Gus Digital
my digital realm, my digital voice
Let’s Go to an 80’s Prom Contest
Mar 15th
What could be better than reliving your 80’s prom? Fighting Chance Productions wants to offer one of my lucky readers two tickets to experience just that with the production of The Awesome 80’s Prom on Friday March 19th at the Vancouver Alpen Club.
The Awesome 80s Prom is a brand new blast-from-the-past party in the style of Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding set at Wanaget High’s Senior Prom… in 1989! All your favorite characters from your favorite ’80s movies are at THE PROM, from the Captain of the Football Team to the Asian Exchange Student, from the Geek to the hottie Head Cheerleader, and they’re all competing for Prom King and Queen. And just like on “American Idol”, the audience decides who wins! Come back in time and join the breakdance circle or just sit back and watch the ’80s drama unfold.
So how do you win the tickets? Well leave a comment on this post or tweet this and tell me about your high school prom. Was it in the 80’s like mine? Did you have the mullet or teased out hair? Did you dance to Madonna, Dead or Alive or OMD? I’ll be drawing the winner this Thursday at 3pm.
If you don’t win you can also buy tickets for the March 19th or March 20th performance.
I’m looking forward to attending myself and reliving some of those moments in time. I was hoping to have some of my old ‘87 prom photos scanned, but alas my computer wasn’t cooperating with me when writing this post.
Update: Some of my prom photos. Yup that’s me in the hat. 
Updated:
Congrats to Rich Patterson who was the lucky winner of the draw! Enjoy the your prom!
Live Blogging: Vancouver Opera – Nixon in China
Mar 13th
Throughout the evening I’ll be blogging at the Canadian Premiere of Nixon in China, presented by the Vancouver Opera.
I’m currently setting up and getting ready for the other bloggers to arrive before we get a tour of the backstage. We have internet connection this time around and should hopefully be set for the evening. I’m hoping to update with some photos as well as my experience as this Opera takes place. Curtain goes up at 7:30pm and I hear it will be a 3 hour long production.
Tris Hussey’s fiance Shela is a performer at this event so it makes it extra special that he is one of the bloggers with us tonight.
So please stay tuned as the excitement builds.
Update 7:00pm
Just had our backstage tour of the production. Interesting to note that this is the most expensive Vancouver Opera produced to date. A total of $1..4 million dollars was spent. Based on some of the sets we’ve just seen this will be a great show. Starting with the Presidential Plane landing in China
Update 7:23pm
We are about to head into our seats and enjoy the production. Doesn’t look like a full house this time around, but still a great attendance.
Update 8:45pm
First act has been completed and we are no seated at our tables again on display. I have to say the role of Richard Nixon played by Robert Orth is amazing. He has Nixon’s manerisms down pack and the visual of the plane landing in China is great. The stage director Michael Cavanagh, Lighting director Harry Frehner and Scenic Designer Erhard Rom have done an amazing job of visuals and landing a plane on stage.
Although this is modern opera sung in English, they do have the subtitles available and it comes in handy when there are multiple people singing different lines.
Update 11:00pm
The last act is now over and though I was lost after the last scene in the second act, I still enjoyed the production. now we are invited to the after party where I hope some food will be at hand.
Final Thoughts
I must admit that after the second scene in Act 2 started off great with the Nixons and Mao’s wife enjoying the ballet (which was beautifully danced), but then threw me for a loop as somehow Kissinger became apart of the ballet and had a small dance number with the principal ballerina. As the production continued into the last act, I was still a bit thrown off as to what was going on. There was a sense of a dream scape happening. It wasn’t later until the after party that someone explained to me what was going on. The last scene of Act 2 and into Act 3 are a dream scape, and this is happening in their minds.
That put aside, the production is amazing. The customs are top notch and the set design is truly wonderful. I can’t remember the last time I had such fun watching the set change form scene to scene and wondering what next is in store for the eyes senses.
The production continues on March 16th, 18th and 20th and well worth it just for the imagery alone on stage.
The following are my photos of the evening.
Blogging at “Nixon in China” Tonight
Mar 13th
Illustration by Edel Rodriguez
Tonight I’ll be joining fellow bloggers Raul Pacheco, Tris Hussey, Emme Rogers, and Darren Barefoot as we blog live during the Vancouver Opera’s productions of “Nixon in China“; a Canadian premiere. We will be blogging during intermissions and getting a tour of backstage and hopefully again get to meet the cast of the opera.
If you are coming to the opera, please say hi to us as we blog, tweet and take photos of our experience.
I’m not sure what to expect, but based on the work the Vancouver Opera has been doing for this (you can read more on their blog), it looks like it will be an amazing production.
Based on the synopsis, the production will have 3 Acts and have 2 intermissions so you will have plenty of time to stop by the blogger table and say hello.
I can’t wait to be apart of the Canadian premiere of this opera. Looks like it will be lots of fun.
Here is a brief taste of the opera
Goodbye to Netchick and Barry
Mar 11th
As most of the social media and tech community in Vancouver know by now, Tanya (aka Netchick) will be leaving us and heading to Calgary to start her new life with her man Barry.
I first met Tanya at a my very first Third Tuesday Vancouver event as she was one of the Meetup organizers. She was quick to introduce herself and welcome me to the event. We quickly hit it off and was invited to more social events with her and she began to introduce me to the wonderful social media scene here in Vancouver. She was even kind enough to invite me to one of her famous house parties where she makes a killer chocolate martini, and it was a good thing we only lived a block from each other and most recently we lived across the back lane form each other.
She is one of the most gracious people I know and I’m glad I’ve been there to help her at times and she’s always there listen to me in my time of need.Thus my one and only BFF.
I’m also happy she found Barry, who has completed her in many ways and has really made her shine like never before. It will be very hard to say good bye to both of them as they move to Calgary, but I know that sometimes you have to take that leap. I did that over 8 years ago myself when I moved to Vancouver. We leave all our family and friends behind.
Though we might not see each other physically that often, the lovely interweb makes it possible to always be connected with each other.
Russ and I will definitely be stopping by this summer on our way to Winnipeg (another story to be written at a later time).
Sisters and Niece’s Vancouver Visit
Mar 10th
This past weekend my sisters, Gladys and Maria, with my niece Amanda flew in from Toronto to spend the weekend in Vancouver helping me celebrate my 41st birthday. It’s hard to believe that all of us haven’t been together for one of our birthdays in over 8 years.
This was Maria and Amanda’s first time really visiting Vancouver (Amanda has been here before, but has only spent time in the airport on her way to Hawaii usually). It was fun to show them the city that I’ve called home for over 8 years. Showing them the true beauty that the west coast has to offer. It was sad they couldn’t be here during the Olympics, but they still were able to see some of the Olympic venues and get a glimpse of what it was like during the wonderful 18 days of the Olympics.
They got to finally visit Ponchos, where we had our birthday dinner and I was treated to a yummy birthday treat from the owners.
We had brunch on Saturday morning at Provence at the Yaletown marina and ventured up to Whistler for the day, stopping throughout the many observation platforms on the Sea-to-Sky highway. Being there only a couple of weeks before, it was interesting to see how Whistler has changed from an Olympic city to a Paralympic city. Noticeable changes were the Olympic rings changed to the Paralympic symbol, city banners changed to the paralympic logos, and the Whistler cauldron not lite up.
On Sunday they did get to experience the typical Vancouver winter day when the rains rolled in. It was funny to see them bundle up and complain about the cold (yes shocking especially coming from Toronto).
All in all they had a great time and I miss them already. I’m glad that my sister Gladys, who works for Air Canada, is able to fly and visit when she can and it’s always fun when she can bring a member of the family along with her.
Thank you for making my 41st birthday so memorable!
Fido Mobile – You Lost me as a Client
Mar 9th
Today I got my Fido bill and was shocked to say the least when I opened up the bill. You see, Fido charged me for an incoming call while I was in Whistler. For all those that don’t know, Whistler is about 1 1/2 hour drive from Vancouver. Russ and I travel up to Whistler frequently during the summer as we like to camp near there, and during the Olympics we were blessed enough to get events tickets up in Whistler. I used be worried before about roaming fees, but from the past Fido has never charged for incoming or outgoing calls while I was in Whistler, until now.
When I saw this bill I quickly logged onto their site to see if anything had changed regarding calling area and was shocked to see the following.
You will notice that if you have a Vancouver number and travel up to Whistler or call Whistler it’s considered a long distance call, yet if you have a local Whistler number and call Vancouver it is not. Why the difference in standard I ask? Why gauge Vancouver residence who travel up to Whistler and not the reverse? This makes no sense at all to me.
My call to Fido customer service was treated very professionally and Eco was of great assistance to me. She did let me know that they had changed their calling maps in December of 2009. She did reverse the charges, but I did let her know that since this change makes no sense to me, they will not be getting my business when my contract runs out next year.
I will be looking for a different provider. So Telus, Bell, Wind be ready for me, the one that makes the best deal will get my business! But be warned – I’m tired of companies changing the contracts that we as consumers sign in good faith. Why is it so hard to adhere by your own rules?
Another Birthday Passes
Mar 5th
Today I’ve turned 41 and what an AWESOME birthday it has been!
Both of my sisters (Maria and Gladys) with my niece Amanda flew in from Toronto to spend this birthday weekend with me! It has been 8 years since all of us siblings have been together for a birthday – 8 years! My sister Maria and my niece have never visited Vancouver before and this was their first real experience of the city. Vancouver you have not disappointed with your beauty and you have captivated them.
We started the day taking my sisters on a tour of Stanley Park, showing the city’s beauty, and then walking along Robson Street which they all heard about during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics. As typical tourists we stopped by many of the landmarks made famous from the Games. Alas I didn’t have my camera with me, but did take some with my sister’s camera. I’ll have to upload them another day.
The evening was spent at one of my favourite restaurants in Vancouver – Poncho’s. As usual, they did not disappoint. They even through in a great dessert and sang to me as it was my birthday!
The only thing missing was having friends share this magical moment with me as well. I know everyone has been busy and other parties where planned, but I hope I’ll be able to see them in the next weeks to help celebrate.
I go to bed with great memories of a wonderful day!
Thanks everyone who sent me messages on Facebook and Twitter; they have meant a lot to me!
Fighting Chance Productions – Matt & Ben
Mar 5th
Matt & Ben
Last night I attended the premier of Fighting Chance Productions – Matt & Ben by invitation from the Artistic Director, Ryan Mooney with my good friend Theresa.
Written by Mindy Kaling (The Office) and Brenda Withers, Matt & Ben tells the story of Matt Damon & Ben Affleck journey into writing their Oscar award winning script “Good Will Hunting“. Granted this story is not an actual telling of the story since the script falls from the sky while they are attempting to write an adaptation of “Catcher in the Rye“. The laughs come from their struggle of this mysterious script and whether it’s a gift from God or a dreaded curse.
The play works great, showcasing the friendship between two unlikely men from different backgrounds.
Starring Kat Gauthier (Matt Damen) & Rebecca Strom (Ben Affleck) and directed by Laura McLean the 75 minute production will leave you laughing. Playing from March 4 – 13 at the Havana Theatre on Commercial Drive, I suggest you see it. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students.
Below is a brief video about the production.
Last Day at 40
Mar 4th
Goodbye 40!
Today ends my last day of being 40 years old. Yup sad but true. Tomorrow morning I will wake up and I will officially be in my 40’s EEEK!
I don’t know how I should feel about that, don’t get me wrong I am excited about my birthday. I guess this year feels different since Vancouver has just finished with the Winter Olympics and my energy was so full with all the excitement and people from all over the world in our city (yeah I still have to blog about some of my Olympic experience). That said I am excited that both of my sisters, with my eldest niece, will be arriving from Toronto tomorrow to help celebrate my birthday for the weekend. As my sister Gladys pointed out to me a couple of weeks ago – this will be the first time in over 8 years that us siblings are together for a birthday. Wow, 8 years!
At any rate I’m excited they are heading to Vancouver. Both my sister Maria and my niece Amanda have yet to visit me here in Vancouver. I’m sure they will keep me very busy and thoroughly entertained as I will be trying to entertain them with what Vancouver has to offer.
Tonight I’m heading over to Fighting Chance Productions new play – Matt and Ben as one of their guests. I’m looking forward to this as their last production of Forbidden Broadway was a huge success. I’ll write more about that tomorrow.
The Unsung Heroes of Vancouver 2010 Olympics
Feb 25th
Photo by Tyler Ingram
With the hundreds of thousands people coming into the downtown core each and everyday one would expect to see trash everywhere in this city, but you’d be surprised how clean Vancouver looks. Not only are the people in town doing their job and placing garbage where they should, but we have dedicated people walking around our city making sure that all trash that is left behind is picked up.
We also have some great trash areas through-out the city that are being filled up nicely and helping to keep our city clean.
To all the city employees that are cleaning our streets, you truly deserve a gold medal for your performance. This city has never looked so good. Thank you all for making sure Vancouver shines like never before during the Winter Games.
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