April 2011

Photo essay about Cenquist's birthday.

- by admin



Last Friday a bunch of nerds took over a corner of The King's Head to have beers in celebration of @cenquist being another year older.

I hung with these fine tweeps, @adriantrimble, @kenquist and @rhondalmartens

Even Ty showed up for a bit!

and he brought Krash and Piasta and his cool hat with him.

He tried to teach Rhonda how to toss up a blood hand sign

but she couldn't quite figure it out

so she played with Adrian's face instead

and I learned that when the Brit begins to fall asleep at the bar it's time to go home (and have pizza).
 

Go, therewith, to Amsterdam

- by admin

There are lots of reasons I think living in the Netherlands would be neat.

Not only is my boyfriend Dutch, but they also have a crazy-cool language, delicious food (except the goat's feet) and a fascinating culture.

Oh, and they also have Sinterklaas


Don't let his kind face fool you.

Even though he kind of looks like Santa Claus, he and his Black Pete's show up on December 5th on a barge and leaves sweets and oranges in the shoes of good children, an will either put you in a sack and beat you with a switch if you're bad, or he'll put you in a bag and take you back to Spain.

(because apparently that's where Sinterklaas comes from)

And while that whole side of things is kind of weird I'm kind of loving this huge celebration with a guy who looks like the Pope riding around on a white horse

(or sometimes a bike, apparently)

and doling out sweets and threatening to kidnap children.

And, okay, while he doesn't actually do that for real it really seems to be a good reason to stay in line, don't you think? Personally the idea of an old man beating me with a switch or kidnapping me is more of a reason be good than just not getting any toys that year.

Plus he gives out tasty chocolate letters that match the first letter of your name
(one of which I got from Ty's family for Christmas -cute!)

This guy totally blows fat, boring old Santa Claus out of the water.
How do the Dutch be so cool?
 

Holiday, oh holiday!

- by admin



Exams are done!

Hello summer vacation!

Never mind that it's only 1 C° and it's nearly May.

Or that I just spilled coffee on myself (whoops).

I don't have to worry about essays, studying or exams until September and can focus on other cool projects instead!

Plus I have this amazing Vampire Weekend video to watch.

Beauty!


 

Let's shine brighter, let's be you and me

- by admin

You may recall last June when I attended a festival in downtown Winnipeg called the Manitoba Electronic Music Exhibition -MEME for short- (the flickr set is here). It was a fantastic time with lots of great music, solid people and an amazing venue at The Cube; in the Exchange District.

Based on last year's experience I was clearly pumped to go again, but this year I have even more of a reason to be excited: I've been brought on as the Communications Coordinator for the festival and will be collaborating with some seriously talented people to help enhance the festival this year.



Not only does MEME have a snazzy new logo, it also has a brand spakin' new website; jam-packed with info about the festival, artist bios and cool articles, but we're also on Twitter at @memefestival (so give us a Follow)!

I'm genuinely thrilled to be working with so many awesome people, like Nathan and Mich of Symptomtech, Adam of Balanced Records, Jabez, Skot (aka Mr Ghosty)and so many more creative, driven and inspiring individuals!

We have so much to offer everyone in #Winnipeg this summer and though we've all been working really hard to get the ball rolling, it's only just begun!

I foresee a jam-packed summer ahead :)
 

I am very glad

- by admin

New layout!

Thanks to Ty for the fabulous job!

Let's celebrate


 

Hallelujah

- by admin

Neighbour next door keeps listening to music really loudly.

In tonight's line-up it's been Culture Club, 80s power ballads and this cover:


(yes I know I should have shot it sideways. Sorry!)

after I shot this I played the original really loudly

he stopped for a minute

... and now he's playing Alanis Morissette.

 

Last one goes the hope

- by admin

The other week during one of our rare downtimes around the apartment Ty and I inhaled some home-made nachos and kicked back to watch Exit Through the Gift Shop on Netflix.


My old roommate was super into street art (and even went as far as making his own stencils -something that really inspired me) and one of the ways that we bonded when we first met was over a shared love of Banksy's work.

I didn't get to check out his art show in Bristol, but I stalked the web for information and pictures, he's a complete genius.

I've had a subscription to Juxtapoz for a few years and read a lot of local 'zines and G Spot Love about art but it wasn't until I saw this film (which is fantastic, meta, insightful and hilarious, make sure you see it if you haven't already) that I really took an active interest in street art beyond the big names like Shepard Fairey and Invader (whose 8-bit art makes me think of my friend Skot aka Mr. Ghosty).

As a result I've become inspired to find really cool street art around #Winnipeg and to start flexing my personal artistic muscle more!

Not as street art, I don't think, but I've always been interested in collage, découpage and stuff like that. I've always been inspired by artists like Matisse, Rotella and Felipe Consalvos (whose work you can see below)
This summer I'm going to really push the envelope with my art. Maybe I'll plan a painting and picnic date with Ty at some point once it gets warmer? (That is, assuming we have the time!)

Who knows, maybe I'll even be brave enough to actually share some of it here!
 

Booksmart devil

- by admin

Just finished watching the Leader's Debate on CBC just now... gotta jet to a meeting about some super-cool stuff I'm getting involved with, but here are my thoughts on it as it happened via my Twitter feed.

- (retweeted) @zachbussey Stephen Harper's hair is getting into Donald Trump territory.

- Seems like @jacklayton has been studying Obama's speeches. He's unbelievably well-spoken.#Cdnpoli #cdnvotes

- @christineestima exactly what I just yelled out #Cdnpoli

- I love watching Gilles Duceppe get all fired up! He's so angry#Cdnpoli #cdnvotes

- Why can't Harper look at ANYONE? #Cdnpoli #cdnvotes #debate

- Loving the sassy Michael Ignatieff hand on hip! #Cdnpoli #cdnvotes #debate

- @jacklayton making awesome points about equal representation and the Senate #Cdnpoli#cdnvotes #debate

- (retweeted) @tidewaters Electoral reform!!! Go, Jack!!!

- I'm so stoked for the French Debates later this week, I want to see Duceppe kick ass

- @jacklayton bringing up his yellow fever!

- Whether you love or hate the #NDP, @jacklayton is kicking ass this#debate! I'm so impressed

- RT @Darcy_Lussier he isn't even looking at the voters, he looks like he's looking at the floor

- En français... Well played, Mr Ignatieff

- "These statements aren't true because I say they're not true" - Stephen Harper #misquote

- RT @christineestima Harper doesnt favour multiculturalism, he favours rich foreign diplomats and oil tycoons

- RT @RoseBeerGoggles I'm taking a drink every time Harper says "that's simply not true." So I'm watching these debates totally shmammered. Thanks guy!

- "We respect every party" says Harper. What a hypocrite

- Ignatieff just cleaning up on justice and crime, we're not the US!

- "Mr Harper is soft on crime even in his own office"... You just KNOW Duceppe has been waiting to use that one! Zing!

- Oh totally, it's palpable RT “@mr_mulligan: is it just me or does Harper have the knob cranked to maximum smug tonight

- RT brundle_fly CRIME: Harper's sweatin' like Rob Ford at a Mexican Hot Sauce convention.

- That's been a #fail" on this while thing. Omg @jacklayton ILU!

- RT christineestima Did jack just say "bling" and "hashtag fail" in the breath?!!!!! I love him

- @jacklayton just KICKING ASS with those jabs at Harper

- RT zachbussey Jack Layton, Prime Minister of Twitter.

- So impressed on @jacklayton's views on crime. Bringing up violence against women, yeah!

- Here we go on Health Care...

- Stephen Harper shouldn't be talking about "accountability"

- Thank you @jacklayton for bringing up privatization in the health industry!

- RT @christineestimaSupport the stache! RT @stilez: Layton has impressed me most tonight on points raised & made. It's the power of the stache #SupportTheStache

- I love how Stephen Harper keeps telling me what I think about everything

What did you guys think? Did you watch?

My little crew at home was cheering hard!

GO JACK!!

 

010000010110110001111001011100110110111101101110

- by admin

People can say whatever they want about the winters in Winnipeg (and I'd probably agree) but our in-between seasons are absolutely gorgeous, and today is one of those fine Spring days.

It's sunny, there's a slight breeze and I can't help but start thinking about one of my favourite things that happens each spring: March of the Robots! You may remember my jaunt with Santacon this past December, so you know there are few things I love more than making costumes and being ridiculous (not to mention it's a pub crawl so you know it's going to be an adventure!)

Needless to say I am eagerly anticipating the March, in fact the title of this post is my name -Alyson- in binary!

Here are some shots I took from last years MoTR:
Ty, our fearless leader!
My steampunk cyborg costume had retractable wings -how awesome is that?!
The crew who met at The Forks at the beginning of the march (the location changes every year, as does the pubs/bars we hit up on our adventure -we like to keep things interesting)
As you can see there are all sorts of different robots who come out to make the trip with us! The best kinds of costumes are the ones that are hand-made, but if you're pressed for time pick up some blinking lights and tin foil and come along anyway!

This year the March is May 28th, and you can keep up with all the info on the website, FaceBook page, and Twitter feed @Robotmarch -whichever way works best for you.

I'll be posting up progress pictures of my costume here as well as on my Twitter. I'm so torn over what to do this year and anxious to start building!
 

Change is gonna do me good

- by admin

This is what I had for lunch yesterday.
It's called the "Osborne Branch" crepe and it has chicken and bacon and cheese and Ranch dressing and all the stuff I don't usually eat which is why it was extra-good
and it was from this place called Kawaii Crepe and I'm in love with it
later on in the eve Ty went to the Planetarium 'cause he was VJing for this neat party
so Jabez came over and we had after a jaunt to Tavern United for eats and more beers
and a ridiculous story about a cat
we joined Cenquist, British Adrian his gf Rhonda and our latest addition to our little Twitter family Kenquist for more Half Pints at Lo Pub
where we debated heavy topics like politics
and The Internet
and watched Kenquist fail at trying to pick up some chick
because I told him that girls in white pants are slutty
which didn't help his chances
but is a statement I still stand by.

Eventually we all parted ways and they went to a hip-hop burlesque show (what?!) and Jabez and I continued on to the show Ty was doing: Yuri's Night: World Space Party where there was lots of beer, free pizza and space-type stuff
I spent way too much of the evening half-assedly hitting on the girl dressed up like Leeloo
but can you blame me?
There was tons of cool stuff to do besides get yr drank on and eat free 'zah

like building your own race car out of little plastic parts and racing it
a mirror room with lasers that smelled like weed
visuals in the Planetarium from MrGhosty and FLAME WAR (aka Ty) and music courtesy of
Freaky Alien
Dial-Up
Lebeato
THE SHAKE
plus another bunch of djs in the main area with all the cool stuff so you could jam out while you learned about space
The Winnitron (!!!)
giant yellow things that let you talk to someone across the whole room
a thing that lets you make little tornadoes
movies about space
and a thing that lets you pretend to be on a spaceship:
you would have to be stupid to not love space after this evening.

 

« Newer posts

Older posts »