Pender Grocery

I dig the type and colours.

New Ink

I was wandering around Gastown and came across this new tattoo studio that I'd never seen before. It looked like a dope space, so I went in to check it out. The guys were all real cool, and I already had an idea for my next piece, so I decided to just go for it and get it done. Check out the studio here. I'll post some pics of the new ink later.

Save-On Meats

Downtown Vancouver, as you get closer to skid row, has a lot of colourful signs and even more colourful characters..  Save-On Meats is a Vancity icon.

Downtown Vancity

JD's

Stopped in for a quick clean up and indulged in a hot shave (which in total cost 60 bucks?! what the..) before heading back to my $1.50 ghetto cuts in Shanghai. Looks like that guy could do with a trim on that 'stache and ponytail too.

Pretty Fast, But Not Furious

At my bro's shop.

You can check out his shop here.

Is That A Wrench In Your Pocket, Or Are You Just Happy To Work Here?..

With my brother at Canadian Tire picking up stuff for his truck. I miss walking down the rows and rows of car parts, accessories, tools, lubes, sprays, hoses, and fixtures, along with the inflatable swimming pools, cheap plastic patio furniture, and tacky lawn ornaments, all with the ever-present smell of tire rubber and motor oil lingering in the air.

I always joke with him (but I'm kinda serious), that when I move back to Vancouver, for the first 6 months, I just want a job at Canadian Tire, stocking shelves, talking to guys about guy stuff, and finishing work at 5:00pm on the dot, with nothing to worry about after except whether there is beer in the fridge still, who the Canucks are playing that night, and what kind of meat I'm gonna grill on the BBQ..

Beer Testing - Round 22 (Canadian Open, Day 2)

Back in Vancouver again after my L.A. trip, the testing continues..

Defending Champ

Name: Asahi "The Master" Pilsner

Origin: Tokyo, Japan

Alcohol: 5.5%

Price: USD2.55/can USD0.73/100mL

With a score of 8.95/10 and 7 wins in a row, this beer is looking unbeatable.

Challenger 1

Name: Konig Ludwig Weissbier

Origin: Germany

Alcohol: 5.5%

Price: USD2.73/500mL bottle USD0.55/100mL

Pretty smooth, with no bite. Not a lot of depth compared to other wheat beers, but maybe that's why I liked it, as I'm not a fan of the strong tastes of cloves that most wheat beers tend to have. Final score 7.35/10.

Challenger 2

Name: Mt. Begbie Brewing Co. Attila The Honey

Origin: Revelstoke, B.C.

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD4.50/650mL bottle USD0.69/100mL

A nice, deep caramel colour on the pour. It's sweet, and you can really taste the honey. I liked it, but my brother thought it was just ok. Final score 7.55/10.

Challenger 3

Name: Baltika 3

Origin: St. Petersburg, Russia

Alcohol: 4.8%

Price: USD2.54/500mL bottle USD0.51/100mL

It states on the bottle, "The Famous Beer of Russia." If by "famous" they mean "watery tasting, fizzy, and stinks", then I agree. Too bad we never saw Baltika 1 and 2. As with most sequels, they tend to get worse as they go. Sorry, but I say nyet. Please stick to making vodka. Final score 4.2/10.

Challenger 4

Name: Driftwood Brewery White Bark Wheat Ale

Origin: Victoria, B.C.

Alcohol: 5%

Price: USD4.63/650mL bottle USD0.71/100mL

This is a Belgian-style wheat ale with the addition of freshly ground coriander and orange peel, which gives it a slight citrus flavour. While we were choosing beers at the liquor store, my brother was reading the label on the bottle, when a girl walks up next to him and asks, "Have you tried that one before?" He tells her that he hadn't, to which she says, "I was just about to buy a couple bottles. It's friggen delicious!" Well, with that kind of endorsement, I guess we had to try it. Unfortunately though, it didn't quite live up to the glowing review. It was just ok. Final friggen score 6.85/10.

Asahi "The Master Pilsner" takes its 8th straight win!

Touch The Sky

No more skyscrapers to block the view, no more constant grey haze. Just the vast blue sky and fluffy white clouds of home..

Pushing Up Daisies

Late night in the garden.