The Georgia Straight - Reboot - May 7, 2020 by The Georgia Straight

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Volume 54 | Number 2728

100 THIEVES eSports fans want more

CANNABIS Ohai’s high-style brand

REAL ESTATE

Fraser Street rentals

Reboot

Nobody knows what will happen when Vancouver's economy reopens after the lockdown

MOTHER’S DAY

MEN’S HEALTH

PATIO VEGGIES

PSYCHEDELICS

HEALTH

Meeting men’s unique needs

CONTENTS

May 7-14 / 2020

For many guys, even just talking about health issues can be challenging

COVER

Dr. Bonnie Henry says B.C. is at the “end of our beginning” of the pandemic, which sets the stage for gradual reopening of the economy.

by Craig Takeuchi

By Charlie Smith Cover illustration by Asha Lynne

CANNABIS

Emily Leung couldn’t find cannabis accessories that fit her style, so she started her own brand to make them. By John Lucas

ESPORTS

When it comes to marketing, no one in the world of eSports does it quite as smartly as 100 Thieves. By Mike Usinger

REAL ESTATE

The site of one of South Van’s first dosa houses could become a rental-housing project with an animal clinic. By Carlito Pablo

John Oliffe (left) founded UBC’s Men’s Health Research program; Aaron Purdie is an associate director at Health Initiative for Men.

hile the COVID-19 pandemic has heightened mental and physical health concerns for everyone, the ongoing need to help some men overcome resistance or fears about seeking health care may have become even more pronounced. However, a form of health-care access that is rising to the fore during this unprecedented time may offer a solution. In conversation with the Georgia Straight by phone, UBC’s Men’s Health Research program founder and nursing professor John Oliffe explained that due to pandemic restrictions, many men who have traditionally worked in the public sphere and are “outward facing” may experience unrecognized challenges in shift ing to working from home. “A lot of guys are probably trapped, in some ways, in the domestic sphere, and so some of those things in the public domain that they used to operate in are gone,” he said, “so that changes identity and that changes roles for guys.” Issues such as employment fears or job loss, sharing the home environment with partners or children while working, and increased complexities of “hunting and gathering” with limited finances can add to tensions and conflicts, he said. These factors could also exacerbate mental-health issues. In simple terms, Oliffe summarized depression as “regret about the past” and anxiety as “worry about the future”, and he said the pandemic is a “perfect storm” that combines the two, creating time to reflect upon the past during great uncertainty about what will happen next. He added that being male as a risk factor for vulnerability to the coronavirus can also increase anxiety. Oliffe said the risk for male suicide increases during times of economic

hardship and that this pandemic could have mid- to long-term implications for male health. According to Statistics Canada, men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women. A recurring problem in male health, Oliffe explained, is that many men may remain oblivious to their own issues or feel they can self-manage them—until it’s too late. “The thing that tends to get guys in [to seek help] is pain, and often pain is late in a lot of disease processes,” he said. He explained that because many men “tend not to look for help because they feel like things are going along well”, they don’t have a lot of familiarity or connection to health-care systems when something does emerge. Codes of masculinity can also be antithetical to self-care. “There’s a long string of literature about men and invincibility and that notion that you’ve got a robust body and you’ll work your way through the challenges—you know, ‘No pain, no gain,’ that kind of ethos,” Oliffe said. “Many guys tend to go hard in terms of testing their limits, and there’s a kind of competitiveness that underpins a lot of the things that guys do, even in terms of risk-taking with their health.” Accordingly, the erroneous association of weakness with asking for assistance can lead some men to avoid or even fear health care. Oliffe added that the stigma of mental-health issues can be a “double whammy”. Several studies have found that men are more likely than women to view depression as a character weakness; a 2015 UBC study revealed that more men than women (57 percent versus 39 percent) would feel embarrassed about seeking help for depression. Oliffe believes that the confidentiality afforded by virtual health care could help men feel more comfortable.

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However, he remains concerned guide to Mother’s Day takeout brunch or dinner. that time restrictions on online con- By Gail Johnson sultations will be the same as those on in-person ones, placing pressure on men to articulate quickly. “There’s good evidence that suge Online TOP 5 gests that guys might have a fairly e Start Here Here’s what people are challenging time articulating exactly 9 ARTS reading this week on what’s going on for them, especially Straight.com. 10 BEER in terms of mental health,” Oliffe said. 5 CONFESSIONS Nonetheless, Oliffe does believe that remote access can improve 10 FOOD health-care options for residents in 2 HEALTH rural or outlying locations. Overcoming both physical and 10 I SAW YOU mental barriers with virtual access is 10 LIQUOR a goal of the Vancouver-based queermale-health organization Health In7 LIVING B.C. reaches end of itiative for Men (HIM). 8 MEDIA the beginning phase HIM associate director Aaron of COVID-19 pandemic. 9 MOVIES Purdie said that men who have sex with men (MSM) face many hurdles West Van empty lot 4 PSYCHEDELICS in seeking health care, as many “alsells for $420,000 less 11 SAVAGE LOVE ready deal with daily violence that is than asking price. invisible to most people”, and many 5 SNEAKERHEADS Tsunami of evictions closeted males feel that “the idea of 11 TECHNOLOGY feared without relief for being out to your doctor is a scary renters and landlords. idea.” Nonetheless, many need to 10 WINE discuss sexual-health issues in detail Sikh inspector with so they can be addressed accurately. WorkSafeBC objects to Although remote health care can its hard-hat policy. offer privacy, Purdie pointed out that Vancouver’s News and Entertainment Weekly having only one kind of access is lim- Volume 54 | Number 2728 West Van realtor iting; he emphasized that a diversity 1635 West Broadway, CLASSIFIEDS: appeals second Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1W9 T: 604.730.7060 of health-care options, including licence suspension. T: 604.730.7000 E: classads@straight.com in-person services, needs to remain F: 604.730.7010 gs.info@straight.com SUBSCRIPTIONS: available. For instance, many MSM E:straight.com 604.730.7000 GeorgiaStraight prefer to have in-person appointDISPLAY ADVERTISING: DISTRIBUTION: ments because they feel alone. T: 604.730.7020 604.730.7087 @GeorgiaStraight However, Purdie said he does F: 604.730.7012 @GeorgiaStraight believe that virtual connections, E: sales@straight.com including to social groups, can be a “powerful option”, as they can help to reduce feelings of isolation and can also help men living in suburbs GRAPHIC DESIGNER PUBLISHER or remote places to receive services Brian Kalish Miguel Hernandez or programs that may not be availFOUNDING PUBLISHER PRODUCTION SUPERVISOR able in their area. Mike Correia Dan McLeod “Any change that any organizaSALES DIRECTOR EDITOR tion can make to accessibility are Charlie Smith Tara Lalanne good changes,” Purdie said. g SECTION EDITORS ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES

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Janet Smith (Arts/Entertainment/Style) Brian Lynch (Books) Mike Usinger (eSports/Liquor/Music) SENIOR EDITOR Martin Dunphy ASSOCIATE EDITORS Gail Johnson (Health/Food/Wine) John Lucas (Cannabis) STAFF WRITERS Carlito Pablo (Real Estate) Craig Takeuchi SOLUTIONS ARCHITECT Jeff Li

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CANNABIS

Ohai is building a high-style brand

by John Lucas

he business of cannabis tools and accessories has come a long way in the past decade, with designers and brands taking care to ensure that their products are not just functionally sound, but also aesthetically pleasing. Let’s face it: a skull-shaped bong and a Trailer Park Boys rolling tray might have seemed pretty cool when you were in college, but presumably you—and your tastes—have grown up since then. When Vancouver’s Emily Leung began to explore the cannabis world 10 years ago, she quickly became an enthusiastic proponent of the plant itself, but the design side of the industry left her cold. “I was working at an ad agency in brand marketing, so I understood the value of creating a brand—to curate a unique experience that would resonate with the consumer and to build a community of like-minded people,” Leung tells the Straight. “The light bulb went off. I realized that cannabis brands at the time weren’t fulfilling this need, or it only showed up in a certain way and alienated others. This inspired me to create something that didn’t exist quite yet, and that’s how the seed was planted.” That seed grew into the idea for a new business venture, and in 2018, the budding entrepreneur launched Ohai, a lifestyle brand geared toward what Leung characterizes as the “modern

Emily Leung makes cannabis accessories for the sophisticated consumer, like the Ohai-logo grinder in gold shown here.

day cannabis consumer; someone who is sophisticated, style-conscious, and aesthetically aware”. Ohai’s offerings include crystal pipes, joint rings, and grinders that wouldn’t look out of place in the pages of Kinfolk, Monocle, or—dare we say it?—Dwell. Leung describes herself as “the decision-maker and creative director of all things Ohai”, but notes that she has built a crew of top-notch freelancers who support the brand with design, photography, writing, and web development. The common thread among the team is that they are all women, which Leung says is entirely by design. “Although Ohai the brand avoids

gender specification, I wanted to share this opportunity with my female peers, something that represents equality and modern-day feminism,” she says. “I’ve been involved in the cannabis industry (and others) long enough to have seen and heard countless situations where women were being hushed or pushed aside by our male counterparts, regardless of their position. And like many other industries, men typically dominate the boardroom table and executive decision-making roles, so Ohai is a chance for us to have equal pay and play. “However, this does not mean that I don’t value men and their role in business,” Leung clarifies. “I have just as many male mentors and supporters

who give me a balance in perspective, which I think is critical for growth.” Earlier in April, Ohai launched an online-shopping portal. This is a must in our pandemic-lockdown times, of course, but Leung admits there were moments early on in the coronavirus crisis when she feared the worst for her company. “Initially, I thought that this would be it, that Ohai would be over before it’s even really started,” she says. “I wasn’t sure how the community and government would consider cannabis consumption during the time of a pandemic, but when each province decided to rule cannabis retailers as an essential service I knew it was game time. In the first week of quar-

antine, I made it my goal to finally launch Ohai’s online shop and this downtime has allowed me to do just that, and in time for 4/20!” At the moment, Ohai’s products are available only online (at ohailife. com) and at retail locations in Vancouver. When things go back to normal (whatever the new normal looks like), Leung has big ambitions. “The plan is to spread the Ohai love across Canada and eventually across international borders,” she says. “I also realized that the Elevated Essentials collection is quite coronafriendly for consumption at home,” she continues. “For example, the thumb roller and joint ring prevents you from touching your joint too much, and the crystal pipes are also great for limiting contact during consumption. But most importantly, our quarantine situation has brought the cannabis community closer. The amount of love and support shared with me still blows me away.” g

MORE CANNABIS ONLINE AT CANNCENTRAL.COM

Psych startups focus on microdosing

by Carlito Pablo

sychedelics in Canada could be looking at a good trip on the immediate horizon. Toronto lawyer Rick Moscone says he expects an accelerated process for the legalization of these mind-altering drugs. This may come through a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms challenge against the country’s drug laws or by an act by government itself, according to Moscone, a partner with the Fogler, Rubinoff law office. “I do think in the next five years, for sure, we will see psychedelics move forward,” Moscone told the Straight by phone. Moscone anticipates that the legalization of psychedelics could mirror the path taken by cannabis. He said, however, that this comes with a caveat: although psychedelics could be legalized for medical purposes, he does not see this class of drugs being legalized for recreational use like cannabis. “The hurdle for legalizing psychedelics is the powerful reactions that result from their usage,” Moscone said. “I don’t think governments will be comfortable allowing recreational use of such products without the oversight of a doctor.” According to Moscone, this is the reason why startups in the psychedelic sector are focused on microdosing of things like magic mushrooms. “They want to focus on the potential benefits without the significant reactions,” he said. Magic mushrooms contain psilocybin and

Psilocybin is being studied for possible mentalhealth benefits. Photo by Drante/Getty Images

psilocin, which are hallucinogenic chemicals. It is illegal to sell, possess, or produce psilocybin and psilocin under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA). “Much like what happened with cannabis, I expect that at some point at the very near future we’ll get a court decision which says that it infringes somebody’s Charter rights for them not to be able to use psychedelics for medical purposes,” Moscone said. Cannabis was declared illegal in Canada in 1923, and it wasn’t until 2001 that medical cannabis became legal. That was made possible with a 2000 decision by the Ontario Court of Appeal in a case involving Terry Parker, a man

suffering from epileptic seizures. The court held that access to cannabis for people with a legitimate medical need is a right under the Charter. Parker successfully argued that the prohibition against cultivation and possession of cannabis for medical purposes is a violation of Section 7 of the Charter, which protects the right to life, liberty, and security of a person. Responding to the court’s decision, the federal government issued the Marihuana Medical Access Regulations in 2001. Government rules on medical cannabis have since evolved, following further challenges brought before the courts. For example, the Supreme Court of Canada in 2015 decided that it was unconstitutional to limit medical patients to dried cannabis alone. According to Health Canada, psilocybin found in magic mushrooms is being studied for its potential use to treat a number of mentalhealth conditions. These include anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and problematic drug use. In March 2020, Moscone and Teodora Prpa, an articling student with Fogler, Rubinoff, released a paper titled Getting Psychedelic in Canada: Legalities of Psychedelic Therapies. Moscone and Prpa explained that a person who wishes to possess controlled substances such as psychedelics for scientific research or clinical trials must receive an exemption under Section 56 of the CDSA. According to the authors,

Section 56 grants the federal minister of health “discretionary power to provide an individual with an exemption to possess a specified quantity of the controlled substance and to administer the controlled substance to human subjects or animals for the purpose of research”. In the U.S., researchers and scientists can apply to obtain psychedelic substances through a designation for breakthrough therapy under that country’s drug laws. In their paper, Moscone and Prpa recalled that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2018 granted breakthrough-therapy-designation status to a psilocybin trial for treatment-resistant depression and major depressive disorder. Meanwhile, a Democratic lawmaker, Linda Rosenthal, has introduced a bill in the New York State Assembly to remove psilocybin from the state’s list of controlled substances. “Many cities, including Denver, CO, Santa Cruz, CA, and Oakland, CA, have already decriminalized the use and possession of psilocybin, and New York should do the same,” Rosenthal’s bill reads. “With the opportunity to positively affect the lives of millions suffering with mental health and addiction issues, this bill will decriminalize psilocybin and allow further research into the study of the drug and its beneficial uses for treatment.” Similar bills have been introduced at the state level in Vermont and Iowa. g With files from John Lucas.

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ESPORTS

100 Thieves wins the marketing game

by Mike Usinger

hen Los Angeles gaming and lifestyle groundbreaker 100 Thieves announced a major deal with electronics giant JBL last week, the self-congratulatory back-slapping was predictable. In case you missed it, JBL was revealed as the official gaming headset partner of 100 Thieves. That means JBL’s QuantumSOUND Signature line will be front and centre, on the heads of all associates and all-stars at the 100 Thieves Cash App Compound, as well as during televised eSports championship competitions in Call of Duty, League of Legends, and Fortnite. From 100 Thieves founder and certifiable eSports legend Matthew “Nadeshot” Haag came gushing praise about the cutting-edge brilliance of JBL. “At 100 Thieves, we all know how important audio is when it comes to wins,” Haag said in a joint press release. “Our teams thrive when equipped with the best gear, and JBL’s groundbreaking noise technology helps put us on the path to victory with every play.” From JBL were glowing words about the formidable stature of 100 Thieves, which has established itself as an eSports juggernaut that’s taking gaming culture to a new level. “Our partnership with 100 Thieves highlights our drive and commitment to launching the world’s best lineup of gaming headsets and speakers to date,” said Ralph Santana, chief marketing officer at JBL’s parent company, HARMAN. “These are some of the top competitive gamers in the industry, so we are proud to offer the JBL Quantum Range to help them reach countless more victories.” But buried in the release was something interesting about 100 Thieves and the way it approaches promoting its brand. It was this: “The 100 Thieves player jerseys featuring JBL Quantum will be available to fans via a sweepstakes on JBL’s social media later this spring.” Stop and think about that. “Sweepstakes” is another way of saying there will be a limited amount of special jerseys to celebrate the partnership—once they’re gone, they’re gone. That

Los Angeles gaming juggernaut 100 Thieves recently announced a major deal with electronics giant JBL.

means an army of hopefuls on the outside looking in at a lucky few with instant collectors’ items. And if that sounds familiar, then you’ve probably been frustrated in the past while trying to get in on the 100 Thieves merch game. The upstart company has put a new spin on the old show-biz adage about always leaving the audience wanting more. There’s plenty of demand for 100 Thieves clothing and paraphernalia, and a craftily limited supply. Yes, cultureshifting disruption comes on many fronts. For the past half-century merchandising was a pretty straightforward game. At some point marketers realized that humans not only make pretty great walking billboards, but that they’ll pay to help increase brand awareness of their favourite businesses. Th ink of that time you happily ponied up for that vintage-design Pabst Blue Ribbon baseball cap that you wear everywhere, including to Sunday-morning church. Playboy went from something your dad hid in his sock drawer to a pop-culture behemoth when its iconic bunny was licensed for everything from hoodies to G-strings. Every time you pull on a Vancouver Canucks or Vancouver Titans jersey, you’re providing

Canada will get its own Rainbow Six division

free advertising. And because that marketing is free, businesses normally make sure their merch stores are fully stocked and never closed. What makes 100 Thieves so fascinating is its torpedoing of that traditional business model. A few weeks back, the Los Angeles–based empire released an alternate jersey for 2020, with all proceeds going to COVID-19 relief. The drop had something in common with the previous ones for the 100 Thieves home-andaway jerseys for this season: seconds after being made available at 100thieves.com they were snapped up and sold out. Presumably, that means the shelves at the recently opened 100 Thieves Cash App Compound store in Culver City, California, are currently emptier than the toilet paper aisle at Costco. Which likely hasn’t stopped you from dreaming of a pilgrimage to the 100 Thieves Cash App Compound to make sure. For a while, there was a digital Web trace suggesting that such highly coveted jerseys existed. Initially, all three were marked as “sold out” on 100thieves.com. Today, they’ve all been scrubbed from the site. Try and click through 100 Thieves’ alternate jersey link on Google and you get a “404 PAGE

S neaker HE ADS

NOT FOUND”. Use 100thieves.com/products as a springboard, and all that leads to is a series of past collections that click through to blank pages. Which explains the hyper-inflated prices for past 100 Thieves merch on secondary-seller sites like eBay. If you’re screwed trying to get past offerings from 100 Thieves, there is a way to get in on the action moving forward. 100 Thieves suggests you get the drop on its drops by signing up for its newsletter, as well as checking Twitter and Instagram every 19 seconds, where future releases will be announced. As a strategy, it’s nothing less than brilliant. Want to boost engagement? Give folks something to religiously watch for on multiple platforms. Since its founding in 2017, 100 Thieves has been about a lifestyle as much as gaming. The biggest perk of landing with the organization as a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive or League of Legends player is that you get the keys to the 100 Thieves Cash App Compound. Imagine spending your days in the streaming or training rooms with Drake (a company coowner), flexing your creative muscles in the podcast studio, or coming up with here-today-gonetomorrow jerseys in the apparel-design wing. As a holy destination for gamers, the 100 Th ieves Cash App Compound has the same mysterious pull that the Vatican does for Catholics. And sadly, the reality is that you’ll probably never get beyond the storefront. But at least that storefront might have a sweatshirt that makes you feel like you’re part of a dream lifestyle every time you pull it on. Exclusive? For sure, but the funny thing about exclusive clubs is that they make people obsessed with joining them. The brilliance of 100 Thieves is that only a lucky few get to own pieces of the lifestyle it’s selling—and only if they put in an above-andbeyond effort. Good luck getting that 100 Thieves/JBL sweepstakes jersey. You’re going to need it. g

The Georgia Straight Confessions, an outlet for submitting revelations about your private lives—or for the voyeurs among us who want to read what other people have disclosed.

by Mike Usinger

Scan to confess I hate it when that happens OUR WEEKLY PICK from the world of kicks.

Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six North American League will include four Canadian teams.

bisoft’s new Rainbow Six North American League is a little closer to launching this morning, and, in what’s good news for competitive players on this side of the border, Canada is going to be a big part of the party. The eSports league, which is scheduled to make its debut next month, will have both Canadian and American regional divisions. Canada’s inclusion marks the first time it has its own division in global Rainbow Six competition. There will be four teams in the Canadian Division, and eight competing across the border in the American Division. The four Canadian teams have yet to be revealed. Ubisoft also announced that it’s revamping its North American Challenger League. Operating as a feeder system to the pro ranks, the

Challenger League will see eight teams per region competing against each other. In a news release, Ubisoft eSports director Che Chou said: “Alongside the US Division, we believe the Canada Division and respective Challenger Leagues completes the competitive scene in North America, providing vast opportunities for players of diverse skill levels to pursue the esports dream.” Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege is one of the most popular eSports games in the world, with over 55 million registered players. A firm date for the kickoff of the league has yet to be announced. The U.S. division was originally scheduled to compete offline in Las Vegas, but has been forced to switch to an online format, thanks to the COVID-19 lockdown. The Canadian division will play online. g

c THE DEETS: After a recent Adidas collab on classic Stan Smiths, Human Made is back this spring with the retro-’80s leather “shelltoe” Superstar, complete with the label’s heart logo, which appears on the red heel motif and on the side punctures. The stripes are emblazoned with Human Made’s motto, “Gears for Futuristic Teenagers” ($180). c RANDOMNESS: Human Made is the latest project of Japanese fashion designer, Teriyaki Boyz DJ, and record producer Nigo, better known for the urban clothing line A Bathing Ape. The Superstar was launched in 1970 as a basketball shoe worn by legends like Kareem Abdul Jabbar; it went on to be just as iconic in the ’80s, as the footwear of choice for Run DMC. The style is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. c STOCKISTS: Adidas.ca/. c SOUNDTRACK: Teriyaki Boyz’ “Zock On!” feat. Pharrell and Busta Rhymes. g

by Janet Smith

When you have a big fight with someone where you’re both at fault, and you own up to your part and they just say “I accept your apology” and nothing more. They go on believing that you’re accepting full responsibility for any trouble, no matter that they started it or acted like a complete jerk and were as big a part of it as you were. Sometimes taking the high road is really hard! So all I’d like to say is this: don’t mistake my apology for acknowledgment that it was all my fault. All I’m doing is apologizing for MY part and nothing more. You played every bit as big a part as I did, and the fact that you can’t see that is why we can’t ever be together again.

Something doesn’t seem right If the government can successfully shut down everything as we know it, witnessing from this covid-19 thing. Why can’t they do the same with plastics and pollution? Your telling me they can hault entire cities , people, restaurants, banks, production plants, etc but can’t hault plastics and pollution? Im begining to think they just dont want to.

Ashamed to vent I paid my rent and bills then off to work at the mental health clinic. Haven’t seen my boyfriend since early March. I feel like I’m paying for everyone who is at home and baking bread. I feel resentful and angry when I know I should be grateful for having a job and a paycheque. No one asks if I’m ok and I’m alone. I listen to other people’s problems, fears, worries..... I can’t care anymore. Sorry..... I know people have it worse than me. Thanks for the 7 pm cheer.

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to post a Confession MAY 7 – 14 / 2020 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT 5

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LIVING

Growing food in small spaces

With the right container care, vegetables can thrive on urban balconies by Janet Smith

REAL ESTATE

Dosa House site to be used for market rentals by Carlito Pablo

Madras Dosa House once occupied 5656 Fraser Street. Photo by Marc Smith

Vertical planters maximize your patio harvest; tomatoes are a treat, but wait to put them outside until later in May.

aking bread and Netflix binge-watching aren’t the only trends that have come with COVID-19 lockdown. Masses of urbanites are feeling a new urge to grow vegetables—even on the smallest of Vancouver balconies. And Egan Davis, principal instructor of the horticulture training program at the UBC Botanical Garden, where they’re fielding a tidal wave of howto-garden queries, has a few theories around the topic. “It’s just been astonishing right out of the gates: all these questions about how to grow food. I think there’s a sense of urgency around food security,” he marvels over the phone from home, adding that the pandemic has been a catalyst for a concern that was already growing. “There are all these other issues around food, about pesticide, and, ‘What about bees?’ or ‘Is food healthy?’ ” He has an eager message for anyone looking at their pint-sized patio and wondering what is possible. “It’s easy!” Davis asserts with a contagious enthusiasm. “Honestly, vegetables are the weeds of the plant world, essentially. These are annual plants; they occur in the wild, they’re opportunistic, and they will germinate in disturbed soil. They grow fast and easy. They don’t have much time and most grow for just one season— and for that reason they grow fast.” At the same time, he says the act of growing some of your own food will nourish your soul at a tumultuous time when you need it. “The most satisfying thing I can think of is watching seeds germinate,” Davis says. “It’s such a marvel of nature. So get some seeds and put them in a pot and water them. Watch it happen. It’s addictive!” At the same time, the process will generate a new respect for the people who grow the peppers, broccoli, and cukes you get at the grocery store. “When you get into it, you think

about the amount of labour and space to get that food to your home— and that really becomes apparent when you do it on a small balcony,” he says. “You learn about your limitations, and I think everyone will gain a deeper understanding for the people that do produce food.” Whatever the benefits, you’re going to need containers to start growing your patio garden. In some cases, that might mean vertical shelves or some other setup that allows you to maximize space. Strawberries make beautiful hanging baskets. Hit Pinterest, and you’ll find a goldmine of DIY ideas for stacking your veggies from high-functioning gardeners: everything from shoe organizers to homemade wooden-box structures. If money’s no object, shop online for a layered pot or stacking tower. (At last check, 20-plant versions were as low as $72 on Amazon.ca, where we also found PVC-pipe-style tube towers starting at $38; GreenStalk’s fancier five-tier plastic vertical garden tower was $259.99 on Wayfair.) Timing is everything. Right now, in cooler weather, Davis encourages you to direct-sow your salad needs: lettuce, arugula, radishes, bok choy, spinach, and mustard greens are all fast and easy. Lettuce can even grow in shade. Davis advises: “With lettuce and greens, it’s important to understand that you want a kind of succession. Sew the seeds on the surface and water till they germinate, planting new ones every two weeks or so. Otherwise when you harvest, it’s all over.” By late May or June, you can put tomato plants out. But Davis advises that you still have time to plant the seeds inside now and grow them on your windowsill. “It could be fun to grow them from the seeds of tomatoes you’ve eaten,” he adds, pointing to heirloom varieties. (If you can’t wait, Hunter Garden Centre [2560 West Broadway] is one of the spots that has beefsteak plants in already, with more

patio-friendly cherry-tomato varieties arriving later this week.) Elsewhere, consider balcony-happy cucumber varieties, which can spread vertically if you give them something to climb on. “People also like growing a variety of hot peppers on their balcony, but in order to have success you’ll have to hope for a hot sunny summer,” Davis adds. Here are some of Davis’s other startup tips to get your patio garden growing. CONTAINER PREP

Make sure your pot has good drainage—it’s simpler than you think. “You just need a container with a hole at the bottom, with a reservoir dish underneath,” says Davis. “But it’s important to elevate the pot from the reservoir dish; use one-inch tiles, or I use shims.” Otherwise, your pot can stick and the hole is essentially plugged. And take heed: “It is a myth that you should put gravel or broken terra cotta on the bottom of the pot,” Davis reveals. “It reduces the volume you would otherwise have for soil or roots.” SOIL

When you’re setting up your container, just use general-purpose potting soil. “It’s engineered to work in a container,” Davis stresses. “Don’t use garden soil or straight compost. A pot is like a bathtub and it will get saturated.” WATERING

“When they water plants in containers, people often make the mistake of dribble watering, putting in a little bit every day,” Davis says, adding the result is that leaves look crispy or burned. “What you need to do is water until the water comes right out of the pot—and then let it dry right out. So let it soak and dry down. If you don’t put water all the way through, the salts accumulate.” g

ne of the first dosa restaurants in South Vancouver is gone from its old Fraser Street location. A new mixed-use building is being proposed at what was once the site of Madras Dosa House. According to a Straight feature, the family-run Madras was opened by Sri Lankan immigrant Thevarajan Nadarajah in 2009. This was before dosas, or Indianstyle crepes, became a common offering in multicultural restaurants in the area. Architect Matthew Cheng has filed an application with the city to redevelop 5656 Fraser Street into a four-storey building. Cheng indicated that the ground floor and half of the second storey of the development will be used for an animal clinic. The rest will be for market rentals, with studio, one-, two-, and threebedroom units. According to a summary by the City of Vancouver, eight rental homes are proposed. Kitty-corner to the strip mall is the John Oliver Secondary School. Further south on Fraser Street, stretching from East 41st to 50th avenues, is a business district known as South Hill. With shops operated by Chinese, Filipino, South Asian, and other ethnic communities, South Hill is one of the most multicultural areas in Vancouver. Based on the design rationale prepared by Cheng, the 5656 Fraser Street development will have a “minimalist character”. Eighty percent of the frontage will be for the animal clinic, and the rest will serve as entry for the residential section of the building. The project will have three levels of underground parking for cars and bicycles. The city will receive comments from the public about the project until May 12, 2020.

of buildings illuminated by exterior accent lighting. Accent lighting adds an aesthetic touch to a structure, making it stand out in its surroundings. If approved by city hall, NationWide Self Storage will be highlighted in soft blue during the night at its 1223 East Pender Street location. The application to install accent lights on the four-storey building was filed on the facility’s behalf by signage consulting firm Priority Permits. “The subject property is a new development and we are looking to implement the latest in soft architectural accent lighting in order to contribute to the beautification of the property and neighborhood,” Priority Permit’s Jordan Desrochers wrote in a letter to the city. According to Desrochers, the project will use low-voltage LED [light emitting diode] devices that are “pleasing to the eye”, and will add an “artistic flair to the property”. Desrochers noted that accent lighting is found in a number of Vancouver buildings like the one at 1625 Manitoba Street. He was referring to Millennium Development Corporation’s Shoreline condo project in the Olympic Village, which features blue accent lighting. Like Shoreline’s, the proposed accent lighting for NationWide will be installed along the top of the building. “Our client is willing to work with the city on adding a dimmer and timer for a specific section of the lighting if necessary and will consider any other recommendations if needed,” Desrochers wrote in the letter. NationWide describes its business as Vancouver’s first keyless self storage. Opened in December 2019, the 58,500-square-foot building is home to more than 800 storage lockers. The company’s application to use accent lighting will require a change in its development permit. The City of Vancouver will receive comments AN EAST VANCOUVER storage from the public about the project facility wants to join a growing club until May 11, 2020. g

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MAY 7 – 14 / 2020 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT 7

FINANCE

Rebooting economy will take time by Charlie Smith

MEDIA

Internet metrics give journalists a reality check

by Charlie Smith

Analytics tools can tell journalists which articles resonate and which fall flat.

SMAK CEO Brendan Ladner and wife Amanda (with their children Soren and Gavin) had their world turned upside down by the pandemic; Passion Tearoom owner Joyce Yim pivoted to selling DIY bubble-tea kits; Rennie Group senior economist Ryan Berlin says resale prices will have a big effect on the market for new homes.

or Vancouver businessman Brendan Ladner, this pandemic has been a real bummer. The 40-year-old CEO of SMAK Healthy Fast Food had to shut down all three of his downtown food outlets, lay off his staff, and figure out how to pay his rent. Ladner and his 35-year-old wife, Amanda, have sons aged two and five, childcare bills, and a $4,400-permonth rent bill for their threebedroom West End apartment. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit pays him and his wife $3,400 per month, after deducting for tax. “We are getting crushed,” Ladner told the Straight by phone. He knows he’s not alone. According to his calculations, total rent deficits in Vancouver in May will exceed $22 million. Ladner added that there are 131,000 rental housing units in the city, with young adults occupying 63.2 percent of them. And there are more than 250,000 rental units in Metro Vancouver. He said that without a solution to the growing rental debt being created by the pandemic, any economic recovery will be delayed. That’s because entrepreneurs tend to be younger adults who launch small businesses—and they’re being disproportionately clobbered right now. “I hope that the policymakers really think about our youth and young adults, the future leaders of our society,” Ladner said. “Give them a chance to succeed here instead of burying them in debt and obligations.” That’s why he thinks the time has come to cap rent at 30 percent of people’s incomes—and have the landlords and government sort out between them how to deal with what’s due beyond that. To date, there’s no evidence that the province is prepared to go beyond $500 monthly subsidies and retaining a ban on evictions in addressing the rental conundrum. That offers little comfort to those who, like the Ladner family, are paying more than $2,000 per month in rent in Vancouver. On May 6, after this week’s Straight went to the printer, Premier John Horgan, Health Minister Adrian Dix, and the provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, were scheduled to discuss how the B.C. economy will be gradually reopened after the COVID-19 lockdown is lifted. But from an earlier briefings on May 4 and May 5, it was already clear that the B.C. government is in no mood to revert to the prepandemic status quo. “If we go back to December, when we were having lots of gatherings where people met, this virus could take off quite rapidly,” Henry warned. “We could expect to see that.” Instead, the health officer advocated for finding the “sweet spot, somewhere around increasing our contacts by at least half—or twice as many as we have now—but not allowing those opportunities for rapidly exponential growth of the virus in our communities”.

It’s clear that B.C. will not mimic Sweden, where bars, restaurants, and schools have remained open throughout the pandemic. There, the government is allowing its citizens to exercise “personal responsibility” in their actions. Sweden’s death rate from COVID-19 has been substantially higher than its Scandinavian neighbours, but it has also remained significantly lower than other European countries that imposed lockdowns, such as Spain, Italy, and France. According to Henry and Dix, the public can expect continued physical distancing, as well as “engineering controls” in other parts of the economy, like the plexiglass barriers between cashiers and customers in grocery stores. In addition, they left no doubt that some administrative controls would be needed, such as placing limits on the number of people in a building and putting markers on the floor to ensure people remain two metres apart. On top of that, they said that personal protective equipment may need to be worn in workplaces.

other provinces. “I would expect as we move through May into June, we are going to see the economy recover,” he said. “But it’s going to be gradual.” In fact, Central 1 is forecasting a seven percent reduction in the B.C. gross domestic product in 2020, which would make this contraction even worse than the recession of 1982. But because this has been a voluntary shutdown, Yu expects the recovery to occur more quickly than in previous slowdowns caused by macroeconomic factors. Yu also pointed out that the impact of the lockdown was greater in Metro Vancouver, where there’s a strong tourism sector. But the damage hasn’t been restricted to accommodation and food services, which Central 1 expects to decline by 33.6 percent this year. That’s because the global economic slowdown has hurt trade and left a mark on industries like manufacturing, which is anticipated to contract by 8.7 percent. “We’ve seen a number of technology companies here laying off

I would expect as we move through May into June, we are going to see the economy recover. But it’s going to be gradual. – Bryan Yu

In other words, if clothing stores and malls reopen, visiting them will resemble a trip to Shoppers Drug Mart today. In fact, Dix referred to physical distancing as “the public’s best friend”. MOST PROVINCES started the process of reopening their economies even as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was urging people to stay home. Manitoba, for example, has allowed hair salons to accept clients and restaurants to serve customers on patios. Retailers can open shop in Quebec outside of Montreal. Ontario is allowing auto dealerships to meet customers by appointment only while permitting automatic car washes, marinas, golf courses, and seasonal businesses to open. This month, Alberta is lift ing restrictions on some retail and personal-services businesses while allowing restaurants and bars to operate at 50 percent capacity. On May 5, Dix noted that many sectors were never halted in B.C., including gardening shops, construction, and resource extraction. However, Bryan Yu, the Vancouver-based deputy chief economist of Central 1 credit union, said that B.C. has moved a bit more slowly than

8 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT MAY 7 – 14 / 2020

workers,” Yu added. “Their fundamental business could be a reflection of the real economy, whether it’s delivery of food or making things easier for restaurants [that are now suffering].” One tech company, Eventbrite, experienced significant cuts due to the reduction in public events. As a whole, professional, scientific, and technical services are forecast to decline by 6.8 percent. And don’t think that everything is going to be hunky-dory at Rogers Arena or B.C. Place Stadium as the lockdown is lifted. In her briefing with reporters, Henry said that it’s conceivable that National Hockey League games could take place in Vancouver. The players could wear face shields to ensure there’s sufficient protection from the spread of COVID-19. But Henry said she does not expect that there would be an “in-ice audience”. The games would merely be broadcast. That, of course, would deprive the Vancouver Canucks of the ticketing and food and beverage revenue that helps cover the players’ salaries. If there are no live audiences for the Canucks, that pretty much rules out concerts and large sporting events at the province’s largest

arenas and stadiums. It’s one reason why Central 1 has pegged arts, entertainment, and recreation to shrink by 20.7 percent this year. “This will be a different summer than any of us has ever known,” Health Minister Dix told reporters. “But it can be a summer of renewal if we hold fast to the rules and guidelines Dr. Henry sets for us to reduce transmission, whether talking about industry sectors or our own behaviour.” The finance, insurance, and realestate category is one of the province’s biggest economic generators. According to Central 1, it contributed $29.2 billion to B.C.’s gross domestic product last year. This year, that is expected to fall to $26.8 billion—a drop of 8.3 percent. IN A MAY 5 webinar, Rennie Group vice president of market intelligence Andrew Ramlo and senior economist Ryan Berlin characterized the current economic slowdown as “the Great Suppression”. They called it one of three major downturns of the past century, the other two being the Great Depression of 1929 to 1933 and the Great Recession of 2008-09. Job losses in Canada in March were eight times the number lost in 2008. This time, unlike in the Great Depression and Great Recession, 57 percent of them were part-time positions and 99 percent were on the services side of the economy. Ramlo raised the possibility of deflation, where prices actually decline due to dampened consumer demand. Berlin suggested that the presale market for new homes is inextricably linked to the resale market. “This could go in a lot of different directions,” Berlin said, “and there’s a lot of time for a rebound.” In the meantime, entrepreneurs are adapting as best they can. One example is Joyce Yim, owner of the Passion Tearoom in downtown Vancouver. When she had to shut its doors due to COVID-19, she developed a homedelivery DIY bubble-tea kit. She since sold 2,200 of them with help from her brother Joshua. These bubble-tea kits and drinks recently became available on a takeout basis, with Yim and other families wearing masks and gloves when customers show up. “They’re just picking up from outside the door,” Yim explained. “Nobody is allowed to enter the store.” Yu, Ramlo, and Berlin were all cautious about making declarative statements about what’s going to happen in B.C. as the lockdown is lifted. Berlin pointed out that even the governor of the Bank of Canada, Stephen Poloz, has been reluctant to make any predictions, given the unprecedented nature of this economic contraction. “It’s been said—not by myself— that economic forecasting was invented to make astrology look good,” Berlin quipped. “But one thing I will say about British Columbia and Metro Vancouver in a relative sense: we had a very well-functioning economy.” g

any veteran journalists around the world have received a rude awakening in recent years courtesy of Internet metrics. Thanks to Google Analytics, Chartbeat, and other measuring tools, they’ve learned what articles and subjects resonate with online readers and which pieces fall flat. As much as I might be interested in a particular topic, the numbers will quickly tell me if the public doesn’t care. On the positive side, Internet metrics reveal areas where there is tremendous public interest but that are largely unexplored by the media. Quoting international-affairs expert Gwynne Dyer, I once wrote an article about how terrorism is overblown in the media. Much to my surprise, that article went viral. The same thing happened after I interviewed Delhi-based writer Arundhati Roy about the 2014 Indian election. More recently, an article quoting Stanford University epidemiologist John Ioannidis on the COVID-19 pandemic hit a nerve. Many people are under the impression that media outlets go after clickbait like the Kardashians or the royal family to attract eyeballs to their websites. Although there is some truth to that, there is also another reality. Serious articles offering alternative views can yield a tremendous amount of Internet traffic. Last month, I was astonished to learn that my articles on Straight. com generated more than 1.1 million page views, according to Chartbeat. Not one dealt with Meghan or Harry. This number was far higher than the norm, so I thanked Anton Tikhomirov, the brilliant senior vice president of technology and architecture of Media Central Corporation, over Twitter. At the end of February, Media Central closed a deal with the McLeod family to buy the Georgia Straight. The Ontario-based company also owns NOW Magazine in Toronto and the CannCentral.com online publication about cannabis and psychedelics. On May 5, thanks to a Media Central news release, I learned more about the role that Anton is playing in making the Georgia Straight and NOW more resilient in the Internet age. Using artificial intelligence and machine learning, he and his team have expanded the digital advertising inventory across all of the company’s properties “to monetize its growing audience of 6.5 million influential consumers through technology”. Here at the Straight, ad impressions have risen 25 percent during the past two months. Ad impressions are up a stunning 405 percent in that same period at NOW. As a result, Media Central’s overall programmatic ad revenue jumped by 389 percent in April. Yes, folks, computers are purchasing advertising from other computers. When I started working at the Georgia Straight in the 1990s, nobody ever used terms like “artificial intelligence”. Only in recent years has it dawned on me that machine learning could be a salvation for media companies in a world increasingly dominated by Facebook, Google, Apple, Amazon, and Alibaba. We’re still not at a point where the robots can do my job—and for that, I’m grateful. But technology has gotten very good at letting me know when I’m striking out or whacking the ball over the fence. g

ARTS / FILM

Local architecture wins accolades by Janet Smith

Among the winners of this year’s Governor General’s Medals in Architecture are (left to right) North Vancouver’s Polygon Gallery (photo by Robert Stefanowicz), the UBC Aquatic Centre, and the minimalist Dock Building (photos by Ema Peter).

ancouver is home to an impressive three of the 12 Canadian designs that have just earned Governor General’s Medals in Architecture for this year. UBC’s sustainability-minded aquatic centre, North Van’s waterfront Polygon Gallery, and a minimalist marina on Jericho Beach have each won the biennial honour.  The awards recognize excellence in recently built projects by Canadian architects. The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts jointly administer the prizes. A jury of experts award the medals. The $33.5-million, 85,000-squarefoot UBC Aquatic Centre, by MJMA and Acton Ostry Architects, was recognized for its eco-minded innovations and inviting, tentlike design. It opened in 2016 for use by elite athletes, students, and the surrounding community. Aside

from its Olympic-grade pool, it has a 25-metre diving well with a movable floor and a warm-water leisure basin. The project is designed to sustainable LEED Gold standards, with water reuse via a cistern that collects rain on the roof. The jury praised the facility for the way it zones the different uses; a translucent screen creates a luminous barrier between the two spaces, reflecting abundant sunlight into the leisure side. “This campus building stands out for its luminous interiors. Being inside is like being in a white tent on a summer day all year round. Outside, it transforms swimming into a rambunctious event, drawing in passersby and animating the campus,” the jury wrote in its decision. Elsewhere, Patkau Architects’ $12-million Polygon Gallery, which became a destination on Lonsdale’s waterfront in 2017, won accolades for its use of the location and the way it welcomes the public to art.

“The bold mass and jagged profile of this public gallery hover weightlessly over a glass entry floor,” the jury wrote. “The building creates a gener-

The bold mass and jagged profile hover weightlessly over a glass entry floor. – G-G Medals in Architecture jury

ous covered public area on the North Vancouver waterfront, with the form generating interaction between passersby and art-goers, lowering the

Arts

STREAM

boundary between elite art activities and daily life. Sensitive to sky and sea, the shimmering façade reflects the changing light outside, while the inside boasts flexible galleries capped by intimidating skylights.” The photo and media hub, which replaced the old Presentation House Gallery, features open exhibition spaces, a glazed southern wall that AS COVID-19 LOCKDOWN makes the most of its views of Burcontinues, Vancouver’s arts rard Inlet, and an outdoor plaza that scene is jumping from stages and galleries to online. Here has become a vibrant gathering place. are some of the top streaming The 24,000-square-foot, glass-andpicks this week. metal sawtooth design also makes a nod to the site’s ship-building past. c CHOR LEONI INSIDE (May Michael Green Architecture’s Dock 6 at 7 p.m.) Vancouver’s standout all-male choir’s Building, meanwhile, was praised by weekly program features Arts the jury for proving “sometimes less is Umbrella Dance artists Yuha more than enough”. Tomita and Nick Daniels in “This practical facility sits very an artful interpretation of Kim lightly among the docks, at rest on the André Arnesen’s “Even When Vancouver shoreline like a boat on the He Is Silent”. water,” it said. “From its simple form and efficient organization arise an c #THEATREMEMES PANEL (May 7 at 5 p.m.) Here’s one architectural experience both poetic that’s fun and frivolous: Arts and sensible. Modest, it exhibits careClub Theatre staff members ful thinking about composition and gather to discuss and rate materials on almost every level.” memes that reference all Finished in September 2017 for things stage-related. The the relatively small budget of $3.5 company promises the panel million, the Jericho Beach sailboat is “completely nonsensical”— marina houses everything from which might be just what you need right now. washrooms and showers to instruction spaces and workshops. Its de- c THE JOY OF PAINTING (May sign pays subtle tribute to the indus8 at 4:30 p.m.) As part of trial and canning history of the site. the Vancouver Art Gallery’s The low, modular structure has been ongoing Art Connects Series, described as lanternlike, glowing at East Van–based Métis artist Jean Paul Langlois (shown night at the water’s edge. here) lets us in on his painting The other nine projects named for process. This should be a treat: medals range from a glass-block utilLanglois’s large-scale works ities building in Edmonton, Alberta, to burst with saturated colour a library with curving white staircases and references to everything and counters in Drummondville, from old westerns to ’70s Quebec. The jury considers elements sci-fi and Saturday-morning such as compatibility with the site, incartoons. g novation, and sustainable design. g

Here’s what we’re watching this month

by NOW staff

ere are eight Netflix recommendations for May. They come from staff at NOW Magazine, which is the Straight’s sister publication in Toronto.

THE EDDY

Netflix has spared no expense on this new limited series, a multilingual ensemble drama written by awardwinning screenwriter and playwright Jack Thorne. Netflix has also revealed almost nothing about it, other than the fact that it’s set in and around a Paris jazz club and stars André Holland, Amandla Stenberg, Tahar Rahim, and Cold War’s Joanna Kulig. (May 8) HAVE A GOOD TRIP: ADVENTURES IN PSYCHEDELICS

Since none of us is taking a physical trip for the next little while, why not watch a movie about some awesome, mind-bending inner trips? That’s the premise of this documentary about celebs recounting their favourite drug-induced voyages, all thanks to psychedelics. (May 11) PATTON OSWALT: I LOVE EVERYTHING

Oswalt is fine in his TV and film appearances, and he’s extremely funny on Twitter, but as anyone who has seen his live standup act knows, the stage is where he rules. In his latest comedy special, he discusses things like attending his daughter’s second-grade art show and the dangers of buying a house. Neither of those things sounds particularly funny, but Oswalt—a shrewd, self-effacing comic with impeccable timing—will make them so. (May 19) BEN PLATT LIVE FROM RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL

The Tony-, Emmy-, and Grammywinning star of Dear Evan Hansen and the Pitch Perfect movies performed a solo concert at Radio City Music Hall

Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani star in The Big Sick director Michael Showalter’s comedy The Lovebirds, premiering on Netflix in May. Photo by Skip Bolen

last September, the final spot on his big Big Sick director Michael Showalter tour. Expect lots of big emoting, both away from Amazon Studios, which from his Broadway career and his re- released the previous film. (May 22) cent solo album debut. (May 20) SELLING SUNSET (SEASON 2)

With Netflix churning out delectable reality rubbish seemingly by the day, the second season of Selling Sunset couldn’t have better timing. Released quietly last summer, it was a bit of a sleeper hit, following the ferocious real-estate world in Los Angeles. Featuring elite agency the Oppenheim Group (which only seems to hire tall, thin blonds), agents get cutthroat just because, and it makes for incredibly bingeworthy content. (May 22) THE LOVEBIRDS

Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae are a New Orleans couple whose relationship is heavily tested when they’re framed for murder and forced to go on the run to clear their names. (Don’t worry, it’s a comedy!) Paramount Pictures had positioned this as its big April release until COVID-19 shuttered all the movie theatres, so now it’s premiering on Netflix, which is probably very happy to have yoinked Nanjiani’s reunion with The

HANNAH GADSBY: DOUGLAS

When Hannah Gadsby released Nanette in 2018, Netflix billed it as a “comedy special”. It proved to be much more: a memoir, cultural commentary, and a reflection on trauma. It won her both a Peabody and an Emmy. Expectations for her second special, Douglas, are high. And she may even be returning on a lighter note, considering the name of her new show is that of one of her dogs. Still, this one touches on many of the themes in Nanette, namely, the patriarchy. And antivaxxers. Expect a punch in the gut. (May 26) SPACE FORCE

Steve Carell and Greg Daniels helped redefine the American sitcom with The Office. Now they’ve cocreated a new workplace comedy, focused on the poor saps who have to turn Donald Trump’s bold new military initiative into something workable. Carell is the four-star general trying to wrangle a base full of eccentrics while also parenting his teenage daughter, because that’s how sitcoms work. (May 29) g

MAY 7 – 14 / 2020 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT 9

FOOD & DRINK

Dine in with your mother this year by Gail Johnson

the Opulence Kit has items like lo- French Food Made Easy kits. Prawns cal spot prawns, Atlantic lobster tail, Provençal, fennel-crusted Lois Lake and Hokkaido snow crab. steelhead, oven-roasted half-chicken Provençal, duck confit, and albacore GO BIG AND STAY HOME tuna are all on offer for an upscale When the world was normal, Glowbal interactive cooking session. g offered a Mother’s Day Brunch Buffet with more than 100 items. This year, it’s letting you bring the extravaganza home: the at-home version for two consists of classic eggs benny, smokedsalmon benny, hash browns with Parmesan cheese and herbs, roastedleek-and-fennel sausage, carved U.S. prime striploin, oven-roasted porchetta, chilled snow crab, poached tiger prawns, baby sugared doughnuts, and mini tiramisu.

S plash OF WINE

Many restaurants, including St. Lawrence, are offering Mother’s Day takeaway.

estaurants may be closed, but there are plenty of options for takeaway and delivery that can help you to celebrate mom with outstanding food and drink this Mother’s Day. Here are a few ideas for a delicious May 10.

pecans, apricot and spinach salad, house-made blueberry scones, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. The Mackenzie Room has a Mother’s Day Brunch Kit and Dinner Kit. Add in a Flower Factory bouquet and a bottle of red, white, or sparkling wine.

GO BIG WITH BUBBLES

BEAUTIFUL BENTO

Fairmont Pacific Rim executive chef Damon Campbell has created a threecourse meal to savour at home, with marinated Pacific salmon or braised prime beef short rib for mains. Addons include a bottle of Moët et Chandon Rosé Impérial, two champagne flutes, Sugarfina Champagne bears. Dachi’s Sparkling for Mom Box features the East Van restaurant’s buttermilk biscuits with caramel sauce, plus a bottle of Sparkling Rosé 2019 from Bella Wines, orange juice, and flowers. BOX IT UP

Steveston Seafood House is packing up a Mother’s Day Brunch Box with spinach and feta frittata, crab cake with red-pepper aioli, brioche French toast with caramelized banana and

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: APRIL 6, 2020 WHERE:

I met you a few years ago when I was on vacation with my parents. You were a handsome dance instructor and you took my breath away. If you saw me carrying that watermelon to that underground dance party, tell me what I was wearing so I know it is really you.

1283 HOWE ST BABE IN BLACK CYCLING SHORTS

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: MAY 3, 2020 WHERE: 1283 howe street Hello. Spotted you walking into this building from my car. You caught me looking back at you a couple of times lol, i couldn’t help it! You were walking up Howe from the granville bridge side, dressed in all black work out clothes. You have such a beautiful face and those shorts, wow! I was driving a silver mini van and this all happened today (3rd) at 1.45pm. Lets do some laps?

I LET YOU CROSS THE ROAD

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: APRIL 30, 2020 WHERE: Willingdon Ave before the overpass I was driving south on Willingdon Ave about to turn onto the on ramp for Hwy 1 west, you thought I wasnt going to stop for you but I did and we exchange smiles, a few times. It was cute. I’d like to smile like that again.

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: APRIL 15, 2020 WHERE:

We live in the same building so hopes are high! Although I was feeling shy, I could feel the sparks fly. I know the quarantine times are hard, but don't fear, you can catch me in the blue hammock during the 7 pm cheer :)

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: APRIL 25, 2020 WHERE: Horseshoebay

We crossed paths hiking, we chatted briefly. I asked you how far it was to Eagle Ridge bluffs. You were super cute and I wished I had mustered the courage to ask you for your number. When this COVID thing is over, I’d love to go on a hike or grab a drink with you sometime.

GRANVILLE ISLAND BOAT YARD

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: APRIL 25, 2020 WHERE: Granville Island You were the first stranger to strike up a conversation with me since the pestilence began, and it was so refreshing. I’m glad you made it in to Canada before the gates closed. I wish I’d kept the conversation going instead of running away. Try again?

YOU BEAUTIFUL BLONDE RIDING BIKE

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: APRIL 17, 2020 WHERE: Corner Main & Cordova Saw you as you rode your bike down main street towards corner store I was standing outside at . You went to lock bike up and we caught each others eyes you smiled was so cute couldnt shake it then u left we caught each others eyes again think theres enough for a third time with no looking away for a longer period.

GREEN ZX6R STUNT BIKE

1960 ALBERNI

HIKING NEAR WHYTE LAKE

Hy’s Steakhouse and Cocktail Bar is making an indulgent dinner complete with its famous cheese toast, classic Caesar salad, roast prime rib of beef, and bananas Foster. Cheese toast also comes in Gotham Steakhouse & Bar’s four-person dinner, with organic mixed greens (including smoked salmon, Chilean baby shrimp, spring carrots, haricots vert, and champagne vinaigrette); pork tenderloin stuffed with cream cheese and fresh spinach, caramelized cipollini onions, bacon-and-balsamic glaze, sweet cherry-and-orange sauce); scalloped potatoes and sugar snap peas; and strawberry shortcake.

Miku, which introduced flame-seared sushi to Canada, has Aburi To-Go Mother’s Day Bento. Mom will indulge in seasonal sashimi, oshi sushi, and roll sushi, along with Brussels-sprout chips and petit green-tea opera cake. At Masayoshi, chef Masayoshi Baba has designed deluxe multilayer bento with his intricate and artful creations, featuring abalone, tuna, BONNE FETE DES MERES uni, and king crab, as well as dessert. An extension of St. Lawrence’s new “à la maison” meals, the Québécois DIY SUSHI WITH THE MASTER restaurant’s Mother’s Day offering inTojo’s Mother’s Day Temaki Kits cludes slow-baked salmon with ratamean you can have an interactive touille and basil pistou, maple dinner experience as a family, complete rolls with cretons and mustard, niçoise with a video tutorial by Tojo himself salad with albacore tuna, potato gratin in how to make the hand rolls. The dauphinois, lemon tart with meringue, Classic Kit includes local albacore and house-made chocolate truffles. tuna, Hokkaido scallop, and unagi; Provence Marinaside has a range of

> Go on-line to read hundreds of I Saw You posts or to respond to a message < DON'T PUT ME IN THE CORNER!

Haywire Vintage Bub 2013

FOR MEAT-LOVING MAMAS

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: APRIL 10, 2020 WHERE: International Motorsports - Vancouver You came by the shop to see if your ZX6R was my old bike. I forgot to ask for your name! I have a bunch of parts in storage if you need anything. If you want to wrench or ride sometime (2 metres apart of course), you know where to find me. Ride safe!

HEY CUTE GUY ON A BIKE WHO STOPPED TO PUT HIS RED JACKET ON!

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: APRIL 18, 2020 WHERE: Adanac Street, just before Woodland Park (Commercial Drive hood) I was crossing the street close to Woodland Park on the bike lane with my dogo when you rode your bike past me and we had some good smiles going for a second. Then you stopped to put your red jacket on but I didn’t see that until it was too late because there were parked cars between us and I was talking to a friend on the phone. In case you stopped to say hi: Email me a pic of yourself and your fave isolation podcast, book, album or pastime :)

DARK BEAUTY AT PHARMACY LINE

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: MARCH 18, 2020 WHERE: LD Pharmacy, E. Hastings

You had dark hair and dark eyes, I suppose skin as well. Short hair. I was in rush to get out of those lights. You deserve a compliment, at least, you looked lovely. I was tall with similar hair/eye color.

A MUTUAL SMILE. W. 2ND AVE & ONTARIO ST WEDNESDAY 7.20PM

I SAW A: I AM A: WHEN: MARCH 25, 2020 WHERE: W 2nd Ave & Ontario St I was on my bike, and had stopped at the junction. While fiddling in my courier bag for a blinky light to put on my handlebar, I glanced across to the Northbound side of Ontario, and there you were, on your own bike. It was white, or a pale colour if I remember correctly. You seemed to be checking me out. When the light turned green, we cycled towards each other, and exchanged what seemed like a very warm deliberate smile as we passed. Had I not been so tired, I would have trilled my bell... If you are reading this, you know when and where to find me most days. I’m a creature of habit.

Visit straight.com to post your FREE I Saw You _ 10 THE GEORGIA STR AIGHT MAY 7 – 14 / 2020

TECH SHEET: Situated on the

20-hectare, certified-organic Secrest Mountain Vineyard in Oliver, Haywire is owned by Okanagan Crush Pad. This sparkler’s specs suggest toasted-hazelnut aromas, a creamy red-apple palate, and a fresh white-grapefruit finish.

FIRST SIP: This is the one to

break out on Mother’s Day: a citrusy sparkler so dryly bright that a yellow hydrangea now coming into bloom might pop to mind. Come to think of it, combine a bottle of this fantastic fizz with a white-and-pale-golden bouquet for a perfect gift.

NEXT LEVEL: Order in a free-

range Crispy Chicken Dinner from Douce Diner, complete with buttermilk biscuits, housemade gravy and hot sauce, shoestring fries, and coleslaw. Mama is about to celebrate.

SWIRL THIS: Find it at www. okanagancrushpad.com for $44.90 or at Kitsilano Wine Cellar. by Gail Johnson

Main Street’s Fruit Bomb is like a tart and tangy kiss

by Mike Usinger

s a valuable public service, we taste the latest in Lower Mainland beers and then give you a highly opinionated, pocket-sized review. ON TAP

Main Street Brewing Fruit Bomb Kettle Sour. THEIR WORDS

“Brewed using the hopbursting technique, this kettle sour is exploding with tropical hop flavours of grapefruit, lime, lemon, mango and peach—guaranteed to ignite your tastebuds. Kettle soured to give a blast of tartness. It’s the bomb!” TASTE TEST

Take the name “Fruit Bomb”, and then add in the promise of a vitaminC bounty, and you’ve got what sounds like a carbonated collusion between Jolly Rancher and Starburst. The brilliance—and, no, brilliance as a descriptor is by no means overselling things—of Fruit Bomb Kettle Sour is the way that, while grapefruit, lime, lemon, mango, and peach might very well all be attending the party, none of them are holding court. And what a party it is, with exotically blended citrus counterbalanced by a tart, tangy, bright-eyed, and very forward kiss. DEEP THOUGHTS

The great thing about Main Street Brewing’s Fruit Bomb Kettle Sour is that it punches in at a lightweight 4 percent ABV, which means that you can almost drink from dawn to dusk without your face going numb. As an added bonus, you presumably get your recommended six daily servings of fruit in each can. g

Liquor Nerd: Pour this into that glass

by Mike Usinger

ey there, housebound booze buddies—welcome to another installment of Liquor Nerd, the column designed to help you become an amateur approximation of the legendary Ada Coleman. Over the past few weeks, we’ve covered simple syrups, infusions, fresh juices, and basic tools like shakers and juicers—you know, the building blocks for your own home-bar program. This week, let’s talk glasses. Not those things that you drive yourself crazy looking for after a third happyhour Hurricane, only to discover after 45 minutes of raging that they’re on your head. Instead, we’re talking about the vessels into which you pour your beautifully balanced cocktails. As you no doubt noticed during your pre-COVID-19 drinking adventures, what you order from the bar often determines which glass it arrives in. Your Zombie isn’t served in a beer mug, your Whisky Sour is never poured into a champagne flute. Confession time: I’m in the dark as far as glass etiquette goes, so it seems wiser this week to reach out to a pro. When not fulfilling her duties as vice-president of the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association, Amber Bruce is the bar manager at Vancouver’s famously innovative Keefer Bar. She notes that, while there are numerous variations, cocktail glasses are pretty much either stemmed or stemless. Think martini glass versus highball glass. Drinks that you don’t want to be warming up with your hands (Manhattans, martinis) are generally meant for glasses with stems. “The concept behind a stemmed glass is that, typically, the drink isn’t going to contain ice,” Bruce says. “So that makes it a little more open to changing temperatures. That means you want to hold it by the stem, rather

Amber Bruce is the bar manager of the Keefer Bar. Photo by Dave Hamilton

than holding it by the bowl, which would warm it up. Drinks that you usually serve chilled and neat are ones where you want a stem, so the drink stays cooler.” Assuming you’re not the Human Flame from DC Comics, there’s no danger of your hands melting the ice in cocktails served on the rocks: Negronis, Old Fashioneds, and classic Margaritas. That makes it fine to reach for a classic Collins glass or a tumbler. A good mental cheat sheet for figuring out what goes where is to think about how the drink is made. “The general rule is that if a drink has citrus juice, or any kind of juice for that matter, you’re typically going to shake that cocktail,” Bruce says. “The reason is that will combine things more vigorously and work more air into it. The texture of a vigorously shaken Daiquiri is bracing and bright. Shake it properly and you’ll get air bubbles, which gives it almost an effervescence—I like the

quote about how you’ll want to enjoy a cocktail quickly, while it’s still laughing at you. “Stirring is less effective for chilling, but what it will do is maintain a texture,” she continues. “Think about a stirred drink like a Manhattan or Old Fashioned or Negroni, and what you’re looking for is a texture that silky and smooth. You don’t want to whipping air in—you just want to get the chilling down.” Confused when it comes to outliers like the Sazerac? That’s okay. Bruce notes that one of the great things about mixology is that its rules were made to be broken, and are all the time. Without renegades, we wouldn’t have places like the Keefer. Or the Union, where cardamom-cachaça Banga cocktails are served in humble mason jars. Because you’re at home right now, no one is going to stop you from blazing your own trail. “Anything goes—there are no hard-and-fast rules, and anytime you come up with one, you’ll find someone who breaks it,” Bruce says with a laugh. “And if you’re drinking at home, you can choose any damn glass you please.” Here’s a recipe for a classic Negroni. It’s supposed to be served in an Old-Fashioned glass, but don’t let that stop you from reaching for a mason jar, empty Illy coffee canister, or glass slipper. NEGRONI 1 oz. gin 1 oz. sweet vermouth 1 oz. Campari

Stir in a cocktail shaker with ice, pour into the glass of your choosing, and garnish with an orange slice. g Mike Usinger is not a professional bartender. He does, however, spend most of his waking hours sitting on barstools.

SAVAGE LOVE

HIGH TECH

Lack of control brings loads of trouble Liquor store uses infrared imaging to boost safety by Dan Savage

b I’VE BEEN WITH the same amazing man a dozen years. We’ve had our ups and our downs, same as any other couple, but these days life is better then it ever has been for us. Except in the bedroom. A few years ago, he started having fantasies about sucking dick. Specifically, he wanted to suck a small one because his is very big and he wanted to “service” a guy who’s less hung than he is. Which is fine, except it’s now the only thing that gets him off. We seldom have sex now because his obsession with sucking off a guy with a small dick makes me feel unattractive and, to be honest, I don’t share the fantasy. I even let him suck a dude off in front of me once, and I didn’t enjoy it at all. He tells me he still finds me attractive, but when we’re having sex, the talk always goes to how he wants to take “warm and salty loads” down his throat. I’ve told him I’m not into it, but he enjoys talking about it so much he can’t help himself. I thought allowing him to live out his fantasy would help him “get over it”, so to speak, but that didn’t happen. So now we just don’t have sex except once every few months. I’m not sure how to make him see that it’s just not my thing and to get the focus back on just the two of us. - Lover Obsesses About Dick Sucking

look at your husband and think, “Things are better than ever!” despite the dismal state of your sex life, LOADS, I hate to think what life with him used to be like. There’s not an easy fix here. If you’ve already told your husband the “warm and salty load” talk is a turn-off and made it clear it’s the reason your sex life has pretty much collapsed and, nevertheless, he persists with the “warm and salty load” talk, well, then your husband is telling you he would rather not have sex than have sex without talking about warm and salty loads. Now, I’m assuming that you actually told him how you feel, LOADS, in clear and unambiguous terms, and that you said what you needed to say emphatically. And by “emphatically”, LOADS, I mean, “repeatedly and at the top of your lungs”. If not— if you’re doing that thing women are socialized to do, i.e., if you’re downplaying the severity of your displeasure in a misguided effort to spare your husband’s feelings—then you need to get emphatic. Sometimes it’s not enough to tell, LOADS; sometimes you have to yell. You’re obviously GGG—you’re good, giving, and game—but your husband has taken you for granted and been almost unbelievably inconsiderate. Because even if he needs to think about sucking dick to get off, LOADS, he doesn’t need to verbalize

If you can

that fantasy each and every time you fuck. Even if you were into it, which you’re not, it would get tedious. And it wasn’t just selfish of him to ignore how you felt, LOADS; it was shortsighted. Because women who are willing let their husbands talk about wanting to suck a dick—much less suck a dick— aren’t exactly easy to come by. I guess what I’m trying to say, LOADS, is that your husband really blew it. If he hadn’t allowed this obsession to completely dominate your sex life—if he’d made some small effort to control himself—you might’ve been willing to let him act on his fantasy more than once. But as things stand now, it’s hard to see how you can come back from this, LOADS, because even if he can manage to STFU about warm and salty loads long enough to fuck you, you’re going to know he’s thinking about warm and salty loads. So the most plausible solution here, assuming that you want to stay married to this guy, would be for him to go suck little dicks (once circumstances allow) while you get some decent sex elsewhere (ditto). Finally, a lot of vanilla people think—erroneously—that acting on kink will somehow get it out of a kinky person’s system. That’s not the way kinks work. Kinks are hardwired, and kinky people wanna act on their kinks again and again for the exact same reason vanilla people wanna do vanilla things again and again: because it turns them on.

b I HAVE WHAT most people would consider an amazing life. I have two healthy kids, financial security, a stable career, and a husband who is the exact partner I could ever want. I really couldn’t ask for more. I just have one issue: my husband wants to be intimate more often than I do. We are both nearing 40, and his libido has not slowed down. I, on the other hand, due to a combination of being busy with work and us both taking care of the kids (especially during the lockdown), find myself with a decreased sexual drive. Because of all my (and our) obligations, I find myself alternating between a state of tiredness, anxiousness, or distraction, none of which get me “in the mood”. We’ve talked about the situation, and he is absolutely respectful when we do so, but he has made it clear he’s very frustrated. I think once a week is more than enough, and he could go multiple times a day. It’s to the point where he feels he’s begging just to fit some “us” time into our lives, which he says makes him feel undesirable and humiliated. There isn’t anything wrong with him that leaves me not wanting to engage in physical intimacy, we just seem to have different physical-intimacy schedules, and it’s putting a serious strain on our re-

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lationship. How can we work to find a comfortable middle ground or, at the by Charlie Smith absolute least, help me explain to him why I’m not as randy as he is? - Completely Lost In Tacoma

to craft an elaborate explanation, CLIT, as what’s going on here is pretty simple: your husband has a high libido and you have a low one. What you need is a reasonable accommodation. Opening up your marriage, obviously, isn’t an option right now, CLIT, and it might not be an option you would’ve considered even if it were possible for your husband to find an outlet (or inlet) elsewhere. But there is something you can do. Your husband is doubtless jacking off a lot to relieve the pressure. If there’s something he enjoys that you don’t find physically taxing and if he promises not to pressure you to upgrade to intercourse in the moment, then you could enhance his masturbatory routine. Does he like it when you sit on his face? Then sit on his face—you can even keep your clothes on—while he rubs one out. Does he love your tits? Let him look at them while he beats off. Is he a little kinky? It doesn’t take that long to piss on someone in the tub and it wouldn’t mean adding something to your already packed schedule, CLIT, as you have to find time to piss anyway. It would be unreasonable of your husband to expect sex three times a day—that would be an irrational expectation even if you were childless and independently wealthy—but your husband isn’t asking you to fuck him three times a day. He wants a little more sexual activity, some erotic affirmation, and more couple time. Giving him an assist while he masturbates ticks all those boxes. That said, this will only work if your husband solemnly vows never to initiate intercourse during an assistedmasturbation session. If you catch a groove and start feeling horny and wanna upgrade to intercourse, you should. But he needs to let you lead, because if he starts pressuring you for sex when you’re just there to assist, then you’re going to be reluctant to help him out. If he can follow that one rule, CLIT, you’ll feel more connected and you’ll probably wind up having more PIV/PIB/PIM sex—maybe twice a week instead of once a week—but it will be sex you both want. g

You don’t need

On this week’s Savage Lovecast, yes, it is possible to be both horny and depressed. Also, hear the tale of intrepid mountain climbers and what they can do in their harnesses. www.savagelovecast.com. Email: mail@savagelove.net. Follow Dan on Twitter @FakeDanSavage.

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Temperature scanning is being done at Value on Liquor Store in South Vancouver.

owadays, people are used to being observed by cameras in retail stores. But in South Vancouver, the Value on Liquor Store (1450 Southwest Marine Drive) has added a second dimension to enhance the safety of customers and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. The manager, Abri van den Berg, told the Straight by phone that the company has installed a Hikvision device to detect body temperatures of those on-site. “It has a thermal infrared camera as well as a regular high-definition camera,” van den Berg explained. “They are side by side, so when one looks at the screen, you can see a regular picture as well as the thermal resolution.” A laser detects body temperature extremely accurately, according to van den Berg. The device sets off a warning signal if there’s an elevated body temperature. “It’s set to trigger the alarm at 38 ° C, which I think, medically, would qualify as a fever,” van den Berg said. “I am very proud to be involved with this. It’s a great tool for any business,

but especially for a retail business.” A fever is one of the symptoms of COVID-19, which has been linked to 114 deaths in British Columbia. T & T Supermarket is manually checking for fevers with a temperature gun. But as far as van den Berg is aware, Value on Liquor Store is the only retailer with an automated system. If anyone shows up at the 7,000-square-foot liquor store with a fever, this will be explained to them and they’ll be politely asked to leave. “For us, it’s an investment in the business and in the health and safety of our customers and staff,” van den Berg said. According to van den Berg, employees are pleased to have this new level of protection. They were already wearing personal protective equipment and the store has dispensers with hand sanitizers. In addition, van den Berg said, Value on Liquor Store is following guidelines set out by its industry association, ABLE B.C., and provincial health officials regarding occupancy limits and physical distancing. g

Howbsy.com reveals how to avoid lineups in stores

by Charlie Smith

uring a pandemic, the last thing consumers want to do is wait in line. Now there’s a website to help people avoid doing that. Howbsy.com relies on crowdsourced information to reveal wait times to get into food, drug, and liquor stores across Metro Vancouver. And there is a long list of retail outlets on the website, offering consumers an easy way to determine where to go if they want to save time. Best of all, it’s free to use. Created by Maple Ridge marketing consultant Mae Woods and Vancouver software

Websites

www.ClassicClassifieds.ca

www.platinumclub.net

straight.com

engineer Pan Khantidara, Howbsy. com—short for “how busy”— attracted more than 20,000 users in its first week. “Pan called me on a Sunday with the idea of a ‘lineup wait time’ website after a talk with her mom,” Woods told the Straight. “Her mom was frustrated with how long the lines were and suggested a platform that could ease this frustration.” Khantidara spent five days figuring out the technical aspects. Woods, public-relations manager of the local tech company Kinzoo, then went to work marketing the website. g

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