Westender - March 19, 2015 by Westender

MARCH 19-25 // 2015

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Spring Style

• HOT SPOTS FOR COLD DESSERTS • • SONITA HENRY HAS THE FACE OF THE FUTURE • • ADVENTURES IN HOMEBREWING • NEWS // ISSUES • STYLE // DESIGN • EAT // DRINK • MUSIC // ARTS • FILM // TV • HEALTH // SEX

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

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News4 Vancouver Shakedown4 A Good Chick to Know5 Spring Style6 Downtown Granville8 Cambie Street9 Shop Talk9 Nosh10 Follow Me Foodie11 Fresh Sheet11 By the Bottle13 The Growler13 What’s On14 Music16 Arts17 Reel People18 Real Esate19 Whole Nourishment23 Play Outdoors23 Drive24 Horoscopes25 Sex with Mish Way25 WESTENDER IS A DIVISION OF LMP PUBLICATION LIMITED PARTNERSHIP. ALL MATERIAL IS COPYRIGHTED AND CANNOT BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER. THE NEWSPAPER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO REJECT ANY ADVERTISING WHICH IT CONSIDERS TO CONTAIN FALSE OR MISLEADING INFORMATION OR INVOLVES UNFAIR OR UNETHICAL PRACTICES. THE ADVERTISER AGREES THE PUBLISHER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF ERROR IN ANY ADVERTISEMENT BEYOND THE AMOUNT PAID FOR SUCH ADVERTISEMENT. WE COLLECT, USE, AND DISCLOSE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH OUR PRIVACY STATEMENT WHICH IS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST.

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VANCOUVER IS A “LIVABLE CITY” ONLY FOR THE RICH

A recent bus stop ad asks the burning question, “How does MetroVancouver grow by 1 million and still remain livable?” The answer: It doesn’t. Yet our betters in all three levels of government continue to insist that by expandingVancouver to the proposed 10-million-mark, we’ll all be better off for the cramming. No matter that Robson, Denman and Davie are seeing businesses close at record levels, no matter that said businesses remain empty until someone is willing to pay more than Rodeo Drive prices to open some shop nobody is interested in frequenting. No matter that schools are bursting at the seams, that people cannot ﬁnd jobs, that we have to wait years for surgery. All that matters is that landlords, real estate agents and banks get their cut. Taxpayers are meant to be happy paying for everything from ESL classes to additional transit routes for the privilege of living in an alleged, “world class city” locals can no longer afford.We’re now being presented with the prospect of a per-kilometre driving charge to get to our second and third jobs in order to hand 75 per cent of our incomes to landlords and/

or banks in order to maintain a roof over our heads. Seniors can simply hustle themselves off to the hinterlands of the province to make way for the “entrepreneurial class” that so far has not proven itself to be a boon to any economy other than the aforementioned housing barons. There’s not a political party in the country with the guts to state the obvious. Not one has truly represented the average working person. All are afraid to state the obvious, to alienate a vote. By increasing our population, the results are that our taxes go up, our rents, mortgages go up and our quality of life diminishes. –Victoria Joss

WISDOM IS HARDEARNED

Re: Girl, you’ll be a woman soon (March 12, 2015) [MishWay] should thank her lucky stars that she’s ﬁnished with her 20s. It was the worst time for me, I made the worst mistakes of my life. My 30s were better; I was smarter got my life on track. My 40s were great; I enjoyed a new conﬁdence I never had before, I stopped worrying about stupid stuff.The 50s are awesome; I feel great in my own skin, enjoying my hard earned wisdom. –Shelley Rothenburger

TIME TO STOP BILL C-51

This government is ramming through a Bill that is detrimental to the rights of people living in Canada.The people of Canada are not dangerous activists to be monitored.We are concerned citizens trying to create a better world for ourselves and our children. Our personal information should remain just that! Personal. That our Prime Minister does not listen to the electorate is evidenced by the lack of his response to critics of this bill – and there are many. We need to stop Bill C-51. I encourage Canadians to learn more about how we can work together to stop Secret Police Bill C-51 at StopC51.ca –Lynne Greenwood

THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP AND CONCERN

This is to the people who came to my aid as I lay unconscious from a hit and run, injured on the side of the road at the intersection of Haro and Nicola on the evening of Feb. 27, sometime between 11:10 and 11:30pm. I was too out of it to communicate to you my sincere appreciation for your care, attention, and good judgment. Thank you all and blessings! –RecoveringVictim of a Hit and Run

Apply for a grant of up to $1,000 for projects that make downtown Vancouver more connected and engaged. Deadline is March 31. Learn more at

vancouverfoundation.ca/nsg

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NEWS // ISSUES

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Compass Card costs continue to climb

Project budget has nearly doubled from its original announced value of $100 million to $194 million BOB MACKIN @bobmackin

Heavily censored Cubic Transportation Systems monthly project reports obtained through Freedom of Information show that completion of work at the Main Street station was delayed in March 2014 because of “damaged communications cables and the use of single mode ﬁbre optic cables instead of multimode as used in the rest of the fare gate system.” Cubic’s September 2014 report said TransLink wanted to “relocate” some fare gates and ticket machines at Broadway station and “remove some gates so an escalator can be replaced” at New Westminster station. The system, which continues to be tested, was originally intended for 2013 operations, but has been delayed and TransLink has not released a new target date. The project budget has nearly doubled from its original announced value of $100 million to $194 million.

Where they belong: a wild, Pacific white-sided dolphin in Desolation Sound, BC. Grant Lawrence photo

Free the whales already, OK? Cubic’s September 2014 report said TransLink wanted to “relocate” some fare gates and ticket machines at Broadway station. Dan Toulgoet photo As of December 2014, TransLink had paid San Diego-based Cubic $60.4 million of its $90.87 million contract to design and build the system, but other documents indicate Cubic did not receive payment for ﬁve consecutive months in 2014. Also, IBM Canada was removed as Cubic’s principal subcontractor and tasks reassigned between Cubic and TransLink, but the date, reasons and costs aren’t visible. TransLink ﬁnancial reports show it paid IBM Canada $6.7 million from 2011 to 2013. A Jan. 15, 2013 letter by Cubic senior contracts

manager Michael Andranovich to TransLink vicepresident David Beckley said July 15, 2014 was the “common desired objective” for a public launch of service. That date was based on adding to the contract new features “to lower overall program risk,” such as a method to process patrons’ cash faster. Beckley and Andranovich did not respond to interview requests. TransLink’s senior executive committee overseeing the project kept no minutes of meetings last fall. The only line showing from Beckley’s update in the Dec. 3 management

steering committee minutes says: “The plan is to continue working towards getting the system into service. Cubic hired lobbyist Lecia Stewart, the former Millennium Line project head, last November to update the Ofﬁce of the Premier and Transportation Ministry on Compass and to “improve public perception of Cubic.” Stewart’s registration ends May 31, two days after the mail-in voting deadline for the nonbinding plebiscite on a 0.5 per cent sales tax increase to fund TransLink expansion. W –Story courtesy ofVancouver Courier

Port fire fans fears of dangerous cargo JEN ST. DENIS @jenstden

As accidents involving chemicals go, Vancouver got lucky. On the afternoon of March 4, a shipping container caught fire on the city’s waterfront. The container was full of a commonly used chemical called trichloroisocyanuric acid that had been shipped from China, according to Port Metro Vancouver. As health officials warned that exposure to the smoke could cause breathing problems and eye irritation, the port was evacuated and city residents within a fivekilometre area downtown and around the Downtown Eastside were told to stay indoors, shut doors and windows and turn off air conditioners and furnaces. The large plume of smoke wafted east and north to North Vancouver and Burnaby, causing concern in those communities as well. But by nightfall, the shelter-in-place advisory had been lifted and the fire was mostly under control. It could have been worse, said Vancouver fire Chief John McKearney. “We figured out it was

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Oil and other potentially hazardous goods could be moving through a neighbourhood near you,but information about what those goods are and when they’re moving remains minimal. Rob Kruyt photo a Class 1 oxidizer out of four classes of oxidizers,” McKearney said. “In the realm of oxidizers, it’s the least concerning. There are certainly other products that would have been more dangerous for us to concern ourselves with.” Oxidizing liquids and solids are classiﬁed “based on their ability to cause spontaneous combustion and how much they can increase the burning rate,” according to the Canadian Centre for Occupational Heath and Safety. Class 1 oxidizers “slightly increase” the burning rate and do not cause spontaneous ignition with material that comes

into contact with them, while Class 4 oxidizers can explode when exposed to slight heat or friction. Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services and Transport Canada will now each complete a separate investigation into the incident. For the City of Vancouver and Vancouver’s fire department, the incident is prompting questions about what is being shipped through the region and how prepared fire departments are to respond to a serious chemical spill or fire. Along with other municipalities across Canada, Vancouver has been pushing for more information about

dangerous goods from railways. But the March 4 fire shows the city may also need more information from Port Metro Vancouver, said deputy city manager Sadhu Johnston. Following the LacMégantic train derailment and explosion that killed 47 people in the summer of 2013, Transport Canada directed railways to give municipalities information about dangerous goods being shipped through communities. The City of Vancouver receives confidential reports from Canadian National Railway and Canadian Pacific Railway, one year after the shipments have gone through. That’s not good enough, Johnston said. “It’s supposed to be quarterly and we’re trying to get them on a regular basis,” Johnston said. “It’s not really happening the way it needs to happen.” In emailed statements, CN and CP said they were complying with current regulations and continuing to work with local governments, including providing training to first responders. W –Story courtesy of Business inVancouver

Grant Lawrence Vancouver Shakedown @GrantLawrence

Even when I was a little kid, I knew keeping whales in captivity at the Vancouver Aquarium was wrong. Despite my misgivings, I’d still scramble and jockey to sit in the “splash zone”, hoping the cold salt water from the killer whale and dolphin shows would slosh over the glass and soak me. It was when the magniﬁcent bodies of those gigantic mammals exploded out of the water at their trainers’ behest, all for a reward of a meager mouthful of dead herring, that I felt the stab of guilt. It was painfully obvious that the animals were simply way too big for their tank. “Look at the dolphins, they love it!” squealed one sopping kid, as the dolphins bobbed and leapt across the surface of their stage. “They’re smiling!” Such is the curse of the dolphin. Just like belugas and, to a lesser extent the orcas, when opened, their mouths curve up at the jaw, giving the false impression they’re perpetually “smiling”, as if a visit to aYaletown botox clinic had gone permanently wrong. That “smile” also gives the appearance, especially to impressionable children, that these incredibly smart mammals actually somehow enjoy being held prisoner in aquatic cellblocks, where they are forced to do tricks for dead ﬁsh.You know in your gut that nothing could be further from the truth. How is it even a fathomable reality, that decades after my childhood guilt, we still allow the Vancouver Aquarium to imprison cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises), in tanks hardly larger than an Olympic swimming pool? Our mayor has publicly spoken against our incarceration of whales. Last summer, our parks board voted against further captive breeding (what a disgusting phrase), but since the civic election, that decision seems to be in some sort of limbo.

The aquarium justifies the confinement of cetaceans as research, and yet their website still clearly offers “dolphin shows” and “beluga shows” (to their credit the Vancouver Aquarium no longer keep orcas).The “shows” might well be more on the instructional side than the old killer whale splash zone antics of yore, but they are still marketed as performances, and you just know it all comes down to money: the cetaceans are literally the aquarium’s big ticket items. To make matters worse, the aquarium has imminent plans to expand, which means even more loaner beluga whales will return to Vancouver. One such beluga was on loan for breeding at SeaWorld Orlando.Tragically, that unfortunate whale/sperm bank died from an infection caused by a broken jaw, which apparently came from some sort of altercation with other belugas. Excuse me? According to the Vancouver Aquarium, the cetaceans in their command have been deemed “non-releasable by government authorities”. Even if originally rescued, these beautiful mammals do not deserve to be kept as pets and show pieces.They are mostly migratory, highly social, and keenly intelligent. In their natural habitat, most beluga whales are seasonally programmed to migrate thousands of kilometres, spending social time in pods of anywhere from three whales to groups of thousands.Think about a naturally migratory mammal in a fish tank.They must go crazy. All that said, you can add my voice to the long list of critics calling upon the Vancouver Aquarium to end their long-standing, unethical, and hypocritical captivity of whales, dolphins and porpoises, and to release them into their natural habitat. If these intuitive creatures cannot survive in the wild after release as the Aquarium predicts, they would at the very least taste freedom, something we all desire. And you would finally know in your gut that for once, that “smile” would be genuine. W

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My Digs: Upstairs at Le Marché St. George Jennifer Scott A Good Chick to Know

@Jennifer_AGCTK

Touring the dwelling spaces of fellow Vancouverites for our monthly My Digs column has been both inspiring and entertaining; I love any opportunity to take a sneak peek into how other people are living and styling their lives. I must admit, however, that this week’s tour is far and away my favourite space My Digs has been into.The residence at Le Marché St. George, while under construction (read: restoration) a few years ago, was the curiosity of the neighbourhood; I was living nearby at the time and would regularly walk past, nearly unable to contain the urge to sneak in and check out the progress.This week I ﬁnally had the opportunity to walk through and check out all the fabulous details, and get the insider perspective from owners Janaki Larsen and Pascal Roy on what made this curated restoration so successful. Describe your house/condo/ apartment: It is a two-bedroom apartment in a 1904 building. Occupant: Pascal and I own Le Marché St. George (downstairs). I am also a potter and until recently, Pascal was a

O Granville Island

doctor of Chinese medicine. We live here with our ﬁveyour-old daughter Lola, a cat named Gigi, and a ﬁsh named Pirate.

Major selling feature: Having a huge backyard where we keep chickens and bees, and the fact that the building has so much character. First thing I changed: The first thing was removing a wall in the living room to open up the main living space. I guess people required less space in 1904! Feature I brag about: The neighbourhood in general.We really love it here! It really has a great community feel. That one conversation piece: The ceiling. People are always very intrigued by the textures of the ceiling and walls. It’s not typical of Vancouver spaces and far from the flat finish of drywall. The décor: Best described as eclectic.We both love old things that have seen a lot of action. I am not afraid to own a chair whose stuffing is falling out or benches with peeling paint. I use a lot of natural elements as decoration and free sculpture – big branches and tumbleweeds are particularly a favourite.We also have a preference for muted colours; it’s relaxing to walk in here, it feels like a foggy day.

The story behind the art/antiques/collectibles: All of the paintings are from my mother Patricia Larsen. My dad is also a painter and my sister a photographer/mixed media artist. So we always have a constant rotation of art on the walls and I love all of their work! The ceramics are mine and are often in various states of arrangement around the apartment. Other objects are usually found second hand. The only new thing we’ve bought was a big sofa from Bombast Furniture. Downsides: It’s pretty small for three people and a business. I am constantly dragging things in and out to either photograph or see them in a space. It is deﬁnitely a live/ work place. Neighbourhood haunts: Main Street has some great spots.Trilussa Pizza, El Camino, Don’t Argue Pizzeria, Dream Sushi.We eat a lot at Sal y Limon on Fraser Street, and go shopping at the thrift shop up the hill, Eugene Choo,The Soap Dispensary, Umeboshi... But, honestly, we don’t get out that much.

Pascal Roy and Janaki Larsen own Le Marché St. George on East 28th (between Main and Fraser) and live upstairs in the 1904 building. Rob Newell photos

Compared to your last place: We lived in a warehouse. It was fun but not legal! Favourite apartment/house/ condo activity: Having dinner on the garage roof deck. I love to eat outside and would do so everyday, if I could. W

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Spring style Spirit of feminism ﬁnds its way into spring fashion Niki Hope Style File

@NikiMHope One of the most famous faces of the feminist movement seems to be the muse for the 1970s fashion revival this spring. Activist Gloria Steinem, known for her trademark wide-brimmed glasses, long mane, sharp ﬂares, statement belts, and looseﬁtting button-ups, came to

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prominence for her political activism that helped propel women forward in the fight for social justice. That strong female image is as important today as it was during the ’60s and ’70s, when Steinem emerged as a key figure in the fight for equality, Lisa Tant, Holt Renfrew’s vice-president of exclusive services, tells Westender. “International Women’s Day was last week and my Instagram feed was jammed with photos of Gloria Steinem, and I thought ‘Oh that’s interesting that she is being seen as a fashion muse right around now, because certainly she never would

have intended that at the time,’” Tant says. The spring runway at Chanel especially highlighted Steinem’s inﬂuence, where models clad in colourful wide-legged power suits, carried protest signs with slogans that read, “History is her story” and “Ladies ﬁrst!” “The ’70s trend is loaded with a lot of meaning right now, because I think a lot of young women are questioning what feminism is,” says Tant, who describes herself as someone who generally rejects the notion of dressing for one’s age, except in the case of ’70s boho. “I don’t believe in dressing for an age, I hate that…this

is one trend, though, where I think you have to be really careful, because if you put on a floppy hat, you put on the culottes, you’ve got a fringed handbag and you’re past 29, I think you have to be really careful because it tips into looking like a costume,” explains Tant, a former Flare magazine editor who was in Vancouver last weekend to present a fashion show of spring trends at Holts. The style expert says she would take one element of hippie chic – loose-fitting culottes, a fringed bag, or a floppy hat – without mashing all of the boho bits together. “One piece,” she warns, but adds, “if you are 22,

and you want that whole Coachella vibe, go for it. But otherwise I would be very, very careful.” Vancouver fashion blogger Jill Lansky says hits of hippie chic are seen on the streets in the fringe skirts and jackets, and high-waisted denim that women are wearing for spring. Lansky, whose style tends be Parisian-inspired, also loves the classic denimon-denim (the Canadian tuxedo) look that is big this season. “My best advice for working with trends is to only pick what you like and only pick what works with your own style, because you want

to stay true to what your own style is and what you feel comfortable in,” says Lansky, who runs The August Diaries, where she posts pics of herself in some of her favourite fashion-forward looks.

LESS IS MORE

One of the strongest styles this season is the sleek, minimalist look, which Tant calls “good investment dressing.” In terms of silhouettes, it would be sleeveless jackets, a longer, fuller trouser, a great pencil skirt, she says. When she thinks of minimalism, Claire Underwood from the Netﬂix series House of Cards comes to mind.

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“She really personiﬁes it,” Tant adds, saying the character, who wears perfectly tailored looks, is a stunning example of minimalist dressing for professional women. Punch up the simplicity with accessories, suggests Tant, who adds that whiteon-white is also big for spring. She advises bringing in a subtle dose of textured fabrics, such as lace or a raised stripe, to save an allwhite outﬁt from looking too bridal or like a uniform. For Lansky, it’s important to consider proportions when wearing all white. “I think most people can pull it off; they just have to do it the right way,” she says.

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“You want the pieces to hit you at your slimmest part, so think about your waist and think about the slimmest part under your knee and at your ankle, … because white can make you look bigger.”

FIT STYLE

The fashion sneaker – speciﬁcally in white – has leapt to the top of this season’s must-have list. “Clothes with an athletic feel are becoming more of a classic,” Tant says. “It’s not really trendy anymore because it has become such an important part of our lives. I ﬁrst saw sneakers on the runway – Chanel did them at a show in Versailles

a couple of years ago – and I remember at the time thinking, ‘Sneakers, hmm, that’s interesting.’ And now they’re everywhere.” For Tant, it’s about quality performance fabric and details like zippers, hoodies, and mesh. While the athletic look is obviously comfortable, it can also be sophisticated. “I think it’s just a really easy-to-wear, great classic that can be done in a fashion-forward way,” Tant says.

SPRING FLOWERS

Expect to also see plenty of ﬂowers this spring with punches of big, beautiful

floral patterns. For those who are overwhelmed by the floral prints that blossomed on spring runways, Tant recommends opting for smaller hits of the seasonal favourite. Go for a floral clutch, heels, a scarf, she says. But for Tant, a key floral piece she would have in her closet this spring is a dress or skirt that she could mix into her wardrobe. In the end, whatever spring trend works, or doesn’t, for any woman of any age, modern fashion is all about choice. W $ +"" 2%3-30 .3,1-)0& 3' #3"*)!'1)(/

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DOWNTOWN GRANVILLE

A six-month trip to Canada turned into 15 years and counting for former graphic designer Pablo Zamudio, owner of El Kartel on Granville. Rob Newell photo

El Kartel carves out spot on Granville

ROBSON

his rise from new immigrant to business owner to meeting the right people at the right time. The name El Kartel is obviously a play on the word cartel, but Zamudio changed the spelling to make it not so literal. The word has two meanings, according to Zamudio – the first being the gang idea, while the less well-known carteles means a poster or advertising. The meaning of the latter is significant to Zamudio, because he loves the cool old posters for wrestling matches, music, and bullfights that he grew up seeing in Mexico. Even his company logo is the head of a Mexican wrestler, a nod to his culture and his clever aesthetic. W

SMITHE

NELSON

The Roxy

Granville Street – the closest location he could find – and re-opened El Kartel, which sells streetwear for both men and women. Last year, Zamudio expanded his operations into a larger store in Chinatown, where they hold art openings and music events along with offering their many popular lines, including Zanerobe, Stussy, Converse, Native and Asics shoes, Zespy, Penfield, Super sunglasses, and more. “Right now we are focusing a lot on some European brands, some Australian and Kiwi brands,” says Zamudio, whose enthusiasm is infectious. Zamudio, who did graphic design work when he first arrived in Canada, credits The Belmont Doolins

Leo’s Camera

The Templeton

DAVIE

He is a kid from Mexico with a love of snowboarding, art, music, and fashion, and he somehow managed to carve out a clothing business in downtown Vancouver. In 1999, Pablo Zamudio told his mom, who was back home in Guadalajara, that he was going to Canada for just six months. His plan was to get a job, make money, go back home, and open a business. “It’s been 15 years, and I’m still here,” he says, laughing. “But now I am married to a beautiful Canadian, and I have my shop.” Today, he owns two El Kartel locations – one on

Granville Street and the other in Chinatown. “We’ve always been about supporting the community,” Zamudio says about his stores. “We try not to follow trends. Our stores they are kind of like our house – we spend so much time there, so for us it’s really important the music that we play, the artwork that we display, and that people come and hang out with us all of the time, because it feels like home; it feels like someone’s house – the vibe.” Zamudio opened El Kartel with a single location on Robson Street in 2003. Just before the 2010 Olympics, they were forced to move. He managed to ﬁnd a space in the 1000-block of

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CAMBIE

Danielle Gilmore offers gifts for your honey at Honey Gifts. Rob Newell photo

Honey keeps Cambie sweet and sexy NIKI HOPE @nikimhope

Honey Gifts opened more than a decade ago as a classy option for women who want to pop into a sex shop that has the aura of a Parisian boutique. While it might have a sugary-sweet interior with elegantly curated displays, Honey carries sex toys that would make Christian Grey blush. Karyee and Cindy Yip started the business with the intention of offering women a place to browse for lingerie, sex toys, games, and accessories without having to step into somewhere seedy. “A lot of the stores (at the time) didn’t cater to

women,” explains staffer Danielle Gilmore. “[The Yips] wanted somewhere that they could create a friendly atmosphere. We do cater to women a little bit more, but their goal was to make it as comfortable a shopping experience for everybody.” Cambie Street was their ﬁrst location; today there is a shop in Gastown and one in New York. In Vancouver, Cambie is the busiest, says Gilmore, adding that they see a lot of couples coming in to shop together. “Cambie tends to be a little bit more suburbantype people – couples that have been together for a long time or are just getting married. A lot of younger

people, in their early 20s that are just getting married, are exploring their relationships. Then there are people who have been coming to our store since we opened. They know what they like, they know what we have, and they keep coming back.” When asked if it’s fun to sell stuff to couples that she knows will go home and have sex, Gilmore laughs. “It’s fun to know that you are making a couple happy, that you are helping them with their communication. It’s a good feeling to make a couple happy.” Keeping the focus on women, she says there are three toys that every female should have in her bedside

table drawer: a Lelo Mia vibrator, which looks like a tube of lipstick (“good for travel,” she says), lubricant, and a Hitachi Magic Wand, which is one of the store’s biggest sellers. “It’s big and it’s loud… but it’s kind of a classic,” Gilmore says without a hint of irony. Then adds, “It kind of makes everything easier.” Beginners tend to tread lightly into the new realm of bedroom play – buying smaller vibrators, light handcuffs, a simple blindfold, Gilmore says. “A lot of times they don’t know where to start,” she adds. But with a few of Honey’s sweets, they probably won’t have any trouble finishing. W

Niki Hope Shop Talk

PANDORA, Rockport, Ted Baker London, TUMI, and Weekend Max Mara.

Centre. Admission is $2. For more information and to view a list of participating vendors, visit PortobelloWest.com.

achieved our goal.” LocoBC’s Dress Local show happens in the VFW tents at Queen Elizabeth Plaza on Friday, March 20, starting at 5:15pm.

CAMBIE ST. Westender.com

REFASHION SHOPPING EVENT

Refashion Vancouver is holding a community shopping extravaganza – a place to sell unworn clothes, shop for new styles, and glam up with free services such as manicures and makeovers at the Yaletown Roundhouse Exhibition Hall on April 18, from 10am to 5pm for shoppers and 9am to 6pm for sellers. W

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Cambie Cycles Lemonade Bakery Barber & Co

Check out some of the city’s best designers of Vancouver Fashion Week at LocoBC Dress Local Show, which will feature fall collections from Allison Wonderland, Eliza Faulkner, Aniimiism, and Sofia. “We wanted to find the best BC women’s wear designers for the runway,” Amy Robinson, co-executive director of LocoBC, said in a media release. “With these four designers, we feel we have

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DRESS LOCAL

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Aarm Dental W 6TH AVE

Paciﬁc Centre shopping mall announced the new retailers that will be moving into its 44,000-square-foot retail expansion, scheduled to open in early summer. The stores will be accessible via a new entrance at Robson and Granville, and Paciﬁc Centre will then extend from Pender Street to Robson Street. The retail outlets are: B2, BOSS Store, Kate Spade, Microsoft,

Portobello West is launching its market with more than 50 vendors this month. “Our vendors all design their products locally. But local doesn’t always mean Vancouver. We have a new fashion vendor, Wilde and Sparrow, that are from Parksville,” Shalu Duggal, co-market manager, said in a media release. The market launches on Saturday, March 28 and Sunday, March 29 from 11am to 5pm at the Creekside Community

W 12TH AVE

PACIFIC CENTRE ANNOUNCES NEW STORES

PORTOBELLO WEST’S MARKET OPENS

W . BROADWAY

@NikiMHope

Cakes • Pastries • Cookies • and more! 100% gluten free using all natural ingredients

3385 Cambie Street • 604.873.9993 Open Tuesday through Sunday • lemonadebakery.ca

Sales • Service • Unicycles

TEST RIDES AVAILABLE! 3371 Cambie Street • 604.874.3616 www.cambiecycles.com

AARM Dental Group We’re in your neighbourhood to make you smile....

Aarm Dental Group on Cambie Dr. Vineyard Choy & Dr. Caroline McKillen

2180 Cambie Street

(corner of 6th & Cambie beside Best Buy)

604-684-0224

New Patients & Emergencies Welcome Free Patient Parking Open Monday to Saturday

www.aarm-dental.com March 19 - 25, 2015 W 9

EAT // DRINK

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DINING OUT

Clockwise from top left: Soft Peaks owners Ken (left) and Dan Kim; A cone at Soft Peaks; The popcorn ice cream sundae with a peanut brownie and salted caramel at Mosquito; Mosquito’s pastry chef Julianne Hansen; Cone display at Soft Peaks.

Gastown just got a little bit sweeter Anya Levykh Nosh

@FoodGirlFriday It’s not just pulled pork and grilled cheese that is making waves in Gastown these days.Things have deﬁnitely become more decadent with the opening of two new sweet spots (pardon the pun).

SOFT PEAKS

25 Alexander 604-559-2071 SoftPeaks.ca Open Wednesday-Sunday, 12pm-9pm. The ﬁrst, Soft Peaks, is a simple concept from brothers Dan and Ken Kim.

Organic soft-serve ice cream made from Avalon milk that replaces GMO sugar with dextrose. The result is a rich, creamy whip that is topped with fresh chunks of honeycomb, corn flakes, Himalayan pink salt, toasted coconut, yuzu marmalade and even TimTam flakes (a popular Australian chocolate biscuit). You can really taste that whole-milk difference in the cream here, but careful what you put on top. The Himalayan pink salt with caramel syrup overwhelmed the gentle mouthfeel of the ice cream. Corn flakes, however, are a brilliant idea, although having them at the bottom instead of layered throughout the cup makes it hard

Legendary Noodle 2013

We proudly serve the West End neighbourhood with Gold Standard. 1074 Denman St. 604-669-8551 LegendaryNoodle.ca Fresh noodles • Gluten free noodles available

10 W March 19 - 25, 2015

to get to them until you’re almost ﬁnished with the cream. Matcha powder and condensed milk with sweet red bean on top is excellent and slightly earthy. A small cup will run you around $5, while a large starts at $6. While there is seating upstairs, this is primarily a to-go operation, so put on your comfy shoes and get ready for spring strolls.

MOSQUITO DESSERT BAR

32 Water 604-398-3188 MosquitoDessert.com Open Wednesday-Sunday, 5pm-midnight, no reservations. Mosquito Dessert Bar is a decidedly more upscale environment than Soft Peaks.

The “champagne lounge without the caviar” focuses on high-end desserts and cocktails. The sexy bluethemed room is made for lounging (snuggle up to one of the furry throws laying about for kicks) and ideal for date night. The desserts have been given some polish thanks to Bearfoot’s Dominic Fortin being brought on as a consultant, but pastry chef Julianne Hansen is doing fine on her own. At $10-$12, these desserts are a bit pricey, but the quality and execution is flawless. Pecan gianduja with dehydrated pecan sponge cake, pear gel and pear sorbet is brightened with cassis foam. Olive oil bavarois with madeleine, elderflower syrup

ORIGINAL HOME OF

ECIAL P S N -I E N I HALIBUT D

and dehydrated grapefruit is extraordinary. Mosquito has also just launched a series of “tapas” desserts that you try for $6 each, or combine three for $15. Only available between 5pm and 8pm, these “smaller” desserts (they’re not that small) include a lovely popcorn ice cream sundae with a peanut brownie and salted caramel, a frozen coconut snowball with slow-roasted passionfruit, and an absolutely perfect caramelized banana with sesame crisps, lemon curd, coconut mousse, vanilla ice cream, and a balsamic reduction. As for the drinks, bartender Vince Chan is shaking and stirring some excellent classic and contemporary cock-

tails, all around $12 each. The French 75 was lovely, but a “white peach Cosmo” was a gin-based glass of heaven with shades of a classic Bellini. And, yes, there are champagne cocktails, dessert wines, spirits, and even beer for those looking to pair their chocolate with some IPA or porter. There are some savoury items on the menu, including fairly decent pâté and charcouterie boards, but the sugar rightfully rules the roost here. Hear Anya every Monday on CBC Radio One’s On the Coast and ﬁnd her on Twitter @foodgirlfriday and Facebook. com/FoodGirlFriday. W

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@WESTENDERVAN

DINING OUT Postmark-infused meats, including a grilled sausage board, bunderfleisch, and a free range Berkshire pork trio. The four-course dinner, with beer pairings, is $75 per person. Tickets are available on EventBrite.

Anya Levykh Fresh Sheet

@FoodGirlFriday Chef Michael Robbins, formerly of Oakwood Bistro, has ofﬁcially opened his ﬁrst sole proprietorship venture, AnnaLena, in the old Kitsilano Daily Kitchen space at 1809 West 1st in Kitsilano. AnnaLena.ca

-0435;;>4 ;= 2;*42 65;> 7*&+9*0 #*5 #1425;) -1.0=9 '*, :3;2;

Eat well, do good, with Dining Out for Life Mijune Pak Follow Me Foodie

@FollowMeFoodie Thursday, March 26 marks the annual Dining Out for Life in Vancouver. After 21 years, restaurants in BC continue to donate 25 per cent of their food sales to support locals affected by HIV/AIDS through registered not-forproﬁts Friends For Life and A Loving Spoonful. Long time supporters of the event include Hawksworth, Tableau Bar Bistro, and Chambar who are all participating again this year. I applaud all participating restaurants, new and old, but I want to acknowledge those donating 25 per cent of the day’s business to the cause. Note, many of the restaurants are open for dinner only, but here are a few offering lunch and dinner and generously donating 25 per cent from both services.

TABLEAU BAR BISTRO

The in-house restaurant in The Loden Hotel has been cleaning up local restaurant awards in the casual French bistro category. It serves a

mix of classic French fair and modern French cuisine with West Coast ﬂair. My favourites are the French onion soup with gruyère cheese and crouton, and the mushrooms on toast with gravy, cheese and fried brioche. The lobster lyonnaise salad with a six-minute poached egg, lardons and frisée is also very good, and the Thursday special during Dine Out for Life is their pork chop with herb spaetzle. (Note: sister restaurant to Tableau, Homer Street Café, is also donating both services.) 8 7*&+9*0#*5#1425;)<;>

LA PENTOLA

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, La Pentola in the Opus Hotel in Yaletown is participating in Dining Out for Life for all services. For brunch, they are serving a kaiserschmarrn (northern Italian pancake) with raisins, pine-nuts, cream, and housemade jam, which I haven’t seen offered anywhere else, and for dinner I recommend dining family style ($60 or $75 per person for about seven or 10 courses). 8 /*'9=2;+*)<*

LUCKY’S DOUGHNUTS & 49TH PARALLEL

If you’re not able to dine

SPECIALS FOR MAR.19-26

out for breakfast, lunch or dinner, then anytime is a good time for coffee and doughnuts. With two locations (one in Kitsilano and the other on Main Street), Lucky’s Doughnuts and 49th Parallel Roasters are not only donating 25 per cent of the day’s business, but they have also created a special edition Dine Out For Life doughnut. From Thursday, March 26 to Sunday, March 29, 100 per cent of the proceeds from the sour cherry and white chocolate doughnut ($3.50) will be donated to the cause. So if you miss the actual day, you will have all weekend. 8 "!23'*5*++9+%;*42954)<;> There are more fantastic restaurants graciously contributing 25 per cent of their day’s business, so for the full list visit DiningOutForLife.com. Remember to make reservations, and you can’t go wrong with any participating restaurant when it comes to supporting charity. If you can’t dine out on March 26, you can still donate online. W Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.

NOW TAKING ORDERS FOR FREE RUN TURKEYS, LAMB LEGS & HAMS FOR EASTER To order call 604-681-2121

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It must be getting closer to Easter, because Bel Café’s famed hot cross buns are back for spring. A little more than one a penny, buy one for $2.80 or a half-dozen for $16.80. BelCafe.com That isn’t the only hot action in town, however. Beaucoup Bakery is also back with its brioche hot cross buns on March 23 for $2.75 each. Get them before April 6. BeaucoupBakery.com In other Easter news, Yew’s annual Easter brunch buffet happens on Sunday, April 5. This family-friendly brunch includes a “Bunny Kids” menu, as well as a visit from the Easter Bunny himself. YewSeafood.com The Parker has in-

$==*/9=*(4 -1<3*9+ %;&&1=4 troduced a new Happy Hour $29 prix fixe menu. Choose any three dishes off a fresh sheet of six options 5:30pm-6:30pm every day. There will also be a rotating list of $8 cocktails and wines, and $5 beers and ciders. The ParkerVancouver.com Sister restaurants Left Bank and Bistro Pastis are both offering rotating four-course prix-fixe menus featuring a different featured ingredient for 10 days each month. Running now is the bivalves and shellfish menu. LeftBankVancouver. com | BistroPastis.com On March 24, Postmark Brewing will hold their first beer-maker’s dinner in partnership with Two Rivers Meats. Expect

On April 28, Wildebeest executive chef Wesley Young is partnering with chef Jesse Grasso of Toronto’s The Black Hoof. The five-course dinner will be paired with wines from Ontario’s Charles Baker and Norman Hardie, as well as cocktails from The Black Hoof owner Jen Agg and Wildebeest’s Josh Pape. Tickets for this event are $135 and include complimentary two-day passes to the Eat! Vancouver festival. Eat-Vancouver.com Nicli’s Next Door has launched a $15 ﬁxed price menu for lunch, featuring a green salad and a choice of three pastas. Options include papardelle in pork and kale ragu, tagliatelle with fennel sausage and creamed garlic, and a vegetarian option with tomato-basil marinara. Available Tuesday to Friday, 12pm-2pm. NiclisNextDoor.com W

Dine out on March 26, 2015 and 25% of food proceeds from participating restaurants goes towards supporting people living with HIV/AIDS. DINE OUT AT THESE RESTAURANTS 49th Parallel - Kits 49th Parallel - Main The Abbey The Belmont Adesso Bistro Alta Bistro Arriva Ristorante Ask For Luigi Aura at Nita Lake Lodge Belgard Kitchen Blacktail Bogart’s Bar & Restaurant Bravo Restaurant & Lounge Burgoo - Kitsilano Burgoo - Main Street Burgoo - North Vancouver Burgoo - Point Grey Cactus Club English Bay Cactus Club Yaletown Café Luxy Cascade Room Chambar Charlie’s Little Italian Chewies - Coal Harbour Chewies - Kitsilano Diva at the Met Dockside Doolin’s Irish Pub

Earls Kitchen + Bar Robson Earls Kitchen + Bar Yaletown Earls Kitchen + Bar Downtown El Camino’s Enigma Restaurant Fable Kitchen The Fountainhead Pub Frankie’s Italian Kitchen & Bar Gallery Café The Giraffe Restaurant Gotham Steakhouse Gurka Himalayan Kitchen Hapa Izakaya - Coal Harbour Hapa Izakaya - Kits Hapa Izakaya - Robson Hapa Izakaya - Yaletown Havana Hawksworth Restaurant Homer St Café and Bar Hy’s Encore Hy’s Steakhouse Whistler Jan’s on the Beach Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House

BENEFITING

SPECIAL THANKS TO

La Pentola Las Margaritas The Little District Roadhouse Lolita’s “South of the Border” Cantina Maenam Mamie Taylor’s Martinis Match Eatery & Public House Meet on Main Memphis Blues Commercial Drive Memphis Blues South Surrey Memphis Blues West Broadway Milestones Denman Nicli Antica Pizzeria Nicli’s Next Door Nirvana Nook - Denman Nook - Kits The Observatory The Old Bavaria Haus P2B Bistro & Bar The Park

The Parker The Parlour Restaurant Pink Elephant Thai Pourhouse Restaurant Prestons - Coast Coal Harbour The Reef on Main The Reef on the Drive Siena Steveston Seafood House Stonesedge Kitchen Sunset Grill & Whiskey Bar Sylvia’s Restaurant Tableau Bar Bistro Takis Taverna Tavola The Teahouse in Stanley Park The Templeton Trafalgar’s Bistro Trattoria Kitsilano Trattoria Park Royal The Union West Oak Restaurant Wildebeest Yak & Yeti Bistro And many more...

FOR MORE INFORMATION & PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS PRINT

DININGOUTFORLIFE.CA @VanDOFL

For more info visit our website TangosGourmetMeats.com

March 19 - 25, 2015 W 11

EAT // DRINK

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CRAFT BEER

Comic design ignites beer bottle brouhaha

CHRISTOPHER POON @westendervan

A new line of comic bookinspired beers by Central City Brewers has already hit store shelves, but future shipments are on hold after concerns over a character on the label. The company is redesigning the label after copyright concerns were raised about an image described as being “a little bit too close” to an existing comic book character. The beer is called Detective Saison and it is the ﬁrst in a new series of beverages by the Surrey-based brewer, makers of the popular Red Racer line of craft beers. The series takes a unique angle by having each brew represent a character in an overarching storyline based in a ﬁctional Central City universe. Detective Saison was recently launched as the debut beer, but the initial design used for the female detective character has been called into question. Last week, a Kelownabased designer tweeted the character design used for Detective Saison bore a striking similarity to Deena Pilgrim, a detective character used in the

Surrey’s Central City Brewers is redesigning the logo for its Detective Saison (left) after concerns were raised over the logo’s similarities to the comic book character Deena Pilgrim (right). Powers Supergroup comic, published by U.S.-based Image Comics. “Neat idea w/ Detective Saison but did you have to completely copy @ Brianmbendis?” tweeted Myron Campbell, showing a sideby-side image of Detective

Saison and Deena Pilgrim. Campbell, who also teaches visual arts at UBC Okanagan, said he did a double take in the store when he saw the bottle. “I thought, ‘Wow that kind of looks similar to Powers,’ and I did a quick search and it

really is like Powers,” he said. Also a fan of craft beer and the Powers comic series, Campbell said for him there are too many similarities for it to be a coincidence. “The pose, the shadows, the ﬁngers. It’s arguably a little bit too close,” he said.

Tim Barnes,VP of sales and marketing for Central City Brewers, said he was not able to comment directly on any comparisons between the label and the Powers character, only that the company was “not comfortable” with the current label. As a result, the company is redesigning the label and is not shipping any more of the product until that process is complete. “I can tell you that we’re in a very awkward situation right now,” he said, adding the similarity was brought to the company’s attention last Thursday. As for the bottles already on store shelves, Barnes said they would not be recalling those at this time, but instead holding the rest of the product that’s yet to be shipped out. “At this point we’re not doing a product recall, what we are doing is a non-ship and we’ve taken it off our shelves at our liquor store and brewery,” said Barnes. Being in the design industry himself, Campbell said he feels for Central City as it appears to be an honest mistake on its part. “I’m sure they assumed that they got original artwork and now a client is at fault in a situation when it’s a design agency’s integrity to make sure everything out the door is original.That’s what the client is paying for,” said Campbell. “I’m sure they didn’t know and the design agency is really the one that should’ve known better.” After Campbell’s tweet regarding the similarities made the rounds on Twit-

ter, Michael Oeming, creator of the graphic novel series tweeted: “Well, looks like I’m going to own a Beer company,” before following up with, “I’m kidding. But stealing art and copyright isn’t very cool. Just ask.” And while it may be off to a rocky start, Barnes said the idea of a story-based beer line will continue, with four more beers planned for 2015. “I want to reinforce the fact that we’re not going to let any one individual stop an idea that we feel is still a good idea,” said Barnes. “So what we’re going to do is come back with another label but we still want to pursue the story, we still think it’s a good idea and we don’t want this very awkward situation from stopping us doing what we want to do.” Campbell is also a fan of the idea, and hopes to see something good come out of the situation. “It’s a super awesome interesting idea, and it would be great to collaborate with local comic book artists and in turn showcase their work,” he said. Barnes said the new labels would likely be ready to ship in about four weeks and that the company is more motivated than ever to make the beer series work. “This isn’t going on the back burner,” he said. “We don’t want this challenge to stop us from doing what we want to do.The one thing I can tell you is that Central City does not steal ideas, that’s not how we operate.” W -Story courtesy of the Surrey Now

R E S T A U R A N T Est. 1978

THE TEAHOUSE 3-COURSE MENU 3-course dinner menu - Monday to Thursday

Catch a White Spot Tradition

$35 PER PERSON

Halibut is back on the menu at White Spot! Sourced from Pacific waters, our crispy tempura battered halibut is served with creamy coleslaw and endless fries cut from fresh BC Kennebec potatoes. It’s a tradition worth catching. On now for a limited time.

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* Valid after 11am at participating White Spot Restaurants until April 12th, 2015. Not to be combined with any other promotional offer. Plus taxes.

GRANVILLE & DRAKE 718 Drake Street 604-605-0045

GEORGIA & CARDERO 1616 West Georgia Street 604-681-8034

12 W March 19 - 25, 2015

DUNSMUIR & HOMER 405 Dunsmuir Street 604-899-6072

BROADWAY & LARCH 2518 West Broadway 604-731-2434

OAKRIDGE CENTRE 41st & Cambie 604-261-2820

RESERVATIONS 604.669.3281 vancouverdine.com

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@WESTENDERVAN

BEER & WINE

Adventures in homebrewing Stephen Smysnuik The Growler @StephenSmys

Confession time: I don’t really understand the brewing process. I don’t know what wort is. I don’t really care to. I have too much knocking around in my head already – why clutter it with more knowledge? Y’know? So what if certain people will write me off as a phony for not understanding these complex procedures? It’s not exactly a deterrent for appreciating the intoxicating effects of the beer, right? That was my thinking, anyway. I’ve been thinking lately that if I’m going to be respected in any way as a Beer Guy, I should understand how beer is actually created. It’s basic journalist practice, to thoroughly understand one’s subject. And so, I’m going to start home brewing. This is what I knew about home brewing going in: a bucket is essential and drinking Howe Sound Brewing is a fun and delicious way to collect reusable bottles. That’s about it. As a primer, I reached out to Parallel 49 head brewer Graham With, a home brewing success story par excellence. He started brewing while earning his engineering degree, eventually founding VanBrewers where he earned a reputation as such a badass home brewer that the P49 head honchos tapped him on the shoulder. These days, he claims to spend more time creating Excel spreadsheets for the company than actually brewing, but that’s OK. With says getting started is extraordinarily simple: Go to Dan’s Homebrewing Supplies in East Vancouver

and buy the home brew kit. It comes with all the necessities: a fermentation bucket, a secondary fermentation carboy, a racking wand, an airlock and some instructions, obviously, for how to do it. “There are other places you can go,” he says, “but Dan’s is the place that can take you from, ‘I just put this bag of sugary wort into a bucket and threw yeast at it,’ all the way to, ‘I’m crushing the grains and using them myself.’” I was too embarrassed to ask him what wort is. The good news is that beginners don’t really need to know this stuff. Homebrew shops give you all the basic ingredients and I can literally put everything in the bucket, follow the instructions and, three to four weeks later, start drinking it. “But that’s kind of dissuading because [the beer] really doesn’t taste very good,” With says. “If the key thing is you want to get drunk and save money on beer, and you don’t care what it tastes like, those kits are good for that.” The next step would be to take some malt extract in syrup form and some specialty grains, then brew with that. The beer will taste better, but it takes a bit more effort to wrap your head around it. But we’ll wait to get there. He says it’s easier to start brewing stouts or pale ales – they’re much easier to brew than lagers. Aaaaaand that’s about all the advice he could give me. “Buy start up kit, follow instructions.” Not really worth a 500-word story, is it? Sorry folks. Maybe I am a phony. Stay tuned for more exciting Adventures in Homebrewing! W

Proud to serve the West End! Best Traditional Poutine West of Montreal!

Checking in with the home team Michaela Morris By the Bottle

@MichaelaWine

Stay true to your roots, right? Between frequent trips abroad and the recent Aussie invasion at the Vancouver International Wine Fest, I felt like I was losing touch with BC. Once upon a time it was easy to keep up with our local industry. Now with almost 300 wineries, new labels coming out all the time and the evolution of established producers, it’s a constantly moving target. So, before ﬂying off to Italy again (don’t hate me), I made sure to check in with the home team. I found plenty of sips to keep me going until the preview of the 2014 vintage later this spring. All the following wines can be found at VQA and private wine stores or purchased direct from the winery. #+9:146( *18. %0) 5 ,.+8+3+8 2+--69( %$( 2'& 5 7;"/;! I’m a big fan of bubbly

and a believer in sparkling wine in BC. This effervescent rosé brings together Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, classic grapes varieties used for sparkling wine production that are well represented in our local soil. It gets its delicious bubbles from a second fermentation in bottle. And I love the crown cap closure; it’s like opening a giant bottle of beer. Red apple skin, lemon and strawberry blossom ﬁnishing with pleasant bitter pith. There’s a whole whack of acidity here to wake up palate. I’m dreaming of prawn ceviche.

2013 Clos du Soleil, Middle %3F6/ :-FEB %+KF6 " (-G-+,KG33F &K++3)@ %#@ &9' " $HL8H5 While Pinot Blanc can on the neutral side, this example achieves winemaker Mike Clark’s goal of emphasizing the aromatics. Clark also managed to coax admirable fruit concentration out of this workhorse grape. Tantalizing notes of honeydew melon, peach and honeysuckle are countered by a bit sage and smokiness.

Are you curious about alternative healthcare?

We’re partnering with local wellness centres to offer 15-minute one-on-one consultations with a Naturopathic Doctor at various Choices Markets. Consults are free but registration by phone or in person is required. For full details, call the number listed with the host store or visit the Healthcare Department.

Steamies • Licensed

LUNCH SPECIAL

Westender.com

HLJJ (3?3F (BEF3C@ 7E* JH. =3D+EB " (-G-+,KG33F &K++3)@ %#@ &9' " $5L854 Though it produces far less wine than the adjacent Okanagan Valley, the Similkameen shouldn’t be overlooked. There are plenty of gems from this dramatic

HLJH >KA0/-F0 (BE6,@ ()DK/ " ;,KFK0KF &K++3)@ %# " $5184L Laughing Stock has gained a solid following for wines that live up to their clever packaging. Despite over a decade under their belt, they are by no means sitting on their laurels. It was refreshing to hear winemaker and owner David Enns speak about his recent trip to the Rhône Valley where he drew new inspiration for his already laudable Syrah. Co-fermented with bit of Viognier, it’s an expressive number with lush blackberry, briary fruit, some subtle toast and pretty ﬂoral notes poking through. Bring on the venison! (Sold out at the winery but still available at wine stores.) W

Complimentary Naturopathic Consults

Spruce Beer • Smoked Meat

Take-out poutine for your main meal, side dish, or a yummy after school treat.

HLJH %K-++-38IDE/GKF@ !CBKB3 :-FEB <E-D " #D3CBEF@ %#@ &9' " $H28H. Yes, wine is now being made in the Kootenays with Creston boasting British Columbia’s most easterly vineyards. Wineries are scarce (only three) but Baillie-Grohman is bringing attention to the area, particularly with Pinot Noir. Kiwi winemaker Dan Barker demonstrates a gentle touch with this notoriously capricious grape. His judicious use of oak allows the fruit to shine. Juicy and crunchy with bright Bing cherry notes, ﬁne tannin and a silky texture, it begs for salmon.

and diverse region. Seven Stones has a strong leaning toward Bordeaux varieties. Here the spotlight is on Merlot, which exudes black currant, cocoa and leather with some grilled herbs and dark plums. It sports fairly ﬁrm dry tannin that a steak would sort out.

GRAND OPENING

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It possesses enough weight and character to stand up to pork roast.

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792 Denman St. 778-379-3280 11 AM - 11 PM

Tuesday, March 24, 4:00-6:00pm at Choices Yaletown, 1202 Richards St. • 604.633-2392 with Dr. Brandon Spletzer, ND, Sage Clinic Monday, March 30, 3:00-5:00pm at Choices Crest, 8683 10th Ave., Burnaby • 604.522-0936 with Dr. Charlene Chan, ND, RAc, Ray Clinic /ChoicesMarkets

@ChoicesMarkets

March 19 - 25, 2015 W 13

ARTS // CULTURE

WESTENDER.COM

WHAT’S ON Th/19

Fr/20

Sa/21

Su/22

Mo/23

MUSIC

LIMBLIFTER Canadian alternative rockers of ‘90s fame appear in support of their upcoming release Pacific Milk with special guests The Passenger and Invisible Ray. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $15 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca

THE SWEET LOWDOWN Awardwinning acoustic roots trio from Victoria bring their original songwriting and three-part harmonies to the Rogue Folk Club. 7pm at St. James Hall. Tickets $20 at Highlife, Red Cat, Rufus’ Guitars, Prussin Music and RogueFolk.bc.ca

THE FUNK HUNTERS Canada’s electronic breakout act, six-piece live funk/soul/EDM band known for their four-turntable audio visual set with special guests Chali 2na and Mat the Alien. 9pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $28.50 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca

WALK THE MOON American indie rockers from Cincinnati on tour in support of Talking Is Hard with special guests The Griswolds. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $25.00 at LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.ca

NOREY Alternative/acoustic folkrock outfit from Seattle with special guests Warless, The Wayward Hearts and Laura Reznek. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $10 at the door.

RODRIGO Y GABRIELA Internationall acclaimed Mexican acoustic rock guitar duo, on tour in support of their release 9 Dead Alive with special guest Zach Heckendorf. 8pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $30 at Red Cat, Zulu, Highlife and Tickets. NorthernTickets.com. All ages show. THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM American punk rockers from New Jersey, on tour in support of Get Hurt with special guests Northcote and Sammy Kay. 9:30pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $32.50 at Ticketmaster.ca and LiveNation.com ALTAN Rogue veterans and traditional Irish musicians, play everything from touching old Celtic songs to stirring jigs and reels in honour of everyone’s favourite Irish holiday. 7pm at Centennial Theatre. Tickets $34 at Prussin Music and Tickets. CentennialTheatre.com

COMEDY PETE ZEDLACHER Two-time Gemini award-nominated comedian, and past winner of the Canadian Comedy Award for Best Male stand up who currently writes for CBC’s The Debaters and The Ron James Show. 8:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $15 at TheComedyMix.com

THEATRE/DANCE VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE A delightful new farce for our hyper-connected era shows us just how funny unhappiness can be in this witty mash-up of Chekhov characters and smart phones. 8pm at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com

SARAH HAGEN Critically-acclaimed classical soloist pianist brings her outstandingly inventive and infinite skill to the West Coast Symphony stage with special guest Adam Jones. 8pm at Christ Church Cathedral. Admission by donation.

COMEDY KYLE BOTTOM’S COMEDY BUCKET Katie Ellen Humphries fills in as host for the only show in town where comedians are guaranteed to talk about what’s on your mind. 9:30pm at Hot Art Wet City. Tickets $6 at EventBrite. ca or $10 at the door.

THEATRE/DANCE SISTER JUDY A popular university theology professor is rocked when a brilliant new student challengers her notions of love and devotion. 7:30pm at Revue Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until March 21. VANYA AND SONIA AND MASHA AND SPIKE A delightful new farce for our hyper-connected era shows us just how funny unhappiness can be in this witty mash-up of Chekhov characters and smart phones. 8pm at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub. com. Runs until April 19. MALADJUSTED Back by popular demand is the production exposing thought provoking truths surrounding mental health and the ‘solutions’ we are prescribed. 8pm at Firehall Arts Centre. Tickets at Tickets.FirehallArtsCentre.com. Runs until March 28.

CHEAP & FUN THE LAST WALTZ Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece, “the best concert film ever made” chronicles The Band’s farewell Thanksgiving concert featuring performances from Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton and a host of others. 9pm at the Rio Theatre. Tickets $10 at RioTheatreTickets.ca

MAYA JANE COLES Intimate Productions presents 25 year old British/Japanese deep house producer/DJ with special guest Abasi. Tickets $35 at Beat Street, Red Cat and TicketWeb.ca SILVER SPURS Local rock outfit from New Westminster appear in support of their debut release, EP, with guests Flvrhaus, My Mother The Carjacker and Milkers Wanted. 7:30pm at Media Club. Tickets $12 at the door. CELTIC CONNECTIONS A musical fusion of Indian and Celtic traditions with an eclectic ensemble of musicians featuring fiddle, bansuri and violin mesmerizing in a stunning blend of tones native to regions worlds apart. 8pm at Chan Shun Concert Hall. Tickets at ChanCentre.com AMELIA CURRAN Newfoundland singer-songwriter returns to Vancouver in support of her latest release They Promised You Mercy with special guest Ryan Boldt of Deep Dark Woods. 8pm at Studio 700. tickets $21 at TicketZone.co m. All ages show.

COMEDY PETE ZEDLACHER Past winner of Canadian Comedy Award for Best Male stand-up and two time Gemini Award nominee for performances at Just For Laughs and The Halifax Comedy Festival. 8pm & 10:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $20 at TheComedyMix.com JASON ROUSE Renegade stand-up comedian taking the mainstream comedy world and turning it upside down, forging a new road with the power of a derailed comedy train. 7pm & 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Ti ckets $20 at YukYuks.com

The Funk Hunters, March 21 at the Commodore Ballroom

THEATRE/DANCE ELBOW ROOM CAFÉ: THE MUSICAL A brand new work from Dave Deveau casts the spotlight on the infamous Vancouver café known for it’s witty, sassy service, celebrity sights and warm, inviting feel. 8pm at Studio 58. Tickets at TicketsTonight.TicketForce.com. Runs until March 29. TRANSMIGRATION A visually raw and engaging sto ry inspired by the life and paintings of iconic Ojibwe shaman-artist Norval Morrisseau, celebrating his visual language through dance, music and design. 8pm at Historic Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com.

EVENTS MARCH AGAINST RACISM The International Day for the Elimination of Racism marks the anniversary of the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa. Bring your banners, your kids, your drums and join friends and allies around the world to speak the truth about racism with familyfriendly activities and performers. 1pm at Clark Park.

CHEAP & FUN TIMELESS TALENT Proving there’s no limit to talent and a desire to share performance, the South Granville Seniors Centre present this talent showcase of everything from comedians to musicians to belly dance. 2pm at 1420 West 12th Avenue. Tickets $5 for seniors and $7 for general. Information at 604-732-0812.

GOITSE Traditional Irish musicians on tour in support of their debut release Tall Tales & Misadventures. 7pm a t St. James Hall. Tickets $24 at Highlife, Red Cat, Rufus’ Guitars, Prussin Music and RogueFolk.bc.ca YUN-CHIN ZHOU The Canadian debut of the Chinese prize-winning pianist in a program featuring pieces by Scarlatti, Liszt, Scriabin, Trenet and Rachmaninoff. 7:30pm at Vancouver Playhouse. Tickets $25 at VanRecital.com or at 604602-0363. THE COLOURIST LA pop quartet on tour in support of their EP, Inversions co-headline with special guests Echosmith, the emo and 80s dance-rock band from California. 7pm at The Rio. Tickets $18.50 at Red Cat, LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca ANVIL Pioneers of the new wave British heavy metal from Toronto take the stage with special guests Iron Kingdom and Omega Crom. 8pm at Venue. Tickets $16 at Scrape Records, Red Cat, Zulu and BPLive.ElectroStub.com

COMEDY THE SUNDAY SERVICE Local comedians, improv actors and all around entertainers produce their weekly show featuring classic form games in the group’s unique, highenergy style. 9pm at Fox Cabaret. Tickets $7 at the door. AMY SCHUMER American comic, writer, producer, actress and star of TV’s Inside Amy Schumer appears as part of her Back Door Tour. 7:30pm at Hard Rock Casino Vancouver. Tickets at Ticketmaster.ca

COMEDY THE LAUGH GALLERY WITH GRAHAM CLARK Legendary weekly stand up show of East Vancouver’s biggest and brightest comics. 9pm at Havana Theatre. Tickets $5 at Eventbrite.ca

EVENTS YOUTH POETRY SLAM FINALS Vancouver’s top eight youth poets will compete “in the round” for the grand prize, with feature performance from Toronto spoken word artist Patrick DeBelen. 7pm at WISE Hall. Admission is $8-$10.

CHEAP & FUN SIMPSONS TRIVIA One Year Anniversary Diorama-Rama Build a shoe-box sized diorama of your favourite scene from the Simpsons for your chance to win, or form a team of up to six for classic Simpsons trivia from Seasons 1-9. 7pm at The Waldorf. Entry fee is $5. SICK BOSS MONDAYS AT THE LIDO Every Monday night in Mount Pleasant there’s avantgarde, improvised jazz and rock accompanied by warped analogue visuals, good beer and German pretzels. 9pm at The Lido. Admission is always free. EAR MUFFS KARAOKE Drew Waldorf hosts the weekly send-up of everything from oldies to rap to crappy pop – whatever you write down and get up to sing – with drink specials, and a two week contest. 9pm at Biltmore Cabaret (Roxanne Room). Entry fee is $5.

NoRey, March 23 at the Biltmore Cabaret

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ARTS // CULTURE

WHAT’S ON Tu/24

We/25

Th/26

MUSIC

OCTAGON A combination performance of woodwinds and strings from eight of Canada’s most outstanding players in a program featuring Franz Schubert and Beethoven. 8pm at Vancouver Playhouse. Tickets $45 at FriendsOfChamberMusic.ca

SONIC BOOM FESTIVAL Returning for its 28th year is the showcase of original compositional works of some of BC’s most interesting composers performed by some of the best musicians of the lower mainland is a five-day event comprised of four evening concerts. Various show times at Orpheum Annex and Pyatt Hall. Tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com. Runs until March 29.

BOBBY BAZINI Quebec based, platinum singer-songwriter on tour in support of his upcoming release Where I Belong with special guests Bellwoods. 8pm at Media Club. Tickets at Red Cat, TicketWeb.ca and LiveNation.com

COLIN JAMES On the heels of his Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame induction, the Canadian guitarist appears in support of his 16th studio album Hearts on Fire. 7:30pm at The Orpheum. Tickets at LiveNation.com

OK GO Grammy award-winning Chicago alt-rockers with serious music video making skills appear in support of Hungry Ghosts. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $25 at LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.ca

JARABEDEPALO, LOS FURIOS, CARACAS The Morning After Show celebrates 15 years of eclectic radio devoted to local bands and live airwaves on CiTR radio with this solid line-up of fan favourites. 8pm at Rickshaw Theatre. Tickets at Highlife, Red Cat, Neptoon and Zulu.

BLUES & BREWS Canadian blues man Steve Kozak hosts this weekly evening of blues music with a rotating roster of special guests in East Van’s very own pub and brewhouse. 7pm at Pat’s Pub. Admission is free.

THE WHITE BUFFALO California singer-songwriter tours in support of his latest release Shadows, Greys and Evil Ways with special guest Spencer Burton. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $17.50 at NorthernTickets.com

THEATRE/DANCE THE SINGING BUTLER Back stage on opening night of the Singing Butler Cabaret, the solitude and weight of knowing every little secret is waiting for the chance to be revealed by the star of the show, April Showers. 8pm at Performance Works. Tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com

THEATRE/DANCE OBAABERIMA A story of duality at its core, written and performed by Tawiah M’Carthy whose captivating hero is caught between worlds – gay and straight, black and white, African and North American. 8pm at Historic Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.TheCultch.com. Runs until April 4.

CHEAP & FUN SHUTTERBUG Take a closer look at insect life in this exhibition of photographs, discovering how one man’s pastime became his passion, and explore how his images have contributed to science. 10am-5pm at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum. Included with museum admission.

MIS PAPAS In the form of a twelve round boxing match, this bilingual, passionate, hard hitting and personal adaptation of two immigrants follows their journey as they try to find a way to cope with the husk of what was once their dream life. 8pm at Pandora’s Box Rehearsal Studios (1890 Pandora). Tickets $15 at BrownPaperTickets.com. Runs until March 28.

ART PIGA PICHA! Originally conceived and presented in Nairobi in 2009, this North American premiere of the exhibition features a photographic portrayal of societal transformation in Kenya from the 1910s to the present. 10am-5pm at the Museum of Anthropology. Runs until April 4.

RANDOM RAB Multi-instrumentalist/singer and distinct voice of the West Coast electronic music scene brings his trip-hop, classical and Arabic influences to the stage with special guests SaQi and Applecat. 8:30pm at Rickshaw Theatre. Tickets $18 at Highlife, Beat Street, Puff and NorthernTickets.com

THEATRE/DANCE TRACE Ballet BC presents a triple-bill program featuring the Canadian premiere of William Forsythe’s workwithinwork, a world premiere by Walter Metteini, and the return of audience favourite Petite Ceremonie by Medhi Walerski. 8pm at Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Tickets at Ticketmaster.ca MONSIEUR AUBURTIN Internationally acclaimed choreographer Serge Bennathan’s new autobiographical work is a witty and moving look at a life lived through dance, and a rare opportunity to see the charismatic performer onstage. 8pm at Scotiabank Dance Centre. Tickets at TicketsTonight.ca or ChutzpahFestival.com CORPUS CHRISTI A controversial re-telling of Christ’s life, passion and persecution through the lens of a young gay man, a story about Christianity and sexuality in the 1950s. 8pm at Performance Works. Tickets at BrownPaperTickets.com

EVENTS VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW The largest automotive event in Western Canada, the showcase for car enthusiasts to check out popular brands; new features include green vehicles and technologies, an entirely electric monster truck, custom built hotrods and luxury vehicles. 12pm10pm at Vancouver Convention Centre. Tickets at VancouverAutoShow.com. Runs until March 29.

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MUSIC

Otic Sound charting its own course

LOUISE BURNS @_louiseburns_

Deep in the heart of Mount Pleasant lies a recording studio and analog mecca for Vancouver artists who err on the side of experimental.This is where you will find Josh Stevenson, owner and operator of Otic Sound, and the artist known as Magneticring. The list of Otic Sound alumni is impressive: Destroyer, White Lung, Peace, and Sur Une Plage are just a handful of artists he has produced, mixed or mastered. Over the past two decades, he has interned at the infamous Ardent Studios, played Lollapalooza with Staked Plains, recorded beautiful esoteric music in Egyptian apartments, and even started his own cassette label, Cast Exotic Archives. Naturally, my first question is how does one create such a rich life for oneself in this ever-crumbling industry. “After discovering The Cramps at the age of 11, I sort of knew I was meant to make music.” says Stevenson, during a break from a late night session at his studio. “I always knew I wanted to make music, regardless of making a living at it. It's my spiritual practice”. After getting into college radio at the age of 13, Stevenson recorded his first high school band on a ghetto blaster. In his words, this began a long tradition where Stevenson “ended up being the guy recording the projects I was involved with.” After high school he moved to Memphis, Tennessee, and interned at Ardent Studios. One of North America’s most prestigious recording studios, Ardent's hallowed halls have seen the likes of Big Star, R.E.M, and The Staples Singers, just to name a few. Despite this tutelage, Stevenson was more drawn to unorthodox producers and mixers, rather than the glamour (or lack thereof) of becoming a standard recording engineer.

Musician, recording engineer, and synth-lover Josh Stevenson has carved out a career in music by ignoring the music industry. “Connie Plank and Martin Hannett would be some obvious influences on me, but I'm also influenced by people like Spot (who produced most of the SST records) and low-fi weirdos like Joe Meek. I approach production as a musician, not as a pawn of the music industry.” Stevenson moved to Vancouver in the '90s where he continued to balance his love of playing and recording music. In addition to his studio work, he was a member of Portland experimental group Jackie-O Motherfucker, and began contributing to the Canadian canon of empirical-drone with Vancouver’s dusk-punk band Von Bingen and his own project, Magneticring.

The music of Magneticring draws inﬂuence from Javanese Gamelan, obscure psychedelic and new age music. Pieces are formed through a process of improvisation and analysis, rather than straight-forward composition. “Then the fun part is learning how to perform the edited composition live. My process usually involves composition melding with improvisation.” says Stevenson. His last release, The Fluid is Floating, was a live album, recorded at the request of the Italian label Dokuro, who wanted a performance of Stevenson using the rare EMS Synthi AKS synthesizer. Like most of his live shows, both sides of the

recording are improvised, and incredibly hypnotic. On his Soundcloud page, you’ll also ﬁnd a collaboration with Montreal/Cairo musician Osama Shalabi (Sam Shalabi), a project recorded in Shalabi’s Cairo apartment last spring. It is a perfect example of Stevenson’s vast understanding of music, not only as a collaborator and composer, but as a producer as well. What is refreshing about Stevenson, Otic Sound and his various works as an artist, is that his work does not come from some ulterior motive. He is a vessel, a channel, a deity of his own design with the sole purpose of making music that enriches the scene, precisely what a collaboration should be. – Louise Burns

album comes as fully realized. There are hints of dreamy indie pop, mostly through Fader’s opalescent voice and a taste for melody. She sings behind a dissonant synthesizer and trip hop beat on opener

“Pleasantries”. When the reverbed-out tremolo guitar comes in, she could be Julee Cruise singing a spaghetti western. “Attention Seeker” showcases Fader’s excellent songwriting skills with Walsh’s seductive and black-leather-glove production. “Outside In” is the perfect score for a drive through a glittery midnight cityscape. There is a touch of Chromatics, a touch of Angelo Badalamenti, and a lot of wonderful, sexy sophistication. Etiquette brings out the best of both Fader and Walsh’s work, and that is

REVIEWS // ETIQUETTE

Reminisce (Hand Drawn Dracula) Etiquette is Graham Walsh and Julie Fader, two of Toronto’s ﬁnest musicians and collaborators. Fader, a renowned singer-songwriter and hired gun to the likes of Chad Van Gaalen and Great Lake Swimmers, and Walsh, a member of Holy Fuck, is also a producer/engineer for the likes of Metz and Hannah Georgas. So it comes as no surprise that their debut

16 W March 19 - 25, 2015

Rating:

instead of scorning it. “I think Vancouver has a truly unique music scene with a lot of diversity.” he says. “When I moved here in the '90s there was an incredible experimental music scene, but then it faded for awhile. Things move in cycles and there's a lot of exciting new musicians making sounds in this town these days," he continues. "Spaces like Red Gate, Remington Gallery, Dunlevy Snack Bar, Index come into mind as hubs for the local underground.” This year, Magneticring’s 2008 self-titled LP on Uzu Audio will be reissued in Europe by Luxembourg label Nouvelle Nicotine. Stevenson is currently working

!!!!!

ANAMAI

Sallows (Buzz) Some may know Anna Mayberry for her other band, Toronto heavy-hitters HSY, but her new project could not be further from it. Working alongside electronic producer and artist David Psutka (Egyptrixx), she brings us into a dark forest of doom and experimental folk.

Mayberry’s unique voice is on display from the very start. Opener “Lucia” is a spacious, minimal track where she balances her sweet, folksy timbre with a sinister delivery, singing, “Oh you let me down sometimes” in two-part harmony.

on new music from Vancouver’s Peace, as well as the solo work by Peace vocalist Dan Geddes, and preparing for his show this Friday with Summering (a band he just finished recording) and Flowers & Fire. The final question. How does one stay afloat in the turbulent waters of music business for so many years? The answer is simple. “I ignore the music industry” Touche, Josh Stevenson. W

MAGNETICRING

Friday, March 20 at Red Gate with Summering and Flowers & Fire. Tickets $8 doors at 10PM.

“Altar Coals” could easily be turned into an indie pop anthem, but instead, Mayberry and Psutka give us a twisted pop experiment over the rattle of tambourine and a swirling distorted organ (or guitar?). It is a wonderful mix of Psutka’s strange doom-folk production and Mayberry’s idiosyncratic melodies. Unearthly, yet entirely grounded, Sallows is a wonderfully ominous interpretation of folk and cinematic songwriting. For those who go walking after midnight... – Louise Burns Rating:

!!!!! Westender.com

ARTS // CULTURE

@WESTENDERVAN

THEATRE

‘Obaaberima’ a powerful journey KRISTYN ANTHONY @allovthethings

Named after a derogatory term in the Ghanaian Tui dialect meaning “girly boy”, Obaaberima is, at its heart, an exploration of duality and of freedom. Set in the prison cell of a young African-Canadian man convicted of a violent crime, he shares with his cellmates, and the audience, his story on the eve of his release. Loosely based on Ghanaian-Canadian writer and performer Tawiah M’Carthy’s own experiences, the story moves between sexuality, race, gender, and continents as effortlessly as it moves through spoken word, song, and dance. A multi-disciplinarian, M’Carthy says the direction of the production was “heavily inﬂuenced by traditional Ghanian storytelling – a combination of many art forms. These elements become part of the story, bridging the gap between two cultures.” Obaaberima’s journey began as a poem, when M’Carthy showcased the piece at the Young Creators Unit – a

Obaaberima is loosely based on GhanaianCanadian writer and performer Tawiah M’Carthy’s own experiences.

festival of works by new artists – at Buddies In Bad Times Theatre, a queer-focused community theatre space in Toronto. Its image of a young boy standing in his mother’s mirror in a pair of her highheeled shoes struck director Evalyn Parry instantly. “I was instantly drawn to Tawiah’s lyrical instinct as a storyteller and his extraordinary stage presence.” Parry says. “It was an interesting point of departure, a story I hadn’t heard before consider-

ing the culture and the lack of a word for homosexuality.” Workshopping the poem over three phases, the shape of the stage version began to take place with the combination and intersection of each identity the story explores. “It’s essentially what makes the story what it is, and what makes it compelling,” Parry explains. “The analogy of this person as a prisoner confronts the ways in which we imprison ourselves and how we may transcend this, to

achieve our whole selves.” Both M’Carthy and Parry are quick to point out the collaborative nature of the piece, rounded out by the musical production of Kobena Aquaa Harrison. “The music became a character in itself,” M’Carthy offers. “The audience also plays a key role in the show as a dialogue forms between them and the performers.” An award-winning production that first premiered in Toronto in the fall of 2012, Obaaberima was an instant hit with local audiences. M’Carthy and Parry recently took the show to Ottawa and will visit Vancouver for a two week run at The Cultch beginning March 24. Parry is excited for a return to the historic theatre, “I find The Cultch has always welcomed productions from BIBT, and I personally find West Coast audiences so open and enthusiastic.” W

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‘Competition is Fierce’ could use a performance review

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plight. Too bad she has to endure an attempted rape that feels randomly plucked out of a bag of plot tricks. Jennifer Stewart’s unique set staging works well, though. After sipping preshow drinks out of coffee mugs in a staff room-themed bar, the audience makes it’s way into a stark white box – a macro-cubicle if you will – while a microcosm of modular ofﬁce spaces materializes via simple desks and visual projections. Carmen Alatorre’s costuming – clever plays on the power suits of

the future – completes the effect. But while The Competition is Fierce could be a piercing comment on North America’s gloriﬁcation of capitalism and executive-class entitlement, it is instead just a ﬁght, albeit a funny one, to make it to the end. W

THE COMPETITION IS FIERCE

Runs at the Shop Theatre (125 East 2nd) until March 22. Tickets $25/$20 at ITSAZOO.org

PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING INVITATION Re: The potential heritage revitalization and infill development of the MacGowan Residence site located at 1150 Comox St., Vancouver, BC, consistent with the Council adopted West End Plan. Purpose: The intent of the Public Information Meeting is to gather ideas and discuss options with the Mole Hill community. Date: Thursday, March 26th, 2015 Time: 4:00pm – 7:00pm (drop in) Location: Mole Hill Community Housing Society, 1169 Pendrell Street, Vancouver (entrance from the alley).

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Picture a not-so-distant future where ambitious corporate climbers have to engage in mortal combat for their next promotion. Such is the setting for Sebastian Archibald’s The Competition is Fierce, the latest in-yourface theatre production from ITSAZOO. The play introduces two Wall Street workers named John, one nebbish and smart, one cocksure and inexperienced, who want not only the same job, but the same woman (Rachel Cairns). The problem is only one John is legitimately worthy of either. The ﬁrst John (Chris Cochrane) has worked for the company in accounting for years, and has solid ideas of how to turn around a long stretch of losses. The second John (Carlo Marks) is the son of the recently defenestrated director of ﬁnance, and was only in the building to pick up his dad’s meagre belongings. His candidacy (and continued existence in the play) should have been questioned there, but apparently the company’s sadistic CEO (Marilyn Norry), while a fan of laying loyal employees off and closing factories to retain salaries, also likes to “keep things in the family.” The mandatory “executive training program” then

begins and the two Johns try to expose each other’s weaknesses over a three week period of working together (read: taunting the shit out of each other, to a lot of legitimate laughs), until finally arena day arrives, and they don their most “killer” business attire and enter the ring. For a play that could use a performance review, The Competition is Fierce has bloody good acting. As the sexually assertive boss lady, Norry slithers through the corporate landscape as the evil overseer – driving her weary right hand man Carlyle (the grandiloquent Andrew Wheeler), to do things to his minions he would rather not (is there no retirement option in his contract?). Norry is the first to get naked in the play’s unreserved use of nudity, but with her character, you get it. As the charming John No. 2, Marks does admirably in the conniving overdog role – throwing himself into the sociopathic ruthlessness of his role. And the play’s endearing pacifist, Cochrane, shows the most character development as he evolves from bookish to bravados to combat ready. But as their love interest and beleaguered office sex object, Cairns is the star – sharpening a vague script about sexual harassment to a point, and evoking the most emotion from her

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If you cannot attend the meeting or would like a copy of the presentation following the meeting, please contact: Email: tim@amarchitects.com or Phone: 604-872-2595 ext. 28 March 19 - 25, 2015 W 17

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FILM & TV

Sonita Henry: The face of the future

Olympus star turns ethnic ambiguity into ﬁlm andTV career

South American. “I think everyone’s going to be coffee-coloured in the future,” she laughs. “I don’t work in a lot of genres, but in sci-ﬁ, I work.” In April, Henry will bring her futuristic face – and her time- and industry-tested abilities – to Olympus. The Vancouver-shot series explores the chaotic and dramatic interplay between humans, Gods, and monsters in Greek mythology. Henry plays Medea, and if you were paying attention in high school, you probably remember that Medea wasn’t exactly Mother of theYear: When her husband, Jason of “Golden Fleece” fame, sets out to marry the daughter of a powerful king, Medea kills her own children in a jealous rage. “Medea is the archetype of every female villainess,” says Henry. “Maleﬁcent is based on Medea.Throughout history, there have been all of these powerful female characters, and they all stem from Medea.” The events of Olympus take place 16 years after Medea killed her children. Medea is now married to King Aegeus, with whom she has a son. Medea is a “ridiculously delicious role,” according to Henry. “Nick Willing, the creator who is just this crazed genius, he was writing as we were shooting, and as he got to know us more as people,

Sabrina Furminger Reel People @Sabrinarmf

Sonita Henry’s credit list would make for a must-seeTV marathon on the Space Channel. Henry played the president’s aide in The Fifth Element, present in that iconic final scene where Milla Jovovich’s Leeloo and Bruce Willis’ Korben get it on in the regeneration chamber. She was the doctor who delivers James T. Kirk in the heart-stopping opening minutes of 2009’s Star Trek. She portrayed a colonel (who’s transformed into a Dalek!) in the 2013 Doctor Who Christmas special. The British-born actress didn’t set out to specialize in fantastical film and television, but she’s found a home in the genre regardless. Perhaps, Henry muses on the phone from England, the answer to her sci-fi success lies in her ethnic ambiguity. “I think the reason why I’ve ended up following a sci-fi path is that being mixed race lends itself to futuristic,” says Henry, whose father is English and whose mother is

1.75

he was adding stuff to the scripts, and he just kept putting more and more and more on my plate,” she says. Olympus tells the story of a small group of humans who banished the Gods to the Kingdom of Hades.The 13-episode series follows Hero as (according to official PR material) “he seeks the truth about his past, which may be intertwined with the Gods themselves.” Cameras rolled on Olympus back in 2014, and during her four-month stay in the 604, Henry embraced many facets of the Vancouver lifestyle. “I stayed inYaletown, which I loved, and walked everywhere, which I loved, because I hadn’t done that since I lived in NewYork,” says Henry. It’s not quite the life and career path that Henry had envisioned for herself growing up in a small town in England. Although she loved film (“My mother won’t admit to this, but I remember staying home sick from school one day because Breakfast at Tiffany’s was on”), she’d planned on a career in journalism instead. She was studying film and journalism when, unbeknownst to her, her mother sent her picture to a casting agency after reading in a UK magazine that Luc Besson was looking for talent for his next film project. “I went up and auditioned, and I didn’t think anything of

Sonita Henry as Medea in Super Channel’s Olympus. Contributed photo it, because I’d never acted,” recalls Henry. “I didn’t even do a school play.” The rest is showbiz history. Besson hired Henry, The Fifth Element became a cult hit, and Henry’s future expanded to include Daleks, a newborn Captain Kirk, and tortured souls from Greek mythology. If genre casting directors see something in her that speaks to the future, that’s ﬁne by Henry – because the sci-ﬁ and fantasy realm is teeming with compelling

roles for women. “There are so many strong female characters written in sci-ﬁ that you don’t get in drama, and you don’t get in action,” says Henry, who voiced the character of pilot Ellie Langford in the Dead Space video games. “Even in comedy, [women are] usually the wife, or the funny girlfriend.” And you can bet that Medea isn’t a funny girlfriend. “You can’t imagine what she must have gone through to

kill her kids, so she’s carrying that around with her,” says Henry. “You think she’s the villain, but she’s not.You see the real Medea come through as the show progresses.” Olympus also stars Wayne Burns, Graham Shiels, Cas Anvar, Matt Frewer, and John Emmet Tracy. W

OLYMPUS

Olympus premieres on Super Channel, April 2.

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Rob Joyce & Sales Associate Roger Ross

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

Sales Associate Roger Ross

West End Specialist Rob Joyce

ww ee NN

w w NNee New Listing Heritage Character 1055 Harwood #212

Sensational red oak real hardwood floors at Harcrest Apartments off Sunset Beach. South light and beautiful renovations, 705 sq. ft. architectural detail & new kitchen & bathroom. Hurry! $319,900.

New Listing Water Views 1146 Harwood #1403 High end

upgrades to every aspect of this suite + water and city views from the top of The Lamplighter, a quality rental friendly strata on Sunset Beach. All views. 595 sq. ft. BY APPOINTMENT ONLY. $349,900.

OPEN: SUN. 2:00 - 2:30 1924 Comox #412 West of Denman Price slashed by $20,000. Unique Whistler style

South-facing suite, skylights, 20’ ceilings at The Windgate. New rainscreen and new windows. Pets welcome. 728 sq. ft. $469,900.

We sell 100% of our West End listings LD LD O O SS

D D L L O S SO New Listing 1127 Barclay #502 Beautiful renovations on the

SE corner, city views, large patio in prime pet friendly strata in heart of the West End and steps to downtown. 828 sq. ft. $474,900.

WEST WEST COAST COAST

1740 Comox #1503 The Sandpiper View! View! View! Renovated NW corner suite at the fabulous Sandpiper just off Denman St. and steps to English Bay & Stanley Park. $379,900.

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SOLD

1850 Comox #1707

SOLD

1855 Nelson #301

SOLD

1055 Harwood #309

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Certified Senior Agent & Luxury Marketing Specialist Thanks Clients for Making Me 2014 “Top 100 RE/MAX Realtors in Western Canada”! A Sophisticated Approach to Lifestyle Attainment. Professional Advisement and Marketing of Fine Vancouver Properties.

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CURRENT LISTINGS: MACKENZIE HEIGHTS NEW LISTING

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OPEN SAT & SUN 11AM-1PM 2905 West 37th Avenue, $4,988,000

• Brand New 5,383 SQFT 7 Bdrm, 8 Bath Home • Stunning Architectural Craftsman-Style Masterpiece • 4 Bdrms Up, 1 Down, Plus 900SQFT 2 Bed, 2 Bath Legal Suite • Three Car Garage • Beautiful Landscaping, Built-in Water Fountains & BBQ • Stunning Oak Floors, High-End Appliances,Wok Kitchen • Fully Automated Technology, High Efficiency Boiler, LED Lighting • Incredible Location Near Best Schools and Right on Bike Route • Super Hot Mackenzie Heights/Kerrisdale Location • Completion February 2015

Crest Westside Ltd.

11366 96th Avenue, N. Delta, $588,000

• Gorgeous Contemporary/West Coast Renovation • Great Family Home – South Facing Private Backyard • 5 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Pool, Hot Tub, FencedYard • Five Min to Annieville Elem., Delview Sec., Parks, Shopping,Transit • Basement Bedroom With Sep Entrance - Could be Mortgage Helper • Sep Powered 10 Feet by 20 Feet “Artists Studio” Great for Home Business! • ExceptionalValue ForYoung Families!!! Welcome Home!

Prepare to be MOVED™.

214-605 Como Lake Avenue, Coquitlam, $183,000

• Investor &Young Family Alert! • Rentals Now Allowed and No Age Restrictions! • Large 924SQFT 2 Bed, 2 Parking, 1 Block to New Burquitlam Skytrain at Lougheed Mall! • Nicely Renovated and South Facing • Heat, Hot Water and Free Laundry Included in Maint. Fee • Pets Allowed, 1 Storage Locker - Solid,Well managed Building!

210-2320 Trinity Street, $368,000

• Beautiful Partially Reno’d 2 Bedroom 900SQFT With Wood Fireplace! • North West Corner Suite – Best Location in Building. • Quiet Side of Solid Building With Lions, Stanley Park & Harbour Views on Quiet Lovely Street • Building Backs Onto A Park • Parking & Storage Included. • Pets & Rentals Allowed! • Hottest Neighbourhood Up and Coming!

Call Us Today for a Confidential Needs Assessment and Market Analysis

202-2475York Avenue, $438,000 • Attention Gardeners & Beach Bums! • Best Condo in “York West” - 3 Blocks From Kits Beach! • Large 1 Bed & Den/Office 730SQFT • Nice Renovations, Great Floorplan. • South Facing With Huge Sunny Patio Deck & Garden • 1 Parking, 1 Storage Pets & Rentals ok. • This one is Hot! Welcome Home.

604-787-5568

www.MichaelDowling.ca March 19 - 25, 2015 W 19

LIFESTYLES //

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REAL ESTATE

This is what $15.8 million buys on Cambie

FRANK O’BRIEN @westendervan

When Richmond-based CM Bay Properties paid the equivalent of nearly $45 million per acre for an old gas station site on the Cambie corridor, it underscored how land has become the dominant real estate sector in Metro Vancouver – and how land prices could dictate future property values and lease rates. The November sale “set a new record for price-perbuildable-square-foot” at $402, according to Colliers International. CM Bay paid $15.8 million for the 0.36 acre (15,714 square foot) site.The development and construction company plans a 12-storey, mixed-use condo and retail complex on the land near the Oakridge Canada Line station. As the deal suggests, land is now the biggest and boldest speculative play in the Lower Mainland, with developers, spurred by higher density potential, bidding values to spectacular levels. With a dollar volume in excess of $3 billion in 2014, land accounted for more money spent on commer-

CM Bay Properties paid $15.8 million for this vacant lot near Oakriadge Centre. BIV photo cial real estate in the Lower Mainland than all the ofﬁce buildings, shopping malls, industrial buildings and multifamily rental property sales combined. The dollar value of land sales posted a 35.9 per cent increase from 2013, according to the Commercial Edge report from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver. The 628 land deals represented an average price per site of $4.7 million – but many sold for much more. “[Land] has been trading at much higher values as some owners are being incented to sell,” noted James Lang, market intelligence manager for Colliers in its latest LandShare report. The developers are drawn

by potential density increases, as witnessed in downtown Vancouver where the city’s West End Community Plan now encourages higher ﬂoor space ratios. Last fall, Bosa Properties paid $120.5 million for a one-acre development site at 1500 West Georgia.The deal’s skinny capitalization rate of 3.49 per cent can only be justiﬁed by a potential increase in density, analysts say. Simon Lim of Colliers quarterbacked the $83.5 million sale of an entire block – nearly an acre – on Alberni Street to Wall Financial last year. The major incentive to buy land is for residential projects, the Colliers survey showed. These deals now represent

STEPHEN BURKE SUTTON GROUP - WEST COAST REALTY

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604-714-1700

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FA M I LY S I Z E 3 B E D R O O M

half of all Lower Mainland land sales, up from a third in 2013. Most of the developers are acquiring dirt for low-rise wood frame condominiums and townhouses, according to Colliers. One of Vancouver’s emerging areas for land speculation is along Kingsway Avenue south of King Edward Avenue. Spurred by a city plan that encourages a shift towards multi-family development, land prices have increased an average of $46 per square foot over the past year. Third Properties Ltd., for instance, recently paid $8.3 million for less than half an acre in the 2400-2600 blocks of Kingsway; and Intracorp Developments Ltd. paid $314

per square foot for small lot in the same area. AvisonYoung principal Bal Atwal, who closed the sale of a well-tenanted shopping mall at No. 3 Road last August for $78.4 million, said the price was all about the 5.4 acres of land.The buyers are a Mainland China investment group looking at a long-term development potential, perhaps 10 years down the road, he said. “Underlying land values have outpaced income values on properties along or near virtually every major commercial corridor in Metro Vancouver where land is designated for higher density uses,” Atwal explained. W -Story courtesy of Business in Vancouver

Real Estate Opens West End

412-1924 Comox St, 1 bdrm, $469,900, Sun 2-2:30

Yaletown

1107-501 Pacific St., 1 bdrm + den, $429,000 Sat & Sun 2-4

Mackenzie Heights

2905W. 37th Ave., 7 bdrms, $4,988,000 Sat & Sun 11-1

Kitsilano

202-2475York Ave., 1 bdrm + den, $438,000 Thurs 5:30-7, Sat & Sun 2-4

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CARNEY’S CORNER

ST PATRICK’S SPECIAL You’ll thank your lucky stars you found this spacious one bedroom, office and balcony home steps to shops, services, Stanley Park and English Bay. Nine foot ceilings, only one common wall, large rooms, and lots of updates make this a comfortable home in super central, convenient location. Built as strata, building has been maintained by many long term owners. Parking& locker included, hot water heat, cat friendly & installation of laundry with strata permission. $369,900

LD SO

KEEP YOUR POT OF GOLD! You’ll be thrilled with this economical one bedroom steps to Denman and short stroll to Stanley Park and English Bay. No waste space layout with square rooms, good storage and updates including bath and flooring will provide a comfortable home, investment or great pied a terre. Sunny exposure with some water view from balcony. Purchase includes use of locker and outdoor pool. Parking available on rental or street permit basis. Rental friendly; sorry no pets. SOLD $219,900

WEN

• • • • •

1743 sq.ft. fab floorplan + 257 sq.ft. terrace 2 separated King-size master bedrooms 2 - 9’ x 9’ ensuites with soaker tubs & sep showers Spacious 3rd bedroom for office or guests Entertainer’s living. Dining for 8-10 guests

1020 HARWOOD

20 W March 19 - 25, 2015

• • • • •

Bring your house-size furniture along Custom kitchen, cabs, granite & stainless steel Great outdoor area for BBQ’s & green thumbs Rainscreened/warranty/new plumbing New common areas, gym, pool 2 parking, pet

$1,250,000

West End Neighbours

LD SO

New info always available on the website; an opportunity for community to stay in touch and keep up on local issues. www.westendneighbours.ca

TALK TO LIZ CARNEY 685-5951/603-3095

604

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

In Town Realty

Westender.com

www.dexterrealty.com 604-689-8226 Yaletown 604-336-3539 Main Street 604-263-1144 Kerrisdale

Kevin Skipworth Layla Managing Broker Bamford

Brad Pacaud

Kris Pope

Nicole Cannon

Michael Chen

Mateen Qureshi

Nadine Ramos

Matthew Chow

Tyrone Robinson

Jennifer Devlin

Harj Romi

Christopher Dohm

Mike Rooney

Michael Shaw

Sandi Fratino

Simmy Sandhu

James Hau

Erica Fremeau

Sheila Sontz

Melany Sue-Johnson

Jeff Holmes

Daryl Suarez

Megan King

Natasha Sully

Johan Leung

604-649-6546

harrison@dexterrealty.com www.patriciaharrison.ca

skipworth@dexterrealty.com

NEW LISTING

$688,000

This is a rare find Custom Penthouse loft space in Yaletown. This amazing corner unit has 16 ft. soaring ceilings, two-level loft and a gas fireplace. Take a soak in your own private hot tub and enjoy the spectacular views that offer a luxury penthouse lifestyle.

cline@dexterrealty.com

1107-501 PACIFIC ST. $429,000 OPEN SAT/SUN 2 - 4PM 501 PACIFIC 1 bed and den! IN the heart of Yaletown, a block from the seawall and steps to George Wainborn and David Lam parks, find this open plan 588 sq.ft. West-facing apartment that comes with 1 bed and den with granite counters, S/S appliances and laminate floors.

Matt Magee

matt@mattmagee.ca

$195,000

INVESTOR ALERT! PRICED TO SELL AND A GREAT LOCATION JUST A FEW BLOCKS TO THE BEACHES AND SEAWALL. Fantastic studio apartment with great income potential. With light renovations and a bit of paint, this suite could be a fantastic revenue property. A great well-run concrete building that has undergone many updates & improvements and a great rooftop pool for summer entertaining. This is a leasehold prepaid non-strata so your maint. fees inc. tax, heat, hot water and all the other mentioned items.

Candace Filipponi Reid Dewson 604-263-1144 604-263-1144

www.loftsvancouver.com

Alice Robinson 604-263-1144 alicerobinson.com

1208-1177 HORNBY ST.

$685,000

Spacious 2 bed, 2 bath home in LONDON PLACE. South-facing balcony with fabulous views to English Bay. Nothing to do, just move in.

Michael Langdon 604-263-1144

langdon@dexterrealty.com

Travis Mako

Jocelyn Manlapaz

Bob Moore

Sean Murty

Sharon Wayman

Michael Webster

Laurel Wood

Maria Zavaglia

Courtney Otto

Kris Pope

604-318-5226

pope@dexterrealty.com

218-336 EAST 1ST AVE.

$489,000

SOARING 16 foot ceilings in this open plan, south facing live/work loft in the sought-after, ARTECH building. Laminate floors, open kitchen with full wall chalkboard and an extra-large, open bedroom above! This building has ultra-low maintenance fees and is located right in the hub of Mount Pleasant/Main – bonus: brand new RED TRUCK brewery/restaurant across the street! Massive, common rooftop deck with forever views/BBQs, and steps away from Main Street shops/Olympic Village, Emily Carr, BCIT and the Skytrain.

604-790-6589

101-1250 BURNABY ST.

Clarence Lowe

Larry Esther Traverence Twerdochlib

Kevin Skipworth Cathie Cline 604-689-8226 604-263-1144

Patricia Harrison

2105-1238 SEYMOUR ST.

Scott Evans

Taking our Listings Global

Marcus Maia Chris Spotzl 604-263-1144 604-263-1144 www.uptownvancouver.com

1108-1205 HOWE ST.

$489,000

Derek Sun 604-263-1144

www.thegoteam.ca

1406-938 SMITHE ST.

$549,900

Welcome to Electric Avenue. Seldom available floor plan, 2 bedroom plus den and 2 bathroom end unit! Quality Bosa built building, great city and a touch of ocean views. Spacious open floor plan, kitchen with granite countertops, new refinished wood floors and freshly painted rooms. Bedrooms located on opposite side of each other for privacy, master has walk through closet to en-suite bathroom. Location is the best in the city everything at your doorstep. Rentals and pets okay.

Check out our website, www.dexterrealty.com for current market condition updates.

Westender.com

626-610 GRANVILLE ST. “The Hudson” - Spacious and Airy 962 foot two level corner loft home, complete with two entrances and a balcony overlooking the private courtyard. This ZONED Live/Work space is inspirational and comfortable, you might forget where you are until you walk outside and find all the possible amenities that you could imagine. High ceilings in the living room with a double set of windows that vertically span two stories, a separate dining/office or as it is used for now; a 2nd bedroom, two bathrooms (one up and one down), so functional and creative.

loftsvancouver.com

Details & Photos of all lofts for sale in Vancouver

Ed Gramauskas Cell: 604-618-9727

$678,000

Gorgeous unit at ALTO offering a great layout, 10’ ceilings, large balcony, and huge spa-like bathroom! Designer finishes include Electrolux wood-paneled appliances, custom floor to ceiling cabinetry, and polished stone countertops. Practical pluses include: oversized parking stall, storage locker, rooftop garden, party room, and billiards room. Live close to everything in one of the nicest boutique buildings Downtown. Just move in and enjoy the lifestyle! Commercial Real Estate Needs? Dexter Associates Realty’s

commercial team will answer all of your questions and will help with all your commercial needs. Whether you need office space, somewhere to set up your business or retail store, or are looking to buy an investment property we can help you. Call us at 604-689-8226 today.

March 19 - 25, 2015 W 21

28 LA HOM ST E MO S S NT OLD H!

DOWNTOWN’S MOST AFFORDABLE LUXURY BURRARD + GEORGIA

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SAME LUXURY LIFESTYLE AT A FRACTION OF THE PRICE:

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HORNBY & HELMCKEN AT THE VANCOUVER LAW COURTS 164 CITY HOMES FROM $346,900 · ADDITIONLIVING.COM PRESENTATION CENTRE OPEN DAILY 12–5PM, EXCEPT FRIDAYS 1149 HORNBY STREET · 604 620 6692 THE DEVELOPER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES WITHOUT NOTICE. PRICES AND AVAILABILITY ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE. RENDERING AND VIEW ARE APPROXIMATE ONLY. E.&O.E.

22 W March 19 - 25, 2015

Westender.com

LIFESTYLES //

@WESTENDERVAN

HEALTH

Want a beach body? Forget the fad diet Patty Javier Gomez Whole Nourishment

Thinkstock photo

@WholeNourishBC So it’s March and our mild Vancouver weather has proven to be quite the delight. I was even wearing a T-shirt the other day! What? In the words of today’s texting youths, that’s totes cray cray. Getting all this nice weather might be have you thinking about summer plans earlier than usual, and for most that means some much needed outdoor times, and for others, it means speciﬁcally the beach (Wreck Beach anyone?) And because of this, most will start thinking they need to work on their beach body. For some that could mean gruelling new exercise regimes and weird fad diets that either don’t work, or make you lose weight at an unhealthy rate (what they don’t tell you is that you gain it back with a vengeance right after you get off it). Now don’t get me wrong, I’m all about supporting people on their health journeys, but fad diets are anything but. They don’t support people on a healthy path or create a healthy relationship with food. Fad diets promise quick results in a very small amount of time, and although this is the obvious appeal, the long-term effects they can have on your body are usually not taken into account. So let’s take a look at all

the things that inevitably go wrong…

MALNOURISHMENT

When you restrict your body from its normal caloric intake over a long period of time, it can deprive your body of its essential nutrients leading to severe malnourishment. Carbs and fats are not the enemy, people! In fact, they are quite essential in keeping you alive.

DEHYDRATION

Most of the weight that you lose when you drop weight too quickly tends to be water weight, which leads to dehydration.Water is pretty essential, most of our bodies are made up of it, so it’s not a good idea to lose any.

METABOLISM

Not eating enough food can actually slow down your metabolism.Your body will hold on to the few calories that you eat on your fad diet and, as a result, when you get off the diet and start eating like a normal human being, you’ll

gain all your weight back plus more. More often then not, fad diets actually make you gain weight long term.

MUSCLE LOSS

Fad diets often claim that you don’t have to exercise in order to lose weight.This combined with the malnourishment of the diet means that the weight you’re losing might be muscle. Muscle weighs more than fat and is just as easily lost. If you lose muscle mass, you’ll have a lot of trouble keeping weight off.

BASIC TIPS FOR HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS

The only effective longterm weight loss plan is to have a balanced and healthier lifestyle. Beware when a diet offers you quick results, a lot of major health hazards tend to be ignored when people want results fast. Sound too good to be true? It probably is! & 7-2* !-#; -$ #*"953# *4*#cise regime is necessary, even if it’s just walking 30 minutes

around the neighbourhood every day. Not only will this help you to maintain healthy weight (which is different for everyone – we are not made from cookie cutters!) exercise also releases endorphins, which will make you feel great! And you should feel great, because you are awesome! & )<30":0" ;<* ;1%*! -$ foods that you eat as opposed to eliminating them is a good, gradual way to ease into a new healthy diet and can be helpful to motivate and encourage you. Sugars, bad fats and refined foods can easily be replaced with some whole food choices (note: complex carbs will fill you up and reduce appetite). & /<*0 1-9 $**5 <90"#1( drink a glass of water instead of reaching for a meal.You may find that you are actually thirsty instead of being hungry. Say whaaat? Try it, the results could surprise you. & +8-:, ,:!;#3.;:-0 6<:5* eating.Turn off the TV, put away your tablet or iPhone. Stay in the moment to avoid overeating. Eat slowly, Chew your food. Be mindful. & '-.9! -0 6<3; 1-9 *3;ing and not what you are avoiding. & +55-6 1-9#!*5$ ;- :0,95"* once and a while.This is what we refer to as the 80/20 rule. Do this without guilt or judgment. W

There is more online

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PRE-NATAL

@PlayOutdoorsVan

To some, techno-coloured tutus, glow sticks and after dark surprises can induce

a ﬂashback to the days of organized secret underground parties, a.k.a. raves.Today, 18- to 30-year-old women will soon associate party favours and packed buses with a new generation of fun.This dose of outdoor adventure called Girls Gone Wilderness is legal, dry and MEC-approved.

A group of fearless female outdoor leaders are the creators of this new good-time tribe aimed at encouraging more young women to become physically active outdoors. Alicia Woodside introduced herself to fellow adventurers as a guest speaker at Feat Canada 2014. Just

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Continued on next page

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March 19 - 25, 2015 W 23

LIFESTYLES //

WESTENDER.COM

DRIVE Continued from page 23 Embracing her girl power on and off the trail, she runs all of her miles in metallic tutus and sparkles rather than technical running apparel. Her Girls Gone Wilderness team includes Jennifer Hughes and Mud Bunnies babes Joanie Maynard and Nancy Zenger. It was Zenger who jumped at registering the domain GirlsGoneWilderness.ca on a late night whim après Feat. This group of gals is on a mission to reclaim hiking from the blue rinse generation and to make playing outdoors enjoyable, accessible and affordable. A Party Bus to the Forest is their spring debut. At $12 for a pair for tickets, the intent is to introduce a friend to the outdoors. On March

Today’s Drive: 2015 Scion FR-S

20, participants will board a party bus destined for the wilderness. An evening point-to-point hike has a few surprises in store. Much like the unveiling of the location of a rave, the destination is only revealed the night of the event. “It’s not going to be a grunt,” says Woodside. “The trail is a local classic and the experience itself is complete with dance zones, Vega mocktails and glow sticks.” Girls Gone Wilderness plans to kick off every season with a party bus experience that will highlight the ﬂavours of the season. Don’t worry, you won’t get dumped on the North Shore’s most difﬁcult single track, but rather you will get a taste of the outdoors that will leave you wanting more. Join the party! W

Plenty of thrills in a compact sportscar BRENDAN MCALEER @westendervan

We’re all up to our eyeballs in horsepower these days. It’s a rising tide that floats all boats, from the gongshow insanity of the Dodge Hellcat twins, to the capability of your average V6 family sedan to out-muscle a mid-‘80s Ferrari. Happily, speed limits have been raised to accommodate all the fresh new ponies prancing under our right foot. Oh wait, no they haven’t. There’s been a 10km/h bump on some rural highways in this province, but for the most part you can sneeze at a gas pedal and be watching your car get flat-decked away by the RCMP five minutes later. But what if fun wasn’t so much about the fast and furious side of things, but about that seat-of-yourpants scoot you get in a lightweight sportscar? What about something that’s quick enough to be fun without being fast enough to be a liability? Well here it is then, the Scion FR-S.

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A joint venture between Subaru and Toyota, the Scion FR-S is basically identical to the Subaru BRZ; this latter is a bit more expensive and has slightly less aggressive suspension tuning. I’ve always felt the Scion version to be slightly better looking than the Subaru, wearing its distinctly Japanese styling well. The factory-sized 17-inch alloys look right sized for the car, although there’s a large aftermarket these days to swap them out for something lighter, perhaps shod with grippier rubber. However, as it stands, it’s a balanced shape. Fog lights are a dealerinstalled accessory, and you can also order your FR-S with a TRD exhaust for a bit more rasp out the back. However, in factory-spec form, it’s already pretty much got everything it needs.

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ENVIRONMENT

The most direct competitor for the FR-S is perhaps the Mazda Miata, but the Scion has a few advantages for practicality-minded folks. For one thing, it’s a 2+2, which means booster seats ﬁt in the back, or a couple of cramped adult passengers in a (literal) pinch. A rear-facing child seat can be crammed in there, but only if the person riding in the passenger seat is Bilbo Baggins. The general feel of the materials in the FR-S is just as with other members of the Scion range: inexpensive but durable. The seats are great, as is the steering wheel and shifter, and everything else is just, well, there. There’s a little extra padding where you might knock a knee against something during hard cornering, but the overall impression is that the primary focus of this car is driving, not comfort. However, it should also be mentioned that the rear seats fold down, making the trunk just large enough to carry four extra tires (to a track day or similar). That gives the FR-S just a little extra usability, which is handy if it’s your only car.

PERFORMANCE:

Under the hood is an odd hybrid of an engine: a Subaru 2.0L ﬂat-four combined with Toyota’s directinjection system. It makes 200hp at 7,000rpm and 151lb/ft of torque between 6,400 and 6,600rpm. That’s not a lot, and

when it comes to the torque output, that’s really not a lot. 200hp seems respectable on the surface next to hot hatches like the Ford Fiesta ST, but you really have to wind out the FR-S’s four-banger to its absolute limit to access that power. However, there is sufﬁcient power here to have a good time as it’s not about the straight-line speed at all, but about what happens when you start pushing the FR-S through a few corners. For 2015, Scion has tamed the FR-S’s pervious tendency to be a bit tail-happy, but it’s all for the better. Rather famously, the FR-S comes wearing a set of low-rolling resistance tires found as the upgrade on the Japanese-market Prius. A Prius? That’s right: it’s not important to offer brain-bending levels of grip. Instead, you want predictive handling and perhaps a tendency to slide out a little. Here the FR-S is a relative delight. Early versions of the cars are a hooligan’s plaything, but you can’t go around all day hanging the tail out in front of Jonny Law. The FR-S now turns in with aplomb and then zings through the corner with a light and nimble feel. The wetter the roads, the better, and up in the mountains of the North Shore, the little Scion was much more fun than some hugely capable and powerful allwheel-drive twin-turbo Audi might be. There are a few draw-

backs to consider if this is your only car. It’s quite loud as a highway cruiser, and while the suspension isn’t overly stiff by sportscar standards, a lengthy road-trip isn’t something to be embarked upon lightly. Still, slicing through the fog and rain at the top of Mount Seymour was never so much fun – and it didn’t even involve being a total miscreant. Mission accomplished, little car.

FEATURES

Apart from the optional premium audio and satellite navigation, the FR-S comes relatively well-equipped as its base model. The touchscreen navigation is nothing to write home about, so you’d be better off just getting a secure attachment for your smartphone. Premium is required and ofﬁcial fuel economy is rated at 10.9L/100kms city and 7.9L/100kms on the highway. Observed fuel economy for mixed driving was right at 10L/100kms, very good for spirited driving.

GREEN LIGHT

Grippy seats; light and nimble feel; surprisingly usable for small space

STOP SIGN

Bare bones interior; engine lacks grunt; noisy cabin at speed

THE CHECKERED FLAG

Plenty of thrills in a compact sportscar that’s still practical enough for every day. W

TECHNICALLY, DOWNTOWN NISSAN IS “DOWNTOWN-ISH.” ®

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@WESTENDERVAN

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Free Will Astrology By Rob Brezsny You’re entering a time and space known as the Adlib Zone. In this territory, fertile chaos and inspirational uncertainty are freely available. Improvised formulas will generate stronger mojo than timeworn maxims. Creativity is de rigueur, and street smarts count for more than book-learning. May I offer some mottoes to live by when “common sense” is inadequate? 1. Don’t be a slave to necessity. 2. Be as slippery as you can be and still maintain your integrity. 3. Don’t just question authority; be thrilled about every chance you get to also question habit, tradition, fashion, trendiness, apathy, and dogma.

By 1993, rock band Guns N’ Roses had released five successful albums. But on the way to record their next masterpiece, there were numerous delays and diversions. Band members feuded. Some were fired and others departed. Eventually, only one original member remained to bring the task to conclusion with the help of new musicians. The sixth album, Chinese Democracy, finally emerged in 2008. I’m seeing a similarity between Guns N’ Roses’ process and one of your ongoing projects, Taurus. The good news is that I think most of the hassles and delays are behind you, or will be if you act now. You’re primed to make a big push toward the finish line.

The anonymous blogger at Neurolove.me gives advice on how to love a Gemini: “Don’t get impatient with their distractibility. Always make time for great conversation. Be understanding when they’re moody. Help them move past their insecurities, and tell them it’s not their job to please everyone. Let them have space but never let them be lonely.” I endorse all that good counsel, and add this: “To love Geminis, listen to them attentively, and with expansive flexibility. Don’t try to force them to be consistent; encourage them to experiment at uniting their sometimes conflicting urges. As best as you can, express appreciation not just for the parts of them that are easy to love but also for the parts that are not yet ripe or charming.” Now feel free, Gemini, to show this horoscope to those whose affection you want.

You have recently been to the mountaintop, at least metaphorically. Right? You wandered out to the high frontier and ruminated on the state of your fate from the most expansive vista you could find. Right? You have questioned the limitations you had previously accepted, and you have weaned yourself from at least one of your devitalizing comforts, and you have explored certain possibilities that had been taboo. Right? So what comes next? Here’s what I suggest: Start building a new framework or structure or system that will incorporate all that you’ve learned during your break.

According to the international code of food standards, there are 13 possible sizes for an olive. They include large, extra large, jumbo, extra jumbo, giant, colossal, super colossal, mammoth, and super mammoth. If I had my way, Leo, you would apply this mind-set to everything you do in the coming weeks. It’s time for you to think very big. You will thrive as you expand your mind, stretch your boundaries, increase your territory, amplify your self-expression, magnify your focus, and broaden your innocence.

“Half the troubles of this life can be traced to saying yes too quickly and not saying no soon enough,” proclaimed humorist Josh Billings. That’s an exaggeration made for comic effect, of course. (And I think that some of life’s troubles also come from saying no too much and not saying yes enough.) But for you, Virgo, Billings’ advice will be especially pertinent in the coming weeks. In fact, my hypothesis is that you will be able to keep your troubles to a minimum and boost your progress to a maximum by being frugal with yes and ample with no.

Your mind says, “I need more room to move. I’ve got to feel free to experiment.” Your heart says, “I think maybe I need more commitment and certainty.” Your astrologer suggests, “Be a bit more skeptical about the dream lover who seems to be interfering with your efforts to bond with the Real Thing.” I’m not sure which of these three sources you should heed, Libra. Do you think it might somehow be possible to honor them all? I invite you to try.

“Without your wound where would your power be?” asked writer Thornton Wilder. “The very angels themselves cannot persuade the wretched and blundering children on earth as can one human being broken on the wheels of living.” Let’s make that one of your ongoing meditations, Scorpio. I think the coming weeks will be an excellent time to come to a greater appreciation for your past losses. What capacities has your suffering given birth to? What failures have made you stronger? What crucial lessons and unexpected benefits have emerged from your sadness and madness?

“Creating is not magic but work,” says Kevin Ashton, author of the book How to Fly a Horse: The Secret History of Creation, Invention, and Discovery. In other words, inspiration is a relatively small part of the creative process. Over the long haul, the more important factors are self-discipline, organized thinking, hard work, and attention to detail. And yet inspiration isn’t irrelevant, either. Brainstorms and periodic leaps of insight can be highly useful. That’s a good reminder as you enter a phase when you’re likely to be more imaginative and original than usual. I expect creative excitement to be a regular visitor.

The fictional detective Sherlock Holmes was a good Capricorn, born January 6, 1854. In the course of Arthur Conan Doyle’s 60 stories about his life, he revealed his exceptional talent as an analytical thinker. His attention to details was essential to his success, and so was his expertise at gathering information. He did have a problem with addictive drugs, however. Morphine tempted him now and then, and cocaine more often, usually when he wasn’t feeling sufficiently challenged. Let this serve as a gentle warning, Capricorn. In the coming weeks, seek more relaxation and downtime than usual. Focus on recharging your psychic batteries. But please be sure that doesn’t cause you to get bored and then dabble with self-sabotaging stimuli.

English is my first language. Years ago there was a time when I spoke a lot of French with my Parisian girlfriend, but my skill faded after we broke up. So I’m not bilingual in the usual sense. But I do have some mastery in the language of music, thanks to my career as a singer-songwriter. Having raised a daughter, I also learned to converse in the language of children. And I’ve remembered and worked with my nightly dreams every day for decades, so I speak the language of dreams. What about you, Aquarius? In the coming weeks, I bet you’ll be challenged to make more extensive use of one of your second languages. It’s time to be adaptable and resourceful in your approach to communication.

‘The Game’ never changes Sex with Mish Way

@MyszkaWay Last week,Van City Buzz published an article about a woman named Nicole who was repeatedly “harassed” on the street by a “Pick-Up Artist” in-training. For those of who are unaware, a Pick-Up Artist (PUA) is a man who uses a variety of manipulative techniques to seduce and discard women.The movement gained attention in LA in 2005, when writer Neil Strauss published his infamous book, The Game: Penetrating The Secret Society of Pick-Up Artists. I read The Game, as many others did. Unfortunately, most men looking for guidance only read the first half of the book which is filled with the so-called top secret success skills and failed to make it to the second half where the entire system and it’s PUA heroes fall to their deeply depressing demise. In her story, Nicole says she was walking down Robson Street and was approached by a man, who, encouraged by his PUA teacher, tried to strike up a conversation with her. She gave him signs that she was not interested (at first subliminal, not verbal), eventually getting irritated he was not taking her hints and she told him to piss off.The next day, she found herself back on Robson Street and the same teacher again encouraged a student to go and try to talk to her. Maybe this teacher needs glasses? Maybe he suffers from facial agnosia? Or maybe he views any walking figure with tits as a target? Either way, Nicole was “it” again, along with her friend who happened to be walking with her. “I asked him to please just leave us alone, but he wouldn’t go away,” Nicole told VanCity Buzz.

“He started getting really aggressive and got up in our faces, as if he were trying to start a bar fight with a man.” Eventually the man exploded at Nicole, saying she did not own the street corner, and stormed off. It is unfortunate that Nicole had to deal with this two days in a row. Really, that’s just completely irritating. But there are plenty of irritating, ill-informed, socially ridiculous human beings crawling around this world. Practically 90 per cent of the population is stupid, in my opinion, and no matter what your situation, you have to deal with disgusting morons of all genders on a daily basis. It’s called participating in the public. Men and women have been trying to figure out how to “get” one another since we evolved into human beings. Sex, love, and capital fuel our existence. In her controversial 1992 essay “Rape and The Modern Sex War”, Camille Paglia wrote, “Nothing about the sexes has truly changed.The comic film Where The Boys Are (1960), the ultimate expression of ‘50s man-chasing, still speaks directly our time. It shows smart, lively women skillfully anticipating and fending off dozens of strategies with which horny men try to get them into bed.”This 60-year-old example applies exactly to the PUA culture of 2015. Sex can be beautiful, it can be a loving force, but it can also be a dark, rampant power. The CFUV 101.9 FM show “Women On Air” addressed the Robson Street issue by interviewing Vancouver PUA and author Tony D, as well as two self-proclaimed male feminists. The male feminists said, if men want to get laid, they need to stop feeling entitled to women’s bodies.They talked about total consent, asking to progress sexually.Tony D talked about “stop means not yet”.

My VICE editor,Tracie Egan Morrissey once tweeted, “I’d sooner fuck an unwitting chauvinist than a smarmy self-identified male feminist.” I agree. As I listened to the male feminists talk about their beliefs on the radio, I felt increasingly annoyed.They were talking about women like we were helpless victims incapable of taking care of ourselves. The PUA may think he can toy with my mind and charmingly convince me to have sex with him, but at least he views me as a worthy sexual challenge instead of a charity case devoid of autonomy. But views like this about sexuality and dating get messy because, statistically, it is understood that men almost always do the raping.This is a fact of life. Every human being needs to be aware of the ugliness of the world: this is not a nice place. Rape, murder and theft are realities of modern, city life. This is why I lock my doors and windows when I leave the house. I don’t have to agree with Tony D, but I do have to try to understand him.That’s just good social strategy. As a (mostly) straight woman, I have to deal with the Tony Ds of the world every day so shouldn’t I try to talk to them, figure them out? I do not have a definitive answer on how to solve the so-called sexual differences in our world.They are too vast, too ever-changing and yet, in the case of straight men and women, seemingly stagnant. Human beings will never stop the psycho-sexual plotting to try and fuck one another. And people like myself will never stop trying to analyze it because until a time comes where we have all evolved into independent, asexual strawberries who no longer need one another for companionship, then the mind fuck will continue. W

GOLD!

Do you need a reason to think sharper and work smarter and try harder? I’ll give you four reasons. 1. Because you’re finally ready to get healing for the inner saboteur who in the past has undermined your confidence. 2. Because you’re finally ready to see the objective truth about one of your self-doubts, which is that it’s a delusion. 3. Because you’re finally ready to stop blaming an adversary for a certain obstacle you face, which means the obstacle will become easier to overcome. 4. Because you’re finally ready to understand that in order to nurture and hone your ample creativity, you have to use it to improve your life on a regular basis.

Mar. 19: AJ Lee (28) Mar. 20: Bobby Orr (67) Mar. 21: Gary Oldman (57) Mar. 22: Reese Witherspoon (39) Mar. 23: Kerri Russell (39) Mar. 24: David Suzuki (79) Mar. 25: Ryan Lewis (27 )

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