Fred UnLeeshed
PHOTO GALLERY
Queer youth, queer history, the queer Asian experience and queer champions of hope are the four major themes explored in the 21st running of the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, Aug. 13-23. Organizers launched the upcoming 71-film bonanza at the Roundhouse Community Centre with its annual benefit Queerwood: Lights! Camera! Action! The event, fronted by executive director Drew Dennis and emceed by comedian David C. Jones, was a fabulous evening of flirting, fundraising and quickie flicks. Thanks to some hot and heavy auction action, a reported $30,000 was raised to support the 11-day celluloid celebration, the Queer History Project and the Out in Schools program.
Project Runway Canada contestant Kim Cathers hosted Catwalk for Cure at the Roundhouse Community Centre. The event was produced by Head Over Heals, a group of five Vancouver Film School students, as part of their final project in the school's entertainment business management program. Students Jennifer Becker, Kalee Harris, Kendra Naka, Anita Schipper and Erin Gilchrist welcomed several hundred stylistas to the night of fashion, fun and fundraising. Local fashion houses such as Babe Belangere, Boudoir, Porscia and Plenty paraded their collections, and Canadian Idol finalist Carly Rae Jepsen performed at the runway romp benefitting Rethink Breast Cancer, a national organization helping people affected by breast cancer.
Tony Award-winning musicals Thoroughly Modern Millie and Annie headline this season's Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. Vancouverite Diana Kaarina, who played Millie in the Broadway tour, stars as the flirtatious flapper looking for love. Nine-year-old Michelle Creber takes on the role of the spunky redheaded orphan Annie in the all-time family favourite that features the iconic anthems "Tomorrow" and "It's A Hard Knock Life." TUTS has had its own share of hard knocks. In 2006, it had to cancel its entire season due to financial woes. But thanks to refinancing--and more recently, a $50,000, pro-bono, image make-over compliments of branding firm The Karo Group--president James Cronk is optimistic about this season. Good weather also helps, he adds. Here's hoping the sun will come out tomorrow and every night during its six-week run. Both shows are worth catching.
As part of their 11-day cross country tour marking the 80th anniversary of Japan-Canada relations, Japan's emperor Akihito and empress Michiko paid a visit to UBC following stops at the Richmond Oval and Japanese Hall in the Downtown Eastside. Greeted by chancellor Sarah Morgan-Silvester and other university dignitaries, the royal couple toured UBC's Museum of Anthropology and Nitobe Gardens before sitting down for lunch with president Stephen Toope and notable guests at Norman Mackenzie House. Upon signing the guest book at the president's residence, Akihito was shown the John Henry he penned 56 years earlier when he first visited the gardens as Crown Prince.
This diamond is not just a girl's best friend. The Diamond at Maple Tree Square in Gastown is a real gem for booze buffs. Fronted by Mark Brand, 2006 Bartender of the Year, and current title-holder Josh Pape, the newly opened, second floor, 60-seat room is the city's hottest watering hole. Bedecked in brick and custom diamond wallpaper, this Diamond shines while serving premium cocktails broken into boozy, refreshing, delicate, proper, notorious and not-so-boozy sections.
Turning over a new page, former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page performed sans Ladies at the 32nd annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Page went solo and road-tested new material along with a mix of familiar Barenaked ditties. The singer and songwriter joined two-time Grammy award-winning hip hop pioneers Arrested Development, The Proclaimers, Veda Hille and 60 other acts from 14 countries for the Summer of Love luau at Jericho Beach Park.
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Hear Fred Monday morning on CBC Radio One's The Early Edition AM690 and 88.1FM; email Fred at yvrflee@hotmail.com; follow Fred on Twitter: @FredAboutTown
Queer youth, queer history, the queer Asian experience and queer champions of hope are the four major themes explored in the 21st running of the Vancouver Queer Film Festival, Aug. 13-23. Organizers launched the upcoming 71-film bonanza at the Roundhouse Community Centre with its annual benefit Queerwood: Lights! Camera! Action! The event, fronted by executive director Drew Dennis and emceed by comedian David C. Jones, was a fabulous evening of flirting, fundraising and quickie flicks. Thanks to some hot and heavy auction action, a reported $30,000 was raised to support the 11-day celluloid celebration, the Queer History Project and the Out in Schools program.
Project Runway Canada contestant Kim Cathers hosted Catwalk for Cure at the Roundhouse Community Centre. The event was produced by Head Over Heals, a group of five Vancouver Film School students, as part of their final project in the school's entertainment business management program. Students Jennifer Becker, Kalee Harris, Kendra Naka, Anita Schipper and Erin Gilchrist welcomed several hundred stylistas to the night of fashion, fun and fundraising. Local fashion houses such as Babe Belangere, Boudoir, Porscia and Plenty paraded their collections, and Canadian Idol finalist Carly Rae Jepsen performed at the runway romp benefitting Rethink Breast Cancer, a national organization helping people affected by breast cancer.
Tony Award-winning musicals Thoroughly Modern Millie and Annie headline this season's Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) at Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park. Vancouverite Diana Kaarina, who played Millie in the Broadway tour, stars as the flirtatious flapper looking for love. Nine-year-old Michelle Creber takes on the role of the spunky redheaded orphan Annie in the all-time family favourite that features the iconic anthems "Tomorrow" and "It's A Hard Knock Life." TUTS has had its own share of hard knocks. In 2006, it had to cancel its entire season due to financial woes. But thanks to refinancing--and more recently, a $50,000, pro-bono, image make-over compliments of branding firm The Karo Group--president James Cronk is optimistic about this season. Good weather also helps, he adds. Here's hoping the sun will come out tomorrow and every night during its six-week run. Both shows are worth catching.
As part of their 11-day cross country tour marking the 80th anniversary of Japan-Canada relations, Japan's emperor Akihito and empress Michiko paid a visit to UBC following stops at the Richmond Oval and Japanese Hall in the Downtown Eastside. Greeted by chancellor Sarah Morgan-Silvester and other university dignitaries, the royal couple toured UBC's Museum of Anthropology and Nitobe Gardens before sitting down for lunch with president Stephen Toope and notable guests at Norman Mackenzie House. Upon signing the guest book at the president's residence, Akihito was shown the John Henry he penned 56 years earlier when he first visited the gardens as Crown Prince.
This diamond is not just a girl's best friend. The Diamond at Maple Tree Square in Gastown is a real gem for booze buffs. Fronted by Mark Brand, 2006 Bartender of the Year, and current title-holder Josh Pape, the newly opened, second floor, 60-seat room is the city's hottest watering hole. Bedecked in brick and custom diamond wallpaper, this Diamond shines while serving premium cocktails broken into boozy, refreshing, delicate, proper, notorious and not-so-boozy sections.
Turning over a new page, former Barenaked Ladies frontman Steven Page performed sans Ladies at the 32nd annual Vancouver Folk Music Festival. Page went solo and road-tested new material along with a mix of familiar Barenaked ditties. The singer and songwriter joined two-time Grammy award-winning hip hop pioneers Arrested Development, The Proclaimers, Veda Hille and 60 other acts from 14 countries for the Summer of Love luau at Jericho Beach Park.
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Hear Fred Monday morning on CBC Radio One's The Early Edition AM690 and 88.1FM; email Fred at yvrflee@hotmail.com; follow Fred on Twitter: @FredAboutTown
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