World Water Day Observed With “Blue Gold” At Rhizome Cafe

You can count on East Broadway’s Rhizome Cafe to always come up with some pretty solid community-oriented events. This week they’re screening the documentary Blue Gold (by the same producers as “The Corporation.”) which will be followed by a discussion on local efforts to conserve and protect water. It’s all going down in anticipatory recognition of World Water Day on March 22.

In honour of World Water Day, we’ll reflect on organizing successes internationally and locally. What can we do nationally and provincially to protect our commons? We’ll screen the film “Blue Gold”. Information on other WWD events will be available. Proceeds will go to Partners in Health for water support in Haiti.

Find the Wiki on WWD here. | March 18 | 7 pm | Rhizome Cafe | Sliding scale $5 – 10

Let’s Hear It For The Hallmark Target Market That Waits In Line

St. Patrick’s Day is arguably the weirdest commercially non-denominational faux “holiday” going in North America today, right next to Halloween, Easter, and Christmas. It’s evolved, I think, into the baldest excuse to get drunk since becoming an alcoholic or digging the Toronto Maple Leafs. Instead of “let’s drop some LSD in the graveyard before begging for candy!” or “Christ is dead, let’s paint some eggs and scarf chocolate!” or “Jesus has been born to a mother who never had sex so here’s some lego and thanks for the stuffing” it’s something entirely even less sensical. It’s “let’s be inebriated enough by 6pm so we can beats the sunset with a Gastown soak of puke and urine!” Right on, bubba. Whatever turns your crank, religious freedom and all that. Nevermind that the 5th century saint wasn’t Irish (he was an Eton grad cricketer who dug The Who and flew Spits in the War) but was a right bloke who could neither empathize with wankers dressed in neon green Dr. Seuss hats nor even imagine post-pubescent ex-private school tarts dusting off their pleated skirts and pairing them with torn stockings a la Doc Martens. The fellow was about as Irish as most of the people in line, which means just about none at all. So cheers. Good luck functioning this morning, and be happy it was for a good cause…or something.

Dear Restaurateurs, Please Buy This And Open Something Sweet

A reader pointed me to this ad on ICX last night. It’s 906 Main St. (conveniently close to our new digs) and it’s selling for $2.2 million. Up the block is Campagnolo. Down another is Bao Bei.

This converted Bank of Montreal branch is now a two-level 4,360 sf retail unit that boasts spectacular neo-classical details & unprecedented quality. The unit features natural light, large windows, upgraded electrical, upgraded lighting, two washrooms, elevator, wheelchair access & is vented for a restaurant. The improvements to this heritage building are beautifully finished & only enhance the original structure. Don’t miss this excellent owner/user or investment opportunity.

The “unprecedented quality” hyperbole should be overlooked (the Pantheon still stands in Rome) and the price is on the silly side of ambitious, but it’s pretty swell-looking just the same. Any takers? A few more snaps after the jump… Read more

Gastown’s Legendary Alibi Room Joins The Scout Community

The good people over at our favourite watering hole, Gastown’s Alibi Room, are now proud member supporters of Scout. We will be publishing their news and press releases on our front page and hosting a page for them in our list of recommended restaurants. Click ahead or jump to their Scout page here. Read more

Chef Wayne Martin Refines His Focus & Makes Main St. Decision

News from Scout supporter Crave on Main

Vancouver, BC | His talent in the kitchen and ability to manage a large staff and multiple kitchens has been proven time and again. When Executive Chef Wayne Martin made a leap of faith and swapped his Four Seasons Vancouver Hotel Executive Chef toque for a lot more hats as the Owner/Operator/Executive Chef of Crave Main Street he had a vision.

To get back in the kitchen and develop a menu of “renewed classics” in a vibrant neighbourhood and build a loyal following in an area he wanted to call home. He also wanted to take more time to enjoy life, slow down his hectic pace and refocus his priorities. In 2006, he quickly turned the 34 seat-eatery into a Main Street must-do and inspired guest line ups to nab a seat at the coveted, fair weather, back-garden terrace. Read more

Pan-American Wine Bar “Latitude” On Main St. Now Open For Lunch

News from Scout supporter Latitude

Vancouver, BC | Main Street’s Latitude Restaurant and Wine Bar is now open for lunch from 11:30am – 2:30pm Monday to Saturday.  With our relaxed atmosphere and central location, our new service promises to be as successful as our dinners have become since opening last spring. Latitude’s lunch menu departs from its dinner selections while maintaining a refined Latin American tilt.  Try our gourmet Tacos, Southwestern Seafood Chowder, Caesar Salad with Tabasco and Clamato sauteed side stripe prawns from Tofino’s Wildside Seafood, Bison Flat Iron Steak Sandwich with chimichurri mayo, or White Bean and Chicken Chili with smoked jalapeno buttered cornbread. Read more

Isabelle Hayeur Burning Down The House On West Hastings

Digging this “Fire With Fire” art Installation by Isabelle Hayeur at 112 West Hastings across from the new Woodwards complex.

“The Montreal-based artist Isabelle Hayeur is interested in the tensions, battles and disappearances that mark our social and urban fabric. Her site-specific installation on Vancouvers Hastings Street resonates with the history of the Downtown Eastside. It sends images flickering out through the windows of a four-storey building, connecting conditions in the neighbourhood today to its fiery past.”

Hat tip to KK for the video.

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