The Raul & Tris Show: Acts 1 & 2 of Carmen

Acts 1 and 2 complete with new to the camera comedy and Tris’ sinking head as he attempts to film and star at the same time.  Starring Raul Pacheco & Tris Hussey.

The Raul & Tris Show: Act 3 of Carmen

Act 3 of Carmen, including Raul as the new camera man and commentary that could only be offered by Raul and Tris.  Just be warned, Raul gives a bit of a spoiler to the stories ending.

Carmen: A Sexy Review

A secret of mine that I have yet to disclose is that I have an insatiable love for the opera.  Stems from a Scandinavian summer at the age of 16, when I saw my first opera in all of it’s glory in none other than the courtyard of a Finnish Castle.  The opera began as the sunset and end as it rose all over again. An experience in so many ways that very few people ever get and one that I shall never forget.

The opera in castle at Savonlinna by aburt.
Photo by Adam Burt

As such I give you this review with mixed feelings.  They’re mixed, because I didn’t get to go to the dress rehearsal of Vancouver’s latest opera, Carmen, last night, rather Raul Pacheco and Tris Hussey got to go.  And whilst I am absolutely delighted that they have taken it upon themselves to be roving reporters for us and give Sexy in Van City an exclusive from Carmen’s dress rehearsal, I am also insanely jealous of them. Despite the fact that their review has turned me into the Green Eyed Monster, I do find these two gentlemen and their review absolutely delightful, and am insanely flattered that they have taken up the cause helping Van City embrace it’s Sexy Side.

Ideas on Tap by miss604.

Back to Carmen. Carmen is a French Opera based on a novel by Prospera Merimee set in Seville, Spain. A bit of a romantic comedy this story definitely exemplifies the sexier side of this fine city of ours.  Carmen is a beautiful and imprisoned gypsy with a fiery temper.  Clearly in touch with her sexier side, Carmen uses her feminine whiles to escape the confines of prison, leading to a tragic love story of mutiny, smuggling and murder. For Kittyn, a typical weekend. And from what I’ve heard of the erotic music and rather seductive costumes, for me (and I’m guessing some of you), the perfect igniter of fun, frolic and forepl……

Carmen by gelund.

Photo by Gary Lund

Raul and Tris’ Review:

Acts 1 and 2 complete with new to the camera comedy and Tris’s sinking head as he attempts to film and star at the same time.

Act 3, including Raul as the new camera man and commentary that could only be offered by Raul and Tris.  Just be warned, Raul gives a bit of a spoiler to the stories ending.

Thank you boys!  Love you!  And think the two of you make the most hilarious team of roving reporters.

The rest of you – don’t miss out, go get your tickets before they are all sold out.  Carmen plays at the Vancouver Opera, January 24 – February 5th at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.  Specific show nights are January 24, 27, 29, 31, February 3 and 5.  All show times are at 7:30 pm and ticket prices range from $23.25 – $169.25. Call the Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre at (604) 683-0222 or order them online.

Not Such a Sexy Date

Only I would agree to go on a date with a guy that I’d only ever kissed before to Taboo, an annual Van City Sex Show.  Not my suggestion or pick for a date, but have to admit I was very curious as I’d never been.  And then theres the side of me who seems to be living the silly sitcom that just thought it was damn funny that a guy I’d only ever kissed had asked me to join him at the sex show.  Depending  on the guy, I might truth be known have found this to be creepy and have run in the opposite direction as fast I could, but this particular gentleman I feel incredibly safe with and he is in every sense of the word a true gentleman.

Sex show swag by Hayley_Bouchard.

I know that some of you are thinking, “well, of course I’d go on a date to the sex show. I write Sexy In Van City and isn’t that what we’re all about?” I certainly had enough tweets asking me if I’d been and what it was like.  It had even been suggested that we film it.  Well in answer to that, that is not what we are all about. We are about ‘sexy’, not sex, not porn. We are about telling stories that are true to ourselves and many other women, but most are to afraid to tell, are embarrassed about or think only happens to them. Through these stories we hope to remind all women (and men) just what sexy devils they really are. That said I’m not a prude and I certainly do enjoy sex with the right person.

Romantic dinner by quinn.anya.

Photo by Quinn Dombrowski

Back to the date ….Enjoyed a lovely dinner.  Clever, interesting fellow that loves to tease and try and get a rise out of me, which is generally not too hard.  So off to Taboo we go.  My first reaction – claustrophobic. Too many people.  Couldn’t see anything.  Could barely see my date.  He had the good sense to lead us further into the room, where the crowd thinned out and we could actually take in everything that was going on.

img_0981 by you.

My impression?  It wasn’t even remotely sexy.  Total honesty, I found it to be rather trashy.  The shows were disappointing – the dancers I saw weren’t very good and had no sex appeal (at least not to me) and the workshop on orgasms was being led by a gal that seemed totally trashed and was reading off of cue cards.  Saw lots of skin, but it wasn’t sexy skin. There was nothing titillating about it.  It was just there for all the world to see.  And the gals sharing it didn’t seem to be sharing to tease, but rather as it was expected of them or to attract all the wrong sort of attention (displaying their insecurities, rather than that of so sexy confidence). More than anything, it seemed to be more about all the merchandise and sales and I’m not sure why anybody would pay $20 for the privileged just to shop (we were given our tickets for free).  Most of the items that I saw there could be easily found at several shops on Davie St and there you could browse for them without the crowds.  Most of the videos I saw were just plain crude.  I stopped to take a pic of one sign I found funny and the gal running the booth started to rub against me and suggest to my date a threesome (she definitely wasn’t my fantasy). The poor gal in the bondage demos had a seriously bruised ass and I question as to whether she’ll be able to sit for a week. Some woman handed me a pamphlet on getting a boob job, which I was more than a little disgusted by.  My boobs are just fine the way they are and I don’t find fake boobs to be at all sexy. So was Taboo sexy and worth the $20? In my opinion – absolutely not (Kittyn did go too however, so who knows she may disagree).

I did still have some highlights though, and there were several booths that could have been sexy or titillating in a different context. Also there were some vendors that were dressed in a very sexy fashion.

img_0982 by you.

This gal from Smart Art was fun and had some cool stuff.

My highlights included:

  • A warm feeling in my right ear as one of my good friends snuck up behind me and started, in a ballsy way that only he would do, to nibble on my ear.
  • A family run business that was making awfully cool massage candles whose wax didn’t burn and made your skin feel lovely.
  • My date – he was most enjoyable company.

Emme

img_0984 by you.

Really rather liked this sketch by Carylonn Loepploy.

Kim Cattrall is Sexy In Van City

Interview with Kim Cattrall at Banff World TV Festival 2008 by Megan Cole.
Photo taken by Kris Krug

Some of our loyal readers will know that I had the pleasure of hearing one of the gals, who brought ‘Sex in the City‘ to life, speak in Banff last June. I know, lucky me, especially since it was the sexiest ‘Sex in the City’ gal and the one that has Canadian roots.  Yes, thats right, none other than Kim Cattrall, ‘Sex in the City’s’ Samantha. What I loved about Samantha’s character was that she was a woman that was okay with being single and walking a less conventional path.  She also exemplified sexiness, showing us that this was a quality not reserved for the young.  Well I have to say, hearing the real Kim Cattrall speak in person was no disappointment.  This woman was not only damn sexy, but smart, eloquent and witty to boot.  Really enjoyed listening to her speak.

Interview with Kim Cattrall at Banff World TV Festival by Megan Cole.
Vancouver’s own Megan Cole interviews Kim Cattrall at the Banff Television Festival
Photo taken by Kris Krug

So why am I mentioning this now?  Well, because Kim Cattrall is in town this week and you too have the opportunity to hear her speak, for FREE, I might add.  Here are the details:

The UBC Department of Theatre and Film Presents

A Conversation with Kim Cattrall

Frederic Wood Theatre

12 to 1 pm

Wednesday January 7, 2009

Free Admission, Everyone Welcome

Call 604 -822-2678 to reserve your FREE tickets (maximum 2 tickets per patron)

Enjoy!  And thanks to Kittyn for the tweet on this!

Emme