My City

Happy hump day! Hope your week's going well.

I wanted to share a story I did for The Simple Things magazine, one of my favourite mags. Each issue they do a "My City" feature, and they asked me to do one on Vancouver. I love these features, so I was pretty happy to do one for my hometown. Click here for the whole story.

What do you love about your city? I'd love to hear about it.

Have a good day!

janis

Victoria BC Observations

I was in Victoria for most of the weekend, to shoot stories for a couple of magazines. Always nice to spend a few days there. It's so easy to get around, lots of great little cafes and restaurants, shops, and the scenery is stunning. Here's a little of what I checked out, when I wasn't working....

It was great to see that one of my favourite shops in Vancouver has opened up in Victoria. The Regional Assembly of Text has taken over the lobby of a beautiful heritage office building on Johnson Street. They just fold it up and tuck it all away at the end of the day. Stop by and use the vintage typewriters to create your own buttons, or pick up one of their fantastic notebooks, recipe boxes, or wrapping paper. Most of the products are the creation of shop owners, Rebecca and Brandy. 

The weather was perfect to have lunch on the wharf, at Red Fish Blue Fish, a water front restaurant made out of a cargo container. We had a bbq salmon tacone, salad, and a roasted rhubarb & vanilla creamsicle. Beyond delicious. 

After wrapping up a shoot, that had started at dawn, we lounged around at Saxe Point. Such a pretty spot to relax and hang out until the next shoot.

The Milkman's Daughter is a perfect mix of fashion, vintage, books and upcycled furniture by Janice of Modhaus Designs. It's owned by the women of Smoking Lily, another great shop in Victoria and Vancouver. I loved the stacking boxes with screen printed illustrations. The exterior of the shop is pretty spectacular too! 

Have you been to Victoria? A super short flight from Vancouver or Seattle, or take the ferry (I'm not too keen on flying in tiny planes). The bonus with the ferry is that it's not uncommon to spot a pod of orcas....pretty magical. 

Now to start editing the shoots....so much to sort through. Have a great day!

janis

New Year, New Restaurant

Hello 2012! I hope you all had a great weekend. What did you get up to for New Year's Eve? Due to my incessant coughing, we had a semi-quiet night with friends. Nice way to wrap up the year.

As you may know, I'm part of a family that insists on opening restaurants. Number 4 is due to open January 4th, so I thought I'd share some pics of all of them. They were all designed by Evoke (husband and brother).

Habit is kind of like a 70's rumpus room. Paintings are by Robert Edmonds (a.k.a. my permanent date)

Latitude is a mix of marble, wood and concrete. Food and cocktail style is Latin American.

The Cascade Room is located right beside Habit. It's a modern British style "pub". I love the Queen Victoria lamp shades. 

Introducing the newest member of the group, The Union. These pics were taken yesterday, while frantic set up was taking place. South East Asian street food in a reclaimed wood, concrete and tile setting. I was asked to get some shots of the neighbourhood, focusing on textures and colour, for the backlit bar cabinets (pictured above). I want to do this in our kitchen!

You'll find The Union, right next to the Jimi Hendrix shrine (go figure) on Union Street in Chinatown/Strathcona neighbourhood. Purple Haze. Love it.

If you pop by, be sure to check out these great shops all on the same block:

Charlie and Lee

Jett Grrl Bike Studio

The Board of Trade

Land

Hogan's Alley Cafe

Have a great day everyone! Back soon.

Janis

Sunday Observations

I hope you've all had nice weekends, where ever you may be!  We had a lovely day, and I wish it was Sunday again tomorrow. Here are a few things I observed today...

This happy tin camper of happiness, happens to be sitting beside our house right now. I read about "Tin Can Studio" in issue 6 of Uppercase magazine (a fabulous Canadian publication). Recently Tin Can hosted a fantastic dinner, serving local organic foods harvested just hours before. Must check it out next time! Such a great idea. For more info click here. 

Pronto is a new restaurant located in my neighbourhood, near city hall. If you find yourself in the area, you should definitely check it out. One of those places that I could live in! Love the wood panelling, mosaic tile, and the soft green paint colours. Food is great, staff is lovely, and they're licensed too. ;) While you're on Cambie Street, be sure to check out Walrus, Shop Cocoon and Benton Brothers Fine Cheese as well!

I picked up a perfect prop from Land, here in Vancouver. Looking forward to using it, along with the tablecloth/blanket, from Birch and Bird, for a shoot with Gallant & Jones tomorrow!

That's what I got up to today. What did you do? I always love to know!

Back soon.

janis

Sunday Observations

I hope you've all had a nice and relaxing weekend! I've been in Victoria again, for the 3rd weekend in a row, for another shoot. This is what I noticed in Victoria today...

 A pretty little beach just down the road from our crack of dawn photo shoot. 

Red Fish Blue Fish is a tiny seafood pit stop housed in a converted shipping

container. Located on the pier right in the city centre. The "tacones" are fantastic!

Victoria is on Vancouver Island, about a 1 hour and 40 minute ferry ride from Vancouver (Tsawwassen ferry terminal). If you find your self in Victoria, and need a hotel, I like to stay at the Magnolia Hotel. It's more of a "boutique" hotel. The staff is great. 

What did you get up to this weekend? Long weekend in the U.K. wasn't it? 

Back soon!

janis

Vancouver Neighbourhoods

How's your week going? If you're in Vancouver, do you have a voice left after the game last night? 4 more to go!

I shot a story, for Sunset Magazine, about one of my favourite neighbourhoods in Vancouver - Gastown. It's actually in the June issue, which is out now. It does have a touristy side, but it also has some of the best shops and restaurants in the city. Here are a few of the places I shot for the story.

Meat And Bread is a very popular lunch spot. Arrive at door opening, as the line-ups are long!

The Diamond is a fantastic "cocktail parlour". Josh made a real cocktail and I drank it after I shot it. Lesson learned. Don't drink on an empty stomach while shooting a story. ;)

L'Abbitoir is a great little restaurant that was Vancouver's first jail in the 19th century. Love that. It's a busy place, so reservations are recommended. 

That's my mini tour of Gastown! Definitely check it out next time you find yourself in Vancouver.

Have a great day! Back soon.
janis

Tiki

I popped by the Waldorf Hotel here in Vancouver, to get a few shots for something else, but thought I'd share some with you. Let's just say, I now feel like a Mai Tai. Right now.

This hotel has been restored to it's original Tiki goodness. When you step into the Tiki Bar, you feel as though you've just stepped into a time tunnel straight back to the 50's. It's pretty much unchanged since then. Very "Blue Hawaii". I know it's kitsch, but it works and I'm glad it's still around.

I posted an iPhone pic of these chairs a couple of weeks ago. Here are some more images of Nuba. It's a great restaurant, located in the Waldorf as well. There are a number of elements I could see adding to our home. Love the chairs, the green chalkboard (I prefer green over black), the wood partitions, and cabinets.

These images are of the Leeteg room. It's named after Edgar Leeteg, the man that brought us modern velvet paintings. Velvet paintings make me smile. You can read more about him here. Again, everything is pretty much original, they've just added new chair cushions.

What do you think of the Waldorf Hotel? Can you embrace Tiki, or does it remind you of rumpus rooms of the past? I can say, it's a fun place to visit, good drinks and great food too. Check it out if you can.

Back soon!

Commune Cafe and a sleepy niece

My husband and I had an early morning shoot at the fabulous new cafe, Commune, located here in Vancouver. Rob (husband) and my brother David, of Evoke, designed it. We were shooting it for a design book out of Singapore. Unfortunately we forgot that our niece, Annika, had booked in for a sleepover. Hated having to haul her out of bed at 6am ;)

Tina, the incredible chef, loaded Annika up with marshmallows and hot chocolate and a nutella sandwich to start the day off. Don't tell Annika's parents. Tina also whipped up a fabulous wild shrimp sandwich for the photo shoot. Holy yum.

A sleepy niece. Photo taken by her guilty Auntie.

Eating the props.  Can't waste anything.

I love the red chairs, cork light shades, mural and the thick felt on the bench seats. If you live in the Vancouver area, or are visiting this lovely city, definitely stop by Commune Cafe. Oh, did I mention it's also licensed? 

If any of you are thinking I'm a hideous Auntie, I did take Annika to the Vancouver Aquarium to see a diver swim in a tank with some of our native sea life, after the shoot. She loved it, even though she could barely keep her eyes open.

NYC and Ace Hotel has comfy beds

They also have guitars. At least they had one in our room, which we took turns playing after a late night out. I only know two chords, so I'm not sure what I was doing. 

Ace Hotel is quite a cool place. It's near the Flatiron building. Fantastic lobby/lounge, lots of taxidermy (sorry, I know that bothers some people), and incredibly comfortable beds and pillows. That's huge for me. Love the hallways, and the light box suite numbers. The only thing "off" was their coffee, but there are plenty of other places to get that.

Table in our room, guitar in background, room key card, front lobby, flower stand, room 607

Comfy bed with fab screen print canvas, bandages for my feet, lounge/lobby, stuffed birds

While in NYC, we went to "an evening with Eames Demetrios (Charles and Ray Eames' grandson), at ABC Carpet and Home. We could only stay for a bit, but it was a great panel of Brooklyn designers. I took a few pics of the 2nd floor of ABC as that's where the event was held. Eames talked about Powers of 10, a short film his grandparents did in 1977. I've seen it a number of times and love it. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out. Click here.

Vintage Italian ceiling lamp, Eames Demitrios (on right), simple vignette

The Arne Jacobsen egg chair, random milling around, patchwork egg chairs by Tal R

We found a great little show called Model Citizens Show. Some interesting jewelry, art, and this stuffed, faceless doll. I decided this was going to be my souvenir of this NY trip, as I couldn't shop much with a looming computer purchase or repair.

A few sights of a truly spectacular city. Didn't have much time to sight see, but caught a few images before we left.

I love the water towers dotted around the tops of buildings. 

If you're in NY, you have to check out this place. Make a reservation at La Esquina. You go through the diner to a secret spot in the basement. Fantastic food and a great crowd. 

As part of the ICFF, Green Point Works set up some of their cute Acapulco chairs on the back of a truck. I adore these and would love a few for our back yard. I have a thing for back yard chairs.

Not sure what was happening here, but it was set up in the meat packing district. I had a couple of drinks by this point. 

A couple of views of the Standard Hotel. An absolutely stunning mid-century building.

A lovely random place to rest blistered feet, Tom Sachs Hello Kitty sculpture at Lever House, another lovely resting spot.

ICFF opening party at the MoMA.

Little Italy. 

That's it for New York. Do you have favourite restaurants, shops, galleries to go to when in NYC? Please share! 

Happy Friday everyone. See you for Baked On Monday # 5 (I think)!