Summer Saturdays: Laneway Markets in Mount Pleasant
Posted: July 27, 2012 Filed under: Do | Tags: Alley Market, Laneway Night Market, Mount Pleasant Markets, Paths to Plazas, vancouver Leave a comment »
My lovely friend Jess told me the other day that she wants to get married in an alley. With string lights and unlimited booze. I love the idea of creating an unexpectedly beautiful space with an area that we associate with garbage bins and stray cats.
When I returned home from seeing her in NYC last weekend, I found a poster on our building entrance announcing Livable Laneways‘ night market initiative Paths to Plazas. In an effort to improve public space in Vancouver, the alley west of Main just off Broadway will be transformed into a bustling public space with local businesses, urban farmers, artisans, hula hoop demonstrations, installations, musicians and more.
Every Saturday has a different theme; from this Saturday’s Art Market to next Saturday’s Smoking Sausage BBQ Cook-Off. Swing by between 5pm and 10pm for some food and good times. Look out for me…I’ll be in the one who is over dressed and overly loud. xo
New Faves
Posted: May 3, 2012 Filed under: See | Tags: One of a Few, Summer loafers, vancouver, Vintage shoes, Weaved loafers 2 Comments »My girl Tiyana flew into town last weekend. We were super excited to see each other and as expected, she and I got mom loud and mom drunk pretty fucking fast. On Sunday before she caught her flight home, we showed her around various neighbourhoods, parks, beaches and of course, the inside of my favourite boutiques. Along the way, I acquired these weaved bad boys in a split second decision in Gastown’s One of a Few. They have a pretty great vintage selection upstairs.
A cross between Hugh Hefner’s famous velvet loafers and a white picnic basket, I anticipate these guys will go well with pretty much any outfit I wear this summer.
Let the compliments from 50-something European gigolos begin.
(Photos by Simon)
Concert Announcement: Coeur de pirate
Posted: January 23, 2012 Filed under: Listen, See | Tags: coeur de pirate, vancouver, venue 6 Comments »For those of you who haven’t heard of Quebec-born singer/songwriter Coeur de pirate, the talented 22-year old hit the scene in 2008 with her self-titled debut album. In 2009, the album was both nominated for Francophone Album of the Year at the Junos and a Polaris award. Winner of a Victoires de la Musique award, the French equivalent of a Grammy, for Comme des Enfants, she is a star not only in her home province but also in France and Belgium.
Her 2011 sophomore offering, Blonde, addresses the many phases of a relationship. Its catalyst, Place de la Republique, was the first song she penned after her debut album.
Singing exclusively in French until 2010, she wowed me last July when I heard her cover of The Weeknd’s Wicked Games, a pretty balsy move given the popularity of the Toronto artist’s original song. This could have gone wrong in so many ways but I think she NAILED it.
I’m probably partial to Coeur de pirate because of my French Canadian schooling during which musicians such as Mitsou and Vanessa Paradis were popular. But it’s undeniable that she has a kickass voice, even if you don’t understand what she’s singing about, and mad talent on the piano.
She’s rolling through Vancouver on May 27 with a performance at Venue. Tix are only $20+ applicable fees at Red Cat Records or Zulu.
Concert Announcement: F’n PORTISHEAD!!!
Posted: July 14, 2011 Filed under: Do, Listen, See | Tags: 2011, Glory Box, North American Tour, Portishead, pre-sale password, vancouver 1 Comment »Earlier this week Portishead announced their North American tour dates and guess what? They’re even coming to Van! I’m so excited I can’t even write. You can check out the tour cities and dates here: http://www.portishead.co.uk/gigs/. Tickets for the Vancouver show on October 24th at the PNE Forum (not the best venue, but whatevs) go on sale TOMORROW (Friday July 15th) at 10am, but a certain number of pre-sale tickets are available TODAY. Pre-sale password courtesy of the Georgia Straight is “glory”. I think all the $55 tickets available for pre-sale already got snagged which left me paying $71 bucks a piece (ack, thank God for those ticketmaster gift cards I was holding on to!). You can try your luck for cheaper tix tomorrow, but I wasn’t going to take any chances…
Just the thing I needed on this rainy “summer” day.
Concert Announcement: Tame Impala returns to Vancouver!
Posted: February 17, 2011 Filed under: Listen, See | Tags: concerts, tame impala, vancouver Leave a comment »The psych rock band Tame Impala give off a slight Beatles feel on their freshman release, Innerspeaker. Lead singer Kevin Parker’s enchanting Paul McCartney-like voice on the album makes the Beatles association inevitable. From Perth, Australia, they are a self-described “steady flowing psychedelic groove rock band that emphasizes dream-like melody”.
When Simon and I saw them at the Biltmore last December, their performance was louder and more “rock” than the album I’ve memorized, which erased any Beatles comparisons from my mind altogether. Having said that, the engaging foursome were able to offer us an exciting and high-energy show that left little to be desired.
They are returning for a show at the Commodore Ballroom on April 21st and it shouldn’t be missed. At only $21.50 + service charges, the price is right. Tickets go on sale tomorrow, February 18th through ticketmaster.ca
Listen to a few of their songs and see if you are as into them as I think you should be.
I have to emphasize that I am far from a music reviewer. I just sincerely think you should catch this show.
