Westender - February 12, 2015 by Westender

FEBRUARY 12-18 // 2015

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• SPRING ARTS PREVIEW • • THE SANDWICH NAZI GOES TO TEXAS • • AVOID THE CLICHES THIS VALENTINE’S • NEWS // ISSUES • STYLE // DESIGN • EAT // DRINK • MUSIC // ARTS • FILM // TV • HEALTH // SEX Franchise Opportunities Baked Goods

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

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WHAT WILL IT TAKE TO GET DRUNK DRIVERS OFF THE ROAD? In this day and age when there have been 101+ infomercials about the dangers of impaired driving, texting while driving and so many news stories about people who’ve been killed, arrested, convicted and sent to prison as a result of DUI or texting while driving, I was really surprised to see a woman one evening last week giving such attitude to the police as she was escorted into the paddy wagon after being arrested for DUI. I can only assume that such people are either just plain stupid or they place so little value on human life that they just don’t care if they kill another human being or themselves or even end up in the hospital with burns all over their bodies, faces horribly disﬁgured and limbs amputated, if they can even feel anything below the waist or neck. What does it take to get it through to such people because educating them, 24hour roadside suspensions,

the risk of being arrested and imprisoned with a lifetime ban on driving and a criminal record just doesn’t seem to work. When I was a teenager I volunteered with children who were burn survivors, many of whom were casualties of impaired drivers. I’ve known people who lost their moms and dads to impaired drivers and I’ve even lost people that I care about to drivers who were drunk or stoned behind the wheel. My Grade 11 high school class even paid a visit to see an autopsy being performed on the body of a teenager who died as a passenger of an impaired driver and it was stomach turning to say the least. So I know this shit is real and all the doctors, police officers, lawyers, jail guards, survivors and children and adults who are confined to wheelchairs and who’s faces are grotesquely destroyed forever are not making all this up to stir some guilty feelings in those idiots who drive under the influence. So, please tell me and everyone else, what will it take

to get the message through to all of you? –Leslie Benisz

MORE LOVE FOR SMALL TOWN LIFE Re: Back to the Land 2.0, Jan. 29, 2015 My wife and I moved with our boys to Nelson a few years ago after 15 years in Vancouver. Both of us work in tech. She’s based out of Tel Aviv and I freelance for companies all over. What struck us was how many other people here are doing the same thing. I think as remote work culture evolves, you’ll see a lot more people starting to do it, and small towns being retroﬁtted to offer the kinds of services and quality of life people expect in larger urban centres. Nelson feels a lot like East Van, but with a much more outdoorsy/back-to-the-land edge. After growing up in a smaller city and moving to Vancouver in the ‘90s, I would never in a million years have imagined opting for small town life, but we love it. –Sugarlarry

Your votes. Your city. Thanks Vancouver, for sharing your favourite people, places and things to do with us. We’ve compiled the results, and we’re almost ready for this year’s reveal!

Watch out for our

2015 Best of the City Issue On the streets February 26, 2015

life • people • culture • shops • services • health • sports • lifestyle • entertainment • food 2 W February 12 - 18, 2015

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YOUR CITY

‘Yes’ forces kick off transit drive

Admit it, the Olympics were pretty awesome Grant Lawrence Vancouver Shakedown @GrantLawrence

MIKE HOWELL @howellings

Environmentalist David Suzuki joined more than 300 people from unions, business, health and education circles Thursday in a packed downtown university building to kick off a campaign to urge Metro Vancouverites to vote Yes in the spring plebiscite on transit and transportation. Suzuki didn’t speak but watched from the front row of a conference room at Simon Fraser University’s Segal Building on Granville Street as the CEO of his foundation, Peter Robinson, and other staff members spoke in favour of a 0.5 per cent tax hike to help pay for a $7.5 billion plan devised by the region’s mayors to cut congestion. “I can’t remember an instance where such a diverse group from across this region came together for a single issue,” said Robinson, one of four co-chairpersons for the Better Transit and Transportation Coalition, which represents more than 90 organizations. The David Suzuki Foundation had the biggest voice at the rally, with two of Robinson’s staff members addressing the crowd in Chinese, Mandarin and Punjabi while the event was emceed by former COPE executive director Alvin Singh, who now works for the foundation. Standing on a stage with supporters holdingYes signs, Robinson said the foundation’s research has shown the transportation sector consistently ranks as one of the major contributors to greenhouse

Environmentalist David Suzuki joined more than 300 people at a downtown university building Thursday to kick off a coalition’s campaign to support a Yes vote in the spring plebiscite on transit and transportation. Photo Dan Toulgoet gas emissions in Canada. “We believe that improving transit and transportation is the most effective response we can make to climate change in this region,” he said, noting one million people are expected to put more pressure on the environment as they move into the region over the next 30 years. “One million more residents, in the absence of an effective transit system, is 600,000 more cars. Clearly, doing nothing is not an option.” Dr.Victoria Lee, the interim chief medical health officer for Fraser Health, stressed the health benefits of getting people out of their cars and predicted a reduction in injuries and deaths related to traffic accidents, if fewer vehicles were on the road. Lee said a recent study conducted by local health authorities showed transit users, cyclists and pedestrians are 36 per cent less likely to be overweight than motorists. “I encourage everyone to voteYes for health,” said Lee, noting more transit options, including the mayors’ call for more frequent HandyDart service, will benefit people who require access to health services. Bahareh Jokar, vice-president of external affairs for Alma Mater Society of UBC, spoke to the crowd on behalf of what she said was more

than 135,000 post secondary students in the region who use transit. She said aYes vote in the spring plebiscite is important to shaping the future of the region, where transportation choices would be sustainable and meet the demands of population growth. “With post secondary students, faculty and staff living in every corner of our region, we all beneﬁt from a robust and accessible transit and transportation network,” she said. In taking questions from reporters about voters’ concerns about TransLink and whether the organization will be trusted to spend the money on the mayors’ plan, Gavin McGarrigle, BC area director of Unifor, which represents bus drivers, acknowledged the public’s concerns but said the plebiscite is not about how the transit agency is governed; only two mayors sit on the TransLink board, which meets privately. “Instead of getting distracted by issues that aren’t even on the ballot, we can join together,” said McGarrigle, adding that the mayors’ plan will be audited annually. Iain Black, CEO of the Vancouver Board of Trade, pointed out it was “rare” to have the majority of mayors agree to a plan and have the provincial government agree

to legislated safeguards to ensure the money is directed to the plan. Black is a former provincial Liberal cabinet minister and one of the four co-chairpersons of the transit and transportation coalition. Black characterized the No campaign – led by the No TransLink Tax group that calls for the plan to be paid for from future growth revenue in municipalities instead of a tax hike – as spreading “speculative cynicism.”The No campaign has called TransLink a wasteful organization and pointed to the millions of dollars lost with Compass Card and fare gate systems. The plan, which hinges on significant contributions from the provincial and federal governments, calls for a subway along Broadway, a light rail transit system in Surrey, a new Pattullo Bridge, an increase in buses, more frequent SeaBus and Handy Dart service and upgrades to road, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure. Black said he was confident the provincial and federal governments will contribute fully to the plan. But, he said, voters first have to support aYes vote to show that the region is on board with the plan. Voters can expect to receive ballots in the mail, beginning mid-March. W –Courtesy ofVancouver Courier

Journaling Set Free

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This workshop introduces participants to unique, innovative journaling. It encourages students to intersperse their writing with pictures which would come from their own drawings, collage, photographs, and images cut from magazines. No experience is necessary, just a desire to write about one’s life, observations, and thoughts, and to illustrate these with a variety of methods. The end result produces a book which can be referred to and enjoyed for years to come. Materials are not included in fees. Materials list will be available at desk three weeks prior to first class. Please bring materials to first class.

Is it exactly ﬁve years later already? Then…can I say it? I’ll say it. The 2010 Winter Olympics was the greatest two weeks in the City of Vancouver’s history. There… I said it. To be a part of it was magic.To miss it was tragic. Luckily, we are reminded of those two weeks by a lasting legacy throughout our city. Don’t believe me? I’ll get to that in a second. First, remember if you will, that athletes from a staggering 82 different countries descended upon our misty port city. Remember that many fans and tourists from around the world followed them, bringing with them a spirit, happiness, and worldliness to our streets that quite frankly forced us (who, when, left to our own devices are usually far too quick to get wasted and riot), to actually be on our best and most proud behavior. Even when those anarchists tried to strike, it was the public that shut them down before the police intervened. Sure, it was slightly embarrassing when Wayne Gretzky had to stand in the back of a pick up truck driving through the rain-soaked streets of Vancouver while holding the Olympic torch, it somehow miraculously staying lit, during a wicked and warm pineapple express that rolled in during the opening ceremonies. But remember how the weather quickly cleared up into two weeks of sunny skies and warm temperatures? Remember all those free, outdoor concerts with hardly a raindrop? Remember how

the spring-like weather, at ﬁrst ridiculed, actually seemed to add to the festive atmosphere? Hey, it certainly didn’t impede the record landslide of gold our athletes hauled in during the incredible competition. Yes, the total cost of hosting the Games was in the billions, but if you still disagree with me when I say the Olympics changed our city and its surroundings for the better, here’s the physical proof: • The Sea to Sky Highway is now an actual highway instead of a two-lane, hairpin deathtrap. • We have rapid transit to and from our city airport. • We have a massive new convention centre with a fuzzy green roof that attracts major events like Ted Talks, plus several new community centres throughout the city. • Public art commissioned for the Games remains, most notably Ken Lum’s iconic Monument For East Vancouver, the cross that glows mightily at East 6th and Clark, giving East Vancouverites a sense of pride, place, and belonging. • Olympic Village has overcome most of its lingering problems to become a thriving post-Games pop-up waterfront neighbourhood (with the best liquor store in town). • And let’s not forget those cute ‘n’ cuddly mascots, Quatchi, Miga, Sumi, and lil’ Mukmuk. If you stockpiled those plush stuffed toys from The Bay at $35 a pop, you can now sell ‘em on EBay for… uh… $13.00 each. Finally, I truly hope you weren’t one of those Vancouverites who attempted to cash in by renting out your place to then ﬂee our city, thereby avoiding the 2010 Winter Olympics. If you did, you blew it.You missed out on the two greatest golden weeks in Vancouver’s history. W

ENTER TO WIN

Sunday, March 1,8,15 & 22 1:30-3:30pm Fee: $120 for 4 sessions Instructor: Lorna Schwenk For more information, contact kittyladder@gmail.com Class Location: Denman Room at the West End Community Centre, 870 Denman Street 604.257.8333 • westendcc.ca

...2 orchestra seats for Debra McGrath & Colin Mochrie, as they discuss how they have successfully combined the pleasures of marriage with the pressures of showbiz. 7:30 pm, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at the Orpheum Theatre. Go to www.uniquelives.com/vancouver for bios on the upcoming season. To enter, go to westender.com and click on contests. Contest closes at 9am on Monday, February 23.

February 12 - 18, 2015 W 3

STYLE // DESIGN

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FASHION

Objects of affection NIKI HOPE @nikimhope

I know a few Valentine’s Day naysayers, and I get it.There is a contrived aspect to the whole thing, yet I still believe most women want some kind of gesture – a candle, card, ﬂowers, a meal – to mark the day. Here are a few last-minute gift ideas to pierce the heart of your favourite fashion lover (even if it’s yourself) on Saturday. Kate Spade watches ($175$225) caught my eye for all the right reasons.Touches of charming love-infused accents whisper sweet nothings and add an accessory with timeless style. Available at Hudson’s Bay. This Anthropologie nightie by Eberjey ($80) is the perfect balance of beautiful and sexy. The T-shirt ($68) is also a pretty – and practical – option. Available at Anthropologie on Granville Street or online. Vancouver-based jewelry designer Leah Alexandra’s Baby Wishbone necklace, with pink opal and 14K gold ($70), tells your girl she made your wishes come true. Leah Alexandra jewelry is available at The Cross, Hill’s of Kerrisdale, Blue Ruby, and the Beautybar.

Your West End Benjamin Moore Paint and Hardware Store

Vancouver Candle Company’s Strathcona candle is fruity and tart with ﬂoral overtones created by infusing white tea, black currant, lavender, and thyme fragrance oils.The local company crafts candles inspired by other hoods, including the musky-

scented Gastown (good for someone seeking a masculine fragrance).They retail for $32 and are available at Oliver and Lilly’s and Holt Renfrew. Voluspa candles, sold at The Cross Decor and Design, are also a lovely floral-scented option. Jeffrey Campbell’s heeled sandal ($162) in soft pink would be perfect for a flirty date night outfit. Single ladies: kick up your heels and buy them for yourself yourself.Visit

JeffreyCampbellShoes.com. Inspired by the ultimate seductress, Tocca’s Cleopatra perfume ($78) has notes of grapefruit, lush greens, cassis, jasmine, nectar, amber, and vanilla.The beautifully bottled fragrance is available at The Cross in Vancouver. I think I’m in love with Coach’s Tatum tote ($1,205) with pastel leather and gold hardware.The stud and braided-chain detailing makes

it an eye-catching investment piece. Another slightly toneddown option, in the same delicious apricot hue, is the Prairie satchel ($655) – both are available at Hudson’s Bay. Love the darling details of Rifle Paper Co. cards ($5.75). A few sweet words – even those three little ones – written on one of these lovelies would make anyone’s day. Available at Much and Little and The Cross Decor and Design. W

Fashion and art converge at Lüt NIKI HOPE @nikimhope

Lüt Boutique is hosting an evening of art and fashion on Thursday, Feb. 12 with visual artist Michelle Wilson and fashion designer Hanna Wheale from Hanna Dorothy. Wilson’s latest series of work features Paris street scenes and urban landscapes. Local fashion label Hanna Dorothy is showcasing its new spring/summer collection, featuring colourful prints, luxurious fabrics, and ’60s-inspired silhouettes. Select 2014 items will also be on sale at the event, which will include drinks, appies, and shopping, from 6-9pm at 4219 Main. Guilford Green HC-116 Colour of the Year 2015

1320 Davie St. (@ Jervis) • 604-687-6285 M-F 9:30-6 • Sa 9:30-5:30 • Su 12-5 benjaminmoore.ca 4 W February 12 - 18, 2015

CHECK OUT MADE-INVAN HANDBAGS

Looking for some wellcrafted, Vancouver-made handbags? Jola V. Designs (pronounced “yo-lah”) is a niche brand creating a line

of handbags and accessories with European inﬂuence, durable craftsmanship, and sustainable sourcing. The line recently launched its spring 2015 collection, including two new styles: the Delta and Delta surf, made from tanned bison and elk leathers, which were crafted in a family run tannery in Vancouver’s Cedar Cottage neighbourhood. Jola V. Designs are hand sewn by Jolanta Va in her Gastown studio. Va made her ﬁrst bag in 2009, and expanded it into a business when others started commenting on her work. She uses recycled garment leather – taken from jackets, pants, skirts – along with locally tanned leathers for her handcrafted bags. Visit JolaVDesigns.com, to shop the collection.

LUGARO OPENS NEW CONCEPT STORE

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Global Watch Com-

pany (GWC), an offshoot of Lugaro, held an opening for its luxury concept store, located in the heart of downtown Vancouver and specializing in haute watchmaking and ﬁne diamond jewelry. GWC offers Glashütte Original and Longines timepieces and rare diamonds at #105-8925 West Georgia.

FASHION GRADS SHOW AT MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK IN NYC

Two recent grads of The Art Institute of Vancouver earned a coveted spot on the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week runway in New York City on Feb. 17. Zong Peng and Jamaree Eiammanassakul competed against students from schools across North America to show their work at one of the world’s largest fashion events. They will present their mini-collections alongside 10 other fashion students and recent grads. Peng’s experimental

process uses images and colours from playgrounds, which he manipulates graphically. His high-concept designs will close out the show. Eiammanassakul’s collection is inspired by modern Thai architecture. She transforms architectural ideas using fabric manipulation techniques; the result is a collection that is minimal yet rich in details.

NEW DENIM STYLES AND FACE AT TOPSHOP

TOPSHOP is launching a new collection of denim and announcing its face for the campaign is Hailey Baldwin (dad is Stephen Baldwin). The collection offers a range of ﬁts and silhouettes in denim fabrics, washes, and styling. The expanded collection means there are more shapes to choose from. Prices range from $65 to $85. The collection is available at TOPSHOP at Hudson’s Bay downtown. W

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Five Finds of Valentine’s Jennifer Scott A Good Chick to Know

@Jennifer_AGCTK

woman in your life. Old world elegance meets sophisticated modernity with the sought after Tiffany’s twist.

The Famous Heart Desk Collection, available at That Tiffany Enchant Double Neon Sign ($300) Heart Ring, available at Lighting is often my Tiffany & Co. (pricing availfavourite element of décor able in store) – but for me, nothing beats It’s no secret that when creative lighting diamonds are a actually becomes girl’s best friend, the décor! When and once again Andrew Hibb’s Tiffany & Co. That Neon has mastered Sign ﬁrst the art of hit my a perfect radar, collecI was tion. The super intricate imdetailing pressed; of each piece I love his within the TifTiffany Enchant commitment fany Enchant Double Heart Ring to keepgrouping has ing an old been inspired school craft alive, relevant by garden gates of the 19th and chic in today’s design century, offering a quintesindustry. It therefore came sentially romantic appeal. as no surprise to me to ﬁnd The double heart ring has out his relation to stylistacaptured my attention – extraordinaire, Monika cursive, feminine lines of Hibbs, and that Andrew’s white gold and diamonds wife is also a designer. The create a coupling of interFamous Heart piece has twined hearts, making an been a favourite of mine ideal gift of love for the

from Andrew’s collection – I think the perfectly imperfect silhouette has a very personal feel, seemingly from the heart. As it turns out, it is: the piece was originally hand drawn by Monika, then traced and created in neon by Andrew, and ﬁnally envisioned on a stand as a décor piece by Andrew’s wife. Available in almost any colour, each heart is a custom hand made and beautifully unique way to show your love to your décor-addict Valentine. Couple’s treatment at the Miraj Hammam Spa, 1496 West 6th ($295/couple) For those of you not yet familiar with the tradition of hammam and gommage, trust me – you want to get acquainted with it. Seriously. And what better way to be introduced to this sensual practice of relaxation and invigoration than with a partner. If you are looking for a Valentine’s experience, the Miraj Hammam Spa – a South Granville landmark for those in the know – is offering a special couple’s treatment; partners will

be invited into the marble hammam, which they will have to themselves for a 45-minute low mist, highintensity steam before being led separately for an exfoliating treatment of authentic black Moroccan soap, as well as face and scalp massages with aromatic rose oil. Afterwards, the couple will rejoin in the Sultana lounge of velvet beds and silk cushions for Middle Eastern tea and sweet cakes. Heightened senses and true pampering at the Miraj Hammam create a memorable experience for both you and your Valentine. Neon Pink Heart Print, available at The Cross Decor & Design, 1198 Homer ($50) Simple, graphic and bright sum up this super cute print, created by Banquet Atelier & Workshop. At roughly 20”x20”, this playful piece makes the perfect everyday Valentine, with just enough statement to shout out “I love you” when you walk in the room. The neon pink heart is given an amped-up chic look with a soft grey background (rather than the expected stark white), allowing it to take on a slightly softer edge to suit any decor. I’m picturing this as an ideal gift for

the wee ones this Valentine’s Day – this would be a seriously adorable addition to any nursery or playroom. The Joy bracelet, available at Jen Ellis Designs ($38) Timing is everything, and I love when it comes together like clockwork. Coinciding perfectly with Valentine’s Day, the Joy bracelet from local talent Jen Ellis has just launched as the newest addition to her designs. Chic, feminine pieces have become the

cornerstone of Jen Ellis Designs, offering women ultra simple jewellery options that add the subtle ﬁnishing touches to an everyday look, or layer together beautifully for an elegant high impact. The Joy bracelet, available in either sterling silver or 14K gold ﬁll, are a modern approach to the identity bracelets of the past; a streamlined interpretation, the Joy allows just enough room for a ‘sweet nothing’ to your love to be engraved. W

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DINING OUT

Exile Bistro serves up wild food and drink Anya Levykh Nosh

@FoodGirlFriday EXILE BISTRO

1220 Bute 604-563-8633 ExileBistro.com Open Monday-Saturday, 5pm-midnight; Sunday, 5pm-10pm; brunch SaturdaySunday, 10am-3pm. The concept is fantastic. Plant-forward, ethical and wild, indigenous, artisan… these are the next-generation successors to buzzwords like local, sustainable, fair-trade, foraged, seasonal, organic, et al. They sound fresh, exciting, cutting-edge. The only animal proteins on the menu are wild game and ingredients like live algae, spelt kernels and cashew sour cream (there are a lot of gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian options) abound. It seems like a recipe for success, a perfect expression of Paciﬁc Northwest edible culture. However, like many things that sound great on paper, the execution can be somewhat different. Exile Bistro has a solid concept, led by an obviously dedicated team of

individuals under the banner of owner Vanessa Bourget, a former bartender (Nuba, Heirloom), chartered herbalist and holistic nutritionist. The problem lies in the treatment of all those stellar ingredients. The Emerald Lake, a gin cocktail with live algae ($13) was surprisingly good, but Red Margarita ($12) on an earlier night, laden with tequila, hibiscus and beet, couldn’t mask the ﬂavour of the unwelcome aloe vera.The craft beer list is excellent and mainly BC-based, unlike the wines, which favour Italy, France, Spain and Portugal.The wines are all sustainable, organic or biodynamic, but heavier local representation would seem to be more in keeping with the restaurant’s ethos. The food is a bit of a puzzle. While there is meat on the menu, it seems to be treated the way people who are not animal lovers treat their friends’ pets – with afterthought and perhaps slight disdain. A forager’s bowl ($17) of black rice, poached egg, mushrooms, pickled carrots and onions, was an earthy, hearty dish. We ordered it with the $4 elk supplement. Elk is normally quite feral in ﬂavour, rich and

The Chaga Sour cocktail; Exile Bistro’s patio on Bute, off Davie. Rob Newell photos. unctuous, beautifully gamey and lush. While it was cooked at the right temperature and was perfectly juicy, it was also completely tasteless and bland. Perhaps it had sat in a freezer for too long, but it could have been listed as beef (and mediocre beef, at that), and no one would have

known the difference. Bison short ribs ($26) with birch syrup and spelt kernels was another lacklustre experience. The meat was fall-off-the-bone tender – and again, completely tasteless. The spelt kernels were just roughage, something to provide ﬁbre, but without

any distinguishing taste of their own. Seared duck livers ($14) were a much better choice. Glazed with whiskey butter and served with rye toast, black ﬁg and apple-onion compotes, these made a lovely dish. The livers were plump and the compotes

Savouring Amarone Michaela Morris By the Bottle @MichaelaWine

Five days in Italy? I won’t even try to convince you that it was work or gain your sympathy for the brutal jet lag. I was there and back in a ﬂash but the taste still lingers. The occasion was Anteprima Amarone, for the 2011 release of this iconic wine. Amarone fans will

be anticipating the arrival of this highly touted year. However, as the vintage is a long way from making it to BC, I scoured the shelves for something to drink in the meantime. Amarone is a unique style of wine from the Valpolicella zone of the Veneto region in northeastern Italy. Regular Valpolicella is made from Corvina, Corvinone and Rondinella with a host of other equally exotic sounding grapes allowed. Most Vapolicella falls into the lighter

bodied end of the red wine spectrum. With sour cherry and bitter almond notes as well as bright acidity, it’s uncomplicated, affordable and highly chuggable. Try the Folonari for under $16 to get my drift. Amarone is a selection of the same grape varieties that are (theoretically) grown in Valpolicella’s best sites. Before the grapes are crushed, they are left to dry for three to four months. This desiccation process is intrinsic to the wine’s character. Grapes

lose well over a third of their weight, sugars are concentrated and ﬂavours trans-

Conveniently located in the Granville Skytrain Station.

30-678 Dunsmuir Street 6 W February 12 - 18, 2015

Food: ★★★★★ Service: ★★★★★ Ambiance: ★★★★★ Value: ★★★★★ Overall: ★★★★★ 14 per cent. Complex with distinct dried fruit ﬂavours of ﬁg and prune, Amarone seduces with appealing notes of chocolate, spice and coffee. This hedonistic wine is often far too opulent to pair with anything but a piece of parmiggianoreggiano. The Italians call it a vino da meditazione; a meditation wine to savour slowly on its own. Post-yoga perhaps? Amarone may seem worlds apart from basic Valpolicella. The price is equally disparate.

ST. REGIS LIQUOR STORE

st regisel hot

nicely cut the fat, as did the winter slaw. The vegetarian dishes were hit and miss. Borscht salad ($12) with dill, sauerkraut and cashew crème fraîche was too creamy and heavy. A little acidity here would have balanced things out nicely. Ricotta ravioli ($18) had a lovely ﬁlling, but the pasta was doughy and too al dente around the edges. Cedarsmoked potatoes ($8) with cedar oil and crème fraîche were delicious and hearty, and could be eaten on their own in large quantities. I would like to see more restaurants with this level of thoughtfulness and care placed into the building of a menu, but, until the execution of that menu at Exile is on the same level, it seems a sad waste of excellent ingredients. W Hear Anya Levykh every Monday on CBC Radio One’s On the Coast and ﬁnd her on Twitter @foodgirlfriday and Facebook.com/FoodGirlFriday.

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form. The resulting wine is rich, full-bodied, and high in alcohol, often well over

Continued on next page

Valentine’s Day % Special OFF

All Sparkling Wines

Open 10am-11pm daily. 604-662-3177

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DINING OUT

Avoid restaurant clichés this Valentine’s Day Mijune Pak Follow Me Foodie

@FollowMeFoodie Not too interested in prix ﬁxe menus and cliché Valentine’s Day specials? I feel you. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with celebrating Valentine’s Day and this is not an anti-Valentine’s Day article. But sometimes you’d rather avoid the crowd, have a low-key night, or even do something fun and exciting that’s not “couple-y”. You don’t have to have a valentine on Valentine’s Day and I’m all for good company, food, and ambiance regardless of the day. Sure, I usually prioritize food, but sometimes I want an after-dinner spot with a good vibe. I tend to stick to fancy places with live music supporting local talent, so here are some of the sophisticated yet vibrant lounges I enjoy. The Lobby Lounge at the Fairmont Pacific Rim They have well-made cocktails and an everchanging list of local talent providing live music seven days a week. There is a good mix of locals and tourists and while it might come off as pretentious, people seem to always be having a good time. There’s singing, dancing, mingling and relaxing and it’s easy to absorb the energy. Prohibition at The Rosewood Georgia Hotel Finally! The long awaited Prohibition opens on Feb. 12. I got the sneak peek and it was love at ﬁrst sight. The room is ultra-sexy and

it’s an excellent balance of classy, timeless and contemporary. Local graphic designers Nancy Wu and Johnathon Vaughn aced the feel and look. I recommend the signature Hotel Georgia cocktail, originally from 1945. Other cocktail snacks include crispy pig ears (think shoestring fries) with sweet, sour and spicy dipping sauce; very good spiced fried chicken winglets; blistered shishito peppers; grilled pineapple salad with blood orange and chilled jalapenos; pretzel bread; duck poutine; sustainable Northern Divine caviar; and my favourite, the black trufﬂe paté from Oyama served with ice wine jelly. Shared snacks range from $10-15 with the exception of the 30-gram tin of local and sustainable caviar, which is $150. It’s a highend spot, but given the context, it’s expected, and there is live music and occasional live entertainment, including classy burlesque dancers. Singles Awareness Week at The District Brasserie It’s nothing fancy and there’s no live music, but they are doing something new. It is the ﬁrst ever Singles Awareness Week from Feb. 8-12 at The District Brasserie in North Vancouver. I haven’t been in a few years, but I recall amazing frites (legit ones, like the ones in Belgium). For the week they are also offering $2 off Belgian beers, cocktails and martinis, and giving away $50 gift cards as prizes. W Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.

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Continued from page 6 Sitting somewhere in the middle, both in style and price, is Ripasso. Essentially Valpolicella is passed over the unpressed skins of Amarone. The leftover sugar in the skins encourages a second fermentation that boosts the alcohol adding weight to the wine. Though closer to Valpolicella, a Ripasso will be fuller-bodied and should possess more than a hint of that dried fruit character you get in Amarone. A word of warning with Amarone: you get what you

pay for and it ain’t cheap. Expect to shell out at least $55 for a good one. If this is simply too extravagant for you, try a Ripasso. In general, they are half the price. 2012 Pasqua • Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC • $21.99, BC Liquor Stores Cherry compote, prune and violet potpourri with lingering sweet spice. 2011 Montresor, Capitel della Crosara • Valpolicella Ripasso DOC • $2830, Private Wine Stores Vanilla and dried red berries are balanced by earthy tobacco

and pepper notes. Finishes with warming alcohol. 2010 Tenuta Chiccheri • Valpolicella Ripasso Superiore DOC • $38.99, BC Liquor Stores Top-notch Ripasso! Fragrant and savoury, it brings me right back to Valpolicella. Liquorice, smoke and black plum with a deft balance of richness and freshness. 2009 Musella • Amarone della Valpolicella DOCG • $59.99, BC Liquor Stores In the world of Amarone, this excellent value. Floral

and pepper nuances add intriguing to black cherry, prune and leathery notes. Their Ripasso for $30 is also fabulous. 2007 Monte del Frá, Tenuta Lena di Mezzo • Amarone della Valpolicella Classico DOC • $79.99, BC Liquor Stores This is big splurge but it’s Valentine’s Day on Saturday, right? Voluptuous, mouth caressing tannin and layers of fruit. Think ﬁg, chocolate and dried sweet herbs. Made for sipping while curled up next to the ﬁreplace. W

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CRAFT BEER

And the worst beer available in BC is…

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Craft beer fandom is essentially the search for the best beer in the world. But while we twist ourselves in to tizzies trying to ﬁnd it, no one’s bothered to learn what the absolute worst is. Well I have. Last weekend, my wife, two friends and I did a taste test to determine what’s the lousiest beer available in BC liquor stores. The tasting group included two men, both avid beer enthusiasts, and two women, not. The setting: my in-laws’ house in Comox. We stuck with macro or pedestrian lagers only. We chose 13 beers that a) we considered shitty enough for inclusion in our research and b) were available in single cans, which was important because none of us wanted to spend extra money on six packs that we’d just throw away in the end. This means

Kokanee, Blue, Coors Light and Lucky – though exceptionally lousy beers – weren’t considered in our research because the liquor store we purchased the beer didn’t sell them in singles. Oh well. All beers were tasted in alphabetical order, then ranked using a point system that we made up on the fly: taste, after-taste and sessionability were all given scores between 0 (“the worst tasting thing of all time”) and 5 (“drinkable, if nothing else was available”). All scores were reached by group consensus, then added up to create a score out of 15. The lowest scoring beer is deemed the worst. Note: Though it’s possible a BC craft brewery has made the lousiest beer ever, we stuck to macro lagers because they are generally considered the worst beer anyway, and we needed to save time and money. These are the beers we ranked, plus some thoughts on each: Big Surf: Tastes like a cleaning chemical, like perhaps someone had spiked the can with Comet. Score: 5 Black Ice: Comes in an enormous tall can, the sort of thing low- (or no-) income alcoholics might spring for. Surprisingly inoffensive on the first sip, but by the fourth sip I’m close to barfing. Score: 9 Bud Light: The one beer I’d always considered an affront to brewing, but less offensive than I remember – if only because it’s tasteless, which I guess is offensive in a way. Still, easily the most drinkable of the brews so far, and we all agreed we could choke a few down at a baseball game or camping trip, without any serious repercussions. Score: 11 Budweiser: The Big One, “Brewed the Hard Way”. The kind of beer that can be enjoyed in a cold bottle, but turns quickly to monkey piss when sipped out of a can. Overall, rather crummy. Score: 8

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Canadian: The (unfortunate) king of Canadian beers. I have years of experience with this beer that I’m bringing to the table, after countless episodes gagging on the warm, piss-y dregs that constitute the last half of any given can. Not as bad as some, but still really bad. Score: 7.5 Cariboo Lager: Why does it taste like metal? Score: 3

Colt 45: Nauseating smell. Shudders aplenty. My wife calls it “parking-lot beer.” Without question the worst thing I’ve put in my mouth in a long time, possibly ever. The taste of my own vomit is preferable. Score: 0 Islander: Compared to Colt 45, it’s a dream. It’s watery and resembles Kokanee in more than just the can. An OK surprise. Score: 10

Old Milwaukie: An old go-to. Many a Friday night I’ve spent putting back a 12-case and a pack of smokes in hazy East Vancouver apartments. So, yeah….fond memories here. Easily the most drinkable of the bunch and not nearly as bad as everyone claims (though deﬁnitely not great). Score: 13

Pabst Blue Ribbon: Nowhere close to terrible, given the context. It’s ﬁne. Whatever. Score: 10 Pacific Kolsch: A nice surprise – better than some craft beer I’ve tasted, in fact. Not bad. Not bad at all. Score: 12 TNT Lager: I’m scared of it. It’s dark gold, the colour of unhealthy urine. Smells kind of like it, too. If the End Times had a taste, this would be it. Score: 1 Wildcat: Arguments abound on this one. I think it’s absolutely rancid. Others think it’s perfectly acceptable beer. Goes great with thrifted Taiga jackets and severe bouts of depression. Score: 9.

There you have it: Colt 45 is without question the worst beer we tried, and by the power vested in me by God and man, the worst beer available in BC. If you need to drink it, well, heaven help you. W

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SPRING ARTS PREVIEW

Local talent blends with the best in the world 15th annual Chutzpah! Festival celebrates Israel’s top exports and more KELSEY KLASSEN @kelseyklassen

Six dancers lunge in a circle on stage to the steady, mechanical beat pulsing through the auditorium. Choreographer Shay Kuebler is standing assertively nearby, observing. Suddenly, he barks at them to get lower, and all six drop the several difﬁcult inches closer to the ground, where they hover wordlessly without missing a beat. The music stops and, just as quickly, the dancers break into the easy smiles of the oxygendeprived and spin away to regroup for the next sequence. Kuebler (of 605 collective fame) and his new ensemble, Radical System Art, have been developing this routine the Norman RothsteinTheatre since December. As the Chutzpah! International Jewish Performing Arts Festival’s

2015 artist-in-residence, Kuebler was given seven weeks of unfettered access to the 318seat proscenium performance space in SouthVancouver, and the result is GLORY, making its world premiere Feb. 21 at the festival. Prior to that scene, Kuebler and two male dancers had been effortlessly pitching into handstands, cycling through poses that defy the steel it takes to execute Kuebler’s martial arts-inspired routines. “This show has a lot of connection to me as a child growing up,” says Kuebler, 31. “I started theatre and martial arts when I was five years old. And when I was growing up it was the pinnacle of the action generation: Jean-ClaudeVan Damme, Steven Seagal and Chuck Norris – action movies were one of the biggest film genres at that time. So, as a kid, I was always creating these battle sequences and imaginary fight sequences in my backyard,” he recalls. “It was

really the beginning stages of being a choreographer.” For most of his company, this residency marks their ﬁrst time at the multi-purpose Jewish Community Centre, within which the theatre is housed. As part of the residency, all the artists in Kuebler’s company have access to the pool and gym facilities, and, of course, the cafeteria. “Everybody here has been really warm and really genuine,” says Kuebler. “I have a great relationship with Veronica who runs the cafeteria,” he laughs. “She’s been really supportive, telling us the best times to come in for food; giving us freshly baked goods, you know?” “The last two weeks I’ve been here probably for 12-13 hours a day,” he continues, “so being able to have the pool, the sauna, the gym all under one roof is the ideal situation.” “It becomes a home for them,” adds festival

Dancer Shay Kuebler of Radical System Art. David Cooper photo

artistic director Mary-Louise Albert, who selected Kuebler for the residency. “They become members of this multigenerational hub.” Ten years ago, after a 17year career as a professional dancer with the Judith Marcuse Dance Company, Anna Wyman DanceTheatre, Karen Jamieson Dance Company as well as an apprentice with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Albert changed direction with the help of the Dancer’sTransition Resource Centre, and took over the festival’s artistic and managerial direction. At the time, it was still a fairly fringe local event. Since then – most notably in the past ﬁve years – she has succeeded in making the festival more international and more inclusive of the greater arts community. Under Albert, the Chutzpah! Festival has supported new work by local artists such as Donald Sales, and sought out avant-garde acts like Israeli duoYossi Berg and Oded Graf to work with local dancers Noam Gagnon and Justine Chambers, while also serving as an anchor date for breakout international artists to base tours around. “The festival is supposed to be geared towards the Jewish performing arts,” says Kuebler, “but I think it’s really great that [Albert is] also willing to support and nurture the culture and the community that is around the festival as well. I can say for sure,” he continues, “if it wasn’t for the festival, [GLORY] wouldn’t be the show it’s going to be. She’s been instrumental in making it come together.” Yet, in addition to encompassing Albert’s passion for dance, Chutzpah also manages to be a hot-bed of world theatre, comedy, music, and some things, like Maria Kong, that can’t quite be classiﬁed. Guaranteed to be a festival opener unlike anything

“Breathtaking, hilarious, and heart-stopping”

Ester Rada

Chutzpah! Quickpicks

ruined by his overbearing father. So he wrote the man a 50-page letter stating “all my writing was about you.”

Zvuloon Dub System, Israel’s most popular reggae act, makes its Canadian premiere with a single show Feb. 20. Inspired by lead singer GiliYalo’s Ethiopian roots (Yalo walked through the desert from Ethiopia to Israel with his family at age four) the band fuses thousand-year-old Ethiopian riffs, rare ‘70s grooves, and American soul into reggae.

LA-based repertory company BodyTraffic makes back-to-back Chutzpah! appearances, this year with Canadian premieres by the hip hop-inspiredVictor Quijada, MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” recipient Kyle Abraham and the awardwinning Joshua L. Peugh, plus new work by returning favorite Richard Seigal (March 5-8).

Over in the theatre camp is the compelling Kafka and Son (March 2), adapted by Alon Nashman and Mark Cassidy from Franz Kafka’s Letter to His Father. As a 36-year-old failed artist and petty bureaucrat still living at home, Kafka – a “timid Jewish son” – was being

Last but not least, don’t miss Israeli actress and singer Ester Rada, May 2, as part of Chutzpah! Plus. A bit of Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin alongside Eryka Badu, Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott in one soulful package. • ChutzpahFestival.com

Vancouver has ever seen, Maria Kong’s Backstage (Feb. 19-22) is an immersive 360-degree dance experience augmented with live rock, theatre, and video art. The kinetic Israeli team of team of dancers, musicians and technicians has built their internationally-acclaimed routine around on photos and drawings of Vancouver’s Red Room, within which they’ve tailored pop-up performances that cater to the

—The Independent

cocktail crowd. Site-speciﬁc but remotely designed, no two shows are alike. And it also represents another milestone for the festival. “We haven’t been off-site with a dance show before, so it’s a fun way to kick off the 15th anniversary,” says Albert excitedly. “[These are] ex-dancers of Batsheva Dance Company – top performers – and there’s a rock band, interactive media... “It is a fun, fun show.” W

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SPRNG ARTS PREVIEW

Legendary butoh co. relays warning from space Dairakudakan makesVIDF debut KELSEY KLASSEN @kelseyklassen

Grotesque imagery, taboo topics, absurd environments… Japan’s largest and longestrunning butoh company, the legendary Dairakudakan, is

making its hotly anticipated ﬁrst visit to Canada as part of the 15thVancouver International Dance Festival. With 22 slow-motion, shape-shifting dancers in other-wordly costumes, metallic body-paint and spectacular set pieces, Dairakudakan is Japan’s most dramatic blend of theatre and dance. Choreographer Akaji Maro, an accomplished actor who

has appeared in Kill Bill:Vol I. and some 76 other ﬁlms, offers Mushi ho Hoshi – Space Insect as a response to a warning from space: In short, aliens are angered by human ignorance, and are helping the rest of creation rise up against us. This hotly anticipated galactic bug battle will amaze for two nights only, March 20 and 21. Meanwhile, other highlights from the festival’s

intimate nine-company roster includeToronto wild man Benjamin Kamino and his solo work, Nudity. Desire. (March 12-14). As the title suggests, Kamino performs naked in this work to advance its exploration nudity versus knowledge, language and desire. Still keeping within Canada, Vancouver’s Out Innerspace and 605 Collective each give a ﬁrst look at new work March

19-21, and Montreal’s Benoit Lachambre makes a trimphant return with Snakeskins (March 12-14), after an unfortunate dolphin-swimming incident sidelined him from his 2014 slot. Running March 8-28,VIDF also celebrates dance with classes led by visiting artists, and free performances March 8, 15, and 22. SeeVIDF.ca for venue and ticket info. W

Top: Toronto’s Benjamin Kamino in Nudity. Desire. March 19-21. Jamie Kronick photo Bottom: Japan’s Dairakudakan makes its first Canadian appearance March. 20-21. Contributed photo

Spring Hot Tickets February THEATRE/DANCE MOTHERLOAD Four prominent

Canadian theatre artists and mothers bare their personal stories in an intimate account of parenting in the modern age, hoping to lighten the collective ‘load’. Until Feb. 21 at Historic Theatre. Tickets at Tickets. TheCultch.com

ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS In

1963 Brighton, Francis Henshall juggles two jobs, two bosses, and a parade of colourful characters in a unique blend of satire, songs, slapstick in this side-splitting update of theThe Servant of Two Masters. Until Feb. 22 at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.Tickets at ArtsClub.com

THE MOUNTAINTOP Dr.

Martin Luther King’s last night on earth is reimagined in this lively drama that looks to both the past and present, painting a portrait of the civil rights hero as venerable, yet ﬂawed, a ﬂeshand-blood man. Until March 14 at Granville Island Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com

HIGH SCHOOL HIGH

Experience the magic as high

10 W February 12 - 18, 2015

schools and dance teams from all over the province share their talent and passion at the most exciting dance competition/showcase of the year. Feb. 15 at York Theatre. Tickets at Tickets. TheCultch.com MADE IN CHINA A ChineseCanadian exploration of cultural identity, a collective biography of the respective artistic expressions exploring the commonalities of the artists’ Chinese heritage. Feb. 18-21 at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre.com CADRE A South African story of dreams and change; countries go through times of turmoil when in transition from one state of governing to a new order, but what happens when the future you meet is not the one you were expecting? Feb. 24-March 8 at Historic Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com THE VILLAGE A one woman

show by Canadian artist Tina Milo, whose Serbian heritage infuses this unique and darkly humorous fusion of physical theatre, live music and ﬁlm drawn from real life stories. Feb. 24-28 at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre.com

SISTER JUDY The world of a popular university theology professor is rocked when a brilliant new student challenges her notions of love and devotion. As Judy unravels, so does the story of her past. Feb. 26-March 21 at Revue Stage.Tickets at ArtsClub.com

FESTIVALS NORTHWEST COMEDY FEST

Featuring some of the biggest names on the local, and international comedy circuit in a variety of settings including stand-up, improv, podcasts and all ages events in a variety of venues across Vancouver. Feb. 12-21. Tickets at NorthWestComedyFest.com TALKING STICK FESTIVAL

The 14th annual showcase honouring Aboriginal performance, presented by Full Circle First Nations Performance. Theatre, dance, drumming, music, spoken word and multimedia performance displaying the new evolving contemporary work of today’s artists. Feb. 17-March 1. Tickets at FullCircle.ca

Continued on next page

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SPRING ARTS PREVIEW Continued from p.10 CHUTZPAH! FESTIVAL The annual

arts event returns for its 15th year, celebrating Jewish cultural talent, held at the Norman Rothstein Theatre and other select venues across Vancouver. Chutzpah! stands behind the belief that the performing arts are an important vehicle of communication that holds us together as a culture and inspires us with new ideas and ways of looking at the world. Feb. 19-March 15.Tickets at ChutzpahFestival.com

MUSIC GREAT HYMN OF PRAISE

Mendelssohn’s extraordinary symphonic cantata greatly inﬂuenced by Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony was commissioned to celebrate the 400th anniversary of a seminal moment in human history, the invention of the printing press. A work celebrated through the centuries for its sublime beauty, features the Elektra Women’s Choir, Chor Leoni and is conducted by Bramwell Tovey. Feb. 20 & 21 at The Chan Centre.Tickets at VancouverSymphony.ca CHINESE NEW YEAR A very

special concert celebrating the Lunar NewYear and theYear of the Sheep with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and conductor Perry So featuring Zheng Lu’s Good News From Bejing and Xian’s famous Yellow River Concerto. Feb. 28 at Orpheum Theatre.Tickets at VancouverSymphony.ca

HANDEL’S THEODORA Early Music Vancouver’s collaboration with Juno-nominated guest conductor Alexander Weimann, an ensemble of internationally-renowned soloists, including Matthew Brook, Lawrence Zazzo, and Krisztina Szabó, the Vancouver Cantata Singers and, 28 members of the Paciﬁc Baroque Orchestra Feb. 14 at the Chan Centre. Tickets at ChanCentre.com

OTHER WEST END ART PLAN MEETING

We Arts is asking residents and businesses in theWest End to take part in a planning session to help shape the artistic future of the neighbourhood. Be a part of the conversation and make the community even better!Would you like to see an arts centre, studios, markets, murals, gathering spaces, affordable live-work spaces, accessible art for all ages?Then take part in theWest End Art Plan and have your say. Feb. 22 from 1-4pm at theWest End Community Centre, 870 Denman.WEArts.ca

The startling true story of Esther Brandeau, a Jewish woman from the French Basque region who arrives in Quebec City in the 18th century as a Christian male labourer. Later outed on both counts, Brandeau is said to have been the ﬁrst Jewish person to set foot in what is now Canada. March 3-8 at Firehall Arts Centre.Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre.com MOZART & SALIERI An avant-

garde musical adaptated from Alexander Pushkin’s classic tale of genius, jealousy and murder. An entertaining musical featuring three of Canada’s best multi-disciplinary performance artists, this is Mozart as you’ve never seen or heard him before. March 4-14 at Jericho Arts Centre.Tickets at JerichoArtsCentre.com VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL DANCE FESTIVAL Legend-

ary Japanese butoh group Dairakudakan, Montréal’s experimental and in-demand contemporary dance company Par B.L.eux, and Hungarian dancer-choreographer Ferenc Fehér headline the 15th annual VIDF, running March 8-28.Tickets at VIDF.ca TRANSMIGRATION A visually raw and engaging story inspired by the life and paintings of iconic Ojibwe shaman-artist Norval Morrisseau. A dialogue of response to Morrisseau’s vision, this production is a reﬂection of humanity and the power of spirit to transform and transcend. March 17-21 at Historic Theatre.Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE Christopher Durang

shows us just how funny unhappiness can be in this witty mash-up of Chekhov characters and smartphones, a delightful new farce for our hyperconnected era. March 19-April 19 at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.Tickets at ArtsClub.com

TRACE Ballet BC’s three-part performance, including the Canadian premiere of William Forsythe’s workwithinwork, the world premiere of Walter Matteini’s NewWork and Medhi Walerski’s Petite Ceremonie. March 26-28 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre.Tickets at BalletBC.com WELCOME TO THEBES

THEATRE/DANCE

An impoverished population with a shattered infrastructure, a volatile army. The ﬁrst female democratic president of the region needs the aid of the leader of a vastly wealthy state or she doesn’t stand a chance. A passionate exploration of a clash between the world’s richest and poorest inspired by ancient myth, but set in the present day. March 27-April 19 at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets at JerichoArtsCentre.com

RIBCAGE: THIS WIDE PASSAGE

FAMOUS PUPPET DEATH SCENES

March Westender.com

The famous Old Trouts

promise to cure your fear of death with the magic of puppetry through a collection of famous scenes culled from the absolute best puppet shows in history. In a way, they promise ever-lasting life! March 31-April 19.Tickets at Tickets. TheCultch.com

MUSIC A JAPANESE CELEBRATION

The VSO presents a special celebration of Japanese music and artists in a concert featuring violinist Akiko Suwanai performing Beethoven as well as Koto playerYuriko Nariya and the combined voices of the Cattleya Chorus, Sakura Singers,Winds Choir and NAV Chorus. March 1 at Orpheum Theatre.Tickets at VancouverSymphony.ca DIE FLEDERMAUS (THE BAT)

Lighthearted, romantic and wickedly funny, Strauss’ melody-ﬁlled opera is effervescent and intoxicating. A combination of laughter, love and sweet revenge, while waltzing features soprano Joyce el-Hhoury, tenor Roger Honeywell and Christopher Gaze as the tipsy jailer. March 5, 7, 8 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre.Tickets atVancouverOpera.ca VANMAN SUMMIT

The exhilarating conclusion to the VanMan Choral Summit features solo sets from the area’s best male choruses, plus a magniﬁcent mass choir ﬁnale featuring VMC, Chor Leoni, MYVoice, BC Boys Choir, UBC Men’s Choir and Illumni Men’s Chorale from Seattle. March 7 at The Chan Centre.Tickets at VancouverMensChorus.ca

majority.Tackling everyone’s favourite prime minister, Stephen Harper, as he realizes his new female MP may be the smartest man in the room. April 7-25 at Firehall Arts Centre.Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre.com FOREIGN RADICAL: A GAME OF SECRETS Audience participa-

tion is key here as 20 individuals become part of a theatrical game world exploring security, proﬁling, terrorism, freedom of expression and privacy in the age of cyber surveillance. April 16-25 at Culture Lab. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch. com STATIONARY: A RECESSION ERA MUSICAL Featuring a cast of

talented actor-musicians, the indie-rock musical about six young employees of a ﬂoundering advertising company addresses the moment when big dreams meet reality checks. But in a world of daydreams, all things are possible. April 21-May 2 at Historic Theatre.Tickets at Tickets. TheCultch.com INTO THE WOODS The Brothers

Grimm hit Broadway with an epic fairytale where worlds collide in this modern spin taking everyone’s favourite storybook characters and bringing them together for a

IMPULSE The Elektra Women’s

Choir joins forces with one of Canada’s leading percussionists for a collaboration like no other. Beverley Johnston and Elektra will premiere a new suite for marimba and women’s choir by Winnipeg composer Timothy Corlis. March 14 at Ryerson United Church.Tickets at TicketsTonight.ca

hit comedy is back for an election year encore. Imagine a different outcome to the last Federal election – the Tories take Quebec and win a huge

Award winning musical set in NYC’s tough and vibrant Washington Heights is an electrifying and universal story of ﬁnding one’s place in life. A heartfelt, contemporary crowd-pleaser pulsing with a variety of musical styles. April 30-June 7 at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage.Tickets at ArtsClub.com

FESTIVALS CAPTURE PHOTOGRAPHY FESTIVAL Pointing to our

region’s rich photographic history, Capture is an annual celebration of photography and lens-based art.The non-proﬁt festival returns for the month of April offering a wide range of highly accessible public programs, aiming to increase knowledge and appreciation by emphasizing the cultural importance of photography in all its forms. April 2-29 at various commercial galleries, with innovative public installations across Vancouver. More info at CapturePhotofest.com CHERRY BLOSSOM FESTIVAL

The annual renewal that takes

MUSIC SINGING CAN BE A DRAG Vancou-

ver’s very own drag icon and Vancouver Men’s Choir life member, Bill Monroe hosts the 8th annual evening of live singing, female impersonating and musical entertainment performed by the VMC’s own inner-diva starlets. Proceeds will beneﬁt the VMC in its LGBTQ community outreach and main stage concert programming. April 2 at Revue Stage.Tickets at VancouverMensChorus.ca SWEENEY TODD The darkly

comical and endlessly entertaining tale is a rich theatrical and musical experience with an indelible cast of characters featuring real life husband and wife, bass-baritone Greer Grimsley and mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee and Canadian soprano Andriana Chuchman. April 25, 26, 30 at Queen Elizabeth Theatre.Tickets at VancouverOpera.ca W

ALL PERFORMANCES AT THE ORPHEUM Join Maestro Bramwell Tovey and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra for the 2015 VSO SPRING FESTIVAL, which celebrates the life and music of the greatest composer who ever lived: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

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THEATRE/DANCE

PROUD Last season’s runaway

IN THE HEIGHTS The Tony

place both outside, and in with a variety of events both under the illuminated clouds of ﬂowers and in various venues across the city with poetry, music, art, dance and food. Look for the downtown concert, kite dance, picnics, photo contest and Japan fair. More info at VCBF.ca

2o15

April FAREWELL, MY LOVELY In early 1940s Los Angeles, Private dick Philip Marlowe comes across more crooks, dames, smoking guns crystal balls and dead bodies than your average graveyard as he attempts to locate the missing blonde bombshell in the ﬁrst theatrical adaptation of the hard-boiled detective tale. April 2-May 2 at Granville Island Stage.Tickets at ArtsClub.com

timesless yet relevant piece and rare modern classic. April 29-May 16 at Jericho Arts Centre.Tickets at JerichoArtsCentre.com

FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 7:30PM / AMADEUS, THE MOVIE

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 8PM MOZART AND SALIERI

MONDAY, APRIL 13, 8PM THE LEGEND OF DON JUAN

4 5

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 8PM / JUPITER!

APRIL 13 CONCERT SPONSOR MEDIA SPONSOR

Winner of 8 ACADEMY AWARDS (including Best Picture)

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 8PM THE GREAT REQUIEM

vancouversymphony.ca VSO CUSTOMER SERVICE 604.876.3434 February 12 - 18, 2015 W 11

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FILM & TV

Hot Schitt BC comedienne Jenn Robertson plays with legends on CBC’s comedy hit Sabrina Furminger Reel People @Sabrinarmf

Sorry, guys, but it’s impossible to write about Schitt’s Creek without at least one pun. Here’s mine: Schitt’s Creek actress Jenn Roberston knows the good shit when she sees it. Lame, I know. But the fact remains that, when the Vancouver-raised comedienne auditioned for the sideways TV series about a video store magnate (Johnny Rose, played by Eugene Levy) who moves his suddenly penniless family to a backwoods town called Schitt’s Creek, she knew it was hot shit (okay, one more). It wasn’t just the cheeky title, or the ﬁsh-out-of-water premise about the Rose family – the fallen tycoon dad; the ex-soap star mom; the socialite daughter; the neurotic, hyper-groomed son – struggling to build new lives in the one asset they still own: the town that Johnny bought as a joke in the ’90s. It’s all of those elements, plus razor-sharp writing reminiscent of Arrested Development and Christopher Guest ﬁlms, and a stellar cast that – aside from Levy and Robertson – includes Catherine O’Hara, Dan Levy, Annie Murphy, and Chris Elliott.

Elliott plays Mayor Roland Schitt, grandson of the late Horace Schitt (say both names out loud for the full effect); Robertson is Jocelyn, Roland’s kind-hearted wife with a penchant for cheese fondue and kitten sweatshirts. “We were joking one day that my maiden name was Brown and that’s why I decided not to hyphenate, because I would be Jocelyn Brown-Schitt,” says Robertson one rainy afternoon in Benny’s Bagels (an old haunt of Robertson’s from back when she lived in Kits). Since premiering on Jan. 14, Schitt’s Creek has logged incredible numbers for the CBC: 1.36 million viewers for the first episode, and 1.37 million total viewers for the second. The show is so much more than the title. “There are so many parts where you’re trying to sandwich who you are into it, and I tend to get into an actor-y voice if it’s not right, but Jocelyn just felt very natural in my voice,” says Robertson. “It’s like fast food versus fine dining, and these feel like fine dining laughs.” Robertson’s got her first taste of the biz on the Double Exposure radio show, which starred her dad, Bob Robertson. She studied drama all the way through her teens, but it wasn’t until she was in theatre school that she realized that comedy was her genre. “I ruined Othello,” recalls Robertson. “I tried to make it funny. It’s not a comedy, apparently.” There are plenty of ways to make people laugh, and Robertson has attempted many of them: stand-up;

Jenn Robertson (on left) with Canadian comedy legend Catherine O’Hara in Schitt’s Creek. Contributed photo guest stints on Mr. D, Comedy Inc., Little Mosque on the Prairie, and Hannah Montana; as a writer on This Hour Has 22 Minutes; as host of Canada’s Handyman Challenge; as an anchorwoman on the Fox News Channel satire show The 1/2 Hour News Hour. That last show – the rightleaning network’s answer to The Daily Show – was originally touted as politically in the middle. “As the show started going, I realized I was smack dab in the middle of a Republican comedy show, and personally I could not be further from that,” says Robertson.

Guests included Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. At times, Robertson refused to read jokes off of the prompter because she felt they were racist. “It was so soul crushing,” she recalls. “I was okay that, after 13 episodes, it didn’t get picked up.” Schitt’s Creek is far happier territory for Robertson. One primary source of joy: working with O’Hara. “Female comedians feel very strongly about Catherine O’Hara and about how incredibly brilliant she is,” gushes Robertson. “She works really, really hard. Everyone else will be happy with the take, and she’ll say,

‘I need to go again, I’m not happy with it.’” The show is also heavy with Levys: Eugene and his son, Dan, write and star (daughter Sara appears in a supporting role). The duo also serves as executive producers. “Every now and then, there will be a word that doesn’t feel right, so you can go and talk to one of them, and then the eyebrows will go, ‘okay, alright, we’ll think of something else,’” says Robertson. “They’re both eyebrows. Just ﬁnd the pair of eyebrows that’s in charge and they’ll help you ﬁnd the right line for your character.” Robertson currently

resides in California with her husband and four-yearold daughter, but she’ll be back in Schitt’s Creek (or at least its stand-in, a town in Ontario called – I shit you not – Goodwood) come midApril, when cameras roll on season two. “[The CBC is] taking some risks, and they’re paying off,” says Robertson. “I hope that means they can do more shows that are outside of the box.” W Schitt’s Creek airs Tuesdays at 9pm on CBC. CBC.ca/SchittsCreek/ @SchittsCreek

The Sandwich Nazi goes to Texas ROBERT MANGELSDORF @robmangelsdorf

A trio of Vancouver filmmakers are taking their documentary about one of the city’s most intriguing characters on the road next month, after being selected for the prestigious South By Southwest Film showcase. The Sandwich Nazi tells the story of Salam Kahil, owner of La Charcuterie Deli in the Port Kells neigbourhood of Surrey, and will get its world premiere at the legendary music and arts festival in Austin, Texas. “We’re excited, for sure,” says director Lewis Bennett. “[SXSW] is a great showcase for independent films… I think it will be a good fit.” Bennett’s documentary focuses on Kahil, who has

become somewhat of a local celebrity for serving up infamously large sandwiches with a generous side of crude humour and verbal abuse. When he’s not swearing at his customers or publicly exposing himself, Kahil can be found in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, where, once a month, he packs up more than 500 bagged lunches to distribute to the homeless and downtrodden residents there. The documentary started out as one of a series of short ﬁlms Bennett made in 2012 about local quirky personalities. “The ﬁrst time I went into the deli, he immediately started giving me shit,” says Bennett. “He asked if I was an undercover cop, do I like guys, and he started telling me about his penis.

12 W February 12 - 18, 2015

I couldn’t believe the stuff that was coming out of his mouth, especially in front of these little Scandinavian ladies.” But as Bennett got to know Kahil, he soon discovered there was more to his story than big sandwiches and a dirty mouth. After leaving his native Lebanon in the late ‘70s, Kahil lived in Saudi Arabia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Spain, and Cypress, before arriving in Canada in 1985. In addition to being an amateur painter, art collector, nude organist, and a mechanical engineer, Kahil is frank about his past as a male prostitute, and as a victim of repeated physical and sexual abuse in his youth in Lebanon. “At ﬁrst I was drawn in by the comedy, but there’s layers upon layers to his

story,” says Bennett. “And the more we looked into his life, we realized that most everything he said was true, in one way or another.” Bennett, along with producers Calum MacLeod and Benjamin Taft, have been working feverishly to finish the film, which just finished shooting just a few months ago, in time for the festival. “We all work full-time, so there’s no weekends and evenings for anyone right now,” says Bennett. “We’re all super exhausted, but it will be worth it months from now.” The film was totally independently made, and other than $10,000 raised through a crowdsourcing campaign, was financed by the filmmakers themselves. Bennett says he hopes to take the documentary

Salam Kahil is the focus of Lewis Bennett’s documentary, The Sandwich Nazi, which will make its world premeire at SXSW Film next month. Benjamin Taft photo to other independent ﬁlm festivals, and hopefully land a distribution deal in the future. “We’re going to bring Sal down with us to Austin,” says Bennett. “He says he’s

going to buy cowboy boots and a cowboy hat. I suspect he’ll be the centre of attention.” W • For more info on the The Sandwich Nazi, visit TheSandwichNazi.com

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Wachowskis’ latest is one hot mess JUPITER ASCENDING

Starring Channing Tatum, Mila Kunis Directed by The Wachowskis

Call it a cosmic conundrum. On the one hand, you’ve got to credit the ambitious directing duo of Andy and Lana Wachowski for attempting a grand scale sci-ﬁ epic that isn’t a sequel or based on an existing franchise. On the ﬂip side, they’ve managed to craft something so derivative and laughably wacky in Jupiter Ascending that it’s instantly forgettable. Bored with her humdrum life of cleaning toilets with her overbearing Russian mother, Jupiter Jones (Kunis) turns out to posses a unique genetic signature that makes her the sole heir to, you guessed it, planet earth. This makes her a valuable target for a positively awful Eddie Redmayne, (up for an Oscar this year in The Theory of

WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS

Be it courtesy of your parents or yourself, you’ve undoubtedly noticed how one’s peculiarities grow more pronounced with age. Imagine then how accentuated those idiosyncrasies might be after a couple of centuries on Earth. Passive aggression run amok and incessant pageantry are but two of the comic crosses that undead ﬂatmates must bear in this unexpectedly riotous mockumentary from Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement. Whereas Jim Jarmusch’s exquisite Only Lovers Left Alive depicted how eternal life might eventually drain vampire of their joie de vivre, Shadows examines how it might also bleed them of every ounce of mystique. When we catch up with preening Vladislav (Clement), effete Viago (Waititi) and 183-year-old “bad boy” Deacon (Jonathan Brugh) in

their dilapidated Wellington mansion, they’re bickering over chores and living in (im)mortal fear of their Nosferatu-like, 8,000-yearold elder Petyr (Ben Fransham). What follows isn’t so much a plot as a progression of ingeniously conceived set pieces that savagely lampoon various aspects of the vampire mythos. For instance: Given that vampires have no reﬂection, how can they possibly decide what to wear to the club? Why, by relying on their friends’ crude drawings of their ensembles of course. Admittedly, this sounds like fodder for a couple of decent Funny or Die clips at best. However, the cast possesses such evident affection for their impotent bloodsuckers and such an innate sense of how best to stage their inept exploits for maximum uproarious effect – see:Waititi daintily spreading newspaper under a soon-to-be victim – that Shadows entices you to invite it into the darkest recesses of your heart and then never once threatens to overstay its welcome. W – CurtisWoloschuk

Channing Tatum and Mila Kunis star in Jupiter Ascending PHOTO BY: RICH WHEATER | DESIGN BY: ANNA SOBIENIAK

Starring Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, Jonathan Brugh Directed by Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi

Everything) who mostly speaks in malicious whispers and threatens to harvest the entire planet before he lets her take control of it. Channing Tatum, who happens to be part dog, miraculously saves Jupiter, promptly whisks her off terra ﬁrma and the chase is on. The rest of the plot is so convoluted it’s not worth mentioning but Sean Bean, who is part-bee, shows up and there are some vaguely amusing ﬂying dinosaurs that talk like gruff British professors. To be fair, Jupiter Ascending does feature plenty of spectacular effects and chase sequences, some stunning costume design and a rousing musical score from Michael Giacchino. Sadly, these bright spots can’t transform this bloated mess into something original and the future of the once exciting directing duo looks in desperate need of a reboot. W – Thor Diakow

FEBRUARY 13TH - 21ST 2015 Jemaine Clement

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WHAT’S ON Th/12

Fr/13

Elliot Brood, Feb. 13

Sa/14

Su/15

Mo/16

MUSIC

WHAT IS THIS THING CALLED LOVE The Borealis String Quartet invites you to a musical celebration featuring the divinely romantic music of Cole Porter in one of the most stunning historic mansions in Vancouver. 8pm at Hycroft Manor. Tickets $50 at BrownPaperTickets.com

STRIP THE SILENCE Modern hard rock band out of Vancouver appear with special guests Fey, Boomstick Lane and The Dead Zones. 7:30pm at Media Club. Tickets $10 at Ticketmaster.ca

ANTI-VALENTINE’S DAY METAL MASSACRE Celebrate the slaughter of socialized romance with an evening of some of Vancouver’s best local death metal featuring id., Unbeheld, Harvest the Infection and Baryon. 8pm at Funky Winker Beans. Tickets $10 at the door only.

TERRI LYNE CARRINGTON AND CECILE MCLORIN SALVANT This electrifying co-bill features the top female artists of the jazz world today. 7pm at Chan Shun Concert Hall UBC. Tickets at ChanCentre. com

CAGE AND SADISTIK American hip-hop recording artists appear with special guests Evil Ebeneezer, Animal Nation and Gorgeous Geordie. 8pm at Venue. Tickets at Beat Street, Zulu, Red Cat and BPLive.ca

BEN CAPLAN Halifax folk-roots singer-songwriter warms up for the release his upcoming studio record with an exclusive west coast show with guests The Tourist Company. 8pm at Fox Cabaret. Tickets $13 at Zulu, Red Cat and NorthernTickets.com BILLY IDOL Legendary rocker tours in support of his long awaited new album with special guests Broncho. 8pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets at Ticketmaster.ca LUCINDA WILLIAMS American rock, folk, blues and country singer-songwriter on tour in support of her latest release Down Where The Spirit Meets The Bone. 8pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets at NorthernTickets.com

COMEDY NORTHWEST COMEDY FEST Some of the biggest names in comedy assemble for this all-star week of comedy that includes a tribute to Robin Williams, and an evening of comedy shorts. Various Vancouver venues. Tickets at NorthWestComedyFest.com. Runs until Feb. 21.

THEATRE/DANCE THE MOUNTAINTOP Dr. Martin Luther King’s last night on earth in a Memphis hotel is reimagined in this lively drama that looks both to the past and the present. 8pm at Granville Island Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Opening performance, runs until March 14.

ART HOME IS LOVE Local artist Jazmin Sasky asked fifty single mothers, what does it take to make a home? The result is this heartfelt exhibit, a window into tales of hardship, hope, love and inspiration. Opening reception 6-9pm at WestSide Grand Gallery. Runs until Feb. 15.

ANNIE BECKER Montreal soul pop songstress Becker appears with special guest Adam Farnsworth. 8pm at Skinny Fat Jack’s. ELLIOT BROOD Canadian altcountry trio tours in support of their latest release Work and Love, with guests Wilderness. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $20 at CommodoreBallroom.com LE VENT DU NORD One of Canada’s best loved folk outfits returns to the Rogue for a night of dance music, Quebecois style. 8pm at St. James Hall. Tickets $24 at RogueFolk.bc.ca PIRATE FEST 2015 A night of pirate/folk/celtic inspired metal headlined by Scottish pirate metal band Alestorm with guests Swashbuckle, The Dead Crew of Oddwood and Crackwhore. 7pm at Rickshaw Theatre. Tickets $20 at TicketWeb.ca

NTU/SKWATTA International renowned South African choreographer Vincent Mantsoe combines traditional and contemporary dance reflecting the poverty stricken life in SA’s squatter camps. 8pm at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre. com. Runs until Feb. 14. LOVE LETTERS A fifty year correspondence between a woman and her childhood-friend-turned-loveinterest is the story behind AR Gurney’s play, a Pulitizer Prize finalist performed in theatre spaces worldwide. 8pm at The Shop (125 E. 2nd). Tickets at EventBrite.ca. Runs until Feb. 14.

COMEDY

ART

ALI WONG LA comedian known for appearing on @Midnight, Inside Amy Schumer and Black Box, appearing as part of the NorthWest Comedy Fest. 7 & 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Tickets $19 at NorthWestComedyFest.com

HOME IS LOVE Local artist Jazmin Sasky asked fifty single mothers, what does it take to make a home? The result is this heartfelt exhibit, a window into tales of hardship, hope, love and inspiration. Opening reception 6-9pm at WestSide Grand Gallery. Runs until Feb. 15.

NORTHWEST COMEDY FEST Some of the biggest names in comedy assemble for this all-star week of comedy that includes a tribute to Robin Williams, and an evening of comedy shorts. Various Vancouver venues. Tickets at NorthWestComedyFest.com. Runs until Feb. 21.

THEATRE/DANCE SMALL STAGE POINT 5: THE VALENTINE’S EDITION Five illustrious local musicians pair with five renowned Vancouver dancers in an ‘anything goes’ evening featuring an exciting line-up of diverse artistic styles. 8pm at The Emerald. Tickets $20 show only or $45 with dinner at EventBrite.ca. Runs until Feb. 15.

EVENTS THE WELLNESS SHOW A marketplace offering wellness-related products and services including an organic-market section, celebrity cooking stage, cheese seminars, and a kid’s activity area. Runs until Feb 14. Tickets at TheWellnessShow.com

CHEAP & FUN MAGEE MARKET FAIR A family friendly event benefiting the Magee Secondary School’s music department featuring jazz bands, international foods, over 40 merchants and a photo booth! 5:30-9:30pm at Magee Secondary School. Admission is $2.

BEN HOWARD English singersongwriter on tour to support his latest release I Forget Where We Were 7:30pm at Thunderbird Stadium. Tickets $39.50 at LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.ca BE MY EAST VAN VALENTINE A hot steamy night of sex comedy, swingin’ jazz, cabaret and garage rock soul with Jazzmanian Devils, The Wet Spots, Cass King & the Next Right Thing, hosted by Shirley Gnome. 8pm at Wise Hall. Tickets $20 at the door.

COMEDY ALI WONG LA comedian known for appearing on @Midnight, Inside Amy Schumer and Black Box, appearing as part of the NorthWest Comedy Fest. 7 & 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Tickets $19 at NorthWestComedyFest.com

EVENTS “TREAT YOURSELF” DISTILLERY TOUR Visit three local craft distilleries to sip on spirits, get a behindthe-scenes look and lovely bites to eat with a special stop at Mancakes Bakery for some booze inspired cupcakes. Transportation provided in the “culinary cruiser”. 3-6pm at The Liberty Distillery. Tickets $75 at OffTheEatenTrackTours.ca 8TH ANNUAL VALENTINES COUPLES MASSAGE WORKSHOP Take your loved one, friend of family member to learn some easy and practical massage techniques upon each other in this threehour workshop. 7-10pm at Angel Hands integrative Centre. Tickets/ registration at AngelHands.ca

CHEAP & FUN AN AFTERNOON OF BIG BAND JAZZ Enjoy an afternoon of jazz performed by Urbana, an 18 piece big band directed by renowned local jazz musician Robin Schier. 3-4:30pm at the Alice MacKay Room (VPL). Admission is free.

ASAF AVIDAN International singer-songwriter tours in support of second solo release Gold Shadow. 8pm at The Imperial. Tickets $25 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca FINCKEL, HAN, SETZER PIANO TRIO Today’s leading chamber musicians play Beethoven’s early Opus 1 No. 1 and Opus 1 No. 3 plus Brahms’ great romantic Trio in B, Opus 8. 3pm at Vancouver Playhouse. Tickets at FriendsOfChamberMusic.ca HOZIER Irish indie-rock singersongwriter on tour in support of his self-titled release. 7:30pm at Orpheum Theatre. Tickets $35 at StubHub.com THE FRETLESS BC based band taking string music to fascinating places with the unique sounds of transforming fiddle and folk meldoies into intricate, beautiful, high energy arrangements. 7pm at St. James Hall. Tickets $20 at RogueFolk.bc.ca

THEATRE/DANCE PRIVATE LIVES Divorced couple Elyot and Amanda, each happily remarried, find themselves in adjacent hotel rooms on their respective honeymoons in France and when the two couples meet, the atmosphere begins to crackle. 2pm at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets at JerichoArtsCentre.com. Closing performance. AFROVIBRAS PERU AND SAMBA FUSION Expanding the scope of discussion around Black History Month, the February edition of Dance Allsorts presents a mixed program of Afro-Peruvian and Afro-Brazilian dance tradition from two of Vancouver’s leading dance collectives. 2pm at CBC Studio 700. Tickets $15 at EventBrite.ca

THEATRE/DANCE NO STRINGS ATTACHED The classic tale of the world’s most famous puppet and his adventures is unabashedly turned on its pointed nose in this rousing and innovative collaboration, the adulteration of Pinocchio. 8:15pm at Studio 58 (SU32 Langara College). Admission by donation. THE MOUNTAINTOP Dr. Martin Luther King’s last night on earth in a Memphis hotel is reimagined in this lively drama that looks both to the past and the present. 8pm at Granville Island Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until March 14.

COMEDY THE LAUGH GALLERY WITH GRAHAM CLARK Legendary weekly stand up show of East Vancouver’s biggest and brightest comics. 9pm at Havana Theatre. Tickets $5 at Eventbrite.ca RICHARD PRYOR TRIBUTE Screening of the stand up comedian’s December 1978 gig in Long Beach, California proceeded by a half hour set by Vancouver comic Dino Archie. 8:30pm at VanCity Theatre. Tickets $15 at Tickets. Viff.org

CHEAP & FUN FLIGHT OF THE DRAGON Soar over China’s spectacular cities and vistas in this breathtaking, must-see simulation ride, then take off again for an iconic flight over Canada. Runs until March 5 at Canada Place. Tickets at FlyOverCanada.com

Sadistik, Feb. 16

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604.899.0803 | 1.866.759.6006 www.ashtoncollege.com Ashton College

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WHAT’S ON E XC E P T I O N A L I TA L I A N C U I S I N E

Tu/17

We/18

Th/19

MUSIC

COMEDY

MUSIC

JULIE DOIRON Canadian singersongwriter tours in support of her upcoming release with special guests Jon Mckiel and Knife Pleats. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $10 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca

CRAIG FERGUSON Scottish author and comedian known for hosting The Late Show comes to town as part of NorthWest Comedy Fest. 7pm at The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts. Tickets at NorthWestComedyFest.com

BEBEL GILBERTO Brazilian Latin pop vocalist tours in support of her latest release, Tudo. 8pm at The Imperial. Tickets $30 at TicketWeb.ca

NAPALM DEATH AND VOIVOD Co-headlining bill features British grindcore/death-metal act and Canadian metal band, with special guests Exhumed, Iron Reagan, Black Crown Initiate and Dayglo Abortions. 7pm at Rickshaw Theatre. Tickets $32 at Neptoon Records, RickshawTheatre.com and NorthernTickets.com

HANNIBAL BURESS American comedian, actor, writer, musician and magician performs on The Comedy Casino Tour, as part of NorthWest Comedy Fest. 7:30pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $29.50 at VogueTheatre.com

COMEDY IMPROV AGAINST HUMANITY: LIVE AT THE VOGUE Bigger laughs, and a larger room to accommodate the growing audience for this live action version of Cards Against Humanity. 8pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets at NorthernTickets.com

THEATRE/DANCE ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS A side-splitting update of the Italian comedy The Servant of Two Masters, this unique blend of satire, songs, slapstick and sparkling wit set in 1963 Brighton sees our hapless hero Francis Henshall juggle two jobs and two bosses. 7:30pm at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com

ART MAINSTREETERS: TAKING ADVANTAGE, 1972-1982 A coming of age multi-faceted project that looks at a self-identified collective of socially and artistically motivated men and women who took advantage of a new medium (video) and of each other. 12-6pm Satellite Gallery. Runs until March 14.

EVENTS DINER EN PLAID Ringing in Festival du Bois, this dinner celebrates all things traditional with French Canadian food, live music by Alouest and a specially brewed craft beer (Yellow Dog) for the occasion. 6:30pm, location revealed upon ticket purchase at EventBrite.ca

THEATRE/DANCE MIGRANT BODIES PROJECT A public sharing of work developed by dance artists from Vancouver, Montreal, France, Italy and Croatia aiming to use artistic and cultural tools to open up a civil reflection on migration in European and Canadian cities. 5-6:30pm at Scotiabank Dance Centre. Tickets at TheDanceCentre.ca ONE MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY Charles Ross is back by popular demand with his Fringe hit one man show, performing not only the dialogue of Lucas’ movies, but the theme music, sound effects and BOTH sides of the lightsaber battle. 8pm at Performance Works. Tickets at VancouverFringe.com. Runs until Feb. 19.

EVENTS CESNA?EM, THE CITY BEFORE THE CITY Musqueam First Nation, MOA and MOV partner on a transformative journey to explore ancient landscape and living culture right under Vancouver’s nose in a series of three unified exhibitions. Musqueam Cultural Education Centre and Gallery. Runs until Dec. 30.

CHEAP & FUN ASH WEDNESDAY ELECTRONICA Contemplative Liturgy Enter into your spiritual journey of the season of Lent by participating in this reflective and interactive electronic liturgy, much more BPM than your average Ash Wednesday service. 7-8:30pm at Vancouver Eastside Vineyard Church at St. David’s. Admission is free.

Bebel Gilberto, Feb. 19

Every Thursday, Friday & Saturday starting February 12th, 2015. Come and hear some of the finest Jazz musicians in the country.

THEATRE/DANCE

FEATURING:

BALANCHINE For the first time ever, Ballet BC is delighted to bring Vancouver audiences Miami City Ballet in an evening of masterworks by Balanchine representing different periods in his career including Serenade, Symphony in Three Movements and Ballo della Regina. 8pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets at Ticketmaster.ca. Runs until Feb. 21.

Feb 19 - 21 Steve Kaldestad

March 12 - 14 Mike Allen Trio

Feb 26 - 28 Cam Ryga Trio

March 19 - 21 Jodi Proznick Trio

1/2 PASTA PRICE

SUNDAYS

RESERVE TODAY! 860 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1X9

TALKING STICK FESTIVAL Discover the work of Aboriginal arts and artists at the 14th annual festival presented by Full Circle First Nations Performance at various venues throughout the city celebrating aboriginal culture and showcasing new evolving work of today’s contemporary artists. Tickets at FullCircle.ca. Runs until March 1.

(Across the street from the Sutton Place Hotel)

T: 604 685 7770 | francescos.com

CHINESE NEW YEAR

CHEAP & FUN

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Hearty & Healthy with the Mediterranean Menu

March 5 - 7 Cory Weeds Quartet

Don’t forget to visit us for

EVENTS

BC HOME & GARDEN SHOW The most trusted resource for every home improvement project, inside and out with expert insights from local and internationally celebrated home, horticulture and landscaping specialists. 12-9pm at BC Place. Tickets $5-$15 at BCHomeAndGardenShow.com.

Feb 12 - 14 Olly Gannon Trio

$10 COVER CHARGE - FREE COVER CHARGE WITH DINNER

15TH ANNUAL CHUTZPAH! FESTIVAL Awe-inspiring dance, insightful theatre, first-rate hilarious comedy and engaging music highlight this year’s festival with world class performances and workshops by international, local and Canadian artists. Runs until March 15 at the Norman Rothstein Theatre and various venues. Tickets at ChutzpahFestival.com

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Join us for

WITH THE VANCOUVER SYMPHONY!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 7:30PM Orpheum Theatre ZHENG LU Good News from Beijing LI BO The Tale of Matou Qin*

ZHAO JIPING Pipa Concerto~ XIAN The Yellow River Piano Concerto+

Perry So conductor Guilian Liu pipa~

Li Bo horse hair lute* Claire Huangci piano+

A very special concert celebrating the Lunar New Year, and the Year of the Sheep. Join the VSO and conductor Perry So for an exciting concert featuring Zheng Lu’s Good News from Beijing, Xian’s famous Yellow River Concerto, and much more.

Sunday, February 15, 3:00-5:00pm at Choices Annex, 2615 W 16th Avenue • 604.736.0009 Sunday, February 22, 3:00-5:00pm at Choices South Surrey, 3248 King George Blvd. • 604.541.3902 Cost $20 each Achieve better heart health, boost brain health and trim your waistline by getting on the Mediterranean diet train. Choices’Chef Antonio and our expert team of dietitians and nutritionists are hosting a food demonstration and seminar focused on the centuries-old Mediterranean diet. Find out the foundation of this diet, taste samples of foods prepared by Chef Antonio, take home recipes and meal ideas and learn handy tips for healthy living from our dietitians and nutritionists. Register online or call the phone numbers listed above.

PERRY SO MEDIA SPONSOR

TICKETS ONLINE

CLAIRE HUANGCI

GUILIAN LIU

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MUSIC

Local love: A Valentine’s Day playlist

LOUISE BURNS @_louiseburns_

In 1999, Nick Cave gave a lecture to the Vienna Poetry Festival called “The Secret Life of the Love Song.” Not one to shy from the darkness, he explores the underlying saudade, a Portuguese word meaning a deep sense of longing or yearning, and that the only true love songs contain “the potential for pain.” Deep, man. With that in mind, we asked some of Vancouver’s most emotionally diverse musicians to create a Valentine’s Day playlist, because the love song does not always mean happy, or sad, or crazy or mad. It’s just a feeling that you can’t quite put in to words, and for that reason music exists. Happy loving (or unloving), xo.

HANNAH GEORGAS

“Lady in Red” by Chris de Burgh I can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy when I hear this song. It’s also my mom’s favourite song of all time. [It] makes her sway from side to side with a big grin on her face. It’s an endearing and hilarious sight to see.

ANDREA LO (THE BELLE GAME)

“Nancy From Now On” by Father John Misty It may not be a song ﬁlled with crooning, starry-eyed vocals, but there is something to be said about the ﬁrst 16 words... “Oh, pour me another drink, and punch me in the face, you can call me Nancy”. That must be love, to be able to willingly subject yourself to someone in that manner. And if that’s not love, then it must be some close derivative. It’s kinda romantic. If you’re into that. Safe word is: applesauce.

KRISTA LOEWEN (YOU SAY PARTY!)

“Punk Rock Girl” by The Dead Milkmen I ﬁrst heard this song on a mixtape from a cute skaterpunk boy I liked when I was 15, and I thought we would be happily-punk-ever-after. It’s impossible to listen to this song without feeling a little bit giddy. This song is a tribute that exhilarating feeling, where love is pure fun and everything is possible!

JOHNNY DECOURCY

“Right Down the Line” by Gerry Rafferty My friend Mikey played it for me two months ago while we were driving to Montréal. We must have listened to it 50 times that week. It was “our song”, and then I fell madly in love with his psycho cousin. The groove is undeniable…it’s pretty good.

YOUNG BRAISED

“Something (On My Mind)” by Jack J Vancouver producer Jack J’s “Something (On My Mind)” will always hold a special place in my heart. [It is] one of the very first songs that my fiancée and I had the pleasure of dancing to together. Our inaugural encounter with “Something” was made extra special by the presence of and, if I recall correctly, heckling from our friend Jack himself. The track was nearly inescapable for us that summer, and eventually became synonymous with our relationship; its horns beckoning us closer together and deeper into the dancefloor no matter where we found it. Though the song itself isn’t explicitly about love,YouTube member Yeknom0913 may have said it best with their comment that it “sounds like love.”

SHAD

“Heart of the Matter” by Don Henley Pride and competition cannot ﬁll these empty arms! Forgiveness! That’s love right there. Healing! Reconciliation... This song makes me want to confront all my ill will towards The Eagles for torturing me with Hotel California on the radio so many damn times in my life. I forgive

REVIEWS // FATHER JOHN MISTY

I Love You, Honeybear (Sub Pop)

JoshTillman has com e a long way. In seven years, he has gone from earnest-intellectual folkie (J.Tillman) to Fleet Foxes drummer to bona ﬁde hipster sex symbol. With I LoveYou, Honeybear, he continues his growth as an artist and human being. But be warned, this is not the companion piece to his 2012 smashing debut Fear Fun. This is an introspective, raw and humorous look inside the life of Misty where there are no starry metaphors, nor esoteric symbolism. In fact, Tillman has single handedly made

of desperation, where, if the answer is no then things are probably not going to be OK. Prince’s performance in this song blows me away.

one the most confessional singer-songwriter records of the past decade. On “The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apartment”, he aims his lyrical arrow at the heart of some bright-eyed grammatically challenged starlet, singing, “She says like literally music is the air she breathes, and the malaprops make me wanna fucking scream.” Ouch. In more tender moments,

16 W February 12 - 18, 2015

ANDREW LEE (HOLY HUM) you, Don Henley... I love you.

JODY GLENHAM

“Don’t Worry Baby” by The Beach Boys From it’s sunshine inducing lilt to it’s auto racing references, “Don’t Worry Baby” has all the elements of a great love song. The refrain is reassuring not just towards love, but life as well, all while being capped off with delightful call-and-response vocals. And the guitar solo that sounds like a heartbeat is just brilliant!!

AMBER WEBBER (BLACK MOUNTAIN, LIGHTNING DUST)

“Because The Night” by Patti Smith Maybe it’s because I finally got around to reading Just Kids and I’m having my own little love affair with everything Patti Smith at the moment, but this song tears my heart apart. It was originally a Bruce Springsteen song which he gave to Patti to rework; she rewrote the verse lyrics, but kept the chorus line “Because the Night”.The story I’ve heard her tell is she wrote the lyrics after she first laid eyes he croons, “I brought my mother’s depression, you’ve got your father’s scorn and a wayward aunt’s schizophrenia. But everything is fine, don’t give in to despair, ‘cause I love you, Honeybear.” Ain’t love sweet? Working with producer Jonathan Wilson, he creates a Newman-meets-Nilsson soundscape with the swagger of John Lennon and a Jodorowsky philosophical edge. But what really makes this record special is when Tillman breaks down his most guarded, self-aware layers and tells it like it is. Life is weird, he’s in love, and no, “Nothing Ever Happens At The Goddamn Thirsty Crow”. – Louise Burns Rating:

★★★★★

on what would be her future husband... awww... But what gets me the most about this song is the urgent passion with which she sings every word! It’s a beautiful thing when a song can place you in a moment in time, and what better time is there then when you’re falling in love, right?

KENNETH WILLIAM (WHITE LUNG)

“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush Struggling to ﬁnd the most romantic way to win back your partner’s affection this Valentine’s Day? Skip the fancy dinner reservation; take Kate Bush’s suggestion and trade bodies. Who knows? You might even gain some insight into the way your selﬁsh behaviour affects the people around you. Insisting that “you and me won’t be unhappy” might not seem like the most ambitious goal for a relationship, but when half of marriages end in a brutal divorce its understandable for her to not have her sights set too high. But hey, nothing good in life comes easy. “Running Up That Hill” makes the case that love might some-

times probably be worth it.

THE COURTNEYS

Sydney: “Pure Unevil” by Liars It’s written by band member Aaron Hemphill, who is a musician that I admire so much; his songs are really graceful and inventive. “Pure Unevil” creates a really speciﬁc atmosphere that I can completely relate to, it feels really overwhelming and romantic. Jen: “Space Age Love Song” by Flock of Seagulls One of the love songs that still affects me the same way it did the day I heard it. Pretty much all my favorite love songs are from the ‘80s. I think there must be something about synthpop that pulls at my heartstrings – they really know what they are doing. Songs like this are on repeat when I’m crushing! Courtney: “The Beautiful Ones” by Prince This song starts out pretty calm, about wanting someone and needing to know if your feelings are mutual, but then around 3.5 minutes he just starts shrieking and everything goes to this place

TWIN RIVER

Should the Light Go Out (Light Organ Records) Twin River have really taken it up a notch. Gone are the days of melancholic folk rock, heard on their 2012 debut Rough Gold. With the help of producers Colin Stewart (Black Mountain, Dan Mangan) and Darcy Hancock of Ladyhawk, Should The Light Go Out is a conﬁdent leap forward into punk, dream pop and country, summoning images of The Cowboy Junkies, backed by The Cure and The Cramps. It all begins with “Bend To Break” a high-speedassault from rhythm section Dustin Bromley (drums) and Malcolm Biddle (bass)

that hits you like a rogue wave, enhanced with distortion, chorus and twang, all courtesy of guitarist Andrew Bishop (White Ash Falls). Courtney Bromley’s rebel yell summons the spirit of Neko Case while keyboardist/vocalist Rebecca Gray paints it all gold with her otherworldly harmonies, reminiscent of The Shangri-Las. Two songs later, it’s

“Song To Siren” by This Mortal Coil “Song To Siren” is an ambient-love-song-ballad that I want played at my funeral. It has an otherworldly gaelic vocal delivery by Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, over the top dramatic Shakespearean lyrics by Larry Beckett and it was recorded by the concept band This Mortal Coil which is led by 4AD mastermind Ivo WattsRussell.The song casts a long dark shadow over the original Tim Buckley version and will leave you feeling all the weight of unrequited love, cast into the ocean by the long gaze of the brokenhearted.

TONY DUBROY (NEEDLES//PINS)

“Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak Is Chris Isaak cool? I’m not sure it really matters, but if I recall his TV show correctly the answer is no, not really. Regardless, this song is excellent and falls into the best category of love songs, unrequited. I would have picked “Skulls” by The Misﬁts but I didn’t want to look like a complete psycho. W • Visit Westender.com to listen to the entire playlist!

all glowing synthesizers provided by Gray, giving the Badalamenti treatment to back C Bromley’s song of heartache, “He’s Not Real and He Ain’t Coming Back”. Immediately after, we are back up the tempo stream with “Get Gone” and the Bishop-led “Anything Good”. They never stay anywhere for too long, but always sound coherent. It is this perfect accumulation of inﬂuences and a focus on songwriting that make Should the Light Go Out so appealing. They’ve somehow made an upbeat indie rock album that even sad bastards can get down with. – Louise Burns Rating:

★★★★★ Westender.com

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HEALTH

Zen and the art of mindful eating Patty Javier Gomez Whole Nourishment

@WholeNourishBC

I can recall a time in my life where food to me was just something I shoved in my face. I have scarfed down my share of packets of Mr. Noodles in my day (raw and cooked) and lived off Sidekicks covered in hot sauce from the dollar store because at the time getting a six-pack of PBR was more important. Not to mention 7-Eleven fried chicken and nachos with that delicious fake liquid cheese that is like a molecule away from being plastic.

These were staples in my diet about 12 years ago. If I were to eat any of those items these days, I would be camped out in the bathroom for about a week. Now if this is in your diet on the regular there is no shame, because shame and guilt and any other negative emotion should never be associated when it comes to food. But hopefully you are willing to make some changes. This is how we start getting into the habit of unhealthy relationships towards food, and our bodies. February is National Eating Disorder Month, a topic which is very important and very disheartening. The unrealistic expectations of the ideal body and the

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things in life, this ease does not come overnight, and in some serious cases you I urge you to get support during your process from a professional who can help you become a mindful eating ninja! Now, mindful eating is not a diet, nor is it about giving up the things that you love. It’s about experiencing food more intensely, especially the pleasure of it. Here are some tools that can help you be more mindful and stay engaged with your food.

various weight loss ads that are constantly being fed are messing us up. It has, in fact, created an entire generation of little humans who no longer run because they are playing tag or hide and seek, but instead to work off that sandwich they just ate for lunch. I have actually heard a 13-year-old girl body-shaming herself because she ate three slices of pizza the night before. There is something seriously wrong with that picture. Being present and mindful when we eat can give us a different outlook and sense of connection when it comes to our relationship with food and our bodies. Mindful eating means paying attention to the whole experience: the smell, the texture, the taste and the ﬂavor. What are you feeling before, dur-

ing and after you eat? Do you feel hungry? Are you too full? Or just satisﬁed? Going through this thought process will change the way you interact with food. Try eating an apple with your eyes closed and free from distractions. Then try eating it while multitasking. It will actually taste different and you will notice how much more you enjoy it when you are fully in the moment and the apple is the experience. So how can this help when it comes to our brainwashed body dysmorphia? Well, we start noticing how eating affects our mood and can cause us to feel anxious. Gradually, over time, we get back the sense of freedom that we had back in childhood, which is actually our natural state. Like most wonderful

Sit down while you eat Don’t multitask during your meal, sit down and enjoy your food. And I don’t mean sitting in front of the TV, chewing in anticipation to see what happens to Ross and Rachel on Friends (They were on a break!!). I mean really sitting down at a table, taking a deep breath, and getting some

intimate time with your food. Make your meal feel special Get out the good china on a Tuesday night, make a gourmet meal (even if it’s just for yourself), sit at your table and make your mealtime feel special and fun.

Put your fork down between bites This helps you slow down and eat mindfully. It also lets you savor your bites a bit longer. Mindfully cook Try to enjoy the process, be present and don’t rush through it. Cooking can be a very big part of the mindful eating process, and of course and it is where you can make a connection with your food before it goes on the plate into your mouth. W

RECIPE // RAW ZUCCHINI PASTA WITH CILANTRO PESTO Ingredients 3 organic zucchini Cherry tomatoes Juice of 3 limes One bunch cilantro ½ cup cashews ½ cup olive oil Directions • With peeler, peel zucchini like you would a carrot (when you start to get to the core it will be harder to

peel, just save the core for future use) • Cut cherry tomatoes in half • Mix tomatoes and zucchini together in a bowl • Mix lime juice, cilantro, cashews and olive oil in a blender or food processor. If too thick, or not breaking down enough, add a bit more lime juice and/or olive oil • Pour pesto on zucchini and tomato mixture and mix together • Add sea salt and pepper to garnish

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Many would argue that Valentine’s Day is just another Hallmark holiday. It can be a stressful time of year with media pressure on both singles and couples as high expectations often come with little return. Don’t let it get the best of you. Face the monster. Lace up your hiking boots or runners, strap on your snowshoes, skis or boards and head for the hills. Set an intention this month to venture into unknown territory. Love is in the fresh air. Go get some! Mark Owen, president and founder of the international social club Events and Adventures doesn’t buy that Vancouver is a challenging city in which to ﬁnd love. “It’s not Vancouver itself,” he says. “It’s living north.

Fresh air does wonders for your libido. Contributed photo Weather is a big part of why people stay inside.” Vancouver is bursting with outdoorsy individuals, many of whom are looking for love. The solution to ﬁnding your kindred spirit is simple. Get outdoors, do what you love and nature will do the rest. Owens explains, “On a hike, rock climbing…when you are relaxed and having fun you are the most attrac-

tive to other people.” Besides, fresh air does wonders for your libido. A tip from Owens is to leave the wingman behind with one exception: skiing or snowboarding. Although the slopes offer singles lines, having a buddy with you on the mountain makes breaking the ice a little easier. Events and Adventures offers around 40 events in the

Vancouver area each month from house parties to skiing and hiking. Owens suggests Stanley Park as the number one outdoor location to meet other singles in Vancouver. According to a recent E-Harmony study, couples who meet in bars have the highest divorce rate. So don’t look for love in all the wrong places. Stick to sports and activities you enjoy. Word of caution: pretending to be outdoorsy as a ploy to meet a mountain man will backﬁre. Be yourself. Trails and slopes are obvious, why not shake it up. Browsing outdoor stores like MEC or Paciﬁc Boarder are a good bet or book a night in a local hostel and take a chance on meeting an international backpacker here for a good time, not a longtime. And what’s the number one piece of advice when looking for love, according to Owen? Put your cell phone away! W

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REAL ESTATE //

@WESTENDERVAN

Rob Joyce & Sales Associate Roger Ross

West End Specialists Nobody knows the West End better! MLS Diamond Master Medallion Award 2014

ing d n Pe r fe Of

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February 12 - 18, 2015 W 19

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REAL ESTATE

Real Estate Opens

West End

1740 Comox #1503 1 bdrm, $379,900, Sun 2-2:30

1501-212 Davie St 2 bdrms + den, $738,800, 21 Sat 1-3, Sun 2-4

1535 Nelson, 1 bdrm + office, $369,900, 20 Sat 1-3, Sun 2-4

Prices for Metro Vancouver homes continue to hit all-time high Detached home prices have risen 8.4 per cent year over year GLEN KORSTROM @GlenKorstrom

West End

Art Plan Speak up, get involved, be heard

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The benchmark Metro Vancouver home price inched up nearly 0.5 per cent to an all-time high of $641,600 during the month of January, the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) reported February 3. Compared with the previous January, the benchmark home price rose 5.5 per cent, the REBGV noted. Detached homes led the surge with the benchmark price for those properties rising 8.4 per cent year over year to $1.01 million. In contrast, the benchmark price for apartment units increased 2.5 per cent year over year to $382,800 while the price for attached homes increased 4.3 per cent year over year to $479,600.

“The Bank of Canada’s recent announcement to lower its benchmark interest rate is an important one for home buyers, sellers and owners to note,” said REBGV president Ray Harris. “A reduced rate could allow you to pay down your mortgage a little faster, save some money on your monthly payments or change the amount you qualify for.” Harris noted that, while demand remains steady, there are comparatively few homes for sale. That’s heightening competition among buyers, particularly for detached homes. “The number of detached homes listed for sale today is the second lowest we’ve seen in four years,” he said. New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 4,737 in January – an 11.4 per cent decline compared to the 5,345 new listings reported in January 2014. The sales-to-active-listings ratio has dipped a bit from a few months ago.The ratio,

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liz.carney@century21.ca • www.vancouvercondo.com Century 21 In Town Realty • 421 Pacific • 1030 Denman

which indicates the strength of the market, now sits at 17.7 per cent, indicating a balanced market.The ratio was 19.7 per cent in September. A balanced market exists when the ratio is between 13 per cent and about 21 per cent, Harris told BIV last year. Conventional real estate wisdom is that a market is considered to be a buyers’ market when the sales-toactive-listings ratio is below 13 per cent. It is considered a sellers’ market when the ratio is above 21 per cent for at least a few months, he added Finally, sales remain strong. Last month’s sales were 14.9 per cent above the 10-year sales average for the month. The 1,913 sales on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) in January 2015 represent an 8.7 per cent increase compared to the 1,760 sales recorded in January 2014 and a 9.6 per cent decline compared to the 2,116 sales in December 2014. W –Courtesy of Business in Vancouver

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DEXTER ASSOCIATES REALTY 604-689-8226 604-263-1144 Kevin Skipworth Managing Broker

Layla Bamford

Nicole Cannon

Jennifer Devlin

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1743 sq. ft. fab floorplan + 257 sf terrace • Sub-penthouse w/gorgeous Bay & mtn view • Stainless steel appliances and granite 2 - 9’ x 9’ ensuites w/ soaker tubs & sep shwr • Well-separated bedrooms both with ensuite • Rare - 2 side by side parking stalls Spacious 3rd bedroom for office or guests • Master with soaker tub & Bay view • Pet friendly-2 dogs ok. Great community! Entertainers’ living. Dining for 8-10 guests 1010 BURNABY $850,000 Bring your house-size furniture along Custom kitch, cabs, granite & stainless steel Rainscreened/warranty/new plumbing New common areas, gym, pool. 2 prkng, pet ok

WEST END VIEW

• • • • •

Concrete building 2 Bedroom 2 Bath Sunny South East corner suite New kitchen w/ stainless steel appliances Gorgeous American walnut floors Fireplace, Insuite W/D, pet ok. 1 parking

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PANORAMA PLACE

G IN ND E P • • • • •

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2055 PENDRELL

$750,000

February 12 - 18, 2015 W 21

7 20,000

PR SA EVIE TU W RD S S AY TA FEB RT 14

YEARS OF PLANNING

SF PRIVATE BACKYARD AMENITY

STOREYS OF VIEWS

WAYS TO COMMUTE: SKYTRAIN, BIKE, BUS OR WALK

25,000

33 $

HIPSTER NEIGHBOURS

DIFFERENT FLOORPLANS

299K

PRICED FROM

OPPORTUNITY TO OWN

THE FIRST BUILDING OF ITS KIND IN THE HOTTEST NEIGHBOURHOOD IN VANCOUVER

PRESENTATION CENTRE LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF MAIN & BROADWAY

INDEPENDENTatMAIN.COM The Developer reserves the right to make changes and modifications to the information contained herein without prior notice. This is not an offering for sale, any such offering may only be made by way of a Disclosure Statement. E&OE.

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LIFESTYLES //

@WESTENDERVAN

DRIVE

Toyota Venza reimagines the station wagon

Room to sprawl out and a trunk big enough to haul hockey bags BRENDAN MCALEER @brendan_mcaleer

The station wagon isn’t dead, it’s just disguised. If you think every single vehicle on the road is a crossover or SUV of some kind, then nil desperandum: there are still some wagons out there. Say hello to the Toyota Venza, effectively a station wagon version of the Camry. It has the same engine choices, apart from a hybrid, and while this one has available all-wheel-drive, you can get a front-driver too. While the Venza looks bigger, thanks to a jackedup ride height, it occupies roughly the same footprint as the Camry. What’s more, just as station wagons were in the past, it’s positioned as a family-friendly vehicle that’s just that little bit more practical than your average four-door sedan. Now in its seventh year, and two years since the last facelift, the Venza’s disguise might be wearing a little thin. Let’s get it out on the road and ﬁnd out what’s beneath the mask.

DESIGN:

Designed to slot inbetween the RAV4 and the Highlander, the Venza appears, at ﬁrst glance, to be slightly more upscale than either. The RAV4 is built with small crossover practicality in mind, and the Highlander screwed together to take on the soccer team, but the Venza’s just that little bit swooshier. It looks a little like a Sienna caught in Willy Wonka’s taffy puller, and that’s intended as a compliment. Lower and wider than other crossovers on the road, the Venza hunkers down low over its 20” alloy wheels and – wait, hang on, twenty-inch wheels? On a Toyota? Yes indeedy-do. Part of the snazzy curb-image this thing has is a pair of boots ﬁt enough to qualify for a walkon part in a mid-2000s rap video. Even the base model gets 19” rims, something

required by the sheetmetalheavy styling. For those of us who aren’t part of Nate Dogg’s posse, this is a bit of overkill, and ruins the ride on bumpy pavement. Note that you can tuck much smaller 17” or even 16” wheels on for winter duty.

ENVIRONMENT:

If the exterior of the Venza has aged well, the same can’t be said for the interior.Those attributes that worked before are still here: a spacious, roomy feel, brightened up by a huge panoramic sunroof. However, climb into a newer offering, like the arch-rival Subaru Outback, and this Limited trim tester starts looking a little long in the tooth. Fit and ﬁnish are still very good, and there’s a sense that the interior will take as much of a kicking as a Rubbermaid product, but it is much more plasticky than recently refreshed competitors. Still, as-mentioned, the essentials are all here. There’s a clever holder for your smart-phone that includes a pass-through for the USB charging-cord, a truly enormous sliding centre console, and the controls are all quite sensible. The centre-mounted screen is a tad on the small side, at 6.1”, but functionality is straightforward, and hooking up streaming audio and operating the navigation was very easy. Where the Venza excels, as do regular wagons, is in carrying adult-sized passengers. For a growing family with teens out-growing a RAV’s back seats, the Venza has rear room to sprawl out and a trunk big enough to haul hockey bags: 870L with the seats up and nearly 2000 with them folded ﬂat.

PERFORMANCE:

While a 2.7L four-cylinder is available on base-trim Venza’s, please be aware that this is only a choice for the quite-miserly. Producing 182hp, it’s pitted against 2245kg (plus options), which is quite a bit to shift. The V6,Toyota’s ubiquitous 3.5L unit, produces a much-better 268hp.The six is a bit of a gem, really, and somewhat overlooked in the business. Lotus stuffs it in their Evora, and while an AWD crossover doesn’t have

Designed to slot in-between the RAV4 and the Highlander, the Venza appears, at first glance, to be slightly more upscale than either. the lightness of a sportscar, the V6 Venza does at least have passing power to spare. Making a few passes along the Sea-to-Sky highway reveals something of a duality to the Venza’s driving character. While the driving position is comfortable and slightly high up, the centre-of-gravity feels low. It’s a stable, planted machine through the corners. However, the steering is somewhat overboosted and lacks feel.Toyota improved this with their redesigned Highlander, but the Venza does feel more like an older Toyota – which it is, so fair enough.

Grip from the all-wheeldrive could also beneﬁt from Toyota’s recent work. Here, planting the accelerator from a stop causes the front wheels to break grip, and then the rear to react.Toyota’s tightened this up elsewhere, but the Venza still has slip-and-grip. For all that, it’s a comfortable cruiser that rarely puts a foot wrong. As with all crossover/wagons, the rear visibility could be better, but blind spots are managed well the old-school way, with concave insets in the side mirrors.

FEATURES:

Loaded to the gills, my

Limited-trim AWD Venza cracked the 40K mark: $41,740 after freight and before taxes and levies. That’s quite a bit, considering Toyota’s pricing on the Highlander.You do get a lot though: a 13-speaker JBL audio system, LED running lights, push-button start and keyless entry, leather seating with power for driver and passenger, Bluetooth audio, and navigation. Ofﬁcial fuel economy is rated at a just-ok 12.8L/100kms city and 9.3L/100kms for the V6; the four-cylinder will do a just over a litre better in town, and about the same on

the highway. Observed fuel economy for mixed driving was right at 11L/100kms, which is actually very good.

GREEN LIGHT:

Comfortable seats; spacious rear seating and cargo; reliability should be very good

STOP SIGN:

Dated interior; ride compromised by huge wheels; no standout technology

THE CHECKERED FLAG:

A practical people-mover with panache; the bones of a station wagon in a nicer package. W

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SEX

Free Will Astrology By Rob Brezsny

I hope you have someone in your life to whom you can send the following love note, and if you don’t, I trust you will locate that someone no later than Aug. 1: “I love you more than anyone loves you, or has loved you, or will love you, and also, I love you in a way that no one loves you, or has loved you, or will love you, and also, I love you in a way that I love no one else, and never have loved anyone else, and never will love anyone else.” (This passage is borrowed from author Jonathan Safran Foer’s book Everything Is Illuminated.)

“We assume that others show their love in the same way that we do,” writes psychologist Amy Przeworski, “and if they don’t follow that equation, we worry that the love is not there.” I think you’re on track to overcome this fundamental problem, Taurus. Your struggles with intimacy have made you wise enough to surrender your expectations about how others should show you their love. You’re almost ready to let them give you their affection and demonstrate their care for you in ways that come natural to them. In fact, maybe you’re ready RIGHT NOW.

I’d like to bestow a blessing on you and your closest ally. My hope is that it will help you reduce the restlessness that on occasion undermines the dynamism of your relationship. Here’s the benediction, inspired by a Robert Bly poem: As you sit or walk or lie next to each other, you share a mood of glad acceptance. You aren’t itchy or fidgeting, wondering if there’s something better to be or do. You don’t wish you were talking about a different subject or feeling a different emotion or living in a different world. You are content to be exactly who you are, exactly where you are.

Want to infuse your romantic interludes with wilder moods now and then? Want to cultivate a kind of intimacy that taps deeper into your animal intelligence? If so, try acting out each other’s dreams or drawing magic symbols on each other’s bodies. Whisper funny secrets into each other’s ears or wrestle like good-natured drunks on the living room floor. Howl like coyotes. Caw like crows. Purr like cheetahs. Sing boisterous songs and recite feral poetry to each other. Murmur this riff, adapted from Pablo Neruda: “Our love was born in the wind, in the night, in the earth. That’s why the clay and the flower, the mud and the roots know our names.”

Is there any sense in which your closest alliance is a gift to the world? Does your relationship inspire anyone? Do the two of you serve as activators and energizers, igniting fires in the imaginations of those whose lives you touch? If not, find out why. And if you are tapping into those potentials, it’s time to raise your impact to the next level. Together the two of you now have extra power to synergize your collaboration in such a way that it sends out ripples of benevolence everywhere you go.

The poet Rainer Marie Rilke said that people misunderstand the role of love. “They have made it into play and pleasure because they think that play and pleasure are more blissful than work,” he wrote. “But there is nothing happier than work. And love, precisely because it is the supreme happiness, can be nothing other than work.” I’m sharing this perspective with you for two reasons, Virgo. First, of all the signs in the zodiac, you’re most likely to thrive on his approach. Second, you’re in a phase of your astrological cycle when this capacity of yours is at a peak. Here’s how Rilke finished his thought: “Lovers should act as if they had a great work to accomplish.”

About 2,600 years ago, the Greek poet Sappho wrote the following declaration: “You make me hot.” In the next ten days, I’d love for you to feel motivated to say or think that on a regular basis. In fact, I predict that you will. The astrological omens suggest you’re in a phase when you are both more likely to be made hot and more likely to encounter phenomena that make you hot. Here are some other fragments from Sappho that might come in handy when you need to express your torrid feelings: 1. “This randy madness I joyfully proclaim.” 2. “Eros makes me shiver again... Snake-sly, invincible.” 3. “Desire has shaken my mind as wind in the mountain forests roars through trees.” (Translations by Guy Davenport.)

In the TV science-fiction show Doctor Who, the title character lives in a time machine that is also a spaceship. It’s called a Tardis. From the outside, it appears to be barely bigger than a phone booth. But once you venture inside, you find it’s a spacious chateau with numerous rooms, including a greenhouse, library, observatory, swimming pool, and karaoke bar. This is an excellent metaphor for you, Scorpio. Anyone who wants your love or friendship must realize how much you resemble a Tardis. If they don’t understand that you’re far bigger on the inside than you seem on the outside, it’s unlikely the two of you can have a productive relationship. This Valentine season, as a public service, make sure that everyone you’re seriously involved with knows this fact.

Love and intimacy come in many forms. There are at least a billion different ways for you to be attracted to another person, and a trillion different ways to structure your relationship. Maybe your unique bond involves having sex, or maybe it doesn’t. Maybe it’s romantic or friendly or holy, or all three of those things. Do the two of you have something important to create together, or is your connection more about fueling each other’s talents? Your task is to respect and revere the idiosyncratic ways you fit together, not force yourselves to conform to a prototype. To celebrate the Valentine season, I invite you and your closest ally to play around with these fun ideas.

Anais Nin wrote the following passage in her novel A Spy in the House of Love: “As other girls prayed for handsomeness in a lover, or for wealth, or for power, or for poetry, she had prayed fervently: let him be kind.” I recommend that approach for you right now, Capricorn. A quest for tender, compassionate attention doesn’t always have to be at the top of your list of needs, but I think it should be for now. You will derive a surprisingly potent alchemical boost from basking in kindness. It will catalyze a breakthrough that can’t be unleashed in any other way. Ask for it!

5 things nobody wants for Valentines Day Sex with Mish Way

@MyszkaWay When I was a kid my parents were really into celebrating Valentine’s Day. I really liked it too because it meant a family dinner, a white chocolate heart and maybe a new Madonna CD. My dad is a huge romantic, a real loving guy, so the sap runs deep in my blood, but guess what? I know most people out there hate Valentine’s Day because, like most Hallmark holidays, it just reminds us of what we have not. V-Day is the king of rubbing-your-singleness-inyour-face, but stop sulking because that shit is for teenagers. Are you Kelly Kapoor? (No, you are not a ﬁctional character in an extremely popular TV series that has since gone off the air.) You are a person who loves a good list, so here’s my gift to you, ﬁve things nobody wants For Valentine’s Day. IPOD HEADPHONES Um, we all got them for free with our iPhones. Then we got them for free again when we had to buy a new iPhone after we dropped ours in a public toilet at a bar. And, then we got them again when we accidentally lost our second iPhone to the ocean while trying to

take a selﬁe on a pier, so you know, we’re set.

HERPES Herpes is a permanent disease that is not only incredibly painful when the ﬁrst outbreak occurs (genital or oral, do not excuse how much it sucks to get a big, fat blistering cold sore or worse, contract herpes gingivostomatitis otherwise know as a massive collection of sores inside the mouth on the gums), but also rips at your self-esteem like a tiny rat hooking its teeth into a piece of garbage and dragging it across even more garbage, except the garbage is actually your skin and it hurts like a motherfucker. Get yourself tested regularly and always warn your partner if you already have herpes. It is inhumane to not. A PEN Nobody really needs pens anymore.You can get a pen anywhere. A pen is only an acceptable gift if you are giving a set of special pens for an artist you know and love who happens to work in that medium. Or, a calligrapher. BED BUGS Bed bugs are pretty much the worst thing you can give someone you care about for Valentine’s Day. Not only does having a bed bug infestation ruin your home, but also totally messes with your mind. Trust me, I have been there. I know. So, if you are getting your friend or love

If you give someone bed bugs, then you are a terrible person. a second-hand gift or doing the dumpster dive dance, please check thoroughly for bed bugs.You can bring bed bugs into your home from anywhere. (I got mine from a Pantera Live VHS.) FRIENDS ON DVD If you know someone that loves the comedy and capers of Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Joey, Monica and Phoebe more than life itself you still do not have to purchase the DVDs, because that ‘90s relic is now on Netﬂix.Yes, all 10 seasons.That’s one full decade of Friends. (No, they did not do bonus versions with the laugh track removed. I know, I was pissed too.) Happy Valentines Day, guys! W

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

How many desires do you have? Take a rough inventory. Identify the experiences you continually seek in your quest to feel relief and pleasure and salvation and love and a sense of meaning. You can also include fantasies that go unfulfilled and dreams that may or may not come true in the future. As you survey this lively array, don’t censor yourself or feel any guilt. Simply give yourself to a sumptuous meditation on all the longings that fuel your journey. This is your prescription for the coming week. In ways you may not yet be able to imagine, it is the medicine you need most.

The German word Nachkussen refers to the kind of kiss that compensates for all the kissing that has not been happening, all the kissing that has been omitted or lost. If it has been too long since you’ve kissed anyone, you need Nachkussen. If your lover hasn’t kissed you lately with the focused verve you long for, you need Nachkussen. If you yourself have been neglecting to employ your full artistry and passion as you bestow your kisses, you need Nachkussen. From what I can tell, Pisces, this Valentine season is a full-on Nachkussen holiday for you. Now please go get what you haven’t been getting.

Feb. 12: Cristina Ricci (35) Feb. 13: Robbie Williams (41) Feb. 14: Simon Pegg (45) Feb. 15: Jaromir Jagr (43) Feb. 16: The Weekend (26) Feb. 17: Ed Sheeran (24) Feb. 18: Molly Ringwald (47)

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VALENTINE’S DAY Prices Effective February 12 to February 18, 2015.

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

100% BC Owned and Operated PRODUCE

MEAT Organic Strawberries

5.98

Large Fuji Apples product of BC

454g

product of California

Primrose Farms Pork Tenderloin

Rodear Grass Fed Forage Finished Lean Ground Beef

Organic Extra

4.99lb/ 11.00kg

value pack

.98lb/ 2.16kg

6.99lb/ 15.41kg

Blood Oranges

½ Dozen Rose Bouquets

1.98lb/ 4.37kg

assorted colours, Imported

product of California

19.99

plus applicable taxes

Hand Peeled Fresh Cooked Shrimp

Ovation Bone-In Rack of Lamb

18.99lb/ 41.87kg

19.99lb/ 44.07kg

GROCERY assorted varieties FROM

35%

8.99

SAVE

4.49

SAVE

34%

250ml

assorted varieties

39%

3.99

Amano Organic Miso Soup

120-120.5g • product of USA

4.49-4.99

SAVE

31%

400g product of BC

2/6.00

SAVE

37%

2/5.00

Manitoba Harvest Organic Hemp Bliss Beverages

3.29

SAVE

assorted varieties

2/5.00

37%

340g

assorted varieties and sizes

20% off

BULK Valentine’s Candy

946ml • product of Canada

assorted varieties

1.99 473ml • product of Canada

from 2/5.00 340-454g • product of Canada 1.49-1.69 473ml • product of Canada

select varieties, bins and bags

20% off

xxx BAKERY

regular retail price

GLUTEN FREE

xxx • product of xxx

Valentine’s Cookies or Cakes

Zorbas Spinach or Mushroom Phyllo Pies

assorted varieties and sizes

2/5.98 Choices' Own Chickpea and Roasted Tomato Salad or Roasted Root Vegetables

1.19 1.69/100g

6/4.80

Gabriel Make Up

regular retail price

assorted varieties

or Vegetable Spring Rolls

20% off

product of USA

Dairyland Cream

8/3.20-4.00

assorted varieties and sizes

112g

Rizopia Brown Rice Pasta

Vegetable or Pork Gyoza

regular retail price

Dairyland Whipping Cream

2.99/pack

30% off

Hemp Force, Rice Force, Soy, Ancient Grains

product of USA

assorted varieties

product of Canada

or assorted Pitas

assorted varieties and sizes

Prairie Naturals Protein Powders

184-227g

assorted varieties

DELI

Try rts ea pH Hem kled on sprin alad or s r you real. ce

Thai Kitchen Pastes

Yves Veggie Ground Round

assorted varieties

25%

40%

FROM

product of USA

FROM

SAVE

from 2/5.98 26% 500g • product of BC

170-226g

SAVE

2/5.502/6.00

assorted varieties

SAVE

85g • product of USA

assorted varieties

Olympic Krema Greek or Chia Probiotic Yogurt

Terra Vegetable Chips

2/6.00

G.H. Cretors Popped Popcorn

assorted varieties

product of France

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33%

375ml - 1L • product of USA

Blue Diamond Nut Thins

assorted varieties

25%

6.49-13.99

FROM

product of USA

SAVE

WELLNESS Manitoba Harvest Hemp Products

Hemp Hearts, Hemp Protein, Hemp Oil

assorted varieties

42%

340-368g

Bonne Maman Jams

SAVE

Theo Organic Fair Trade Chocolate Bars

Spectrum Extra Virgin Olive Oil

MaraNatha Nut Butter

www.choicesmarkets.com

2.99-4.99 Organic Multigrain or Light Rye Sourdough Bread

Valentine’s Day Decadent Chocolate Cake

3.49-4.49

4.99 150g

400-530g

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