The Waldorf Hotel Is Awesome (2010-2013)

Memories from The Waldorf Hotel in Grandview-Woodland from October 30, 2010 to January 20, 2013. As seen in Vancouver Is Awesome.



And it always will be be (awesome, that is), no matter what. You probably heard the sad news (Bob summed it up optimistically here) about the latest incarnation of the iconic Waldorf Hotel.

84th Annual Oscars: Ballot (for 2011)

Picture: The Artist
Director: Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Actor: Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Actress: Viola Davis, The Help (Winner: Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady)
Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, The Help
Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, The Descendants
Animated Feature: Gore Verbinski, Rango
Foreign Language Film: A Separation
Documentary Feature: Paradise Lost 3 (Winner: Undefeated)
Documentary Short: Saving Face
Live Action Short: The Shore
Animated Short: The Fantastic Flying Books
Original Score: Ludovic Bource, The Artist
Original Song: "Man or Muppet", Bret McKenzie, The Muppets
Sound Editing: Hugo
Sound Mixing: Hugo
Art Direction: Hugo
Cinematography: The Tree of Life (Winner: Hugo)
Makeup: The Iron Lady
Costume Design: Hugo (Winner: The Artist)
Film Editing: The Artist (Winner: Girl with the Dragon Tattoo)
Visual Effects: Rise of the Planet of the Apes (Winner: Hugo)

Update: I went 18 for 24. I did okay.

More | Top 10

Top 10 Films of 2011

Click on each title for my review of that film.

1) Drive (dir. Nicolas Winding Refn)

2) Submarine (dir. Richard Ayoade)

3) Beginners ¹ (dir. Mike Mills)

4) Hugo (dir. Martin Scorsese)

5) Martha Marcy May Marlene ² (dir. Sean Durkin)

6) Midnight in Paris (dir. Woody Allen)

7) The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (dir. David Fincher)

8) Shame (dir. Steve McQueen)

9) Young Adult (dir. Jason Reitman)

10) The Adventures of Tintin (dir. Steven Spielberg)

Review: Come of Age and Fall in Love – 'Submarine'

I wish I was this young and careless (again). Submarine is a nearly flawless, charming, coming-of-age story of love, heartbreak, and adolescence from British comedian Richard Ayoade. Everything about it feels honest without trying to be too clever or self-aware. It's a small film of tender moments and youthful idealism.

Review: Follow 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo'

I was never really curious about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (aka Män som hatar kvinnor or "Men Who Hate Women") and the Millenium series fanfare, that is, until I learned master filmmaker David Fincher was tapped to film the English-language film adaptation of the Swedish thriller.

Review: Martin Scorsese Reinvents 'Hugo'

Martin Scorsese does it once again, proving his mastery of the cinematic medium (not that he had to) with his first foray into digital and 3D filmmaking in the period children's adventure, Hugo. Based on The Invention of Hugo Cabaret book, Hugo is a cinematic love letter to the early days of filmmaking and 1930s Paris. Its 3D is rendered as a part of the storytelling narrative celebrating innovation and the history of cinema.

Review: Choose Your Own 'Adventures of Tintin'

"[Tintin is] just unapologetic, shameless adventure."

Tintin is all about a sense of adventure and world travel. Director Steven Spielberg and producer Peter Jackson's motion capture animated film adaptation of The Adventures of Tintin lives up to that sense of fun. It plays as a logical extension of Spielberg's serial pulp work from the Indiana Jones franchise.

Review: Charlize Theron Grows Up – 'Young Adult'

The team that brought you Juno, director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody, returns to bring you a decidedly darker, more mature effort in Young Adult. Charlize Theron is magically awful and watchable as Mavis Gray, a horribly selfish, self-involved, emotionally stunted, immature ghost writer of teen fiction, who returns to her small hometown.

Music Video: Kristie Yung x 'Won't Let You Hurt Me Anymore'

Kristie Yung's "Won't Let You Hurt Me Anymore" music video shot on December 16, 2011.

Vancouver Daze #48: Lin's x The Place x Shanghai Wonderful x Dinesty

Vancouver Daze, Volume 48: XLB Tour at Lin Chinese Cuisine and Tea House on Broadway, The Place Restaurant on Granville Street, Shanghai Wonderful Restaurant and Dinesty Chinese Restaurant in Richmond on December 17, 2011. Published in Vancouver Is Awesome.



A bunch of us decided to go on a XLB tour of Vancouver and Richmond for some sweet xiaolongbao steamed soup dumplings. We solicited recommendations and hit up four restaurants strictly for XLBs. We were stuffed eating two to three dumplings at each each place.

Concert: Watch the Throne x Jay-Z + Kanye West x Rogers Arena

Watch the Throne tour with Jay-Z and Kanye West live in concert (second show) at Rogers Arena on December 18, 2011.



Epic. The show was epic. The very last show of the memorable collaboration between rap moguls Jay-Z and Kanye West was electrifying.

Review: Accepting 'Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol'

I am fascinated by enduring film franchises led by aging stars that somehow get better with more sequels (see Fast Five). A nearly 50-year-old Tom Cruise proves once again what he's been doing for over thirty years, he's a bona fide movie star. Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is a nice addition and the first true sequel in the M:I franchise.

Yelp Pajama Party x Elite Event x 131 Water x Gastown

Yelp Cozy Up Pajama Party Elite Event at 131 Water Kitchen & Bar in Gastown on December 14, 2011.



It was time for another yet Yelp elite event, the last of the year, and a pajama party no less.

Chewies Steam & Oyster Bar x Grand Opening x Kitsilano

Chewies Steam & Oyster Bar's grand opening party in Kitsilano on December 14, 2011.



I've discovered a new love for oysters thanks to joints like Rodney's and Goldfish downtown.

Review: Michael Fassbender Feels 'Shame'

British filmmaker Steve McQueen (no, not that Steve McQueen, the director of Hunger) and star Michael Fassbender delve into the disturbing world of chronic sexual addiction. Beautifully set against the vibrant backdrop of New York City, Shame is a provocative, cinematically expressive film.

Spa Boutique x 1-Year Anniversary x Kitsilano

Spa Boutique 1-year anniversary celebration in Kitsilano on December 8, 2011.



I'm taken and invited to many random events and shops for coverage.

Robyn x "Call Your Girlfriend" x Saturday Night Live

Robyn performs "Call Your Girlfriend" on Saturday Night Live with host Katy Perry on December 10, 2011.



Robyn's killer performance of one of my favourite songs of the year, the Grammy-nominated "Call Your Girlfriend", lit up the interwebs last night as I watched.

Vancouver Daze #46: Kristie Yung Live x Single Release Party

Vancouver Daze, Volume 46: Singer/songwriter Kristie Yung's "Won't Let You Hurt Me Anymore"  single release party at Café Montmartre on Main Street on December 8, 2011. Published in Vancouver Is Awesome.



Last night was the release party for my good friend and local singer/songwriter/musician Kristie Yung's debut musical single. I think it's important to support young, local, independent talent in our community. I love how Kristie has used social media and the online community to launch her music career.

Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup x Bubble Tea x Tri-ty Cafe x Richmond

Dinner and bubble tea at Tri-ty Cafe in Richmond on December 1, 2011.



It had been a long time since my frequent trips to Tri-ty for bubble tea and Taiwanese food. To drink, I got the mocha ice cream slush, and luckily, it's coldness offset the tasty spiciness from the Taiwanese beef noodles. The noodles were quite good and tasty, filling us up.

Make Store x Custom Gift Shop x Granville Island

Make store (An evolution of Justin Stitches) friends and family shopping night on Granville Island on November 30, 2011.



I strolled down to the Make store's holiday sale to check out the recently renovated custom shirt printing, embroidery, arts and craft, and miscellaneous novelty store to check it out.