This was certainly apparent at the 2010 Surrey Vaisakhi (NAGAR KIRTAN) Parade where hundreds of thousands of people came out to celebrate. For us, it was such an eye-opening experience. We’ve attended the Main Street Vaisakhi celebrations in years past and were amazed to see the scale of festivities, but the Surrey event just blew us away. There were a reported 150,000 people who attended the parade, which went from 10am to 6pm.

Amongst the blocks upon blocks that the parade traveled on 128th street there were a reported 1000 stalls which showcased local businesses, non-profits and residents - each had something to give away: balloons, toys, information and most importantly Punjabi food! We were able to taste a variety of delicious vegetarian dishes including Pani Puri (little fried wafers that are filled with spiced masala water), Papri Chat (little crispy wafers, chickpeas, onions which are doused in yogurt, tamarind sauce and green chutney (mint sauce), Cholay Batura / Puri, and the famous pakoras (spiced breaded cheese / paneer, vegetables or bread).

With all these giveaways one can imagine all the garbage that is produced. According to a spokesperson from Remple Waste Disposal, more than 7 tonnes of waste was collected at the 2009 parade. Fortunately a local green South Asian hero, Preet Bal, wanted to begin the process of green’ing the event. A few years ago she started the ‘recycling heros’ program - a campaign to place large blue recycling bins throughout the parade route so that all the parade goers had an option of recycling their pop cans, water and juice bottles, paper and other recyclable items. She was able to recruit many volunteers (including myself) who were like her interested in the environment to help educate people on what items can be recycled and reduce the carbon footprint of the parade.

Thanks again Preet for your amazing work and until next year Happy Green Vaisakhi everyone!

Want to learn more about Sikhism and it’s connection to the environment? Here’s a great post by Prabhjit K. Banga: Sikhism - The Green Religion?

Want to learn more on what the Recycling Hero program is all about? Check this link

*according to latest Statistics Canada Census data

Love the bird look. Photo: Christelle FV.

Review by: Andriy Mishchenko

Yesterday, I felt very lucky. I went to the Jonsi show, his first concert away from Sigur Ros. I’ll just start by saying it did not disappoint. If you have a chance to see him at the second show tonight (Apr 7) or later this week in Seattle, GO! I don’t want to gush too much over it but it was really THAT good. If you miss these shows, just pretend really hard you went and just listen to the whole Jonsi “Go” album for free online right here (use player below). See end of page for set list. Enjoy!

I managed to score tickets below face value just the day before. With a good friend for company, I ended up in 2nd row centre - somehow … That was a minor miracle, given the huge lineup in front of the Vogue (general admission for this show = first come first serve seating).

After sneaking some rum n coke cans in line, we snuck in all sorts of recording equipment into the theatre. Hee hee. Namely, My HD video DSLR and a fancy 4-channel audio recorder I borrowed (thanks, L!). Don’t get too excited yet, I didn’t actually capture anything worth posting.

My seat was far too central for filming the show with my bright white camera. As for the recorder, I McGyvered it in a perfect sport right under the first row chairs. I only wish I hadn’t set the rec volume so loud. I ended up with a distorted, clipped soundwave. I massaged it a lot with SoundForge, but it’s still no good.

As a consolation, you can play the whole album from this page. And, as a creative departure, I put my favorite track first.

Much has been said about the production values in stage sets for this tour and the great, taxidermy-inspired theme. The theatre company Jonsi hired to do the videos/lights/images/etc really knows what they’re doing. I really did feel like I was in a an eerie magical forest throughout; I’m not the type to get easily impressed nor do I have very good suspension of disbelief. I think that’s saying something for the caliber of their stage decoration. The racing wireframe wolves were spectacular, set against the intense delivery of ‘Kolniður’. The recurring owl and firefly leitmotifs were memorable as well. Those weird animals alone were worth the 40 bucks right there.

Of course, hearing that trademark alien high-pitch falsetto voice up close was icing on the cake. It was also something special to see Jonsi & co. really get into their act. They seem like a bunch that knows one another’s strengths and can play well together. Towards the end of the show, Jónsi got really into his persona and got all trancey on stage. His singing while rocking out in sync with the flashing waves of visuals in his crazy bird headgear, was something that will be hard to forget, let’s just say that.

The set was strong from start to finish and the crowd was uber-appreciative. There was none of that Vancouver douchebaggery - for lack of a beter word - that can and often does mar a good show. The cutest part of all was the band coming out after their encore to mirror the audience’s standing ovation. Then they came out once again as agroup to take a final bow - just like after a brilliantly performed stage play. Which this was.

Setlist (courtesy of Brooklyn Vegan blog):
* stars in still water
* hengilás
* icicle sleeves
* kolniður
* tornado
* saint naive
* sinking friendships
* go do
* boy lilikoi
* k12
* new piano song
* around us
* jonsi new guitar song
* animal arithmetic
* grow till tall

Vancouver is full of diverse cultures. According to the latest census numbers ~40% of our city self-identifies as a Visible Minority status.

So of course you overhear funny but awkward translations. For instance, the following are Hindi / Farsi pairings:

• Kheer
  
• Khoon
• Saag

Kheer - When I was going to my Iranian friends house for dinner I asked if I should bring anything? My friend said I should bring a desert. I offered to bring a famous Indian rice pudding called Kheer. My friend burst out laughing and even harder when I told her I love eating it. Keer in Farsi its means penis.

Khoon - In Hindi means blood and in Farsi (Kuhn) means bum

Saag - When my Iranian friend’s family eat an Indian restaurant they always humour themselves as they love ordering Saag Paneer (an Indian cheese with spinach dish). Saag in Farsi means dog.

Have an interesting translation from one language to another? Let East of Main know and we’ll post it!

East of Main is here to help! Check our Calendar of Events [updated on a regular basis for your reading pleasure!]

East of Main Calendar

Hope you enjoy FUNcouver!!

Have an event you’d like to list, please leave a comment and we’ll post it

To learn more on the background and evolution of the facility the City of Vancouver site has all the information.

What is 1 Kingsway? It is a brand new facility on land that the City of Vancouver purchased in September 2001 and will feature a new $4.75 million community centre, library, day care (which opened last week), rental housing, and underground parking. For further information and updates click here.

Photo Credit: City of Vancouver

Questions still left answered:
1. What will happen to the old Mount Pleasant Community Centre at roughly Main & 16th? and to the outdoor pool that many residents and children in the neighbourhood have fond memories?
2.  What is the plans for the Rental Housing? How much will it be rented out for?

We’d love to hear from you if you know anything on these two items or have other comments / suggestions to this development.

We at East of Main are excited on this new addition to the neighbourhood and hope the City continues to service the diverse needs of our East Vancouver community!

Our friends at TckTckTck designed this amazing app. It seems super cool, but we’d like your feedback. Feel free to test out “Tck in a box” + let us know what you think!

If you’d like to put it on your website, click on this link to download the code.

It was truly an amazing eye-opening experience. I especially had a great time hanging out with all the minority crowd - Raakhi Sinha + Gurpreet Sian [SouthAsian Arts],  Lara Honrado + Alden Habacon [Mango], and Charles Tsai [Ashoka] - Thanks for the company!

There were 10+ influential speakers speaking on a variety of topics themed around being: Playfully Young, Globally Young and Emotionally Young. Speakers included Greenpeace founder, Patrick Moore and District 9 director Neill Blomkamp. Added bonus was having Cris Derksen on the Cello and Shamik doing his beatbox skills [check out duet video here -Thx KK]

Photos of the event and videos of the speakers are constantly being uploaded, so keep checking back!

Okay, so now onto the Twitter Reflections:

• Terry McBride, founder Nettwerk #Music Grp: ppl said there’d be no demand 4 all girl tour, then he org @LilithFair.
• Neill Blomkamp, director #District9, gave us concept of 3 lvls of civilizns + dyson sphere; astrophysics is so cool!
• Guy Dauncy, #green + 101 books author: “U R Brilliant, Earth is hiring”, Paul Hawkin http://earthfuture.com/
• Marc Stoiber, #Change founder: asks is #socialmedia killin communication? + is it a fire hose for communication?!
• Patrick Moore, #Greenpeace founder: questions #climatechange, #green, renewble NRG, advocates 4 sustainable, clean NRG #TEDxVan #TED #cop15
• Whether u agree #climatechange is real, there should b no debate: we MUST reduce our consumption + footprint.
• @CherylCran: Gen X, Gen Y + Baby Boomers are out there, but so are the Zoomers (refuse 2 age)! #TEDxVan #TED
• Alden, #CBC #Diversity Mgr, talks Multiculturalism 2.0: #vancouver has highest mixed-#race marriages in N.America! #TEDxVan #TED #canada

Check out further Tweets @masalapuri or @eastofmain

East of Main would like to thank you to organizers, speakers, volunteers and all the participants for making the first event such a success… It was definitely Ideas worth spreading!

Despite us loving the rain and the temperate climate, all the skiers and boarders out West wait all Fall for the start of another season. And this one is looking like it will be a great one.

Vancouver’s 3 local ski mountains are opening EARLY this year, almost record breaking start times for all of them. Cypress and Grouse have both opened Today, November 13, 2009 and Seymour will be opening next Friday Nov.20.

In terms of base, not bad for a early start (as of November 13, 2009):

1. Cypress:    91cm (mid mtn)
2. Seymour:   70 cm
3. Grouse:      65cm

And it seems this all just happened as 15cm+ of FRESH snow just came last night!

In regards to Whistler Blackcomb, conditions are also great 100cm base) and they are having an early opening tomorrow Saturday November 14, 2009! Watch video for sneak peek.

NOTE: Grouse and Seymour are UNAFFECTED by the Olympic games in terms of closures, but Cypress is heavily closed. Be sure to check their websites for further updates as there may be crowds.

So be sure to get out your skiis and boards, and come join East of Main on the slopes!

Photo courtesy of: Cypress Mtn

This used to be Kishu Island. Photo by Andriy Mishchenko, EastOfMain.com & Photic.ca

Half of the block on the southwest corner of Main & Broadway went up in flames early this morning. Speculation is rife in the hood. What happened? How’d it start? EastOfMain sent our 10am photos of the aftermath to the Georgia Straight. As of 5pm, most of the ruins have been levelled with a bulldozer that remains parked there. Just crazy!

photo credit: ambassador.rit.edu

Well East of Main went exploring and met up with Karim, the Owner of Mediterra - a Mediterranean restaurant within the AMS Student Union Building at UBC.

He gave the quick and dirty… Nothing!

They are just the different terms for the same food item - a bread-wrapped meat dish. It is called a Gyro in Greek culture, a Shawarma in Lebanese/Middle Eastern, and Donair in Turkish traditions.

The meat is placed on a spit and is grilled. The fatty parts ensure the meat stays juicy. In addition spices are added to the meat to give it a unique and tasty flavor.

The base of meat, veggies and flour-wrap (usually a pita) is the same for each culture, but each has its variation in the toppings such as using Tzatziki in Greek / Turkish culture or Tahini, hummus, and pickled turnips in the Middle Eastern traditions.

FYI: Tzatziki is a sauce made of strained yoghurt sauce (usually with sheep’s- or goat’s-milk) with cucumbers, garlic, salt, olive oil, pepper, sometimes dill, sometimes lemon juice and parsley, or mint added= Tasty!

So next time you go to the West End and see all the Shawarma places or travel along Broadway/Lougheed and see the Gyro or Donair places - you’ll be eating the same type of wrap!

NEXT STORY: What’s the difference between Halal or Kosher - or is there any??