Vancouver Blog Rick Chung

PENGUIN POINT EXHIBIT x VANCOUVER AQUARIUM x STANLEY PARK

2012-05-27T15:03:00.000-07:00

Penguin Point exhibit at the Vancouver Aquarium in Stanley Park on May 23, 2012.

more @ flickr | trendingit.ca

The Vancouver Aquarium debuting six penguins on loan from South Africa at their newest attraction, dubbed "Penguin Point".

The flightless birds waddling in their newly built staging area and swimming tank.

More sea animals showing as a part of the aquarium's multi-million dollar renovation and expansion.

Above: (Left to right) Angela Jung gazing at a sea lion, penguin cookie treats, and friendly Jack the porpoise hamming it up.

Photo | Angela Jung / Crystal Henrickson

VANCOUVER DAZE #70: TEA COCKTAILS x THE URBAN TEA MERCHANT

2012-05-24T00:41:00.001-07:00

Vancouver Daze, Volume 70: Tea infused cocktail launch at The Urban Tea Merchant on May 18, 2012. Published in Vancouver Is Awesome.

more @ flickr | culturemonster.ca

I dropped by The Urban Tea Merchants's downtown shop, cafe, and salon for afternoon tea with a twist. TUTM prides itself on its exclusive use of over two hundred varieties of TWG Tea in Canada. The smells reverberated all over as their attention to detail and quality were clear.

I was endeared by a lovely family story of North Vancouver cosmeticians, their entrepreneurial daughter, and tea sommelier son-in-law labouring and travelling the world to learn about and embrace global tea culture to bring it back here, after being inspired by a late night dream some years ago.

For the west coast tea service, I sampled the miso-maple glazed sablefish wrapped in butter lettuce, open-faced chicken squares, smoked salmon with wasabi aioli, all very tasty.

Created by Ensemble mixologist Ben Lambie, TUTM launched a line of tea infused cocktails to appeal to the burgeoning youth tea drinking crowd and professionals in the area. I tried the refreshing Moroccan mint mojito (full of mint tea) and match sour (a lime and matcha infused bourbon sour). I was enamoured with the smooth blend of whiskey, egg white, and matcha tea.

Keeping with full tea culture, the scrumptious macarons are also tea infused with all the flavours of the rainbow.

Afternoon tea service with a cocktail twist was delightful and fully pleasurable as I soaked up the fine ambience and service, embracing tea culture at its finest west coast style.

More | HungerPangs.ca / Good Life Vancouver / Miss604

DINNER x LA BRASSERIE RESTAURANT x DAVIE STREET

2012-05-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

Dinner at La Brasserie French restaurant on Davie Street on May 17, 2012.

After the Raincity Grill party, Kevin, Val, and I were still peckish and wandered down Davie Street for some grub.

Kevin was swayed to order the suckling pig and seemed content yet slightly disappointed (possibly because of dish envy below). It looked quite appetizing with house made sauerkraut and schupfnudel (skinny German dumpling).

On Mijune of Follow Me Foodie's insistence, someone had to try the roasted lamb cheeks (available on special only on Thursdays) with mashed potatoes and carrot puree. It was highlight of the night and garnered everyone's jealousy.

I had a strong desire for the truffled poutine to nibble on. The strong smell of truffle oil wafted the air. I enjoyed the generous amount of cheese curds and was pleasantly surprised at how many fries there were in the small-looking side dish bowl.

A bit pricey, La Brasserie is a nice, intimate dining experience with quality food and ingredients serving French cuisine with flair and style. I'm interested to return, try again, and sample a full meal.

More | HungerPangs.ca

VANCOUVER CRAFT BEER WEEK 2012 x OPENING NIGHT x ROUNDHOUSE

2012-05-22T00:05:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Craft Beer Week 2012 opening night party at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre in Yaletown on May 18, 2012.

more @ flickr | trendingit.ca

Kicking off 2012's season of Vancouver Craft Beer Week, enjoying local made brews and ales with a dangerously all you can drink fair inside the Roundhouse.

Scott Graham (left/below) of WFLBC fame, working the Beerthirst booth and Yelp Vancouver CM Robin McMillan (right) posing before getting their beer on.

Brewed highlights including the Lighthouse Brewing Dark Chocolate Porter (very top) , the Elysian Brewing Avatar Jasmine IPA (courtesy of Beerthirst, above), and Howe Sound King Heffy Imperial Hefeweizen, among many others.

Brewers serving and downing beer, beer, and more beer, ramping up for a long week of craft beer festivities. VCBW going all week. Burp.

More | Pangcouver

LUNCH x MAX'S BURGERS x 8TH AVENUE x CAMBIE VILLAGE

2012-05-21T00:59:00.000-07:00

Lunch at Max's Burgers on West 8th Avenue in Cambie village on May 16, 2012.

I got around to checking out this new burger bar in the Fairview area right off the Cambie village in this cool, open space.

I couldn't resist getting a caramel milkshake. It was very good, well mixed and full of caramel flavour and goodness.

I had the British Columbian with grilled onions, bacon marmalade, applewood smoked bacon, and cheddar. It was beefy and mighty tasty.

Chris went with the major meltdown with every kind of cheese they have and a poutine. Pretty rich and decadent.

Max's had solid burgers, crispy fries, but I wish they served them on plates instead of baskets. It made for difficult eating with the large burgers in a small, oval container. Otherwise, it was a good, beefy outing for burgers and meaty food.

More | HungerPangs.ca

RAINCITY GRILL x TURNS 20 PARTY x ENGLISH BAY x WEST END

2012-05-18T00:24:00.000-07:00

Raincity Grill turns 20 anniversary party at English Bay on May 17, 2012.

more @ flickr | trendingit.ca

Wne and bubbly on tap, celebrating twenty years of Raincity Grill on the corner overlooking beautiful English Bay beach in the heart of the Davie Street village neighbourhood.

Sampling a few appetizers and dishes including tasty pork belly slices served with apple crackers.

Enjoying the cut and presentation style of the sockeye salmon sashimi served in a tuna can.

My highlight of the night, gobbling up the organic ocean spot prawns and crab ravioli served in a prawn bisque.

Sunny spirits and amusing times, celebrating a double decade milestone for this West End eatery.

More | HungerPangs.ca / Inside Vancouver / Kevin Wu

VANCOUVER DAZE #69: SPOT PRAWN PARTY x TABLEAU BAR BISTRO

2012-05-17T01:08:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Daze, Volume 69: Spot Prawn Party at Tableau Bar Bistro in Coal Harbour on May 16, 2012. Published in Vancouver Is Awesome.

more @ flickr | trendingit.ca

Tableau celebrated the local spot prawn season with a party serving poached whole spot prawns (top) with saffron aioli along with a ton of other concoctions and takes on the shellfish. There were spot prawns served every which way including as corn dogs (above) on a stick.

The load of steamed prawns were mixed with servings of sauteed spot prawn skewers with chili garlic.

Another highlight was the gourgère spot prawn tail sliders. Served with frites, they were delectable and a fine starter.

We sipped on a fine la strangiato cocktail (below) with gin, dubonnet, amaro montenegro, lemon, demerara, and soda.

The wild B.C. spot prawns were tasty going down steamed, fried, in a bisque, shredded, with garlic, coated, and done every way possible. Tableau and Chef MAC did a fine job bringing twists to the prawns, but nothing beats original style.

More | HungerPangs.ca

PHOTO WALK: DRIFTWOOD PLAYGROUND x RIVER DISTRICT CENTRE

2012-05-16T16:04:00.000-07:00

Driftwood Playground at River District Centre in East Vancouver on May 8, 2012.

Built from recycled materials by ParkLane Homes, this work of public art seen doubling as a children's playground.

Seaside off the dock, strolling into the Victoria Drive/Fraserview/Killarney area of Southeast Vancouver.

Part of the River District development project, the wooden playground seen in view from the River District office and patio of Romer's Burger Bar.

Fun times walking about, playing monkey on the smooth recycled wood art display and kids' jungle gym.

LUNCH x ROMER'S BURGER BAR x RIVER DISTRICT x FRASERVIEW

2012-05-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

Lunch at Romer's Burger Bar at River District Centre in East Vancouver on May 8, 2012.

Devon and I hit up the new River District development in the Fraserview/Killarney neighbourhood of Southeast Vancouver for some burgers. Romer's takes it meals seriously. Up front, they let you know they don't rush and your burger will take as long as it take meaning a little extra time to be prepared just right.

Unlike most restaurants, fries don't come standard with your burger so I got an order of garlic fries. I love fries, am not picky, and garlic makes everything better. They were very crisp and didn't skimp on the garlic.

I ordered the righteous rib burger with thick-sliced applewood bacon, braised short rib, sweet onions, Gorgonzola garlic sauce, and fresh thyme leaves. It was pretty solid and well-cooked, a mouthful.

Devon went with the magic mushroom burger with angus beef, chopped portobellos, arugula, herb and garlic Boursin cheese, and caramelized onion with a twist.

For a dollar more, you can "make it green" and substitute your bun with two rolls of lettuce. Needless to say, it got messy and she ended up eating hers as a salad.

It was a very filling meal and the beef quality was high with nicely cooked burgers and crisp, tasty fries. We enjoyed the meal overlooking the seaside dock in this up and coming development.

More | HungerPangs.ca

HUNGER PANGS: DINNER x JOE FORTES SEAFOOD & CHOP HOUSE

2012-05-14T00:23:00.000-07:00

Seafood for dinner at Joe Fortes Seafood & Chop House on May 12, 2012.

We returned to Joe Fortes for quick yet fancy Saturday night dinner to enjoy the warm summer's evening.

We started off with a few fresh raw oysters to celebrate the approaching sunny season before sharing a few seafood dishes. The giant scallops (very top) were quite delicious as the main affair.

The pot of mussels were deep and great. The plentiful seafood went down nicely with the zingy sauce.

Dennis ordered the deep fried pickles and it's exactly what you'd expect. Not bad. I hate pickles and found them pretty decent.

I still think Joe Fortes is the standard when it comes to upscale western dining downtown particularly the seafood options. It's hard to compare the overall experience for this Vancouver landmark.

More | HungerPangs.ca

VANCOUVER DAZE #68: SALONTEA BOUTIQUE x GRAND OPENING PARTY

2012-05-10T09:16:00.001-07:00

Vancouver Daze, Volume 68: Tracy Stern SalonTea Canadian boutique grand opening party on Granville Street on May 5, 2012. Published in Vancouver Is Awesome.

more @ flickr | trendingit.ca

Sampling some delicious iced chai latte with milk at the Canadian grand opening of SalonTea's new boutique tea shop.

President Sarah Ambrose and CEO Tracy Stern with a couple spiffy pink and orange models celebrating the grand opening.

Friends and family packing the long, cavernous shop, trying some tea samples and bites.

Eudorah Koh (left) and company mingling and lounging about, enjoying the bright white, pink, and orange decor filled with tea goodies.

Various treats of macarons, cupcakes, scones, mini sandwiches, and croissants from Meinhardt next door.

The spacious SalonTea boutique now opened on South Granville. Evoking tea culture and high class, originally from New York, spreading across the United States and now on the Canadian west coast.

More | Modern Mix

MENCHIE'S x SELF-SERVE FROZEN YOGURT x CAMBIE STREET

2012-05-09T00:43:00.000-07:00

Menchie's self-serve frozen yogurt on Cambie Street on May 6, 2012.

I finally got around to trying the fairly new self-serve Menchie's frozen yogurt shop on Cambie. It's great. You get to choose all your own flavours, toppings, and sauces.

I recommend the mango sorbet, Irish mint, red velvet, and of course original flavours. Try to stick with either sweets or fruits and not mix and match too, too much.

Otherwise, you'll get a weird mishmash of savoury and sweet. But to each their own. I love the crushed cookies, peanut butter chips and sauce.

Menchie's has some absolutely delicious froyo with new, rotating flavours of all sorts. It's the perfect treat on a sunny day or after dinner.

More | HungerPangs.ca

PHOTO WALK: CHARLESTON PARK x OLYMPIC VILLAGE x FALSE CREEK

2012-05-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Photo walk: Charleston Park at Olympic Village overlooking False Creek on May 6, 2012.

Beautiful seaside view of downtown and False Creek on a lovely Sunday afternoon.

Looking across the Cambie Street over to B.C. Place Stadium and Yaletown.

Walkers, bicyclists, and dog owners enjoying the sun and greenery seaside.

Boats easing across the water as joggers go by on a bright afternoon in the sun.

WILD B.C. SPOT PRAWN SEASON x C RESTAURANT x FALSE CREEK

2012-05-07T15:06:00.000-07:00

Wild B.C. spot prawn season launch at C Restaurant at False Creek's fisherman's wharf on May 3, 2012.

more @ flickr | trendingit.ca

View overlooking False Creek and Granville Island at this week's special cocktail reception for the kick off of spot prawn season.

Enjoying said spot prawn (captured, transported by boat, and cooked up fresh in the kitchen) with white wine in hand.

Quail egg, shrimp, and fruit appetizers served on a stick to compliment the wine and prawns.

Beautifully and delectably garnished, served ready to eat and devoured by the crowd of media.

A closer look at the melon slices and bacon topped egg treats.

Wishing there were more spot prawns served out on the sunny patio ahead of the official B.C. Spot Prawn Festival.

More | HungerPangs.ca / Food Punk / Inside Vancouver / Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER DAZE #67: MENU TASTING x DOCKSIDE x GRANVILLE ISLAND

2012-05-03T00:26:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Daze, Volume 67: Meet the Chef menu tasting at Dockside Restaurant & Brewery at Granville Island Hotel on May 1, 2012. Published in Vancouver Is Awesome.

more @ flickr | trendingit.ca

Exploring fine dining and wine culture, seaside on Granville Island for this lifestyle feature. Posing Instagram style with my sidekick Devon Wong (left) and running into pal Vivian Lau (right, in her spiffy new hairdo).

Enjoying cheddar mac and cheese with beef tenderloin (very top) at Dockside's menu tasting with new executive chef Simon McNeil. A sea of forno roasted pacific snapper fish filets with fresh mango salsa, rice pilaf, and saffron beurre blanc (above).

Sampling the in house brewed selection of brown ales, lagers, IPAs, and pilsners. Time for spring menus and patio season on the west coast.

Nibbling on deep-fried yam and brie cakes, topped with a grilled chicken piece and marinated peach slices.

Foodology blogger Diana Chan, baker Rosanna Choi, and Vivian (above) sipping on some fine white wines.

Gobbling on grilled scallops on crackers, prepared to a fine art and presented with style.

A refreshing late afternoon/early evening of wine, beer, and appetizers dockside at Granville Island on a muggy Spring day.

More | HungerPangs.ca

REVIEW: 'THE AVENGERS' ASSEMBLE IN A SUPERHERO SMÖRGÅSBORD

2012-05-02T16:30:00.000-07:00

It's finally here. Marvel Studio's hints and nods at a superhero team up movie, seeded in The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, and two Iron Man films, has finally paid off. From the mind of fanboy writer/director Joss Whedon (Buffy, Serenity), The Avengers mostly executes everything Marvel has built over five films with mind blowing (sometimes numbing) action and genuine moments of humour.

The Avengers is a grand spectacle of an alien invasion, superhero, buddy comedy, comic book, action extravaganza. The film is not just a marvel of action, it's funny, really funny. Whedon's greatest asset is his penchant for dialogue and natural humour. There are a dozen laugh out loud moments and sight gags in the midst of intergalactic destruction.

Despite Marvel ruining half of Iron Man 2 and dragging down Thor just to set up this film, The Avengers is all pay off with little to no exposition and a very basic invasion, team up plotline. They don't refer to any future films here. There's a Transformers like feel but with comprehensible action, actual character development, and earned stakes.

The cast once again elevates the film with very sharp turns by Mark Ruffalo (replacing Edward Norton) as the raging Hulk and Chris Hemsworth as the mighty god of thunder. Chris Evans is earnest as the super solider lost in time. Everyone gets their moment to shine, even if all they have to work with is a gun or bow and arrow.

Robert Downey, Jr.'s iron avenger is probably most misplaced with his snark and egotism yet Downey is such a gifted humourist, he powers through. The villainous Tom Hiddleston as Loki absolutely shines as a gifted trickster and antagonist. Characters interact famously with pulsating chemistry and interplay.

While set in a grounded reality establish in Iron Man, Whedon and company employ a heavy mythology. The world is established and our heroes go to town. It feels as if the shadowy S.H.I.E.L.D. agency is run by three people and operated by hundreds of mindless workers, wisely minimizing such large world building to an accessible reality.

There are only a handful of sets and locations to save for the large scale action. The first act is predictably uneven and its weakest as we check in with all the superhero team members segueing into them fighting each other before coming together to face a common enemy.

The main weakness, thus far, of Marvel's self-produced films (first independent and now under Disney ownership) has been their tight budgeting (leading to recasting actors and director changes) and as a result, supbar third act action climaxes. Not here. The Avengers lays it all on the line with extended second and third acts, consisting almost entirely of explosive set pieces (one on an air craft carier and another completely destroying Manhattan, evoking 9/11).

It's hard not to feel giddy and overjoyed after watching The Avengers, marvelling at the bombastic experience. However, there are problems mixing so many fantastical, ridiculous elements and ideas. These are mostly hidden with sharp writing and direction. The plot unfolds quickly with a good pace to minimize any questioning or logic.

The Avengers is a massive, intergalactic war movie mixed into a superhero smörgåsbord, lavished stylistically in the vein of comic book panels and splash pages. It is a huge, (mostly successful) sprawling story involving gods, monsters, aliens, robots, and yes, superheroes. Assemble and enjoy.

Stay after the credits, both of them...

More | GhostWorld.ca / First Showing

VANCOUVER DAZE: MAY DAYS 2012 x EVENTS CALENDAR

2012-05-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

May 1
Canadian Women in Communications Tech Fair @ BCIT Downtown

May 2
#YVRBeerTweetup 4 @ Smiley's Public House

May 3 to 19
Jesse Savath Photography @ Catalog Gallery

May 3 to 6
Vancouver International Burlesque Festival

May 3
Said the Whale @ Vogue Theatre

Urban Dreams: A Very Vancouver Gala @ Vancity Theatre

Socializing for Social Change @ Pink Elephant Thai

May 4 to 13
DOXA Documentary Film Festival

May 4 to 7
LEGO Store Grand Opening Weekend @ Oakridge Centre Mall

May 4
NJDOB @ Gossip Nightclub

Steveston Seafood & Wine Festival @ Gulf of Georgia Cannery

May 5
Spot Prawn Festival 2012 @ False Creek Fisherman's Wharf

May 6
BMO Vancouver Marathon 2012

May 7
Reimagine CBC Celebration @ Vogue Theatre

May 9
CBC Music's Tracks on Tracks Launch Party @ Electric Owl

May 11 to 13
EPIC Sustainable Living Expo @ Convention Centre West

May 11
Great Lake Swimmers @ Commodore Ballroom

May 18 to 26
Vancouver Craft Beer Week

May 19
Mode Moderne @ Biltmore Cabaret

May 24
JCI #NetRaiserYVR @ Granville Room

Into the Vineyard's Wine & Travel Event @ Yaletown Roundhouse

May 26
UBC Alumni Weekend 2012

May 27
A World of Smiles Telethon @ Shaw Tower

May 28
Xiu Xiu @ Biltmore Cabaret

May 29
#EastVanLove Tweetup #6: Social Innovation @ Calabash Bistro

Source | Miss604

LUNCH x MENU TASTING x GOTHAM STEAKHOUSE & COCKTAIL BAR

2012-04-30T10:06:00.000-07:00

Lunch menu tasting at Gotham Steakhouse & Cocktail Bar on Seymour Street on April 26, 2012.

The historic Gotham Steakhouse is now open for lunch, just in time to enjoy its outdoor patio. Now attached through a special doorway to the St. Regis Hotel (from the same ownership), things are ramping up for the upscale steakhouse.

I toured the special dining rooms including the basement club room, reserved for special events and private meetings. I must admit, fanciness aside, they were pretty cool.

Of course, there were ample appetizers and lunch dishes to sample, including sun-dried tomato purée in pastry shells and vanilla battered deep-fried prawns with sweet chili sauce, both of which were smooth and delightfully crisp.

These salmon sashimi crostinis were quite tasty. Everything was classy and delectable with a fine attention to detail and presentation.

I absolutely love both lamb racks and tuna tataki. They were delicious and did not disappoint, cooked just right.

The desserts were mighty tasty featuring lemon and coconut tarts (left) as well as Bourbon chocolate brownies with a hint of mint and white chocolate (right). They packed a refreshing punch.

Gotham's side street building is striking piece of architecture and provides a great dining experience in their loung and dining hall.

More | HungerPangs.ca

LEGO STORE x BATMAN x CATWOMAN CATCYLE x CITY CHASE

2012-04-29T18:07:00.000-07:00

LEGO Batman: Catwoman Catcycle City Chase toy set from the LEGO Store at Oakridge Centre mall.

I made it to the brand new (and only one in B.C.) flagship LEGO Store (pic). I was obsessed with LEGOs as a child and still have my entire collection.

I was desperate to buy something, especially Batman related. Clearly, I ignored the "suggested' age range of between 5-12.

I went with this affordable 89-piece mini Batman set. I wanted something bigger, but couldn't justify spending the required $60-90.

It took me ten or so minutes to compile together in a mini Batman/Catwoman motorcycle street scene.

Obviously, I had to Instagram it in addition to documenting my experience. Oh nostalgia, there's nothing like revisiting and reliving my childhood.

VANCOUVER DAZE #66: TACOS x PINCHE TWEETUP x LA TAQUERIA

2012-04-27T00:29:00.000-07:00

Vancouver Daze, Volume 66: Eating tacos at Pinche Tweetup at La Taqueria Pinche Taco Shop on Cambie Street on April 25, 2012. Published in Vancouver Is Awesome.

more @ flickr | trendingit.ca

I love eating tacos at La Taqueria's Cambie taco shop and their original locale on Hastings. It was time to hit up my favourite taco shop.

The shop invited loyal customers and Twitter folk to eat and mingle with beer specials. I downed two cups of (free) horchatas. Think cinnamon bun in a cup, a milky, tasty beverage.

I gobbled on some pescado grilled fish tacos and their special potato blend taco made just for the day (above).

Diners packed the Cambie side eatery to the brim as the taco makers churned out the food.

They went all out with some salsa, fiesta style music and pumping energy.

We were so excited to see a mariachi band casually walking down the street across the way in the rain, slowly making their way into the taco shop.

Needless to day, it was more fun times eating tacos, drinking beer and horchata on rainy Wednesday.

MENU TASTING DINNER x CACHÉ BISTO & LOUNGE x YALETOWN

2012-04-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

Menu tasting dinner at Caché Bistro & Lounge grand opening in Yaletown on April 18, 2012.

Ange and I hit up the old Charm Modern Thai location in Yaletown, to preview the new French bistro there. I was amused by the fully Chinese management and chef staff running this authentic French cuisine neighbourhood eatery with an Asian twist.

To start, we spooned up a delicious foie gras crème brûlée with flying fish caviar.

Probably my favourite was the black tea smoked duck breast salad.

I gobbled up the bacon wrapped semi de-boned quail, stuffed with marinated dried cranberries.

In addition, we enjoyed special wine pairings with each dish. We couldn't drink the wines fast enough before each dish.

The portobello cap mushroom stuffed with spinach and cream cheese was quite tasty and decadent. It certainly made the mushroom (which I usually hate) very flavourful.

For dessert, pavlova with fresh strawberries and hibiscus cream. I was underwhelmed a kind of unimpressed with the hard, crusty cookie like treat.

Executive chef Alex Mok from the underground supper club world has started an interesting venture with his traditional French bisto faire mixed with season Asian influences.

Be sure to check out their public grand opening event. Bon appetit!

More | HungerPangs.ca / Photo | Ange Leung

IKEA RICHMOND STORE x PREVIEW SHOPPING NIGHT x OPENING

2012-04-25T22:29:00.000-07:00

New IKEA Canada store preview shopping night in Richmond on April 23, 2012.

more @ flickr | trendingit.ca

Photo | Maurice Li

Before the public grand opening, media and industry folks packing the brand new IKEA Richmond store for a private cocktail reception and preview shopping night.

Bunnies Tania Yan and Chin Chin Ho busy sipping on wine and tweeting the night's festivities in the kitchen and restaurant area beyond the cavernous warehouse store.

Photo | Maurice Li

PR gal Crystal Kwon and lifestyle writer Amy Chan enjoying the new store preview opening.

Me, playing house in one of the many show display bedrooms in my Iron Man t-shirt from Fan Expo.

Night and day outside and inside of the massive new store location, steps away from the old location. Opening day is Wednesday, April 25.

Photo | Amanda Panes / Crystal Kwon (1, 2) / Maurice Li

HAPPY HOUR x WINGS + GINGER BEER x THE UNION BAR x CHINATOWN

2012-04-24T11:07:00.000-07:00

Happy hour at The Union Bar in Chinatown on April 17, 2012.

Devon and I were in a rush and did a quick hit drive by to The Union Bar for some on the fly eat and drinks before hitting up the Projecting Change Film Festival in Gastown.

As she enjoyed her Tom Yum Collins cocktail (vodka, coconut milk, fresh lime, gomme, galangal, lemongrass, thai basil, kaffir lime leaf, cilantro, red chili pepper), we relaxed in the small yet comfortable East meets West digs.

I had a Phillips ginger beer, also tasty. We dined on Thai naam jeem glaze chicken wings (very top), easily some of the best wings I've had anywhere. They were super crispy, honey glazed, and a hint of chilli spices. I'm dying to eat some more.

The $10 happy hour special was a bowl of red curry mussels with jasmine rice and naan bread. They were quite tasty and a good deal.

I really dig the Southeast Asian style decor, atmosphere, and vibe of this Chinatown pub. The drink and beer selections were cool and the interesting food options did the trick.

More | HungerPangs.ca

FAN EXPO VANCOUVER x COMIC CON x COSTUMES + COSPLAY x DAY 2

2012-04-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

First annual Fan Expo Vancouver 2012 comic book convention (day two) at Vancouver Convention Centre West on April 22, 2012.

more @ flickr | culturemonster.ca

More costumes and cosplay fun after day one with The Mighty Thor and his hammer Mjölnir (very top) and Spider-Man riding the escalator down to the convention show floor.

The X-Men were in full force with Jean "Phoenix" Grey and team leader Cyclops.

The geekery continued with the classic 1960s Batmobile anchoring the festivities as well as the massive t-shirt and collectable display.

Shocked and stunned, running into my good friend Vanessa Chu decked out in a full Demon Hunter costume from Diablo 3.

Comic book universes collided with Spider-Man battling Batman and then the Riddler.

I have no idea who these Japanese anime characters (right) posing were, dressing sharply.

Killing it, massive Behop and Rocksteady costumes from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

A fan channeling her best Michelle Pfeiffer from Batman Returns in this sick Catwoman catsuit.

Another stellar day and wrap up to the first annual Fan Expo comic con. So much fun seeing all the geeks and fans dressed up, embracing their environment and celebrating pop culture.

More | Day 1

FAN EXPO VANCOUVER x COMIC CON x COSTUMES + COSPLAY x DAY 1

2012-04-22T18:36:00.000-07:00

First annual Fan Expo Vancouver 2012 comic book convention (day one) at Vancouver Convention Centre West on April 21, 2012.

more @ flickr | culturemonster.ca

Thousands of fans, geeks, and enthusiasts alike, lining up in the sun for day one (of two) of the first annual Fan Expo comic book convention. (Top: Bane, the Riddler, Red Hood, and Batman himself.)

Bob Fett mingling about outside as villains Destro and The Baroness posing inside.

The classic 1960s television series Batmobile (aka Lincoln Futura) on display as the centrepiece of the convention show floor.

Teenage Zelda style elves and archers with the new Ultimate Spider-Man.

Who you gonna call? My sidekick Devon ghost busting with doctors Venkman and Stantz.

Hands down, one of the best costumes from the day was this sweet Predator cosplay. Pure magic.

Holy nostalgia, Batman! Devon channeling her best Robin smile, posing with the classic automobile.

We're all smiles, enjoying the crazy atmosphere and thousands of attendees. Notice my classic Marvel Comics t-shirt.

A couple o' Stormtroopers sharing a quiet, intimate moment as hoards of fanboys and fangirls packed the convention centre celebrating the local fandom community.

More | Day 2