I'm back with a vengeance. Okay, that sounded a bit extreme. Let's say I'm back, excited, and enthused to start up this blog again. The other day, Marya
Gadison, Coordinator of Marketing and Communications for the Vancouver Public Library contacted me about a photo I had posted on instagram of their amazing green roof. After mutually gushing about this terrific space we realized there was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the green roof and share it with everyone. So in the next couple of weeks, I will have a great opportunity to chat with someone that works on this project and will be posting it on my blog. Staaaaaay tuned!
Last Spring, I went to the Museum of Vancouver (MOV) for the first
time. I went there with a purpose. I was a woman with a goal. I
wanted to see the "Art Deco Chic - Extravagant Glamour Between the Wars".
With with the release of Baz Luhrmann's adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" in May 2013, it seems like an appropriate time to engage in some
re-memories.
After 4 years of war, the world was recovering and ready to celebrate. Freedom and euphoria, the success of the women's suffrage movement, and the influence of Hollywood and jazz music all had an impact on fashion of the 1920's and the 30's. The "Flapper" became synonymous with a woman who enjoyed life, was wreckless and thumbed her nose at traditional female norms, was fashionable and not afraid to play up her sexuality. These were worldly women, not ingenues who needed to be protected from the dangerous world. The Flapper wanted to be part of it all.
Rather than being bound in tight bodices, stiff fabric, and covered in long hemlines, the glamourous fashions in the 20's and 30's were light, lose, and skirts were becoming shorter and more sheer.
The most delicate and intricate beading and embroidery
The style of these dresses was a symbol of the defiance against the culture and rules of the generation before them. Drop waists, bodices, and skirts draped loosely over the body, which would allow movement. Silks and chiffon dresses with shorter skirts which were often considered indecent allowed women to dance, and be free, while subtly showing off their gamine figure. The intricately designed motifs were embellished with beads and embroidery were often influenced by the fascination of the Polynesian Islands, the "Orient" and the Art Deco movement.
The scoop and V shape was used frequently on both the neckline and the back of the dress emphasized the simple straight lines. The two dresses in the first picture were some of my favourites because of the rich and saturated colour of the fabric and the architectural effect of the draping and design of the back.
Hollywood glamour found it's way into this era's evening wear. Romantic and glitzy, these dresses were designed to capture the eyes of men and women and the attention of cameras.
I would probably mug women for these outfits. It is very very likely.
There was something about this saffron yellow dress that just drew me in. While it was considered daywear, I found it just as glamourous as the beaded silk gowns. The cut is so simple, the colour is warm and significant, and the fabric is easy and light. I'm not sure it would look great with my skin (I fear I'd look like I have jaundice) but I'd be tempted to buy it so it was part of my collection (yes, I have a collection of vintage dresses - who doesn't?!)
And lastly, these groups of dresses just left me awestruck. While typically I am not a pastel or monet-like floral type of person the simple and dreamlike effect that the fabric and the patterns make them seem wearable, touchable, and easy.
"Grrrrrrl, you look good". "What, you mean this old thing?"
No doubt the woman from the 20's and the 30's will be the muse of fashionistas and designers for the next season. I can't wait to see what's in store for Fall fashion.
I always find a visit to the museum fulfills my need to learn, explore, and discover. If you're in Vancouver, check out the exhibits at the Museum of Vancouver.
Even though succulents and cacti have been the "in" plants for quite some time, I always had an affinity for them. I remember the first time I received them as a gift I couldn't believe that you only had to water them once every 10 days. Suffice to say, that pot of plants perished. Cacti.care.disaster - womp womp.
Ahh, Debbie Downer - always adding a bit of perspective to every situation
So, last year I was in Palm Springs for Coachella and I think going to Moorten Botanical Garden listed higher on my list than seeing Florence and the Machine perform live. When I found out there was a Cacturium (yes, it is an actual term that was coined by the Moortens) I dragged my crew to travel out there on our bikes in the scorching heat.
YES!!!! I am in the Cactarium! Okay, I'll calm down.
The botanical oasis have been part of the Moorten family estate since 1938. Chester "Cactus Slim" Moorten transformed the home he shared with his wife, Patricia, into an emporium dedicated to the world of desert plants. With over 3000 varieties, from miniatures to giants I was giddy going through all the different types. I took so many pictures in the Palm Springs desert heat that my iphone actually shut off because it was burning up (I think my friends were, too).
I find succulents and cacti fascinating. They survive in the most extreme high temperatures with very little water. When flowers do appear they're vibrant and clothed in cheerful colours; they serve as a reminder that the desert is not an uninhabited, desolate, and deserted land. Life exists at a different pace in different forms on their own time. Cacti and succulents have the oddest shapes and textures and their peculiar appearance just puts me in a gleeful state. Can you guess which one is the "Cat's Palm" Cactus, in the series of photos, below?
Now under the care of the second generation of desert plant experts, Clark Moorten continues to share this "living museum of desert lore". If you're a fellow desert plant lover or just want to try something different, I recommend popping by Moorten Botanical Garden if you are visiting Palm Springs. Bring your camera, some sunscreen, some water, and your wonder.
So after a year hiatus, I have decided it's time to come back to go back to talking about the things that I can't stop talking about. I have a lot of catching up to do, so without further adieu - my rambling continues.
I've been visiting Palm Springs every other year since 2008 for Coachella. Each trip has been unique and amazing. While driving to finally visit Moorten Botanical Garden, I spotted the most eye catching site in the middle of a dry desert. Was it a mirage? I'd never seen this before, and being someone who loves vivid and bright colours, surely this would have been a place that would have been on my must see list. All I could think about was "What the hell was that!!! Do my eyes deceive me?"
I was so excited to see this array of colours. It was like light had hit a crystal and all the rays had splashed in every direction. The colours just make me smile. I was filled with wonder and I made sure to jot down a note in my iPhone to follow up on this sight.
Turning the Corner, I caught the name of the hotel:
So, I did a google search to learn more about this mirage like paradise. It turns out, I've been hiding under a rock because everyone has been talking about this development. The Sydell Group celebrated the grand opening just in March of 2012, a month before the annual music festival, Coachella, was underway. Architects Peter Stamberg and Paul Aferiat set out to pay hommage to the bright tones and hues of the desert flowers that somehow, in their own miraculous way, survive under the most extreme conditions.
I can barely contain myself when I looked at the different rooms on their website.
That concludes the end of this tour. In lieu of monetary rewards for my terrific service, I do ask that you consider treating me to a one week stay in this cheerful oasis. Thank you and please come again.
Over the years there have been a great deal of conversation (and debate) regarding the now approved multi-story condominium in Mount Pleasant that will be developed by Rize Alliance. After withdrawing their initial plan to build a 26 story building due to negative feedback from the public, Rize Alliance received approval from the city to
build a 19 story building on April of 2012. They have gone back
to the drawing board to put something together that will make everyone
happy, which will not be an easy feat.
Mount Pleasant is hands down my favourite neighborhood in Vancouver. Sure I love Commercial Drive, Downtown, and Gastown but Main Street has my heart.
I've done a couple of interviews with two of my favourite consignment stores, Front and Co. and C'est La Vie and these blog posts are filled with testaments of people who have a passion for what they do and they are among the many unique individuals who contribute to Mount Pleasant's character.
While other developments have gone up in this area such as 3333 Main, The Stella and the Sophia, I was either not fully impressed with the design of the building or was turned off by their location. When it comes to Main Street, I want to see the developer bring in social housing (both for families and single residents), green space for community gardens, space that will house a daycare, and perhaps a grocery store Co-Op. I'd also love to see space for a Farmer Market.
The development that will be built by Rize Alliance has been met with opposition from many groups, including the Residents Association of Mount Pleasant (RAMP). Members are concerns about the ill effects that gentrification will have on their beloved neighborhood.
But Rize Alliance have been involved in some projects that show some promise that they understand part of what makes Mount Pleasant so special. Since April 2011, The Rize Pop-Up Shop has housed local artists and designers to showcase and sell their work to the public.
Notable occupants include Ion Magazine and their network of artists and Sandra Todd of Velveteen Vintage, who gave a handful of youths (age 14-18) the opportunity to flex their creative muscles and gain some valuable business acumen through their exposure to the retail world.
Admittedly, I have my eyes on this development and have been for quite some time because, ultimately, I would love to live here. I'm a condo person and I'm excited to see if Rize Alliance will be able to strike that balance between urban living and Mount Pleasant charm in the design of this new project. Mount Pleasant isn't just made of art and artists, it's a community of individuals who care deeply about the social, economic, and environmental impact that such a large scale development will have on their land.
Yeah, the title is cheesy. I loved this damn song back in the day. I think I was 9 or 10 - it was an age where one would be impressionable, foolish, and misguided. I don't feel ashamed as we were all duped. Rab and Fab wore a lot of spandex and that creeped me out a bit.
WHOA, I TOTALLY DIGRESSED - GET A GRIP, PAM!!!!!! Okay, so April was just a messy, rainy affair. I thought we'd never see some sun. But now the clouds have parted and we're full of cheer. I'll certainly need to spend the next couple weeks updating my blog because I've seen and experienced some pretty cool things here and there.
This is the first thing I saw when I woke up to this morning. Yep, that's worth posting on Instagram!
I'm excited to say that I'll be taking on a new challenge which will take me to British Columbia's wine capital, Kelowna, to live and work for 15 months. While I do try to keep my work and blogging life separate I can say that I'll be working for one of the places I visited with the Girls Who Wine, back in September of last year.
I'll be close enough to Vancouver that I can drive or fly back in the blink of an eye. It will be the first time I've lived or worked anywhere outside of Vancouver and this is a pretty big step for me both personally and professionally. But I'm ready for the challenge and the adventure and all my loved ones are supportive of this move.
There will be host of new things to write about, a slew of sites to capture on camera, and rants and raves regarding the special places that I find in Kelowna.
As my move inches closer, I am increasingly aware of how happy am to appreciate my environment and those in it and see the value in all that is around me.
