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It's Saturday December the 31 around 8:04AM and
Well, 2005 is coming to a close, and 2006 is upon us. Our first post was way back on Halloween, and we still haven't had our official launch yet, but we have had 214 delicious posts, and some pretty damn good feedback thus far. Except those people who think we're just a bunch of blog warmongers.
I still haven't found The Vancouverite an intern yet - maybe the promises of calling Bill Good and stalking Tamara Taggart just weren't enough to overcome the sweatshop-like working conditions, although truthfully we haven't looked very hard - apply today!
Our first 8 weeks of posting has been a lot of fun - and when I'm not dropping nuclear bombs and fighting in Vancouver's blog land I've managed to post more than enough about the Canucks, Jennifer Good, 24 Hours, and Lynne McNamara. So I thank you for all your visits in 2005, and please come by early and often in 2006 when we start posting for "real". Which means you should look for the lawsuits, or name calling, to begin stacking up as we begin our assault on Vancouver's media scene.
In January we will have to drop the pretension that we are still in "beta" and the postings will be coming more regularly, hopefully. January will also mark the launch of our misguided politically obsessed political site, Fed Kicker, which has been preoccupied with things other than the elections, so far, but is keeping it's powder dry for the 23rd and the sprint for the finish in the elections.
Meanwhile here are some links to ring in the new year:
*Finally, Pac Man in mexican puppet theatre form. Genuis.
*Tom Hanks to join the world of Star Trek?
It's Friday December the 30 around 12:14AM and
It's interesting to watch this election. The media and even voters are ready to throw somebody to the sharks - and you know when people start talking about about the things that get said during elections and how that is interpreted in other cultures we could be in for a bumpy ride.
In this case Industry Minister David Emerson refered to Jack Layton as having a "boiled dog's head smile." And Chinese voters don't react well to the negative impact and insult, that may not even be an insult, has on Layton in the Chinese community. But the dirty little secret of it all is that this campaigning in other languages is tool politicos have been increasingly using.
It's Thursday December the 29 around 11:39PM and
Obviously to make sure that the college-faux-CanWest property Dose doesn't convert too many of the alt media readership in Vancouver between Christmas and 2006, The Georgia Straight published a very thin on goodness issue yesterday. Here's 5 reasons to just skip this issue:
5. Year ends always seem to produce the only more annoying content than Christmas does for media organizations. The Georgia Straight doesn't have top ten lists per se, but the "Old year passes in weird and wonderful ways" feature is just as bad. Summing up 2005 this way, "Otherwise, it was just the usual dismal blend of war, famine, terrorism, disease, and incompetence, all garnished with a sense of quiet panic that ratcheted up every time a duck or chicken sneezed halfway around the world." You know in 25 years, 2005 will not be remembered for any of that. [Whatever you do, don't bother Jeff Jarvis with year end lists. Wow]
4. Yep, it's holiday time and I really, really want to read about how much of a waste of cash public-private partnerships are. Not.
3. Ginch Gonch Single of the Week Alan. Billions of people, living or dead, you could invite to a dinner party and you choose: Michael Jordan, David Blaine, Elle MacPherson? Wow! PS: Over medium on the eggs? Who does that? Honestly.
2. Article proclaiming that Politics is overrun by men. It's also overrun by douchebags, but what are you gonna do?
1. Can the Straight not find one local writer to pen a column to replace all the Gwynne Dyer or Naomi Klein reprinted content they use? Especially when Dyer gets away with writing something like this: "The larger reality is that while the Bush administration has been obsessed by its grandiose plans for reshaping the Middle East, the real transformation has been happening in America’s own back yard. Left-wing governments have come to power in Brazil and Argentina, the two biggest countries of South America, and in a number of smaller countries as well." No, America isn't aware of this, and doesn't have operations in South America at all Gwynne, cough, cough. Robert Kaplan, call your office please.
It's Thursday December the 29 around 1:08AM and
*This is great news.
Kevin "I wrecked Britney Spears" Federline has his own website hitting the web. And related to the next item for why MySpace will fall see also
Trent for some crazyness. Meanwhile
The Superficial has at 'em with hilarious results.
*Since we get quite a few curious cats searching for Anna Benson content (ah...google, you're so fun) we thought we'd take the time to say, she has updated her site and the new design does a nice job of highlighting Mrs. B's pro-gun letters, photos, and we're curious about the coming soon 'heavy petting' section. But what the hell is gold digger poker. Didn't she get the memo on poker?
*Call us dasterdly cynical, but news that since it's News Corp buy out, that MySpace has changed, man. We've never really figured out what good Myspace is anyways, but it's nice to see Adrants predicting it's downward spiral - the web give and the web taketh away.
*New movie trailer, for The Benchwarmers, is up. It stars Jon Heder with two rather unfortunate co-stars. What is it about: "A trio of guys try and make up for missed opportunities in childhood by forming a three-player baseball team to compete against standard little league squads."
*New Adam Sandler movie, Click, seems to have pretty much everything going for it. David Hasslehoff, Kate Beckinsale (You mean the same girl who really should be Wonder Women? Hello), a univeral remote control for like the whole universe, and Christopher Walken. Magical.
*Just sit back, grab some Jack, and rock on some original Ocean's 11 title sequence goodness people.
*Utterly shameless link to Jennifer Good, who bowled, drank, and smoked her way to a night of vomiting. Even when she does that, she's still pretty damned fun.
It's Thursday December the 29 around 12:24AM and
Okay, is anybody really working in this city this week? this place is dead, anyways. You know those things you think you really hate, but then when they are gone, you miss them? Well, this isn't anything like this, but what in the hell are all the newsies doing this week, because there is an insane Christmas-to-Kwanza free daily newspaper cease fire going on down right now? You kinda get used to dodging with glee 20 times a day the "Good Morning, Metro News..." So what gives? They did publish Monday, we think, and then, who knows, they may just be sitting in those boxes, but you don't have to dare go in there, do you? But wait...
Meanwhile, how much of a goldmine do you think the blogs over at the Dose Free Daily website will be? I mean, there is one called Mullet Pony. And It seems to be nearly mullet link free - what a tease. Actually they look like they collectively post less than I do. How slacker cool is that. Gosh. Oh CanWest, will you ever figure out this "interweb" thingy everyone is talking about? (Maybe they'll be like News Corp and buy up something like MySpace, and turn it into something totally uncool and, well, not MySpace.)
At least Dose is publishing and updating their website. MetroNews (at least they own it and just say, hey don't worry about it, we'll be back on Jan 3rd, if you even care.) and 24 Hours are not. CanWest thinks it is so crafty making this paper seem like your pot smoking college buddies put it together, but it's not that way at all is it, CanWest. We're on to you damn it!
It's Thursday December the 29 around 12:10AM and
When the Predators scored 38 seconds into tonight's game the crowd must have gulped back thier beers and prepared for the worst. But miracle of miracles,
they won - which is timely since 14 of the next 18 games are on hostile territory. Even Crawford's crazy line shake up seemed to knock some sense into the team - especially if people are throwing out words like "leading the hit parade" and "physical final 40 minutes" about the team. Seriously,
Richard "I hadn't scored since grade 11" Park put one in the net for god's sake.
"Ask anyone. (Scoring) is a good feeling," said Park. "You relax out there, play more confident. You just have to build on it."
So, as you were people, no need to break your neck jumping off the bandwagon. Yet. And as a last note - Bertuzzi is like the Reggie Dunlop mixed with equal part Yoda and Sun Tzu, "It was a gut check, coming in after the first (period) down two (goals), not too many people in the building being happy. We knew that we'd have to change it around." Gut check? Come on Todd, really that's like the other side of giving 110%? Totally can't wait for the morning paper love in.
It's Wednesday December the 28 around 8:01AM and
Finally Marc Crawford is doing, something. For tonight's game he's actually really shaking things up. Although this should not give The Sun's Elliott Pap the right to use puns like, "Look out, Nashville. It could be a fight to the Finnish." (Maybe the Sun needs to shake things up too.)
Trying to get at the root of their five-game nosedive, the Vancouver Canucks are turning to Jarkko Ruutu. The feisty Finn is being promoted to the team's first line and tonight will skate -- at least for starters -- on right wing with Todd Bertuzzi shifting to centre and Markus Naslund at his usual spot on the left side.
And showing even more tough, Crawford calls out Brendan Morrison and puts him on the third line with Matt Cooke and Richard Park. It's also encouraging to note that Crawford has dropped the, we-just-need-to-play-5-percent-better, routine. This could be good.
It's Tuesday December the 27 around 7:06AM and
Doing a morning survey of local news, and came across this bit of hilarity. At 24 Hours this morning try clicking on the story called "Naughty & Nice". It's an old link, and the story is only partially there. But you do get this:
The story you are searching for is available in its entirety via email, fax or mail for $10.00, payable with credit card (include expiry date).
Just call the Sun Media News Research Centre at 416-947-2258 or toll free at 1-877-624-1463 with information about the story and supply the following:
Name of credit card, number and expiry date on card
Your name, mailing address and phone number (we will mail you a receipt).
Fax number, if you wish the story to be faxed.
Certified cheques and money orders can be mailed with your request to:
Sun Media Research Centre
333 King Street East Toronto,
Ontario M5A 3X5
Canada
Other research services available are:
$75.00 for up to ten articles on any one topic. This is a research, information service offered to professionals, students, businesses, internet users.
Photo Reprints @ $46.00 (8 by 10 colour glossy)
Full Page Reprints from Sun newspapers @ $100.00 suitable for framing.
Personalized Mock-Up Frontpages @ $130.00 suitable for framing.
Tearsheets or Back Editions of Sun Newspapers @ $10 each
Yes, $10 an article for old free daily newspaper stories. 24 Hours, you are too much!
It's Tuesday December the 27 around 6:57AM and
A 20-centimeter water main and a section of Pender Street collapsed yesterday. The street, at Pender & Bute, could be closed for up to a week. The collapse, technically what you would call a sinkhole, will be a fun addition to the traffic pattern this week.
It's Tuesday December the 27 around 6:33AM and
Vancouver Sun's Iain Macintyre has at the Canucks this morning: "They were home for Christmas, but only in their sleep. The Vancouver Canucks, facing more road gigs in January than the Rolling Stones, sunk deeper into one of their most bewildering and disappointing home stands in years by losing 2-1 Monday to the Calgary Flames at GM Place." Macintyre, who John 'Shorty' Shorthouse says is Canada's greatest hockey writer, goes on to say, "...the Canucks can't blame turkey's tryptophan for their stupor because their Swedish players eat ham at Christmas. Besides, Vancouver has been serving up foul fare all season within their division."
Meanwhile over in Vancouver's greatest paper, The Province, Tony Gallagher is hilarious on the subject today as well. "Trying to outcheck this bunch is like trying to outthink Bobby Fischer at the chess board. It's taking on Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday at the OK Corral with a slingshot and bad intentions. If the Flames have any identity at all, and, boy, does this team have identity, it's lunchpail, barroom brawler, destroyer of pretty boys."
Then back at the Sun, the 2nd stringer, Brad Ziemer goes for the whole Boxing Dale sale metaphor. "Nearly everything was on sale Boxing Day. Everything, that is, except NHL victories. Those fetch full price, something the Canucks were apparently unable or unwilling to pay Monday night as they fell 2-1 to the Calgary Flames."
Vancouver Canucks Oped does it's morning after column entirely with idioms and cliches. "After a bad week, they seem to be behind the eight ball, under the weather, under the gun, and yet absent without leave. Even though their balls are to the wall, it's like the blind leading the blind up a blind alley. "
It's Monday December the 26 around 9:54PM and
Did the Canucks eat too much turkey over the holidays? It's probably just as well for Canucks fans, that when the papers roll in Tuesday morning Team Canada at least won in World Junior Hockey action (
5-1 over Finland). That may just keep some people from doing anything rash. But the reality is that the
Canucks just got beat by Calgary, again, 2-1.
Kudos to Coach Marc Crawford for holding the worst post-game presser of the year (quite possibly ever). Can you really complain about officiating, power plays, and the need to play 5% better? 5% better are you nuts? You lost Crawford, wake up. I think Dan Russell on CKNW called it just about right after the game tonight, the season is nearly half over and let's face it: the Canucks are 20-16 (not 20-11-5 - that's loser talk), 4 games over .500, and now running third in the Northwest behind two teams they can't beat.
It's Saturday December the 24 around 9:28AM and
The Canucks lost to Calgary last night, 6-5 in a shootout. But wait, there's more.
-The Canucks have lost all seven games this season against Alberta-based, divisional rivals Calgary and Edmonton.
-Vancouver is 5-8-4 against the Northwest Division and 15-2-1 against the rest of the NHL.
-Good news for the Canucks is that they play Calgary again Monday. Ouch.
-The Canucks, who have lost four straight at home after starting the season 13-1 there.
-Two of the losses were in the shootout and another was in overtime.
-Vancouver has blown nine leads and given up 20 goals during that stretch.
-The Vancouver Sun's, Elliot Pap, meanwhile, is lobbing softballs rather than grenades at these bums. How about a trade?
It's Wednesday December the 21 around 8:55AM and
*The Chuck Norris stuff is spreading like a virus. Screenhead lists this under the category of "Meme us up Scotty" and has mutiple links to Chuck Norris goodness.
*And while we are at it, let's do a double shot of Screenhead who also points out this amazing 1970 Dodge Charger tv spot. Can we please bring this kind of advertising back? "Lookit the hot chicks this poindexter lands because of his Dodge Charger 500! Our Dodge Charger merely caught fire outside a Stuckey’s, with absolutely no sex as a result. The 1970’s were clearly a more enlightened, evolved time, and we lament our not being old enough to have enjoyed them."
*In honor of our favorite L.A. Gossip blog, Defamer, the trailer for the new Butterscotch Stallion movie, "Me, You, and Dupree". Add in Kate Hudson, and we smell a hit comedy.
*Mel Gibson's latest opus Apocalypto has a teaser trailer online up now. Magnificent creepy bastard. Apparently the version shown on Entertainment Tonight the trailer had a few frames of him in his massive beard, smoking. He's so crazy.
*News that a new film, Wind Chill, produced by George Clooney will start filming here in February. Excellent news for the restaurant industry if indeed bearded fat Clooney shows up.
It's Wednesday December the 21 around 2:01AM and
Oh, and Metro paper buddies, you're not getting off that easy today. We're keeping a list of advertising covers you've done. One a week recently we see? Today's cover, brought to you by the folks at the Bank of Montreal, is hoping to promote some crackpot 100,000 Air Miles contest. This sort of thing brings the level of news in the city to a whole new level. I guess we should just thank somebody it wasnt a Telus bunny ad?
On the other hand, Metro tried to bury on page 7 (technically 5 if you count the ad cover on the front of course) a cheesecake lingerie photo of the girls from "Godiva's" - the set in Yaletown, shot in Burnaby restaurant/tv dramedy show. Now that's journalism right fellas. That was going to be the cover non? At any rate, the show may find some more viewers.
It's Wednesday December the 21 around 1:47AM and
So with time ticking down to Christmas, 24 Hours drops the talk of fat Santas, the Bay's Nativity scene, and all things holiday, and thankfully
returns to the topic of guns in the city.
Paul Martin's plan to ban handguns may have backfired. As soon as the Liberals unveiled their promise to ban the weapons earlier this month, Vancouver gun shop owners saw a jump in handgun sales.
In fact some local gun dealers are seeing a tripling of sales as Vancouverites learn to love the gun. Bonus points to cover boy Josh Muir of Lever Arms Service Ltd. wearing a Social Distortion shirt. But really can you really order guns with this PDF form? $20 shipping charge per gun? Last minute Christmas gifts on special? What fun.
It's Wednesday December the 21 around 1:26AM and
Bill Tielelman's column in yesterday's 24 Hours was a trainwreck of pre-Christmas cliche. Read his introduction:
A good many things go around in the dark besides Santa Claus. - U.S. President Herbert Hoover
On the eve of Christmas, 24 hours has uncovered secret letters sent to Santa Claus by all four major political party leaders back when they were children. Surprisingly, even at this tender, innocent age it is clear from the letters that these youngsters had already formed life-long political views:
Smug quote from somebody famous. Check. Mentioning own publication 24 Hours. Check. Jumping on the great week-of-Christmas-Santa-Claus-is-a-fatty content bandwagon. Check. Trying to make fun of the four major political leaders. Check.
This works for, oh, say Thomas Friedman. But barely. Very few writers should ever try the "what if," or "the I'm another writer," or the "fake letter" column. It is almost always a complete disaster. Case in Point, Tieleman writing the Paul Martin Dear Santa letter, "Listen - I want to be very, very, very clear about this, uh, this fabulous holiday that we call Christmas. Look it, I have been a very, very, very good boy. Make no mistake."
Dear Bill Tieleman. Please don't try this again. Thanks.
UPDATE: And Mr. Tieleman stops by for a comment - that's so hot!! Thanks man! And you're totally right, I should have written the same thing about the far more tragic Erin Airton column, "'Twas the time before the election" which actually tried to do this: "Twas the night before Christmas and all through the House, Not a politician is stirring, not even a Louse. The elections signs are hung all over with care, In hopes that the voters soon will be there." Which was far more egregeous for sure. But how much can one man read 24 Hours we ask?
It's Wednesday December the 21 around 12:46AM and
*5 secondish Medicinal advice: Even if you have some sort of bird flu, don't take the daytime flu medication into the evening hours. Oh, and don't try counteracting with the nighttime version. Like Tom Cruise, Contact C, knows you're trying to trick it.
*Best. Shirt. Ever. Hasselhoff, sporting a "Don't Hassel the Hoff" T-Shirt.
*The movie version of Fast Food Nation is in the can, and just got called up from the minors to Fox Searchlight. Avril Lavigne acts? And is there anything Richard Linklater can't do?
*Do you think less of us for loving the fact that while the 10 second teaser for Ghost Rider looks cool, we think this is destined for flop history. The movie is being pushed into 2007, Golden Fiddle calls it a, "failure-in-production."
*And really. In some pact with the devil Johnny Damon leaves Boston and signs with the Yankees. This better be some sort of Red Sox Nation trick to attempt the reverse Ruth Curse.
It's Wednesday December the 21 around 12:10AM and
During a very brief sojurn out of the sweat shop to get a few ounces of Christmas (not Holiday damn it) cheer and we learned of this Scrouge-like situation over at our new nemesis, Steamworks. Our wine/photography/fun consultant here at The Vancouverite, purchased a bottle of
Dirty Laundry Pinot Noir at the Steamworks in West Van. No problem there - the winery, previously Scherzinger Vineyards was a real treat when we visited and winemaker Ron Watkins was quite the character.
And no, I don't intend to let Dirty Laundry off the hook for the longest website build in history, er, 2005. Honestly dudes, you told us back in May that the wine and site would be launching in June '05. It's December now! Somebody might need a lump of coal in thier sock for this, even as we see the new identity stacking up kudos in a bunch of design annuals around the continent. But I digress.
But here's the real scandal: Steamworks is selling this $22.90 bottle (that price is according to emails confirmed with the winemaker himself this week.) for $40.53! Jon Stewart looks into camera and says, "Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?" That's right, a nice, tidy, $17.60 wine scandal people. No offense to Dirty Laundry, the wine is tasty, but that is ridiculous. No wonder they call it the "The Wine Thief" for thier downtown wine store location. In West Vancouver, they just call it The Liquor Store.
This calls for a full blown explaination. Stay tuned.
It's Tuesday December the 20 around 5:53AM and
*Gawker might be totally right: "Remember when Saturday Night Live was actually funny? We certainly do — those halcyon days bring tears to our eyes. This weekend’s episode featured a “Lazy Sunday” rap was so fantastic, it might’ve saved the entire season." And we thought Lorne Micheals was going to have to kill off the cast at the end of this season. Parnell you're a little genuis. [You Tube]
*Dispatches from the War on Christmas.
*Creepy Uncle Joe Stalin wanted to raise an army of half-man, half-ape super warriors.
*Uproar over Tucker Carlson, MSNBC host, calling Canada "a stalker" and a "retarted cousin." MSNBC is still on? Wierd.
*Trailer for Catch and Release. Jennifer Garner trying to capture that 13 Going on 30 magic, this time with wacky roomate Kevin Smith.
*Meanwhile Cinematical predicts after viewing the trailer of the new Steven Soderbergh film, Bubble, "will make history by presenting us with a film that simultaneously bombs in all venues." Zing.
*Here's a Craigslist post for Capri19 Lounge that pulls no marketing punches. "HOCKEY NIGHT with VANCOUVER'S HOTTEST GIRLS ." Heh.
*Seattle based agency Sedgwick Rd. does a pro bono campaign for client "Christmas" and tries to understand why messages of peace and love don't drive sales. (Via Adrants)
It's Tuesday December the 20 around 5:39AM and
Ben Kuzma of The Province has a fun holiday wrap up of last night's
Canuck loss to the Los Angeles Kings 4-3. "In the spirit of the season, the Vancouver Canucks were in a giving mood Monday. For the gesture, they received a lump of coal as Alexander Frolov scored the only shootout goal to give the Los Angeles Kings a 4-3 win."
But the key part to the whole two game slide is this:
For the second straight game, the Canucks blew an early 2-0 lead and surrendered a shorthanded goal. After the Canucks talked themselves hoarse about improving special-teams play -- they allowed three power-play goals and went 0-for-6 with the man advantage Saturday in a 5-4 overtime loss to Edmonton -- they didn't deliver.
Ouch.
It's Sunday December the 18 around 9:52PM and
Hollywood North Report has the goods on the new Micheal Bay live action film Transformers will start to break ground on set construction in North Vancouver in February '06. And Cinematical is really worried that this will be a massive debacle. Well, let's hope so.
It's Sunday December the 18 around 9:07PM and
Tonight’s Family Guy Episode jam packs so many references into it you just know Seth McFarlane must be insane:
Aquaman, Bill Lumbergh from Office Space, Jaws V, Kobe Bryant, Redhead on Desperate Housewives “it looks like somebody pulled silly putty over their knee.” Hot tubbing with Kathy Bates, Face Off, Boy in the Plastic Bubble, Kramer of Peter's "Morman Wives", Jesus as Scott Bakula from Quantum Leap (Oh Boy), girls from The View actually laying chicken eggs, Happy Days, Linsday Lohan backwards crabwalk, more Fonzie (the "Church of the Fonze" technically - Fonzie be with you), Paula Abdul & Peter duet, Jeffersons, Love Boat, Kirk Cameron, Growing Pains (but surprisingly no Boner), Cobra Kai (The Karate Kid and can you believe Google? You can find Cobra Kai Christmas wishes online? Amazing.), the Happy Days credit sequence.
More: Family Guy Podcast.
It's Sunday December the 18 around 5:31PM and
What do you get when you put more hipster cool people in one spot, drop some delicious funky grooves on the turntables, and invite some artists from around North America to launch a book celebrating the magical street culture of the 1990’s that launched such icons as
Spike Jonze?
The Beautiful Losers book launch that’s what.
One of the editor’s of the book, Christian Strike signed books with a graffiti-felt-marking flair and looked like he probably didn’t have an un-cool bone in his body. But what do you talk about when the music is so loud and everyone is still ridiculously in their jackets and toques? The best few trinkets of art, were by Barry McGee – who had a small bounty of really insane work on what looked like micky sized booze bottles. (I’m not sure if the photo here is the same piece, but you get the point.) This kind of style reminds me of the less pure and less wild style that Winery Blasted Church has tried to pull off with their identity.
Continue reading "A Night With Some Beautiful Losers" »
It's Sunday December the 18 around 1:46PM and
Yep, it's true.
Bono, Melinda and Bill Gates have been given this year's honor for Time Magazine cover and persons of the year. I'm pretty sure Time picks these covers simply make people mad. And that in no way suggests that these three didn't do anything good this year, they certainly did. But it doesn't really seem that they ever pick the person(s) who actually makes the biggest influence on the planet.
The mischievous Tim Blair breaks it down: "Michelle Malkin is right; these Persons of the Year selections by Time magazine suck like a million Dysons."
It's Sunday December the 18 around 9:44AM and
CASTING THE A-TEAM MOVIE
Cinematical takes a serious look at who they should cast in the A-Team movie if they get around to doing it. I just hope that it doesn't get the Dukes of Hazzard, Starsky and Hutch, Brady Bunch treatment. Anyway, here are the casting suggestions; "Hannibal- Bruce Willis, Howling Mad Murdoch - Brad Pitt, on the basis of his performance in Twelve Monkies. Face- Matt Damon, B.A.- Mr. T. Despite some rumoredly tough health problems in the last decade, T still looks uncannily (almost scarily) the same." Interesting choices.
THE SMUGEST DRINK IN THE WORLD
I'm not even sure what to make of this New York Times story on expensive luxury drinks. The "Teatro Euro Bar, a nightclub at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, has the High Limit Kir Royale, a $2,200 after-dinner drink." It's made with Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne and 140-year-old Cognac. I bet it tastes like it is worth 10 bucks. If anyone can tell me what the most expensive drink is in Vancouver - leave a comment.
THE WORST ALBUM COVERS OF '05
Deftone.com has the details on the 10 worst album covers this year. (Via Vanmega)
BOX OFFICE SLIPS ON BANANA
King Kong only made $50,148,000 this weekend. No wonder A.O. Scott is talking about the problem with movies these days is that they aren't bad enough. That they don't take risks to be great, and that is why we don't see really big stinkers anymore.
CHRISMAHANUKWANZAKAH
I think we might have already posted about the Virgin Mobile Christmas campaign and this website featuring some funny clips. But you really have to call the help line 1-888-353-7667 ( 1-888-Elf-Poop). Ask for the Gay Elf. He's very helpful. And speaking of Elves, has anyone seen the Pepto Bismal holiday ad. Is there anything less attractive than an elf with diahrehha?
Continue reading "Vancouverite Sunday Styles, Vol. 4" »
It's Friday December the 16 around 8:04PM and
Tomorow night at the
Silk Haus (135 Keefer Street - at Columbia) is
"It's All Around You" presented by
Red Assembly. This is a special launch of the new soft cover edition of Beautiful Losers with editor Christian Strike. Now Beautiful Losers is a movement in contemporary art and culture that has its roots back in the early 1990s that tooks its inspiration from skating, punk, graffiti and hip-hop.
7 pm: Book Signing and Media Screening. Limited copies of the book are available for sale ($50).
9 pm: Public Opening ($10) Selected works for sale upon request.
In addition to the book launch there will be some installations from some of the Beautiful Losers - Barry McGee who does some impressive grafiti style artwork, Rostarr who does some out of this world street flavored pieces, and even more cool work from Clare Rojas. It is shaping up to be a pretty decent night of art, drinks, and all that is associated with the sreet scene. This is especially true if you want a little peak into the basis of some the most influential art and design trends.
We'll fill you in with the details and review, Sunday.
It's Friday December the 16 around 10:05AM and
24 Hours went for the hard news angle today putting the jolly St. Nick on the cover. Too bad they used thier cover today to pick him apart and judge him. The headline was "Santa's Flaws" and then they follow it up with, "Sure, it could land us a permanent spot on his naughty list, but we figured the big guy could use some diet, exercise and style advice."
Come on, really? "Sweet shop or sweat shop? Santa's helpers are working overtime to create Xboxes and iPods but still getting paid toy soldier wages. Not to cause any alarm, but our sources are whispering, 'strike.'" And then the article just calls him a fat bastard basically. Do we really have to this every year? He's fat man, just get over it.
It's Friday December the 16 around 9:21AM and
I'm reluctant to say something smug like this. Posting was a little on the light side yesterday due to the whole festive season. Honestly, who has a Christmas party at Storyeum's creepy underground lair? The last thing you need during a Christmas party is people dressed like cowboys running around shooting each other with capguns. And to be totally honest, it was as if Christmas, Santa, or baby Jesus never existed down in that dungeon. No Santa?
Meanwhile Gridskipper has a little peak at Yaletown's Section 3, which has that amazing nerd neon sign.
It's Thursday December the 15 around 1:08AM and
As if we needed it, there is another reason to totally loathe online poker and all it stands for. Here it is (Via Adrants)
*This commercial for the Sci Fi Channel is both creepy (like Daft Punk creepy) and useless.
MOVIE TRAILERS:
*Horrors of War. Just your typical WWII, Zombie, Werewolf, Nazi film. Zombie Nazis - we so hate those guys.
*The Da Vinci Code. We've heard of gaining weight, losing weight, and looking pig ugly for a movie. But can somebody explain to me Tom Hanks' hair in this film?
*Another Poseidon movie. But this one with Kurt Russel.
*Finally a North American trailer for The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada. West Coaster Barry Pepper represents. PS: January Jones has the best name ever. It's made up for sure. And that's cool.
It's Thursday December the 15 around 12:41AM and
Cloutier is out. He might even be already six feet under. People are calling for Auld's head/trade. I just went to Browns, Nu, and Chambar all in one magical night. And then Jenny Good is posting pictures of her self wearing only a book called Marketable Depression.
Then she writes a "book report." Really this is great. In fact, it's like a Christmas miracle.
It's Thursday December the 15 around 12:36AM and
They may have only come in third at this year's Lotus Awards for the hardware, and we continue to hear this hilarious story of creative punch outs this year, but seriously they nailed thier Christmas execution so perfectly, it's not even funny.
Merry Christmas From TBWA\Vancouver. And to all a good night.
It's Tuesday December the 13 around 9:19PM and
The New York Post of publishing here town, The Province, went off it's meds this morning and presents readers with a warning, "Don't Panic." How reassuring. Maybe it's the 42 games the backup goalies have collectively played, or maybe it's the devil may care
"it's just a flesh wound" black knight attitude of Canucks management, but we find it hard to believe that this isn't a problem:
"The fact is we're not going to go out and sign someone or trade for someone just for the sake of it. We're not in that position," said General Manager Dave Nonis. "We have a chance to use Alex, who has proven he can play at this level. If something comes up that's better then we'll take it. Just to make a deal to say you did it makes no sense. To compound the problem with a bad deal is just foolish."
Vancouver Canucks Op Ed downplays it with this calm posting headline: "How screwed are we?" No pressure Auld. Screw it up and the Canucks will make a trade, they promise, this time - for real. They really, really, really will.
It's Tuesday December the 13 around 7:45PM and
Good News: The Canucks won another one
3-2 over the Rangers.
Bad News: Oh no! Dan Cloutier is out for the next four months. Before we get to the nuts and bolts of this, I have two things to say. 1. Can somebody please make sure Jenny Good is taking this news well. 2. I think we can make the most of this - let's get Cloutier to do gameday podcasts with Jenny. That's gold baby. Get on it Jenny & Canucks. Gosh.
Here's the real details. "[F]urther consultation with team doctors today, goaltender Dan Cloutier will undergo knee surgery to repair a damaged Anterior Cruciate Ligament... Cloutier will have the procedure don on Thursday, December 15th and is expected to be out of the Canucks lineup for up to four months."
Ugly News: The NHL webiste may take 1st prize in a beauty contest. No, wait, that's Monopoly. The NHL website may have the worst holiday treatment ever. Yes! Raining stars and a nice light bell and bow. What the hell? Just don't do it.
Oh and since we're here talking about ugly - are we the only ones who noticed the Hasbro tv commercials and ads featuring an ancient looking Jamie Lee Curtis?
It's Tuesday December the 13 around 8:00AM and
*Can you believe we forgot to honor the birthday of Frank Sinatra? It's almost like a holiday of "ring-a-ding-ding" and we totally forgot. Shame on us. We blame our friend Anthony, who clearly dropped the ball,
again. But the good news is that
Grid Skipper did a pretty sweet 1967 film,
"Tony Rome" . The short round up - featuring
this amazing photo essay that highlights the movie's excessive beer drinking (what happened to the gasoline Franky?) and "pointing" - oh, and the magic that was 1960's Miami.
*Speaking of beer drinking, Bud Light launches Ted Ferguson - Bud Light Daredevil onto the world with somewhat funny results.
*Hey it's Golden Globe nomination morning! These are the best, most drunkest, funnest awards ever. Highlights: Best Film, Drama: Brokeback Montain, The Constant Gardener, Good Night and Good Luck, History of Violence, Match Point. Best Director: Woody Allen (Match Point), George Clooney (Good Night and Good Luck), Peter Jackson (King Kong), Ang Lee (Brokeback Mountain), Fernando Mereilles (The Constant Gardener), Steven Spielberg (Munich). Gothamist reports that, "Brokeback Mountain walked away with 7 nominations, including Best Picture (Drama), Director, Actor, Supporting Actress (Michelle Williams)."
*In related Golden Globe news Peter Jackson apparently put on his King Kong outfit and made his way to L.A. with a mission to wreck the city because his $200+ million monkey movie only got two nominations. Kong Mad. Kong Smash.
*Ricky Gervais interviews Cold Play's Chris Martin. Priceless.
*Celeste Ward at AdFreak asks a question worth asking. "Does anyone know a human being who has received a brand-new car for Christmas with a bow on top? It’s baffling why so many ads show this."
It's Monday December the 12 around 8:36PM and
The Canucks are doing their very best to create some amazing drama off the ice. Todd Bertuzzi, articulate as ever,
denied that he wants to be traded (yummy audio Bert) yesterday. They just beat the best team in the league and this is the Vancouver Canucks media spin of Monday. He wants to finish what he started here, he really really respects Marc Crawford, he has trouble expressing himself, and he is speaking the "truth. Particularly great about this interview was how Bertuzzi suggested it isn't just him playing average, there are lots of good players totally playing like crap. That is called spreading the blame around Todd. And we love that about you!
“I don’t want people to go around and speculate and talk about it anymore, cause it’s not true,” Bertuzzi told John "Shorty" Shorthouse on CKNW. “I have not ever asked for it and I don’t want to go anywhere. It’s a place I want to play and like I said, I want to finish what I’ve started here.”
It's Monday December the 12 around 8:09PM and
So the world's largest Gingerbread Man is down at the
Hyatt. Who knew? He's four creepy meters tall. This big pile of sugary goodness along with 30 Gingerbread houses will be on display until December 27th at the Gingerbread Lane in the hotel lobby.
Kind of makes you wish you were just like Homer Simpson in 1994's episode "Homer Badman". You know, where he goes the annual Candy Industry Trade Show and gets caught up with stealing the gummy Venus de Milo - "carved by gummy artisans who work exclusively in the medium of gummy."
Mmmm....Gingerbread...agggrrhhhhhhhh
It's Monday December the 12 around 7:50PM and
It's a pretty excellent day when you get an email from the one and only
Nardwaur. That's right "The Human Serviette" dropped me a quick line today to reminisce about him asking Paul Martin about what Bono would do about Hans Island (those wacky Danes, always causing trouble) and even better and more cool than burger or latte polls -
the hip flip poll. This actually predicted the 2004 election as only Paul Martin would do it.
Well, he's still at it. And informs The Vancouverite that he's on the case and this week his target is Gilles Duceppe. Yes! That would be even better than when Mr. Duceppe wore that wicked awesome hair net.
It's Monday December the 12 around 6:31AM and
Back on November 30 we wrote: "Vancouver Media Fun Quiz: How many days will it take for Vancouver Magazine to update thier website with the new cover? Mmmmm...." And it's December 12th, and guess what? They still haven't updated that website with the current cover of the magazine. What is even the point of having a website if you don't bother using it?
How long will they go?
It's Monday December the 12 around 5:46AM and
*Get ready boys and girls, like Santa Claus, Paul Martin is coming to town later today. It would be excellent if we could see a lot of references to the whole popcorn and beer gaffe that plagued him this weekend. Of course there is already a "Kids not beer" website up.
*Best press release headline thus far in the campaign. "Svend him packing". The new issue of Maclean's isn't impressed with our friend Svend, "Now Robinson is back, once again running for a seat in the House of Commons. And this time it's Canadian voters who should be crying for help."
*Will six ridings in Surrey/Burnaby/New West be the new super battleground that the entire election could all come down to? "...the Liberals can be expected to carpet-bomb B.C. and Greater Vancouver in particular with announcements and campaign stops in a bid to make up for Quebec seats they expect to lose to the Bloc Quebecois" More from Burnaby Politics.
It's Sunday December the 11 around 2:48PM and
AMANDA'S VLOG
How great is
Amanda Congdon? Wait, who? Ms. Congdon is getting huge press in today's New York Times (
TV Stardom on $20 a Day) and she does video blogging, vlogs, at
RocketBoom. She's quirky as hell, and is much more enjoyable than anything going on CNN. Oh, and then there's that infectious laugh...
WATCHING SYRIANA
Saw it. On a technical fimaking level Syriana is stunningly well done. But this movie just never really seems to live up to it's own hype. The plot is not too hard to follow at all, which some reviewers have been saying, but it is definetly complex and that is why it is watchable and interesting. But kind of like the movie's style (Think Traffic), the parts are sometimes more interesting than there sum total.
For Instance: Christopher Plummer is so good it hurts as an evil Washington insider and David Clennon always gives super little performances. Onthe other hand, this is really strange: For a movie with such a great poster design and a trailer with interesting title design the actual movie features none of that. And the fictional evil oil conglomerate in the film has, literally, the lamest logo and identity ever - the logo looked comically movie of the weekish. And try compaing this film to something like, oh I don't know, The Godfather and becomes obvious that this film is not going to be remembered for very long.
DRINKING OUT OF COCONUTS
Gridskipper has an amazing on one of our favorite spots on the planet. The Hurricane bar in San Francisco. Can somebody please explain why we don't have a bar like this here in Vancouver. "It’s the kind of place you go to drink out of a pineapple and discuss which role is the finer example of Matthew Perry’s 1988 oeuvre — Danny in Mr. Belvedere or Ed in Just the 10 of Us?" Bonus points to Gridskipper for referencing Mr. Belvedere. Sweet! Slightly unrelated, NBC promos tonight inform us that My Name is Earl and The Office have been called up to the bigs and moved to Thursdays. Woo Hoo. Jason Lee is the new king of NBC. (More Office: Christmas photos.)
HOLIDAYS
Mark Dolliver at the Ad Freak blog posted earlier this week with this idea: "Am I the only one who finds poinsettias creepy? Apparently not. And yet, they’ve somehow escaped the widespread opprobrium that has attached to fruitcake as a Christmas tradition." Well, they aren't as creepy as Neopets, but whatever.
REMEMBERING RICHARD
Roger Simon remembers the great comedian Richard Pryor (1940-2005). Pryor passed away yesterday. Go rent Brewsters Millions right now, it's a classic.
It's Saturday December the 10 around 9:02AM and
VanRamblings has a good post about the fall radio ratings which came in this week. "CKNW — which has never sounded as inane as they do at the moment (and that’s going some) — triumphed with a splendid 14.8 rating, meaning that at any given time 14.8% of those tuned into radio in the Greater Vancouver area had their radio tuned to the once Mighty 98, ’NW. All VanRamblings can say is, 'Thank goodness our XM Radio was hooked up today.'"
The state of affairs in Vancouver radio is extremley depressing.
It's Friday December the 9 around 8:01AM and
What in the hell is going on today for the cover of 24 Hours? It says "Hiding From the Holidays" but it looks like something about foot fetishes, or toe sucking for goodness sakes. We presume it is something to do with the article on
"Cures for the holiday angst" but the photo is just gross. Nobody needs to see feet in the morning. Nobody.
This is a 24 Hours President, Glen Clark thing, isn't it? "Stop the presses, I want to see more feet on the cover. That is all."
It's Friday December the 9 around 7:48AM and
It's really not fair that Vancouver wasn't included in the Anholt-CMI City Brands Index - a survey of 30 cities treated as if they were a brand. But how the hell is that Toronto was? Ranked at various levels of the survey (since the press release doesn't give a definative overall mark) Toronto didn't blow away the report.
"Toronto's overall high ranking for offering a safe, friendly environment in which to live, do business, or go to school," the survey found. "However, as a "bright lights, big city" destination, Toronto ranked in the middle of the pack at 17th, with worldwide panelists choosing Paris, London, Rome and New York as the cities most likely to offer interesting, exciting things to do. Similarly, in the Place category, Toronto ranked above Los Angeles and Rio De Janeiro at 18th, when respondents were asked to gauge how physically attractive the city is. Interestingly, though, Toronto beat out 25 other cities for cleanliness, ranking fifth overall."
And yet Vancouver isn't even on the list. What gives?
It's Friday December the 9 around 7:26AM and
*What the heck is going on in this trailer for the new Sofia Coppola movie "Marie Antoinette" - Not even sure how to take it. It's like a fun music video full of Dunst. Meanwhile Spike Lee kicks it up several notches with Inside Man.
*The Viral Factory are little genuises as shown by this Princess Cruises spot.
*Google Will Eat Itself. Screenhead has details.
It's Friday December the 9 around 6:58AM and
The Province bows to the awesome power of the Ottawa Senators overlords with a back cover headliner of "In presence of greatness." To think that
Jason Botchford could begin a story like this, "There's a certain scent the Ottawa Senators are wearing in Vancouver.
Eau de awesome. And it's strong enough to put the Canucks on their heels before the game even begins." When Iain MacIntyre writes in The Sun, that the "Ottawa Senators Jason Spezza, Daniel Alfredsson and Dany Heatley are the best forward line since various combinations of Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri, Esa Tikkanen, Mark Messier and Glenn Anderson played together in Edmonton two decades ago."
Meanwhile, also in the pages of The Province is Ed Willes asking some tough questions. "So here's today's discussion question, sports fans: Are the Canucks now at the same point the Sens were at the close of the '03-'04 season? Is there still room for growth on this team or has it gone as far as it can? Can the Cloutier-Jovanovski-Ohlund-Bertuzzi-Morrison-Naslund core deliver a deep playoff run or has it stagnated?"
Nothing to see here Vancouver. Except that Ottawa has had the benefit of a week of shock and awe hellfire from 70,000 feet via the media love for the Senators. PS: it's the 100th sell out in a row at GM Place.
It's Friday December the 9 around 6:42AM and
According to the number crunching poll by CTV/Globe & Mail, the race for the election in B.C. is tighter than a pair of Lululemon pants. The NDP is ahead with 31%, with the Liberals 30%, and the Torries 29% following close behind. Pardon the pun. The greens are up 4% from the last time at 10%.
In the lower mainland it is slighly less wide open with the Liberals 37%, Conservatives 28%, and the NDP 24%. And then there is this nugget. "In West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast, a riding currently held by the Tories, the Liberals may win." This was John Reynolds' seat, but he's not running. Can you imagine if in West-Van they actually reward the Liberals with a seat after all this scandal. That would really be something.
It's Friday December the 9 around 12:30AM and
CKNW and 24 Hours are reporting that news about the Telus ads - the annoying Hippo ones. It goes from bad:
Telus is being criticised for its use of Hazina the Hippo in its new ad campagin. Peter Fricker of the Vancouver Humane Society says using exotic animals for a tv commerical is unethical, "It just perpetuates the captive animal industry where animals are rented out and exploited for money."
To worse: as the 24 Hours piece talks about how Telus made some $10,000 contribution towards a new home for Hazina the Hippo. About $390,000 short of the build for the animal star's new barnyard. Jerks. At least a sizeable and growing backlash seems to be taking place against Telus adveritising.
It's Thursday December the 8 around 11:46PM and
Santa Claus is real. So is the Easter Bunny. We're getting cake and eating it too. Marc Emery isn't able to really talk about marijuana during this election so he's turning his efforts to
helping out Svend Robinson's NDP candidacy.
This is excellent news and could provide some really great daily news down the campaign stretch. I'm fully endorsing the NDP in the federal election and I think that's the best thing our people can do is support the New Democratic Party in British Columbia for the federal election so I plan to actively do that," Emery told CTV.
Wasn't the line on Emery that he was a libertarian? Now he's supporting the NDP. What gives? PS: Marc, what happend to you man. He's totally jamming on that hobo chic thing. How derelicte. (Mugatu: Let me show you Derelicte. It is a fashion, a way of life inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack whores that make this wonderful city so unique.)
It's Thursday December the 8 around 10:59PM and
Can you even fathom that up at UBC you can study wines and wine science? Heck they can house up to 22,000 delicious bottles of the grape juice at the Wine Library and Vinotheque, which is just awesome. Anyway, tonight Dr. David McArthur gave an informative & intimate pre-holiday Wine Sensory Tune Up. So 10 wines and some wonderful nibbles of ham and cave-aged Gruyere later, and we walked away with a few jems for the holidays to enjoy. Here you go:
1. Dr. Loosen (REISLING/2004/Germany). Think of a big dozen roses dipped in honey, and made with some peach and nectarine into a sandwich - with a nice long aftertaste in a crazy blue bottle. The idea is that this would go well with some turkey, but maybe a Boxing Day Turkey sandwich would work even better. $17.00
2.
Glen Carlou (CHARDONNAY/2004/South Africa) This is quite possibly the only chard worth drinking. This is like eating a stick of butter stuffed with french vanilla and then washing all that down with a mouthfull of
Werthers Originals that have been your pocket for like 3 hours. This might go with some shrimp cocktails or lobster. You might also sneak it with some turkey or ham. Don't tell anyone about that part. $22.99.
3. Casas Del Bosque (PINOT NOIR/2003/Chile). This is like the Darth Vader of Pinots: Black Currents, Black pepper, Black tea, Blackberries - served in a spicy tabacco humidor. Nice for us. $20.00
4. Jim Barry (COVER DRIVE CABERNET SAUVIGNON/2002/Australia) This is good mate. Chocolate, minty, black curranty, featuring some black cherry pits served with a charming smoked out oak. Welcome to a crazy fruit forward world. Don't serve it with anything, it's just not worth the hassle. This is a good we're-so-sick-of-eating-over-the-holidays-wine. $27.99
5. Lustau (EAST INDIA SOLERA SHERRY/Spain) Isn't sherry something that old people drink out of big jug bottles with handleson them? Nevermind. This little ditty is a wild dessert choice. Apparently, although it's hard to confirm, this paired with some Chocolate Cake and then this hooch magically taste like gingerbread. Allrighty then. $19.99.
It's Thursday December the 8 around 12:47PM and
Today calls for some holiday humor - actually anyday invovlving the dentist does in our books - so who better to entertain us than Stephen Colbert. He has just noticed that there is a war on Christmas and he isn't very happy that it has been "pinned down by enemy fire". [Xmas at Screenhead)
Colbert rules.
It's Thursday December the 8 around 6:22AM and
Founder Chip Wilson has sold a 48% stake in his
Lululemon Athletica Inc. worth $108 million. He will share $8 million with the 650 employees worldwide (which is an average of over $12,000) - not a bad little pre-Christmas bonus. [
Vancouver Sun]
This new arrangement gives Lululemon the expertise it needs to became truly a global player, Wilson said. He will remain as the company's CEO and also takes on the role of chairman.
Robert Meers, former CEO of Reebok International will be acting as a consultant to the company with the intention of becoming CEO in the future, Wilson said. But Wilson hopes he will be able to learn from Meers and step back into that role some day in the future.
Here's the press release from the new stakeholder, Advent.
It's Thursday December the 8 around 6:00AM and
News on CKNW this morning has Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell selling thier 7,000 Square foot house in Shaughnessy.
And speaking of lack of gossip, Malcolm Parry of The Vancouver Sun has absolutely nothing worth reading in his column today. In fact reading it online has only one plus: being sparred the creepy overhead photos of his subjects. Boring!
It's Wednesday December the 7 around 9:25PM and
We really like the
Kingston Taphouse. Well, we thought we did. And to be fair, the place still has some very great pizza, and food. But we realized we have never sat inside that place - always on that pretty awesome grotto patio. But inside it is just another fairly generic pub - with really inconsistent and bright lighting in most places.
We also never realized that it is part of the Specta Group of restaurants. Now it's all starting to make sense. By the way, why would you even put this media clip on your wesbite - get out your telescope, it's ridiculously in miniature.
And the two guys playing Scrabble (Hey Hasbro, what were you thinking with the jump page?) at thier table beside us wer actually the best part about the experience. Surely better than poker.
It's Wednesday December the 7 around 8:29PM and
*How much do you love Sarah Silverman? Lots, thank you.
Stereogum points out the new video for Sarah's "Give the Jew Girl Toys" holiday song. It's the feel good song for Christmas haters. She's great and we can almost forgive her for her ongoing torture of us by dating that creepy narcoleptic
Jimmy Kimmel.
*Well, Oddjack may have died a short death, life moves on for Gawker as they launch "The Consumerist" today. The site, edited by former Gizmodo editor Joel Johnson will in the words of GridSkipper be: "something like Consumer Reports with a universal axe-grinder and a potty mouth. " Sounds fun. It's kind of the darkest Gawker property ever - and is it encroching on the Gothamist co's territory. Denton, you magnificent bastard.
*Wow, they still make Mazda's? We kid. This Mazda viralish clip is very well done.
*We don't know what the hell to make of Bape.com. But the "A Bathing Ape" Official website is off the hook. But we thank John for sending it on that is for certain.
*SInce we already did some Chuck Norris blogging this week, it is only fair to include some William Shatner blogging. When they ask us to do a celebrity playlist at iTunes we are totally going to include our own music - or in the absense of music, our own podcasts. Damn you Shatner. Damn you.
*More Starbucks Red Cup hating. But props to them (or thier agency) for perfecting the old, something on the roof of the car trick. Bravo. (Adrants)
*The New York Times David Carr is blogging the awards season with thier own inhouse blog, "The Carpetbagger."
It's Wednesday December the 7 around 2:24PM and
On the recomendation of Andrew from WaiterBlog, we checked out Sciue (Shoe-eh) - the new "roman street food" place at Pender @ Howe. He was definetly right on the mark. The music was jazzy great. The food was amazing - the chicken lasagna was excellent - you could actually say to yourself, that's real roma tomato in there kids - and a nice portion size too (and really italian peach ice tea is so good it's insane), and the pizza looked yumtastic. We really liked the fact that you can order the size of piece you want. That and the fact that it is not round is a nice development. Exellent...
Here's some delicious looking photos of the joint over at Flickr by Roland.
It's Wednesday December the 7 around 7:19AM and
St. Paul's Hospital Foundation is having a live auction - Things You Can't Buy - starting December 8th where you can bid on some very ridiculous things. You could: "Spend the day with Rob Feenie. Watch him filming his new reality TV show – you may even appear in it!" The only problem is that the new show is filming in Toronto - about his opening soon T.O. eatery - which doesn't sound nearly as fun as making him make you snacks all day long.
The Vancouver Sun also reports these items: "Other foodie packages up for auction include dinner for six cooked in your home by John Bishop, with wines by Foremost Wine Domaines Inc. and music by Dal Richards and his trio; dinner for eight at the Downtown Holiday Inn with private in-suite wine tasting and a deluxe two-bedroom suite for the night; dinner for eight in your home, cooked by Vancouver firefighters; a VIP package to the 2006 Cornucopia in Whistler with tickets to the grand tasting, private in-suite wine tasting and two nights accommodation."
It's Wednesday December the 7 around 6:48AM and
24 Hours's Darren Parkman moves in on Lynne McNamara's Backlot territory: "Yes, that was 74-year-old legend Martin Landau out enjoying some late night grocery shopping at an upscale food market on Burrard recently. The Oscar-winning Landau is in town starring in the new crime drama The Evidence opposite Orlando Jones (Drumline)."
Yes! Landau is amazing! His Bela Lugosi was one for the ages in Ed Wood. Which is a lot more interesting than today's Backlot news about what reshoots are and that "The Al Pacino crime thriller 88 Minutes wraps in the next few days and some of the cast celebrated last Sunday night in the private dining room at CinCin." Oh, and Halle Berry also went to Cin Cin. Okay, we get it, Cin Cin is great Lynne. Gosh!
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 10:55PM and
Guns are so the new black. They are certainly got the coverage from 24 Hours last week. Now this week The Province puts the big gun on the cover - and this time it's not that there are more guns, or that transit has guns, or gun homicide. Oh no. It's that the
NRA is advising Canadian gun groups during the election.
"This is absolutely appalling. I say, 'Go Home' to the NRA," said Svend Robinson, federal NDP candidate for Vancouver Centre. "The NRA has no place in Canadian politics. Especially when we have all these local concerns with gun violence.
Of course Svend is on the scene with the spin. Amazing. Not to be outdone, the CBC is also on this story too, suggesting that hand guns are the new 'it' accessory. "Police officials said their statistics show a corresponding increase in gun-related crime. In 2002, there were 59 shooting incidents in Vancouver. So far in 2005, there have been 68 shootings."
UPDATE: Richard Eriksson at Urban Vancouver asks an interesting question about the ongoing explosion of gun journalism in Vancouver. "So does Vancouver have a gun problem? Or does Vancouver's media just think the city has a problem?"
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 10:09PM and
The worst show of the holiday season is without a doubt the
Victoria's Secret fashion show. Don't get us wrong. The girls are
certainly beautiful. The idea is great - like communism is, in theory. But it's probably the worst cut together 60 minutes you can possibly think of.
PS: Nobody wants to see the lame behind the scenes crap about how they take their shoes off to go down stairs. And please, can we ditch the Seal concert for god sakes. Get him off the show. And why not just do the whole Christmas thing? How do you screw this up exactly?
Ricky Martin's ridiculous fauxhawk almost as annoying as the Tyra Banks swan song. I said almost. Sorry to be the Grinch on this one, but it never is as good as it sounds.
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 9:53PM and
We don't know what to make of this. But today, there was a lot of people sending around emails about Chuck Norris. They included such useless information as:
Filming on location for Walker: Texas Ranger, Chuck Norris brought a stillborn baby lamb back to life by giving it a prolonged beard rub. Shortly after the farm animal sprang back to life and a crowd had gathered, Chuck Norris roundhouse kicked the animal, breaking its neck, to remind the crew once more that Chuck giveth, and the good Chuck, he taketh away.
Before email was invented Chuck Norris would attach messages to kittens and roundhouse kick them.
We're not sue we get it. But here's some more Chuckisms. What kind of sick people send such things? What kind of wierdo then reposts them?
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 8:19PM and
The reason you go out to lunch during work hours is to forget about when a client asks you for a three foot logo, then complains that it isn't tall enough and asks if you can just stretch it to be three feet wide and one foot tall. Blank stares. Yeah, and we can manipulate the laws of science too. But that's why you need to go to lunch. And yeah, that is the
A-Team Smart Car. Yes, we so went there.
Today, we went to Brioche, the urban baking and catering at 401 West Cordova. It's a great, simple, joint that has two very cool, but different casual rooms. It's casual at it's best and should make a place like The Bread Garden blush with shame. The cajun chicken spinach salad was unbelievable and throw it with some chick pea and proscutto soup and you could deal with the logo monsters. You don't want to leave - and you want some of thier "bloody good" coffee.
And just down the street is the uber trendy A Life Inc. Which does to the Adidas store what Brioche does to the Bread Garden. It's all about the out-smuging. The $300 jeans are pretty much the first indicator of a great potential of trendy smugness.
UPDATE: Sure would have helped if we spelled the company name right. A Life, not A Line. Stupid. The website is almost as smug as the store, but how can you not love a website that both does nothing and features a photo of Bill Murray from Coffee and Cigarettes. Our friend John calls the site "highly advanced" and love the RZA and GZA. The fact that they don't need a website raises the bar on smug. Love it.
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 7:57PM and
Just to follow up on yesterday's
Steamworks post, We forgot to mention - actually we don't think it was even there - that there is a ridiculous Steamworks branded
Smart Car out in front of the place. In fact the owner, Eli Gershkovitch, really believes in the whole Smart car, when he's not test driving the
Mercedes R Class Sports Tourers. But the reality is that these cars are
anything but smart, "Easy parking and a cute design just aren't enough." That kind of seals the deal for us.
More Steamworks: And we were wrong, the Sam Sullivan volunteers really were there - apparently "hiding" on the main floor behind the door with the Steamworks logo on it. Our bad. But Sullivan is having another thank you on Thursday at 5:30 at Skybar. So get your freaks on NPA buddies.
UPDATE: Jamie Lee Hamilton reports on the scene. Sadly no puking, dirt, gaffes, or anything else of the sort.
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 7:24AM and
24 Hours spends 24 seconds with Vancouver Canuck goalie Dan Cloutier. But it turns out that if he could spend time with anyone in history, he'd like to pal around with George W. Bush.
24: If you could spend time with anyone in history, who would you choose?
#39: "I wouldn't mind spending a day with President Bush to see what he's like. Just because everyone's not the same as they are on TV."
And on another question about reading, Dan sweetly adds, "I like to play other games like war games." See he's a secret hawk. Awesome.
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 7:07AM and
Today's Brad Ziemer Vancouver Sun article on the Canucks feels more like reading political spin, than sports. Brendan Morrison first pumps up the Ottawa Senators, ""That will be a big test. I think they're the premiere team in the league right now. You'd better be ready to play or you'll get blown out. We'll have a couple of good days of practice here and we'll be ready."
Then coach Marc Crawford keeps spinning: "Ottawa is a premiere team. I'm sure they are getting hyped no matter where they go. It will be a great challenge for our club, but we have a number of days to think about it."
Translation: We could lose this game. We could lose this game in a very big, embarassing way. This is our way of lowering your expectations. Please don't expect us to win. Not even if we give 110%.
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 6:35AM and
Politics is totallyhard. And mean. And not everyone thought acclaiming Svend Robinson to run for parliament again was a good idea. Mark Bonokoski writing the Toronto Sun talks about cesspools and kettles being called black.
"How can Jack Layton accuse the Liberals of 'helping themselves' in the sponsorship scandal, for example, when he has given his blessing to Sunday's endorsement of Svend Robinson, a politician who helped himself to a $50,000 antique ring while still sitting in the House of Commons. Truth is, he can't."
At least the Liberals are at least torn about somebody like Micheal Ignatieff's nuclear candidacy. But Svend? Nope the NDP loves him.
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 1:20AM and
As a general rule we enjoy
Starbucks. Sue us okay. But for that December-hell known as the
Red Cup it's just not worth it.
Copyranter (who brings us the one truth in advertising copywriting: I get paid a ridiculous amount of money to be stupid. And then to change my stupidity to something stupider. And stupider.") posts both the
terrible Sweater billboard Starbuck's has unleashed and
incredibly obnoxious Starbucks holiday magazine insert. You thought we were snarky? Check out this oozing bit of nasty sarcasm:
"The collective JOY on the faces of all the recipients of this little piece of Starbucks Cheer (click images for upclose JOY) could light all the Holiday Trees in the world forEVER. I just bet it could."
Long story short, we're spending our coffee budget this month in Caffe Artigiano. Yes even though latte/coffee foam art really is smug and worthless. It is damn fine coffee. Plus, the Aussie barrista today was lovey. Oh, and most of all, we can't stop loving another great Subplot created collection of work. This time it includes the amazing hairy and shirtless Italian man/bear poster. My goodness this is the second shout out we've given them - they do great work. And Shirtless Italian men, who knew. Bravo Subplot.
It's Tuesday December the 6 around 12:40AM and
Here's a new regular feature we want to test, since we're still experimenting with content for one last week of "testing" here at The Vancouverite before we launch "for real" and really start lighting off blog nuclear weapons and such. Maybe we can just do some late night posts that have nothing to do with, well, Vancouver or anything at all. Let's see shall we:
*Craigslist posts we can seriously get behind: Ugg(ly) Boots: "Those furbies-on-feet were fashionable in London over two years ago. Run -- don't walk -- to the nearest thrift shop and ditch those minging things!" HEH.
*Okay, we'll bite. Is the Wookieepedia really needed? (via Cinematical) Direct the Star Wars totally rules, Vancouverite sucks comments below.
*Fox is really playing a prank on us for sure. There is no way this is for real: "Professional skaters will include Nancy Kerrigan, Kurt Browning, Tai Babilonia, Jenni Menno, Lloyd Eisler, and John Zimmerman, teaming up with the "celebrities" Dave Coulier, Todd Bridges, Deborah Gibson, Bruce Jenner, Kristy Swanson and Good Day LA Weathercaster Jillian Barberie" for Skating with Celebrities. Aren't they?
*A new Honda UK ad (Weiden+Kennedy) is online, and amazing if you ask us. The actor in this spot is as perfect as the whole concept. (Via AdRants)
*Thank God. The French, for years have been the model of the world for stuffing down brie, eating dozens of butter soaked croissants, then chain smoking. Well, according to Ad Freak, the french are also, finally getting fat. And they are blaming "le Big Mac."
*It's been filming here for months. X-Men 3 teaser trailer. Featuring 100% more cheese. But even Brett Ratner couldn't take away the fact that Famke Janssen still looks great.
It's Monday December the 5 around 11:47PM and
Maybe it is the fact that we just read in Wired that Chekov is playing, well, Old Chekov in some
insane fanboy Star Trek movie. Maybe it is the fact that
Jennifer Good just mentioned, "full body fishnet stocking that's crotchless." Gulp.
Maybe it is the fact that we saw damned lighted up carol ships outside that infernal Steamworks tonight. Or maybe it is the fact that we found the simple joy in Ziggy today. Oh Ziggy, will you ever win...
Or maybe it is just the naughty & nice holiday ad campaign from American Apparel ("Stuff This: Stocking Stuffers and Hanukkah hits."). But we just stopped, looked up, and it is almost bloody Christmas. Holy Crap. We tried to fit some weather and/or cat blogging into this post to round out the trifecta, but it wasn't working. Oh, there we go then.
It's Monday December the 5 around 11:09PM and
Could the following scenario still happen in any other major city? Your friend leaves a pack of cigarettes on the outside patio at
Steamworks, returns to the table, and when he goes out for his next cigarette - 30 minutes later, they are still there! With his lighter too. Okay, it's a Monday. Whatever. But still, that is pretty amazing, since you can't walk a block in that area with out somebody bumming smokes.
But seriously. Steamworks is kind of a tiresome place. If you've ever wondered why the posting is so crazy at The Vancouverite, it's because we work occasionally for the man and we just moved offices spitting distance from this Vancouver institution. It's only been three weeks. We've already grown tired of this infernal place. It's not that it is really a bad place - there is technically nothing wrong with it, but aren't brew pubs and pizza over? Our bad, but this is one of those places that is so easy to just not like passionately one way or the other.
Maybe we're Steamworks agnostic. Maybe we're tired of that scene. And it's a shame too, since The Landing, built between the Great Fire and WWI in 1905 (yum, that's a centenial kids), is surely one of the best buildings in the city.
UPDATE: And if only we could have seen where any of the up to 400 Non-Partisan Association (NPA) volunteers were hiding tonight as reported by Public Eye Online. It must have been in some secret lair because the place was dead. Maybe they we're out back getting some , er, junk for Sammy?
It's Monday December the 5 around 7:30AM and
Now this is the kind of sports wife Vancouver needs.
Anna Benson - wife of New York Met's pitcher Kris Benson - went on the
attack for trying to trade her husband. And the rumor is that the trade talk was fuelled by Anna's own talks for appearing in Playboy. Just imagine if Todd Bertuzzi's or another Canuck's wife acted like this? It's really the missing piece of the puzzle to Stanley Cup riches isn't it.
Meanwhile, news that Charlize Theron will be the new Bond Girl in the upcoming Casino Royale. Okay, she won an oscar, and is very beautiful. But did anyone else notice the stink bomb she laid this weekend with Aeon Flux?
We saw this in this week's Entertainment Weekly. An ad for country singer Sara Evans new album. No problem there actually, she's quite a looker. But what is the deal with the exlusive Cracker Barrel CD release. Of course this is probably the kind of Red State street credibility a country singer needs, but associating yourself with cheese? I'll take the holiday cheese log and oh, this nice CD. Oh the wicked irony. Call your office Sara.
This amazing Gap ad ("Pardon the Dust"), apparently directed by Spike Jonze, is the greatest way to start Monday ever. That is all. (via Screenhead)
It's Monday December the 5 around 7:15AM and
How hard is it to get some juicy gossip out of the film industry in this town?
Lynne McNamara is forced to write about 1,000 words on a local wig maker for god sakes. Can somebody, anybody, get some dirt going to stop this madness? Give us a nugget of smut, Lynne - just one. Al Pacino ate toast with jam for breakfast this morning. ANYTHING. Becuase if we have to be subjected to stuff like this again, we are going stop reading your column:
For the Wayans Brothers film Little Man, now shooting in Vancouver, she was asked to make short, cropped Afro wigs for both actors and puppets.
"We used real Afro hair, I have sources for hair everywhere from Africa to Russia to Spain."
In fact, most of her hair comes from Russia -- "it's the most virgin [untreated], silky hair. So when you get it in that state, you can turn it into anything you want."
And yeah, we'll say it. Why does Lynne know so much about wigs?
It's Monday December the 5 around 6:48AM and
24 Hours is on "Guns On The Cover" 6 in a row this morning. This time, and I'm sure there is plenty of people who will be talking about this, it's all about the new armed with guns TransLink Police force.
"Starting this week, 70 fully sworn transit police officers will be armed with guns. Effectively, they'll have the powers of a regular police officer, being able to enforce laws and conduct arrests - the first transit police force in Canada to be able to do so."
Many people in Vancouver aren't as ready as 24 Hours is to stop worrying about the guns and learn to love them, but the here's the reality: transit cops have guns, 4 people were shot this weekend alone, and we hope all this means that at some point we have a transit cop go bad, and then use the skytrain to steal money scenario just like in 1995's Money Train.
It's Monday December the 5 around 6:43AM and
The new meme in Vancouver Real Estate. North Vancouver's Lower Lonsdale is the new Yaletown. Sure. Yaletown in about 1995, without all the really great restaurants too.
It's Monday December the 5 around 6:21AM and
Heeeee's Baaaaack.
Svend Robinson is back into the political arena and running for a job in Ottawa again. Thank the maker! Mr. Robinson was acclaimed as NDP candidate in Vancouver Centre yesterday, setting up a battle with everyone's favorite Vancouver MP,
Hedy Fry. Some are calling it
"The Battle of the Divas".
On whether or not there is a problem for Robinson to run against the Liberals given his 2004 theft of an expensive diamond ring, fellow NDPer Libby Davies says: ""That is a political culture of corruption that we are dealing with. In Svend Robinson's situation, we're dealing with an individual who had something very unfortunate happen and he immediately took responsibility for it."
It's Sunday December the 4 around 10:00PM and
So the Canucks beat the Boston Bruins 5-2 tonight. The Sedin's, fresh from their success at the skills competition yesterday (more on that from Vancouver Canucks Op Ed) connected for two (Daniel's 7th & 8th, Henrick with helpers on both). Talk about that amongst yourselves.
It's Sunday December the 4 around 8:06PM and
Okay. Well, we'd never thought I would get depressed sayings this, but Jenny Good semms sad and is posting photos of
Jessica Alba in a bikini. Besides, this is coming on a night when the Canucks are playing (they are currently up 2-0.
Canucks vs. Boston) too.
*And really we can relate to Jenny's state of mind with the calls for weather blogging in the comments section. So here you go Danno. The only thing worse than weather blogging is cat blogging. Apropos of nothing, we forgot that Groundskeeper Willy has a cousin named Grave Digger Billy.
*We have tried to contemplate which Canadian election ads are the best after week 1. The Conservative Campaign Ads have these awful ones - featuing the whole Straight Talk/Stand Up for Canada theme. We saw better ads during Vancouver's civic elections. While the Liberal Campaign Ads are these documentary style happy ones. The concept: There Are Over 30 Million Reasons to Vote Liberal - What's Yours? Come on I dare you to name more than three. Meanwhile the NDP counter with a really sweet bunch of wallpapers! Layton desktops. So adorable - one from every province.
*The campaign against Liberal egghead Micheal Ignatieff produces the first memorable campaign poster. At least this guy is getting in trouble for actually having a position on a serious issues. He should be running for prime minister. Simon Pole is a virtual clearinghouse for Ignatieff news.
*Oh. Last but not least. Can Telus just please get over themselves? Everyone is sick and tired of thier ads, and during the Christmas time they get even more insufferable. What would Foamy The Squirrel do?
It's Sunday December the 4 around 11:08AM and
THE GIFT OF SCARLETT
Scarlett Johansson looks both naughty and nice in this week's New York Times with photographs by Raymond Meier and talking about how great cashmere socks are. "The perfect gift," Johanson tells the Times. "Is cashmere socks. They are the greatest thing ever. A pair of thick cashmere socks will make anyone happy. I learned this when I bought a pair for myself. Now I give them to everybody." What we can't wait for is the first of two Woody Allen-Scarlett Johansson films, Match Point, which opens early January.
STUFF
Woot. We just like saying that word. But in this case, Boing Boing points us to a site, woot.com, which offers one, and only one, product every day at a pretty low price.
Or how about an air powered USB Dart launcher? Yes! There are endless people at our day job that could use the hell fire of darts hitting them. In fact, maybe we could kick it up with a predator drone too.
MUSIC
The 1-click download feature on iTunes will be the death of us. It's completely unfair. This week we took the plunge with:
*James Blunt (after seeing him on SNL - yes we watched it, sorry.) and it's great.
*Page France's first album "Come, I'm a Lion!" (a pick from Vancouverite Art Director Graham).
*Levy and their Rotten Love debut album (after hearing about their very hot music video) - we especially like the song "On the Dance Floor".
*Imogen Heap's latest effor (because there isn't new Frou Frou out).
* Oh and how could we resist the new Seu Jorge "The Life Aquactic Studio Sessions".
Taken together, they could make a pretty decent soundtrack basis for a movie. Scratch that. A totally great soundtrack. A nice week for music.
FUNNY
Hilarious Will Ferrell as George W. Bush at the ranch, growing out his soul patch, playing some frisbee golf with Condie Rice and Dick Cheney (Thanks to News Today)
Starting December 5th The Guardian will have weekly podcast shows by Ricky Gervais:
Each week, award-winning comedians Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant rummage around in the mind of Karl Pilkington to prove he's not just the village idiot, he's beaten off all competition to take the national title. Join Ricky and Steve as they help Karl wrestle with such burning issues as: "Jellyfish - do we need them?" "How could an infinite number of monkeys type the complete works of Shakespeare if they've never read it?" "Why do you never see an old bloke eating a Twix?"
It's Sunday December the 4 around 10:28AM and
It is so nice to see that the Straight has gone to a really simple templated front cover that looks like it is being produced by a CanWest intern. (See l
ast week and the
week before) Actually it's not that bad, just not the kind of ground breaking design you might expect from an alternative weekly. Compare what they do at
The Stranger down in Seatlle, say
this week, and you'll see what I'm talking about. But enough of that mudslinging, how about five things we love and loathe about this week's issue:
5. Jurgen Gothe's Uncorked column this week focuses on stuff for "dipsobibliomaniacs". "Much more useful is Kenji Hodgson and James Nevison’s new one, Had a Glass (Whitecap Books, $19.99), which brings us their choice of 100 top wines for 2006, every one of them priced below $20," writes Gothe. "What sets this apart from most of the other wine books out there (I saw one in Safeway the other day, where hardly any of the wines listed were available here and all the prices were in U.S. dollars, which is enough to depress anybody) is that every wine they rate and rave can be bought around the corner at the LDB. So this is one you can actually use."
4. City single of the week. This dude actually calls himself "C". Come on. Key question: "IF YOU COULD HAVE A DINNER PARTY AND INVITE ANY FOUR PEOPLE, DEAD OR ALIVE, WHO'D BE COMING?
Quentin Tarantino, Vince Vaughn, Johnny Depp, and Snoop." All the people in the world to invite and C, Vince Vaughn and Snoop Dogg? Move along, nothing to see here.
3. Geek of the week? If I moved away from Canada I would not give a flying hoot about Aero bars or President's Choice dressings. And yet Canadian Favorites website actually exists.
2. Alt Weekly? Really? The Straight features a cover and three articles on the chief of police. You've changed man.
1. At least a tiny mention of the goodness and wonder that is meat eaten off of bones. And points us to Bones; Recipes, History, and Lore. Joy.
It's Saturday December the 3 around 10:50PM and
To be fair to Lynne over at the Vancouver Sun for just a minute, the Canada.com/Vancouver Sun web overhall hasn't really helped the online properties of CanWest. So we blame them. I had to do a search for her name to see if she even had a column today, since there is no side navigation labeled. Like oh, maybe labeled as columnists or opinions maybe? Nope.
Seriously play a Canadian Media Drinking game when you watch their ad promotion online. It's hilarious. When they mention "innovative buttons" take one drink. Repeat. Repeat.
''We're working with Lonely Planet and Expedia for our travel channel, Mapquest for maps and Google Inc. to provide a world-class search function, just to name a few,''Arturo Duran, president of CanWest Interactive said. ''No other Web site in Canada provides this quality of timely and relevant Canadian content.''
The readers will be the judge of that thank you sir.
It's Saturday December the 3 around 10:06PM and
Sure Stephen Harper and Jack Layton were in town today looking utterly fabulous. But seriously, what is the bleeding point of
Lynne McNamara's Back Lot column if she isn't going to tell us that
Amy Brenneman is in town.
Hollywood North Report is reporting that she's joined the cast of
"88 Minutes."
Maybe if Lynne wasn't too busy swooning over hasbeen directors like Ken Russell she would have had this in her column, instead we have to stumble upon three days late.
Any way, back to Amy. Will her addition to the cast as Al Pacino's longtime assistant (with clearly just a few scenes since they wrap up production in a couple of weeks prior to Christmas) help the movie? Will it get the $13.28 Hollywood Stock Exchange price to move on up?
It's Saturday December the 3 around 7:15PM and
We still can't believe that Turner Classic Movies is on in Vancouver these days. We also can't believe we are using the third person to write, but more about that problem later. Much later. Tonight, we had the pleasure of watching the 1958 Alfred Hitchcock classic, Vertigo. What is fascinating about this movie, besides just how completely beautiful this masterpiece is, is how it has gotten better with age, like a fine wine.
It was a box office failure when released. The New Yorker called it, "farfetched nonsense." But by 1982, it appeared on Sight and Sound's best films of all time poll in the #7 slot. By 2002, it had moved up to #2, right behind Citizen Kane (1941) the film that has been at the top of the list since 1962.
And that is just one part of a great story and about something that gets better each time you view it. That is why the lore of this film continues to grow. Is because it is as some call the "ultimate aesthetic experience"? Is it because of the amazing location provided by San Francisco (serioulsy you have to check out Vertigo: Then and Now which compares the city of 1958 to 2003)? Surely that is why there is a book called "Footsteps in the Fog: Alfred Hitchcocks San Francisco." Is it because Kim Novak is the personification of sexy cool? What about the best Bernard Hermann score ever? Or the title sequences by designer Saul Bass? Or maybe it is just a really well written and crafted but complex plot?
It's Saturday December the 3 around 3:11PM and
Early this morning on Richards Street, between Hastings and Cordova, a fight escalated into gun shots leaving one man dead and another in custody. This is
Vancouver's 16th murder of the year.
This murder comes after a week of coverage on the issue of gun violence as 24 Hours Vancouver has been exploring the gun issue in depth and we found out that Regina of all places has, technically, the highest murder rate in Canada, "Regina had the worst murder rate in Canada in 2004, at 4.98 per 100,000 people, with Winnipeg at 4.89, Abbotsford at 4.39, Edmonton at 3.4 and Toronto at 1.8."
It's Saturday December the 3 around 9:52AM and
Oh my goodness. How great was
Stephen Harper in his campaign swing into Burnaby this morning. Sure he was talking tough about minimum drug sentences, but he was doing it without a shirt and tie! It was casual Stephen today, sporting a simple sport coat over some sort of simple mock turtleneck shirt. He was trying on his new conservative bad boy image. People, this is only day 4 of the campaign too!
"A Conservative government will fight the plague of drugs in our cities and our communities," said Harper. "But the nightly news now tell us that these are not things we can take for granted. Crime and drugs now reach places they shouldn't – our parks, our school yards, even our churches. Our values are under attack and we must take action to protect those values."
It's Friday December the 2 around 9:38PM and
Fridays are practically made for the smug lunch aren't they? Today was no different and we found ourselves with a crazy Art Directing Englishman, well, Yorkshireman at least, at
Cassis. And what better way to kick into the weekend than with a BBQ Short Rib Sandwich served with "Caramelized onions, braised beef, spiced havarti and pea shoots". Two things about this sandwich. 1.
Havarti. Sure it's tasty, but also a totally undervalued cheese in our humble opinion. 2. Short ribs. No wonder you pair the charming ribs from the
"short plate" with the Havarti. Good lord. And then making this into a delicious mouth watering sandwich. Come on. This is about as good as it gets for lunch.
Although, not everyone has had as good a time as I did today. Writing in the Westender, Waiterblog's Andrew Morrison says, "Cassis is as sexy as a Parisienne coquette, but beyond the rouge and the artfully torn stockings were wrinkles brought on by what may well have been a mix of poor discipline, indifference and exhaustion."
Anyway. They really cram a lot of restaurant into this loud and tiny place. It is hard to believe they put out such great food from what appears to be a ridiculous kitchen complete with terrible neon lighting. But they do. We don't really know what to think of the open containers of salt and pepper on the tables, served with little spoons, but golly if you don't think about it, it won't kill you. Oh, and how can such a charming little french joint, have such a mediocre website? With the sweet old wood floor and textures of the room, not to mention the whole boozy burgandy of cassis, you could make an amazing website.
