by Joy Metcalfe

Aaron Chapman and his latest book, Vancouver Vice.

VANCOUVER VICE … A WEST END STORY

The talk of downtown Vancouver lately in social circles (bars, cocktail lounges, licensed restaurants) has been about the latest offering from prolific author, Aaron Chapman. His new book, Vancouver Vice has been consistently hovering around the top three in the latest best-sellers rankings. In it, he shares his research of the late 1970’s to early ‘80’s era of Vancouver’s volatile period of a rising crime rate in the city’s West End that invited the closer attention of the Vancouver police department and, in particular, of the VPD’s Vice Squad.

Some of Aaron’s big hits in local publishing circles - all with Arsenal Pulp Press - include Vancouver After Dark, The Last Gang in Town and Liquor, Lust and The Law - The Story of the Penthouse Nightclub.

Vancouver Vice has recently hit the bookstore shelves and is getting a lot of attention from radio and TV interviewers…Gloria Macarenko recently did a great interview with Aaron on her afternoon show on CBC Radio …

Executive chef Behshad Zolnasr of the Century Plaza’s C | Prime Restaurant.

THE RETURN OF C-PRIME

One of the most successful operations going in the West End is the renowned family-owned and operated Century Plaza Hotel and their recently reopened C-Prime Restaurant. It’s an amazing fact but the hotel’s restaurant has always been known for the top quality of their food, the freshness, and the variety of their cuisine. Visitors who book into our top luxury hotels will still make their way to the Century Plaza for its renowned breakfast menu and the homey, welcoming presence of the staff.

Now with the reopening of C-Prime and their new executive chef, Behshad Zolnasr at the helm incorporating the Big Apple-steak atmosphere, diners are in for a new upscale dining experience, assured of the finest in the Italian steak and wine business.

Also on the deluxe menu are such items as Confit Pork Belly with Truffle Honey and Fennel Salad, Dungeness Crab Tortellini, Slow Braised Lamb Shank with Saffron Risotto and more - all at very reasonable prices.

Adding to the ambience of C-Prime is their newest addition to the team. Charming and urbane Kevin Lamb is their new restaurant manager, a veteran in the food and wine field in Vancouver and Victoria …

VARIETY CLUB NEWS

Speaking of new faces, there’s a slew of them recently elected to the Variety Club’s new board of directors, including the dynamic Cathy Tostenson, vice president marketing and sales for White Spot, who will definitely add a breath of fresh air and ideas. Both chief barker Howard Blank and past chief barker, Shirley Stocker, remain. This year, the annual Telethon will be aired from Global TV’s studios over three days during the news segments starting on February 24 and 25 with a longer segment from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on the 26th. Those fundraising dollars are needed now more than ever …

I fondly recall the fun days of the Variety Telethon. The gala presentation was held in the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and people flooded in to see the visiting stars like Sesame Street’s Bob McGrath, Ray Charles, Dame Vera Lynn, Leslie Nielsen, Donny Osmond, Gene Simmonds and family, Michael J. Fox and Michael Buble, along with our local celebrities, names like Pamela Martin, Tony Parsons, Peter Legge, Phil Reimer, J.P. McConnell, and many more …

I was either answering the phones or organizing the Gold Panel set up. The big show started at 8 p.m. and when I asked J.P. to do the 9 to 10 slot, a week earlier, he was outraged.

“Why am I not in the first panel?” he demanded angrily. ”Why is that?”

When J.P. was mad, he was really mad!

Thinking quickly, I answered “Because I thought you might like to sit next to the beautiful and talented Dee Daniels or the cute and cuddly Deb Hope.”

Oh!” came the reply,” I’ll be there!”

Such good times…

WHAT’S A YEAR BETWEEN FRIENDS?

Speaking of Variety, two of the most dedicated people ever involved in the charity were Jeffery and Peter Barnett who owned and managed several restaurants in town including The Elephant and Castle, Rosie’s on Robson and several pizza operations.

In last month’s “Joy’s Journal” I was wishing the jovial twins a very happy 84th birthday. Turns out I was one year off. They’re only a sprightly 83 ...

A COVID RECOVERY

Someone who has really been through a rough patch lately is dapper businessman about town, Paul Zalesky. Despite having the two COVID shots and the booster, Paul came down with the Omicron variant, became seriously ill, and had to be rushed to hospital. Apparently, it was touch and go.

Thankfully, he quickly overcame the illness, flew off to the sunshine, and called to say he was golfing and the temperature was a balmy 83 degrees.

Paul and his wife, Devina, were heavily involved in the first annual Classic and Contemporary Car Show Invitational held at Ambleside Park in September to benefit Canuck Place, the first children’s stand-alone hospice in North America.

They had helped organize more than 40 show-stopping vehicles and, in two hours on a rainy Sunday afternoon in September, they raised more than $519,515.00. Stay well, Paul …

Also a shout out, too, to his charming, elegant and talented-artist mother, Milldred, who recently celebrated her 97th birthday. Belated Happy Birthday, Millie!

Paul comes by his good looks naturally …

DEPARTURES & ARRIVALS

It was with a mixture of pride and sadness that the people involved with the BC Hospitality Foundation learned from their BCHF Board Chair Jeff Guignard that their executive director Dana Lee Harris would be leaving the organization.

Over the past four years Dana has worked tirelessly and passionately to fulfill the goals of the foundation, despite the enormous challenges of the COVID 19 pandemic.

She plans on refocusing and concentrating on her Dana Lee Harris Consulting business, as well as spending more precious time with her husband and new grandson. Dana is so dedicated, she’ll be greatly missed.

Coming in as the new BCHF executive director is Alana Dickenson, event manager and business owner of Aurillia Consulting. We wish her well …

COCKTAIL WEEK COMING UP!

Get ready! One of the really fun things to look forward to is the first-ever Vancouver Cocktail Week with more than 50 venues taking part. It’s the dream idea hatched by The Alchemist’s Gail Nugent and the award-winning journalist and author, Joanne Sasvari. The dates are March 6 to 10. Book your Uber or taxi cab ride home now! ...

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY TO ALL!

And don’t forget! The love day of the year - Monday, February 14 is Valentine’s Day!

Flowers, a nice bottle of bubbly, restaurant dining or take out - Susan Mendelson’s Lazy Gourmet, one of Vancouver’s first catering companies, has a great romantic menu and even includes flowers from another legendary source, Thomas Hobbs Florists.

Lovers, you can’t lose …

Cheers!
Joy