Blog

Say “Namast-eh” for Canada Day at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet

McArthurGlen Designer Outlet is calling all yogis to join them to say namast-eh as part of their Canada Day celebrations. On July 1st, 500 yogis dressed in white will return to participate in Canada’s 150th birthday in true Vancouver fashion at the centre. This event is open to anyone wishing to downward-dog and say “Namast-eh?” for Canada. The iconic Lolë White Tour has taken place at major world sites and landmarks including the Eiffel Tour and Central Park.

Tickets are now available for $ 19.50 at bit.ly/McArthurGlenxLole2017, and include a yoga mat and a Lolë gift bag filled with McArthurGlen goodies. Partial proceeds will be donated to KidSport Richmond, a national not-for-profit organization that provides financial assistance for sports registration fees and equipment to kids. Participants are encouraged to arrive at 9:30 a.m., with the session starting at 10:00 a.m. set to live classical music.

Following the outdoor yoga session, the centre will host a jam-packed day to continue the celebration. In addition to the opening of Kate Spade New York, shoppers will be treated to steep discounts up to 70 per cent less on the latest summer fashion from the centre’s brands. Guests will also be able to enjoy music entertainment, such as the Vancouver Orchestral Club Symphony who are returning with a “Broadway Comes to Canada” performance, as well as an abundance of family-friendly activities including scavenger hunts, games, face painting and free treats.

Schedule of Events:

  • 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. – Lolë White Tour On The Road (session starts at 10:00 a.m.)
  • 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Official kick off of Summer Sale
  • 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Family-friendly scavenger hunt
  • 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Face-painting, Foto Bus and games/entertainment
  • 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. – 9 Piece Jazz Funk Band – Camaro 67
  • 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Vancouver Orchestral Club Symphony performance and birthday celebration. Opening act will lead the crowd in an impactful “O Canada” to celebrate Canada’s 150th. Following the performance, guests will be treated to a Canada-themed cupcake.

With the centre’s close proximity to the Canada Line, all guests are encouraged to take public transit on Canada Day to avoid any delays. McArthurGlen is easily accessible via the Canada Line’s Templeton Station – just 3 minutes from the airport and 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver.

Social: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

Inside Vancouver Blog

Read More

Events, , , ,

Six must-see shows at this year’s Vancouver International Jazz Festival

Kandace Springs.

With hundreds of acts and dozens of shows, the Vancouver International Jazz Festival represents a challenge to anyone interested in the event but not totally up to speed on they myriad genres and artists represented. Here’s a short list of five must-see acts for those who are pretty sure they want to check something out during the festival’s 11 days (June 22-July 2), but aren’t sure where to start. (Note: the list tends towards more non-standard jazz acts. For those looking for more adventurous fare, we’ve included another list of some of the festival’s cutting-edge acts.)

Dálava—Czech band playing Czech folk music. Led by vocalist Julia Ulehla and guitarist Aram Bajakian, Dálava interprets folk melodies transcribed over a century ago by Ulehla’s botanist/ethnomusicologist great-grandfather. Vancouver musicians Peggy Lee on cello, Colin Cowan on bass, Tyson Naylor on keyboards, and Dylan van Schyff on drums.  (June 23, Innovation Series at The Ironworks, 235 Alexander St., 9:30 p.m.)

Dálava. Emma Jolie photo.

Thus Owls—Montreal chamber-pop from Swedish/Canadian couple Erika and Simon Angell. Huffington Post calls them “mystical and enchanting”, which is perhaps why they’re playing a midnight show. (June 24, Innovation Series at The Ironworks, midnight)

Thus Owls. Nick Heldern photo.

Kandace Springs—Blue Note recording artist Springs is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter/pianist. She counts among her inspirations Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, and Roberta Flack. (June 25 at Pyatt Hall, 843 Seymour St., 7:30 & 9:30 p.m.)

Land of Talk—Canadian indie-rock band back after seven years, touring in support of third album, Life After Youth. Led by Elizabeth Powell, Land of Talk has been praised by the New York Times and Rolling Stone. With Half Waif, aka Nandi Rose Plunkett, from Brooklyn. (June 26 at the Imperial, 319 Main St., 9 p.m.)

Land of Talk is back with its first new album in seven years.

Steelin’ in the Years—Full disclosure; this blogger loves Steely Dan. And you’re unlikely to find a better Steely Dan cover band than Steelin’ in the Years, a conglomerate of nearly a dozen Vancouver musicians who come together every few months to pay tribute to the pioneering jazz-pop group. Expect deep cuts as well as songs you know and love (“My Old School”, “Do It Again”). (June 27 at Centre for the Performing Arts at Capilano University, 2055 Purcell Way, North Vancouver, 8 p.m.)

Steelin’ In the Years bring the Steely Dan magic to this year’s jazz festival.

Thievery Corporation—Legends of the DJ/electronic music scene, the duo of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton have been helping people find their groove and/or chill out for 20 years. They’re coming with a live band behind their latest album, The Temple of I & I. (June 29 at the Orpheum Theatre, 601 Smithe St., 8 p.m.)

As well, we asked our authoritative jazzbo friend to share with us his picks. They are as follows:

1. BassDrumBone (July 2, Ironworks)
2. Claudia Quartet (June 29, Ironworks)
3. Donny McCaslin Quartet (June 24, Ironworks) [most of the BlackStar backing band]
4. Gordon Grdina w. Jon Irabagon (June 30, Ironworks)
5. Phronesis (June 25, Performance Works)

Bonuses:

1. Emmet Cohen w. Ron Carter (June 29, Pyatt Hall) [for the great Ron Carter]
2. Satoko Fuji and KAZE (June 28, Ironworks)
3. Shobaleader One (June 28, Imperial) [Squarepusher live band]
4. Nick Fraser w. Tony Malaby and Kris Davis (June 25, Ironworks)
5. Kurt Rosenwinkel Caipi (June 29, Performance Works)

Inside Vancouver Blog

Read More

Events, , , , , , ,

Filming in Vancouver: Riverdale, Altered Carbon, Lost in Space, and more

Riverdale

As we’re in what’s being dubbed the Golden Era of Television, it’s no wonder that Vancouver has witnessed numerous notable TV productions coming and going throughout the year. And speaking to that fact, this week’s roundup is all about TV shows.

While a hit teen drama series is coming back to town for a second season, there are three TV series wrapping up this week. But we’ve also got a quick rundown of plenty more coming our way in the next month or so.

So with all that in mind, let’s take a look at what’s going on in Hollywood North, shall we?

To start things off, Vancouver will transform into Riverdale once again when the mature take on the traditionally wholesome Archie Comics kicks off production on Season 2 on Thursday (June 22).

Shooting continues all the way until March 21, 2018.

As we previously mentioned, there are a few cast changes this season.

KJ Apa stars in Riverdale.

Skeet Ulrich (Jericho), who plays Jughead’s father, and Casey Cott, who plays Kevin Keller, will be series regulars this time around.

Meanwhile, Charles Melton (American Horror Story: Hotel) is taking over the character of Reggie from Ross Butler, who is busy with 13 Reasons Why.

Butler posted a video on social media to express how grateful he is that another Asian American actor was chosen to play the role.

Also, Mark Consuelos (All My Children) will join the cast to play Veronica’s father, Hiram Lodge, a man with a dark past.

(Fun fact: Conseulos is married to talk show host and actor Kelly Ripa. Could that mean we’ll be seeing Ripa in Vancouver sometime soon?)

Mark Consuelos

The cast also includes KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Marisol Nichols, Madelaine Petsch, Ashleigh Murray, and Mädchen Amick.

Fans will have a wee bit of a wait to see the finished product as Season 2 episodes don’t hit the airwaves until autumn, starting on October 11.

Riverdale

In the meantime, three TV series are wrapping up this week, starting with Somewhere Between, which finished up on June 19. The drama-thriller series started back on March 6.

Paula Patton

It’s a remake of the Korean series God’s Gift: 14 Days, and it follows a mother, played by Paula Patton (Mission: Impossible—Ghost Protocol), who does everything she can to change her daughter’s fate of being murdered.

The cast includes Devon Sawa, JR Bourne, Aria Birch, Catherine Barroll, Samantha Ferris, and Noel Johansen.

Joel Kinnaman

In the wake of that series finishing up, Netflix series Altered Carbon concludes shooting its first season today (June 20).

Based on Richard Morgan’s cyberpunk novel, the 25th century sci-fi drama takes place in a world in which human minds are digitized and can be downloaded from one body to another.

Joel Kinnaman (Suicide Squad) plays Takeshi Kovacs, a specially trained interstellar soldier.

Tamara Taylor

James Purefoy (The Following) plays Laurens Bancroft, an influential and ultra-wealthy aristocrat who is convinced he was murdered and wants Kovacs to find out what happened.

Kristin Lehman (The Killing) plays Bancroft’s wife, Miriam, while Tamara Taylor (Bones) plays a powerful lawyer who represents Bancroft.

Dichen Lachman

Dichen Lachman (Supergirl) plays Reileen Kawahara, Kovacs’ older sister who, like Kovacs, was a killer for hire.

The cast also includes Martha Higareda, Alika Autran, Chris Conner, Teach Grant, and Hayley Law.

Martha Higareda

Another sci-fi series also completing production for its debut season is Lost in Space, which will call it a wrap on Friday (June 23).

Molly Parker

This is a darker, contemporary remake of the 1960s TV series about a family of pioneering space colonists who are thrown off course and struggle to survive after being stranded on a planet.

The family will be played by Toby Stephens, Vancouver’s own Molly Parker, Taylor Russell, Maxwell Jenkins, and Mina Sundwall.

Raza Jaffrey

Parker Posey, Ignacio Serricchio, Raza Jaffrey, and Yukari Komatsu are also among the cast.

The series will premiere on Netflix in 2018.

Yukari Komatsu

That all said, here are a few quick notes on some upcoming productions to look forward to:

• The Green Beret’s Guide to the Apocalypse will shoot its first season from July 1 to August 23
• Once Upon a Time will get going on Season 7 on July 6, continuing until April 2, 2018
• Supergirl will swoop back into town on July 6 for Season 3, which will continue shooting until April 28, 2018
• DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, which wrapped up production on Season 2 on January 10, will be back in action to start shooting Season 3 on July 7 to continue until February 26, 2018
• on the big screen side of things, U.S. filmmaker Deon Taylor (Meet the Blacks) will shoot the feature film Motivated Seller from June 19 to July 21

Well, that’s all for this week but as there’s always more in store to explore, be sure to check in with us next time.

Inside Vancouver Blog

Read More

Events, , , , , , ,

Guitar-makers from around the world gather for the first Vancouver International Guitar Festival

A three-neck guitar by Linda Manze.

From June 23-25, guitar makers, players, collectors and aficionados will gather for the first event of its kind in Western Canada.

The inaugural Vancouver International Guitar Festival is three days of master classes, workshops, exhibitions and special events taking place at The Chinese Cultural Centre (50 E. Pender St.). There’s also live music, including a show from Hayley McLean. Fender recently listed the former Vancouverite as #1 of the Top 10 Guitar Goddesses, calling her “the notable Canadian beauty [who] is positively bursting with talent.”

Other guests include luthiers (makers of acoustic guitars) such as Meredith Coloma, Andy Powers and Grit Laskin. The Vancouver-based Coloma began playing at the age of eight and was a professional by the time she was 14. She apprenticed with guitar-maker Roger Sandowsky in New York and is regarded by many as a leading next-generation guitar builder. She is also one of the producers of the festival.

Andy Powers is the master guitar designer at Taylor Guitars and one of the keynote speakers at the festival. Laskin is an internationally celebrated Canadian luthier whose guitars have been exhibited as works of art in many museums. He is also the author and subject of many books including A Guitarmaker’s Canvas: The Inlay Art of Grit Laskin.

Other guest luthiers include “The Grandfather of Canadian Luthiery,” Jean Larrivee, and Linda Manzer.

A guitar by Meredith Coloma.

Many of their finest pieces will be displayed in an exhibition that features the work of over 80 luthiers from North America, Europe and Australia. For more info and passes ($ 30 for two days) visit vancouverguitarfestival.com.

Guitars by Nick Poufard of Prisma Guitars.

VIGF is presented in association with the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

Inside Vancouver Blog

Read More

Events, , , , , , , , ,