portalopener

[rabbitcruiser]

Whitehorse, YT (No. 6)

Whitehorse is located at kilometre 1,425 (Historic Mile 918) of the Alaska Highway and is framed by three nearby mountains: Grey Mountain to the east, Mount Sumanik to the northwest and Golden Horn Mountain to the south. The rapids which were the namesake of the city have disappeared under Miles Canyon and Schwatka Lake, formed by the construction of a hydroelectricity dam in 1958. Whitehorse is currently the 64th largest city in Canada by area. The city limits present a near rectangular shape orientated in a NW-SE direction.

Whitehorse Bylaw 426 (1975) restricts the operation of motor vehicles to designated roadways in certain "Protected Areas" to ensure maximum conservation of the environmental quality. Most are near the downtown core (downtown and Yukon river escarpments, Mt. Mac ski trails, Riverdale, Valleyview, Hillcrest, Granger, Porter Creek, and Mountainview) and one, Pineridge, is south of downtown.

In 1999, the city approved the Area Development Scheme (ADS) which reallocated the area previously known as "Whitehorse Copper" to the following uses: Country Residential, Commercial, Service Industrial, and Heavy industrial.

Recent demands for growth have reignited urban planning debates in Whitehorse. In 1970 the Metropolitan Whitehorse development plan included park and greenbelt areas that were to be preserved to ensure high quality of life even within city limits.

Source: Wikipedia

[oldshowbiz]

Second City - Toronto - at the Old Firehall

[jminter]

FADO - The Saddest Music in the World comes back to The Firehall

FADO – The Saddest Music in the World presented by Puente Theatre & Firehall Arts Centre photo: Derek Ford FADO – The Saddest Music in the World is returning to The Firehall stage from Saturday, January 14 to Sunday, February 5, 2023. Produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Victoria’s Puente Theatre, acclaimed Portuguese-Canadian playwright Elaine Ávila’s play, FADO, is a tale of love and ghosts set in the back alleys and brothels of old Lisbon.  Telling the story of a young woman confronting her country’s Fascist past and her own identity, the musical is interwoven with the heartbreaking national music of Portugal known as Fado, which means “fate.” The hit of the Victoria Fringe in 2018, FADO won the award for Favourite Musical, with B.C.’s own beloved Sara Marreiros playing the ghost of Amália Rodrigues, the queen of Fado. The production enjoyed a wildly successful run upon premiering at The Firehall in 2019.  In 2020, FADO won the inaugural JAYMAC Outstanding Production Award at the Greater Victoria Regional Arts Awards. The Firehall’s Artistic Producer Donna Spencer says, “It is great to be bringing this show back to our audiences as it was such a wonderful success when we last produced it in 2019. I am delighted that all of the original cast members are able to join us for this production run and to be working once again with our partners at Puente Theatre.” Directed by Mercedes Bátiz-Benét with performances by Sara Marreiros, Natércia Napoleão, Lucia Frangione, Judd Palmer, Pedro M. Siqueira, Chris Perrins, and Dan Weisenburger FADO – The Saddest Music in the World is onstage at The Firehall Arts Centre - Saturday, January 14 to Sunday, February 5, 2023. Visit firehallartscentre.ca for show information and tickets.

FADO – The Saddest Music in the World presented by Puente Theatre & Firehall Arts Centre photo: Derek Ford Read the full article

[joannaliangart]

home by heart series (2019) Chalk pastel, and ballpoint pen (for fruitless return)

individual titles: Overripe in a hazy home fruitless return welcome back // to a home // you can never return to

---

Partly inspired by The Fall of Home by Los Campesinos!! had that song repeating nonstop while creating this series haha ough its so good

one of my most sentimental series... Hoo boy. I think this was these were the first art pieces I made for my ib art class. Here's the story of its creation:

Initial planning and uh unexpected progression INCLUDING the making of an entirely different art series in the process:

All throughout highschool I missed the townhouse I moved from, which wasn't terribly far from where I ended up living during highschool, but it certainly wasn't mine anymore. I initially wanted to illustrate my old townhome from memory, and then get permission from the new owners to take photos of a few parts of the house I'd illustrated, to show the changes and the inconsistency of memory. Feels very ambitious to me now I think haha but in some ways I was much bolder in highschool than I am now, for better or worse.

So well, the owners said no lol. Fair enough lmao

But! I could still do the first part, draw from memory. And I thought, "I can still take photos of the outside area around the townhouse..."

So I went to visit my old childhood home with my camera. And immediately was completely fucking stunned and sidetracked to see construction happening in the forested area right by it. Not active construction mind, just that there were parked excavators in the middle of the space n trees already cut down.

And that's... actually how I ended up photographing the War-torn photo series! There wasn't do not enter tape or anything or fences So I kinda. figured. it was ok. cough

so after that fuckin emotional experience. I went back to my original task. Went up to my old townhome and took some photos but mostly... Mostly I just looked.

There was a golden rose on the stairs leading up to the door. Everything felt so different and alien, so many new plants in the garden, a tomato plant on the balcony, the blinds all closed. But I recognized the golden rose, because it was one we had planted, still in our pot, that we had left behind. The new owners had kept it.

It was so familiar, and it was glowing in the sunlight. But it kinda made everything else around it look all the more distant from the home I remembered.

So... Instead of photographs I just drew everything from memory. the last trio welcome back, to a home, you can never return to are the parts of my visit that stuck with me most.

Overripe, fruitless return, and in a hazy home:

God this story is long! Overripe features the grape tree from my elementary school that was cut down while I was still there in grade... 5? "Joanna grapes don't grow on trees" yea yea I know; we called it the grape tree because it was a grape vine that had completely taken over a large tree in the centre of a bunch of bramble bushes behind a fence, and was climbing even wider to scale the neighbouring pine trees. It was the meeting spot for me and my friends for a long time during recess. I loved that tree to bits. I was devastated when they felled it

in its place is a firehall, featured in fruitless return. Which is important! But augh god. makes my child heart grieve still.

in a hazy home is the part that adhered most to the original concept: it's the memory of my townhome from memory, featuring the front of my home (with the golden rose on the steps!), blurring into the balcony with my cat apple, and then my room, as viewed from my childhood bed.

wip photos:

more tidbits:

I don't usually use chalk pastels, but I felt its fuzziness fit well for the concept. I also paid attention to the colours, trying to choose appropriate ones to convey the mood of each piece.

also see: Shower of Gifts, a piece related to this series

[agentcable]

Chicago Fire Season 6 Ep. 7 "A Man's Legacy"

Brett makes a tough call in the field about someone close to the firehouse family. Otis tries to impress Lily by getting ready for the grand opening of Molly's North. Boden gets emotional after saving a famous blues player from a burning building. Dawson struggles to deal with her father.

If you want to watch the series for yourself, stop reading! This post contains spoilers to the storyline.

Gabby Dawson and Sylvie Brett deal with Ramon Dawson's wounds. Sylvie stays in the back of the rig and orders Gabby to drive the ambulance to the hospital because she is too shaken to help with her father's wounds. On the way, Ramon's oxygen drops, but Sylvie tells Gabby to keep driving as she helps him breathe. At Chicago Med, Sylvie tells Nurse Maggie Lockwood that he has multiple stab wounds. They transfer thim to a bed and bring him to an OR where Dr. Connor Rhodes is waiting. Gabby tells Maggie that the patient is her father. Sylvie says he will be okay. Matt and Antonio arrive at the hospital. They learn that Ramon tried to be a hero when a psycho started slashing people on the train platform. Sylvie joins them just as Dr. Rhodes says Ramon will be okay, but they can only see him for a minute because he needs to rest. Antonio and Gabby visit Ramon. Gabby cries asking why he stepped in front for a knife. Antonio says he'll be back together soon and that the rest of Chicago better watch out.

At the firehouse, Sylvie and Stella Kidd are getting ready for a shift. Stella admits it wasn't her fault. Lieutenant Kelly Severide asks why Stella left so early. Sylvie learns they shared a kiss. Sylvie talks about Antonio being at the hospital, but Stella says she'll regret kissing him.

Gabby and Matt walk into the firehouse and are greeted by Chief Boden, Joe Cruz, and Mouch, who says her father was brave. Christopher Herrmann learns Gabby isn't going to the Molly's North meeting. Herrmann and Stella agree that Otis can lead the project as long as it makes money.

When they get a call, Gabby thanks Sylvie for saving her dad. She says she'll blame her dad for driving her crazy when he does. Sylvie says it was good to see Antonio again. Matt sees a smoking electrical box at the scene. They think it's a shorted curcuit and an electrical fire in apartment 1C. Otis and Herrmann smell smoke and go into the apartment. Inside, they find humidifiers on and the tenant on the floor.

On the gurney, he breathes shallowly. Gabby and Sylvie take care of him. They find the fire in the unit. Matt puts out the fire. Chief Boden sees posters for Stoke Porter, a blues singer, all over the walls. He wonders what happened to him. Stoke complains he has no insurance, but Boden tells him not to bother the ladies and let them take care of him.

At Chicago Med, Gabby checks on her father. His room is full of flowers. She tells him many people are proud of him, including her mother. He has lots of interviews, but she says he needs to rest and rehab. He promises and she leaves for work.

Otis joins Cruz in the kitchen, eating brownies. Cruz says he has a guy named Julius who sells taxi top ads for Molly's North, Stella walks into the kitchen and leaves when she sees Severide. Matt sees her. He asks Severide if there's something going on. Severide says she did something when she had too much to drink and probably regrets it, but will talk to her when she's ready.

Boden returns to the Firehall and asks for an update on the old man when the ambulance comes back. He also wants to know why he had so many humidifiers. Mouch says it was probably lung-related, as his uncle had the same problem. Boden says Stoke was a famous Blues harmonica player. They should go to his place tomorrow night and listen to Blues.

Stella asks Otis and Herrmann why they converted Max into Molly's in four days. Otis says he has the advertising locked up and the reason it will be the 9th is that it is Lily's lucky number. Stella is worried, but he says he can handle it. Stella says she'll stop caring about things.

There's a knock at Sylvie's door. It's Antonio, returning a sweatshirt. She points out the tag says it's for Diego. She invites him in. He learns they are alone and admits he knew he was in trouble when he saw her at the hospital. He kisses her, but she says it is not a good idea. He says it is a one-time thing and they shouldn't overthink it.

Gabby returns to Chicago Med to visit her father, but they're shooting a news segment.

Otis comes to Molly's. He's waiting for paint to dry. He can't get alcohol by Friday. He's going to get some from Molly's. Herrmann is about to tell him he has paint on his cheek when Cruz comes in with a $25,000 bill for the taxi tops. He says it was $250 per top, but it was for at least 100 cabs. Otis freaks out that he never said that Herrmann looks at Stella. She rolls her eyes and says there's a guy who flirts with her on the radio. She can get him to advertise on the radio. Otis wants to be on the radio. Stella says she'll see what she can do.

Boden, Matt and Mouch listen to Stoke Porter's music. They talk about how he made it and what he gets in return. Broke, sick, and alone. Boden looks for his bourbon. Matt and Mouch don't know what's going on. Boden says they should visit Stoke and let him know he isn't alone. They put on their coats to go see him. At the hospital, they learn that Mr. Porter died. Boden says that is terrible Boden offers his condolences to Stoke's daughter, who says she didn't know her father. Her mother took her away from him, and now she only has his debts.

Stella introduces Otis to Mitch from the radio show. He tells Otis to stay away from the microphone and introduces him to the audience. Otis freezes on the air. He chokes on the water, then spits it out. Mitch hits the fart button every time he says "Molly's North". Otis blames Stella, and Capp laughs at him.

Boden asks Gabby how her father is. She says she'll go see him after work. She says it's amazing to see so many people celebrating him. A call comes in, and everyone leaves.

They arrive at Edgemont Family Clinic. Gabby chases a girl inside and tells Sylvie to tell everyone there's a civilian inside. Severide finds a fire in the ceiling by the oxygen system. Gabby says they need to go, but as they leave the room, the ceiling falls, separating them. Severide runs through the fire. He grabs the girl. Gabby finds pills in her purse. Gabby looks at Bria and says she needs to go to the hospital, but Bria says she needs to go. She looks at the police. Gabby says she put the drugs back. Bria says the drugs weren't for her.

Herrmann wants to know why he's getting an alert about a $2,000 charge to Molly's account. It was for a jukebox for Molly's North. Stella warned him. Mouch learns that if all goes well, Boden will bring a friend to Molly's North's grand opening. Severide comes home to find Stella dressed up. She says she's going out with Mitch, but she'll take Severide to the Blackhawks game next time.

At Molly's North, Otis is happy they have patrons. He says Molly's North is a tribute to Molly's. Nina Porter comes into the bar and joins Boden, Matt, and Mouch. He says he knows her father from before the fire. He went with his father to see her dad play the blues. They got along that time. He says that when he hears the music, he can feel his father's arm around his shoulder and hear him say, "Look up there, son. He gets it." That's Stoke! Nina smiles as Boden says that's what her father did for him. They raise their drinks to Stoke.

Lily is happy with the turnout. She tells Otis this is going to work because the bar has never seen a crowd this big in 10 years. She kisses him. Sylvie and Antonio meet outside Molly's North. It's a big crowd, which is good for business, but she doesn't want to be around a lot of people. He smiles and suggests something quieter. She says that sounds good and they skip the bar scene.

Gabby comes to Ramon's room. He is happy to see her. Dr. Rhodes says he can go home tomorrow. Gabby will bring him home. He says she doesn't look happy. She says she wishes she could have helped him more when he got hurt. He says this quick decision doesn't make him a hero. It doesn't change who he is, but she has always been there. She's his hero!

[cavenewstimes]

New firetruck for Station 7 in Kelowna

Posted April 20, 2024 7:32 pm 1 min read 1:00 New firetruck for Station 7 in Kelowna Firehall 7 in Kelowna was introduced to its new firetruck on Saturday. Firefighters immediately gave it a wash with water from the station’s old fire truck, along with handpushing it into the station. A longstanding tradition occurred at a Kelowna firehall on Saturday morning, although it was partially…

[newswireml]

Inside the new Toronto home of The Second City#Toronto #home #City

Inside the new Toronto home of The Second City#Toronto #home #City

In 1973, The Second City opened its first Canadian location, in an old firehall in downtown Toronto. Comedy would never quite be the same after that. The improv group quickly became an incubator for some of the funniest people in history, including John Candy, Eugene Levy, Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara and Mike Myers.  And when Saturday Night Live debuted, in 1975, it borrowed a handful of cast…

[xplrvibes]

i know you’re from the us or at least have lived there for a while now so imma need you to scratch a curious itch for me: i know y’all have to pay mountains of money for hospitals and ambulances but what about 911? police? firefighters? do you also have to pay when calling 911? when asking for police bc a shooting happened? or when firefighters are called? like how does that even work?

911 itself is free service; however if you are taken via ambulance to the hospital, you may receive a bill later (depending on whether you have ambulance rides covered in your health insurance plans) from the ambulance company. It's kind of a shitty deal, and the reason so many people who are pain either tough it out or try to find rides to the hospital, which sucks.

Police and firefighters don't charge for their services...yet, lol. Unlike the Healthcare network, they are covered by tax payer dollars. Fire companies also tend to run on donations and a lot of fire companies, at least in my neck of the woods, have banquet halls or bars attached to them that you can rent out for weddings or shindigs (hence the term firehall weddings, which btw are the most fun and dysfunctional weddings you will ever have the honor of going to), which I guess also supplements the income? I don't really know why some fire companies have those, but they're a wild place to have a party or get into a rowdy game of BINGO with a bunch of 90 year olds on a hot Friday night lol.

So yea, tldr: 911 is free, police and firefighters are free, ambulances...not so much.

[debbiechanclub]

I was going to resist getting ice cream at Bingo tonight, but then Co-Star literally told me to “Do Ice Cream” today so now I’m obligated.

[imaginedreamwrite]

Oooh you know what I wanna see next from you? Some more of that sweet sweet angst you gave us the week before last. Mean!exhusband Bucky x Divorced!reader.

“We need to go out for a night and meet some hot men.” Natasha swirled her iced coffee in her cup and then lifted it to her lips, the red stain she used an hour earlier yet to transfer from her to the cup. “Seriously, we’re going to be old maids.”

“We’re only 28.” You pointedly stated, watching your daughter’s bright smile reflect her happiness since you had distanced yourself from Bucky. Even her mood, with Natasha, had become entirely new. She had no longer held resentment for Natasha, neither had you and often called her aunty Nat, a monicker she adored endlessly.

“We could find men here, I bet there are a few firefighters who are single,” Nat smirked and lowered her cup of iced coffee, nudging you as the doors to the fire station started to open. “We could have our pick.”

“You first.” You motioned to the start of the field trip, and the teacher who had started to wrangle the kids to stand out of the way of the truck. You and Nat had begun making your way toward the small crowd of kids and a few parent volunteers, standing behind the kids as they watched in wonder. The Firehall stood rigid and tall in front of the excited school kids, their eyes widened as they became further mesmerized by the truck that had begun pulling out of the station to the right of the buss, sirens silenced but the lights flashing.

“Hey! Hows it going-“ One of the firefighters had started speaking, hanging off the side of the truck, his glasses slipping down the bridge of his nose and nearly falling off completely when his hand slipped and he tumbled from the truck.

“That one,” Natasha smirked and looked over the man who had fallen. “I want that one.”

“OMG,” you chortled and turned your head, hiding your laugh as he stood again and dusted himself off.

“Hi! I’m Jake!” the blonde bubbly firefighter had greeted the kids with a smile, as eager as they were.

“Hi, jake!” Some of the kids had greeted him, others were completely taken by the truck.

“Jensen, trying not to injure yourself is a pivotal rule.” Another firefighter had stepped out of the truck, his dirty blonde hair pushed out of his face and his blue-green eyes captivating as he swept his attention over the kids, and then looked toward you and Natasha. “My name is Steve, I’m the captain of the Firehall.”

“Captain,” Natasha muttered under her breath, nudging you, “I bet he could command a room.”

“Stop!” You squeaked and stepped out of her reach, trying to pay attention to what he was saying and not focus on the sheer size of his hands and the broad width of his shoulders.

“This is station 201, and we are currently on duty for the rest of the day and then we switch off for the night shift. Like I said I’m Steve, the captain, Jake Jensen is the monkey who fell off the ladder, Ari Levinson is the current driver and Johnny Storm-“

“You know, I think there’s an issue with the vehicle. Feels like it might spontaneously combust.” Natasha had looked over her shoulder, green eyes zeroing in on the vehicle parked some feet away.

“No pyromantics today.” You muttered under your breath and slowly began to follow the flow of traffic as the kids and the teacher began to filter into the open bay. “I mean it’s bad enough-“

“Hey,” a sudden appearance of blue came from your left, Jake Jensen sidling up to Nat with a goofy grin on his face, “one of the kids is yours?”

“Not mine,” Natasha looked him over, appreciating the view, “I’m a volunteer and aunt.”

“So you're not a milf-“ Jake Jensen hadn’t been able to control his mouth or his tongue as he let the comment slip, and then winced before correcting himself. “You’re not a mom-“

“No, I'm not.” Natasha had looked you over, her smirk widening. “But Y/N is a MILF.”

“I’m going to kill you.” You muttered under your breath, following her and Jake, trailing behind with your hands picking at a few loose threads of your shirt.

[thisbuildingshouldbecondemned]

The Exception: Chapter 1

tags: [#the exception on my blog] egon spengler x reader / slowburn / ghostbusters / fluff / paranormal romance / fem reader

word count: 1255 | ~5 min read

Suddenly, the door was shoved open. A gust of wind blew through the place, and startled a few cobwebs on its way through the dimly lit building. Creaks and moans whispered about the space as the seemingly ancient wood was disturbed by the unexpected visitors.

A group of four people walked in, each secretly worrying about disrupting the eerie silence of the rundown firehall. As if putting on her game face, the slightly estranged woman amongst three disorganized men - a realtor - shifted her posture and straightened her jacket. She turned to face the others and in one swift motion spread her arms open as she spun. With a welcoming grin, she spoke to the men still awkwardly standing in the door frame.

“Well, here you are! The Tribeca Firehall.” Immediately, she went into a well prepared speech about the history and happenings of the location, padding it with false assurances of safety and proper building technique.

While she spoke, one of the three men, Ray Stantz, went off on his own to explore the rest of the building. The realtor paid no mind to this, and continued to speak to the other two, who were less than impressed with the state of disrepair.

Dr. Ray Stantz was a scientist, and along with his colleagues Dr. Egon Spengler and Dr. Peter Venkman, was not only interested but specialized in parapsychology, paranormal activity, and from time to time tossed around the idea of Bigfoot living in central park. They had recently been thrown out of the university that was supplying them with resources and funds to indulge in their supernatural theories, coincidentally the same day they had come into physical contact with a spirit for the first time.

Ray was filled with a child-like wonder whilst traversing the abandoned halls and dusty rooms. Where his colleagues saw expensive repairs and questionable structural integrity, Ray saw lots of potential for their new business: a ghost catching and storing service. He found excellent spots for offices, laboratories, and storage spaces. As he wandered through the old firehall, he came upon a grand staircase, which appeared to lead to a living space.

Ray grabbed a hold of the handrail and took a careful step onto the first stair. So far, it seemed safe. As he quietly continued up, there was little to no sound nor concerning shifts coming from the wood of the staircase. Nearly at the top, the third last step to be exact, a very loud creak emanated from his foot placement, consequently drawing all attention to him.

“Sorry! My bad..” he apologized in a loud whisper, a bit embarrassed. His colleagues were still talking to the realtor when the three of them looked up to see Ray climbing the staircase. They raised their eyebrows and turned back to the woman, who was explaining there were only a few leaks in the ceiling and really that’s pretty good considering the firehall was built in 1903.

Ray turned to see a wide open space, which he imagined would be a perfect spot for beds, couches and chairs, and a table to create a nice common space for him and his friends. As his eyes surveyed the room he caught a glimpse of a shadow under the curtain on the far wall by the window. It appeared to be the shoe of a person hiding behind the fabric. Just as he passed over it, it shifted slightly. When he looked back, the supposed shoe was gone, and a plain dark shadow was in its place.

Quietly he crept over to the window, hoping to catch someone who was squatting in the building. As he drew closer, he swore he could make out the shape of a person behind the curtain, as if the fabric was loosely falling against their body. He nervously swallowed, and continued to approach. Once he was close enough, he seized the edge of the curtain and yanked with all of his strength.

“A-Ha! Oh-” he yelled, loud enough for the group downstairs to hear.

“Ray, quit playing with the bats and get down here!” Peter called up to him. “Sorry miss he’s just a bit excitable. What were you saying?” he asked with a pandering tone to his voice.

“There’s office space, sleeping quarters and showers on the next floor, and there’s a full kitchen on the top level.” she stated. Egon and Peter looked at each other, and then back to the realtor.

“It just seems a little pricey for a unique fixer upper opportunity, that’s all.” Peter argued. He turned to Egon, who was holding a pocket calculator and a notebook. “What do you think, Egon?” Peter asked.

Usually, he handled the ‘people stuff’, as Ray and Egon would put it. He talked to the investors, the clients, and had the ‘Venkman Charm’ as he would say himself. Peter was ready to haggle with the woman, but figured he should allow Egon to voice his opinions before potentially making or breaking the deal.

Egon pushed his glasses up off the bridge of his nose. Without hesitation, he spoke his mind.

“I think this building should be condemned.” He began bluntly. “There’s serious metal fatigue in all the load bearing members, the wiring is substandard, it’s completely inadequate for our power needs, and the neighbourhood is like a demilitarized zone.” He turned to Peter and frowned, clearly disappointed that this was the best they could find in terms of a new headquarters.

Upstairs, still confused about the mysterious curtain-figure, Ray turned around and spotted something that caused him to instantly forget his encounter with the window. In all his life he’d never seen one up close. This was like a dream come true. Before him, in all its glory, was a firefighter pole.

He ran towards it and scurried around the guardrail.

“Hey!” he shouted down to Egon and Peter below, who looked up to see him standing on the edge of a hole in the ceiling. “Does this pole still work?” he asked no one in particular. Before any of them could answer, he wrapped his arm around the pole like a new best friend and slid down expertly, as if he were meant to all his life. The thrill of riding down completely cleared his mind of the instance upstairs.

“Wow, this place is great!” he smiled as he landed between Peter and Egon, looking back and forth between the two of them. “When can we move in? You gotta try this pole!” he put a hand on Peter and began to back away towards the front door. “I’m gonna go get my stuff.” As he went to run out of the building he turned back to the others. “Hey, we should stay here, tonight! Sleep here! Y’know, to try it out!”

As he left in a hurry, the realtor’s grin changed from gleeful to smug. Peter looked at Egon and smiled. He turned back to the realtor and straightened himself.

“I think we’ll take it.”

Egon sighed and rubbed his forehead with his forefinger and thumb. Peter shook hands with the realtor, then put his arm around her as the three of them walked out of the building.

At the top of the staircase, an invisible figure stood peeking around the corner. With wide eyes she watched as the men left with the woman, and nervously bit her lip. It had been years since she shared the firehall with living people, but at least the firefighters from two decades ago weren’t actively looking to hunt ghosts.

[jminter]

Picks of the Week - February 1, 2023

We roll into February, with Valentine's Day coming soon and plenty of activity in the picks of the week... Arts: There's just a few more days to take in the creative line up PuSh International Festival of Performing Arts brings to the city - it's timely, honest, politically active works of dance, music, theatre and multimedia programming continues until February 5th.

Race Horse Company - O'DD credit: Minja Kaukoniemi Concept & direction: Rauli Dahlberg Choreographer: Jarkko Mandelin ?On stage: Rauli Dahlberg & Miro Mantere ?Production: Race Horse Company Lighting design: Jere Mönkkönen & Eero Alava ??Music & sound design: Miro Mantere Set design: Rauli Dahlberg & Jere Mönkkönen Costume design: Viivi Raila & Janni Turtiainen Dine: The city’s most flavourful festival, Dine Out Vancouver Festival, also wraps up in a few day, book fixe prix menus from 350 restaurants from Abbotsford to Ambleside before February 5th. Chocolate: Continuing until February 14, the 13th annual Greater Vancouver Hot Chocolate Festival is brewing up and a bigger and better festival than ever, with visions of hot chocolate flavours from cafes, bakeries and eateries to keep us warm on winter days. Voice: Friday, Early Music Vancouver returns to Christ Church Cathedral to Raise, Raise The Voice an evening with award-winning countertenor Reginald Mobley and the Pacific Baroque Orchestra Internment: At The Arts Club Theatre Company until February 12th Forgiveness, based on the acclaimed memoir by Mark Sakamoto, tells the powerful story of his family’s harrowing experiences during World War II.  Wolves: The Arts Club Theatre Company brings another World Premiere Silver Commission Production to the stage, with The Cull opening at Granville Island Stage, running until February 26 Arts: Oxford Properties unveils its 100 Amigos Art Exhibition, featuring 100 12?x12? works by local artists curated by local graphic artist Pablo Zamudio, hanging in the newly renovated MNP Tower (1021 West Hastings) lobby for public viewing (and purchase) through February 19.

Horton: Until February 11th at Burnaby's Michael J Fox Theatre, Align Entertainment is presenting Seussical The Musical, based on Horton Hears A Who and the many children's stories of Dr. Seuss. Ice: With temperatures below freezing it's the perfect time to hit 'the ice' at Robson Square Ice Rink open until February 28th for your old-fashioned outdoor skating family fun, with skate rentals just $5. Ring: It's Wrestling Night at Rogers Arena, as the Vancouver Warriors play host to Saskatchewan Rush with a post-game wresting match at centre-turf. Lunar: Lunar Fest and Lantern City celebrations pop up all around the city with sites downtown, Granville Island, and West End- Robson Street until February 20, 2023.  

Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience in Surrey February 1 to March 5, 2023 Photo: Timothy Norris Masters: As opportunity to interact with a Master’s great works, in a new exhibition, Beyond Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience opening today February 1, and running until March 5, 2023 at the Agriplex at Cloverdale Fairgrounds in Surrey. Fly: You don’t have to go far to visit Asia as guests to Fly Over Canada can experience spectacular Taiwan from above as Soar Over Taiwan takes flight only until February 12th.  Saddest: Produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Victoria’s Puente Theatre, acclaimed Portuguese-Canadian playwright Elaine Ávila’s play, FADO – The Saddest Music in the World returns to The Firehall stage until Sunday, February 5 Listen: The Cultch Re/Play season continues on digital, with the audio-only play The Year of The Cello  online now. Jazz: The Shadbolt Centre for the Arts, has an amazing line up of Jazz @ The Bolt, curated by Jazz Impresario Cory Weeds, bringing a line-up of renowned artists from across Canada and around the world to join the best of Vancouver’s talent February 4-5

Advance: Also at the Shadbolt Centre, Ruby Slippers Theatre’s Advance Theatre Festival (ATF) showcases new plays written and directed by female identifying and gender non-conforming artists who also identify as BIPOC (Indigenous, Black or Person of Colour). This week features; Aki Yaghoubi's Parifam - Wednesday, Feb. 1, 8pm, Yvonne Wallace's ReZonance - Thursday, February 2, 8pm, Jessie Lang's Surrender - Friday, February 3, 8pm Read the full article

[complexhaystack]

I have so much things to say about Ghostbusters: Afterlife :') spoilers under the cut!

1. The film was such a respectful homage to the first two films!! The loving detail created in the sets, the echoes of the original GBs in this new generation of kids, the use of the equipment, the lore, and even the damn soundtrack. So many incredibly thoughtful details!

2. The film was also an incredible tribute to Harold Ramis!! Holy shamoley I was really not expecting what they did. I mean, part of me was, but they executed it so well!

3. The ending battle was pretty awesome - we've seen a bit of the possibility of how they might creatively use the equipment in the RGB, but this was awesome to see as CGI on the big screen.

4. I am sad that the guys had disbanded T_T they were like family, but practicalities got in the way. Yet, in my mini headcanon, the fact that they arrived in full gear indicates that they must have kept part of the GBs with them all along, even as they went on separate paths.

5. The kids acted wonderfully. In particular Mckenna Grace and Logan Kim were really awesome! Mckenna Grace had been so talented in so many shows at her young age! And Logan Kim, so naturally exuberant!

6. The kids were pretty much spiritual successors to the original GBs! Phoebe was of course, so reminiscent of good ol' Spengs; Podcast of Ray's boundless optimism and energy; Lucky seems to be world-wise at a young age, pragmatic and sassy like Winston; and hmm I think Trevor inherited the part of Peter that was a himbo HAHAHA. Despite these echoes, the kids really grew into their own characters, particularly Phoebe and Podcast! I hope they develop Trevor and Lucy's characters more if there are sequels.

7. I am so happy to see two minority representations in this new generation, and so glad that amongst the old generation, Winston became the most successful of them all! (As much as I love the first two films, there was so little focus on Winston at the time sadly)

8. I'm sad that the guys were mad at Egon for so long, and that they barely had a chance to say goodbye... Particularly Peter T_T But, Peter's kindness towards the living Spenglers was heartwarming to see, and the joke he made seemed equally plausible to have been directed to Egon himself. I can just imagine him saying that to Egon when they met all those years ago in university ahaha.

9. Peter and Dana really stayed together?! And he loves her just as much after all these years?! That's so wonderful T_T

10. Oh the little Easter eggs all over! The stacked books, Shandor, Ray's bookstore, the psychic test, the Twinkies, the spores/mold/fungi...

11. Why didn't Egon stay together with Janine :(((( Poor Janine and her pining coin... Also, that she was the only one who knew his location is just... T_T

12. Was hoping for more quickfire witty repartee with the new generation, but I think the movie was a bit more drama than comedy per se. May the kids grow into their own form of banter with each other!

13. The... The firehall!!!! Oh... And seeing Ecto-1 being driven around (with a gunner seat too - a nod to the cartoon??) was just such a treat T_T

14. I love that there were hints that Phoebe was also likely autistic, just like how there has been speculation that Egon was as well!

15. Despite the kids in the theatre being rather noisy, I'm also very happy to see that a brand new generation of kids will love the GBs now! And in fact possibly see themselves represented!

16. Shamoley the contraptions that Egon set!! The geek in me definitely squealed inside :p

I'm sure I'll have further thoughts along the way... But man. I am so, so glad this was made.

17. Wait, so... Are there still ghosts to bust?? Please let the answer be yes. May this become a successful franchise to delight a whole new generation of fans! (but still respecting the lore of old!)

18. I did not expect to tear up at the end (not one to cry often at movies) but I did! Oh gosh. Oh so heartwarming and bittersweet!

This film is a true successor to the old films. (The Ghostbusters video game came very close tbh ahaha - gush about that another time) I love that a young girl genius (and descendant) has taken up the mantle first, and that there's so much more diversity now. There was no over the top acting trying to best each other in humour (cough2016cough), no idolising or pandering to the GBs of old, but instead it was a thoughtful and heartfelt portrayal of how the legacy of four very human and flawed heroes (in particular one special one) could realistically be continued.

Of course, my favourite version of the GBs will always be the RGBs due to the even more tightly knit brotherhood, the continuation of witty humour (at least for the first several seasons)... and being partial to Peter, having him be a much less manipulative in the RGB version is a plus ahaha (even the comics acknowledges this).

But I'm so excited to see what this new generation will do :) and I really hope the old trio of actors continue to support the sequels if any hee.

[whooly-shep]

On empty streets and empty beds

Lady Walking at Night Downtown & Chilangos Restaurant in the Old Firehall, Belleville On by Jesus Estevez Fuerte, Pressure to Party by Julia Jacklin, Empty Street by MrMike89, Night Shift by Lucy Dacus

[just-here-for-the-art-shit]

If you lack or have ever lacked a stable father figure, join a volunteer firehall - no matter where in the country, guarantee 60-80% of the members are retired men or young men with little kids, who's three personality points are "Beer, Cars, and Country Music." Just don't bring politics up. (Or do, watch them brawl)

Long story short, I have 20 dads now.

The moment you even mention you don't have a dad, they will latch on to you, because their children are either all old and have their own family's, or are literal babies. They can fix anything, give advice for any situation (effectiveness may vary), and if anyone hurts you, they won't find the body. (No I'm serious, one of my dad's runs a crematorium.)

I posted my broken faucet on Facebook - within the hour I had six random numbers texting me "I can fix it."

ALSO - don't have a mother figure? Firehall's got you covered: You'll have atleast one funky lesbian aunt, and if there are no already-mothers at the hall to stuff you full of baked goods, one of the males will fill in the position, aka the "Mother Goose". He/she will make sure you're eating. He/she will make sure you're sleeping. He/she is emotionally available.

Have a bad past? Trauma? Mental disorders you're coping with? EVERYONE in a volunteer firehall has one, if not all of those. Everyone is a walking therapist - yes, sometimes their love is drunkenly telling you to beat the shit out of your problems, but it does help. Any fucked up shit you tell them, they've likely seen, heard, experienced, and are completely numb and void to it.

And if all else fails, sitting in a giant firetruck with lights and sirens that say "get the fuck outta my way" and make everyone pull over for you to go by is very therapeutic.

Also whatever this is: