Restaurant review - The Gramercy Grill

Located almost at the corner of 10th Avenue and Arbutus, The Gramercy Grill was one of the restaurants that kept me puzzled and intrigued for a long time. You'll see, I am fascinated by spatial location and geography. So, for a few years now I had always wondered ... "where do residents of the 12th and Arbutus area go for brunch/coffee/dinner?"... it didn't seem as though they had much choice other than going north towards 4th Avenue (where you can of course find-- well, just about anything you want!).

Apparently, the Gramercy Grill is the answer to my question. Catering to the local community, and quite strategically located (you can't really beat this location - even if you take the bus, you can reach it quickly through the 16 Arbutus or 9 Broadway), this place is also considered a "posh", high end restaurant (though apparently, other reviewers think of this place as a casual bistro or even a sports bar?!). I kid you not, the decor and the ambiance was definitely sophisticated.

My friend L took two of her closest friends (one of them, me of course!) for brunch at the Gramercy Grill. This happened a few weeks back, so yes, this review is delayed! At any rate, I digress... I happened to order a chorizo-based scrambled eggs plate, and some coffee. I have to say that, despite the fact that the eggs were nice, and the chorizo was good, I was not overly impressed. The place is relatively pricey for what they offer for brunch. BUT (and here is the big but) I don't believe they cater to "brunchers".

I came across their "Dine-Out-Vancouver" menu and for a measly $ 25.00 you could have had a really amazing dinner. So, it would be unfair to qualify the Gramercy Grill as an overrated place. I believe that their specialty is dinner, so I'll have to come back for that. The service is absolutely friendly and adorable, and the decor is fabulous. Besides, on that specific occasion we were celebrating my friend, so the company made this brunch date totally worth it.

Finally!!!! -- I slept in!

The title of this posting may be completely strange for any new reader to my blog (or anyone with whom I have never discussed this particular side of my personal life). Well, I should provide some context. I live in a shared house, though I have my own ground-level basement suite. As a result, my little apartment is private yet not so private.

The house has no insulation whatsoever, so I can hear the next-door neighbors, the people living upstairs, even the person living in the top floor suite! I hear EVERYTHING. And by everything, I mean it! Yesterday (Saturday), I was violently and abruptly woken up at 7 am thanks to the upstairs neighbors kid who started screaming. Then the family got organized to go out (making a lot of noise during the process). Finally, my torture ended at around 9 am. I was grumpy for most of Saturday, and I was even grumpier when we lost a fairly close volleyball game (we won the second, but still... we could've beat the crap out of the first team).

Well, the great news are that the family living upstairs went out for the weekend. This meant that, for the first time in five months, I was able to sleep in without anybody waking me up at 6:00 am crying "Daddy, daddy, mommy, mommy" and proceeding to yell, throw stuff, run around the house and make noise for the next two hours. So I disconnected my cell phone, my land line, and closed my curtains. Today, I wanted to sleep in. And I succeeded!

One of my good friends called me early and asked me if I wanted to join her for work at a coffee shop where we usually hang out and do work. But I didn't. I was happy asleep because, for the first time in months, I was able to sleep soundly through the night without any noise.

Many people have recommended to sleep with ear plugs, or talk to my neighbors, etc. I talked to them, and while they are very nice people, they don't seem cognizant of the level of noise they make. So I might actually go for ear plugs. But I am happy to report that, for the first time in five months, I actually was able to sleep in soundly!

Interior design in Vancouver [limited spaces!]

In my past lives, I studied just about everything you could have imagined. I learned about library sciences, criminology, interior design (which by the way in Spanish is called "Decoracion de Interiores" (interior decoration)], and just about a dozen random other things.

One of the things I have kept near and dear to my heart is interior design. And now that I live in Vancouver, it has become more and more important.

You'll see, I live in a very tiny apartment. And by very tiny, I mean less than 550 square feet. I am, however, proud of what I have managed to accomplish with the very limited space I have. So here is my apartment's floor plan. I constructed this with Visio(R) since I don't have AutoCAD and frankly I needed to learn how to use it.
And I figured it'd be handy for my friends who are now shopping for furniture and re-decorating their apartments to see what I could accomplish with mine.

Restaurant review - Water Street Cafe

I have been to the Water Street Cafe at least six times within the last year. No less... Was there for Valentine's Day this year, my birthday last year, dinner with H last October... at least three times in six months off the top of my head. What makes me come back to this restaurant all the time?

The answer is fourfold:
a) Great food.
b) Great service.
c) Great ambience.
d) A chance to speak in Italian to the owner.

Ok, so I might sound horribly conceited for citing reason # 4, but what are languages for if you can't use them? I might as well take the chance! [That's the reason why I haven't learned Swahili].

Truthfully, the Water Street Cafe is the place to take someone if you want them to really enjoy great food and a great atmosphere. Located at the corner of Cambie Street and Water Street (hence the name!) and literally across the street from the Gastown Steam Clock, this restaurant is owned by Mr. Domenique Sabatino. Mr. Sabatino is an amazing host. Every time I show up there, he'll come and say hi in person, chat with me in Italian, ask me what I want for dinner and seat me and my guest in less than 10 minutes. I am so not kidding!

The food is amazing, and even if they don't have it in their menu, they'll make it for you. Trust me on this one. I am a fan of linguini a la Puttanesca, and the Water Street Cafe doesn't officially have it on their menu. But they'll make it for me. Actually I am pretty sure they'll make it for anyone who orders it.

Any dish on their menu is amazing, but I can totally swear by their pastas and their chicken and meat dishes. Their Caesar salads are good too. Prices are reasonable (not really cheap, but then again this is one of the best restaurants in Vancouver!)... I would seriously recommend it to anyone. Note: I have only done dinner here, but it's open at 11:30 so I guess they do brunch too.

Matt Damon imitating Matthew McConaughey

Matt Damon is one of the finest actors of our generation. And here is an example of why (if you recall, I reviewed Good Will Hunting a few months back, and I blogged a YouTube video of the pivotal scene where Will breaks down and cries his heart out in Sean's arms). Well, this is Matt Damon being funny and I just couldn't help but laugh!

Restaurant review: Moderne Burger (Not yet!)

My friend J asked me if I had ever had Moderne Burger's food ever - she claims that it's better than Vera's Burger Shack (I am not about to engage in a dispute with a true Kitsilano resident, so I'll just say -- "ok, if you say so"). But this is the reason why I haven't been to Moderne Burger: They are closed for renovations!

If you read below, I reviewed Alexis Restaurant a few weeks back. Well, on our way to the bus stop, H and I walked past Moderne Burger, and they were closed! I couldn't help but laugh incontrollably when I read the sign posted outside. You will understand when you see it!

Restaurant review: Paul's Place Omelettery

I had previously reviewed this amazing place on Granville (and I think 6th Avenue, but don't trust me on this one). However, I had read other reviews that indicated that it was way too busy so I was a bit worried this morning, as I went to Paul's Place for brunch with H and his girlfriend. Got to give Paul's my congratulations. I mean, we got there about 10.50am, we were seated by 11.05, we had coffee by 11.15 and our food was on our table by 11.30am. UNBELIEVABLE. And the beef hash is to-die-for.

The best part was really the company, as we had a great brunch and then headed to go shopping for furniture... Ah, I was born to shop. If only I had been born with a bottom-less credit card attached, that would've been fantastic.

Restaurant review: La Bodega Vancouver

For birthday parties, a romantic date, taking friends out to dinner or just to satisfy a craving for Spanish food (and by Spanish I mean, food from Spain), La Bodega Vancouver is by and large the best place I've been to in a long time. I am always fond of flavours from Spain (given my personal connections). La Bodega is located on Howe, between Davie and Drake.

The first time I went to La Bodega, I went with the same super close friend whose birthday we celebrated last night. All of La Bodega's dishes are amazing: Patatas Bravas (hot potatoes), Montaditos de Cerdo (pork slices on bread), Chorizo (spicy sausage), ChampiNones (mushrooms). I had been here last summer with Mom and a few other friends as well, but this time apparently it was our lucky night (or it was the fact that it was A's birthday!).

Nine people had enough food and the bill wasn't even in the realm of $ 240 Canadian. I mean, this was unbelievably inexpensive (that being said, there've been times before when I've had hefty bills at La Bodega, but apparently last night we chose well!). I would seriously recommend this place to anyone who wants really good Spanish tapas and great service.

Make reservations, though. The place can get packed!

The politics of climate change

Very often, people ask me what I think of climate change. Given the nature of my work, this conversation topic is inevitable. And unfortunately, I am always afraid to venture an opinion because I worry that I am not sufficiently knowledgeable. I can speak about water, wastewater and toxics management at length without any worries because I've worked on pollution control for so many years. But climate change is not my forte.

That being said, I can say that I find it interesting that interest on climate change (mitigation and adaptation) has increased in Canada, particularly in the past few months. A recent poll by the CBC showed that environment was the top priority for Canadians. But that's just opinion. Are Canadians actually doing something to reduce their environmental damages? Are lifestyles shifting? Are we consuming less? What exactly does concern entail?

I worry, though. Is climate change the only concern of Canadians? Can we afford to only focus our efforts on climate change? Wouldn't Canada we be better served by actually using climate change to frame other environmental problems? I am particularly concerned with issues like poverty alleviation. Could we try to correct income disparities through climate-change related projects? I ask myself these questions and I don't have answers yet. But I think that there is value to thinking through these questions. Particularly since I believe that my own work will have to deal with climate change in the not-so-far future.

Finally, we need to admit that climate change is a political issue. There are political agendas behind "greening" strategies. In this regard, I have to say that while a bit skeptical, I am hopeful. If politicians want to "appear to be green" and do some environmental good in the process, all the better.

Restaurant review: Vera's Burger Shack

Finally, somebody had mercy on me and decided to bring Vera's Burger to the Main Street area (SoMa or Mount Pleasant, depending on what you want to call it). Located between 14th and 15th Avenues (2922 Main Street), Vera's Burger is a true Vancouver gem. I don't care what people say about other burger places, Vera's Burger is by and large, the best burger in town. And apparently, everybody in Vancouver thinks the same way! I was just reading the West Ender and I found that Vera's Burger was voted AGAIN Best Burger in Town (Gold Award).

I had stopped at Vera's Burger with many of my friends (different locations: on Davie Street, at UBC, on Cornwall Street) [note: this was usually because they were drunk or hung over and needed FOOD pronto!] but I had never actually eaten there until last Sunday. Wow, do they ever make a wonderful burger! I had the Drunk Chicken and loved it. My brother also loves Vera's Burger (and he is a true connoisseur). So, I can't be wrong. Vancouver can't be wrong. Thank you Vera's Burger for bringing amazing burgers closer to our neighbourhood.

Puttering around

The word puttering puzzled me (as a non-native speaker of English) for a good decade. I have read emails from many of my Canadian friends, chatted with them over the phone and found the term in conversations all over the place. "Oh, don't worry, I will be at home, puttering around". Or even worse, "We could just putter or chill". For a while I thought they meant "computering" (some sort of abhorrent verb related to working in their computers) but then last month I finally decided I was sick and tired of not understanding what puttering meant. So I looked it up in the dictionary.

This is the definition that I obtained (in my own words): puttering is the act (or series of acts) of basically working but at the same time doing nothing. Puzzled enough? Yeah. Puttering is a leisure activity. You don't clean your house in 20 minutes... you putter around and move this object to there, clean up over there, dust here, etc. That is, you putter when you are working but not working at the same time. You are not supposed to get tired of puttering.

Dictionary.com has a really clear definition: to waste time idling. In Spanish from a very specific country and region, this would be the definition of "echar la hueva" or "holgazanear". But I prefer my own understanding of the word. I find that, when I wake up from a nap and I plan to work for an extended period of time without interruption, I need to putter before. For example, I know that I am going to pull an all-nighter to try and finish some stuff, and I spent about 15-20 minutes puttering. I put away clothes, dusted my fridge, put dishes in the cupboards, checked email.... and now I am ready to actually work. Thus, there is value to puttering.

The Oscars :)

I tend to follow the Oscars quite closely for many reasons. For one, I love cinema. Having been an actor myself (theatre, though) I have a great appreciation for the work of people who strive to become a different person. I will comment on the 2006/2007 Oscars (with amazing performances like that of Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada or Helen Mirren, the obvious favourite for The Queen). But due to the hype of today's Academy Awards ceremony, I was just transported this morning to what I think is one of the best movies of all years, and one of the most deserved Oscar wins for Best Actress in a Leading Role: Charlize Theron for Monster.

As indicated by Roger Ebert's review, Theron basically asks us to understand why Aileen Wuornos fell in the downward spiral that led her to become a serial killer. Charlize Theron won that Oscar hands down. She became Aileen Wuornos for that movie, and gained the respect of the Academy (and gazillions of fans). I haven't been able to see the movie again (it makes me terribly sad) but I think that just as Charlize Theron became Aileen Wuornos in that movie, Helen Mirren became Elizabeth II in The Queen. The only problem is... so did Meryl Streep (she became Miranda Priestly) and so did Kate Winslet and so did Judi Dench and the ever-amazing Kate Winslet... so this year, the Oscar is a tough prediction. I am not a fan of Penelope Cruz but I have been told that her performance is amazing. Good thing I speak Spanish :-)

Main Street video :)

Thanks to Beyond Robson, I came across this video of Main Street. Made by George Faulkner (or so does the website say!... I wouldn't believe they'd be lying). Since I live in the 'hood, I thought I'd plug this to my blog so that folks can see what my neighborhood looks like.

dZihan & Kamien - Sliding

Those of you who like this type of house, electronica kind of music will love this video. Those of you who don't.. well, I'm sorry :) [actually, I am not]. dZihan and Kamien are extremely talented. This is my first experiment embedding YouTube videos after the transition from Beta Blogger to the new Google Blogger.

Restaurant review - Alexis Restaurant

I should've probably posted this two weeks ago, but I've been so insanely busy I haven't had a chance (plus I had to catch up with work - now on a regular schedule, 8am to 8pm). At any rate, two Sundays ago I was still feeling depressed, so my good friend H invited me out for dinner (in his own words, "because I had had a rough week", which was totally true). I got to pick up the restaurant, and I chose Alexis Restaurant. Now, with this very good friend of mine I really think twice about the restaurant choices I make, since I want him to get to know the good things Vancouver has. I think that I'm doing good so far.

Alexis is the best Greek restaurant in town hands down. I am sorry for those who love Stephos, Characters, etc. I love their food too. But Alexis just has that je ne sais quoi. It doesn't hurt that the food is amazing and quite inexpensive. You can't go wrong with their choices of full-meal deals. Their dolmathes are unbelievable, the chicken breast with rice and potatoes is amazing. I mean, I can't stop saying nice things about Alexis. The owners are the sweetest (thanks for all that ouzo, Theo!) and the waitresses are adorable (I particularly love Vicki).

H and I had a really great time, and it was a great evening before he headed off to Wikiland (no, not Wikipedia you dorks! Wikiland = New Zealand, the land where kiwis are from :)) ... I hope he's having a wonderful time there (and yeah, well, some degree of academic enjoyment).

Movie Theatre Review - Rio on Broadway

Technically, this *should* be a post to review a movie, but I have been wanting to write about the renovations of the movie theatre Rio on Broadway that I can't really just leave it there. So I will skip my review of "Music and Lyrics" and go directly to the theatre itself.

The prices are almost unbeatable (only at times second to Empire Granville 7, but honestly, the great deal about Rio on Broadway is that not only the place has been renovated, the staff are corteous and sweet, the concession stand has everything you want, and furthermore ... the prices are inexpensive. $ 7.00 on a normal day, $ 5.00 on Tuesdays. I mean, how much better can it get? And it's on Broadway almost corner of Commercial Drive, so if you are really hungry for a bite to eat after the movie, there's the whole Drive to explore.

I had a wonderful time here, I have to say. I wanted to come when they screened "An Inconvenient Truth" but I couldn't make it. And of course, I promote local business in Vancouver :)

Restaurant review - Earls Robson

So for one of my closest friends' birthdays (K's), we settled (after walking around Yaletown for about an hour and a half) on Earls on Robson. The fact that each place we tried had "at least 45 minutes to an hour wait" (yes, the hostess can say it as sweetly as possible but I get just as pissed off) was just underwhelming. I am not impressed with the dining scene here in Vancouver. At any rate, we finally decided on the chain Earls.

I've had dinner at Earl's before, actually this same location (Earls Robson). Dinner was reasonably priced and the waiters and waitresses were pure eye candy and really sweet (I kid you not, I saw gorgeous women and beautiful men -- these people really were unbelievably hot!). I had Mediterranean linguini with chicken (inexpensive considering the prices in Vancouver, for $ 15.50) and a white bellini (the bartender was super sweet too).

We had a good time, overall. I probably would not go back to this place unless it was a special occasion. The reason? Well, this summer I cooked enough Rottini a la Puttanesca for four people for four days in a row on a budget of $ 16.00. That means that the profit margins in these restaurants are incredibly high. So if I am to go back to Earls, it has to be for their blackened chicken with roasted potatoes (amazing!) or something equally sophisticated.

PoP! Goes My Heart - Music & Lyrics

The best and funniest movie I've seen in the past year. Definitely a Valentine's Day movie...

Restaurant review - DeDutch Pannekoek House.

Well, I finally set foot in DeDutch Pannekoek House. I went today for breakfast/brunch to the Oak and 16th Avenue location. Now, before doing my restaurant review, I should say that I am actually grateful, not so much for the restaurant, but for the friend who took me there (I was feeling quite depressed and thus it was very nice to go for brunch with her -- again, thank God for friends!!!).

Anyhow, I digress... We ordered standard brunch fare (scrambled eggs, sausage, toast) and I got garden salad as a side. Salad. Ok, that was VERY weird. But I was so hungry (and the dressing was so nice) that I ate it all. Then I went to my brunch items. You can't screw up scrambled eggs, really. The coffee was great, but as far as brunch goes, I was, quite frankly, unimpressed. Maybe it was the fact that I did not actually order pancakes (the house specialty) but the prices seemed steep for what we get. I would not go a second time unless absolutely pressed.

Cleaning up (a.k.a. getting rid of garbage/baggage)

The last couple of days have been actually kind of depressing. One of my former students died in an accident. She was intelligent, full of life, she transformed herself and turned her life around, and in that process, she turned many other lives around. That's why I went on a shopping spree yesterday (thank God for my friends, I went to XCess Cargo, Winners, Future Shop, Best Buy with a couple of them)... Retail therapy, I tell you!

So I decided that I needed to follow a grieving process that acknowledged my former student as well. I started cleaning up my life and getting rid of many things. So I thoroughly cleaned my apartment today. Bathrooms, living room, kitchen, counter tops, dining table... everything. Threw garbage away, got rid of a number of things I really didn't need. I guess that's part of the process of getting rid of garbage (and baggage, in the process!)... in the end, I think this reflective and cleansing process will be good for me.

Charlie's Angels Full Throttle trailer

Honestly, I laughed so hard when I watched this movie I just had to post this!

Competitive volleyball

I used to be a varsity volleyball player and after knee injuries in undergrad, I completely abandoned the sport. I played here and there, particularly when I lived in residence. This year, I am playing again (at a level called intermediate-competitive, which is really good enough for me to get back into the groove. I have decided that in 2007, I will be playing again at the competitive level. It's good exercise, I have always loved volleyball, I bought new knee pads and I'm hitting quite hard, so why not?

:) I found this really cool picture of a volleyball player hitting [as a power hitter].

It's all about the equipment!

Ah, retail therapy... the best solution to winter blues...

I was raised with the firm conviction that you should never be cheap in buying whatever makes your life easier, even if it expensive. You should always strive to buy the best clothes, the most nutritious food, the nicest furniture (within your budget, quite obviously).

I happened to do exactly that this weekend (treat myself to whatever I needed). I needed a printer (I didn't have one before), so I bought an HP laser printer. I have been playing volleyball since a few weekends ago, so I bought a set of knee pads. My brother bought me a new pair of work boots (those that have the metal toe and all) to avoid me falling on the ice (something that happened about a month ago while Vancouver was still snowed).

Hence the title of my posting. It's all about the equipment. You can't be an academic these days without a printer, Internet access, a good computer, software... You can't be a competitive volleyball player if you are afraid to dig balls (and you most definitely need knee pads for that!). You can't walk in rainy Vancouver and expect not to trip at some point. So that's why I now have the gear to carry out my day-to-day activities. I am quite happy :)

Mourning the loss of a loved one

Eight years ago today (February 1st, 1999) I lost my second mother to lung cancer. My aunt, who had been the closest thing to a mother I ever knew, wasn't sick for long. Her demise was swift, a reward perhaps because she had been such a good individual. She did not suffer much, I believe.

Good natured, loving, nurturing and intelligent, my aunt always had a word to encourage me, she provided me with emotional, financial, even logistical support (I will never forget how she'd have all my dressy clothes ready to go out while I was in high school). I am who I am largely because of her.

She drove me to class, made me breakfast whenever I stayed at her place, and she was always with me and my brothers in good and bad times. I have never recovered from losing her, quite frankly. Since 1999, usually the last week of January and the first week of February are horrible for me. I have learned to cope with losing her, but I have never fully recovered.

Tia, thank you for making me who I am... wherever you are, I will always have you in my heart.

Gentrification again - damn it! Soma closes its doors...

I was taking a break from writing and checked Beyond Robson, which is a local, Vancouver-based blog. I read Beyond Robson mostly when I am not in Vancouver (e.g. when I was in Mexico I read it non-stop). I like to think of myself as a well-acquainted Vancouverite, so I go to their site every so often, only when I feel that I've been isolated from the outside world for way too long.

I almost choked when I read that Soma is closing its doors. For those of you who don't live in our neighborhood, Soma was a really cute cafe (very well known for their Mac users - I felt bad every time I worked there using my PC laptop!). Strategically located between Broadway and 10th Avenue, Soma was always one of the best spots to work (Waves on Main is the other one).

But according to BR's Krisztina, it will re-open where Wink was (151 East 8th Avenue). Cool. I can still walk from my place to Soma. Incredibly, I never set foot at Wink. Not because I didn't want to. I just didn't get around to it. And now, Wink is also kaput. But hopefully this trend will stop!

Restaurant review - Paul's Place Omelettery

My brother was in town this past weekend and we went for brunch. He was clearly appalled at the paucity of good brunch places around my neighborhood. Quite apparently, we had exhausted all the good haunts (Cafe Main, Slickitty Jim's, Crave on Main). And we both are sort of picky (ok. admittedly, very picky) when it comes to brunch. It has to be perfect. Since we both lived in Kitsilano in our early years living in Vancouver, we are pretty much very knowledgeable about where to eat there. However, since I now live in this side of town, I've tried to get to know my stomping grounds. And my brother (sweet as he is) has been kind enough to try some of these places with me.

Well, after an hour searching for a good spot for brunch (and nearing 1 pm on a Sunday!) we just gave up and traveled to Granville Street, heading to Paul's Place Omelettery (my friends and I simply call it Paul's). Now, I said "gave up" because we wanted to eat around Main St. We just didn't find a spot that didn't have a 30 minute wait! And we kind of didn't want to go back to our old neighborhood (South Granville as they call it now). But we were forced to...

We were not disappointed. Paul's is by and large the best omelettery in town, hands down. Crave on Main is a strong competitor. Both have amazing eggs. Gramercy Grill is perhaps third on the list (though I wasn't that impressed with their brunch items - but that restaurant will have to wait for another post). Prices for brunch items hover in the range of $9-11 . They make excellent coffee. I have eaten at Paul's at least six times that I can think off the top of my head in the past two years and the food has always been amazing.

Since one of my good friends just moved from the US to Vancouver, I try really hard to take him to new and awesome places for brunch. I will take him to Paul's for sure. Highly recommended!

Sunny side up...

These past few days have been so sunny it doesn't even feel like Vancouver. I should probably not say this, otherwise I'll jinx it. Admittedly, the weather has been rather conducive to work. Two weeks ago I was super depressed because of the ugly clouds, snow, slushy roads and my tendency to fall every three steps. But this weekend and beginning of the week has been nothing but awesome. Still very cold, but I have been able to actually walk out looking fashionable. Nice jackets, nice scarves, nice shoes... ah, the old days of modeling :)

Writing like there's no tomorrow, still teaching, things are going well. I can't complain at all. Haven't been to the movies but I can inform the general audience of my blog that Empire 7 Granville Cinemas have decided to lower their prices to $ 6.50 any time of the day. Now there is an incentive to go!

And on the movies note, Mount Pleasant opened in theatres this week. I saw it when it showed at the Vancouver International Film Festival, but I wouldn't mind seeing it again. It is a Vancouver-centred movie, and it depicts my own neighborhood so I have many incentives to go see it again. Click here to read my movie review.

Hectic week and weekend half-booked but still looking forward to doing a lot of work. Academia, here I come!

Green Arrow - The new hero in town

Justin Hartley is a very well deserving Green Arrow. And whomever did this video deserves my kudos!

David Beckham is a class act.

Surprisingly for those of you who know my ethnic origins, I do not follow soccer (football). I rarely know who plays for whom. For some reasons (my connections to Madrid, particularly), I happen to be aware of the fact that David Beckham plays for Real Madrid, though apparently he'll be moving to the US soon to play for an American team.

Since I live in Canada, anything Canadian usually draws my attention. While reading Canadian news, I was touched, to say the least, when I read this newspaper article (the link directs you to The Toronto Star). The story describes how David Beckham took time out of his schedule to find out the phone number of an ill girl in Hamilton, Ontario. He called her himself. As in, he dialed her number so that he could talk to her. Moreover, he sent her an autographed jersey. What a great guy! Honestly, regardless of whether you're a soccer fan or not, his behavior could warm even the coldest heart. That was a touch of class. Kudos to you, David Beckham. You earned my respect.

Rocio Banquells - Dentro

I feel so old posting these awesome songs from, like, the 80s! Rocio Banquells was one of the top singers in Mexico.

Music review - Park Jam by Doctor M

Available on Julius Papp's awesome latest release, Montreal Departure, Park Jam is an absolute delight for those of us who happen to be lovers of deep soul. This is a tune that will not allow you to sit down and relax, this is music made for dancing. I hadn't listened to a tune that made me want to shake my body as much as Park Jam does. Doctor M should be congratulated ;)

Restaurant review - The 5 Point

Located near one of the landmarks of Mount Pleasant, and in the uber-hip neighbourhood of Main Street (which happens to be my stomping grounds) is The 5 Point. Basically on Main between 15th and 16th Avenues, you will find a hip bar/restaurant whose clientèle's usually mid-thirties, late-twenties, not-so-wealthy-but-definitely-working-class males and females. While noisy, I think the food is ok (I wasn't hungry after a burger and fries, and it was tasty but definitely smaller burgers than I expected). Specials to look for: Wednesdays - burger and booze for 10 bucks and Thursdays Martinis for 5.50 (you know I love martinis!). Bartender and waitresses, very friendly and good service. Good food. Loud music. You can watch hockey here, for sure. And get drunk.

Restaurant review - Sodas Diner

Located in the heart of Dunbar, in Vancouver's west side, Sodas Diner (or Sodas, as we all know it) is a no-frills, no-holds barred 50's diner. According to what we heard, it's been there for over a decade. I do indeed remember that, when I used to live in Kerrisdale, I would take the 7 Dunbar bus and would always pass by Sodas. It is located on Dunbar and I think between 26th and 27th Avenues.

Recently, one of my very good friends and I have taken to go there quite often (I think we've been there at least 3 times in the last two months!). Their burgers are quite big, their fries are to-die-for and overall, it's an inexpensive treat if you are feeling the blues. Dinner for two was well below $ 30 Canadian dollars. I go back to Sodas all the time, not only because I usually happen to go there with very close friends, but also because the food and service are amazing.

Furthermore, and as I am re-reading my posts [and editing], I should note that I rarely eat at chain restaurants. I prefer to support local business [hence the label!]

The Stone Roses - Fools Gold

I personally don't completely love The Stone Roses but learned to like this tune... surprisingly! Judge for yourself... is this tune my style?

Music Review - Sand in my Shoes - Dido

Sand In My Shoes - Dido



First time I listen to Dido sing something that isn't broody or depressing!

Damien Rice - The Blower's Daughter

A beautiful song which makes me cry every time I hear it. Not for the faint of heart or anybody chronically depressed.

Of needles and threads

Today I had to sew two buttons back into two of my European jackets. Now, these are quite expensive jackets and thus I had no intention whatsoever of screwing up. So I kept the buttons and I purchased a portable sewing kit. I am still a mamma's boy in that most of my button-fixing was done by my Mom. Unfortunately, Mom lives in a different country than I do and thus I am left to my own devices. And I found out today that I can use a needle-threader. I had never used one, but I seemed to vaguely recall how my Grandma used it.

So, I figured it out, and in five minutes I did what could've taken me an hour (insert the thread into the needle's eye). I feel so proud of myself! Despite the fact that many people have done this and consider it a non-vital skill, trust me - when it comes do sewing your own buttons, it's handy to know how to do it!

Superheroines

Ok, much as this looks as though it is a foreign-made film, it is Mexican-made. It's a commercial for El Palacio de Hierro.

Michael Buble' - Moondance

Dealing with depression at all levels

For the first time in more than two decades, I felt depressed today. I hate cold weather, and Vancouver thermometers are marking -5 oC. I am sorry, that's just unfair. I can't leave my house without thermal underwear, a shirt, a sweater and two jackets, gloves and a toque. Thank God I don't live in Calgary or Montreal!

So, I discovered that in addition to the damn rain that Vancouver has, I also feel depressed whenever the weather is way too cold to do my normal routines. This is not exactly Seasonal Mood Disorder as understood by shrinks. The thing is, I rarely get depressed. For more than two decades, I never even considered the possibility.

Today, I was feeling down, bored, frozen, etc. But I used the best therapy of them all : retail therapy! Ah, the healing powers of a shopping trip. I feel so much better now!

Happy New Year 2007!!!

Still enjoying a wonderful vacation in Mexico, I just wanted to wish my two or three readers (not sure how many I got yet!) a great New Year!

Robbie Williams - Lovelight

While I'm a fan of Robbie Williams, I'm more used to his "pop rock" songs, but I just found this one and I really like it!

The proximity and nearness of things

Ok, so I am spending my holidays in Mexico, and I was just reflecting on how much I enjoy having amenities near my houses (both in Vancouver and in Mexico).

At home in Mexico, my parents' house is near:
* A movie theater (MMC)
* A supermarket (Soriana)
* A wonderful restaurant for Argentinian food (El Rincon Gaucho Clasico)
* A great hotel with lots of little restaurants (Hotel Fiestamericana)
* A car-washing place (La Vendimia)
* A big mall (Centro Max)
* A big park (Explora)

Really, I think that I have everything I need within a 2-4 minute drive...

Now, in Vancouver, I live within 15-25 minutes of:
* The best spots for brunch (Slickitty Jim, Cafe Main, Crave on Main)
* The best coffee places in the SoMa area (Soma, Waves, The Grind)
* Wonderful places for dinner (Red Sea Cafe, Monsoon, Crave on Main)
* The best spot for movie rentals (Happy Bats Cinema)
* Nice small Mom-and-Pop market (QS Supermarket)
* Great large market (Safeway)
* Wonderful places for dinner on Commercial Drive

So, I can't complain :) I'm a happy camper -- I got everything I need and more!

The invisibility of cancer

My family has had a history of dealing with cancer patients. I have had doctors and nurses in the family on both my father and mother sides. Furthermore, some of my extended family members have faced the disease itself. Our family has fought cancer many times, and unfortunately, we have lost all of our battles so far. I was just reflecting on how we felt when we last had to deal with the disease (the last time, was lung cancer). We didn't talk about it. We were silent, as though the illness was invisible, as though it wasn't there. I believe that by not talking about it, we let cancer win at least one battle. But I hope this is not the case this time. I hope we can conquer it, I really do.

Sweet Surrender - Sarah Mclachlan

One of the best tunes from Sarah McLachlan!!!

Sarah McLachlan - Hold On

Best song ever. It still breaks my heart to listen to it, but it is unbelievably good. Sarah McLachlan rocks, period.

Computerized life

Ok, I admit it. I have signed on to the dark side. I have become a pseudo-geek. Why not a full geek, you might ask? Well, for all these reasons:
- I do not own an iPod
- My cell phone is pretty basic
- I don't use BlueTooth
- I do not have a Blackberry
- I don't own a digital camera BUT I now know how to download pictures!

That being said, I do:
- Bank online - which includes bill payments
- Organize my contacts using online calendars and address books
- Have a blog
- Have more than four e-mail accounts (which I read regularly)
- Watch YouTube
- Read the news online

Hence, while I do not deserve a full geek nomination, I can be a pseudo-geek. And I do depend
a lot on my computer! So I've decided that I will upgrade myself this Christmas, at least with a digital camera.

Movie Review - The Devil Wears Prada

Given my interest in fashion (yeah, I bought clothes in Montreal, Paris and Madrid alright!), and under the circumstances (extreme stress) I decided to rent the movie "The Devil Wears Prada" with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway. It was a breath of fresh air. Yeah, Thirteen Going on Thirty also touched upon fashion and the sacrifices and choices we make to get ahead of the game, but TDWP has Meryl Streep (sorry Jennifer Garner, I love you to bits, but Meryl is Meryl).

And the lesson remains the same: Family and friends first, career advancement second. Not for everyone, I am sure. But at least, for me, it has worked wonders. And I have a very happy life full with friends and family who love me. Overall, the movie makes you feel good by the end of it (just as with 13 Going On 30) and teaches you a lesson or two...

Rant: Snow shoveling on Vancouver's streets

This is a call for Vancouver residents who have not shoveled and cleared their snow-covered (now ice-covered) streets... YOU HAVE TO DO IT! THERE IS A BY-LAW!!! I almost took a fall six times last night because of some lazy resident who decided that he/she did not want to clear their walkways. The worst part is when 90% of the block's residents have cleared their paths and there are only one or two who have not.

A mailman recently died as a result of a fall, and people still do not realize that it is wrong not to clear their walking ways. Unbelievable... and this is a first-world country!

Robert Palmer - Mercy Mercy Me/I Want You

Singing what has been named "The Ecology Song" (Mercy Mercy Me by Marvin Gaye) intertwined with "I Want You"... I love Robert Palmer's rendition of Gaye's song... he was amazing!

What A Fool Believes - Michael McDonald

Poverty, homelessness and Vancouver covered in snow

I was just browsing through blogs and the Vancouver Sun picture gallery and found some really nice pictures. But the snow also makes me reflect on those poor people who are homeless and who are unable to sleep under a warm and dry roof. I have never in my life experienced sleeping on the streets, although the third time I moved to Vancouver I almost had to sleep in the car I had rented.

All this makes me think that, while some people may see the snow as a happy (and strange) occurrence in Vancouver, others lives are threatened by it. Vancouver does not have enough capacity (in terms of beds) to provide shelter to every homeless person out there. And yet we seem to be so happy that it's snowing because it is pretty. I am sorry, but I am not happy. If faced with the choice between snow and hot weather, I'm happier with hot weather. At least, homeless people can sleep on the street then!

All this comes back to the heated discussion on whether Vancouver has a progressive affordable housing policy. I won't comment on that. I will just ask Vancouver councillors and the Mayor to roam around in this weather without enough winter clothing... *then* they will maybe understand how does it feel for the vulnerable and disenfranchised...

My two cents, even if gloomy.

PS - I found this cute picture... downloaded it from the Vancouver Sun website, so I am guessing it was provided by a Vancouver resident. If you are the owner of the picture, let me know and I'll credit you!

Flans - Las mil y una noches


Como todos los ridiculos fresas de aquella epoca, yo fui uno de los que se enamoro escuchando esta cancion...

"Tu forma de amar... siempre a medias, siempre loca, siempre a destiempo... tenia que acabar con alguno de los dos..." Cursilerias para muchos, pero bastante importantes para otros :)

Real Thing

Lisa Stansfield is, without a doubt, one of the best singers of the XXth Century.

Magneto 40 Grados

If you're Mexican and you're about my age, you have heard this song. May like it or not, but it was for sure super popular. I have it on tape and MP3. I can't believe it!!! I'm a dork :)

It's snowing in Vancouver!

For the love of God, I just can't believe it... it started snowing last night when I went out for dinner (well, apparently it started to snow around mid-day on Saturday) and now the whole city is covered in white powdery snow. I found pictures from the festival of snow in Vancouver... And for the record, I hate -3 oC temperatures... BRRRRRR

Patrick Duffy & Mireille Mathieu - Together We Are Strong.

I admired Mireille Mathieu since I heard her sing "Allo" (Lionel Richie's "Hello") but when I was looking for Hello, I came across this one. It's so funny to see Patrick Duffy sing besides Mireille that I thought I should post it. It's quite sweet.

Restaurant review: Trixi's

I have been neglecting to write Trixi’s restaurant review because I’ve been swamped with work commitments. But I can’t delay it anymore. Last Sunday, I went there with two of my best friends and we had crepes for dinner. Yessir, crepes. I admit it, I was shocked myself. I am usually a fan of Trixi’s for 3 pm crepe and tea on a sunny day (as I have done numerous times with one of my closest friends) but they wanted a savoury treat and I wasn’t about to say “oh I am sorry I’m a sweet crepe kind of guy”.

So, there I went with a herb-chicken and mushroom crepe (without cheese but with tomatoes). It was, as usual, fantastic! But I was more shocked about the fact that I had enjoyed a savoury crepe rather than a sweet one. Of course, I shared a sweet crepe for dessert. Prices are fantastic (with 6 bucks you can have crepe and ice-cream and for 10 bucks you got yourself dinner). The owners are sweet and adorable and they’ll come to your table to tell stories. So, kudos to Trixi’s. It is located right across from Tomato on Cambie and almost 17th Avenue. My favourite crepe restaurant (and yes I know Cafe Crepe, and I like their crepes too, but Trixi's has a homey flavour to it).

In peace :) Amado Nervo

A really good friend of mine was feeling somewhat sad and blue the past few days, and even though we haven't seen each other in months, I thought I'd cheer her up with part of a poem by Amado Nervo... It's a wonderful poem worth revisiting here. I will do the translation eventually. I e-mailed this poem to an ex- of mine a few years ago, when I was head over heels and I was completely in love. The e-mail I got back was quite pathetic, I must add. But that did not detract from my emotions. I was SO happy :)

En Paz

Muy cerca de mi ocaso, yo te bendigo, Vida, porque nunca me diste ni esperanza fallida,ni trabajos injustos, ni pena inmerecida;porque veo al final de mi rudo caminoque yo fui el arquitecto de mi propio destino; que si extraje las mieles o la hiel de las cosas, fue porque en ellas puse hiel o mieles sabrosas:cuando planté rosales coseché siempre rosas.... Cierto, a mis lozanías va a seguir el invierno: ¡mas tú no me dijiste que mayo fuese eterno!Hallé sin duda largas las noches de mis penas; mas no me prometiste tan sólo noches buenas; y en cambio tuve algunas santamente serenas...Amé, fui amado, el sol acarició mi faz. ¡Vida, nada me debes! ¡Vida, estamos en paz!

Restaurant review: The Red Sea Cafe

Ok, this restaurant review was long overdue and thought I'd write it before I forget completely. I have been to the Red Sea Cafe (670 Broadway, near Fraser) three times in the last month and I am going again this week. The last time I bumped into really good friends and took one of my closest friends for dinner for his birthday. The time before I just had a craving and had to run get some Erithrean/Ethiopian food. The first time I went with a good friend of mine.

The basis for Erithrean/Ethiopian food is a crepe-like bread called injera. A bit sour but incredibly tasty, it is used as a plate for the wot (curry or 'mole'-like pastes with meat or veggies, amazingly well cooked and spiced). You then can use injera to grab morsels of food. I have been to the RSC three times already and every time I finish the meal so full I can barely walk.

The service is amazing and I always have a wonderful time. The owners I think are Erithrean. Despite the neighbourhood (it's in a not-so-beautiful part of Mount Pleasant) it's very well worth the trip to try the food.

A proposito de Dirty Vegas...

One of my best friends gave me this song in MP3. Awesome beats, although I wonder if it's along the same lines of Sam Roberts. You will understand my confusion when you know that Dirty Vegas is actually a house group (my good friend Silver introduced me to deep house). The better known song of Dirty Vegas is actually a house tune, Days Go By.

I am a big fan of Sam and now of Dirty Vegas :-) but definitely, I never expected DV to play something similar to Sam Roberts. I am confused now.

House or ... Canadian folk ?!

Dirty Vegas - Walk Into The Sun

One of my best friends gave me this song in MP3. Awesome beats, although I wonder if it's along the same lines of Sam Roberts. You will understand my confusion when you know that Dirty Vegas is actually a house group (my good friend Silver introduced me to deep house). The better known song of Dirty Vegas is actually a house tune, Days Go By.

I am a big fan of Sam and now of Dirty Vegas :-) but definitely, I never expected DV to play something similar to Sam Roberts. I am confused now.

Restaurant review: Figmint and Rain City Grill [2 Reviews in 1]

Well, this past weekend was very much a trouble-plagued weekend. But more than anything, bad choices for dinner and brunch. So I'm going to review them both in the same post.

I was totally looking forward to brunch at Figmint given that it had just been reviewed on the local newspapers and it is very well located, on 12th Avenue and Cambie. But it was a total disaster. First of all, they charge 7 dollars to park (valet parking). I would think that (as an added bonus) they would offer free parking. I now know that there's no such thing as a free brunch! For the price they charge for scrambled eggs, they should really provide some perks. I was not impressed. I could think of a good half-dozen places where I've eaten cheaper, nicer breakfast. The only good thing about it was the company, one of my best friends.

That same night, I went out with another good friend to Rain City Grill on Denman Street and almost Davie. The prices are quite exorbitant for what they offer (and the flavours are quite bland). I ordered salmon, and it was almost burned. Supposedly their dinner menu is very good, but I did not see the selection of dinner plates that is shown here. I was definitely unimpressed too. And I dine out quite a lot! Again, the only good thing was the company of another of my best friends. But, next time I'll pass on both Figmint and Rain City Grill. I think it's time I go back to my Main St. roots :)

Movie Review - Mount Pleasant

The 25th Vancouver International Film Festival, held in Vancouver this year from September 28th to October 13, had numerous Canadian films (99% of which I could not see because of work commitments). But I did make time to see Mount Pleasant, for three main reasons:

a) The movie stars Kelly Rowan, one of my favourite actresses, who happens to be Canadian too. Kelly likes to support Canadian film, as shown in this interview with The Vancouver Sun. For those of you who don't know who she is, here is her Wikipedia biography.

b) The movie is set in Vancouver in my neighbourhood, Mount Pleasant.

c) It is perhaps the first movie I have seen where I can actually relate entirely to what is being depicted in the film.

d) It is directed by brilliant UBC alumnus Ross Weber, who also happens to live in the neighbourhood.

So, on to the movie review. A few other blogs have also published a review of the film, so I'll make my review more focused on why the film struck home with me. Beyond Robson, a very good local Vancouver blog published a really nice and thoughtful review, although I have to say that I did not hate every character. I felt sorry for Nadia and for Sarah. However, I did hate Megan.

The film is set in the neighbourhood of Mount Pleasant, in Vancouver (present day), and the lives of two families collide with those of a lost soul, leaving a big mess. Nadia, a young under-age prostitute who lives with her pimp Nick, and works the streets of Mount Pleasant, is picked up by Stephen, who is a real estate agent. He is in an unhappy marriage to Anne, and they live in (apparently, I can't recall properly) Kerrisdale (or Shaughnessy), one of the affluent neighbourhoods. Doug and Sarah (whose boss is Anne) have just moved into Mount Pleasant with their six year old daughter, who pricks herself with a used hypodermic needle. This single event triggers an outrage by Doug, who is upset at the poor conditions of the neighbourhood, including drug addiction, prostitution, etc.

The movie does a superb job of depicting the state of the neighbourhood, and the complicated and intricate relationships of these individuals. It is a superb movie, and it struck home with me. As an example, 'Nadia' was "picking up" at the bus stop on the corner of 19th Avenue and Fraser Street, where I often have taken the bus to go either to South Fraser or Downtown. Seeing the neighbourhood where one lives in a cinematic fashion is really eery. I had an opportunity to talk briefly with Camille Sullivan (Sarah) and Ross Weber, the director. The question/answer period after the October 11th showing at Granville Seven was really good.

I hope they release Mount Pleasant on video so that I can show it to my parents and friends. Kudos to Ross Weber and the cast of Mount Pleasant for a job well-done.

On the sociological and urban development side, the movie does depict reality but I am hopeful that the gentrification process will reach this area soon. It is not a bad neighbourhood, it just needs some cleaning up.

Restaurant review: Nirvana

For those of you lovers of Indian food, Nirvana is *the* place. That is, of course, if you live nowhere near 49th Avenue and you do not want to go to the area of Vancouver known as "Little India". Since I love eating near my stomping grounds, I decided to go to Nirvana to meet a colleague and friend for dinner. My friend actually treated me to dinner, and while we were discussing a lot of issues and things that needed to be talked about, I recognise that the service was REALLY SLOW. The food is, however, superb.

Their dishes to share are to die for, particularly their chicken masala. The prices are a bit high for the amount of food that you get, but it's not unaffordable. I would not recommend this restaurant for a quick, cheap eat because it is neither cheap nor the service is quick. But the atmosphere and the food itself make up for a lot.

And you can't beat the location in Mount Pleasant: literally corner of 7th Avenue, Main and Kingsway (where all three streets intersect). Right besides the vegetarian restaurant "The Foundation", Nirvana is worth the trip if you are into good Indian food and are not in a rush to get anywhere. Beware, you might become addicted to Indian food!

Restaurant review: Crave on Main

As a result of the post-birthday season outings, I have been to several restaurants within the past few weeks. That, and the fact that I'm super busy has delayed my reviews. So, I'm slowly trying to catch up. I am sure that as I type more reviews I'll discover that I missed a few of the places I've tried lately.

On to the topic of this review: Crave on Main, whose website looks as sophisticated as the place itself. For anyone who lives near the Main St. area (what many people call SoMa or South Main) - still part of Mount Pleasant, the choice of restaurants is overwhelming. But in the stretch from 20th Avenue to King Edward, Crave does stand out. It has a cute patio and another patio inside the actual restaurant.

Mom and I walked by Crave just about every day while she visited Vancouver this summer, and we never got around to eating there. However, one of my best friends and I went for brunch there a few weeks ago. I had a smoothie and she had scrambled eggs with bacon and toast. Arguably, the smoothie was one of the best I've had, while my friend said these were top-notch scrambled eggs. The service was a bit slow, as the place is quite popular. We haven't been there for dinner, but the brunch menu rocks, and the prices are quite reasonable, particularly for student budgets!

I will definitely come back to Crave on Main repeatedly, not only because it is near where I live but also because it is a fun and tasty place.

ADDENDUM - October 14th, 2006.

I went to Crave on Main again this weekend, this time with another good friend of mine. I was (quite obviously) a bit worried about whether we would be taken care of quickly. Well, I can't say anything but pure praise to the staff of Crave. The service was TOP NOTCH. As in, unbelievable. There were times when three waitresses would be coming by to make sure that we were doing ok with water, coffee, etc. Our dishes took (I'm not kidding) seven minutes to make, and the food was superb. Recommended brunch item: Eggs your way with mediterranean turkey sausage with white toast. The server who was in charge of our table even came to the door to say goodbye with a smile :) -- ok, now THAT is what I call impressive!

UPDATE - September 30, 2007. I decided to try to link to UrbanSpoon and thus here is their code. Here's hoping they'll link to my other restaurant reviews!

Kindness in Vancouver - not so much of a lost art

Today I had to go Downtown to run a couple of errands (despite not feeling terribly well) and I ended up stopping at a Burger King (Granville and Robson) for a bite to eat. This area (Granville Street at night) can be very depressing with all the homelessness, the peddlers, etc. (Sorry, it's the truth!)... Anyway, as I was eating my burger (which, might I add, was really tasty), I noticed a young girl eating all by herself in the neighbouring table. She had, quite obviously, finished eating quite a long time ago, and was there just gathering her thoughts (or at least so I thought).

She might have been my niece's age (16) or perhaps a bit older. But she was definitely distraught. So the young woman who sweeps the floors approached her and asked her if she was alright. The young lady in purple (I think she was wearing purple) said she had missed her bus connection and that she needed to make a phone call. As she was speaking, tears started to well her eyes and she lost her composure for a couple minutes. The young lady sweeper kindly offered to find some way to give her a ride, although the girl said that she could call her Mom or Dad to pick her up. She was definitely not feeling well, and I felt really guilty for not helping more (although I did approach her and talked to her to ask whether she was ok and needed help).

At any rate, what really struck me was the compassion and sincerity of the young lady sweeper. She said "whatever you need, let me know and we'll help you". And she meant it. In a city that has been criticized for its lack of spirit and for being cold and closed, I was simply awestruck. This young lady who sweeps floors at BK was offering as much help as she could and being sweet and sensitive to the needs of the distraught young girl. Things like this warm my heart and remind me that, in spite of Vancouver's "cold" society, there are still many people out there who are willing to give a helping hand. Annonymous heroes who live their lives unsung. Here is to praise a quiet hero. I hope the young distressed lady got home safe. I'll have to check this week with the young lady sweeper. And perhaps bring her a token of appreciation. She really did brighten my day.

Charlie's Angels Reunited - Emmys 2006

Kate Jackson, Farrah Fawcett and Jaclyn Smith... the three women we all know to be Charlie's Angels ... 30 years later, they still look stunning...

Restaurant review: The Red Door

I had to pick up some stuff from one of my friends tonight around Granville Street, so I thought we would go for dinner near by. The closest restaurant (really) is The Red Door (Granville & 14th Ave.), so we thought we'd try that one. I am rarely into Asian fusion or Asian tapas, so I thought "well, what the heck"... we tried the eggplant with rice and we shared a won ton soup. The food was tasty and abundant. Didn't really need to eat more than these two shared plates.

The prices are really reasonable. The only problem - the service. I wasn't impressed with the level of service, despite the fact that the waitress was very nice. I think that it took them way too long to bring us drinks AND food. But once we got those out of the way, we were alright... All in all, I would go back to The Red Door... but only if I have had something to eat a bit earlier. Otherwise the wait might get to me...

Love is where your heart is

Well, normally I blog about one of these things

a). My personal, day-to-day life.
b). Environmental affairs.
c). Restaurants where I eat.

Today I was reflecting on how lucky I am (yet again!) and how quickly moods can change. This needs some explanation. I am near the end of my 'birthday season' (one week before, one week after my birthday - all spanning three weeks)... and I have just had a lovely dinner cooked for me last night (though I was so hungover I could barely eat). So anyhow, I am a lucky man with lots of good friends...

On to the discussion of what the title means. My apartment is tiny. It is a one-bedroom ground-level basement suite. I love it dearly. It has everything I need, and I don't really have a lot of furniture. My dining table can be expanded to hold up to four people. However, it's really basically a two-seater. I usually invite one friend over for dinner and my dining "room" fits perfectly. However, two weeks ago I folded one part of the table so as to make enough walking room. It ended up being a one-seater (for me to eat breakfast or dinner - I rarely eat lunch at home).

A few seconds after I had folded the table, I felt really sad and lonely. It really struck me... I live alone. I *am* alone. I have wonderful friends, a very good neighbour, and my family. But I am really alone. It wasn't until I answered the phone an hour afterwards (one of my friends calling) that I thought "well, you are not really alone... you have lots of people who love you and care for you, and when you make enough money, you will have a real dining table for six"...

That's what I meant by 'love is where your heart is'. If you have friends and loved ones near you (either by phone, email, MSN or physically), you are never alone. So, in short, I am not really alone... And I am grateful for that.

Restaurant review - Yaletown Brewing Co. [plus Justin Trudeau sighting]

Well, I was out and about having dinner tonight at the Yaletown Brewing Co. (commonly known in Vancouver-lingo as 'the Yaletown Brewery', located at the corner of Mainland and Hamilton) with one of my best friends (who took me there for my birthday) when something happened. I went to the rest-room, and on the way back, I had to weasel my way around a table where a very animated conversation was taking place. Lots of really heart-felt hugs. And then I thought to myself "that guy is behaving exactly as I usually do - very public displays of affection, very warm, very outgoing and genuine"

... When on close observation I am start thinking to myself "oh, that guy looks strangely familiar... I am sure I have seen him somewhere... isn't that... oh yes it is... it really is... Justin Trudeau!". Yes, ladies and gentlemen. The first-born son of Monsieur Pierre Trudeau, the late Prime Minister of Canada, husband to Madame Sophie Gregoire [yes, they DO make a very cute couple].

And, for the record, Justin is a UBC alumnus (Bachelor of Education), although currently he is studying a Masters in Environmental Geography at McGill University, as reported by Wikipedia. Justin used to teach in Vancouver, so it does not seem surprising that he has very close friends in the city. I was just surprised. The last time I saw him was at GLOBE 2006, where he moderated a panel. Most of the time, my association with the Trudeau last name is the Trudeau Foundation, which sponsors great thinkers in Canada. I guess I just hadn't seen Justin in a social setting in a long, long time (I seem to recall having seen him a few times over the past ten years in various other settings, but really socializing with good friends, I think this is the first time). He looked so genuine, so warm, so authentic, that I think my admiration for him is well deserved. He uses his charm, good looks, poise and positive attitude to inspire people and raise awareness on critical issues (such as avalanche control, sustainability and opportunities for youth to mature and grow). *sigh* Now I know why women want to marry him and men want to be like him...

Having gushed about Justin Trudeau for a few paragraphs, on to the restaurant review....

The Yaletown Brewery was a popular haunt of my friends and I since 1996. I think I have been to dinner at the YB more often than I have at a White Spot [which is supposedly super-Canadian]. The food is really good (and portions are generous), the service is friendly and it has an outdoor patio. I think I've been there at least three to four times a year for the past 10 years. No, it's not that I don't have options. It's just that the YB is good. It is really good. And seeing Justin Trudeau was just icing on the cake. I had a wonderful evening with one of my best friends and I managed to walk around Yaletown for a good half hour (something I hadn't done in AGES).

Matt and Elektra

This *IS* the actual fight, with some footage of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck talking before the fight. All Matt Murdock is trying to do is get Elektra Natchios' name :) That's a really cool fight. If you are interested, here is the link to the "Cats Fighting" version (animated cartoon).

The courage to learn (A post to reflect)

I am a very lucky man. I really am. I have had a number of really wonderful birthday celebrations (for me it's not usually birthday, it's more like birthday season! it spans one week before and one week after). I am extremely blessed to have the family I have, my brothers, my parents, my wonderful friends in Mexico, in Vancouver and every other country where I have had the fortune to spend time.

But today I realized how lucky I am to be complete (as a human being). Being able to walk all over the place, see wonderful things, read and speak various languages. I am truly amazed at the many gifts I have received in various shapes and forms. The ability to walk is one particular gift I came to cherish today as I was strolling to pick up some documents near my office.

One of my students and I bumped into each other this afternoon and started a fairly animated outdoor conversation, in the pouring rain and enduring cold weather. After a few minutes, we saw a young lady who was wheelchair-bound, trying (quite unsuccessfully) to get into her car at the parking lot. Due to the rain, the floor was very slippery and it was extremely hard for her to control her wheelchair. Therefore, my student and I ran to offer our help. We held the car door open and provided her wheelchair with a leverage point so that she could push herself into the driver's seat. She finally did get into the car and we happily placed her wheelchair in her car's trunk.

While she was very embarrassed to have asked for help, we were very happy to be helpful. I couldn't help but be completely in awe. I thought to myself "this is a student who faces challenges to transport herself from one point to another, and I am so lucky to walk everywhere I want to without even thinking". If we hadn't been there to help her get into her car, she probably would have gotten even more wet, and the rain was freezing cold. Yet, she never lost her composure, and she gave us (at least me) a lesson in humility and made me reflect on the gifts I have received.

I happen to believe in God, and I often think that God gave me certain gifts to share them with the world. I am very grateful that he gave me the ability to walk. But beyond that, I am truly amazed at how some people have the courage to face their challenges and become successful. True champions in their own way. I salute those people who overcome their handicaps and make something of themselves instead of feeling sorry. By taking charge of their disability, they have overcome it and grown more mature. Thank you for giving me a lesson in how to live life.

Restaurant review - Slickitty Jim's

Well, last night I went to see Lino do stand-up comedy, at Marcela's invitation. I had a really good time, and I was impressed with Lino's ability to make jokes in English! That takes a lot of hard work and courage. Kudos to him!

Since I frequently read their blogs, I found out that they had reviewed a few restaurants in the past, some of which I have visited myself. Having lived in Vancouver for ten years, it is likely that I haven't been to pretty much just about every nice restaurant within the Vancouver area. For sure, when I have been out and about I've done my share of Burnaby/North Vancouver/New Westminster restaurants, but for the most part I've been a Vancouver eater. Furthermore, traditionally I have been a Downtown/Yaletown/West End/Kitsilano customer. So, it's kind of hard to try and find new places. Chances are, I've been there already!

So I thought I'd continue with my restaurant reviews with my traditionally favourite meal: brunch. For those of you who are brunch-addicts, Slickitty Jim's a great choice. Located between Broadway and 10th Avenue on Main Street, it is basically a few steps away from the Main St. 99 B-Line stop. It is small, usually crowded on weekends, and definitely can get a line-up if you aren't there by 8 am.

That being said, I went for breakfast/brunch with Mom a couple of months back when she was visiting Vancouver. Three times, if I recall correctly. Now, for me to repeat brunch three times during a three-week visit, that must indicate something. The place is not good. It is awesome! [Correction - Mom was here for a month]

The owner is there running the show, she is sweet, kind, caring and the food is just amazing. Mom and I had both the Chorizo Scramble (I think that's the name, I forget) - unbelievably good. Very filling and reasonably priced. If you want to get a taste of Main St., breakfast Slickitty Jim's-style sounds like a good idea.

Sustainable transportation in Vancouver

Today I had a really hard time taking the 99 B-Line. Most buses went through, fully loaded with people. As someone with an environmentally-minded orientation, I should be happy. But I can't be happy because, even though we are making more use of public transit, we are indeed over capacity. The popularity of the U-Pass (a universal bus pass for students at UBC and SFU) has made it commuting much easier (as it covers all three zones of the Lower Mainland).

Sustainable transportation should also be climate-neutral, in my humble opinion. I was talking about this topic with Marcela, who is very passionate about sustainable transportation. For example, she was suggesting that street-light coordination would be but just one of the many ways in which you could streamline traffic in the Metropolitan Zone of Guadalajara. I don't know since I don't work in transportation, but I'll take her word for it :-)

Presuntos Implicados - Mi Única Razón

A song that speaks about tolerance, love that has no boundaries nor definitions, really beautiful music. Worth watching.

Presuntos Implicados - Cómo hemos cambiado

This is a song by the Spanish group Presuntos Implicados. It was my favourite for a long, long time. It still is one of my top 10 songs.

Australian Open 1996 - Bests Moment

This is Monica Seles' last Grand Slam (Australian Open 1996) but for some reason, she's not featured at length!

My graduation from 'mocoso' to 'hombrecito'

A few days ago I reached the 10 year anniversary of my move to Vancouver for graduate school. August 23rd, 2006. What a milestone!

It was a cold day, I recall. That was surprising since Mexico isn't characteristically cold. My older brother and his family had already left, as he was going to do his PhD in the United States. Five days and my Mom had to see two of her children move to different countries. In my case, I was the one who moved the farthest. My other brother was already in the US, so 60% of my Mom's children were living abroad by September of 1996 (this percentage increased to 80% by 2000).

I reflected on Caro's blog that ten years ago I moved to Vancouver. The reflection being that, before 1996, I avoided at all costs living away from my family. I did my undergraduate degree near my hometown just so that I could see my parents and brothers every other day. And then, one day I told myself "I can do it. I am going to do it." So I packed everything, quit a rather lucrative job, and moved to Vancouver to start my Masters.

And then I stayed... and I decided that this is where I want to live. I fell in love with Vancouver. But moreover, I grew up. I stopped being the wimpy little Momma's boy and became a strong young man with the grit and willingness to face the challenge of a country I didn't know. I graduated from 'mocoso' to 'hombrecito'

Elements of Soul featuring Mia Taylor - Head Above Water

Wow :)

My first two comments from two well-established bloggers... YAY!

I haven't really taken the time to link to other Vancouver- (or other) based blogs, but sometimes I am not sure I have the content to enrich them... well, I'll give it a good try. This weekend I shall put some time into connecting with some other blogs.

In the mean time, I want to recommend my latest acquisition on Beatport (yes, I do pay for music!)... Head Above Water by Elements of Soul featuring Mia Taylor. It's such a cool song. I've had it in my head for the past hour or so. I can't stop listening to it. It's soulful, it's deep house and it's very much in the lines of The Rurals and Deep Six (as argued by Guidance Recordings in their review). If you click on their webpage you'll be able to listen to the version I bought - (Axwell's Star Beach Mix) -- well, only a tiny bit. Worth the purchase, though!

Bionic Woman

This is a compilation of Bionic Woman clips to the theme of BW. Very well produced.

Restaurant review - Whineo's - A place to remember - and sustainable seafood

Well, it seems like my blog has been all about YouTube and superheros lately. Not a lot of environmental commentary either. I know, I know! I've had family visiting and it's been a hectic few weeks. But I'm back on track now :-)

Mom visited recently from Mexico, and we went for dinner a couple of days before she left. I wondered where to take her since we had done the majority of restaurants I usually like. My Mom has been to Vancouver many times and we've very frequently eaten out so I really didn't want to take her to a 'repeat' restaurant. Dining out in Vancouver is normally not hard to do. There's a gazillion restaurants to please just every palate. But throughout my 10 years in the city, we've been to too many of them. So it took me a while to think of a good place.

However, I had just recently read a review of Whineo's, a neat dining/bar place in the downtown core of Vancouver (right on Granville Street). I knew Josh Manuel, one of the co-owners, through his former job and I thought it might be neat to check this place out. And as I will explain below, I think I made the right choice :-)

Mom and I ordered a platter (for $ 14 bucks, you can't beat that) with all the strong flavours we both like (capers, olives, hummus, anchovies)... yummy! Then we proceeded to order chicken breast with mushrooms in a nice wine reduction. The plate size was right, the price was really inexpensive (under $ 15 for a main course, it is almost unbeatable). We also ordered patatas bravas, although I think by then we had eaten too much. And the cheesecake with blueberry compote... to die for.

My Mom was so happy with the meal that she said this had been the best dining experience she had had in Vancouver this time around. I was quite pleased to hear that, particularly since the staff at Whineo's was very friendly and the food was amazing. I wanted to come back with my brother but he had to fly out and thus we couldn't do it. But I'll certainly be back :-)

Since I didn't take pictures, I had to borrow pictures from Urban Mixer Flickr's website to showcase how the food is presented. You can check it here... You can check Raincoaster's picture of Whineo's indoors here.

I found out that WaiterBlog had reviewed Whineo's so here is the post.

And just a minute before I was about to push the "Publish Post" button, I discovered that Whineo's is an OceanWise member and thus their seafood dishes are certified as sustainable :-) Now one more reason to go for dinner there!

Lovetronic - You are Love

For those of you who like House Music, this is totally the type of music I dig.

An Alternative Wonder Woman

This is not the Lynda Carter version, but another actress. Well done as a matter of fact.

Wonder Woman Saves the MTV Movie Awards

Heat wave in Vancouver

Sweet mother of God! It's 28 oC and it's supposed to get hotter this weekend. The forecast predicts up to 37 oC in the Lower Fraser Valley... *sweat*

I know that this may be one of the effects of climatic change, but living in Canada has made me appreciate warm temperatures :) I am sorry to say, but I'm all up for 28 oC in Vancouver!

Not your fault (Good Will Hunting)

The YouTube video of the climatic scene of Good Will Hunting.

Some of the finest acting in history - Matt Damon (Good Will Hunting)

This movie is one of my favourite. Apparently, it is one of the favourite of the Academy as well... they gave GWH an Oscar for Best Screenplay (Matt Damon and Ben Affleck). The most poignant scene is a testament to Matt Damon's acting ability and range, as well as Robin Williams. Two of my favourite actors show here what genuine care and affection is all about. I got the movie from YouTube.

Land-use, housing and... Superman Returns!

While it might be a surprise to read the name of the world's mightiest superhero in an environmentally-inclined blog, there is actually a relevant connection. I am not going to reveal the plot of the movie, which recently opened in theatres in Vancouver (yesterday as a matter of fact). What is important (and certainly connects to the issue of urban sustainability) is that the movie touches upon the thorny issue of land-use and real estate.

Lex Luthor (many people's favourite villain, played by Kevin Spacey in this version and pitted against Brandon Routh's Superman) is in the real-estate business, and is conspiring to build a new continent using Krypton's advanced technology. He'll destroy many continents, killing many people, and then he will sellhis land (never mind that the actual 'crystal-grown land' looks horrible and arid).

The issue here is to remember that while for many people, land is a resource we need, for many others it is business. How to make land use a sustainable activity (equitable, just, accessible) ... quite an interesting challenge....

The World Urban Forum in Vancouver - June 19th to 23rd, 2006

Well, I picked up today my badge and registration package for the III World Urban Forum that will take place in Vancouver from June 19th to 23rd.

Given my interest in urban sustainability and the politics of environmental regulation, water sanitation, patterns of land use and zoning, it is fitting that this event is taking place in the city where I live now. Lucky me! I was unfortunately away from Mexico when the 4th World Water Forum took place (too bad, since water policy is one of my research interests). But at least I got to attend one megaconference in 2006.

But there is one substantial difference between WUF3 and 4WWF (that's how they like to be called, really!) is that WUF3 was 100% free. Gratis. Zero. Zilch. Nada. Whereas, to ensure participation in the 4WWF you would have had to shell out in the realm of $ 600.00 US (six hundred US dollars). Now, quite obviously WUF will have substantial participation from NGOs, academia and the general public, simply because it is taking place here and it is entirely free!

The Georgia Straight has a full issue devoted to the World Urban Forum, which you can check out if you click here. Note that this link may disappear after WUF, but hopefully you will be able to search the GS archives. The actual website of WUF is really neat, and I am sure that there will be lots of things to be said and discussed there.

I'll be posting some of my thoughts on WUF3 throughout the week. Besides, it is a great opportunity to network :)

Restaurant review - Enigma: The pleasure of simplicity and sophistication

The 12th International Symposium on Society and Natural Resource Management is currently taking place at The University of British Columbia. Co-organized by Simon Fraser University's School of Resource and Environmental Management, this symposium takes place from June 3rd to the 8th, 2006.

Many of my good friends and colleagues are currently visiting Vancouver because they are presenting their research here. Therefore, I was very pleased to have had the opportunity to take a group of them for dinner to Enigma, on 10th Avenue and Tolmie.

Enigma is a wonderful place that is very much not what people might think at first glance. The place is decorated with sophisticated furniture, high chairs and tables and a nice outdoor patio. However, despite the 'posh' factor that might lead you to believe that it will be a pricey place, it is surprisingly inexpensive, and the food is amazing. The portions are generous and the taste is really good. I would highly recommend it. It is the kind of place where you would take a date, or an out-of-towner and where you could be sure that the person you are inviting will have a wonderful experience. The owners are there to check on every detail, so you feel very much at home. I have been there for dinner, breakfast (I haven't been there for lunch however).

Overall, a wonderful experience. Six marvelous academics at a table and we all had a great time... what else can I ask for?

Al Gore, UBC and climate change

I had the amazing opportunity today to go and listen to Mr. Al Gore, former Vice-President of the United States of America, speak about climate change, the future of Earth and the challenges ahead. It was a great talk. Mr. Gore is a very articulate speaker and he can galvanize the hell out of you. By the time his speech was over, I felt recharged and empowered to effect change. Yes, we can succeed in facing the sustainability challenge (at least that's the message Mr. Gore is trying to get across). He was unbelievable, and even though I'm very stressed and overwhelmed with work, I wouldn't have traded this opportunity ever. He talked at the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts at The University of British Columbia. Dr. Martha Piper, the (out-going) President of UBC was there to deliver her last official speech and present Mr. Gore. It was an awesome evening altogether. Now, back to the grind :)

The Mexican elections

Normally I wouldn't even go there, but I've been bombarded with propaganda from the two main contenders. The interesting part of this phenomenon is the incredible bias that one can read from pseudo-political analyists. I read a profile of one of the candidates (I will not say names to make my own life easier) who was basically touted "a perfect candidate" whereas the other was profiled as a complete whack-job. This profile was written by an Anglo-saxon writer, not based in Mexico. Thus, the chances of him actually knowing how things are in Mexico are nil. However, he invested himself with enough authority to have an opinion (a biased one, I might add). So, the problem is, there is no balanced, objective analysis of the 2006 Mexican elections. What will happen is anybody's guess. I for one am happy I am not there.