<rant>The rhetoric from Libby Davies and the left speaks about how we should boycott a free trade deal with Columbia because of their alleged human rights record.

Of course, as usual, no solutions are presented. Let’s just shut the doors, put on a boycott, continue to lose our competitive edge and devolve into a third world nation. Great stuff, Libby.

This is by no means an attack on trade unionists. Actually, on the surface, it seems that the treatment in Columbia is not specific to trade unionists – it also applies to ordinary people. It’s just that Libby is spinning it this way – despicable at best.</rant>

Check the original release after the jump.
[read more…]

Lumiere, one of the world’s finest restaurants, is slated to close soon and undergo a major transformation. Part of the transformation includes the installation of a DB Bistro Moderne which will open up next door in the space formerly occupied by Feenie’s. In the meantime, under the watchful eye of Chef de Cuisine Dale McKay and some input from super chef Daniel Boulud, Lumiere is still leading the pack with multi-course extravagance in the dining room and a nice set of tasting bites in the lounge.

A couple weeks ago, I took the opportunity to sit down for dinner at Lumiere with my wife, Mona, friend, Robert Delamar, and his wife, Midori. This was the second time in a month that I had a chance to enjoy the food at the famed restaurant and as usual I was impressed with all aspects of the dinner – from the company to the service and understandably, the food.

My friend Bob, talks about Lumiere’s history and our friend, David Sidoo on his blog, at Urbmob, HERE, in a posting titled ‘A True Baller.’ If you haven’t been to Lumiere yet, take the opportunity to at least enjoy the tasting bites before they close – the press release is at the end of this post.

Bob labels David Sidoo as a baller but one of the reasons we likely enjoy each others’ company is simple – Bob travels alot to LA, NYC and Japan on business. Having lived in Japan for a couple years, we definitely have a connection. Running a record label is definitely great for the jetset lifestyle.

Back to getting paid, Bob’s company is Urbmob – think Urban and Mobile. The company is a social network which allows artists, models and fans to share in revenues from the sale of ringtones, wallpapers and more with Urbmob’s trademarked Talent Rank service. Upload music and photos – they get transformed into ringtones and wallpapers for download. Pretty simple really, check out the blurb, below:

So you’re an aspiring artist, model or a fan hell bent on promoting your own stuff and you want to know how to monetize your insane talent. You also want your audience to recognize your talent and put you on TV, Radio, get into Magazines, and do your own events… Well you came to the right place. Welcome to Urbmob.

For artists, they post their stuff up, much like a MySpace profile and can sell their wares. Brilliant, unique and definitely defensible intellectual property. Check out the quick video blurb on their corporate site, HERE.

—

You can also check out the press release from Lumière with details on hours of service and special cocktails, after the jump.
[read more…]

March 2008, a good month for Infamous. The colourful cover helped it fly off the shelves and the content was well worth it.

A look at the new Yew in the Four Seasons, great wines, Naked and Famous Jeans, and way more. I even got two full pages for the Social Shot this month.

As for the month’s activities. Our friend Olivia Cheng joined the Burlesque Beauties as Madamme Manhattan, the folks at Dutil got Naked and Famous, they killed Cupid at Nu and more. Check out INFAMOUS on the newsstands – it hits every month at your favourite local hipster hangout.

About ten months ago, JARO blue on Calgary’s trendy 17th Avenue quietly opened their doors to the public. On Saturday, what could have been described as the height of summer in Calgary, I got a chance to take a peek and left with a pretty good impression.

I tasted almost every martini on their list – they’re all dangerous.. but in a good way! The atmosphere and aesthetic inside are great and the patio is definitely fun to spend time on.

17th Avenue’s foot traffic is reminiscent of what I used to experience back in the day on Vancouver’s Granville Street when I used to get plastered at Jack’s Dining Lounge – everything from guys sporting their new Maseratis all the way out to the homeless and dejected using their wits to score whatever their poison may be. Either way, it’s always a good experience and the diversity of 17th is a definite departure from Calgary’s homogeny.

In speaking with Jared Seifrit, one of the owners of JARO blue, I quickly discovered that he’s originally from Vancouver and lives in Yaletown on occasion.  It’s probably why they’re so successful – taking elements and life lessons from Western Canada’s most cosmopolitan neighbourhood and one of the world’s best food and beverage meccas – it all comes together.

JARO blue
1314 seventeenth ave sw t2t 0c3
calgary ab

TEL: 1-403-237-JARO
WEB: www.jaroblue.com

Alright, I admit… the title is a bit  sensationalistic. It appears the powers that be in ‘no fun City’ land (aka Vancouver) need to hear from the public about the sculptures purchased to be legacy pieces during the 2005 – 2007 Vancouver Sculpture Biennale.

More details after the jump including information on today’s public consultation at the West End Community Centre.
[read more…]

Ping’s Cafe (or is it Ping’s Café or maybe Pings Cafe) on Main Street (used to be Confucius Says Restaurant) at 11th in Vancouver recently cracked their doors for the public. From the outside, the property looks dilapidated and vacant…

Inside, it’s a hipster’s dream – a place that serves ‘Yoshoku’ or homestyle Japanese, reinterpreted Western food to make such creations as ‘Ping Dog,’ Grilled Bratwurst served with Momiji Oroshi Ponzu (say goodbye to Feenie’s Weenie,) or the ‘Hambagoo,’ Japanese Mama style Hamburger with Yoshoku sauce, bun not included.

We checked out the hand-made Gyoza, a salad and the ‘Ping Dinner,’ 1 Hambagoo, 2 Hire Tonkatsu (Panko deep fried pork tenderloin serverd with our Yoshoku sauce,) and 2 Ebi Furai (Panko deep fried prawn with tartar sauce.) I don’t think a single morsel was spared.

In terms of the look and feel of the restaurant. No disrespect to the person who created the benches, my wife didn’t give good reviews on the comfort. Holes in the wall to put the wine – pretty neat. Stains on the table to give that ‘worn in feeling,’ so-so.

Good food; decor – ok; lack of dessert – meh; secret batcave location – pretty cool.

Would I go there again, fight through the mean streets to find parking and then search for the place? Maybe as a novelty. Maybe on the #3… or is that the #8?

Check out other web people talking about the place, HERE, HERE and HERE.

Ping’s Café

Open Tuesday to Sunday, 5PM to late

Address: 2702 Main St., Vancouver, BC V5T 3E8
Telephone: 604-873-2702
Website: www.pingscafe.ca

Located on the corner of East 11th Avenue and Main Street – look for the coin laundry, it’s right next door.

February.. February… it’s been a long time since I’ve looked at this issue so this is a long overdue blog posting.

I recall the nights.. going to Plan B’s opening. Going to the Vancouver Art Gallery and meeting Summer Lea – thereafter going to Mysala on Granville and out of the blue, local personality, Papa Guj, says yea… I know Summer. Who doesn’t he know?

.. then there was Jack Evrensel at Blue Water, and the new addition to the OPUS team, Rachel Sehl. Yup, February was a good month – and a good month for INFAMOUS. You can always check them out online, HERE.