Smoke Break #854: Samuel L. Jackson Does “Go The F@ck To Sleep” Audiobook
June 15, 2011
The much ballyhooed NSFW children’s book, Go The Fuck To Sleep, has finally got its official audiobook companion, and of course they’ve chosen the most appropriate narrator possible in Samuel L. Jackson. If you have kids, you’re going to dig this…
HAVE ANOTHER SMOKE
Happy 90th Anniversary To The Greedy Freaks At The BC Liquor Distribution Branch
June 14, 2011
The following just arrived in my inbox from the good folks at WineLaw.ca. If the text had a body, I’d give it a hug:
It is the 90th anniversary and the government monopoly Liquor Distribution Branch (LDB) still controls and sells all liquor within BC at the wholesale level and still sells a vast amount through its government retail stores which have extremely high operating costs. The LDB is a $3 billion per year business in B.C. It generates about $900 million per year for the government but costs about $300 million per year to operate.
The following are some of the legacies of prohibition which make BC look ridiculous when compared to the rest of the world:
- Today, all liquor sold within BC must be registered and listed with the government. All imports of liquor must be approved by and processed through the government wholesaler. Yet, we don’t do this for cigarettes or guns.
- Today in BC, and unlike most of the rest of the world, it is still illegal to consume alcohol in a public place such as a park. BC citizens cannot legally enjoy a glass of wine while enjoying a picnic.
- It is still illegal to carry liquor across provincial borders (a criminal offence with possible imprisonment). In Europe, you can ship alcohol between countries without a problem. While Canadians cannot legally return from a vacation in another province with any alcohol, they can bring back 2 bottles per person after a trip to another country.
- We have excessively high taxes on liquor which result in prices being about double what they should be. For example, Chateau Ste. Michelle Riesling, a Washington state wine, is commonly available for $6 south of the border. It is $15.99 in BC because the standard LDB markup on wine is 123% plus 12% HST on top of that for a grand total of 135% tax.
- Wine is good for you when used in moderation as intended. No amount of soda pop is good for you but that is taxed at only 12%.
- We have arcane regulation of restaurants and private retailers such that these independent businesses are not permitted to do things which are otherwise commonplace. For example, they cannot store liquor off-site. They cannot transfer liquor between locations of the same restaurant or retail chain (even if the LDB is out of stock). They must buy nearly all their liquor from the government, usually from a single designated government store. If they order anything other than mainstream products, they are forced to order in full case lots via a slow and inefficient delivery system. As a result, restaurants frequently run out of products or encounter storage and financial issues due to the requirement to order in such large quantities.
- Restaurants and bars are denied wholesale prices entirely. Private retailers are given wholesale prices which are fixed artificially high by their chief competitor (the government stores). As a result, there is virtually no competition in the retail liquor business and consumers are denied the sales and good deals that are common in other countries.
- It is illegal for a private person to sell a bottle of liquor to another private person. Auctions are also illegal (unless done for charity).
- Citizens cannot take their own wine into a restaurant and have the restaurant charge them a corkage fee (even if the wine was purchased from a government store). This is illegal – it’s considered to be “illicit liquor”.
Happy Anniversary LDB, but don’t expect the rest of British Columbia to be joining you to celebrate the 90th birthday of the establishment of government control over the sale of liquor within the province.
PS. You suck.
Foreign Intelligence Brief #370: Cyber-Group “Anonymous” Warns Off Imperious NATO
June 10, 2011
The Atlantic Council has posted a letter addressed to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) from government hypocrisy cop/hacktivist group Anonymous:
It has come to our attention that a NATO draft report has classified Anonymous a potential “threat to member states’ security,” and that you seek retaliation against us.
It is true that Anonymous has committed what you would call ‘cyber-attacks’ in protest against several military contractors, companies, lawmakers, and governments, and has continuously sought to fight against threats to our freedoms on the Internet. And since you consider state control of the Internet to be in the best interest of the various nations of your military alliance, you therefore consider us a potential threat to international security.
So we would like to make it clear that we, in reality, pose no threat to the people of your nations. Anonymous is not a reckless swarm attacking the websites of governments and companies out of hatred or spite. We fight for freedom. For ourselves, and the people of the world, we seek to preserve the liberty granted to the millions of people who have found it on the Internet. . . .
Anonymous is not simply “a group of super hackers.” Anonymous is the embodiment of freedom on the web. We exist as a result of the Internet, and humanity itself. This frightens you. It only seems natural that it would. Governments, corporations, and militaries know how to control individuals. It frustrates you that you do not control us. We have moved to a world where our freedom is in our own hands. We owe you nothing for it. We stand for freedom for every person around the world. You stand in our way. . . .
So come at me bro. You can retaliate against us in any manner you choose. Lock down the web. Throw us in prison. Take it all away from us. Anonymous will live on.
(Italics mine) I’m not one for black trench coats or anarchic manifestos (nor sixteen sided dice), but that last para is pretty rad.
Scout List: Our Eclectic Agenda For Discerning Vancouverites…
June 9, 2011
The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit.
The Scout List is our carefully considered, first rate agenda of super awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours… Read more
Sizing Up Gastown’s Cool New “Community Thrift & Vintage”
June 8, 2011
by Michelle Sproule | Owned by The Portland Hotel Society, a Vancouver organization aimed at providing housing, advocacy and support to people in the Downtown Eastside, brand new Community Thrift & Vintage isn’t just Gastown’s freshest storefront, it’s also a social enterprise that runs as a not-for-profit business that accepts donations of gently-used clothing and redirects all profits to charities in Vancouver (bonus: it employs residents of the DTES in a graduated job training program).
But this is not your average not-for-profit shop. There aren’t gnarly stains, mothballs and mountains of crap to sift through. From its “no polyester” policy and its emphasis on natural fibres to the obvious knack the staff have for zeroing in on great pieces, this joint could easily occupy a heart-of-Main Street address and gouge dollars from those who frequent cool-kid stops like Front & Co. This place definitely has that specialty, carefully curated feel, minus the glam, glitter and holy shit, really? mark-ups. In other words, they aren’t surcharging for cool.
Shop manager Jenni Nelson and some of her core staff (like local fashion sage Katie Piasta) throw in their expertise at no extra charge. Equal parts stylists, seamstresses and thrifters of the first order, these girls know what they are doing and are happy to advise on what works and what doesn’t. On my visit this afternoon (they opened this morning), I walked out with a beautiful French cotton summer top (see below, $10), a simple navy blouse ($10) and a vintage, sand-coloured linen dress ($24). I’m not sure that I would have picked the dress off the rack if left to my own devices, but Katie sized up the items I was carting off to the changing room and pulled it out for me. It fit perfectly.
The interior is all reclaimed wood and exposed brick walls with vintage mirrors and the occasional retro schoolhouse chair thrown in for good measure. Jenni and her husband Jeff Lee (both of the band Hard Drugs) renovated the space on their own, salvaging most of the material in the long neglected space. Have a look at the before/after piece on their blog. Woah. Nice work!
Here are some more shots from today…
You have to check this place out. The prices are in line with what you would find at a typical no-frills thrift shop, and boys…don’t fret. There’s plenty for you to score, too.
d
Smoke Break #853: Drunk Theatre Outcast In UK Shows Staggering Gymnastic Prowess
June 8, 2011
After falling down in front of Sir Ian McKellan and Liam Neeson, a severely intoxicated thespian at a theatre awards show inside London’s super posh Savoy Hotel was tossed out and left to navigate the 2am streets alone. A series of CCTV cameras captured the parade of folly that followed. The full flip to faceplant over the handrail at 1:29 is most impressive. Oh, drama. You’re so serving it wrong.sho
Smoke Break #852: So How’s That “War On Drugs” Doing? Not So Good…But That’s OK
June 3, 2011
The Global Commission on Drug Policy has released a pretty darn damning report that says the “War On Drugs” has failed (despite it being occasionally hilarious). The 19-member panel included former leaders of major drug war front-line states like Mexico and Colombia, as well as global bigwig pragmatists like former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and billionaire Sir Richard Branson. As if on cue, the governments of the USA and Mexico called the findings “misguided”, probably because the status quo is clearly working out so well. The report comes on the heels of the re-election of Stephen Harper, who got so high at the victory party that he still plans on moving forward with legislation that will bring in longer sentences for drug crimes (including for the possession of just a couple of pot plants at home). Why? Because if it ain’t fixed, break it some more!
HAVE ANOTHER SMOKE
On Your Radar #326: Pecha Kucha Special On “West Coast Modernism” At The Vogue
June 3, 2011
The next Pecha Kucha night is coming down the pipe and should be on your radar. It’s a good idea to snag tickets early for this one, because this time around, each presenter will tie their words and images to the theme of West Coast Modernism in architecture. As per usual, each person will show 20 images for 20 seconds and speak over them (going too long at their peril). This gives them 6 minutes and 40 seconds before the lights dim and the next presenter is announced, keeping it concise and episodic with the interest level always topped up. The line-up looks amazing and includes different strokes from architects and designers to community leaders and artists. Bonus: filmmakers Michael Bernard and Gavin Froome will be there! They collaborated to produce this amazing film on Coast Modern architectural style from Los Angeles to Vancouver; from 1922 up to the present (trailer above). Scout is a proud sponsor, so we’ll see you there.
Pecha Kucha Night volume 17 | Thursday, June 23 | 7pm | Vogue Theatre (918 Granville) | $15
Scout List: Our Eclectic Agenda For Discerning Vancouverites…
June 2, 2011
The main objective of this website is to scout out and promote the things that make Vancouver such a sweet place to be. We do this with an emphasis on the city’s independent spirit to foster a sense of connectedness within and between our communities, and to introduce our readers to the people who grow and cook our food, play the raddest tunes in our better venues, create our most interesting art, and design everything from what we wear to the spaces we inhabit.
The Scout List is our carefully considered, first rate agenda of super awesome things that we’re either doing, wishing that we could do, or conspiring to do this week. From our calendar to yours…
The Waste Festival spreads across the city. The playoffs are on. And the sun is set to make an appearance. Do you even need a Scout List? Just walk out the door.
CULTURE
Music Waste is on and events are so numerous and so flippin’ good that it’s almost pointless to try to narrow it down. Skip over to the Waste website for a look at the schedule and you’ll see what I’m on about. I guess if someone held a gun to my head I could come up with a shortlist of gigs that would be on my must-see list, and that list would go something like this: On Friday I’d hit Zulu for in-store’s with War Baby (6pm), Walter TV (7pm) , and Spring Break (8pm), then I might high-tail it over to Campagnolo for some crispy ceci and wine before stopping in at the Electric Owl to hear the Shilohs play (10pm), after which I’d bolt to the Biltmore for a bit of Fine Mist (11pm). Finally, I’d wander back down to Hastings Street to catch Apollo Ghosts at the Astoria (1am).
On Saturday I’d take the kids to Red Cat Records for the all ages afternoon show with Woolworm at 2pm and Thee Ahs at 3pm before skipping down to Gene for Prophecy Sun at 4pm. In the evening I’d start out at Antisocial (The Spreads play at 10pm), head to Electric Owl for Sun Wizard at 12:30am and then scoot over to the Waldorf for No Gold at 1am. All of the venues are within walking distance (they say) of each other and full festival passes are only $15 (deal of the century). Passes can be found at: Neptoon Records (3561 Main Street); Zulu Records (1972 W 4th Ave); Scratch Records (726 Richards Street) and Redcat Records (4332 Main Street).
Gastown’s Catalog Gallery opens a new show this Friday. This one features work by Caleb Beyers…I read something about a Lamborghini cast out of materials from the earth? Catalog never disappoints. More here.
Opening Reception: Friday June 3 | 56 Powell (right across from Sea Monstr Sushi) | Free
This is a good weekend to take small people to the Vancouver Art Gallery. It’s Family FUSE Weekend! “Expect the unexpected and consider the absurd as artists, dancers, musicians, filmmakers and other creative artists lead workshops, performances, tours and activities proving that there are no limits to the imagination.” Kids under 12 get in for free (score!) with a paying adult. Imagine the unimaginable and turn the world upside down. Or something…
Saturday–Sunday, June 4–5 | 10am–5pm | Vancouver Art Gallery | 22.50 for grown-ups
George Vergette: Stranded and Broke in a Strange Town opens at Gallery Jones (1725 W 3rd) this week. New paintings by Vergette will be on display starting on Saturday (June 4) with an opening reception on Thursday, June 9. Get out there and expose yourself to art!
Catch the Spread at Chapel Arts over the weekend. This is an art show with a special focus on community building and artist promotion exploring alternative strategies for young and emerging artists to show their work in an underfunded art’s community. All work shown will be under $300. Find out more.
June 3 | 8pm-2am | Chapel Arts (304 Dunlevy)
The Fair (International Contemporary Art in Vancouver) gathers 18 local and international galleries about town and stuffs them all in to one super-fantastic exhibition of contemporary art at The Waldorf. Ooh, the efficiency of seeing the wares of 18 galleries in one location!
June 2 – 5 | The Waldorf Hotel (1489 E. Hastings)
Opening Reception: Thursday, June 2, 7pm – 11pm
Friday, June 3, 5pm – 11pm
Saturday, June 4, 1pm – 5pm
Closing Reception: Saturday, June 4, 7pm – 11pm
Sunday, June 5, 11am – 2pm
It’s Italian Day on the Drive. Music, food, bocce and soccer. Throw in a good cup of coffee and a little bit of sunshine. Does it get any better?
June 5 | 12pm – 5pm | Commercial Drive (Venables to Grandview)
Velopalooza is on, get your bike out and join in on some of the activities. There’s something for everyone: DIY bike fixing workshops, bird-watching biking, garden-admiring biking, bike church, hoolahooping and biking, bike-poker, bike-bbq, bike-jousting, a bike sandwich nazi ride, the Deep Cove Doughnut Dive, bikes and beers…and I’m not freakin’ kidding about any of that. You name it and add a bike to it and it’s likely going down. Velopalooza is on now and runs through to June 19. Check it.
Collingwood Days are on. This year, it’s an “old fashion fair with a multicultural flair! There will be multicultural food, activities and entertainment, as well as a world class BMX bike air show, carnival games and bouncy castles.” And you know it’s gonna be good when they break out them bouncy castles!
Saturday, June 4 | Carleton Elementary School (3250 Kingsway) | Free
Does the relationship between a strong economy and a healthy planet seem at odds? Join a collection of authors, economists, filmmakers, and activists to discuss whether or not we can simultaneously expand our economy and decrease our ecological footprint at the De-Growth Conference this weekend. Considering the kind of conversation and inspiration you will be party to at this hot mess, the $30 ticket price seems like a steal. Go earth!
Saturday + Sunday, June 3-4 | SFU Harbour Centre (515 W. Hastings).
It’s Heritage House Tour time. This is your chance to peek inside historic buildings throughout the city on a self-guided tour without being charged with B&E or being thrown in the slammer for peeping your Tom. Each year, a different selection of homes in neighbourhoods across the city are lined-up for participants to shuffle through. Eastside tip: Benny’s in Strathcona (Union and Princess) will be having a BBQ for tour goers.. Meat!
Sunday, June 5 | 10am-5pm | $40
Jewellery and fashion accessory designers slide in to Heritage Hall over the weekend to make sure you’re properly accessorised for the summer. Score handcrafted jewellery, bags, hats, belts and various other trinkets of probably high awesomeness.
Saturday, June 4 | 11am-5pm | Heritage Hall (3102 Main) | $2
There’s a Memory Box Workshop at Chalk. What’s that, you ask? “Not sure what to do with that drawer full of found objects, mementos, photos and keepsakes? Local artist Valerie Arntzen has a passion for these objects and will show you how to incorporate them into a Memory Box. A Memory Box is a place to honour a person, place or thing. It can reflect your childhood, your family, your travels, a special occasion or someone you want to honour..the ideas are endless. This workshop will introduce students to assembled art techniques, with the goal being to create one finished Memory Box.” So there you go. Click here to register.
June 5th | 1pm-4:30pm | Chalk | $65
On Tuesday night, former first lady Laura W. Bush takes the stage at the Centre For Performing Arts to talk about her life experiences. Zzzzzz. She’s expected to talk about life before, during, and after the White House, which is to say it’ll be too long. BYOB.
Tuesday, June 7 | Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts (777 Homer) | $40-125
GLUTTONY
Wander and people-watch through the “shopping extravaganza” at the Chinatown Night Market and then grab a cocktail at The Keefer or Bao Bei.
Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night | 6:30-11pm | Keefer between Main and Columbia
This is weird. There’s a cruelty-to-artists meanathon called East Feast going down this Sunday. Here’s how it works: pay a modest amount ($15) to enjoy afternoon tea while three preselected artists each make presentations promoting their work. The audience then votes on which artist will receive their funding. Grassroots micro-funding at its most bizarre, relying on a hybrid of community engagement and schadenfreude to get by.
Sunday, June 5 | 2pm-4pm | The Canucks Family Education Centre, Britannia Community Centre | $15
If you’ve got a c-note burning a hole in your pocket, consider hitting this cool fundraising dinner for the Downtown Eastside Centre For The Arts. $100 will get you dinner prepared by local chef Marci Toms and live music. The venue is a heritage house in Kitsilano (you get details of the exact location once you purchase a ticket). Your dough is going to a good cause, providing opportunities for creative exploration, engagement, and expression in the heart of the city. The Centre gives artists, social enterprises, and community groups interested in contributing to the cultural, social, and community development of the neighbourhood the opportunity to participate in creating. If you’re interested, contact Mel ASAP, (there are only a few tickets left): mel.lehan22@gmail.com.
June 4 | 6pm | Location is TBA | $100
Trout Lake Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | Trout Lake | Free
Kitsilano Farmers Market | Sunday | 10am – 2pm | 2690 Larch @ 10th | Free
West End Farmers Market | Saturday | 9am-2pm | 1100 Block Comox | Free
Thornton Park | Wednesday | 3pm – 7pm | Main Street Station at Terminal | Free
FLICKS
The Outsiders AND Rumble Fish play at the Rio. Wanna go?
Friday, June 3 | 11:55pm | Rio Theatre | $8
Machete Maidens are unleashed at Pacific Cinematheque.
Friday, June 2-5 | various times | Pacific Cinematheque | $11
Meanwhile, Vancity throws down in Lynchian fashion with Blue Velvet and Eraserhead!
Friday, June 3 | 7pm | Vancity Theatre | $11
Sadly, there’s nothing is playing at the Hollywood on Broadway. “The Fairleigh family is truly heartbroken to announce that in late May the Hollywood Theatre will be undergoing a change in ownership, largely due to increasing property taxes, HST, and the changing market for movie consumption, in which films can be downloaded for free. Thank you to all the wonderful people who have supported the Hollywood all these years. All the best to you, Vancouver film-lovers!”
Bummer.
If you are involved in or know of an event that you think we should add to the Scout List, drop us a line and we’ll see what we can do. Keep in mind that we’re looking for cool, cheap and accessible events. Michelle [@] Scoutmagazine [dot] ca.
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Michelle Sproule grew up in Kitsilano and attended Bond University in Australia and the University of Victoria before receiving her graduate degree in Library Sciences from The University of Toronto. She lives in beautiful Strathcona and enjoys wandering aimlessly through the city’s shops and streets with her best friend – a beat up, sticky, grimy, and uncooperative camera.
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Cool Thing We Want #278: Local Artist Julie Morstad’s Sweet “Milk Teeth” Drawings
June 1, 2011
Love the sweet and macabre illustrations by local artist Julie Morstad. A collection of her Marcel Dzama-reminiscent drawings is back in print and popping up around town. We spied some at Dandelion Emporium (2442 Main) the other day. Milk Teeth ($17) is published by Drawn and Quarterly.
