I recently interviewed the Owner of the Chop Shop on Granville for my weekly E!Online post. The following is an abbreviated version of the post:
Paperny Films
A new docu-soap featuring Vancouver’s Chop Shop will share the rock and roll “anti hair salon” lifestyle this February on Slice Network.
Owner and Chop Shop star, Daniel Hudon probably couldn’t fathom being a part of a television series when he started up his own salon 4 years ago but it was always a part of his plan to bring people together. “We’ve been packed since day one — it’s just a great place for the average person to go and feel comfortable.”
Hudon had been working in the salon industry in Vancouver for years, from the city’s trendy Yaletown to the shopping district on Robson Street although he wanted to create a space that was different. “I was tired of working in other shops.. …There was high end, low end, and nothing in the middle.”
Chop Shop trailer
The Chop Shop hosts 13 stylists (Daniel, Proctor, Amber, Mishelle, Paymon, Hannah B., John, Nikki, Jeff, Carly Tre, Tobi, Harmonie, and Ramona) who share their work days, personal lives, and professional aspirations, while doing something they’re all extremely passionate about.
The docu-soap (a more specific genre of reality series) filmed for several months at their shop on Granville Street, in the heart of Vancouver’s entertainment district. While the shop itself employs those who love the rock and roll lifestyle, it’s situated in a part of town that is slowly being taken over by trendy clubs and chandeliered lounges, while the piercing studios, record stores, and tattoo parlours are being pushed out. However, Hudon isn’t too concerned about any of that cramping their style, “it takes the individual to break out of the mold — there’s a lot of cool stuff going on and you just have to keep in touch with it.”
Going forward, the Chop Shop is looking to expand operations, having recently opened up another location in Langley, while Hudon is looking at various other cities across Canada; “This can work anywhere, from Toronto to Montreal and Calgary.”
You can stop by the now-famous shop if you’re looking for a hair cut or style in a welcoming atmosphere or as Hudon recommends, if you simply need “a great place to just come chill out.”
Chop Shop airs February 4th at 8:00pm ET, 9:00pm PT on Slice with its first episode, “Help Wanted.” Read more on E!Online.
When you think of baseball you think hotdogs, warm summer afternoons, caps, cheers, and more often than not, America. However one of the most cherished baseball films of all time was actually based on a book written by a Canadian, who spent time bouncing between the Lower Mainland, and Iowa.
I began writing this post while snuggled up on my in-laws’ couch in Iowa and I figured now was as good a time as any to publish it.
The snow has started to cascade lightly to the ice-covered ground as we spend our last few days in the state known for its “Fields of Opportunities”.
One of our first days here was spent traveling to a neighbouring town because John’s mom heard they had a new Mexican grocery store. Along the way, we saw a sign for Dyersville, which I knew immediately as being home to the actual Field of Dreams (from what John had told me years ago).
For baseball lovers and movie-goers alike, Field of Dreams is a classic American tale, even though it was based on a book written by a Canadian.
W.P. (William Patrick) Kinsella was born in Edmonton, Alberta and attended the University of Victoria before making his way to Iowa for their legendary (and world-famous) Iowa Writers’ Workshop. He was based in White Rock, then Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and now the Fraser Canyon.
Kinsella’s works go far beyond the field, with dozens of books published along with hundreds of short stories, he was awarded the Order of Canada in 1994 as well as the Order of British Columbia.
However, it was his tale of Shoeless Joe that touched most, across many borders. The book was adapted for screen and became Field of Dreams as we know it, coining classic movie lines such as, “Is this heaven?…. No, it’s Iowa.” While also being known to make “95% of men who watch it, cry.” It’s also a Fourth of July classic for John’s family.
The actual setting of the film is a real farm, with a real baseball field over in Dyersville, Iowa. It’s open to the public from April to November, and is free to visit and play.
Great efforts are taken not to over-commercialize the Movie Site and to make it accessible to tourists. As a result, we cannot reserve, or rent out the Field for any organized activities, individuals, or events. We feel the property is best served in its original and pristine condition. Our aim in having these policies is to present the property as it was so well-depicted in the movie. We hope you can “go the distance” and enjoy the Field of Dreams. [Field of Dreams Movie Site]
The next time we head back to John’s home turf, which will hopefully be during the warmer months, I’m looking forward to stopping by and playing some catch because even though I was raised on frozen pond shinny, there’s nothing like a round of catch in the lazy summer sun among the sweet corn.
January 3, 2010: I made it to Dyersville, Iowa today and saw the Field of Dreams.
Hopefully I’ll be able to come back in the summertime and be able to play baseball without the need of boots, mittens, and seven layers of clothing to protect from the cold.
Update 2020: I have been back many,many times in the summer since this post was originally published. It’s such a lovely place! I also got to meet WP Kinsella in 2011.
Although I was originally asked to profile ERA by a staff member, they have been unhappy with the response this post has received. As a result, comments have been closed and I have removed all links to ERA within.
I had the chance recently to fire some questions off to the ERA (Electronic Recycling Association) to find out a bit more about what they do. Joanna Trebon is a Manager at ERA.ca in charge of arranging donations, community roundups, dealing with clients & charities, and she took the time to share the following information. Continue reading this post ⟩⟩
For some reason this morning Avalon Dairy popped into my head and I figured that having a farm in the middle of a single-family residential neighbourhood in South Vancouver is definitely something worth exploring.
Last year John and I did the Amazing Hunt, a really fun, local version of TV’s The Amazing Race. One of our stops was the Avalon Dairy, just off East 41st at 5805 Wales, and our task was to down several jugs of milk or eat a big tub of yogurt. Neither of us being milk drinkers (or yogurt eaters) we figured the latter was at least the safer way to go. Unfortunately, this expedited experience has been my only with Avalon Dairy although it has very deep Vancouver roots.
Jeremiah Crowley came out from Western Bay, Newfoundland in 1898 for the gold rush. Arriving in Vancouver he found the gold rush over. He was so impressed with Vancouver that he returned to Newfoundland and brought his family with him to settle here in 1906. After purchasing a house on Wales Street, which came with 6 cows, he began to build up Avalon Dairy.
The family of 12 came from Newfoundland’s Avalon Peninsula in 1906, “their South Vancouver farm delivered milk by dog and wagon, and registered Avalon Dairy before 1915.” [Vancouver History]
“Jeremiah Crowley (in bowler hat) with his sons haying the back field at Avalon, circa 1931.”
Everett Crowley, son of Jeremiah, went to South Vancouver High School and worked at the dairy afterwards and became quite involved in the shaping of the city. “During WWII, opposed poll tax on non-property owners; served three days in jail.” He was also an “elected Vancouver alderman but after six weeks a recount gave opponent Arthur Phillips a 37-vote lead.” Everett would get the Dairy through the depression years and build it up to what it is today.
Crowley also served on the Parks Board from 1961-67 and Everett Crowley Park on SE Marine Drive is named after him, and it was also a stop on our Amazing Hunt tour that day.
“…we ended up on a small hill in Everett Crowley Park in South Vancouver. Looking around at all the deciduous trees and uneven landscape with amazing southern views I actually wondered if the park used to be something else. “Everett Crowley Park is Vancouver’s 5th largest park, but was Vancouver’s main landfill (the Kerr Road dump) from 1944 to 1967.” [ECPC] from [Miss604]
[Everett Crowley] served as a Town Planner and was instrumental in the creation of Killarney Park. His son Lee Crowley is an active member of the committee. The Crowley family donated $20,000 for the enhancement of Avalon Pond. [Evergreen]
Avalon Dairy offers products such as certified organic milk, milk (in those signature glass bottles), butter, mozzarella cheese, yogurt, sour cream and ice cream. They also have VitalaMilk which “is BC’s only natural, healthy and locally produced milk containing DHA Omega-3 plus CLA in addition to all of the natural goodness found in milk.”
Lee Crowley, Everett’s youngest son/Jeremiah’s grandson, now runs Avalon Dairy and although it took several years to develop and perfect the organic products, with the help of Avalon’s CEO Gay Hahn they have expanded due to the great demand. “The dairy bought more cows, and more land in the Fraser Valley. Demand for organic milk outstripped production, so the dairy bought acreage on Barnston Island, and leased more land there, too. Avalon now produces 500,000 litres of milk a month, with 60 per cent of it organic.” [Vancouver Sun]
Being able to provide the classic unhomogenized, rich and creamy bottled milk (that Queen Elizabeth drinks when she’s in town) as well as keeping in step with the growing organic and all-natural movements has kept Avalon going for over 100 years and will see this Vancouver landmark shine well into the future.
The replaced section of the bridge – Photo submitted by Sis604
The Pattullo Bridge will open at 6am, just in time for the Monday morning commute. TransLink says it was a stroke of luck to get it fixed way ahead of schedule.
Crews are putting the final touches on the bridge and are re-paving a significant portion of bridge deck. TransLink CEO Tom Prendergast says it wouldn’t have opened early had it not been for materials from the Canada Line. [News1130]
I’m glad the route will again be open, however I just hope these expedited repairs hold up.
