Westender - August 6, 2015

AUGUST 6-12 // 2015

EVERYTHING VANCOUVER

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Urban harvest

• SUMMER CABIN GUEST DOS AND DON’TS • • VANCOUVER’S HOTTEST NEW BOUTIQUES • • MASTERING THE ART OF FOREPLAY •

NEWS // ISSUES • STYLE // DESIGN • EAT // DRINK • MUSIC // ARTS • FILM // TV • HEALTH // SEX

CUSTOMER APPRECIATION DAY! Sunday, August 9 PRIZES F! DEMOS F O % 0 1 g in h t y r e Ev GAMES 1722 Davie St.

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NEWS // ISSUES

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INSIDE THIS WEEK You’re All Just Jealous of My Jetpack by Tom Gauld

RANT//RAVE email: rantrave@westender.com

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COVER: HASTINGS URBAN FARM MANAGER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HIVES FOR HUMANITY SARAH COMMON AT THE HASTINGS URBAN FARM. DAN TOULEGOET PHOTO

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LONG LIVE THE FIREWORKS!

Re:“Douse the Fireworks”, Vancouver Shakedown, July 30, 2015.

Allow me to counter a few points in Grant’s column.

Does he really think that if there was even a remote possibility of there being a danger to Stanley Park that it would take place? Why not be up front and say he doesn’t like this annual spectacle instead of using the drought as an excuse. Calling the spectators “a mostly young, obnoxious bridge-and-tunnel crowd” shows his arrogant disdain for those not lucky enough to call this part of the city home. And the reason the city banned fireworks elsewhere is because those aren’t lit from the safety of a barge in the middle of a large body of water.

My sympathy goes out to the demise of his dog but I refuse to believe that a healthy dog would die from some loud bangs. Dogs living in parts of the country known for massive thunderstorms must be dropping like flies everywhere.

Vancouver is known as nofun city and if it were up to him it would really perpetuate that, image. Lighten up a bit, Grant.

-Anonymous I am sorry that Grant Lawrence’s dog died but that is not enough reason to propose cancelling the Celebration of Light fireworks over English Bay. We have been attending for 10 years since moving toYaletown

and have not witnessed any of the bad behaviour mentioned in Grant’s tirade.Viewing the fireworks from the park next to the Aquatic Centre along Beach Street, we are usually surrounded by neighbourhood residents, young and old, who appreciate the fireworks and are polite and respectful.

I have observed no fights, just people clapping at the end of the show and moving slowly and safely down the street in an orderly manner back to their homes and cars. Perhaps it is a different story down near Denman, and I am appalled by some of the photos I have seen of the amount of trash people leave on the beach. But it is a summer tradition that makes Vancouver special and unique and I wouldn’t want to see it changed.

–Long Live the Fireworks

HOT AIR, OR STUPIDITY?

The people who light “Asian Fire Balloons” on English Bay Beach and then watch them ride the wind and drift into the city and/or Stanley Park are very, very, very stupid people. Don’t they know that the westerly wind is dominant? I saw one Asian Fire Balloon miss a balcony on a 16th floor by five feet. Just think how easily that fire would have spread if it hit the building and spread its flame... and the damage to life and property it would have caused. Think about how easily one of these would ignite Stanley Park into a

raging fire. This just shows how really stupid “stupid people” can be.

–From the Balcony

DRIVERS NEED A LESSON IN SHARING

Entitled road-users have special rudeness issues, which I sadly experienced again today in theWest End. These sorry car drivers repeatedly come up behind bicycles and yell and wank their horn, telling bicycles to ride somewhere else, but not on their exclusive road. Obviously bike paths are not everywhere and the roadway is shared. In my opinion, the road is really the best place for faster bikes – not on sidewalks or crowded bike paths – so promoting better safe sharing etiquette in all of these places is important.

It would be good if the city better educated its drivers and cyclists about sharing the road and paths. For example, faster cyclists or those wanting a workout should stick to the roads and not make the bike paths dangerous. A real danger for road bike users is if you ride even slightly close to the curb; drivers often are too lazy to change lanes so they will just squeeze by you with an inch to spare, which is not respectful to the seriousness of killing someone riding a bike. I always suggest riding one’s bike in the middle of a car lane to protect oneself and offer a “personal safety discussion” if drivers don’t like changing lanes.

–West End Driver and Cyclist

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2 W August 6 - August 12, 2015

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YOUR CITY

Summer cabin guest do’s and don’ts Grant Lawrence Vancouver Shakedown @GrantLawrence

In one of his last days on the job, Jim Chu was feted in May by the aboriginal and Chinese communities at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre. Chu served almost eight years as police chief.

Dan Toulgoet photo

Aquilini hires former VPD chief Jim Chu =H? 1KG CHAA <4 point person in 64F4A8'4$)! +H$!J 2@JH8;! IA4!

MIKE HOWELL @howellings

So Jim Chu is not going into politics, after all.

At least for now.

After speculation that Chu would trade in his duties as the city’s police chief for a run in this fall’s federal election, the 55-year-old retired leader of the Vancouver Police Department has taken a job in the business world.

Aquilini Investment Group announced in a press release Friday that Chu, who relinquished his duties as chief in May to Adam Palmer, has joined the company as vice-president of special projects and partnerships.

In his new role, the 36year veteran of the VPD, who holds a bachelor of business administration degree from Simon Fraser University and an MBA from the University of BC, will be a point person for the company’s developments related to First Nations.

“His proven leadership, experience, prominence in the community and business acumen make him an ideal candidate for the job,” said David Negrin, president of Aquilini Development and Construction Inc. Negrin was unavailable for an interview Friday.

Chu’s connection to First Nations is an area he continued to develop in his seven-and-a-half year run as police chief. In one of his last send-offs as chief, Chu was feted in May with words, songs and dance in a ceremony at the Aboriginal Friendship Centre. Chi-

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nese and aboriginal leaders honoured Chu, saying his leadership helped improve relations with their communities and make the city a safer place.

At the ceremony, Jerry Adams, a longtime Vancouver aboriginal leader who was a member of the police board that promoted Chu to chief in 2007, said he was “very fond of what chief Chu did for our aboriginal community.”

He noted Chu’s help to develop an after-hours program for aboriginal youth, create the Sisterwatch program in the Downtown Eastside to reduce violence against women, his continued support of the

aboriginal cadet program, his public luncheons at the Carnegie Centre and being the first chief in the VPD’s history to participate in the annual Women’s Memorial March.

Adams said he knew the police board made the right decision to hire Chu when one of his first overtures to the aboriginal community was to participate in a sweat lodge ceremony. It showed his commitment to improve relations between police and the aboriginal community, a relationship that has had its historical challenges, he said.

“So that was a real good beginning for us,” Adams said. W

“Fish and visitors stink after three days” – Benjamin Franklin Been invited to be a guest at a friend’s cabin this summer?

Great! Follow these easy rules and you’ll be the perfect summer cabin guest.

DO the dishes.

Most cabins come with a dishwasher… and you’re it!

That’s right, if you’re a guest at a friend’s cottage, you’re the automatic dishwasher. And that goes for kids, too. If the kids are eight years or older, they should be ready, willing, and able to get completely suds’d up.

DON’T bring too much stuff.

You’re not moving to the cabin, you’re visiting for three nights (or less).We’re into the dog days of one of the driest summers ever, so you really don’t need all that much clothing. Make the trip to your friend’s cabin an excuse for a digital detox: leave all the electronic devices and gadgetry at home.

DO consolidate your crap.

Whatever you bring, don’t spread it around the cabin like your suitcase just exploded.

Unless it’s food that needs to be refrigerated, consolidate your stuff to the designated

area where you’re sleeping, and nowhere else.

DON’T bring teenagers.

Unless your kid is that one teenager who actually loves being in the middle of the wilderness, with no WiFi, no TV, no roads, and no other teenagers to hang out with, don’t bring them. Nothing brings a long weekend at the cottage down faster than the surly older teenager who won’t get off the couch, let alone pose for a group photo, or help clean up, or be into a canoe paddle or a hike, or god forbid a round of charades.

DO bring food and booze.

Bring enough chow so that you can prepare at least one breakfast and one dinner for your hosts and any other guests during your stay. Check in advance for dietary restrictions to avoid an embarrassing culinary SNAFU, when the nearest grocery store could be hours in the opposite direction. Always bring more booze than you think you’ll drink.

Left over booze and food should be left behind for your host and future guests unless your host specifies otherwise.

DON’T leave the place in a mess.

It’s not the Chateau Marmont and you’re not Led Zeppelin.The only chambermaid that will clean up the horrendous mess you left behind is your host, begrudgingly and for hours, after you leave. Having wild sex at your friend’s cabin? Be absolutely sure to remove the used condoms. I type this from the experience of finding just those stuck to the wall in the guest room.

DO be a self-starter.

Your hosts aren’t camp counselors responsible for laying out your minute-tominute activities. Be prepared to do your own thing. Go for a walk, take the kayak out for a (long) paddle, prepare your own simple breakfast, read a book in the hammock, and give your hosts a break. Do a little research into cottage and cabin culture, like the golden water conservation rule of “yellow is mellow, but brown goes down”. And shower sparingly.

DON’T bring a Chihuahua.

Small dog, long story. W ( *$@;J 7@C$4;94 H! JK4 @GJK8$ 8% &56F4;JG$4! H; E8AHJG64, :K@J 28J B8:4@$ B8 5 2G64 .8JAG9D @;6 8JK4$ EJ8$H4! %$8? /4!8A@JH8; E8G;6#0 @ ?4?8H$ @<8GJ !G??4$! @J KH! %@?HA> 9@<H; 8; JK4:4!J 18@!J 8% 310 CK4$4 K4 K@! K8!J46 ?@;> @ "G4!J-

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August 6 - August 12, 2015 W 3

STYLE // DESIGN

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FASHION

My Digs: Rashell Gouwenberg of Peridot Jennifer Scott A Good Chick to Know

@Jennifer_AGCTK

Details are the keystone to design, the heart of a space and the refined elements that take a room to its full potential.While we often sneak a peek into the full extent of beautiful spaces for My Digs, this month launches a series of home tours of some of Vancouver’s most design savvy boutique owners.Within this, we can focus on the details of design, rather than simply the design as a whole. By featuring the people behind the shops that provide Vancouverites with stunning accent pieces and accessories, we get a glimpse into how the pros are living, loving and showcasing the collections they carry; it’s an opportunity for us to see how they are creating the details of their homes, and a chance to take away insider design tips for our own spaces from the industry forerunners.

Rashell Gouwenberg, one half of the design duo behind local luxury boutique Peridot Decorative Homeware, is our first industry feature.With a clear penchant for all things elegantly glamorous, Rashell’s style has gained much media attention, most notably this months Style At Home magazine; her stunning (and sprawling!) abode just outside the city is an ultimately chic representation of how a new build can evoke the charm of an upscale traditional manor

Details are the keystone to design, and help take a room to its full potential. Tracey Ayton photos while maintaining a modern meets feminine edge.

While I was enamoured with the grace with which Rashell and her husband designed the structural elements of their home, it was truly the details of the décor that caught my attention.

I frequent Rashell’s South Granville gem of a boutique, Peridot, for both my clients and my own home and I loved seeing some of the pieces from the shop used in her own space – one of my favourite aspects of My Digs is the opportunity to see how others interpret and feature their treasures.

I definitely took some inspiration from Rashell’s styling and thought it would be an opportunity for us all to see how to pull together the

statement details of a room.

Stay tuned next month as I’ll be featuring the stylish digs of Rashell’s business partner in crime, Leah Balderson.

WHAT IS IT: A custom-built 3,400-square-foot East Coast shingle-style home on five acres just outside Vancouver, in Langley.

OCCUPANTS: Myself, my husband and our golden-doodle Jackson.

MAJOR SELLING FEATURE: The charming property – it’s the kind of place you visit and never want to leave… like a vacation on Martha’s Vineyard. It’s exactly what we were looking for in a location for our home. As you approach

the property there is a long white wood fence is lined with old growth trees, and as you curve down the long driveway to the house we have a pond, lush rose and peony gardens, fruit trees, as well as a cabin for guests.We fell in love with the property and knew right away that our dream of building a East Coast shingle-style home would suit perfect.

FIRST THING WE CONSIDERED WHEN DESIGNING THE HOUSE: We built our house from the ground up, so every consideration – from structure to final details – was impactful to the feel of the home.

FEATURE WE BRAG ABOUT: Our ensuite. I wanted our bathroom to feel like we were visiting a luxury hotel so we

lined the floor and walls with marble, set a tub in the centre with oversized lighting above.

THE ONE CONVERSATION PIECE: Our lighting! Leah, my business partner in Peridot, and I were so excited to choose the lighting that we had already started selecting our picks during the framing stage. For me, lighting is the jewelry of the home so it was an important stage in the design. In terms of style, our home has a very traditional charm from the outside but has modern finishes on the interior to create balance and a well-rounded décor.

THE DÉCOR: Every element of our décor received thoughtful attention;

working within the design industry I am acutely aware of how important the details are to the feel of a home, so it was key for us to choose carefully right down to the little finishes.We mixed modern with traditional to create a space that felt luxurious but extremely comfortable, a combination that suited us and our style. Our palette is very neutral – creams, whites, grey, taupe, putty, brass and silver. Due to the chic neutral nature of our colour ways, it was important to layer: it’s the layering of the neutrals in a variety of textures and finishes that pull it all together for a beautiful overall design.With a light backdrop, our accessories became features: we love our art collection, which includes pieces from Kim Johnston, local favourite Miriam Aroeste as well as equestrian artist Carmen Lali. I included a blend of antiques and modern classics for our decorative collectables – I travel a lot with my horses, so I pick up equestrian antiques and love introducing them into our décor; however, I am also obsessed with Kelly Wearstler – I have always loved her bold designs with her edgy California girl meets sophisticated luxury vibe. I treasure her pieces and am honoured that we carry her collection in our boutique.

This blend of antiques with modern is what makes the space work for us.

FAVOURITE HOUSE ACTIVITY: Entertaining! We love hosting cocktail parties, family dinners and summer bonfires. W

Vancouver’s hottest new boutiques Niki Hope Style File

@NikiMHope The highly anticipated Nordstrom store doesn’t open in Vancouver until Sept. 18, but in the meantime a handful of new retail outlets have already popped up in the city’s evergrowing retail landscape.

KISS AND MAKEUP

A North Shore fixture for more than a decade, this charming apothecary, apparel, and accessories gem has made its way to this side of the Lions Gate Bridge with the recent opening of its Olympic Village location at 1791 Manitoba. Owner Heather Huntingford scoped out the perfect spot to house the darling boutique that carries wares she describes as “sophisticated slouch” – think comfy sweatpants with a glass of champagne, or a shirt with a banana graphic and high-end Oribe

haircare products. The store carries an array of local designers, including jewelry maven Shereen de Rousseau, delicate trinkets by Leah Alexandra, and stylish leather handbags from Bowen Island’s Lloyd & Wolf. There is also a selection of organic and natural skincare and beauty products from it-line Tata Harper, acclaimed cosmetics brand rms beauty, and Vancouver-born (but now California-based) ILIA Beauty products.

KissAndMakeupStore.com

designers and lines that aren’t well represented in the Canadian market, including bohodesigner Athena Procopiou, footwear line Chelsea Paris, and edgy jewelry by Imogen Belfield. Brian Macinnes and Alexandra Thompson opened their Wardrobe Apparel studio in May.The store concept was inspired by Thompson’s travels through Nepal. Her time spent trekking the world meant she curated a global wardrobe that garnered lots of compliments, so she decided to bring the designers she wore to Vancouver. wdrobeapparel.com

AESOP

The skincare line, established in Melbourne in 1987, has found a wee home in Gastown at 19 Water. The tiny retail space quietly opened its doors last month, bringing its quality skincare products to Vancouver on the heels of opening its first Canadian location in Toronto. With a strong following and solid reputation, Aesop doesn’t need to do much more than

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MCARTHURGLEN DESIGNER OUTLET

Kiss and Makeup owner Heather Huntingford says Olympic Village was the ideal spot for her second location. open its doors and wait for fans of the product to come flocking in. The Gastown store carries an array of skin and hair products – many of which are packaged in pharmaceutical-grade amber glass that looks as lovely rest-

ing on the counter as it feels on the body.

Aesop.com

WARDROBE APPAREL

The indie boutique brings unique threads to 67 East Cordova in Gastown, carrying

Last month’s opening of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet at Vancouver airport made for some pissed off drivers stuck in retail gridlock from an event that drew 160,000 eager shoppers over a single weekend. Allegedly traffic in Richmond en route to the airport was so heavy that first day (July 9) that some people missed flights over

the rush to shop the 80-unit outlet mall with brands like Prada, Armani and Burberry.

The mad dash has subsided, so it might be worth a visit to the Vans store, Gap Kids or J. Crew Factory for a little backto-school shopping this month or just to see whether all of the fuss was worth it.

DIOR

Luxury giant Dior also made a grand entrance with two opulent floors of womenswear and menswear at the Fairmont Vancouver (900 West Georgia).The French fashion house brought Paris to Van with the opening of its first Dior and Dior Homme standalone boutiques in Canada at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Sought-after architect Peter Marino, a fashion world character known in the biz for his leather-daddy look and stunning interiors, designed the swanky new location that affirms the city’s reputation (for better or worse) as an emerging fashion market.

Dior.com W

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EAT // DRINK

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COVER STORY

Urban harvest

A growing number of working farms are turning unused patches of pavement into verdant fields of local produce, providing Vancouver with greater food security and healthier options.

ROBERT MANGELSDORF @robmangelsdorf

Sarah Common spends most of her days getting absolutely filthy, and that’s just the way she likes it.

Whether she’s pulling potatoes or plucking tomatoes, an “average” workday for Common down at the farm consists of hours of manual labour to nurture and harvest the crops she oversees.

What makes Common’s work unique is that her farm is located in the centre of a bustling metropolis, on the 100-block of West Hastings.

At the heart of Vancouver’s most beleaguered neighbourhood, the Hastings Urban Farm is an oasis of calm. The farm is operated by the Portland Hotel Society, providing residents of the downtown Eastside not only with access to fresh produce, but work experience and a respite from the chaos of city life.

“It’s a place where everyone is welcome,” says

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Common, the farm’s manager. “This is a no judgment space.”

Hastings Urban Farm is one of an increasing number of working farms in Vancouver that have managed to turn unused patches of pavement into verdant fields of local produce, providing greater food security for the surrounding community.

In addition to providing low barrier employment through its honorarium program, the Hastings Urban Farm also provides workshops for local residents on how to grow and preserve their own food, and even allows them to perform their community service hours there.

“We find people are pulled in by the calm,” says Common. “[Working on the farm] is not for everyone, but we need a diversity of opportunities here.”

Despite being located along one Vancouver’s busiest thoroughfares, the half-

acre plot is able to grow a wide variety of produce and herbs. Perennial crops like raspberries, blackberries, and asparagus are thriving, as are staples like herbs, garlic, chard, kale, onions, and tomatoes.

Since the farm is surrounded by tall buildings on all sides, light can be an issue, as can pests.

“The rats ate all the peppers, so we won’t be doing those again,” says Common.

For the community of which it is a part, the Hastings Urban Farm has proven to be a valuable resource.

The farm has partnered with a number of community groups to provide them with locally-sourced items at little or no cost.

For the Watari Latin American Outreach Society, the farm grows tomatillo, beans, and onions; for the eartHand Gleaners Society, the farm grows flax for use in weaving; and for aboriginal residents in the area, the

Sarah Common is the manager of the Hastings Urban Farm and executive director for Hives for Humanity. Dan Toulgoet photo farm grows and dries a unique strain of ceremonial tobacco.

“We started off growing a few different varieties, but they cross-pollinated, so now it’s our own Hastings blend,” says Common.

Once harvested, much of the edible produce goes to local restaurants like Save-OnMeats or the Potluck Café.

“We pick what we have and we walk it over,” says Common. “It’s all community-based.”

While the Hastings Urban Farm’s relatively small-scale model is designed to be a social enterprise, other urban farms in Vancouver are raising produce on an industrial scale, and they want to grow even larger.

Part of its Greenest City Action Plan, the City of Vancouver’s Food Strategy aims to “enable food friendly neighbourhoods, empower residents and enhance participation, [and] improve access to healthy and affordable [food].”

Continued on next page

August 6 - August 12, 2015 W 5

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COVER STORY Continued from page 5 The strategy’s first priority is to increase food production by providing more opportunities for urban agriculture, including community gardens and urban farms.

Currently, the city offers a host of grants and tax incentives for urban farms.

In 2011, Vancouver was home to 10 urban farms.

That number increased to more than 60 urban farm sites by 2014, according to the City of Vancouver.

“Operations are increasing year after year… and there’s definitely still room for growth of urban farms in Vancouver,” says Marcela Crowe, executive director of the Vancouver Urban Farming Society (VUFS), a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the sustainability of local urban farming.

Sole Food Street Farms started out on a half-acre plot at the corner of Hastings and Hawks in 2010, and has since grown to four sites, including the two-acre site adjacent to BC Place.

In all, Sole Food grows produce on close to six acres of land in or near the downtown core. According to their website, by using

special seeders, planting towers that make use of vertical space, and rapid crop successions that allow for immediate replanting, Sole Food’s production is estimated to be 15-25 times higher than more conventional “open field” farm plantings.

Producing food close to home means not only greater food security for Vancouverites, but healthier and more affordable options as well. Field crops are often picked unripe and shipped across the continent by truck or train, then sprayed with synthetic plant hormones to encourage ripening once they reach market.

However, farming in the city has its challenges, Crowe notes. There isn’t a lot of space that’s suitable for agricultural purposes, and what does exist is often difficult to access, due to zoning and land-use restrictions. Then there’s the pests, both human and otherwise.

VUFS is currently working with the City of Vancouver to help shape its policy on urban farming, and hopes to develop a framework that will further encourage the growth of urban farms locally.

“The city has been very supportive,” says Crowe.

In her book, The Urban Homesteading Cookbook, Dr. Michelle Nelson recommends foraging tasty invasive species like the American bullfrog to help control their numbers. Alison Page photo It hasn’t all been rosy for Vancouver urban farms, however.

In 2012, the City of Vancouver signed a deal with Alterrus Systems Inc. to lease them the rooftop

of a City-owned parkade at 535 Richards so Alterrus could build a greenhouse operation that was expected to produce 150,000 pounds a year of pesticide-free leafy green vegetables and herbs.

Alterrus filed for bankruptcy in 2014, after less than two years of operation.

Crowe contends the rooftop greenhouse technology Alterrus was using is still viable, but it has to

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be done right. Large-scale rural farms have access to alternative energy sources, such as biogas derived from organic waste, but smallscale city alternatives have not yet been developed.

“It will be interesting to see how we can use technology to support urban farming in the future,” says Crowe.

But while industrial scale urban agriculture is one way to improve food security, it isn’t the only way to grow food in the city.

After years of studying conservation biology and sustainable food practices, Dr. Michelle Nelson set out to prove that even apartment-dwellers could grow and forage enough food from their urban surroundings to be self-sufficient, or at least close to it.

The results of her efforts can be found in her book, The Urban Homesteading Cookbook: Forage, Farm, Ferment, and Feast for a Better World.

As an experiment, Nelson decided to raise her own livestock in her Vancouver apartment, including rabbits and quail, a decision that was driven by need to have a greater connection to where her food was coming from.

“It wasn’t easy, but I feel it was the right thing to do,” she says. “For me, it was important to be able to answer the question of what impact do my consumption choices have.”

Obviously, raising bedroom rabbits and balcony quails isn’t for everyone, Nelson admits. Beyond growing herbs and greens on your balcony or patio, there are also plenty of opportunities to forage wild plants, herbs, and greens in the city, she notes.

Invasive plants like Himalayan blackberry, Japanese knotweed, and purple loosestrife are all edible, and delicious.

“Working on eating invasive species can go a long way to controlling them,” says Nelson. “It’s certainly a better alternative to pesticides.”

Nelson has also produced a handy pocket guide for urban foragers, A Field Guide to Foraging Wild Greens and Flowers, so rookie urban foragers know what they are harvesting.

For Nelson, the idea of becoming a “locavore” is about making better, moreinformed choices about where her food comes from, and what was done to it before it reached her plate.

“I think the way we think about agriculture stems from our disconnection with it,” she says. “Food is one of the most amazing things, and it’s so much better when you’ve grown it and prepared it yourself.” W

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DINING OUT

Simple, hearty Greek food comes to Yaletown Anya Levykh Nosh

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THE GREEK

BY ANATOLI

1043 Mainland 604-979-0700 TheGreekByAnatoli.com Open Monday to Friday, 11:30am-late; SaturdaySunday, 5pm-11pm.

Yaletown used to be Vancouver’s dining mecca less than a decade ago. Restaurants like Amarcord, the original Glowbal Grill, and Blue Water Café (the latter is the only one still standing) set the stage for a whole host of local, independent followers. These trendy eateries churned out small plates and cocktails for the hip, upwardly-mobile residents of the dozens of warehouse conversions that pre-dated the shining white towers.

Then came the onslaught of the chains, and the restaurant cognoscenti set their sights on Gastown and points east. Truth to tell, the chains weren’t wholly to blame, here. The demographic of Yaletown has always been a little Robsonlite.Yoga pants and pooches in purses are common here, with the number of beauty and aesthetic businesses almost matching the number of restaurants. And, while the rise of young families in the neighbourhood is a sign of things to come, this is still an area that caters to an easygoing, fashion-conscious (and therefore slightly foodwary) crowd that prefers casual comfort on the plate and easy sippers in the glass, as they people-watch from their patio of choice.

Restaurants like The Flying Pig, Hub, and Rodney’s, as well as chains like The Keg and Earls, cater to this crowd perfectly. The food is just inventive enough to be slightly different without alarming anyone, and cocktail lists mainly feature fruity vodka-based concoctions, with occasional forays into gin and bourbon.

With the opening of The Greek by Anatoli, that hint of family-friendly dining has risen to the level of a loud whisper. If you’ve ever spent time or lived on the North Shore, chances are you’ve heard of Anatoli. The popular Greek eatery near Lonsdale Quay has been serving up fall-apart roast lamb and tender pork souvlaki for over three decades. The food here is based on solid family-style cookery with a nod to the Pacific Northwest (alkaline water, anyone?).

The new Yaletown location follows the same principles, albeit with a tighter menu

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and more adult cocktails.

The braised “country” lamb is here ($24), falling off the bone at the touch of a fork.

At lunch, it’s served as a meal, with the ubiquitous rice, potatoes and Greek salad (the dinner option sees the salad switched out with seasonal vegetables).

The roasted potato wedges are zesty with lemon, the rice pilaf is perfectly cooked and studded with herbs and diced vegetables, and the salad is pretty, with shaved ribbons of cucumber and chunks of tomato topped with a delicate feta and red onion. Roast chicken ($19 for half a bird) is juicy, wellmarinated and cooked with oil, rosemary, and lemon; simple and satisfying.

Sides like the taramasolata ($6.50) are excellent, but the chicken souvlaki ($9 as a mezze at dinner; $16 as a meal at lunch) was completely dried out and tasteless. Likewise, the keftedes (grilled meatballs) were too hard and could have used more cooking time.

My watermelon basil mojito ($12) was fun, and the famous sangria from the North Shore location is here as well.

Wines are from BC, Greece and warm-climate regions like New Zealand, California, and Argentina. Only one dessert was available the one time I felt like ordering it. Ekmek is a popular Greek dessert that features a honeyed pastry topped with custard, whipped cream and crushed nuts.The version here is fairly good, with pistachios and a light, not-too-sweet base.

The Greek isn’t going to start any revolutions, but its solid, homey, and comfortable food fits perfectly into theYaletown milieu of young families and the cocktail set, so it will likely do well here. W Anya Levykh has been writing about all things ingestible for more than 10 years. Hear her every

Monday on CBC Radio One’s On the Coast and find her on Twitter @foodgirlfriday and Facebook.com/FoodGirlFriday.

Food: !!!!!

Service: !!!!!

Ambiance: !!!!!

Value: !!!!!

Overall: !!!!!

Scott Robertson, executive chef at the Greek by Anatoli with the Octopothi and Rabbit Kalamakia. Jennifer Gauthier photos

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I was driving by 33 Acres last Wednesday and found two lengthy lines of people waiting to get in – one for the tasting room and one for the growler fill line. Later, a coworker who was in that line told me the wait for growler fills was 45-minutes.

That’s crazy. A 45-minute wait! For growler fills! On a Wednesday! While 33 Acres does have those space-age looking fill stations that take a frightfully long time to fill, so do plenty of other local breweries, and without the wait times.

No, the astounding thing here is that many people were waiting to drink 33 Acres beer on a Wednesday. Location has something to do with it, but there are three other tasting rooms (Brassneck, Main Street and Big Rock), one brewpub (Steel Toad) and plenty of craft-focused bars located in the neighbourhood.

This lineup – which is a common enough occurrence that 33 Acres regularly employs an “At Capacity” sign outside – speaks to the demand for 33 Acres beer, and the fact that they, more than any other brewery in BC, have mastered the art of the transition, or the “gateway” beer.

Gateway beers are so important for the beer industry.

I feel like I’ve written this a million times before, in million different ways, but the way to grow this industry is to ensure most breweries have at least one beer that can be enjoyed by people who usually drink spirits or wine, or anyone who’s been drinking pedestrian lager due

Are you a wine drinker?

Then a Dageraad Amber might be a good first foray into craft beer for you. to a lack of awareness.

Anheuser-Busch is very aware of this trend and has a whole product line devoted to the gateway beer in Shock Top (which is a silly marketing scheme all around).

Phillips Brewing stumbled on to this with great success with Blue Buck.These beers are appealing for some beer drinkers because they’re balanced with just enough sweetness and just enough bitterness, and taste very little like…well, Canadian.

That balance is vital for keeping craft neophytes coming back to craft. If you try a Fat Tug as your first foray in to craft beer, you’ll likely be turned off for good. I hear it all the time, “Craft beer’s not for me.” If you think this, you’ve probably tried some hoppier-than-hell IPA and went running back to PBR. What 33 Acres does extremely well is produce a dependable, consistent list of beers that newbies looking for a “craft beer experience” can go and enjoy themselves by trying a tasting paddle and baste in the chic, trendy aesthetics of their tasting room.

Or, it can appeal to craft beer fans that appreciate depth of

33 ACRES OF SUNSHINE 33 Acres’ best beer, in my humble opinion, and easily it’s most approachable and refreshing.

PHILLIPS BLUE BUCK

This guy spawned countless craft beer fans in BC; a malty, slightly sweet body and a light kiss of the hops that helps newbies get acquainted with beer’s bitterness. Perfect for newbies.

PARALLEL 49 TRICYCLE RADLER

Any radler will do, but this one’s widely available and really tasty.Tricycle tastes hardly like beer at all and more like grapefruit juice, so it’s a good option for anyone that associates the word “beer” with the words “fizzy” “light” and “tasteless”.

DAGERAAD AMBER

Dark(er) Belgian beers are Ideal for people coming from a wine background.

This one has a rounded sweet flavour and very little bitterness. There a lots of Belgian-style beers being brewed in and around Vancouver right now, but this one tops them all. W

What the pho is pho?!

8:30 PM

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@StephenSmys

flavour and a clever approach to brewing.

This isn’t meant to be a love letter to 33 Acres – I’m simply using them as an example of just how successful a brewery can be with this approach. For better or worse, 33 Acres has become the most efficient billboard for craft beer in Vancouver, but there are plenty of other locally-produced beers that offer that same depth of flavour and approachability needed in a gateway beer.

Here are the best options for gateway beers, in case you’re wondering.

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No, honestly, what the pho is pho?!

Well first off, let’s start pronouncing it correctly. In Vietnamese it is pronounced “f-uh” not “foe”, just like Canadians say “about” not “a-boot”. Many of us are in love with pho already, and hopefully see it as more than a cheap eat or late night meal. Actually, what I really hope, is that we don’t misunderstand pho as “Vietnamese beef noodle soup”, because it’s not.

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup, but it doesn’t have to be beef, although it

is most common in Vancouver. The noodles are rice noodles and a great place will have them fresh. Pho is also regional and the recipe and style varies throughout Vietnam.

I was recently in Vietnam exploring pho, which is actually more popular and associated with Northern Vietnam (eg. Hanoi).

In Northern Vietnam pho is eaten and available all day, although it is common to have it for breakfast.

The beef pho doesn’t come with the side plate of fresh Vietnamese herbs or bean sprouts like we’re used to seeing in Vancouver. Instead it comes with a side of chilies, a sprinkle of scallions and perhaps a couple leaves of Vietnamese basil and that’s it. Other Vietnamese

noodle bowls may come with the side dish of herbs and sprouts, but with the beef pho, it’s simple. The preferred cut of beef is also the shank, which is served rare.

It’s a very tough, chewy and sinewy cut, but the locals enjoy the texture and it’s actually a desired and pricier cut there.

In the north, chicken pho is as popular as beef, and sometimes the better bet.

Chickens and pork make the majority of Vietnam’s livestock industry and they’re usually free-range, fresh and high quality. The clearer the chicken broth, the more well-prepared it is, and hopefully not from being watered down, which is obvious at first bite.

Continued on next page Westender.com

EAT // DRINK

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WINE

Argentina: Beyond Malbec Michaela Morris By the Bottle @MichaelaWine

Ah Malbec…You know it and quite possibly love it.What’s not to like? Rich and full-bodied with supple tannin, it’s easy to drink on its own but equally delicious with just about any meat you throw on the barbeque.

But Argentina isn’t a one trick pony. If your drinking relationship with this wineproducing giant begins and ends with Malbec, you are denying yourself a whole other world of drinking pleasure.

The conditions that make Argentina so hospitable for Malbec are equally agreeable to other full-bodied reds, like Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah as well as lesser-known heavy weights Tannat and Petit Verdot. Abundant sunshine and a long warm summer encourage grapes to build up incredible ripeness while cool nights help maintain acidity and bright aromas.This difference between day and night time temperatures is due to vineyards’ lofty altitudes and becomes more pronounced the higher up you go.

Touring around Argentina during the dog days of summer is thirsty work. At high noon, I can assure you that the last thing you want is a full-throttled red.Thankfully, Argentina has a refreshing trick up its sleeve in the form of Torrontés. Gaining recognition as Argentina’s second flagship grape, this aromatic and perfumed white provides juicy relief from the reds whenever needed.

I propose a handful of wines to get to know Argentina a little bit better. Once you’ve worked your way through these, Malbec will always welcome you back with open arms if you crave something more familiar.

RYU? (1VQOKG #7VL>OPPV. !

D<P>O-VG (L9<PJ5PV ! $U?IR4 Toasted nuts, tropical pineapple and luscious peach with toffee and some buttery toast on the finish.Yup, there’s oak here, but it isn’t overdone. Weighty though never tiring, this Chard is made for grilled corn on the cob and robust white fish.

caressing tannin. A worthy partner for ribs.

RYU= #O1OQEG )OLLOPJEK ! &V11< #V1@7VMH2G *V1JVG (L9<PJ5PV ! $R?3 While most of Argentina’s wine is produced in Mendoza, the very bestTorrontés hail from Salta. In the northern reaches of the country, this region boasts the highest altitudes in the world lending incredible intensity and freshness.With beautiful aromas rose petal, orange blossom and honey, the Colomé is a particularly refined example. On the palate, yellow plum is offset by grapefruit zest and a clean salty tang. Serve up some spicy fish tacos.

RYU? DVK5G CVKKO "OS1< ! )HNHP9VJOG &V11< >< '@OG (L9<PJ5PV ! $U?I44 So I’m cheating a bit because there is some Malbec in the blend. However, the addition of partially dried Corvina grapes imparts a slightly different character.

Think prune, baked cherries and red liquorice along with black pepper, vanilla and soft

2013 Bodegas Escorihuela, ,U66=+ *.LV7 A<K<LFV>O ! D<PB >O-VG (L9<PJ5PV ! $U;I44 Full-bodied and meaty with flavours of plum, chocolate and raspberries. Hints of grilled herbs and leather linger at the end.While it’s totally charming on its own, the 1884 Syrah is a good companion to bring along to a sausage fest.

RYUR WVQ5915V %5VP@75G #VSB <LP<J *VHF59POP ! *VP AV:V<1G D<P>O-VG (L9<PJ5PV ! $U8I=4 Let me introduce you to another robust alternative to Malbec.This decidedly savoury and earthy Cab is dominated by cedar and coffee with cassis, green peppers and cherries underneath. Serious structure demands a juicy steak. *Private wine stores only, prices may vary. All other wines available at BC Liquor Stores.

Prices exclusive of taxes. W

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&5<JPVQ+K HPO::5@5V1 PVJ5OPV1 >5K7 5K N7O S0 XS<<: POO>1< KOHNT which is associated more with Hanoi, but Saigon has their O/P F<LK5OPI Mijune Pak photo

Continued from page 8 Unlike northern style pho, the pho in SouthernVietnam (eg. Saigon) is almost exclusively eaten for breakfast (and sometimes lunch).The beef pho comes with a generous side plate of freshVietnamese herbs and bean sprouts. Southern pho is what the majority of Vietnamese restaurants serve inVancouver.The broth is also sweeter than northern pho and it’s a different style altogether.

As for topping pho off with Hoisin sauce and Sri-

racha sauce available at the table, this doesn’t happen in Vietnam. Sure taste is personal and enjoy it how you want, but it’s the equivalent to mixing soy sauce with wasabi and soaking your sushi in it… or in a western context pouring Tabasco all over steak… you get the point right? If the pho is good, skip the sauces and try it the authentic way.

Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie. W ORIGINAL HOME OF

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WHAT’S ON Th/06

Fr/07

Sa/08

Su/09

Mo/10

MUSIC

MUSIC

MUSIC

MUSIC

COMEDY

MEAN JEANS Portland’s selfprofessed premiere party animals take the stage with special guests White Mystery, Patsy’s Rats and DJ Steve Ferreira. 9pm at The Hindenburg. Tickets $10 at the door.

THE STAGGERS & JAGGS The jiveass, jazzed up, jugged up, bluesy swing band brings their colourful melodies and upbeat rhythms to the stage with Salt Spring Island’s Ferocious Timbre Mouse, Compass and The Jins. 8:30pm at Railway Club. Tickets $10 at the door only.

SCREAMING FEMALES Indie rock trio from New Jersey, on tour in support of their latest album, Rose Mountain with special guests Vacation, Animal Bodies and Low Levels. 8pm at Media Club. Tickets $12 at TicketFly.com

THE STRANDED SUNDAY SESSIONS “The Australian/Canadian Music and Talk Show” presents an intimate evening of acoustic tunes featuring Sarah Wheeler, Heather Delong, M. Lund and magic from Merlin Cosmos. 8pm at Railway Club. Tickets $7 at the door.

THE LAUGH GALLERY WITH GRAHAM CLARK One of Vancouver’s brightest comics hosts this weekly, wonderfully eclectic show where you get to laugh AND win a great prize! 9pm at Havana Theatre. Tickets $5 at EventBrite.ca

Mean Jeans, Aug. 6 TINK Chicago based rappersinger appears in support of her forthcoming debut album, ThinkTink with special guests Horsepowar, Sing Sing DJ’s, Shaunic, Sangnoir Landyn and Noah. 9pm at Venue. Tickets $20 at Red Cat, Zulu, Beatstreet, DIPT and BPLive.ElectroStub.com ZANE Freak folk sounds and basic beats on skins with baritone strings with special guest Swamp Wolf. 8pm at The Roxy.

Tickets $7 at the door.

COMEDY DAVE WILLIAMSON The car salesman turn stand-up comic regales with colourful tales of childhood, college and the voyage into adult and fatherhood, having toured through most of 2013/14 in a 25foot travel trailer with his family in tow. 8:30pm at Comedy Mix. Tickets $15 at TheComedyMix.com

THEATRE/DANCE ONCE UPON A PRINCESS Emily’s life is a disaster, that is, until she stumbles upon a magical book in her grandfather’s library in this hour long production, a sweet story of music, and the reminder of what it truly means to believe in magic. 6:30pm at Pacific Theatre (1440 West 12th). Tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com. Ages 3+.

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR Fighting Chance Productions re-imagines Webber & Rice’s iconic rock musical in this new and updated concept that sees who Jesus would be in the 21st century. 8pm at Waterfront Theatre. Tickets at TicketsTonight. ca. Runs until Aug. 22.

SNAIL Hard rock-psych-stoner-metal band from Porterville, California currently on a West Coast tour, take the stage with Mendozza, Akris and La Chinga. 9pm at The Astoria.

Tickets $12 at the door only.

JJ’S FAREWELL SHOW Kip Winger (Alice Cooper, Winger) and Daniel Nargang (Kick Axe) co-headline this send-off for JJ and his beloved Scrape Records. 7pm at Venue. Tickets $20 at Scrape Records and TicketWeb.ca

COMEDY

COMEDY

THEATRE/DANCE

ROSS DAUK & KATIE-ELLEN HUMPHRIES Touring across Canada, Dauk is a hilarious comedian who will make you love comedy, even if you don’t already.

His co-headliner Humphries, strikes a comedic sensibility somewhere between the locker room and library, and is currently a panellist on Morgan Brayton & Other People on Out TV. 7pm & 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk’s.

Tickets $20 at YukYuks.com

TOM SEGURA Stand-up comic from Cincinnati, with performances on Conan, Comedy Central, Showtime and at Montreal’s Just For Laughs, known for his podcast, Your Mom’s House and debut album, Thrilled. 7pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $20 at TicketFly.com

SUERTE The esteemed flamenco ensemble, Fin de Fiesta, brings Spanish inspiration to Canadian soil with an electrifying performance accompanied by LA-based singer Daniel Azacrate and local dance sensations, Michelle Harding and Maria Avila with flautist, Lara Wong. 8pm at Vancouver East Cultural Centre.

Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com

THEATRE/DANCE WHITNEY HOUSTON BIRTHDAY TRIBUTE SHOW Honouring the Queen of the Night, Isolde N. Barron hosts this fabulous set of performances from Rose Butch, Celestial Seasons, Coco and DJ’s Slimroy and G-Luve. Doors at 9pm, show at 11pm at The Cobalt. Tickets $9 at the door ($5 before 10:30pm).

THRONE AND GAMES Laughter is coming… This elimination comedic improve format inspired by the HBO hit, Game of Thrones is a parody filled with betrayal, death, unlikely alliances and of course, humour. 7:30pm at The Improv Centre (Granville Island). Tickets at Tickets.

VTSL.comRuns until Aug. 29.

EVENTS QUEER ARTS FESTIVAL One of the top queer arts and culture festivals in the world, features dance, music, theatre, literature, workshops, visual art, media art and performance over the course of sixteen days. Various event/showtimes at Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre. Visit QueerArtsFestival.com for details.

VANCOUVERITE: A COMEDY SHOW Brent Constantine and Amber Harper-Young host this gathering of comics sharing funny stories about what adjusting to Vancouver has been like, featuring John Cullen, Kate Belton, Adam Pateman, Toby Hargrave and Padraic Coffey. 7:30pm at Hot Art Wet City. Tickets $6 at EventBrite. ca or $10 at the door.

THEATRE/DANCE HENRY V Carousel Theatre for Young People’s Teen Theatre Program celebrates 25 years of training teen actors with the staging of its first historical play, the mighty tale of ambition, power and what it means to be a leader.

7:30pm at Performance Works Outdoor Stage. Admission is free, but reservations are available for $5 per seat at Tickets.CarouselTheatre.ca. Final performance.

‘TIS PITY SHE’S A WHORE A complex tragedy brimming with passion, deception, intrigue and revenge; John Ford’s most famous drama is re-imagined in 1930’s Italy, a dark and unnerving story of moral corruption within a mafia family. 8pm at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets at Vendini.com.

Final performance.

THE DIRTY NIL Canadian indie rockers from Hamilton, return to Vancouver with special guests Brass and Seaway. 8pm at The Cobalt.

Tickets $10 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca

ScreamingOct. Females, Chromeo, 25 Aug. 8 THEATRE UNDER THE STARS Celebrating 75 years of song and dance filled summer nights in picturesque Stanley Park, TUTS presents Oliver!, a fresh take on the beloved Dickens’ classic, providing theatrical delight in the outdoor splendour of Vancouver’s iconic park. 8pm at Malkin Bowl. Tickets at Tuts.ca.

Runs until Aug. 22.

EVENTS TIBET FESTIVAL Bringing the sounds, colours, and flavours of the Himalayas to Canada, this day-long festival promises live Tibetan song and dance, calligraphy, mind training workshops, world peace prayers and a lively Himalayan marketplace. 10am-4pm at Croation Cultural Centre. Tickets $10 at the door.

VANCOUVER CHINATOWN FESTIVAL A celebration of Chinese culture, hosted in the heart of Chinatown featuring a day market, the historical food & tasting walking tour, kids corner, Cultural Corner, Youth Talent Showdown, live performances and more at the biggest multicultural summer celebration in town! 12pm-6pm at Columbia and Keefer. Runs until Aug. 9.

EVENTS CHARIOT FEST OF INDIA This family oriented festival celebrates Indian culture, music and food beginning with the colourful and lively parade followed by the festival at Second Beach in Stanley Park with two stages for entertainment, puppet theatre, yoga and meditation, cooking demos and a free vegetarian feast. Parade starts at 11:30am on Beach and Howe. Festival at 2pm at Second Beach. Admission is free.

CHEAP & FUN FOOD CART FESTIVAL Skip the cooking and hit up the largest gathering of Vancouver’s top food carts for food, fun and sun with community markets, live music, DJs, kids activities, ping pong and more.

12pm-5pm in Olympic Village (215 West 1st ). Admission is $2.50.

QUEER PROV The Bobbers have returned to the Davie Village and are performing hilarious queer improv comedy every week with a whole new format and a new cast!

8pm at 1181 (1181 Davie).

CHEAP & FUN SEX & THE CITY TRIVIA NIGHT What was Big’s name anyway?

Come down and test your skill for all things Carrie, Miranda, Samantha and Charlotte with cosmos, a contest for the most Carrie-esque dress and brain busters to justify all those hours you devoted to watching, hosted by Kathleen McGee. 7:30pm at Biltmore Cabaret.

Tickets $10 at TicketFly.com or $12 at the door.

SICK BOSS MONDAYS AT THE LIDO Every Monday night in Mount Pleasant there’s avantgarde, improvised jazz and rock accompanied by warped analogue visuals, good (craft) beer and German pretzels. 9pm at The Lido. Admission is always free.

ART LIRON GERTSMAN Pursuing nature photography for almost a decade, this 14-year-old’s eye has amassed a body of work that is a testament to his talent and passion; with a focus on birds, this exhibit features species from across North and Central America and the Middle East. 9am-5pm at Pendulum Gallery (885 West Georgia). Admission is free. Runs until Aug. 22.

The Dirty Nil, Aug. 9

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August 20th issue Summer is the perfect time to explore the flavours of Vancouver in our special A-Z pull-out section.

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NEWS // ISSUES • STYLE // DESIGN • EAT // DRINK • MUSIC // ARTS • FILM // TV • HEALTH // SEX

QUINOA MANGO SALAD

Quinoa, organic produce, vitamins and more!

S

Come visit us at Whole Foods Market Robson and check out our fine selection of natural and organic foods.

At Whole Foods Market we maintain the strictest quality standards in the industry and have an unshakeable commitment to sustainable agriculture.

Put your health first and come visit us today! Here’s a great simple quinoa salad recipe from our website - a healthy lunch box staple to add to your recipe book!

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Ingredients:

1 cup quinoa 1 large tomato, seeded and diced 2 ears corn, kernels removed 1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced 1 mango, diced 3 tablespoons finely chopped chives 2 tablespoons lemon juice 1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest

Method:

Rinse quinoa in a fine sieve until water runs clear, drain and transfer to a medium pot. Add 2 cups water and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium low and simmer until water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside off the heat for 5 minutes; uncover and fluff with a fork.

Add remaining ingredients and toss until combined.

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ARTS // CULTURE

WHAT’S ON Tu/11

We/12

Th/13

MUSIC

MUSIC

MUSIC

BRIT FLOYD “The World’s Greatest Pink Floyd Show” returns to North America on the Space & Time World Tour with a spectacular new light show and bigger stage production celebrating five decades of music from the British legends. 8pm at Orpheum Theatre. Tickets $35+ at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca

WILCO Acclaimed Chicago sextet fronted by Jeff Tweedy return to Vancouver for their 20th anniversary tour with special guest Jenny Lewis. 8pm at Orpheum Theatre.

Tickets $49.50 at Red Cat, Zulu, Highlife and TicketWeb.ca

FROTH LA indie rockers on tour in support of their debut album, Lost My Mind, play their first ever Vancouver show with special guests Plastic Pinks and Skinny Kids. 8pm at The Cobalt.

Tickets $12 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca

COMEDY COMEDY AT THE BILTMORE Dan Quinn hosts this all-pro weekly comedy show featuring a different headliner every week with eight other comics taking the stage to work out all kinds of material. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret.

Tickets $10 at the door.

SARAH JANE SCOUTEN Singersongwriter from Bowen Island, nominated for two Canadian Folk Music Awards, brings her signature flair of roots, honky-tonk and bluegrass to the Vancouver stage. 8pm at Skinny Fat Jack’s. Tickets $10 at the door.

LADY SAW The Jamaican dancehall legend makes her long awaited return to Vancouver with DJ’s Arems & Hoppa. 10pm at Alexander Gastown. Tickets $25 at Red Cat, Zulu, Beatstreet, DIPT and TicketWeb.ca

Lady Saw, Aug. 12

THEATRE/DANCE GASTOWN CABARET: AWESOME AUGUST Summer: where bedtimes cease to exist!

Perfect for spending the evening with Gastown’s most excellent trio, April O’Peel, Sweet Munish, and Sparkle Plenty as they host a non-stop evening of entertainment at this weekly full-throttle, one-ofa-kind, interactive adventure and variety show. 8pm at Guilt & Co. Admission by donation, all proceeds going directly to the performers.

CHEAP & FUN SUMMER CINEMA Grab a lawn chair, a blanket and a buddy and head to Stanley Park for this summer’s incarnation of movies in the park, this week featuring Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, so bring the kids! All movies start at dusk at Second Beach. Admission is free. Runs weekly until Aug. 25.

DROP IN ROCK CHOIR: EAST VAN Join in and sing classic and contemporary rock, pop, indie and alternative songs with this non-traditional, funloving, vibrant choir with no need to read music, and no auditions, just fun! 7-9pm at WISE Hall. Tickets $10 at the door.

OYSTERBAND Award-winning Anglo-Celtic folk-rock pioneers from the UK return to Vancouver to play the Rogue Folk stage. 8pm at St. James Hall.

Tickets $32 at Highlife, Red Cat, Prussin Music, Rufus’ Guitar Shop and RogueFolk.bc.ca VIRGIN RADIO BEACH BALL Bring your friends, wear your beach gear and have a ball with performances from Shawn Hook, Mia Martina, Dragonette, Mini Mansions and Trevor Guthrie. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $9.45 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca

COMEDY THE BILTMORE PHIL HARMONIC A tribute concert featuring the music of Phil Collins performed by members of Hey Ocean!, Dear Rouge, Bend Sinister, Rococode and Twin Bandit as well as Jordan Klassen, JP Maurice, Willa and many more – a fundraiser benefitting #SingItFwd. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $15 at TicketFly. com or $20 at the door.

COMEDY THEATRESPORTS: WHO ARE YOU LAUGHING AT? Relying on razor-sharp wit and lightning-fast reflexes, two teams of performers are pitted against each other in competitive improv matches, using the audience’s suggestions to fuel the scenes in this game of comic vengeance. 7:30pm at The Improv Centre (Granville Island).

Tickets at Tickets. VTSL.com

THEATRE/DANCE

CHRIS GORDON With performances on CBC’s So You Think Youre Funny, this break-out comic at the Just For Laughs festival and NBC’s Last Comic Standing, the unique, innovative approach Gordon brings to his comedy is like nothing else on the circuit today. 8:30pm at Comedy Mix. Tickets $15 at TheComedyMix.com

EVENTS VANCOUVER QUEER FILM FESTIVAL Out On Screen presents the 11-day festival, now in its 27th year, celebrating the best in queer cinema with a variety of performances, panels and workshops featuring over 80 films from 20 countries, with themes ranging form transgender trailblazers to queer con artists. Various events and showtimes at a variety of theatres. Check out QueerFilmFestival.ca for details. Runs until Aug. 23.

LES MISERABLES Experience the spectacular musical that has swept the world with its story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of nineteenth century France.

2pm and 8pm at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub. com. Runs until Aug. 1.

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ARTS // CULTURE

WESTENDER.COM

FILM & THEATRE

Race, inclusion, and the stage

Artists call out Jessie Awards for “largely excluding work by artists of colour” SABRINA FURMINGER @sabrinarmf

Vancouver’s population is culturally diverse, but you wouldn’t know it from the theatre-makers who walked away with accolades at this year’s Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards.

The Jessies purport to celebrate excellence in the local theatre scene, and this year’s winners – as well as the nominees, and the juries who selected them – were predominantly white.

And it’s been like this for years, but in a city where so-called “visible minority” groups make up more than 50 per cent of the population, the Jessies are “doing a grievous disservice to the public by largely excluding work by artists of colour,” according to an open letter released last month by an ad hoc group of theatre-makers calling itself Real Canadian Theatre (or ReaCT).

In its letter (which can be found online), ReaCT points to the composition of the Jessies’ 2014/15 juries as “clear evidence of the [Jessies’] historically

Theatre-maker Omari Newton is one of the authors of an open letter addressed to the board of directors of the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards Society. The letter calls on the Jessies to include more visible minorities on its juries. Contributed photo exclusionary practice.”

“We believe the reason why the actor, director and writer nominations largely shut out artists of colour year after year must have something to do with the fact that the directors of the Society, its Advisory Committee and juries, are predominantly or exclusively white,” the letter states.

“In a city like Vancouver, easily one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, wherein the Aboriginal and so-called “visible minority” groups together exceed 50 per cent of the

population, we believe this has to change.”

ReaCT asks that “meaningful efforts be made to reflect the reality in which we live and work.”

To date, more than 180 theatre-makers have signed ReaCT’s letter, including Norman Armour, Camyar Chai, Katrina Dunn, David C. Jones, Adrienne Wong, Patrick Sabongui, and Tom Pickett.

“One of the key points that we’re trying to get out there is we don’t think any of this is conscious or insidious.

There’s not people sitting or

twisting their mustaches in a room going, ‘let’s shut out the people of colour and let’s give them bad reviews,’” says Omari Newton, a Vancouver-based theatre-maker who drafted the letter along with CE Gatchalian, Diane Roberts, and Valerie Sing Turner.

“Systemic racism, the way it works is it’s this unspoken thing where the system is set up in such a way that it disadvantages people of colour. It’s not deliberate, but it definitely exists.”

And the Jessies don’t disagree. The Jessies’ board of directors followed up ReaCT’s letter with one of their own, in which they expressed a “full and enthusiastic desire to enter into a dialogue about these issues.”

“We’ve always had a concern for diversity on our juries. We try and account for gender, cultural and ethnic background, age, sexuality, as well as diversity of theatre practice,” says Andrea Loewen, president of the Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards Society, in a recent phone chat.

“That’s always been something we’ve sought, with mixed results because we don’t have a formal system in place for jury selection.”

But this will likely change, says Loewen, who adds that it’s the perfect moment in

history to be having discussions around inclusion and diversity, says Loewen.

“The timing of this letter is really apt. These conversations have been happening a lot this year in theatre in Vancouver and all over the country,” says Loewen, who signed ReaCT’s letter. “I think it’s gotten to a point now where a lot of theatre veterans are going, ‘guys, we’ve been having this discussion for 30 years, we need to start making changes, we can’t just talk anymore, we have to start doing things.’”

Newton commends the Jessies “for the way that they’ve received it. They’ve said, ‘yes, there is a problem, we could have done more, we acknowledge this, and we want to work with you to fix it,’” he says.

“This is great, but of course the real work starts when we see what changes are implemented.”

“I hope people don’t think that this is a group of angry minorities stewing away in a corner going, ‘the white man is keeping us down,’ or anything silly like that,” adds Newton. “We’re a group of artists who work in this community who are just saying, ‘guys, don’t do this for us, this isn’t a question of tokenism, this isn’t a favour, the theatre has to reflect the city that you live in.’” W

The entertaining Mr. Leacock Sabrina Furminger Reel People @Sabrinarmf

Viv Leacock doesn’t introduce himself as an actor, even though he’s logged an impressive number of film and television credits over the course of his acting career, including I Spy, Freddy vs.Jason, and 2012.

He similarly doesn’t introduce himself as a stand-up comedian, despite the years he spent making people laugh on the comedy club circuit.

Leacock would eschew all labels if he could, but if you’ve got to call him something, please call him an entertainer.

“I’m neither an actor nor a comedian. I’m a hybrid,” says Leacock, who delivers a small but scene-stealing performance in director Carl Bessai’s Canuxploitation laugh-fest Bad City, which screens at Vancity Theatre this weekend.

“I love to crack jokes.That’s just the way I roll.”

Born in Montreal and raised in NewYork City and Vancouver, Leacock remembers being eight-years-old and entertaining a room full of friends and family with hilarious tales about his parents.

“I remember my dad laughing. I’d made him laugh. He was the greatest storyteller,” says Leacock.

“He knew how to work a crowd better than anybody I’d ever seen, and then I was doing it, and he was watching me doing it, and I’ll never forget that. That was it for me.”

Technically, though, his acting career grew from a single song. After turning in a particularly gripping vocal performance at a high school talent show, Leacock was approached by an agent who told him he could have a lucrative career in front of the camera.

With no training and acting (literally and otherwise) on instinct, the teenaged Leacock landed the first job for which he auditioned: a recurring gig on Neon Rider.

“I didn’t know what I was doing at all,” says Leacock. “I was bad. I wanted to be funny, so I was always making big Eddie Murphy faces. I never listened to anything anybody was saying. I was always doing my thing, no matter what they were doing.Those early episodes were just terrible.”

This was back in 1991, and Leacock wasn’t especially motivated to work on his craft, or even continue in the industry.

12 W August 6 - August 12, 2015

“The writing at the time for a young black male was very inflammatory,” says Leacock.

What roles were available were often one-note and poorly written.

“I did not have a lot of patience for the writing on the shows that I was auditioning for, or the stereotypes,” says Leacock. “I just couldn’t do it.

I felt like I had a responsibility to not drop my people down a hole even more.”

And so Leacock left the world of acting behind him, and immersed himself in the world of stand-up instead.

It would be seven years before he would be back in the film and television biz, by way of an acting class he attended at the behest of his brother, also an actor. Reinvigorated and inspired, Leacock decided to make another go of it.

Leacock has been working steadily ever since.The roles are much better this time around, according to Leacock.

“I’ve played doctors, CIA agents, FBI agents, and detectives,” says Leacock. “I’m always some kind of government cop. I’m the guy that’s arresting the kids that I used to audition for.”

Highlights includes Intern Academy with Dave Thomas, Dan Aykroyd, and Matt

Frewer, Carl Bessai’s Fathers and Sons, Becoming Redwood, and 2002’s I Spy, in which he acted opposite longtime idol Eddie Murphy. “[Murphy and I] hung out for four months, and it changed my life as far as what I wanted, because I really wanted to be famous when I was a kid,” says Leacock. “I wanted to be famous, and I wanted everything that came with that, but he showed me that there is such a downside to it.”

What he wants now is to work, to laugh, to learn, and to enjoy the craft.

“To be involved in this world, and to be a working actor, I’m very proud of that, but it’ll never be the thing that takes me over and breaks me,” says Leacock.

In Bad City, Leacock is Billy O’Fitzsullivan, a by-the-book cop with the thickest of Irish accents.

“I had to learn how to speak with an Irish accent, and the saving grace that I had with that movie was I didn’t have to have a great Irish accent, because it’s basically a riff on Black exploitation films from the ’70s, and they’re not put together very well,” says Leacock.

“It was really interesting to be a part of [Bad City], because it felt like, ‘this is

Viv Leacock. Lindsey Donovan photo probably how these movies were made,’” he adds. “[Back then], people just kind of showed up, probably a lot of them brought their own wardrobe, and they just did it.

If you got the lines wrong, no big deal. If you saw the stunt man clearly during the take, no big deal.” W

BAD CITY screens Aug. 7 at the Vancity Theatre.

Can’t make the screening?

Rent it right now at BadCityMovie.DotStudioPro. com/channel/badcity.

Cruise keeps action series going strong MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – ROGUE NATION

Starring Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson Directed by Christopher McQuarrie

By now you’ve seen the image – 53-year-old action star Tom Cruise hanging from the side of a cargo plane as it speeds along a tarmac and swiftly rises into the sky with the actor clinging desperately for dear life. Yes, it’s really him (several takes and some digital scrubbing perfected the sequence) and, yes, it occurs before the opening credits of Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. It’s a bold move that surpasses Cruise’s Burj Khalifa stunt in 2011’s Ghost Protocol and solidifies the leading man’s status in a series that still feels fresh and relevant.

The espionage thriller reunites Cruise and Jack Reacher director Christopher McQuarrie along with the rest of the gang, including the addition of Alec Baldwin as the scenery-chewing head of the CIA and Swedish star Rebecca Ferguson, whose mysterious spy character’s fierce fighting and sultry charisma make for one hell of a breakout role.

The fifth installment doesn’t reinvent the franchise playbook; in a nod to the original TV series, the looming threat of the nefarious criminal organization, known as the Syndicate, finally comes to the forefront with an understated but effective Sean Harris taking the reins as main antagonist Solomon Lane. At its worst, Rogue Nation gets bogged down by heavy-handed exposition that occasionally awkwardly details the meticulous plot.

At its best, the film provides a wonderful sense of escape with a blend of exotic locations and breathtaking action with plenty of room for well-timed humour.

In short, Cruise still proves nobody does it better.

–Thor Diakow

Westender.com

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TYLER ORTON @reporton

As the Vancouver real estate market reaches new heights, TD economists warn the city’s house prices are due for an imminent price correction.

“It would not be extraordinary for Vancouver to suffer a price correction on the heels of the sharp acceleration recorded over the past year,” economists Derek Burleton and Diana Petramala concluded in a July 30 report.

The pair pointed to unexpected benchmark rate cuts made this year by the Bank of Canada as one major reason Vancouver and Toronto have seen real estate demand accelerate even in the midst of a cooling economy.

The cuts lowered the rate of borrowing at banks, making affordability more viable for homeowners.

“But as affordability continues to erode, sales activity will likely cool heading into 2016,” the report said.

“In Vancouver, a pull-back in sales projected for next year might seem large, but it would follow two years in

Vancouver real estate prices have been sky-high for years, but economists warn they could come crashing back to earth.

File photo which sales rose by almost 50 per cent.”

A July report from Royal LePage found the average price of a detached home in Vancouver sat at $1.2 million in the second quarter, up 12.6 per cent compared with the same period a year ago.

The agency noted supply for detached homes is limited in the city, which is likely to keep demand high.

But the TD report noted

valuation could drop as housing affordability falls out of reach, as dictated by price-to-income ratios.

“Current readings suggest that home prices in both (Vancouver and Toronto) would need to drop by a stunning 40 per cent to bring these ratios back in line with the long-term trend,” the economists said. W –Courtesy of Business in Vancouver

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LIFESTYLES //

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HEALTH

Don’t let that fresh produce go to waste orange sticks of love in your crisper, if it comes in a bag then make sure to leave them in there, if you are getting them loose, get a bag and put them in there. A trick that I learned for carrots that are going limp or are already limp is to put them in a container of water and they will plump right up again.

Patty Javier Gomez Whole Nourishment

@WholeNourishBC So you went to the farmers’ market and got a big haul of local fruits and veggies, but after a few days, you start smelling something funky in your fridge or pantry.You realize by the build-up of fruit flies that have become your new roommates that most of your fresh produce has gone bad, moldy and mushy.

Chances are you either got overly excited and bought way too much without thinking that you live in a one bedroom apartment with your cat who doesn’t eat human food, or you failed like so many before you to store your food properly.

We, as Canadians, waste $31 billion of food every year, and 47 per cent of that is household waste.That’s a lot of food and money, people.

Let’s remember that there are millions of people starving, not only in third world countries far away that you send money to every month, but in our own backyards as well.

Now, yes, we have some great composting programs in the city, but still there is no excuse to be wasting this much food. We can do our part at home by being mindful and planning ahead. Maybe don’t buy a whole bushel of apples if you’re only eating and cooking for one (unless you’re planning on making

GREENS

These delights go in some sort of bag in the crisper, and just like carrots. If they look a little down, hydrate them in some water for 20 to 30 minutes. Placing them in water like your fresh herbs will also work.

TOMATOES

Don’t let that bounty you picked up from the farmers’ market go off before its time.

Thinkstock photo pies). Just a thought.

So much food waste can be prevented just by storing your food properly and paying a little more attention. In the semi-apocalyptic world that we are inevitably facing, it’s really important to learn some tricks on how to make your produce last longer.

And if you don’t believe the zombies are coming, then this can be a great way to save money and be a bit more sustainable. For example you should never store fruits and veggies together because some fruits give off high levels of ethylene, the

BLUEBERRIES

Be sure to put them in a container in the fridge as soon as you get home. I have found that it may get moldy if there is any moisture in the container, so be sure to dry them off if you wash them before storing. My personal

favorite way to store them is to put them in the freezer, I love to grab a ton of them so I can have some after they are out of season.

HERBS

Cilantro, parsley, etc, can be stored like you would flowers; in a cup of water in your fridge or counter (just be sure to change the water regularly). Fresh herbs can also be brought back to life by submerging them in water.

CARROTS

Place these awesome

ONIONS

A mistake that I just realized I have been making for years is storing potatoes and onions together. They both like dry, dark places, so they should totally get along right?

Wrong! Storing them together will make them both go bad faster and onions should be stored in a paper or mesh bag chilling in a cupboard or hanging basket.

So what do you do when all the tricks and diligence fails? When in doubt make a stir fry! W

VEGGIE STIR FRY Ingredients 3 cloves crushed garlic 1 chopped onion 3 carrots-sliced or diced 1 cup chopped mushrooms of your choice 1 bell pepper 1 tsp minced ginger 1 zucchini (sliced or chopped) 2 tbsp coconut oil 1 red chili thinly sliced Sea salt and pepper to taste Stir fry sauce 1/2 cup veggie broth 1/4 cup tamarind sauce 1/4 cup cider or rice wine vinegar 2 tbsp brown sugar 1 tsp hot red pepper flakes Directions 1. In a wok or large pan on medium heat, sauté onions and chili in oil until the onions are brown.

2. Add carrots and bell peppers and cook until carrots are soft.

3. Add the rest of ingredients except ginger and garlic.

4. Add stir fry sauce and sauté all veggies in the pan for approximately five minutes.

5. Add in ginger, garlic, salt, pepper.

6. Cook for a few more minutes on low heat.

7. Serve over rice or noodles.

Wild about BC whitewater

Rolfing is Manual Therapy which strengthens the body’s structural integrity and functional resources.

Rolfing can help you move again.

agent that ripens produce, and this will most likely prematurely ripen your veggies, leaving you in an “eat this now” scenario, which could be a bit inconvenient.

Here are some ways that you can store produce to make it last.

Don’t be tempted to store them in the refrigerator. They need to be placed stem side down because they ripen at the other end and this will prevent them from going mushy as quickly.

RECIPE //

Stephanie Florian Play Outdoors

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On a hot summer day, noth-

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ing beats the heat better than a cold refreshing face shot of whitewater. Rafting is one of the few water sports where you’ll actually enjoy paddling hard for short intervals, soaked to the bone inside a dingy-like raft with a few

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An amazing adventure, it is affordable, accessible and best of all, unforgettable.

Continued on next page

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LIFESTYLES //

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SEX

Free Will Astrology

By Rob Brezsny Charles de Lint is a novelist whose stories are influenced by folklore, myths, and science fiction. In his book Yarrow, a wizardly character named Toby is skilled at conjuring. He can make small objects appear and disappear, for example. But Toby yearns for more.

“I want to be magic,” he says. “I want to be a friend of elves and live in a tree. I want to marry a moonbeam and hear the stars sing. I don’t want to pretend at magic anymore. I want to be magic.” If you have ever wished for a comparable upgrade, Aries, now is an unusually favorable time to work on it.

An imaginative Welsh man named Liam Bennett has developed a “dausage,” which is a blend of a doughnut and sausage. One of his most requested treats is pork meat stuffed with strawberry jelly. Even if this novel blend doesn’t appeal to your taste buds, it serves as a good prompt for my advice: The coming weeks will be a favorable time to expand your notion of what types of nourishment are fun and healthy for you. I mean that in the metaphorical as well as the literal sense. Experiment with new recipes, both with the food you provide your body and the sustenance you feed your soul.

In the woods, living matter isn’t segregated from the decaying stuff. Rotting tree trunks are host to teeming colonies of moss. Withered stems of ferns mingle with cheerful saplings. Audacious mushrooms sprout up among scraps of fallen leaves. The birds and beetles and lizards and butterflies don’t act as if this mix is weird. They seem to be at peace with it. I suspect they thrive on it, even exult in it.

That’s the spirit I suggest you adopt as you enjoy the paradoxical mélange of your life in the coming weeks, Gemini. Celebrate the mysterious magic that emerges as you simultaneously fade and flourish, decline and increase, wind down and rise up.

Here are some tips on being the best Cancerian you can be: 1) Cultivate your sensitivity as a strength.

Regard your emotional vulnerability as a superpower.

2) Nurture yourself at least as much as you nurture others. 3) Learn to know the difference between your golden hunches and the glimmering delusions that your demons stir up. 4) Be kind, but don’t be exorbitantly nice. 5) Remember that others’ unhappiness is rarely your fault or responsibility. 6) Keep reinventing the way you love yourself.

“What are the best things and the worst things in

your life, and when are you going to get around to whispering or shouting them?” This question was posed by Leo author Ray Bradbury in his book Zen in the Art of Writing: Essays on Creativity. Even if you’re not a writer yourself, you will benefit from responding to his exhortation. It’s one of the best things you could possibly do to activate your dormant creativity and intensify your lust for life. This is one of those times when working with your extremes is not only safe and healthy, but also fun and inspirational. So do it, Leo! Get excited and expressive about the best and worst things in your life.

It’s time to leave behind the golden oldies. You’d be wise to tiptoe away from tradition, and give the ghosts of the past one last kiss goodbye, and wean yourself from nostalgia for the good old days. Frankly, my dear, you’ve got numerous appointments with the future, and it would be a shame to miss them because you’re mucking around with memories. In the coming weeks – for that matter, in the coming months – you’re most likely to thrive if you become an agent of change.

And the most important thing to change is your relationship to the person you used to be.

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In Indonesia, the term gotong-royong is defined as the “joint bearing of burdens.” In practice it means that you and I and our allies get together voluntarily to help each other achieve a shared goal. It may also be an agreement to provide mutual aid: I help you do what you need to have done, and you help me with my task.

Gotong-royong also implies that we enjoy working together. The emotional tone that we cultivate is affection and care. By sharing a burden, we lighten the load that each of us has to bear. I bring this to your attention, Libra, because it’s the gotong-royong season for you and yours. Be the ringleader who initiates and sustains it.

In one of his poems, Jack Gilbert mentions “the incurably sane,” who are “uncrippled by beauty” and “unbutchered by love.” When I read those lines, I felt a surge of protest. Is there a single person on the earth who fits that description? No! I was miffed by such starry-eyed idealism. Later, though, as I studied the astrological omens for you Scorpios, my attitude softened. I realized that the coming weeks may be a time when many of you will at least temporarily be incurably sane, uncrippled by beauty, and unbutchered by love. If you’re one of these lucky ones, please use your blessed grace to spread an abundance of blessed grace everywhere you go.

If you’re not skirting the edges of the forbidden zone, you’re playing it too safe. If you’re not serving as a benevolent mischief-maker for someone you care about, you’re shirking your duty. Your allegiance should be with X-factors and wild cards. You will thrive to the degree that you cultivate alliances with mavericks and instigators. Are you shrewd enough to mess with time-tested formulas? Are you restless enough to rebel against habits that stifle your curiosity?

How to be a Capricorn, according to my Capricorn reader Sadie Kennedy: When you are younger, take yourself too seriously. Look and act older than you actually are as you serve what’s most practical. Sacrifice fun and frivolity, working doggedly to achieve the goals you yearn for, until you reach some level of accomplishment. Then realize, as if struck by a thunderbolt, that fun and frivolity have practical value. Begin to age backwards like Benjamin Button as you balance work with play and discipline with leisure. Enjoy the fruits of your intense efforts as everyone tells you how relaxed and supple and resilient you are becoming.

Cracking open the shell of a soft-boiled egg is a tricky task. You must be firm enough to break the shell, but sufficiently gentle to avoid making a mess. If you live in Germany, you have access to a metal instrument that provides just the right measure of soft force. It’s called an Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher, translated as “softboiled egg shell cracker.” Your assignment in the coming weeks is to cultivate a talent that is metaphorically similar to an Eierschalensollbruchstellenverursacher. I believe you will need that blend of sensitivity and power on numerous occasions.

Americans often regard Cuba as impoverished and backwards. There is an element of truth in their prejudice, primarily because the US has imposed a stifling embargo on the Caribbean nation for over 50 years. That’s why, for example, many Cubans drive cars that were manufactured in the 1950s. But I wonder how my fellow citizens would respond if they knew that in some ways Cuba’s healthcare system is better than America’s. The World Health Organization recently congratulated Cuba for being the first country on earth to eradicate the transmission of syphilis and HIV from mothers to babies. Can you identify a metaphorically similar situation in your personal life, Pisces?

Are there people you regard as inferior or undeveloped who could teach you an important lesson or motivate you to grow? Now is a perfect time to benefit from their influence.

Aug. 6: Andy Warhol (87) Aug. 7: Charlize Theron (40) Aug. 8: Roger Federer (34) Aug. 9: Gillian Anderson (47) Aug. 10: Antonio Banderas (55) Aug. 11: Chris Hemsworth (32) Aug. 12: Dominique Swain (35)

The importance of mastering the art of foreplay Sex with Mish Way

@MyszkaWay My premature ejaculation has gone from manageable to straight embarrassing in recent years. I recently broke up with a girlfriend and I suspect this was a key issue (even though she’d never say so.) I’m talking to a new girl who I really like but am getting increasingly worried about what she’ll think.

There’s a good chance that this is a lifelong thing and I’m worried I’ll never be able to keep a girlfriend again.

My question is: How should I explain this to her? Is this a deal-breaker for a lot of chicks?

–Two Pump Chump How old are you? How many years have you been having consistent sex? How long can you last, for real?

Are we talking a Misfits song or more like Pink Floyd? Or one-Mississippi?

I’m sorry that you feel so inadequate because of your quickness. Having a penis must be a total bummer.

Yeah, you guys can piss standing up and impregnate women, but really what else is there? I have never suffered from penis envy, especially not right now. That being said, your problem can be combatted in a few ways. You have to remember, as overtly cliché as this sounds, that the

right person will care and have patience with you.

Women can put up with a lot of bullshit… but only for so long.

First, you have to figure out if your premature ejaculation problem is lifelong or acquired. Lifelong usually starts in a man’s teenage years and is much harder to treat, whereas acquired happens later in life and is usually triggered by psychological (stress, work, relationship issues) or physical causes (diabetes, high blood pleasure, whatever).

According to Dr. Michael Wetzler, medical director of the Hill Medical Centre in London (and an expert in penis problems), this common condition can’t be cured, so you have to think of it like the drug addicts in the DTES: they aren’t going anywhere, so harm reduction is kind of your best bet.

Dr. Wetzler recommends thick condoms, focusing on other sexual pleasures and the “Start-Stop Technique”: stimulate the penis, stop just before you feel as though you are going to blow, wait 30-60 seconds and start again once you feel as though you have regained control. Repeat this process four to five times. It’s like kegels for your dick.

Then, there’s the “Squeeze Technique”, which is exactly what is sounds like: squeezing the

shaft for 30 seconds right before you feel as though you could ejaculate. The whole idea is that you can feel your “point of no return” coming, identify that feeling and learn to control it with some next level mind power.

I’m no doctor, but here are my suggestions. Whiskey is an excellent way to retard your ejaculation. In fact, if you combine it with cocaine, you will be able to fuck her for days with no ending in sight. Sure, your dick will turn into chewed bubble gum, but hey, that’s whiskey-coke cock.

If you do not want to snort shitty rat poison up your nose, then I seriously suggest stepping your foreplay game the fuck up.

Learn how to give head so good that she won’t even care if you are fucking her.

You can do a lot with your hands (fisting is awesome, do not rule it out), and then just slip in there at the last minute. You have to make her so caught up in the pleasure that she won’t even notice your unfortunate speed.

Don’t worry. It’s going to all be fine. Master foreplay, oral and hand fucking, then go see your doctor if you are still freaking out. W

EMAIL MISH Send Mish your own sex questions and queries to sex@westender.com

Continued from page 16 Toss in an overnight at a haunted B&B like The Teague House in Yale (one of BC’s oldest houses, built in 1867) and you’re in for a spooky, splashy wild ride.

Hammering through Class 3.5-4 rapids is a BC summer bucket list must.

We have to give our superskilled rafting guides credit.

Skill, knowledge and wit are just a few of the attributes that make rafting guides so memorable. The trip always ends on an adrenaline high.

Local companies like Fraser River Raft Expeditions have been pumping people safely through whitewater for more than 20 years. There’s a reason these rafting outfitters are still in business. They all have their own loyal following of crazy guide characters, all of whom are doing it for the outdoorsy lifestyle.

Aside from being a thrill ride; there are so many other reasons you need to add a rafting trip to your bucket list. Firstly, the views are epic. Whatever river you choose to experience, as you

Whitewater rafting is a great daytrip from Vancouver.

Stephanie Florian photo tures and Kumsheen are paddle down the river in close enough to home for a awe of this beautiful provdaytrip and all about safety. ince, count your blessings Expect to be entertained that you live here. Warning: and well fed, but remember if you slack off for too long to bring essentials like your gawking at the views, your own water bottle, sunscreen outgoing rafting guide may and waterproof camera (dry just decide to throw you in bags are provided). the drink. Never underestiA pit stop for a picnic mate the power of the guide! lunch along the river’s edge Rafting is an ideal group is part of the daytrip advenactivity and is great for ture and a great chance to team-building. It’s a given grab some photos and chat that you will make some new friends after a day fight- with your team while you refuel. Minimum age for ing rapids together, with rafting is 12 years old, so names like Jaws and Hells leave the kidlets at home for Gate. this one or they could be up Rafting outfitters like the raging river without a Hyak, Fraser River Raft, paddle. W Canadian Outback Adven-

August 6 - August 12, 2015 W 17

18 W August 6 - August 12, 2015

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August 6 - August 12, 2015 W 19

WEEKLY SPECIALS Prices Effective August 6 to August 12, 2015.

100% BC Owned and Operated PRODUCE

MEAT BC Organic June Blood Plums from Sproule and Sons

Whole Organic Chickens

BC Organic Cantaloupe and Green Honeydew Melons from Porterfield

1.98lb/ 4.37kg

3.99lb/ 8.80kg

.98lb/ 2.16kg

BC Organic Green Beans from Fraserland Farms

BC Green Onions and Red Radishes

Black Forest Natural Cheese Smokies, Bavarian Turkey Smokies or European Turkey Wieners

Imported Grass Fed Free Range New York Strip Loin Steaks

10.99lb/ 24.23kg Ocean Wise Fresh Sockeye Salmon Fillets value pack

value pack

2.48lb/ 5.47kg

8.99lb/ 19.82kg

2/.98

GROCERY

DELI

Liberté Méditerranée Yogurt

Salt Spring Organic Fair Trade Coffee

assorted varieties

assorted varieties 400g • product of BC

500g • product of Canada

31%

assorted varieties 56.6g • product of USA

SAVE

39% 3/1.98

Uncle Luke’s Medium Maple Syrup

assorted varieties

SAVE

30%

38%

2/5.98

4 pack product of Victoria

6.99

SAVE

Coco Libre Organic Coconut Water

30%

Kettle Brand Potato Chips assorted varieties

assorted varieties

1L • +deposit +eco fee

200-220g • product of USA

398ml • product of USA

SAVE

36%

36%

2/5.00

4.49

New Choices’ Own Summer Macaroni Salad, Classic Potato and Coastal Coleslaw

Lindsay Black Olives

with or without pineapple

4.49

1.29/ 100g

DeeBee's Organic Tea Pops

375ml product of Canada

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Krinos Traditional Cow Feta Cheese

Nature’s Bakery Fig Bars

10.99

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9.99lb/ 22.02kg

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2.79

22%

1.49/ 100g ( product may not be exactly as shown )

BAKERY Artisan Breads

Hubert’s Lemonade

G.H. Cretors Popped Popcorn assorted varieties

assorted varieties

While quantities last. Not all items available at all stores. We reserve the right to correct printing errors.

184-227g • product of USA

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WELLNESS Udo’s Ultimate 3-6-9 Oil Blend

12.99 250ml 24.99 500ml 38.99 941ml Alba SPF 40 Spray Sunscreen Kids or Sport e y th Enjo ine h suns ! ly safe

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