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IF02 • Infamous June 2008
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Editor in Chief
Steve Waters – steve@infamousmagazine.net
Contents
JUNE 2008 INFAMOUS
Social Shot Tunnel Multi-Lounge opens
Drink + Dine Revel restaurant, rosés
Fashion + Style Obakki Spring Show
Fashion Feature Urban Isolation
Fashion + Style New shop Orb
Cover + Contents Image: Cotton with leather applications Tee: Richard Kidd
Photography: Brenndan Laird Styling: Shiva Shabani @ Nobasura Hair+Makeup: Andrea Tiller @ Nobasura
Photographer Assistant: Ben Luk Art Director: Calvin Yu Model: Robyn @ Richard’s
Art Director
Calvin Yu – R3SP3CT.com
Fashion Editor
Shiva Shabani – shivashabani.com
Copy/Layout Editor
Joseph Ruttle
Contributors
Cassandra Anderton
Maeve Doyle
Todd Duym
Fiona Garden
Jessica Grajcyzk
Kris Krug
Garrett Louie
Jay Swing
Raj Taneja
Fred Topel
Daenna Van Mulligen
Suzanne Westover
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 June 2008 • IF03

IF04 • Infamous June 2008
www.generalmotorsplace.com
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Tunnel Multi-Lounge opens,
Chip Wilson is alive, Caprice turns 5
STORY & PHOTOS BY RAJ TANEJA
ENTER THE TUNNEL MEDIA AND
INDUSTRY LAUNCH
The newest addition to Vancouver’s nightlife,
Tunnel, opened their doors to VIPs and industry
on Wednesday, May 28. Occupying
what was formerly the Pic Pub on Pender
Street, the 150-seat room had no shortage of
passersby, who noticed a luscious lady in the
street-level vitrine and tried to get in to sneak
a peek. Owners Nick Nguyen and Jason Abu-
Ulba, owners of Citrus Nightclub in Langley,
have brought on Soul Good’s Pedro Serra,
the 2008 hip-hop promoter of the year in the
Clubvibes Nightlife Awards, as manager. The
VIP introduction for the launch event had
a number of well-recognized faces from the
Vancouver ’burbs, which makes one wonder
if the “Tunnel” might also refer to guests that
come through the various bridges and tunnels
surrounding Metro Van. Also in attendance
to check out the action: Craig Docherty, Zak
Santiago, Skilla, Tyson Villeneuve, Jens Marquardt,
Ruby Sethi and others. The room,
which has a distinct aesthetic bearing resemblance
to a tunnel, has regular weeklies already
planned, including Shelter Wednesdays, Tunnel
& Traffik Fridays and Lifted Saturdays.
ENVY MY MUSIC AT CELEBRITIES
Envy My Music, an international touring
electronic circus event, hit Celebrities Nightclub
on Saturday, May 24, with a bang. The
event, hosted by Jens Marquardt’s CanThrill
At the Leo Awards
10th-anniversary gala,
Gabrielle Miller and
Colin Cunningham were
named best dressed.
Event Marketing, featured Skai from Groove
Rebels, costumed dancers, acrobats, contortionists,
gymnasts and a seriously hard-rockin’
vibe that kept the dance floor full. Attendees
like Jessi Johnson, Martin Spencer and Trevor
Kramer, Leo Tioseco, Sharad Khare and Amy
Chan immersed themselves in the vibe while
Mike Shea, the managing partner at Bar None
who dropped in to check out the event, was
quoted as calling the party “crazy.”
THE 10TH ANNUAL LEO AWARDS GALA
The Leo Awards, which celebrate excellence in
B.C.’s film and TV industries, celebrated 10
years on May 23 and 24 at the Westin Bayshore.
On the Saturday, we walked the red
carpet with the nominated stars, including
Ryan Robbins, Steve Bacic, Julie Patzwald,
Colin Cunningham, Nicole Oliver, John Cassini,
Gabrielle Miller and many more. Talking
with attendee Matt Frewer, best known for
playing Max Headroom in the ’80s, we found
out that the wildly popular digital character,
who has been a spokesman for Coke as well as
the object of a number of interviews including
David Letterman, will be making a comeback
soon. Other attendees included Erin Cebula,
Chloe Angus, Zak Santiago and Mo Dhaliwal.
Of interest, Gabrielle Miller and Colin
Cunningham won best dressed while Erin
Cebula received an honourable mention by a
distinguished panel of fashion-savvy judges,
including Vancouver Sun arts editor Maggie
Langrick, FASHION Magazine western editor
Rebecca Tay and Dawn Chubai, host of
CityTV’s Breakfast Television.
CAPRICE NIGHTCLUB FIVE-YEAR AN-
NIVERSARY — VALLEY OF THE KINGS
Five years is a lifetime in nightclub-time, and
on Thursday, May 22, Caprice Nightclub
hosted its five-year anniversary with an event
titled “Valley of the Kings.” For the occasion
the venue was transformed into an ancient
Egyptian kingdom where every detail, from
the décor to the staff attire, set the ambience.
New promotions manager Michael Tedham,
known since his last posting at the Cellar
Nightclub as the “Man About Town,” and
Dax Droski, who has taken over running operations
for a number of venues managed by
the Adelphia Group, were in fine form greeting
guests and VIPs who attended the event.
On the same note, Plaza Nightclub and the
Caprice Lounge are currently undergoing renovations,
with a number of changes intended
to raise the bar for partygoers in Vancouver.
Social Shot
Clockwise from top left: Nikki Gertsch,
Mike Tedham, Amy Kerr and Dax
Droski at the Caprice 5 Year; Melisa
Watson and Andrea Hugi at the Tunnel
opening; Amy Chan at Envy My Music;
Allan Calimbas, Pedro Serra and
Carson Walker at Tunnel; Chip Wilson
with his hearse outside his “wake”;
Mike Desjardins and Tiana Kruzel.
WAKE FOR CHIP WILSON AT RELISH
The “Chip’s Not Dead Yet” Memorial Mile
will take place on June 20 and is likely to be
labelled the funniest charity run ever. The creative
for the event shows Chip Wilson, founder
of the wildly successful and popular yoga
clothing line Lululemon, juxtaposed over a
coffin, hands outstretched and curled, looking
somewhat zombie-like, with a scream bubble
stating “Run for your Life!” Wilson, transported
by hearse (a vintage 1932 hearse at
that), showed up to the launch event at Relish
restaurant on Thursday, May 22, in a casket.
Six shirtless pallbearers, dressed up like they
were part of a Chippendales troupe, opened
the casket to reveal Wilson, alive and kicking
— albeit a bit terrorized by claustrophobia.
After a moment to reflect, Wilson let attendees,
including bridesmaids, go-go dancers and
superheroes, know that his intention is to
bring awareness and raise funds for the cause
(Children’s Hospital) and at the same time
have fun doing it. Fitness experts Neil McKinnon,
Kevin Thomson and Michael Scott, who
were at the launch, helped organize the event
and are integral to the run itself, in which the
winner will take $20,000.
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IF06 • Infamous June 2008
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Hot New Restaurant
Revel BY CASSANDRA ANDERTON
A couple years ago one would have been crazy
to open up anything other than a bar down in
Gastown. It wasn’t exactly hip (unless you were
five and the train inside the Old Spaghetti Factory
wowed you), and at night it wasn’t exactly
safe. Sure, there were a couple great Irish pubs,
and a few good boutiques here and there, but the
food scene was sadly absent. We know this is no
longer the case.
With 2007 bringing a blast of eateries to the area,
who thought there’d be room for one more? Well,
judging by the crowds already present at the newest
kid on the block, there is. Revel has opened its
doors at 238 Abbott Street.
The boys involved in Revel come with resumés
filled with experience. It’s a partnership between
Dennis Brock (inventor of Steamrollers), Michael
Murray (previously at Mark James), Sean Hamilton
(Cardero’s and Umberto’s), Walter Sawadsky
and Peter Smith. Due to permit delays, Revel was
almost a year in the making, but they’re definitely
making up for lost time.
Step into the space and you’ll find lots of exposed
brick, funky light fixtures and breathing space
between tables. The 80 seats are split among the
lower-level banquettes and tables, the brick bar
and the upper level where you can peer down
onto the crowds. There’s black-and-white film
projected onto the walls and DJs for your entertainment.
The room has a casual, classy feel.
In the kitchen, chef Michael Pacey (ex-The Rex
and The Irish Heather) is in charge of the menu.
It’s all small plates with items from near and far.
I’d suggest ordering up the naan bread with tomato
relish, roast garlic and olives and the flash-fried
potato chips with chipotle ketchup and garlic aioli
while you decide on the remainder of the meal.
The satays are a great bargain at three for $10.
They’re flavourful lollipops of chicken and prawn
meat on a sugarcane skewer. I’d also recommend
some grilled asparagus, the Chinatown fried rice
and Moroccan lamb meatballs. Bring a crowd
and you could do the whole 19 menu items.
On the drink side of the equation there are
some great-tasting cocktails. The English Ed is
a refreshing mix of cucumber-infused gin, red
apple and lemon, and I’ll gladly revisit the Sweet
Caroline with its flavours of pink grapefruit and
mint. There’s a good selection of draft and bottled
beer and a small but well-chosen wine list
that will eventually expand. Stop in for a quick
one; I guarantee you’ll be charmed into staying
for more.
While Revel may have some great food and
drinks going for it, there’s more to the story, and
I’ve saved the best part for last — they’re licensed
until 2 a.m. So when hunger and thirst strike you
late at night or in the wee hours of the morning,
someone’s finally there to look after you.
238 Abbott Street
Monday to Saturday 3:30 pm-2:30 am
Closed Sundays
www.revelroom.ca 604.687.4088
The menu is all small
plates from near and
far, including this
seared albacore tuna.
Drink & Dine
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IF08 • Infamous June 2008
Coming Summer 2008
www.dhmbars.ca
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INDUSTRY NEWS
+ NOTES
BY CASSANDRA ANDERTON
• Just around the corner, Vancouver will have a
number of new Italian restaurants to frequent.
Trattoria Italian Kitchen on Fourth Avenue near
Burrard is another project from the Glowbal
Restaurant Group (Glowbal, Coast, Sanafir
and Italian Kitchen). It’s slated for the beginning
of June. In the Moda Hotel, another Italian
fine dining spot called Cibo (Italian for food)
is a month or two away. And two ex-Parkside
and La Buca chefs, Lucais Syme and Adam
Pegg, have taken over a spot on Broadway at
Alma and are constructing La Quercia (Italian
for a type of oak tree). Viva Italia!
• Main Street is now home to a new Asian
fusion restaurant, Ping (2702 Main), and will
soon be home to another outlet of the soup
and stew place Burgoo (at 15th).
• South China Seas, the wonderful spice and
exotic-ingredient outlet on Granville Island,
now has a presence on Commercial Drive.
Look for it at 1904 Grant Street. You might
even find parking nearby.
• Rare restaurant shut for renovations last
month and has still not reopened. Fortunately
for chef Colleen McClean, she didn’t have to
wait long for other offers. McClean’s decided
to join Sean Heather’s team and oversee the
menus of the Irish Heather, Shebeen and Salt
Tasting Room.
• Don’t miss the summer farmers’ markets,
now in full swing. Check them out on Saturdays
at Trout Lake and in the West End, on
Sundays in Kits and Wednesday afternoons at
Riley Park. www.eatlocal.org for details.
• It’s now your chance to try local spot prawns
through June at C, Raincity and NU. Each
restaurant features a special menu. Stop in
at Figmint for a spot prawn brunch menu on
June 14 and 15 at Cambie and 12th.
• Boneta at 1 West Cordova is now open for
lunch and has launched a new patio. C Restaurant
is also open for lunch and has the seaside
patio in full swing – two afternoons, totally
different atmospheres.
• Connor Butler at Granville and 6th Avenue
has an amazing $35 tasting menu through the
month of June. Portions are large and the wine
pairings can be had for a meagre $15 more.
• From June 5 to 15, Hamilton Street Grill in
Yaletown has its eight-ounce Angus sirloin
steak on for $11 to celebrate 11 years in business.
Comes with garlic spuds and fresh veg.
A great way to celebrate Father’s Day?
Coming Events:
June 10: Hamilton Street Grill and Peller Estates
Winemaker’s Dinner – 604.331.1511
June 13-14: Wines of Argentina and food
from Baru Latino Restaurant, at the BC Liquor
Store at 39th and Cambie
www.mattersoftaste.com/en
June 22: Aurora Bistro and R&B Brewing
BBQ dinner – local food and local beer
www.aurorabistro.ca
Until June 28: Dine and Unwind at Whistler
– multi-course menus starting at just $20 per
person.
www.whistler.com/dine
Wine Diva
Everything’s coming
up rosés BY DAENNA VAN MULLIGEN
There is no denying the return of the rosé.
Every decent wine list in town offers
at least one, and every wine store seems to
feature a luminous array of bottles in amber,
salmon, cranberry and watermelon colours.
Pink lovers rejoice – there’s no longer a need
to hide your guilty pleasure. Come out of the
closet (you can’t appreciate those mouth-watering
hues in the dark anyway). These wines
are not “blush” and they are not “white Zinfandel.”
They are crisp, often dry wines made
from a diverse selection of grapes from a variety
of regions around the world. They are
the perfect summer wine and perfect partner
for whatever dish you desire: salads, seafood,
spicy dishes, white meat or antipasti. And I assure
you, there’s no end to this trend in sight.
So you may as well jump on the bandwagon
and find out what all the fuss is about.
Chateau de la Galiniere, Côtes de Provence,
France – Rosé is classic to the south of France,
where it’s consumed en masse at every bistro
and café. Made from Syrah, Grenache, Cabernet
and Mourvedre, this lovely pale-pink
wine smells of strawberries, spice and rose
petals with a hint of candy floss. It’s juicy, refreshing
and brimming with bright red fruits
and crisp citrus; perfect for summer sipping!
$16.99 – BC Liquor Stores
Marques de Caceres, Rioja Spain – Made
from Tempranillo and Garnacha, it’s rubyred
with clay undertones and shows appealing
aromas of ground berries, orange peel,
fragrant flowers, earth, spice and hints of
vanillin oak. It is just off-dry with flavours of
berry, leather, savoury herbs and cedar with
fine dusty tannins on the finish. Pair with
grilled veg tossed with savoury herbs, turkey
and chicken or light pasta dishes.
$14.99 BC Liquor Stores
La Vieille Ferme Côtes du Ventoux Rosé,
France – Another favourite rosé from the
south of France that comes topped in a picnic-friendly
screw-cap. Typically made from
Syrah, Grenache and Cinsault, it’s bright
cranberry in colour and brimming with aromas
of fresh red berries and red cherry. It has
secondary notes of mineral, juicy citrus and
shavings of orange zest. Clean, crisp berry flavours,
citrus and savoury-earthy undertones
shine through on the palate, with more citrus
zest on the finish.
$13.99 – BC Liquor Stores
La Vieux Pin ‘Vaila,’ Okanagan BC – Although
it may be harder to find (look for it
in premium private wine stores and in restaurants)
this 100-per-cent Pinot Noir rosé is
worth looking for. The Vaila is a pretty cransalmon
hue and displays aromas of cranberries,
minerals and crisp grapefruit. It’s off-dry
with bright acidity and intense, lively flavours
of strawberry, citrus and tart red fruit.
$25 – Private stores and at the winery
Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial Champagne,
France – Makes the statement: Go big
or go home. This beautiful cranberry-ambercoloured
bubbly is decadent and utterly irresistible.
Tiny beads of bubbles carry dazzling
aromas of strawberry, currants and red cherry,
purple flowers and minerals. In the mouth it
is generous, creamy and bright, brimming
with red fruit and citrus-peel flavours. On its
own or paired with hors d’oeuvres, however
you want it, just make the investment.
$74.96 – BC Liquor Stores
Amano Primitivo, 2005, Puglia Italy – Super-easy
drinking and fresh, this sibling to
Zinfandel is oozing blueberry, raspberry and
blackberry-liqueur aromas with sweet spices
and tobacco notes. It’s supple and spiced with
soft tannins on the finish. A great barbecue
wine.
$19.99 – BC Liquor Stores
Arigolas S’elegas Nuragus di Cagliari,
2005, Sardinia Italy – Another indigenous
varietal, this lush wine oozes pineapple,
mango and crème caramel with spice undertones.
Ripe fruit returns on the palate with
exotic flowers, honey and deft oak flavours on
the finish. Nice paired with soft or smoked
cheeses.
$19.99 – BC Liquor Stores
www.winediva.ca
Drink & Dine
These wines are not
‘blush’ and they are not
‘white Zinfandel.’ They
are crisp, often dry wines
made from a diverse
selection of grapes.
Infamous June 2008 • IF09

IF10 • Infamous June 2008
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Obakki Spring Show
WORDS BY TERRI POTRATZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRIS KRUG
Colour and pattern were
obvious new additions
to the design canon as
punches of purple, lilac
and cranberry emerged.
May 29 marked an anticipated milestone for local fashion
house Obakki, as the new design team celebrated their first
official collection with a VIP fashion show held in Obakki’s
award-winning Gastown retail location. Under the creative direction
of owner Treana Peake, lead designer Elizabeth Davies and designer
Sunita Linde, Obakki has forged a smooth transition between fall/winter
2007 and the current spring/summer 2008 collections. Davies and
Linde made a clean departure from the previous design duo Genevieve
Graham and David Wallace, while still managing to retain the basic
elements that encompass the Obakki brand: luxurious, finely contrasted
fabrics and sharp tailoring executed with an overall sense of
relaxed style. Colour and patterned fabrics were obvious new additions
to the design canon as punches of purple, lilac and cranberry emerged
throughout the women’s spring collection, while the men’s collection
remained subdued with an abundance of blacks, greys and whites.
Design
The intimate audience, happily satiated by food and wine courtesy of
Salt Tasting Room, was also unexpectedly treated to a preview showing
of Obakki’s upcoming fall/winter 2008 collection. Here we noticed
fine detailing – such as cinches, pleats and pintucks – in unexpected
places, and the continued evolution of patterned fabrics within both
the men’s and women’s collections. Standout pieces for men included
the welted leather coat and the B/W plaid “lumberjacket,” while a refreshing
tie-dye-patterned jacket, an orange oversized hooded sweater
and an asymmetrical button-front dress caught eyes from the women’s
collection. Indeed, the diversity and range of the upcoming fall/winter
collection is so distinct that Obakki has since acquired a number
of new retailers across North America. This accomplishment, coupled
with the celebrated launch of their online store in May, indicates
Obakki’s success and accessibility will continue to flourish.
44 Water St. 604.669.9727 www.obakki.com
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Fashion
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Fashion
IF14 • Infamous June 2008

Fashion
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Fashion & Style
IF18 • Infamous June 2008
Leslie Lee and Glenn Taylor are the visionaries behind
the hip Orb brand. When they created their
clothing-design company, they had more than just
fashion in mind. The couple wanted not only to dress the
women of Vancouver and beyond, but also to empower
them. And while their clothes are first and foremost fashionable,
they please both body and
soul.
Although the Orb brand is available
in more than 600 retailers throughout
Canada and Europe, the new store on
West Fourth in Kitsilano is the first
store devoted almost entirely to the
Orb line. Lee and Taylor have a full
collection of colourful clothing, but
they’ve decided to outsource a few
items, such as the Spy Sunglasses, Fidelity
Jeans and locally made jewellery.
On the first level of the 3,200 square feet of space
you’ll find the Orb brand and its complementary line,
Arson. They’ve divided the collections into Mind, Body
and Soul. Mind is the fashion-forward and sophisticated
collection; Body is more casual, for the active lifestyle;
and Soul is all about comfort and simplicity. Think everything
from fashionable short shorts, cozy hoodies and
jeans, to stylish jackets and sexy clubbing garments.
Climb upstairs for a whole different story. There’s
Hot New Shop
Orb
BY CASSANDRA ANDERTON PHOTO BY HAMID ATTIE
The company uses
sustainable and
recycled materials
whenever possible,
and the employees are
a happy bunch.
a design lab where Orb’s fashion designers can work in
proximity to those they’re designing for – namely you
– and an art gallery, where presently you can find housewares
made from recycled materials. The space will also
serve as a venue for special events, such as art shows or
lecture series.
And while Orb clothing will defi-
nitely have you looking good, you
can also feel good spending your
hard-earned dough here. Orb donates
one per cent of sales to a charity
of a selected customer’s choice and
one per cent to the charity of their
choice every month, and they work
closely with their suppliers, ensuring
fair trade. The company uses sustainable
and recycled materials whenever
possible, and the employees are a happy bunch with access
to life coaches if they feel otherwise.
While the masses might throw their money away on
clothing made in overseas sweat shops, savvy shoppers
will throw their cash at a company that actually cares.
Here comes fashion with a conscience, folks, so feel free
to spend spend spend.
Guilt-free shopping? I’m all over it.
2028 West Fourth Avenue, Vancouver
604.568.6720 www.orbclothing.ca

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www.urbanmixer.com ... the cure for the common social life
Infamous June 2008 • IF19
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IF20 • Infamous June 2008
A glamourous new resto-lounge
coming soon to Morgan Heights.
Premium Brands,
Premium Service,
Premium Experience.
Treat Yourself.
OPENING FALL 2008
16051 24th Avenue, South Surrey.
www.ulounge.ca
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