Black Dog Newsletter for Week Ending April 30th

So I had a pretty good response to last weeks newsletter in which I touted some of Black Dog’s favorite things (businesses primarily) in each of the hoods where we reside. Here’s a few comments from some readers on things they liked and things I missed…
For the Drive.
The newly landscaped Grandview Park with it’s people-friendly “Town Square” design, a fabulous western City view at sunset and excellent bathrooms.
Joe’s Coffee (The untrendy coffee tradition for all of us non-trendies)
Elizabeth’s Bakery for their cheap and tasty Goulash soup and meat pies.
SuperValu 1st and Commercial (Not the best or cheapest supermarket but it’s Greater Vancouver’s only S.M. that’s open 24/365 for us night owls and shift workers and has underground parking Wow!)

Cambie Hood
I’ve been a patron at Thai Away Home for many years. They weathered the Canada Line construction and are still going strong. My partner and I (he buys stuff for me-yes!) also shop at Cocoon. They have beautiful, locally made clothing and accessories for women.
I think you were were remiss to include Walrus on your list of Cambie St businesses. Great store often carrying locally made items.
I’m surprised The Kino Cafe was not mentioned for The Cambie hood. It has long been a fine independent business even before the current owners took over many years ago.

So there you have it – some more places to check out in the neighborhoods. It’s refreshing to get a response to this newsletter that isn’t “please remove me from you mailing list”. I only got one of those last week!

Slim picking for New Releases this week – next week it picks up again followed by many a strong week. In the meantime, catch up on some great TV on the DVD or even, gasp, rent something old!

New Releases for Tuesday April 24th

The Big Fix – Doc about that horrendous BP Oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. Should be good for a few laughs. That is if you find baby seals covered in oil funny. You’re so cruel.

Cinema Verite – Diane Lane, Tim Robbins and Tony Soprano star in this cool looking docudrama about the first American family to be the subjects of a reality TV show. Little did they know that they would change the TV world into the tepid hellscape that it is today.

Contraband – Remake of the pretty good (from what I hear) Icelandic thriller Reykjavik-Rotterdam. It’s actually directed by the guy who starred in the original. Not too sure why I mentioned that, thought it might be of interest I guess. This remake stars Marky Mark (not too sure if there’s any shots of him in his underwear) as a guy who used to be involved in smuggling and stuff who get “pulled back in to do one last job”. I’m sure the usual hijinks ensue. Also on the Blu Ray.

Domain – French film finds the lovely gap-toothed Beatrice Dalle playing a teacher who enters into some sort of relationship with one of her students. Don’t know if that’s a sexy type of relationship but I like this description by Indiewire – Imagine “Harold and Maude” directed by Eric Rohmer with shades of film noir and doused in philosophical chatter enhanced by ample white wine. There ya go.

Frozen Planet – Another one of those amazingly filmed animals doing animal shit docs narrated by David Attenborough. This time around it looks at those crazy animals that live at the earth’s poles. Why anything would want to live there is beyond me. Also on the Blu Ray.

In the Land of Blood and Honey – I know that everyone loves a little blood and honey on their toast but I can’t imagine that premise going very far. Oh wait, I was thinking of something else. This is a heavy duty drama set during the Bosnian war that finds a Serb and a Bosnian entering into a complicated affair. Don’t expect a lot of laughs here – no oil covered seals for your enjoyment. Directed by the uber-lipped Angelina Joile. Also on the Blu Ray.

Pariah – From all accounts this is an excellent drama that finds a young gay teenager trying to deal with her traditional family and being true to herself. (Did I just write that? Eww).

The Wicker Tree – Kind of a sequel, maybe a remake of the awesome cult favorite Wicker Man. This time around a couple of missionaries travel to the remote Scottish island inhabited by weirdo hippies and Christopher Lee. Written and directed by the guy who made the original. Hope that its as weird and sexy as the first one although I’m not expecting good things here. Not too sure why this film exists. Might be of interest to fans of the original.

Coming Next Week

Dark Tide
Haywire
George Harrison – Living in the Material World
Joyful Noise
Nazis at the Centre of the Earth
New Years Eve
Great Expectations
The Innkeepers
Tomorrow When the War Began

Recently Viewed and Recommended

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Shame
Tyrannosaur
Treme Season 2
Into the Abyss
The Killing Season 1
Game of Thrones Season 1
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Tinker Tailer Soldier Spy
Young Adult
Elite Squad: Enemy Within
Housemaid
Shameless Season 1
Good Neighbors

That’s about it for this week folks. Have a fine week. Sorry about the Canucks. The weather is still dodgy so it’s a swell time to rent a flick. Come on down and we’ll fix you up!