Nightlife Discussion

[worldwide]

Originally Posted by MistyMountainHop

Ugh, why are people buying into Funktion One's marketing? The Commodore's L'Acoustics rig could kick its ass any day.

yeah but when was the last time there was a good rap show at the commodore? different audience

[SpongeG]

a peek inside celebs...

• Video Link

[giallo]

Fortune Sound Club's first anniversary

• Video Link

[SpongeG]

an interesting read

Survival of the single screen

Neighbourhood theatres survive in a multiplex market by understanding their audience

BY JOHN MACKIE, VANCOUVER SUN OCTOBER 23, 2010 4:27 AM

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Survival+single+screen/3716791/story.html

[djh]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

an interesting read

Survival of the single screen

Neighbourhood theatres survive in a multiplex market by understanding their audience

BY JOHN MACKIE, VANCOUVER SUN OCTOBER 23, 2010 4:27 AM

http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Survival+single+screen/3716791/story.html

From the article:

"The Hollywood [has a future] because he owns the property," says Schein.

"But at a certain point the landlords of the Park and the Ridge and Vancouver East will redevelop that property for condos and retail, and they won't be there any more.

"The Stanley became a live theatre, the same as the Vogue, which is no longer a movie theatre. The Orpheum is no longer a movie theatre, the Capitol is now condominiums. You could go on and on."

I live a couple blocks from the Park and it's an integral part of that neighbourhood. Yes, it's inevitable that some day the landlord will want to tear it down and build condos on top of retail. In my dream development, the neighbourhood, city and Schein would petition the landlord to include a 3-screen cinema in the redevelopment - it would keep the neighbourhood as a local hub, allow space for other draw retail (maybe some of the existing stores could come back bigger and better), and maybe the city would give the developer extra density in exchange?

[SpongeG]

I just heard on facebook that all 3 venues at the Lotus have suddenly shut down and speculate they will be made into more yuppie sports bar kinda places

[jlousa]

That is a shame, I'm not to surprised if it's true though as outside long weekends there was never a line to get in nor were there many people inside.

[logan5]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

I just heard on facebook that all 3 venues at the Lotus have suddenly shut down and speculate they will be made into more yuppie sports bar kinda places

I still see events listed for Lotus Sound Lounge, so hopefully that report is wrong. The Lotus is a great alternative to crap offered on Granville St.

[quobobo]

Originally Posted by logan5

I still see events listed for Lotus Sound Lounge, so hopefully that report is wrong. The Lotus is a great alternative to crap offered on Granville St.

Sadly it's true - the organizers for Ice Cream Social sent out a message confirming it earlier today. Apparently they received almost zero notice from the owners.

[giallo]

Damn. That sucks. The Lotus was a staple back in the day.
The hope is that the new crop of good underground clubs and bars start to open up around the further east end of the DTES and around Fraser St. Obviously, the rents are too high to have good, cheap dive bars and UG clubs downtown.

[SpongeG]

it was always packed when i used to go - but it relied on scene nights as do most places - one night standing room only next night a ghost town

[nova9]

The current trend right now in Toronto and other Eastcoast cities are luxury sports bars - using huge screens and large, lush seating for the crazed sports fan with food that is "elevated" above "bar food" so as to invite casual fans or the non-fan to take part as well. The model for all the new sports bars in this style models this huge one in Toronto. Vancouver has one already - Red Card (http://www.redcardsportsbar.ca/index.php)

[Smooth]

I'm hoping that if the casino next to BC Place is approved they'll have a sports bar similar to Schanks Sports Bar that's attached to the Starlight Casino in New Westminster.

Vancouver could really use a big sports bar like that one.

[SpongeG]

wow

Rickshaw's liquor licence ends long dry spell

Permit for sale of alcohol at music venue is the first of its kind issued in area in more than 20 years

By Jeff Lee and John MacKie, Vancouver Sun July 1, 2011


David Duprey stands outside his Rickshaw Theatre on Hastings Street. The permanent liquor licence granted to his live music venue means he will now have an easier time finding investors, he says.
Photograph by: Steve Bosch, PNG, Vancouver Sun

Vancouver city council approved a permanent liquor licence Thursday for the Rickshaw Theatre, the first of its kind issued in the Downtown Eastside in more than two decades.

The decision, which was not opposed by neighbours, opens the door to other live performance venues that have been using temporary event licences in order to serve alcohol.

David Duprey, owner of the Rickshaw at 254 East Hastings, said that since opening the Rickshaw two years ago, he has had to be creative in obtaining special-event licences for his 490-seat theatre. He's used staff, his manager, even his wife to apply for the permits, which are limited to two per applicant per month. The Rickshaw holds 10 to 20 events per month.

Vancouver rarely issues new permanent liquor-primary licences. People who want to start up a new bar usually have to buy their licence from another bar that's going out of business, at up to $1,000 per head.

The city has also had a moratorium on issuing liquor licences in the Downtown Eastside since 1990.

But city council said Thursday that the Rickshaw would have a different clientele from walk-in bars in the Downtown Eastside because liquor sales would only be made to patrons of their live events.

...

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Rickshaw+liq...g+spell/5034599/story.html#ixzz1QrRtV3ZY

[delboy]

Originally Posted by SpongeG

wow

Rickshaw's liquor licence ends long dry spell

Permit for sale of alcohol at music venue is the first of its kind issued in area in more than 20 years

By Jeff Lee and John MacKie, Vancouver Sun July 1, 2011


David Duprey stands outside his Rickshaw Theatre on Hastings Street. The permanent liquor licence granted to his live music venue means he will now have an easier time finding investors, he says.
Photograph by: Steve Bosch, PNG, Vancouver Sun

Vancouver city council approved a permanent liquor licence Thursday for the Rickshaw Theatre, the first of its kind issued in the Downtown Eastside in more than two decades.

The decision, which was not opposed by neighbours, opens the door to other live performance venues that have been using temporary event licences in order to serve alcohol.

David Duprey, owner of the Rickshaw at 254 East Hastings, said that since opening the Rickshaw two years ago, he has had to be creative in obtaining special-event licences for his 490-seat theatre. He's used staff, his manager, even his wife to apply for the permits, which are limited to two per applicant per month. The Rickshaw holds 10 to 20 events per month.

Vancouver rarely issues new permanent liquor-primary licences. People who want to start up a new bar usually have to buy their licence from another bar that's going out of business, at up to $1,000 per head.

The city has also had a moratorium on issuing liquor licences in the Downtown Eastside since 1990.

But city council said Thursday that the Rickshaw would have a different clientele from walk-in bars in the Downtown Eastside because liquor sales would only be made to patrons of their live events.

...

Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/Rickshaw+liq...g+spell/5034599/story.html#ixzz1QrRtV3ZY

If it wasn't so sad, it would be laughable, that there have been no liqour licences granted in 20 years ! This is what is fundamentally wrong with Vancouver and has created the 'no fun' moniker. Not to mention has kept the DTES in its present state.

We lack an even playing field that supports smaller businesses that don't have millions to buy exisiting licences....can anyone say Donnelly Pub Group? And as such, stifles creativity and prevents things evolving organically. I truly hope that this is a shift in the wind.

Sad, very, very sad....and more than a little puritanical

[delboy]

And of course Wendy Pederson had raised her ugly head:

"But not everyone is happy about the Rickshaw’s move to become a permanent fixture in the area. Wendy Pedersen of the Carnegie Community Action Project (CCAP) across the street said the Downtown Eastside is in a very fragile state with low-income residents feeling squeezed by developers and gentrification"

I don't get it with her, she acts like the DTES is something to beholden and preserved....is she blind to the social blight, drug dealing, prostitution, and general embodiment of human misery?


http://www.westender.com/articles/entry/news-last-call-at-the-rickshaw/

[quobobo]

Really great news about the Rickshaw - I hope it's only the first of many new licenses granted in East Van.

[duener]

Good news! There seems to be a ton of creative energy in Vancouver that sometimes gets doused by parochial city mandarins. Thank goodness for the likes of Heather Deal.

[delboy]

Originally Posted by duener

Good news! There seems to be a ton of creative energy in Vancouver that sometimes gets doused by parochial city mandarins. Thank goodness for the likes of Heather Deal.

I second that. Thank-you Heather.

[giallo]

Great news! I hope we are starting to see a new trend in city hall; giving more alternative venues a chance at making a profit which in turn will give more residents a chance to express themselves creatively.