Westender – March 26, 2015 by Westender

MARCH 26-APRIL 1 // 2015

EVERYTHING VANCOUVER

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On the Western Front • YOUR HOOD: MAIN STREET • • KEEPING UP WITH THE COURTNEYS • • FAN EXPO VANCOUVER SURVIVAL GUIDE•

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

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WHALE WOES

Re:“HeyVancouver Aquarium, free the whales already!”,Vancouver Shakedown, March 19, 2015. I don’t know enough to say that the ones that have been held captive should be released, I prefer the idea of rescuing and rehabbing, and letting an external review board decide if a whale can be released (the current model). I like that our aquarium is a non-profit and I’m not anti-”show” if they keep using the profits for research and rescue efforts. I do totally agree that breeding and lending are pretty horrible, and the tank sizes are really depressing. –NicoleThompson This will be a discussion until they are no longer in tanks, until the shows stop for entertainment. And it will stop. It did in 2001 when they could no longer hold orcas. Shame on the aquarium for not being leaders and being the embarrassment ofVancouver.There is way too much technology at our fingertips to allow education in other forms rather than hiding under the guise of research and keeping sentient beings prisoners.We will never stop fighting for the voiceless. –Mother Hen Even more touchy feely drivel from someone who has

no idea what he’s talking about. These animals are in care to avoid suffering and awful death from lack of ability to survive. –Pia Guerra

ASK AND YOU SHALL RECIEVE

This is in regards to a Rant from a reader (“Better info about proposed SkyTrain route needed”, Angie O’Grady, March 12, 2015) frustrated at not being able to ﬁnd Broadway SkyTrain expansion information online. Please ﬁnd details on the expansion onTransLink’s website here: TransLink.ca/en/Plans-andProjects. More information can be found at MayorsCouncil.ca on the Mayors’ Plan. –Michael Buda, interim executive director, Mayors’ Council on RegionalTransportation

IF THERE’S A HOLE IN THE BUCKET, DON’T ADD MORE WATER

Am I conﬁdent thatTransLink will be more responsible with the 0.5 per cent tax than they have been to date, if the referendum passes? And do I have faith that the 0.5 tax won’t increase to one, two percent or even more if they discover that 0.5 per cent isn’t enough? Deﬁnitely not! The amount of waste that TransLink is responsible for is

atrocious! For example, having six boards of directors, paying two CEO’s exorbitant salaries, a million here, half a million there and on and on.TransLink is a bottomless pit that is already raking in our tax dollars from gasoline, parking, property taxes and hydro levies. If you have a hole in a bucket, the common sense approach is to repair it before you add any more water. Before we are asked to give any more money to a badly broken system such asTransLink, there needs to be a major reduction of waste and some deﬁnite accountability in place. 0.5 per cent might be a drop in the bucket for the mayors, many of whom earn six-ﬁgure salaries, but a different matter for low income families and seniors. If the yes vote wins, my concern is that they will say that 0.5 per cent isn’t enough because of unforeseen expenses/increased prices since previous estimates were done, and this tax will keep escalating on a regular basis for the rest of our lives. I will be voting NO until they stop wasting our money and give us more information about possible future increases in this tax. Better yet, let the BC government use some of its $879 million surplus to fund it. –L. Mackintosh

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

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Insite’s future uncertain should Tory bill pass ROBERT MANGELSDORF @robmangelsdorf

Public safety and social welfare advocates expressed concern this week that legislation put forward by the federal Conservatives could jeopardize the future of supervised safe injection facility Insite, and make it all but impossible for similar facilities to be opened elsewhere.The proposed legislation, Bill C-2, would amend the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act (CDSA), requiring a “laundry list” of extra requirements that supervised safe injections sites must meet in order to be given a CDSA exemption to legally operate. “What the Harper government is trying to do is wrong,” said Pivot Legal Society lawyer Adrienne Smith in a statement on Monday. “It is also unconstitutional.” On Monday, Pivot joined with 120 other Canadian social organizations, including the Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, to sign a statement protesting Bill C-2. Smith says the new criteria required for a CDSA exemption under the so-called Respect for Communities Act effectively blocks the establishment of new supervised safe injection sites and could make it much harder for Insite to stay open. In 2011, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that the federal Minister of Health’s decision to deny Insite an exemption threatened the lives of drug users in the Downtown Eastside, thus violating their

Insite has been operating in the DTES since 2003. File photo constitutional rights. “This bill turns the court’s direction on its head and says except in exceptional circumstances, exemptions will never be granted,” said Smith. “Insite, as the only existing facility operating under an exemption, now has an additional suite of information it must submit about crime data in order to have its application considered.” Conservative MP for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo and former registered nurse Cathy McLeod spoke in favour of the bill in the House of Commons earlier this month, stating that a clear framework and criteria is needed to deal with applications for exemptions to the CDSA. “In its decision regarding Insite in 2011, the Supreme Court of Canada afﬁrmed the Minister of Health’s discretion to grant or deny exemption applications and to request information for that purpose. In exercising her discretion, the Minister of Health must take into account public health and public safety considerations in

accordance with the charter,” McLeod said. “The current system does not provide the tools needed to adequately consider the complex risks associated with supervised drug injection sites.” However,Vancouver Coastal Health, which operates Insite, believes the proposed criteria, which would require groups seeking an exemption to file more than 30 detailed reports and documents before their application could even be considered, goes too far. “VCH is troubled by the numerous conditions set out in Bill C-2, which will make it onerous for Insite to apply for an exemption in the future and nearly impossible for a new supervised injection site to receive exemption under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act,” said spokesperson Anna Marie D’Angelo on Tuesday. “VCH finds it troubling that the Federal Government would introduce and pass Bill C-2, given the clear judgment by the Supreme Court of Canada that affirmed

the health benefits of Insite.” Vancouver Coastal Health is currently awaiting renewal of the exemption for Insite for the upcoming year, however Health Canada has confirmed that the application will be processed under the current legislation and not under the stringent requirements contained in Bill C-2, should the bill pass. “Research shows that Insite saves lives, reduces the spread of infectious diseases such as HIV and connects clients to health services including detox,” said D’Angelo. “The Supreme Court of Canada confirmed the value of Insite for harm reduction, addiction treatment of clients who are long-term intravenous drug users.” Research has shown that there has been no adverse community effect such as increased crime since Insite was established, she added. The Dr. Peter Centre in the West End is awaiting the results of its application for an exemption to operate supervised injections for its clients. “It is our view that Health Canada has taken a very long time in making a decision on this application, which is a year old,” said D’Angelo. “Incorporating supervised injection into nursing services at the Dr. Peter Centre brings people into health care...preventing drug overdoses and eliminating needle-sharing, these services help to engage vulnerable people in life-saving HIV treatment.” W

What you don’t know about the Stanley Park heron colony Grant Lawrence Vancouver Shakedown @GrantLawrence

Did you catch the news about the “heron cam” installed on the roof of the Parks Board building? It’s pointed directly at Stanley Park’s great blue heron rookery, which happens to be conveniently located directly above the park board’s back parking lot in a canopy of towering maple trees. Awesome, right? It’s totally awesome, if you get to enjoy the birds via a brief in-person visit, or from the comfort of your own nest, where you can, say, employ your ‘mute’ button anytime you please, and catch the whiff of nothing but your morning coffee. Let me explain: the Parks Board building, where the heron cam is mounted, is located at 2099 Beach Avenue. For over a decade, I lived right next door, at 2095 Beach Avenue, which is the last private apartment residence before Stanley Park. Living next to the park you get to see all sorts of astounding wildlife every day, and I loved the herons. It was like watching pterodactyl scenes from Jurassic Park through your front window. The graceful, enormous birds slowly built up their nests in the early spring, until the tops of the maples were ﬁlled. The rookery has continued to grow so much that the City now refers to it as “one of North America’s largest urban colonies of Paciﬁc great blue herons”. What incredible birds to live side-by-side with, eh? With all due respect to the herons, they weren’t exactly

Ned and Edna Flanders. Here’s what the real estate agents won’t tell you: being neighbours with a heron colony is like living next door to John Belushi and the wildest non-stop frat party of all time. For one thing, my human neighbours and I quickly learned that blue herons are “seasonally monogamous”.That means, much like many other West End residents, they’re picking a different mate every season. And heron courtship was pretty much like having horny next door neighbours who love loud and obnoxious sex in a group setting.We’re talking days and nights of non-stop shrieking and beak clattering. Once the eggs are laid, the herons would go into major protection mode. If they sensed any threat whatsoever, benign or real, their version of the NeighbourhoodWatch Program was to completely freak out, collectively erupting into total cacophony: squawking, croaking, and wickedly screeching, then snapping those barber scissor-like beaks, which created an unbelievable, Tarzan movie-like, sleep-proof din that would go on for hours.

Continued on next page

PUBLIC WORKSHOP INVITATION Re: Heritage revitalization of the historic Reilly Apartments and the addition of a rental infill building at 1185 Haro St, Vancouver, BC, consistent with City Council’s recently adopted West End Plan. Purpose: This workshop is being held to seek your input on the proposed development options that have been created prior to ANY application to City of Vancouver for a Development Permit Date: Wednesday, April 1st, 2015 Time: 4:00pm – 7:00pm (drop in) Location: Roedde House Museum 1415 Barclay Street, Vancouver Questions? Email: tim@amarchitects.com or Phone: 604-872-2595 ext. 28 4 W March 26 - April 1, 2015

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Goal to end street homelessness falls short

MIKE HOWELL @howellings

After counting 10 homeless people in a span of two-and-a-half hours along the Commercial Drive corridor Tuesday morning, Mayor Gregor Robertson conceded he has not met his goal of ending “street homelessness” by 2015. Robertson, who participated in the city’s two-day homeless count this week, set his goal of finding homes for hundreds of people living on the street shortly after he was first elected in 2008. “It was a big challenging goal to set for the city and I have absolutely no regrets about doing that,” Robertson told reporters outside the Kettle Friendship Society drop-in centre near Commercial and Venables. “We’ve pushed very hard and had great success getting many people in off the streets. We have to continue that work. It doesn’t end today. That was never the intention with this.” Though he credited the provincial government for its commitment to build 14 supportive housing buildings in Vancouver, the mayor said the province and the federal government could do more to help solve homelessness. “It would be great to see more vigorous advocacy from the province to the federal government,” he said in response to a ques-

O Granville Island

Mayor Gregor Robertson spoke at the Kettle Friendship Society during a press conference March 24. Dan Toulgoet photo tion related to Housing Minister Rich Coleman previously stating the province has built more supportive housing in Vancouver than any jurisdiction in Canada. Supportive housing is defined as social housing in which tenants can access health care and other services. NPA Coun. George Affleck, whose party has repeatedly criticized Robertson for making a promise he couldn’t keep, wasn’t surprised when told of the mayor’s acknowledgement that Vancouver still has people living on the streets. Affleck said it was “an impossible commitment”

to make when the biggest providers of funding for housing – the provincial and federal governments – were unwilling to make the same promise to end street homelessness by 2015. “There was no way we could have done this on our own as a city, and he should have known that,” said Affleck, who noted it was the previous NPA administration of thenmayor Sam Sullivan that secured a deal with the provincial government to identify more than a dozen city sites on which to build supportive housing. When Robertson and his Vision Vancouver council won power in 2008 and

Yaletown

began its rule at city hall, the city’s homeless count that year showed a total of 1,576 people without a permanent home, with 811 living on the street. The mayor’s move to open winter shelters with funding from the provincial government and purchase or lease temporary housing – along with the gradual opening of 14 supportive housing buildings – saw the overall homeless population remain steady in the 1,600 range from 2011 to 2013 and fewer people living on the street. In fact, 154 people were recorded living on the street in 2011. But in 2012, those

numbers began to increase with 306 recorded in 2012 and 273 in 2013. Then in 2014, the Metro Vancouver homeless count revealed that Vancouver’s homeless population had reached it highest overall level in history, with 1,267 people living in some form of shelter and 536 on the street for a grand total of 1,803 people. Since then, the city kept its shelters open, added temporary housing largely with former hotels and saw the BC government open more permanent housing. On paper, the simple math shows the city has moved more than 500 people off the street and should have a surplus of 29 beds, city manager Penny Ballem said earlier this month. “My hope would be that we’ve just about reached the goal for the mayor,” Ballem said at the time. “But looking around the city, I’m worried. It doesn’t feel like we’ve got there.” Both Ballem and Robertson have pointed to the city’s growing mental illness and addiction crisis, the lack of affordable housing, a low welfare shelter rate, young people leaving foster care with no home to go to and Vancouver’s temperate climate as factors related to people continuing to live on the street. Tony, who wouldn’t provide his surname, listened to the mayor’s comments during a media scrum be-

fore he visited the Kettle Friendship Society for a meal. The 51-year-old refugee from El Salvador said he was homeless for a couple of years before recently finding an apartment. He said he receives about $600 a month in income assistance, with $425 of that spent on rent for a place he said is infested with cockroaches and rodents. “It’s good to hear he wants to help but he has to see the reality of what life is like for people,” said Tony, noting he prays for the young homeless people he sees along Commercial Drive. “The rent goes up and up, I have not much money for food. So why do you think there’s so many homeless?” Ethel Whitty, the city’s director of homelessness services, said about 90 volunteers visited shelters Monday night and another 350 would be doing head counts and collecting information from the city’s homeless until 10pm Tuesday night. “We know there are homeless people on the streets – we know that,” Whitty said. “Whether it’s up or down from last year, I can’t really hazard a guess. There’re so many factors that play into it.” Results of the homeless count are expected to go before council in July. W –Story courtesy of Vancouver Courier

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MAIN STREET / MT. PLEASANT Western Front curator Pablo de Ocampo walks a fine line between honouring the gallery’s 42-year history and keeping his eye on the future of art. Jennifer Gauthier photos

On the

KELSEY KLASSEN @kelseyklassen

Main Street is often referred to as the dividing line of the city – a physical marking of where the historical class politics of the wealthy western suburbs and the working class East Side met. A modern epicentre of fashion, food, and factory culture, Main Street has also long-served as an intellectual corridor where many of the city’s artistic legacies took root – none more so, perhaps, than that of Western Front. Founded in 1973, when the idea of artist-run spaces was just beginning to gain momentum in Canada,Western Front has since prevailed to become one of the oldest existing artist-run centres in the country. The mandate was simple: provide a place for artists to exhibit work and engage with the community about it, and also provide resources for the creation of new work. Over the years, the nonproﬁt has served as a pivotal incubator in the local music, dance, and audio-visual scenes, and throwing fearlessly hardcore events, like theVoice Over Mind festival (which explores oddities of the human voice) that just wrapped last week. Artists like General Idea, Allyson Clay, Joseph Beuys, Image Bank, and Paul Wong have all been exhibited, and, more recently, the work of Paul Chan, Hadley+Maxwell, and Elizabeth Zvonar.There’s also a long list of prominent artists, such as Stan Douglas,

Ian Wallace, Laurie Anderson, Janet Cardiff and George Bures Miller, Paul Chan, Jimmie Durham,William Burroughs,Vede Hille, andYoung Marble Giants, who have come through its doors.

Western Front ing spot for artists, to the Lure of the Sea Bar, and, currently, as Front’s main gallery space. The building’s apartments are also still inhabited by founding members or early contributors to the space – a testament toWestern Front’s legacy of stability and durability.

IT HAPPENS AT NIGHT

Historically, Western Front Historically,Western was riding the wave of collaborative art in Vancouver. Its inVancouver. creation coincided with the end ofVancouver’s inﬂuential Intermedia arts collective the year prior, but this was actually a sign of the growing scene, with the hundreds of artists involved in that movement splitting into different interest groups. According to the Centre for Canadian Contemporary Art, many ofWestern Front’s eight founding artists (Martin Bartlett, Kate Craig, Henry Greenhow, Glenn Lewis, Eric Metcalfe, Michael Morris, Mo van Nostrand, andVincent Trasov) had ties to Intermedia, which led toWestern Front stepping into a crucial role in the “art ecology” ofVancouver. From free jazz nights to the Fluxus anti-art movement, the space was interdisciplinary before the term became the beat writer’s catch-all. “Western Front is a really supportive space for experimental thinking and looking at things that aren’t necessarily ﬁxed,” says exhibitions curator Pablo de Ocampo. “We’re not just taking pictures off an artist’s wall and putting them up in a gallery.” Instead, they’re more likely to put those pieces in dialogue with each other, other media, and broader themes.

6 W March 26 - April 1, 2015

BETWEEN THE LINES

Mark Clintberg’s “It Happens At Night’’ lights up the side of the Western Front. The question is, what happens at night? De Ocampo, who joined the organization by way of Toronto just nine months ago, has taken on the difﬁcult role of honouring the space’s diverse artistic record without getting too caught up in its history. To stay relevant, de Ocampo says he looks outside the archives, and evenVancouver, for inspiration. “There’s something that’s really important about the history of this community and the history of this type of artist practice, but we’re not going to get anywhere if we just sit in a circle and all look backward,” he says with a laugh. “It’s important to invest in new artists and new voices, and do research to bring new ideas and new elements into the fold.”

FROM ‘FREAK HALL’ TO FAMILY ROOM

Western Front is now a nationally-recognized leader in the creation of new art, however, many people don’t even

realize that it’s a public space. Tucked just off Main in a somewhat intimidating twostorey wooden building (that once served as the meeting hall for the Knights of Pythias), de Ocampo admits that having played home to a fraternal secret society doesn’t lend itself to having an inviting facade. According to de Ocampo, even some long-time neighbors weren’t sure what went on inside. (Which is probably for the best: afterWestern Front purchased the building, an undated newspaper article blared the humorous headline “Freak HallTo Open”.) The artists initially purchased the building as a solution toVancouver’s live/ work-space shortage. Since then, elements of the building, such as the Grand Luxe Hall – a 120-person room used for screenings, concerts, and presentations – have remained relatively untouched, while areas like the communal dining room have gone through many transformations, from a gather-

This month (running until May 2), the gallery hosts Reading the Line, an exhibition of ﬁve artists for whom line is an integral part of their work. “The idea was to think about line as something that’s both a visual element and something that carries a story, or carries information, or carries history,” says de Ocampo. Ontario collage artist Maggie Groat explores this with a meticulously-stitched quilt and a collage of photographs; Berlin-based artist Alma Alloro blends traditional craft mediums and digital culture with a piece made out of animated GIFs; while Toronto movement and video artist Tanya Lukin Linklater contributed drawings and a collaborative dance performance on opening night last week. And central to the exhibition are three large sculptural pieces by local cloth weaver Anne Low. A traditional hand-weaver, de Ocampo explains, Low’s approach to textile art is to make something that is “a blanket, but also about a blanket.” Her pieces are used in combination with other structural elements to create a commentary on the piece itself. Contrasting these contemporary works with something more historical, the exhibition

also features drawings, notebook sketches and compositional elements from the 1975 film Light Music by British artist Lis Rhodes. Viewed as two projections, Light Music is Rhodes’s commentary on the perceived dismissal of female composers in 20th century music.To do this, she created a “score” of drawings that create patterns of black and white lines onscreen. A rare, one-night screening of the iconic 16mm film will take place in the Grand Luxe Hall on Thursday, April 9 at 8pm. “In both Anne’s and Lis’ case, they’re artists who are making very beautiful visual structures,” says de Ocampo. “But, in Anne’s case, there’s this dialogue with the history of craft and what it means to make something by hand in 2015, what it means to be in dialogue with this history of labour, of women’s work, and thinking about the decline of handmade textiles as the industrial revolution came to be. “And in Lis’ case,” he continues, “she’s an artist who was using the line to think about her position in the early ‘70s in London, England, as one of the few women who were part of an avant-garde film community there at that time. So her work, again, has this sort of invisible narrative that runs parallel to the visuals that you see.” W

READING THE LINE

runs until May 2 at Western Front (303 East 8th). A free screening of Light Music takes place April 9 at 8pm. Front.bc.ca

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Salt Spring artisans stage Main Street takeover

maternity • women • baby

KELSEY KLASSEN @kelseyklassen

For a second year in a row, “Canada’s Coolest Island” is relocating to the big city. This weekend (March 2729) multi-disciplinary artists from Salt Spring Island will descend on the Heritage Hall on Main Street for Salt Spring in the City, to once again showcase the varied treasures and flavours of the Salish Sea. Salt Spring, voted one of the “World’s Best Islands” by Condé Nast Traveller and “Canada’s Coolest Island” by the Washington Post, is an artist colony of only 10,000 people situated off the coast of Vancouver, accessible by float plane and ferry. “Despite its modest population – or perhaps because of it,” event organizers explain, “the island is home to Emmy- and Oscar-winners, best-selling authors, and internationally-recognized actors and recording artists.” In its first installment, Salt Spring in the City reportedly attracted more than 30 vendors, several thousand visitors and raised $3,500 to feed Downtown Eastside residents with the Save On Meats sandwich token program. With more than 40 vendors this time around, featuring woodworkers, weavers, coffee roasters and more, the event is sure to be even bigger and more bohemian.We caught up co-founder Rachel Hughes to see how this dream of “roadside chickens, meandering sheep, organic farms, and gorgeous sunsets” translates to the gritty City of Glass. What’s this Salt Spring energy; describe what you’re bottling and bringing to Vancouver for us? It’s equal parts what people think of Salt Spring as – this bohemian

Artists from Salt Spring Island will be taking over Main Street’s Heritage Hall March 27-29. Jennifer Gauthier photo artist paradise – and partially a showcase of how cutting edge we are and how modern our thinking is here as well. We have some top-notch artists doing incredible work in the realm of painting, sculpture, design.We also have, of course, the incredible food selection, like Salt Spring Cheese, which people probably already know a lot about. So you’re kind of painting the picture that this is not your average DIY craft show. That’s right. For us, it’s about not only having this amazing craft show that could compete with any of the craft shows in Vancouver, but also showcasing why people would want to come visit Salt Spring. For us, living on the island, we’ve seen the challenge of travel costs becoming increasingly higher, and we want to ﬁnd a way to bring those people who maybe can’t visit the island a piece of the island – offer an authentic Salt Spring experience under one roof – but also encourage those who have maybe considered visiting as to why it’s a worthy trip. Art and artisan pursuits are how many island residents make a living; are the products still affordable? Oh, yes.That’s

the other important thing about the show – we have everything from high-end sculpture and painting down to the affordable, under $10 gift items. You live on Salt Spring, so some people might think you’re a little bit biased. What’s giving you context on why Salt Spring and its art scene are so incredible? Haha, well, I grew up in Toronto, I’ve lived in Montreal, I’ve lived in Berkeley [California], Haida Gwaii – I’ve been surrounded by a lot of fantastic, artistic, creative communities. And, from a personal note, Salt Spring is the best. It’s a lot of people on one little tiny island, and it’s incredible the many walks of life that are here and the scale of talent that exists. It’s sometimes just thought of as this folk-arty community, but it really is astounding how many talented people are hiding in this little town. Salt Spring in the City runs March 27-29 at the Heritage Hall (3102 Main).Admission is $3 for adults, and $1 for kids, with partial proceeds going to Save On Meats’ Sandwich Token Program. Each day, the ﬁrst 25 visitors will get a unique custom printed canvas Salt Spring in the City bag with at least $40 worth of crafts, coupons and gifts from vendors. For information visit SaltSpringInTheCity.com.

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Burcu Ozdemir holds court over her iconic vintage store, Burcu’s Angels, located at 221 East 16th. Burcu recently opened a second location, Burcu’s Angels II, at 3128 Main. Jen Gauthier photo

Angel of Main Street Niki Hope Style File

@NikiMHope

If you hung around Main Street in the late 1990s, you probably shopped at Burcu’s Angels or at least walked by the wacky art project-inspired window displays. You also probably remember (who could forget) the colourful Turkishborn owner, Burcu Ozdemir. It was an edgier time in the neighbourhood – before real estate prices skyrocketed and changed everything. Despite swanky new condos, high-end boutiques, $4 doughnuts, and – gasp – the opening of chain restaurants, Burcu has remained a bohemian ﬁxture in the neighbourhood.This year she celebrates 20 years on Main Street. Her foray into vintage started on a whim. Burcu opened her business the day after she lost her waitressing job for punching her boss. She was pissed because he accused her of stealing shrimp. “Frozen shrimp,” she says, her dark eyes narrowing as she emphasizes the word “frozen,” to indicate just how insult-

ing the accusation was. (She laughs about it now, saying they are friends today.) The day after the blowup, Burcu was walking on Main Street with one of her sons; they passed a store on 21st and Main, called Whatever. “What kind of store would call itself Whatever?” Burcu thought. Intrigued, she went in and discovered a vintage store in front, and in the back there were multiple spaces where individuals sold everything from records to handmade soap. Inspired by the concept, Burcu rented one of the spots; within three days she sold $900 worth of vintage clothing. Eventually, she opened a second location at Eugene Choo, another longtime neighbourhood staple. By 1997, she convinced the German-born butcher who owned a retail space on Main Street near Broadway to rent it to her. She stayed for 10 years, only leaving because she worried about insurance if there was ever a ﬁre. She didn’t have a proper backdoor, which affected her coverage. “They burnt down nine months after I left,” Burcu says, recalling the November

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2009 ﬁre that took down several businesses on the west side of the block between Broadway and 10th Avenue. She moved to her current

location on 16th Avenue, just east of Main. It’s not the social hub her old location was, but there’s never a shortage of visitors parading in and out.

Brodie Davidson works at Burcu’s Angels, and looks amazing while doing it. Jennifer Gauthier photo

There is also no shortage of amazing vintage pieces, including suede-tasseled jackets, vintage fur coats, leather brogues, dresses from every era, and ever-popular muumuus. One of the city’s most compelling characters, media personality Nardwuar, who a recent flattering NewYork Times profile said “dresses like an exploded 1970s Soviet golf catalog,” is a regular customer at Burcu’s. “Burcu’s Angels not only has clothing you won’t find anywhere, it also has a level of ‘personal curation’ from Burcu, to you the customer, that simply is unmatched in any other clothing store I have ever frequented,” said Nardwuar, reached at SXSW in Austin, where the Vancouver musician was busy conducting his infamous guerilla-style interviews. On the day we meet, Burcu, who has hot pink hair that is shaved on the sides, revealing her natural salt-and-pepper colour, takes me for a tour of her store. She wears a long, loose shawl and pants, with red-and-white wingtip shoes. Burcu’s mantra – “Colour, Texture, Decadence, Magic” – is what she looks for in the clothes she carries. She credits her son Alia Ozdemir and the many other

staffers over the years for helping her survive two decades. Burcu is nothing if not a survivor. She was born in Turkey and came to Canada – Orangeville, ON, of all places – alone at age 16 to see the father she didn’t know, and that she would eventually ﬂee from. She made her way from the small Ontario farm town to bustling Montreal, then BC in 1990. Like others, she worries about the erosion of the neighbourhood as she watches the challenge people face in ﬁnding affordable housing. “It’s affecting us all, because now 20-year-olds, 30-yearolds, when they are at the age where they want to have children, they can’t – it’s too expensive,” she says. “They can’t actually dream.” She describes an “exodus” that she sees, and if it wasn’t for her store, she would probably leave herself. But Burcu carries on, even expanding to a second location around the corner on Main Street, Burcu’s Angels II, which sells menswear.The new spot also has a backroom space where Burcu, a musician in the band Something About Reptiles, now holds community events – meaning there will be even more of her colour and character in the neighbourhood. W

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LittleMountaingroupaimstobuildcohousingcomplex NAOIBH O’CONNOR @naoibh

Settling onto his couch with a coffee in hand, Jack Brondwin surveys his comfortable, modest-sized apartment in the century-old heritage home he owns on West 12th Avenue.The house, located near city hall, is within walking distance of shops, transit and parks. The 68-year-old’s suite features two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a kitchen, dining area, walls adorned with art, a bookshelf stuffed with books, and workout equipment organized neatly in one corner. While enjoying the independent life he’s carved out in central Vancouver, the retired veterinarian is prepared to trade it in for something entirely different. Brondwin belongs to Little Mountain Cohousing, a group that aims to set up the city’s second, multi-generational cohousing community, likely near Main Street. (Vancouver’s ﬁrst cohousing complex is under construction in Kensington-Cedar Cottage.) “My life is pretty good. I have everything I need. I’m quite happy here,” he says. “I’m not in [such] need that I have to have it – I’m doing it as a choice because I think it will be better.” Brondwin, who’s single, worries about living alone during his senior years, but he also believes he has much to offer – in knowledge, time and interests – to younger generations, as well as to his contemporaries.

third equity member.The group also has 11 associate members who pay a small membership fee and may buy units in the complex. Brondwin envisions a 25-to-30 unit building, with a purchase price of roughly $665 per square foot. That could translate to anywhere between $285,000 and $620,000, depending on the size of the suite, although concrete details have yet to be ﬁnalized.

COLLABORATIVE LIVING

Kathy McGrenera is advising the Little Mountain Cohousing group. McGrenera is a founding member of Quayside Village. Dan Toulgoet photo “Cohousing is the opposite of [a lonely existence]. It allows people to enter into a community of like-minded people where they can share all kinds of activities and they can be involved in events and [they] are able to create a family of their own,” he says. Cohousing’s advantage is that owners get their own private suite plus access to large common spaces, which often include outdoor areas, an ofﬁce, a common kitchen for group meals, a guest room for visitors, as well as other common spaces such as a yoga room or a workshop. Space allocation is up to the needs of the cohousing group involved in designing the project.

Decisions are made through consensus, with cohousing groups creating their own way of functioning, which may include many or few rules. “Certainly, for people who are very strong-minded and not willing to cooperate, they would find it difficult to reach consensus because cohousing is about consensual decisionmaking,” Brondwin says. “So it’s not for people who find that tedious or who are not willing to spend the time doing that. However, the advantages [of cohousing] are so great.” Cohousing communities have emerged in various parts of BC over the years, including in Langley, North

District Main. Community living in the heart of Main Street. Bright, Beautiful Units. Pet Friendly Building. Lush Community Gardens. Outdoor Dining & BBQ Areas. Secure Building Access. 24 Hour Building Hosts. In-Suite Laundry. Private Gym. Business/Meeting Room. Community Social Events. 10 W March 26 - April 1, 2015

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Vancouver and Burnaby. They’ve been slow to form in Vancouver due to the high cost of land, but the Kensington-Cedar Cottage project proved it’s not impossible and Little Mountain Cohousing hopes to follow suit.The group is searching for a threelot site with the assistance of developer Alan Forrester, who was also involved in the land assembly for the East Vancouver cohousing project. It’s also seeking more members to help ﬁnance the down payment. Currently, it has two equity members – Brondwin and Pansy Chau, who each contributed $20,000, while a family with three children is taking steps to become the

Kathy McGrenera knows of what Brondwin speaks. She’s a founding member of Quayside Village, a cohousing complex in Lower Lonsdale in North Vancouver. From the 17-year-old building’s central courtyard, visitors can see the entrances to all the units in the multistorey complex.That’s not by accident. “Cohousing is architecturally designed to encourage interaction,” explains McGrenera, who’s among those advising the Little Mountain Cohousing group. McGrenera, who lives in a 1,000-square-foot unit, became interested in the lifestyle in the 1990s because she was planning to be a single mother and wanted to live more collaboratively. Neither she, nor her daughter, who’s now almost 17, have regrets. “It worked out amazingly well. [My daughter] makes

me regularly promise we’ll never move out,” she says. The courtyard, according to McGrenera, is often bustling with activity, particularly during summer months when a splash pool is out, the barbeque is on and potlucks are commonplace. Inside, there’s a large common living area with a fireplace on the main floor, a shared bathroom, a guest bedroom for visitors, as well as an office used by two of the residents – a midwife and a naturopath. The living area leads into a spacious, modern-looking kitchen with several dining tables. Common meals are held twice a week for those interested. On the top floor is a deck with a spectacular view of the water and a “dome room” used for activities ranging from meditation to yoga to massage appointments. “That’s the beauty of cohousing.You try to make the most desirable spaces in the building shared ones,” says McGrenera. Conflict can arise, but she says residents are compelled to deal with it and settle matters for the benefit of the whole. Over the years, residents have moved out, but it’s usually because they’re moving to a new city or their family has outgrown the space – Quayside Village units range from 450 to 1,000 square feet.

Continued on page 13

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10 things to eat on (or near) Main Street Mijune Pak Follow Me Foodie

@FollowMeFoodie

Main Street – it’s everything but mainstream. It’s old and new with parts that are hip, hippy-ish, and hipster-ish. It’s charming, quirky and quaint with an eclectic mix of restaurants, cafes, and diners, and its “Xfactor” just keeps growing. The dining choices on the Main Street stretch vary, but I can almost find something delicious, interesting, and full of character on every block. And it’s not hard to find reasonably-priced options, either. I’m not a fan of lists and these aren’t “the best dishes” or in any particular order, but it’s a good starting point. I snuck in a few places in Strathcona and the Riley Park/Little Mountain neighbourhoods, even though they are not technically in the official “Main Street” neighbourhood, but close enough. Here are 10 (hopefully unexpected) dishes you should try and reasons why. ! Smoked sablefish at The Fish Counter. I’m a fan of their tacos, fish ‘n’ chips and many more items, but the smoked sablefish I could possibly live off of. 3825 Main,TheFishCounter.com ! Madras lamb curry at Chutney Villa Fine South Indian Cuisine. I’ve had this dish many times, but Chutney Villa’s version stands out. I also recommend the Manga Thenga Sundal, Chicken 65, Nandu Puttu, and Kothu Rotti. 147 East Broadway, ChutneyVilla.com ! Breakfast at Marulilu Café. It’s the only place I know in Vancouver serving Japanese style breakfast for $6.99. 451West Broadway ! Atun de Tataki at Chicha. It’s black quinoa and rocoto (pepper) crusted al-

bacore tuna, pickled radish salad, avocado cream and passion fruit ponzu. It is a modern Peruvian creation done right. 136 East Broadway, ChichaRestaurant.com ! Pacific octopus and leek terrine at Burdock & Co. I visited right before the menu change last week, so I’ve only tried the Paciﬁc octopus and leek terrine and locally grown Agassiz rice ‘risotto’, which stayed on the spring menu. Both are great, but chef Andrea Carlson has a way with creative terrines. 2702 Main, BurdockAndCo.com

The Atun de Tataki from Chicha (on left) and the wine chicken from Long’s Noodle House (on right) are just two of the many delicacies to be found along Main Street. Mijune Pak photo

don’t miss a thing!

! The Dirty Burger at Campagnolo Upstairs. This is expected, but I love it. Don’t be shy. Just say “yes” to everything. 1020 Main, CampagnoloRestaurant.com ! Coffee at Matchstick Coffee. Need I say more? 639 East 15th, MatchstickCoffee.com ! Doro Watt at Cafe D’Afrique. It’s sort of an “insider secret” and shamefully I have yet to try it myself. I’ve been to the restaurant which was good, but I didn’t know you could preordering the off-the-menu “Doro Watt” – Ethiopian spicy chicken stew made with korerima (Ethiopian black cardamom powder) and topped with hard boiled eggs. Beat me to it! 363 East Broadway, CafeDAfrique.com ! Jerky at BKH Jerky. You have a very successful business essentially selling one thing? Do one thing well and do it right, and they do. 3201 Fraser, BKHJerky.com ! Wine chicken at Long’s Noodle House.Yes, the Shanghainese soup dumplings are a must, but don’t miss out on the wine chicken. They do a great job of it here. 4853 Main Find out more about Mijune at FollowMeFoodie.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @followmefoodie.

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Big Rock Brewery aiming to be Mt. Pleasant’s cornerstone

PETER MITHAM @bizinvancouver

Vancouver may be all about densiﬁcation, but Calgarybased Big Rock Brewery Inc. is showing what can be done with the city’s industrial space.While ﬂexible zoning has helped make the combination possible, drawing a half-dozen craft brewers to the industrial heart of Mt. Pleasant, Big Rock is readying its own facility cognizant that it’s not the only game in town. The 20,000-square-foot facility at Alberta and West 3rd Avenue is a triple threat aimed squarely at local drinkers, with a pub, retail store and commercial brewery all in one building – and each

12 W March 26 - April 1, 2015

element offering something different. While it will kick off operations with a Northwest-style red ale, general manager JM Pelland said plans are in place to give each component a distinct ﬂavour. “By May, June, there’ll always be six to eight different draft beers available, split up between the restaurant and the retail area,” he said. The facility has 30,000-litre tanks that will enable it to produce beer for broad distribution, while smaller tanks of 3,000 to 6,000 litres will allow small batches for on-site consumption.The retail outlet

will also stock product from Big Rock’s Calgary plant. “I’m quite conﬁdent in making it a cornerstone of this neighbourhood,” Pelland said. “It is a unique neighbourhood, and what a great way to capture a multi-faceted audience with a mixed-use building!” Situated next to the Vancouver Police Department, the brewery receives daily visits from ofﬁcers wondering when it’s opening. Pelland expects to produce evidence of the brewery’s handiwork in April. W –Story Courtesy of Business inVancouver

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LittleMountaingroupaimstobuildcohousingcomplex

NAOIBH O’CONNOR @naoibh

have everything I need. I’m quite happy here,” he says. “I’m not in [such] need that I have to have it – I’m doing it as a choice because I think it will be better.” Brondwin, who’s single, worries about living alone during his senior years, but he also believes he has much to offer – in knowledge, time and interests – to younger generations, as well as to his contemporaries. “Cohousing is the opposite of [a lonely existence]. It allows people to enter into a community of like-minded people where they can share all kinds of activities and they can be involved in events and [they] are able to create a family of their own,” he says. Cohousing’s advantage is that owners get their own private suite plus access to large common spaces, which often include outdoor areas, an ofﬁce, a common kitchen for group meals, a guest room for visitors, as well as other common spaces such as a yoga room or a workshop. Space allocation is up to the needs of the cohousing group involved in designing the project.

that. However, the advantages [of cohousing] are so great.” Cohousing communities have emerged in various parts of BC over the years, including in Langley, North Vancouver and Burnaby. They’ve been slow to form in Vancouver due to the high cost of land, but the Kensington-Cedar Cottage project proved it’s not impossible and Little Mountain Cohousing hopes to follow suit.The group is searching for a three-

lot site with the assistance of developer Alan Forrester, who was also involved in the land assembly for the East Vancouver cohousing project. It’s also seeking more members to help ﬁnance the down payment. Currently, it has two equity members – Brondwin and Pansy Chau, who each contributed $20,000, while a family with three children is taking steps to become the third equity member.The

group also has 11 associate members who pay a small membership fee and may buy units in the complex. Brondwin envisions a 25-to-30 unit building, with a purchase price of roughly $665 per square foot.That could translate to anywhere between $285,000 and $620,000, depending on the size of the suite, although concrete details have yet to be ﬁnalized. W -Story byVancouver Courier

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DINING OUT

Clockwise from left: Basil Eggplant with steamed rice; Amay’s House is a family affair (L-R): Jue Jue, Mya Nyunt, Thihaa Kyaw, Linden Kyaw, and Yiyi Sein; Delicious keema prata; Longtail soup with lotus root; Amay’s House is located at 5076 Victoria. Rob Newell photos

Amay’s House a graceful intro to Burmese cuisine Anya Levykh Nosh

@FoodGirlFriday AMAY’S HOUSE

5076 Victoria 604-327-2629 Facebook.com/AmaysHouse Open Wednesday-Monday, 11am-9pm (10am on weekends). The Republic of the Union of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) is likely one of the most isolated countries on the Asian continent. Bordered by Bangladesh, India, China, Thailand and Laos, its borders have been quite effectively sealed off since 1962 by the military junta that was in control until 2011 (and many would argue it’s still in control

Anya Levykh Fresh Sheet

@FoodGirlFriday Mt. Pleasant’s Fox Cabaret has launched a neighbourhood cocktail bar in the projection room of the former (and notorious) Fox Cinema (North America’s last 35mm adult movie house). The Projection Room will be open seven days a week from 5pm onward, and will serve a “playful” selection of food and drink. Fox Cabaret operates as a multi-venue space that celebrates the best in local independent music, art, performance and entertainment. FoxCabaret.com

today). Many Burmese, however, and especially those outside of the country, still prefer their existing moniker to the more geopoliticallycorrect Myanmarese (and there are more than a few Facebook pages to prove it), much in the same way that Persians distinguish themselves despite coming from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The point of all this? Burmese cuisine is not a common ﬁnd in Vancouver. In fact, there are a grand total of three restaurants that specialize in the cuisine of this region, one of which is Amay’s House on Victoria Drive.The name, in case you were wondering, is not that of owners (and husband and wife) Hihaa Kyaw and Mya Nyunt. “Amay” is the Burmese word for “mother,” a fond reference to Mr. Kyaw’s own mother.

It’s an apropos name for a place that feels so welcoming. Warm smiles and attentive service are always appreciated, but savvy suggestions on what to feed a motley crew of six, all with disparate tastes and preferences, is a gift of the angels. Amay’s recently underwent a renovation, brightening up the main dining room with bright green walls and matted chairs, but the prices still don’t break nine dollars for any dish, and, while some menu items have been eliminated (mainly the generic “other Asian” plates), the core Burmese recipes are ﬁrmly in place and pulsing with ﬂavour. Myanmar tea leaf salad ($7.50) is a standout of fermented tea leaves, tomato, assorted beans and lentils, peanuts and cabbage. It’s a

beautiful, earthy dish that offers up loads of textural contrast while surprising the palate with the sweetsavoury-salty profile. The cuisine takes its influences from the countries that surround it, so it’s not surprising to see prata, the Indian fried flat bread, on the menu. What is surprising (and most delightful) is the choice of what it comes with for $5. Go for the creamy egg spread that surrounds the bread like a cozy blanket and speaks to a deep and dangerous understanding of the lovely taste of fried bread and slightly-runny yolk. The classic laksa ($8.50), a rich coconut-curry broth loaded with prawns, chicken, fish balls (made from cod), clams and hardboiled egg, is also topped with a crunchy tofu puff. Try it with the

yellow wheat noodle for the most authentic experience (and the most delicious). If you’re avoiding gluten, thick rice noodles make a decent substitute. Mr. Kyaw is a master pastry chef, with a deft hand for both the bread and the samosas, the latter of which, at five pieces for five dollars, are a total steal and deceptively simple. Royal noodle salad is the same price as “regular” noodle salad ($7), but gives infinitely more bang for the buck, thanks to the bean powder-topped udon noodles, chicken curry, fresh cilantro, raw onions, pan- and deep-fried noodle bits, and the utterly perfect and deeply aromatic broth that you get to pour over the whole concoction (or just drink straight from the bowl).

Service can sometimes be a little slow, since this truly is a mom-and-pop operation, but the food is worth it. If you’re in a tearing rush, you can always pre-order it to go. Amay’s does a thriving take-away business, it seems, and even offers delivery after 5pm, but the best experience is to be had in-house, with a bowl of noodles and some eggy bread. W Hear Anya Levykh every Monday on CBC Radio One’s On the Coast and ﬁnd her on Twitter @foodgirlfriday and Facebook.com/FoodGirlFriday.

Beyond Restaurant & Lounge at Century Plaza Hotel & Spa has been replaced by C Prime, a NewYork-style Italian steak house.The new chef is Moreno Miotto.

Romer’s Burger Bar, Jolly’s Indian Bistro and Phat Deli, among a handful of others. A three-month free trial lets you try before you buy. BiteBC.ca

on April 2, whether or not the room is completely ﬁnished. The focal point of the new space will be the wine wall, which will feature 32 wine taps and its own dedicated “winetender.”The restaurant will be able to offer more than 100 wines by the glass thanks to the wall and its Coravin wine preservation system.To celebrate the re-opening the restaurant is selling tickets for a special night of dinner/ concert/dancing featuring Gerardo Contino y Los Habaneros. ProvenceYaletown.ca

getting cooler…a new hot doggery will be opening soon in the old Master Chef diner space at 2481 East Hastings. What’s Up? Hot Dog! will focus on the dogs and beers, but rumour has it there might also be wafﬂes and fries. WhatsUpHotDog.ca

celebrating 10 years in the Mt. Pleasant neighbourhood with $10 pasta and pizza specials every Sunday through Thursday for the month of April. CharliesLittleItalian.com

The Greek by Anatoli is set to open Friday, March 27. The executive chef is Scott Robertson, formerly of The Westin Resort & Spa in Whistler. Food will be served mezze-style (sharing plates) and menu items include rabbit popsicles and braised lamb shoulder. Facebook. com/TheGreekByAnatoli A new app, BiteBC.ca, has launched, offering members 50 per cent off or two-for-one meals at participating restaurants, including Blacktail,

14 W March 26 - April 1, 2015

It’s almost patio season, and Vancouver restaurants are once again invited to apply for extended patio hours.Yes, the 2014 pilot program launched by the City of Vancouver is back, offering restaurants with outdoor spaces the chance to serve customers until 1am from April to October. With almost 600 restaurants with patios, here’s hoping at least half of them get approved. Ready or not…After six weeks of renos, Provence Marinaside will be opening

Prado Café has ofﬁcially opened their new Gastown location at 100 West Hastings St. PradoCafeVancouver.com Hastings-Sunrise keeps

Thor Paulson, bar manager at The Diamond, kept his winning title for another year at The Canadian Professional Bartenders Association Cocktail Competition held recently at The Keefer. Paulson also won the opportunity to attend Tales of the Cocktail in Mexico City this April. CanadianBartenders.com Charlie’s Little Italian (formerly Habit Lounge) is

Food: !!!!! Service: !!!!! Ambiance: !!!!! Value: !!!!! Overall: !!!!!

Boulevard Kitchen & Oyster Bar is launching new Happy Hour food and drink specials on Friday, March 27, including $5 Russian Standard Moscow Mules, as well as vodka, gin or bourbon highballs.There are also $4 Red Truck selections and $7 Nichol Vineyards wine. Food offerings include buck-ashuck oysters, octopus ceviche and the famous chicken wings (both $10 each). Happy Hour specials are available daily from 3:30pm to 5:30pm. BoulevardVancouver.ca W

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BEER & WINE

The sweet smell of spring

with white peach on a steely, minerally backbone. And I promise it’s dry. A great foil for seafood pasta spiked with chili ﬂakes.

Michaela Morris By the Bottle @MichaelaWine

Vancouver’s been flirting with spring for weeks, but now it’s finally official.There are so many reasons to love this time of year, including longer days, warmer temperatures and the promise of the new season’s fruit and vegetables. To this I would add, the lovely smell in the air. As the earth wakes up, we’re assaulted by fragrant flowers. To match the gorgeous perfume, indulge in equally pungent wines. Referred to as aromatic, these are wines offering persistent scents that leap out of the glass.Think flowers, herbs, spice and exuberant fruit.They make a bold statement and usually provoke a strong love or hate #3?9IG8:+ 0:3 AJG$$ >?= I#G9B you into thinking they’re sweet because of what the aromas evoke but this isn’t necessarily the case.They can be made sweet or dry and many are actually dry.What you can count on is little to no notes of toast or vanilla as aromatic wines are typically unoaked.Why would you want to curb all of those gorgeous aromas? It’s generally whites that fall into this category. Riesling, with its citrus and

2012 Jorge Ordóñez, Botani ?JF;QE7/ *7;J " *17GGQF 97 ?N/Q4Q #>B *IQ1K " %M8D00B BC Liquor Stores Besides an inherent grapeyness, orange marmalade and mandarin ﬂowers leap from the glass. A gorgeous mouthful with a slightly salty tang. C3#D3 AGIJ AJGI3 H!J ?998>, panied by a fruity salsa. blossom aromas, as well as the rose- and lychee-scented Gewurtztraminer are two well-known examples. Her;?938F! C?FDG":8: 2@?:9 G! EF!I ?! DGD?9G8F!+ C@G"JI@= more off the beaten track but equally outgoing,Viognier offers beautiful peach, apricot and ginger notes. Muscat is positively grapey and ﬂoral while Torrontès from Argentina combines lime zest with ripe stone and tropical fruit. Aromatic wines aren’t limited to whites. Italy boasts a host of fresh fragrant reds. *#?&&?I8 $#8> CG9G@= 9J?#>! with strawberry, violets and dried herbs. Ruché from Piedmont is redolent of iris, black pepper and succulent raspberries.The Valle d’Acate for $25 is a delicious example of the former with the Gatto

Pierfrancesco for $30 representing the latter. I’ve recommended both in the past so if you have yet to try these unique reds, pick up a bottle the next time you’re at a BC 7G%F8# CI8#3+ 5 !@G"JI 9JG@@ preserves the vibrant purity of aromas and also adds immense refreshment value. Cheers to spring! MSP: =QC/ ?QFB '1J4K17G " AO= =Q-F 9+>;B RGQK;7 " %PMD00B BC Liquor Stores Bursting with peach, apricot, rosemary and a touch of honey, this rich, full white is the ideal partner for roasted chicken. MSP: =7.F7- 'Q/7B <17F/1K4 " !97K 'Q//7-B (CFEGQ/1Q " %MPD00B &$ @1HCJG *EJG7F Intense lime notes mingle

2011 Pfaffenheim, Steinert O7.CG,EGQL1K7G " (/FQ;7 OGQK9 $GCB RGQK;7 " %:8D06B BC Liquor Stores A weighty white boasting incredible concentration of ﬂavours, from cinnamon and nutmeg to pineapple and ly9J33+ CG>&@= >?63 $8# 6F9B rubbed with exotic spices. 2013 Arianna Occhipinti, *=52 " )7GG7 *1;1/1QK7 &1QK;J AO)B AEQ/- " %:3D00B &$ @AHCJG *EJG7F Extroverted Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria) brings life to the Albanello "#?&3+ 7?=3#36 AGIJ 98>, plex ﬂavours of orange peel, lemon blossom, dried herbs and anise. If you close your 3=3! =8F 98F@6 ;3 G: CG9G@=+ To complete the illusion pair with tuna with fennel and blood orange. W

All the news that’s fit to booze CI3&J3: C>=!:FGB The Growler @StephenSmys

I’ve been away for the past three weeks, although you wouldn’t know it. Due to great advances in both technology and my prioritizing skills, I managed to ﬁle three columns on the same day before I left, to construct the illusion that I’ve been tethered to my desk the whole time, working feverishly to ensure that you have the most relevant beer information possible. Instead, I’ve been swaying in hammocks beneath the Nicaraguan sun, drinking Central American lager and turning my skin from pale to pink to a sort of orangebrown that I’ve never really seen before. As for the booze, here’s my report: It’s next to impossible to get drunk in that country. The beer is weak (though cheap) and the wine is mostly lousy (and expensive – it’s all imported from Argentina and Chile), and I was sweating out whatever I imbibed anyway. And then you pass out by 9:30pm, exhausted from the heat. In short, you have to work hard to get a good buzz

Westender.com

on, and I wasn’t into working on my vacation. Anyway, I’ve missed out on many important announcements that I’d like to share with you now, if you don’t mind.These include: ' 0F# "886 $#G3:6! ?I Vancouver Craft Beer Week have teamed up with our sworn frenemies Vancouver Magazine to launch the Vancouver International Craft Beer Awards.VCBW, we ask you: how could you! But since craft beer’s all about altruism, community bonding and other nouns denoting a healthy approach to the world, I thought we should set aside whatever differences we have with VanMag as a publishing competitor and help promote these awards for obvious reasons (namely, beer is good). Eligible contestants include any BC-brewed beer available year-round at private and government liquor stores, and made by a brewery with an annual production of six million barrels or less. A panel of judges will choose the winning beer and make the announcement at VCBW opening night on May 29. ' C&3?BG:" 8$ VCBW, regular tickets are available on April 2. Early bird tickets are available now.The festival

is running over 10 days from May 29 to June 7 and will feature over 100 breweries and 16 events.Tickets range from $10-$90 per ticket. Also, the festival is moving to the PNE Centre Grounds this year, which means all the Vancouverites that enjoyed stumbling home to their centrally located homes have to rely on cabs IJG! =3?#+ C8 IJ?:B! $8# IJ?I/ VCBW organizers.Thanks a lot. ' C&3?BG:" 8$ VCBW (again), a new beer festival that’s billing itself as the “anti-VCBW” has launched its ticket sales. The Farmhouse Saison & Wild Ale Festival is devoted to, yes, saisons and wild ales only, and will be held on June 27 at UBC Farm.The event will feature “unique and limited brews” $#8> 2#?!!:39B/ CI33@ ( 0?B/ CI#?:"3 *3@@8A!/ 4?G: CI#33I 2#3AG:"/ 7G"JIJ8F!3/ Goose Island and more.The $50-plus-tax price tag is a bit pricey given the limited range of beers here, but, hell, if you love yourself some wild ale, just go for it. & #"!"$$'$ %( is launching its Brews Brothers mixed pack, featuring 12 new collaboration brews with 12 different breweries. Town!GI3/ CI33@ ( 0?B/ *G#3J?@@/ 28>;3#/ -3#!3&J8:3/ CI8#>/

Rossland, Dageraad, Moon Under Water, Brassneck,Yel@8A .8" ?:6 -8A3@@ CI#33I all took part in the new project, which is indeed a very cool project, though I can’t say if the beer’s any good because I haven’t tried any of them (wink wink nudge nudge, here’s looking at you P49 marketing team). P49 is hosting several Brew Bros. launch parties over the next >8:IJ/ G:9@F6G:" 8:3 ?I CI+ Augustine’s on March 30. ' C&3?BG:" 8$ <G9I8#G?/ the people (i.e., me) behind Westender’s kid sister, The Growler, are necks-deep creating Issue 2, which is out May 1 and will include Victoria, Vancouver Island ?:6 IJ3 CF:!JG:3 18?!I+ That’s the big announcement. Wow. I can actually hear the ripple of applause as I write this. Thanks everyone. ' *G:?@@=/ 8: 5&#G@ )/ IJ3 BC Liberal government is making big changes in how alcohol will be sold in the province.While we don’t know all the details yet, it’s sure to impact prices for consumers. My point is twofold: 1) I’ll be covering this more in depth in the coming weeks and 2) buy up all the cheap booze now, while you can. Hurry! W

There is more online

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Sustainable Table:

Healthy Eating for You & the Planet with Choices Nutrition Team & Chef Antonio Sunday, April 12, 3:00-5:00pm at Choices South Surrey, 3248 King George Blvd. • 604.541.3902 Sunday, April 26, 3:00-5:00pm at Choices Floral Shop & Annex, 2615 W. 16th Ave. • 604.736.0009 See just how healthy and scrumptious sustainability can be at this cooking demo and seminar. Choices Chef Antonio and our team of Nutrition Consultants will show you tricks to reducing food waste, finding local produce in the off season and cooking nose to tail. Cost $25 plus tax. Fee includes FREE copy of Becoming a Sustainabilist (value $13.95). To register call the number listed above, visit choicesmarkets.com or inquire at Customer Service. /ChoicesMarkets @ChoicesMarkets

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March 26 - April 1, 2015 W 15

ARTS // CULTURE

WESTENDER.COM

WHAT’S ON Th/26

Fr/27

Sa/28

Su/29

Mo/30

MUSIC

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

LOUISE BURNS Vancouver’s (and Westender’s) own Louise Burns takes the stage with special guests Les Chaussettes and Glad Rags in support of Maama Omwana Society, an organization providing empowering and culturally relevant prenatal education to atrisk pregnant women in Kampala, Uganda. 9pm at The Hindenburg. Tickets $12 at the door.

MOTOWN MELTDOWN An unforgettable night of soul, rhythm and blues with Canada’s best vocalists backed by a scorching 12-piece band in support of Seva’s eye care work – giving the power of sight to those in need through the gift of song. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $32 at Highlife Records LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.ca

DAN + SHAY American country music duo whose hit single Stop Drop + Roll was featured on TV’s Nashville with special guest Canaan Smith. 3pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $20.50 at LiveNation.com or Ticketmaster.ca. All ages show.

TOBIAS JESSO JR. Vancouver singer-songwriter on tour in support of his debut album Goon with special guest Okay Kaya. 8pm at Electric Owl. Tickets at TicketWeb.ca

MOON DUO Psychedelic indie rocks from San Fran on tour in support of Shadow Of The Sun with special guests Craft Spells and The Bilinda Butchers. 7pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $17 at Red Cat, Zulu and TicketWeb.ca

VIET CONG Calgary rockers on tour to support their self-titled debut full length release with special guests Freak Heat Waves and Apache Sweater. 7pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $12 at Red Cat, Highlife, Zulu, Luke’s General Store and TicketWeb.ca

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 Cérémonie “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 retelling 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.

SONIC BOOM FESTIVAL A five-day showcase of original compositional works by some of BC’s most interesting composers, performed by some of the best musicians in the Lower Mainland. Various show times at Orpheum Annex and Pyatt Hall. Tickets at BrownPape rTickets. com.

COMEDY JAMIE LEE A regular on Chelsea Lately, a cast member of the hit MTV series Girl Code and writer/ performer of The Pete Holmes Show. 8pm & 10:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $18 at TheComedyMix.com

THEATRE/DANCE WELCOME TO THEBES A passionate exploration of a clash between the world’s richest and the world’s poorest countries in the aftermath of a brutal war. 8pm at Jericho Arts Centre. Tickets at JerichoArtsCentre.com. Runs until April 19. MARATHON + VIRTUAL SOLITAIRE The Fringe Festival’s year-round programming continues with this double bill. First up at 7pm, the return of TJ Dawe’s Marathon, a show about running a track and field race against Satan– which of course, he relates to his exploration of human personality. Up next is Dawson Nichols’s dystopian Fringe classic, Virtual Solitaire. Nichols plays over 20 characters in this Matrix-style one-man show about video game addiction. Both shows run until March 29 at Studio 1398. Tickets at VancouverFringe.com

SHANE KOYCZAN Internationally renowned spoken word artist, poet and author appears in support of the upcoming release of his new album and graphic novel both titled Silence Is A Song I Know All The Words To. 7pm at Vogue Theatre. Tickets $27.50 at TicketFly.com. All ages show. FRANCISCO THE MAN LA indie rockers/shoegazers appear in support of Loose Ends with special guests The Man & Big Harp. 7pm at Media Club. Tickets $20 at Red Cat, Zulu, TicketFly. com and UnionEvents.com

COMEDY ADAM RICHMOND High energy and fearless stage presence has made him a favourite among colleges and clubs throughout North America. 7pm & 9:30pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Tickets $20 at YukYuks.com

THEATRE/DANCE MAN UP TURNS 7 It’s the lucky number birthday bash featuring your host Ponyboy and his jam-packed titillating gender variety show and queer dance party. 9pm at Biltmore Ballroom (Roxanne Room). Tickets $15 at BrownPaperTickets.com 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.

COMEDY

Shane Koyzcan, March 28 at the Vogue Theatre 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 St.). Tickets $15 at BrownPaperTickets.com.

THE SUNDAY SERVICE Local comedians, improv actors and all around entertainers produce their weekly show featuring classic form games in the group’s unique, high-energy style. 9pm at Fox Cabaret. Tickets $7 at the door.

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. 3pm at Studio 58. Tickets at TicketsTonight.TicketForce.com.

CHEAP & FUN PORTOBELLO WEST SPRING MARKET Over 50 vendors, new and returning, to share their stories and their handmade goods at Vancouver’s fashion and art market. 11am-5pm at Creekside Committee Centre. Admission is $2. SALT SPRING IN THE CITY A unique blend of village market meets art show, back for its 2nd year to showcase the treasures and flavours of the Salish Sea with food, fashion, pottery, wine and crafts. 10am-6pm at Heritage Hall. Admission is $3. Runs until March 29. POP CULTURE COLLECTIBLES FAIR A spot to wander and find rare toys, memorabilia, current and vintage comics, coins, action figures, Legos, art, jewellery, records and more. Fun for the whole family. 11am4pm at Scottish Cultural Centre. Admission is $3.

Elbow Room Café: The Musical, runs until March 29 LEAP FESTIVAL Six professional actors will bring 15 new works to the stage, penned by this year’s LEAP (Learning Early About Playwriting) students. 7pm at Revue Stage. Admission is free. GAME OF THRONES LIVE: HORDOR’S REVENGE Awardwinning Oakland troupe, Tourettes return for a wild night of fire and blood, interactive vaudeville, sizzling burlesque, comedy and music with new acts in the Game of Thrones universe. 7pm at Rio Theatre. Tickets at RioTheatreTickets.ca KITTY NIGHTS Vancouver’s weekly burlesque review hosted by The Purrrrfessor, featuring Burgundy Brixx and a rotating cast of the city’s finest burlesque mavens. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $8 at KittyNights.com

DECIBEL MAGAZINE TOUR The extreme music destination of the spring brings metalheads a thoughtfully curated line-up featuring At The Gates, Converge, Pallbearer and Vallenfyre. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $37.50 at LiveNation.com and Ticketmaster.ca SWING IS IN THE AIR The VCC Jazz Orchestra pays tribute to composer and arranger Billy Strayhorn playing his timeless classics under the direction of Alan Matheson. 7pm at Alice MacKay Room (VPL). Admission is free. THE BEST IS YET TO COME: A SINATRA CENTENNIAL Steven Reineke conduscts bassist Steven Doyle, vocalist-pianist Tony DeSare, drummer Michael Klopp, guitarist Ed Decker and the VSO in a performance of Frank Sinatra’s greatest hits. 8pm at Orpheum Theatre. Tickets at VancouverSymphony.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

CHEAP & FUN 90S KIDS TRIVIA Grab a team of two to six of your nerdiest, needless fact knowing friends for everything from Full House to Pikachu to SNL and if you’re googling for answers, your phone will be sold on Craig’s List for beer money. Costumes encouraged. 7pm at Waldorf Tiki Bar. Admission 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.

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ARTS // CULTURE

WHAT’S ON We/01

Th/02

MUSIC

BLUEBIRD NORTH: WHERE WRITERS SING & TELL A songwriters showcase featuring performances by Shari Ulrich, Barney Bentall, Tom Taylor, and Christopher Ward. 7:30pm at Roundhouse Community Centre. Tickets $15 at the door.

REMEMBERING JAY SMITH A fundraiser benefitting The Unison Benevolent Fund, which provides support to musicians in times of crisis featuring Dustin Bentall, Adam Baldwin and Matt Mays. 9pm at The Imperial. Tickets $25 at Red Cat, Zulu, Highlife and TicketWeb.ca

CHAD BROWNLEE Former hockey player turned country music star on tour in support of The Fighters with special guests Jess Moskaluke and Bobby Wills. 8pm at Commodore Ballroom. Tickets $30 at LiveNation. com or Ticketmaster.ca

COMEDY APRIL FOOLS James Kennedy headlines this showcase of some of Vancouver’s best standup comics hosted by Jacob Samuel. 8:45pm at Tangent Café. Admission is free.

THEATRE/DANCE

ANTIGONE Theatre Pandora presents Sophocles’ masterpiece staged as a taut political thriller in this exciting modern translation by Ian Johnston. 8pm at Havana Theatre. Tickets at TicketsTonight.ca

SHIFT Four contemporary dance works by Vancouver-based dance artists created in collaboration with the SCA dancers to explore shifting boundaries, states and emotions. 8pm at SFU School for the Contemporary Arts. Tickets at SFU.ca

CHEAP & FUN

FAMOUS PUPPET DEATH SCENES The beloved Old Trouts return to Vancouver with their collection of famous scenes of the best puppet shows in history to cure your fear of death. 8pm at York Theatre. Tickets at TheCultch.com. Runs until April 19. GO BACK FOR MURDER Based on Agatha Christie’s Five Little Pigs and adapted by the author herself, is the story of Carla Crale who aims to prove her mother’s innocence after dying in prison having poisoned her father. 8pm at Metro Theatre. Tickets at Tickets.MetroTheatre.com EDGES A song cycle about four burdgeoning adults asking classic coming-of-age questions written by Tony award-nominated Benji Pasek and Justin Paul. 8pm at Studio 1398. Tickets at Kiosk. EzTix.co

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. FAREWELL, MY LOVELY The first theatrical adaptation of the Raymond Chandler favourite has all the crooks, dames, smoking guns and crystal balls with more dead bodies than your average graveyard in the world of LA private eye, Philip Marlowe. 8pm at Granville Island Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until May 2.

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WEST COAST GEEKS VS. NERDS: JUST THE TWO OF US Join us at our new venue to reconnect with our Maritime heritage kicking off this maiden voyage in style with an evening where the audience determines the victors of questions like Wayne & Garth vs. Jay & Silent Bob. Costume contest, raffles and live band karaoke to follow. 7pm at The Portside Pub. Tickets $10 at WCGeeksVersusNerds.com

COMEDY DARCY MICHAEL Nominated for a Canadian Comedy award, starring on CTV’s Spun Out, and considered to be one of the country’s fastest rising comedy stars. 8:30pm at The Comedy Mix. Tickets $15 at TheComedyMix.com

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NOVELTY ACTY Sara Bynoe and Riel Hahn present a night of comedy, storytelling and joy, proving women in comedy are more than just a “novelty act”. 8pm at The Emerald. Tickets $8 at EventBrite.ca

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CELSO MACHADO Juno award-nominated Brazilian world guitarist and multiinstrumentalist appears as part of EcoMUSICology: Howe Soundz in an evening of music and video screenings in collobartion with Emily Carr and the David Suzuki Foundation. 6pm at Maritime Museum. Admission is free.

WHERE EXCITEMENT LIVES

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. 7:30pm at Stanley Industrial Alliance Stage. Tickets at ArtsClub.com. Runs until April 19.

THE ELIXXXIRS Celebrating the release of their long awaited full length album with a night of surf/ska/funk/punk and soul with The Ponderosas, Everybody Left and Cawama. 8pm at Biltmore Cabaret. Tickets $10 at TicketZone.com

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FUNNY SAUCE Dick Darrow presents this modern vaudeville revue, a comedy variety show featuring Dino Archie, Peter Kelamis and Shirley Gnome. 8pm at Yuk Yuk’s. Tickets $15 at YukYuks.com

MAGMA One of music’s most innovative and eclectic ensembles, directed by innovative founder and main composer, Christian Vander. 7pm at Venue. Tickets $30 at Red Cat, Zulu, Scrape and ElectroStub.com

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March 26 - April 1, 2015 W 17

LGBTQ Monthly Events April 2015 Anyone for tennis? April is the month when we begin to enjoy the outdoors again. If we can avoid the showers, and the snowstorms of cherry blossoms, there are lots of activities to explore indoors and out. Register for the upcoming tennis season, learn to dance with Timberline, swap your clothes and change your style or simply see a play at a theatre. Women-only events have spread out from the Drive. As ever, LOUD has a choice of networking and social events at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Check our community calendar for all the details. LOUD Business (formerly the GLBA) is a not-for-profit association founded on our three pillars: Networking, Community and Philanthropy. Check us out at www. LOUDbusiness.com, join us at one of our events in April. Come out and be LOUD!

LGBT SUPPLIER DIVERSITY WORKSHOP Canadian Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Wednesday, April 1 EY, 700 West Georgia Street bit.ly/1Eyhp3S THE DUCHESS A.K.A. WALLIS SIMPSON April 1-18 The Cultch Historic Theatre at the Cultch www.thecultch.com/events/ duchess/ TIMBERLINE DANCE Country & Western Dance Group Thursday, April 2, 7-9:30pm St Paul’s Anglican Church, 1140 Jervis Street www.timberlinedance.org LEZ HOOKUPS Girl-Girl Speed Dating Saturday, April 4, 7-10pm The Cove, 3681 W. 4th Avenue http://bit.ly/19Fuhha LOUD GAY-FRIENDLY NETWORKING BREAKFAST A LOUD Business Event Wednesday, April 8, 7:158:30am The Edge Social Grille & Lounge loudbusiness.com/networking/ events OMG FREE CLOTHES! A community clothes swap Saturday, April 11, 1-4pm Gordon Neighbourhood House, 1019 Broughton Street http://on.fb.me/1KV2aeg

PRIME TIMERS AGM Sunday, April 12, 2pm West End Community Centre 870 Denman Street http://bit.ly/1BeacUE LOUD NETWORKING LUNCH A LOUD Business Event Friday, April 17, 12-2pm Best Western Plus Chateau Granville loudbusiness.com/networking/ events/ LEZERVATIONS VANCOUVER Lezervations with LOUD & Qmunity Wednesday, April 22, 6:309:30pm Nomad, Main Street www.lezervations.com LOUD GAY-FRIENDLY NETWORKING BREAKFAST A LOUD Business Event Wednesday, April 22, 7:158:30am The Edge Social Grille & Lounge loudbusiness.com/networking/ events LOUD LOUNGE A LOUD Business Event Thursday, April 23, 5-7pm Casual Networking and Drinks Venue to be announced. loudbusiness.com/networking/ events

VANCOUVER GAY TENNIS REGISTRATION Saturday, April 11, 6-9pm The Hub – 1037 Denman Street http://bit.ly/1LBImwU

Find out more about LOUD at loudbusiness.com

Individual and Couples Counselling “To share of ourselves is like sharing a discovered treasure,” says Joe Ramirez, referring to the excitement of self-discovery one feels when addressing the age old question of identity and purpose: Who am I? Sometimes people can hold on to a secret for years, burning with a desire to share it with someone; for many people, Joe Ramirez is that someone. Ramirez could have been a Biomedical Engineer, but his peers often requested guidance about their lives and relationships. After many experiences of lending an ear of support, he then discovered for himself his true passion. Ramirez is now an individual and couples counsellor for men, women, and trans-individuals. Long before he opened his private practice, he volunteered with different organizations to better understand client challenges in obtaining mental health services, and it was the lack of resources for men that stood out. The impact of trauma on men, their identity and spouses appeared to be a large oversight in social services, so Ramirez took the challenge to help fill this

gap. His use of Adlerian depth psychotherapy is in line with his belief because it is based on the concept that the individual’s health is integral with their community. With this he is capable of addressing a huge range of issues from bullying to divorce to complex identity conflicts. Ramirez’s calm and tranquil demeanor perfectly compliment the space he works in, allowing for others to feel comfortable and safe. Clients have described him and his office as being like “still waters.” Preferring to have afternoons to himself, his evening and morning office hours are a welcomed flexibility to his clients. Ramirez’s approach is not about telling clients what to do, but facilitating the removal of barriers so that “the person behind closed doors” may emerge. To the observer, he may appear as a gifted reader, but to his clients he is a safe space where one can be seen and accepted as is, without the requirements of pretense to fame, fortune, or social expectations. With Joe Ramirez, self-discovery, strength, and recovery begin.

JOE RAMIREZ MCP, CAC, CCC 415-470 Granville Street • 778-227-9423 www.joe-ramirez.com • joe@joe-ramirez.com

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Carl Meadows will never forget meeting Giuseppe, a young gay man from America. With a Syrian passport, Giuseppe lived in the US without citizenship and decided to come to Canada with hope for a life with full equality. The story of his journey only reinforced Meadows’ belief that something had to be done to help LGBT people facing persecution in countries where homosexuality is not only considered a sin, but a crime. A crime punishable by death. That was five years ago; Giuseppe is now a Canadian citizen and Meadows is at the helm of the Foundation of Hope, a public foundation whose aim is to aid organizations across

Canada working to bring queer refugees to Canada. Rainbow Refugee in Vancouver and Rainbow Railroad in Toronto are two such non-profits who to date, have helped more than 25 LGBT people relocate to safer soil. “These are OUR people, our brothers and sisters who want the same life we do,” says Meadows. “I’m a privileged white man who grew up in Vancouver and what I’ve discovered is that privilege is when you think something doesn’t relate to you.” A soft launch last summer has seen the Foundation of Hope’s fundraising efforts steadily climb, and with the funds, Meadows and his board are producing grants to provide services related to everything from citizenship sponsorship and settlement to

housing and health care. Their foundation – completely volunteer-run - is the first one of its kind in the world and Meadows says, “[it] has been built on the same foundation of Canadian values – giving back, caring and offering what you can, when you can.” A long time supporter of the Queer Film Festival, Meadows, along with Drew Dennis and Amber Dawn created the annual Migrant Voices film program in 2010. A staple of the festival each year, Migrant Voices documents the stories and voices of LBGT migrants, and helped serve as the impetus for the creation of the Foundation of Hope. Foundation of Hope launches their STRUT fundraising campaign Friday, March 28 at The Junc-

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Keeping up with The Courtneys

L-R: Bassist Sydney Koke, drummer Jen Twynn Payne, and guitarist Courtney Loove are The Courtneys. Contributed photo LOUISE BURNS @_louiseburns_

The Courtneys are a trio of astrological harmony. Jen Twynn Payne (Gemini), Sydney Koke (Virgo) and Courtney Loove (Pisces) play Flying Nun-inspired slacker pop with an unspoken, telepathic connection one could only achieve with a little heavenly inﬂuence. “It’s a compatible triad, but also challenging,” says bassist Koke. “We’re very different from one another, but when we work together we can achieve great things.” Meet The Courtneys, Vancouver’s secret slow-burn success. I caught up with the ladies on a rainy Sunday at their East Van jam space to talk existential astrology, meeting their heroes Down Under, and the healing powers of ramen noodles. The heavenly trio formed nearly ﬁve years ago. Koke had just moved back from North Carolina, where she

had been studying neuroscience at Duke University, looking to take a break from the relentless life of a scientist. “There was a secret drum kit in the basement of my laboratory at Duke and I had the key to it,” she says. “I’d set up some of my solutions to oxidize then run down and play drums for half an hour, then run up and do the experiment.” Meanwhile, Payne had retired from her stint on drums with Mac DeMarco’s ﬁrst band, the legendary Makeout Videotape, and met Loove after a chance encounter at a mutual friend’s (Loove’s boyfriend) house.The rest, as they say, was written in the stars. Their debut LP was recorded at Noise Floor with Jordan Koop, and released on Hockey Dad Records in 2013, giving us gems like “K.C. Reeves”, in which the girls chant-spell the name of Keanu Reeves over a frantic post-punk beat, and “90210”, a guided punk meditation that brings to mind Sonic

Youth,The Clean and a yogic mantra all at once.Two singles followed as they took their particular brand of sunny, nostalgia-infused music all over North America on their big break tour with pop stars Tegan and Sara (Payne’s cousins). “Doing the Tegan and Sara tour was the ultimate experience to see what that corporate music world is like,” says guitarist Loove of the tour. “There’s some amazing things about it, and there’s some disheartening things about it.” The band also went to Australia and New Zealand, where they spent most of February this year. “We got to meet some of our heroes, and we actually met a lot of un-Australasia related heroes on the tour, so it was very inspiring.” says Koke. “We ran into J Mascis and got to talk to him, and we actually met [tiny vocalistYolanda of] Die Antwoord at one of our shows!” she laughs. “She told us to take care of each other. A wise woman. She said she

liked our vibe.” There they also met the people behind the legendary New Zealand post-punk label Flying Nun Records, responsible for bands like The Verlaines, Straightjacket Fits, and The Clean.The Courtneys count the label as one their biggest inspirations, and Flying Nun helped the band book the New Zealand leg of their tour. With a slow ascension,The Courtneys are becoming one of Vancouver’s greatest success stories, albeit reluctantly. “Because there isn’t a professional career aspiration, there’s not as much tension for someone to be like ‘you’re fucking up my life plan! I’m really mad at you because this is what I really want’.We make sure there’s none of that!” says Koke. The other two are quick to agree. “The band has always been more of a friendship to me, then like, a band,” says Payne. “Every time that we’re taking something too seriously, we kaleidoscope classic. – Louise Burns

as Jalbert sings about giving away her acid hit: “I don’t want it on my tongue/The last time that we passed it I just hated everyone”. “Fools Rush In” features a woody psychedelic bass high in the mix that could easily pass for a long lost B-side by The Kinks.

Jalbert sings with sweet austerity, bringing to mind a young Françoise Hardy on her anglicized albums. The guitar is jangly, the organ is warbly, and each and every part sounds perfectly in character. According to a press release, Jalbert and Wilson played all the instruments themselves, all while on a steady diet of ‘60s and ‘70s psychedelic rock and dinners provided by Wilson’s parents (they recorded in their basement). While the songs can sometimes rely a bit too heavily on style, there are enough gems on Cosmic Troubles to make it a modest

REVIEWS // FAITH HEALER

Cosmic Troubles (Mint Records)

Faith Healer is the new solo project of Edmonton’s Jessica Jalbert, with a little help from longtime collaborator Renny Wilson, her former band mate in Punk Explosion and Tee-Tahs. Echoes of The Velvet Underground, Ye-Ye French pop and all things summer-of-love give Cosmic Troubles a delightfully familiar yet newfangledjangled sound. “Acid” is a cheeky nod to The Velvets’ “Sweet Jane”,

20 W March 26 - April 1, 2015

Rating:

have to step back.” While The Courtneys’ music may fall under the “slacker pop” category, they come across as anything but. Every Sunday, like the one I am intruding on, is strictly dedicated to band activities, “It’s like church” says Loove. They check in with each other if tension arises, and seem genuinely happy to be doing what they love.There is no moping or brooding in The Courtneys, just laughter, respectful communication and overall good vibes. It is wildly refreshing. “We go to theY, and go to yoga and the hot tub every Sunday after band practice, and have ramen.” says Koke. “Sunday is only for band shit.We’re not allowed to do anything else that day.” The afternoon is aging, and it is time to let the girls get back to work.They are currently in pre-production for the next record, a process that started as soon as their ﬁrst one came out. In May they will return to Noise Floor

!!!!!

LAURA MARLING

Short Movie (Ribbon Music) On Laura Marling’s ﬁfth studio album, her adopted home of Los Angeles rears its sun-bleached head to inspire a collection of songs that read like a stream-ofconsciousness diary entry. She sings, “I’m just a horse without a name” in opening song “Warrior”, perhaps a metaphor for her place in the world, or a re-

lationship gone awry. “False Hope” channels Chan Marshall (Cat Power) with its gritty guitars and Marling’s soft-growl style of singing. Just when you think you’ve pegged her sound, she gives us “Strange”, a near spoken word Beat-poet exercise in real talk. “I don’t love you

studios to record their second LP, a record they collectively describe as “awesome”. One can sense that this is only the beginning for this band, the compatible triad destined for greatness.There’s no telling where they will be one year from now, but hey, if it isn’t touring Japan (a shared aspiration), heading back Down Under or another big time pop tour, that’s OK. They will always have Sundays at theY. “Writing music together as a group is really hard you have to feel good about your relationship because [that’s a big part of it],” says Koke. “You can’t be mad at someone when you’re in a hot tub. And ramen... ramen is like a hot tub that you eat!” My kind of ladies. W Catch The Courtneys with Peach Kelli Pop and Cult Babies this Friday at The Cobalt for Come Friday.

like you love me, I’m pretty sure that you know.” Clearly there is existential woe creeping into her once feathery compositions. In “How Can I”, she sings “I’m going back east where I belong” with a beguiling vibrato: a saudade-soaked love note to her native England. Like Joni Mitchell or Chan Marshall, she embodies the vagrant singer-songwriter. She is a woman of the road with more wisdom than she cares to share. Short Movie is her strongest, most raw work to date that you can’t help but fall into. – Louise Burns Rating:

!!!!!

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Ballet BC dancers pas de duel with William Forsythe KELSEY KLASSEN @KelseyKlassen

Tenor Adam Fisher stars in the Vancouver Bach Choir’s presentation of Elijah March 28.

VBC presents biblical blockbuster KELSEY KLASSEN @KelseyKlassen

When the Vancouver Bach Choir’s chorus of more than 100 mighty voices take on Mendelssohn’s blockbuster oratorio Elijah this weekend, there will be one unlikely voice among the many. Although a natural tenor and perhaps always destined to sing, soloist Adam Fisher actually got his start in music as the drummer in a heavy metal band. It wasn’t until he joined a choir while studying percussion at college that he unearthed his potential. Prior to that, he hadn’t sung a note professionally. Now at home on both Broadway and opera stages, Fisher’s career is as diverse as it was circuitous, with credits ranging from Die Fledermaus to Jesus Christ Superstar. The Vancouver-born singer and former model, who now lives in Toronto full time, was most recently in town for his role in the world premiere of the Margaret Atwood/Tobin Stokes opera Pauline last spring. But, with Elijah, Fisher is making his Vancouver Bach Choir debut. The oratorio, composed by Mendelssohn in 1846 and inspired by the works of Bach and Handel, depicts events in the life of the biblical prophet Elijah. It features all the things you’d hope for in a biblical narrative: devastating drought, the resurrection of a dead youth, a contest of the gods, and a ﬁery ascension up to Heaven. Led by music director Leslie Dala, the choir will be joined by the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as well as four soloists: baritone Giles Tomkins, soprano Eve-Lyn de la Haye, mezzosoprano Krisztina Szabó, and Fisher. This will be the fourth time the VBC has revisited this classic. W ( )'+*", +# "! !,- /$%,-.& Theatre Mar. 28 at 8pm.Tickets atVancouverBachChoir.com

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In an experimental dance company known for pushing its dancers in every repertory direction possible, the ﬁrst season as a new dancer is surely the hardest. But, as expected of all the artists chosen for Emily Molnar’s acclaimed corps, Kirsten Wicklund’s entry into Ballet BC this season has been nothing but ﬂuid and graceful. From exploring her classical training en pointe in Fernando Magadan’s romantic “White Act” in November to going toe-to-toe with Ballet BC veterans Gilbert Small and Alexis Fletcher this week in a sculptural work by William Forsythe, there’s only one level to reach for in the the ranks of this contemporary Vancouver company: high. “The group of dancers is so talented,” says Wicklund, speaking by phone on break from rehearsals, “and our director [Molnar] is constantly pushing us and challenging us in new ways. “She’s hard on us, of course,” Wicklund adds with a laugh,” but she’s very nurturing and constantly allowing us the space to step outside of what we already know and try to go further. The Vancouver-born Wicklund came up through the Goh Ballet Academy under Choo Chiat and Lin Yee Goh, going on to tour China

in principal roles with Canada’s Youth Ballet Academy, along with receiving scholarships to American Ballet Theatre, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Boston Ballet to name a few. In 2007, she won the artistry award at the Youth America Grand Prix, and was the only Canadian in the top 12 women. After a time with Washington Ballet, however, the 25-year-old decided it was ﬁnally time to come home. “I loved the direction that [Molnar] was taking the company in, so I sought this opportunity out,” says Wicklund. And the aforementioned Forsythe piece, one third of Ballet BC’s upcoming program, Trace (March 26-28), is a rare opportunity for the new dancer to prove something to Molnar, as it was Forsythe (then the visionary director of Frankfurt Ballet), who discovered a young Molnar at the National Ballet of Canada brought her to Germany to dance as a soloist in the ‘90s. Molnar has been quoted as crediting her time under Forsythe, who often challenged her to improvise and interpret within his works, as instrumental in crafting her own identity as a choreographer. And it’s a mindset Molnar is imbuing in her own students. “The fact that we’re being challenged with something that is really at the root of what she excelled at as a

dancer is very exciting,” says Wicklund. “She has so much insight to offer us and I think we’re all just trying to eat up as much information from her during this time as we can.” Forsythe is renowned for galvanizing ballet – helping, on the heels of innovators like George Balanchine, to push ballet from classical into the dynamic contemporary art form it has become – and his choreography has been performed by every major dance company in the world. Ballet BC’s ﬁrst introduction to Forsythe was company favourite “Herman Schmerman”, an edgy, synchronous exploration of the physicality of dance. For its second, Trace boasts the Canadian premiere of “workwithinwork”, a detailed creation that captures Forsythe’s iconic style of using the body to interpret space.The piece, joined by a world premiere by Italy’s Walter Matteini and a return of Medhi Walerski’s ballroom blitz, “Petite Cérémonie”, is broken down into a quick-moving array of high-intensity solos and duets, fuelled by the duelling violins of Luciano Berio. “There’s really no room for being complacent in this art form, if you are passionate about what it is and where it’s going,” says Wicklund of the repertoire. “I’ve dreamed of dancing these works, so to actually be coming up on the stage with this rep is really quite special.” W

Ballet BC presents Trace at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre from March 26 to 28. Tickets starting from $30 at Ticketmaster.ca. Pictured: Dancer Kirsten Wicklund. Michael Slobodian photo

Bravery gives way to hard truths in Raziel Reid’s debut novel KRISTYN ANTHONY @allovthethings

“You need to be strong enough to get to the heart of something,” Raziel Reid states, matter-of-factly. Strong does not even begin to tell the story of the 25-year-old Vancouver writer, and his debut novel, When Everything Feels Like The Movies. Equal parts captivating, heart-breaking and eyeopening, the novel exposes the chasm between millennials and every generation before them. Reid’s vision wasn’t always so grand. He set out to write a version of the quintessential coming-of-age tale, but of a gay teenager, something he says wasn’t available to him. “I had no understanding of gay sex, but I had porn. I was a reader and really craved truth,” he explains. “Something like this would have made me braver and more conﬁdent, so I wanted teens to feel like they had a stake in it.” When Everything Feels Like The Movies is the story of Jude, a 15-year-old boy grow-

Raziel Reid ing up in small town Canada. It should be that simple. Delving deeper, it is the story of an effeminate, ﬂamboyant, gay teen relentlessly harassed, bullied and beaten, who narrates his journey through a daily hell of misguided parenting and lack of community and

acceptance, all under the guise of a forever rolling, invisible camera. Jude’s starring role in the movie of his life is his only method of surviving the cruel, tiny world we call youth. “Dreaming is like breath-

ing for him,” Reid explains. “It’s essential. For me, too.” It is that dreaming, that imagining outside of the proverbial box that drove Reid to create Jude in the ﬁrst place. A voice not unlike his own, Jude “is a symbol for gay kids” and despite his, some would say, inevitable demise, “Jude himself had to be the positive message throughout the book” because just as in real life, endings aren’t always happy ones. Reid’s work was inspired by the real life story of Larry King, a California teenager gunned down in the “safety” of his own high school after asking a male classmate to be his valentine. There has been no shortage of accolades for the young adult novel, nor controversy. A petition to rescind Reid’s Governor General’s Award has been met with a second place ﬁnish on CBC Canada Reads (after an impassioned defending by Elanie Lui) as well as Lambda Literary Award and Ferro-Grumley Award nominations. “I think it comes down to what is considered gender

normative,” Reid says of the controversy surrounding his book. “People have issues with a boy that is feminine, and that is almost rooted in misogyny. I grew up with depictions of hetero-normative love stories and can be affected by them.Why can’t they feel the same about homosexual representations of love?” Of the attacks on the book’s sexual content, Reid simply says he is depicting a culture, not promoting it. “These kids have little shock value anymore, there are so desensitized to these terms, sometimes as a result of technology and a life lived behind screens,” he says. Powerful words for a first time writer, whose title has been picked up by Little, Brown Book Group in the UK, and will next focus on the film adaptation of When Everything Feels Like The Movies with Random Bench Productions. Reid says he looks forward to “keeping the truth of the story, but showing it in a different way.” “This story was always a script, so making this film is a natural evolution of Jude’s own unique entity.” W

March 26 - April 1, 2015 W 21

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FILM & TV

Fan Expo Vancouver survival guide

Come for the stars; stay for the cosplayed masses

BRING LOTS OF CASH

If signed 8x10s are your bag, you’re going to need a lot of dough. Many ﬁrsttimers are shocked by how pricey it can be to have one of the geek celebrities sign something (even if they’ve brought a photo or collectible from home). Prices vary, but don’t be surprised to shell out anywhere between $40 and $70 for an autograph.

Sabrina Furminger Reel People @Sabrinarmf

A long time ago in this very galaxy, geeks were the butt of many a cruel joke. We were dismissed as a sad little subculture, caricatured as wearing too-small superhero T-shirts and awkwardly ﬂashing the Vulcan salute to those we recognized as one of our own. But times have changed. Geeks – people who are nextlevel passionate about a franchise, genre, or niche form of entertainment – are a powerful force in the showbiz galaxy. We’re the reason superhero movies generate boatloads of money.We’re the reason that types of shows that were once considered too niche for primetime – shows like Arrow, TheWalking Dead, and Game of Thrones – are now some of the biggest hits on television. For a long time, I was a

PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE, YOUNG PADAWAN

Carrie Fisher and William Shatner both appear at this year’s Fan Expo Vancouver. closeted geek. I nursed my geeky passions – StarWars, Star Trek, Lord of the Rings, DoctorWho, X-Men – in silence. I was terriﬁed of scorn. But I experienced a paradigm shift in 2012, when I attended the ﬁrst-ever Fan Expo Vancouver. It was there among the cosplaying masses that I found my geeky pride. Fan Expo returns for its fourth edition on Easter weekend. If this year’s event is anything like the previous three incarnations, tens of thousands of people will con-

verge to celebrate their zeal for anime, manga, comics, sci-ﬁ, gaming, fantasy, and horror – and it will be gloriously geeky. For the ﬁrst-timer, Fan Expo can be dizzying: waves of costumed fans; hundreds of booths selling StarWars chachkas, rare comic books, and branded T-shirts as far as ye olde eye can see; and opportunities to meet and greet with some the biggest names in geek entertainment. If you’re itching to wade into the Fan Expo fray, I’ve got you covered with

these tips (many of which I learned the hard way):

BRING CASH

Don’t expect vendors to accept credit or debit cards as payment. Many won’t be able to take any currency other than cold, hard cash (so keep those Imperial credits in your underwear drawer). Making the wrong choice could spell the difference between buying that vintage Jabba the Hutt playset you always wanted, and leaving Fan Expo the saddest geek in the world.

You’re going to be standing in a lot of lines: picking up your entry tickets; waiting for autographs and photo opps; before and after panel discussions. It’s a reality of every successful fan convention on the planet, so just accept it as what it is: the perfect opportunity for people watching. And speaking of people watching…

PICTURE-PERFECT PERMISSION

It’s okay to admire someone who’s dressed up in a rad costume – and you’ll certainly be seeing plenty of rad costumes over the weekend. But it’s not cool to take someone’s picture without his or her permission (not to mention leer at, stalk, or assault anyone, like, ever). Doing otherwise is a violation of Fan Expo’s Harassment and Costume Policy. Don’t be a creep.

WEAPONS POLICY

If a weapon is part of your costume, you’ll need to have it inspected at the Prop Weapon Check Desk before you can enter the main hall. Familiarize your sword-wielding self with Fan Expo’s Weapons Policy at fanexpovancouver.com/ props-weapons-policy.

BATTERY POWER NOT INCLUDED

me, you’ll be sharing every moment of your Fan Expo experience with your faraway friends via social media (follow me at @sabrinarmf). Tweeting and Facebooking eat up a lot of battery power, and even if you’ve got your charger, electrical outlets in the Convention Centre are few and far between. I’m crazy about my portable charger, but you might want to adopt a “snap pictures now, post later” approach.

TIME OF THE WHOVIAN

Vancouver Whovians – that is to say, Vancouver-based fans of BBC’s long-running DoctorWho – have long bemoaned the lack of Doctor Who stars from the Fan Expo line-up. Well, Whovians, this is your year: two Doctor Who companions – John Barrowman (Captain Jack Harkness) and Karen Gillan (Amy Pond) – will be on hand to sign pictures, pose for snaps, and answer all of your TARDIS questions (although I’d recommend skipping, “Is it really bigger on the inside?” We already know that it is).

THE ICONS HAVE LANDED

Meet and greet the following genre stars: Carrie Fisher (StarWars); William Shatner (Star Trek); Brent Spiner (Star Trek:The Next Generation); Shannen Doherty (Beverly Hills 90210); Lance Henriksen (Aliens); Stephen Amell (Arrow); Jeremy Shada (Adventure Time); and a trio of actors from TheWalking Dead: Chad Coleman, Scott Wilson, and Sarah Wayne Callies. W Fan Expo Vancouver runs April 3-5 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. FanExpoVancouver.com.

If you’re anything like

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10am Holy Communion MAUNDY THURSDAY (2nd Apr) 6.30pm Seder Supper GOOD FRIDAY (3rd Apr) 10am Matthew Passion Service EASTER DAY (5th Apr) 9.15am Contemporary Worship 11am Prayer Book Service YOU WILL BE MOST WELCOME Westender.com

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REVIEWS IT FOLLOWS

Staring Maika Monroe, Keir Gilchrist Directed by David Robert Mitchell Taking a page from creeping dread classics, provided by filmmakers like John Carpenter and David Cronenberg, director David Robert Mitchell gives the horror genre a riveting jolt with the slow-burn thriller It Follows. After a strange sexual encounter, Jay (Monroe) is soon haunted by bizarre encounters from stalking strangers in the form of nightmarish visions. Mitchell, who also wrote the movie’s simple but effective screenplay, conjures Hitchcockian paranoia mixed cunningly with a cautionary tale of teenage sexuality. The film remarkably restores faith in a category of films that too often rely on found footage formats or graphic torture porn to elicit visceral thrills from audiences. It Follows’ ultimate strengths lie in the confidence of its direction and a gripping central performance from 21-year-old Maika Monroe, who proved a scene-stealer in last year’s cult favourite The Guest. The flick refreshingly avoids predictable jump scares and cheap thrills, opting instead for wide shots and daylight to illustrate the advancing tension. Rich Vreeland’s synth-based, ‘80s-inspired score and some minimal but potent special effects all add to the nerve-jangling atmosphere. At times, however, the story’s meandering pace slows the narrative down as the suspense becomes

choppy. Mitchell’s methodical approach may also be a little too minimalist for some and the ﬁlm’s climax doesn’t quite pack the punch that is needed following such a strong build-up. Minor criticisms aside, It Follows represents a thrilling throwback and marks the start of a promising career for a budding ﬁlmmaker more concerned with storytelling than with sensationalism. –Thor Diakow

the group, what with the modicum of compassion he displays for the underclass. After an initiation founded in degradation and saturated in bodily ﬂuids, the group descends on a sleepy country pub like an entitled invading force. As the well-tailored thugs aspire to mount their own version of 120 Days of Sodom, their contempt for the common man hits a fever pitch and mayhem ensues. However, despite these blue bloods’ predatory natures, they’re the

easy marks here. Dourly communicated by Scherﬁg,Wade’s criticism concerning the elitist callousness and sadism is as on the nose and unsubtle as a head butt. Ultimately, this tale of wanton excess proves unfortunately shallow. By painting its players with such broad, grotesque strokes, it becomes little more than an invitation for the punters to cluck their tongues in disapproval and then exit the theatre buoyed by an inﬂated sense of moral superiority. W –CurtisWoloschuk

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Rich boys will be insufferable hellions in the latest from Lone Scherﬁg, who previously investigated the United Kingdom’s class divide in the decidedly gentler An Education. Adapted for the screen by Laura Wade from her stage play Posh (and inspired by the infamous Bullingdon Club, an Oxford “dining society” that counts David Cam-

eron and Boris Johnson as alumni), The Riot Club takes a scathing view of the insolent debauched dandies who fancy themselves Britain’s best and brightest and are emboldened due to the impunity their status allows them. As the ﬁlm and school term commences, this cabal of Oxford scoundrels welcome two new initiates into their ranks: Alistair (Sam Claﬂin) is following in his elder brother’s disreputable footsteps, while Miles (Max Irons) seems ill-suited for

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STYLE // DESIGN

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Designer Files: Mindful design Jennifer Scott A Good Chick to Know

@Jennifer_AGCTK

Design is always a creative process, but I recently had to learn the art of making design a mindful process. I was asked to design the space for Float Yaletown, the city’s newest floatation therapy studio. The team behind Float Yaletown had an overall vision, and wanted to work with me on bringing the essence of relaxation for the mind and body into visual fruition. Before I could undertake the design, I first needed to get a grasp of what ‘floating’ is and the mindset behind the people who make it a part of their wellness routine. Essentially, floating is the use of a large, enclosed salt water bath designed to minimize sensory input to the brain. The float ‘pods’, or baths, are filled with 10 inches of purified water and temperature controlled to match that of your body, combined with 800 pounds of dissolved Epsom salts; therefore, the body is not

reacting to a noticeably warm or cool soak, nor is any muscle group engaged, as the salts create complete buoyancy. The pods are enclosed, minimizing both light and sound, creating a solitary space free from external stimulation. As I tried to determine my demographic for the design of the space, I quickly realized that people from all age groups and experiences rely on floating for personal improvement; I had heard the term, but came to see that truly, floating is for everyone. Without a specific demographic (usually a key element to any décor), I began the design approach by breaking down the different elements of a space and looking at how each could represent the principles behind the floating movement. My four main elements to work with, from structure to décor, were: finishing materials, palette, texture and life. The finishing materials set the tone for a naturalinspired, serene space; we used raw slate floors throughout to ground the spa, and brought in varied

forms of natural stone in the showers of the individual rooms, ranging from miniature pebbles to wood grain stone tiles (that the designer in me couldn’t resist having installed in a herringbone pattern). Different forms of wood were introduced within ﬁnishes and furnishings, acting as another earth element for the décor. As we explored palette, a tone-on-tone range of naturals was the clear choice; from fresh whites to intimate ivories to soft, saturated greys, the feeling of an airy, weightless space came together. Layering the tones with the saturated picks closer to the ground (the ﬂoor tiles and the wood pieces) the mid-range whites, ivories and naturals at seating height and reserving the brightest, coolest whites for the walls and ceilings allowed for a space that both invites you in, encourages you to engage, yet still has the open, fresh appeal of minimalist design. Anytime you’re playing with a relatively monochromatic décor, texture becomes a key factor. To retain visual interest, a variety of textures and materials were

brought into the main room, with the soft tactile experience balancing out the clean lines and minimal palette. Natural linens, white velvets and crisp cottons within the plush seating area play off the wood frames and jute area rug, creating an inviting corner for spa guests to refocus without being bombarded with pattern or colour. I felt that it was essential to bring life into the décor. Literally. Much different than a residential space, the spa didn’t suit layers of accessories; rather, a clutter-free approach was key. I therefore opted for an array of different plant life to create the details, feeling the importance of living décor. Books (my ultimate go-to for creating a room) were lightly introduced, and small hits of natural rocks and crystals pulled the look together while remaining on brand. A few statement art pieces (stellar vintage ﬁnds) polished off the design, with tranquility at the forefront of my focus. Now open in the heart of Yaletown (1059 Cambie), Float Yaletown has become a can’t-miss space for Vancou-

Float Yaletown at 1059 Cambie. Jennifer Gauthier photos verites, and has positioned itself as a pillar within the wellness community. Regularly hosting collaborative events with yoga experts, meditation groups and other local businesses, the spa has also become a recurring stop for the women’s na-

tional soccer team, hockey players and even bands like Mother Mother. With an amazing team and a mindful design, Float Yaletown has created a relaxing space for self-reﬂection, introspection and meditation. W

DARE TO LEAP & CHANGE LIVES Have you, or someone you know, been a victim of abuse or neglect? BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support, a non-profit organization with charitable status, works to raise awareness, and to prevent and respond to elder abuse and neglect. The Victim Services Program supports people age 50+ who are victims of family and sexual violence, including abuse. Our staff lawyers and the legal advocate provide legal advice and representation, in areas of law related to elder abuse, to people age 55+ who are low income or who have other barriers. We offer free workshops and training on elder abuse prevetion and financial literacy for older adults and ommunity groups. Seniors Abuse Information LIne (SAIL) is a safe place for older adults, and those who care about them, to talk to someone about situations where they feel they are being abused or mistreated, or to receive information about elder abuse prevention.

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www.bcceas.ca 24 W March 26 - April 1, 2015

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REAL ESTATE //

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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

New Listing High Quality Renovations 1850 Comox #704 FIRST VIEWINGS: SAT & SUN 2:00 - 3:00 Gorgeous updates to every aspect of this West of Denman West-facing home at The El Cid. Water views. $319,900.

Sales Associate Roger Ross

West End Specialist Rob Joyce

Coming next week 1967 Barclay

Beautifully renovated South-facing one bedroom just a block to the park. Call today!

Happy Birthday Aretha Franklin Queen of Soul on March 25th. Recent photo taken by Rob Joyce at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. As Marianne Faithful said, “You hear the voice of God through the music of Aretha Franklin.”

D LLD O O SS

LLD D O SSO West of Denman 1924 Comox #412OPEN: SUN 3:30 - 4:00 Top floor large balcony South-

facing & 20 ft. celinging.738 sf. Pets OK. $469,900.

WEST COAST WEST COAST

View! View! View! 1146 Harwood #1403

Stunning upgrades, water & city views, open balc. at The Lamplighter off Sunset Beach. $349,900.

604.623.5433

MAUREEN YOUNG

5 Year Variable

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How do you know if you are getting a good deal on your mortgage? Truth is if you only go to one bank then there is no real way to know... Contact me for a consultation. Contact me for all your purchase, refinance and renewal options. Other rates and terms available.

CALL 604-805-5888

maureen@maureenyoung.ca | maureenyoung.ca Dominion Lending – Downtown Financial An Independently Owned & Operated Corporation

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www.robjoyce.ca

SOLD 1127 Barclay #502 Renovated two

bedroom conc. $474,900.

SOLD 1740 Comox #1503 View! View! View!

NW corner. $379,900.

robjoyce@telus.net

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.

CURRENT RATES

2.59% 2.00%

renovated front suite at Harcrest Apartments, 705 sq. ft. Red oak hardwood & houselike. $319,900.

PERSONAL REAL ESTATE CORPORATION

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Heritage Suite 1055 Harwood #212 Large

Number One Realtor in Office 2012, 2013 & 2014 2014 RE/MAX Charman’s Club Award Winner

CURRENT LISTINGS: MACKENZIE HEIGHTS NEW LISTING

More on My Website at: www.MichaelDowling.ca NORTH DELTA

COQUITLAM

SOLD OVER ASKING IN 7 DAYS!

EAST HASTINGS VILLAGE

KITSILANO OFFER PENDING

SOLD CLOSE TO ASKING!

BY APPOINTMENT 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.

BY APPOINTMENT 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 26 - April 1, 2015 W 25

REAL ESTATE //

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STEPHEN BURKE F R E E

MARKET

SUTTON GROUP - WEST COAST REALTY 301-1508 W BROADWAY

604-714-1700

w w w . s t e p h e n b u r k e . c o m EVALUATION

604-551-4190

CALL NOW

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

D SOL

1155 MAINLAND

$949,000 1835 MORTON

$1,398,000

D SOL • • • • • • • •

1010 BURNABY

D L O S

1743 sq. ft. floorplan + 257 sq. ft. terrace 2-9’x9’ ensuites w/soaker tubs & sep shower Spacious 3rd bedroom for office or guests Entertainers’ living, dining for 8-10 guests Custom kitchen, cabs, granite & stainless steel Bring your house-size furniture along Rainscreened/warranty/new plumbing New common areas, gym, pool 2 parking, pet

1020 HARWOOD

D SOL $850,000 1975 PENDRELL

D SOL

$229,900

D SOL

$1,250,000 1838 NELSON

$659,900 2055 PENDRELL

$369,900

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

Matt Magee

Harj Romi

Christopher Dohm

Mike Rooney

Scott Evans

Michael Shaw

Sandi Fratino

Simmy Sandhu

James Hau

Erica Fremeau

Sheila Sontz

Melany Sue-Johnson

matt@mattmagee.ca

$195,000

1406-938 SMITHE ST.

$549,900

2105-1238 SEYMOUR

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.

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

26 W March 26 - April 1, 2015

Jocelyn Manlapaz

Bob Moore

Sean Murty

Sharon Wayman

Michael Webster

Laurel Wood

Maria Zavaglia

Courtney Otto

Kris Pope

604-318-5226

cline@ dexterrealty.com

pope@dexterrealty.com

$429,000

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 extralarge, 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.

www.uptownvancouver.com

1108-1205 HOWE ST. 1208-1177 HORNBY ST.

Larry Esther Traverence Twerdochlib

Travis Mako

Marcus Maia Chris Spotzl 604-263-1144 604-263-1144

alicerobinson.com

604-649-6546

Clarence Lowe

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.

604-263-1144

harrison@dexterrealty.com www.patriciaharrison.ca

Natasha Sully

Johan Leung

1107-501 PACIFIC ST.

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.

Alice Robinson Patricia Harrison

Daryl Suarez

Megan King

skipworth@ dexterrealty.com

www.loftsvancouver.com

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.

Jeff Holmes

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

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

604-790-6589

101-1250 BURNABY ST.

Jennifer Devlin

Taking our Listings Global

$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.

loftsvancouver.com

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!

Details & Photos of all lofts for sale in Vancouver

Ed Gramauskas Cell: 604-618-9727

$489,000

626-610 GRANVILLE ST.

$678,000

“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.

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.

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West End

412-1924 Comox St, 1 bdrm, $469,900, Sun 3:30-4:00

CARNEY’S CORNER

SPRING BREAK SPECIAL Year round comfort and enjoyment in spacious one bedroom plus office and balcony in solid post and beam constructed strata. Overheight ceilings, engineered wood floors, corian counters and peaceful setting over garden yet steps to all amenities from central West End location. Cats welcome, laundry installation with strata permission. Free laundry room exclusive to one bedrooms. Good insuite storage, locker, parking and guest parking. Upgrades to kitchen, bath and more. One of a kind! $369,900

WEN

West End Neighbours

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 604 685-5951/603-3095

$500 per square foot: the price paid for this older industrial building on West 3rd in Vancouver’s Mt. Pleasant neighbourhood. Western Investor photo

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

In Town Realty

Zoning drives Mt. Pleasant industrial price to record high

Changes in land use push industrial real estate prices to record highs FRANK O’BRIEN @bizinvancouver

Changes in land use have pushed industrial real estate prices to record highs in Vancouver’s Mt. Pleasant neighbourhood. The area, on the northern border of East and West Side Vancouver, has long been known for its inexpensive and low-rise industrial buildings. Last year, however, the City of Vancouver changed the light industrial deﬁnition in the area to allow the mixing of ofﬁce space with industrial use. Zoning allows three square feet of commercial space to be erected for every square foot of land occupied. Since the change was

implemented, Mt. Pleasant industrial land prices have hit the highest level in all of Metro Vancouver, at $384 per square foot, up about 34 per cent from 2007. Some recent sales are already well above the average: one buyer paid $500 per square foot for an old onestorey industrial building on West 3rd Avenue in Mt. Pleasant, a survey from Avison Young reveals. Another buyer paid $3.1 million for less than 7,500 square feet of industrial space in the 300block of West 6th Avenue. The density change has transformed what would typically be considered industrial transactions into land deals, according to Avi-

son Young, which has been tracking action in the area. “The higher pricing has essentially rendered retaining the existing structures as an inefﬁcient use,” the report stated. Growing demand for Mt. Pleasant property has resulted in tech ﬁrms and other so-called light industrial users competing with developers and private investors trying to acquire property, the commercial agency noted. “This activity and subsequent pricing has skewed the overall value of Vancouver industrial real estate transactions,” Avison Young said. W –Story courtesy of Business inVancouver

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W W W . L I A N A S H O W C A S E . C O M NEW LISTING YALETOWN SKYHOME WITH VIEWS, $485,000 1909-501 PACIFIC ST Must see, 180º water, mountain & park view from this 1 bdrm + den + patio beauty @ the 501 • This view skyhome has been upgraded with new paint, limestone tiling & a custom millwork walk-in closet • Centrally situated right at the footsteps of two 10 acre parks, seawall, yaletown dining, boutiques, cafes, seabus, etc. • Outstanding building offering 24hr manager/ security, 2 guest suites, indoor/ outdoor swimming pool, gym, sauna, jacuzzi, outdoor volleyball sand court, parking & storage locker • Unprecedented resort lifestyle!

THE OLIVE $419,000 406-3225 TUPPER ST

• Great 1 BR + den w/ gourmet kitchen w/ granite counters, quality cabinetry, KitchenAid s/s appl. • Fabulous north views & a balcony ideal for BBQs • Unit has a cozy living room with wide plank h/w flooring & fireplace • Great lifestyle unit in South Cambie steps to transit, shopping, cafes & restaurants • Pets & rentals welcome

OFFER PENDING 360º VIEW HOME $928,880 2505 VENABLES ST

3 bdrm & nook (+2 dens/flex rooms) • Situated on sunny & fenced corner lot & quiet tree lined street • Newer rebuilt 3rd floor offers wide open loft-style master bdrm & flex rm/den, soak in the views of the city & mtns • Original h/w flrs, & wood burning f/p in living areas ooze character • Newer SS appl. & 2 antique marble topped buffets & island & additional nook round off the charm of the kitchen & separate dining room • Deck is an entertainers delight accessible directly from the kitchen & mudroom • 6’3”Basement with a ton of storage options • Fully fenced in landscaped garden.

VIEW SKY-DECK 3 BDRM TOWNHOME $648,880 13-3855 PENDER ST

SOLD IN 2 DAYS FOR OVER LIST PRICE!!

THE BELLEVUE, $579,000 401-2150 BELLEVUE AVE, DUNDARAVE

YALETOWN PARK II, $367,500 703-909 MAINLAND ST

JUST SOLD SOLD FIRM! FIRM!

SPECTRUM TOWNHOME, $530,000 676 CITADEL PARADE

PALISADES GEM WITH VIEWS, $569,900 1205-1200 ALBERNI ST

SOLD FIRM!

SOLD IN 1 DAY!

RECENT SALES 410-456 MOBERLY RD 506-256 E 2ND AVE 318-1235 W 15TH AVE 2103-1020 BARCLAY

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

SOLD FIRM!

LOWER LONSDALE TUDOR WITH VIEWS, $217,500, 210-310 W 3RD ST, NORTH VAN

SOLD FIRM!

317-159 W 2ND AVE 617-159 W 2ND AVE 1201-125 COLUMBIA ST 201-710 CHILCO ST 608-250 E 6TH AVE 1977 RIVERGROVE 766 ORWELL ST 110-2665 MOUNTAIN HWY 306-1177 HORNBY

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HEALTH

GMO: The great food fight Patty Javier Gomez Whole Nourishment

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YS Acupuncture Clinic

We specialize in: • Pain Management • Weight Control • Menstrual Disorders • Allergies and Skin Disorders • Cosmetic Acupunture

Thank you to our generous sponsors and supporters who contributed to Yukigassen Snow Battle Vancouver. SPONSORS

People get all heated up when the subject of GMOs (genetically-modiﬁed organisms) come up. People tend to get bent out of shape one way or the other, just like the vaccine debate that has seen people aggressively troll each other on the Internet, in some cases insisting that parents that don’t vaccinate should get their kids taken away from them (because that’s the solution here, more innocent kids in the system). As a holistic nutritionist, it’s not hard to guess which side of the GMO argument I’m on. It wasn’t always like this though, there was a time when food was just something I ate and I just put my trust and faith that it was not going to harm me. I even ate a grapple once! Now before you get all skeptical and roll your eyes over to the next article, I ask you to open your mind. Even if you’re pro-GMO, I don’t think there is any denying the possibility of negative impacts on our environment and our health. Many of the studies that have been done on GMOs are only short term and funded by the companies that are selling geneticallymodiﬁed products. Many of these are not peer-reviewed and most of the data was

Stephanie Florian Play Outdoors

Corporate Champions Vancouver • Vancouver Dodgeball League FS Financial Strategies’ Mission of Care

In Canada we usually don’t start planning our ﬁrst camping trip until just before Victoria Day weekend, but not this year. Our seasons have been playing tricks on us and camping season is fast approaching. I recently had a conversation with one very special outdoor icon who recently celebrated his 70th birthday, Smokey Bear. This American native works overtime to raise awareness and educate humans on the importance of ﬁre safety outdoors. As we head into drier days, let’s pay tribute to Smokey and ask him some burning questions about his hard work.

Please donate at convio.cancer.ca/yukigassen to support our players and the Society.

Smokey, what is the biggest mistake people make when they go camping? Not planning ahead. It’s easy to get caught up in the beauty of nature, the peaceful sounds and the anticipation

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not released to the public. Sounds a little bit dodgy.

WHAT IS A GMO?

The World Health Organization deﬁnes GMOs as organisms in which the genetic material has been altered in a way the does not occur naturally. What does that mean? To put it simply, it’s like taking pig DNA and adding it to a strawberry. Gee, I wonder what could go wrong when messing with these two very different genetic materials? Maybe nothing, maybe disaster. Whatever side of the debate you are on, we can all agree the business model and marketing of the companies that have created GMOs is genius. By patenting their seeds and altering them to include “terminator genes” that make second-generation seeds sterile, companies can create a product that guarantees repeat customers, which is horrifying and kind of brilliant.

POPULAR GMO PRACTICES

Herbicide resisters: This makes the plant immune to weed killers like Monsanto’s Roundup by altering the plant’s DNA. Herbicides are normally sprayed sparingly onto crops and are able to kill any of those pesky unwanted weeds while leaving the crop unharmed and able to thrive. Sounds pretty good on the farmer’s side of things, unfortunately when these foods are consumed by us, they are still soaked in poison. Just this week, scientists from the World Health Organization concluded that Roundup is likely carcinogenic. We are eating this, and we are getting sick and ruining our environment. Pesticide producers: A gene from a natural bacteria is injected into the plant DNA to produce toxins that kill insects.The obvious appeal here is that farmers would have more of a yield because they

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Burning questions for Smokey Bear @PlayOutdoorsVan

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would not have to deal with bugs feasting on their crops. If it’s killing bugs, though, isn’t it safe to say that it may also have some sort of poisonous reaction in humans? Last time I checked humans were not immune to poison, even if it takes a long time to kill us. The biggest argument I hear on the pro-GMO side is how these products have the potential to end world hunger, since pesticide- and herbicideresistant crops help farmers increase yield and decrease cost. Unfortunately this can lead to an increase in herbicide use and promote the development of herbicide resistant weeds leading to damaged biodiversity on farms and health concerns like allergies. In fact, food allergies have increased signiﬁcantly since the introduction of GMO foods on the market. Coincidence? Probably not! Just sayin’, kind of a big deal, folks. Many European countries have taken the step of banning certain GMO seeds, while more than 60 countries require mandatory labelling of GMO foods, but Canada isn’t one of them. Feel free to make up your own mind, and if you think it’s safe, consume away, But for the rest of us that aren’t into it, let’s have a choice at the very least. Let’s label that shit. W

of a relaxing time around a campfire with s’mores. Before even lighting a campfire you should make sure first that it’s legal – even if there is a fire pit, there might be a burn ban in effect.Then you need to plan for how you are going to put it out, knowing where and how you are going to build it safely, having the proper supplies like a bucket of water and shovel, and keeping someone to watch it while it’s lit. When putting out a campfire remember to always drown, stir, drown again and feel that it is cool.There are more pointers at SmokeyBear.com.

What are your most important safety teachings? I actually have five safety rules I’d like everyone to live by: 1) Only you can prevent wildfires. 2) Always be careful with fire. 3) Never play with matches or lighters. 4) Always watch your campfire. And 5) Make sure your campfire is completely out before leaving. I think that last one may be my favorite. As I like to say, “If it’s too hot to touch, it’s too hot to leave.”

Remember, only you can prevent wildﬁres.

What has changed dramatically since you started your job? I’m happy that in 70 years everyone has helped me reduce the number of acres burned by wildfires from about 22 million in 1944 to an average of 6.5 million today, but my work isn’t done yet. I still need your help. With so many campfires under your belt, tell us your favorite campfire story? Usually the best campfire story is the one being told by the chirping insects, the hooting owl, the rustling leaves… I like to just sit back, relax, and let nature tell the best story ever. You’ve worked hard for over 70 years, Smokey. What do you hope to see happen over the next five? I hope to see more people understand that preventing wildfires isn’t out of their control. Nearly nine out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by humans, so they can really make a difference.

What words of advice do you have for the next generation? Your voice matters. If you see someone being careless with ﬁre, step in and say something. Also, you can follow me on Instagram if you want some #smokeybearhugs. <|:’)

Tell us something about yourself that that no one knows Smokey Bear? I don’t hibernate. Don’t be surprised when you see Brands like Burton showcasing our hero Smokey Bear. He’s hot and wildﬁres are not. Go on, take the Smokey Bear pledge. W

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LIFESTYLES //

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SEX

Free Will Astrology By Rob Brezsny The term “jumped the shark” often refers to a TV show that was once great but gradually grew stale, and then resorted to implausible plot twists in a desperate attempt to revive its creative verve. I’m a little worried that you may do the equivalent of jumping the shark in your own sphere. APRIL FOOL! I lied. I’m not at all worried that you’ll jump the shark. It’s true that you did go through a stagnant, meandering phase there for a short time. But you responded by getting fierce and fertile rather than stuck and contrived. Am I right? And now you’re on the verge of breaking out in a surge of just-the-right-kind-of-craziness.

Give yourself obsessively to your most intimate relationships. Don’t bother cleaning your house. Call in sick to your job. Ignore all your nagging little errands. Now is a time for one task only: paying maximum attention to those you care about most. Heal any rifts between you. Work harder to give them what they need. Listen to them with more empathy than ever before. APRIL FOOL! I went a bit overboard there. It’s true that you’re in a phase when big rewards can come from cultivating and enhancing togetherness. But if you want to serve your best relationships, you must also take very good care of yourself.

If you happen to be singing lead vocals in an Ozzy Osbourne cover band, and someone in the audience throws what you think is a toy rubber animal up on stage, DO NOT rambunctiously bite its head off to entertain everyone. It most likely won’t be a toy, but rather an actual critter. APRIL FOOL! In fact, it’s not likely you’ll be fronting an Ozzy Osbourne cover band any time soon. But I hope you will avoid having to learn a lesson similar to the one that Ozzy did during a show back in 1982, when he bit into a real bat -- a small flying mammal with webbed wings – thinking it was a toy. Don’t make a mistake like that. What you think is fake or pretend may turn out to be authentic.

It’s after midnight. You’re half-wasted, cruising around town looking for wicked fun. You stumble upon a warehouse laboratory where zombie bankers and military scientists are creating genetically engineered monsters from the DNA of scorpions, Venus flytraps, and Monsanto executives. You try to get everyone in a party mood, but all they want to do is extract your DNA and add it to the monster. APRIL FOOL! Everything I just said was a lie. I doubt you’ll encounter any scenario that extreme. But you are at risk for falling into weird situations that could compromise your mental hygiene. To minimize that possibility, make sure that the wicked fun you pursue is healthy, sane wicked fun.

In the spring of 1754, Benjamin Franklin visited friends in Maryland. While out riding horses, they spied a small tornado whirling through a meadow. Although Franklin had written about this weather phenomenon, he had never seen it. With boyish curiosity, he sped toward it. At one point, he caught up to it and lashed it with his whip to see if it would dissipate. This is the kind of adventure I advise you to seek out, Gemini. APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. I don’t really believe you should endanger your safety by engaging in stunts like chasing tornadoes. But I do think that now is a favorable time to seek out daring exploits that quench your urge to learn.

If you were a ladybug beetle, you might be ready and eager to have sex for nine hours straight. If you were a pig, you’d be capable of enjoying 30-minute orgasms. If you were a dolphin, you’d seek out erotic encounters not just with other dolphins of both genders, but also with turtles, seals, and sharks. Since you are merely human, however, your urges will probably be milder and more containable. APRIL FOOL! In truth, Sagittarius, I’m not so sure your urges will be milder and more containable.

Novelist L Frank Baum created the make-believe realm known as Oz. Lewis Carroll conjured up Wonderland and CS Lewis invented Narnia. Now you are primed to dream up your own fantasy land and live there full-time, forever protected from the confusion and malaise of the profane world. Have fun in your imaginary utopia, Cancerian! APRIL FOOL! I half-lied. It’s true that now would be a good time to give extra attention to cultivating vivid visions of your perfect life. But I wouldn’t recommend that you live there full-time.

“The national anthem of Hell must be the old Frank Sinatra song ‘I Did It My Way,’” declares Richard Wagner, author of the book Christianity for Dummies. “Selfish pride is Hell’s most common trait,” he adds. “Hell’s inhabitants have a sense of satisfaction that they can at least say ‘they’ve been true to themselves.’” Heed this warning, Leo. Tame your lust for self-expression. APRIL FOOL! I was making a little joke. The truth is not as simplistic as I implied. I actually think it’s important for you to be able to declare “I did it my way” and “I’ve been true to myself.” But for best results, do it in ways that aren’t selfish, insensitive, or arrogant.

No matter what gender you are, it’s an excellent time to get a gig as a stripper. Your instinct for removing your clothes in entertaining ways is at a peak. Even if you have never been trained in the art, I bet you’ll have an instinctive knack. APRIL FOOL! I lied. I don’t really think you should be a stripper. But I do recommend you experiment with a more metaphorical version of that art. For instance, you could expose hidden agendas that are causing distortions and confusion. You could peel away the layers of deception and propaganda that hide the naked facts and the beautiful truth.

“The past is not only another country where they do things differently,” says writer Theodore Dalrymple, “but also where one was oneself a different person.” With this as your theme, Capricorn, I invite you to spend a lot of time visiting the Old You in the Old World. Immerse yourself in that person and that place. Get lost there. And don’t come back until you’ve relived at least a thousand memories. APRIL FOOL! I was exaggerating. While it is a good time to get reacquainted with the old days and old ways, I don’t recommend that you get utterly consumed by the past.

Some Aquarian readers have been complaining. They want me to use more celebrity references in my horoscopes. They demand fewer metaphors drawn from literature, art, and science, and more metaphors rooted in gossipy events reported on by tabloids. “Tell me how Kanye West’s recent travails relate to my personal destiny,” wrote one Aquarius. So here’s a sop to you kvetchers: The current planetary omens say it’s in your interest to be more like Taylor Swift and less like Miley Cyrus. Be peppy, shimmery, and breezy, not earthy, salty, and raucous. APRIL FOOL! In truth, I wouldn’t write about celebrities’ antics if you paid me. Besides, for the time being, Miley Cyrus is a better role model for you than Taylor Swift.

A sex and love reading list Sex with Mish Way

@MyszkaWay I know that it’s beyond easy to click onto any website and get sex advice or love analysis from a whole range of writers, but sometimes you have to pull away from the screen and get into an actual book.Yeah, a book. Remember that thing? You hold in it your hands.You have to turn the pages (kind of like this newspaper.) Often times you stack them up in your home like mile markers of your educated past. And more over, you read them and learn something. Here’s some of my favorite books dealing with sex, gender and anatomy from all sorts of doctors, freaks and regular old farts. Sexual Personae: Art and Decadence from Nefertiti to Emily Dickinson by Camille Paglia (1991) Camille Paglia is the feminist that feminists love to hate because she challenges every point they make and I adore her for that. Since her rise to fame in the 1990s (though she truly has been cutting throats since her days atYale as a graduation student in the late ‘60s), Paglia uses art history and religion to explain gender without negating the importance of biology and politics. She is a brilliant, fasttalking woman whose style of lecture has been compared to Woody Woodpecker. Sexual Personae was (after years of being rejected by publishers) printed in 1991 and analyzes the cultural spectrum from

the Whores of Babylon to Madonna to Apollo and beyond, explaining our past as a prediction to the future. History always repeats itself.

Come As You Are: The Surprising Science That Will Transform Your Sex Life by Emily Nagoski, Ph.D. (2015) I have so much to say about this book that it can not fit into a few sentences, let alone a few pages. I highly recommend that every single woman read this book. Scratch that. You do not need to be female to read this. Everyone should digest this brilliantly written, simplified adventure in the science of the female body. It’s mind blowing. A Compilation on Sex by Alice A. Bailey and The Tibetan Master, Djwhal Khul (1980) Taking a more spiritual approach to sex, this book analyzes our genitals and emotions in relation to higher beliefs. It’s a compilation of both Bailey and Khul’s thoughts on the matter swirling around with cosmic virtues. Chakras, Astrology as well as mysterious elements of sex that connect us to the earth try to uncover why we feel the way we do about love, sex, the body and ourselves. “There is much energy flowing through and to the thyroid gland, and, as yet, but little use made of it.” Get off your $40 yoga mat and read, you faux hippy.

What Do Women Want: Adventures in the Science of Female Desire by Daniel Bergner (2013) Siting and dissecting scientiﬁc sex research done by everyone from Dr. Meredith Chivers to Jim Pfaus (both Canadian researchers) to Marta Meana and many more, this book looks at the fascinating research being done to explain the way women get off and why, for centuries, our biological and neurological complexities have gone uncovered. Anatomy of Love: A Natural History of Mating, Marriage and Why We Stray by Helen Fisher, Ph.D. (1992) Fisher is a neurologist who has spent her life sticking people in MRI machines to try to watch their brains react to love. She’s incredibly famous for her work and now, oddly enough, helps dating sites like Match.com. However, this book takes a simple and effective look at every species we consider stupid enough to eat in relation to our own mating tactics. She reduces our so-called civilized ways back to their primal roots and although some of her research is dated, this still provides provoking parallels in modern courtship. W

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

GOLD!

Annie Edson Taylor needed money. She was 63 years old, and didn’t have any savings. She came up with a plan: to be the first person to tuck herself inside a barrel and ride over Niagara Falls. (This was back in 1901.) She reasoned that her stunt would make her wealthy as she toured the country speaking about it. I recommend that you consider out-of-the-box ideas like hers, Pisces. It’s an excellent time to get extra creative in your approach to raising revenue. APRIL FOOL! I halflied. It’s true that now is a favorable time to be imaginative about your financial life. But don’t try outlandish escapades like hers.

Mar. 26: Keira Knightley (30) Mar. 27: Quentin Tarantino (52) Mar. 28: Lady Gaga (29) Mar. 29: Perry Farrell (56) Mar. 30: Vincent Van Gogh (162) Mar. 31: Angus Young (60) Apr. 1: David Oyelowo (39)

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