Urban Mixer Blog

Zbigniew Brzezinski, former US National Security Advisor and National Security Advisor to Barack Obama, paid a visit to Vancouver on Monday, September 29th, to speak to members and guests of the Fraser Institute.

The $500-a-head event, a part of the Fraser Institute’s Illuminismo series, included an exquisite dinner prepared by the Four Seasons Hotel and a revealing presentation on what’s happening in the world. The speaker’s remarks throughout the evening were highly critical of American foreign policy, the administration and “the war that was justified demagogically and sad to say, deceptively.”

You can find out more about Illuminismo and view exclusive photos and video from the event, after the jump. (more…)

Not too long ago, I went to the “Coffee” red-carpet film premiere at Jupiter Cafe on Davie Street. Directed by Daniel-Ryan Spaulding, Coffee consists of an ensemble cast of 20 local actors with ten vignette snapshots of well-scripted conversations between two people having Coffee.

Coffee was an incredibly “Vancouver” film with scenes shot at several local hotspots, including scenes from Bean Around The World and JJ Bean. With constant references to Vancouver culture, perhaps you can spot yourself personified in one of the ten vignettes. I counted at least three mentions of yoga and brief references to Spanish Banks, Burrard Street and Shoppers’ Drug Mart and an overall “gay-friendly” feel (can you spot the rainbow flag in the background with Ed & Geraldine in Part 2/10? Or the over excitement of Patricia in Part 6/10 about her gay best friend?) (more…)

After the FMA event at the Centre, partygoers travelled to Players Chophouse on Beatty Street for the Red Eye After Party.

Hundreds of partygoers enjoyed the musical stylings by DJ Leanne, canapes by the Chophouse kitchen, acrobatic acts and go-go dancing by flo-go entertainment.

Insight Film Studios held the official closing party of the Vancouver International Film Festival’s Film and TV Forum at the Edgewater Casino on Saturday night.

The event attracted scores of Canada’s best known – Rick Campanelli as the Red Carpet host for ET Canada, Henry Winkler aka ‘The Fonz,’ Kirk and Stacey Shaw, Frank Cassini, Rekha Sharma, Olivia Cheng and over a hundred others to this exclusive soiree.

Arc2 Intertainment hosted the Fifth Annual FMA Vancouver 2008 Benefit Gala titled Sky 360 a the Centre for Performing Arts on Saturday night.

The pre-event reception featured three levels of activities, a silent auction benefitting Make Poverty History, live and performance art by Brent Ray Fraser, champagne, canapes provided by C Restaurant, prepared by Robert Clark and Quang Dang and more.

More photos from the event, after the jump. (more…)

On Friday night, Mike Relm, the turntablist and VJ/video scratcher from San Francisco, returned to the stage of the Commodore with The Side Show to play new content to a sold out audience.

Mike Relm is a Chinese American DJ, turntablist, and VJ from San Francisco, California. He has performed with notable hip-hop artists Lyrics Born, Money Mark, Gift of Gab, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, and D-Sharp. In 1999, he won the International Turntablist Federation’s USA competition. More recently he toured as the opening act for The Blue Man Group. As a solo artist, Relm is known for live performances which feature a series of audio mashups paired with video images, manipulated in real-time with the Pioneer DVJ1000, a turntable-like device.

Interesting tidbit: During his performance, it was stated that if John McCain wins the upcoming election, Relm will marry a Canadian.

Check out the original release, great video and more, after the jump. (more…)

On Friday night, Carrie Wheeler Films and Sistar Films hosted a Red Carpet at Red Squared Restaurant on Granville Street in celebration of the Vancouver International Film Festival.

The event was sponsored by U’Luvka which set up a VIP Vodka Bar in the back of Red Squared and the music was provided by Fur Bearing Animals. To check out more photos taken on the Red Carpet, click onto our flickr photostream, HERE.

On Thursday evening, A-Town Productions and Virsa, the grassroots organization tasked with seeking solutions facing the South Asian community, combined forces to create an expanded High Society event at Ginger 62 on Granville Street.

On the last Thursay of every month, A-Town Productions hosts High Society at Ginger 62. With Virsa’s involvement, doors for the event will open at 6PM instead of 9PM and funds raised through ticket sales between 6PM and 9PM will benefit Virsa.

Check out the original release, after the jump. (more…)

World renown artist Sorel Etrog stopped into the Buschlen Mowatt Gallery on Thursday night.

In his honor, guests sipped on Etrogtinis, perused his famous sculptures and paintings and enjoyed the ambiance of the contemporary gallery on West Georgia Street.

Interesting fact: In 1968 Etrog was commissioned to design the Canadian Film Award that was originally named the “Etrog” and later renamed the “Genie.” Read Etrog’s biography, after the jump. (more…)