Words by Christina Lanteigne

The W2 Storyeum in Gastown is gearing up for some sure to be epic summer nights happening this weekend.  The space located across the street from the new Woodwards development at 151 W. Cordova St. brings arts and creativity to life in the Downtown Eastside.  Be sure to check out these awesome events happening this Friday and Saturday at W2.

The PUBLIC x Roy Was Here Animation Party
Friday July 23rd 7:30pm to 11pm

Animation Party

The city holds a plethora of talented animators each with their own style and ways of bringing drawings to life. The Public magazine and Roy Was Here Collective are collecting films to show for one evening; films done by animators who come from all walks of life. From experimental to slap-sticky goodness, this animation party doesn’t discriminate. Our aim is to foster a connection between artists and animators from different backgrounds through the enjoyment of their work. There will be popcorn.

Screening starts at 8pm and after-party will happen after.
Come check it out and see films by animation school grads, industry professionals, as well as independent artists.
Admission is $5 or two for $8.  Money raised will support sending a child to summer day-camp at the Gordon Neighbourhood House.

www.thepublic.ca

www.roywashere.ca


Love Dancing & Good Faith
Friday July 23rd 11pm-2am

Summer nights

Disco, boogie, house, funk, & soul with DJ’s Jesse Proudfoot, Chris Allen and Jordan Matt.  Playing the original underground dance musics emerging in the mid ’70s to early ’80s in places like the Loft, the Paradise Garage, the Music Box, and the Gallery.
Cover is $5.

Illuminares
Saturday July 24th 4pm-10pm

Illuminares

This Saturday the annual Illuminares Festival presented by Public Dreams will take place in and around W2 Storyeum.  It will be a departure from years past, but remains a celebration of community, art and light. 

This year’s Illuminares promises be a new and spectacular event spreading thru W2 Storyeum’s large indoor spaces, and out into Trounce Alley and around the Woodward’s site. RSVP on the Facebook event!

Zone 1: “Intimate” will involve live vocal and instrumental music including Cultural Medicine Cabinet, Mehlinda Heart and her Harp Choir, Her Jazz Noise Collective.

Zone 2: “Kid Friendly” will include jugglers, face painters, storytellers and hula hooping. This will be a mix of performances and interactive workshops.

Zone 3: “Center Stage” will include a Flash Mob performance, Ache Brazil Capoeira. Demonstration and the Leanne Voyce dance troupe.

Zone 4: “Forest” will include live ambient music by 2 bands experimenting with various instruments.

Zone 5: “Bonus” Hula Tutu’s – Dancing Grandma’s and Monica Trejbal and troupe.

Zone 6: Welcome Area – Mind of Snail – Shadow Show.

Zone 7: “Open Area” Dusty Flower Pot Troupe, Gamelan.

Zone 8: “Staged” Live improve – Bobbers, Rosa Parks and live Marimba band Russell Shumksy and friends.

In addition the site will be animated with 10 stilt walkers, and 5 ground performers and an aerial performance. To end the evening Sambata and Carnival Band will process through the crowd ending up at a finale fire show by Radiant Heat.

Words by Christina Lanteigne

AVEDA institute Vancouver

Tomorrow night: Thursday July 22nd – Aveda will be throwing a “Welcome to Gastown” block party.  What better way to celebrate their arrival to the neighbourhood!  The latest Aveda Institute opened their doors in Gastown just a few weeks ago at 101-111 Water Street in a stunning space featuring a salon, styling institute, academy and shop.

AVEDA block party

The block party starts at 6:30pm and runs until 10pm with plenty of free drinks, swag, treats and a even photobooth!  With DJ’s My!Gay!Husband! & Genie spinning, the party is sure to be a great Gastown night.

Afterwards stroll on over to Post Modern for the Blastramp after party.  Just a block away at 7 Alexander Street from 10pm-2am.  No cover before 11pm and tons of drink specials.

Illuminares 2010 in Gastown!
Words by Christina Lanteigne

Lighting Up W2 Storyeum

One of Vancouver’s most beloved events is happening this summer in Gastown.  The Illuminares lantern procession presented by Public Dreams will be held on July 24th at the W2 Storyeum located at 151 W Cordova Street from 4pm-10pm.  The truly magical event has been held outdoors for the past 20 years at Trout Lake.  The new 31,000 sq. ft. indoor space at the Storyeum holds much promise for an amazing evening.  The move will give the festival an opportunity to evolve and find it’s place in a new neighbourhood.  The festival’s artistic director Sam Shem said “Trout Lake was very different then, it was a community in transition and now we want to give the Downtown Eastside a chance. It’s about building communities.”

Illuminares

Admission is free and visitors are encouraged to be a part of it all by bringing their own lanterns.  The event will also include live interactive performances and all-new art installations created by both local artists and members of the community. Public Dreams has been making magic in Vancouver neighbourhoods for the past twenty-five years. Best known for ‘Illuminares’ and ‘Parade of Lost Souls’ – events iconic to Vancouver’s cultural landscape.  Public Dreams facilitates large-scale community celebrations, and the creation of fantastical performances and public expression through the arts.

The festival is still looking for volunteers.  If you are interested, you can contact volunteers@publicdreams.org for further details.

New Exhibit Oil and Paper at the Marion Scott Gallery
Words by Christina Lanteigne

As the most recent exhibit of works by Andrew Owen ends this week, the Marion Scott Gallery is preparing for their next exciting display: Oil and Paper: New Works from the Studios of Pangnirtung, Nunavut.

Oil and Paper opens July 17th and runs through until August 28, 2010 and comprises over 20 medium and large-scale images with works by Elisapee Ishulutaq, Jamasie Mike, Jessica Akpalialuk, Geela Sowdluapik and Jolly Atagoyu.

Tusiarvik (A Place for Prayer) by Elisapee Ishulutaq, 2009

Rarely do we get to see and experience such vivid unique art from the north.  Pangnirtung has been a vital centre for the production of modern Inuit art since the late 1960s. Known around the world for their elegant limited edition prints and expertly crafted woven tapestries, the artists of this former trading station have made a distinctive and important contribution to the contemporary art and culture of Canada.

The exhibition features bold, colourful compositions by both new and established artists. Included are several works by Elisapee Ishulutaq, a respected Inuit elder and one of Pangnirtung’s best known artists. Taking advantage of the medium’s capacity to cover large surfaces, Ishulutaq has created several images that are monumental in scale, drawing imaginatively upon her memories of traditional Inuit life for inspiration and subject matter. The exhibition also includes works by a younger generation of artists, whose imagery and concerns reveal a more modern sensibility shaped by current realities.

Get Your Jazz On In Gastown This Weekend!
Words by Christina Lanteigne

Gastown Jazz June 26th & 27th
At the Maple Tree Square Free stage & the Steam Clock from 1-8pm.

Vancouver International Jazz Festival '10

With a sunshiny forecast and one of Gastown’s best summer events beginning tomorrow, the weekend is looking pretty good.  This year The Vancouver International Jazz Festival celebrates it’s 25th anniversary.  The highlight of the festival, Gastown Jazz, is a free two-day New
Orleans-style street festival.  Historic Gastown becomes an open-air party with multiple acts spread over two days.

Featuring Canadian and International artists, Gastown Jazz has become a traditional destination for jazz fans and is synonymous with the opening weekend of the Festival. Two free stages bookend Water Street’s three blocks. Continuous music is performed for everyone to enjoy. Friends and families come from all over to celebrate the beginning of summer while reveling in a diverse array of musical styles. Gastown Jazz also boasts dazzling street entertainers, souvenir and CD kiosks, snacks and refreshments, as well as a wide selection of cafés, restaurants, and bistros all along Water Street.

Not to be missed performances are the Afro-Caribbean rhythms of ZAPATO NEGRO on Saturday and on Sunday performances by Danish trio IBRAHIM ELECTRIC and MIKKO INNANEN & INNKVISITIO on Sunday, who have been dubbed “one of the more dazzling young bands around: funny, funky, and risk-taking.” With monster Swedish saxophonist Fredrik Ljungkvist (Atomic, Yun Kan 5), Seppo Kantonen keyboards, Joonas Riippa drums.

For Gastown Maple Tree Square Stage Concert Details visit et Coastal Jazz website.

The Cheaper Show No. 9 In Gastown
Cross My Art and Hope to Buy
Words by Christina Lanteigne

Vancouver’s hippest art show and sale is happening this Saturday, June 26th, in Gastown. Want to start your art collection without breaking the bank? Look no further than The Cheaper Show, Vancouver’s annual art show featuring 400 pieces of art by 200 artists, all for 200 dollars each.

Cheaper Show

This year the 9th installment of the incredibly popular Cheaper Show moves to the W2 Storeum at 151 West Cordova Street (between Cambie & Abbott), an exhibition space close to twice the size of any of their  previous locations. The 30,000 sq foot concrete room, complete with high  ceilings, should prove to be their best venue yet!

Check out the Cheaper Show’s video promotion below:

THE CHEAPER SHOW IS HERE! (ARTIST DROP-OFF DAY) from The Cheaper Show on Vimeo.

The Cheaper Show takes place this Saturday, June 25 from 6pm – Midnight.  Entrance is by $5 suggested donation.

Obakki Kicks Off Jazz Fest This Thursday!
Words by Christina Lanteigne

Get ready to kick off Gastown’s best summer event happening this weekend, with the neighborhood’s stylish crew at Obakki!

Obakki

Featuring:
• Live Jazz
• $3 drinks
• 35% off Obakki and 20% off all other product
• $500 Obakki giveaway
• $100 gift certificate giveaway to The Revel Room

The event starts at 7pm and you must RSVP (rsvp@obakki.com).

This if your chance to pick up some of Obakki’s great pieces with fabulous discounts!  Such as the Cocoon Zip Sweater, as worn by Gwyneth Paltrow:

Cocoon Sweater

Or the perfect Go-To Bag, blogged about my the ever stylish Rumi Neely of Fashiontoast.  With its light and soft leather, it’s the perfect size to fit all your essentials – not too big but not too small.

Obakki Bag

Stay tuned for a complete Jazz Fest guide from The Gastown Blog this Friday.  Check out our post with highlights from Obakki’s incredible F/W 2010 collection.

World Cup Specials In Gastown
Words by Christina Lanteigne

Get ready to rise at the crack of dawn and turn your clocks to World Cup time!  The FIFA World Cup gets underway today in South Africa bright and early at 7am.  Several great Gastown hangouts are getting into the soccer spirit.  Here are a few highlights for the World Cup Frenzy this week:

Visit  La Casita Mexican restaurant and cheer with the green jerseys of El Tri fans.  Open at 7am on game days, La Casita will be serving a special World Cup brunch menu.  Snack on chilaquilles, huevos rancheros and delicious chorizo & egg burritos while taking in all the action.

La Casita

Start your World Cup day at neighbourhood fave SmartMouth Cafe and grab your morning coffee, or beer.  Yup that’s right, Smartmouth will start slinging beers at 9am throughout the Cup event.

Grab a game at Shebeen, home to the largest selection whiskey, brand new big screen tv’s and delicious World Cup lunch specials daily starting at 11:15 and 1:45.

Shebeen

The 2nd Annual Gastown Shuffle Tonight!
Words by Christina Lanteigne

Gastown Shuffle

It’s time again for round two of the Gastown shuffle, as the shopping by day neighbourhood prepares to celebrate it’s after-dark side tonight from 7-11pm with free drinks and 5 great bars.  Walk through Gastown and visit these shops to pick up your shuffle badge:  Complex, JD’s Barbershop, Livestock, Sharks & Hammers, Stussy, Two Of A Few or ALIFE.  Then head over to the participating bars for your free drink:  The Diamond, The Lamplighter, The Met, Revel Room and newly opened Guilt & Co.  Finish off your shuffle at Post Modern for an after party featuring Villains & Rico Uno.

Check out our posts on the participating Gastown Shuffle retailers:

ALIFE

Complex & The Vancouver Villains

Hair Salons in Gastown: JD’s Barbershop

Awesome Kicks From Livestock

Stussy x Reas

Sharks + Hammers

Villains + Rico Uno

Wink Beauty is celebrating their 2 year anniversary, this weekend, on June 5th. Check out our post on Wink Beauty to learn why they are recognized as one of the best beauty lounges in Vancouver.

Mad Hatter Garden BBQ

(From Wink Beauty)
It’s that time of year again! Wink Beauty Lounge’s Huge 2 year Anniversary on June 5th 3pm to 7pm – is coming up but this year we are doing a few things differently….

This year’s overall theme has to do with with COMMUNITY, COMPASSION AND CONTRIBUTION. So this year, we are dedicating our annual event to The Street Beat Sandwich Ministries and combining our huge shopping event with a fund-raising charity BBQ!

The Street Beat Sandwich Ministries is a non-profit charity that is a volunteer based group of  amazing individuals who go out onto the streets of the Downtown Lower East side and hand out sandwiches for the hungry and homeless. Currently, they are doing this twice a month and they have handed out thousands of sandwiches. Their main goal is to be establish so that in the future they could provide three meals daily. The simple idea of one stranger offering a sandwich to another inspired me to think about truly giving back to this community we love so much!

Hope you can join us in celebration, bring your favorite hat and invite some friends too! We will be having some live entertainment, door prizes, swag, gift with purchases, “Build A Burger” station by donation, raffle and some crazy big garden party hats to boot!

RSVP at info@winkbeautylounge.com