Many thanks to event organizers at the Telus Ski and Snowboard Festival!! Another Whistler Mountain season has come to an end, and I was lucky enough to attend the event for the second year in a row. I was considering going anyway, but when media passes were set aside exclusively for bloggers, I felt the push I needed to organize the trip. With a Yahoo blogging tent set up at the base of the mountain, and a personal invite to BR from organizers, it was clear that the festival was looking for exposure from a variety of of sources... not just mainstream media.

If you didn't sign up for the I Love Sample Sales' email list as Terry suggested in a previous post, then the sale happening at Loretta Black Studios next week will be news to you. Whenever I hear about a sample sale I feel like I was let in on a big secret I should keep to myself. After all, the more people that know about it, the harder it is to score the best finds. But since I will be at work while this one is going on, I don't mind sharing just this once. The sale will include brands like Sweetees(pictured), Honey Dew Intimates, Smashing Grandpa, Muchacha, and Spoon Coats. Most of these brands were unfamiliar to me, but afer taking a look at their websites, I'll definately be looking out for them in the future.

This past Friday night marked the final art opening at the Exposure Gallery, located at 851 Beatty Street. The Gallery is down but not out, as it will be relocating to cheaper digs after 17 years in Yaletown. Unfortunately, rent in this area has proven to be too expensive for the small gallery that caters to both new and experienced photographers. I heard rumours that a hair salon will be taking the space and paying substantially more for the location. Landlord's in this area only charge what they can get away with, but because there's always tenants willing to pay top dollar, the gallery didn't stand a chance. With the development in Yaletown and increasing rents, I won't be surprised if we see other long-term businesses forced out in large numbers by 2010.

As Terri pointed out in an earlier post, Vancouver often gets a bad rap as unfashionable, mostly due to a lack of creative outlets for what I believe is a thriving scene. Unfortunately, the problem with starting your own business often isn't a lack of talent but a lack of funds and connections. It can take years to launch a successful clothing line, but having access to the right people can mean instant brand recognition. Now Portobello West, along with Blue Lava Studios, G to PR, and Syka Textiles, is providing a Graduate Award to be given to one promising BC Fashion School student this year to help speed up the process. As hundreds of local fashion grads leave school without public relations and media attention to launch their careers, this $10,000 prize may mean the difference between struggling local artist and successful fashion entrepeneur.

The Brave Art exhibition at the Ayden Gallery has wrapped up, but there is still a chance to view or purchase the art and even meet some of the artists. The free closing party is taking place this Friday (7 pm-11 pm) at the gallery, and will feature a silent auction, live painting, DJ's, drinks, and giveaways...

It seems we're always hearing the same lines from promoters...get tickets early or be left out in the cold...and sometimes this is actually true. I would heed this warning when popular Philidelphia crew The Roots perform in Vancouver over two nights (February 1st & 2nd) at the Commodore. The first show is sold out, and tickets for the second are just about gone. I saw the Roots perform at the Plaza of Nations about 3 years ago and it was one of the best live shows I have ever seen. The energy onstage is unbeatable, and the vibe is completely different than other shows since they are one of the only true bands in hip hop. If you haven't checked them live before, you can get a feeling for their shows on a website dedicated to archived concert footage from as far back as 1995. Combining rap, jazz, soul, and rock, this crew appeals to a diverse fanbase and always draws an enthusiastic crowd. Game Theory, their first album on Jay Z's label Def Jam, was released last summer and is one of the best hip hop albums of 2006. With new material and endless classics to perform, a Roots show will go on for hours and is guaranteed to be well worth the $45 ticket price.