Grand Hotel at the Vancouver Art Gallery

I went to check out the Vancouver Art Gallery's latest exhibit, Grand Hotel, the other day. It's a wonderful exhibit on hotels and their role in culture and history. Whether it's the artists who lived in and swept through the Chelsea Hotel in New York, or the actors who frequented California's Chateau Marmont, this is a great spotlight on something that most of us have used in our lifetime and yet maybe take for granted. Perhaps you'll enjoy the design aesthetics of the Ace Hotel chains or maybe you'll revel in the kitschiness of highway motels, then there's the capsule hotels of Japan, and don't forget about the sleek modern designs of hotels in Scandinavia - whatever it is, there's definitely something for everyone here!

Crazy Hotel Room replica from Tokyo

Arne Jacobsen flatware designed for a hotel in Copenhagen

Arne Jacobsen chair and light

Upstairs, still on at the Vancouver Art Gallery is their previous exhibit, a collection of works from Pulitzer prize winning graphic artist Art Spiegelman, who is famous for his graphic novel Maus (World War II story told with mice as the Jewish people and cats as the Nazis) as well as for his New Yorker covers. I'm glad this was still here as I wanted to see it and was worried I had missed out!

What a wonderful day at the art gallery! The Art Spiegelman show ends June 9, and Grand Hotel runs until September 15.

Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata

I finally checked out this local musical the other night at Granville Island. Back for another run is this homegrown show that has truly made its mark on the musical theatre scene. Written by Veda Hille, Bill Richardson, and Amiel Gladstone, Do You Want What I Have Got has combed over ads from Craigslist and come up with the most amusing and bizarre posts and then set them to catchy music.

If you're looking for a full on musical with a storyline, then this will not be your cup of tea. If however, you are seeking a fun filled musical revue that features some of the craziest ads you've ever heard, then definitely head on down to this production for a good and hearty laugh! The singers and musicians were all fabulous as well, and brought to the show a feeling of desperation and loneliness, highlighting the ads that are seeking love or attention. In the end, aren't we all hoping someone will notice us?

DOXA Documentary Film Festival

On now is the DOXA Documentary Film Festival, until May 12!

Check out their website to see all the amazing documentaries you can go to!

I know I'll be going this week to watch the Vancouver premiere of James Franco's Interior Leather Bar! 

Happy Asian Heritage Month!

So May is Asian Heritage Month, and what better way to celebrate than by attending the annual Sketch Comedy night presented by Vancouver Asian Canadian Theatre!?

I have gone to this evening on more than one occasion and it is usually a riot! Make sure to check it out, either on May 29 or May 30 at 8pm at the Roundhouse Community Centre. You can buy your tickets here!

Maggie's Chopsticks wins BC Book Prize award!!

So I've been away for a bit! I've been on tour with the BC Book Prizes, over on Vancouver Island, reading to elementary schools as well as doing public readings. All of this in anticipation of the big BC Book Prizes gala held on May 4th.

And May the 4th was definitely with me that night, as my book Maggie's Chopsticks, won the Christie Harris Illustrated Children's Literature Prize!

Here's a photo of myself and the other winners with the Lieutenant Governor, posing for a photo at Government House in Victoria!

I will write about the Book Tour soon, as it was an experience all in itself!!

Memoirs of a Hustler

I first met Amber Dawn back in the late 90s at UBC in a Creative Writing class. I liked her immediately - her personality, and especially her writing. I then interviewed her for an article in the campus paper and was amazed by her incredible tale and life that she had lived up to that point. When was this girl gonna write a memoir already??

 

 Cut to over a decade later and one full length novel under her belt (the award winning Sub Rosa), and my wish for her memoir is finally coming to fruition. How Poetry Saved My Life - A Hustler's Memoir launches tonight at Pat's Pub (403 East Hastings) beginning at 7pm.

 "This story, told in prose and poetry, offers a frank, multifaceted portrait of the author's experiences hustling the streets of Vancouver, and the how those years took away her self-esteem and nearly destroyed her; at the crux of this autobiographical narrative is the tender celebration of poetry and literature, which―as the title suggests―acted as a lifeline during her most pivotal moments." - from the press release

 We've kept in touch over the years and our paths continued to cross. I'm excited to hear her read from her book, as well as to devour the words on the pages for myself.

 Hosted by Billeh Nickerson (Impact: The Titanic Poems, McPoems),with special guests Leah Horlick (Riot Lung) and Fiona Tinwei Lam (Enter the Chrysanthemum).

 Check out the Facebook event page here.

Sky Ferreira at the Biltmore

Last night I went to the Sky Ferreira concert at the Biltmore. I like the EP she had out and I think she has major potential, so to see her in such an intimate space was quite a treat! She had two opening bands, one of which I fell in love with instantly!

The High Highs is the name of the band, and I don't know anything else about them really. I know I liked their music enough to and buy their CD from the merch booth. I then stopped the lead singer after their set was done to tell him that I thought they were awesome! Turns out, they are on Sony Music (according to the CD) and in the liner notes, they thank Sir Elton John for believing in them.

Here's the title track of their latest album, Open Season:

I found their music ethereal and mystical, with a tinge of nostalgia and hints of late summer evenings. I can't wait to listen to this CD!

The second act that came on was How To Dress Well, and he/they did a good job getting the crowd even more enthused for the main event.

Then of course it was time for Sky Ferreira to take the stage, and she was adorable and cute and sung wonderfully! Some of the songs I didn't even know, so I'm glad to hear material from her that I wasn't familiar with and liked! Of course, the banger of the night was her finale, Everything is Embarassing, which everybody went nuts for!




Thank you all for coming to Vancouver, it was a superb concert!!!