“Clash Of The Titans” Advance Screening Tickets Up For Grabs

SCOUT is sponsoring Vancouver’s March 31st exclusive advance screening of Louis Letterier’s remake of the 1981 cult classic, Clash of the Titans. The new version, an effects-driven tale, stars Sam Worthington (Avatar), Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient), Liam Neeson (Schindler’s List), and Pete Postlethwaite (The Usual Suspects). It tells of the mortal son of Zeus defending Greece and the Heavens after Hades rises to wrest control over both. As you can see from the clips above, it looks pretty intense. Not exactly The World According To Garp, but we all make exceptions for art, and that Kraken at the end of the trailer is gnarly. If you join us with a double pass of your own (you and a date), invent your own mythical creature in the comments. Be as descriptive as you like. The best ones win tickets, starting now.

PS. Consulting your Monster Manual for aid in this contest will result in the confiscation of your 20-sided dice.

Elixir Bistro Geared Up For Earth Hour And Whisky Tastings

News from Scout supporter Elixir Bistro

Vancouver, BC | In support of Earth Hour 2010, Elixir Bistro will shut off the lights and offer guests a special candle lit dinner in support of this global climate change initiative. Elixir Bistro?s celebrated chefs have designed an inspired 3-course menu that features local and organic ingredients including Aldergrove beets, Permberton Valley potatoes, and sustainably harvested Halibut from the Queen Charlotte Islands. Elixir is proud to be a member of both Vancouver?s Ocean Wise Sustainability program and the Green Table Network. Read more

Heads Up: “I Want To Be Alone (With You)” At The Art Gallery…

From VAG: “FUSE goes lo-fi with a series of performances and environments designed to let you chill out, get down and take it easy. Get to know your neighbour by sending postcards to a stranger, enjoy free gifts by Natalie Purschwitz, performances by Carol Sawyer, Hello, Blue Roses and more. For more information on the series, visit the FUSE page.” This seriously sounds like one of the better FUSE evenings that the VAG has put on yet – or maybe we’re just all about chilling out these days after our move. Also keep in mind that this will be one of your last chances to catch Leonardo da Vinci: The Mechanics of Man. We hear the guy was pretty good.

March 19 | 6pm – midnight | VAG | $19.50

Team Feenie’s Bid Wins Race For New English Bay Restaurant…

From the little known Department of You Knew It Was Going To Happen comes news that the Cactus Club has been recommended to the Parks Board as the best overall bidder aiming to operate the upcoming, brand-new super-spanking English Bay beachfront restaurant and concession in Vancouver’s West End. The project still needs final approval, mind, but it reads like a good fit.

A little background from the Parks Board:

A new bistro is to be built in the present location of the English Bay Concession. The project is part of the Park Board’s Concession Services Food Plan that recommends the creation of tenant-built and operated food services at prime park locations. The Park Board developed and approved an overall plan for the redevelopment of its concession food services on May 1, 2006. The plan recommended a strategy which would see the creation of new tenant-built and operated food services offering both table service and take-away facilities at prime locations in city park locations. These would offer a higher level of service and improved food quality and choice over what had currently been offered by the aging concession system.

Staff were instructed to undertake a community consultation process in Spring 2008, and to report to the Board with the findings of that consultation and design responses in June. A public meeting held on June 12, 2008 and a beachside information display on June 14 provided opportunities for the public to view the proposal and to share their thoughts with staff and architects.

The Board approved the redevelopment of the existing English Bay Concession on July 7, 2008. In 2009, the project proceeds to Development Permit Application.

And now, after several bids for the project from prospective operators were examined…

The selection team recommends the Cactus Restaurants Inc.(Cactus Club) proposal as the best overall submission with particular emphasis on their proven ability to provide the Board with a first class casual dining and take out experience at English Bay.

The Cactus Restaurant Group

The Cactus Restaurant Group was established in 1988 and is Vancouver owned and operated. Its Cactus Club Café brand is well known as being amongst the most successful casual fine dining restaurant operations in BC and Alberta with 20 locations generating annual sales over $115 million.

The Cactus Club proposal and discussions with Cactus management have addressed the following issues:

Term: The initial term of the lease will be 5 years with five options to renew in each case for an additional 5 year term.

Rent: The guaranteed base rent of $240,000 gives the Board assurance that no matter what level of sales is achieved, they will be getting a guarantee of 6% of the first $4,000,000 of gross revenue. This is a similar rent to other comparable park board restaurants. The rent on all revenues over $4,000,000 will be 4%.

Taxes: Similar to our other leases, an amount in lieu of property tax will be charged based on the size of the main floor of the restaurant (4,212 sq ft) multiplied by an appropriate amount as determined from time to time in consultations with the BC Assessment Authority (2009 rates were $6.25/sq ft).This amount is increased or decreased each year depending on City of Vancouver commercial tax rate changes.

Rent Reviews: There will be a rent review after 10 years (if the Tenant exercises the second 5 year option) and again at 20 years (if the tenant exercises the fourth 5 year option). The rental rate following each rent review will be no less than the rental rate paid in the immediately preceding term or option term as the case may be. In the case of the first rent review only, any increase in the base rent will be no more than the compounded annual CPI over the first 10 years. There will be no such limitation on rent increases under the second rent review.

Operations and Management Plan: Cactus has agreed to abide by a plan that ensures that impacts on neighboring properties are minimized. These include the following: hours of operation, noise and odor management, maintenance of building and grounds, safety and security provisions for patrons and park users, monitoring and communication protocols with local neighbors as required, parking and traffic management.

Menu Selections: The Cactus menu is extremely varied with a wide selection of choices. The restaurant prices are consistent with other casual fine dining establishments.

Take-Out: Cactus has advised staff they intend to offer lower priced fare with a far greater selection than traditional concession food. The large outdoor seating space should be a popular addition for beach visitors.

Sustainable Practices: Cactus is a founding partner in both the Vancouver based Ocean Wise and Green Table Network programs. The restaurant has been designed to a LEED Gold standard.

Construction Schedule: Cactus has advised staff that subject to receiving all permits in a timely manner they intend to commence construction after Labour Day and intend that the restaurant will be open in June, 2011. The inconvenience to patrons at English Bay will be minimized during the construction period.

SUMMARY

The proposal by the Cactus Restaurant Group has offered the Board an opportunity to partner with one of the leading restaurant companies in BC. The terms of this agreement ensures that the Board receives a guaranteed rent structure that will be carried forward for the first 20 years of the lease. This is an exciting progression in the Board’s food service strategy and will result in a significant improvement to our customer service at English Bay.

You can read the document in its entirety here.

Though I’ve never been all too wild about the Cactus Club, I like this development. I’ve had two very pleasantly surprising meals at their new Bentall spot in recent months, and I know they are trying hard to turn a good company into a great one. With 20-something locations, they do a far superior job than the other CFD chains, especially on the sustainability front (they are members of the eco-conscious Ocean Wise and the Green Table programs). They’ve also seen their food significantly improve under the stewardship of new “food concept architect” Rob Feenie.

Of course, we’ve never had a lot of luck with waterfront restaurants in the first place. I’m not saying that every room with a view needs to be a “C” or a Beach House. It’s just that with so much seawall and beachfront to play with I think we deserve a hell of a lot better than some of the newest offerings we’ve seen slicking our shores. When an operator takes on a stunning, iconic location that is well loved by the citizens of Vancouver, they have an unwritten responsibility to live up to those affections. Watermark at Kits Beach was one such spot, and it was an absolute embarrassment, a jilting of epic note.

Call me crazy, but I trust Cactus to do much better.

YEW Pays Tribute to Earth Hour as Part of Global Celebration

News from Scout supporter YEW restaurant + bar

Vancouver, BC | YEW restaurant + bar at the Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver will join 46 Four Seasons sister properties to create a chain of candlelight dinners that will circumnavigate the globe in celebration of Earth Hour. On Saturday, March 27th, a sequence of candlelight dinners will begin at Four Seasons Hotel Sydney at 8:30pm local time and move westward across the planet. Read more

The Heads Up: Library Showing “Carts Of Darkness” Tonight…

Carts of Darkness is screening at the main branch of the Vancouver Public Library tonight. If you haven’t heard of this awesome flick before, here’s the skinny:

In the picture-postcard community of North Vancouver, filmmaker Murray Siple follows men who have turned bottle-picking, their primary source of income, into the extreme sport of shopping cart racing. Enduring hardships from everyday life on the streets of Vancouver, this sub-culture depicts street life as much more than stereotypes portrayed in mainstream media. The film takes a deep look into the lives of the men who race carts, the adversity they face, and the appeal of cart racing despite the risk.

It’s better than The Notebook. See you there.

Mis Trucos Kicking Off Patio Season With A BBQ on March 21st

News from Scout supporter Mis Trucos

Vancouver, BC | Vancouver’s unseasonably warm weather means one thing … it’s BBQ time! On Sunday, March 21, from 5 pm to 10 pm, Mis Trucos will hold a Spring BBQ Kickoff, hosted by Mobio and the Give a Better Life Foundation. Guests can enjoy a full meal starting with Mis Trucos’ signature tapas, like chorizo-stuffed squid, crispy bread-wrapped prawns and scallop ceviche, followed by an all-you-can-eat spread that includes roast suckling pig, BBQ beef ribs, grilled wild salmon and grilled sausages.

R&B beer, Mis Trucos’ sangria and Hendricks gin cocktails are also included.

Tickets are $50 (inclusive of tax and gratuity) and all proceeds will go towards the Give a Better Life Foundation, which supports various causes including the Vancouver Downtown Eastside Aboriginal Mother Centre. Read more

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