fanbase not only matches that of fans here at home, but even

tops it in some ways.

“They’re pretty hardcore there and super devoted if they like you,” says Sarbit, of their German fans. “I don’t know what makes them show this more than other countries I’ve been to, but they have so much love for concerts and musicians, no matter how ‘big’ they are. It’s really quite amazing to be a part of that music scene.”

As with anything, success feels great, yet always comes with a bit of sacrifice. This includes the typical blood, sweat and tears that most bands contribute to their music – but it also gets a bit more personal for homegrown talent.

“I often miss the crap out of my friends and family back home. It can be especially hard sometimes not having another girl on the road with us, so I find myself really missing my close girl friends,” explains Sarbit. “I also miss having my own bed and not having to live out of a suitcase.

But, it all makes coming home that much more exciting and special.”

Imaginary Cities recently released US EP is now available.

Visit imaginarycities.ca for a free download.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE SOUND

jodi king

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Local songstress packs her life up and heads south to persue her dreams

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Words by JEFFREY VALLIS Photography by KATY WINTERFLOOD Hair by LEANNE GRAPENTINE for Berns & Black Makeup by CARLY GASPUR for Berns & Black

or emerging musicians, life on the road isn’t always glamorous. Waking up in a new city every morning and living a nomadic lifestyle with little more than the clothes on their backs can lead some artists down the dark path of addiction.

For Jodi King, it’s sour cream glazed Timbits.

“I have an obsession,” she jokes. “I’ve sort of kicked it, but it’s difficult.”

Given how much King is on the road, however, and how much she has sacrificed for her music, we can afford her the small indulgence.

She did, after all, sell the Winnipeg condo she shared with husband/bandmate Chris Rademaker, along with everything inside of it (save ten boxes of personal items), to produce her first album, Little Smile, and to pursue her dreams as a selfproclaimed “purposeful wanderer.”

“I know it doesn’t look purposeful, but it actually is,” she explains. “I love doing this so much, even though there are so many hard things that come with it. I will do whatever it takes to keep doing it, even if that means living this nomadic life.”

And the dedication is paying off. King was crowned Emerging Artist of the Month by Bell Media for her latest single “Happy,” which saw her radio airplay skyrocket. The timing couldn’t have been better, coinciding with the release of her holiday album Listen to the Angels and its lead single “Christmastime!”

“I’m really happy with how it turned out,” says King of the Christmas album, which they recorded in Los Angeles over the summer. “We decked out the studio and burned incense and tried to get in the Christmas spirit. But then you go outside the studio and it’s beautiful, gorgeous, twenty-fivedegree L.A. weather.”

It’s weather that King has become accustomed to, basing her operations primarily out of Nashville and Los Angeles for the past couple of years (industry

meccas for songwriting and recording—a process King is currently in the thick of).

“I’m definitely creating a new record, and have been for a while. I’m super excited about it,” explains King. “But in terms of the exact format it’s going to take, I still think Little Smile has legs and we’re hoping to re-release it in the States.”

Little Smile is the record that introduced us to King’s understated beauty and casual charm, its cover featuring a dressed-down King in jeans and a T-shirt. She describes her personal fashion sense as a “little bit hippy, little bit European regal.”

“I love mixing old with the new and mixing different textures. But I sort of always have this thing for long, flowy, messy hair. As long as my hair’s working, I can almost make any outfit work.”

At first glance, King seems more girl next door than Girls Gone Wild, but insists she’s more comfortable with an edgier sound and style. Most notably, King has been known to customize her band T-shirts by cutting them up—a favourite among her fan base.

“I cut all of my shirts up all the time. I think it’s partly out of trying to keep myself on a tight budget fashion-wise, and trying to reinvent the ten T-shirts I have in my suitcase for months at a time on the road.”

And while living out of a suitcase with less than a dozen shirts and a pair of scissors may be unnerving for some, King admits she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“There are pockets of highs and pockets of lows, but I’m embracing it. I’m getting to see the way people live city to city, go vintage shopping city to city, and take a little bit of each city with me. It’s just this crazy time of just pushing to live this dream.”

For updates on Jodi’s latest work, visit jodiking.com and check out Little Smile and Listen to the Angels on iTunes.

THE RUNAWAY “I WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP DOING WHAT I LOVE, EVEN IF IT MEANS LIVING THIS NOMADIC LIFE.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE SOUND

THE TREBLE

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Pop rockers wear their hearts on their sleeves and contribute to the African famine through their music

he Backstreet Boys’ ‘I Want it That Way’ was probably the best pop hit of the ’90s,” admits Colin McTavish, of local band The Treble. “I listen to absolutely every kind of music – even Taylor Swift songs are well-structured, puttogether pop songs.”

The boys of The Treble might be able to sweep you off your feet with some classic Mariah Carey, but their sound compares more to that of The Fray or Mumford & Sons. Formed in early 2008, the pop/rock band is made up of vocalist Mark Brusegard, bassist Pat Hansen, guitarist Graeme Woods, and piano man Colin McTavish.

“We never decided to start a band, we just started writing a lot of music, and then came the band,” explains Brusegard.

The early days of The Treble had the boys playing to a packed lounge of family and friends at Earls Kitchen & Bar on Pembina. Brusegard, who was bartending there at the time, hooked up the gig.

“We had a demo circulate, then played at Earls, and within the first few weeks everyone I worked with had a copy and was singing our songs at work.”

They played that very same lounge this past October during a fundraiser they organized with the Canadian Red Cross, for the largely-ignored famine in the Horn of Africa. Inspired by U.K. artist Frank Turner’s video “The Road,” the boys played 24 shows at 24 different venues across the city, in 24 hours.

“We started at 8 p.m., in retrospect we should have started at 8 a.m.,” laughs Brusegard. “By the end of it we had all been up for nearly 40 hours straight.”

“The amount of coffee I consumed was unbelievable,” adds McTavish.

The boys agree that of all the shows they played, the one outside American Apparel

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Words by SUZY BODIROGA Photography by SHEILA WAGAR in Osborne Village was among the most memorable.

“We did the sound check on low because we were worried the cops would get at us. Once we started playing, we cranked it up all the way. We just ripped it, and it was so fucking fun,” says Brusegard. “I’ll never be worried about losing my voice after that.”

As they toured around the city, the band collected fans along the way. During one show outside of Unburger, they collected an unexpected fifth member for the band.

The main drummer scheduled to perform with them that day had to bail and head to Virden. Bassist Pat Hansen ran into an old friend in the street who happened to have his drumsticks on him, so he jumped in and played along.

“At our last show, the drummer we played with wasn’t even a drummer,” explains McTavish. “It was just a house party, and he just tapped on the snare.”

The event raised more than $3,000. A music video is planned for release and will be available on iTunes, with all proceeds going to the same cause.

Aside from releasing two music videos, the boys plan on keeping busy by taking their first tour this summer, traveling east.

“I don’t really care where I end up, but I never want to stop writing music. A lot of the reason we do write music is for the people that love it and listen to it, but it’s also a part of our lives,” says Brusegard.

“It’s a really nice way to hang out,” adds McTavish. “We write music, sit around, laugh, and play something stupid. It’s better than watching New Girl on TV.” Find “The Treble” on Facebook and Myspace Music for photos, music and more.

TITLE HERE SOME KIND OF GROOVY WRITE UP HERE

FOUR ON THE FLOOR FROM LEFT: PATRICK DAVID, COLIN MCTAVISH, MARK BRUSEGARD AND GRAEME WOODS.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | LOVE LETTERS TERRY MACLEOD HOSTS INFORMATION RADIO ON CBC, BUT IT WAS DURING HIS HOSTING GIG AT THE MANITOBA MAGAZINE AWARDS THAT WE DISCOVERED HIS ADORATION FOR SANDBOX. PHOTOS BY KATY WINTERFLOOD.

NIKI TROSKY MAKES A BIG SPLASH IN WINNIPEG WITH HER PLATFORMS LOVELIFE PRODUCTIONS AND THE PLANNING/DECOR TEAM TRIPLE THREAT. WHAT’S MORE, THIS BEAUTIFUL LADY HAS BEEN A SANDBOX CHEERLEADER FROM THE START.

BY DESIGN THE STUNNING SIGOURNEY AND HER IRRESISTABLE RUBY FEATHER CREATIONS AS FEATURED IN BY DESIGN IN THE SPRING 2010 GLAMOUR ISSUE. PHOTO BY BRITTANY ALYSE.

LUCKY, LUCKY US | BY DESIGN

SHOP LIMBS OWNER CHELSEA NEUFELD SLIDES IN STYLE. PHOTO

BY LISA VARGA.

Four fashionistas who scout the thrift stores for the hidden gems so you don’t have to Words by BRENLEE COATES

Four local girls with a weakness for retail therapy have found a way to turn their spending ways into earnings.

The young entrepreneurs operate their own online shops filled with vintage apparel, accessories, and beautiful photography advertising the goods.

Leoti e Lovely LeotieLovely.com’s cute, owl maskmodeled vintage shop is just the start for Holly Rose’s transition to selling retail, and is a natural progression for her jetset life.

A former buyer for Hush and Shout Clothing in Osborne Village, Rose also spent two years interning for Alex and Alexa, an online designer kids wear boutique, in London, England.

Having learned how to start an online store from that experience gave her legs to start her own.

PHOTO: COLIN VANDENBERG

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“The reason I’m doing online is because I know how,” she says. “I’m also not good at staying in one place,” she smirks.

The world traveler is taking a business and pleasure trip to Southeast Asia beginning in January to research getting her own designs made, and to pick up fair trade jewelry from hill tribes. She also hopes to make connections in the north of Canada to incorporate authentic Aboriginal accessories into her store.

shop li mbs

PHOTO: LISA VARGA

Twenty-two-year-old Chelsea Neufeld is essentially doing the impossible. She’s a full-time student who already holds a job she loves. She makes her own hours, and she grew a job out of her hobby.

“I would go to thrift stores three-to-four times a week,” she explains. “I would pick up everything that’s beautiful – that I couldn’t necessarily wear – so I had this huge inventory of clothes.”

Neufeld used the welcoming Etsy community as a resource to help her shape her shop. Etsy is a website that helps people sell vintage or handmade gems through its network.

She received detailed, sound advice from

the shop owner of the popular Montrealbased Etsy shop, Tarantula Sisters. Now, Neufeld’s shop is impressively conceptual.

ShopLimbs.com, with the tagline, ‘your bones, in my clothes,’ features a picture of Neufeld with a skeletal overlay in its banner. Her fashion influences stem from her ’90s childhood, especially from cultural references like Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Cranberries.

“My dream would be to have my own studio that I live in, where I take the photos, everything,” says Neufeld. For now, she feels fortunate to be doing something where “every aspect of it I love,” she says.

rag & ri c h

PHOTO: MICHELLE PENNER

Winnipegger turned Torontonian Bri Foster started her Etsy shop two-and-ahalf years ago.

Foster is first a designer, then a retailer, and is about to begin sewing her fashion designs at Ryerson University in Toronto this semester.

“When I was young I used to dress in my grandmother’s clothes, and pin things and try to recreate the dresses I wore. By the time I was in junior high, I was designing purses and backpacks and stuff,” she says of her humble beginning in fashion.

Her Etsy store, Rag & Rich Vintage

Boutique, is popular with Australian and American clients, but has attracted buyers from places as diverse as the Philippines, Spain and France.

Soon, she will re-launch BriFoster Designs on Etsy to sell her original fashions. She plans on designing “classic pieces; women’s wear that can stand the test of time.”

“I do feel like fashion always comes full circle.”

For now, her early ’90s-focused vintage collection is available at Rag & Rich on Etsy.com.

chai n lighthouse

PHOTO: CHELSEA NEUFELD

Amanda Demekiu is another globetrotting shop owner who’s been greatly inspired by the sights she’s seen.

“I’ve always had sort of Southern Californian influences,” says Demekiu, of the look she gravitates to for her Etsy shop, Chainlighthouse.

Demekiu’s father resides in California, so she often spends holidays like Thanksgiving there, and spent this past Christmas there – plus, she spends her whole summer soaking up the rays and hitting its incomparable vintage shops.

Demekiu makes a point almost

every trip to hit her favourite source of inventory: the internationally-renowned Haight Street in San Francisco. “It’s kind of the Osborne Street of San Francisco,” she describes.

While Demekiu has to juggle her entrepreneurial duties with pressure to excel in school (she’s going into law), she intends to make retailing a summer priority.

“My friends always say I should drop out of school and just do fashion… I feel like I’m still in the game,” says Demekiu.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BY DESIGN

JOSE & MARKHAM

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Three diverse businessmen found a home for their custom soles in Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District

Words by SCOTT THOMAS Photography by RYAN WIBAWA

trapping on a pair of Jose & Markhams is like traveling back in time to the 1920s and purchasing a high-grade leather shoe from a fine cobbler.

It all began in 2009, when a security guard working at a local bar dreamed of finding a Canadian business partner that could help develop a male shoe line. The lynchpin of the operation, Cesar Baez, comes from a long line of leather manufacturers. His family is still heavily active in the industry, and so he set up a meeting to talk shoes with local business owner, Wade Salchert.

Longtime friend and business partner, David Lewis, was called in to help with project building.

He and Salchert were then convinced by Baez to go and get a firsthand look at his vision.

“We saw it as a vacation. If things didn’t work out, at least we would be soaking up the sun in Mexico. It truly wasn’t the worst idea,” admits Lewis.

Three days after being in Mexico, Lewis and Salchert were sold. They combined all of their resources and began to get the project rolling.

In September 2010, the visionaries created the company Jose & Markham. According to Lewis, the name itself draws on aspects of their history.

“It demonstrates the blending of cultures, and even our cresting is a reference to all our heritages.”

Salchert, Lewis and Baez then spent the next 18 months dedicated to creating a brand that would stand the test of time. While the three worked together to create nearly 60 different shoe designs, they also scoured the city for the perfect location to open their retail store. They ended up settling

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in Winnipeg’s Exchange District for a variety of reasons.

“All the partners involved in the business have an interest in the area,” says Lewis. “We want people to come down to the Exchange and to know that it’s safe.”

After getting possession in October 2011, they spent the next month reinventing the building.

The three partners worked long, strenuous days jack-hammering the plaster off the walls, building handmade wooden display cases, and putting the final touches on what you see today.

But Jose & Markham is not just a small boutique that manufactures shoes. Instead, they are here to create a new brand that will be synonymous with expectations of discerning men and what they wear. Their attention to detail on every stitch of every shoe exemplifies why this brand should be noticed.

Looking toward the future, Lewis explains that they were actively and aggressively pursing partnerships with large national retailers. Starting in February 2012, Town Shoes has distribution rights to Jose & Markham, and will be sold exclusively in Toronto.

“The main focus right now is online distribution across Canada and the United States, as well as maintaining a retail store.”

Whether dressing as a classy gentleman or for the urban boardroom, Jose & Markham covers it all with its diverse collection of handmade, highquality leather shoes.

For more information and to browse their collection, visit jose-markham.com, or visit their storefront at 73 Princess Street.

MAKE YOUR MARK KALE WEARS T-SHIRT FROM H&M, PANTS

BY FRESH JIVE FROM CONNECT FOUR, SHOES BY JOSE & MARKHAM.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BY DESIGN

w

NTHGPRMSD

Despite its name, the chromatic tees and hoodies under this label are promising trends for 2012

holehearted advice is tough to find. It is almost as difficult to find an apparel company that offers such an honest philosophy about themselves and their approach to life.

Robert Tibbs is the designer of Nothing Promised, a Winnipeg-based apparel company for men, and father of two toddlers.

Tibbs says he draws heavy inspiration from his sons, especially his eldest, Robert Jr., who is 17 months old.

“He is wild and it is natural, asking ‘why?’ to everything and anything.”

Nothing Promised (NTHNG PRMSD) does not mean don’t expect a single thing out of life; or just sit back, relax and let the world do its thing. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. Tibbs is quick to justify the meaning behind the label.

“The idea is that nothing is promised in life,” he begins. “[The line] is for the people like us who are going to out-hustle – do what we want to do – with the mentality that nothing is promised. Coming out strong, and then watching it grow,” he says.

Tibbs has a calm demeanor which pairs perfectly with his best friends and business partners Matt Ramirez and Shawn Robson.

Ramirez takes care of the promotions and distribution, sourcing out potential all around North America and putting Tibbs’ designs into action.

Robson, who holds a business administration degree from Red River College, takes care of the numbers. Of course, all three do more than their titles or a glance at the surface could tell you.

The idea for the label had been stirring for several years, but the real ‘aha’ moment to start up

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Words by RIEL LYNCH Photography by KRISTIANE CHURCH

happened about six months ago. Tibbs was showing Robson a photo blog of some designs and photos, when the question came up: “Why aren’t we doing something like this for the line?”

“I just remember being conscious of wanting different clothes at school, ones that would make people ask questions,” Tibbs explains.

The label sells T-shirts and hoodies for men, ranging from S-XXL sizes in classic, chromatic colours like grey, black, and white with bold pops of red.

Tibbs had anticipated NP’s most recent offering to sell – but not as fast or in the quantities it did.

They are currently working to re-stock the tops sellers, its hoodies.

The main focuses for Tibbs are producing a consistency in the brand and not straying from the roots of the line. Heavily influenced by street/ loungewear, as well as basketball and skate styles, it is key to the team that all the designs look realistic (when viewed on the web) and fit true-to-size.

“Ordering online sometimes is underwhelming.

We want everything to be as it looks,” says Tibbs.

“We would never want to put a huge drop out where only two are quality. I would never want to throw in the fillet.”

The trio dropped a line this past summer while working simultaneously to open up their online shop for mid-November. Tibbs is working hard to come out with several lines in 2012 and another potential drop during the winter.

“Twenty-twelve is our first full year,” he says.

“It’s a project of passion. I’m loving it everyday.”

To follow the designers and their latest work, visit nothingpromised.tumblr.com.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BY DESIGN

TONY CHESTNUT

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A chic label of sophisticated basics is conceived by one hot mama

ractical. Artistic. Androgynous. Three words that describe the works and style behind popular Winnipeg fashion line Tony Chestnut.

The label came to life when Winnipeg’s Jill Sawatzky swapped her life on the prairies for the mountains in 2005.

“I came up with the name Tony Chestnut when I was in school,” explains Sawatzky. “I wanted something that eluded that I like to use natural and organic fiber; something that was quirky; and something that people would remember.”

After graduating from the Blanche Macdonald Centre in Vancouver and completing a one-year internship with Mandula, her curiosity for design and penchant for good fabric got the best of her.

When she returned to Winnipeg, Sawatzky started designing her own clothing line.

“I love making things that can be worn in different ways,” she says. “A tunic style used as a shirt over jeans or a shirt over tights; anything that can be worn in so many different ways.”

Sawatzky, a recent mother herself, knows the importance of having clothing that is practical, yet stylish at the same time.

“I think about dressing a mom [and her needs]; something super functional, but something that makes her look beautiful and artistic.”

And though it’s hard to imagine the hectic life of an emerging designer and being a mother at the same time, Sawatzky gracefully admits it’s a challenge.

“It’s a total gong show; a complete juggling act. But I think it has a lot to do with being flexible and willing to change.”

Before having a baby, Sawatzky worked

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Words by COURTNEY RUTHERFORD Photography by LISA VARGA out of her home, but has since found studio space in the Exchange District to allow her to separate work from family life.

Currently, she’s creating her 2012 spring/ summer line, expected to be out in February.

“I’m really into the colour blocking trend. I love denim. I’m going to be hand painting and hand dyeing a lot of pieces to try and create a unique piece. Something that looks artistic and is easy to wear,” she explains.

But more goes into developing a line for consumer consumption. Before picking fabrics and cutting patterns, Sawatzky spent time studying the demographic here in Winnipeg.

“There are plenty of people here that are great, have good style, and are willing to spend money,” says Sawatzky. “People need to rotate their clothes; things are always changing.”

Despite having very few hours left in the day for personal time, she still enjoys every minute, and boasts about truly loving what she’s doing.

“Right now, I’m working like a crazy person.

I’m working alongside a local store creating a three-piece collection, hopping into my spring/ summer line, and creating an exclusive line with a blog,” says Sawatzky.

But it isn’t just Sawatzky that loves what she’s doing.

The business has seen plenty of success and growth, and Sawatzky also counts her sheer tenacity among her achievements.

“I’m proud of myself for still doing this after six years,” she says. “And the business has grown. Two years ago I started selling a lot of stuff overseas and across the world.”

Visit tonychestnut.ca for photos on Sawatzky’s newest collections and to inquire about purchasing.

“BEING A MOM AND A DESIGNER IS A TOTAL GONG SHOW.”

ONLY GIRL IN THE WORLD MODEL LAUREN SWAN ROCKS A ONE-OF-AKIND CREATION FROM TONY CHESTNUT.

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THE SC

CREEN GUTS. GORE. ORGANS. DICKS. THANK YOU, ASTRON 6.

AS FEATURED IN THE SCREEN IN THE SPRING 2011 ISSUE. PHOTO BY DENNIS SAPONG. HAIR BY ROGER MEDINA. MAKEUP BY JACKIE TSOURAS.

LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE SCREEN

BROOKE PALSSON

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The Less Than Kind star sheds her character’s braces to talk awards, dramatic acting and Proactiv

rooke Palsson enters the honeywagon carrying her Les Paul ukulele, tied with orange ribbon as a makeshift strap. It’s the last day of filming on Euphoria, a local production written and directed by Winnipegger Paula Kelly.

After much cajoling, the 18-year-old launches into her original “angry” song, complete with catchy chorus, emotive lyrics and drum taps on the uke. The song stuns the crewmembers, and then she slinks into her cast chair for routine makeup.

“I took musical theatre in my last year (of high school), and I was actually crap at it, but I loved it,” says Palsson.

Palsson is genuinely humble yet could get away without being.

A recent winner of the Best Television Performance by a Female at the 2011 Canadian Comedy Awards, the star of Less Than Kind beat out comedy vets like Corner Gas’ Nancy Robertson (nominated for Hiccups).

Palsson couldn’t make the awards because she was starring in the drama Euphoria that day in Winnipeg.

“I honestly did not expect to get it at all. I was sitting there watching TV, with Proactiv on my face, in sweatpants. (Writer) Marvin Kaye texted me, ‘You won.’ I just looked at it and my first thought was ‘Bullshit.’ And it was kind of anti-climactic because I was home alone.”

Her first, and successful, casting call was to be a ballerina extra when she was five on the Patrick Swayze movie One Last Dance. She said her first

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Words by BRENLEE COATES Photography by KATY WINTERFLOOD Hair by AMY WYNN Makeup by DANIELA BUTCURA Styled by BRENLEE COATES

line in a movie was at age eight. Her big break was undoubtedly Less Than Kind, which nurtured the career she has now.

She started filming on Less Than Kind when she was 14, and became main cast by the second season.

“The (cast and crew) were like a second family to me, so it provided a working environment that I was comfortable in,” says Palsson.

Having her dramatic turn as a home-schooled runaway in Euphoria this fall allowed her to compare the styles and realize just how at-home she is with comedy.

However, her dramatic work has contributed to her comedic craft profoundly.

She credits working with Guy Maddin on the feature Keyhole for allowing her “to come out of all the boundaries” she’d set for herself.

She played “blind and half-drowned” guide Denny in the film, and says it gave her the confidence to do just about anything.

Grounded and stable Miriam is suddenly untamed in the third season of Less Than Kind, so Palsson became uninhibited in due time. Palsson herself also left her comfort zone to pursue acting in Toronto.

It seems the actor is always getting roles where there is something off or quirky about the character, as Miriam is known for her lisp and brace face. It’s anyone’s guess why this is, but there is something about her Jim Carrey-esque facial expressions she insists on making throughout her downtime.

THE ARTIST “I WAS SITTING THERE WATCHING THE CANADIAN COMEDY AWARDS ON TV, WITH PROACTIV ON MY FACE, IN SWEATPANTS, AND I WON.” BROOKE WEARS BLOUSE FROM THE BAY, SHORTS FROM SHOPLIMBS, SOCKS BY BETSEY JOHNSON FROM WINNERS, AND SHOES FROM TOWN SHOES.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE SCREEN

JONAS CHERNICK

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The Winnipeg-bred star and writer of My Awkward Sexual Adventure knows how to push the boundaries of awkwardness and sex Words by ETHAN CABEL Photography by NATE ROLLO

etween wrapping up production on two feature films, auditioning for several television series and raising his two-year-old daughter, every minute of Jonas Chernick’s life is meticulously organized. And he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I’m one of these people, I will never allow myself to have any unstructured time. If I’m between projects, that’s an opportunity to start work on another screenplay or to write a spec TV script,” says Winnipeg-born Chernick over the phone from Toronto, where he now lives with his spouse and daughter.

This sentiment extends throughout Chernick’s expansive career. While developing a healthy acting resume in the late ’90s, he met young Winnipeg-based director Sean Garrity when he was cast in his short film, How Much for a Half Kilo?, shot over five days in downtown Winnipeg.

Between then and now, Chernick has played lead roles in all but one of Garrity’s five feature films.

“We became fast friends,” explains Chernick. “I found his vision, his directing style, his passion just invigorating and totally intoxicating. He got me so excited about film.”

Chernick has helped pen two of Garrity’s feature films: Lucid and the recently filmed My Awkward Sexual Adventure, shot in the pair’s hometown of Winnipeg.

Chernick is also a co-producer on both features.

Immediately after the filming of Kilo, the fast friends began discussing an entirely improvised feature film over late-night beers. That feature film, which was planned over the course of a year before being improvised and shot in Winnipeg, was titled Inertia (2001) after the debilitating isolation and loneliness experienced by its four protagonists.

Their next project, Lucid (2005), was the story of a psychotherapist dealing with patients suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder; and then they worked on the psychological thriller Blood Pressure, which remains

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in post-production. Their most recent feature film, the comedy My Awkward Sexual Adventure, was shot both in Winnipeg and Toronto, and posed a unique challenge.

“William Golding, a famous screenwriter, says that Hollywood films show you the world the way you want to see it...independent films unsettle you because they show you the world the way it is,” says Chernick, adding that he and Garrity have always striven for the latter. “So our great challenge was how we unsettle, how we remain true to ourselves...within the context of a comedy. The answer was really pulling back the curtain on the awkwardness of sex.”

Even while filming a groundbreaking instructional cunnilingus scene in Sexual Adventure that will likely be viewed “through your fingers,” the busy Chernick has starred in a number of successful television series like CBC’s The Border and HBO Canada’s Living in Your Car, not to mention playing the science teacher on Degrassi: The Next Generation.

The 38-year-old actor has studied theatre and film since he was seven, when his parents enrolled him in courses with what is now the Manitoba Theatre for Young People (MTYP). Eleven years later, he left MTYP and started working towards a bachelor’s degree in theatre and film at the University of Manitoba.

His experience in the university’s Black Hole Theatre Company and then The Conspiracy Network, spawned from friendships in the program, was responsible for landing him his first local television and film roles.

When Chernick got a role as the villain in an episode of YTV’s The Adventures of Shirley Holmes, he knew he was hooked on the medium.

“As soon as the cameras were rolling and I was playing this bad guy, I just knew I’d found what I wanted to do,” he says. “It doesn’t matter what I’m working on...I love acting. Period.”

JONAS BRO “...THE ANSWER WAS REALLY PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON THE AWKWARDNESS OF SEX.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE SCREEN

SCOTT FITZPATRICK

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Cute, experimental filmmaker creates tirelessly for the love of his craft Words by CONRAD SWEATMAN Photography by CHANCE TAYLOR

fter only a year or so of filmmaking, Scott Fitzpatrick has produced nearly a dozen experimental shorts, and participated in a handful of coveted festivals and film projects.

Last year, Fitzpatrick was invited to collaborate on Guy Maddin’s expansive Hauntings project, which saw him direct legendary exploitation actor Udo Kier in a short film adaptation of an unproduced script

by Allan Dwan.

More recently, he was selected to participate in the 2011 Antimatter Film Festival, where his film Cartography (chroma key vs. winnipeg) was screened, and he had the opportunity to connect with some of his favourite filmmakers like Roger Bebee.

Fitzpatrick, sounding at once modest and wry, comments that his quick entrée into this constellation of established filmmakers was made easier by the “comparatively small and insular character” of the experimental film world. He adds that he finds the local experimental scene “very inspiring,” mentioning Maddin, Clint Enns, and Aaron Zeghers as influences.

That a few senses of the word “dreamy” aptly apply to Fitzpatrick and his work makes it hard to resist this term in describing him. He bears more than a passing resemblance to Tom DeLonge of Blink 182; maybe the dreamiest dreamboats of ’90s pop punk stardom. (Travis Barker, eat your heart out.)

There’s also a sort of weird, charismatic air of detachment to Fitzpatrick. If not for his thoughtful responses, I was tempted to assume that the pregnant pauses after some of my questions suggested not that he was carefully thinking up a response, but that he was distracted by something more interesting.

Asked whether he aims to pursue a career in film, his absorbing involvement with

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filmmaking seemingly makes him no less removed from this concern.

“Well, of course, there’s little money as an experimental filmmaker. So maybe I’ll become a film professor, but I’m not really wired for that, and I dropped out of my BA in film,” he says.

Then there’s the distinctly dreamlike quality of his films, with their surrealistic situations and acute, unnatural sense of colour and movement.

“I approach filmmaking primarily as a meditative exercise, not from a narrative perspective… I’m fascinated with experimenting with momentum in film, and the potential of momentum to distract [the viewer],” he says.

In Down, shot in a single take, the camera is stationed in a mobile elevator, from which it peers voyeuristically into the bizarre activities of the dwellers of each floor. Through a neat sleight of hand involving film projectors, the director creates the uncanny impression that the direction of gravitational pull varies from floor to floor.

Cartography is a hypnotic collage of superimposed shots of downtown Winnipeg taken from the perspective of travelling cars, set to the strains of a droning jazz composition.

At the moment, though, Fitzpatrick says he is working on a more satirical project involving a pastiche of popular YouTube kitten videos and quotes from Godard’s Breathless.

While at some point he’d like to pursue an MFA with an emphasis on mixed media, he’s in no rush to get back to school.

“At the moment I’m just focused on making art, which I’m finding is easier to do working independently than in a university setting.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | LOVE LETTERS AISHA ALFA IS A MULTITALENTED PERFORMER WHO LANDS GIGS AS A COMEDIAN AND AN ACTOR. SHE WAS ALSO FEATURED IN TALENT & TITS FOR HER LIFE COACHING IN THE OCTOBER 2010 ONLINE ISSUE. PHOTOS BY KATY WINTERFLOOD.

DESIGNER AND ARTIST ANDREW BICKFORD IS A CHAMPION OF THE LOCAL FASHION SCENE AND A DESIGN FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. HIS LABEL, LENNARD TAYLOR, HAS FILLED OUR FASHION PAGES SINCE THE BEGINNING.

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WE JUST CAN’T GET ENOUGH OF THE BEAUTIFUL BUNHEAD WHO STOLE THE STAGE AS RWB’S JULIET BEFORE LEAPING ACROSS THE POND TO DANCE IN BIRMINGHAM’S ROYAL BALLET AS FEATURED IN THE STAGE IN THE SPRING 2010 GLAMOUR ISSUE. PHOTO BY BRITTANY ALYSE. HAIR AND MAKEUP BY MEGHAN KINITA. STYLED BY KRISTEN BURTON.

THE TAGE

LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE STAGE

ALTAR BOYZ

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Fringe faves return to the stage with this charming, musical comedy that will “save your soul”

eremy Walmsley couldn’t make it to the first auditions for Altar Boyz, an OffBroadway musical comedy that sold out the 2009 Winnipeg Fringe Festival. But lucky for him, director Kayla Gordon and the casting team had a disappointing Saturday audition and decided to reopen the next day to give the then unknown,19-year-old from Neepawa, Manitoba, a chance.

“We didn’t have the right guy for that main character,” explains Gordon. “Then Jeremy came in and he blew it away. He didn’t have a lot of experience, but he has that raw talent about him that was just oozing out and we knew as soon as he sang like five bars that that’s it.”

This February, Gordon and Walmsley will return along with the entire original cast of Altar Boyz for a 19-day run at the Prairie Theatre Exchange (PTE), presented by the Winnipeg Studio Theatre. The spoof concert play features a Christian boy band during a real-time performance on their last tour stop. The band aims to save all the souls in the audience in the hilarious interactive show.

“The guys are all a couple years older, they’ve been doing a lot of professional work, we all have; myself, the choreographers,” says Gordon. “I guarantee it’s going to see some changes, probably things that are going to make it cleaner, and slicker – and more fun – and take the comedy a little further.”

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Words by LINDSAY HUGHES Photography by BRAD CERASANI The 2009 production was one of Walmsley’s first professional shows, and since then his career has blown up. He looks forward, however, to returning to Winnipeg for this project.

“I try to be really productive,” says Walmsley. “I didn’t just let things happen for myself.

Altar Boyz set a really high bar for me. It made me work even harder and try to get better work and aim higher professionally.”

During the play’s run, Walmsley was first noticed on a larger scale. He says he was in the best shape of his life; improving his singing, dancing, and acting abilities.

He was seen for the first time as a triple threat in the theatre world. Since then he has been heavily involved in gigs outside of Winnipeg and Manitoba – working in theatre and music across Canada.

“Right after we were done we were like, ‘I just want to do that for the next two years.’

It’s the perfect show. Only five people in the cast; you become like a little family, you’re all brothers. It’s so fun.”

“I take a lot of pride that we sort of found him in the basement of The University of Winnipeg for this little audition,” adds Gordon.

PTE will be presenting Altar Boyz from February 22 to March 11, 2012 on their main stage at Portage Place Shopping Centre, 3rd floor - 393 Portage Ave.

HOW MANY BOYZ THERE? CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: SIMON MIRON, MARC DEVIGNE AND JEREMY WALMSLEY. MISSING: MICHAEL LYONS AND JOSEPH SEVILLO.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE STAGE

ANTIPHONY A group of young, a capella singers that took their prairie song to the Big Apple

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Words by CHRISTINE MAZUR Photography by CLAYTON WINTER

he ten members of Winnipeg a cappella sensation Antiphony have reached unlikely heights with their devotion to delivering the unexpected. They are a young, fresh-faced, self-directed troupe of classical singers – and their songs are just as unpredictable.

What really put Antiphony on the musical map last year was being chosen in an open online audition to be part of a choir that performed a new work by young American composer Eric Whitacre at Carnegie Hall in New York City. There, at the legendary hall, they sang with other choral groups from all over the world.

The experience, baritone Dan Szymanski says, “helped to solidify our position as a reputable group in Winnipeg.”

The group’s EP was nominated for several Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards last April including Best Canadian Album and Best Classical Song.

“It kind of makes you realize you really have something,” says Szymanski. “[The nominations] give you motivation to strive for bigger and better things,” adds Amanda Buhse, alto in the group.

The group plans to record a full-length CD in the upcoming year.

Though some traditional music groups might cringe at the idea of singing at weddings, Antiphony members welcome the exposure to new audiences.

“We seek out people interested in non-traditional music,” says founding member and soprano DawnMarie Hildebrand.

One of the first couples to hire them asked for “Such Great Heights” by The Postal Service which was since recorded on their EP Point in Space, and was played for weeks on HOT 103’s Locals Only show.

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Hildebrand explains the group formed in 2008 with two other singers when they realized how much they missed singing in Winnipeg’s Prairie Voices, a choir for young people aged 18 to 25.

Recently, Antiphony performed a work by fellow Prairie Voices alumnus and award-winning composer Luke Nickel at the 2011 New Music Festival in Winnipeg.

What defines Antiphony (which means “a responsive musical utterance”) is the wide range of music styles they perform.

“We don’t want to limit ourselves to one particular genre,” says Szymanski, himself a multi-faceted performer with a resume including model, voice actor, and dancer. “The members of Antiphony are not just lovers of choral music, but lovers of music in general.”

Antiphony refuses to be limited by both traditions and current fads. Hildebrand reflects on vocal shows like Glee and The Sing-Off. “I think it’s wonderful that this whole idea of choirs and a cappella is getting more recognized in the mainstream.” But the problem, she notes, is that, “it has become more focused on pop music. They never have a choir singing traditional choral or vocal jazz style.”

“I commend them for exposing the a cappella style but it contaminates the genre,” adds Szymanski. It’s [a cappella singing] a medium to express all styles of music.”

Coming up, Antiphony will perform at a fundraiser and several private events. Their annual spring concert is set for April 28, time and place to be announced.

Antiphony’s EP, Point in Space, is available on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and their website, antiphony.ca.

GANG’S (NOT) ALL HERE PICTURED IN THE PHOTO: (TOP LEFT) ANDREW KOROPATNICK, PETER KLIPPENSTEIN, DAN SZYMANSKI, DAN PEASGOOD, (BELOW) AMY BORTOLUZZI AND AMANDA BUHSE. MISSING FROM PHOTO: DAWN-MARIE HILDEBRAND, ANNA WIEBE, SCOTT REIMER AND PAULA POTOSKY.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE STAGE

BIG FUN

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Winter music festival offers a cure for the common cold Words by SADIE BEST Photography by MEGANELIZABETH DIAMOND

he words ‘music festival,’ usually evokes images of outdoor stages, feeling the blistering sun on your back, the smell of other people’s sweat mixed with sunscreen and, of course, great live music.

Big Fun, a new independent music festival that hit Winnipeg in January, held on to the great live music, but flipped the script on the rest.

Born out of a casual patio breakfast conversation at a diner in downtown Winnipeg between festival organizers Stefan Braun, Lauren Swan, Aaron Johnston, Eryn Maloney and David Schellenberg; the idea of Big Fun came together almost out of nowhere.

“I had been thinking about getting together my friends’ bands and putting on a music festival for a while. One day, we just realized we could actually do it,” says Braun.

Big Fun spanned four days in the dead of winter (Jan. 26-29), when Winnipeg is usually at its dullest, with multiple shows in multiple venues peppering the Exchange District.

“Winnipeg has these two reputations across Canada: one for having a great music and arts community, and the other for having a bitter winter. We wanted to combine these to create a music festival that represents our prairie

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town,” says Swan.

The venues aren’t your usual fest fare either, with the likes of repurposed warehouses, art galleries, lofts and churches housing each show. One of the venues, the Atomic Centre on Logan Avenue (formerly a fish-gutting factory and shipping warehouse), is now an artists’ residence and venue space – where The Lytics and Rebel Yell played Saturday night of the festival.

Featuring all local bands, and some ex-pats, Big Fun focused on showing off the great independent music Winnipeg has on tap. The festival showcases hiphop, folk, electronic and rock.

“Festivals play matchmaker between artists and music lovers,” says Alex Sannie from The Lytics. “It’s nice to see folks in Winnipeg taking more of an active role in their music scene.”

A festival pass got you into nine shows spanning the weekend for only $30, or you could pick and choose and pay a fee at the door. The organizers are already anticipating a sequel to Big Fun based on the sizzling reception the festival got from the chilled-out crowds this January.

For more information, follow the festival on Facebook, Twitter or bigfunfestival.blogspot.com.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE STAGE

HOT THESPIAN ACTION

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The comedy troupe that uses their bodies for props may soon transfer their hilarious physicality to the small screen

his ain’t your grandma’s theatre troupe.

With no sets, props or costumes, Hot Thespian Action’s completely stripped down, physical take on sketch comedy has earned them rave reviews throughout Winnipeg and beyond, recently being nominated for the 2011 Canadian Comedy Award for Best Sketch Troupe or Company.

The troupe was formed in 2006 after the three female members of the group, Shannon Guile, Jacqueline Loewen and Jane Testar, signed up for special studies classes at The University of Winnipeg in advanced mime and improv, taught by theatre and film veteran Rick Skene. The class later involved sketch writing, forcing the girls to use physicality in the place of props or costumes.

Fellow U of W students Garth Merkeley and Ryan Miller later joined the group when it came time to transform the girls’ pile of sketches into their 2006 Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival show, Hands On. To this day, the troupe’s in-depth knowledge of mime and physical comedy remains at the core of each Hot Thespian Action sketch.

“Because it had that really strong mime element, that’s where we get a lot of our flavour.

Instead of using costumes and props, we already had the mime skills to create that world ourselves,” says Testar.

“It really frees us up, and it’s a unique experience for [the audience] to imagine what we’re creating,” adds Merkeley.

The troupe credits Skene’s influence for their honest, minimalistic approach to comedy. “[Skene] was really adamant about finding the absolute truth in your comedy and your scenes,” reveals Testar. “That nugget of truth… that’s what makes you watch it and go ‘oh, I know someone

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Words by SARAH PETZ Photography by SAMANTA KATZ

like that’ or ‘oh, I’ve been in that situation before.’

That’s what we try to do, and not overcomplicate things. I think that’s one of the [best] tips he gave us.”

Ideas behind the troupe’s sketches tend to be all over the map, from everyday annoyances like the “horrible drunk girls you see at every party” in “Good Time Girls,” to Japanese horror films in :Face Your Fears.”

The best comedy, however, always comes from really strong love or really strong hate, Testar points out.

“And hate is usually more fun,” she laughs.

Beyond their live performances, Hot Thespian Action has also produced a series of web videos in an attempt to expand their audience outside of the ‘Peg. Translating the group’s sketches to film was not an easy task, the troupe says, given the simplistic, highly physical nature of their performances on stage.

“I find on stage, you feed off your audience a lot of the time. The choices you make on stage are usually based on getting a laugh,” explains Miller.

“Whereas when you film it, the only people you’re interacting with are each other.”

The troupe recently finished the first draft of their TV pilot. If all goes according to plan, Hot Thespian Action may make the leap from the stage to the small screen within the next year.

Merkeley compares the process to one of life’s greatest joys: “It was like having a baby. It was quite creatively exhausting.”

To preview the troupe’s previous skits, visit hotthespianaction.com. And be sure to check them out at the 2012 Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival this summer.

SOME LIKE IT HOT FROM LEFT: GARTH MERKELY, SHANNON GUILE, JACQUELINE LOEWEN, JANE TESTAR AND RYAN MILLER

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | CANADA STREET

VICTORIA PHOTO: MARIO SZABO

BRETT, TORONTO. PHOTO: SOPHIA LAVERGNE

VICTORIA PHOTO: MARIO SZABO

JANESSA, WINNIPEG. PHOTO: CINDY TITUS

ROBERT, WINNIPEG. PHOTO: CINDY TITUS

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VICTORIA PHOTO: MARIO SZABO

VICTORIA PHOTO: MARIO SZABO

VICTORIA PHOTO: MARIO SZABO

ROBERT, WINNIPEG. PHOTO: CINDY TITUS SANDBOX MAGAZINE 2012

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COVER MODEL FLO STRIKES THE PERFECT CHORD AS FEATURED IN THE SPRING 2011 ISSUE. PHOTO BY BRITTANY ALYSE. MAKEUP BY DANIELA BUTCURA. HAIR BY ROGER MEDINA.

BEAUTY

MOUSTACHE MOTIVATION Photography by Kirsten Edelvang-Young.

Get some inspiration from these local studs on moustache etiquette.

First Step: Cleanse your face.

Not only will using a cleanser to wash your face remove dirt that’s left behind, it can also help with any skin conditions you may need to correct from dry to oily skin. Mark suggests a good starter cleanser like the Lab Series Power Wash “This foaming cleanser removes dirt and leaves your skin clean and ready to shave.”

Second Step: Reduce irritation.

here comes the groom First impressions are important, especially when it comes to meeting a new face. So, skincare guru Mark Westman is sharing a few tips to help you gents make a lasting one.

Photography by K. RIFKIND PHOTOGRAPHY. Makeup by NICOLE AVILKINOZA. Hair by CAIT BOUSFIELD.

Make sure to protect your skin when shaving with a cream, gel or oil.

Jack Black’s Supreme Cream Triple Cushion Lather is a mouthful, but Mark recommends it for “hydrating while protecting the skin against razor burn and cuts.”

Third Step: Eye care.

The skin around your eyes is more fragile and sensitive than your face which is where the first signs of aging appear. “There’s two things you can do for your eyes here, ” says Mark. For a quick fix, “Biotherm Homme has a High Recharge Eye Serum for those late nights. This innovative eye pen (with a cooling metal roller ball) can go under any eye cream, and erases dark circles while reducing the signs of fatigue.” For long-term results Mark recommends the Anthony Logistics for Men Eye Cream “This anti-aging eye cream reduces the appearance of dark circles while fighting puffiness.”

Fourth Step: Rehydrate.

Last but not least, even if you’re oily, rehydrate your skin. “Jack Black has an All Day Oil Control Lotion that contains ingredients to help reduce the production of oil. It is a light-weight moisturizing lotion that quickly absorbs into the skin.” And for your dry skin dilemma, Mark’s other recommendation is Biotherm’s Homme Aquapower Moisturizer “This moisturizer will leave your dry skin hydrated all day.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BEAUTY

Loving all the hot new ’dos but don’t know how to achieve them?

Roger Medina breaks it down so you can rock it out.

hair and now Hair by Roger Medina. Makeup by Michael Kovalik. Styled by Daniela Butcura and Meaghan Waller. Photos by Mike Latschislaw for Latsch Studios. Words by Roger Medina.

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MORGAN’S CROWN, SKULL EARRINGS AND CLAW NECKLACE

BY BRYAN JOHNSON CREATIONS. RING, DRESS AND WEDGES FROM HUSH.

Lights Go Out

Start by parting your bangs on your preferred side aligned to the top of your ear, and bring it over to the opposite side for a heavy bang. Then, bring all of your hair to one side and braid the hair together.

For the distressed edgy braid, backcomb the braid upwards and don’t forget a little mist of aerosol finishing spray so that it lasts (till the lights go out.)

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BEAUTY

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Shave

Cornrow/braid any side of your head and use pomade if you need help keeping those flyaways down.

Don’t forget to be creative. Curl the remainder of the hair that isn’t braided with a one-inch barrel curling iron or your flat iron.

Once you’re done, comb it all out with a widetooth comb and set with an aerosol finishing spray.

PAIGE WEARS MINI CROWN COMB HEART EARRINGS, BOX NECKLACE, MAYAN SKULL RING, AND CHAIN BRACELET BY BRYAN JOHNSON CREATIONS. DRESS AND LEATHER JACKET FROM PARAMIX. WEDGES FROM HUSH.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BEAUTY

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The Princess Bride

Prep by spraying an aerosol pliable hairspray throughout the hair before starting, use a triple-barrel curling iron and start your way from the back of your head to the top in twoinch sectional partings. For the finished result, use a wide tooth comb to brush out the curls for a more naturally full, curly look.

JAELAN’S BARBWIRE CROWN, WOOD SKULL EARRINGS, AND BRACELET BY BRYAN JOHNSON CREATIONS. NECKLACE FROM RHYMES WITH ORANGE. RING AND SHOES FROM HUSH. DRESS FROM PARAMIX.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | LOVE LETTERS

ALISON DAVIS WITH SANDBOX’S LITTLEST FAN, PRINCESS ZOE, PROVE THAT FASHION MAG LOVERS COME IN ABSOLUTELY ALL AGES. PHOTOS BY KATY WINTERFLOOD.

RESIDENT COMEDY EXPERT AT RED RIVER COLLEGE, KENTON LARSEN USED TO WRITE FUNNIER JOKES THAN THIS FOR THE CONAN O’BRIEN SHOW. HE ALSO TAUGHT THE ENTIRE SANDBOX TEAM EVERYTHING THEY KNOW (ABOUT ADVERTISING AND COMEDY WRITING).

TALENT & TITS THE BEAUTIFUL REBECCA TRAUB WALKS LIKE AN EGYPTIAN AS FEATURED IN THE AUGUST 2010 ONLINE ISSUE. PHOTO BY IZABELA RACHWAL. MAKEUP BY JESSICA KMIEC. HAIR BY KITTY.

MELISSA

LUCKY, LUCKY US | TALENT & TITS

s

SIEBEN

Though she’s the youngest player on her team, 19-yearold Melissa Sieben is a ring leader in her own right

chool, train, school, train, work, train, school.

Exhausted yet? Welcome to the life of Melissa Sieben.

She’s a terror on a pair of skates who’ll school you in ringette any day.

“We literally never stop,” says Sieben while on a break at her part-time job in retail. “I play on Prairie Fire. The league is split up into eastern conference and western conference and I think right now we’re first place in the western conference.”

It’s the Winnipegger’s first year on the National Ringette League team. Regular season runs from September through April.

“We’re guaranteed a spot to nationals this year, which is exciting. So we go to BC in April.

Hopefully we’ll do well.”

It’s a sport that’s still unfamiliar to many, even in our hockey-obsessed city. While the two sports have some parallels, ringette is largely played by women, with a ring replacing a puck. While it’s not an Olympic sport, its popularity has exploded in the last few decades.

“I think it’s a more feminine sport than hockey.

They can hit in hockey. We have contact, but you can’t just go full-blown hit someone into the boards.”

Training is a way of life for Sieben. She first took to the ice on figure skates before her parents put her into ringette at the age of four.

“I was never into figure skating,” says Sieben. “I only went to a couple practices, but I just wasn’t into it. I’ve always liked being on teams and having friends, so ringette was just my calling.”

The 5’6” brunette has excelled at the sport, travelling to Europe at just 16 while playing for the junior (U19) Team Canada. But her sights are set on taking her game to the next level.

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Words by TANIA KOHUT Photography by DENNIS SAPONG “My ultimate goal would be to play for the senior Team Canada team one day. That’s what I’m striving for.”

At 19, the University of Manitoba student is the youngest player on her team.

“Because I’m the youngest, I feel like I have to prove myself,” says Sieben, who says the average age of her teammates is mid-20’s, with only three rookies on the team.

“We just have to prove our play and show that we can play at this level and we can keep up with the girls that are a lot older than us.”

Along with falling into the land of reality television and cranking country music to destress, she counts on her family, friends and her boyfriend of two and a half years to help keep her sanity.

“They’ve definitely always been supportive.

Even when it’s freezing out, they always come out.”

While she confesses she usually lives in sweat pants, she was ecstatic to shed the comfort clothes for her turn in front of SANDBOX’s camera.

“I loved it! It was nerve-racking because I’ve never done something like that before but it was cool. I definitely like getting glammed up because I’m always in sweats going from sport to sport.”

While the sport is a huge part of her life, the rigid training and sacrifices that come along with being a high-level athlete has shaped the person Sieben’s become.

“I guess ringette has made me who I am in a sense. I get my whole competitiveness from ringette. Even in a job or school setting, I love working in groups and on teams because I learned that through ringette. It’s kind of taught me how to work with people and how to be a leader.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | TALENT & TITS

STEPHANIE

RUTHERFORD

J

Local dance sensation takes her contemporary moves to Toronto.

ust like the stars of ’80s musical dramas, it would seem, Stephanie Rutherford was destined to be a dancer.

She moved to Toronto shortly after turning 20, where she supported herself from the beginning exclusively through dancing. It was a year-and-ahalf before she put a creation of her own on stage, although today she works almost exclusively as a freelance choreographer.

“The first eight months I lived here, I only did professional dance gigs, so no choreography. I was too scared at that point.”

Born in Winnipeg, Rutherford, now 23, trained mostly at Focus Studio Dance with Barbara Daurie.

“She’s incredible,” Rutherford vouches.

She began training at three, and at 18, Rutherford spent two months in Los Angeles where she trained daily, eventually returning to Winnipeg. What came next, she explains, was terrible.

“I was planning to move to Toronto, but then my grandparents passed away out of nowhere due to heart failure and stroke. I was so close with them. They really were like a second set of parents to me.”

Rutherford stayed in Winnipeg where she decided, for the first time, to choreograph her own show to raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada. The show was held at the Gas Station Arts Centre and dedicated to her grandparents. A company of ten dancers performed for two nights to a soldout audience, and each evening ended in a standing ovation.

“After my first show, I started to think ‘Oh... I am not too bad at this,” she laughs.

In fact, her choreography is nothing short of brilliant – and the industry seems to agree. This past summer, she was profiled on MTV Canada.

Describing the experience as surreal, Rutherford explains that dancers were filmed performing her choreography and she was interviewed about her work.

She has also worked with dancers from So You

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Words by KRISTY HOFFMAN Photography by RILEY STEWART Digital retouching by ROBYN NOWOCZIN Think You Can Dance Canada and was selected to partake in Toronto’s Original Choreographer’s Ball – an event created to celebrate and bring the finest dance talent together under one roof. Additionally, Canadian YouTube sensation Lynzie Kent asked Rutherford to choreograph her debut music video: a project that required six dancers and was completed in summer 2011.

“My heart lies in choreography, I can’t just not do it,” she notes.

Though Rutherford says she will be “beyond happy” if she is able to do nothing but choreograph dance for the rest of her life, she also expresses a desire to possibly have a company of her own in the future, noting financial support for her dancers as a priority.

“A lot of the contemporary company work that happens in Canada is really bad pay for the dancers; they put in so much work, so much effort. I want to be able to properly support my dancers first before diving into a company.”

Her choreography, contemporary in style, borrows from ballet and employs some elements of jazz.

Available for preview on her YouTube channel, UnrefinedSteph, the movement is evidently mature not only in level, but in theme.

“I had to grow up really fast in the choreography industry. A lot of the big choreographers are in their thirties, so, in terms of networking and stuff, I’ve had to grow up because I won’t book jobs unless people think I am ready for it and that I am mature enough.”

Currently, Rutherford supports herself off choreography alone and works mostly freelance jobs.

She teaches a drop-in class at Metro Movement, a school for professional dancers in Toronto and her classes, she notes, are almost always full.

“I moved to Toronto with no friends and no connections out here, so it’s been kind of rewarding how hard I’ve worked and that it’s paid off.”

Watch Rutherford’s previous work on her official YouTube channel, “UnrefinedSteph.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | TALENT & TITS

VANESSA WILKINSON

F

This young beauty earned top ranks from a local wedding magazine for her home business.

lowers may not be the first thing most people think of in the middle of winter when snow covers every garden in the city. But for 24-year-old Vanessa Wilkinson, flowers are more than just a sign of warmer weather.

“My mom is a florist so she definitely had a big influence on me,” explains the pretty brunette, who started a budding flower arrangement business on her own just a few years ago.

“I worked in a flower shop through high school, up until a couple of years ago. I really loved it. Even though I was basically a gofer at first, during the busy seasons they’d let me do some arrangements as well, and that’s how I started to learn.”

Wilkinson runs her business out of her home, putting together beautiful centerpieces only when she is not busy with her full-time job.

“I am a receptionist for Bell Media and I also do respite work once a week. Right now the flower business is a nice supplementary income, but we’ll see where things go. I really enjoy it,” says the busy Wilkinson.

But it was a favour for a friend that sparked the smoky-voiced beauty’s interest in branching off on her own.

“My close girlfriend asked me to do the flower arrangements for her wedding a few years ago and things kind of took off from there,” explains Wilkinson, who mostly operates by word-of-mouth and friends’ referrals.

The wedding arrangements did not go unnoticed and ended up gracing the pages of a local wedding magazine.

“This fall, the editor of the magazine did a feature on flower arrangements and she picked my bouquet as her favourite. It’s nice to get recognition for it,” says Wilkinson.

The bouquet in question featured the bride’s

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Words by RHEANNE MARCOUX Photography by REJEAN BRANDT Hair & Makeup by RACHELLE LAZAR

favourite foliage, dusty miller, and an assortment of beautiful pastel flowers including two types of roses and rice flowers. “It was very vintage and elegant,” says Wilkinson of her work.

Though she says that juggling two jobs has been manageable so far, with seven weddings booked already in the coming months, Wilkinson will be busy in 2012.

“It’s going to be pretty crazy. It’s so enjoyable, though, that I really don’t mind,” she laughs.

A small wedding will take her about two hours to make the flower arrangements. But larger ones can take up to a week.

“I did one this November at Fort Gibraltar that had 13 centrepieces. There were flowers all over the house; I had to start with the foliage, then arrange the flowers and wait until they bloomed,” she explains. “So it can definitely take a long time. But the biggest concern was to make sure the cats didn’t eat the flowers!”

And Wilkinson does it all on her own. Well, almost.

“My dad is my delivery driver. When we have big centrepieces like the November wedding, it can be quite the carload. The car was packed with flowers!”

Everything she’s learned, Wilkinson credits to her mother and to Macyk’s Florist, a family-owned business with two stores in the south end of the city.

Wilkinson knows all there is to know about flowers – the different varieties, how to care for them, how long they stay fresh and which are best suited to a customer’s particular occasion. She has seen many stunning blossoms since she started working at Macyk’s at the age of 15 ¬– but her favourite?

“Oh God, if I had to pick one… White lilies – they’re so pretty and sophisticated, and they smell incredible.”

Vanessa can be contacted for photos of her work and event quotes at info@preciouspetalswinnipeg.com.

VINTAGE FLORAL -PRINT DRESS FROM RHYMES WITH ORANGE. LEATHER DRAGONFLY BELT BY ADAN BALLOU.

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BEA M

AUTIFUL MAN THIS HOCKEY HOTTIE WAS (AND ALWAYS WILL BE) OUR DRESSING ROOM CRUSH JOEL MARCOUX AS FEATURED IN BEAUTIFUL MAN IN THE JANUARY 2010 ONLINE ISSUE. PHOTO BY ANNA BORYS.

LUCKY, LUCKY US | BEAUTIFUL MAN

JAMES STRUTHERS

R

Strumming sweetheart James Struthers is worth a second look, and listen

emember 1989? The Berlin Wall came crashing down, Nintendo introduced the first Game Boy, The Simpsons graced our televisions, and a young man named James Struthers was born.

He’s had a song featured on Keeping Up with the Kardashians, is on regular rotation on radio stations, has toured the country five times, and, narrowly escaped a straw fire (read on).

As I met James at my local Starbucks for the first time, he greeted me and gave me a hug. Then, he did for me what no other man had ever done for me – especially not on a first date. He promised to tune my ukulele.

Now that’s a quality gentleman.

Aisha Alfa: You had a song on the Kardashians’ reality TV show? That pretty much means you’re famous now. How did you get started on your road to celebrity?

James Struthers: Not famous, yet. But I started as a classically-trained pianist. I took up the guitar when I was in high school and learned all the staples. I was always into writing, so when I got bored of ’90s rock covers, writing original music was a natural progression.

AA: From piano to guitar to ukulele, your instruments seem to be getting smaller as you progress!

Truth is, nothing says manly like a tiny guitar.

JS: I picked up my ukulele on the way to a particularly long promotions shift and ended up writing “Together Again” on a couch in the food court at St. Vital Centre.

Boredom breeds creativity.

AA: How would you describe your music to people who haven’t heard it?

JS: It’s acoustic-based, singer/songwriter music with pop sensibilities. My producer and I start with “good songs” and then find a production style that does the song, and my brand, justice.

AA: Seems logical. I’d assume you’d have a much harder time marketing an album of bad songs. So what makes a “good song” to you?

JS: It’s anything someone can connect to or relate to. I

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Words by AISHA ALFA Photography by RYAN WIBAWA

want them to hear a line and think, “I’ve felt that before” or “I want to feel that.” I get frustrated when I hear people bashing a specific genre of music – for example, bands like Nickelback – but sometimes it’s a rejection of their brand, not their music.

AA: So you’re Nickelback’s #1 fan? Duly noted.

JS: (laughs) No, but production, style, and branding can be difficult for us to separate from the song itself, and that has a lot to do with how a song is commercially experienced.

AA: Sounds like you are a triple threat: singer/ songwriter, business-savvy marketer, and fire escape artist? Tell me about your blog post that detailed your harrowing fire escape while touring.

JS: We were staying in a sustainability farm in Knowlesvillle, New Brunswick and they put us in a house that was made of hay, plaster and wood. The place was heated with a wood stove and we left a newspaper on the stove when we went up to bed. Saying it now just makes us sound really stupid! Luckily, we were able to put the fire out in time, but had we gone to bed a few minutes earlier the story ending might not have been as happy!

AA: Lesson learned: the later you go to bed, the safer you are from straw fires. Now one last question, your album Nadia is about your first loving relationship. Will you ever love again?

JS: Absolutely. I just haven’t found that next someone yet. I was at a crossroads, and I made the decision to end the relationship and move home (I was in Kelowna at the time), and, as you’ll hear on the record, I spent a lot of time wondering if it was the right decision or not.

I’m not much for what ifs though, and I’m happy where I am and looking forward to the future.

Visit jamesstruthers.com for music, photos and to watch the video for James’ latest single “You, Me and Optimus Prime” (hence, the reason for the gratuitous Transformers themed photo shoot).

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BEAUTIFUL MAN

JASON

WISHNOWSKI Small business owner, and part-time model and actor is the sexiest kind of triple threat

H

andyman, Winnipeg Jets fan, and one hundred per cent Ukrainian.

So, by the sounds of it: every one of my white friends’ dads. But, ladies and gentlemen, that is where the similarities between middle-aged white guys and Jason Wishnowski end.

This young Ukrainian runs his own renovations company, models, acts, and still finds time to grab a burger at Unburger (where he had a hand in the design and concept).

Indeed, Wishnowski, with his debonair charm, lives a life of leisure, in which his biggest stress is pulling off a sex scene with a beautiful actress in a TV series. Tough life.

Aisha Alfa: How is your renovations business going? I would assume, given that you’re the textbook definition of the hot renovation guy fantasy, it’s going fairly well.

Jason Wishnowski: I am my own boss, so I have a lot of flexibility. It means I get to choose to do modeling and acting when I want and still have my business. I’ve also got great teammates in life, like my wife [of nine years] Lindsay. She’s always there for me to support what I’m doing.

AA: All single women and hopeful gay men have just stopped reading. You have a lot on your plate: renovations, acting and modeling. How did you get your start?

JW: When I was young some friends told me they were getting paid to have their photo taken and I thought, “Why isn’t everybody doing this?” Then, I was doing renovations and Liz from Swish Model Management saw me working on the job. I got a call the next day for a modeling gig.

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Words by AISHA ALFA Photography by REJEAN BRANDT AA: Did you have your top off while you were doing the renos, by chance?

JW: No, I had my pants off! That’s my calling card – no pants while I work!

AA: Well, if you’re looking to attract new clientele, that’s a good way to do it. So when did you get the acting bug?

JW: My very first acting role was a commercial for canola where I played a farmer.

AA: You as a farmer? Yep, still a sexy mental image. You were also in the feature film Mother’s Day. What else have you done?

JW: I’ve been in Faces in the Crowd with Milla Jovovich [and a few other projects including] Cashing In, which was my first principle role, and my first sex scene.

AA: Sounds like a great first day at work to me!

JW: It was so stressful! I had to pretend to have sex with this good-looking and talented actress that I didn’t even know! We went to dinner the night before to get to know each other and set out the boundaries for the shoot.

AA: Sounds like the most awkward first date. Ever. Did anything funny happen? Like things popping out? Or, up… if you know what I mean.

JW: (laughs) No! I think Keanu Reeves said it well when he said, “You just have to say ‘Excuse me if I get excited’ or ‘I’m sorry if I don’t,’ you know?” In the end, it’s all very business-like. You just do your thing for like 30 seconds and then sit back and wait for direction.

AA: Sounds like a lot of men in bed.

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BEAUTIFUL MAN

SKENE BROTHERS

T

These inseparable brothers are part of a busy stuntman company, coordinated by none other than the leading man of their family

here’s something about ruggedly handsome men – who leap off of buildings and jump out of speeding vehicles – that is so irresistible. So, when I met stunt brothers Sean and Daniel Skene, both undeniably charming and annoyingly straight (boo!), it was love at first sight.

But adventurous personalities and brass balls aren’t all these sexy siblings have to offer. After meeting for only a brief time, I realized the playful dialogue and witty banter between the two brothers was entirely engrossing and completely amusing. So I let them carry on. This is the result.

On growing up in a stunt family: Sean: We were kind of our dad’s guinea pigs in the beginning. He would test new harnesses on us and make us climb trees.

Dan: Allow us to jump off the garage when we were eight.

Sean: It was pretty damn fun.

Dan: We have a really tight-knit family. Some families work together, but it’s different if you’re working in an office with your family or if you’re on fire and your brother’s holding a fire extinguisher.

The stuff we do and how we protect each other, it brings working with your family to a whole other level.

On trusting your fears: Dan: Our dad always said that fear is a sign of intelligence. If you’re scared, you’re acknowledging what you’re about to do and you understand it.

Sean: I don’t like big bugs, like moths. Small moths are fine, but the big moths… When you can kind of hear what it would sound like if you stepped on them. That’s what I don’t like.

Dan: Water snakes freak me out more than anything. Snakes that can swim… I don’t even want to talk about it. I’ll jump off a building 18 times before I’ll even look at a water snake.

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Words by JEFFREY VALLIS Photography by DENNIS SAPONG Shot on location at Vertical Adventures On the ideal girl: Dan: I don’t know. Mine seems to change a lot.

Sean: Just describe your girlfriend, probably.

Dan: Honestly, I’d have to go personality over anything. I like someone who’s genuinely nice and has big heart – and funny. You’ve got to be funny.

Sean: I like down-to-earth, athletic, stay-at-home girls. They’re tough to find, though, because they’re always at home.

On dating a Skene: Sean: I don’t go on a lot of dates, honestly. That’s probably why I don’t have a girlfriend.

Dan: He stays at home and tries to find other people who are staying home, out of his window.

Sean: It’s tough. It’s a tough life.

On mastering manliness: Sean: I’m going to take this one. I’m so manly.

Dan: I don’t know? Who shaved their chest today?

Sean: I shaved my chest today. I did. Who can grow a moustache? I can.

Dan: We win in different columns of manliness.

On being funny: Sean: I rarely speak in a non-sarcastic tone. I did standup comedy for about a year. I’ve been saying I’ll do a new set and come back to it. Soon, I’ll be back soon. Watch out 2012.

Dan: Breakout year.

On their annoying habits: Dan: I don’t like how many Popeye candy sticks he eats. That’s kind of weird. He pretends like he’s smoking them every time. And whenever he gives me one, I’m not allowed to eat it until he lights it.

He has to mime lighting it before I’m allowed to eat it. It’s really annoying.

Sean: I smoke Popeye candy sticks. It’s a bad habit! That’s how I pick girls up at the bar. I ask if they want a smoke.

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FASHION WIG OUT, GIRL. AS FEATURED IN THE JULY 2010 ONLINE ISSUE. PHOTO BY VALENTIN MITTELSTET. MAKEUP BY JESSICA KMIEC. HAIR BY TINA SONTAG. STYLED BY MADISON ROSAS.

MARIO PARTY PEACH’S WHITE GLOVES, HUSH; SALMON-COLOURED SHEER BLOUSE, HUSH; PINK TIERED SKIRT, RAGPICKERS; MARIO’S RED DRESS SHIRT, VALUE VILLAGE; RED HAT, VALUE VILLAGE; JEANS, MODEL’S OWN

GAME

ON

Photography by IZABELA RACHWAL, Hair by MELISSA BORTOLUZZI AND ANDREW OLIVER, Makeup by AIMEE CARDINAL FOR ANTIDOTE BEAUTY AND CHELSEA SANDERSON, Styled by VANESSA KUNDERMAN, CHELSEA NEUFELD AND EMILIE HAYWARD, Words by VANESSA KUNDERMAN When I think of a gamer, this little cloud pops into my mind of a greasy teenage boy clad in glasses, a macaronistained T-shirt and an Xbox controller permanently sandwiched in his hand.

In reality, 40 per cent of gamers are female, and 37 per cent of those are women over the age of 18 according to pbs.org.

According to financial firm Wedbush Morgan, just a 5 per cent increase in female gamers could equal up to one billion dollars of new revenue for the industry per year.

So where are females exhausting their gaming skills? Thanks to new features on Facebook and smartphones, the players logging in and dueling are gals on the go.

Girl-geared company Silicon Sisters Interactive houses two of the gaming industries most influential contenders: Brenda Bailey Gershkovitch and Kirsten Forbes. In 2009, SSI became the first Canadian studio to be owned and operated by females.

What's their M.O.? With a onebillion dollar growth opportunity, games dedicated to tech-savvy chicks is embarassingly under-serviced.

"At various times in our careers, we’ve longed to make games that are specifically geared towards gals. With the rise of the Wii, the success of WoW among the female audience, the proliferation of smartphone gaming, and the incredible growth in casual and social games, 2009

was an obvious embarkation point," says CEO Brenda Bailey Gershkovitch.

Since the upturn in simulation games such as the ever popular Sims games, women are playing longer and more often. Electronic Arts claims that as much as 60 per cent of sim-lovers are girls.

SSI acknowledges that girls don't only play games revolving around shopping or becoming more popular, though they definitely don't need to play eight hours of zombie assasination or car thieving.

We spend our simoleons wisely and don't waste our time on games that threaten with the powerphrase GAME OVER.

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XMEN VS STREETFIGHTER LIU KANG’S BLACK SWEATPANTS, VALUE VILLAGE; RED SASH, FABRIC LAND; ROGUE’S BROWN BOOTS, TOWN SHOES; BRIGHT GREEN PANTS, OUT OF THE BLUE; YELLOW SHIRT, OUT OF THE BLUE; BROWN LEATHER JACKET, SHOUT

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TOMB RAIDER LARA CROFT’S GREEN T-SHIRT, VALUE VILLAGE; BLACK SHORTS, SHOPLIMBS.COM; HOLSTERS, GAGS UNLIMITED

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GOLDEN GUN JAMES BOND’S BLACK SUIT, VALUE VILLAGE; WHITE DRESS SHIRT, VALUE VILLAGE; GOLDEN GUN, GAGS UNLIMITED

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ZELDA LINK’S BROWN BOOTS, BROWNS; WHITE TIGHTS, GAGS UNLIMITED; MOSSCOLOURED DRESS, OUT OF THE BLUE; FORESTGREEN BLOUSE, HUSH

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GOLDEN

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N GIRLS

Falling in love with beautiful models is one of the more enjoyable occupational hazards of working on a magazine. And although we’ve crushed hard on all the beauties that have graced our pages, we had to invite some of the notables back. The following are five stunning women who possess not only head-turning beauty, but brains, humour and kindness that have us head over heels.

Photography by LISA VARGA, Hair by HALEY GOLIN FOR BERNS & BLACK, Makeup by JESSICA KMIEC FOR SEPHORA, Styled by CHELSEA NEUFELD, Words by BRADEN ALEXANDER

YEWBNESH SHESHERO AGE: 19 FRESH-FACED AND BARELY LEGAL, YEWBNESH IS A LOULOU MAGAZINE FAVOURITE WHO’S GOT HER SIGHTS SET ON WORKING IN THE US OF A. YOU MAY REMEMBER HER FROM THE WINTER 2011 ANNIVERSARY ISSUE.

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HILARY TAYLOR AGE: 21 SWEET AS PIE, HILARY TAYLOR HAS HER NOSE DEEP IN LAW BOOKS WHEN SHE’S NOT CONQUERING THE ASIAN FASHION SCENE. OUR FAVOURITE HILARY MOMENT IS FROM OUR FALL 2010 SHOOT “CLEAN SLATE,” WHEN SHE DONNED THE COVER IN LENNARD TAYLOR’S ORIGINAL DESIGNS.

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KIRAN BRAR AGE: 22 FIRST-YEAR MED STUDENT KIRAN DIDN’T PUT ON AN ACT FOR OUR SPRING 2011 SHOOT “BRAIN POWER,” BUT DID POSE AS JULIET FOR THE MANITOBA THEATRE CENTRE’S ADS FOR ROMEO AND JULIET.

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AKOSUA KNOWLES AGE: 22 FLOWER CHILD AKOSUA (WHOSE NAME EVEN COMES FROM A DAY OF LEISURE) SPENDS MORE TIME STUDYING THE HUMAN BODY THAN WORKIN’ HER OWN. WE’LL NEVER FORGET HER MOMENT IN THE SUN, IN THE LAST GIRLS OF SUMMER SHOOT, FROM THE AUGUST 2010 ONLINE ISSUE.

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HEIDI DYCK AGE: 23 WHEN SHE ISN’T ALMOST GETTING TRAMPLED BY A STALLION IN “LET IT FALL” FROM THE FALL 2010 ISSUE, SHE’S GRACING THE PAGES OF THE LIKES OF GLAMOUR AND VOGUE ITALIA, AND REPRESENTING BIG FASHION HOUSES LIKE BETSEY JOHNSON.

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GIRLS GOT WAG WITH ANGLES TO DIE FOR, THE WINNIPEG ART GALLERY SERVES AS THE BACKDROP FOR AN ELEGANT LOOK FROM OUT OF THE BLUE. SHOES MODELS OWN.

In this, our departure issue, we pay tribute to Winnipeg classics: the places, the style houses, and the face that have become local icons. Five architechural staples, five sartorials sources, and one unforgettable face that, together, are the stuff of Winnipeg legends.

WINTER CITY LEGENDS Photography by IZABELA RACHWAL, Hair by HANNA LITTLE FOR ANGLES HAIR SALON, Makeup by MICHAEL KOVALIK, Styled by CASEY DOWNES, Words by BRADEN ALEXANDER.

ON THE LEDGE OF GLORY THERE’S HARDLY A BUILDING MORE EMBLEMATIC OF MANITOBA THAN THE LEGISTLATIVE BUILDING. HERE, SARA IS PERFECTLY POLISHED IN A LOOK FROM HUSH. FUR COAT, STYLIST’S OWN.

IN GOOD COMPANY ALTHOUGH ITS FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN, THE BAY DOWNTOWN REMAINS A HISTORIC CENTRE FOR FASHION IN WINNIPEG IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE MODERN BEST FROM LOCAL LABEL TONY CHESTNUT. SHIRT, RAGPICKERS; SKIRT, STYLIST’S OWN.

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CLAIM YOUR STEAK TEETERING BETWEEN SOPHISTICATED AND SILLY, THE ALL-RED INTERIOR OF RAE AND JERRY’S STEAKHOUSE IS AN UNDENIABLE FIXTURE OF THE CITY’S EPICUREAN SCENE. SARA, IN SELECTIONS FROM RAGPICKERS – A RELIC IN ITS OWN RIGHT – IS ALL GLAMOUR.

IN THE MIX WHAT BETTER LOCATION THAN THE NUTTY CLUB FOR AN OFFBEAT LOOK FROM PARA MIX, FOR YEARS A GO-TO SPOT FOR GOODS STRAIGHT FROM THE STREETS OF ASIA.

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CENTRE STAGE JARED'S HAT, RAGPICKERS; OVERSIZED BOWTIE, AMERICAN APPAREL; RED COLLARED SHIRT, RAGPICKERS; BLACK JACKET, RHYMES WITH ORANGE; BELT, AMERICAN APPAREL; PANTS, URBAN BAKERY

Photography by REJEAN BRANDT, Styled by NIKI TROSKY, Makeup by MEAGAN PERRON, Hair by CARA OLSON FOR BERNS & BLACK.

THESE STAGE-INSPIRED LOOKS ARE NOTHING TO LAUGH AT

SEND IN THE

CLOWNS

TAKE TWO JARED'S VEST AND FRILLS, RAGPICKERS; BLACK HAT, RHYMES WITH ORANGE; JEANS, URBAN BAKERY; IAN F'S SHIRT, RHYMES WITH ORANGE; HAT, RHYMES WITH ORANGE; SCARF, AMERICAN APPAREL; PANTS, URBAN BAKERY

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THEATRICS IAN J'S SHIRT, VEST, BOWTIE AND PANTS, URBAN BAKERY

SUSPENSE JARED'S STRIPED SHIRT, SUSPENDERS AND BERET, AMERICAN APPAREL; PANTS, URBAN BAKERY; IAN J'S SHIRT AND SUSPENDERS, AMERICAN APPAREL; PANTS, URBAN BAKERY; HAT, RAGPICKERS

FULL HOUSE JARED'S JACKET AND BOWTIE, RHYMES WITH ORANGE; T-SHIRT BY ROY LIANG, GREEN APPLE; PANTS, URBAN BAKERY; SHOES, JOSE & MARKHAM; IAN F'S JACKET, RHYMES WITH ORANGE; BOW TIE, AMERICAN APPAREL; T-SHIRT

BY ROY LIANG, GREEN APPLE; JEANS, URBAN BAKERY; SHOES, JOSE & MARKHAM

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UP IN SMOKE PARIS’ SLEEVELESS BLOUSE, PARA MIX; LEATHER JACKET, JOE FRESH

boy meets girl.

Dressing like boys has never looked so chic. Paris and Coralee show off edgy menswear-inspired pieces Photography by JANINE KROPLA Styled by BRENLEE COATES Makeup by AMY WYNN Hair by HALEY MENKIS

HATS OFF PARIS’ TANK TOP, RALPH LAUREN (THE BAY); LEATHER HAT, THE HABERDASHERY

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HEY SHADY CORALEE’S WHITE DRESS SHIRT, RALPH LAUREN (THE BAY); BROWN DRESS PANTS, VERA MODA (THE BAY); SKINNY TIE, THE HABERDASHERY; SUNGLASSES, HUSH

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TRUNK-ATED PARIS’ SHORTS, BUFFALO; SUSPENDERS (THE BAY), VALUE VILLAGE; BLACK BOOTS, TOWN SHOES

LEG OUT CORALEE’S CARDIGAN, RALPH LAUREN (THE BAY); STOCKINGS, LA SENZA; HAT, THE HABERDASHERY; BOOTS, JOE FRESH

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LIFE STOR

E RIES CHANGING LIVES ONE SOCCER BALL AT A TIME

KICKBALLS FOR KIDS WAS FEATURED IN THE AUGUST 2010 ONLINE ISSUE. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY CHRIS THOMPSON

CHEF GOJKO BODIROGA A MASTER OF HIS CRAFT, CHEF GOJKO BODIROGA LEAVES THE INDUSTRY WHILE AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME. WORDS BY: GILLIAN LESCHASIN

“THERE’S TWO WAYS OF DOING IT, YOU DIE WITH YOUR FEET IN THE KITCHEN OR YOU WALK AWAY AND ENJOY THE REST OF YOUR YEARS.” - SCOTT BAGSHAW For an incredible 52 years, chef Gojko Bodiroga has spent countless hours doing what he loves most: feeding his passion for food in the kitchen.

Bodiroga is a local institution, having worked at establishments such as the Fort Garry Hotel; most recently wearing the hat as chef/owner of Promenade Bistro; and, perhaps most notably, working as head chef at his brother’s fine dining destination, Restaurant Dubrovnik, for 25 years.

Along with feeding thousands of Winnipeggers, he’s also served some of the world’s most powerful people, including former president Bill Clinton, Queen Elizabeth II, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and the late Prince of Monaco, Rainier III. It’s his final day at Promenade Bistro when we meet for breakfast on a brisk December morning. Dressed in a dapper suit jacket, collared shirt and dress pants, Bodiroga doesn’t look like a chef/restaurant owner about to retire. But his relaxed manner makes it clear he’s ready to shift gears.

“I feel down the road I won’t be able to compete as much. So if I cannot be my best I don’t want to be around,” says Bodiroga.

Born in Yugoslavia, he started cooking in 1960 and trained in Belgrade, Serbia.

In 1978, he trained for six months in Paris at esteemed culinary school LaVarenne.

His move to Winnipeg was influenced by his brother’s earlier decision to move to the city, and he’s stayed put ever since.

Bodiroga’s illustrious career is one that rising chefs, like chef/owner Scott Bagshaw of Deseo Bistro, admire.

“I’ve never worked for the man. But he’s one of those Winnipeg culinary legends… A lot of my cooking is based on old-school French and he was the first in the city to do French cuisine really well... something I found really inspiring,” says Bagshaw.

From silky lobster bisque to rich foie gras, this revered chef has made a lasting impact on Winnipeg’s dining scene with his classic French cooking. Chef Shawn Brandson, the new chef/owner of Promenade Bistro, has respect for Bodirgoa’s success with training many budding cooks in the city.

“A lot of cooks that worked under him have worked for me, too, since it’s a small industry,” says Brandson. “They learned classic techniques from him...They want to learn from him. He has a good presence in the kitchen and has worked many hours. He’s an excellent teacher.”

Bodiroga calls his mother his first culinary teacher. He used to watch her cook, and one day surprised his parents by cooking polenta at the age of six while they were out working on the farm. From a young age, the passionate chef figured out that food was going to play a prominent role in his life.

“I knew I wasn’t going to be hungry if I was in the kitchen,” he says with a chuckle.

As the interview winds down over smashed potato hash browns and a fluffy vegetarian omelette made by his wife, Borka (who has also spent numerous years working in restaurants by his side), Bodiroga says he feels relief, mixed with sadness.

The emotions are understandable, but as Bagshaw said in response to Gojko’s retirement, everyone has to walk away at some point.

“There’s two ways of doing it, you die with your feet in the kitchen or you walk away and enjoy the rest of your years not worrying about your back aching or your knees hurting or your feet blistering… The guy’s been doing it forever and good on him for being able to walk away and hold his head high.”

CHEF GOJKO SIGNATURES Gojko’s star dishes are local favourites and cause for some serious taste bud swooning: “Chicken Gojko was in Bon Appétit magazine about 25 years ago. The dish combines shrimp, wild rice, butter, cream, and eggs, all stuffed into chicken. It is then roasted and topped with beurre blanc.”

–Chef Gojko Bodiroga “He was the guy that introduced me to foie gras. It had a really simple presentation with berries, Madeira reduction and tuile. It had all the great French elements – decadent foie gras with salt and crunch.”

–Chef Scott Bagshaw “His beef bourguignon is very complex in flavour, yet simple in ingredients – carrots, beef, onions, wine, gravy, garlic.

But no flavour overpowers the next…it’s very balanced.”

–Chef Shawn Brandson SANDBOX MAGAZINE 2012

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BEAUTY

PARAMIX CANDY LAM, ENTREPRENEUR EXTRAORDINAIRE, SAYS ‘SAYONARA’ TO HER IMPORTED CLOTHING BOUTIQUE, SHIFTS GEARS TO THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND COMMITS TO PUTTING HER FEET UP. WORDS BY: MONIQUE PANTEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY: JANINE KROPLA

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When Candy Lam first moved to Winnipeg to be close to her husband, she quickly realized that the retail business in Canada was much different than she imagined it to be from Hong Kong.

“It’s a funny story, looking back,” Lam giggles. “I thought I could set up shop and sell things on our lawn in our neighbourhood.”

“I didn’t realize it wasn’t like Hong Kong – there weren’t people walking around everywhere.”

Ten years ago, Lam created Para Mix, which has transformed from a pop-up kiosk to establishing itself rightfully as one of Winnipeg’s trendiest boutiques in Osborne Village.

Para Mix is a Winnipeg fashion institution, notorious for carrying eclectic, one-of-a-kind pieces from Hong Kong and Japan.

Lam confesses that Para Mix has never felt like a job; she sees fashion as a game.

“Out of a thousand items, I get to find exactly what my customers are looking for. I feel good when my customers leave happy.”

She explains that over the years, Para Mix has been like a good relationship.

“When it’s good, it goes by fast like this,” she says, snapping her fingers.

For a moment, Lam pauses and peers through her black and white polka dotted glasses, reminiscing over the past ten years at her beloved store. Her shoulders relax slightly and she begins to bob her head and smile.

“I’m really blessed. I need to say thank you to my husband (who co-owned) and to my customers. And thank you to my girls at Para Mix. The girls have helped me so much – they’ve been like my family. They’ve given me the most amazing memories I could imagine. I’m very grateful.”

Lam is a passionate entrepreneur and has always had a knack for spotting trends – and not necessarily just fashion trends. After a decade in the retail business and growing Para Mix to what it has become today, Lam is leaving the boutique and concentrating on her other business venture.

Having noticed that crepes are popular in Asia, Lam opened up Kawaii Crepe, a popular sweet and savoury crepe shop that boasts fresh, delectable ingredients like smoked salmon and slow-braised chipotle sirloin.

Kawaii was an instant-hit in Winnipeg, directly across the street from Para Mix in the Village.

Many entrepreneurs can only dream of creating two successful businesses in their lifetime; Lam shrugs it off and chalks her accomplishments up to hard work.

“I’m like my mom. We work very hard. I don’t like doing things half-assed.”

But a more emotional change has caused her to close down shop at Para Mix – even though she enjoyed the shop and the relationships she built so much.

A few years ago, Lam’s grandmother fell ill and died shortly thereafter. Her mother struggled with the loss and the heavy regret of not spending as much time with her as she would have liked because of her dedication to her work. Lam has since reflected on this experience and has vowed to not repeat history.

“I want to step back a little and reduce my work load. Slow down my steps a little. I want more time with my husband. Maybe get a dog.”

“IT’S A FUNNY STORY, LOOKING BACK. I THOUGHT I COULD SET UP SHOP AND SELL THINGS ON OUR LAWN IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD.” As this transition occurs, Lam realized she couldn’t juggle both careers with this new priority and do both stores justice.

Looking forward, Lam hopes to get involved in charity work and have more time to visit her parents in Hong Kong.

As Lam prepares to let go of Para Mix, she smiles optimistically.

“We hope to franchise Kawaii Crepe,” Lam says as she crosses her fingers and grins. “I’m excited to see how this thing can grow.”

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | BEAUTY

TREVOR HIRSCHFIELD WHEELCHAIR ATHLETE TREVOR HIRSCHFIELD FOUND THE GRIT TO PLAY RUGBY AFTER A CAR ACCIDENT CHANGED HIS LIFE FOREVER WORDS BY: JEFFREY VALLIS

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“I’ve been told the van rolled 100 feet,” says Trevor Hirschfield, of the accident that changed his life 11 years ago.

“It ended up hitting a tree on the driver’s side, so I was the only one injured. The roof compacted down on my head with some crazy force because I ended up blowing two molars in half from biting down so hard, and breaking my C5 and C6 vertebrae.”

Hirschfield, then 16 years old with a newly issued driver’s license, was visiting family in Sicamous, B.C. with his mother.

The night of the accident, Hirschfield and his cousin went for a drive with two girls.

“They said they knew a spot which was over looking a logging road. We never did make it,” explains Hirschfield. “As we were going up, there was a pickup truck coming down.

Being a new driver, I kind of pulled to the side. But they had just graded the shoulder and it was soft, so the van actually rolled off the cliff.”

Following the surgery to repair his injuries, Hirschfield went into rehabilitation. He describes the rapid and severe muscle loss as frustrating. But Hirschfield—now a quadriplegic, with imparities in all four limbs—credits his positive attitude and stubborn nature for his progress.

“When they told me that I was going to be using an electric chair, I was like ‘hell no!’” he remembers. “So they put me in a manual chair and watched me struggle. It took me half an hour to complete what would take four minutes to walk, because I took one push and I’d have to take a break.”

More than six months later, Hirschfield moved back home with his parents and sister. They had renovated the garage into a fully accessible bedroom, complete with bathroom and small workout area so he could continue his rehabilitation.

But perhaps the most beneficial rehabilitation came from sport. Before the accident, Hirschfield describes being a “typical high school jock” spending weekends playing hockey or baseball.

“If you weren’t playing sports, you were chasing girls,” he says.

So it was a natural fit that he took to wheelchair rugby and saw an immense growth from the physical activity and team camaraderie.

“I think rugby’s been the best rehab for me,” he explains.

“Whether you’re competitive or not, getting involved in a sport and being around other people who have gone through what you have gone through is the best kind of rehab that no other hospital can provide.”

Hirschfield has since moved to Vancouver to immerse himself in rugby and focus on his training. The rigorous schedule involves daily training, sometimes twice a day, and monthly two-week training camps with the entire team. But Hirschfield admits he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“It’s scary to think where I would be without rugby. It’s more than just a sport to me. It changed my life; taught me to be independent. If I hadn’t gone to rugby, I may have just given up.”

Hirschfield has been a top 12 athlete on the B.C. national team since 2006 and has qualified to attend the London 2012 Paralympic Games. But perhaps his proudest achievement yet was winning bronze at the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

“They were putting the medal around my neck in Beijing and somehow I made eye contact with my parents in the

“BEING AROUND OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE THROUGH WHAT YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH IS THE BEST KIND OF REHAB THAT NO OTHER HOSPITAL CAN PROVIDE.” crowd of 4,000 people,” he remembers. “It was really special because without them supporting me in the rehab and everything they had done for me, there was no way that I would be there.

It was all the work we did together. I think at that moment, they realized ‘Our kid’s going to be OK.’”

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how to

LUCKY, LUCKY US | HOW TO

3.

Words by RAEZAVEL ARGULLA Photography by CIJAE FILIPCHUK

RAEZAVEL’S CLOSET STAPLES

Our favourite trendster reveals her wardrobe essentials. Check out Raez’s blog, cheapthrillsss.com.

1. BOLD BLAZER I thrifted this emerald green wool blazer for five bucks. I just couldn’t walk away!

HEEL — TOE

RAEZAVEL’S SHOE CRUSH ALONE COULD FILL THESE TWO PAGES... AND MAYBE THE ENTIRE MAGAZINE!

2. GO—TO CLUTCH I DIYed this yellow clutch from leather I bought off of eBay. 3. HANDY BAG I bought this backpack from a leather outlet in Florence, Italy.

It is one of my best purchases to date.

4. BOOTY These combat boots were one of my first and favourite thrifts.

2.

5. ACCESSORIZE I got this nameplate necklace after mynamenecklace.com offered to send me one a couple of years ago.

4.

1.

6. SPARKLE You can’t go wrong with sequins.

Ever.

6.

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5.

A peek into my 14-year-old self’s closet would reveal early signs that I wasn’t your average teenage girl.

Instead of hoodies and T-shirts, a myriad of quickly-accumulating thrift clothing hung in my closet.

Oversized ’90s dresses, plaid shirts, high-waisted denim, granny cardigans and printed silk scarves resided in my closet, much to my parents’ dismay. On my dresser, a tangle of long necklaces, chunky plastic bangles and oversized cocktail rings.

My style, it seemed, was in its development stage; exploring everything and anything, all at once.

Fast-forward one year at a time and you’ll see that my clothes fluctuate in a semi-regular manner. The pattern is this: a 50 per cent off sale at Value Village would happen, a purchase of at least three bags’ worth of clothes would ensue, my mother would argue that “closet karma” needed to be enforced, and I would begrudgingly make room in my closet by donating my previous thrifts back to the thrift store – and repeat. Ah, the cycle of life.

It’s funny that after more than three years of this cycle, it was only a few months ago that I finally realized I didn’t actually own any basics (what do you mean, a silver sequined tank top isn’t a basic?) and subsequently went into panic mode.

I had an epiphany that started with reevaluating my entire closet, and deciding I needed to start buying quality over quantity; which ended with me selling nearly half of my closet.

Meanwhile, I decided I needed a blogging hiatus and began to question who I was as a person (Who am I? What is my style? Why do I even exist?!). I got so frustrated that I almost gave up on fashion all together.

At one point, I swear all I wanted to be was a nudist with a great shoe collection.

I admit, the whole ordeal was a little dramatic, but it was a much-needed wake-up call. The closet cleanse not only helped me get organized and eliminate some horrible “What were you thinking?” pieces, but also assisted in defining my style.

And although I’ve since given up on acquiring the ultimate basics – let’s be honest, a Balmain leather jacket, Burberry trench, Lanvin suit, and an Hermès Birkin are kind of out of reach – I think I’ve found a happy medium.

I still thrift occasionally and only ever buy “investment” pieces, such as tailored blazers in luxe fabrics, the ultimate leather pants (the search never ends), and well-fitted shirts.

And while I confess that I’ll indulge in a ridiculously-sequined item now and then, I am constantly mindful of classic pieces that are well-made and fit me to a tee. I mean, how incredible is this tuxedo jacket? It’s more versatile than you think.

Nowadays, my closet is a mixture of old and new. Well-loved pieces that survived routine “closet karma cleansing” mingle with newly-purchased essentials, forming an endearingly odd mix that I am proud to call my wardrobe.

My collection of oddly-coloured blazers (teal, mint, emerald, cobalt, peach, and canary); sea of black and sheer black (there’s a difference); considerable amount of ugly sweaters, sequined show-stoppers, leather bottoms and vintage fur treasures aren’t always conventional or practical – but, hey, neither am I!

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | LOVE LETTERS

Dear Winnipeg, This is a letter to tell you how much I love you. Thank you for being my friend, my family, my home.

You are the roots that keep me grounded and the wings that let me soar.

It’s easy to explore the world knowing I can always return to my humble hometown. You are consistent and loyal.

I can always depend on you.

I have traveled the globe and have lived in many cities, but my favourite place in the world is right here. Here is where I choose to live. Here is where I choose to be in love and here is where I am choosing to start a family.

Sometimes I crave the bite of a big city or the isolation of the wilderness, but when it comes to living, it is your pace I admire. You are not too fast and not too slow. You make it easy to relax and go with the flow. You are the perfect size; you let me coast through life with an easy stride.

I feel safe here. It is a blessing to be free from famine, war and natural

disasters. I can live my life without having to think about clean air to breathe and clean water to drink. Thank you for granting me my basic human rights.

You give me space to walk a healthy and peaceful path.

My dear Winnipeg, it is your people that I love the most. You are home to the unpretentious and the heartfelt. Those who know your beauty and wear it with pride. Without ostentatious display, this pride exudes as a subtle strength and a quiet knowing. It permeates your people with warmth and acceptance.

Winnipeggers have a thick skin to get us through your winter months and a gentle spirit that melts with a charitable touch. We like a good deal, but we also give a great deal.

We donate generously and we care about our community. We rally for the things we believe in.

Your cold winter months are fertile grounds for creativity. You grow worldclass talent. Your artists, musicians, and designers are inspirational.

Your weather teaches us to keep going, to do more with less and to never give up. It challenges us to practice patience and gives us ample time to perfect our crafts.

This magazine is a perfect example of your inventiveness. Its creators have set a stage to showcase your incredible talent. SANDBOX has given your locals a long overdue spotlight. It has branded you with the style and reputation you deserve. SANDBOX is worthy of a warm Winnipeg hug for its beautiful contribution and success. Its playground for conscious collaboration will be missed.

My dear Winnipeg, I wish to thank you. Thank you for your powerhouse of people. Thank you for your spirited energy. Thank you for a steady pulse that beats with love.

You are the heart of the continent. You are one great city. I am proud to call you my own.

Best wishes and all of my love, xox Niki

PHOTO: LEN PETERSON

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SHE MAY WORK IT FOR THE LIKES OF CHANELLE AND CALVIN KLEIN WHILE IN NEW YORK, BUT YOU CAN STILL FIND TOP MODEL MEAGHAN WALLER HANGING AT FOLK FEST OR A SANDBOX SHOOT WHEN SHE’S HOME IN WINNIPEG. PHOTO BY KATY WINTERFLOOD.

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10 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD START YOUR OWN MAGAZINE BEFORE YOU KICK THE BUCKET

1. It forms this incredible community of talented, passionate, hardworking and creative people who come together to make something bigger and more beautiful than they could on their own.

2. You get to sit around at meetings and say things like, “I’m really feeling a Cleopatra theme right now.”

3. You get to make up your own job title. Sexay.

4. It’s a way to make a great group of friends that you can complain about the new cover of Vogue with while drinking wine and shooting the shit.

5. Whenever you have a girl crush, you have an excuse to spend more time with them.

6. Suddenly you find yourself among inspiring art crowds at parties and realize they’re your best friends.

7. You can live out your high school fantasies with hot guys: no shirt, no problem!

8. Lunch dates and shopping for clothes are justified as “official” magazine business.

9. You won’t be fired for admitting “I am so hung over today.” In fact, you’ll likely get sympathy and offers for coffee.

10. Because one day, you’ll look back, tearfully into the eyes of five buds and be able to say “We did it!”

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PASCALE WALKED IT OUT IN THE BEST BOOTS FOR ONE OF OUR VERY FIRST FASHION SHOOTS AS FEATURED IN THE JANUARY 2010 ONLINE ISSUE. PHOTO BY RYAN WIBAWA. STYLED BY MADISON ROSAS. HAIR BY CHANTAL HINCE. MAKEUP BY DAENA GROLEAU

THE GUIDE

LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE GUIDE

A SANDBOX GUIDE TO WINNIPEG

# 84 1/2 233 McDermot Ave (204) 898-0700

Billabong Australian Bar and Bistro, The 121 Osborne St (204) 452-1019

a

Bistro 7 1/4 725 Osborne St (204) 777-2525

American Apparel 108 Osborne St (204) 284-9273

Bistrot by Basil 137 Osborne St (204) 452-2745

Angles Salon 241 Lilac St (204) 475-3575

Black Sheep Diner 540 Ellice Ave (204) 786-2822

Antiques & Funk 474 Main St (204) 943-4782

Blufish Sushi 179 Bannatyne Ave (204) 779-9888

b Bar Italia 737 Corydon Ave (204) 452-1929 Berns & Black Salon 468 Main St (204) 944-8454 Bijou Fine Jewellery 539 Osborne St (204) 956-0996

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Bijou Treasures 190 Provencher Blvd (204) 233-9722

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Bonfire Bistro 1433 Corydon Ave (204) 487-4440 Boon Burger Café 79 Sherbrook St (204) 415-1391 Buccacino’s Cucina Italiana 55 Osborne St (204) 452-8251 Burrito Del Rio Taqueria 433 River Ave (204) 415-5600 Burton Cummings Theatre 364 Smith St (204) 956-565

c Cafe 22/ Pizza Hotline 336 Broadway (204) 222-2222

Cupcake Corner, The 439 Stradbrook Ave (204) 453-2253

Cafe 22/ Pizza Hotline 823 Corydon Ave (204) 222-2222

d

Cafe 22/ Pizza Hotline 130 Provencher Blvd (204) 222-2222

De Luca’s Specialty Foods Cooking School & Restaurant 950 Portage Ave (204) 783-2227

Carbone Coal Fired Pizza Suite 400-1580 Taylor Ave (204) 488-2554 Cavern, The 112 Osborne St (204) 284-7201 Centennial Concert Hall 555 Main St (204) 956-1360 Cha Cha Palace 173 Lilac St (204) 284-4128 Cinematheque 100 Arthur St, (204) 925-3457 Colors Beauty & Wellness 1072 Pembina Hwy (204) 477-9723 Cousin’s Deli & Lounge 55 Sherbrook St (204) 783-4695

Deadfish Cafe & Lounge 167 Osborne St (204) 477-6609 Deseo Bistro 696 Osborne St (204) 452-2561 Don Pedro’s Mexican Grill 114 Market Ave (204) 956-7465

e East India Company 349 York Ave (204) 947-3097

f

h

k

m

Fame Nightclub 279 Garry St (204) 414-9433

Hermanos Restaurant & Wine Bar 179 Bannatyne Ave (204) 947-5434

Kawaii Crepe 201-99 Osborne St (204) 415-2833

Mad About Style Boutique 538 Academy Rd (204) 489-1151

King’s Head Pub 120 King St (204) 957-7710

Manitoba Theatre Centre (John Hirsch Mainstage) 174 Market Ave (204) 942-6537

Five Two Boutique 52 Adelaide St (204) 975 2880 Forks, The 1 Forks Market Rd (204) 942-6302 Frenchway Café and Bakery 238 Lilac St (204) 421-9002 Frenchway Restaurant and Lounge 612 Academy Rd (204) 487-1997 Fresh Café 775 Corydon Ave (204) 221-5775 Freshair Boutique Suite A - 542 Academy Rd (204)414-9023

g Gas Station Theatre 445 River Ave (204) 284-9477 Grace Café (City Hall) 510 Main St (204) 946-0264 Greenroom 108 Osborne St (204) 894-6895 Grove Pub & Restaurant, The 164 Stafford Street (204) 415-3262

Hilary Druxman Suite 1-258 McDermot Ave (204) 947-1322 Hoopers 70 Albert St (204) 943-5240 Hudsons’s Bay Co. (The Bay Downtown) 450 Portage Ave (204) 783-2112 Hush Clothing 203-99 Osborne St (204) 474-1208

i In Ferno’s Bistro 312 Rue Des Meurons (204) 262-7400

l

McNally Robinson Booksellers 1120 Grant Ave (204) 475-0483

La Bamba Restaurant 222 Osborne St (204) 415-5713

Mise 842 Corydon Ave (204) 284-7916

Le Garage Café 166 Provencher Blvd (204) 237-0737

Moksha Yoga Suite 7 - 2 Donald St (204)452-5535

La Maison des artistes visuels francophones 219 Provencher Blvd (204) 237-5964

Moksha Yoga 100-1090 Waverley St (204) 415-6804

La Parfumerie 145 Evanson St (204) 475-4895

j

Lilac Bakery 920 Grosvenor Ave (204) 992-8000

Johnny G’s Restaurant & Bar 172 Main St (204) 943-1072

Lo Pub & Bistro 330 Kennedy St (204)943-5581

200 - 177 McDermot Ave (204) 942-6656

Loka Clothing & Accessories Suite B-542 Academy Rd (204) 489-1993

Jonnies Sticky Buns 941 Portage Ave (204) 415-7287

Luxalune Gastropub 734 Osborne St (204) 453-0222

Mondragon Bookstore & Coffeehouse 91 Albert St (204)946-5241 Moulé 443 Academy Rd (204) 488-1891

n Ninki Sushi 635 Corydon Ave (204) 452-7624 Nook, The 43 Sherbrook St (204) 774-0818 Nook and Cranny, The 3106 Portage Ave (204) 889-1611

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LUCKY, LUCKY US | THE GUIDE

o October Boutique (Grant Park Shopping Centre) 356-1120 Grant Ave (204) 452-0737 Out of the Blue Suite 103-99 Osborne St 204-477-6489

p Park Theatre and Movie Café, The 698 Osborne St (204) 478-7275 Parlour Coffee 468 Main St

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Polo Park 66Q - 1485 Portage Avenue (204) 784-2500

Rooster Shoes 452 River Ave (204) 219-7008

Smoke’s Poutinerie 131 Albert St (204) 253-2873

Prairie Sky Books 871 Westminster Ave (204) 774-6152

Ruby Slipper Vintage Shoppe 970 Sargent Ave (204) 237-4976

Spin Restaurant & Martini Bar 720 Corydon Ave (204) 415-4023

Prairie Theatre Exchange 393 Portage Avenue (204) 942-7291

Rudy’s Eat & Drink (Manitoba Hydro Place) 375 Graham Ave (204) 421-9094

Standard Tavern, The 61 Sherbrook St (204) 415-4488

Prep Hair 261 Lilac St (204) 955-0934 & (204) 461-2007 Provici Cosmetics 233 McDermot Ave (204) 957-1544 Pyramid Cabaret, The 176 Fort St (204) 957-7777

Peasant Cookery 283 Bannatyne Ave (204) 989-7700

r

Piazza De Nardi 1360 Taylor Ave (204) 982-9461

Radiance Gifts & Treasures Suite 7 - 875 Corydon Ave (204) 284-4231

Pizzeria Gusto 404 Academy Rd (204) 944-8786

Rae & Jerry’s Steak House 1405 Portage Ave (204) 783-6155

Platform Gallery 121-100 Arthur St (204) 942-8183

Ragpickers Anti-Fashion Emporium 216 McDermot Ave (204) 942-7992

Plug In Institute of Contemporary Art 286 McDermot Ave (204) 942-1043

Rainbow Resource Centre 170 Scott St (204) 284-5208

Pollo Volante 234 Main St (204) 957-0982

Rhymes With Orange 223 McDermot Ave (204) 946-5212

SANDBOX MAGAZINE 2012

Rumor’s Restaurant & Comedy Club 2025 Corydon Ave (204) 488-4520

s Sabai Thai Eatery 1113 Corydon Ave (204) 888-6508 Safire Hair & Esthetics 1104 Pembina Hwy (204) 414-2508 Segovia Tapas Bar & Restaurant 484 Stradbrook Ave (204) 477-6500 Sensi Wine Lounge 173 McDermot Ave (204) 949-9032 Sets on Fort 111 Fort St (204) 942-7387 Shout Clothing 202-99 Osborne St (204) 415-6464 Siam Authentic Thai Cuisine 587 St Anne’s Rd (204) 254-7765

Stellas Café 1895 Grant Ave (204) 488-7810 Stellas Café and Bakery 166 Osborne St (204) 453-8562 Stellas Café and Bakery 116 Sherbrook St (204) 477-5556 Sukhothai 191 Osborne St (204) 633-6907 Sydney’s 215 – 1 Forks Market Rd (204) 942-6075

t Tall Grass Prairie Bread Co & Deli 1 Forks Market Rd (204) 957-5097 Tall Grass Prairie Bread Co & Deli 859 Westminster Ave (204) 783-5097 Tallest Poppy, The 631 Main St (204) 957-1708

Ten Spa 222 Broadway (204) 946-6520 These Four Walls 167 Stafford St (204) 452-5786 Times Change(d) High and Lonesome Club 234 Main St (205)957-0982 Toad in the Hole Pub 112 Osborne St (204) 284-7201 Tre Visi 173 McDermot Ave (204) 943-7540

u

v Vantage Studios Inc. Suite 1-110 Princess St (204) 232-1380 VJ’s Drive-In 170 Main St (204) 943-2655

w Wasabi on Broadway 588 Broadway (204) 774-4328 Wasabi Sabi 1360 Taylor Ave (204) 415-7938

Unburger 472 Stradbrook Ave (204) 888-1001

Wasabi Sushi Bistro 121 Osborne St (204) 474-2332

Underground Café, The 70 Arthur St (204) 956-1925

West End Cultural Centre 586 Ellice Ave (204) 783-6918

Urban Barn 1430 Ellice Ave (204) 452-2102

Winnipeg Art Gallery 300 Memorial Blvd (204) 786-6641

Urban Barn Suite 7-1585 Kenaston Blvd (204) 489-9753

Winnipeg Free Press News Café 237 McDermot Ave (204) 943-0682

Urban Barn Suite 1-1594 Regent Ave W (204) 663-7656

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“SANDBOX magazine will forever be loved and missed, what a mark you had and left on Winnipeg art, fashion, and culture! The standard you set, the quality you reached in this city is like no other.”

- Flo Oramasionwu

“To me, SANDBOX is everything that we love about Winnipeg, wrapped up in a sexy little package.”

– Faye Andrea

“A wonderful contribution has been made to our city!

Thank you!”

– Niki Trosky

“I just loved how the magazine showcased all the talent and creativity in this city. I will miss the anticipation of the initial flip through each lovely magazine when it came out.”

– Gillian Leschasin

“I loved getting to know some of the great artists working in this city, who are all too often unnoticed.”

– Emm Dee Bee

“It’s little things like this that make Winnipeg awesome, we’re a city of do-er’s.”

– Pamela Kirkpatrick

“What a loss!”

“This magazine is and always will be a Winnipeg staple.”

– Ruby Feathers

“You did something very special.”

– Susan Gatin – Robert Metcalfe

“SANDBOX has done so much for fashion in this city; putting us back on the map!”

SANDBOX LOVE – Kristen Andrews “SANDBOX was an amazing showcase for Winnipeg talent and fashion. It made me proud to live in Winnipeg.”

– David Borowski “Winnipeg is such a special place and you guys are so great at illustrating just why it’s so dear to our hearts.”

– Brett Owen “Thank you for everything you have contributed; your magazine did an excellent job of profiling local talent.”

– Culture on Every Corner “It was an incredible journey watching this dedicated group take this idea and create something amazing.

I was able to see first hand what time & dedication it took for the SANDBOX team to put together a magazine that was a true collobration of Winnipeg, often having to give up their only free time to

volunteer for something they love. Congratulations on a job well done, and props to you all, because not many could have done it!”

- Diana Ross “You have truly inspired all of us artists and have single-handedly upped the cool-factor in Winnipeg by 200 per cent.”

– Janelle Wookey “Congrats on two beautiful years, SANDBOX magazine!”

- Just the Goods “It’s not the end, but only the beginning.”

- Lekan T

“We congratulate an bid adieu to SANDBOX magazine.”

- CBC Manitoba Scene

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SANDBOX 2012 ADIEU

SANDBOX THE FINAL ISSUE

Lucky, Lucky, Lucky, lucky lucky lucky us.us. us.

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