Renfrew-Collingwood Community News

News stories from the Renfrew-Collingwood community in East Vancouver

Monthly Archives: November 2015


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Eating Out in RC – Freshii

Freshii
2920 Virtual Way #2 (@ Renfrew)
North of Renfrew Skytrain Station
(604) 253-3732

BY PAUL REID

Go try the Spicy Thai burrito at Freshii and find out why this new healthy fast food chain is sweeping the planet.

Go try the Spicy Thai burrito at Freshii and find out why this new healthy fast food chain is sweeping the planet.

Do you know about Freshii? This healthy fast food phenomenon started in Toronto by a young Canadian entrepreneur, Matthew Corrin, Freshii is growing by two to three stores per week and now has over 250 stores worldwide. Including, now, Renfrew-Collingwood.

Yay! This new location is located just north of the Renfrew Skytrain station, in the Broadway Tech Park at Renfrew and Virtual Way. Our Freshii was just opened in July by Rani Mannan and her husband, Mike. Experienced restaurateurs and franchise owners, this dynamic duo are preparing to open a second Freshii location at Station Square in Metrotown.

So what makes Freshii so special? How about a Buddha Satay with rice noodles, crispy wontons, carrots, broccoli, cabbage, green onions, peanut sauce Spicy Lemongrass soup with spicy lemongrass broth, rice noodles, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, mushrooms, cilantro. Or a Metaboost salad with field greens and spinach, kale, mangoes, carrots, edamame,  almonds, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette.

Yes, this is healthy food. To all of these, you can add tofu, chicken, steak or turkey. Also on the menu are burritos, juices and smoothies, frozen yogurt and chili.

I tried out the Spicy Thai burrito. This included quinoa, cabbage, carrots, cilantro, edamame and spicy lemongrass sauce – to which I added chicken. I also ordered a bottle of juice and some pita chips. Within just a few minutes, my burrito was ready, along with a couple of sauces: sriracha and ranch.

This burrito, no lie, was probably the best wrap that I have ever tried – and I’ve tried a lot. So delicious, and so packed full of fresh delcious flavours – Freshii definitely is a good name for this type of food. Perfect for that business person or teacher or student who wants something to eat on the run, but something healthy.

Yes! Healthy food, I thought, as I gorged on my nutritious burrito, can taste awesome.

Go taste for yourself why Freshii is sweeping the nation. They also do catering. Maybe your boss will spring for the famous catering box filled with popular chef-designed wraps and burritos with tofu or chicken; kale, quinoa, steak or gourmet tuna.

Bon appetit.

Copyright (c) 2015 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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What’s up at VIVO Media Arts Centre – Digital archives, exhibits and more

From VIVO’s poster collection exhibition, Videographics, curated by Paul Wong. Photo: VIVO Media Arts Centre

From VIVO’s poster collection exhibition, Videographics, curated by Paul Wong. Photo: VIVO Media Arts Centre

VIVO Media Arts Centre is one of Canada’s leading artist-run centres dedicated to the exploration, creation and dissemination of media arts. Since moving to Renfrew-Collingwood a year ago it’s become an integral part of our cultural community. In addition to its educational programs, artist-in-residence series, production support services and regular media art programming, it has brought some of Vancouver’s most innovative cultural events to the neighbourhood, including the International Symposium of Electronic Arts, LIVE Biennale of Performance Art and Vancouver New Music Festival.

What you may not know is that VIVO is also home of the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archive (CDMLA) – Western Canada’s largest collection of media art and independently produced documentaries. Its collection dates back to 1968 when Vancouver artists first got their hands on Sony’s revolutionary portable video recorders. The collection includes more than 6,000 video titles in addition to publications, documents, photographs, film and almost five decades of video technology.

Whether originally recorded on open-reel videotape or the latest digital technologies, the CDMLA makes rare works accessible to academics, curators, historians and the public through in-house research and curated exhibitions and events. There are several in the coming months you should check out.

Inside VIVO’s video archive. The display monitor was part of a larger exhibition by On Main Gallery entitled The Long Time: 21st Century Art of Steele + Tomczak. Photo: On Main Gallery

Inside VIVO’s video archive. The display monitor was part of an exhibit by On Main Gallery entitled The Long Time: 21st Century Art of Steele + Tomczak. Photo: On Main Gallery

From November 22 to 28, VIVO joins grunt gallery and Western Front in presenting the inaugural Vancouver Independent Archives Week, a diverse series of free public events illustrating the unique value of artist-based archives and the vibrant history they contain.

VIVO’s exhibition will provide an overview of the archive’s history, highlight recent creative research projects, and immerse visitors in new media art incorporating or working with archival material including sound pieces, experimental video and installations. It will also feature an evening screening of newly digitized video by Gayblevision, Canada’s first TV series produced by and for the LGBT community. This historic series documents the people, places, events and ideas that defined Vancouver’s LGBT scene in the 1980s. Gayblevision alumni will be in attendance.

December features two events. On Wednesday, December 2, Vancouver’s first feminist film and video production centre, Women in Focus, will be featured at CDMLA’s popular annual dinner fundraiser, EATa: Evening at the Archive. This intimate and interactive series invites guests to view materials unique to the archive around a specific theme and to engage in a collegial conversation with the artists and others who were critical players in that historical moment.

On Friday, December 4, the volume is raised as local punk legends donate their talent for a one-of-a-kind musical extravaganza in aid of the collection of artist, provocateur and punk videographer, Lenore Herb.

VIVO Media Arts Centre is located at 2625 Kaslo Street. For information on all VIVO programs visit their website at www.vivomediaarts.com or their Facebook page. Want to know more about the events above or the Crista Dahl Media Library & Archive? Email library@vivomediaarts.com.

Copyright (c) 2015 Renfrew-Collingwood Community News


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November 2015 issue of RCC News is here

This issue of the Renfrew-Collingwood Community News is full of the many wonderful people, events and programs happening in our neighbourhood!

RCC News November 2015Get your latest issue of the RCC News at your local coffee shop, grocery store, library and community centre.

Or click on the cover image to view the new issue.

In this issue:

  • Digital archive, exhibits and more at VIVO Media Arts
  • Legion Branch 48 update
  • Cathy Folkard – the light shines on
  • Eating Out in RC – Freshii
  • Read On returns!
  • Save bus service to Kerr, 54th Ave. and Tyne on the 49th Avenue bus
  • Homelessness Action Week focus on transit
  • Local athletes win at BC Senior Summer Games

Do you have a local story to tell or an event to share? We’d love to hear about it! Email rccnews-editorial@cnh.bc.ca.

The deadline for the December 2015 issue is November 10. You are welcome to submit a story from 300 to 400 words, with high resolution photos in a jpg at least 1 MB file size.