Tag: vancouver

when this used to be my playground

The graveyard shift at the Dance Centre has turned out to be a gig baby-sitting a minirave. The people attending are all familiar, even the strangers, as their archetypes blend and shift and phase in one conglomerate whole, typical for this, marked with obvious accoutrements from west coast music fests. It’s been a long time since I felt part of this tribe, nevertheless, I know them.

I should have made a clothing based bingo card, mapped the psychographic ahead of time. Crystal jewelry, face-paint, dreadlocks mixed with braids, celtic knots, seams on the outside, elf tipped hoods, button up shoes. Bonus points for the guy who always arrives in a tuxedo and the girl who always looks like an army-boot goth with a glitter dot in the middle of her forehead, right in the spot where her third eye would be if only the drugs worked as perfectly as advertised.

I’ll be dropping in after work

Some of you locals may be interested to know that my tall friend Andrew, the musician with the bath-tub truck who carries around conversational sound-effects in his pockets, has a new weekly gig at The End Cafe on Commercial Drive. (2360 Commercial Drive) His blues band, The Lab Rats*, have started playing there every Thursday from 9-11 pm.

*don’t hold the font against him, he’s new at this internet thing.

What’s Happening This Hallowe’en.

Dear world, I would like to be able to sleep properly. Kthxbye.

Alastair‘s stunned me silly with a cream white linen medical corset for Hallowe’en. It’s just the tiniest too big for me, but easy enough to adjust. To go with it, I found a gigantic wedding skirt at Value Village that they knocked down from $65 to $19.99 for me. It’s more fabric than my bedspread and it’s even got a train. I’m absolutely tickled. Fantastically inspired by Lolly Jane Blue*, with a bit of white facepaint, flour in my hair, and some carefully applied cross-hatching lines of black eye-pencil, I’m going to be a walking illustration.

A squeeing illustration. Heh.

Tonight I’m missing out on the 48 Hour Bloodshots Horror Festival** because James, Sumi, and I are going to DJ Krush at the Commodore, Thursday I’ve got a photoshoot, and Friday and Saturday are insanely overbooked. Vancouver has a pleasant over-abundance of Hallowe’en parties this year.

Friday:

Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long. Playing at the Vancouver East Cultural Centre on Oct. 26th or 27th at 8pm, tickets are 25 well spent dollars. They’re playing with C.R. Avery on Friday and Dan Mangan on Saturday. I’m planning on attending the Friday. Duncan has two free tickets to whoever wants them for the Saturday.

Sing-Along Carmina Burana! Hosted by City Opera Vancouver, my friend Adam Abrams is producing this event, 8:00 pm at St. Andrew’s-Wesley United Church. This has got to be one of the coolest things I’ve ever heard of happening here. I’m pained to be missing it. Tickets are $20.

Plastic Acid Quartet. Mishka, her brother Bryan, Brad Pyke, and ___? will be playing pop and rock songs on classical instruments at Cafe Du Soliex, one night only. Cover is $5.

Hallowe’en Skytrain Party Vancouver Public Space, our most organized flash-mob group, is hosting another Skytrain Dance Party! Hurrah. Meet at 8:45pm at VCC Clark Station and don’t be late. If you are, this time, thankfully, the party’s going to continue at a secret venue, so make sure you have a friend with a cell phone attending to let you in on the know if you miss the crazy train.

Something Wicked This Way Comes VIII Now that Sanctuary’s moved to Friday’s, Vancouver’s longest-running goth/alternative night is holding its massive Hallowe’en party on a weekend for the first time. Aaron Mr. Dark goes utterly over the top with decorations ever year and this year’s theme is gore, so expect to walk into a club transformed into part Hellraiser, part Night of the Living Dead, part classic horror and all awesome. Tickets are $10, this year’s prize for best costume is $400.

Wings turns 22 at Organix. AKA Goaween, the Organix annual Hallowe’en Party, where all the ravers come out to play. Cover is $6 or free with a costume. Expect trance music, fairy-wings, glowsticks, glitter, GHB, and ecstacy.

VeloFusion VeloWeen. The bikers of Critical Mass and the party people of Vancouver meet in the Anza the last Friday of every month. Crazyness ensues. (A previous theme was “get naked for free beer”) This time with hallowe’en costumes. “Bands, Djs and burlesque. The unstoppable DJ Timothy Wisdom, the Dub and Rock of the Down Low, the dance madness of the Carnival Band, sexy burlesque from Your Little Pony and the foot stomping dance intensity of DJ Corrior. If you love to dance, this is definitely the event for you.” Doors at 8, tickets are $10 without costume, $5 with.

Tickle Trunk Karaoke Costumes & Candy Pre-Hallowe’en Party Apparently there is a monthly mad costumed karaoke at Hoko’s Karaoke Palace, (362 Powell Street). I’ve never been and know nothing about it past what it said in the invte, “year as well as having spookily delicious candy and better-than-usual prizes there will also be some musical interludes by the bloodthirsty karaoke inspired band Werewolves of Creston. … This is your chance to test drive this year’s Hallowe’en kit, mix and match, or dress up from the ever changing On-the-Spot Tickle Trunk.” Cover is $5.

Shakti’s Grand Opening Commercial Drive’s Tea and ‘Elixir’ House is finally having their grand opening. Expect tea, ‘aphrodisiacs, smoke-ables, raw food, massages, Dj’s, visual art, and people who spell magic with an extra “k”. There’s a “special elixir toast” at 7 pm and a dance performance at 9:30.

Saturday:

Bouffons for Public Displays of Affection. 5:00pm – 7:00pm at Victory Square Park, thier blurb says, “On the streets of the city – out in public – a group of emerging artist will delve into a world of affection. They set out to explore issues ranging from physicality, sexuality, and intimacy. The performances will trigger questions of when is it noticeable, what is acceptable and how we evaluate levels of tolerance to public displays of affection.” As far as I can figure, it’s clown not-sex in the park at the edge of the wrong side of town.

PARADE OF LOST SOULS!!! Commercial Drive is closed down from 1st to Venebles for this event as thousands of people in wild and spectacular costumes come celebrate the Day of the Dead with a festival of performance, fire, music, dancing, and wonderful delight. (Our very own Chris Murdoch will be performing.)It seems they’re keeping last year’s reversal of events, having the processions move from the shrines and performances of the gravel field through the streets to the park, but here’s hoping they’ve learned from last year and figured out how to make that not suck. Every year, this is quite truly one of the very few Vancouver events that is seriously Not To Be Missed. 6 pm – 10 pm at Grandview Park.

(Jill Binder is having a pre-parade get together at her place. There won’t be one at mine this year because I’ll be over at Alastair’s.)

The Vancouver Clubhouse Hallowe’en. This is less a public event and more of a reminder for those who already know about it. This is the Culbhouse’s final event. Because of that, their’s going to be collecting everyone’s Clubhouse memories of the past eight years to put on a DVD to hand out for later. (I won their costume contest last year, but I’m committed elsewhere already, boo.)

Mike and Alannah’s Spacy Hallowe’en Another Just-A-Reminder mention. 50 years ago this month, Sputnik 1 became the first artificial satellite of earth. We still don’t have colonies on the moon, but nevertheless, Space is the theme for this year’s Halloween party. Come in costume if you can, extra points for space-related ones. BYOB; they will provides snacks (sugary & otherwise).

Odd Ball From The Crypt. “For Queers, Breeders, Zombies and Freaks.” A wonderful burlesque circus and DJ event, the OddBall is an annual dance party held at the WISE Hall, a great compliment to The Parade of Lost Souls. This year’s theme is Tales From The Crypt. Tickets are $10.

Deadbeats 666. “OFMAS once again proudly hosts this annual Halloween event focused on design, creativity and decor.” Funky all-night tech-house is a 100% legal venus, so no worries on getting shut down. (Finally). Open Studios #200-252 East 1st Ave. $20 before midnight.

Cave of Whores Burning Man Camp Lemuria is hosting a Hallowe’en party at Cyber Club at the Plaza of Nations with a costume theme of Horror Whores. Expect raver-toys, poi, things that glow in the dark, dirty thumping techno, pogressive house, and not a lot of clothing. Tickets are $15 and $20 after midnight.

Grand Slam Night of Performance Art & Hip Hop. Gallery Gachet presents an interdisciplinary party at the cross-roads of four festivals with an evening of Filipino Performance Art, First Nations’ Hip Hop, African Spoken Word, and Chinese electronic remixes of Canada’s migration history. Bonus, my lovely co-worker, Charlene, has a piece on display. 8:00pm -1:00am at 88 East Cordova. Tickets are $10.

Dollhouse of Horros The Starlet Harlots are taking over Dollhouse Studios until dawn. Burlesque, straight up. Tix $25 at the door.

SinCity Fetish Hallowe’en Apocalypse. Vancouver’s best fetish night, full of retro & 80’s, industrial, rock, electro & dance, hosts one of Vancouver’s best Hallowe’en parties. Aaron, again, is responsible for decorating and it’s guaranteed to be insane. As to costumes, any fetish outfit will do, but there are major bonus points for matching the post-apocalypse theme. Think S&M, leather, straps & buckles, Mad Max, Sci-fi, futuristic or tribal warriors, military, mutants and zombies. (Again with the zombies, will it never end?) There’s a $300 grand prize, with another $750 in free tattoos and piercings for the best and sexiest costumes. Tickets are $15 and all but sold out. Hope to see you there!

*seriously, click on that.

**which includes: THE VESSEL, directed & edited by Mike Jackson, written & produced by Sam Dulmage & Mike Jackson, cinematography by Michael Sider & Sam Dulmage, music by Jeff Tymoschuk, starring Leanne Jijian Hume, Sam Dulmage, Mickey Brazeau, Corina Akeson & Duncan Shields. 8 min, Lovecraftian Horror.

Where the Hell is Matt? in Vancouver!

Matt from WhereTheHellisMatt will be in Vancouver on September 5th!

I’m deliciously excited. As far as I’m concerned, he’s Living The Dream.

Hi folks

If you’re getting this email, you’ve either signed-up on my site to be notified or you’ve written to me and mentioned where you live. I’m finally coming to Canada to shoot clips for my new dancing video. This is an invitation to come out and join me.

The last video was about places. This one is about people. LOTS of people. So I’m not too concerned about the background; I just want a place where we can gather peaceably and dance badly without getting arrested.

No country in the world has sent as many emails about being included in the next video. I usually just go to one major city, but for Canada I’ll be visiting three. Here are the details:

Vancouver, BC – Wednesday, September 5th, dancing at 6pm at the Inukshuk
Sculpture near English Bay Park
Map: http://tinyurl.com/2l3skc

Toronto, ON – Sunday, September 9th, dancing at 3pm at HTO Park on the water
near the CN Tower
Map: http://tinyurl.com/2rregx

Montreal, QC – Tuesday, September 11th, dancing at 6pm at Place des Arts
Map: http://tinyurl.com/36p6c2

The images attached to this email show where to meet at each location.

I know a lot of you are nowhere near any of those places, but based on where most people are signing up from, those three make the most sense. Your country is enormous.

For folks willing to travel long distances, Craigslist.com has a ride share page for all three cities. Those offering rides and those in need of rides can go there. We recommend including “Where the Hell is Matt” in the title of your post so people can search more easily. Here are the ride share
pages:

Vancouver: http://vancouver.craigslist.org/rid/
Toronto: http://toronto.craigslist.org/rid/
Montreal: http://montreal.craigslist.org/rid/

Please reply to this email if you plan to attend and let us know how many people you think you’ll be bringing. It’ll help to give us an idea of how many to expect.

If you can’t make any of these locations, but you can reach US locations like Chicago, Boston, or New York, let us know and we’ll send you the appropriate invite.

Boring details below. Read no further if you can’t make it: if you can make it, here are your instructions

less of an escape than a hiatus

We’re driving in the truck as I write this, on the highway past NO VACANCY signs in front of hotels so dark they look abandoned. Vancouver Island is behind us, across the water over an hour away, and ahead of us are roads I all know the name of. My own microcosm of a city, hemmed in by polluted water and mountains half clear cut to make way for expensive unimaginative houses.

Tickets up for grabs now!!

(x-posted from Duncan’s journal)

It’s that time of year again.

Boca Del Lupo is putting on another show. Last year, in Stanley Park, they performed the slavic fairy tale, The Shoes That Danced Themselves To Pieces. The cast was on ropes and pulleys and flew from tree to tree. The audience was led from site to site through the woods. The whole experience was magical.

In the Spring, they performed a Winterruption piece down in Granville Island about condominium apartment living. It was a wonderful idea and a pleasure to behold.

This August, they’re performing this lovely piece of work from August the 10th to the 25th on Squamish Reserve #6 underneath the Burrard Street Bridge near the Civic Marina. It’s FREE but you NEED TO RESERVE TICKETS. Opening night is already sold out.

QUASIMODO
Or The Bell Ringer of Our Lady of Peace

To celebrate its 10th anniversary season, Boca del Lupo will produce its fifth free, outdoor, all-ages roving spectacular this summer. With the generous support of Vancouver Opera, the Squamish Nation and a multi-talented cast and crew, Boca del Lupo will delight audiences with an adaptation of Victor Hugo’s Notre Dame de Paris set amongst the high foundational arches that support the Burrard Street Bridge.  

The show is free but group sizes are limited and while we do take walk-ups, advance bookings are strongly advised.   The best way to reserve a spot is to click on ->BOOK NOW<-, select a date, and fill out the required information. If you prefer the phone, please call 604.684.2622. Public bookings are available at 12:00pm on Wednesday July 11th, 2007.

First published over 150 years ago, Hugo’s story is just as pertinent today.  With the recent Paris riots and the latest transgression of sanctuary to arrest an Iranian refugee from Vancouver’s own St. Michael’s Anglican Church, issues of immigration as they relate to civil rights and class are more relevant than ever.

It’s going to be great and I highly, highly recommend you all come out and see it at least once but ->BOOK NOW<-! Tickets went on sale ->TODAY<- and they’re already selling out. Remember, it’s ->FREE<- and ->AWESOME<-!!

Thank you. Spread the word. It’d be a shame to miss this great piece of Vancouver outdoor creativity. It needs to be encouraged.

EDIT: I have reserved 6 tickets for Wednesday, August 15 at 7pm.

aaand, he’s just walked in. I am the luckiest thing on two legs in all of Vancouver.

a better view

I did not get to go to Regina Spektor last night, due to a serious of misfortunate moments of Drama ™ where I should have let off trying to respect someones apparent Sudden Dislike For My Company and beat them up-side the head with my presence anyway. Lesson learned. Next time I will be more callous. Yes, I am un-thrilled. Apparently it was a very, very good concert.

However, I was shown off last night and that was wonderful. It balanced out my hot disappointment rather well. We gathered people at the Jupiter Cafe, had a politician buy our drinks, then went to True Confections with Aeon and his wife. We went to bed exhausted, amused, and well. Apparently, when we are tired, we are hilarious. As such, we are clever all the time.

Today I am nervous, as the boy took my measurements when I was distracted and sleepy and seems to be making corset-shaped noises. As he’s ten years out of practise with this city, I’m feeling fairly safe with whatever he’s actually doing. It’s not like he can get very far, she says to herself, doubting.

Predators of the Sprawl

It occurred to me this morning that we have been co-habitating since, essentially, April 1st. I wonder if I will remember that in a year, the most comfortable joke I have ever encountered in my small life. His apartment was an odd compartment, the hotel feels more temporary, somehow increasingly realistic. Our toothbrushes cradle.

Winter is over, the streets are coated in pink flower petals as if the sidewalk was about to be married our shoes, and the clouds are taking on the consistency of still life paintings from places more interesting and decidedly more Italian. Construction continues everywhere, it is still possible to count cranes like a trail of shooting stars, but somehow, I begin to hope in two generations, what is above water in Vancouver will be a fascinating place to live.

(LJ now lets you embed anything, as long as you wrap pointy-bracket lj-embed pointy-bracket around the embed or object tag.)

the difference between real bottles and break away glass


I like watching him hold a cigarette. Downtown shines below us, Granville street lined with tiny people, “extras in our movie,” flirtations of humanity. We’re talking about celebrity, the breath of fame that doesn’t exist anymore. People are famous for being famous, but it doesn’t last. The meta time, idol tenacity, that fresh new wonder, is gone. There will never again be a Beatlemania or a name as household as Madonna. We only have this life. Globalization washed away all of the sixties tears, leaving instead a wide wash of sand, every grain a name slipping through our fingers. Commercialized and replaced by interstitial realities, it’s all quick cuts, colour filtered music videos, shadows of elusive hard rock cocaine and a glossy ten minutes before the sad talk show circuit takes over. Media immortality has been transformed, an object of passion and fury re-made into the sort of pleasing detail you do not seem to notice until it is gone.

A ray of sunlight has thrust through the clouds to perfectly illuminate just the cherry tree outside my window. The blossoms shine pink like it was newly invented for precisely this moment. It glows, separate from the street.

My bus came early this morning, Sunday schedule, holiday. I kissed him goodbye, then ran in the other direction, stopping only to turn and watch (admire) his profile walking at twenty paces. In this quintessential Vancouver light, soft and unearthy, lacking shadows, he seemed like the scribble of a soundtrack, something kind used to emphasize the loneliness of industrial neighborhoods. I looked away, suddenly shy. Kittens were waiting, Alastair, messages at home, work. On the bus the driver liked my hair, like everyone does. Six comments a day, all this week.

The skytrain felt like a truck stop, empty and laminated, like there might be heart healthy options and too pale coffee waiting when I got off. Briefly I wondered how I would have to change my schedule to run into Troll, but the thought didn’t survive to the top of the stairs. I was too busy engraving my week into my skin, tracing conversations into my brain. A girl on the bus smiled to herself and crossed her legs, innocent but for the slight blush and a tell-tale whitening of knuckles as she looked down. I caught her eye and smiled back, confident that we shared a secret, the anonymous enjoyment of private reminiscence. Out of silence, we shared a (random) laugh. I think we felt beautiful. She said, “It’s been a long time.” I said, “It has.”

better than the night sky in the city

http://borndifferent.com/


sharp-flower
Originally uploaded by mohawk.

Kyle and I went climbing over rocks and under fences yesterday evening to finally get at the infamous devastation of Stanley Park. Those dissenters who have been claiming that the destruction is mild and that our city has been stalling out of some mis-matched version of civic pride are incredibly wrong. On our way to the first fence, we saw a few empty gaps in the forest, but nothing lamentable, true. (Minus one especially kind tree that had always been perfect for branch sitting, feet drifting in the water, a book in hand). However, past the second gate, the path was crumpled, so cracked and pried up like flaking nail polish the bent cement looked pliable. There were huge trees thrown in our way and strange waterfalls spraying from broken pipes at the top of the cliffs. In the gathering dark, muttering and whispering as it was, we had to be careful. The Seawall was so changed as to feel like we were exploring another city, one wrecked and left for dead. The ground was crooked, stones dented or missing, randomly flooded. In the end, we had to run from guards before we reached the end. I want to go back, but closer to the day. Next time, I want to try from the other end, camera in hand. I’ve never seen anything like it.

http://notforsalecampaign.com/