Saturday Check-in at Fairmont Pacific Rim, it was a long walk five blocks from my apartment to the hotel. I originally thought it odd that I’d be spending the four nights checked into the hotel given how close I live to the venue but I would soon learn how early they planned on having us up and at it. After an efficient check-in I rode the elevator up to my room to meet my roommate for the first time. I was rooming with one of the Nova Scotia boys. I gave the courtesy knock and checked out the room for the first time. Some nice digs I must say. A quick meet and greet and we were down in the board room meeting the entire team for the first time.

The TOTC Team had been there already stuffing the JJ Bean giftbags with all sorts of swag. The edges of the room were piled high with various boxes of produce, equipment and goodies. As were were introduced to our co-workers for the week we got the run down on how the days ahead would play out: late to bed, early to rise and thousands of cocktails to pour. I glanced back at the stacks of cases of limes in the corner and felt bad for the sucker who was going to get stuck on juicing duty.

After our quick orientation, we were to meet in the lobby for a quick cocktail and head over to cascade room for the Apprentice welcome dinner hosted by Cointreau. Deconstructed cocktails and an amazing dinner behind us, we all migrated down to The Keefer Bar to drink Dani Tatarin’s cocktail creations. A few shots of white rabbit tea l (thanks Dani) ater and we were on our way. Early to be for some, others decided to close down the lounge bar at the Fairmont.

Wakeup Call: 7am.
Shower
Coffee
Muffin

Back to the meeting room and it was time to go. The stacks of citrus and hundreds of Swag Bags had to be moved from our meeting room to the prep room. The sign in table needed to be set up and the liquor had to be allocated for each seminar. We all received our tasks and duties for the day, and we were given out last words of warning: Don’t think outside the box. If you’re not sure, don’t assume. I glanced at my schedule for the next few hours, first up: Juice 10L of limes, after that: juice 10L of Limes. Nice.

Prep came and went, and our day ended after signing in 300+ attendees, media and cocktail enthusiasts. Post shift down I was upstairs and changed for the ‘CPBA welcome Reception’ at the Vancouver Aquarium.

Seminar one successfully complete. I was straight to the next. No breaks for the Cocktail Apprentice. Cleanup down we were now on to pouring 165 tasting mats of eleven whiskies each. Again, no big deal. From there I was called to the ice seminar to help pour out their batched cocktails. When do we eat? Ice complete I was over to the Gin session with Dan Warner and Desmond Payne of Beefeater. A quick salute to those boys and I was back on the grind taking out pre-batched Tiki cocktails and giving them life. If you haven’t ever made 165 QB Coolers at once I definitely suggest you try it some time.

The seminar portion of Tales was now complete. A quick cleanup and post shift and we’re off to the wrap-up party for a quick cocktail and then to Granville Room for the BC Bar Crawl.

Part 3: BC Bar Crawl, Midnight Croquette, & Room Service.

‘Like’ TOTC & Granville Room on Facebook.

Follow @TOTC, @tkallies & @GranvilleRoom on Twitter

The year was 1995.

Prevail had just linked up with Madchild to form Swollen Members. Flipout was a couple years removed as one half of the duo What The Hell (also with Madchild). To say their was a rivalry between the two would be an understatement. Prev went on-air at the legendary Krispy Biskut show and called out Flipout.

Flip, being the super b-boy he is, accepted the challenge and the battle was set for a party that G-Man & Rizk were holding at The Red Lounge called Honey Dips. The energy and buzz surrounding the Prev vs. Flip showdown was huge and the battle lived up to the incredible hype. I think this one is best left to both Prevail and Flipout to describe from each of their perspectives.

LET’S GET READY TO RUMBLE!

Prevail Recap:

“When Swollen Members first formed, it was a shock to most heads in the Vancouver scene. Myself and Moka Only had a group of 5 years called Split Sphere and Madchild and Flipout had a group know as What The Hell. Of course both those entities would be instantly transformed as Swollen started to record our first album. At the time I lived for battling and wanted to cement the arrival of Swollen Members in everyones minds.

I challenged Flipout to a battle to make it known once and for all who Vancouver’s premiere rap group was. Crammed onto the small stage at The Red Lounge, the energy level was unforgettable as Flipout and I exchanged verses. I was nervous and had come with a written rhyme to open my debate. I should have trusted in myself and freestyled from the beginning. Although the crowd response was overwhelming for both us, at the battles end, I felt in my heart that I had been bested.

As the months and years went on, the friendship between Flipout and I grew and I knew I had been influenced for the better because of it. To this day I still remember the excitement and fervour of that legendary night and it’s lessons have always been close to my heart and mind. For anyone in the building that night, I know they won’t soon forget the epic proportions and energy in the room, and thankfully, neither will I.”

Flipout Recap:

“Worst. Singing. Ever.

Sorry about that.

I took this battle quite serious. I was already known by friends by the nickname “Freestyle Crazee” because I would go off for 30 minutes straight sometimes, mostly when we were all really stoned. The way the battle was set up was Prev actually phoned me at my parents house and said “You know we gotta battle right?” to which I responded, “Yeah.” I’m not sure how it was all put together as an “event” but I prepared myself, thoroughly.

I didn’t really do much “research” because I kinda knew Prev already and we had been sort of rivals since me and Madchild were in a group together (What The Hell, get the album on iTunes!). Anyway… as you can hear in the recording I got pretty heated and yeah, I was wearing hair gel. I was also wearing an ill dark green PVC Columbia jacket and a black BALANCE tee (word to Dedos and GMAN). 1st round, Prev came at me with some personal jabs about how I cried in San Fran when me and Mad were living there doing shows… I missed my family! I was 18 years old!

But I remember Prev using this as ammo and that’s when I knew I had him beat because that shit didn’t mean anything to me and I could see the crowd didn’t even catch it. So in my head I was like, “ok, I think he just threw his most aggressive disses at me and they didn’t work so I’m gonna go extra hard to make sure I shut him down.” That was the mentality, kill mode, beast mode, whatever you call it. If Prev had gotten those disses out more effectively it would’ve made it a whole different ballgame but I smelled blood and pounced. I played to the crowd too. A lot.

I thought about KRS ONE’s tactics in the MC SHAN wars. Also, I honestly felt like the underdog so I wanted to make sure I came correct! Like I said, I took it really seriously. It was literally war to me.

I have since grown up (a bit) and I have a life. And me and Prev squashed everything right after the battle.”

Download the infamous Prevail vs. Flipout Battle

C Stylez Presents Tha Dogg Pound Mix

[01] Respect
[02] Just Doggin’ ft Nate Dogg
[03] Smooth
[04] Dogg Pound Gangstaz
[05] What Cha Talkin’ Bout
[06] I Call Shots
[07] Cyco-Lic-No
[08] Gangsta Rap
[09] In California
[10] C-Walk
[11] Initiated
[12] Gimmiewhatchugot
[13] Let’s Play House
[14] Big Pimpin’ ft Nate Dogg
[15] Put A Monkey In It ft Supafly
[16] We Can Freak It
[17] All Night Long
[18] Throwin’ Up Dogg Pound
[19] Fly Az Fuck
[20] Throw Up DPG
[21] Loose Cannons
[22] Keep It Gangsta
[23] Represent Dat GC
[24] Who Ride With Us
[25] What Would You Do?
[26] Behind The Walls ft Nate Dogg
[27] DPGC Muzik
[28] Gangsta Perogative
[29] Coastin’
[30] My System
[31] Streetz Iz A Mutha
[32] This How We Do It
[33] How Low
[34] They Don’t Want It
[35] C-Walkin’ Cha Cha Cha
[36] Only On The Left Side
[37] Riot In The Club
[38] On Some Real Shit ft Jermaine Dupri
[39] Bomb Ass Pussy
[40] Come Up To My Room
[41] It Might Sound Crazy
[42] A Good Day

Tha Dogg Pound (Live in Concert)
Wednesday, February 23, 2011 at 10:00pm
Limited $15 advance tickets available online.
Purchase ticket link.

Vancouver’s own, Dirty Radio’s new single is now available on iTunes, or as a bonus cut, with the purchase of DiRTY RADiO’s album “Debut”.

Check out his excellent live performance on Virgin Radio + Sam Sparro’s take on the cover song they performed.

Source: Mr. Cabrita

The Lamplighter Brings Back the Roaring 20s
Historic Gastown Venue Celebrates 85 Years

via Executive Chef, Michael Knowlson

Thanksgiving Roast
Roasted Mount Lehman Turkey and Stuffing with Yukon Gold Mash Potatoes, Cauliflower Cheese, Honey Roasted Carrots, Green Beans and Pan Jus.

Complimentary Dessert
Pumpkin Pie & Mario’s Vanilla Gelati

Orphan’s Thanksgiving Dinner is available this Thanksgiving Sunday, October 10th, 2010 at The Academic, Calling, Cinema, Lamplighter, Library Square Public Houses. Regular menu also in effect.

Now taking reservations online: Academic or Cinema

Follow @DonnellyPubs on Twitter.

Join us on Facebook: Academic, Calling, Cinema, Lamplighter, Library Square.

We’re launching a new Nightclub Cocktail menu in time for Fall on Wednesday, September 22nd at Republic Nightclub and Friday, September 24th at Bar None Nightclub – here’s a preview from our Bar & Beverage director, Trevor Kallies.

Classic

Daquiri – date unknown
Havana club white rum, fresh lime juice, simple syrup, lime wheel

Journalist – 1930, harry craddock’s the savoy cocktail book.
Gordon’s london dry gin, sweet & dry vermouth, lemon juice, orange bitters,

Paloma – origins unknown
Hornitos tequila, fresh lemon juice, pink grapefruit juice, soda, grapefruit wheel

Sidecar – circa WW1
Remy martin vsop, cointreau, simple syrup, lemon juice, cherry

Corpse reviver #2 – 1930 harry craddock’s the savoy cocktail book
Gordon’s London dry gin, lillet, cointreau, lemon juice, star anise

Contemporary

Fresca Nova
Russian Standard Vodka, cucumber slices, orange wedges, fentiman’s ginger beer, soda, bitters

Cherry finish
Red Stag Cherry Bourbon, Cointreau, lemon & lime wheels, simple syrup, soda, cherry

Dirty Mojito
Havana Blanco Rum, Frangelico nut liqueur, lime juice, mint syrup, lime wedges, fresh mint

Agent Starling
Bombay Sapphire Gin, cinnamon, orange wheels, simple syrup, bitters, tonic

Mr. Motlow
Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey, mint syrup, lemon juice, fentimans ginger beer, fresh mint

Which cocktail are you most excited to try?
- NM

Get on the Guest List for Republic and Bar None.

Follow us on Twitter at @DonnellyClubs and Trevor Kallies at @tkallies

Hilarious video from local emcee Jeff Spec, about a man and his sneakers. Is that a Pharoahe Monch sample in there? From his album ‘Sneakerboxxx’ available on iTunes now.

Video directed by Ben Hamilton.