by Andrew Morrison | Seigo Nakamura the owner of the Miku and Minami restaurants, has just taken possession of 620 West Pender St. in downtown Vancouver. Instead of continuing on with the aburi-sushi theme of his previous eateries, this newly renovated 2,700 sqft space will focus squarely on gyozas. Given Nakamura’s evident dedication to quality and doing things a little differently (Miku and Minami are both excellent originals), I trust that Gyoza Bar – as it’s being called – will be in the business of stuffing the little Japanese dumplings with all manner of unique and interesting flavours. I’ve been assured that there will be other items on the menu as well, but gyozas – ahem – will be king. Bonus: wine, sake, and beer on tap. Anticipate an opening at some point in June, 2014.

ALL ANTICIPATED OPENINGS

Consumer Reports just released its latest list of the top cars currently on the market, and this year it named the Tesla Model S the Best Overall Car that you can buy. In order to qualify as a top pick a car must excel in three areas: performance, reliability and safety.

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Post tags: 2014 consumer reports top picks, automotive, Consumer Reports, electric car, electric motor, electric sedan, green car, green transportation, tesla, tesla model-s

Man’s best friend may be a dog, but beekeeper Manuel Juraci’s best friend is a donkey named Boneco. Juraci is an inventor and beekeeper from the town of Itatira, Brazil. He wears the standard beekeeping uniform while on the job, and to keep from getting stung Boneco wears a full head-to-toe protective suit as well. The unlikely pair is turning heads and bringing home more honey than ever before.

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This is a video of a kitten being fed that wiggles its ears almost the entire time, reminiscent of Gizmo the Mogwai from Gremlins. Apparently it's because the muscles associated with suckling a teat are also connected to the ears. Do human ears also wiggle when we suckle teats? One blogger plans to find out! Some day. Hopefully sooner than later. Keep going for the full video.

Garlic mustard, ramps and blackberries may sound like ingredients you’d spot on a menu at a chichi restaurant, but did you know that they can all be found growing in New York City parks? We recently caught up with foraging expert Steve “Wildman” Brill to learn about six delicious, edible plants, and where they can be found in the city. Read on to see them all!

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Oh noes, guys. Fufufufufufuuuu. We have been eating sushi wrong. How does something so wrong feel so right? My pal Elie and the team over at Foodbeast put together this video demonstrating how to eat sushi like a sensei. Or, you know, just like, the proper way to eat it. Apparently you’re supposed to skip [...]
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Ladies first, I insist. This is a commercial for a Mercedes F-CELL vehicle featuring Hollywood couple I'm not familiar with Joshua Jackson (who I researched and discovered is famous for being in Mighty Ducks and on Dawson's Creek) and Diane Kruger (who I did not research but assume is famous for previously being married to Freddy Krueger and not taking his full name). Allegedly Joshua and Diane (not to be confused with Jack and Diane, two American kids doin' the best they can) drive across Death Valley drinking nothing but the water emissions from the car. Did they really? No clue, they are both actors after all. Cool if they did I guess. But you know what would have been even cooler? Driving across Death Valley only drinking your car's wiper fluid and antifreeze. Now that would be something to see. Keep going for the video.

Care for a side of trompe l’oeil to go with your coffee? Then head over to D’espresso Cafe in New York City to get your fix of both. The tiny and trippy space beckons bibliophiles in with what appears to be a mind-bending wall of books that wraps sideways from the ceiling all the way onto the floor. The amusing illusion is actually accomplished using specially printed tiles.

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These Asian inspired meatballs are out of this world! Made with ground turkey, ginger, scallions, cilantro and sesame oil with a wonderful tangy sesame-lime dipping sauce. You can make them for dinner or serve them as an appetizer by making them half their size and setting out toothpicks for dipping into that delicious sauce.


I first posted these meatballs back in 2010 and the quickly became a fan favorite! Often I served them with brown rice or Asian "fried" brown rice, but lately I've been on a zoodle (zucchini noodle) kick and made them for dinner this week served over these zucchini noodles for a low-carb meal and they were fantastic!

To make the zucchini noodles, you'll need a spiralizer (I love my Paderno Spiral Vegetable Slicer) or a mandolin fitted with a julienne blade. You can see my Italian Zoodles and Meatball recipe here for more detailed instructions if you wish to make this as a side, the only difference was here I used sesame oil to cook the zucchini.

Click Here To See The Full Recipe...

Need a soft pillow?
Look no further than your pal
They will do nicely

From Bored Panda.

Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: Friday Haiku

This is a video of the Olympic men's 500m speed skating final with Mario Kart Double Dash weapon effects added. It makes me wish every video had Mario Kart weapon effects added. One time my mom asked me clean up the video she took of my little sister's dance recital and I edited a bunch of dinosaurs and explosions into it. I did not get my allowance that week. Keep going for the video.

Elysium Woodworks's Etsy store is full of gorgeous, laser-etched, math- and science-themed cutting boards. They're about $35, made from bamboo, and take 5-6 weeks to fabricate.

Elysium Woodworks (via Wil Wheaton)

In news that shouldn't surprise anyone, 13-year old Girl Scout Danielle Lei and her mother sold a ton of Girl Scout cookies after setting up shop outside a San Francisco cannabis clinic. No word how many of those boxers were bought by her mother after taking a quick trip inside. Now you stay put, mommy will be right back.

In two hours on President's Day, Danielle sold 117 boxes outside the clinic -- people gobbled up all her Dulce de Leches and blazed through the Tagalongs. According to her mother, Carol, that's 37 more boxes than what she sold during the same two-hour period outside a small Safeway the next day. The Green Cross was on board as soon as Carol called to ask for permission to sell cookies outside, and employees at the clinic bought plenty of cookies themselves, too.

I don't understand how parents with Girl Scout daughters don't just buy all the cookies themselves. Because that's what I would do. As many boxes as they'll send you, I want them all. Oh -- but none of those shitty sugar-free ones. "Those were discontinued, dad." YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT THEY WERE. Thanks to neolardo, who plans on holding a Girl Scout Cookie eating contest this year, which is convenient because I've been training for this moment for 16 years.

If It Fits, I Sits [via]

Previously: Cats Stuck in Things

This is a worthwhile video captured by reader Alex of the Fireworks Festival that takes place every year in Tainan City, Taiwan, on the fifteenth day of the Chinese New Year. The festival celebrates the end of a cholera epidemic that happened over a century ago. The fireworks consist of giant metal lattice "beehives" filled with bottle rockets that are shot into the crowd to ward off evil plague spirits and bring good luck to the people in their paths. Sounds like my kind of party. Spectators are encouraged to wear helmets with visors, as well as long sleeves and pants, but I have every intention of attending next year's in nothing but swim goggles and a Speedo. I don't need clothes getting in between me and all that good luck. Keep going for the video, it's worth a watch.

According to a new study in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity, your cuddly cat companion might pose some serious health risks, especially to senior citizens. Previous research has shown that cats can spread a brain infecting parasite called Toxoplasma gondii that can cause negative health effects, including an increased risk of schizophrenia and depression in infected humans. New research by German scientists and the World Health Organization, however, shows that this parasite may even cause serious memory loss in individuals older than 65.

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Post tags: and Klaus Golka of the Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Brain Behavior, Brain Behavior and Immunity, cat Toxoplasma gondii infection, cats, cats cause dementia, cats cause memory loss, Collaborating Centre for Occupational Health, dementia, felines, Jan G. Hengstler, memory loss, Michael Falkenstein, Patrick D. Gajewski, Toxoplasma gondii, World Health Organization

The BC government has back tracked from their initial stance by not allowing bars to stay open late or open early for the gold medal game. The government has agreed […]

The post B.C. bars allowed to open early for Gold Medal Game appeared first on Vancity Buzz | Vancouver Events, News, Food, Lifestyle and More.

First there was the Real Housewives of Vancouver, then a casting call for the Real Hipsters of Vancouver and a reality web series called “Kits.” And now, there are plans to develop […]

The post Wreck Beach TV Pilot is Vancouver’s newest reality show appeared first on Vancity Buzz | Vancouver Events, News, Food, Lifestyle and More.

Earlier this week it was reported that Tesla CEO Elon Musk had a secret meeting with Apple’s merger and acquisitions chief Adrian Perica last year at Apple’s headquarters, which sparked countless rumors about a possible acquisition. Now Elon Musk has confirmed that the two companies did indeed meet last year, and although he didn’t make any official statements he did drop some hints as to what’s next for the electric automaker.

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This are remakes of the 'Too Cool To Do Drugs' pencils that were handed out in the 90's until people realized when you sharpened them the message changed and recalled them all. And now BRRYBNDS is selling five packs for $5. In case you're listening to this in my soothing robot voice because you can't see, the message on the pencils change from 'Too Cool To Do Drugs' to 'Cool To Do Drugs' to 'Do Drugs' to 'Drugs' to 'Rugs' to 'GS' (which I use as abbreviation for the grocery store). Unfortunately, I was not too cool growing up. I was a dork. Thanks to Steph, who referenced that Saved By The Bell episode where the cool movie star kid comes to shoot an anti-drug PSA at the school and turns out to be smoking the reefer himself. I suspect a similar case with the people who designed these pencils. That or they were just really f***ing stupid.

Retail giant Nike is developing a version of Marty McFly’s futuristic self-lacing shoes from Back to the Future II. Formerly a fictional concept, the autonomous fastening system either loosens or tightens the upper laces without intervention from the wearer, a system that is particularly helpful for people with motoring disabilities. Nike’s lead designer Tinker Hatfield is reported to have said at a recent press conference that the futuristic shoes will arrive right on time for 2015, which is when McFly first wore them in the movie.

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Post tags: autonomous fastening system, Back to the Future II, Design for Health, designs from movies made real, Ecotuerre, marty mcfly, movie characters, Nike, self-lacing shoes, shoes that tie themselves

The Finnish government has embarked on a pilot project that involves spraying a special glow-in-the-dark liquid on reindeer in an attempt to prevent traffic accidents. It’s estimated that the local reindeer population is involved in between 3,000 and 5,000 traffic accidents each year, which often lead to severe injuries or death. Past efforts to protect the reindeer by attaching reflectors and reflective tape to them have proven unsuccessful, which is what prompted the country’s Reindeer Herders’ Association to try the glow-in-the-dark spray instead.

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Post tags: animal protection, fiddish reindeer protection, Finland, glow in the dark reindeer, glowing reindeer, reindeer, Reindeer Herders' Association

The GOODS from Oakwood Canadian Bistro

Vancouver, BC | This Sunday evening our beloved Oakwood burger will be peacefully laid to rest. Due to the powers above, we are unable to serve the beef cooked to our guests’ desired temperature. This leaves us no other choice but to reinvent a new trademark burger to launch on Tuesday February 25th. A Celebration Of Life will be held the evening of Sunday, February 23rd to commemorate the Oakwood burger. On the menu since we opened our doors, it has been responsible for bringing many of our customers back to the Oakwood time and time again. And helping us to pay tribute to the burger will be one of the Lower Mainland’s fastest growing indie folk rock bands. The show starts at 8:30pm and cover is only $10. So come and commemorate the dish that built The Oakwood. Although the evening’s focus will be on the burger, we will also have our kale salad, poutine, and beef tartar on offer. As always, we open at 5pm and will be serving late. Learn more about the restaurant after the jump…

Details

2741 West 4th Avenue | Vancouver, BC
Phone: 604.558.1965
Website: www.theoakwood.ca
Facebook: OakwoodCanadianBistro
Twitter: @theoakwoodkits

Hours

Dinner served Tuesday to Sunday from 5:00pm to late
Weekend brunch served on Saturday & Sunday from 10:00am – 3:00pm

Gallery

The Team

Mike Shea, Owner
Michael Robbins, Executive Chef
Amy Wheatley, General Manager

About the Oakwood Canadian Bistro

The Oakwood Canadian Bistro is a casual neighbourhood room specializing in down-to-earth Canadian fare. The restaurant’s name pays homage to the reclaimed wood materials used in the space, as well as Kitsilano’s tree-themed street names. The small, straightforward menu showcases honest Canadian fare influenced by French techniques.

The Oakwood Canadian Bistro’s food philosophy is focused on fresh, house-made dishes crafted from locally sourced products. The seasonally changing menu caters to market availability and the sustainability of the products. All meats are organic, local and free of hormones and antibiotics, while the seafood is sustainable, seasonal and Ocean Wise certified. From the breads and pastas to the butchery and sauces, all products are made in-house with quality and consistency. At the bar, guests will find an excellent selection of 11 local craft beers, classic cocktails and an expertly chosen wine list.

The Oakwood Canadian Bistro welcomes with a comfortable, down-to-earth room designed by Mike Shea, who was inspired by restaurants he has experienced on his travels. Shea worked with SSDG Interiors and master carpenter Roman Mann to help implement his vision for the 85-seat room, which features key design elements — including a 16-seat communal table — made from reclaimed fir, oak and cedar. The welcoming patio seats 15 guests. Serving fresh, honest food in a casual neighbourhood environment, this modest Kitsilano room encourages diners to gather around the central communal table with old and new friends, sip BC craft beers and linger over one of Chef Michael Robbins’ seasonally driven dishes.

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This is a video of everybody's favorite nature documentary host David Attenborough narrating a women's Olympic curling match. You know, David Attenborough might actually have my favorite voice of all time. It's so relaxing. Like, if he read me a bedtime story before I KNOW I wouldn't have any bad dreams, even if the story was about monsters coming out of a boy's closet and dragging him to hell. It's just that soothing. Keep going for the video.

Note: Larger version HERE just in case you have one of those home phones with the giant number buttons made for grandparents. This is a flowchart made by the folks at Silver Oak Online Casino (who surprisingly don't just suggest you only play online poker) of how to pick the perfect video game to play. Will you agree with it? Probably not. Is it useful? No clue, but since when have flow charts been useful? I made a flowchart about how to give a dog a bath in a management class when I was getting my MBA. It was the first assignment we did. "You have an MBA?" Heck yeah, and I put it to good use everyday. See? "You laminated it into a placemat." Prevents cereal spills on my coffee table. Thanks to Smaster, who has beat all those games and taken up playing real-life Frogger during rush hour.

Note: Larger version HERE in case you want to print it out and hang by the register in your fictional dino pet store. This is the Dinosaur Pet Guide created by artist John Conway. It shows a couple different species of dinosaur and their various benefits and drawbacks. Honestly, at the rate our dinosaur cloning technology is going, I'd be happy to have ANY pet dinosaur before I die. Which, if the countdown on this ticking time-bomb in my lap is any indication, is less than eight minutes. Quick, somebody call MacGyver! "And?" Tell him I loved the episode where he made the sun-powered laser beam. Thanks to BBQ, who agrees those robotic dinosaur pets they have now are the worst kind of dinosaur pets.

A Miami artist shocked the art world this week when he deliberately destroyed a $1 million Ai Weiwei vase on exhibit at the Pérez Art Museum. Artist Maximo Caminero, 51, was charged with criminal mischief for destroying the Chinese dissident’s artwork in protest of what he perceived as a lack of local artist representation at the museum. In an official statement, the museum denounced the incident as an act of vandalism and rebutted Caminero’s argument by highlighting the various local artists it had on display.

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This is a video of acrobat Kai Hou pulling off a bunch of stunts I didn't know were humanly possible. And to think I can't even pull off a back-flip off the diving board. I'm a f***ing beast at pencils though. Keep going for the worthwhile video and wish you'd run away to join the circus as a kid.