Category Archives: Multicultural events

Kilts culture in Vancouver: Kilts Night on Thursday + December ceildh on Sat night

Kilts Night at Doolin's Irish Pub + December Ceilidh at Scottish Cultural Centre.

Every 1st Thursday of each month, I usually meet with my kilted friends at Doolin's Irish Pub at Granville and Nelson St in Vancouver. Free Music starts at 9pm with Halifax Wharf Rats – if there isn't a hockey game on. It's always lots of fun, and a great way to meet people.

Big Secret: Wear a Kilt and ask for a free pint of Guiness Beer.

Another monthly cultural event happens on Saturday. It's the December Ceilidh at the Scottish Cultural Centre.

I like Scottish Country Dancing – I just wish I could get out to it more often.

After attending the Homecoming Scotland ceilidh here in Edinburgh at The Hub. I am ready to go for another one. It's really easy to do, as the callers give a demonstration and tell people what to do. eg. turn left, grab the right hand, etc etc.

Here's a full message from Ron MacLeod

Greetings, a message from the Vancouver Gaelic Society and the Vancouver Gaelic Choir. Regards, the other Ron

1. WHAT: December Ceilidh, an evening of entertainment.

WHERE: Scottish Cultural Centre, 8886 Hudson Street (at 73^rd), Vancouver, B.C.

WHEN: 8 P.M. Saturday, December 5, 2009. Doors open at 7 P.M.

COST: $12.00; students $6.00; under 12 years free. Tickets at the door.

ENTERTAINMENT: Piper
Ed McIlwaine; Accordionist Sandy Black; and, Lillian Lind to lead the
audience through a Gaelic sing-along. Plus other entertainment.

OTHER: Bar service; tea, coffee and goodies.

Todd's first day in Scotland

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Todd's first day in Scotland:
A little bit of Glasgow and Edinburgh

Welcome to Scotland – Gee that train looks very Harry Potterish!

It's been a busy few days in Scotland. I first arrived late on Saturday night, after a 9 hour layover in Amsterdam's Schipol airport. I took the train to central station and went for a walk through the touristy bits – where I also discovered both Chinatown and the Red Light District.

2009_Amsterdam 045 Dragon City Restaurant in Amsterdam. I also discovered restaurants named Asiandam and Cafe Slutery Oost-West, and Eat Mode- Asian Fusion Kitchen.

2009_Amsterdam 052 It must be Chinatown. The sign says China Town Supermarkt!

The Bulldog pub was toooo full, so I went to The Blarney Stone where I met an Englishman named Robin. I drank Kilkenney and he drank Guinness. I told him about our 1st Thursday Kilts Night where we recieve a pint of Guinness. He told me it was his birthday, I asked the waitress to give him a free birthday beer. Instant friends + the guy from Boston beside us.

Here are pictures from Amsterdam

Amsterdam enroute to Scotland

I flew into Glasgow late on Saturday night. After all the locals breezed easily through customs, I was left with two people from China to fill out landing forms. (What are these?) I was the last person through, and the service was very kind. I changed some money, and took the bus into town where I soon found a hotel. My plan was to check out the local nightlife. But my shoulder and back were really hurting. I had injured it on the weekend, then reinjured it again on Thursday. This was part of the reason why I now was on holiday. If I can't work… I'm going to Scotland for Homecoming. I quickly fell asleep after taking more Motrin.

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Sunday morning. I go to Kelvingrove Art Gallery down the street. But
first I check into Beanscene – a local equivalent of Starbucks or
Blenz. Inside the cafe I am greeted by a picture of Johnny Cash.
There is a poster of Norah Jones's new album. I am in the right place.

2009_Scotland_1 006 Todd eating Stoats porridge – a good Scottish breakfast that is having a revival.

I order up porridge and coffee. I meet a local man who tells me about some of the local sights to see, after we discuss Johnny Cash. He also tells me that Glasgow's Chinatown is nearby.

Next I meet a Chinese woman who is teaching architecture (or is it art) at the local Art Institute. Ju-Li is from China and has lived in Scotland since 2004. She has just married a man, who has had to go back to America, because he doesn't have a UK passport, even though his grandparents were from Scotland. This man who's ancestors left Scotland for a better life in the USA, is trying to get back into Scotland to be with his Chinese bride. We both laugh at the absurdity of it.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is amazing. It's also part museum. The Main hall on my left has lots of taxidermied animals. There is an elephant, a giraffe, a moose, an ostrich… even a platypus and a cheetah. Suspended from the ceiling is a WW2 Spitfire fighter plane.

It is a thing out of a Christopher Robin or Narnia Chronicles book or movie. Upstairs I discover exhibits on Wild Bill's Wild West Show – when it came to Glasgow, as well as Robert Burns and dinosaurs.

2009_Scotland_1 024 Supposedly the legendary Haggis is the taxidermied concoction above, set beside a culinary haggis for eating.

There is even a taxidermied haggis! (photos to show after I return to Canada).

The Burns exhibit features a picture of Burns as Latin American revolutionary Che Gevera– no doubt reflecting on Burns universality for freedom and equal rights.

I had really wanted to visit the Hunterian Museum, which is showing Zig Zag: The Paths of Robert Burns as part of the Homecoming Scotland events. But it is at Glasgow University and consequently closed – forcing me to return to Glasgow on Monday. Anyways, I spend the afternoon at the Kelvingrove, where a Doctor Who exhibit is downstairs.

2009_Scotland_1 046 People do wear kilts and play bagpipes in Scotland!

I get lost trying to find the train station to Edinburgh. I get distracted by the sound of bagpipes, as I find myself on Nelson Mandela Walk. Policemen lead a parade of pipers. About 12 bobbies (policeman) in reflective yellow jackets escort 16 pipers. I think these are the first kilts I see in Scotland.

2009_Scotland_1 049 Winter Shindig in square at Glasgow.

I discover the Winter Shindig that takes up an entire square. There is
a stage for as one of the finale events for Homecoming Year. But
nobody local seems to know who the band is. There is a large outdoor
ice rink, and a ferris wheel.

These guys wore the biggest ugly-est sporrans I have ever seen. They made it themselves, and they carry all their magic tricks to promote the Glasgow Science Centre.

I meet two young men wearing kilts. They have HUMUNGOUS sporrans which are FILLED with THINGS. They work for the Glasgow Science Centre. They show me some of their tricks and offer to set my hand on fire. It was cool… and it did not hurt. Okay… I sort of knew the secret, and they confirmed it with me. One of them took a video – very cool… look carefully because it appears that after the flash – a pigeon flys out of above my hand. (video coming after I return to Canada).

Click for video to see a pigeon fly out of a burst of flame from my hand! Courtesy of the wild and kilted guys from the Glasgow Science Centre.

Did I say I get lost trying to get to the Train Station? People have been so helpful. But unfortunately I end up at the Central Station where I ask for Edinburgh, and the ticket seller hears Hellensburg. Fortunately I don't get on that train, and go back for a refund. Eventually I find myself on a crowded train to Edinburgh where I spy a man wearing a rugby shirt that says “Famous Grouse.” As Famous Grouse was a whisky sponsor at our 2009 Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner, I have to go ask about his like for Famous Grouse. Surprise! There is an empty seat beside him, which he offers me. We have a good time talking about rugby, Famous Grouse, as I explain the Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner to him, and the lady across from me. His name is Roy Dewar, the lady is Hellen. Roy buys me a Tennent's beer for our 50 minute train ride.

2009_Scotland_1 066 A friendly Scot buys me a Tennant's beer to celebrate my first full day in Scotland.

It's Sunday in Edinburgh. I check into my lodging at Salisbury Centre – a holistic health centre, run by a woman whose auntie is a friend of mine in Vancouver. For the evening, I decide to walk into town in search of Homecoming events. I discover the free Caille (traditional dancing) event at The Hub. The band is called Whiskey Kiss.
Whiskey Kiss played the St. Andrew's Day Ceilidh to celebrate the Homecoming Finale – click on the picture for video.

They are led by an accordion player. I like the band instantly – even though he plays button accordion. They have a comely lass playing fiddle and a braw fellow on the drums. A fellow also plays on the penny whistle flute and bagpipes. But the big surprise is the additional of a dj who adds in ambient sounds and scratches – very cool. I love their versions of Van Morrison's Blue Eyed Girl and Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire. But they also lead traditional country dances that include The Canadian Bar Dance, and The Virginia Reel.

How to start a ceilidh. Everybody waits on the dance floor while the
ceilidh leaders gives dance instructions, then the band gets going, and
the dance leaders start the dancing off! Too much fun!

People are dancing and really having lots of fun! – click here for video

This is a great little video of the dancing – look for the big guy in a kilt – he's not afraid of a little kilt swirl! Also look for the Asian woman who seems to really be enjoying herself!

Another surprise, there are Asians dancing. Most turn out to be students from university. They are from Taiwan or China.

2009_Scotland_1 088 Sarah is a student at University of Edinburgh!

I chat with some of the young Scots and ask then if they think that St. Andrew's Day should be a national holiday. They agree, but say that St. Andrews' events are slow to catch on.

Young Scots enjoy the Ceilidh, and actually wore kilts!

The patron saint of Scotland is certainly not as big as the patron
saint of Ireland – St. Patrick. I meet a young Scots woman whose
kilted boyfriend is missing a sporan… and kilt socks. He is actually
originally from Bulgaria… but he loves Scottish music and Scottish
women – okay… just one woman in particular.

Stanley Park Remembrance Day ceremonies at Japanese Canadian War Memorial

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Japanese Canadian War Memorial hosts Remembrance Day Ceremonies 2009_Nov_Remembrance_Day 012 by you.

Mounted police, and beat policemen and firemen attend the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Japanese Canadian War Memorial in Stanley Park. – photos Todd Wong.

I really like this photo of two people walking to the memorial ceremonies. After WW2, the Japanese communities in both Canada and USA became the most inter-racially married. This little girl definitely had Asian features but with light coloured hair. Many of my friends of Japanese ancestry also have mixed race heritage, or their children or grandchildren do.

The ceremonies were led by a Church minister and Major (retired) Roy Kawamoto.

Vancouver City Councilor Geoff Meggs laid the wreath for the City of Vancouver.

After the service he shared with me that historian Stanley Fukawa had told him him:

“the JC volunteers from BC had been unable to enlist in this
province. They marched, paraded and trained, hoping that their
demonstrations of patriotism would win public sympathy for giving them
the vote. They were ignored. (Less than a decade earlier, they had been
forced to defend their Powell St. community from a racist mob.)
Undeterred, they travelled to Alberta, then short of its quota of volunteers, and won admission to the war in that province.”

http://www.geoffmeggs.ca/2009/11/11/hundreds-recall-sacrifice-of-japanese-canadian-soldiers/

Major (Ret) Kawamoto told me that during WW2, had been arrested for defying the order of evacuation for Japanese Canadians. He was 12 years old at the time, put in jail, then sent to Greenwood internment camp.

My friends Grace Eiko Thomson and John Endo Greenaway introduced me to Mona Oikawa an associate professor at York University in Toronto. When I told Mona that I would put the pictures on my blogsite “Gunghaggisfatchoy.com”, she asked surprisingly “You're Gung Haggis? I check the website many times!”

Japanese-Canadian bugle player and Scottish-Canadian bagpiper. Maybe their ancestors fought against each other in WW2, or as allies or comrades with each other in WW1. No, they didn't play at the same time.

The bagpiper wears the Ancient Fraser Tartan and belongs to the 78th Fraser Highlanders. The bugler is with the 58th Field Artillery Regiment. When I told the bagpiper that I wore the Ancient Fraser Hunting Tartan, he smiled and said “Ahhh… Gung Haggis Fat Choy.”

Chinese Canadian veterans lead Remembrance Day ceremony in Vancouver Chinatown

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Uncle Daniel Lee is colour guard for Pacific Unit 280 at the Remembrance Day ceremonies at the Chinese Canadian Pioneer Monument in Vancouver Chinatown
2009_Nov_Remembrance_Day 087 by you.

Uncle Daniel Lee salutes, as photographer Patrick Tam takes pictures. Larry Wong stands to Lee's right.

Chinese Canadian veterans stand during singing of O Canada.

The Chinese Benevolent Association organized the Remembrance Day ceremonies this year in Chinatown. President Mike Jang officiated.

Little Beavers and Wolf Cubs took part in the ceremonies

Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson and city councilors Ellen Woodsworth and George Chow lay the wreath from City of Vancouver.

Members of Parliament Ujal Dosanjh, Don Davies and Libby Davies stand in front of the representatives from HMCS Discovery.

Frank Wong, who stormed the Normandy Beaches on D-Day speaks to Chinese language TV News, while his brother Bing Wong's grandchildren are in the foreground, as I talk with their dad and grandfather.

Larry Wong and Howard Chan. Howard is a WW2 veteran. Larry is curator of the Chinese Canadian Military Museum.

Johnny Cash is Scottish… “Because it's Burns, Burns Burns… It's Robbie Burns”

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I've always wanted a version of Johnny Cash's “Ring of Fire” to be redone for Robbie Burns…

(sing to the chorus of “Ring of Fire”)

We celebrate

January 25th

We wear kilts

and eat haggis too.

“Because it's Burns, Burns Burns…

It's Robbie Burns…

It's Robbie Burns.”

The following is from Johnny Cash's daughter Roseanne Cash's weblog: http://thelist.tumblr.com/page/2

This is a street sign in the town of Strathmiglo, Fife, Scotland,

where my family on my dad’s side originated in the 11th century.

There are still a few things with the name of Cash scattered around
this part of Fife: Cash Mill, Cash Farm, Cash Easter and Cash Wester,
and this street, Cash Feus. It’s odd— and comforting— to know that my
ancestors lived here for hundreds of years, until one of them decided
to move to America in the 17th century. I don’t even know what they
passed on to me— perhaps a love of melancholy, Celtic- rooted music? A
love of rolling hills and crumbling stone walls?

Maybe even the red hair.

See more photos:
http://thelist.tumblr.com/page/2

The
first photo is a monument to the legendary Black Watch regiment, in
Aberfeldy, Scotland. My ancestry on my father’s side begins in
Scotland, as part of the Clan McDonald, not too far from Aberfeldy, in
what is lovingly called The Kingdom of Fife. I visited Aberfeldy in
February, 2009, for the first time. I had been to Fife and the
surrounding area many times, as well as Glasgow, Edinburgh and
Aberdeen, but never to this part of Perthshire. I filmed a couple of
episodes of “Transatlantic Sessions” at a beautiful estate, inside an
ancient barn, near Aberfeldy, in Fortingall.

The second photo is of the filming in the barn, with my friends and
great musicians Phil Cunningham, Aly Bain, Jerry Douglas and several
other superb musicians. I found out something very strange during the
filming. In the year 1692, there was a bloody massacre called the
Massacre of Glencoe, in which the men from the Campbell clan murdered
38 unarmed McDonalds in one horrible night. I found out that the very
estate where we were filming “Transatlantic Sessions” was where the
plan for the massacre hatched, and just over a little hill from the
place where 38 unarmed McDonalds were killed in this infamous raid, which is
still memorialized every year in Scotland.

I looked around the barn
where we were playing, which was in existence during the massacre, and
I walked the very grounds where the massacre was put in motion. I
thought about the fact that I, with my Clan McDonald ancestry, was
making music with men with Campbell ancestry, on a night over three
hundred years after those distant ancestors met in mortal combat, in
the very same spot. It was a transcendent moment, and a very potent
reminder that music is the great connector. No matter how profound our
differences, even those that are part of our DNA, even those
differences that somehow merit memorials and rituals and centuries of
bitterness, can be dissolved very quickly with an A minor chord, a
piano, a guitar and a violin. This knowledge, and the music, is
perhaps the most important thing I have received as a legacy.

Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Art Exhibition features artists from across Canada

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Aboriginal artists from across Canada, featured at Vancouver 2010 exhibition,

Over 50 artists were featured at the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Art Exhibition at Canada Place in Vancouver BC, Oct 17/18. It's a two day free exhibition with sales to the public. On Friday evening, a live auction of highlighted artworks was held with proceeds going towards the Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Youth Legacy Fund.

Many of the artists were commissioned to create artworks for the Olympic venue sites. These works are featured in the book,
O Siyam: Aboriginal Art Inspired by the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, which will be available in stores on November 2 — the first official Games-related book to be published. Pre-ordered copies of the book can be made at the exhibition.

Alano Edzerza (right) is an amazing young artist that I met. Melissa (left) is his friend who helps him plan events. Melissa is wearing a shirt that Alano designed, for her marathon running competitions. Behind them is a 3-panel design of flying ravens. I really liked it's three dimensionality, and repeated motif. It stands out to many of the flat 2-dimensional designs I have seen in aboriginal art. Alano also designed a 3-panel work featuring killer whales, which inspired a commission from GM place of killer whales. Born in 1981, this 28 year old artist has both a remarkable maturity, and an extensive collection of works and his own gallery. So impressive is Edzerza's work that Roy Henry Vickers was sending people his way at the exhibition.
Visit http://www.edzerzagallery.com/index.php

Councillor Lois Joseph of the Lil'Wat Nation Mount Currie Band is very proud of Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Museum, recently build in Whistler BC. She said it is a collaboration by two nations, Squamish and Lilwat, and it is designed to showcase the history, culture and artworks of the Lil'Wat and Squamish peoples who have been a big part of the Sea to Sky country. I have visited Aboriginal Cultural Centres in Alert Bay, the Haida Gwaii Museum, and even the Polynesian Cultural Centre in Hawaii. I will definitely go visit on my next trip to Whistler.

www.lilwat.ca

Roy Henry Vickers was one of the first aboriginal artists to recieve mass popularity in BC. His striking serigraphs are available as postcards and prints. He is also recipient of Order of BC, and Order of Canada. His Aerie Gallery in Tofino is a must-see. When I found him, he was playing with a computer image of a five-finned killer whale on a lap top computer. He shared with me the very personal story of this very special whale which also includes the story of his “Chieftainship, Tlagwigila more commonly spelled,
Tlakwakila which means Copperman. Tlakwakila is from the house of WAKAS
and my adopted family,”

Mr. Vickers and I talked about commonalities about Chinese and First Nations peoples. He said “There is no Yellow Skin, only a person, there is no Red skin, only a person, There is no black or white skin, only a person. We are all the same race… We are human.”

When I told him about Gung Haggis Fat Choy, and how the give recognition to BC's pioneer cultures the Scottish, Chinese and First Nations instead of Canada's two solitudes of French and English… he shared with me that his mother was English.

I thanked him for sharing his wisdom and helping make our society a better place.
Check out:
http://www.royhenryvickers.com

KC Adams is from Winnipeg, but she doesn't identify herself as Metis, because she is part Scottish – not French-Canadian. She is tuned into the growing Mixed-Race culture of Canada, but doesn't call herself a hybrid or mixed-race. Instead she calls herself a cyborg, reflecting our new technology culture for the 21st Century.

Her artwork also reflects her post-modern, post-colonial viewpoints. She plays with stereotypes and juxtaposes them with contrary images. The portraits are beautiful, clean, and dressed in white. The words on the clothing say things like ““AUTHORITY ON ALL ABORIGINAL ISSUES”,
“INDIAN GIVER” You can see her Cyborg series here: http://www.kcadams.com/art/arttotal.html

KC's websites states:

Cyborg Hybrids is a photo series that attempts to challenge our views towards
mixed race classifications by using humorous text and imagery from two cultures.
The Cyborg Hybrids are digital prints of Euro-Aboriginal artists who are forward
thinkers and plugged in with technology. They follow the doctrine of Donna Harroway’s
Cyborg
Manifesto , which states that a cyborg is a creature in a technological,
post-gender world free of traditional western stereotypes towards race and gender.

KC laughed when I told her about Gung Haggis Fat Choy – but she got it. Juxtoposing cultural images and language in ways that reflect a new understanding – that's what we both do. We recognize Mixed-Race heritage. She was intrigued when I told her that there were people in Madagasca called Metis, but were of Chinese and Madagascar heritage, in this former French colony. But Metis means half, just like the Hawaiian term Hapa.

http://www.kcadams.com

While at the exhibition, my friend Sabine found me and said “You have to see Jean Taylor.” Her biography states her “Tlingit name is Khàsx’ ân Tlâ is from the Dakhł awèdi Clan of the
Teslin Tlingit Nation in Teslin, Yukon Territory. She is also a member
of the Tlingit Haida Central Council of Alaska.”

Her artwork captures the spirit and minuitae of aboriginal cultural life. There are scenes of dancing, farming, running with sled dogs. It's beautiful, reflective and wonderfully presented.
Check out: http://www.yessy.com/JTaylor/bio.html

CUPE's WriterFest Oct 22 featuring host Daniel Gawthrop + Larrisa Lai, Stan Persky, David Chariandy + more!

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Invitation to CUPE’s WriterFest!
FREE EVENT

Todd Wong, CUPE 391 Vancouver Library Worker with authors David Chariandy and Larissa Lai.

Authors, bibliophiles, reference users, and library lovers:
Please join for a discussion on the importance of locally-purchased materials and collection development.

With cuts to libraries, arts and recently to BC BookWorld, ABPBC and BCAMP – this is timely!

Featured author panelists:
CAROLINE ADDERSON (A History of Forgetting, I Bruno)
CARELLIN BROOKS (Wreck Beach, Carnal Nations)
DAVID CHARIANDY (Soucouyant)
LARRISA LAI (Salt Fish Girl, When Fox is a Thousand
STAN PERSKY (The Short Version: An ABC Book, Mixed Media Mixed Messages)
BILL TIELMAN (24 Hours, The Tyee)
+ moderator DANIEL GAWTHROP (Rice Queen Diaries)

WHEN: Thursday, October 22, 2009, 7:30-9:30 pm
WHERE: Alice MacKay Room, Central Library (350 West Georgia)

*Please RSVP to Mike DePaoli (mike.depaoli@vpl.ca)or Alexandra Youngberg (alexandra.youngberg@cupe391.ca)
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2351505279&ref=ts#/event.php?eid=177439736795&ref=mf

Orchid Ensemble creates East meets Middle East featuring Jewish and Chinese music!

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Orchid Ensemble is one of Vancouver's bravest culturally exploring musical ensembles.
Jewish and Chinese musical influences combine for Oct 3 show at Vancouver Community College

Here is the latest from my friend Lan Tung and Orchid Ensemble:

2009 Orchid Ensemble Concert

East meets Middle East in the Orchid Ensemble’s New Show

The Orchid Ensemble & Vancouver Community College present

Ten Thousand Miles to Kai-Feng

A musical exploration of the cultural exchange between the Jews and the Chinese

featuring Mike Braverman (clarinet & saxophone) of Olam, Boris Sichon (percussion), and The Madrigal Singers

October 3rd, 8pm, at the Vancouver Community College auditorium
VCC Broadway and King Edward Campus
Tickets $15 / $12 / $10 for VCC students with ID
Available at www.ticketweb.ca /
1-888-222-6608

When it comes to Chinese Western musical fusions, Vancouver is the
undisputed leader. Artists from these parts have at varying times
merged Chinese folk and classical music with Celtic, Brazilian, Spanish
and Aboriginal music to name a few, not to mention North American folk,
jazz, blues and classical sounds.

Now Vancouver’s Orchid
Ensemble, already one of the pioneering acts of the cross-cultural
fusion scene, is preparing a concert that will showcase its members’
most personal repertoire yet: a concert that pays tribute to the
centuries-old links between Chinese and Jewish culture. It’s called
Ten Thousand Miles to Kai-Feng.

The project began about 11 years
ago as a labour of love for the ensemble’s founders, the husband and
wife duo of Lan Tung and Jonathan Bernard. Tung was an award-winning
erhu player in Taiwan before settling in Canada with her family at age
20. Bernard is a Canadian percussionist of Jewish ancestry who is a
regular with the Vancouver Symphony.

What
they discovered together is fascinating: tangible evidence of a Jewish
presence in China can be dated to the seventh century when Sephardic
Jews arrived from Persia along the several Silk Roads, settling in
China’s capital city, Xi'an. By the Northern Sung dynasty (960-1127
CE), a thriving Jewish community had been established in the new
capital Kaifeng, and it remained active for the next 1200 years. More
recently Russian Jews settled in Harbin and Ashkenazi Jewish refugees
settled in Shanghai. There is also a long-ago-established Jewish
community in Hong Kong.

What has not survived, however, is any sense of what the music
made by the Jewish settlers and their Chinese neighbours might have
sounded like, or to what extent their respective musical traditions
were merged. Thus, Tung and Bernard used their imaginations to create
the music that might have been – compositions that find common ground
between Jewish and Chinese styles. They also turned to Moshe Denberg,
the composer behind B.C.’s well-known Jewish music ensemble, Tzimmes.

The resulting concert promises a fascinating array of
work. Among the pieces to be performed is a Denberg composition called
“El Ginat Egoz,” which will feature the VCC Madrigal Singers, and a
unique arrangement of a traditional Chinese piece called “Hundred Birds
Honouring the Pheonix,” which has been transformed for soprano sax by
Mike Braverman, the lightening-fast reed player behind Olam. The show
will also mark the world premier of “El Adon,” a Denberg composition
based on a sacred Jewish melody, and “Ba Ban Variations,” a new
composition by Tung. In addition, there will be some Jewish-influenced
pieces from the group’s 2005 Juno-nominated CD The Road to Kashgar,
which explored Chinese interaction with cultures all along the Silk
Road.

Lan Tung

Orchid Ensemble
Chinese Music and Beyond…
http://www.orchidensemble.com
http://myspace.com/orchidensemble
http://youtube.com/TheOrchidEnsemble

New York Times Frugal Traveler comes to Vancouver in search of Asian fusion cuisine and talks with Todd Wong of Gung Haggis Fat Choy

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New York Times Frugal Traveler comes to Vancouver in search of Asian fusion cuisine and talks with Todd Wong of Gung Haggis Fat Choy

Todd Wong is getting known “the whole world o'er” for creating crazy Asian/Scottish cultural and culinary fusion.Philip
Riddle. The CEO of VisitScotland, Phillip Riddell had heard about “Toddish McWong's Gung Haggis Fat Choy Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner” and tried some of the Haggis Wonton during a visit by the
Scottish Tourism Organisation to Vancouver, B.C., to promote the Year
of Homecoming Scotland 2009, on Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

Matt Gross writes his column/blog The Frugal Traveler for The New York Times. He came through Vancouver back in August 2009, and we connected through email and cell phone, as we found ourselves moving in different directions in the city and across Georgia Straight.

His newest blog/article is about Asian fusion cuisine, titled:
Asian Cuisine As Diverse as Vancouver.
http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/asian-cuisine-as-diverse-as-vancouver/#more-1441

Matt found me through my blog www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com, for which I try to focus on my “Asian Canadian adventure in intercultural Vancouver.” I even have a category called Food & Restaurants.

Matt quotes me:

“Mixing things just becomes part of everyday life,” said Todd Wong,
a Vancouver arts advocate who during Chinese New Year hosts the annual
Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinner, where Scottish haggis finds its way into
dim sum dumplings. “It’s not ‘Why are they doing this?’ It’s ‘Why not?’ ”

It’s an admirable attitude, and one that is producing some delicious
and affordable cuisines. Over four days, I pursued this accidental
(incidental?) fusion style around Vancouver, and the quest led me down
some strange and tasty paths.

This is from my original email to Matt:

How I wish that McDonald's would serve McRamen like they did in
Hawaii during the days of my youth.

Not really a lot of well-known Odd Asian fusion food – but you know… it happens when you least expect it. Vancouver has so many restaurants and ethnic groups. Things just end up mixing by accident
like peanut butter and choclate eg. Reese's peanut butter cups.

Check out the sushi restaurants…
You've
heard of the BC Roll? Lots of smoked salmon rolls – sometimes called
Alaska Roll. But somewhere in Vancouver there is a Maple Leaf roll…
and in the Davie St. Village – homebase to our large Gay population –
there is a Queen's Roll…. and a Princess Roll…. a Snow White
Roll, Rainbow Roll, Canada Roll, Stanley Park Roll, Panda Roll, Flamingo Roll + lots more!
Check out Kadoya on Davie St.

I LOVE HAPA IZAKAYA
–
while the Robson location is one of Vancouver's hippest restaurants.
It is still a Japanese style bistro – so you can order a few dishes. We
feel like we are going out to a hip restaurant, but can keep the bill
small. We usually go to the Kitsilano location. Okay – so it's not
odd… but incredibly delicious. This is the restaurant we take our
out of town friends to. Try the Kabocha – $5.90 Japanese pumpkin, whipped into a light, sweet dip, served with cracker

A lot of traditional Chinese food in North America is really fusion cuisine. Chop Suey, is supposedly a “made up” dish for “White Americans” from table scraps….

Go to the Foo's Ho Ho restaurant for one of my favorite dishes. Curried potatoes with beef slices.
We always had it in the 1960's. But now Foo's Ho Ho is the only place
serving authentic “old style” cantonese cuisine in Vancouver. Think –
Where would you find potatoes in China? It's very North American!

Similar to Japa Dog – there is a Thai/Malaysian Hot Dog
stand on Broadway – East of Burrard. on the South side, in front of
Future Shop. The owners have some crazy Malaysian Thai garnishes as
well as the usual.

How about Congee with Ostrich meat?
Go to Kwong Chow on 3163 Main St.
or go to Congee House , 141 East Broadway
– Both are after-practice hang-outs for the Gung Haggis Fat Choy dragon boat team (that I founded and coach)

But the Chinese bakeries have these weird combinations. Almost everybody sells a chinese bun with a hot dog weiner –
only $1.45 to $1.95. It's gotta be the cheapest “hot dog” in town.
Try the one stuffed with mayonaise. For some reason Mayonaise is a
“sauce” in Hong Kong.

But… what about
Irish Natchos at Doolin's Irish Pub?
We go to Doolin's every 1st Thursday of each month for Kilts Night.
Wear a kilt – receive a FREE pint of GUINNESS

Go to The Irish Heather.
Famous for their curried potatoe fries
– okay great fries served with a curry sauce. Lots of other fusion
foods there too. And the batter-fruied squid rings with chorizo and
sunflower sprouts was VERY COOL and DELICIOUS! http://www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com/blog/_archives/2009/7/22/4264001.html

Dessert Time!!!
Lots of Asians in this city… so green tea or mango ice cream is great.
But how about Durian gelato?
Try out Casa Gelato
Try the black sesame gelato, and a host of other Asian
inspired flavours.
But the Durian gelato still stinks (is smelly).

Deep-Fried Mars Bars…..
at Mr. Pickwick's Fish & Chips
8620 Granville Street
http://ourfaves.com/f/150181/vancouver-deep-fried-mars-bar

Read Matt's blog about Galiano Island
An Island Frozen in Time and Price:
http://frugaltraveler.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/an-island-frozen-in-time-and-price/

3 Days of Accordion Noir Festival – playing circles, films, concerts + more

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Accordions, Accordions & more accordions at Accordion Noir Festival – Sept 10,11 & 12.
2009_Sept_Accordion_Noir_Festival 044 by you.

Accordions “Squeeze Box Circle” is led by Rowan Lipkovits (front right with big red accordion) at Spartacus Books. Usually the 1st Thursday of the month – this session was Sept 10th as a special part of the Accordion Noir Festival. Out-of-towners came from Lasqueti Island BC, and Bellingham WA. I didn't bring my big Titano accordion – but I did play somebody else's Faoro accordion.

Gung HAGGIS Fat Choy

Toddish McWong's Misadventures in Multiculturalism: through arts, culture, food, dragon boats, travel + more…

Category Archives: Multicultural events

Kilts culture in Vancouver: Kilts Night on Thursday + December ceildh on Sat night

Todd's first day in Scotland

Amsterdam enroute to Scotland

Stanley Park Remembrance Day ceremonies at Japanese Canadian War Memorial

Chinese Canadian veterans lead Remembrance Day ceremony in Vancouver Chinatown

Johnny Cash is Scottish… “Because it's Burns, Burns Burns… It's Robbie Burns”

CUPE's WriterFest Oct 22 featuring host Daniel Gawthrop + Larrisa Lai, Stan Persky, David Chariandy + more!

Orchid Ensemble creates East meets Middle East featuring Jewish and Chinese music!

New York Times Frugal Traveler comes to Vancouver in search of Asian fusion cuisine and talks with Todd Wong of Gung Haggis Fat Choy

3 Days of Accordion Noir Festival – playing circles, films, concerts + more