DOORS 8PM

We're going all out for our first ever party: we're bringing Women from Calgary. Sorry, I had to. But anyways, the JagJaguwar blog-stars will be headlining our municipal election special joined by Toronto's The Bicycles, Edmonton's Hot Panda, and locals Gang Violence and The Clips. I know, right? We don't even have to advertise for this show. In fact, we don't even have to tell you that you get one free beer per entry thanks to the readers who vote for us. We don't need to tell you that Gang Violence is one of Vancouver's best new bands. In fact, just don't come. Admire the poster from afar, but curse that the show is all the way in East Vancouver.

The goods news is that many of the technical challenges seem to be behind us and looking forward to 2008 we'll be making many improvements, including incorporating some of the more popular features from our sister site in Toronto.

We'll also be making some wholesale changes to our team of contributors. In fact, we're looking to almost completely revamp the team and, starting with this post, we are now officially beginning our search for editors, writers and other contributors who want to be part of the new and improved Beyond Robson.

Photo by markhoekstra on Flickr

The Opening Night Gala features the brilliant and talented Howard Jacobson. Known for his literary humour, the British author arrives for an exclusive interview with CBC personality and writer, Eleanor Wachtel. This special event will be recorded live onstage for future broadcast on CBC Radio One's Writers and Company.

And FLIRT those neophytes did, with a succession of revelers in more and more outrageous costumes plus elaborate props than the regular rubber, whips chains and spikes. A strictly enforced dress-code has a few unsuspecting participants strip off their offending garments and do without. Everything was skin-tight, or just, well, SKIN, or as a wizened regular commented, with a naughty twist: IF IN DOUBT, LESS IS MORE.

The decor was aimed more for easy accessibility than maximizing cinematic ambiance. After all, why do you need props when the attendees themselves serve the function to titillate and visually captivate everyone else? Gyrating nude -- well, almost; there were wolf-boys, beauteous raven-haired succubae and vampiresses to take your breath away, and fetish doctors and nurses to resuscitate you. The ever-popular DJ Pandemonium supplied the raw pulsating music that flogs the air into a hedonistic bodice-ripping pitch, the dance floor would be proud to witness any rites of the bacchanal; well, for this newbie eye-witness at least. But I must say, as a Sin City virgin, I made out -- no pun intended-- like a naughty bandit: two gropes, three flirts, and all the while my being dressed as a chinoiserie Anne Ricesque Vampire, right down to the tail-coat-brocade-vest and frilly lace shirt.

Point your mobile browser to this url: feedm8.com/beyondrobson or go to this page where you can ask our partners as FeedM8 to send the url to you by SMS.

If you're interested in what's changed, please read on....

Interested? Just send an email to jobs [at] beyondrobson [dotcom]. Thanks!

What is SPP, you ask? Why it's

a highly secretive agreement between US, Mexico, and Canada. The SPP is essentially NAFTA-plus-Homeland Security, firmly rooted within a colonial and capitalist framework. There is no doubt that the SPP will bring greater insecurity and misery: murderous wars and occupations abroad; border militarization; increased detentions and deportations; attacks on indigenous peoples, the poor, migrants, and working people; ecological destruction; and mega-projects in the service of corporate greed.

And Vancouver is, naturally, rallying. Come on down!

* 3 pm at Canada Place: Meet at Waterfront Station entrance on Howe Street, corner Cordova.
* 5 pm at Burrard Skytrain Station: Meet in open park area just north of Skytrain entrance on Burrard Street, corner Dunsmuir.
* The march will later converge in to an antiwar/anti spp demo to be organized at the Vancouver Art Gallery.

Photo credits: Goodbye_horses

There's a time in a person's life where they must ask themselves "What is missing in my life?" Is it a meaningful career? They'd ask. No. Emotional commitment? No. Only when the incandescent bulb of sudden realisation flutters alight will the answer reveal itself: "kangaroo leather". That's right, straight from the sunbeaten plains of Australia and right to your door, you too can own a kangaroo pelt of indeterminate size for only one dollar.

"BRAND NEW! Good for a hat, or as a rug."

It's simultaneously a hat and a rug?! What on earth kind of witchy lump of flesh is this? In which case why we haven't been harvesting the sweet, magical, grizzled skins of marsupial for mass order is a mystery to me.

Perfect for birthdays, bridal showers and guaranteed to be the talking-point of every Jehovah's Witness you invite into your home, don't let this one slip you by.

Here's what we're looking for in new writers:

1. In depth knowledge and opinions of at least one of the following subject areas that we cover: arts, film, music, fashion, food, books/lit, theatre, local politics, urban/city issues or environmental/green issues. Our focus is on street-level Vancouver and we're looking more for independent/non-mainstream stuff than straight news. In other words, not what you'd find in the Province.
2. Familiarity with blogs and blogging.
3. Ability to commit to posting at least once a week.
4. Handy with a digital camera and access to Photoshop or other photo-editing software that allows you to edit and re-size photos for use on our site.
5. Access to the internet. Although we do meet somewhat regularly, we're a virtual organization so you'll need your own computer and internet connection.