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Out & About Covering the Arts Across North America

July 10, 2011 By 1 Comment

You may have noticed that despite this site bearing my name, our list of writers writing here is growing, this is partially as I have so many talented friends, like Brie and Rob Jones, who enjoy writing here; partly due to Ahimsa Media’s goal of fostering young storytellers, like Alyzee, Summer and Kelly; and as we are getting set to launch Roamancing, which will involve a number of storytellers, but has been temporarily delayed by the ups & downs that life throws at you.

With this, we have found our writers have spread out across North America for the summer, which means opportunities for us to cover the Arts beyond Vancouver.  While our core team will still be in and around Vancouver this summer, I (Emme) will be based in Southern Ontario, Hamilton to be specific, and Brie will be in LA.

 

Stacey Robinsmith and I at the Canadian Premiere of Nixon in China at the Vancouver Opera.

 

So if you have an arts event (theatre, music, fashion, food & beverage …) that you’d like one of our writers to attend and weave a tale around, fire me a note at emme@emmerogers.com and I will see if someone is eager and available.

As for me, you know I absolutely adore theatre, music, the opera … and would love to check out this scene in Ontario, along with looking forward to checking out the Gimli Film Festival for the first time in Manitoba in a little over a week’s time.

Brie loves theatre and music too, but she also adores dance and fashion, and with Young Master Mason and Little Miss Mason in the wings, I know would enjoy taking in some events that are suited to families with 9 – 12 year olds too.

Vancouver – you are already, of course, familiar with the types of storytelling that our Vancouver Cats, like Rob Jones and Alyzee Lakhani, are capable of for music and theatre.

 

Hanging with Ron Sexsmith & Rob Jones - two of my music legends.

Looking forwarding to sampling a few new flavours this summer.

Kisses,

Emme   xoxo

Filed Under: All the Gossip, BC, Buds, Canada, Events, For Kicks, Manitoba, Music Scene, Ontario, Opera, Theatre, Travel, US, Vancouver Events Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Long or Short?

June 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment

Without looking at the calendar, I would not have known July is just around the corner. The weather is just not cooperating with the season. Why is it still so gloomy? I want to get a suntan and show off my body in a bikini. It is safe to assume I will not get this opportunity soon with the sun playing hide-and-seek every alternate day.

Retro-Style Salon ~ photo by Leveret

However, there is still one thing I can do before heading down to the beach – I need to get a haircut. In my opinion, a new hairstyle can make one look completely different. I remember last summer I had this long, thick hair which took hours to dry off. Compelled by both my hairdresser’s urges and my eagerness for a big change, I decided to break up with my long hair. Surprisingly enough, I quickly fell in love with the new comer although one of my guy friends said that he liked girls with long hair more than short. Oh shoot, he just hurt my feelings. It wasn’t because I had feelings for him, but the fact that he told me so directly without even thinking about my feelings. Who would say things like that? Geez. Guys are sometimes really stupid. After that, I asked more friends about my new haircut and found out that the majority thought it suit me relatively well. I really appreciated those compliments.

My short hair in Summer 2010 ~ Photo by Melissa Lui

Anyway, now I am at the point where I am not sure whether I should keep my hair long or short. It is always quite a struggle for me to decide, because I am afraid of the result. This is probably why so many people have nightmares about getting a bad haircut! Plus, my hair just grows very quickly. Very soon, it will become like a sponge again (very thick). I’m pretty lazy. I do not want to give up my beauty sleep, so I just take a shower at night and wake up with a pretty messed-up bundle of hair. And yet, after only a few combs — that’s all the ‘styling’ I’m prepared to do — I’m good to go. Therefore, I usually look for hairstyles that do not require much work such as gelling or blow-drying.

"Which is the most trendy hair style?" ~ Photo by Reggaedori

After looking through magazines, I have come to the conclusion that regardless of long or short, there are popular looks for every ‘do. With so many different hair styles out there, the most important point of searching is to find the one that you like and willing to give a shot. Ladies, we gotta be more confident in our decisions. It’s our life after all, not someone else’s. If someone — tactless guys included — does not like your hair style,  it’s not the end of the world, because there is surely someone else that does; similarly to dating!

Filed Under: All the Gossip, Buds, Fashion Fab, Kelly Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Turning UP the Heat for the Weekend

July 24, 2010 By 1 Comment

A couple of days ago my dear friend Stefan reminded me that it is summer, to unbury myself from the piles of work and to enjoy the oh so HOT summer days!

I think I shall do just that this weekend!!

Filed Under: All the Gossip, For Kicks, The Tube Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Summer Tastiness: Sapphire Smoked Melon Soup

June 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

About to turn off the computer and go in search of what looks like some a sunny weeks end night. But first, in honour of what I am hoping is a sunny, summery weekend, a tasty little treat for all of you …. Sapphire Smoked Melon Soup cooked up by Chef Rob Rainford:

Tried this yummy concoction a few week’s back at a rooftop barbecue sponsored by Bombay Sapphire.  The recipe itself can be found below:

Honey Dew Melon Soup
Original Recipe by Chef Rob Rainford

Ingredients

  • Alder wood chips, presoaked for a minimum of 2 hours
  • 1 Honey dew melon, cubed and peeled (approx 1?2 cup)
  • 1 cup Pineapple juice
  • 1 Lemon (juice only)
  • 1 Lime (juice only)
  • 6 pc Basil leaves, chopped
  • 3 Tbsp BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin
  • 4 Tbsp Simple syrup

The Rainford Method:
It’s time to get your charcoal grill or gas BBQ ready for smoking.

  • Charcoal grill: Using your chimney starter, light the coals. It should take you around 15 minute to light 15-20 pieces of lump charcoal. Once the coals are lit, add 2 handfuls of soaked alder wood chips directly to the coals. This will give you big smoke. For the flavor profile required, you only need to smoke for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Gas BBQ: Prepare smoke pouch. Place 8 cups (2 liter) of alder wood chips into a bowl of cold water to soak for 1 hour. Reserve 4 cups (1 liter) of dry wood chips. To build a smoke pouch, drain 2 cups (500ml) of the wet wood chips and squeeze excess water out. Spread wet wood chips on a large piece of aluminum foil. Place 1 cup (250ml) of dry wood chips on top. Mix them together. Close the foil around the chips to make a sealed foil package. Use a fork to puncture holes in the top and bottom of the foil pack to allow the smoke to flow through and infuse the meat. Repeat to make 4 pouches. Place the smoke pouch on the side of the grill with direct heat.

To prepare the Honey Dew Melon Soup, place your halved and peeled honey dew melon on the indirect heat side of your smoker or gas grill. Allow the smoke to do its work and envelope the cavity of the smoker or gas grill. After the desired time (15 to 20 minutes), remove the honey dew from the grill. Cut the honey dew into bite size pieces and liquefy it in the blender on high speed along with the pineapple juice, lemon juice, lime juice, basil, simple syrup and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin.
Note: For best results, let this mixture to sit over night. This allows the flavor of the gin to flourish.

Serve BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin Honey Dew Melon Soup chilled with a dollop of Lime Sorbet.

Serves 8

Oh and don’t let the word ‘soup’ fool you, this is really a bit of summer poured into a cocktail glass.

Now, who wants to make me some this weekend?

Filed Under: All the Gossip, Recipes, The Tube Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,