we are...

Photo by: Eugenio Recuenco

...taking a long weekend. See you Wednesday!

card, ca, card, card, thong...

No birthday? No problem! We love cards all year round and for no particular reason at all. One of our favorite line of cards is called Uncooked. Here are a few samples:


"you're so cute, i want to yank off your head,
stick it in a jar and keep it next to my computer."

"i'm so relieved it's your birthday and not mine.
my belly button got caught in my coat zipper so i'm
really not in a partying mood."

"not having you would be like not having a forehead,
i'd still be able to do stuff but I'd definitely feel like
i was missing something."

In Vancouver: find them at BizBooks http://www.bizbooks.net/ (302 Cordova St. West in Gastown)

In Toronto: check out Paperboy Cards & Gifts Inc. (7 Pleasant Boulevard, close to the Yonge and St. Claire intersection)

Their website is fun so internet hug them like it's your job: http://www.uncookedland.com/

xkcd is too cool for tv

Our cool friend Martin told us about this website called xkcd, "a webcomic of romance, sarcasm, math and language." We checked it out, and he was right, the site is pretty geeky, but hey, thats exactly what we internet huggers are. Here's a few we found really funny:

For more, check out: http://xkcd.com/63/

would you wear this? WE WOULD!!!

Designer: Unknown

Dearest David,

You are the bomb.

kelowna, you're officially badass

Kelowna is one crazy city. It was once a peaceful town, nestled in the quiet Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, but now it's just badass...that's what happens when you grow up and follow in the footprint of crime ridden Vancouver.

Image: Photography West

Kelowna is about a 4-5 hour drive from Vancouver and attracts tons of visitors all year round. People come for its real estate, its fruit and its charm. Recently, Kelowna has been all over the news. It's been the target of the latest case of hate crime and its airport is being used to test the first ever 3D human scanner in Canada. Of all the city's in Canada, why was Kelowna chosen to test this crazy thing? Most passengers think it's insane and we agree. We think using crazy technology to see through our clothes is a little creepy and very ridiculous. After doing a little more research, we discovered that the Kelowna International Airport has a history of oddball security practices. Check it out, it's pretty funny:
http://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2008/05/torontonian_tries_to_board_plane_at_kelowna_airport_while_toting_a_gun/

Image: CBC

For the story on the latest case of Kelowna hate crime, which is being taken up by the BC Provincial Hate Crime Unit, check this link out: http://www.chbcnews.ca/index.php?name=News&file=article&sid=16204

Seriously guys, stop making Kelowna look so crazy.

by Michael Dylan Welch

from Delaney's coffee

you go down like poetry.

would you wear this? WE WOULD!!!

http://www.playlust.net/

This picture also makes us miss the christmas sweater really, really bad.

craft of the week: june 23rd, 2008

This week's piece is the bouquet broach. It was inspired by the bouquet I once knew, pretty but fake.

gastownweekending, one word

The weekend was a beautiful. We got everything we wanted: good coffee, good art, good weather, good company...

Picture sharing time!

hahaha

I know this is kinda old news, but it's still funny.

sexi loves mexi

would you wear this? WE WOULD!!!

www.playlust.net/

cookie monsters love this shit

Chocolate Dipped Cappuccino Shortbread Recipe

4 tsps. (20 mL) instant coffee, crushed
1 cup (250 mL) butter, at room temperature
½ cup (125 mL) sugar
½ tsp. (2 mL) vanilla
1 ¾ cups (425 mL) all-purpose flour (maybe slightly more)
¼ cup (50 mL) cornstarch
6 ounces dipping chocolate, melted *

In large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in
instant coffee and vanilla. Sift flour and cornstarch together.
Stir into butter mixture. Mould into an oval shape, the shape
of coffee beans, using one tablespoon of dough for each
cookie and place on cookie sheet. Using the back of a knife,
press an indent about 1/8-inch (2.5 mm) deep, lengthwise,
across the top of each cookie. Bake at 325 degrees F (160C)
for 15 minutes. Place on wire rack to cool. When cool, dip
both ends of cookies in chocolate. Place on baking sheet
lined with was paper and refrigerate to harden.

* The dipping chocolate we used comes from Save-on-Foods (west coast version of Dominion) which we buy in the bulk food department. The chocolate comes in round wafers about 1/2-inch in diameter. We used the dark chocolate ones. Mmmm...dark chocolate.

If you're not much of a baker, print this off and slide it over to your mom. She'll hook it up.

and the winner is...

Word on the street is the best coffee in the world is from Vienna, Austria. The coffee is called Julius Meinl and it's goodness is meant to blow the coffee obsessed minds of all you addicts out there. Are you ready to be blown away!?

Julius Meinl coffee is a very rare commodity in Vancouver, and we think it's the same in Toronto. What a shame, hey? We've tasted it elsewhere and it's good stuff. Come to Vancouver soon. We'll be at Delaney's waiting for your arrival. We dislike starbucks. If it takes too long, we might have to order it through their website.

Julius Meinl also makes teas, preserves and honey. They're like the J.Lo of the drink industry.

For more Julius Meinl and less J.Lo, or to order some deliciousness for yourselves, type: http://www.meinl.com/

Dearest Omid,

Is this good enough for you, loozer?

would you wear this? WE WOULD!!!

We're not talking about the dresses. The question here is, would you wear the egg heads? We would!

If you're into the clothes though, they're from Henrik Vibskov's 2008 Spring/Summer Womens Collection. You can find him where we did at: http://helloblackbird.blogspot.com/search/label/Henrik%20Vibskov

For more fun clothing, check out the store's complete blog at http://helloblackbird.blogspot.com/

They're located in Seattle, WA.

city of the arts?

Who knew!? But way to go!

Google Port Moody if you want to learn more...or are very bored.

Bad Style Always Beats No Style

Ruby Coast = fresh

They're called Ruby Coast. They're from Aurora...that's just outside Toronto. They're good stuff and they're playing this weekend in Toronto at Sneaky Dees.

Read up on them at blogTO (their interview is pretty funny): http://www.blogto.com/music/2008/06/call_response_ruby_coast/ and don't forget to myspace their ass.

ameneh is anime

If you're in Vancouver, make sure you check out: Krazy! The Delirious World of Anime + Comics + Video Games + Art at the Vancouver Art Gallery. It's going on until September 7th. You have a bundle of time, but why wait!?

Anime rocks our world!

For more info, give a big internet hug to http://www.vanartgallery.bc.ca/

full moon?...bite me

gruesli.com

Do you feel like your pet fish has gone bonkers? Did you accidentally throw nunchukcs at your boyfriend and gave him a concussion? Did your girlfriend bring up the sentence of death latst night? You know, the scary one with five little words: “Where-is-this-relationship-going”? (Jeff, you are a genius!) or have you been picking up very mixed messages from the universe lately?

Well! As the lords of the skies inform me, last night we experienced the most intense full moon of the year! The full moon effect, or full moon madness, if you will, is ancient news. Every now and then, you hear some corny radio anchor rambling on and on about how full moons tend to emotionally derange individuals... a dull report which is generally followed by a number of eager listeners calling with their exaggerated sad little stories.

The Sagittarius full moon, which happened last night, is no different! It probably just got a lot of hype because, as thinking individuals, we need some sort of justification for life tragedies that transcend our control. Is it possible that when psychology fails to model our psychotic behavior, we conveniently turn to the skies for answers? I mean, let’s be honest here, the reason your boyfriend left you is not because the planets misaligned that evening, it’s probably because he finally realized you had secretly planned out his life for the next 15 years… or, perhaps, your ass really did look too big in that dress!

it's new!

Holy Moly! Is that what you think it is? Yes. Yes it is. If you see it in the freezer isle, don't hesitate, just pick it up! It tastes as good as the original...if anything better!

Here's the container one more time en français:


Bon appétit tout le monde.

lets get jazzy

It's that time of year again...Vancouver International Jazz Festival Time! June 20-29, 2008.

We're not 100% down with the jazz scene here in Vancouver, but try and check out Shout out out out out at Commodore Ballroom on June 20th and Jesse Cook on the 29th at The Center for Performing Arts. We don't know him very well, but Jesse's from Toronto and he's got fun hair. Besides that, you guys are on your own. But try and check out all of the public outdoor shows being held throughout festival time in Gastown! They're always the best for a good time. Say hi to Gassy Jack for us.

For complete listings of whats going down, check out: http://www.coastaljazz.ca/

our ears follow Aleksander

Euro friends like Aleksander always put a smile on our face, especially when it's to let us in on musical talent like Håkan Hällström. Lucky you, we're passing on the fun. Håkan Hällström is from Sweden. Yup, we love him already!

Håkan Hällström sings in his mother tongue, but give him a chance and don't be a snob.

His albums include:

* 'För sent för Edelweiss' (rough translation: 'Too late for Edelweiss')

* 'Det är så jag siger det' (rough translation: 'That's how I'm telling you')

For more info, stretch those arms and get ready to give a big internet hug to http://www.hakanhellstrom.com/

Thanks Aleksander! If anyone else has any music they wish to share, holla at the coolest girls you know and leave a comment.

Art Show: The Cheaper Show

Who knew The Cheaper Show exists!? We didn't. But we sure do now!

It's now in its 8th year and the city can't get enough. This year, it's being held at 142 Water Street (in Gastown) on June 21st at 7pm till midnight. We think it's going to be busy so get there early!

The show is made up of 150 local and international artists who will be presenting over 300 pieces of art, each priced at $200! It's one night only. Wear comfortable, but stylish shoes.

Hungry for more info? check out their website at: http://www.thecheapershow.com/

Art Show: Splash

Sonja Kobrehel is an artist that we've been following for a while now. Her work is super fun, young and fresh. Monny's Envision Gallery is showcasing her newest collection of work titled SPLASH. It's running from June 19th to July 13th. To kick it off, there's going to be a reception on June 19th. Time: 7pm. Location: 2675 West 4th Avenue, Vancouver.

See you there!

helsinki, you so krazy

Back in February, we were wasting time, as usual, and came across these kids on Hel Looks, a street style website based in Helsinki, Finland. These kids make us happy. We totally wish we were part of their crew.

Ossi (12), Keppo (13) and Neb (14)
"We are dressed up as Teletubbies. It was Keppo's idea. We always dress up in bright colours and colourful clothes. We like big pullovers, colourful skinny jeans and hoodies. Music is important. We like to experiment with hair dyes.Our style role models are Lille and Banu."

would you wear this? WE WOULD!!!

Linda Farrow Vintage