Category Archives: Vancouver

Canadianism: Two Solitudes indeed

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I can’t believe I went to the hottest restaurant in New Westminster and they had two televisions hanging from the ceiling, playing curling. I don’t think I live in the same country as the rest of these people do; this is a cultural divide that cannot be bridged. It’s all very well for me to lord it over Americans and the English, yammering on about PC and Relativism and Pierre Trudeau, but there is, let’s face it, no multicultural initiative that can allow the curling fans and the I-suppose-they-call-us-mundanes to coexist. Hence Newfoundland; it’s a 21st Century sort of reservation/theme park for curlers.

When I get back to Vancouver, I’m sneaking into Delilah’s and not leaving until they throw me out and given how their clientele normally behaves (to say nothing of the staff) I may be there for the rest of my life, sustaining myself on smoked oysters, olives, lime wedges, and vodka-infused apricots. That’s all the food groups, right?

In any case, after several years on the Downtown EastSide, if there is nothing else I know, I do know how to give Canada what it wants:

Hockey Joke

it’s a small, nasty world, after all

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Forgive me; this is going to be a post with the bare minimum of reflection in it, at least until the comments section, because quite frankly I really don’t want to know what I think or how I feel about this. Right now I have to say I’d prefer neither to think about this, nor to have feelings about it, or even at all. 

It’s been five years since I felt sorry for Trevor Greene.

Trevor Greene CivilianTrevor Greene is a dynamic, innovative and well-traveled individual with over 15 years of experience in writing and reporting. He is a speaker of three languages, a published author, an entrepreneur, a trained and experienced liaison officer, and has eight years of highly regarded service in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Greene joined the Vancouver bureau of Bloomberg News as a general assignment reporter on business and finance in Canada and Asia. He also began researching and writing about the so-called poorest postal code in Canada; Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

He wrote his first nonfiction book in Canada, Bad Date: The Lost Girls of Vancouver’s Low Track, about the women who have gone missing from the Downtown Eastside over the past 15 years. Bad Date was published in November 2001. Some of his present entrepreneurial projects include an eco-tourism venture and a community volunteer consulting company.

Greene is an officer in the Seaforth Highlanders, a Vancouver-based primary reserve infantry unit, where his main duties are domestic emergency and disaster response, and community and civilian agency liaison. At time of writing he was also preparing for a six-month army deployment to Afghanistan in 2006 as part of Operation Archer.

Greene lives on a boat docked at Fisherman’s Wharf on Vancouver’s Granville Island. He speaks English, Japanese and French.

In 1993, while living in Japan, he’d written a critically-lauded book Bridge of Tears on the taboo subject of Japanese homelessness. Socially-conscious from the beginning, his latest project was a venture philanthropy initiative, encouraging fat cats to invest in Afghanistan’s rebuilding.

Bad DateIn 2001 his new book Bad Date:The Lost Girls of Vancouver’s Low Track, the first on the Missing Women case, had just come out to cautiously positive reviews. 

Over two years, Greene spent just about every day in the impoverished neighbourhood, eventually earning the trust of prostitutes, police and the families left behind. He paints a graphic picture of life in the ‘s most drug-addicted neighbourhood.

“What I was shocked at is the violence that is perpetrated on these women by normal, everyday johns every single day,” Greene said in an interview.

Nobody really wanted to be seen crowing about a book that laid out the fact that there was a serial killer on the loose in Vancouver. Unfortunately for Trevor Greene’s book (which I immediately bought because I was working on what I figured would be the SECOND book about the case), a few weeks after it came out Willy Pickton was arrested for those murders, essentially rendering Greene’s book, with its many theories and free-floating, faceless menace, obsolete.

I felt sorry for the lad.

A few months later, my friend Miss V asked me if I knew him; he’d applied for membership in her Social Empire. I said we’d never met, but that I knew his writing from the book as well as his social journalism pieces in the Georgia Straight, and he seemed like an earnest, educated, and interesting guy, not the fashionista A-List type (this was in the days before “metrosexual” was a term, but after it had become a lifestyle). No idea if she let him in or not, but smart money says yes.

Then, not one word from that time to this. Vancouver’s a small town. Six degrees of separation do not apply; six degrees do not exist. In this city, it’s two, at most three. Jounalists grow wary of chatting about stories, not for fear of being overheard and scooped, but because it’s quite likely that the barista, or the blonde at the next table, or someone else within earshot, is sleeping with/related to/BFF with the subject of the article.

Today, at the Shebeen Club, I found out the latest about Trevor Greene.

It happened in Shinkay. The man just can’t pick a good neighborhood.

Canadian Soldier Wounded in Afghan Ambush

The axe assault that badly injured a Canadian soldier was part of a deliberate ambush as troops met with village elders in southern Afghanistan, the military says.

Lieut. Trevor Greene, a journalist and former navy officer from Vancouver, suffered a serious head wound during the meeting near the small Canadian outpost at Gumbad, about 70 kilometres north of Kandahar.

Capt. Kevin Schamuhn, the commander who was leading the expedition, told CBC News that the Canadian troops had already visited several villages during the day to attend shuras, or meetings with village elders.

He said all of them had been peaceful events where they shared lunch or tea and introduced themselves.

The Canadians took off their helmets and put down their guns as they usually do to reassure villagers that they were friendly.

“There was no weird feelings. There was no gut feeling that something was about to go down. Everything was very calm and similar to the previous meetings.”

A minute later, a man who appeared to be less than 20 walked up behind Greene and pulled a half-metre-long axe out from underneath his clothes.

“He pulled an axe out from underneath his clothing and lifted right above his head, standing right behind Trevor,” said Schamuhn, who was sitting only about a metre away.

As he lifted up the axe, the man shouted “Allahu Akbar,” which means “God is great” in Arabic.

Then, said Schamuhn, “he swung the axe into Trevor’s head.”

“He was just really set on helping these people and doing it right. He’s just really well-spoken and mature. …He was just really looking forward to helping these people.”

He was shipped out to a military hospital in Germany immediately, via Black Hawk helicopter. After two months in critical care there, one week ago he was transferred to Vancouver General Hospital.

The emotional father of a Canadian soldier seriously wounded in an axe attack in Afghanistan welcomed his son home Tuesday, saying he’s improving every day.

Richard Greene said his son, Trevor, has been breathing on his own for the past four days and even managed to move his legs while in hospital in Germany.

“That apparently has some significance and we believe it (does.) We’re confident he’ll recover completely,” said Greene. “He’s just received great care.”

Greene had to pause to compose himself.

He said his son has received e-mails of support from around the world. Greene read them to his comatose son in Germany.

Greene described Trevor as “quite a lad.”

Richard Greene said Trevor volunteered to go to Afghanistan and hoped he could later get some experience at the United Nations.

“We’re very proud of him,” said Greene. 

His writing partner has put up a page on their website for the media. I’ll paste it here, with a couple of spam-reducing edits.

A Message to the Media and Concerned Canadians
 

From Shane Gibson co-author and friend of Trevor Greene

Thank-you for all of your prayers and concern for Trevor at this time.  I have passed on your well wishes to his family and those closest to him.  At this time I will not be commenting on interviews in regards to Trevor’s situation until he and his family give me the okay.His family is busy praying and hoping for the best and I will forward any requests to make statements or comments directly to them.  Just drop an e-mail to shane at closingbigger dot com. At this time I have been asked not to disclose their contact details.Trevor is very professional in everything he does.  This includes keeping in the strictest confidence the nature of his military responsibilities and past experiences while serving our country.  Your best source of information is from the Department of National Defense.Here’s what I can be quoted on:
 “Trevor is a talented author, an amazing Dad and partner, the kind of person you can count on always. He is deeply committed to protecting and preserving the freedoms we enjoy as Canadians.”

Kindest Regards,

Shane Gibson

Trevor Greene

Hemingway’s Nobel Acceptance Speech

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This is something I read at the Shebeen Club’s long-ago Hemingway’s Birthday Party. James Sherrett was kind enough to be one of our readers that night, with an excerpt from his very Hemingwayesque novel Up in Ontario.

Up in Ontario 

Our other reader was Lucan Charchuk, who has now read twice, as well as presenting some of his artwork.

Luke the Olive Vase 

When Lori Dunn and I began the Shebeen Club, we hoped that within a year we’d be using it to present living Canadian authors, instead of dead foreign celebrities. This was the first event at which we managed to do both, and almost a year ahead of schedule! There were challenges to be overcome, of course. Our event occurred during a bicycle race whose track completely encircled and cut off the pub, but our public was not to be thwarted, and we had a relatively full house. The readings went very well. Despite the dangerous concentration of so much masculinity in one room, violence was averted and a sense of calm, if really testosterone-fuelled calm, reigned.

This is the speech that a very ill Hemingway had the US Ambassador read as he accepted the Nobel Prize for Literature on Hemingway’s behalf. It tells you something about the courage of the two men above that they had the fortitude to read their own work after hearing this. Hemingway is, as always, honest to the point of acute pain. He sets the bar very high; may we all attain that height, if only for a moment.

Hemingway’s Nobel Acceptance Speech

Having no facility for speech-making and no command of oratory nor any domination of rhetoric, I wish to thank the administrators of the generosity of Alfred Nobel for this Prize.

No writer who knows the great writers who did not receive the Prize can accept it other than with humility. There is no need to list these writers. Everyone here may make his own list according to his knowledge and his conscience.

It would be impossible for me to ask the Ambassador of my country to read a speech in which a writer said all of the things which are in his heart. Things may not be immediately discernible in what a man writes, and in this sometimes he is fortunate; but eventually they are quite clear and by these and the degree of alchemy that he possesses he will endure or be forgotten.

Writing, at its best, is a lonely life. Organizations for writers palliate the writer’s loneliness but I doubt if they improve his writing. He grows in public stature as he sheds his loneliness and often his work deteriorates. For he does his work alone and if he is a good enough writer he must face eternity, or the lack of it, each day.

For a true writer each book should be a new beginning where he tries again for something that is beyond attainment. He should always try for something that has never been done or that others have tried and failed. Then sometimes, with great luck, he will succeed.

How simple the writing of literature would be if it were only necessary to write in another way what has been well written. It is because we have had such great writers in the past that a writer is driven far out past where he can go, out to where no one can help him.

I have spoken too long for a writer. A writer should write what he has to say and not speak it. Again I thank you.

life as we know it

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Tick

 

I really do need to get out more. Eight posts yesterday, so scroll back and enjoy? I think I actually have a sitting overuse injury. 

The Shebeen Club: A History in Press Releases

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So here, to give some background, are the press releases announcing each of our Shebeenmonthly Shebeen Club events.

What it is: a group for practicing literati, whether or not they are making money at it: agents, editors, publishers, spoken word performers, starving students, and even writers!

We do a lot of talking, a wee bit of learning, and a great deal of boasting. Drinking has also been known to play a part in our evenings.

What it is not: a hand-holding support group featuring aromatherapy-enhanced, tearful rounds of "Kumbyah," an open mic night (I've suffered at the hands of too many bad live performances), a boring old lecture series, or a critique group. I always say, they don't pay to publish me; they pay to edit me. Wouldn't mind being in a critique group, but it would get too expensive for the others.

The Procedure: Every month we have a new speaker do a brief presentation on some aspect of the literary. It's been everything from licensing your characters to a guided group reading of James Joyce set to the accompaniment of a conch shell horn. As is only right and traditional…um, right? Anyway, after the speaker stops talking (about a half-hour after they start, unless they've had quite a snootful) we all hang out and jabber about what we're doing now, what we want to be doing, how little we got paid for what we DID do, etc etc. White Rock may soon get a Writer's Festival, and the seed was planted at the Shebeen Club, last fall.

When I get the chance, I send out a roundup of community announcements and literary job listings to those who have actually attended, who automatically become members in our listserv; yes, you have to show up to get the joblistings. These will become more regular as I get back to jobhunting myself now.

I'm the only one who pays attention to the dress code, don't worry. I don't get to wear that bustle skirt nearly often enough!

Sean Heather makes sure we have a light dinner and alcoholic beverage included in the admission price, and keyed to the night's theme. An example was Joyce's favorite wine and sandwich on Bloom's Eve, of course. If you want more, you can always order off the Irish Heather menu or the Shebeen House whisk(e)y list, featuring something like 160 different kinds of hooch.

So, here, in reverse order, are the Shebeen Club Press Releases, once and for all. Archivists one day will thank me. Aw c'mon, sure they will. You may note that our pre-announced speakers don't necessarily synch up with our actual speakers; shift happens.

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For immediate release: post/forward at will! T Paul sez hi!

Who: The Shebeen Club presents Vancouver Spoken Word Performers 

What: Thundering Fundraiser for T Paul Ste. Marie!  

When: 7-10 pm Tuesday, June 20th, 2006 (3rd Tuesday ea month)    

Meet & Mingle 7-7:30

Listen & Learn 7:30-8

Poetry Slam Dancing and other Tipsy Cultural Mashups 8-10 

Where: The Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall

Why: Because Vancouver’s proudly homegrown talentT Paul shows off his pompadour regularly beats the best in the world. Because that talent grew in an environment pioneered by T Paul, founder of Thundering Word Heard. And because T Paul recently suffered a brain aneurysm and needs a helping hand rent-wise, there being little in the way of pensions and sick leave for Entrepreneurs of the Word, Spoken or Otherwise. 

How (much)? $15 before June 16th, $20 thereafter, includes dinner

All profits for the evening will be donated to the T Paul fund.

Instead of our usual door prizes, we will do a T Paul 50/50 draw. 

Reservations and media inquiries: lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom

New Format: Our new, lower admission price includes your choice of bangers and mash or vegetarian pasta, plus a glass of beer or wine. 

Background: Our New Shebeen Club Blog 

Bio: Our Spoken Word presenters are TBA and TK, but I guarantee you they will kick posterior to a TKO. As for our honoree, let’s go to the interview with Pandora’s Collective here: http://www.pandorascollective.com/inttpaul.html

T Paul says he started Thundering Word Heard with the idea that he wanted to create a place where both music and spoken word could come together and be given a place that was their own. And he has done just that. After three years the room is still full every Sunday night even on a long weekend. It takes a lot of time, commitment and a big heart to keep putting on something like this every single week. But it has paid off. Thundering Word continues to be a great success and T Paul’s reputation as a host and organizer continues to grow as well.

   “ I have my hands in a million and one things that all seem to have the center in that hub Thundering Word Heard.”

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For immediate release: post/forward at will!

Who: The Shebeen Club, Vancouver's monthly literary gathering

What: Edgar Allan Poe's 170th Wedding Anniversary! No gifts please.

When: 7-9pm Tuesday, May 16th, 2006 (3rd Tuesday ea month)

Where: The Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall

Why:  To honour the master of horrors, on this, the day of his ultimate horror. Although I'm sure the bride could say the same.

How (much)? $20 before May 12th, $25 thereafter; reservations and media inquiries: lorraine DOT murphy AT gmail DOT com.

Admission includes a Poe-tastic dinner/drink combo specially selected for appropriate thrills, plus door prizes embodying the grandeur of fallen gentility, a Poe-themed presentation, and a horribly good time!

Dress: Anything antique, anything Goth, anything shabby-genteel. Bonus prize for anyone who turns up with an actual raven, dead or alive.

Background: https://raincoaster.wordpress.com/2006/03/18/the-shebeen-club-a-history-in-press-releases/ ie right here!

Come with us, our clothes all tatty, we're Vancouver's literati,

Writing many a quaint and curious volume of best-selling(?) lore,

As we celebrate Poe's wedding, you can join us; they're both deading,

As they both croaked long ago, long ago, in days of yore.

"Bride and Groom, long dead," Sean mutters, "long ago, in days of yore; Missed the party, ever more."

And two ravens, never flitting, still are sitting, still are sitting

On the old Blood Alley railings just beyond the Shebeen's door;

And their eyes have all the seeming of some ghostlings that are dreaming.

And the streetlamp o'er them streaming shows their shadows on the floor;

And the Shebeen Club, under their gaze that steals in from outdoors Shall be uplifted—evermore!

Meet & Mingle 7-7:30 Listen & Learn 7:30-8 Whispered tales of undying madness and horror, like the mortifying time you confused August Derleth with Lord Dunsany 8-whenever Berenice comes for us.

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For immediate release: post/forward at will!

Who: The Shebeen Club presents Jeremy Hainsworth, crime reporter extraordinaire

What: My Life in Crime!

When: 7-9pm Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 (3rd Tuesday ea month)

Where: The Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall

Why: Voyeurism runs deep, baby! Find out what it really takes to do this job. It's not all fedoras and dive bars.

How (much)? $20 if you reserve before April 14th, $25 thereafter; email lorraine dot murphy at gmail dot com to reserve.

Includes a criminally good set light dinner and drink combo!

Putting the "laughter" in "manslaughter." With patented black humour, Jeremy will lead us down the dark and twisted alleys of a crime reporter's life. From paperwork to prison visits, we'll become one with the sordid underbelly of Vancouver. It's Blood Alley, so we're halfway there!

Jeremy will also be discussing (and bringing a copy of) the publication ban on the Pickton trial.

Dress: Clark Kent, Lois Lane, or Raymond Chandler. Ann Rule doesn't know how to dress!

Bio: Jeremy Hainsworth is one of a handful of journalists writing for the international media from Vancouver. As B.C correspondent for the AP, he has had the dubious honour of covering the ongoing hearings of alleged serial killer Robert Pickton and the Air India terrorism case. He has freelanced for Reuters, was senior crime reporter for The Calgary Herald, senior editor of Sterling News Service (his office was below that of Conrad Black's partner David Radler), and managing editor of the Dawson Creek daily paper where he covered his first murder from seeing the body to the release of the convicted youths. He has a diploma in journalism from Langara and a BA from UBC. His work has appeared in many of the world's major newspapers on every continent except Antarctica where penguins cannot read.

Meet & Mingle 7-7:30

Listen & Learn 7:30-8

Wistful reminiscences of hookers with hearts of gold 8-9 

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raincoaster media ltd presents:   The Shebeen Club: Tax Tips for Literary Professionals

When: 7-9pm, Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Where: the Shebeen, behind nope, nevermind; this time we're in the Reading Room, upstairs at the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver BC

How: reserve by emailing lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom

How Much: $20 to March 17th, thereafter $25 space-available; limited to 40

What: Mingling, presentations, and a special literary-themed light dinner & drink combo: maybe Po' boys?

Who: Why not you? Our presenter this month is author and tax specialist Sylvia Lim.

For more info or media passes contact : Lorraine @ raincoaster media 

This month the Shebeen Club welcomes two-time author and tax specialist Sylvia Lim for an educational presentation on tax tips to help practicing writers, editors and publishers get ready for T-Day.

Can you deduct the laptop? Maybe. The Editor's Association Membership? Probably. The blonde wig and sunglasses? Sorry, JT.  

Potted bio: Sylvia Lim, CFP, CGA, is the author of two books – the "Personal Budgeting Kit " (2nd edition, 2005), a step by step guide to methodically organize one's day to day finances; and "Finances After 55", a retirement and eldercare planning guide to help people live a full and successful retired life. You can reach Sylvia through her website: www.SylviaLim.com

Famous dead celebrities celebrating birthdays today include Charlotte Bronte , poet Phyllis McGinley, and Canada's own immortal Madame Benoit , so the dress code is accountant, repressed petticoat feminist, emo librarian, or crazy Quebecois chef . Chacun à son gout!  

Meet and Mingle 7-7:30

Listen and Learn 7:30-8

Frantic receipt-hunting and drunk-dialing your agent  8-9  

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What: The Shebeen Club: Vancouver's Literary Gathering: The Science and Fiction of Financing Your Publishing Project

When:                  7-9pm, Tuesday, February 21

Where:                 The Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall

How(much)?       $20 cash includes space-tastic set menu!

Why:                    Learn about this "Money" thing. Science, fiction, art?

The Science and Fiction of Financing your Publishing Project   with Sandford Tuey, author of The Morphine Chronicles, screenwriter of Galactic Gladiators, comic book empresario, Robert Ludlum boardgame designer, and force of nature.Learn from the unstoppable Sandford Tuey how to plan ahead for success, overcome obstacles, and keep a businesslike focus while still remaining true to your literary vision. From IPOs to business plans, venture capital road shows to cafe poetry slams, Sandford has been there, done that, and somehow made money at it. I wonder what that's like?

$20 cash covers the presentation as well as one Pangalactic Gargleblaster, plus cosmic In-Flight Tray of munchies. Can't beat that with a lightsaber!

Tuesday, February 21st @ the Shebeen behind the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver  

Meet and Mingle 7-7:30

Listen and Learn 7:30-8

Boozy Spock impressions and origami phaser construction 8-whenever they beam us up. 

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The Shebeen Club: Vancouver's Literary Gathering: A Very Bronte Birthday

When:                  7-9pm, Tuesday, January 17

Where:                 The Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall Street

How(much)?       $20 before January 13th, $25 thereafter

Why:                    Because it's been months since we celebrated a dead celebrity!

Our Story: We're the Shebeen Club, Vancouver's monthly Literary Gathering, and heirs to last year's Stammtisch. On the third Tuesday of every month we bring together BCers from every corner of the alphabet for networking, readings, launches, discussions, and serious drinking. Dorothy Parker would be so proud.

Our Names:  Lorraine Murphy and Lori Dunn . Writers. Editors. Teachers. Drinkers. So we're perfect for this.

Our Future:   Our next Literary Gathering is Tuesday January 17th from 7-9pm at the Shebeen; the theme is Anne Bronte's Birthday. We will be enjoying a traditional English meal of ham and cucumber sandwiches, washed down with sherry in true spinster fashion. We will also enjoy (?) a presentation on early petticoat feminism featuring guest appearances by Mary Wollstonecraft, George Sand, and other early feminists in addition to the birthday girl. If we finally decide who to blame for Camille Paglia, we'll let you know.

Dress poke bonnet optional, petticoats encouraged except on Luc. Includes light dinner and first drink. Full menu also available a la carte, and 100+ whiskies!

Reserve: by emailing Lorraine

7-7:30 Meet & Mingle

7:30-8 Listen and Learn

8-Whenever Gender Wars and Yorkshire Puddings at fifty paces

Coming up next month: Creative Ways to Realize Your Project, with Sandford Tuey

Coming in March, The Hero's Journey with Ginger Grant.

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The Shebeen Club: A Literati's Christmas In Gastown

When: 7pm till whenever, Tuesday, December 20th, 2005

Where: Upstairs @ the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall Street, Gastown, Vancouver BC

How: just show up and order off the menu. Easy! Or email Lorraine if you feel like it

How Much: pay for what you order. Don't forget to tip! 

What: Literary mingling, celebrating, season-keeping, festing (festivating?), and merry-making of all descriptions

Who: The usual suspects and anyone who wants to hang out and drink with Vancouver's literati

Special Instructions: Bring your friends and the name and author of your favorite holiday story. We'll be putting together a list of everyone's favorites and posting it on the website for deeply scholarly research purposes. Ho, ho, ho!

Join the Shebeen Club regulars for a brief respite from spending time with beloved family members. 

"We learn many things from our parents, as Hamlet can attest: abuse, deceit, vulgarity, condescension, hypocrisy, corruption, invasions of privacy, authoritarianism – and murderous rages." Quentin Crisp

So why hang out with them? Take a break and a drink with us. The evening will be unstructured, with no presentations. Drop in, drop out, and hang out with the Shebeeners. We'll do separate bills, and don't forget that this once, the Shebeen Club will be in the Irish Heather, upstairs where the tourists usually go. There will be a special seasonal beverage TBA, but I can promise you it won't be Hot Tom & Jerry, no matter how charming one may find it in Runyon's "Dancin' Dan's Christmas". One was once traumatized by a Hot Tom & Jerry or ten. I…uh…read it somewhere.

Bring the title of your favorite literary winterlude and its author (well okay, if he's dead just leave him there), and we'll make up a list of the Shebeener's Seasonal Favorites to pass around and show how erudite and shit we all are. Charles Dickens, Dylan Thomas, Henry VIII, Thomas Ligotti, Charles Schultz: you name it! Yes, scripts count too, but if you're going to list one of those, toss in a book or story for good measure.

Meet and Mingle       7-Whenever

Listen and Learn        ibid

 Wanton Wassailing, Sodden Carol-Singing, and Passionate Argument About the Word "Goodbyeing" ibid.

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Calvin and Hobbes

11/16-11/16: Shebeen Club: Playing the Numbers

raincoaster media ltd presents: The Shebeen Club: Letter to Ferlinghetti/Playing the Numbers A twofer!

When: 7-9pm, Wednesday, November 16th, 2005

Where: the Shebeen, 7 Gaoler’s Mews, behind the Irish Heather, Gastown, Vancouver BC

How: email lorraine.murphy@gmail.com

How Much: $20 to November 13, door $25 space-available, limited to 40

What: Literary mingling, door prizes, job listings, gastro-porn themed dinner and drink included!

Who: Lucan Charchuk, White Rock poet and artist, presents A Letter to Ferlinghetti

Who Else: Lori Dunn of the Shebeen Club presents Playing the Numbers, a gimlet-eyed look at the economics of publishing

Part the First: Shebeen Club stalwart Lucan Charchuk presents a preview of his November 23rd Co-op radio appearance: A Letter to Lawrence Ferlinghetti.

Charchuk’s work explores themes of identity, freedom and contemporary masculinity in a seemingly gender-neutral time, within the context of the New Beat tradition. Armed with a keen eye and human sensitivity, Lucan speaks with subtle satire and wit. The paintings ain't bad, neither.

Part the Second: Shebeen Club neural cortex Lori Dunn presents Playing the Numbers, a comparative analysis of the profitability of various kinds of books from the publisher’s point of view: from Gastro Porn to Literary Fiction, Textbooks to Self-publishing.

Come find out why Dave Eggers isn’t as rich as you think, why the Chicken Soup guy can buy and sell you, and where Martha really gets her money!

Meet and Mingle 7-7:30

Listen and Learn 7:30-8

Drown Sorrows and Vow to Buck the System  8-9 or, really, the rest of your life.

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raincoaster media ltd presents:   the Shebeen Club: Bookmakers Unite!  

When: 7-9pm, Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Where: the Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver BC

How: reserve by emailing lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom

How Much: $20 to October 15, thereafter $25 space-available; limited to 40

What: Literary mingling, presentations, announcements, job listings, and a special literary-themed light dinner beverage combo. Liter-a-licious!

Who: Why not you? Our presenter this month is Ann Vicente. For more info contact: Lorraine Murphy of raincoaster media ltd: lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom

Artists' Books:  Where The Medium is the Message
and the Large is Something Else Entirely

Join bookmakers of all descriptions for an introduction to the art of handmade artist's books. Prominent lecturer Ann Vicente from Emily Carr and UBC will discuss these works integrating the literary and visual arts, and show us her newest series of works, The Four Seasons. We'll also discuss the highly creative 1000 books project, raising money for the Queen Alexandra elementary school literacy fund. For those interested, a list of resources and classes will be available at the event as well as on our website.

Meet and Mingle 7-7:30

Listen and Learn 7:30-8

Drunken Origami Attempts and Fisticuffs over Thai vs French handmade paper 8-9  

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Who: The Shebeen Club (formerly Vancouver's Literary Gathering)

What: Appies, mingling and an exclusive screening of Scribes: So You Want to Be a Writer, a documentary filmed at the Surrey International Writers' Conference (www.siwc.ca).

Also, attend and get on our Literary Job Mailing List!

When: Wednesday, September 21, 7-10pm

Where: The Heritage Grill, 447 Columbia Street, one block from Columbia Skytrain Station

Why: Because it's that very special Wednesday, and you'll want to be anywhere but the Downtown EastSide!

Join us on the road for a very special presentation by Rusty Nixon, head of Antic Films (www.anticfilms.com) and former coordinator for the SIWC.

How: reserve your place by emailing lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom: $20 before September 15, $25 thereafter. Price includes an appy plate and glass of wine from the wonderworking house elves of the Heritage Grill. Cash only at the door, please; full menu is also available; veggies, please let us know in advance. Strictly limited to 40 spaces, so give it a click and save your space. We know you like your space…share it with us!

* Supercongrats to Nan Gregory, storyteller extraordinaire and winner of our Naming Contest. Thanks to Nan, we are now the Shebeen Club; Shebeeners for short. Nan's haul includes a bottle of wine from Gracious Host Events and a 90-minute stress-relief massage from TribalGlobe Massage.

This month the Artist Formerly Known as the Literary Gathering hits the pavement (or at least the Skytrain) and shares the luv with New Westminsterians of all descriptions at the funky new Heritage Grill on Columbia Street. Join all the usual suspects plus Rusty Nixon for a screening of his documentary Scribes featuring Diana Gabaldon, Jack Whyte, Terry Brooks, Michael Slade, Anne Perry and a collection of the best writing teachers, agents and writers ever to hit the Great White North. Bonus appearance by top New York literary agent and filmmaker's muse Donald Maas.

Rusty will be on hand to answer questions about the film and yours truly will be on hand in my alter ego as a Director of the SIWC to answer questions about the Conference, the largest public event in the City of Surrey.

Each year the SIWC brings together writers, publishers, agents and editors from all over the world for an intensive three-day immersion in the world of words.

Coming October 19: Artist's books and visual tomes, featuring Ann Vicente

November 16: Videopoetics

December 21: Holidays, you fool! So take some time off!

——————————————————————— stunt reading raincoaster media ltd presents: Literary Gathering: Bukowski's Hangover

When: 7-9pm, Wednesday, August 17th, 2005

Where: the Shebeen, behind the Irish Heather, 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver BC

How: reserve online @ https://secure.clearpro.com/literary/registration.asp

How Much: $20 to August 15, door $25 space-available; strictly limited to 40 places

What: Literary mingling, presentations, community announcements, literary job listings (if any!), light Bukowskian dinner and one Bukowskian drink (red meat and red wine?). Yankeelicious!

Who: For more information contact: Lorraine Murphy of raincoaster media ltd  lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom, 604-874-5051.

Got a little Barfly in you? Would you like some? Come out to the Downtown EastSide and experience with us the sordid wonders of Bukowski's Hangover (day after his birthday). The magic of the mackinaw; the poetry of the pilsner; the living death of the next morning… how can you resist?

Special guest, "the Norman Mailer of Vancouver, the sensitive Bukowski" Dennis E. Bolen will end a road trip from Banff by dropping by and introducing us to the wonders of his DTES novels Toy Gun, Stand in Hell, Stupid Crimes, Krekshuns, and the collection Gas Tank and Other Stories.

We'll also announce the winner of our Naming Contest ("Literary Gathering" just doesn't do it for us anymore…we've moved on). If you've got a better name for us, shoot me an email at lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom with "Contest" in the subject line and you could win a 90-minute stress relieving massage and a bottle of wine. http://www.tribalglobe.com) and Gracious Host Events (http://www.gracioushost.ca), as well as door prize sponsor BeautyMark Cosmetics.

Join Vancouver's Monthly Literary Gathering for presentations ranging from Gaius Valerius Catullus through Bukowski to Vancouver BeatPunk. Dress barfly, think Mozart and you\'re halfway there. Door prizes include a copy of the Vancouver punk classic, Hard Core Logo.

Meet and Mingle 7-7:30

Listen and Learn 7:30-8

Drunken Disagreements and Wild Accusations 8-9 or whenever you get thrown out into the street. Explain it to your editor as "an AUTHENTIC experience, man!"

Bongos and prison records optional.

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What: Vancouver's Literary Gathering: Hemingway's Birthday

When: 7-9pm, Wednesday, July 20th

Where: The Shebeen

How(much)? $20 before July 15th, $25 thereafter

Why: Not? Like you're doing something better on a Wednesday?

Our Story: We're Vancouver's monthly Literary Gathering, heirs to last year's Stammtisch. On the third Wednesday of every month we bring together BCers from every corner of the alphabet for networking, readings, launches, discussions, and serious drinking. Dorothy Parker would be SO proud. Our Names: Lorraine Murphy and Lori Dunn. Writers. Editors. Teachers. Drinkers. So we're perfect for this.

Our Future: Our next Literary Gathering is Wednesday, July 20th from 7-9pm at the Shebeen; the theme is Hemingway's Birthday. Canadian author James Sherrett will be reading Hemingway-inspired work from his new book. The event will feature Hemingway's favorite Daiquiri (no blender in sight!) and an authentically macho, game-based light dinner.

Dress safari or expat; bonus points for epaulettes. Tickets $20 to July 15th, thereafter $25. Includes light dinner and first drink. Full menu also available a la carte, and 100+ whiskies!

Reserve online: https://secure.clearpro.com/literary/registration.asp.

Both props and shout-outs to our sponsors for this month, because NOTHING is too good for these people: Beautymark Cosmetics in Yaletown, Urban Mixer www.urbanmixer.com, the Surrey International Writer's Conference www.siwc.ca, and TribalGlobe Massage www.tribalglobe.com. Q&A, 411, to get on our mailing list and more information: Lorraine Murphy Lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Bloom's Eve Celebration @ Vancouver's Monthly Literary Gathering

To commemorate Bloom's Day, the day on which James Joyce's book Ulysses takes place, Vancouver's monthly Literary Gathering will feature Joycean entertainment, presentations, food and drink. In the fine tradition of last year's Bloom's Day Marathon, selections from Joyce will be performed, and the authentically Irish setting of the Shebeen can only add to the green-tinged festivities, not to mention the green-tinged faces of the overindulgent the next morning.

Vancouver's Monthly Literary Gathering Returns!

7pm-9ish, third Wednesday of each month @ the Shebeen reservations: $20 lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom till June 10th, at the door $25

DETAILS: Heir to last year's popular Stammtisch, created by Christoph Kapp of McGraw Hill, the Vancouver gathering will revive the warm camaraderie and vicious rivalry that has characterized all great literary meetings from the days of the Algonquin Round Table to last week at Granta. The pen is mightier than the sword, so ditch the Kingdom of Heaven tix, stuff a sack with manuscripts, adjust your berets, and head down to Gastown's own Shebeen. Sink into a warm velvet banquette and enjoy our programme: your basic meet-and-mingle from 7-7:30, followed by a riveting, yet brief presentation, anything from poetry slam to State of the Modern Novel polemics, book launches to Exquisite Corpse storytelling, followed by Q&A and then breaking up into casual groups for wandering, boozy reminiscences of the time you saw Allen Ginsberg thrown out of the Carnegie Centre, etc etc.

There are only 40 spaces available for this event, so be sure to RSVP to reserve your spot at the table. Or the bar. Whatever. Reservations made in advance are $20 per person; four days before or at the door lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom, $20 to June 10th, thereafter $25 space-available only

Media contact: Lorraine Murphy of raincoaster media ltd, lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom, 604-874-5051 Payable in cash, please. Hors d'oevres and a drink are included in the price, and match the theme of each month's meeting. A full menu is available, as well as over a hundred different whiskies at the Shebeen, near the Gassy Jack statue, just behind the Irish Heather, down Blood Alley, and behind the red door. How could you resist an address like that, eh? Oh, fine. In the alley off Carrall near Water Street, 217 Carrall, to be precise. Happy now?

Allen Ginsberg was thrown out of the Carnegie. I'll tell you the story at the meeting if you ask nicely!

Literary Gathering 7pm, Wednesday, June 15th, 2005

Shebeen, 217 Carrall Street, Vancouver BC

Reservations: lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom, $20 to June 10th, thereafter $25 space-available only

Media contact: Lorraine Murphy of raincoaster media ltd, lorrainedotmurphyatgmaildotcom