Queer Speed Dating

A friend of mine posted this in their Livejournal, and I wanted to advertise it here for a number of reasons:

1.) They don't want to waste paper on advertising, so they are relying on word-of-mouth and the use of the web (I admire that!)

2.) I don't think there are nearly enough events where people who are genderqueer (etc) can feel comfortable and welcome.

So check it out!

Volunteers Needed!

I probably sound like a broken record of sorts, but I want to really emphasize the need that a few local non-profits have for volunteers! If you have even a few hours on a weekend, you may want to be involved!

Vancouver Pride Season (volunteer for the Vancouver Pride Society)
There are several events coming up towards the end of July and of course, the biggest clump of events occur the first week of August! Volunteers get free T-Shirts, admission to events (ie. Gay Day at Playland!) and of course, you get to be apart of the biggest Pride events in Canada!
For more information, check out the VPS website volunteer form here:
http://www.vancouverpride.ca/involve_volunteer.cfm?pageid=8

Out On Screen
Out on Screen hosts the biggest queer film festival in Canada, and it is held right here in Vancouver! There are tons of volunteer positions available, so whatever you are good at doing, there is likely a volunteer position for you! I tend to be biased, but I recommend working on the new "Street Teams," where you get to dress up and hand out flyers in your favorite neighborhoods! The perks for Out on Screen are amazing: free tickets for every 5 hours you work, free volunteer T-Shirts, and a chance to network with some of the most important people in Independent Film!
For more information, check out the Out on Screen website here:
http://www.outonscreen.com/content/Volunteer/17/4/0

Car-Free Commercial Drive Festival
I cannot emphasize how excited I am that there are going to be two of these festivals this year! The first festival, which was held in June, was absolutely fantastic! The second (held on July 22nd) will be equally as fantastic, if not more. People are still needed to help with Barricades, so PLEASE consider signing up for a 2 hours shift! Volunteers get discounts on T-shirts and tanks, and access to a Green Room full of donated food and drink! This festival is highly organized and great if you are interested in social issues...
For more information, check out the website here!:
http://www.commercialdrivefestival.org/

July Events

JULY EVENT LISTING

Here is a brief list of some events coming up in July! I am so sorry it is posted later than usual!
ALSO: If you are interested in volunteering for ANY of the Pride events, or are interested in a Barricade shift for the Car-Free Commercial Drive Festival, PLEASE CONTACT ME AND I WILL ARRANGE IT! Your help is needed!!!

July 7th: Pancakes for Pride Pancake Breakfast (To Support the VPS), @ The Fountainhead Pub from 11am-2pm.

July 7th: Vancouver Pride Society Volunteer Open House, @ Little Sister's Bookstore on Davie in downtown Vancouver, from 11am-5pm.

July 13th: Doria Roberts Concert (an amazing queer performer), @ the Media Club (695 Cambie Street. Show starts at 6pm and costs $10. Don't miss it :)
For more info go here:
http://www.superdyke.com/eventinfo.php?loc=1&month=07&event=1469

July 14th: Picnic in the Park! (A Vancouver Pride Event), @ Brockton Oval in Stanley Park, from 11am-7pm. Check out more information on this event here: http://www.vancouverpride.ca/event-details.cfm?pageid=36&id=163.

July 21st: Gay Day At Playland!!!, @ Playland, of course!, from noon to 8pm. Wear a red shirt to show your pride! Check out more information on this event here:
http://www.vancouverpride.ca/event-details.cfm?pageid=36&id=166

July 21st: Out on Screen Silent Auction, @ Vancity Theatre (1181 Seymour) Starting at 7pm. For more info on this event check out:
http://www.superdyke.com/eventinfo.php?loc=1&month=07&event=1494

July 22nd: Car-Free Commercial Drive Day!, @ on Commercial Drive between 1st avenue and Venables, from noon to 8pm! Check out more information on this event here:
http://www.commercialdrivefestival.org/

July 29th: Dine With Pride (Dinner and Silent Auction), @ the Marriott Pinnacle downtown hotel from 6-8:30pm. Check out more information on this event here:
http://www.vancouverpride.ca/event-details.cfm?pageid=36&id=170

Reminder: East Side Pride This Saturday!

Just wanted to remind everyone that East Side Pride is only TWO DAYS away! I will post the event details below! I am the head volunteer in charge on the scene during the day, so I will be kicking around from about 8:30am to 6ish! Come say hi if you see me!


East Side Pride
Saturday, June 30/07
11:00am – 5:00pm
Come out and help the VPS kick off our Pride Season by celebrating East Side Pride in the Heart of Commercial Drive.This Festival will feature something from the very young to the young at heart and everybody in between, including the Dog.
East Side Pride Festival will feature live entertainment on our festival stage, great food, and variety of vendors from all over. This is your opportunity to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Stop by the VPS tent to buy your Pride merchandise and memberships.

For more information on this event, including a list of performers, check out http://www.vancouverpride.ca/event-details.cfm?pageid=36&id=161

Taste of Health 2007

This event won't appear on the events calendar until September, but I am going to give everyone a heads up! Earthsave Canada is holding the 9th annual Taste of Health vegetarian festival Saturday September 29th - Sunday September 20th! The event looks amazing... I'd go into detail, but I wouldn't be able to do the festival nearly as much justice as their own website:

http://tasteofhealth.earthsave.ca/

You may also want to check out the Earthsave Canada website, as it has the 2007 Greater Vancouver Area 2007 Vegetarian Directory which lists a vast number of businesses that cater to the needs of vegetarians, vegans, and health conscious people.

http://www.earthsave.ca/

June Events

JUNE EVENT LISTING

Here is a brief list of some events coming up in June:

June 6th: Superdyke Meet & Greet Wednesday, @ The End Cafe from 7pm-10pm

June 7th: Contraptioneers 1st, @ The Lamplighter from 9pm-12:30am (local queer group)

June 10th: GLASS Youth Choir Summer Concert, @ West Burnaby United Church from 7pm-9pm

June 16th: Pancakes for Pride Fundraiser, @ Characters Restaurant Patio on Davie and Thurlow, from 9am to noon (sponsored by the Vancouver Pride Society)

June 17th: Car-Free Commercial Drive Festival, @ Britannia Community Centre from noon to 6pm

June 17th: Vegan Potluck: Canadian Style!, @ the Vegetarian Resource Centre (2250 Commercial Drive), doors open at 6pm (for more information on this event, please go here:
http://www.vancouverveg.com/event.php?id=1227

June 21st: Beastie Bent, @ The Anza Club (3 w. 8th, Corner of Ontario) from 9pm to 2am

June 23rd: Serenity/Equality Now Fundraiser, @ the Pacific Cinematheque from 1pm to 5pm

June 30th: East Side Pride, @ the Britannia Community Centre from 1pm to 5pm (sponsored by the Vancouver Pride Society)

Right In Your Own Backyard...

Back in March when I went to EPIC, I was taken away by the concept of Cob houses. When I mentioned how interested I was in these marvelous homes, a few of my friends turned their noses up at the idea, as though I was pitching some sort of brand new "Urban Hippy" idea to them. Well, in reality, Cob houses have been around for thousands of years, and structures built out of Cob today have the capability of being magnificent, if not elegant. They are also far more economical and environmentally friendly than the cookie-cutter homes being pumped out today. The group at EPIC that was holding demonstrations on how to build your own Cob home is called MOBY and is located on Commercial Drive. Of course, another amazing group of people in East Vancouver doing great things for their community! In addition to involving themselves with the wonder that is Cobbing, their bigger project is creating gardens in spaces that would otherwise be garbage-filled urban areas! You should check out their group at their website:

http://www.myownbackyard.ca/

The process of building a Cob home is so much more personal than building a mainstream, run-of-the-mill, modern home... if you build your own Cob home, you really put yourself into it. You mash it down with your bare feet and hands, you feel the earth that you will be living within, and you form and mold your own walls and floors like they are a giant sculpture. There thought of this seems so romantic to me, and not only that, Cob homes are so much more environmentally friendly. On top of all this, building a Cob home is a community affair. A person can't just go out and say "I want to learn to build every part of a house," because it would be impossible. The person would have to learn carpentry, electric, plumbing, how to install carpets, etc, etc. But with Cob houses, there are fewer steps, and the steps there are, are easier to perfect. When a person wants to build a Cobb home, they take a thorough course that is sometimes just two weeks long. They then find another family that is building their own Cob home, and assist that family in building their home. That family later returns the favor, sort of under the concept of "paying it forward."

So when I got home, I started researching where I could learn to build a Cob house. I stumbled upon the website of the Lasqueti Mud Girls. The site reeled me in immediately... the programs they have are extremely fairly priced for what you get: a vacation, food, comradery, and skills that you will have forever and will be able to use to create lasting structures.

This outhouse from their photo slideshow, for example, SOLD ME on the Lasqueti Mud Girls:

This summer I am SADLY booked solid with volunteering obligations, but I am probably going to sign up for a fall course. Their first course starts on June 18th, 2007, and their last course starts September 3rd, 2007. For entire summer event lineup, follow this link:

http://www.mudgirls.ca/noflash_Site/upcoming.html

Their main website is at this next link, and you can choose between high and low bandwidth:

http://www.mudgirls.ca/

EPIC 2007 March 16-18

Just letting everyone know there is a sustainability conference going on in Vancouver from march 16-18. It looks really awesome! If you buy tickets online they are just $8. It looks really fun! I am probably going on Saturday, if anyone else wants to go!

The info is here: http://www.epicvancouver.com/main.cfm