Westender – February 19, 2015 by Westender

FEBRUARY 19-25 // 2015

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

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TAX DOLLARS BETTER SPENT ELSEWHERE

Re: City gears up for transit vote, Feb. 5, 2015 Even when I saw the headline of Westender’s article, I could feel something in me tying-up-in-knots. I really hope that the NO vote wins – there is something that really irks me about the taxpayers having to pay for these transportation upgrades. I’m only going to speak forVancouver, most of the residents will probably hardly ever use the Pattullo Bridge or the Surrey light rail transit and even the Broadway subway will have limited usage by tax-payingVancouverites. As far as the transit system is concerned, if they don’t cleanup their notorious audacious ineptitude, it’ll be like casting pearls before swine. It galls me too, all the money that ﬂoats around and gets wasted by government and corporations, how much money goes into bad services, bad planning, bad management and executives’ pockets. How much money that is out there and so little of it is in the reach of the ordinary citizen who pays their taxes.Whether they are richer or poorer, so many

people are just making ends meet. It just sucks! I don’t think trafﬁc congestion woes will be solved by this transit and transportation plan. But I’ll maybe talk about that in another rant. –AVancouver citizen

HIPPY MOVEMENT HAD REALISTIC GOALS

Re: Back to the Land 2.0, Jan. 29, 2015 I do take some offense to the attitude that the ‘60s city retreat was not based in reality or taken up by realists. Apparently this 21st century hipster never saw the Whole Earth Catalog, the hippy Sears catalog of the day. [Whole Earth Catalog editor] Stewart Brand was given the job of the Ofﬁce of AppropriateTechnology (OAT) by Jerry Brown’s (“Governor Moonbeam”, because he proposed a communication satellite for California) administration in California.That $40,000-a-year position saved the state $4 million (the cost of said satellite). I personally gave a copy of Ecotopia to Jerry at a Humboldt County town hall speech during his presidential bid. He had already read it, but opened his speech talking

about the books “ideals”, those he tried to turn into a reality. –GarryBry

THE LOST MAGIC WORD

I was just in my local corner store where the guy in front of me was short 10 cents for whatever he was buying. Though I didn’t know the guy, he turned to me and asked, “Do you have a dime you could give me to help me buy this?” I wasn’t 100 per cent sure if I had any change or not, but I simply replied, “No.” However, even if I had a bag of dimes in my hand, I wouldn’t have handed one over. I just do not understand why people, who are asking for a favour, no matter how small, from someone that they don’t even know (or even if they do know them), have lost the ability to use one simple, monosyllabic word... PLEASE! I choose to ignore requests for favours from people – whether I know them or not – that do not include “please”. It’s a very simple word; one which used to be called the “magic word”. People, start using it again, please.Thank you! –Canadian Guy

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 19 - 25, 2015

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YOUR CITY

One prize no one wants to win Grant Lawrence Vancouver Shakedown @GrantLawrence

This spring’s plebiscite to increase the provincial sales tax to relieve Metro Vancouver traffic congestion has no campaign fundraising or reporting regulations. Dan Toulgoet photo

Transit vote lacks disclosure rules MetroVancouver Mayors Council not seeking ‘outside’ funding BOB MACKIN @bobmackin

When the provincial government set the rules for the non-binding plebiscite on a sales tax hike for TransLink expansion, it didn’t include any campaign fundraising or reporting regulations. “We think it’s embarrassing for a mature democracy like BC to not have disclosure rules,” said Jordan Bateman, leader of the No TransLink Tax campaign. “The fact that we may never know how much these government agencies spent in tax dollars on this yes vote is ludicrous, it’s a breach of the public trust.” Bateman, who is also the Canadian Taxpayers’ Federation’s BC director, is against the proposed 0.5 per cent provincial sales tax increase in Metro Vancouver. The TransLink Mayors’ Council wants it to raise $2.5 billion over 10 years toward a $7.5 billion wish list for a subway under Broadway, light rail in Surrey and Langley and a new Pattullo Bridge. Bateman said his group expects to run a $40,000 campaign and would voluntarily disclose donations before the scheduled March 16 to May 29 mail-in voting period. Without rules, Bateman said large multinational engineering and construction ﬁrms hungry for TransLink

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contracts could spend millions of dollars to inﬂuence the vote. “There’s no accountability, no one will ever know,” Bateman said. “It’s secret money, just the way the province has set this up to be.” Coincidentally, the Feb. 12 cabinet order called Plebiscite 2015 (Regional Transportation System Funding) Regulation came a day before the statutory Feb. 13 deadline for candidates, elector organizations and third-party sponsors in last November’s municipal elections to submit their campaign ﬁnance reports to Elections BC. IntegrityBC executive director Dermod Travis said there is nothing to prevent plebiscite campaigners from voluntary disclosure. He pointed to the 2014 Vancouver civic election, in which the four main parties published donation lists before voting day. “Here’s an opportunity to do it again,” Travis said. City councils, like Vancouver’s, are dedicating public staff and funds to promote the yes campaign. Residents who vote no, he said, “have a right to know how much of their dollars are being used to sway them.” “Mayor Gregor Robertson was quoted as saying ‘we’re willing to put our money where our mouth is,’” Travis said. “Technically speaking, it’s not his money and it’s not really the City of Vancouver’s money.” TransLink mayors’ council interim executive director Mike Buda referred the

Courier to Justinne Ramirez of the Mayors’ Council Secretariat, who had no comment and referred questions to Elections BC. Robertson chairs the council, but the Office of the Mayor did not respond to the Courier’s Feb. 16 interview request. Neither did Deputy Mayor Andrea Reimer, a campaign finance reform advocate. Port Coquitlam Mayor Greg Moore said the Vote Yes for Better Transit campaign’s TransLinkfunded budget of $4 million hasn’t been finalized, but it would also rely on in-kind support from municipalities. “The mayors’ council is not seeking any funding from outside or private interests,” said Moore. The Better Transit and Transportation Coalition is allied with the Mayors’ Council, but is seeking donations via its website. Co-chairs Iain Black of the Vancouver Board of Trade and Bahareh Jokar of the UBC Alma-Mater Society did not respond to interview requests. In 2003, the Vancouver Courier reported that the winning TeamYes 2010 coalition in the civic plebiscite on Vancouver’s 2010 Olympics bid outspent the No Games 2010 group $700,000 to $5,000. Real estate marketer Bob Rennie bought eight full-page daily newspaper ads worth $40,000 in favour of the bid. He eventually got the Olympic Village condo marketing contract. W –Story courtesy ofVancouver Courier

The crunch of metal against my flesh and bones was sickening, a long-dreaded fear finally coming true in the rainslicked streets of Vancouver. My helmeted noggin smacked against something hard. My leg got wedged as the rest of my body whipped forward like a rag doll. It had assuredly happened: after 20 years of being a daily city cyclist in downtown Vancouver, I had finally won a “door prize”. “Door prize: when a motorist opens a car door into the path of your oncoming bicycle, a collision in which the door is virtually always the victor”. (Urban Dictionary) It was a wet, dark, dangerous December night on Hamilton Street, right outside my place of work. Hamilton is a narrow street that gets backed up at rush hour, but I had cycled it thousands of times. I was only a block away from the separated bike lanes I ride home on. I had both a front flashing white light, a rear flashing red light, and a

reflective sash. None of that mattered. As I tried to thread the needle between the parked cars and a long line of idling cars waiting for the light to turn green… SMACKDOWN. “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” I screamed, instinctively clutching both brakes as my bike made instant contact with the suddenly wide-open driver’s side door. After flopping forward, I fell sideways, away from the parked car, into traffic.While still mounted on my bike, my head whacked the side of a Canada Post truck that was crawling towards the stoplight.The next thing I remember, my bike was on the ground, but I was still on my feet. I felt woozy and my left leg hurt. “Door prize: in accidents like this, the driver (or person opening the car door) is usually held at fault.When a parked car opens their door into a travel lane, they are obstructing traffic. If another car or bicycle hits it, the owner of the parked car is liable and responsible for damages because the oncoming vehicle has the right of way.” (Andres and Berger, attorneys at law). The owner of the car was standing beside me. He was,

to his credit, instantly apologetic. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry! I didn’t see you!” Though I was dazed and confused, I felt my Scottish temper welling up inside of me. “You didn’t see me?You didn’t see my blinding, flashing, strobe light in your side mirror? Did you even bother to check?You could have killed me!” Once my adrenalin cooled, besides a bruised thigh, I realized that, miraculously, I wasn’t hurt. My bike was undamaged. It didn’t stop me from yelling at the parked offender a little more, for which, upon reflection, I feel badly about.Wherever you are, I apologize. But hey, it could have been a lot worse. I could have been a lot worse. Upon even further reflection, I have a few more acknowledgements to make in the lucky aftermath of my first door prize: thank you to my helmet for doing its job, thank you to the City of Vancouver for our designated bike lanes (let’s have more of them… statistically, those bike lanes drastically reduce accidents); and finally, thankYOU for carefully checking your side mirror every time before you open your car door. W

February 19 - 25, 2015 W 3

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COVER STORY

The welcome image from the Transgression/Cantosphere exhibition at Centre A. Rob Newell photos

Chinatown’s last stand

As development and changing demographics put pressure on the historic neighbourhood, there is disagreement on the path forward.

KELSEY KLASSEN @kelseyklassen

Every weekend of her childhood, Claudia Li’s grandmother would bundle her onto a bus as they made the trip in from their suburban family home to Vancouver’s Chinatown. “My grandma would come in to Chinatown to buy groceries, force me to watch her play mahjong with her friends, and then go home to make a ton of food,” she laughs. Their trips would take them to Newtown Bakery to buy steamed buns, or to visit her aunt at her travel agency. “Even though I didn’t grow up here, a lot of how I identify myself lies within Chinatown,” Li explains. For most people, that Chinatown no longer exists. Li, like many people who experienced the chaotic brilliance of Chinatown in its decades-long heyday, are now struggling to keep it alive. Today, Chinatown is beset on all sides, steadily encroached upon by sky-high condominiums full of young urbanites that don’t speak Cantonese. Long-established businesses in the 11-block area are closing due to competition with Richmond and a lack of foot trafﬁc, while the aging population that relies heavily upon the services they provide are left wanting. Meanwhile, warring social interests threaten to turn the neighbourhood into an extension of the Downtown Eastside, as the local language politics play out most tellingly in silence. It’s not hard to tell why Chinatown is what Chinatown is talking about most. This is not the ﬁrst time Chinatown, one of the oldest and largest Chinese neighbour-

hoods in North America, has been under threat. During the race riots of 1907, an anti-immigration rally exploded into violence and vandalism in both Chinatown and neighbouring Japantown. The streetscape was then nearly obliterated by the proposed “Chinatown/Gastown” Freeway Connector of the 1960s and simultaneous redevelopment proposals. In the mid-’70s, city and federal health inspectors started closing Chinese barbecue shops, sparking protests and a major economic and cultural crisis at the time. And, through it all, the cries for development and shouts for it to stop have remained deafening. But as the neighbourhood shifts from a small self-sustaining economy to a central city hub, the neighbourhood has never faced so much change so fast.

THE DEVELOPMENT DILEMMA

JoeWai has been helping to preserve and shape Chinatown for more than 40 years. Best known as the architect of the Dr. SunYat-Sen Classical Chinese Gardens, located strategically in what was the proposed path of the infamous freeway, his guiding hand can be seen throughout the neighbourhood, from the Chinatown Millennium Gate to the Chinatown Parkade. As a student at UBC in the ‘60s,Wai remembers the allure of Chinatown. “There were so many restaurant variations up and down Pender and Keefer Streets,” he recalls. “Even the alleys – the green door, red door, orange door, grey door – they were the workers’ places, truckers’ places, but most everybody

4 W February 19 - 25, 2015

Activist Claudia Li says the decline of Chinatown leaves her “heartbroken” but she is among a growing number of young people taking charge of its future. was students because it was cheap and quite genuine.” To kick-start revitalization efforts, the City ofVancouver looked to density and new development, and began a Historic Area Height Review in 2008. At the end of that process, building heights in the historic core of increased 10 feet to a new limit of 75 feet, and to 120 and 150 feet in parts of Chinatown South. Wai was among the 11 major Chinatown stakeholders who initially endorsed the report, but he says he is having second thoughts after the promised Community Amenity Contributions (which developers must pay for increased

density) earmarked for seniors’ and low-income housing failed to yield the desired results.To date, only 22 units of seniors’ housing have materialized. When the new buildings started to go up in 2011 and 2012,Wai says the Chinatown community became uneasy. To ensure the character of their neighbourhood was preserved, the Chinatown Historical Area Planning Committee brought together members of the community to create a document that would deﬁne what they thought Chinatown should be, from heritage signage to the human scale of the streets. “City planning eventually adopted it,” saysWai. “But it

doesn’t seem to have the teeth.” Three years later, this struggle for identity is coming to a head with 105 Keefer. Depending on who you talk to within the community, the planned 13-story, 137-unit condo development ranges from a “bad precedent” to a “death knell for Chinatown”. According toWai, the development takes none of the aesthetic concerns, nor need for seniors housing into consideration. For others, with its historically significant location across from the Chinese Cultural Centre and SunYat-Sen Garden, 105 Keefer represents the continual “hollowing out” of Chinatown, leaving the area devoid of the cultural fabric it requires to survive. “It’s the line in the sand,” saysWai. “We’ve said we’re not moving. If city planning or city council wants to do this, you’ll get protests from all of us.” Unless,Wai adds, the City starts listening to Chinatown residents and acting on their concerns. But whereWai and his contingent at least remain open to careful development, there exists an equally vocal group hoping to halt it completely. The Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP), led by social activist King-mong Chan, is currently gathering signatures for a moratorium on any further development of Chinatown. “There’s a lot going on in revitalization,” the 23-year-old says from his office on the second floor of the Carnegie Centre at Main and Hastings, “and right now we’re focusing on what I call ‘protective policies’ in the sense of asking, with this petition, for a temporary moratorium. Because we feel we’re seeing Chinatown

being eroded.” The Downtown Eastside interests CCAP represents are occasionally at odds with the more traditional Chinatown groups, but Chan sees them as having a common goal. As he recounts conversations with the 1,000 concerned local residents who have contributed their signatures to his petition, Chan radiates worry. “If you don’t have any protection and you keep talking, then everything’s gone and by that time it’s just too late.” In his view, Chinatown is a living memorial to the very heart of the Chinese-Canadian sacriﬁce. “People say Richmond is the new Chinatown, well… Richmond is not Chinatown,” Chan says passionately. “Chinatown’s history comes from all the racist policies that formed that community, those businesses – that’s where things were birthed out of. And it’s not respectful to just change that community and destroy it for proﬁts. Moving into the neighborhood you need to be careful that you don’t abuse that.” Meanwhile, he says he sees evidence of that abuse all around him. “[Residents] don’t feel this is Chinatown anymore; what I commonly hear is it’s ‘Western Town’. It’s being advertised as the newYaletown, the new Gastown, and then the character is more resembling that.” But Kevin McNaney, assistant director of planning for the City ofVancouver, says a moratorium is not an option. McNaney has been working on Chinatown revitalization issues for more than half a decade, and says the City is listening. “There’s certainly voices out there who would like to see

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COVER STORY development stopped, but I always have to remind people, we just put these policies in place, and there was a huge demand from the Chinatown community for development to proceed,” he explains. According to McNaney, there are 550 units currently underway, or approved, in Chinatown. “That’s right on target for what the plan says,” says McNaney. “We expected 600 new housing units in three to five years. “I think part of [the problem],” he adds, “is it happened quite quickly. It’s a pace of change. But people need to also understand that there are very few development sites left, so the bulk of the development that has occurred is occurring now, and it will slow down.” In the meantime, McNaney says greater density in the neighbourhood will help support the local businesses there. “When we did our business survey back in 2012, over 65 per cent of the businesses reported decreasing revenues,” he says. “The merchants are struggling and they needed more customers.These projects are very strategic, as they are outside the heritage area, but they brought some more life to the district and supported those heritage, affordable housing, and cultural objectives.” The City has also been instrumental in restoring many of the culturally significant buildings in the neighbourhood, the ones most closely linked with the look and feel of Chinatown. “There are about 12 society buildings in Chinatown that are pretty fundamental to the designation of the area as a national historic site,” says McNaney. “So some of the money from those development sites, through the Community Amenity Contribution at Main and Keefer went towards this program.The City put in some capital funding and now that program is underway to support critical upgrades to those buildings, which also have some pretty critical housing units in there as well.” McNaney also points out that the revitalization plan has also brought in $500,000 in public improvements – refurbishing the dragon lights, restoring some of Chinatown’s iconic neon signs, and making facade upgrades, for example. “I think for the first time you’re starting to see new businesses open in Chinatown and more diverse businesses, not just the same dried goods shops or tourist shops that repeat themselves all over the area,” he says of the plan’s success so far. “I think you’re starting to see a lot of interest across the city in the future of Chinatown, which I think is a good sign for revitalization. There’s still a lot of work to be done, but we have a plan in place and a very clear plan to move forward.”

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DO YOU SPEAK WHAT I SPEAK

Tyler Russell has served as executive director and curator for theVancouver International Centre for Contemporary Asian Art (Centre A) for the past year. But when the he took over the gallery, located in the heart of Chinatown at 221 East Georgia, he says there wasn’t even a welcome sign on the front in Cantonese. Russell says he met resistance to the idea of putting Chinese signage on the gallery from his board of directors. But when a local woman came in to raise a complaint about its absence and offer suggestions for what it should say, he had an idea. “I have curatorial autonomy,” he explains with a wry smile, “so I hired her as an artist for our next exhibition and we put the signage up that way.” He also sought out a new board. The gallery’s latest exhibition, Transgression/Cantosphere, is similarly disruptive to the status quo. A powerful reaction to a language under threat, artists Hong Kong Exile, Howie Tsui, and linguist Zoe Lam relate the efforts to standardize the many languages of China with the “ominous” signs of Mandarinisation that have hovered over Chinatown in recent years. One of Canada’s most deeply-rooted Cantonese-speaking communities, the very sounds of Chinatown are at risk of being displaced by the incoming Western and Mandarin classes. “When you say that Cantonese is under threat,” says Dr. Ross King, head of the Department of Asian Studies at UBC, “it’s not the same thing as saying Musqueam is under threat, where you can count the number of speakers on a couple of hands.With Cantonese you’ve got estimates everywhere from 70-100 million speakers around the world. But it is true that certain kinds of administrative steps, rules and regulations, legislation, policies in schools and in the media in Mainland China have apparently started to have some bite. And there’s understandably a lot of anxiety about that.” As more Mandarin speakers move to places likeVancouver, and Cantonese continues to be squeezed out of its own backyard, there are also bound to be ﬂare ups of regional animosity. “There is a continuing stream of newcomers coming in,” says King. “And speakers of Mandarin from other parts of China can sometimes be very imperious when dealing with regional languages from other parts of China.” King says a recent”Ni Hao” billboard advertising the new condominiums at 188 Keefer was seen as a slap in the face to the local Cantonese community, as “ni hao” is Mandarin for “hello”. But even if China continues its slow assault on Cantonese, King says the language should

“It’s a line in the sand,” says prominent Chinatown architect Joe Wai of the development proposed for 105 Keefer. “If city planning or city council wants to do this, you’ll get protests from all of us.” be more than just a symbolic priority for preservation. “In the case of a Chinatown likeVancouver,” he says, “which is one of the oldest Chinatowns in North America – where until very recently Cantonese was the language of our Chinatown – making sure Cantonese has some kind of status, making sure that it is studied academically, and that would-be learners do have an opportunity to learn it is all really important. It has more than just a symbolic meaning to the people ofVancouver.”

BRIDGING THE GAP

Claudia Li is one of a growing number of young activists lending their voice to Chinatown. In 2009, she started her first non-profit initiative, Shark Truth, which promoted sustainable seafood and “fin free” banquets within the Chinese community. Using community outreach, SharkTruth has prevented more than 80,000 bowls of shark fin soup being served, and saved approximately 8,000 sharks. That led her to start hua foundation along with two other colleagues, to more broadly strengthen the Hua or ethnic Chinese community’s connections with culture, heritage and environmental sustainability. For example, one of hua foundation’s newest initiatives,The Choi Project, was sparked by Li’s struggle to find locally-produced or organic Chinese vegetables with labels. She could easily find organic Western produce at places like Whole Foods, or unmarked Chinese vegetables in Chinatown, but nothing in-between. “We wanted our daikon, pea shoots and choy sum to be BCgrown and pesticide-free,” the 28-year-old explains, “but we didn’t know where to find it.” Now, participating Chinatown supermarkets distribute seasonal produce guides, post bilingual translations of produce information (helpful for bothWesterns shoppers and

Chinese-Canadians who can’t speak Cantonese), and the foundation puts on cooking workshops to teach people how to use Chinese produce. In doing so, the foundation is helping to strengthen Chinatown’s position as a more accessible shopping destination. But Li’s heart still aches for the vibrant Chinatown she remembers from her childhood – a Chinatown immortalized in its waning days by the documentary EverythingWill Be, which premiered at the Vancouver International Film Festival last year. Over the course of the 85-minute ﬁlm, Julia Kwan’s camera lovingly follows Chinese business owners, 90-yearold newspaper vendors, impassive sidewalk knitters, doomed artists, chatty security guards and even condo marketer Bob Rennie (owner of Chinatown’s oldest building) as they go about their every day. In a number of cases, the camera witnesses the end of their businesses, providing a nuanced eulogy to a Chinatown that is never coming back. “It broke my heart,” recalls Li, “because they portrayed these Chinese seniors who live and work in Chinatown, and this is their whole life, this is who they are, where their community is, where they get their services,” she says. “But then I feel super hopeful when I meet a bunch of other young people who watched the same documentary and are just as upset and motivated as I am.”

THE PRICE OF DOING BUSINESS

As rents stay attractively low and Chinese-owned businesses close – either as the owners retire or competition with Richmond and lack of foot trafﬁc are felt at the till – there is no policy in place dictating what businesses can take over those spaces. Unlike the Pidgin Restaurant protests nearby in Gastown, non-Chinese businesses

that have opened in Chinatown – such as Matchstick Coffee, El Kartel Clothing, or The Pie Shoppe – are quietly accepted into the neighbourhood (although some others, like the marijuana dispensaries, are not). For Chinatown Merchants Association director Henry Tom, the hip-ening of Chinatown is helping. “Active businesses of most kinds are better than abandoned streets and empty storefronts.They do contribute to the overall revitalization.” The City ofVancouver’s 2012 Chinatown revitalization strategy identified 58 per cent of Chinatown’s client base are local residents, and that there was a need for economic diversity provided by new businesses. But the jury is still out on whether the subsequent influx of non-Chinese businesses is helping to sustain Chinatown or alter it irreparably. “I think we’re all holding our breath to see what the impact is going to be. If it’s bad, how to mitigate that,” saysTom. “If it’s good, how do we encourage more?” As you navigate the boardrooms and back rooms of Chinatown, it becomes quickly apparent which new businesses are doing a better job of reaching out to the community then others. Some receive good-natured ribbing within the Chinese community; in private, others are ridiculed more pointedly for their lack of sensitivity, not only to the neighbourhood’s native languages but the needs of the community they serve. But, so far, all seem to have earned the thick skin of success. “It’s been beyond our wildest dreams,” says Dane Brown, co-owner of Bestie, a 25-seat German sausage restaurant on Pender. “We made some projections before we opened, how, if we sell this much we’ll be able to stay open, and if we sell this much we’ll be able hire some people, and if we sell this much, well, that will be amazing. “We haven’t have a month that was below our ‘amazing’ projection,” he confides, “so we kind of count our blessings every day.” Before opening the restaurant, Brown and his business partner Clinton McDougall had lived in Chinatown for almost 10 years. “At the time we signed our lease it was in pretty rough shape on Pender Street – there were a lot of vacancies. But it sort of had this messy vitality. I don’t know if that’s the right term for it, but there’s a good vibe. Even though it’s run-down and it’s close to the Downtown Eastside, there’s life there.” Since opening in June 2013, the first-time entrepreneurs say they have started to make connections within the surrounding, tight-knit Chinese community.They preserved what signage of the original Chinese bookshop they found; MacDougall took a course in

Mandarin and is a member-atlarge of the Chinatown Historic Area Planning Committee; they buy their tea fromTheTea Shop next door; and participate each year in the Chinese New Year celebrations. Even routine gestures such as keeping their walkway neatly swept, Brown says, are appreciated by the older businesses nearby. “When we first opened, people would kind of stop and look in and look confused,” Brown recalls, “but we’d always wave at them and say hi and welcome them in. Now we’ve got a really great contingent of older Chinese fellows who like to come in and sit at the bar and have a big beer and a lunch of currywurst once or twice a week,” he continues. “I feel like we’ve been completely accepted as part of the neighbourhood.” Just few blocks away on Hastings, mother-daughter duo Grace and Rachel Chen are fast becoming the example of what many Chinatown activists would like to see other business owners emulate. Grace was a well-known face within the Save On Meats community, and Rachel is the owner of the beloved and all-welcoming Perks Cafe at 39 East Pender in Chinatown. When the Ovaltine Cafe went up for sale last year, many were afraid that the 72-yearold DTES institution, which has a continuous history of Chinese-Canadian ownership, would be closed to make way for condos or another upscale coffee shop.The two women instead bought the diner and have been slowly updating the tried and true menu and original interior over the last six months, while honouring the business’ community roots. To help achieve this balance and to manage the space, they have enlisted CorbenWinfield of Six Acres and the High Five grilled cheese window in Gastown, andTheo Lloyd-Kohls of Dunlevy Snack Bar. For Lloyd-Kohls, it’s more than just doing a friend a favour. “I moved toVancouver about six years ago,” he says, “and I’ve been coming [to the cafe] since then. It’s an institution. It’s got a lot of historical importance, and the interior – I don’t know if there’s any older open diners inVancouver like this place.” The restaurant will continue to be a spot for low-income residents to gather and grab a bite, but the new management is also taking advantage of an underutilized liquor license and adding later hours to entice the musical loving, latenight crowd from the Rickshaw Theatre across the street. “It’s hard inVancouver to run a restaurant, and to run this one, where it is, and stay afloat is hard,” says LloydKohls, “but keeping this place alive is just one way the rest of the neighbourhood can keep its culture and integrity and heritage and not change too far down one path.” W

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Downsides: Owning a house can be a lot of work.There are still a host of things we are excited to do.

Jennifer Scott A Good Chick to Know

@Jennifer_AGCTK

Ever wonder what the home of a creative dream team looks like? This month’s My Digs checks in with furniture designer, Sholto Scruton and his graphic designer wife, as we tour their Strathcona heritage house and on-site workshop. An eclectic family home ﬁlled with a mix of sought after design treasures and the artists own pieces, this space exempliﬁes what a thoughtful restoration can offer. What is it: A 1930 brick Four Square with four bedrooms and a separate studio in back with a rich history of colourful characters including bootleggers, entrepreneurs and artists. Occupant: Furniture designer and maker Sholto Scruton of Sholto Design Studio, his wife, graphic designer and writer Berit Hansen, and their son Finn. Major selling feature: The neighbourhood, Strathcona, is amazing.You know your neighbours and people say hi to each other on the sidewalk. And the workshop was the icing on the cake! First thing I changed: Within 24 hours of taking possession I ripped down a newer wall separating the living

room from the dining room to create a more open space that fit our furniture.We also had the whole place painted white, creating a clean palette to imagine what our home could be. Feature I brag about: Its proximity to downtown and the fact that we can both walk to pretty much anywhere we need to go. That one conversation piece: The upstairs bathroom reno.We did our best to replicate the original but make it suitable for 21st century living: adding a bath, shower, heated floors and more storage.With help from Richard Scott at Status Ceramics in Seattle, we replicated the 1928 tiles, and we found or designed 1930s reproduction fixtures. The décor: The house is pretty unique with a varied history, so we didn’t want to erode the integrity of the 1930 design. On the other hand, we also

appreciate a modernist style, mixing mid-century modern with contemporary design pieces. Because the house is painted white throughout , we’ve been able to introduce spots of colour and make the place more hyggelig (A Danish word that typiﬁes good living and is missing from English.) The story behind the art/ antiques/collectibles: Most of our furniture is from Berit’s parents, like her father’s 1965 Hans Wegner Papa Chair and mother’s Peter Wessel Norwegian lounge chair from the same period. A few of the pieces, like our credenza or the coffee table, I’ve built for our place. We learned on a visit to the Louisiana museum, outside Copenhagen, that we both loved the work of Poul Kjaerholm, particularly his PK22 chairs and bought the pair soon after we met. Most everything in our home is somehow connected to people we love or admire.

Neighbourhood haunts: Benny’s Market for their delicious sandwiches during the work week – I recommend the grilled soppressata Calabrese which I often eat in the Strathcona community garden orchard when the weather permits. Oyster Express for amazing grilled cheese sandwiches, Harvest for their hazelnut noodle soup, Matchstick Café for coffee and an almond croissant on the weekend and Mamie Taylor’s for their namesake cocktail and fried chicken (I have a high metabolism). Oh, I almost forgot Besties – mmm. Compared to your last place: They are very different: Our old place was a large corner apartment on the fifth floor in theWest End.We both loved it and the apartment was easy to take care of with a city view and you couldn’t have been more central.The house, on the other hand is 85 years old with lots of wrinkles and scars, as well as a ton of charm and character. Favourite apartment/house/ condo activity: We love waking up in our home, especially when our four-year old son comes into our bed with endless questions early in the morning! It sounds lame but it’s a wonderful start to the day. Plus making waffles on Saturdays and working in my studio. W

Furniture designer Sholto Scruton’s Strathcona home. Rob Newell photos

Urban Outfitters scoops up Vancouver designer’s handbags NIKI HOPE @nikimhope

Mega-retailer Urban Outfitters handpicked Vancouver designer Erin Templeton for a collaboration styled after one of her trademark boho handbags. The Urban Outfitter’s adaptation of her purse – called Mountain Mama – is made in faux leather, which puts this vegan version at a significantly lower price for the retailer’s typically young, edgy customer. “I had never done a vegan bag before,” explains Templeton. Urban Outfitters picked up the Mountain Mama design – with its signature round bottom, lengthy straps, and relaxed feel – and turned out a vegan version in camel and black.The $60 bag is significantly less than Templeton’s $385 leather one.

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“I think it’s a totally different customer to my customer,”Templeton says about Urban Outﬁtters’ version. “I feel like my customer might buy that for their daughter.” Since 1999,Templeton has been producing leather goods from imported cowhides, locally tanned elk and bison, and recycled leather. She began making leather accessories while studying shoemaking at Cordwainer’s College in London, England. She continued to study leatherwork in Australia, and once home in Vancouver, started concentrating on handbags. By 2007, her studio graduated from renting the boiler room of a local tailor shop to the actual tailor shop, where she opened her studio/storefront. Through the years, Templeton has developed a cult following of devoted customers and boutique-owners

who carry her well-crafted works, but her latest venture with Urban Outfitters is paying off for the designer, who confesses that while she considers herself ambitious, she has never been “moneyhungry.” The American retailer scooped up some of her leather goods after seeing her work at a trade show, and as a result,Templeton had one of her best seasons last year. “It was because of the Urban Outfitters’ order, on top of my regular orders as well,” she says. While Templeton isn’t motivated by a hefty paycheque, she wants to keep her operation of four full-time staff working. “I want to get into a safe place,” she says simply, summing up her goal. Having her work featured at Urban Outfitters has helped her get her name

out not just globally, but it’s also raised her proﬁle in her hometown as well. A modest and down-to-earth Templeton tells a funny story about a local woman who bought one of her leather wallets on the Urban Outﬁtters website. The woman showed it to her friend, who asked if she bought the wallet from Templeton’s store, which was just down the street. The woman had no idea that she could have just sauntered down the block to buy the wallet she had purchased online. W Templeton’s studio is located at 511 Carrall. Her website is ErinTempleton.com. To find the vegan-version of the Mountain Mama bag, visit UrbanOutfitters. com and search Erin Templeton.

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STYLE // DESIGN

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FASHION

Hey Jude opens studio on Kingsway Visit Facebook and search for Closet Crows to see images of some of the sale items.

NIKI HOPE @nikimhope

The ladies behind Hey Jude, a collection of curated vintage that is more high fashion than shabby chic, have opened their new space at 1243 Kingsway. Along with their occasional pop-ups, the duo sells their clothes online at HeyJudeShop.com and at Charlie and Lee boutique at 223 Union. They are also working on creating their own original designs. Keep an eye on this ever-expanding line, backed by two talented ladies.

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SPRING COMES TO LOFT

The LOFT spring collection is hitting stores and includes sport-inspired dressing, geometric patterns, and springtime dresses. Also, new from LOFT this season is an exclusive collaboration with Brooklyn-based artist Chris Uphues. The collaboration includes a limited edition collection of HEARTS T-shirts ($29.50). The LOFT Spring collection is available at the Park Royal, Guildford Town Centre, and Metrotown LOFT stores.

FASHION WEEK RUNS NEXT MONTH

The countdown to Vancouver Fashion Week is on. Designers will showcase their fall/winter 2015 collections from March 16 to 22, during the city’s biggest fashion event. For 24 seasons, Vancouver Fashion Week has produced a runway that celebrates multiculturalism and emerging talent. The designers line up show far to show are: Alexander Sanchez, Alex S.Yu, Blushing Designs, Connally McDougall, Hans Gallo Pohl, Haveney, Hong Kiyoung, JFG Designs, JY

There is more online

Hey Jude’s new space at 1243 Kingsway. Kim, Kate Miles, Laurence Pirnay, LaSalle College, Narumi, Noe Bernacelli, Paloma Sanchez, Teresa Farese, and Rosey Couture. For more info, visit VanFashionWeek.com

HIGH-END POP-UP

Check out the Closet Crows pop-up at 140 West Hastings until Feb. 28, where the mantra is “beautiful clothes should be loved again.” The Gastown

pop-up will feature pieces that have been gently loved by style-conscious men and women. Closet Crows is an online consignment shop for women with expensive taste but a real-world budget. Rebecca Sherlock, a newborn intensive care doctor and a mother of three daughters, founded Closet Crows. The sale features items such as Diane von Furstenberg wrap dresses, Fluevog Shoes, Kate Spade handbags, and more.

Granville Island presents

JACKSON ROWE EXPANDS LINE

Vancouver’s Jackson Rowe continues to expand its clothing line this spring. The newest collection includes the bold Isla cardi, a cream cape-like sweater that promises to ward off the evil eye. Other standouts include the earthy-toned, ankle-length Maxwell sweater and the tasseled Sakara vest. Visit JacksonRowe.ca, to see the new spring looks. W

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EAT // DRINK

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WINE FEST

Aussie Shiraz the star of 2015 VIWF about in Australia? Lots. There’s so much diversity. But I gotta say, and I am drinking it right now as we speak, Grenache from McLaren Vale.

MICHAELA MORRIS @michaelawine

What do Australian wine and lederhosen have in common? Well actually more than you might think. Besides the German influence in the Barossa Valley, Aussie-born wine educator Mark Davidson was brought up wearing leather breeches. He overcame this trauma to become one of Vancouver’s first sommeliers and was instrumental in establishing formal wine education here in BC. Today Davidson is the education director for Wine Australia. He chatted with me about the evolution of Australian wine and shares his tips for the Vancouver International Wine Festival. Australian wine used to be the number one import in BC. Now the US has top honour and Italy is vying for second place. What do you attribute this decline to? We pushed too much of the cheap and cheerful. At that end there’s not a lot of loyalty and people move on. A little bit of boredom may have set in. What’s Australia’s strategy to win back wine drinkers? Regional, regional, regional. Rather than talking Australian wine we need to do what Mondavi

Mark Davidson and the early pioneers in Napa did very well which was talk region. It’s worth spending a bit of extra money on a particular wine from a region because they specialize in whatever it is. When you get into the $15$30 range, Australia offers regionally-specific wines with tremendous character and value for money. How will this play out at the VIWF? If you look at the seminars we’re doing, the wines that are represented tell stories about region, history and the evolution that is going on with Australian wine. The strategy is the same as it has been for the last four or five years. Besides Shiraz, is there another grape variety in that you are particularly excited

Why? Badly made Grenache or Grenache-based wines can be really candied, soft and awful, and that exists in Australia. But now what we are finding is that there is better work done with the viticulture, understanding clones and managing yields. We’re getting these beautiful wines that have this savoury character, spice and structural complexity that is really necessary along with the generosity and softness of fruit that make them unbelievably juicy and delicious to drink. To someone who might be jaded about Aussie wine, what would you recommend they seek out in the tasting room to change their opinion? Try dry Riesling from Eden Valley or Clare. Pewsey Vale is the perfect example of a crisp lively Australian wine that would change your perception. Also have a look at good Chardonnay because it’s a totally different beast. They’re not the big oaky, pineapple-y styles of the past. And experiment with Shiraz. Have a look at some of these cooler

climate areas from Victoria and frankly revisit classic areas like Barossa because thing are constantly evolving.

What is the message of Aussie wine that you wish wine drinkers to walk away with? The diversity that exists in a famous wine producing country like France; that exists in Australia. Obviously Shiraz is our calling card but outside of that, we’ve got unbelievable diversity from sparkling wine through to light delicate whites and reds, full-flavoured rich wines all the way through to fortified wines. W

BY THE NUMBERS 10 days long (Feb 20-March 1) 14 wine-producing countries featured 30 venues 53 events 170 wineries taking part 1750+ different wines featured The Vancouver International Wine Festival takes place Feb. 20-March 1. Visit VanWineFest.ca for ticket and event info.

This year’s Wine Fest highlights the importance of terroir ANYA LEVYKH @foodgirlfriday

Terroir. It’s a funny word. Funny and often misunderstood. Ask three people what terroir stands for, and you’ll likely get three different answers. It has also become a popular buzzword in certain circles over the last decade, but the idea is as old as winemaking itself. Although, it’s no longer limited to winemaking. “Terroir is a sense of place, a sense of geography” says Harry Hertscheg, executive director for the Vancouver International Wine Festival. “It’s a concept that the French have championed, in that the winemaker is the custodian of what makes that place special.” The importance of place for more than just wine has been a common philosophy in Europe for generations. In countries like France, Italy and Spain, everything from cheeses and cured hams to pizza have protected desig-

nations and status based on their place of origin. “In Europe, foods tend to be named after their places, because those places are what make that ingredient special,” explains Hertscheg. Here in BC, we are more focused on the ingredient rather than the place, but that is changing, according to Hertscheg. “In North America, we’re in the early stages of understanding that food or wine comes from a place. But, I think people are ﬁnally sensitizing themselves to the idea that terroir is not a new concept, that it already exists. It’s the 100-mile diet that arose out of the concept of terroir, not the other way around.” It’s because of this shift in understanding that the Golden Mile in the South Okanagan is getting its own appellation. “It takes time to understand why that beef, that fruit, that oyster, is different because of that place,” says Hertscheg. “What John

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Shiraz vines in South Australia’s Barossa Valley. Thinkstock photos Bishop started [decades ago], what Robert Clark did at C Restaurant 15 years ago, they were early pioneers. Chefs now seem to be increasingly passionate about that.” Anyone who’s revelled in the distinctive sweet taste of Kelowna’s Stoney Paradise tomatoes or the delicate brininess of Sawmill Bay oysters, understands how place imprints on taste. And that understanding is about more than simply knowing where

an ingredient comes from or how it was grown. It’s about understanding the signiﬁcance of the sandy, rocky soil on the fruit that grows there, be it tomatoes or grapes, and what effect it has on the outcome. Terry Threlfall, an awardwinning sommelier and wine consultant, and ofﬁcial sommelier for the wine festival, concurs. “I do think there is a movement towards showcasing wines that show

that sense of place. The best wines in the world have a sense of where they’re from. Those wines tend not to be manipulated much.You want as little between the vine and the fruit that comes off of it.” That ethos of leaving things as untouched as possible, of showcasing the place, can be seen in the rising popularity of foraged, wild and “living” ingredients on local menus. (Live algae, anyone?)

The wine festival’s global focus this year is a perfect example. “The global focus is to shed light that Syrah and Shiraz are connected,” explains Hertscheg. “They’re very food-friendly, not as structured as Cabernet Sauvignon, not as light as Pinot Noir, but very diverse. We make some very precocious Syrah in the Okanagan; the vines deliver some very good ﬂavour early in the vine life, which is important. We are never going to have old-vine Syrah, like they do in France, or the old-vine Shiraz in Australia, because of our cold climate. But, the young vines seem to deliver quite a lot of ﬂavour and interest.” So, as you taste your way through the many wines and meals to come over the next few weeks, spare a thought for where, as well as what and who. It’s time to let terroir have its place in the limelight. W • The 37th annualVancouver InternationalWine Festival runs Feb.20 to March 1.VanWineFest.ca

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Rethinking the humble Shiraz Michaela Morris By the Bottle

@MichaelaWine

Like many folk, I cut my teeth on Aussie Shiraz. Speciﬁcally it was Seaview which I tasted at a preservice pow-wow during my tenure at The Fish House in Stanley Park. I couldn’t help falling for this friendly, fruit-driven charmer. It even played a part in launching my wine career. My studies have taken me well beyond Aussie Shiraz. And I’ll admit that for a while I wrote them off as all the same. Occasionally, I like being proven wrong. Australia is an enormous country pro-

ducing a whole lot of wine. Truly it’s foolish to believe that all Shiraz is made equal, yes? Indeed! Over the last few years, a parade of regionally speciﬁc Shiraz has inﬁltrated the market highlighting the differences this grape is capable of. The broad comparison is between warm climates versus cooler climates. The Barossa Valley and McLaren Vale fall into the former category. Large, luscious, rich and full-bodied, their Shiraz is chock-a-block with ripe dark fruit, luxurious tannin and heady alcohol. Despite their girth, they’re capable of balance and diversity. Sultry Hunter Valley is also decidedly warm and her velvety textured Shiraz marry chocolate with entic-

ing earthy leathery notes. Cooler regions on the other hand, tend to show more elegance and restraint incorporating savoury peppery nuances and even a ripe herbal component. In South Australia, Adelaide Hills is a great example demonstrated in particular by Longview Vineyard. The wine state of Victoria possesses plenty of cool hunting ground. In the Yarra Valley, Shiraz is sometimes even called Syrah and co-fermented with Viognier borrowing traditional practices from Northern Rhône’s Côte-Rôtie region. Check out Yering Station Village label to taste how this plays out. Then there’s Heathcote, where chilly nights moderate tempera-

tures and vines are grown on ancient greenstone soil. The resulting wines are dense and dark with ﬁrm acidity and minerality lending freshness. Tar & Roses displays this brilliantly. Australia is the theme country at this year’s Vancouver International Wine Festival and the global focus is Syrah/Shiraz. It’s the perfect storm for rekindling your relationship with Aussie Shiraz. If you do revel in the mouth coating, full-throttle fruit, you’ll have plenty to chew on. Just be prepared for some refreshing surprises. All of the wines noted above and those recommended below will be poured in the main tasting room and available for purchase on site. W

Anya Levykh Fresh Sheet

@FoodGirlFriday Brunch just got proper… The Fat Badger has launched brunch service every Saturday and Sunday, 11am-3pm. The menu will include the likes of bubble ‘n’ squeak, soft-boiled eggs, porridge and marmalade, and other UK favourites. FatBadger.ca The best of the ‘90s is back… A new champagne and dessert bar has opened in Gastown. Mosquito, located at 32 Water Street, boasts a dessert menu designed by Dominic Fortin, executive pastry chef at Whistler’s Bearfoot Bistro, champagne cocktails, select spirits, and did we mention the dessert? Open Wednesday-Sunday, 5pmmidnight. MosquitoDessert.com

2013 Wakefield Shiraz • Clare Valley, South Australia • $23.99, BC Liquor Stores Chilly evenings influence the style of Shiraz in Clare. Restrained but pure black currant flavours are offset by mint and green peppercorn. Not exuberant but definitely juicy and intriguing.

2012 Teusner, The Riebke Shiraz • Barossa Valley, South Australia • $29.99, BC Liquor Stores Concentrated cassis, blueberries, coffee and dark chocolate seduce. Rich, layered and full but never tiring, this deftly balanced Shiraz deserves some lamb.

2012 Tahbilk Shiraz • Nagambie Lakes, Victoria • $28-32, private wine stores only Black plum, leather and exotic spice with ﬁne supple tannins. Surprisingly elegant for a richer wine and especially warming with braised meat.

2010 Fowles, Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch Shiraz • Strathbogie Ranges, Victoria • $39.99 BC Liquor Stores From the cooler reaches of the Strathbogie Ranges in Victoria. Aromas of black cherry, meat and a snap of black pepper are echoed on the lush palate. Voluptuous but not tawdry. Serve with venison.

Vancouver’s favourite breakfast destination for over 10 years.

In honour of Chinese New Year and the Year of the Sheep, Wild Rice will

Night at the Aquarium is back on June 18 at 7pm. Come out and support the Aquarium’s conservation, research and education programs while enjoying food and wine from top restaurants and wineries such as Yew Seafood & Bar, Miku, Forage, Boulevard, Araxi, Bonterra Vineyards, Fort Berens, Mission Hill, Taittinger and more. VanAqua.org

ECIAL P S N -I E N I HALIBUT D

$24

Container Gardening with Victory Gardens Sunday, February 22, 2:00-3:30pm at Choices Annex, 2615 W 16th Avenue • 604.736.0009 Sunday, March 1, 2:00-3:30pm at Choices South Surrey, 3248 King George Blvd. • 604.541.3902

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On Feb. 18, come out for the ﬁrst-ever Compassion to Action pop-up dinner. Enjoy an evening of food, company and lively conversation about making compassion a passionate and active part of your life. To be held at an undisclosed private location in Kits Point. Reservations by donation, with a suggested amount of $55. Dietary restrictions can be accommodated. Guests are welcome to bring their own wine or beer. (Wine suggestions will be sent out ahead of time.) Net proceeds go to A Loving Spoonful. Facebook.com/CompassionToAction

La Pentola is taking a visit to Panzano for its next Famiglia Supper Series on Feb. 22 at 6pm. Inspired by eighth-generation butcher Dario Cecchini, La Pentola is collaborating with Windsor Meats to create a 10+ course meal featuring charcuterie, housemade sausage, slow-cooked lamb leg and stuffed pasta. Tickets $55 per person. LaPentola.ca

ORIGINAL HOME OF

Grow Food in Small Spaces:

In this workshop, container gardening will be the focus: types of containers, as well as what and when to plant and how to care for your container garden. Cost $30 plus tax each. Price includes a veggie starter pack and container, a $55 value. Prepayment and pre-registration required. For full details visit choicesmarkets.com or call the number listed with the host store.

Secret Location is continuing its Dining Journey with a special dinner featuring Chef Angus An of Maenam on Feb. 19. Tickets for this Asianthemed 10-course tasting dinner are $95, including beverages, gratuities and tax. SecretLocation.ca Faubourg Paris is launching a new crepe-focused brunch at its Park Royal location. Brunch is available every Friday through Sunday, 9:30am-3pm. Sweet and savoury options include salmon and cream cheese; ham, béchamel and gruyere; white chocolate and strawberry; and dark chocolate and banana. Faubourg.com

Only a few days remain to vote in the annual Chinese Restaurant Awards for your favourite har gow, tea-smoked duck, ﬁne dining, Shanghainese, hot pot, bakery and more. ChineseRestaurantAwards.com

2011 Xanadu Next of Kin Shiraz • Margaret River, Western Australia • $16.99, BC Liquor Stores The region of Margaret River is cooled by the Indian Ocean. Blackberry with a hint of pepper and subtle ﬂoral notes, the Next of Kin is spicy and assertive. Great value.

be offering some feature dishes ($5-$12 each), including lamb turnip cake, roasted-goat curry steam bun, lamb potstickers, and sesame seed balls with mandarin sorbet. Dishes will be available Feb. 19-22. Celebrations also include a performance on Sunday, Feb. 22 at 1pm by the Mulan Dancers. WildRiceBC.ca

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DINING OUT

From left to right: Creamy style tom yum soup with seafood; Aree Thai chef/owner Aree Niwatsikino; The original pad thai. Rob Newell photos

Aree Thai serves up budget-conscious, delicious fare Anya Levykh Nosh

@FoodGirlFriday AREE THAI

1150 Kingsway 604-709-9229 AreeThaiRestaurants.com Open Tuesday-Sunday, 5pm-10pm Like the many other ethnic mom-and-pop restaurants strewn along Kingsway, Aree Thai isn’t that prepossessing from the outside. A mix of industrial and retail peppers the block, and the restaurant sits across from the British Ex-Servicemen’s Association, a neon-clad pub that requires guests to be buzzed in through a locked door.You can’t park on the

street in the evenings until after 6pm, which explains why the restaurant tends to get busy shortly thereafter. It’s better once you step through the door. The room won’t win any design awards, but it’s clean, bright and strewn with authentic Thai wall art brought over by the owners. There’s a lot of take-out business here most nights, with a steady ﬂow of dine-in customers. I’ve yet to see it packed, but it’s rarely empty. The food here is authentic and ﬂavourful, with lots of complex layers and plenty of heat for those who want it. The beer selection isn’t impressive, but it’s the Thai iced tea ($2.95) you want to go for anyway. Laced with condensed milk and crushed tamarind seeds, it’s

the perfect accompaniment to the spicier dishes. If you really want a glass of wine, the restaurant has a surprisingly decent selection, with several Gewürtz, Pinot Gris and Riesling options that would play nicely with the citrus and coconut flavours in many of the dishes. Speaking of, start with the deep-fried fish cakes ($7.95), seasoned with chili paste and studded with minced green beans. The dipping sauce is vinegary and sweet, with tiny flecks of fresh cucumber and peanut crumbs. Tom yum, the traditional Thai hot and spicy soup, is a steal at $8.95 for a large vegetarian or chicken bowl, beautifully flavoured with lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves and galangal (a plant similar to ginger). It’s

wonderfully aromatic, with oodles of wild mushrooms, bean sprouts and vegetables. The assorted seafood ($11.95 for a large bowl) was the winner, however, with fresh, plump mussels and clams, chunks of assorted ﬁn ﬁsh, and succulent prawns. For a creamier, less spicy alternative, try the tom kha for the same price, a coconut-based version that is more earthy. That being said, you can always custom order your spice, but be warned: “mild” tends to still mean some chili pepper action, so if you’re looking to avoid them altogether, you need to spell it out. The larb ($9.96) is an interesting mix of the traditional Laotian recipe and the more pungent northern Thai style. While there is

lime juice to brighten up the minced pork (or chicken, if you prefer), it is paired with both cooked onions and raw shallots, fresh cilantro. No blood used (too bad), but it’s an earthy, almost feral dish, and might not be for those with delicate sensibilities. Served with some salad and rice, it’s a complete and delicious meal. Whatever you order, don’t miss the house pad thai ($9.96). Stir-fried noodles are tossed with tomato sauce, crumbled egg, tofu, bean sprouts and ground peanut, plus your choice of chicken, pork, beef or tofu (prawns are $2 extra). It’s an unusual and winning combination, and is large enough for four to share. It doesn’t mention this on the menu for some reason,

but the ice cream is made in-house. One night, it was pomegranate, a tangy-sweet cream that paired perfectly with the deep-fried banana ($4.95) for a classic treat. Aree is only open for dinner currently, while they search for additional kitchen help, but hopefully they’ll be back open for lunch soon, so stay tuned. W Hear Anya Levykh every Monday on CBC Radio One’s On the Coast and ﬁnd her on Twitter @foodgirlfriday and Facebook.com/FoodGirlFriday. Food: ★★★★★ Service: N/A Ambiance: N/A Value: ★★★★★ Overall: ★★★★★

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DINING OUT E XC E P T I O N A L I TA L I A N C U I S I N E

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March 12 - 14 Mike Allen Trio

Feb 26 - 28 Cam Ryga Trio

March 19 - 21 Jodi Proznick Trio

Bambudda in Gastown is celebrating Chinese New Year with their Dumpling Festival, happening Feb. 18-22. Mijune Pak photo

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Oh man! I hate writing about Chinese NewYear.Well, I don’t hate it, but I find it extremely difficult.The cuisine is so rich and deep in history and there are so many traditional foods to eat during this time. Simply making a list of three or five things barely scratches the surface, so I’m just sticking to dumplings – arguably one of the most important and popular things to eat during Chinese New Year. From perogies to gyoza to ravioli to matzah balls, dumplings take different shape and form in every city and culture. Even within China and Chinese culture there are hundreds of different dumplings depending on the region. In Vancouver, we are lucky to have an abundance of excellent Cantonese style dumplings.This is what you would find at dim sum, although they can be eaten for dinner, and if so likely in the context of home.

cheating especially if you buy them at Dinesty (Dinesty.ca). Also located in Richmond in Continental Plaza, it’s an excellent spot to buy packaged handmade Shanghainese-style dumplings.You can see them being made on the spot and there are lots of varieties, the most popular being their signature pork soup dumplings. It’s under the umbrella of Dinesty, the popular dumpling restaurant with a location in Vancouver, too. Lastly, if you want to go out, but rather do something modern and different then check out Bambudda’s Dumpling Festival, happening Feb. 18-22. Executive chef Curtis Luk is featuring a special dumpling menu symbolizing happiness (pan-seared oyster and chicken lettuce dumplings in ginger soy), longevity (steamed Szechuan scallop and black cod dumplings), prosperity (boiled pork and trufﬂe dumplings served on egg noodles), peace (fried lamb cumin curry dumplings) and love (chocolate kumquat mochi dessert dumplings). W Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter @followmefoodie.

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Dumplings symbolize wealth because they are shaped like ancient Chinese gold ingots, which are boat shaped.Traditionally they are made together as a family and eaten on NewYear’s Eve at midnight, but nowadays it’s common to just have them at dim sum. If making them at home, sometimes people will stuff one with a clean coin, and whoever gets the lucky dumpling will prosper in the new year. If you plan on going the traditional route and don’t mind waiting a long time for a table (although Chinese service is usually fast, so it might be quicker than you think), I recommend trying dumplings at Golden Paramount, Sea Harbour, Red Star Seafood, Empire Seafood, Jade Seafood, Fisherman’s Terrace or Neptune Seafood in Richmond.Yes, I tend to gravitate towards Chinese restaurants in Richmond and ﬁnd they hold a very high standard. If you want to have traditional, but get intimidated by the menu or don’t want to elbow your way for a table, then buy them and make them at home. It’s not really

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What the hell is barley wine and why should you drink it? Stephen Smysnuik The Growler @StephenSmys

You may have noticed a slew of barley wines stocked on the shelves of your beloved beer stores/breweries. If you’re anything like me, you’ve never tried the stuff and have been put off by the name. “Barley wine?” you think, surveying the beer selection and glancing at this troublesome bottle, “What the hell is that? Sounds horrid!” And so on. The truth is, people like us know very little about barley wine. Here’s what people like us know: • Central City makes a well-regarded and awardwinning barley wine called Thor’s Hammer. • Barley wine is the derelict’s choice of drink in the UK, due to its high alcohol percentage and low cost. • It occasionally comes in bottles with wax seals. That’s about it. Based on a rather ﬁrm suggestion from my editor, I decided I would drink as much barley wine as I could in a single

night and chart my progress.Y’know, like a science experiment. Poison the body and report on the effects. Classic journalism. Two things conspired against me on the evening the research was ﬁnally scheduled: 1) The night in question was Valentine’s Day and 2) barley wine isn’t the sort of drink that can be (or should be) swiftly consumed. Nor should it be drunk in the sort of quantities necessary to fuel an entertaining and educational journalistic endeavor. Barley wine, or at least the two kinds I tried – Thor’s Hammer and Parallel 49’s barrel-aged versions – are thick, heavy and very boozy. Like, 11.8-per-centABV boozy. Sipping the ﬁrst glass of Thor’s Hammer, I scanned the Journalist’s Best Friend and Most Trusted Ally, Wikipedia for some background: Barley wine is a style of strong ale originally brewed in England that typically reaches between eight and 12 per cent. It’s given the name “wine” due to its similar boozy strength to the grapey stuff, but since it’s made from grain

Barley wine: not for the faint of heart or weak of liver. rather than fruit, it’s actually a beer. Then again, Thor’s Hammer doesn’t really taste like beer. It’s thick and earthy, and a little sweet. It’s dark and intimidating, too. My wife never touched the tasting glass I gave her. In fact, it’s still sitting on the kitchen counter at the time I’m writing this. I can in no way account for it’s 92 per cent approval rating on Beer Advocate,

other than the possibility that the rabid beer nerds that constitute the website’s contributor base have seared the top layer of skin off their tongues. If this beer had an aural equivalent, it’d be Animal Collective’s 2007 song “Unsolved Mysteries”: the individual ingredients are difﬁcult to pinpoint and create a confounding and polarizing whole. To Hades with you, Thor!

By contrast, P49’s take – the latest in its Barrel Aged Series – is sweeter, fruitier, lighter, and easier to drink, and therefore far more dangerous. My wife and I sipped a glass each while chomping down a late Valentine’s Day meal via our ever-reliable purveyors of quality product at McDonald’s. By this point, I’ve stopped taking notes and am amidst a blissful, rather

befuddled sort of drunk – the result of powerful ABV coupled with cautious sipping. Malice hums at the edges though. Drink too much barley wine, or drink it too fast, and you’re in for a savage few hours, no doubt. That’s the lesson, folks: Respect the barley wine, because it won’t respect you. Also, pair with McNuggets. W

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Pratt turns personal pain into a modern folk classic LOUISE BURNS @_louiseburns_

“People are only going to pick up on however far their references go, and that’s cool,” says Jessica Pratt over the phone from her home in Los Angeles. “I like surveying the whole range of them, and I’m not offended by any of them.” She is referring to the endless comparisons that come with the buzz surrounding her sophomore record, OnYour Own Love Again, a warm and timeless folk record that dares the lazy journalist to stick “The New [Joanna] Newsom” or “freak folk revivalist” onto her name. But the truth could not be further from it. A whip-smart, brazen intellectual, Pratt has been carving her own path on

REVIEWS // JEFF BRIDGES

Sleeping Tapes (self-released)

Sleeping Tapes is an album by actor Jeff Bridges, collaborating with True Detective and Nashville composer Keefus Ciancia to create an ambient, rambling album filled with all sorts of bizarre sounds, monologues and ambience that a press release suggested was designed to “help you get a good night’s rest.” The album begins with

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her own terms since her early days in the San Francisco psyche scene. Catching the ear of Bay Area stalwart Tim Presley (White Fence), she released her debut album in 2012 on Birth Records, a label he started for the sole purpose of releasing her music. While it received critical acclaim, it was followed by a tumultuous time of transition and change in Pratt’s life: a relationship of seven years ended, and her mother passed away suddenly. Seeking solace, she packed up her things and moved to Los Angeles in 2013 as an attempt to “[embrace] the transitory aspects of it all.” In other words, she entered a period of intense and isolated creativity, a time that would spawn On Your Own Love Again.

Bridges giving an introduction/explanation. Over round, warm synthesizers, he fumbles with what we assume to be a microphone and tape recorder. “I hope they inspire you to do some cool sleep-ins, cool dreamin’, some cool wakin’ up”. The album progresses, and we are taken on a journey through Bridges’ idea of relaxing activities, including humming, perhaps a more Big Lebowski-esque take on “Om”. He welcomes his wife to the “sleep tapes”, asking her to join him in the ap-

With so much time alone for the ﬁrst time, Pratt channeled her existential crisis into something creative with the help of her guitar and a four-track. “You have to get in the zone and stay in the zone, and any interaction with people limits that – at least for me it does,” says Pratt of her lone wolf creative process. “I felt very pressured to ﬁnish [this record] for whatever reason, even before I had a label involved. I don’t know if it was a period of creation that was birthed from the new experiences that I had moving to LA, or it was just that I was focusing really hard to do it, I guess I’ll never really know.” Pratt’s songs have a timeless, warm quality to them, shrouded in mystery

propriately titled “Hummmmmm”. “I just woke up” she says reluctantly, but he eventually convinces her. The power of The Dude. On “IKEA”, he meditates on the idea of a “space cemetery”, suggesting his body will be attached to a satellite and launched into eternal orbit, flashing when it passes over memorable locations such as IKEA. Perhaps the most wonderfully outré of all would be “Temescal Canyon”, a sensory experience where Bridges describes a walk

and melancholy. It is easy to see why she is drawing comparisons to fairy folk mothers such as Linda Perhacs and Joni Mitchell. But there is more to it than that. Her biggest inﬂuences are “smooth sounding things” with an “idiosyncratic edge”. In “Back, Baby”, she plays with a slight tropicalia vibe, perhaps a result of listening to Os Mutantes in her teen years. “Moon Dude” could easily be have penned by Donovan, and the spirit of Karen Dalton is alive and well on “Greycedes”. Will Canzoneri, her engineer, added a few additional sonic layers to the record, but it is almost entirely Pratt and her guitar. Her unusual voice carries the music like a strange storyteller from an undeﬁnable

era. It’s neo-classic folk, without the pretense or preciousness, coming from the throat of a 28-year-old California girl with blonde hair and an elvish smirk. Not even a month after its release, OnYour Own Love Again has already received praise from every corner, crowning Pratt the new it-girl of folk. “I would have been totally happy to just have a small collection of likeminded people enjoy it,” says Pratt of the buzz. “It very much exceeded my expectations in a pretty extreme way. The range of people that like it is very surprising to me.” With a solid tour schedule beginning with a West Coast swing that will bring her to Vancouver on Feb. 21, there is no telling of

when she will have time to work on new music, or even have a moment to “dwell in my own universe”, a vital key to her creative process. But this doesn’t phase her. She views the future with more curiosity than anxiety. “I think you have to feel somewhat uncomfortable to really be driven to make something,” says Pratt of her future. “It’s like the same thing when people move to a city like New York – you have this sudden drive and need to survive, and maybe you do your best work because of it.” W Jessica Pratt plays with Kevin Morby at Electric Owl on Feb. 21, 8pm. Tickets starting at $12.

through a gentle canyon, running into another gentle hiker, and all sorts of majestic imagery. The album concludes with Bridges repeating the line, “We’re all in this together” like a mantra. It’s meta bed-time stories for adults; spoken word over ambient analog synths. Bridges’ sheer joy of simply being alive and in the moment is enough to turn any skeptic into a believer. –Louise Burns Rating:

★★★★★ February 19 - 25, 2015 W 13

ARTS // CULTURE

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WHAT’S ON Th/19

Fr/20

Sa/21

Su/22

Mo/23

MUSIC

COMEDY

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

THE ARKELLS Hamilton, ON rockers on tour to support their latest release High Noon with special guests Dear Rouge. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $25 at LiveNation.com

COLD WAR KIDS Long Beach, CA indie rockers on tour in support of Hold My Home with special guest Elliot Moss. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $30 at LiveNation.com

STEVE OSBORNE Vancouver Recital Society presents the classical pianist in a program of works by Beethoven and Schubert. 3pm at Chan Centre. Tickets at VanRecital.com

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

SIX ORGANS OF ADMITTANCE American musician Ben Chasny brings his own system of musical composition in support of Hexadic with special guest Elisa Ambrogio. 7pm at Electric Owl. Tickets $15 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca

THE PISTOLWHIPS Blues infused indie rock outfit from Saskatoon on tour in support of On Your Side with guests Still Creek Murder and The Spheres. 7:30pm at Media Club. Tickets at TicketWeb.ca

PI’S SUNDAY SOUL BRUNCH Pi Theatre presents Jessi Nicholson and Star Child Soul Music, kicking off a year long celebration of 30 years of fearless theatre with a southern inspired brunch and live five piece soul band. 10:30am at The Emerald. Tickets $25 at EventBrite.ca

THEATRE/DANCE BALANCHINE For the first time ever, Ballet BC brings Vancouver audiences the 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. 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

EVENTS 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.

CHEAP & FUN 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. Runs until Feb. 22.

FLIGHT FACILITIES Australian electronic music DJ/producer duo appear in support of their debut release Down to Earth. 10pm at Vogue Theatre. All ages, tickets $25 at Red Cat, Zulu, Beat Street and NorthernTickets.com

ZVULOON DUB SYSTEM Israel’s top reggae band, an emerging eight-piece outfit that sings in both English and Amharic takes the stage with special guests Twin Wave, a psych-pop band from Brooklyn. 8pm at The Imperial. Tickets $30 at ChutzpahFestival.com HYMN OF PRAISE Maestro Bramwell Tovey and the VSO present the symphonic cantata featuring three world class soloists and two of esteemed choral ensembles, Elektra Women’s Choir and Chor Leoni Men’s Choir. 8pm at the Chan Centre. Tickets at VancouverSymphony.ca

COMEDY MOSHE KASHER LA-based stand-up comedian, writer and actor named “Best New Comic” by iTunes, and “Comic to Watch” by Punchline Magazine, takes the stage for an early show. 6pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $19 at TicketFly.com or $25 at the door. 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 Zvuloon Dub System, Feb. 20

EVENTS WINTERRUPTION The truly unique winter festival returns for its 10th year with a burst of colourful art, music and dance, children’s activities, a sustainable seafood market dinner and a behind-the-scenes glimpse and taste of local beer, sake and spirits all produced on Granville Island. Runs until Feb. 22. 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.

MADE IN CHINA This ChineseCanadian exploration of cultural identity creates a collective biography through dance, music, storytelling and intimate dialogue woven between performers and the audience. 8pm at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre.com 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. 8pm at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com.

COMEDY RORY SCHOVEL LA based comedian named one of ten comics to watch in 2012 by Variety Magazine, with appearances opening for Louis CK, and a standup album called Dilation. 6pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets at NorthWestComedyFest.com TODD GLASS Philly native who has shared stages with David Cross, Louis CK, David Spade and Sarah Silverman, with appearances on The Daily Show and Chelsea Lately. 7 & 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Tickets $20 at YukYuks.com

DISPLACED EMOTION Maestro Bramwell Tovey conducts the VSO accompanied by soprano Monica Huisman in a program featuring Oswald, Lizee, Previn, Leggatt, Di Castri and Ruders. 7:30pm at Orpheum Annex. Tickets at VancouverSymphony.ca

COMEDY ROOKIE NIGHT Weekly roundup of the youngest improvisers, put to the test in front of a hungry crowd. 7:30pm at The Improv Centre. Tickets $8 at Tickets. VTSL.com

EVENTS LA PENTOLA FAMIGLIA SUPPER SERIES Join Chef Lucais Syme for the first in a series of communal 10+ course meals featuring a collaboration between La Pentola and Windsor Meats. 6pm at La Pentola at the Opus Hotel (350 Davie). Reservations encouraged, $55 per person. Email info@lapentola.ca to reserve.

CHEAP & FUN MAIN STREET: AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY The Mount Pleasant BIA hosts this free guided walking tour highlighting the unique history of the neighbourhood, focusing on architecture and the colourful characters that shaped the community over the last hundred years. 1:30pm at Heritage Hall. Free, but please register at Charmaine@mpbia.ca

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VANCOUVER’S NEW ROCK

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 COAST SALISH SINGING & DRUMMING WORKSHOP Join instructor Russell Wallace in learning the traditional social songs, drumming and dance styles in this workshop open to all ages. 7-8pm at Interurban: Gallery & Community Art Space. Admission is free. 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

Comedian Todd Glass performs Feb. 21

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February 26 to March 1 Mackin Park • Coquitlam

THEATRE/DANCE THE MOUNTAINTOP Dr. Martin Luther King’s last night on earth in a Memphis hotel is re-imagined 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.

7:30 pm, Tuesday, March 3, 2015 at the Orpheum Theatre.

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WHAT’S ON Tu/24

We/25

Th/26

MUSIC

THE DUSTBOWL REVIVAL Venice, California collective that merges old school bluegrass, gospel, pre-war blues and New Orleans swing for an infectious mash-up of traditional American music. 8pm at Railway Club. Tickets $10 at the door.

KAREN SAVOCA, PETE HEITZMAN AND SHARI ULRICH A unique double bill of the soul, R&B, roots and world duo with multi-instrumentalist Ulrich performing a solo set on fiddle, mandolin and vocals. 8pm at St. James Hall. Tickets $24 at RogueFolk.bc.ca

OLD MAN GLOOM Experimental sludge metal band from New Mexico appear in support of their new album The Ape of God with guests Coliseum and Baptists. 8pm at Electric Owl. Tickets $13 at Red Cat, Zulu, Neptoon, Highlife and Scrape Records or at TicketWeb.ca

THEATRE/DANCE

GAY NINETIES Vancouver rockers appear in support of their new album Liberal Guilt. 8pm at Fox Cabaret. Tickets $12 at EventBrite.ca

36? Calgary Peak Performance Project finalists bring their splendidly eclectic sound to the stage with special guests Derrival and The Tourist Company. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $12 at the door.

COMEDY DICK & PAUL’S FUNNY SAUCE Comedy Variety Show Reminiscent of traditional 19th century Vaudeville, this production rife with magic, burlesque, escape artistry, ventriloquism and comedy will transport audiences to a time when freak shows provided the backdrop to rambunctious crowds seeking laughs. 8pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Tickets $15 at YukYuks.com

THEATRE/DANCE CADRE A mesmerizing work from South Africa that examines what happens when the future you meet is not the one you were expecting in a story of dreams and change in a country in times of turmoil. 8pm at The Cultch Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com THE VILLAGE A one woman show by Canadian artist Tina Milo draws on real life stories to paint a mosaic of the roles modern women are often confined to, exploring why they often give up their true hopes and dreams. 8pm at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at FireHallArtsCentre.com. Runs until Feb. 28.

SKIN GAME: QUEEN OF HEARTS Travis Dudfield hosts an evening of playful burlesque featuring Villainy Loveless, Bruce Wang, Beardonce and Ava Lure. 8-11pm at The Emerald. Tickets $10 at the door.

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. 126pm Satellite Gallery. Runs until March 14.

CHEAP & FUN 12 MINUTE MAX The Dance Centre’s innovative new series showcases works lasting 12 minutes or less features four emerging artists, Francesca Frewer, Dario Dinuzzi, Julia Carr and Natalie Gan. 6pm at Scotiabank Dance Centre. Admission is free. GAME OF THRONES AT THE ANCIENT HOUSE OF BILTMORE Westeros comes to Vancouver for one night only for the first ever GOT trivia night complete with a costume contest, live music and burlesque. 7:30pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $8 at TicketWeb.ca ART & CRAFT SOCIAL A stitch n’ bitch and art jam all rolled into one where makers, crafters, artists and designers come together to knit, sew, collage, draw and paint while sharing and socializing. 7:30pm at Hot Art Wet City. Admission by donation.

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COMEDY SIMON KING Prolific writer and utterly explosive stand-up brings his sharp, socially conscious material to the stage after appearances at the prestigious HBO Comedy Arts Festival, The Comedy Network with work featured on SNL, Mad TV and The Daily Show. 8:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $15 at TheComedyMix.com

THEATRE/DANCE SISTER JUDY A popular university theology professor is rocked when a brilliant new student challengers her notions of love and devotion. 8pm at Revue Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Opening night, runs until March 21.

ART 60 SECONDS IN THE CANADIAN ARCTIC A group of paintings by artist KA Colorado; his statement on the contemporary implications of global warming and its effect on climate, that will remain for three years. Opening reception at 6pm at the Maritime Museum. MEDIUM-BASED TIME Berlin based Canadian artist Jeremy Shaw presents a black and white 16mm film of transgender voguer Leiomy Moldonado, an HD video installation and a new series of light-activa ted UV prints. Opening reception 7-10pm at Contemporary Art Gallery.

Cadre, running until March 8

Your votes. Your city.

Wanna Yuk?

Don’t miss our

2015 Best of the City Issue February 26, 2015 Westender.com

Amateur Night Wed at 8:00 Top Talent showcase Thur at 8:00 and

Headliner Shows Fridays and Saturdays at 7:00 and 9:30 Vancouver’s best stand up comedy, every Wed. thru Sat. Check us out at:

yukyuks.com 2837 Cambie (at 12th) 604-696-9857

17th Annual

GOLD WINNER Readers’ Choice

2014

February 19 - 25, 2015 W 15

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Granville Island goes Brazilian for winter fest KELSEY KLASSEN @kelseyklassen

Every year Winterruption tries to shake Granville Island up from its winter slumber, and this year, with it’s sizzling Brazilian theme and packed roster of activities, the weekend culture festival (Feb. 19-22) has likely succeeded. For four days only, South America has made its home beneath the Granville Street Bridge. “We’ve taken our inspiration [for the festival] from the Giants mural actually,” says Lisa Ono, manager of public affairs and programming for Granville Island. “It’s such an amazing addition to the island and we want everyone to come down to see it for themselves.” Giants, which was presented to the city by the Vancouver Biennale, is the largest mural ever created by Brazilian street artists Os Gêmeos. Despite its size, it took the twin brothers less than two weeks – working almost silently side by side – to transform the 23-metre-tall

silos at Ocean Concrete. Building on the sheer impact of the work, Winterruption organizers have also planned a screening of the documentary film Grey City (Feb. 20-22, various times at Emily Carr), which takes viewers to the streets of São Paulo, Brazil, where this new form of graffiti was born. Keeping that theme going, Winterruption will then transport you to Carnival with Brazilian music, dancers, food, colours... “All things Brazilian is kind of how we approached it,” says Ono. Want to know more? Here are five ways to Winterrupt your regular weekend programming:

MEET YOUR MAKERS TOUR: SPIRITS, SAKE AND HAND CRAFTED BEER

Feb. 20-22, 2-3:40pm at Granville Island Brewing, $18 Explore the “spiritual” side of Granville Island. Awardwinning travel writer John Lee takes you on a tour to meet master distillers and brew masters to learn about

the process of making spirits, artisan sake and craft beer.

CARNIVALE

Feb. 21-22, 12-12:30pm at the Kids Zone, free Dance in the streets with Mortal Coil Carnival stilt dancers and Aché Brasil performers.

MAKE MINI GIANTS

Feb. 21-21, 10am-2pm at Arts Umbrella, free Inspired by Brazilian artists, Gustavo and Otavio Pandolfo, Arts Umbrella facilitates a drop-in workshop to create vibrant human and animal Mini Giants to take home.

ONE-MAN STAR WARS TRILOGY

Feb. 19, 8pm at Performance works, $35 The Force is deﬁnitely with writer/performer Charles Ross as he single-handedly performs the entire original StarWars Trilogy in only 60 hilarious minutes.

WILLA WITH DJ BLONDTRON

Feb. 21, 9pm at Performance

From a film screening about Brazil’s thriving street-art scene to making Mini Giants as a family, Granville Island’s massive public art installation is the star of this year’s Winterruption. Contributed photo Works, $15/$19 at the door Willa’s voice is her identity; her voice carries memories, vulnerabilities, pain, sadness, happiness, and

freedom. Paired with Ryan Guldemond of Mother Mother (co-writer/producer), Willa’s new album is the birth of an electro-pop

heavyweight. DJ Blondtron opens the show. W • Tickets at GranvilleIsland. com/winterruption

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FILM & TV

Long live the web series VancouverWeb Fest showcases new era in entertainment Sabrina Furminger Reel People @Sabrinarmf

You don’t need a Netﬂix membership to understand that the way that audiences consume episodic content is changing. Heck, you don’t even need a television. Not that television is dead, but the web series sphere is undeniably alive with creativity and fearlessness – and with so many people ditching their cable subscriptions and relying instead on phones and computers for entertainment, web series (meaning serial programming produced speciﬁcally for the web) have become real contenders for viewers’ eyeballs. The web series world is a little like the Wild West. There are few restrictions. Anything goes. A lot of content creators are showing up to stake a claim, but not everyone has the guts (or the

REVIEW // FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

Starring Jamie Dornan, Dakota Johnson Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson The bestselling worldwide phenomenon ﬁnally hits the big screen and the results

budgets) to make a real go of it. But those that do are creating content that resonates and entertains. A typical web series episode (AKA, a webisode) clocks in at under 10 minutes: a perfect length in this age of short attention spans. A single webisode can be easily digested in the time it takes to wait for a bus, or binge-watched with its brethren when time and mood allow. It’s appropriate that Canada’s ﬁrst web series festival takes place right here in the 604, where the web series scene is thriving, and employs hundreds of crossgenre cast and crew. Now in its second year, the VancouverWeb Fest (VWF) celebrates programming created exclusively for the ’net. Web series viewing can be a largely solitary pursuit, but VWF gives fans and creators the opportunity to enjoy webisodes from local, national and international series on a big screen in a room packed with like-minded individuals. It’s the perfect opportunity to sample dozens of web series and build a viewing list for the rainy days and weeks ahead. VWF is broken down into nine viewing blocks comprised of up to nine webisodes. My absolute favourite blocks are

couldn’t be more bland. The “story” is as basic as they come – young mogul Christian Grey (Dornan) seduces socially awkward college virgin Anastasia Steele (Johnson) and opens her horizons, so to speak, exposing her to the kinky world of sexual domination and submission. For a ﬁlm that promises

the two 9:30am ones, during which free coffee and donuts are served to bleary-eyed (read: hungover) ticketholders – but even the bribe-free blocks are appetizing, too. If you’re curious about the web series world but you’re not sure which VWF blocks to attend, my advice is to start local. Vancouver is a hotbed for web series development, and our locally made productions are some of the slickest in the biz. Here are my top picks for the 2015VancouverWeb Fest.

RELATIONSH*T

This brilliantly executed take on modern relationships stars Robin Dunne (of Sanctuary and Space Milkshake fame) and Farrah Aviva as a couple one year into their relationship who’ve recently moved in together. Suddenly knee-deep in the titular relationshit, they turn to couples counseling to make it through to the next stage. Screening Block 8

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PARKED

Nightwing: Prodigal is a fan series based on the DC Comics character of the same name (AKA, The Sidekick Formerly Known the hottest on-screen sex of the year, the movie takes forever to get to the goods. We’re forced to sit through endless prattle masked as character development and pointless manufactured tension. When the sex ﬁnally does begin, it’s average R-rated fare that is instantly forgettable.

Individually, Dornan and Johnson are formidable actors but casting them in a ﬁlm that demands dripping sexual chemistry is the movie’s biggest blunder. Their interactions are painfully forced and it’s genuinely laughable that the pair would make an ideal match in the bedroom. Of course, there are a

NIGHTWING: PRODIGAL – THE SERIES

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Tickets $16. Please contact Seafair Minor Hockey for details.

as Robin). Don’t let the “fan series” label kid you into thinking this is anything less than awesome: Nightwing: Prodigal is atmospheric, action-packed, and addictive, and series star Brady Roberts – a former professional wrestler – hits all the superhero notes. Screening Block 3 PARKED is easily one of the best web series around: about a group of dads who’re more Trailer Park Boys than Full House. Full of ROFLMAO and NSFW moments, this binge-watch-worthy laugh-fest is packed with toptier local talent – David Lewis, Peter Benson, Matty Granger, Julia Benson, Kirby Morrow,

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Partial proceeds go towards supporting Seafair Minor Hockey.

Robin Dunne and Farrah Aviva star in Relationsh*t. Contributed photo S. Siobhan McCarthy, Sean Amsing, Sonja Bennett – and was directed by Peter DeLuise. Screening Block 1

FOOLS FOR HIRE

Fools for Hire follows the misadventures of Nick and Mike, a couple of hapless corporate entertainers. Chock full of pop culture references and ridiculous scenarios pulled from real life (series co-stars Nick Harrison and Mike Cavers are, among other things, bona-fide corporate entertainers), Fools for Hire is a great gateway drug into the web series sphere. Screening Block 2 If you’re already a connoisseur of web series fare few bright spots. The first half of Fifty Shades of Grey does have some amusing comedy, but it’s difficult to decipher whether the jokes are intentional or the script’s ridiculous dialogue is just so hilariously bad. Vancouver (doubling as Seattle) is also showcased beautifully in many scenes. In the end, there is

and are interested in making the jump from fan to creator, VWF is serving up some practical knowledge by way of a number of industry workshops and panels. Learn about reverse workﬂows, sound design, business plans, rights and clearances, distribution, on-set safety, and much more – and then spend the next year working on your web series, and screen the resulting webisodes at next year’s fest. W The Vancouver Web Fest runs March 6-8 at Performance Works (1218 Cartwright). Tickets and schedule at VancouverWebFest.com.

practically nothing compelling enough to justify this as a feature ﬁlm and it’s downright embarrassing for a screenplay to actually be worse than the horrible source material. Though it’s sure to rake it in at the box ofﬁce, you’re better off sticking with 9½ Weeks. W –Thor Diakow

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LIFESTYLES //

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HEALTH

Kick your sugar addiction Patty Javier Gomez Whole Nourishment

@WholeNourishBC When we think of an addiction we tend to think of the most extreme case scenario. Heroin, alcohol, cigarettes, crack, or just maybe caffeine. But sugar is right up there, in fact you might as well be tying off your arms because it is as addictive as heroin and can be just as hard to get off the stuff. It’s in your food supply and your dealer?The grocery store. If you aren’t already addicted, chances are that you probably have been at some point in your life. Now I don’t mean adding too much to your daily coffee or having a hankering for desserts.Yeah, those things are deﬁnitely a part of it, but I am talking about the kinds of sugar that aren’t necessarily listed or easy to decipher on “nutrition” labels. Sugar is added to everything these days! From fruit juices, soft drinks, sports drinks, to anything that is lowfat or fat free, and even baby formula (get them hooked while they are young I guess?). Of course, anything that is processed has added sugar,

this is why fast food – even the “healthier” options – is contributing to obesity. And no, Splenda and all the other weird sugar substitutes and alternatives are not the answer.They are nothing but aspartame or highly-processed crap (like agave nectar) that will slowly kill you as well. So what is sugar? Not all sugars are created equal and because there are so many sugars and sweeteners out there it is hard to ﬁgure out what you should stay away from. Let’s break it down for us science-y folks: Dextrose, fructose, and glucose are known as simple sugars. Glucose and dextrose are the same thing but manu-

facturers will put dextrose on their ingredient list.The difference between all these sugars is how your body metabolizes them. Glucose is the form of energy every cell in your body, every bacterium – and in fact, every living thing on the earth needs to use for energy. Simple sugars can be combined together to make complex sugars such as sucrose. An example would be table sugar, which is made up of half fructose and half glucose. Are you with me so far? In today’s world, unfortunately, fructose is the added sugar of choice, not glucose.This is a problem for a number of reasons: Our bodies metabolize it different

than glucose putting a pretty big burden on your liver, and because we are consuming it in such high quantities the negative effects are profound. Here are just a few reasons sugar is not your friend: • Impedes immune system • Sugar is stored as fat in the body (there you have it folks, fat does not necessarily make you fat) • Puts a strain on your pancreas • Causes insulin resistance (Would you like a side of Type 2 diabetes with that?) • Lets bad opportunistic bacteria like candida overthrow the good bacteria in your gut causing digestive problems,

eczema, yeast infections and all sorts of skin issues, to name a few

RECIPE //

Now, I won’t sugar coat it for you (pun intended), it ain’t easy coming off sugar.You will be cranky withdrawing, and no amount of Buffy theVampire Slayer will be able to get your mind off it, you will want that sweet sweet release that is cake or soda or whatever your vice is, but remember so will all that bad bacteria that has overgrown in your gut, don’t give them the satisfaction! Candida be damned! Long live the good ﬂora, may you ﬂourish and overtake the gut throne! Side note: Fruits also contain fructose, but the whole fruit also contain vitamins and other antioxidants that reduce the hazardous effects of fructose.The problem with fructose is that we over exceed the daily consumption by 300 per cent through the crappy non-foods we eat.

Ingredients 1 cup gluten-free rolled oats ¼ cup ground flaxseeds 3 tbsp raw shelled pumpkin seeds 2 tbsp chia seeds 6 tbsp almond butter (or any other nut butter) 3½ tbsp honey ¼ tsp. vanilla extract 2 tbsp goji berries Pinch sea salt Large pinch fresh orange zest Pinch of cinnamon

Things you can do: • Keep healthy snacks close by • Improve your sleeping habits (bad sleeping patterns can be linked to sugar cravings) • Eat more starchy veggies (sweet potatoes, yams), as this will help you curb cravings for those after dinner sweet treats • Drink more water • Add healthy fats W

GOJI BALLS

Instructions • In a large bowl, combine oats, flaxseeds, pumpkin seeds and chia seeds; mix well. Set aside. • In a separate bowl, combine almond butter, honey and vanilla extract; mix well to combine then transfer to the oat mixture and mix well. Use your hands to get everything mixed evenly. • Add goji berries, sea salt and orange zest and cinnamon, roll mixture into small balls about and place in the fridge until ready to serve.

What to do with your pass when the mountains are bare Stephanie Florian Play Outdoors

@PlayOutdoorsVan For two years in a row our local mountains have suffered. Between temperature inversions and the wrath of El Niño, alpine pass holders are losing faith in the snow gods. As the season progresses with little hope on the horizon, here are a few suggestions for getting the most out of your pass while our mountains are on standby.

As depressing as it sounds, Grouse Mountain is the only mountain currently offering anything in the way of alpine terrain. Riders can release their snow stress in the Paradise Bowl Jib Park which is open on a day to day basis depending on how much snow Grouse can move around. Mount Seymour is offering season pass holders some options that include reciprocal deals at other mountains and a 100 Day Guarantee. Meanwhile, Cypress Mountain has its Season Pass Assurance Program, and is offering up free skiing at

sister resorts, including Crystal Mountain inWashington State. If the funds to travel are not in your ﬁnancial forecast why not get creative? Snow or no snow, make it a season you’ll never forget.

START A SOCIAL MEDIA MOVEMENT

Invest in a GoPro or an action camera and video document our lack of snowfall. For example, hit the Grouse Jib Park and initiate a friendly competition to see who can capture the best footage from #TheSeasonThatNeverWas. Hint: shoot as much brown

All new consultations will receive one complimentary:

THE POWER OF POSITIVE THINKING

Hike to the peak of your favourite mountain and practice snowga or meditate. Chalk full of great beneﬁts, meditation is the practice of sitting in silence to clear the mind and open channels of universal possibil-

ity. Imagine if, as a collective, we surrendered ourselves to the elements and asked for abundance. You never know, we might just get some new snowfall and a second chance.

GET CRAFTY!

Create something funky and fun with your season pass. Pick up some Shrinky Dink ink jet photo paper at your local Michael’s and make a cool necklace out of your 2014/2015 season pass. Mod Podge is another way to keepsake your memories of El Niño. Not only is this a fun activity, but will make a unique fashion piece.Wear it out at your

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next soirée or sell it on Etsy and save up for a trip to a BC resort that actually has a base and even fresh powder. Big White Resort veteran snow host Keith Sheppard says, “with global warming, I wonder if Canada will be one of the last spots where we still get snow.We’ll have to see how that goes, but I moved to Big White from Vancouver for the powder, the trees and the wide variety of groomed runs”. The rest of the ski season is still unwritten. In the meantime, while we wait on standby, robbed by El Niño, have some fun by getting creative. W

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REAL ESTATE //

@WESTENDERVAN

Rob Joyce & Sales Associate Roger Ross

West End Specialists Nobody knows the West End better!

Sales Associate Roger Ross

West End Specialist Rob Joyce

MLS Diamond Master Medallion Award 2014

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Sandpiper 1740 Comox #1503 OPEN: SUN 2:00 - 2:30

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Two Bedroom Strata New Listing 1127 Barclay Coming Next Week Beautiful

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WEST WEST COAST COAST

Penthouse 2 1855 Nelson West of Denman Houselike 18’x16’ patio deck 2 bdrm + den + loft. 20 ‘ cathedral ceilings, 1219 sf. & 3 patio decks. Everything you desire. Pets OK. $669,900.

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LIFESTYLES //

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REAL ESTATE

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When Vancouver city council created the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association (DVBIA) 25 years ago, on Feb. 17, the intent was deter crime, keep the city clean and basically improve both the business climate and livability downtown. On all those fronts, the initiative, which now costs taxpayers $2.5 million annually, appears to be a good investment. Squished between the West End BIA, the Robson Street BIA, the Gastown BIA and theYaletown BIA, the DVBIA covers 90 blocks of the downtown peninsula and is funded through a tax on commercial property. Only two BIAs existed in Vancouver when the DVBIA was founded: in Gastown and in Mount Pleasant.Today, there are 22 in the city of Vancouver and 75 provincewide. And while the DVBIA can tout major successes, such as advocating to host the 2010 Winter Olympic Games and revitalizing Granville Street, it also tackles initiatives that other business improvement

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Gauthier said. Commercial property owners fund the six-employee organization by paying what Gauthier estimates to be about $0.50 per square foot per year.The City of Vancouver collects the tax and distributes it. It also requires BIAs to annually submit audited ﬁnancial statements. DVBIA surveys show that when people come downtown for a reason other than work, it tends to be, in order, for entertainment, dining, then shopping. So, that has spurred the DVBIA to spend about $200,000 annually to help sponsor events, such as the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival, the BMO Vancouver Marathon and various ﬁlm festivals. “The downtown Vancouver brand is strong, based on surveys we’ve done,” Gauthier said, adding that they’ve seen a 15 per cent increase in those who feel safe downtown since 1997. “Downtown is the place to be. It’s a destination.To a large extent, we’re stewards of the brand.” W –Story by Business inVancouver

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associations around the world do not focus on. “One of the big differentiators between us and other BIAs is our loss prevention program,” DVBIA CEO Charles Gauthier told Business in Vancouver. “The only other BIA that has started doing it in the past year has been South Granville BIA. Robson Street BIA does it a bit but, on the international scene, I’m not aware of anyone doing this. Gauthier’s organization contracts six Securiguard workers to roam the downtown core, go in shops and try to detect shoplifters.That work leads to about 500 arrests each year and hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of rescued merchandise, Gauthier said. The DVBIA also contracts Securiguard to provide up to 12 city ambassadors, whose main role is to interact with the DVBIA’s 8,000 members and provide directions and other tips to tourists. A separate contracted-out “clean team” picks up litter and power-washes sidewalks, which is something that the City of Vancouver does not do,

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MT. PLEASANT 1 BDRM PENTHOUSE $264,800, 406-570 E 8TH AVE

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TOWER GREEN AT WEST IN FALSE CREEK, $362,241 317-159 W 2ND AVE

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Kris Pope

604-689-8226

$738,800

Steps to the seawall and all that Yaletown has to offer, this beautiful 2 bedroom plus den apartment in Parkview Gardens, with 1260 SF offers amazing views of False Creek and the city. Amenities include swimming pool, hot tub, sauna and gym. Conveniently located steps to the Canada Line, 1 block from the seawall, Urban Fare, restaurants and shops in the heart of Yaletown.

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104-1010 CHILCO ST.

Christine Saulnier

$555,000

West of Denman – steps to English Bay, Stanley Park & seawall. Garden level 2 bdrm, 2 bath 1,048 sq.ft. suite that feels like a small house. Some updating, leaving room for your personal stamp. Private street entrance, parking & storage included. Pets welcome, rentals unrestricted in this wellmaintained, smoke-free building.

Gloria Chamberlain

604-250-9177

604-263-1144

christine.saunier@gmail.com www.christinesaulnier.com

3208-1495 RICHARDS ST.

$608,000

713-1333 HORNBY ST.

$249,900 VIEWS TO ENGLISH BAY. Bright SouthWest top floor unit. Completely updated with re-designed kitchen & full-sized appliances. Breakfast bar, sleeping nook & easy care finishes. Enjoy the view from large bay window with skylight and balcony. Great investment property.

VIEW - AZURA 2 Compact and beautiful with gorgeous English Bay view from this high floor, 1 bedroom with large den. Balcony, in-suite storage plus parking and locker. Check out our website, www.dexterrealty.com for current market condition updates.

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1501-212 DAVIE ST.

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1743 sq. ft. fab floorplan + 257 sq. ft. terrace 2-9’x9’ ensuites w/ soaker tubs & sep shower Spacious 3rd bedroom for office of guests Entertainer’s living. Dining for 8-10 guests Custom kitchen, cabs, granite & stainless steel Rainscreened/warranty/new plumbing • New common areas, gym, pool. 2 parking, pet ok • • • •

Live mortgage free by Stanley Park Bright Top floor remodeled studio Upgraded kitchen, refreshed bathroom Oak wood floors. Steps to Beach Well managed co-op. No smoking

1975 PENDRELL $229,900 1020 HARWOOD Westender.com

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1010 BURNABY

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Approx 800 sq. ft. 1 BR (or 1 + den) Adjacent to Stanley Park, 2 mins to bay Bright, needs a complete makeover Prestigious concrete co-op building Fantasitc lifestyle location. 35% down

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Concrete bldng 2 BR 2 bath, Sunny SE corner View from LR, DR, Kitch & 2nd BR New kitchen with stainless steel Open plan w/gorgeous granite counters Rich American walnut engineered floors Gas FP feature wall, cozy dining room alcove MBR w/prof closet organizers. No rentals.

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Mabel and I work hard and play harder. But at home, we enjoy relaxing to our heating and cooling system. Connected to advanced metering technology and occupancy-detecting thermostats, these ultra efficient radiators deliver complete climatic control. So that we can help our environment, and pay for only the energy we use. Plus, it’s incredibly sleek. It’s unexpected for downtown living, and what we love about Addition.

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Today’s Drive: 2015 Jaguar XF AWD

Something unique and special

buy if you wanted a car that self-changed both oil and coolant by leaking both all over your driveway. Like all modern complicated luxury sedans, I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of a service bill in ﬁfteen years time. However, under parent-company Tata’s control, both Jaguar and Land Rover have improved by – pardon the pun – leaps and bounds, to the point where they’re not far off the German competition. And if you’re going to lease one during the warranty coverage period anyway, it’s up to your service adviser to keep a stiff upper lip. Compared to the ﬂeets of 5-series and E-class Mercedes-Benzes I passed, the XF did indeed feel like something unique and special. Just the job a Jaguar’s supposed to do.

BRENDAN MCALEER @brendan_mcaleer

The F-Type, the F-Type, the F-Type. Ever wonder how Emma Watson’s sisters feel? Well, the Jaguar XF does. However, while the pretty two-door sportscar gets all the paparazzi’s attention, the four-door sedan continues to best it in sales. There’s a practicality here, one that’s doubled by traction provided by all-wheel-drive. The XF, then, is the Jaguar bought by those who want a little everyday liveability with their style. However, without the glittering halo cast by the spotlight, how does this more-sensible Jaguar hold up in the ordinary world?

DESIGN

First off, no, it’s not quite as gorgeous as the F-Type, but the XF is no shrinking violet. It’s not a fussy shape, a silhouette made with classic English understatement, but there’s just enough standing out here to be unique. The side vents are betterexecuted than some of the German competition, the grille isn’t so large as to be overbearing but adds a nice bright spot of chrome, and the snarling, red-ringed Jaguar’s head in front takes the place of beat-you-overthe-head-with-it aggression you ﬁnd in other marquees. It’s an older design, but one that’s aged well. This being the Luxury model, the wheel choice is a 19-inch multi-spoke alloy that’s again not all that fussy. If you’d like your cat’s-paws to have a little more claw, the Sport versions have really great-looking 20-inch grey wheels.

ENVIRONMENT

Powering up the XF is done by pressing a “beating” red starter button for a second or so, causing the engine to ﬁre and the air-vents to slowly rotate open. It’s a neat bit of theatre, similar to that found inside the F-Type. However, the XF is a bit more like the now-defunct XK coupe on the inside. There’s nothing about the

FEATURES

As mentioned, the XF is a little behind the times in terms of infotainment. The touchscreen navigation works just ﬁne, but hooking up an iPod took a little longer than expected, and there was no Bluetooth streaming audio. However, for 67,500, this Luxury-level XF came with a 10-speaker audio system, a stop-start system, and a backup camera. It also had an optional heated windscreen, which might not be an absolute necessity in the lower mainland. Fuel economy for allwheel-drive and a supercharged V6 isn’t bad, rated at 13.9L/100kms city and 8.8L/100kms highway. And observed economy hit right between those parameters, thanks to some mild weather.

interior that jumps out at you as a wow factor, and the navigation and infotainment screen is a little on the small side. There’s Old World, and then there’s getting a little bit old. The XF was launched in 2008 as a 2009 model, and on the inside at least, it’s now out-styled by the competition. However, taste is a subjective thing, and there’s something to be said about the simplicity of the Jaguar’s controls, dial-shifter, and generally uncluttered layout. Were it not for the way infotainment functionality is impacted by being squeezed a bit by that small touchscreen, the ergonomics would be just ﬁne.

PERFORMANCE

Jaguar offers the XF in Canada with a 2.0L turbo engine making 240hp, a 3.0L supercharged V6 making 340hp, and a 5.0L supercharged V8 making 510hp. This week’s tester had the middle option, and while I brieﬂy wished for the bonkers V8, the feeling went away every time I drove past a gas station. The supercharged six is a lovely little motor, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission that’s also well up to the task. This being the Luxury model, both the ride

GREEN LIGHT

The XF is the Jaguar bought by those who want a little everyday liveability with their style. and feel of the drive are a little on the soft side, a little of that grace that forms the old Jaguar byline of Grace, Pace, and Space. Punt the car into sport mode and start asking for a little more from the engine and transmission, and the XF responds with surprising alacrity. While not as fresh as the aluminum-intensive construction that’s coming

our way with the new XE sedan and F-Pace crossover, the XF’s chassis is actually very ﬁnely tuned. The all-wheel-drive system has no issues putting the power down from a launch, where the XF feels considerably faster than its quoted 0-100km time of 6.4 seconds. Once on the move, the system reverts to a rear-drive bias that hustles quite nicely,

even if this is the softer, luxury model. The steering isn’t super-communicative, feeling like it’s tuned primarily for comfort, but there’s plenty of grippy conﬁdence here to be had. And while we’re on the subject of conﬁdence, let’s talk about the Anglo-Indian Elephant in the room: reliability. Traditionally, Jags have been just the thing to

Good feature load-out; smooth, comfortable ride; easy-to-use infotainment; excellent space.

STOP SIGN

Sedate interior styling; cramped infotainment; retained value and reliability not as good as the competition.

THE CHECKERED FLAG

A nicely-equipped and styled alternative to the ubiquitous German offerings. Pip-pip, eh what? W

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SEX

Free Will Astrology By Rob Brezsny There are many different facets to your intelligence, and each matures at a different rate. So for example, your ability to think symbolically may evolve more slowly than your ability to think abstractly. Your wisdom about why humans act the way they do may ripen more rapidly than your insight into your own emotions. In the coming weeks, I expect one particular aspect of your intelligence to be undergoing a growth spurt: your knowledge of what your body needs and how to give it what it needs.

What is the proper blend for you these days? Is it something like 51 per cent pleasure and 49 per cent business? Or would you be wiser to shoot for 49 per cent pleasure and 51 per cent business? I will leave that decision up to you, Taurus. Whichever way you go, I suggest that you try to interweave business and pleasure as often as possible. You are in one of those action-packed phases when fun dovetails really well with ambition. I’m guessing that you can make productive connections at parties. I’m betting that you can spice up your social life by taking advantage of what comes to you through your work.

In 1900, the world’s most renowned mathematicians met at a conference in Paris. There the German whiz David Hilbert introduced his master list of 23 unsolved mathematical problems. At the time, no one had done such an exhaustive inventory. His well-defined challenge set the agenda for math research throughout the 20th century. Today he’s regarded as an influential visionary. I’d love to see you come up with a list of your own top unsolved problems, Gemini. You now have extra insight about the catalytic projects you will be smart to work on and play with during the coming years.

“Spanipelagic” is an adjective scientists use to describe creatures that typically hang out in deep water but float up to the surface on rare occasions. The term is not a perfect metaphorical fit for you, since you come up for air more often than that. But you do go through phases when you’re inclined to linger for a long time in the abyss, enjoying the dark mysteries and fathomless emotions. According to my reading of the astrological omens, that’s what you’ve been doing lately. Any day now, however, I expect you’ll be rising up from the Great Down Below and headed topside for an extended stay.

When faced with a big decision, you might say you want to “sleep on it.” In other words, you postpone your final determination until you gather more information and ripen your understanding of the pressing issues. And that could indeed involve getting a good night’s sleep. What happens in your dreams may reveal nuances you can’t pry loose with your waking consciousness alone. And even if you don’t recall your dreams, your sleeping mind is busy processing and reworking the possibilities. I recommend that you make liberal use of the “sleep on it” approach in the coming weeks, Leo. Revel in the wisdom that wells up in you as you’re lying down in the dark.

In 1962, Edward Albee published his play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? It won numerous awards and is still performed by modern theater groups. Albee says the title came to him as he was having a beer at a bar in New York City. When he went to the restroom, he spied the words “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” scrawled in soap on the mirror. I urge you to be alert for that kind of inspiration in the coming days, Virgo: unexpected, provocative, and out of context. You never know when and where you may be furnished with clues about the next plot twist of your life story.

Edward III, a medieval English king, had a favorite poet: Geoffrey Chaucer. In 1374, the king promised Chaucer a big gift in appreciation for his talents: a gallon of wine every day for the rest of his life. That’s not the endowment I would have wanted if I had been Chaucer. I’d never get any work done if I were quaffing 16 glasses of wine every 24 hours. Couldn’t I instead be provided with a regular stipend? Keep this story in mind, Libra, as you contemplate the benefits or rewards that might become available to you. Ask for what you really need, not necessarily what the giver initially offers.

To make the cocktail known as Sex on the Beach, you mix together cranberry juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, peach schnapps, and vodka. There is also an alternative “mocktail” called Safe Sex on the Beach. It has the same fruit juices, but no alcohol. Given the likelihood that your inner teenager will be playing an important role in your upcoming adventures, Scorpio, I recommend that you favor the Safe-Sex-on-the-Beach metaphor rather than the Sex-on-the-Beach approach. At least temporarily, it’s best to show a bit of protective restraint toward the wild and sometimes erratic juvenile energy that’s pushing to be expressed.

In Herman Melville’s short story, Bartleby, the Scrivener, a lawyer hires a man named Bartleby to work in his office. At first Bartleby is a model employee, carrying out his assignments with dogged skill. But one day everything begins to change. Whenever his boss instructs him to do a specific task, Bartleby says, “I would prefer not to.” As the days go by, he does less and less, until finally he stops altogether. I’d like to propose, Sagittarius, that you take inspiration from his slowdown. Haven’t you done enough for now? Haven’t you been exemplary in your commitment to the daily struggle? Don’t you deserve a break in the action so you can recharge your psychospiritual batteries? I say yes. Maybe you will consider making this your battle cry: “I would prefer not to.”

“All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.” That’s what American philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson advised. Even if you’re not naturally inclined to see the potential wisdom of that approach, I invite you to play around with it for the next three weeks. You don’t need to do it forever. It doesn’t have to become a permanent fixture in your philosophy. Just for now, experiment with the possibility that trying lots of experiments will lead you not just to new truths, but to new truths that are fun, interesting, and useful.

Making love and the art of safe sext Sex with Mish Way

@MyszkaWay I finally figured out how to use my stupid email, so this week I’m responding to readers’ sexy questions. If you have a question about love, sex, or life, email me at sex@ westender.com and I’ll give you my two cents. What’s your thought on the phrase “making love”? Is there a difference between that and fucking? My boyfriend and I argue about it all the time. Oh, the constant debate of what to call sex.What exactly is it you and your boyfriend fight about? I don’t want to assume things based on your gender so I’m just going to let it fly and go with how I handle the terminology. My husband and I have a lot of inside jokes going between us. I think that’s just what happens when you spend 24/7 with someone and those jokes continue even into your sex life. We do not fight about the debate between “making love” or “fucking” because when you have solidified mutual respect, it’s not even a question. I think that’s probably where your problem lies: “making love” (even though it can be corny and bring thoughts of a Danielle Steel novel) assumes that the act of sex is respectful and loving, while “fucking” on the other hand sounds aggressive, possessive and, if you are the one being fucked and not doing the fucking, can feel degrading. When I spent a week with the porn star Jesse Jane, she

told me that she does not like intimacy, she only wants to be fucked - even in her personal life.That whole idea of “making love” repulses her. Maybe that’s her own subconscious issue, but when it comes down to sex, it’s deeply personal. Sex has power dynamics (just like every other relationship in this world) but it hits us hard in our deepest hole (pun totally intended). Making love seems to encompass a respect whereas fucking assumes the power is in the hands of one body. It does not have to be that way, of course, it’s all how you look at it. I think fucking is an empowering term and it’s all about your own perspective. I don’t know about you, but I always fuck back even when I am being fucked or else it just isn’t very fun. Sex is about pleasure, so instead of arguing about the two seemingly opposed terms, just talk about your relationship. It sounds like the ﬁght is coming from somewhere deeper and maybe that will end up ﬁxing your whole battle.Talking and sex: the two greatest things a couple can do. Open up that mouth and get started. I love sexting but I am constantly in fear of people seeing what’s going on on my phone, because my kids, my colleagues, they all have access to my phone at certain times. I would like to assume that most people do not snoop, but I’m a little paranoid of dick pics and sexual texts being seen. What should I do? I think that many people share this common fear. I, personally, am of the school

that you have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to sexting and flirting via your iPhone, while also realizing there are many things you want to keep private, especially when your co-workers and your children are concerned. Last thing LittleTimmy needs to see if some graphic photo forcing you to have a conversation about sex you were hoping would not happen for at least a few more years. I recently got tipped off to this new app called Plume. Right now it’s only available for the iPhone, but I believe the creators are working on an Android version too. Basically, this app (which is password protected) allows you to sext with as many people as you like while safety storing all your nude photos, graphic content and sexts within the app and not anywhere else on your phone.There is a “Boss Button” which you hit and the screen automatically turns black. Plume also has 400 sensual and sexual emojis that go beyond the fisted hand and the eggplant we all know to appeal to a much more diverse and sexually mature audience (adult emojis, you get it). For singles on the make, there’s a “Virtual Best Friend” (a switch you turn on which sends you a notification when you start to drunk text someone you warned the system you should not be texting) and a safe blocking feature that insures you can rid those you no longer want to sext without the same animosity “blocking” someone normally causes. I suggest you download Plume and give it a try. Happy sexting! W

The art of the French Aquarian painter Armand Guillaumin (1841-1927) appears in prestigious museums. He isn’t as famous as his fellow Impressionists Paul Cézanne and Camille Pissarro, but he wielded a big influence on them both. His career developed slowly because he had to work a day job to earn a living. When he was 50 years old, he won a wad of free money in the national lottery, and thereafter devoted himself full-time to painting. I’m not saying you will enjoy a windfall like that anytime soon, Aquarius, but such an event is possible. At the very least, your income could rise. Your odds of experiencing financial luck will increase to the degree that you work to improve the best gifts you have to offer your fellow humans.

“It isn’t normal to know what we want,” said pioneering psychologist Abraham Maslow. “It is a rare and difficult psychological achievement.” That’s the bad news, Pisces. The good news is that you may be on the verge of rendering that theory irrelevant. In the coming weeks, you will be better primed to discover what you really want than you have been in a long time. I suggest you do a ritual in which you vow to unmask this treasured secret. Write a formal statement in which you declare your intention to achieve full understanding of the reasons you are alive on this planet.

Feb. 19: Jeff Daniels (60) Feb. 20: Kurt Cobain (48) Feb. 21: Ellen Page (28) Feb. 22: Drew Barrymore (40) Feb. 23: Dakota Fanning (21) Feb. 24: Bill Bailey (51) Feb. 25: Chelsea Handler (40)

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