The other night, I went to Gastropod, the winner of the 18th Annual Vancouver Magazine Restaurant Award for Best New Fine Dining. It also made a strong showing in Urban Diner’s Worst Restaurant Name poll (in this case, yielding the prize to the far more deserving Whineo’s). And, I dare… Read more ⇢

A couple of weeks ago, I made a list of the top ten shows that influenced me growing up. Now if I were to come up with a list of the shows that have greatest influence on me today, one would easily top the list. Road Tasted, which airs on… Read more ⇢

I heard their approach – sprightly, cacophonous; foreboding – and immediately had the silent alarm go off in my head. Kids!Kids!Kids! I was on my feet, swinging around the desk and hopping over my camera bag to get to the door. Just in time. It clicked shut just as they… Read more ⇢

I apologize for today’s late entry but it was a busy day capped by a big t.v. night: I’m the three hour Survivor finale followed by what I believe was the fourth to last episode of The Sopranos. Spoilers to follow so if you don’t want to be spoiled, stop… Read more ⇢

If Lost and Gilligan’s Island have taught us anything, it’s that being stranded on a deserted island doesn’t have to be a miserable experience. Amidst the adventure, exploration, and occasional crazed gorilla or polar bear, there is also opportunity for some downtime activities like ping pong, musical theater, and, I… Read more ⇢

Whenever people would ask me: “Joe, when did you first start writing creatively?”, I’d always hearken back to the dreadful little horror and science fiction stories I used to pen in fourth grade. But, upon further reflection, I realize now that my artistic spirit was awakened even earlier. Truth is… Read more ⇢

Lawren walks into the writer’s room carrying an enormous book and sporting an equally enormous grin. Everyone’s eyes light up. They know it’s a package for me. And they know exactly what it contains. I dive into the sea of packing peanuts, tossing aside the ice packs, and fish out… Read more ⇢

The other day, I caught up on the Hugo nominees for Best Short Story. Yesterday, I checked out the stories in the running for Best Novelette. Paolo Bacigalupi does a masterful job of conveying the sense of utter despair that pervades his protagonist’s world in Yellow Card Man. Michael Flynn’s… Read more ⇢

Given my hectic schedule of late, my recent dinners have consisted of take-out, delivery, and the occasional home-cooked meal. Not that I’m complaining. Sometimes, baked chicken wings and double quarter pounders with cheese are a welcome change of pace. But until the day Fondy starts making Toulouse sausage-stuffed game hen… Read more ⇢