Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending April 23rd

I was thinking to other day how lucky I am to live and work in, not one but, two great neighborhoods in this fine city. And it got me wondering as to what makes a neighborhood great? Well you have stuff like parks, and good neighbors and a relative safe environment, but for me at least, what makes the Cambie hood and Commercial Drive two of my favorite places in town are the fine selection of small independently run businesses. I mean really, have you ever heard anyone say that their neighborhood is fabulous because they live next door to a giant Best Buy or Canadian Tire? Small businesses are the lifeblood of a good hood and can enrich our lives and those of us around us. So all that said I’d like to give a shout out to some of our favorite places to patronize. Try these places out if you already haven’t and help keep your hood a fabulous place to live. If I missed any or if you have a particular favorite please feel free to chime in.

Cambie Hood

Biercraft, Benton Brothers Cheese Emporium, The Dutch Wooden Shoe, Pronto, Choices, Honey Romantic Gifts, Tokyo John Sushi, Beans Coffee, Shiro Sushi, Park Theatre, Firefly Wines and Ales, Las Tortas, Pied a Terre, Cambie General Store, Cambie Cycles.

Commercial Drive

Biercraft, Liberty Wine Merchants, Daily Catch, JN and Z Deli, Moccia Butchers, East Village Bakery, Pharmasave on the Drive, Kishimoto Japanese Kitchen, Rio Theatre (Yay, they can finally start showing films again!),
St. Augustines, Continental Coffee, Turk’s Coffee, Prado Coffee, Little Nest, Via Tevere Pizzeria Napoletana, Sophie’s Pet Palace, Havana (for their patio), Britannia Community Centre, Dandelion Kids, Norman’s Fruit and Vegetables, Libre Room, Dilly Dally Toys, East Van Co-op, Drive Organics, Chop Shop Hair, Fratelli Bakery.

Also just wanted to mention that we’re winding down our fabulous DVD sale. Another week or so and that’s it folks. We still have plenty (especially at Cambie) of titles left and we’ve even reduced the price to get these things moving. All DVDs are now only $4.00 each or 3 for $10.00! Holy cow! It’s be wrong not to stop in and buy some.

One other note – Please don’t call the store (Commercial location specifically) and request us to come outside to fetch your film for you because you don’t want to or can’t find a place to park your car. We’re too busy to provide that service. Thanks.

New Releases for Tuesday April 17th

Bob’s Burgers Season 1 – Love this show about the Belcher family who run a hamburger restaurant with hilarious results. Snappy writing, great one-liners and zingers and a cast of great characters elevate this show far above any other animated show on the telly. I’m looking at you Simpsons, Family Guy et all.

If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front – Acclaimed doc about the Earth Liberation Front, the radical environmental group that the FBI calls America’s ‘number one domestic terrorist threat.’ Really FBI? That’s the best you can do? What about all those weirdo survivalists and weirdo fundamentalist that your country is teeming with? Me? I’m a member of the radical Sandwich Liberation Front and I just liberated one into my belly a few moments ago!

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol – Pretty entertaining actiony flick starring Mr. Katie Holmes. Great stunts – especially the scenes involving a really high building and stuff (I saw this on the IMAX and it totally flipped my hair back). Directed by Brad Bird (Iron Giant, Incredibles). And it can’t hurt to have Simon Pegg in any film, really. As for the plot? I’ve seen the film but couldn’t tell you really what it was about. Don’t think that it matters all that much. Also on the Blu Ray.

Queen of the Sun: What Are the Bees Telling Us? I’ll tell you what they’re telling us; Bzzzzzzz. Anyways, this doc takes a look at two very important things – what it means to the earth’s survival if the bees disappear (which they have been at an alarming rate). I read somewhere that if the bees vanish, then people have about 4 years until we’re all gone a s well. The other very important thing this doc let’s us in on is how to attract bees to your face so you can sport an impressive beard of bees. And really who doesn’t want to try on a beard of bees at some point in your life?

Shame – Michael Fassbender stars as a depressingly out-of-control sex addict. Then is crazy sister ( the impossibly cute Carey Mulligan) comes to stay for a visit, putting a crimp (to say the least) in his lifestyle. I imagine most would think that being a sex addict is a good thing, but like most addictions it’s not entirely roses and sunshine. Blu Ray was late – should be here soon.

Treme Season 2 – More drama and comedy and music and food and everything in between in this fine fine show set in New Orleans in the aftermath of Katrina (the hurricane).

Tyrannosaur – Great heavy drama directed by Paddy Considine and starring Peter Mullen as a man driven by rage and hate and more hate with a little rage on the side who has a chance at some sort of redemption. A fine film who’s only flaw was the noticeable lack of Tyrannosaurs.

Coming Next Week

In the Land of Blood and Honey
Let the Bullets Fly
Pariah
The Wicker Tree
Big Fix
Cinema Verite
Contraband

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