A Fashion and - raj

2/ December, 2007 ■ INFAMOUS 

1207INF

CONTENTS 

DECEMBER 2007 

NORTHERN SOUL - A NOD TO MOD 

PHOTOGRAPHY 

BRENNDAN LAIRD 

BRENNDANLAIRD.COM 

STYLING 

SHIVA SHABANI 

NOBASURA.COM 

HAIR & MAKEUP 

JON HENNESSEY 

NOBASURA.COM 

MODELS 

CONNOR + DANA 

RICHARDSMODELS.COM 

ART DIRECTION 

CALVIN YU 

R3SP3CT.COM 

Sweater: SNS Turtle Neck $275 

available at Jonathan+Olivia 

jonathanandolivia.com 

Cover Image 

Top: Phillip Lim $336 

available at Misch 

misch.ca 

SOCIAL SHOT 5 Slurp & Swirl, Urban Mixer, Flo-go 

DRINK + DINE 7-10 Pied à Terre, Yaletown, bubblies 

FASHION + STYLE 13-15 Back Bar, Fab Clothing 

STYLE PICKS 19 Seven hot items 

FASHION FEATURE 21-23 A nod to mod 

PEOPLE 25 Dan Wurtele 

INFAMOUS HOT 20 28-30 Bon Jovi, NYE events 

Editor in Chief 

Steve Waters 

steve@infamousmagazine.net 

Art Director 

Calvin Yu 

www.R3SP3CT.com 

Copy Editor 

Joseph Ruttle 

jruttle@thenownewspaper.com 

Contributors 

Terri Potratz 

Raj Taneja 

Daenna Van Mulligen 

Cassandra Anderton 

Jay Swing 

Fred Topel 

Jessica Grajcyzk 

Garrett Louie 

Suzanne Westover 

Photographers 

Terri Potratz 

Fiona Garden 

Raj Taneja 

Trevor Brady 

Publisher 

Gary Hollick 

ghollick@thenownewspaper.com 

Sales Manager 

Ellyn Schriber 

eschriber@thenownewspaper.com 

Advertising Inquiries 

sales@infamousmagazine.net 

Distribution 

Convey Distribution 

Snail Mail 

#637 1755 Robson St. 

Vancouver, BC V6G 3B7 

INFAMOUS is a division of CanWest 

MediaWorks Publications Ltd. 

Second Class Mail Registration 7434 

INFAMOUS ■ December, 2007 /3 

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Clockwise from top left: Amber Webster, Brian Jessel and Callie Cheveallier at Fortes; Graham Pence and Lisa Cadrain at Opus; Christain Alvarez and Bernard Skilla at Opus; Denyc and Jessica Moser at the Flo-go launch; Slurp and Swirl oystershucking 

winner Isaac Martin del Campo with Alex Pina; Tara Parker Tait and Amanda Haines at Fortes. 

SLURP & SWIRL, ROUGE OVER ROBSON 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY RAJ TANEJA 

OPUS BAR GREEN ROOM SESSION 

On Thursday, Nov. 29, OPUS Bar played host to the latest 

instalment of Heineken’s Green Room Sessions, an invite-only, 

multi-sensory music event featuring some of the world’s most 

innovative talents. DJs Skilla and Christian Alvarez hit the 

decks while attendees sipped on the Dutch beer and enjoyed 

artwork by mixed-media artist Amir Aziz. At the main bar, 

Sherani and David Volberg of Pearls Auto Spa sampled beverages 

with actress and friend Kiara Hunter, while promoters 

Devon Ash and Zach Browman mingled with Zeha frontman 

Axel Menzler inside the Zeha Shoes VIP Lounge. Host Jens 

Marquardt introduced the newest member of his team, Andre 

Bender, and members of Yaletown’s party scene including 

Naz Bhayani and friends Graham Pence, Lisa Cadrain, Lisa 

Kwong, Gabrielle Kam and Amanda Giles savoured the music. 

Heineken hosts the 2007 fi nale of the Green Room Sessions on 

Dec. 8 on a secret rooftop. 

SLURP & SWIRL AT JOE FORTES 

Local philanthropists Dotty and Bud Kanke hosted the fi fth 

annual Slurp & Swirl at their restaurant, Joe Fortes, on Nov. 7, 

highlighting dozens of great sips of bubbly and Vancouver’s 

defi nitive oyster-shucking contest. The sensational event benefi 

ted the B.C. Professional Fire Fighters Association Burn Fund 

and attracted a fi rst-rate contingent of fi refi ghters in support 

of Tony Burke, the fund’s executive director, as well as scores 

of beautiful women including singer and actress Kiara Hunter, 

CFUN’s Jennifer Thompson, Mark Anthony Group’s Wendy De- 

Bodt, Italian Kitchen’s Jeannie Kwon, Vitamin V’s Tara Parker 

Tait and DJ Callie Cheveallier. In the end, Isaac Martin del 

Campo, formerly of Joe Fortes, now with the Glowbal Group, 

took home the crown of Western Canadian Oyster Shucking 

Champion, while the event raised over $37,000 for charity. 

URBAN MIXER GALLERY SERIES II 

Urban Mixer presented the second instalment of its Gallery 

Series at TRUNK gallery in Kitsilano on Thursday, Nov. 8. The 

location, which also doubles as the luxury auto dealership 

auto/ONE, featured an Aston Martin Vantage coupe as the 

centrepiece of the room and attracted over 600 art-enthused 

revellers, who enjoyed complimentary Whistler Beer, Barefoot 

Wine and delicious U’Luvka Vodka cocktails garnished with 

an edible wild hibiscus fl ower furnished by the Garnish Girls. 

The exhibiting artist, Ottawa-based Heidi Conrod, mingled 

and mixed with attendees including philanthropist and human 

rights activist Alison Lawton, auto/ONE’s Mike Wood, TRUNK 

gallery’s Cecilia Jette, mega-publicist Pamela Groberman 

and Senator Larry Campbell. Meanwhile, others enjoyed the 

art and music, unrivalled catering by master chefs Kodai Uno 

of Toratatsu Restaurant and Connor Butler of the restaurant 

bearing his own name. The event, a fundraiser for UNICEF’s 

Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS campaign, had artist 

Conrod donate 20 per cent of art sales to charity on top of net 

proceeds collected at the door. Planning for the next Urban 

Mixer event is ongoing and is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 

29, 2008. 

FLO-GO ENTERTAINMENT DEBUT AT GORG-O-MISH 

Flo-go Entertainment, the go-go dancing and hostessing 

company headed by model, singer and actress Denyc, held 

their debut at after-hours club Gorg-O-Mish on Monday, Nov. 

26. The event, with the Flo-go girls dressed as Santa’s sexy 

helpers, featured Vancouver native and international sensation 

DJ CB Shaw plus Johnny Omega and DJ Timeline, all of whom 

set the tone for an excellent evening. 

ROUGE OVER ROBSON AT THE PACIFIC PALISADES 

Rouge over Robson, a benefi t for the Friends For Life Society 

and A Loving Spoonful, raised over $5,000 for the cause on 

Thursday, Nov. 29, at the Pacifi c Palisades Hotel. The event, 

described as a holiday gift show, featured live and silent auctions, 

wine and a taste of Spanish music all wrapped up with 

a red ribbon. Organized by the hotel’s Linda Chin, the night 

saw Ginger 62 resident DJ G-Luve on the decks while sponsors 

Alisa Usher, Curt van Ardenne and Rachel Davis from Clarins 

Canada provided $5 mini-makeovers for attendees. Layla 

Jaffer, owner of the Bling by Layla jewelry line, organized the 

Christmas buying at the event, as attendees moved between 

the Merengue, Flamenco and Calypso rooms of the hotel to bid 

on silent-auction items. 

TAKE A DIP WITH R&B BREWING CO. AT ZIN 

Also on Thursday, Nov. 29, R&B Brewery’s Richard Benson and 

Rick Dellow put their heads together with Zin Restaurant’s talented 

chef de cuisine, Richard Tyhy, to present a multi-course 

fondue and beer dinner featuring beer-infused food and beer 

pairings to match each course. From passed canapés, to cheddar 

fondue containing Red Devil Pale Ale, to the main course 

and the two dessert courses, attendees including Darren K. 

Stolz and Dean Malone, partners in Plum Living Properties, all 

raved about each successive pairing throughout the evening 

– especially the beer-infused chocolate fondue dessert. With 

the fi rst beer and fondue event by R&B Brewery going off with 

such a bang, the company promises to bring many more in the 

near future. 

SOCIAL SHOT 

INFAMOUS ■ December, 2007 /5


1207INF

HOT NEW RESTAURANT 

PIED A 

TERRE 

BY CASSANDRA ANDERTON 

If you’re tired of dining at restaurants that still 

haven’t fi gured out their identity and resort to 

labelling themselves “fusion,” you’ll rejoice when 

you dine at Cambie Street’s new chic dining spot 

– Pied à Terre. They’re French, they know it, and they’re 

proud of it. There’s no confusion in the gene pool here. 

Pied à Terre is the third project brought to us by Parkside 

and La Buca owners Andre Durbach and Chris Stewart. 

While it may seem they are spreading themselves thin, 

there’s been no sign of it during any of our visits. 

It’s a small room, decorated with chocolate tones, 

comfortable leather seating and classy black-glass 

chandeliers and wall sconces. The menu is refi ned 

bistro fare. You’ll fi nd the classics such as steak frites, 

served with creamed spinach and baked tomato, duck à 

l’orange, and coq au vin. The endive salad is generously 

bathed in blue cheese, the steak tartare is a must, and 

the onion soup alone would warm even the Grinch’s cold 

heart. And you’ll still be able to afford your holiday shopping 

bills when you dine here, especially if you order the 

table d’hote. It’s the three-course and costs $29.50 at 

dinner and just $20.07 at lunch. 

Pied à Terre is not a place to come merely for drinks. 

While the bar area is attractive, there’s no space to hang 

about. But don’t think they’ve overlooked the drink side 

of the equation. In keeping with the French theme you 

can start with aperitifs, such as the Lillet, a Kir Royale or 

a Campari and soda. Then move on to wine, as the menu 

is screaming out to be paired with le vin. The list is a fi ne 

example of what France has to offer. Plenty for fans of 

Burgundy, Bordeaux, the Loire and the Rhone. 

We’ve enjoyed dinners here, but we’re thinking lunch 

may just be the way to go. They don’t shut the doors to 

prepare for dinner, so you can lounge about, have that 

extra glass of wine and just forget about going back to 

work. I’d recommend going soon, though. Cambie Street 

will be open again in no time, and that may be the only 

thing keeping the whole city away from this place. 

3369 Cambie St. 604.873.3131 

www.pied-a-terre-bistro.ca 

LUNCH MAY BE THE WAY TO GO: THEY DON’T SHUT 

THE DOORS TO PREPARE FOR DINNER, SO YOU CAN 

LOUNGE ABOUT, HAVE THAT EXTRA GLASS OF WINE 

AND FORGET ABOUT GOING BACK TO WORK. 

DRINK & DINE 


Champagne, party favours and a huge countdown to Midnight. Dance, lounge, drink, celebrate with close friends and 

ring in the New Year at Bar None. 

Enjoy celebratory music all evening from soul to funk to houseand back with Bar None’s resident DJ Marlon J English. 

9pm till very late. Tickets are $55 in advance but moving fast! 

www.dhmbars.ca 


REPUBLIC 

NEW YEARS EVE 2008 

MONDAY DEC 31 

958 GRANVILLE ST. // TICKETS $60 // 8PM - 4AM 

CHAMPAGNE, HORS D’OERVES 8-11, BALLOON DROP 

1207INF

HOT NEW RESTAURANTS 

BACK TO 

YALETOWN 


We’ve been rather sick of Yaletown of late. Not that there was anything wrong with all the restaurants 

there; in fact many are quite wonderful. It’s just that we’d spent so much time walking up and down 

those cobbled sidewalks that we’d worn out several pairs of shoes. And other parts of town were 

calling. Commercial phoned many times, as did Main Street, North Vancouver and Gastown. They had 

been our haunts this past year. But this fall, we heard of several new places opening in the neighbourhood. 

We had to revisit Yaletown, with new shoes and a fresh attitude. 

FLITE 

The end of Hamilton Street is now much more lively with the addition of Marimekko (the new Finnish 

home fashions and clothing store), construction surrounding the soon-to-open Pinkys Steakhouse, 

and a new cozy dining establishment christened Flite. Flite is named so because its menu sports 

“fl ites.” Flites of wine include fi ve choices of three two-ounce pours with themes such as aromatic 

whites or California reds. Flites of food translate to small plates to share, but you can also be selfi sh 

and order up a main to work on solo. 

The room has drastically changed since its days as a diner. It’s rather lounge-y, with a round bar to sip 

at and a raised seating area to dine in. They’ve added some lighting fi xtures that wouldn’t have been 

my fi rst choice, but retained the open kitchen concept that I do approve of (I like to watch). It’s the 

kind of place where you’ll feel comfortable lingering for a while. 

The menu covers a wide range of fl avours. Owners Patrick Greenfi eld, Marnie and chef Campbell Rick 

Munsen (ex-Bin) choose to work with locally sourced product and are looking out for the seas by 

picking only ocean-wise seafood. Starters not to miss include baby spinach salad with Okanagan goat 

cheese and pear, ahi tuna tartare atop seared rice medallions, and Gabriola Island honey mussels. 

Portions are generous, so bring a healthy appetite or you’ll need a to-go bag for leftovers. The rigatoni 

with short rib Bolognese, the free-range Okanagan chicken breast or the Salt Spring lamb medallion 

are all worthy picks. The prices will also impress even the stingiest of accountants. 

I’m looking forward to returning to Flite to sample cocktails (a list is in the works) and work through 

some more wine and food fl ites. This is just the kind of place I needed to get over my boredom with 

Yaletown. 

1269 Hamilton Street 604.687.1269 www.fl iterestaurant.com 

THE ROOM HAS DRASTICALLY CHANGES 

SINCE ITS DAYS AS A DINER. IT’S RATHER 

LOUNGE-Y, WITH A ROUND BAR TO SIP 

AT AND A RAISED SEATING AREA TO DINE IN. 

PLAN B 

Whenever we mention this new place, we’re asked, “What’s with the name?” So let’s just get that 

out of the way. Plan B’s owner, Glen Cormier, was all set to go in an entirely different location 

than where this new gem now stands on Homer Street (replacing Soho Billiards), but the deal fell 

through. With his plan A down the drain he promptly recovered and renamed the project Plan B. 

And no, it has nothing to do with birth control, so get over it. 

Plan B’s concept is contemporary share plates using fresh, seasonal, local cuisine. He romanced 

executive chef Ryan Zuvich back from his stint in Europe and put him in charge of the kitchen. 

Zuvich has developed a menu that is innovative without getting too carried away. He employs his 

knowledge of molecular gastronomy, but doesn’t turn your dinner into a scientifi c experiment. 

The fall menu has many dishes that will delight. The diver scallops with crisp Serrano ham and 

artichoke chips display a perfect contrast in texture, as does the pork belly with vanilla pork loin 

and crackling. Chanterelle risotto with sweet cipollini onions and braised veal cheek is expertly 

cooked, and the confi t of duck leg simply must be sampled. It’s served up with kale, beluga 

lentils and topped with a tempura egg yolk that bathes the dish in golden glory. And the dishes 

really are, as promised, seasonal. We need comfort in the cold season. 

This is a place to linger. The room is well-designed with areas to lounge, a comfortable bar and a 

more formal dining area in the rear. Cozy seats, exposed brick and dim lighting set the stage for a 

date night or evening out with friends. There’s a well-crafted wine and cocktail list. My wine geek 

pals and I like to order up a few libations and try to fi nd the perfect wine for each dish — but fear 

not, the staff is readily available to guide you through your choices. 

Plan B opens conveniently at 4 pm for cocktails; the kitchen stays open until midnight. It’s a good 

reason to head down to Yaletown and stay a while. 

1144 Homer St. 604.609.0901 www.planblounge.com 

DRINK & DINE 


INDUSTRY NEWS 

AND NOTES 


• Cocktail wizard David Wolowidnyk 

showed his skills in Toronto last month. 

He took home the trophy for Canada’s best 

cocktail at the Grey Goose taste-off. Stop by 

West Restaurant on South Granville to fi nd 

out what’s in his “Jolicoeur.” 

• On Wednesday, Nov. 14, Olympic athletes 

paired up with local chefs for the Gold Medal 

Plates fundraiser at the Westin Bayshore. 

Competition was tough, but Cioppino’s 

chef and owner Pino Posteraro took home 

the gold. His dish: porcini mushroom and 

chestnut soup, paired with Ontario’s 2006 

Pillitteri Chardonnay. 

• If we had an Opening Soon fi lming in 

Vancouver this month, producers would 

have a tough time picking one candidate. 

Pinkys Steakhouse is almost complete at 

1265 Hamilton and will open a second location 

later on at Cypress and Fourth Avenue. 

Yew Restaurant + Bar will open in the 

Four Seasons Hotel on Dec. 11 and Myala 

Indian opens Dec. 6 at 980 Granville. We’ll 

also see Fish move from Fourth Avenue to 

Yew Street to replace the short-lived Sea 

Shanty, and The Moustache Café shuffl es 

from Marine Drive to 129 West 2nd in North 

Vancouver. 

• On the new-menu front there’s cause to 

celebrate. Chef Sonsmann has revamped 

his dessert list at Brix on Hamilton Street. 

Stop in for some white chocolate crème 

brulee or maple rhubarb panna cotta. The 

Cannery has added a more effi cient and 

cost-wise “Chowder Bar” menu. Try salmon 

burgers, steak and fries or fi sh and chips. 

12th and Cambie’s Figmint has also added 

a morning coffee bar with fresh pastries 

baked in-house by chef Lee Humphries. 

• During December there are a few places 

opening up for lunch who usually lock their 

doors until the evening. Take the opportunity 

to stop by Gastown’s Cobre, Downtown 

at Parkside or (just on Friday’s) at C, and 

Chow on South Granville. Treat yourself and 

friends to the special menus offered. 

B.C.’s wineries had a few announcements 

this month. Mission Hill was awarded B.C. 

winery of the year from Access Magazine. 

Tinhorn Creek partnered with Manny 

Ferreira of Senova and Le Gavroche and announced 

its plans to open a restaurant next 

spring. Black Hills announced it would sell 

the winery to a limited partnership investment 

group with celebrity Jason Priestley 

on the board. 

COMING EVENTS: 

• Monday, Dec. 10 – International Dessert 

Wine Tasting with the Vancouver American 

Wine Society at the Listel Hotels. 

www.vaws.org 

• Wednesday, Dec. 12 – Ice Wine Tasting 

at Sip Wines in Richmond, 7:30-9 pm $30. 

Taste B.C.’s best Ice Wine 

• Saturday, Dec. 22 – Township 7 Tasting, 

Marquis Wine Cellars, 3-7 pm. Call 

604.684.0445 for details 

• Wednesday, Jan. 2 – Dine Out Vancouver 

reservations begin. 

www.tourismvancouver.com 


WINE DIVA 

CHAMPERS TIME! 

BY DAENNA VAN MULLIGEN 

winediva.ca 

If (heaven forbid) anyone were to tell me that 

for the remainder of my drinking days I could 

only quaff one type of wine — carte blanche 

— there would be no hesitation. 

Champagne. 

I can’t tell you why, exactly. It seems 

decadent, often pretentious and only for the 

wealthy, and yet it’s mysterious and elegant 

and divinely diverse. I’ve always thought 

it was a crying shame that so many people 

relegate Champagne to New Year’s Eve and 

weddings. Or that they would mistakenly 

lump all bubbly wines into a pile alongside 

this très cher French sparkling under the banner 

“unattainable.” 

Certainly there’s no excuse to avoid bubbly, 

what with so many inexpensive alternatives 

literally cascading off the wine shelves. Go 

ahead, save the Champagne for special occasions 

if you must, but the rest of the year 

drink Prosecco (Italy), Sekt (Germany), Cremant 

(France), Cava (Spain) and other sparkling 

wines from around the globe. Many of 

these bubbly international offerings are made 

just like Champagne, in the time-honoured, laborious, 

traditional method — méthod champenoise 

— in which the wine goes through a 

secondary, bubble-producing fermentation 

in the bottle. Many are also made in a bulk 

or charmat method, which makes them far 

less expensive to produce but often just as 

tasty. Keep in mind that the palate-cleansing 

bubbles in sparkling wine make it extremely 

food friendly: hors d’oeuvres, seafood, 

antipasti plates, turkey, Asian cuisine, tapas, 

cheese platters, duck, pizza, buttered popcorn 

and even potato chips. 

Lastly, remember Champagne was discovered 

by a blind monk, so leave your pretensions 

(and corkscrew) at the door. 

BUBBLY FOR A CROWD 

Deinhard ‘Lila’ Riesling Sekt, Germany NV is 

a super value. It’s an impressive party bubbly 

with its appealing apple, apricot-y, lime leaf 

and honeysuckle aromas with pretty lavender 

notes. It’s crisp, fresh and citrusy, with stone 

fruit fl avours, a drop of honeyed sweetness 

and full-on mousse-y mouthful, with a zippy 

fi nish. 

$13.49 BC Liquor Stores 

BREAKFAST BUBBLY 

Valdo Prosecco di Valdobbiadene ‘Marco 

Oro,’ Veneto Italy NV. Prosecco is made in the 

charmat method resulting in less aggressive 

bubbles, often called Spumante. Prosecco 

is also a grape variety and is classic to the 

Veneto region in Italy. The Italians refer to it as 

breakfast wine because of its light effervescence 

and low alcohol — I call it delicious, 

any time of the day. The Valdo is consistent 

and always appealing. It’s fresh and crisp with 

loads of citrus, apple skin, mineral and stone 

fruit with delicate bubbles and a clean, zesty 

fi nish. 


B.C. BUBBLY 

Township 7 ‘Seven Stars,’ Okanagan BC, 

2004 may be a bit harder to fi nd, so be sure 

that if you’re taking a drive in the countryside 

(a.k.a. Langley) to stop in at the winery and 

grab a few bottles. The Seven Stars has had 

a bit of a cult-wine following in past years, 

and not being able to get your hands on any 

of the 300 bottles produced probably helps 

feed the frenzy. It’s a 50/50 blend of Pinot 

Noir and Chardonnay and shows the intense 

toastiness one would expect in older vintage 

Champagnes. It’s amber-hued with grilled 

peach aromas, wild honey, tart red berries and 

toast notes with a creamy texture and fl avours 

of cranberry, lingering toast and spice on the 

fi nish. 

$29.99 at the winery and in select private and 

VQA wine stores 

CHAMPAGNE WISHES 

Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Rosé, Champagne 

France NV has a delicious pinky-salmon hue 

and shows a medley of mixed berry aromas, 

peachy tones, dried fl owers and loads of toast 

and spice notes. It has crisp citrus and creamy 

berries on the palate with more toast, cinnamon 

stick and a lingering, snappy fi nish. A 

bubbly this daring and elegant will be perfect 

served up with catered hors d’oeuvres at your 

swishy party this holiday season. 


DRINK & DINE

URBAN MIXER - With a combination of the city's most comprehensive 

events calendar, coverage of the hottest events in 

town and even our own brand of social soirée, Urban Mixer is 

the cure for the common social life! 

Special thanks to our Event Sponsors. Generous contributions from the 

following sponsors made our Gallery Series II Event at TRUNK gallery 

on November 8th, 2007 a great success! 

Restaurant Connor Butler, Toratatsu, U’Luvka Vodka, Barefoot Wines, Whistler Beer, INFAMOUS 

Magazine, SSID Inc., UltraXPress Printing, Langara College, auto/ONE, TRUNK gallery, 

ShowMax Event Services, Commercial Electronics, Shifeon and Bambu Salon. 

www.urbanmixer.com 

Partial proceeds from our previous Urban Mixer event went to 

UNICEF’s Unite for Children, Unite Against AIDS Campaign. Find out 

more about this campaign at www.uniteforchildren.org. 

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Wings 35¢ each 

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4185 208th Street Langley 604-534-5455 1207INF 


1207INF


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HOT NEW BEAUTY LOUNGE 

BACK BAR 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY TERRI POTRATZ 

No, it’s not the newest back-waxing mecca. Back Bar is an innovative new space in Yaletown that gives 

you an all-access pass to... well, basically anything you can dream up. 

Here’s a little excerpt from one of my own wildest dreams: I enjoy a private lounge space with modern 

but comfortable furniture, with only the friends and music I want, where I drink wine to my heart’s 

content. And yet the drunker I get, the more beautiful I become — thanks to the mani, pedi, facial, 

blow-out and eyebrow waxing services that are at my beck and call. Hovering within earshot is my 

own personal concierge to answer important queries like, “Does this dress make me look frumpy?”, 

“Where’s the closest shoe store?” and “Can you fetch me another bottle of wine?” And when said 

concierge tells me it’s 10 pm and all the shoe stores are closed for the night, and I should have thought 

about that earlier, a nice massage will melt away the stress. Ahh, utopia... 

You can imagine my fairy-tale-come-true moment when I waltzed into Back Bar for their Nov. 27 opener, 

expecting to be educated on the fine art of back-hair removal for sophisticated urbanites, and instead 

found that some dreams really do come true. 

At Back Bar, brought to you by the folks from Blo, you can simply rent the 600-square-foot premium 

space for $250 and do pretty much whatever you want — with the Happy Hour package you can bring 

in your own services or entertainment, but your Barfly will always be there for support in case you get 

stuck. If you can rally up at least seven friends, The Bender package provides manicures, pedicures, 

hair and makeup services for all at $165 per person. And if you’re really down for a night in out on the 

town (it makes sense), The All Nighter is the full-service package that lets you choose whatever à la 

carte services your little heart desires, based on your per-person budget. Here’s a sampling of what’s 

available at Back Bar, aside from the spa and beauty services: palm and tarot card readings, henna 

tattooing, bartending, pole dancing and belly dancing lessons. Think you’ve got a better idea? Let Back 

Bar know and they’ll take care of the rest. And if you decide later to descend into the nightlife looking 

fabulous, Yaletown is right at your doorstep. 

Whatever the event — a product launch party, stagette, meeting, or simply a couple of gals (or pretty 

boys) — getting together in one simplified location is an ideal antidote to the common headaches of 

downtown play: not being able to decide where to go for casual drinks and fun; having to wait in a 

line-up once you get there; having to leave once you get inside because the music is horrendous; not 

being able to decide where to go. Then the sequel: finally flagging down a cab and piling in; getting to 

your second destination and spending $90 on a round of martinis because we’re all so bloody thirsty 

and just want to relax already; then having to repeat the above because those guys in the corner are 

really giving you the creeps. That’s a migraine in the making. Suddenly, renting a luxe room with your 

favourite friends and enjoying a night of music and spa services sounds like just the right medicine. 

Take two and call me in the morning. 

1150 Hamilton St., 604.961.6155 www.backbarbeautylounge.com 

HOT NEW SHOP 

FAB KERRISDALE 

BY TERRI POTRATZ PHOTOS BY ADAM ABRAMS 

Fab Clothing started out seven years ago as a premium denim 

store on West 4th in Kitsilano, and it didn’t take long to earn 

recognition as one of Vancouver’s top retailers for the hottest 

jeans around. They stock dozens and dozens of brands to ensure 

that if you want it, they’ve got it. With the November launch of 

their second location, snugly settled in the heart of Kerrisdale, 

owners Yoel and Anne Farzan now have even more square footage 

to carry an extensive collection of denim from all over the world. 

Yoel wanted the new store to have a New York or L.A. quality to 

it, so he went on an exploratory trip to L.A. with designer Ruth 

Jankelowitz, of Janks Designs, where they scoped out various 

stores and developed the Fab Clothing concept. 

In addition to women’s fashion, the new flagship offers clothing 

for men and children, making it a prime one-stop shop for just 

about everyone. Footwear by Love from Australia is also carried 

here — these hard-to-find boots are similar to Uggs, though 

superior in both quality and style. Then there’s the denim...at 

this location alone, Fab carries 28 brands and about 60 to 70 

unique styles, all 

of which come in a 

variety of washes 

and sizes. Yoel tells 

us the wide-leg 

trend is holding 

strong through fall, 

and styles with a 

high waist are doing 

especially well. As for the top brands this season, Level 99, Paige 

and Rock and Republic are top purchases, but Fab also offers 

favourites like J Brand, Hudson and 1921. But with 3,000 square 

feet of retail bliss, the shopping possibilities don’t end there. Fab 

offers a plentiful range of clothing, such as Copcopine, Hartford, 

Elie Tahari, Earnest Sewn, Transit and Crossley. Look for Claudia 

Accessories, their Canadian connection for jewelry, as well as 

Brighton accessories, a rare find in B.C. 

2305 West 41st 604.267.3220 www.fabclothing.com 

LIFESTYLE 



1207INF

NEW LOOKS 

BLANCHE MACDONALD 

’07 GRAD SHOW 

STORY AND PHOTOS BY TERRI POTRATZ 

AMANDA RAE FOXCROFT MOLLY SPITTAL MEGAN JAMES 

The 2007 Blanche Macdonald Fashion Design grad show drew an audience of hundreds to the Westin 

Bayshore on Nov. 26. Forty-three new designers showed their three-piece collections down an incredibly 

long T-shaped runway that sliced through the length of the grand ballroom. Student portfolios 

were available for viewing in the lobby prior to the show, where designs truly ranged from simple 

classics to stunning, imaginative works of art. 

Overall, the construction skill of the entire grad class was evident, and it was inspiring to see some of 

these young designers — such as Annika Forde, Kathy Dawson and Rachel Parker — using hemp, soy, 

organic cotton and recycled materials to construct eco-friendly pieces. 

One of our favourites in the entire class was Megan James, who somehow pulled off a dream many 

of us have pondered... how to make that dreadful “vintage” curtain hanging in your grandmother’s 

living room into a beautiful garment. She whipped a velvet moss green curtain into a lovely chaiseinspired 

dress, and her entire collection maintained this ’50s homestead theme. A mustard linen 

dress adopted a refi ned apron cut, while another skirt was both high-waisted and handknit, and her 

wool-and-leather coat was just striking. Her overall colour scheme retained that golden glow of retro. 

Miki Unger developed a refreshing take on the toolbelt, subtly incorporating the utility features of 

this masculine accessory into high-waisted pants and the neckline of a dress. Lauren Osmond was a 

big winner with her dramatic conceptual pieces and their many embellishments, but ironically many 

of the garments were also ready-to-wear, especially her jersey tunic and stirrup pants. 

Other notables were Raisa Ruiz and her impressive green wool coat, Taiha Perron pairing a jersey 

bodysuit with low-slung olive pants, and Amanda Rae Foxcroft with her eye-catching palette of primary 

colours. Congratulations to all the grads — can’t wait for the next show! 

www.blanchemacdonald.com 

FASHION & STYLE 


16/ December, 2007 ■ INFAMOUS INFAMOUS ■ December, 2007 /17 

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HOT 

PICKS 

By SHIVA SHABANI - STYLIST / NOBASURA.COM 

Why Red 

nylon & cottonmetal 

@ Jonathan + Olivia 

$625 


Sophie B @ Tabu 

Bustier $69 

Undies $24 

tabu-boutique.com 

Erin Templeton 

100% wool 

@ Eugene Choo 

$180 

erintempleton.com 

eugenechoo.com 

Obedient Sons 

wool & cashmere 

@ Jonathan + Olivia 

$299 


Ann Demeulemeester 

@ Komakino 

$1,631 

komakino.ca 

Wings & Horns 

Tiger fleece blanket 

@ Roden Gray 

$125 

rodengray.com 

Po-Zu 

Yasumi Yomo 

unisex slippers 

99% Biodegradable 

including packaging 

@ Umeboshi 

$153 

po-zu.com 

umeboshishoes.com 




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Dress: Generra $365 

Nouvelle Nouvelle 

Stockings: stylist’s own 




Jacket: Raf Simons $1,299 

Pant: Raf Simons $565 

Shirt: Ann Demeulemeester $482 

Shoes: Gianni Barbato $815 

All available @ Komakino 

komakino.ca 

22/ December, 2007 ■ INFAMOUS

Dress: Manoush $258 

One of a Few 

oneofafew.com 

Boots: Opening Ceremony $435 

Jonathan+Olivia 





1207INF

DAN 

WURTELE 

STORY BY SUZANNE WESTOVER PHOTO BY KRIS KRUG 

Back in 2003, when the digital music revolution was starting 

to gain serious momentum, Dan Wurtele was online in search 

of the latest dance tracks and hottest remixes. His work as 

a DJ demanded a vast collection of high-quality music, but 

he quickly discovered the selection available on the Internet 

didn’t measure up. 

“Boom! A light went on,” explains Wurtele, whose entrepreneurial 

spirit was ignited by the possibility of capitalizing on 

an untapped niche; Play It Tonight (www.playittonight.com) 

was launched three weeks later, offering DJs and dance music 

enthusiasts a dedicated service. 

Wurtele’s own background as a DJ with Blueprint Events, 

record label manager and dance music producer has given him 

a unique perspective on the particular needs of his target audience. 

With releases on five labels, including a remix on Sander 

Kleninenberg’s label “Little Mountain Recordings” and upcoming 

original releases on Omnis Recordings and Decks Tracks, 

Wurtele understands what the discerning listener wants. 

“The initial focus was on the DJ, but as time went on, more and 

more fans of this type of music moved away from conventional 

CD outlets and began to look for their favourite music 

online. There may only be one or two DJs playing in a club on 

any given night, but the audience listening and enjoying the 

music could be in the hundreds, or even thousands,” explains 

Wurtele. 

Play It Tonight currently boasts 2,500 record labels and more 

than 20,000 artists; it also offers a broad range of features 

that result in a highly personalized experience — which is 

crucial to success in what can be perceived as a very impersonal 

business. 

“Other services can feel like a machine, and can be impossible 

to get in touch with. We have our ear to the ground and 

work closely with our users to give them the best experience,” 

explains Wurtele. 

The site is highly interactive; its “Recommended” section 

tracks purchase history and makes suggestions based on 

previous selections; even more impressive is the fact that new 

artists can showcase their talents on the “Unsigned” section 

— quality music will rise to the top based on popularity, reviews 

and ratings, giving musicians solid proof of their talent, 

which they can then present to record labels. Other features 

include a favourite artist and label tracker, as well as top 

downloads based on genre, label and artist. 

Competitive pricing and intuitive navigation, combined with an 

innate understanding of his audience, have allowed Wurtele to 

build a successful enterprise, giving him an edge over deeppocketed 

competitors. 

“Our songs are less expensive than most other stores, we 

boast the most features to be found on any one music store, 

the site is extremely fast and our MP3s are encoded at twice 

the quality of iTunes,” says Wurtele, who has been able to 

keep overhead to a minimum through the use of proprietary 

software that does the work of dozens of employees. Play It 

Tonight operates with only four staff members, including 

MUSIC TO 

THE MASSES 

“IT’S REALLY EXCITING, WE’RE ALL 

CREATING THE FUTURE OF DANCE MUSIC” 

Wurtele, who is responsible for development and innovation, 

and his business partner Sean Gallagher. 

And while business is now booming, with sales tripling every 

year since the site’s inception, the road to success wasn’t 

without challenges. 

“Even as little as four years ago, vinyl was still the dominant 

format, and labels feared too much theft if their catalogue 

went digital. It took a lot of effort to convince labels that they 

should sell their music as MP3s” explains Wurtele, who notes 

that when that shift finally did occur, labels starting approaching 

him. 

Now, the challenge faced by Play It Tonight is staying ahead 

of the curve in a rapidly evolving industry. Wurtele anticipates 

that within a year the site content will have doubled to over 

5,000 record labels and 50,000 artists. And he doesn’t rule out 

the possibility of moving into the physical realm, speculating 

that a completely Wi-Fi “Play It Tonight” MP3 player, boasting 

the entire content from the site, could be in the works. 

“We’re also about to launch a remix competition, with the winning 

entry receiving $500 and the track released on a label,” 

says Wurtele, who is clearly enthusiastic about the endless 

possibilities. 

“It’s a really exciting time; we’re all creating the future of 

dance music.” 

PEOPLE 



1207INF

GMAN & Rizk, Epik Entertainment in association with 

present... 

MONDAY DECEMBER 31 

WITH AN ALL STAR DJ LINE-UP 

J-SWING (THE BEAT 94.5FM) 

FLIPOUT (THE BEAT 94.5FM) 

HEDSPIN (THE EH! TEAM) 

TRIZZAK (EPIK ENT) 

RIZK (EXPERIENCE) 

GMAN (STOCKS IS HIGH) 

BLES-SED (SVS STYLE) 

info@aydengallery.com 

2 ROOMS | 2 ENVIRONMENTS 

� midnight balloon drop 

� complimentary champagne 

� confetti cannons 

� party favors 

� hors d’oeurves 

HIP-HOP | R&B | DANCEHALL | OLD SCHOOL | B-MORE | MASH UP’S | FUNK | CRUNK | DIRTY SOUTH | 80’S | 90’S | ROCK 

8pm-4am 

for more info hit up gmanandrizk.com or www.epik.ca for groups rates hit up viphookup@gmail.com 1st 200 

limted tickets only $40 at Clubzone.com, Livestock (deadstock.ca) or Dipt’ 

SONAR 66 Water St 


1207INF 

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APOSTLE OF HUSTLE 

Dec. 8, 8 pm 

Plaza Club, $15 

Canadian indies, with Andrew Whiteman of Broken Social Scene. 

Red Cat, Zulu, ticketmaster.ca 

BON JOVI 

GM Place 

Dec 15, 7:30pm, $50-$750 

No introduction necessary. We hope you have your tickets already... otherwise you’re livin’ 

on a prayer if you think you’re getting into this show. 

SOLD OUT 

BIG & RICH 

Pacifi c Coliseum 

Jan 11, 7pm, $35-65 

With Terri Clark. 

ticketmaster.ca 

SHONEN KNIFE 

Richard’s on Richards 

Dec. 13, 8pm-2am, $17.50 

Japanese pop-rock outfi t that have been around for like 25 years. Fun, fun, fun! 

With Juliet Dagger & Verona Grove. 

Zulu, Red Cat, ticketmaster.ca 

BELLY 

Cheers Nightclub (Delta) 

Dec. 8, 9pm, $20 

Ottawa rapper and MMVA winner brings his tour to Cheers 


TRAILER PARK BOYS 

River Rock Show Theatre 

Dec. 14, 8pm $40-$80 

Gotta love these guys. Dontcha just wanna squish Bubbles’ cheeks together? 


celebrate 

at TBC 

MON-FRI $10 RACE HEATS 

SAT-SUN 1ST RACE $20 

ADDITIONAL RACES $10 


BIRTHDAY PARTIES 

STAGS/STAGETTES 

REUNIONS 

OFFICE CELEBRATIONS 

NYE EVENTS 

BEST NIGHTS + DAYS OUT THIS MONTH 

Caprice, “Out of This World” 

9pm-3am, $75 club/$95 dinner + club 

Includes champagne, party favours, balloon drop, hors d’oeuvres, and dancing with resident 

DJ Daryl O; dinner includes a bottle of wine and three-course meal. 

clubzone.com 

Crush 

9pm-3am, $50-70 

Top 40, funky house, hip hop, R&B and party classics; complimentary champagne, disposable 

camera, party favours and appies by Sip Resto Lounge. With DJ Hart. 

clubzone.com 

Continued on page 30 > 

HOT 20 

NEW KARTS 

BIGGER ENGINES 

ADJUSTABLE SEATS & PEDALS 

FASTER RIDE 

MORE COMFORT 

TRACK AVAILABILITY 

604-232-9196 

2100 VICEROY PLACE, RICHMOND, BC 

WWW.TBCIR.CA 

1207INF


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NYE EVENTS 

< Continued from page 28 

Republic, “Silver Screen” 

9pm-4am, $60 

Dress Hollywood glam, hors d’oeuvres, champagne, balloon 

drop, with DJ Kenya. 

clubzone.com 

Plaza, “Masquerade Ball” 

8pm-2am, $70 

Complimentary party favors, appies, masks, balloon drop and 

champagne at midnight. With DJ Tanner. 

clubzone.com 

Bar None 

9pm-4am, $55 

Champagne, party favours, and resident DJ Marlon J English. 

clubzone.com 

Opus, “From Russia, With Love” 

8pm-2am, $TBA, contact Opus 

With Hed Kandi. Only 250 tickets available — this is the most 

exclusive Hed Kandi NYE event in the world. Special VIP 

tickets include a room upstairs at the Opus Hotel as well. 

Hosted by Savio. 

rsvp@opusnye.com 

www.fitnessworld.ca 

Since 1959 

Must be 19 years or older. 


Intimate NYE 

2008, 9pm- 

3am, $TBA 

22 artists, 

7 hours, 3 

rooms: Lotus, 

Honey and 

Lick combine 

for this party. 

clubzone.com 

Soul Good NYE 

The Standard (New Westminster), 9pm – 4am 

$35 early bird/ $55 after 

Winter wonderland theme with DJs Physik, Goodfellas 

and Mateo, with drummer Bobby James and DJ Delerious. 

Hosted by Pedro and Shaun. 

soulgoodvip@hotmail.com 

Richard’s, “Drink, Party and Sin” 

8pm-4am, $30-60 

LCU Presents NYE with appies, champagne, go-go dancers, 

confetti cannons, cash prizes, and a hip hop dress code. 

With DJs Stimulant J, C Stylez, Frisk & Goldade. 

clubzone.com 

Boyz II Men, River Rock Show Theatre 

8pm, $100 for show/$180 per single and $330 per couple 

for cabaret dancing, dinner and show 

Who wouldn’t want to ring in 2008 to “I’ll make love to you”? 


Release NYE 

ICON, Big Daddy and LC Promo hosts at Century House, dual 

party with two rooms, midnight toast, hot and cold canapés 

and party favours, DJs Jial 14, Yeppa, C-Stylez and Hunt. 

iconnights.com 

Pacifi c Coliseum, “Solid NYE” 

10pm-8am, $75-110 

With Shy Brothers, John Askew and 5,000 other party goers. 

A yearly sellout. 


Vancouver Lookout Harbour Centre, “Unveiled 2008” 

9pm-3am, $65-75 

Masquerade theme with two dance fl oors, plus all the bells 

and whistles and the most amazing view. 

clubzone.com 

Burnaby/Metrotown - 435-3385 Port Coq. - 552-8885 

Coquitlam/North Road - 421-7999 Richmond - 278-3831 

24Hr Langley - 533-3113 

Surrey - 588-1517 

BEST NIGHTS + DAYS OUT THIS MONTH 

Pride of Vancouver, “Gala Cruise 2008” 

7:30pm-1am, $140-$165 

Party favours, champagne, buffet meal, dancing and all the 

obvious pleasures of a yacht cruise. Another yearly sellout. 

clubzone.com 

Steamworks, “2K8” 

9pm-3am, $60-$100 

Presented by Smirnoff, hosted by ICON, BDP, an LCU, with 

party favours and confetti, four rooms on two levels, water 

and mountain views, and canapes. 

"we were looking for more than a health club..." 

"and we found it at Fitness World!" 

12 Co-Ed Facilities 

12 Ladies Only 

Personal Training 

Individual Programs 

Nutrition & Weight Loss 

Pilates, Yoga & Specialty Classes 

BoxerFit & Indoor Cycling 

ChildMinding 

Juice & Nutrition Bars 

Over 1200 Classes Weekly 

Hurry! The first 50 new members will receive a free $49.00 Fitness Starter Kit! 

24HR Kitsilano - 742-4440 

Cambie & 12th - 876-1009 

West/North Van - 986-3487 

24Hr Downtown- 662-7774 

Davie & Howe St. - 681-3232 

Victoria - 250-475-6002 

HOT 20 

1207INF

Dine, Dance, Sing or Just Relax On The Beach 

Party at the “Pipes”, sleep at the Ocean Promenade Hotel 

(Call 888.976.2326 or www.oceanpromenadehotel.com) 

Be sure to check out our new menu 

HOCKEY 

IS BACK 

ALL REGULAR NETWORK & 

PAY PER VIEW GAMES 

Prizes to be won on Hockey Nights 

& Monday Night Football! 

ATM Cash Machine on location 

Open 7 Days a week 10:00am to 11:00pm 

December Specials. See In Store for Details. 

Enquire within to get $1.50 off regular retail prices. 

Seniors Specials Monday 10% Off. 

MONDAY NIGHTS 

are 

WING NIGHTS 

15¢ ea 

EVERY THURSDAY 

THIS MONTH 

The NEW Jam Night 

with Glen Pearson 

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS 

Award Winning DJ & 

Karaoke Music 

A Cornerstone of White Rock for over 25 years. We are proud of the reputation we have 

for being “The place to be on the beach”. We serve only the best quality beers & fine hearty 

pub foods. At any one time our customers can choose from 15 ales and 1 draft cider. 

Try out our new menu - Sure to satisfy! 

TWOFORONEON ALL MENU ITEMS 

after 7pm • Sunday - Wednesday 

Some restrictions apply 

FREE Internet Access Available! 

MARTINI NIGHT: 

MARTINI NIGHT: 

“ ‘Tini Tuesday for 

Two Toonies” 

ELVIS 

WINES 

are now in! 

STARTS AT 9PM 

Tickets $10 in advance 

& $15 at the door 

Party Favors 

Champagne at Midnight 

Late Night Snack 

OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY 

15595 Marine Drive 

White Rock • 604-531-7625 

www.sandpiperpub.net 

Free Parking in White Rock after 8pm from Nov 1st 

Open 

Christmas 

Day 

Limited Time Collectors Edition 

The Perfect Gift! 

Straight from Graceland 

Blue Xmas Cabernet Sauvignon, 

Blue Suede Chardonnay, 

Jailhouse Rock Merlot. 

Not available in Government Liquor Stores. 

1235 Johnston 

(5 Corners Clock Tower) 

White Rock 

604-535-1322 


1207INF


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A Fashion and - raj

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