All We Want Is More : The Tobias Wong Project

 If you haven't heard of Tobias Wong, the art world's enfant terrible whose life was cut short in 2010, then you must go visit the Museum of Vancouver for All We Want Is More: The Tobias Wong Project. 

This is the second retrospect that the museum has down for this hometown hero - yes Tobias Wong hails from Vancouver, but made his splash into the art world during his time in New York City. Curated by his friends and family, this is a thrilling world class exhibit that honours the sensibility of an artist who had his finger on the pulse of society. 

From his famed Bubble Chair to the iconic Sun Jars, there is something for everyone here. My personal favourites include the Anus sign that appeared in his apartment window across the street from gay bar The Cock in New York, the 9/11 matchbook, and the gold plated McDonalds "coke" spoon.

All We Want is More: The Tobias Wong Project is on now until July 23 at the Museum of Vancouver. 

PNE

Nothing tops off the summer like a visit to the annual PNE fairgrounds. This year's summer concert line-up is pretty decent, though there aren't any acts I MUST go and see. I noticed Billy Idol's already sold out, but there are still seats available for the MC Hammer/Bobby Brown night, as well as for the closing night's TLC concert

If you're not a music lover, or none of the acts interest you, there is still plenty to do at the PNE. From rides and games to touring the dream home and Super Dogs, and of course the show mart. These are all classic things that I like to do every year just for the sake of doing them.

There are a few new attractions this year, including the Instagram exhibit where you can go and take selfies with fun backgrounds and props. There's also the magic of Reveen (not the original Reveen, but his son.) To be honest, I found the show a bit disappointing, as Tyrone Reveen fumbled through his words and seemed completely disengaged from the show, like he was on autopilot.

When all else fails however, there's the food. And this year boasts creative concoctions such as the Butterbeer smokin' soft serve (for all those Harry Potter fans out there), a pickle dog, super long french fries, deep fried coffee, a Cheetos encrusted corndog, and my pick of the fair, a Pickle Pizza! It was very good, actually!! Don't believe me? Go to the PNE and try it for yourself!! 

Volunteers needed for Syrian Refugee Welcome Lunches

Come on Vancouver, let's show some of the Syrian refugees a warm welcome by coming out and helping at one of the welcome lunches being presented by the United Way of the Lower Mainland on Saturday, April 16. For more information and to sign up to volunteer, check out the United Way website!

Everything You Need To Know about Buying a Condo in Vancouver

Are you interested in getting in on the housing market in Vancouver? A crazy thought, I know, but for those of us who feel that it's a daunting "I'll never able to do it!" task, here to save the day is my friend Jason Hutchison, who has recently written a book about the process, complete with tips for buyers and neighbourhood background information!

If you're interested in obtaining a copy of the book, please contact Jason through his website My 604 Home!

MOV: Your Future Home

The latest exhibit at the Museum of Vancouver is well, very Vancouver. I'm really liking what the museum is doing in recent history, by bringing to the city exhibits that are relevant to where we live. It's a great way to celebrate and dissect the place we call home. Which is why their latest exhibit, Your Future Home: Creating the New Vancouver is all that more timely, with talks about increasing density and housing prices, etc.

Stop by the Museum of Vancouver to see what artists and developers are envisioning for the future of our city. Engage in conversation at one of the many special events/lectures being hosted there. Your Future Home: Creating the New Vancouver is on now until May 15th.

My visit to Storybrooke

I was inspired to do this post after attending the wrap party for the ABC show, Once Upon a Time, this past weekend.The wrap party was awesome! Several of the cast members were on hand, including Jennifer Morrison who plays Emma Swan, Jared Gilmore who plays Henry, Colin O'Donoghue who plays the sexy Captain Hook, Sean Maguire who is equally as sexy as Robin Hood, and several of the dwarves were around too including Lee Arenberg (Grumpy) who was pointed out to me as also being Mike the Bookie on Seinfeld! How cool is that?

In line at the bar was Rebecca Mader, who was the gloriously awesome Zelena, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, and whom I totally fanboyed over. I told her I loved how she portrayed Zelena and that I also liked her work on LOST (she played Charlotte!!). She was VERY nice and talked to me for a few minutes, and even gave me a Wicked Witch cackle to remember! :)

Anyhow, some of you might know that they film this TV show here in Vancouver, or more specifically out in the town of Steveston, which is a 30 minute drive away. I had visited the location a summer or two ago and took some pictures, but never did post them up. So here they are! Scenes from the actual Storybrooke!

I think I took some more photos but they weren't very good, and these are the only ones halfway decent. Things look a lot cooler on TV, that's for sure! But Steveston is a very quaint little town with fun businesses to check out, including fish and chips stores, ice cream shops, and my friend's wine and cheese restaurant, Gudrun. Check it out!

VIFF: The Vancouver Asahi

This one is gonna be a sell-out, so get your tickets quick! I was lucky enough to attend the media screening and even that was a full house. Perhaps it's because of the local interest - the film is set in and about Vancouver! Or perhaps it's because it's the powerful true story of a local Japanese-Canadian baseball team that bridged communities, fought against all odds, and provided hope amongst a backdrop of racism, World War II, and an impending black mark on Canadian history - the internment camps.

Gorgeously shot, this film is a joint effort from Japan/Canada and is heartbreaking as much as it is heartwarming. With anti-Asian sentiment at a high these days in Vancouver, perhaps this film is timely and relevant and a good reminder about the ugliness of humanity and the strength and fortitude of individuals and community.

The Vancouver Asahi shows on Sept 29 (6:30pm) and Oct 4 (2:30pm) at the Centre for Performing Arts, and on Oct 10 at 1pm at the Vancouver Playhouse. Don't miss this extraordinary feature!

Find out more information about the real life Vancouver Asahi here at the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.

Curious Flea Market

Are you feeling curious? Just a bit? Then scratch that itch by heading out to New Westminster to discover one of the coolest events in town. It's the Curious Flea Market! The next one takes place May 24 & 25!

"The Curious Flea is a social flea market…a new way of ‘fleaing’ .  We’ve curated an incredible collection of vendors selling spectacular wares ranging from antique to Mid-Century Modern to 50′s kitsch to upcycled furniture and decor. This isn’t your usual bargain basement flea market, but rather a treasure hunter’s dream."

And don't forget about the Battle of the Curious! "Do you have the weirdest, strangest most curious thing in your closet?  Bring it to Curious Flea! The most curious object will be immortalized forever in our Curious Hall of Fame, and the winner will receive a fabulously curious prize!"

Check out their Facebook page to keep informed! See you on the weekend of May 24/25 at the Curious Flea Market at New Westminster's River Market (810 Quayside Drive,  New Westminster).

SHOWTUNES NIGHT at 1181 !!!

OMIGOD, OMIGOD YOU GUYS!!!

I've been talking about this to my friends for an eternity, it seems. And now it's actually HAPPENING!

I was inspired by Chicago's famous SIDETRACK bar, who has a weekly Showtunes night on both SUNDAY and MONDAY - how AMAZING IS THAT? Sidetrack is a video bar in Chicago that has a million screens and on these nights, they show all sorts of fun clips from Musicals!!

So I've been wanting to do something similar ever since! It's a lot of work - finding all those video clips! But I managed to do it, and put it together, and now it is READY TO GO! Over the holidays, I spoke to the manager at 1181, who humoured me with my idea but was in fact quite serious about having me do this! So here we are!! And I hope you will all join us for an evening of fun, showtunes, singing, drinking, and laughter!!

Check out the Facebook page and Join and Invite Your Friends!!

Fall Away Home - Boca Del Lupo Aug 21 - Sep 1

Boca Del Lupo returns to form this year, bringing back their wildly popular free summer programming. This year, we are treated to Fall Away Home, which takes place in Stanley Park from August 21st to September 1st.

Always putting on amazing productions, this will surely be another one not to be missed. Tickets went up today, and they will go fast, I'm sure. Book your free tickets online here, or call 604-205-3000. 

Illuminaires 2013

Yay! It's that magical time of year again, when fairies and hippies and the most amazing paper lanterns light up the night at Trout Lake! That's right, it's Illuminaires and it's tonight! This free family-friendly event is one of the most perfect ways to spend a summer evening outdoors. If you haven't built a lantern yet, you've still got time to poke some holes into a tin can and bring it on down! This year marks the 25th anniversary of Illuminaires, so it's bound to be an awesome night!

YVR #8 in World's Top Airports!

According to the World Airport Awards, Vancouver's YVR ranks in at number 8 in a list of the world's top 100 airports! This makes YVR the only North American airport to even make the top 10!

And it is true, YVR is a very nice airport to hang out at if you're waiting for a flight or to pick someone up. Have you been to visit recently?

Congratulations, YVR!

PNE Summer concert series 2013

The line up for the annual PNE Summer Concert series was announced yesterday and there are definitely some exciting acts on board for everyone!

Saturday August 17 - Melissa Etheridge

Sunday August 18 - The Jacksons

Tuesday August 20 - Dean Brody

Wednesday August 21 - Great Big Sea

Thursday August 22 - Colin James

Friday August 23 - The Beach Boys

Saturday August 24 - Sam Roberts Band

Sunday August 25 - Corb Lund

Tuesday August 27 - Foreigner

Wednesday August 28 - The Proclaimers

Thursday August 29 - Big Wreck

Friday August 30 - Martina McBride

Saturday August 31 - REO Speedwagon

Sunday September 1 - Lights

Monday September 2 - Loverboy

Venue:

Concerts are performed in the NEW outdoor venue, the PNE Amphitheatre on the WestJet Concert Stage. 

Seating: 

Available on a first come, first served basis. Bleachers and standing floor options available. Reserved seating available at stage front in the WestJet Fan Zone. Concerts will also be streamed in The Plaza Beer Garden (must be 19+ to enter). 

Pricing: 

The Summer Night Concerts are FREE with Fair Gate admission, but guests have the option to upgrade to a reserved seat.

Dine Out, Fight AIDS

Tonight is Dining Out For Life in Vancouver!

Where will you be eating? Check out a list of participating restaurants here.

Guest Post: Sexy Vancouver Cafes

Our stellar and diverse cafes are one of the reasons I love Vancouver. I absolutely love chatting with clients and friends in cafes while enjoying a full bodied coffee (no offense to the big chains). I picked-up my love for coffee and cafe culture while in Croatia in my mid 20's and have been seeking out the best Vancouver cafes ever since.

Below I’ve shared my current top picks. I believe all are locally owned and none are large chains. I welcome your thoughts about these cafes and your suggestions about others to try (feel free to note them in the comment box at the bottom of the post so other people can try them as well).

Milano Espresso Lounge Gastown – 36 Powell Street, Gastown
They have several locations, but I prefer their Powell Street cafe. It sports a Gastown-chik interior featuring exposed wood beams and concrete with my favourite detail being the metal lettering in the floor. Check out their espresso tasting bar. You may recognize the owners as they started Turks on Commercial Drive before Milano.

Agro Café – 1207 Hamilton Street, Yaletown
Top marks go to their Yaletown location across from the Opus Hotel and Cactus Club. It’s a great place to work in the morning when the sun is coming in through the window and Josh is working… he plays the best music. Summer is a great time to go so you can enjoy a coffee while relaxing on their totally Yaletown outdoor brick patio. If you go shopping after your coffee and brunching, you’ll nail the Yaletown trifecta.
I’m a fan of their breve lattes (lattes made with some cream) as they remind me of the rich coffees I had while living in Argentina. They offer the typical array of coffees as well as Clover made coffees.

A stellarly designed Caramel Macchiato from Agro Cafe.

Apres Midi Premium Teahouse – 1 Gaolers Mews, Gastown

This hidden gem is perfect when you're coffeed out and seeking a tea. It has an amazing selection and the owner is a young pleasant fellow. It’s tucked away in the alley behind Coffee Bar (if you’re coming from Water Street) or down the alley beside L’Abattoir (if you’re on Carrall Street). It's quiet and has a cool interior with high ceilings, exposed brick and arches. To use my nephew's lingo, it’s a great place to ‘chill.’ 

Tea and pastries at Apres Midi.

Matchstick Coffee Roasters – 639 E 15 Ave, East Vancouver (Fraser & Kingsway)   

Pleasant East Van hipsters will hand prepare your coffee. They specialize in single origin beans that they roast in the back of the café. You'll be hungry as soon as they open the oven door to take out a fresh batch of pastries or muffins. Every time I'm there, I get their orange and cranberry muffins as the flavours beautifully contrast coffee favour. A beautiful solid wood communal table as well as individual tables.

*My thanks to my friends & clients Paris & Liz for discovering this cafe!

Enjoying a coffee and orange & cranberry muffin at the communal table at Matchstick.

Rocanini Roasters – 115-3900 Moncton Street, Steveston

One of my closest friends and I chanced upon this cafe while wandering around Steveston. I had a latte and Justin enjoyed an espresso, both rocked. They also offer pour over coffee, siphon coffee and cold brewed coffee. I believe their roastery at 127 West 5th Avenue offers coffee but no food.

Revolver Coffee – 325 Cambie Street, Gastown

It has good coffee and a solid Gastown décor. It’s a little tight on seating so it’s not on my head-out-and-work-at-a-cafe list.

The Coffeebar – 10 Water Street, Gastown

I enjoy the décor and they do have good coffee. Admittedly, I prefer Milano (friendlier owners) over this café but Coffee Bar is worth checking out.

I hope this gives you some ideas for new cafes to check out while supporting local businesses. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jason

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I met Jason a few years ago at a birthday party and was captivated by his charming smile! I'm so excited to have him on here as a guest blogger and to introduce you readers to him and his blog - My604Home.com - about Vancouver real estate and then some! He's got some great advice and insider tips into the Vancouver real estate market, so please do check out his website. And I'm loving these cafe suggestions and can't wait to go try some of them out! Anyone want to come with? 

Christmas Wish Breakfast Toy Drive at the Pan Pacific

It's that time of year again! Time for the Christmas Wish Breakfast Toy Drive down at the Pan Pacific Hotel. It takes place Thursday, December 13th from 6am - 9am.

Back in its 25th year, the annual event benefits the Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau, by asking the public to bring down a toy to donate to needy children. As a thank you, everyone who donates gets to eat from the hot buffet breakfast from Cafe Pacifica Restaurant.

Come down for a good cause, good food, and good entertainment!

* Please note, each year they get more than enough stuffed toys and the LMCB is in most need of toys for teenagers.