Pets With Good Taste
When we first saw the title of
Andi Brown’s new book, The Whole Pet Diet our first thought was “what kind of monster eats their whole pet?” Luckily, the book is not about
snacking on Fido but, rather, an eight-week guide to
getting your dog or cat healthy and on its way
to a long life full of
snuggles and rolls in
the grass. Brown, director of
Halo, a Florida company specializing in holistic pet care, has penned a guide that covers grooming, recreation, and, most importantly, diet, including
a host of alarming facts about the
dubious ingredients in commercial pet food. The book, published by Celestial Arts in Toronto,
is available at
tenspeed.com
Soul Saviours
Canada doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to documenting our pop-
cultural history. We may be great at
coming- of- age- on- the- Prairies- tales or gazing
perplexedly at the two solitudes, but more proletarian pursuits tend to be ignored when Canada Council grants are handed out. Local
musician, DJ, and producer Kevin Howes is on a mission to change this. For the past three years, Howes has been documenting the
forgotten soul and reggae music legends that played in Canada in the ’60s—a long, arduous process that involved tracking down dozens of musicians who had long since abandoned their craft. Howes and his partners at
Light In The Attic Records have unearthed some truly genius music from
the scrap heap of history, including re-issues of albums by Canadians Wayne McGhie, Noel Ellis, and Jackie Mittoo. Most notable is the compilation From Jamaica to Toronto, a brilliant, multi-artist album that features classic-but-forgotten songs from
Canada’s rich West Indian Music community. The re-issues are available in all discerning record stores. Howes and Co. are planning a documentary and a travelling revue of these neglected legends, so grab a copy before hysteria hits and they sell out. For more info on the Canadian Sound Heritage Project, visit
lightintheattic.net/releases/jamaicatotoronto/
Live (Healthy) Like A Celebrity
To be frank, we’re a
tiny bit suspicious when anyone styles himself as a “celebrity health guru.” But a quick glance through the latest book by
Joshi, health advisor to stars such as
Gwyneth Paltrow and
Cate Blanchett, puts our fears at ease. Entitled Joshi’s Holistic Life Plan: How to be Happy, Healthy, Radiant—For the Rest of Your Life (Mobius, $29.95), the easy-to-read, beautifully illustrated book offers advice on eating, exercise, and mindfulness, including a four-week program for making over your general health. There are recipes, exercises, and challenges for the reader, as well as words of encouragement. After just a week following Joshi’s plan, we didn’t look any more like Gwyneth, but we did feel better—
like the best version of ourselves. Joshi’s book is available at all major bookstores.
Loreena, Loreena
Fans of Canada’s first lady of Celtic music,
Loreena McKennitt, have been waiting a long time for a new studio album. Although the ethereal songstress has released a number of live albums in the past decade, we haven’t heard an album of new works since 1997. As followers of McKennitt’s career are aware, the singer and pianist had her world fall apart in 1998 when her fiancé, Ronald Rees,
died while on a
sailing trip with his brother and a family friend. McKennitt took a long break to grieve but is back with An Ancient Muse, an album of new songs set for release this month. Continuing McKennitt’s long love affair with world music, Muse explores Celtic, Greek, and Byzantine myth, using obscure instruments such as the oud, lyra, Swedish keyed fiddle, and viols da gamba to flesh out the
lush soundscapes that have brought her acclaim. The album hits stores Nov. 21—
not a moment too soon.
Unleash Your Inner Organic Gourmet
Time was, an organic,
locally sourced dining experience in Vancouver was second in rarity only to a tasty, organic, locally sourced organic experience in Vancouver. Luckily, a lot has changed in the past decade, and eco-conscious organic dining out is now easy to find at any price, from the luxe
Bishop’s to the quick snack counter at some of our favorite grocery stores. One newish hotspot is
Aurora Bistro, on the flourishing Main Street strip and offering the best in local food and wine. While the menu is not 100 per cent local (some foodstuffs, such as lemons and salt, are extremely difficult to source in B.C.), the bistro–headed by
award-winning chef Jeff Van Geest—strives to go homegrown, ethical, and organic whenever possible, serving up such delights
as
Nicola Valley Bison Carpaccio,
Queen Charlotte Halibut, and
Fanny Bay Oysters. The wine list is equally impressive, with a host of B.C. wines that will win over the most discerning oenophile. All this is delivered with style to
spare, lavish, attentive service and hip, urban ambience. For more info, visit
aurorabistro.ca or call 604-873-9944. Aurora is at 2420 Main Street; reservations recommended.
Warm and Fuzzy CarsWhile we’re all aware of the environmental impact of automobiles, and anyone with even a modicum of forethought has realized
the evils of Humm-vees and gas-guzzling SUVs, many of us may not think about the less obvious side-effects of the auto industry: auto dealerships. These giant palaces of
motor worship have sustainability issues quite apart from fossil fuels, including keeping those showrooms air-conditioned or heated, and dealing with the water waste that comes from keeping everything shiny and looking new.
BMW Auto West, in Richmond, is
taking the initiative on this front with a new
eco-minded dealership opening Spring 2007. Construction on the 1.5-hectare lot broke ground earlier this fall and includes installation of a
geothermal heating and cooling system that uses Earth’s natural properties to moderate indoor temperatures and a recycling system that re-uses some 90 per cent of car-wash water.
In addition, the dealership will feature a
green-roof system and sustainable landscaping. Looky-loos and green-architecture enthusiasts can check out all the details at
autowest.bmw.ca.
Do You Know The Secret?
Ageless wisdom meets cutting-edge Internet distribution system and that equals phenomenon. In a remarkable
unmarketing marketing campaign, a full-length feature film, The Secret, is gaining grass roots velocity faster than you can say, “change your thinking; change your life.”
The slickly produced 90-minute film weaves together modern-day motivational speakers with some of history’s most important thinkers: Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Winston Churchill. The result is insight for creating your perfect life, based on implementing a belief called
Law of Attraction. Buddha might have said it best: “All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” A family-owned Australian company is marketing the 90-minute film, which can be seen for $4.95US per view at
whatisthesecret.tv or a DVD purchase of $29.95. What is it that you want to create in
your ideal life?
Hope And (Gift-Giving) Glory
As much as it may make some of us shudder, this month is when many people start to think about the holiday season and buying gifts. To the rescue comes
Pivot Legal Society, a local, non-profit group that helps provide legal counsel for persons on the Downtown Eastside. Pivot is holding a
fundraising auction Nov. 9, featuring unique, socially conscious gifts available by live and silent bidding. The Society’s goal is to raise $20,000 for assisting homeless and disenfranchised persons in Vancouver. Speaking of socially conscious gifts, Pivot launches its fourth consecutive
Hope In The Shadows calendar and exhibit of photographs by residents of the Downtown Eastside. Hundreds of people line up to receive
free black-and-white cameras and take photos that reflect hope and positivity in their community. Visit
pivotlegal.org for more info on the auction and calendar project. To donate auction items, e-mail auction@pivotfoundation.org or leave a message for Lisa Werring at 604-696-1322.
