Life

THE IN THE HOUSE FESTIVAL – Community Spirit and the Arts

Watch Shaboobie Boobarella, The Pussy Willows, Little Woo, and other performers shake some as part of a Burlesque Cabaret in your neighbour’s house! It’s possible…if you’re part of THE IN THE HOUSE FESTIVAL, June 3-4, a festival of music, dance, theatre, storytelling, burlesque, spoken word, and hip-hop, comedy, and more, featuring more than 50 acts performing in living rooms and backyards of the Victoria Drive neighbourhood.

THE IN THE HOUSE FESTIVAL
June 3-4, 2006
9 houses in a Victoria Dr. neighbourhood around Grant St.
Tix $10 (adult) / $7 (child) single shows, $40 (adult)/ $25 (child) weekend passes (buy HERE)

THE IN HOUSE FESTIVAL’s concept is “to have a multitude of performances within people's living rooms and back yards.” The intimacy between the audience and performers is enhanced in the cozy venue of someone’s actual house!

The mandate of the THE IN THE HOUSE FESTIVAL is 3-fold:
1) Increase audience awareness of the immense variety and talent of the performers in Vancouver through culturally and stylistically varied acts.

2) Create strong communities by getting home owners to open their homes as venue hosts and bringing together people from both the neighborhood and the rest of the city in the intimate setting of the home.

3) Bring recognition and exposure to Vancouver-based artists in a non-traditional way.

More:
Contact THE IN THE HOUSE FESTIVAL artistic director Myriam Steinberg: info@inthehousefestival.com or Phone: 604-874-9325 or Fax: 604-263-2052
Check the In the House Festival website for past festival photos, performers, schedule, and more: www.inthehousefestival.com.

Life

Go to the Vancouver International Digital Festival (VIDFEST) for Free!

Calling all game developers, animators, interactive designers, creative directors, producers, mobile content developers and digital filmmakers!

Welcome to VIDFEST 2006 (Vancouver International Digital Festival) from June 14-16 in Vancouver, BC. The organizers promise you’ll “meet the Masters of the Digital Universe” who push the boundaries of digital media in the 3 days of learning, sharing, networking, and fun.

Want to hobnob with digital visionaries from all over the world at VIDFEST? Maybe catch a chat with keynote speaker, Atari and Pong’s Nolan Bushnell, known as the “Father of the Video Game Industry”. Yes? Then move your ass NOW! and take advantage of Interactive Project Lab’s grant of up to $2,000 to cover expenses to VIDFEST including transportation, accommodation, registration fee, and per diems to a qualified applicant (like you!). **DEADLINE: June 7, 2006**

To qualify, applicants must be:
(1) a new media producer or developer who has recently graduated or begun working in interactive media
(2) developing a current interactive project
(3) a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant

Applicants are selected based on the submission of a statement of intent and online portfolio and/or description of project in development. For more info and to apply go iplab.infivia.com.

More:
VIDFEST website for venues, programmes, fees, speakers, etc: www.vidfest.com.
Check out VIDFEST’s Top 10 reasons to attend: Top 10 Reasons to go to VIDFEST.
Check out the organizers, New Media BC (NMBC), the association devoted to promoting and connecting BC’s 800 thriving digital media companies @ www.newmediabc.com.
Flickr has some 2005 VIDFEST pics: here.

Life

Stick People Stick Together – CUBE WORLD gadgets

If you loved Tamagotchis (secretly or openly, either way will do), CUBE WORLD is definitely your next cute gadget. Radica Games (started by Americans in Hong Kong) introduces CUBE WORLD, a complex community of digital people, composed of 4.7 x 4.7cm cubes (2 in a pack) containing a pixellated stick figure who lives and plays inside the LCD screen.

Collect all 4 CUBES: Dodger (red) has a ball, Whip (yellow) has a rope, Slim (purple) has a stick, and Scoop (orange) has a dog. Connect up to 16 CUBES together to build an interactive world; then watch the stick figures interact with each other! They’ll visit each other’s CUBES, wave at each other, play with each other, torment each other, and protect each other—witness Dodger tossing a ball to Slim between CUBES, or Whip throwing up a rope to Scoop.

How they do it, dunno, but the CUBES hold 100 possible animations in CUBE WORLD, including group hugs and bungee jumping. Extra stuff on the cubes include motion sensors to shake up the stick figures, and buttons so you can play games with each stick figure.

More:
Buy Cube World cubes at Think Geek (Set of 2 for $29.99 US) @ www.thinkgeek.com, or from www.toyandgamewarehouse.com.
Articles on CUBE WORLD in Popgadget here, and Think Geek here.

Life

MISO PRETTY, how about you?

It must be true that Asians all look alike, right? Take a look at the beauty line called MISO PRETTY, a riff on “Me so pretty” because, you know, all Asians speak like that. The packaging is charming in that Shanghai-in-the-roaring-1920s way, the characters wearing cheery cheongsams, plums and wild orchids framing them…despite the fact miso soup is a Japanese comfort food.

All well, it’s all tongue’n’cheek, and MISO PRETTY is part of a line of other comic, retro and satiric designs from BLUE Q, the "designer-friendly" gift manufacturer founded in 1988 in Boston. The MISO PRETTY stuff includes plum lipgloss; miso bath sake; persimmon & wild orchid soap; body wash made from crushed pearls, bamboo oil, muru muru butter and peony; miso rice scrub; and the miso purse shaped like a Chinese food-takeout box (Blue Q website HERE).

More:
*Buy MISO PRETTY online at www.beautymark.ca.
*Or check out BLUE Q’s website for shops in your area www.blueq.com.
*Ediburgh-based artist Fiona Hewitt designed the MISO PRETTY line. Her website: www.fionahewitt.com.
*Interview with BLUE Q founders in Business Week.

Life

What does it feel like? Delectable, glittery funk - Felix da Housecat in Town

Felix da House Cat, aka Felix Stallings Jr, has been combining lowdown techno sounds with beats that kick with a smidge of industrial sounds to create “delectable, glittery, synthetic/organic, beat-laden funk heaven”. This Chicago-born record producer became a powerhouse in the 1990s under aliases such as Thee Maddkatt Courtship, Aphrohead and Sharkimaxx (you gotta love him for those names alone), but Felix da Housecat’s 2001 electroclash album “Kittenz and Thee Glitz” brought him into the forefront and brought all young things to glee with its fusion of new wave, 1980s electropop, punk, electronica, and industrial sounds with vamp.

And, yes, Felix da Housecat is bringing all this to you this Thursday, June 1st at Atlantis Night Club. Yeah, Thursday, suck it up. He'll end up making you meow. Ah, the promise...

CARGO presents FELIX DA HOUSECAT
Thursday, June 01, 2006 | 9:30 - 2:00 AM
Atlantis Nightclub, 1320 Richards Street, Vancouver
Buy tix here.

More:
Felix da Housecat’s website at www.felixdahousecat.com.
Listen to a sample of the (you’ll-recognize-it) DJ favorite “Silver Screen Shower Scene”, here (WMP)
Listen to a sample of “What Does it Feel Like?” with its perceptible Prince influence here (WMP).
Listen to the sample of “Miss Hollywood” with its breathy Euro-sounding vocals here (WMP).
Listen to the sample of “Glitz Rock” in the vein of Daft Punk here.

Life

Play! Collaborative interactive art – THE BROTH: THE GLOBAL MOSAIC

The Broth’s motto is “Be nice, work together, and have fun!” and it sticks. Influenced by Web 2.0 / Ajax applications and from Xbox Live for Xbox 360, a small group of developers out of Perth, Australia decided to harness these rich new technologies to create something truly open for the whole internet community. A way for the global community to get to come together, play, coexist, and create unique collaborative art in the form of The Broth: The Global Mosaic.

THE BROTH? Like cooking? Sorta. Many “cooks” create THE BROTH so to speak, and the name stuck. Basically, The Broth: The Global Mosaic is made of 1,000 tiles that are shared by everyone. Click on any mosaic tile and drag it around to create new artworks. When you move a tile, others can instantly see your moves and vice versa!

Let your creative inner (or outer) geek shine! The Broth: The Global Mosaic is meant to be art that is free of restrictions. No plug-ins, no flash, no fast computer to confuse anyone. In the words of The Broth developers, “People interact at the same time, beyond borders of language, age, gender or politics.” Go play (HERE)!

More:
Focus on The Broth and its drag’n’ drop application @ www.ajaximpact.com.

Life

5 Japanese + 1 kickboxer + 1 Nose Hair + tweezers = JAPANESE HUMOUR in a Nutshell

JAPANESE COMEDY is flavoured with some slapstick, gags and humiliation, oh yes, humiliation is key. It’s often lost in translation, but you can taste a bit of Japanese comedy via a skit from comedy troupe DOWNTOWN (ダウンタウ) that has left many spewing out their beverages (Watch Japanese comedy skit on youtube HERE)—you’ll laugh that hard. Best of all, you can watch it without knowing any Japanese. For real, shya!

How? Why? Well, (A) The skit also stars Ernesto Hoost, a Dutch kickboxer, 1993 K-1 winner, and celebrity in Japan, which is why English translations are provided for his benefit (tho, Hoost can speak Japanese); (B) The skit is part of DOWNTOWN comedy troupe’s “ンのガキの使いやあらへんで!” (“Gaki No Tsukai Ya Arahende!” or “This is No Job for Kids!”)’s “Silent Library” series—meaning everything takes place in SILENCE. What to expect: nose-hair pulling, slapping machine, old man bites tenderly, wasabi root rolls…it’ll make sense when you watch the damn thing already!

Hamada Masatoshi (浜田雅功) (Hama-chan) and Matsumoto Hitoshi (松本人志) (Ma-chan) make up the popular comedy troupe DOWNTOWN. Their manzai (漫才) style of comedy is peppered with shouting, slapping heads, musings about life; it's very animated and very Osaka (a good thing...sorry Tokyo, but Osaka is where it's at!).

More:
3 Yen News highlighted the Youtube of Gaki No Tsukai’s SILENT LIBRARY first here, as “nose-hair pulling on Japanese TV”.

Life

Calling all gadget-loving runners – The Nike+iPod ™ Sports Kit

People have been running for recreation or as a necessity forever. Forever! People have been running the same way with or without fancy running shoes (African marathoners running barefoot still tend to kick the ass of fancy-shoe wearing runners) forever too. Yet "they" continue to convince consumers we need more stuff to run better, thus the unique partnership between Nike and Apple has come up with the Nike+iPod ™ Sports Kit which they promise “will change the way people run”. Like ass backwards?

Actually…Nike+iPod ™ Sports Kit promises to act as your coach, your personal trainer and your favorite workout companion (apparently social interaction is not the point of sports). The teensy Nike+iPod ™ Sports Kit device tucks under your insole to track your distance, pace, time, calories; while providing audible “feedback”, of course music too, through your headphones.

Prelim reports say Nike+iPod ™ Sports Kit will retail for $29.00 (US). The pre-sale starts before the July 13th release date through Apple Store®, Apple's retail stores, Apple Authorized Resellers as well as Nike.com, Niketown, NikeWomen stores and select retail stores in the Canada and the US.

More:
Nike+iPod ™ Sports Kit press releases from The Globe & Mail and Yahoo Business News.

Life

Matisyahu - Heb Steady

Last year, it was M.I.A.'s global guerrila mashup that had everyone in the music world talking like mad. This year, it may be America's newest reggae star, Matisyahu, who, as you can tell by the pic, isnt of any Caribbean descent but a full fledged Hasidic Jew (so, no the beard aint to bite ZZ Top or Rick Rubin).

Complete with a spiritual awakening during a trip to Israel and incorporating traditional Hebrew psalms to Trenchtown riddums to Bronx style beat-boxing, Matisyahu has his own blend of music and message to share unto the world.

Jewschool.com interview
Rollingstone profile
Everything about Matisyahu
Matisyahu Fan site

Official site
My Space page

Life

Not what you think – HOT ONE INCH ACTION

HOT ONE INCH ACTION is the unique one night only show of original art, music and social interaction. Hosted by Plan B, HOT ONE INCH ACTION showcases 50 artists' designs on 1-inch buttons, live music from DJs Robin Bank$ and Trike, and Vancouver's most discerning art audience (you!) on Saturday, May 27th @ Gallery Gachet.

You can buy randomly selected 1-inch buttons in bags of 5, after perusing the 1-inch buttons displayed on the gallery wall. If the bag you snag doesn’t have your desired button, fear not because you can trade with the people around you.

HOT ONE INCH ACTION
Saturday May 27, 2006 | 8:00pm-11pm
Gallery Gachet
88 E Cordova, Vancouver
Contact: buttons@thisisplanb.net

More:
Hot One Inch Action is produced and curated by Chris Bentzen and Jim Hoehnle of Plan B.
See the video on CBC's Zed for Hot One Inch Action 2005 here.

Life

Return of the Chung King – 7th ANNUAL ASIAN COMEDY NIGHT

Guffaws about being Asian in North America is not the most original material out there but it doesn’t fail to make you laugh, so check out RETURN OF THE CHUNG KING – 7TH ANNUAL ASIAN COMEDY NIGHT at the Roundhouse Performance Centre from May 26th to 27th @ 8:00pm.

Hosted by Tom Chin, the show will feature 3-time winners of the Rice Bowl, the LA-based sketch group OPM (Open People’s Minds); and appearances by local comedian Jeffrey Yu, Seattle-based comic Kermet Apio, 50 Yen, Kimora Lee, Iron Chef Bobby Flay, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Il, and Sayuri from “Memoirs of a Geisha”.

RETURN OF THE CHUNG KING – 7TH ANNUAL ASIAN COMEDY NIGHT
Friday May 26 & Saturday May 27
8:00 PM, doors at 7:30 PM
181 Roundhouse Mews (Davie & Pacific Blvd, Vancouver)
Buy Tickets | $18 in advance or $21 cash at the door:
In person at the Roundhouse
By phone at (604) 713-1800 or
Online at www.vact.ca
Note: 14+ years, some coarse language and suggestive material

Party On! Join the performers and producers at 2 AFTER PARTIES:
Friday Night at SHIRU-BAY with fighting Chef, Kodai Uno
Saturday Night at THE DINER (both within steps from the theatre)
$5 gets you in. You hang with the comics and have a fun night out! Cash Bar. AFTER PARTY Tickets available on-line

Life

Evil Film School presents SHATNER! – Yup, Captain Kirk double-bill

Captain Kirk the movie star? Apparently he did more than Star Trek films and wouldn’t you know it, Evil Film School presents: “SHATNER! Captain Kirk in 2 lost gems from the 70s” on Friday, May 26th at 7:30pm.

The double-bill evening will feature:
8pm – “Pray for the Wildcats”: Shatner, Andy Griffith & Robert Reed in a road movie down to Mexico you've gotta see to believe!
AND
9:45 – “Impulse”: Shatner as a psycho killer! What more do you want?!

EVIL FILM SCHOOL presents SHATNER!
Friday, May 26th | Doors 7:30
Admission: $5.00
Where: Blim Studios (197 E. 17th Ave @ Main)

Beer & popcorn will be available at the concession.

More:
*About: Evil Film School is known for its original Den of Sin nights, which aims to showcase a collection of found footage, bootlegs, cinema obscura and local shorts “because this city is sadly in need of an alternative film night”.
*Contact: evilfilmschool@gmail.com or info@blim.ca

Life

More to Finland than spas & hockey – DARUDE in Vancouver

DARUDE performs at Club XOX in Richmond this Saturday, May 27th to deliver his progressive melodic trance mixed with tech, breaks, house, and a little heavy metal thrown in. Okay, but who….?

Finnish dj DARUDE came by this name after his friends started to call him “The Rude” then “Da Rude” since he continuously played 'Rude Boy' by Leila K. Friends at parties. If you’re still scratching your head because DARUDE sounds familiar but you don’t know why, scratch no more [no pun intended on the scratch reference]—DARUDE is best known for his 2000 platinum hit “Sandstorm”. Click onto youtube video of “Sandstorm” here to refresh your memory. Ah ha! You got it!

DARUDE with Ben Giovanni
Saturday, May 27, 2006 | 9:00pm - 3:00 am, doors @ 9PM
Club XOX (the former VIVA) (map)
7920 Cambie Road (Corner of Cambie/No. 3 Road)
$20 for the first 100 people - ALL GONE
$30 after that - ON SALE here.
Min Age: 19+ ((2 pieces of ID required)

More:
DARUDE’s monthly mix show, "Salmiakki Sessions with Darude," on ETN.fm.
Interview with Darude, here.
Windows Media Player’s sound file of “Music” here.
Windows Media Player’s sound file of “Next to You” here.

Life

Identity & culture via digital media & photograph – MINING THE ARCHIVE @ Centre A

Centre A presents MINING THE ARCHIVE brings together selected works by UK artists Anthony Lam and Erika Tan, who have each used archives as the source for the production of art.

In “Between Cultures”, Lam has constructed a narrative from a collection of black & white prints which prompt a reflection on memory, travel, history and the power of the gaze in the context of Britain's past Imperial project.

“Persistent Visions” is stems from Tan’s research in the Moving Image Archive at the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum. The 3-screen video installation uses home movies shot by individuals and families who were once stationed in British colonies from Malaysia to Kenya, from Suez to Hong Kong.

CENTRE A presents MINING THE ARCHIVE
Anthony Lam / Erika Tan Exhibition
April 22 - May 27, 2006
Curated by Alice Ming Wai Jim
Address: 2 West Hastings Street, Vancouver
Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11am - 6pm
Contact: 604 683 8326 or centrea@centrea.org

Artists:
Singapore-born Erika Tan graduated from King's College, Cambridge (1991), studied Film Directing at the Beijing Film Academy (1993-4), and (gasp!) completed an MA in Fine Art at Central St Martins School of Art, London (1997). Tan’s interest in cultural and anthropological issues are present in her award-winning multimedia installations, photographic works, videos and websites, including the inIVA project 'Touring London' (2001) and 'Slipstream' (2001).

Anthony Lam is a London-based photographic artist formally trained with a MA in Photography from the London College of Printing. His work interprets photographs in a way that address issues of identity, culture and representation from a personal and socio-political viewpoint. Lam’s multilayered pieces involve photographic stills, archival and digital imagery, installations, projected images, sound and text work. “Ultimately, Lam’s artworks are transitional works that comment and reflect on the inability and challenge for photography to represent and resolutely fix the human experience”.

More:
*Erica Tan and Anthony Lam’s work on the Royal Pavilion, click www.royalpavilion.org.uk.
*Tan’s work included “From China to Chintz (1998)” (see image), an installation using sound, video projection, Chintz wallpaper, bird cages, tea chests, tea, lavender essence, Asian bird song- initially responding to the Chintz wallpaper in Pitshanger Manor, Ealing Broadway.
*Lam’s “China Pavilion (2003)” photograph (see image)

Life

Model by day, Queen of Drum’n’Bass House by night – DJ Rap @ Tokyo Lounge

DJ RAP, aka Charissa Saverio, is the undisputed queen of the turntables and the number one female DJ in the world. This Italian-Irish-Malyasian DJ out of the UK, via Singapore, is a DJ, producer, actress and model to boot. Her innovative beats pull elements of rock, trance and house into the drum & bass format, best heard on her album “Bulletproof”. She’ll be performing at Tokyo Lounge on Saturday, May 27th.

Calvin Klein was wowed by her so much, he personally offered her to be a model in his denim campaign in 2002, and if that doesn’t add to her Lady Luck, DJ RAP was also the first female artist to be sponsored by PLAYSTATION to make music for their games, including the promo track for the launch of Nintendo DS.

DJ RAP with MARTIN RAYMOND & JULIAN CHOW
Tokyo Lounge, 350-1050 Alberni St, Vancouver
Saturday, May 27, 2006 |Doors 10:00pm – 3:00am.
$20 – Advance
Available at Zulu, Boomtown, Obstruction or buy online here.
Minimum age: 19+

More:
*Need to more info about the show? Click here.
*Check out DJ RAP’s video for “Everyday Girl”, here.
*DJ RAP’s official website at www.djRap.com.

Life

They Want Shutty Done Door! (M.I.A.)

Attempting to come back to the States to work on her follow up disc to her massive debut, Arular, (with Timbaland amongst others) where she has performed and conquered many a time over the last year and a bit, Ms. Maya Arulpragasam aka M.I.A. has been rejected at US immigrations.

M.I.A. now joins the company of Cat Stevens who was the last pop star to get stuffed at the Yankee gates.

Her it from Ms. Maya's own words (or just head the shirt).

Read the Sepia Mutiny blog on it

The breaking article

MORE

M

I

A

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Life

Make your own film in 1 day! - SUPER 8 FILM HAND PROCESSING WORKSHOP

Shoot a film in a day, process it in the evening and watch it that very night! To learn how, come to the SUPER 8 FILM HAND PROCESSING WORKSHOP at Blim Studios on Saturday, May 20th from 11am-6pm. Experimental filmmaker Venus Soberanes will instruct you on the magic of SUPER 8 FILM; she “believes in film as an art medium and promotes its democratic use by showing people how to hand process their own films”. Can’t ask for a better instructor, can you?

SUPER 8 FILM HAND-PROCESSING WORKSHOP
Saturday, May 20 | 11 AM – 6 PM
Fee: $75 (includes camera use and film)
Where: Blim Studios, #197 East 17th Ave (@ Main)
To register: call 604.872.8180 or email: info@blim.ca.

About the instructor: Venus Soberanes is a visual artist, photographer, and experimental filmmaker, whose work has screened at international festivals in Montreal and Germany. The Mexican-born Soberanes currently splits her time between Mexico City and Vancouver. She holds a BFA in Film Production at Concordia University, a Fine Arts degree with a specialization in photography, and a variety of multimedia, video and film hand-processing courses.

More:
Super-8 format supersite @ www.super8site.com.

Life

Get some outdoor gear! – BURTON SAMPLE & DEMO SALE this week

Have you been dying to get a new pair of shades? Kicks? Snowboards? Then stock up on some good deals at BURTON’S SAMPLE & DEMO SALE this Wednesday, May 17th and Thursday, May 18th from 1:00pm to 8pm daily.

You’ll find cool stuff from Burton, Anon (goggles, shades), Analog Red, and Gravis Footwear: new and used apparel, bags, snowboard equipment, outerwear, shoes, tees, hoodies, accessories and more!

BURTON SAMPLE & DEMO SALE
Wed, May 17th to Thurs, May 18th
1:00pm to 8:00pm
#207 - 236 W. 7th Ave, Vancouver
(2 blocks east of the Canadian Tire/Best Buy on Cambie)
CASH, CREDIT OR DEBIT (**DISCOUNT FOR CASH**)

Life

Ooooh yeah! Dodgeball! - CHINATOWN DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT 2006

Chinatown Next is hosting a “FRIENDLY” GAME OF DODGEBALL at the Chinese Cultural Centre this Saturday, May 20th. “Friendly” means you’ll have to be good sport and maybe invest in a hockey mask just in case the “friendliness” turns into an all out, rip-roaring match with balls flying towards your face. Could happen, no?

THE CHINATOWN DODGEBALL TOURNAMENT 2006
Chinese Cultural Centre, Multi-Purpose Hall
50 East Pender St,
Time: Meet at 12 noon
Fee: $5 per person

* Guaranteed spots for first 10 teams to enter! Contact ChinatownNext@yahoo.ca for application and/or checkout the website here. After the game, check out the Chinatown Night Market's opening weekend.

Life

Only $2 dollah! – Bargain at the VANCOUVER CHINATOWN NIGHT MARKET

CHINATOWN NIGHT MARKET will come alive every Friday, Saturday, Sunday and long weekends from May 19 to September 10 from 6:30pm-11:00pm. Wander to stalls and tables loaded with bargain-merchandise like CDs, clothes, novelty items, FOOD, accessories, and those dragon beard cotton candy balls filled with crushed peanuts and sugar...the ones that look like cotton balls?

Where: Vancouver Chinatown, 100 & 200 block of Keefer Street (between Gore, Main & Columbia Street)

More:
Info (incl. if you want to sell): 604.682.8998 or email: vcma@infinite.net

Life

It's back! Hawker Food Stalls & Trinkets @ the RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET SUMMER FESTIVAL

So this year’s theme has a cheesy soap-opera ring to it—“Summer of Love”—but who cares, as long as you can revel in the sites and sounds and tastes of the annual RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET for its seventh summer from May 19 to Oct 1 (Friday, Saturdays, Sundays and long weekends).

Bring back memories of night markets abroad by visiting the over 250 booths offering cosmetics to cell-phone accessories to AUTHENTIC FOOD DISHES. Oooh, remember those grilled sausages brushed with tangy sauce from Taipei’s night markets? Or those sticky-rice tubes in spicy red sauce from Seoul’s night markets? Or the trinkets and doo-dads found in night markets from Hong Kong to Bangkok to Singapore?

The “Summer of Love” RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET has a new feature this year—hands-on visitor games, such as a Treasure Hunt through the Night Market grounds.

Opening hours:
May 19 – Oct 1, 2006
7:00 p.m. to midnight (Fridays and Saturdays)
7:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. (Sundays and long weekends)

More:
Contact the RICHMOND NIGHT MARKET organizers: 604.244.8448 or visit www.richmondnightmarket.com.

Life

Brokeback Hogwarts : HARRY POTTER DŌJINSHI reveals life behind closed doors

Harry and Cho Chang? Forgetaboutit. Ever thought about Harry’s raw feelings for Draco? Ron’s unrequited love for Harry? Sirius and Lupin in the dark hallways? Believe it…before Brokeback Mountain, there was the HARRY POTTER DŌJINSHI. Dō-what? Dōjinshi (同人誌 = “magazine clique/literary group”) are self-published Japanese works such as manga (comic books), novels, and games, in which its creators re-work actual published works into their own fashion. Because Dōjinshi are based on other artists’ published work, its creators maintain a low profile which makes their product a much-coveted and limited item.

Many of the HARRY POTTER DŌJINSHI are considered yaoi or shōnen-ai dōjinshi, which feature male homosexuality; its target readers are heterosexual adult women and homosexual men. Here are 2 HARRY POTTER DŌJINSHI titles:

“CARNIVAL II 2002” (by Ronru Pearl): Refers to the Prisoner of Azkaban timeline. Draws out Ron’s unrequited love for an oblivious Harry Potter, who remains clueless as Ron tries everything to acquire Harry’s love

“TACTICS” (by Mitsugu Fujii / G-Zero): Hermione notices Harry's been acting weird…what she doesn’t know is that Harry is secretly visiting Draco for trysts. Surprise: Draco is the submissive!

More:
Full titles and descriptions of Harry Potter Dōjinshi, check out this website.
To check out Dōjinshi creators, click this fansite.
To download some Dōjinshi works, click here.

Life

Action!...and Cut! - ANIMATION / FILMMAKING / SCRIPTWRITING WORKSHOPS for Asian Heritage Month

If you love all aspects of film, get inspired and attend 3 WORKSHOPS presented by filmmaker Bertha Bay-Sa Pan, classic animation instructor & filmmaker Jeff Chiba Stearns, and scriptwriters Grace Chin and Kathy Leung.

Sunday, May 14 @
Vancouver Museum’s Joyce Walley Learning Centre
1100 Chestnut, Vancouver

* ANIMATION WORKSHOP with Jeff Chiba Stearns
10:15 am to 12:15pm
Jeff Chiba Stearns is a Vancouver/Kelowna-based award-winning animator and illustrator working in traditional and computer-based techniques. A classical animation instructor at the Centre of Arts and Technology in Kelowna, Jeff’s short animated films have been screened around the world. His most well-known film "What Are You Anyways?" chronicles his childhood growing up half Japanese/half Caucasian in a small Canadian city. Watch "What Are You Anyways?" online, here.

* FILMMAKERS WORKSHOP w/Writer/Director/Producer Bertha Bay-Sa Pan
12:30pm to 2:30pm
Bertha Bay-Sa Pan was born in the US, and raised in Taiwan. Her debut film "Face" has won many awards including The Best Director Award at Urbanworld Film Festival, The Critics Award for Best Director at CineVegas, as well as the Premio Speciale Prize at Torino International Women's Film Festival 2003.

* SCRIPTWRITING WORKSHOP w/Grace Chin & Kathy Leung
2:45pm to 4:45pm
Grace Chin and Kathy Leung organize the Scripting Aloud series to showcase current and emerging pan-Asian Canadian talent in Vancouver. Check out Scripting Aloud's website www.scriptingaloud.ca.

More:
Vancouver Asian Heritage Month info here. .
Film screenings @ Pacific Cinémathèque (click here), 1131 Howe Street, Vancouver:
- Bertha Bay-Sa Pan’s feature film "FACE" – May 12 to 15 (Director in attendance!!)
- Jeff Chiba Stearns’ animated short “What Are You Anyways” – May 14 & 15

Life

THINGS JAPANESE AND PLANTS SALE: homestyle Japanese food & kimonos

The National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre Auxiliary is putting on THINGS JAPANESE AND PLANTS SALE this Saturday, May 13th from 11am to 3:00pm. Get your hands on kimonos, handcrafts, pottery, furniture, garden plants, and FOOD (inari sushi, manju, oh my!). There's nothing like homestyle Japanese food, just the way obaachan makes it...

National Nikkei Museum & Heritage Centre
100-6688 Southoaks Crescent, Burnaby (click for map)

Proceeds will go towards the commercial-style community kitchen being built at the National Nikkei Museum and Heritage Centre.

More:
For more information, check out the website www.nikkeiplace.org.

Life

HANDMADE MOTHER'S DAY: Mixed Media Painting & Ceramics Workshops

Mom’s worth a heck a lot more than flowers and chocolate truffles. How about bringing her along to Zuka Arts’ HANDMADE MOTHER'S DAY SALE & WORKSHOP at their studios?

*Fri, May 12, 12:00 – 7:00pm
*Sat, May 13, 10:00am – 6:00pm
*Sun, May 14, 10:00 – 6:00pm (Mothers Day)
Addy: Studio 302 & 326, 1000 Parker St
(2 blocks SW of Clark & Venables)
Cash, Credit Cards, Cheques OK!
Call for info @ 604.877.1222

Pick up some gifts for your mom, such as handmade jewelry made by local artists Libellule and Zuka. Or be a tad more creative and invite mom out for some arty workshops. Visit the studios of potter Silvia Dotto and Arleigh Wood’s mixed media paintings, and have them teach you and mom.

THE CLAY WORKSHOP w/SILVIA DOTTO(Cost=$98 per ceramic oval platter- retail value $155)
* Saturday, May 13: Adult hand-building clay workshop
Session 1: 10am - 1pm OR Session 2 3 pm - 6 pm
* Sunday, May 14: Adult hand-building clay workshop
Session 3: 10am - 1pm OR Session 4: 3pm - 6pm

Price includes materials, 4 hours of instructions. Limit 6 per session. To sign up call 604.877.1222 or email sdotto@shaw.ca.

MIXED MEDIA ON WOOD WORKSHOP w/ARLEIGH WOOD (Cost $25 includes materials)
* Saturday, May 13: 11am-1pm
* Sunday May 14: 12pm-2pm
#326-1000 Parker St, Vancouver

Arleigh will be demonstrating some of her mixed media techniques including: encaustic painting (painting with wax), collage, drawing into wax and acrylic painting. All supplies included. Opt: Bring your own photos or images (ie. family photos) Please email arleigh@arleighwooddesigns.com or call 604-809-1661 to sign up for this workshop.

Life

Calling all shopaholics! - International label CHULO PONY is having a Sample Sale

CHULO PONY is a women’s clothing label designed by the Nettwerk Music Group, the Vancouver-based record/management company that represents international superstars Avril Lavigne, Dido, and Sarah McLachlan. CHULO PONY’s collections are sought after worldwide for women with an individual sense of style who want clothes that are feminine, flirty and fun to wear.

Now CHULO PONY is having a sample sale on May 13-14. Sizes available on all past seasons. Check out the details on their poster.

More:
To see more of their fashion line, check out www.chulopony.com.

Life

Dragon Boys on Movie Television

This week's episode of Movie Television (CityTV) gives a behind-the-scenes peek on the highly anticipated mini-series Dragon Boys.

"How deep is the Asian [Canadian] talent pool?"

Check out the interviews with Lead Actor Byron Mann and Director Jerry Ciccoritti.

Click here to watch it online (streaming file, requires RealPlayer; 5 min 51 sec).
Or go to Movie Television's website. ENJOY.

More
Disappointingly, Steph Song wasn't interviewed. Voted one of the Top 10 Sexiest Women in the World by FHM readers in Asia", Steph also stars in the film (and in fact learned Cambodian from scratch for her role).
Click here to read her exclusive interview in www.asiafinest.com.
More about Dragon Boys on OMNI Films website here.
Dragon Boys will air on CBC Television in Fall 2006.

Life

CHINESE RESTAURANTS: a documentary series about family, strength & spring rolls

Any country, any city, and you’ll find a Chinese restaurant. Even Amman, Jordan has a “Shwarma Wok” in its midst! No doubt, there’s an interesting story behind the Chinese family who opened it. We are invited to learn more about families like these in CHINESE RESTAURANTS, a documentary series about the Chinese diaspora and one of its most recognizable and enduring icons: the family-run Chinese restaurant. CHINESE RESTAURANTS will be shown from May 8-11 @ Pacific Cinémathèque.

Awarded the Special Jury Prize at this year’s San Francisco Asian American Film Festival, CHINESE RESTAURANTS' Hong Kong-born, Toronto-based director Cheuk Kwan and Cinematographer Kwoi Gin will be on hand on May 8th and 9th for a Q&A session after the screenings. CHINESE RESTAURANT screenings:

* Latin Passions: Peru, Brazil, Argentina (Canadian Premiere!)
Monday, May 8 – 7:00 pm
Wednesday, May 10 – 7:00 pm
* Beyond Frontiers: Amazon/Brazil, India-Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi (B.C. Premiere!)
Thursday, May 11 – 7:00 pm
* Three Continents: Madagascar, Norway, Canada
Tuesday, May 9 – 9:00 pm
* Song of Exile: Israel, South Africa, and Turkey
Wednesday, May 10 – 9:00 pm
* On the Islands: Mauritius, Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba
Thursday, May 11 – 9:00 pm -

More:
For the Pacific Cinémathèque (1131 Howe Street, Vancouver) website and the CHINESE RESTAURANT series (including tix info) click www.cinematheque.bc.ca. Tix are 2 screenings for $12.
For the CHINESE RESTAURANTS' website, click www.tissa.com.

Life

Fashion Victim: D.I.Y (Do-It-Yourself) T-Shirt Modification Workshop

BLIM and KEIKO-LEE HEM presents a T-SHIRT MODIFICATION WORKSHOP on Saturday, May 13 from 3:00 – 6:00pm, for $30 (includes 1 oversized t-shirt and accessories).

It's not exactly pimping up your wardrobe, but the art of D.I.Y allows you to breathe new life and style into your well-loved or too-big Tees. Designer KEIKO-LEE HEM's workshop will give you the confidence to make that first cut if you're a first-timer, or teach you new and exciting tips and techniques if you're a regular D.I.Y.-er.

KEIKO is the co-maker of Vein magazine, a monthly publication of short articles that showcase craft, design, photography and music from the Vancouver area; and she also designs her clothing line labeled klh.

More:
@ Blim Studios
Address: #197 – East 17th Ave. (@ Main St.), Vancouver, BC V5V 1A5
To register call 604.872.8180 or email: info@blim.ca.

Life

WU JI (THE PROMISE) – China’s most expensive film to date

When there are people starving in the countryside and inhaling burned coal and asbestos, it’s always a shame to find out where priorities lie. With a budget of 82,572,490 Yuan ($35 Million), WU JI (THE PROMISE) is the most expensive film in Chinese history. Now out in theatres across the country, you better pay good money and watch the film to pump money back into China (…you say to yourself to assuage guilt)!

THE PROMISE was written and directed by Chen Kage, who made his mark with the film, Farewell, My Concubine. Stylized violence and martial arts action adorn this fantasy film about a poverty-stricken orphaned girl, who makes a promise with an enchantress. In return for beauty and riches, she will never be with the man she loves. The catch is this: “Once you have accepted your destiny, nothing can alter it unless time flows backwards, snow falls in the spring, and the dead come back to life.” Uh oh, I sense doom and gloom.

When she grows up to become Princess Qingcheng (Cecilia Cheung from Hong Kong), she regrets her promise when she falls in love with a man who rescues her from death. The rescuer is Kunlun (Dong-Kun Jang from Korea), the slave of a great general, who had disguised himself as the general to rescue the princess. Mayhem ensues as the princess believes the actual general (Hiroyuki Sanada from Japan) is her hero, and a bad guy (Nicholas Tse from Hong Kong via Vancouver) gets up into the mix. “Are their fates already sealed by a higher power, or can you still choose a life you want?”

More:
Read the review from George Straight @ www.straight.com Check out the times/theatres of THE PROMISE, here.
Trailer on Windows mediaplayer, here.
Trailer on Quicktime for Apple, click here.

Life

Innovative Global Hip Hop : ONE SELF's DJ Vadim, Blu Rum 13, Yarah Bravo, w/Sekoya and DJ Murge @ PLAZA on May 18th

Etnies and DOSE Magazine, with Spectrum Entertainment, Tigerstone and The Plaza Club present DJ VADIM / ONE SELF with guests SEKOYA and DJ MURGE on Thursday, May 18th @ The Plaza:

Thursday, May 18, 2006, 9:00 PM - 2:00 AM
Plaza Club, 881 Granville Street, Vancouver
PRICE $12.00. Click here for tix. MIN. AGE: 19+

Three of hip-hop’s innovative visionaries—a Russian-born London-based DJ, a New York MC, and a Sweden-reared Chilean/Brazilian MC—form the multicultural collective of ONE SELF. World-renowned DJ Vadim (who’s performed with the likes of DJ Krush, Kid Koala, The Roots, Public Enemy and Morcheeba, and at events such as Glastonbury), alongside MC’s Blu Rum 13 and Yarah Bravo, make up ONE SELF, a collective which performs “organic hip hop infused with the blues, soulful music with feeling and intention”.

ONE SELF’s ground-breaking record “Children of Possibility” was so named, as DJ Vadim states, “because we wanted to talk about how children are so open to different things: they're not racist, they don't have prejudices, they're always trying to discover new things. And we wanted to go back, musically, to a space where we can discover things and create music…It's got a message, but that message isn't rammed down your throat. It's hip hop, but it's more than that."

As an added bonus, homegrown acts SEKOYA, and DJ Murge (listen to his "Shake ‘Em Down", here), will perform as special guests. Don’t let the “Canadian-ness” fool you, SEKOYA has been praised from London to Miami with their sophisticated mix of ambient grooves, trip-hop, and acid jazz-­inflected soul, meshed over with electronic samples, live sequencing, trumpet and sax, and the bite of breakbeats.

More:
* ONE SELF biography on Ninja Tunes’ website, here.
* Click here for DJ Vadim’s MySpace, here for SEKOYA’s MySpace.
* Check out ONE SELF website here for venues outside Vancouver.
* Listen to samples of ONE SELF’s “Overexpose” here, “SD2” here, and “Unfamiliar” here.
* Watch ONE SELF’s video for “Bluebird” here.
* Listen to SEKOYA’s track “Figurative Pieces” here & “Freestyle” here.

Life

Latina? Indian? Filipina? Persian? – Admit it, you’re curious about THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS' lead singer Nicole Kea

Even though the world’s population is becoming more and more Tiger Woods-ish every day, people of mixed heritage are still curios in a society intent on categorizing everything into neat little boxes. So, you’re watching THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS' latest video (to see “Buttons”, click here), and you can’t help but wonder about the ethnicity of lead singer NICOLE KEA (aka Scherzinger), right? Let’s help you out…

NICOLE ELIKOLANI PRASCOVIA SCHERZINGER (nickname: Cola) was born on June 29, 1978 in Honolulu, Hawaii to a FILIPINO father and a HAWAIIAN / RUSSIAN mother. The family subsequently moved to Louisville, Kentucky where Nicole grew up.

When asked about growing up in Kentucky, NICOLE replied “I moved to Louisville at age seven and have been there since. It was okay. I remember being a kid always wanting to have blonde hair and blue eyes; nobody around me really looked like me. I haven’t really had any problems. When I got older I realized how fortunate it was being a minority. I was proud to be one of the few people there that were Hawaiian.”

Before THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS, NICOLE was a member of all-girl band Eden's Crush, which released their first single “Get Over Yourself” in 2001. After that gig, NICOLE started fresh by taking on the stage name NICOLE KEA, her grandma’s maiden name. In 2003, NICOLE attended an open audition for popular Burlesque group, THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS, and the rest is MTV heaven.

Mystery solved.

More:
To read an article in Mixed Media Watch about the discourse behind labeling hapa (of mixed heritage) as “exotic” and its (harmful) implications, click “Exotic: Nicole”.
For NICOLE websites, check out www.nicole-scherzinger.net, or www.nicolescherzinger.org.

Life

Celebrate Asian Heritage Month with a BHANG! : SF's #1 DJ @ Delhi Nights

On Thursday, May 18th burn up the dancefloor with bhangra and bollywood breakbeats with DELHI NIGHTS @ Sonar in Gastown, featuring DJ Janaka Selekta from San Francisco’s Dhamaal Collective (Voted SF’s #1 DJ) and Toronto’s DJ Jiten in Room 1; and Beats Without Borders in Room 2.

* DELHI NIGHTS @ Sonar, Gastown on May 18th
$15 in advance—tix already on sale:
In Vancouver @ Tasleem's Video 604-325-9110, Highlife, Zulu or Boomtown
In Surrey @ Kamal's Video 604-592-9777

More info:
* A-Town Productions @ 778-322-8696 OR email info@atownpresents.com
* For Janaka Selekta's website (San Francisco's Dhamaal Collective), click here.
* For Toronto's finest, DJ Jiten's website, click here.
* For Breaks without Borders's website, click here.

Life

Eau de SUSHI? : Demeter Fragrances and their global scents

Say you feel like getting back to your roots by wearing some fashion from the motherland, perhaps some funky Harajuku finds or beads from Africa. What about smelling like a scent that evokes memories from your childhood or travel experiences? The best source for a bevy of scents is DEMETER FRAGRANCES, the well-known perfumery famous for producing cutting-edge, award-winning fragrances such as Dirt, Snow, Gin & Tonic, and Tomato.

The DEMETER FRAGRANCES' library of 1,200 fragrance notes include a hodge-podge of global scents such as Bamboo, Mojito, Sugar Cane, Sushi, Earl Grey Tea, Green Tea, Condensed Milk, Ocean or Cannabis Flower; tasty scents including Mango, Champagne Brut, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Tiramisu or Peach; the traditional floral scent of Jasmine, Gardenia, or Lavender; as well as peculiar scents like Funeral Home, Glue, Holy Water, Paperback, Dust, Lobster or Mildew. This year DEMETER FRAGRANCES has introduced Play-Doh. Really!

Mix, match and layer the different scents to produce a personalized fragrance unique to you…maybe some Sushi with Green Tea for Eau de Japonaise? Glue & Play-Doh for Eau de Kindergarten…Vinyl & Rubber for Eau de S&M…Suntan & Mojito & Lime for Eau de Vacation…and so on…

More:
* DEMETER'S FRAGRANCES are available online at Sephora, Amazon or in BC at Beauty Mark (here); or at Shoppers Drug Mart, The Bay, or little boutiques around the city.
* For DEMETER'S FRAGRANCES website, click here.

Life

More Bite than Kimchee : The Kims of Comedy DVD out May 9th in Canada

You read right, that’s THE KIMS OF COMEDY. Who are they? Four of the top Asian American comedians working today, that’s who: Bobby Lee (Mad TV, Harold & Kumar), Steve Byrne (Chappelle’s Show), Kevin Shea (Comedy Central Premium Blend, Jimmy Kimmel) and Dr Ken Jeong (The Office).

THE KIMS OF COMEDY “break new ground with an uncompromising look at Asian culture and some hilarious ethnic hang-ups. From outlandishly rude Christmas gifts to anger management Korean-style, these four comedians are ready to strike a blow in the name of laughter!”

Want some? Then get THE KIMS OF COMEDY’s first DVD out May 9th. If you’re lucky you could find it at the local videostore, or order it online here.

Watch the trailer for THE KIMS OF COMEDY dvd by clicking here. The energetic stand-up routines will leave you with toned abs from laughing so hard.

More:
THE KIMS OF COMEDY website on MySpace, click here.

Life

Who Knew the Chinese Explored Africa? – Kenyan Teen Claims Chinese Heritage

Mixed Media Watch recently pointed out an article originally published last year by The China Daily about a Kenyan teen who claims Chinese heritage. The then 19-year-old Mwamaka Sharifu was found to be one of the descendents of sailors who traveled with Chinese explorer (!!) Zheng He (1371-1435) during the Ming Dynasty.

At least 20 of Zheng’s sailors swam ashore to Lamu island off Kenya’s east coast after a shipwreck. They flourished in Africa, married local women and converted to Islam. Who freaking knew?! Apparently, some scholars even believe Zheng was the first man to travel a direct sea route linking the Indian Ocean with “the West”.

The story of the Chinese sailors has been passed down through the oral tradition, and in 2002 Chinese experts came to Kenya to test DNA on the local people, including Sharifu. Upon the results, Sharifu was granted a scholarship to study in China by the Chinese Government.

More:
To read the full article “Is this young Kenyan Chinese descendant?” from the July 11, 2005 edition of The China Daily, click here.

Life

7 Shorts About Videogames : Jim Munro’s Pleasure Circuit Overload

Teaching English abroad is a common pathway for many 20- to 30-somethings out there. Nothing new. Ho hum. However, they probably don’t realize the moral ramifications involved in spreading the English language, and its impact on the homogenization of global culture. Unless, of course, they’ve read JIM MUNRO’s (2000) novel “Angry Young Spaceman” which explores this concept. JIM MUNRO is noted for leaving a cushy job at a large corporate publishing house for the world of indie press alternatives.

JIM MUNRO is also known for his take on videogames (as the maker of DVDzine Novel Amusements and former writer of the games column for alt-weekly EYE), and his collection of 7 short movies about videogames called PLEASURE CIRCUIT OVERLOAD (42 mins) will be screened on Monday, May 8th at the Blim Art Gallery in Vancouver. The screening will also include a brand new minidocumentary piece about two indie game makers. To peek at one of the series, “Mark Slutsky Reviews the Nintendo DS” click here. PLEASURE CIRCUIT OVERLOAD uses movie preview spoofs, in-game machinima (in “My Trip to Liberty City”), quirky short drama, live action (“Mario’s Pain”), and documentary interviewing to deepen the cultural discourse about gaming.

Bonus: JIM MUNRO will be on hand for a Q&A session after the PLEASURE CIRCUIT OVERLOAD screening.

Blim, Meesoo Lee, and Steve Calvert presents:
JIM MUNRO’s PLEASURE CIRCUIT OVERLOAD
Monday, May 8 @ Blim Arts Society
$5 – 7 sliding | Doors: 8 PM | Show: 8:30 PM
Address: #197 – East 17th Ave. (@ Main St.), Vancouver, BC V5V 1A5
Phone: (+1) 604 872 8180
General Info: info@blim.ca

More:
Jim Munro’s website, “No Media Kings”, click here.
Read about “Angry Young Spaceman”, here.
For Blim Art Society’s website, click here.