Recession? What recession? I observed a few non-scientific things yesterday.
1. The Red Door was actually interviewing someone for an open position.
2. People were actually in Willams and Sonoma. One man was asking about the $1600 pot and pan set. No, I didn't grab that $16 Chili starter set, the $14.50 pasta sauce, or the $8 vanilla extract.
3. Cab Driver on Broadway didn't actually pull over, he seemed to stop the car in the middle lane, on green. Bold. This hardly proves anything about the recession, but does prove that cab drivers here are nearly universally awful. He didn't say a single word. He just sort of grunted at us.
4. While we did drive Sleep Country to a pretty good bargain, they seemed to be selling a lot of beds.
May have just intercepted this over the interwebs. "Morning Chelsea. The Big Mac 'with chicken' exists. So maybe I was quick to judge you and your Quarter Pounder with 'chicken!' does too." Genius. (Via Joelle and Grocery Eats)
Soak this up for a bit kids. Soak it up and let it burn into your soul. "Happy Flight" by Joseph Griffith could be the best thing I've seen. He describes the work thusly, "Jesus riding Falkor the Luck Dragon from the Neverending Story. Together they will conquer the Nothing and save the dreams and hopes of all mankind. (2006)" Watch it and listen to the audio of the video by Limahi. Then watch my favorite Family Guy clip of all time. Yeaaaah. (Via Film Drunk)
Oh great. Beyonce, or Sasha Fierce, or whatever she is calling herself these days is coming to Vancouver on tour. After her Oscar performance, what kind of sicko is going to see this man? I don't get it. Do you think she'll still be singing At Last? Good god. (PR Newswire)
John Boorman's Zardoz starring a very amazingly pony tailed and often shirtless and loin clothed Sean Connery just blew my mind. I may have to just yell out Zardoz, possibly with clenched fist, in a client meeting today. Heaven. (Via GMac and Premiere)
What the heck? This is completely sacrilegious. They are remaking Robin Hood. Again. I don't get why you remake something that included this: Bryan Adams' "(Everything I do) I Do it for you". Kind of the best ballad of the entire 1990's. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is like essential in the 1990's Costner Cannon after Dances With Wolves, Waterworld, and Tin Cup.
Gmac found this new super group, Tinted Windows which Stereogum calls, "On the bright side, at best, it sounds like it might be a (somewhat predictably) Hanson on Fountains record. At worst, it's feeling like the Jonas Brothers if they could sing and featured a Smashing Pumpkin. Think on that while you absorb this fierceness."
Took the afternoon off today. A rare feat to be sure. Checked out the Wines of Portugal tasting at the Four Seasons. Not a bad way to spend the afternoon, especially after hitting the cheese plate and the mini beef dips. But enough about that how about the wine? Here are some of my tasting notes and highlights:
Forat de Evora, 2006
This was at the first table. Everything tasted a little flat until this one. It tasted like the earth give it a big wet kiss. It was a gorgeous color, and dry like Stanley on The Office. I like my wine from heritage sites, and Evora is. [Cartuxa]
Adega Coop Borba Reserve 2006
The wine rep here was wearing a pretty sweet sweater/jacket combo and was euro charming. This wine has a smug cork label. It's deep red color masked a nice pepper flavor. I could see myself drinking this at the table with some meats. [Adega Coop Borba]
Found third least favorite kind of niche blogging, Lanyard blogging. Comes right after weather and cat blogging.
And now for something completely different. John Cleese has moment where press think his date is another young gold digger. Turns out, it's his daughter. She's cute. But is she funny?
Rome is burning. Economy is like a dirty diaper. And Gordon Campbell is twittering about a government photo/video upload site for communities with a $175,000 in prizes. Stimulate this Premier. You're lucky your opposition is a bunch of commies or you'd be gone. Boom.
Stop the presses. If you wanted a huge marketing campaign right now, hire Mickey Rourke, get him to do your beer commercial, viola. Move product. Repeat. This is a free one Stella, next time you pay. PS: The outfit is AWESOME and who is that in blue?
Roving Vancouverite Music Editor GMac caught a show on Friday and was still raving about Chantel Upshaw all morning today. "Saw this chick play on Friday," says GMac. "Super charismatic. Needs to be signed, like right now. Was unreal, all of the stuff here is pretty mellow but she was playing some really poppy stuff, and she has an amazing voice." Somebody sign her quick so I never have to go on her myspace or her facebook again.
Well if this doesn't get me inspired to get back on the Wii this week, I don't know what will. Thanks Obama Girl. Shameless. Also, can't wait to watch the State of the Union tomorrow night (6PT) It's like a real Super Bowl game. Woot.
I've saw enough Flip Flop wearing hippies this weekend to make me long for the rain on Sunday and Today. I heard a few people who have been complaining about Vancouver for 2 months, suggesting that they move back to Toronto, then all of the sudden jump back on the bandwagon the moment the sun comes out. Funny that. I saw a bunch of people on the patio at Glowbal today. Lots of kobe beef meatballs. God those are awesome. Patios in February. Gotta love it. [Photo by: Terry Murphy]
In absolute heaven. Watching back to back episodes of 24 (God bless you PVR). I'm kind of thinking this new girl, Renee Walker (Annie Wersching), on 24 is pretty awesome. Sure, she's not as reckless as Jack, and looks like she feels bad and it is only episode 10 of 24, but she did just stand him down at gun point. And then slapped him in the face.
1. As if Ford spook cars can be driven like Jack drives them. If they were that good, would Detroit need a bailout? Come on.
2. The hiring practices at the FBI are about lousy as the ones at CTU. Where do they find these people? Who will be the real evil one: Sean, Janis, or Larry. My guess is anyone named Larry. Although Sean's a real dbag, clearly. Seriously.
3. Yay, to Carlo Rota for returning in a scene as Morris.
4. Street side surgery. Oh, Jack, even for you a new low. Love it.
5. Ah, the old, shoot yourself trick. As if. Jack is going to eat Sean.
On Saturday, Yaletown was lit up for "Illuminate Yaletown". One of our roving correspondents filled us in with this review of fun city:
1. It was brutal. It looked like elementary school project.
2. There would be one building, then nothing for 6 and then finally another one.
3. i got sooo mad, another Vancouver fail.
4. They left the streets open to traffic so they were jammed, couldn't walk anywhere.
5. Awful planning. B-R-U-T-A-L.
Mickey Rourke accepts his Independent Spirit Award the other night. This could be the best acceptance speech I've seen, ever. He even thanks Vince McMahon from WWE. Can't wait for him to win tonight. (Via Frangry)
Got an email reminding me that tonight is the opening of Charles Martin Smith's "Stone of Destiny". This is the short version: "The Stone of Destiny retells the fascinating and true story of four young Glaswegian students who, in 1951, outwitted the British authorities in their successful attempt to take back the Stone of Scone - a beloved symbol of Scottish pride, back to its country of origin."
I remember reading the script for this many years ago when I toiled in the salt mines of movies (before moving on to the sweat shop that is this blog, the underworld of online gaming, and the underbelly that is advertising), and its nice to see that it's in theaters. Given that Charlie is such an amazing guy, you should go check him out for a Q&A at the Scotiabank Theatre tonight at 7:10 and at the Fifth Avenue tomorrow at 7:20. [CTV and Georgia Straight]
Finally got to see this week's Lost. The scene with Ben Linus at the church are pretty awesome, and just looking over this amazing picture by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio and telling the story - and can you wait to see who beat him up. I want to see a whole show of just Ben. Never thought I'd have said that two seasons ago. (Via Suicide Blonde)
Okay. I crawled out of my rabbit hutch tonight long enough to surface at a real live social media mixer. Let's get the business part of this post out of the way. Chip Wilson, founder of Lululemon, is sponsoring the 2nd annual 'Chip's Not Dead Yet Memorial Mile'. On Saturday June 20th 2009, West 10th Avenue will become part run, walk, parade and party raising money for Children's Hospital. I love that it is only a mile, that some people run in their underwear. How wrong can that be?
Not wrong at all. It's for the kids. Meeting Chip was pretty fun - he was wearing that amazing striped shirt and was very excited to learn about all the doodads and power of social media - although he stumped me when asked why I blog. I was still recovering from his story about his morning in some sort of Batsuit being interviewed. I had the chance to ask him about Lululemon and while he wouldn't give me any stock buying advice, he was pretty upbeat on the economy. And he didn't subscribe to my theory that the economy was primarily mental and not very real. The question everyone wanted to know was if Lululemon pants would become cheaper anytime soon - which seems like a very big yes. Then we generally just celebrated that his pants are the best thing to happen to men since the mini skirt. I don't think many people praise him for that. I can attest that Yaletown would just be a bunch of douchebags and small dogs if it wasn't for Lululemon pants. Chip was kinda amazing. No filters. He even said he got back from a trip to the Orient. Love that.
It was interesting. I've never really 'met' other bloggers before. But I thought the combination of wine and cheese + Loden Hotel Penthouse + meeting Chip Wilson = a nice little Wednesday. Even if the wine was, shockingly, some sort of Australian stuff. I don't think there was an animal on it, but it was close. Thanks to Grace Carter at Invoke for the Invite and for wearing those amazing blue shoes. Like any good 'what recession' social media event rolling these days at a $4000 a night penthouse suite, the wine and cheese lasted for a few hours. Then I remember someone's shoe coming off...
I've gone crazy for French pop. Graham got us into the rather unfortunately named Chat. I have no idea what she is talking about, but this song, and the whole album are amazing. That is all.
If you thought I had schaedenfreud for housing in Yaletown, it is nothing compared to my feelings to Dubai. That place is the worst. Smashing Telly:
"Short of opening a Radio Shack in an Amish town, Dubai is the world’s worst business idea, and there isn’t even any oil. Imagine proposing to build Vegas in a place where sex and drugs and rock and roll are an anathema. This is effectively the proposition that created Dubai - it was a stupid idea before the crash, and now it is dangerous.
Dubai threatens to become an instant ruin, an emblematic hybrid of the worst of both the West and the Middle-East and a dangerous totem for those who would mistakenly interpret this as the de facto product of a secular driven culture."
Very funny Hollywood. A direct to DVD sequel to Waiting (2005). What alternative universe are we in where Ryan Reynolds is somehow too big of a star to be in something this bad. Does not compute. Neither does the fact that he is married to Scarlett Johansson. It makes no sense.
It's like some sort of alt-history fiction like those books where Hitler and Germany won WWII. Funny story, I suggested to my boss today that a real good idea would be an alt-history sitcom where Reagan actually does and George Bush becomes president in that first term. Hilarity. There is something wrong [Via Videogum]
"It would be a bummer to lose this component of the [Olympic] village, that rounds it out as a more sustainable and dynamic neighbourhood. We've got our work cut out for us on yet another element of this village."
The guy sounds like the Dude after someone pissed on his rug. Only in Vancouver could we figure out how to lose money building housing on the water and going $77 million over trying to build social housing. I figure they could have just given each potential resident of that social housing over $300,000. Sigh.
Just in time for the 2010 Olympic Games Vancouver is named the Gang Capital of Canada! Yay us! Finally we are no longer just the best place on earth, or most livable city. Take that Toronto. We have gangs! Woot. [Canadian Press]
I can haz snow? Vancouver's Cypress Mountain melted from the mild weather resulting in a cancellation of the final two Olympic snowboard test events. But rest assured Vancouverites, this won't happen in 2010 when the world is really watching. Promise. For reals. [CBC & Seattle Times]
Yesterday a young woman was shot in her car with her son in the back seat. She was caught in a hail of gunfire between 96th Street and 148th, Surrey. According to some reports she was shot three times. This is the 6th such murder in 10 days, and the 2nd in 24 hours. [CTV]
This response from the police seems about as helpful as Don Rumsfeld in about January 2002. We need the Mentalist or like that guy from Life.
“I want to alleviate the fears of the public,” said Cpl. Dale Carr of the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team. “At this point we don’t know if this was a domestic, whether it was gang and drug warfare, or whether it was an isolated targeted hit.”
The best sequel I can think of restored and looking fantastic is on the big screen at the Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour St. - at Davie) February 22 - 27 and March 1-2 at 7:00PM. [Get tickets here]
Cherry Bomb - Dance Mix / Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Night Train / The Kills
Lusty Lady /Crazy Girl
1,2,3,4 Rock&Roll / Pravda
I Wanna Be Your Dog / Futon
My Delirium / Ladyhawke
Sheena Is A Punk Rocker / Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Also samples from:
Paris Is Burning (Peaches Remix) / Ladyhawke
We Don't Play Guitars / Chicks on Speed
There are two reasons for posting about Fashion Week. Minka Kelly and Kristen Bell. Both were at the Miss Sixty show in NYC. I find it kind of fun that the collection is channeling the 80's and some motorcycle-chic. Okay, and they emailed the photos. (More at Gawker.com)
Kind of a money shot of the front row, you see Minka Kelly and Kristen Bell. Well it would have been if it wasn't for the Mischa Barton. Nobody's perfect.
I'm not sure how you translate epic in French, but this song is killing it right now. How do those goosebumps feel. God damn. (Via my new favorite blog French-moi.)
Guess who's a spry 67 today! Kim Jong-il! In the immortal words of Mike Harcourt, "Let's Boogy!" Why wasn't there something the US stimulus package to get rid of this tyrant? (Photo via Guardian)
One more year until the Olympics will clog this city. (CBC) Not sure that was really news, but then again maybe it was one day of non economic calamity. Nice to see that it only mustered about 100 protesters (kind of a fail). The highlight - beyond seeing Gordon Campbell riding in a Bobsled - was Colin Hansen, minister responsible for the Olympics:
“...the NDP are the type of people that go to a 2-year-old’s birthday party and douse the candles. I find it so sad that the Leader of the Opposition and her opposition colleagues cannot for just one day join in the celebration. Instead, they continue to bash the Olympics. It’s very regrettable.”
Fox News is going to have so much fun the next four years it is nearly criminal. Good clean family fun. Also, did anyone else notice the increasing amount of times people are talking about Jimmy Carter these days in the same breath as Obama. Stay tuned.
An interesting update on yesterdays post about the 50th Anniversary of the plane crash killing Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. I knew my Dad always told me he locked him self in the college radio station. Sure enough he emailed me his story after seeing the post. Here it is:
"On that famous day - my friend Bob Taylor and I locked ourselves in the radio shack at Victoria College and played Buddy Holly records all day - Mind you the music could only be heard in the cafeteria, the ladies commons room, and he men's commons room. commons were like lounges. Small audience but the only audience we had."
Saw the sneak peak of Push tonight. I can tell you that it was more entertaining than the entire season of Heroes so far. That kind of sums of my mini review. Can I say briefly that people who go to screenings are like what I would imagine the Mos Eisley Cantina looks like during the day shift. I'm just saying, the whole ticket giveaway crowd is a little off. Short thoughts about the film:
-Nice to see Bill Vince's name on the big screen one more time.
-Chris Evans is pretty marginal, but I'd still cast him ahead of Ryan Reynolds or Dane Cook.
-Dakota Fanning drinking. Genius.
-Special Appearance by Ming Na. I just like saying Ming Na.
-One place Heroes was/is better: On screen supers and subtitles. Fail.
-I could watch a whole movie about Camille Belle's eyebrows and lips. Yowza.
-The one super power about sound was like the 2009 version of Scanners. SUPER AWESOME FUN TIMES! In your face Hiro.
-Loved the dirty underbelly of Hong Kong. Well Played.
-Kudos to the special F/X teams for cheese enhancing the floating guns. Bravo.
At least the Youtubes have preserved the fine art of watching a 45 play for all eternity. Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of the day Buddy Holly, Richie Vallens, and The Big Bopper's plane crashed - The Day The Music Died. Vancouver's Red Robinson was the first to drop the needle on it.
I really enjoyed Revolutionary Road - and the performances were great to watch all around. A few weeks back someone had a link to this scene from 1971's Carnal Knowledge showing a Jack Nicholson in fine younger form and a super smoking Ann Margret.
And to the highlights of Revolutionary Road, I think this captures some of my favorite things about it: "Speaking of the 1950s, I love the shot of the men getting off the train in the morning at Grand Central Station, a sea of hats and gray flannel cascading down the long stairway, on the way to some death-mill office job. Who would want to be a part of that?"
I know it's only Monday, but this photo is what will keep me going until Friday at 5:00pm. Is there anything more awesome than a woman in Paris, smoking, and looking stylish? The answer is no. This us gorgeous. I need an expresso, right now. I could also be interested in looking this Euro by Friday. Stunning. (Via The Satorialist)
