Sunday, February 13, 2011

Raw Canvas, Death of a Salesman, Bin 942, Yaletown Installation

What a fantastic weekend I had.

The evening started at 5 pm at Raw Canvas with my Groupon on hand. This place is not exactly a restaurant, it's more like the place before you go to eat dinner - wine or beer and charcuterie (patés, terrines, sausages, cheese). Ambiance is quite eclectic. The best thing about this place is that it's also a studio. You get a canvas and they provide everything you need to paint - easel, brushes, paints, tapes, painting spatula, smocks, etc. This is a very original place to go on a date or with friends. Some people who go there are artist, but most are just there to channel their inner Georgia O'Keeffe or  van Gogh.

Since Raw Canvas is in Yaletown, by the time we left, we were there for the light installation for the Olympic anniversary. It was a variety of light shows -- there were shadows installed on windows so that it seemed that there were things happening inside, there were patterns on walls, etc. That was quite original for Vancouver. I hope they will keep doing such events in the future.

Next place we went to was to the Playhouse Theatre for a production of Death of a Salesman.  Wow! It's hard to believe that Arthur Miller wrote this play in 1949. There's been some changes, but for the most part, it has captured its essence. Acting, set, costumes are all well done. I definitely got quite verklempt when Bif confronted his dad. Go see it! It was a standing ovation.

It's 11:00 when the show ended and we headed to West Broadway area to Bin 942. This is a tapas place. It's very obvious that the dishes are very well thought out. Decor is also quite eclectic - huge mirrors up high, old rustic door to separate tables. By this time, however,  they were out of their special and various other things we wanted. We had braised short rib with agnolloti and some calamari confit. We ended the meal with their fondue. That was the best part! It had a variety of dipping goodies from freshly made doughnuts, macaroons, raspberries, kumquats, poached pears and my favourite, marshmallow - not the store bought ones, but I think they were probably made there, it had passion fruit flavour - yumm, all to be dipped in rich dark chocolate. Needles to say, this will be my go to place for dessert after a show (walking distance from The Stanley Theatre).